US2031053A - Apparatus for forming, folding, and banding paper strips - Google Patents

Description

A. A. MASSINI Feb. 18, 1936.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING, FOLDING, AND BANDING PAPER STRIPS Filed Sept. 17, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet l 1 NVENTOR.

flan/fit zw-my ATTORNEY.

A. A. MASSINI Feb. is, 1936.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING, FOLDING, AND BANDING PAPER STRIPS Filed Sept. 17, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 I fi ENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 18, 1936. A A s I 2,031,053

AiPARA'IfUS FOR FORMING, FOLDING, AND BANDING PAPER STRIPS .Filed Sept. 17, 1954 7 Shets -Slieet s l. H I l Feb. 18, 1936. A. A. MASSINI 2,031,053

APPARATUS FOR FORMING, FOLDING, AND BANDING PAPER STRIPS Filed Sept. 1'7, 1934-. 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTUR.

Feb. 18, 1936. A. A. MASSINI APPARATUS FOR FORMING, FOLDING, AND BANDING PAPER STRIPS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 17, 1934 60 T15 WJJM ATTORNEY.

Feb. 18, 1936. A. A. MASSINI 2,031,053

APPARATUS FOR FORMING, FOLDING, AND BANDING PAPER STRIPS Filed Sept. '17, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATE NT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR FORMING, FOLDING, AND

BANDING PAPER STRIPS 36 Claims.

rality of printed rectangularly shaped strips of comparatively heavy gauge paper are individu-' ally and removably mounted by one end upon a. backing board, said strips having the opposite,

10 or free, end thereof folded about itself and secured in folded relation by a transverse gummed retaining band. Printed on the inner surface of the folded portion of the strip and invisible to the eye by reason of the fold is information of interest pertaining to the game. Upon participating in the game, a player pulls one of the strips from the board, ruptures the paper banding seal, and unfolds the end of the strip to reveal the previously hidden printed information which inac forms the player of matter having to do with the fin'ther progress of the game.

It is the primary purpose of the present invention to provide an automatic machine whereby such printed strips of paper are properly formed 25 and folded to render the printed indicia invisible to the eye and, additionally, to provide in said machine means for sealing the individual strips in folded condition preparatory to mounting the same upon an appropriate backing board.

30 The full nature of the invention and other features thereof will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description.-

In said drawings- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the same;

Figure 4 is an end view of the machine with parts thereof omitted to clearly disclose the folding mechanism;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a paper blank prior to folding and banding;

Figure 6 is the paper blank in its final folded and-banded condition;

Figure 7 is a schematic view illustrating in detail the folding mechanism;

Figure 8 is'an enlarged end elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the folding mechanism;

Figure 9 is a section taken on line 9-9, Fig. 8;

Figure 10 is a detail view in top plan of the fingers and reciprocating feeding slide which removes the folded ticket from the folding mechanism and presents the same to the banding mechanism; P

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the revolving Gil - banding 'head, parts thereof being purposely omitted to disclose the principal elements:

Figure 12 is a detail front view of a bandin head, the banding rollers being shown in nonoperative position; a

Figure 13 is a section taken on line l3-l8, Fig. 11; P

. Figure 14 is a partial rear view of a banding head depicting the rack and gear mechanism for operating the banding arms; I 10 Figure 15 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of the female die plateillustrating the blank stripping angle; v 1

Figure 16 is a detail view in side elevation ofthe banding paper feeding, shearing and carry- 15 mg mechanism for the severed band.

Figure 17 is an end view of the same; and

Fig. 18 is an enlarged detail view of the mechanism for momentarily interrupting the forward travel of the reciprocating channel. 20

Referring to said drawings, the reference numeral l designates the bed plate of the machine which latter is provided with legs 2 and carries a framework 3 designed to support the mechanism. Extending longitudinally is a frontdrive shaft 4, suitably joumaled in appropriate bearings provided in the frame 3, said shaft being adapted to be driven by any suitable means, as. the pulley wheel Ill. Carried by said shaft 4 is a spur gear 5 meshing with a second spur gear 6 carried by a. rear longitudinal drive shaft 1 rotatably mounted in appropriate bearings pro-. vided in the frame, the latter shaft being adapted to rotate with the front shaft v4. As shown in Fig. 1, the back shaft 1 has a length approximating the length of the bed plate I, while the front shaft 4 has a length somewhat less, the latter terminating at a point revealed by the collar 8. Mounted upon the frame 3 is a flat table 26, on which table is supported a forwardly inclined 40 hopper 9 in which the previously printed blanks l0 are received in'face to back relation. Pivotally connected finger weights II are provided at the lower end of the hopper to maintain the blanks in uniform aligned relation. A plurality of small studs l2 are provided about the mouth of the hopper so as to prevent accidental discharge of the blanks from the hopper. A feed block l3 carried by a lever l4 pivotally attached to the frame, as shown at I5, is adapted to be presented and withdrawn from the mouth of the hopper by movement of the lever l4 about its pivot I5. A longitudinal shaft l6, suitably journaled within bearings I1, is designed to be rotated by means of the bev ears I8, connect- 56 ing shaft l9 and bevel gears 20. A cam 2| carried by the shaft |6 engages a roller 'on the end of the lever l4 imparting operative movement to the feed block I3. The feed block |3 isconnected to a vacuum line '22 having connection with an operating valve 23 connected by a supply line 24 to a vacuum tank 25, the detailed operation of the operating valve 23 being hereinafter described. Depression of the free end of the lever l4 by means of the cam 2| swings the feed block in the arc of a circle so that the same will be presented in contacting relation with the exposed blank in the mouth of the hopper. At this point vacuum is applied to the feed block so that the blank adheres to the face of the block and is removed from the hopper against the retaining force of the finger weights II and studs I2. Immediately following removal of the blank, the cam 2| is brought out of depressing relation with the lever 4 so that the feed block falls by gravity to the position shown in the drawings in which position the blank is deposited in a horizontal plane on the upper face of the table 26, and the vacuum force is cut ofi by operation of the valve 23.

