US2971133A - Reset switch mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 7, 1961 Filed July 31, 1956 Fig. I

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WESLEY E. LAZOTT aoj 751017 lllfirmmd ATTORNEYS Feb. 7, 1961 w. E. LAZOTT 3 RESET SWITCH MECHANISM Filed July 31, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WESLEY E. LAZOTT ATTORNEYS United States Patent i RESET SWITCH MECHANISM Wesley E. Lazott, Hopkinton, Mass., assignor to Needham Manufacturing Company Inc., Needham Heights, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed July 31, 1956, Ser. No. 601,301

8 Claims. (Cl. 317-123) This invention relates to mechanism requiring a quick working stroke and rapid return of an operating member, such as a shearing blade, stamping head, punch, etc. Rapid operation of such mechanisms requires not only that the working stroke shall be quick but also that the return stroke to initial position shall be immediate. In accordance with my invention I preferably employ a solenoid as the power medium for the working stroke and quick acting resilient means for effecting the return stroke. The working stroke is initiated by a finger operated switch in the solenoid circuit and associated therewith and with the operated head is mechanical means for opening the circuit and permitting immediate return of the head to initial position at a predetermined point in the forward travel of the head. The production of novel mechanism for performing these functions comprises the primary object of the invention.

In Patent 2,795,816 dated June 18, 1957, is disclosed a machine for severing patties from an extruded strip of ground meatand employing a solenoid operated knife together with a relay-controlled system for breaking the solenoid circuit and permitting return of the knife to initial position at a predetermined point in the forward travel of the knife. My invention herein relates particularly to an improved, relatively simple and more economical mechanism for performing this function. Also while the invention is particularly adapted for use in a strip severing machine of the nature herein illustrated it will be understood that it is also useful in various other machines of a similar nature.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is an elevation, partially broken away, of a hamburg patty forming machine employing the invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of knife operating mechanism embodying the invention, and illustrating some parts in section,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing switch operating mechanism in open switch position,

Fig. 4 is a like view with the mechanism in switch closed position,

Fig. 5 is a further fragmentary view showing the switch released to open position,

Fig. 6 is a like view with one part in a further advanced position, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 7--7 of Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have illustrated the invention as .employed in a meat patty severing machine of the nature disclosed in said copending application. The machine is in the form of an attachment 10 adapted to be secured by an adaptor 12 to the delivery end of a meat grinding machine. The attachment is constructed to extrude the ground meat into a ribbon like strip 14 and onto a paper strip 16 drawn from a supply roll 18. The paper and meat strips feed onto and downwardly Patented Feb. 7, 1961 along an inclined tray or platform 20 and are enclosed beneath a cover 22 pivoted to the machine at 24, all of which are more fully disclosed in said copending application.

A strip severing knife 26 is mounted for reciprocation within an opening 28 extending transversely across the tray 20, the knife being supported for reciprocation by screws 30 extending through slots 32 in the knife. Tension springs 34 having their ends connected to the screws 30 and to the knife at 36 normally hold the knife in raised position with its cutting edge disposed above the tray as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7. The knife is connected at 38 to the core 40 of a solenoil 42 disposed beneath the knife. Energizing of the solenoid is adapted quickly to draw the knife downwardly and sever a predetermined length patty from the end of the strip. The patty thereupon slides downwardly of the platform by gravity.

The movements of the knife are automatically controlled to sever equal length patties from the advancing end of the strip. The mechanism for performing this function includes a switch arm 44- extending upwardly through a slot 46 in the platform 23 and located beyond the knife. The function of the switch arm and associated mechanism is to energize the solenoid and operate the knife when the forward end of the extruded strip comes into contact with the switch arm. A block 43 carrying the switch arm and cooperating mechanism is adjustable on and along a screw threaded rod 50 parallel with and beneath the slot 46, an outside knob 52 and bevel gears 54 being provided for rotating the rod to adjust the block therealong. Such adjustment provides for varying the length of patties cut from the strip.

The circuit 56 to the solenoid includes a normally open micro-switch 58 on the block 43 and having a contact button 60 adapted to close the switch when depressed. The switch arm 44 is fixed to a shaft 62 rotatably mounted in a bearing 63 on the block 48 and carrying an arm 64 disposed parallel with and eccentrically of the shaft 62. An element 66 is pivotally mounted on the end of the arm 64 in position to contact the switch button 60. A link 63 pivotally connected to the other end of the element at 69 extends downwardly through a bracket 70 and is bent laterally to provide a foot 72. A compression spring '74 on the link between the bracket 79 and a cross pin 76 normally holds the link in the fully raised position of Figs. 1 and 2 permitted by contact with a shoulder of the element 66 at 78.

