US1994255A - Staple forming mechanism - Google Patents

Description

4 March 12, 1935. A. L. ROSENMUND ET AL STAPLE FORMING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 16, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TORS fllfv-ed L-RO-Senmunal Bygeorge FIE-I ZI le/zeari; ,fi ur ATTOR EYS.

March 12, 1935.

- A. L. ROSENMUND ET AL 1,994,255

STAPLE FORMING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 16, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS k Alfred L Rosenmund Bygeoye flagglefieai i r ATTORN YS.

Mai'ch 12, 1935.

A. L. ROSENMUND ET AL STAPLE FORMING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 16, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TORS .Zll/freol flosen mwnd BY jeoz 'e l. {yZi/zea-r i A TTORNEYS.

March 12, 1935. A, ROSENMUND r AL 1,994,255

STAPLE FORMING MECHANI SM Filed Sept. 16, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 BI Zeheari ali ATTORNEYS.

I INVENTORS flZFz-ed L .liosenmwwi March 12, 1935. A. L. ROSENMUND ET AL I 1 STAPLE FORMING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 16, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N V EN TORS liosenmurwi March 1 1935- A. L. ROSENMUND El AL 1,994,255

STAPLE FORMING MECHANI SM Filed Sept. 16, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 V IN V EN TORS fllf'recz l ,Rosenmancl BY 9601:9631? {ylflfiear ATTORNEYS.

A.-.L. ROSENMUND Er AL STAPLE FORMING MECHANI SM March 12, 193B.

7 SheetsSheet 7 Filed Sept. 16, 1932 J5 B 5d n Nm a, M5 8 wmflwm mm M. 1 w e A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STAPLE FORMING MECHANISM Alfred L. Rosenmund, Rockaway,- and George-P. Igleheart, Boonton, N. J., assignors to stapling Machines 00., a corporation of Delaware I Application September 16, 1932, Serial No. 633,392

27 Claims.

This invention relates to staple forming and driving mechanism and particularly to that type of staple forming-and driving "mechanism which forms staples from staplestock wire fed thereto and drives the formed staples into work positioned beneath the driver.

It is an object of the invention to provide an efiicient, economical and durable staple forming and driving mechanism.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a high speed staple forming and driving mechanism.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a staple forming mechanism adapted to produce a succession of staples having; legs of uniform length.

One illustrative embodiment of the invention accompanying drawings, in

is shown in the which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the staple forming and driving mechanism of the invention and showing generally the operating connections for operating the several mechanisms from a main shaft.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a staple forming and driving unit.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the staple. forming and driving unit.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the staple forming and driving unit with ,the front cover plate removed for clearness of illustration. In this view the staple former is at the top of its stroke and is about to descend to sever a portion ofthe staple stock wire and form it into a staple.

the loop bar.

a Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the position of the former after the staple stock wire has been severed and while the severed portion is being bent over the loop bar.

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the completed staple being driven out of the former.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged horizontal sectional plan taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2' and Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional plan taken on the line 99 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional plan taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 .is a horizontal sectionalplan talren on the line 11--1'1 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 12 is an inside view of the front cover plate viewed from the line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is an inside cross-sectional view of the front cover plate taken on the line 1313 of Fig. 12.

As conducive to a better understanding of the invention it may be noted at this point that in the manufacture of various types of boxes, crates, baskets and other shipping containers, the parts forming such containers are stapled together by a staple forming and driving mechanism which forms staples from staple stock wire automatical- 1y fed thereto and drives the formed staples'into the work which is progressively subjected to the action of the staple forming and driving mechanism, the work being 7 advanced beneath said mechanism between staple driving operations thereof. Such staple forming and driving mechanisms are also used in the manufacture of wire bound boxes as shown in U. S. Letters Patent to Thompson No. 1,669,383 of May 8, 1928-. In the machine of said Thompson patent the staple forming and driving mechanism is arranged to drive the formed staples over binding wires and into the wooden box elements to secure the binding wires thereto and to secure said elements together. Heretofore, as in the machine of said Thompson patent, the staple stock wire from which the the staple forming mechanism by feed wheels which are rotated intermittently to cause such intermittent feed of. the staple stock wire Such an intermittent feed of the staple stock wire not only limits the speed of operation of the machine, but also has a tendency (due to the sudden starting and stopping of the rotation of the feed wheels) to vary the length of the staple legs in successive staples.