Slidably mounted in spaced parallel guides 21, fixed to the upper surface of the table 26 is a rectangularly shaped pusher plate 28 designed to be reciprocated back and forth across the top of the table by means of the link 29, lever 38 and cam 3|, said cam being carried by the shaft 6, and being maintained in permanent contacting relation with the lever 39 by means of the retractile coil spring 31. Following depositing of the blank on the table 26, as above described, the pusher plate is brought into timed operation so as to advance the deposited blank forward to a position in vertical alignment with the forming die, accurate positioning being accomplished by means of the limit stops 35.

Extending upwardly from the table 26 is a pair of spaced guide pins 32 on which is vertically slidable a crosshead 33 carrying a removable male die plunger 34. The female portion of the die consists of two plates 36 defining an opening to receive the die plunger 34 and registering with an opening provided in the table 26. Journaled in bearings 38 on the underside of the table 26 is a short longitudinal rocker shaft 39. Carried in fixed relation by said shaft 39 on the inner end thereof is a rocker arm 40, the free, or rear, end of which carries a roller contacting a cam 4| mounted on the shaft IS, the opposite, or front, end of the rocker arm being connected to the crosshead by means of a link 42. The opposite side of the crosshead 33 is connected to the rocker shaft 39 by a vertical link 43 and a horizontal link 44. Thus, rotation of the cam 4| functions to depress the male die, the depressing force being uniformly borne by each side: of the crosshead by means of the above described mechanism.

Depression of the male die is accomplished.

against the force of a pair of compression springs 45 encircling the guide pins 32 and interposed between the crosshead 33 and table 26, the upward force of said springs being transmitted to the rocker arm 48 so as to maintain the latter at all times in cam-contacting relation.

In the downstroke of the male die 34, the previously positioned blank I8 is engaged and is forced downward through the opening in the female die 36 so that the blank in the confines of the female die 36 is made to conform with the shape of the male die 34. In other words, the blank is given a substantially U-shape, one verao anosa I tical portion exceeding the length of that of the other, the shorter vertical portion having a length not to exceed the length of the bottom,

or horizontal, portion, and the last two men- 49 and it is these fiat surfaces of the wheel which specifically serve as a bottom for the die, as above referred to.

Journaled in bearings 50 supported on the bed plate I is a transverse shaft 5| designed to be rotated by means of a spiral gear 52 meshing with a similar spiral gear (not shown) carried by the drive shaft I. Carried by the forward end of the shaft 5| is a cam 53 operating on a rocker arm 54 pivoted intermediate its ends to the frame 3. A rack 55 is slidably received within the bearingplate 46 and is connected to the upper end of the rocker arm 54, operation of the rocker arm 54 against the tension of the spring 56 imparting horizontal movement to the rack 55. A small transverse shaft 51 is journaled in bearings on the underside of the table 26 and carries on its forward end a pinion 58 meshing with the teeth of the rack 55. The opposite end of the shaft 51 has fixed thereto a folding tongue 59. As the male die 34 commences its recession from the female die 36, the cam 53 is so timed in its rotation as to operate the rocker arm 54 thereby to impart horizontal movement to the rack 55. Such movement of the rack rotates the pinion 58 and its shaft 51 so that a like rotation is imparted to the tongue 59 in which rotation the tongue 59 encounters the short vertical portion of the blank and in its continued rotation presses said portion" from a vertical to a horizontal plane to overlie the bottom portion of the blank thereby folding inwardly a portion of the printed matter so that the printed matter borne solely by the short vertical portion and the horizontal portion is placed in confronting face-to-face obscured relation. Rotation of the folding tongue 59 is limited to a movement approximating 90 and is maintained in folding relation with the blank until such time as the blank is removed from registering relation with the forming die. At this point, it may be stated that one side wall of the forming die is offset to form a sharp angle 60, the angle engaging the longer vertical portion of the blank so as to strip the blank from'the male die 34 when the latter recedes.

Additional means for assisting in stripping the blank from the die is afforded by vacuum force, said force being applied to the under surface of the horizontal portion of the formed blank through passageways 2 provided in the feed wheel 48. One passageway H2 is provided for The formed blank is removed from the die mechanism and is further folded by the following described mechanism: A ratchet 6| is carried by the shaft 41 exteriorly of the bearing plate 48 having associated therewith a pawl 62 operated by a connecting rod 63 associated with an eccentric 64 fixed to the outer end of the transverse shaft 5|. The ratchet 6! has teeth in a number corresponding with the number of plane surfaces 48 in the feed wheel 48. In the upward throw of the eccentric 64 the pawl 62 engages the ratchet 6| thereby imparting an intermittent counterclockwise rotative movement to the shaft 47 and the thereby carried feed wheel 48. In such rotary movement of the feed wheel 48 the abrupt shoulder terminating the plane surface 49 underlying the die engages the creased edge of the already folded portion of the blank and the partially formed blank is forced into the intervening space between the feed wheel 48 and the seg mental chute or guide 65 which houses a port-ion of the feed wheel thereby forcing the longer vertlcal portion of the blank to be pressed down- Wardly substantially in the arc of a circle, the upper terminal of said portion being the last to enter the guide, and said longer portion abutting the guide 65 in its travel. Intermittent rotary movement is thus imparted to the feed wheel 48 so that as each successive blank is further folded it is introduced in and received by the guide 65, the formed and folded blanks being moved through the guide 65 by the shoulders of the fiat surfaces 49 engaging the first folded edge of the blank. As shown in Figs. '7 and 9 of the drawings, the blanks are delivered outwardly of the guide 65 at the lower end thereof and at a point approximately 180 from the entrance, being discharged on the underside of the feed wheel.