The threaded rod 56 is carried at its ends in a frame 80 secured to the attachment it) at 82. A rod 84 in the frame beneath and parallel with the rod 50 cooperates therewith at a notch 86 to support the block 48 in upright position. Pivotally mounted in the frame at one end 88 is a bail 90 extending over the foot 72 and having its other end seated in an arm 92 pivoted to the frame at 94. The pin 38 is rigidly carried by and extends outwardly at 95 from the head 96 of the solenoid core and into a slot 97 in the arm 2. The arrangement is such that downward movement of the core pivots the bail into engagement with the foot 72 and pivots the element 66 downwardly about the arm 64 to the position of Fig. 5.

The operation of the machine is substantially as follows. As the extruded strip 14 moves forwardly beyond the knife it comes into contact with and pivots the switch arm 44 to the position shown in Fig. 4 and in broken lines in Fig. 1, thus rotating the shaft 62 and moving the element 66 to switch closing position (Fig. 4). The solenoid is thereupon energized and causes downward movement of the knife to sever the strips l4--l6. Downward movement of the solenoid core also operates through the pin 95 to pivot the bail 90 into contact with the foot 72 and pivot the element 66 about the arm 64 to the position of Fig. 5, thus opening the switch 58 and de-energizing the solenoid. The knife thereupon immediately returns to its initial position-and the severed patty 98 slides downwardly over the depressedswitch arm 44. It will be understood that the parts are set to a predetermined position toopen the switch. 58 directly following the passage of the knife through the strips 14-16.

' By reference to Fig. 6 it will be noted that the element 66 and link 63 remain in the depressed position of Fig. 5 even though the bail 98 has been elevated with the return movement of the knife, and that the patty 98 still maintains the switch arm 44 in depressed position. The patty is moving in the direction of the arrow and when it leaves the arm 44 the latter will immediately return to the initial position of Figs. 1 and 3 as will also the link 68 and element 66. This function is due to the leverage shown in Figs. 5 and 6 in which the spring 74 is unable to return the parts to initial position until the arm 44 has resumed its initial position. Thus the mechsaid mechanical means being adapted to release the knife operating power by opening said circuit.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 in which said means operatively associated with the shaft includes an arm mounted eccentrically on the shaft and carrying a member operatively associated with the switch.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 in which the last named member is pivotally mounted .on the arm and said mechanical means includes a link connected to said' the shaft is rotated to said advanced position, and means The primary object of the invention resides in the relatermined path, a knife disposed transversely of said path, power operated mechanism for moving the knife forwardly to sever the strip, resilient means for returning the knife to initial position, tripping mechanism including a controlling member in the path of movement of the strip beyond the knife and disposed to be operated by contact of the strip therewith for causing the power operated mechanism to operate the knife and sever the strip, and mechanical means for automatically releasing the knife operating power from said power operated mechanism and permitting return of the knife to initial position at a predetermined point in the forward travel "or the knife.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said power operated mechanism is electrically operated, a circuit therefor including a normally open switch, a rotatably mounted shaft, said controlling member comprising a finger fixed to and adapted to rotate the shaft by contact of the strip with the finger, and means operatively associated with the shaft for thereupon closing the switch,

for automatically moving the element to another position on the shaft wherein the switch is opened when the core reaches a predetermined position in its travel into the solenoid. h

6. The combination defined in claim 8 in which said pivot axis is disposed ecceritrically of the rotary axis of the shaft. T

7. The combination defined-in claim 5 plus means including a spring for returning theelement to said initial open-switch position after the switch arm has returned to initial position, and means preventing said return of the element to initial position until the switch arm has returned to initial position. i

8. In combination, a solenoid including a core, means including an electric circuit through the solenoid and a switch therein for energizing the solenoid and drawing the core thereinto when the switch is closed, a shaft, a switch arm connected to and adapted to rotate the shaft from an initial position to an advanced position, an element pivotally mounted on the shaft and cooperating with and adapted in one position thereon to close the switch when the shaft is. rotated to said advanced position, and means for automatically moving the element about its pivot axis to another position .on the shaft wherein the switch is opened when the core reaches a predetermined position in its travel into thesolenoid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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