While the objectionable features of the intermittent staple stock feed have been recognized,

sary in the production of staples from 'staple stock wire fed to the staple forming mechanism, it being thought necessary to interrupt the feed of the staple stock wire during the cutting, forming and driving of a staple. Hence in all staple forming and driving mechanisms heretofore used, a length of staple stock wire sufficient for the formation of a staple has been fed beneath the staple former and then the feed of the wire was stopped while the staple former and driver descended to cut the wire, bend it into the form of a staple, and drive the completed staple into the work. The feed-of the staple stock wire was not resumed until the former and driver were again raised to permit another length of wire for the next staple to be fed beneath the former. Applicants propose to such a feed has heretofore been considered necesstaples are formed has been fed intermittently to stroke of the staple former.

feed the staple stock wire continuously to the staple forming and driving mechanism, whereby while one staple is being formed and driven, wire for the next staple is being fed into the stapling unit to be severed and formed upon the next down Such a continuous feed of the staple stock wire permits a reduction in the stroke of the staple former, increases the speed of operation of the machine and produces staples having legs of uniform length.

In Fig. 1 is shown a machine embodying the staple forming and driving mechanism of this invention. As there shown, the staple forming and driving units and the operating parts therefor are supported by side frames 1 connected and supported; by suitable cross bars. The staple stock wire designated 2 which is to be fed to the staple forming and driving units is carried by a reel 3 rotatably mounted in brackets 4 hung from a rod 5 extending across the machine and supported at either end by an upright 6 and braced by a rod '7 secured to side frames 1. Suitably supported by cross bars of the machine is'a work support 8 for the work to be operated upon. Such support may be stationary as shown, or it may consist of a movable support in the form of endless conveyor chains or'the like upon which the work may be fed beneath the staple forming and driving mechanism. The machine may carry a plurality of staple forming and driving units to drive a plurality of rows of staples into the work, a reel 3 for staple stock wire being provided for each staple forming and driving unit.

The staple forming and driving units are carried by a stationary cross bar 9 supported by side frames 1 and a crossbar 10 adapted to reciprocate vertically in guide ways 11 formed in side frames 1. Cross bar 10 is reciprocated vertically through link 12 by an eccentric 13 on a main shaft 14 rotated from any suitable source of power.

Referring to Fig. 2, each staple forming and driving unit comprises lower and upper castings 15 and 16 detachably and adjustably mounted on cross bars 9 and 10, lower casting 15 being clamped to stationary cross bar 9 by a clamp plate 17, and upper casting 16 being clamped to vertically reciprocating cross bar 10 by a clamp plate 18.

The staple stock wire 2 is fed to the lower casting 15 through feed rolls 19 and 20, roll 19 being splined to a shaft 21 journaled in side frames 1, which shaft is rotated continuously as hereinafter described, and roll 20 is loosely mounted on an eccentric shaft 22 journaled in an arm 23 extending from the lower casting 15, said shaft 22 being pressed toward shaft 21 by a suitable spring. To

impart a positive rotation to feed roll's 19 and 20, said rolls are provided with intermeshing gears 24 and 25.

As shown in Fig. 1, shaft 21 is rotated continuously by a gear 26 splined to said shaft through a chain 27 and a pinion 28 on main shaft 14.

Referring to Fig. 4, the staple stock wire 2 is fed by the feed rolls 19 and 20 through a guide tube 29 carried by a support block 30 bolted to lower casting 15. From guide tube 29 staple stock wire 2 is fed through a flexible and resilient guide tube 31 which is secured to support block 30 by a set screw 32, Guide tube 31 extends from block 30 into a recess formed in lower casting 15, and when in normal non-flexed position guides the wire over a stationary cutter 33 and a loop bar 35. Cutter 33 is provided with a chamfer cutting edge 34 at a suitable angle to form the staple joints, and is secured in the recess in casting 15 by bolts or screws. The flexible and resilient guide tube 31 functions in the manner hereinafter explained to permit flexing of the wire out of its normal path of travel and to return it to position to be severed and bent into staple form over the loop bar 35.

v To form a staple from the staple stock wire which projects beyond the. end of flexible guide tube 31 and extends over loop bar 35, there is provided a staple former 36 having a cutting edge 37 chamfered to correspond to the chamfer of the cutting edge 34 of the stationary cutter '33 for shearing off the stock wire between said cutting edges upon descent of the staple former 36. To receive the severed wire stock, the lower end of the former is usually provided with a horizontal groove 38 of a depth corresponding to the diameter of the stock wire so that when the staple former is brought down beyond the loop bar, as more fully hereinafter described, the severed stock wire will be temporarily held in said grooves by said loop bar.