Located on the underside of the plate 68 of the frame 3 are spaced parallel guides 61 defining a slot in the plate 86 in which slot is received a sliding channel 68 hav ng on the underside thereof a depending lug 68 which is connected to a link 18 and a pivoted lever II which, in turn, is connected by a connectfng rod to an eccentric T2 fixed on the shaft 5!. Obviously, with the above described mechanism a rec procating movement is imparted to the channel 68 upon rotation of the transverse shaft 5|. The sliding channel is provided with vacuum openings 74 communicating with the vacuum line 15 leading to the operating valve 23. The sliding channel 68 has a width exceeding the width of the feed wheel 48 and receives the feed wheel 48 intermediate the vertical side walls thereof. The inner end of the sliding channel 68 has formed thereon an integral projecting tongue 16 and provided adjacent said end are two gripping fingers 51, each of which consists simply of a spring having one end thereof fastened to the channel 68 and is reversely curved so that the free end thereof is in pressure contacting relation with the face of the channel at the inner termination of the channel.

As a folded blank is discharged from the guide 65 it is deposited within the channel 68 underlying the feed wheel 48 at which time the operating mechanism is so synchronized that the channel 68 is slidably retracted to blank gripping position, the gripping fingers being sufliciently flexible to override the folded end portion of the blank. At the limit of the retracting stroke of the channel 68, the direction of travel of said channel is reversed and the channel is then moved forwardly, at which time vacuum is applied through the ports 14 and the blank, consequently, adheres to the channel. The folded portion, or forward end,

of the blank occupies underlying relation with respect to said fingers 11 which latter serve to temporarily retain the blank in its folded relation and, additionally, assists in withdrawing the blank from the feed wheel.

The channel 88 upon being moved to its innermost position is momentarily maintained stationary by the action of the specific construction of the telescoping link 18, shown in Figs. 1 and 18. The upper end of the lever, H has formed thereon a sliding collar I8 embracing the link 18 and being maintained on the link by means of a nut 88 threaded on the end of the link. Interpcse'd between the collar 18 and the shoulder provided on the link 18 is a compression spring 19, the purpose of which is to normally maintain the collar 18 in contacting relation with the retaining nut 88. The link I8 is provided with a threaded extention 8| having a head 82 formed on the forward end thereof and adapted during operation to abut a limit stop 83 fastened to the frame 3. In operation forward movement of the sliding channel 68 is accomplished, as above descrimd, by the like forward movement imparted to the link 10 by the lever H and eccentric 12. Said channel 68 is moved forwardly until such tme as the head 82 abuts the limit stop 83, at which, time forward movement of the channel and thereby carried blank ceases and the projecting tongue 16 of the same is momentarily held in stationary advanced position directly beneath a banding head 86, which will later be described. However, the collar 18 continues to move forwardly in telescoping relation with respect to the link 18 against the tension of the spring 19, this specific mechanism being provided so that uninterrupted operation of the various elements may be continued while the sliding 85 is enlarged to form an integral annular flange 81, as shown in Fig. 11, and supports a Geneva gear 88 which is bolted to a hub 89 encircling the standard 98, the latter being formed integral with,

the pedestal 85. The upper end of the Geneva hub 89 is provided with an annular flange 9| and has bolted thereto a rotatable circular plate 92, to the upper face of which is bolted a stationary vacuum ring 93, the latter also encircling the standard 90, the circular plate 82 being intermittently rotated by the Geneva gear 88, as will later be described.

Prov ded on the upper face of the circular plate 92 adjacent the periphery thereof are a plurality of upwardly extending guide pins 94, between each two ad acent pins is received a banding head housing 95 which carries a bandng head 86 of inverted T-shape whose upper shank portion 91 is slidably receive-d within "a vertical extending channel 98 provided in the face of the housing and extending throughout the heighth 98 by a plate I01 bolted to the face of the housing.

A compression spring I08 is located in said channel and is interposed between the upper end of the shank 91 and a plate I09 fastened to the top of the housing and serving as a top closure for the upper end of the channel. A roller H is attached to the rear of the housing adjacent the top for a purpose to be later explained.

Provided in the bottom of the banding head 96 are two spaced recesses 99 in which are received a pair of banding rollers I00 carried on the lower end of banding arms I Hi I the upper ends of said banding arms being fixed to short shafts I02 extending through the housing and carrying on their inner ends pinions I03, the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of a vertically movable rack I04 formed integral with a stem I05 extending downwardly through the plate 92, the lower extremity of the stem I05 carrying a roller I06. The bottom of the banding rollers I00 in inoperative position are located in aligned relation with the lowermost face of the banding head 96.

As shown in Fig. 11, the banding head housing 95 has an offset or recessed concavity at its front lower end and the banding head 96 occupies a depending position in said concavity, the banding arms IOI being suspended intermediate the banding head 96 and housing 95, the rollers I00 extending forwardly from said arms IOI so as to be received within the two recesses 99 of the head.

The banding strip 84, having the under side thereof provided with gummed adhesive is severed from a length of paper I I4 furnished to the machine from a spool supported on the bed plate I at the rear of the machine. Paper from the spool is presented to the shearing mechanism by a feeder permanently mounted on a base plate I I 5 suitably supported by the frame 3. As shown in detail in Figs. 16 and 17, a feeder block I16 is permanently attached to the base plate H5 and has a slot II'I extending throughout its length at the top thereof. Slidable in said slot II! is a feeder jaw I I8 having a downwardly extending lugI I9. Pivotally attached to said lug is one end of a short connecting link I20, the opposite end of said link being connected to a rocker shaft I 2 I the opposite ends of the shaft being journaled in bearings provided on the lower ends of upwardly projecting spaced arms I22. Said arms I22 are supported by and slidable on spaced parallel rods I23 whose opposite ends are received in and supported by the feeder block H6. The opposite ends of the rocker shaft I2I are provided with crank arms I24 pivotally connected to the upper ends of levers I25, the lower end of said levers I25 being provided with rollers adapted to contact cams I26 carried by the shaft I, and being supported intermediate its ends by a stationary shaft I21, which latter is carried by the frame 3.

Carried by the upper ends of the arms I22 at a spaced distance above the feeder block H6 is a plate I28 having formed integrally therewith on the under side thereof a downwardly extending rib I29 overlying the feeding jaw I I8 and adapted to cooperate therewith as will later be explained.

Spaced parallel paper guides I30 are provided along the top of the feeder block II6 adjacent the sides thereof, and located intermediate the guides I30 and the opposite sides of the feeder jaw H8 are paper depressing plates I3I, the rear end of said plates I3I being connected by a cross bar I32 whose opposite ends rest upon the guides I30 and are apertured to embrace studs I33 projecting from the feeder block II6.

Spring pressed shoes I34 provided intermediate the paper depressing plates I3I and the top plate I 28 are adapted to maintain said depressing plates I3I in permanent contacting relation with the paper H4.

The length of gummed paper I I4 is supplied to the shears I35 by the above described mechanism as follows: Paper H4 is supplied from the spool to the feeder head II6 where it occupies a position overlying the jaw IIO; underlying the rib I29 and intermediate the guides I30. Rotation of the cam I26 acting on the lever I25 imparts counter clockwise motion to the crank arms I24, shaft I2I and thereby carried link I20. Such movement initially elevates the jaw II8 so that the serrated upper face thereof grips the under, or gummed, surface of the paper H4, and continued forward movement of the upper end of the lever I25 imparts a like forward movement throughout a predetermined distance to the entire gripping and feeding mechanism carried by the slidable supporting arms I22 to position the required length of paper to the shears for cutting. Following such advance movement, the direction of the travel of the lever I25 is reversed, the gripping jaw II8 being thereby disengaged from the paper and the feeding mechanism being retracted, the paper II 4 being maintained in stationary advanced position by the depressing paper contacting plates I 3|.

Provided on the forward end of the feeder block I I 6 are a pair of spaced upwardly extending posts I35 serving as guides for a vertically reciprocable shear block I36 adapted to be lowered by means of the link and lever mechanism I 31 acted upon by the cam I38 carried by the shaft I and elevated by the retractile springs I39; A cutter blade I40 is carried by the shear block I36 while a cooperating stationary cutter blade MI is mounted on the forward end of the feeder block II6.

Slidable in channel guides I42 on the under side of the base plate H5 is a carrier plate I43 having a hollow upwardly extending standard I44 located on its forward end. A vacuum line I45 has one end connected to the standard I44 and the opposite end connected to the valve 23.

Forward and rearward reciprocation is imparted to the carrier plate I43 by means of a link and lever mechanism I46 acted upon by a cam I4! carried by the shaft 1, the lower end of the lever being pivotally connected to the bed plate I and the link being connected to the plate I43 by a the feeding mechanism is retracted, as hereinbe fore described, and the shear housing I36 and. thereby carried blade I40 is lowered to sever from the paper a banding strip 84, which strip is then supported on the upper end of the standard I44. Vacuum is then applied to the standard I44 through the line I45 so as to retain the band thereon. At this point the shear is elevated to inoperative position by the springs I39, and immediately thereafter the standard I44 carrying the strip 84 is moved forwardly to a position where it directly underlies one of the banding heads 96 mounted on the intermittently rotatable plate 92.

Vacuum to the standard I44 is then released and vacuum is instead applied to the overlying banding head 96 through a line I49 connecting with the rotating vacuum ring I50 attached to the intermittently rotatable plate 92 and encircling the stationary vacuum ring 93.

The rotating vacuum ring I50 is provided with a plurality of radially disposed vacuum ports I5I in a number equal to the number of banding head units carried by the rotatable plate 92, the inner ends of said ports I5I terminating-at the meeting point with the stationary vacuum ring 93 and the outer ends thereof being connected to a line I49 leading to each banding head unit.

The inner, or stationary vacuum ring 93 is fixed in non-rotatable relation and is provided with a single isolated port I52 whose sole function is to supply vacuum to that particular banding head unit of the series which, in the progressive operation of the machine, is due to receive a severed banding strip 84 prior to the banding operation. The port I52 is supplied with vacuum through the line I53 leading to the vacuum control valve 23 so that vacuum is applied to the banding head only at predetermined intervals, as when'a banding strip 84 is to be transferred from the carrier standard I44 to a banding head. As is obvious, during transfer of the strip 84 the isolated port I52 of the stationary ring is in registering communicating relation with the port I5I of the rotatable ring I50 leading to the vacuum passageway I56 provided interiorly of the banding head 96 and shank 91 of the specific banding unit which is to receive the strip. Of necessity, the gummed banding strip 84 must be held in ad'- hering relation to the under side of the banding head 96 during progressive intermittent rotation of the plate 92 from the station at which transfer of the strip is effected until the banding station is reached which approximates a 90 rotation of the plate 92. This is accomplished by providing in the stationary ring 93 a segmental vacuum recess I54 throughout 90 of the extent of said ring. Vacuum is continuously furnished to the recess I54 by a line I55 having direct connection with the vacuum tank 25. Manifestly, as the ports I5 I, connecting with the passageway I56 of each banding head unit, are in communicating relation with said recess, vacuum is applied to each aifected banding head to retain the strip 84' in position.

Intermediate the strip transferring station and the banding station, the gummed adhesive provided on the under side of the strip 64 is moistened by a wick I51 carried by a vertically reciprocable stem I58 supported on the frame 3 and actuated by a cam I59 carried by the shaft 1. Operation of the cam I59 is such that the wick I51 is elevated to contact and moisten the adhesive of the band in predetermined timed relation to the intermittent rotation of the plate 92.