To bend the severed stock wire around the loop bar, the staple former is provided with an elongated lateral recess 39 having therein opposed longitudinal grooves 40, each of a depth corre sponding to the diameter of the staple stock wire and connecting with the horizontal groove 38 at the lower end of the staple former. As a result, on the downward movement of the staple former, the stock wire in the horizontal groove 38 is bent over the loop bar and into the longitudinal grooves 40 of the staple former, thereby completing the staple.

Referring now to Fig. 3, to positively force the former 36 downward to bend the staple wire over the loop bar 35 as described, there is provided a spring pressed dog 41 having its upper end pivoted I to a block 42 bolted to an ear 43 projecting from the upper casting 16. The lower end of said dog is directly above an upwardly projecting end of the former 36. As a result, when the upper casting 16 is moved downwardly, the former 36 will also be moved downward and will bend the staple stock wire over the loop bar 35 to form a staple as described.

The former 36 is not moved positively and entirely to the face of the work, but after the staple has been formed the feed dog 41 is moved out of engagement with the upper end of former 36 by a pin 44 projecting through said dog and adapted to engage beveled or cam ends 45 of ribs 46 on the front cover plate of lower casting 15. To move the staple former yieldingly on down to the work and present the staple thereto, the former 36 is connected to an L-shaped rod 4'7, the upper end of which projects through an aperture in the upper casting ear 43. A coiled spring 48 is interposed between the lower face of said ear and a collar 49 fast on said rod 47.

Loop bar 35 about which the staple is formed is carried by a loop bar holder 50 which is pivotally mounted within a recess 51 on a pin 52. To rock the loop bar 35 out from under the formed staple there is provided a trip slide 53 secured to a back bar 54 connected to the block 42, said slide be- The staple being thus positioned on the work,

is then in readiness to be driven. To this end there is provided a driver 56 projecting into the lateral recess 39 of the former 36, said driver being secured to the back bar 54.

On downward movement of the bar 10 and upper casting 16, the staple former 36 will move down and bend the staple stock wire over the loop bar 35. Then the latter will be rocked out from beneath the formed-staple and the dog pin 44 will engage the incline 45 of the rib 46 and rock the dog out of engagement with the former 36. Further downward movement of the bar 10 will presentthe former 36 and the staple therein to the work into which the staple is to be driven. Continued downward movement of the bar 10 will cause the driver 56 to engage and drive the staple out of the former 36 into or through the material beneath, the points of the staple which may pass through the material being bent over or clinched by engagement with a suitable anvil located beneath the material in vertical alignment with the staple driver.

When bar 10 and upper casting 16 are in their lowermost position, dog pin 44 on dog 41 has passed below beveled or cam end 45 of rib 46, and a projection 5'7, on the lower end of dog 41 has snapped in beneath a notch 58 in the former 36 in position to engage said notch and raise the former 36 immediately upon upward movement of the upper casting 16. Thus when upper casting 16 starts its upward movement, projection 57engages notch 58 and raises the staple former until pin 44 on dog 41 engages a cam surface 59 on rib 46, which engagement releases projection 5''! from its engagement with notch 58. Dog 41 continues to rise with upper casting 16 until it passes cam surface 45 and snaps in above the upper end of former 36 in position to force the former down dog 41 is being raised, driver 56 also moves upward in recess 39 of the former 36 and when projection 57 of the dog 41 is disengaged from notch 58, the upper end of driver 56 engages the top of the recess 39 of the former 36 and raises it up above the loop bar 35, whereupon slide 53 engages loop bar holder and moves the loop bar beneath the former 36 in readiness to form another staple.