Following moistening of the adhesive, the head and thereby carried strip 84 is intermittently and progressively advanced by rotation of the plate 92 to the banding station, which station is in alignment with the blank positioning channel 68 of the blank feeding mechanism. As previously explained, the blank positioning channel 68 carrying the formed and folded blank I is advanced and momentarily held stationary in such advanced position (by mechanism previously explained in detail) so that the folded portion of the blank I0 is positioned directly beneath a banding head 96 and previously moistened strip 84 carried thereby, the folded end portion of the blank in being supported in underlying relation by the forwardly projecting tongue 16 of the channel 68. Permanently fixed on the standard 90 adjacent the upper end thereof is an upper cam race I60,

circular in top plan, whose front portion, or approximately 180", has a plane surface parallel with the upper face of the lower cam race 86, the rear portion, or remaining 180, of the upper cam race I60 being convexly curved.

Supported in fixed position on the upper end of the standard 90 at a spaced distance above the upper cam race I60 is the head of a T-shaped supporting plate I 6|, the rearwardly extending blade thereof being supported by the shear guide posts I35.

Journaled in bearings I62 located on the plate I6I is a rocker shaft I63, the'front end of said shaft having mounted thereon a walking beam I 64 and the rear end having fixed thereto one end of a rocker arm I65, the opposite end being pivotally connected to a depending link I66 adapted to have reciprocable movement imparted thereto by a cam I61 mounted on a transverse shaft I68, said shaft being driven by the front shaft 4 through spiral gears I69.

Bearings I are provided on the opposite ends of the head of the T-shaped supporting plate IN and are adapted to receive therein plungerpins I'll and I12 depending from the opposite ends of the walking beam I64.

Simultaneously with the advancement of the blank positioning channel 66 beneath the banding head unit bearing the strip 84 to be applied to the blank I0, the walking beam I 64 is oscillated in such manner as to forcibly move the plunger pin I1I downwardly through its bearing I10 so that the lower end of said pin strikes the roller I I0 of the banding heag, unit thereby forcing the entire unit downwardly against the tension of the supporting spring I13 to position the thereby borne banding strip 84 in overlying contacting relation with the previously positioned folded portion of the blank I0, said blank being located midway between the opposite ends of the banding strip, as illustrated in Fig 12. In such position, the banding head 95 and its shank 91 is immovably supported on the tongue 16 of the channel 68, and thereafter continued downward movement of the unit is confined to the housing 95, arms IOI and stem I05, the shank 91 telescoping within the channel 98 of the housing 95 against the tension of the spring I08, as shown in Fig. 11. Such continued downward movement of said elements results in the banding rollers I00 being brought out of housing relation within the recesses 99 and, as a consequence, the

1 opposite ends of the banding strip 84 are turned downwardly at right angles to the horizontal portion overlying the fold of the blank I0.

Depression of the above elements is also resisted by a plunger post I14 slidably mounted in an appropriate supporting member I attached to the bed plate I, said post I14 being normally supported in elevated position by a retractile coil spring I16 having one end thereof attached to a pin projecting from the post and the opposite end attached to the frame 3,

When the banding rollers I00 are lowered to a point below the level of the blank I0, said rollers I00 are thereby rendered free and non-confined and, as a result, the force exerted on the spring I16 through depression of the post I14 is released, causing the spring to instantly retract and suddenly force upwardly the post I14 and thereby supported stem I05. Upward movement of the charge station, respectively.

stem I05 results in like movement being imparted to the integral rack I04 which acts to rotate the pinions I03 thereby swinging the arms IOI and thereby carried rollers I00 toward each other, causing the depending free ends of the strip 84 to be brought inwardly and upwardly into underlying, adhering banding relation with the folded portion of the blank, this operation. completing the placing of an encircling annular band about the folded portion of the blank. The banding strip 84 is of such length that the opposite ends thereof terminate at each side of the blank supporting tongue I6 so that the latter is not included within the embrace of the banding strip.

Following completion of the banding operation, the channel 68 and its tongue I6 is retracted, to receive another blank I0, and the plate 92 and thereby carried banding units are rotated a predetermined distance by the Geneva 88. In such rotation, the rollers I I0 and I06 are brought into contacting relation with the confronting faces of the upper and lower cam races I60 and 86, respectively, as partially shown in Fig. 1, this being responsible for maintaining the banding head elements in banding position wherein the rollers I00 occupy underlying relation to the opposite ends of the banding strip 84.

The banding head elements are maintained in the above described position throughout approximately 180 of rotation of the plate 92, this permitting suflicient time to elapse to permit drying of the adhesive of the banding strip 84. Upon reaching a point diametrically opposite to the banding station the banding head unit is subjected to ejecting apparatus for releasing the banded blank from the banding head unit. This apparatus consists of a yoke I" carried on the lower end of the pin "2 of the walking beam I64 and adapted to engage the upper roller IIO. A somewhat similar yoke H8 is carried by one end of a lever I'I9 pivoted intermediate its ends to the frame 3 and has its opposite end provided with a roller I adapted to engage a cam I8l carried by the transverse shaft I68. As said banding unit reaches the ejecting station, the lower roller I06 is engaged by the yoke I18, which yoke is moved downwardly by means of the lever I19 and cam I8I to bring the stem I05 and rack I04 downward for returning the banding arms IM to retracted position whereby the blank I0 is freed and unsupported, falling from the banding unit to a revolving table I82.

Immediately following discharge of the blank, as aforesaid, the yoke I'I'I engages the upper roller H0 and the end of the walking beam I64 carrying the pin H2 is elevated, this elevation returning all of the banding elements upwardly on their guides 94 to inoperative retracted position, as the latter are shown in Fig. 12 and at the right in Fig. 11.

As previously stated, the lower cam race 86 is semi-circular in top plan having its terminal ends located at the banding station and dis- As the banding unit, due to continued rotation of the plate 92, leaves the discharge station, the lower roller I06 is unsupported and the upper roller IIO engages the convexly curved portion of the upper cam race I80 so that the banding head unit as a whole is lowered so as to be in position to receive a severed banding strip 84 from the shears, as aforesaid.

Intermittent rotary movement is imparted to the plate 92 supporting the banding units by the Geneva gear 88 adapted to be intermittently enupper end of the pedestal 85.

gaged by a. Geneva crank I82 carried by the upper end of a vertical shaft I83 suitably jcurnaled in a bearing I84 attached to and supported by the Said shaft I83 is driven by a thereby carried spiral gear I85 meshing with a similar spiral gear I86 carried by the transverse shaft I68.

While a revolving table I82 has been shown in the drawings as being adapted to receive the finished product of the machine, it will be understood that this mechanism forms no pertinent part of the invention inasmuch as various forms of receptacles and conveyors may be utilized to receive the finished product. For this reason, it is not thought necessary to herein describe the actuating means for revolving the table I82 or further refer to the same.

It will be understood that a blank I0 is formed with each complete reciprocation of the die plunger 34 and that a fiat surface 49 of the feed wheel 48 is successively advanced to underlying relation to the forming die with each reciprocation of said die. Furthermore, a folded blank is presented to a banding head unit for banding with each reciprocation of the blank-advanci" channel 68. v

As revealed by the drawings, the entire circular rotating plate 92 has its entire circumferential extent provided with a plurality of banding head uits, the latter occupying side-to-side relation. Each individual unit is successively supplied with a gummed banding strip 84; receives a folded blank I0 to be banded when presented to the banding station; bands the same; retains the banded blank for a period of time sufficient to permit the adhesive to dry, and finally releases the finished product at the discharge station.

The operation of the machine is continuous and operates at high speed, it being possible to form, fold and band in excess of one hundred blanks per minute without undue strain and/or injury to the machine.

The various shafts and cams are manufactured and assembled with precision so that all movements are synchronized to avoid any interruption of operation or improper functioning of the machine. The valve controlling the vacuum supply to a portion of the parts is a multiple valve and is operated by a cam I 81 carried by the transverse shaft I68 so that vacuum is supplied thereto only at predetermined desired intervals.

While the invention more particularly is designed for the production of banded blanks for use with gaming boards, nevertheless it is equally adapted for use in the production of banded blanks for other purposes and hence is not so limited.

What isclaimed is:

1. A strip feeding and folding machine of the character described, including a table having an opening therethrough, a strip receiving hopper above said table, means for removing a strip from said hopper and depositing same upon the table, means for advancing a strip along said table and into position over said opening, a reciprocating die above said table aligned with the opening and adapted for movement therethrough, a feed wheel beneath said opening adapted to cooperate with said die member to form said strip into substantially U-shape with one free end shorter than the other, means supported by the table beneath the latter for folding the short end of the strip into parallel relation with the bight portion of same, a stationary guide member cooperating with the feed wheel for folding the long end of the strip into parallel relation with the bight portion and the other end of the strip, mechanism for securing the folded portion of the strip in folded position, a reciprocating channel member for advancing the folded blank to the securing mechanism, and power means for actuating all of said moving elements in timed sequence.

2. A strip feeding and folding machine of the character described, including a movable die member, a feed wheel cooperating with said die member for forming a strip into substantially U-shape with one free end shorter than the other end, means between said die and wheel for folding said short end of thestrip into parallel relation with the bight portion of the strip, and a channeled guide member cooperating with said wheel for folding the other end of the strip into parallel relation with the previously folded portion of the strip, said last named end terminating a predetermined distance beyond the folded portion of the strip to provide a supporting tab.

3. A strip feeding and folding machine of the character described, including a movable die member, a feed wheel beneath and cooperating with said die member for forming a strip into substantially U-shape with one free end shorter than the other end, means between said die member and wheel for folding said short end of the strip into parallel relation with the bight portion thereof, and means for folding the other end of the strip into parallel relation with said previously folded portion of the strip.

4. A strip feeding and folding machine of the character described, including a movable die member, a feed wheel beneath and cooperating with said die member for forming a strip into substantially U-shape with one free end shorter than the other end, means between said die member and wheel for folding said short end of the strip into parallel relation with the bight portion thereof, means for folding the other end of the strip into parallel relation with said previously folded portion of the strip, and means for securing the folded portion of the strip in folded position.

5. A strip feeding and folding machine of the character described, including a movable die member, a feed wheel cooperating with said die member for forming a strip into substantially U-shape with one free end shorter than the other end, means between said die and wheel for folding said short end of the strip into parallel relation with the bight portion of the strip, and a stationary arcuate member cooperating with said wheel for folding the other end of the strip into parallel relation with the previously folded portion of the strip, said last named end terminating a predetermined distance beyond the folded portion of the strip to provide a supporting tab.

6. A strip feeding and folding machine of the character described, including a table having an opening therethrough, a substantially rectangular die member positioned above and aligned with the opening and adapted for movement through the latter, feed means beneath the opening having spaced plane surfaces cooperating with said die member for forming a strip into substantially U-shape with one free end of the U-shaped strip shorter than the other end thereof, means for folding said short end of the strip parallel to the bight portion of the same, means cooperating with the feed means for folding the long end of the strip into parallel relation with the bight portion and short end of the strip, means for securing the folded portion of the strip in folded position, and means for advancing the folded strip from the feed means to the securing means.

7. A strip feeding and folding machine of the character described, including a table having an opening therethrough, a die member aligned with the opening and adapted for movement through the latter, means for positioning a, strip over said opening and beneath the die member, means beneath the table and aligned with said opening and cooperating with the die member for forming a strip into substantially U-shape, one of the walls defining the opening being formed with an offset shoulder to engage one side of the strip for removing the latter from the movable die member during one movement of the latter, and

means beneath the table for folding the sides of taneously actuating the rollers to disposed said band about said folded blank.

9. A blank feeding and folding machine of the character described, including means forforming a blank into substantially U-shape, means for folding the ends of the blank into parallel relation to the bight portion thereof, means for feeding a retaining band to a position overlying said folded blank and for folding the same about the latter, including a banding head, movable forming means carried by said head, means carried by said head for actuating the forming means for releasing said blank and band from the banding head.

10. A strip feeding and folding machine of'the character described, including a. table having an 3 opening there-through, a substantially rectangular die member aligned with the opening and adapted for movement through the latter, means beneath the table and cooperating with the die member for forming said strip into substantially U-sha-pe, one of the walls defining the opening being formed to frictionally remove the U-shaped strip from the movable die member during the receding movement of the latter, means beneath the table for folding the ends of the strip into parallel relation with the bight portion of the latter, means to secure the folded strip in its folded position, and means for advancing the folded strip to the securing means.

11. A strip feeding and folding machine of the character described, including means for folding the strip, means for feeding the strip to said folding means. mechanism for securing the strip in folded position, means for feeding the folded strip to said securing mechanism, said securing mechanism including a banding head, means associated with the head for positioning a retaining band above said folded strip, means for moving the banding head and band into engagement with said folded strip, and means carried by said banding head for forming and moving said band into embracing relation with the folded strip.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, means for folding a predetermined portion of a rectangular strip upon itself, means for permanently securing said folded portion in folded position, means for transferring said strip from said folding means to said securing means, and means-including a revolving feed wheel for delivering said strip to said transferring means from said folding means.

13. In an apparatus of the character described,

moans for folding a predetermined portion of a strip upon itself, means for permanently securin said folded portion in folded position, means for transferring said strip from said ,fclding means to said securing means, means including a revolving feed wheel for delivering said strip to said transferring means from said folding means,

the reciprocation of said transfer means during the operation of permanently securing the folded portion of said strip.

15. A strip feeding and folding machine of the character described including a table having an opening therethrough, a die member positioned above and aligned with the opening and adapted for movement through the latter, feed means beneath the opening having spaced planesurfaces cooperating with said die member for forming a strip into substantially U-shape, movable means for folding one vertical portion of said strip into parallel face-to-face contacting relation with the horizontal portion thereof, and a channeled stationary guide member cooperating with the feed means for folding the other vertical portion of the strip into parallel relation with the other two portions of the strip.

16. A strip feeding and folding machine of the character described including means for forming a strip into substantially U-shape, means for forming the opposite ends of the strip into parallel relation with the bight portion thereof, and means for disposing a retaining band in embracing relation to said folded strip, said last mentioned means comprising a banding head adapted to position a retaining band in overlying relation to said folded strip, banding arms carried by said head, and means carried by said head for actuating said arms to dispose said band in embracing relation about said strip.

17. In an apparatus of the character described, means for folding a portion of a strip upon itself, and means for disposing a retaining band in embracing relation to said folded strip, said last mentioned means comprising a banding head adapted to position a retaining band relative to said strip, pivoted banding arms carried by said head, and actuating means borne by said head whereby said arms are rotated toward each other to dispose said retaining band in embracing relation about said folded strip.

18. A strip feeding and folding machine of the character described including means for folding a strip, means for feeding the strip to said folding means, mechanism for securing the strip in folded position, means for feeding the folded strip to said securing mechanism. said securing mechanism including a banding head, vacuum means supplied to said head for causing adherence of a retaining band thereon and for subsequently positioning said band above said folded strip, means for moving the banding head and band into engagement with said folded strip, and means carried by the head for forming said band into embracing relation with the folded strip.

19. A blank feeding and folding apparatus of the character described including means for folding a portion of a blank about itself, a banding head for positioning a thereby-carried retaining band about said folded blank, a carrier for positioning said folded blank beneath said banding head, means for moving said banding head and band into engagement w th said blank, and pivoted arms borne by said head whereby upon actuation thereof said band may be formed into embracing relation with said blank.

20. A blank feeding and folding apparatus of the character described including means for folding a portion of a blank about itself, a banding head. for positioning a thereby-carried retaining band about said folded blank, pivoted banding arms carried by said head, a carrier for positioning said folded blank beneath said banding head, means for lowering said banding head and band into contacting relation with said blank,

said band being deposited on said blank in a hori- .1

zontal plane with its opposite ends extending beyond said blank, means for further lowering a portion of said head and banding arms to dispose the free ends of said band in depending vertical positions, and means for rotating said banding arms towardeach other to dispose said ends of the band in parallel relation with the under side of said blank.

21. A blank feeding and folding apparatus of the character described including means for folding a portion of a blank about itself, a banding head for positioning a retaining band about said folded blank, pivoted banding arms mounted on shafts journaled in said head, gears carried by said shafts and meshing with a rack supported by said head, means for lowering said head and band into engagement with said blank, means for further lowering said banding arms below the plane of said blank, and means for actuating said rack for rotating said arms toward each other for forcing said band into embracing relation with said blank.

22. A blank feeding and folding machine of the character described including means for folding a portion of a blank about itself, a banding head for positioning a thereby-carried retaining band about said folded blank, a carrier for positioning said folded blank beneath said ban-ding head, means for moving said banding head and band into contacting relation with said blank, pivoted arms borne by said head whereby upon actuation thereof said band may be formed into embracing relation with said blank, and means for returning said head and actuating said arms to assume inoperative position for effecting release of the banded blank from the banding head.

23. In an apparatus of the character described, means for folding a portion of a strip about itself, means for disposing a retaining band in embracing relation to said folded strip, said last mentioned means being supported by a rotating table, and means for intermittently rotating said table to position said banding means to receive the folded strip as it is transferred thereto from said folding means.

transferring a blank from said folding means to one of said banding heads, and means for intermittently rotating said turntable to successively position a banding head in registering relation with said transfer means for receiving a folded blank.

25. A blank feeding and folding apparatus of the character described including means for folding a portion of a blank about itself, means for securing said blank in folded relation consisting of a plurality of banding heads supported on a turntable for disposing a retaining band about said folded portion, means for transferring a blank from said folding meansto one of said banding heads, means for intermittently rotating said turntable to successively position a banding head in registering relation with said transfer means for receiving a folded blank, and,

heads during rotation of said turntable and prior to reaching said transfer means. 7

26. In an apparatus of the character described, means for folding a portion of a blank about itself, a plurality of banding heads carried by and vertically movable on an intermittently rotated turntable for positioning a retaining band about each of the folded blanks as the latter are folded, a carrier for positioning the successively folded blanks beneath successively presented banding heads, means for moving each of said banding heads and thereby-carried retaining band into engagement with a folded blank when presented thereto by the carrier, banding means borne by each of said heads whereby upon actuation thereof said band and banding means are brought into embracing relation with the folded blank. I

27. In an apparatus of the character described, means for folding a portion of a blank about itself, a plurality of banding heads carried by and vertically movable on an intermittently rotated turntable for positioning a retaining band about each of the folded blanks as the latter are folded, a carrier for positioning the successively folded blanks beneath successively presented banding heads, means for moving each of said banding heads and thereby-carried retaining band into engagement with a folded blank when presented thereto by the carrier, banding means borne by each of said heads whereby upon actuation thereof said band-and banding means are brought into embracing relation with the folded blank, and means for retaining said banding means in embracing relation to said blank during a predetermined period of continued rotation of said turntable.

28. In an apparatus of the character described, means for folding a portion of a blank about itself, a plurality of banding heads carried by and vertically movable on an intermittently rotated turntable for positioning a retaining band about each of the folded blanks as the latter are folded, a carrier for positioning the successively folded blanks beneath successively presented banding heads, means for moving each of said banding heads and thereby-carried retaining band into engagement with a folded blank when presented thereto by the carrier, banding means borne by each of said heads whereby upon actuation thereof said band and banding means are brought into embracing relationwlth. the folded blank,

means for retaining said banding means in embracing relation to said blank during a predetermined period of continued rotation of said turntable, and means for returning said head and banding means to inoperative position for effectiiiigelease of the banded blank from the banding 29. In an apparatus of the character described, means for folding a portion of a blank about itself, a plurality, of banding heads carried by and vertically movable on a rotating turntable for positioning a retaining band about each of the folded blanks as the latter are folded, a

reciprocating carrier for positioning the succes-- sively folded blanks beneath successively presented banding heads, means for moving each of said banding heads and thereby-carried retaining band into engagement with a folded blank when presented thereto by the carrier, pivoted banding means borne by each of said heads whereby upon actuation thereof said band;

is brought into embracing relation with the folded blank, means for interrupting rotation of the turntable and means for interrupting reciprocation of the carrier during banding of the blank.

30. A strip folding and feeding machine of the character described including a vertically reciprocable die member, a feed wheel having spaced plane surfaces beneath and cooperating with said die member for forming a strip into substantially U-shape, means between said die member and wheel for folding one end of the strip into parallel face-to-face contacting relation with the bight portion thereof, means for folding the other end of the strip into parallel contacting relation with said previously folded portion of the strip, and radial extending passageways provided in said feed wheel terminating at the plane surfaces thereof whereby the strip may be caused to adhere to said wheel upon the introduction of suction force through said passageways.

31. A strip feeding and folding machine of the character described including a vertically reciprocable die member, a feed wheel having spaced plane surfaces of shallow depth formed integrally with said wheel cooperating with said die member for forming a strip into substantially U- shape, means between said die member and wheel for folding one end of the strip into parallel faceto-face contacting relation with the bight portion thereof, and means for folding the other end of. the strip into parallel relation with said previously folded portion of the strip.

32. A strip feedingand folding machine of the character described including a vertically re'ciprocable die member, a feed wheel beneath and.

cooperating with said die member for forming a strip into substantially U-shape, means between said die member and wheel for folding one end of the strip into face-to-face contacting relation with the bight portion thereof, and means for folding the other end of the strip into parallel relation with said previously folded portion of the strip, and means for disposing a retaining band in embracing relation to said folded strip for maintaining the same in folded relation.

33. A strip feeding and folding machineof the character described including a table having an opening therethrough, a stripreceiving hopper above said table, means for removing a strip from said hopper and depositing the same upon the table, means for advancing a strip along said table and into position over said opening, a reciprocating die aligned with said opening and adapted for movement therethrough, a feed wheel beneath said opening adapted to cooperate with said die member to form the strip into substantially U-shape, means between said die member and wheel for folding one end of the strip into parallel contacting relation with the bight portion thereof, and means for folding the other end of the strip into parallel relation withsaid previously folded portion of the strip.

34. A strip feeding and folding machine of the character described including a table having an opening therethrough, means for positioning a strip upon the table overlying said opening, a reciprocating die aligned with said opening and adapted for movement therethrough, a feed wheel beneath said opening adapted to cooperate with said die member to form the strip into substantially U-shape, means supported from said table for folding one end of the strip into parallel contacting relation with the bight portion thereof, and means for folding the other end of the strip into parallel relation with said previously folded portion of. the strip.

35. A strip feeding and folding machine of the character described including a table having an opening therethrough, a reciprocable die mem-- ber aligned with said opening and adapted for reciprocable movement therethrough for forming a strip into substantially U-shape, a feed wheel beneath said die member and cooperating with the latter for forming said strip, means supported from said table between said die member and wheel for folding one end of the strip into face-to-face contacting relation with the bight portion thereof, and means for folding the opposite end of the strip into parallel relation with said previously folded portion of the strip.

36. A strip feeding and folding machine of the character described including a reciprocable die member for forming a strip into substantially U shape, a feed wheel having peripheral serrations oooperating'with said die for forming said strip, means between said' die member and wheel for folding one end of the strip into face-to-face contacting relation with the bight portion thereof, and means for folding the other end of the strip into parallel relation with said previously folded portion of the strip.

' ALVIN-A. MASSINI.

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