As heretofore stated, the feed rolls 19 and 20 feed the staple stock .wire 2 continuously and at substantially a uniform speed. The speed of rotation of the rolls 19 and 20 may be regulated to feed the desired length of wire for one staple at each revolution of main shaft 14, during which time the staple forming and driving mechanism completes one cycle of operation. The speed of rotation of the rolls 19 and 20 may be regulated by changing the size of pinion 28 on main shaft 14 or by changing the size of gear 26 on shaft 21, or by changing the size of the feed rolls 19 and 20.

As shown in Figs. 4 to 11, means are provided to permit the staple stock wire to be fed continuously and without interrupting the feed thereof during the formation" and driving of a staple. In Figs. 4 and 8, the staple stock wire 2 is being fed over the stationary knife 33 and the loop bar 35 and beneath the former 36, which is then in raised position and about to descend. As the former 36 descends from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5, the wire 2 continues to feed in across the loop bar 35- When the cutting edge 3'1of the former 36 reaches the cutting edge 34 of the stationary knife 33 (as shown in Figs. 5 and 9) the correct amount of wire for one staple lies over the loop bar 35 and the wire is severed between cutting edges 34 and 3'7. The former 36 continues to descend,'bending the severed portion of the wire over the loop bar 35, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. During the descent of the former 36 and during its subsequent ascent to the position shown in Fig. 4, the wire 2 continues to feed in the manner shown in Fig. 11. As there shown, the side face of the former 36 is provided with a beveled surface 60, upon which the end of the staple stock wire is guided toward the front face of the former 36 across which the wire is fed, as shown in Fig. 11. This deflection of the wire by the beveled surface 60 of the former 36 is permitted by the flexibility of the guide tube 31 which accompanies the flexing movement of the wire- 2 while resisting undue flexing thereof. The wire 2 continues to feed past the front face of the former 36, asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 11 until the former 36 is raised above the wire 2, whereupon the resiliency of the guide tube 31 causes it to swing from, the position shown in Fig. 11 to its former position, as shown in Fig. 9. This movement carries the wire 2 beneath the former 36 and over the loop bar 35 in position to be severed and bent upon the next down stroke of the former 36.

.To assist in guiding the wire 2 beneath the former 36 and over the loop bar 35 the inner side of the front cover plate 61 may be formed as shown in Figs. 11 to 13 to provide a guiding channel 62 having a curved end 63 to swing the end of the wire toward the former 36 and loop bar 35, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11.

As shown in Fig. 7, a plate 64 may be secured to casting 15 directly over'the path of travel of the wire 2 as it leaves the guide tube 31, to prevent the wire from rising with the former 36 due to the frictionalengagement of the wire with the outer face of the former 36. upon the next descent of upper casting 16. While Because the wire is fed continuously to the stapling unit during the formation and drivng of a staple, wire for the next staple is available immediately upon completion of the formation and driving of the first staple. This permits a substantial reduction in the stroke of the staple former which need only be raised a sufficient distance to clear the staple stock wire before 1 starting its down stroke.

It should also be noted that the resilient guide tube 31 functions to feed the staple stock wire laterally beneath the staple former without interrupting the longitudinal feed of the staple stock wire.

The operation of the machine will be readily apparent from the foregoing description. Upon each complete cycle of main shaft 14 a staple is formed and driven, the staple stock wire 2 being fed continuously into each stapling unit during the operation of the machine. During the formation and driving of one staple, the staple stock wire for another staple is deflected from its normal line of travel by the beveled surface 60 of the former 36 and feeds across the front face of the former 36. This deflection is permitted by the flexible guide tube 31. When the former 36 is raised above the staple stock wire 2, the resilient tube 31 swings back to normal position carrying the wire 2 beneath the former 36 in position to be severed and bent on the next downward movement of the former 36.

into a suitable receptures of the invention need not be used conjointly as such features may be used to advantage in various combinations and sub-combinations as defined in the following claims.

We claim: 1. In a machine for forming staples from staple stock wire automatically fed thereto, the combination of reciprocating staple forming and driving elements, means to feed staple stock wire continuously toward the path of reciprocation of said elements, means to deflect the direction of feed of the staple stock wire to feed a portion thereof to one side of the path of reciprocation of said elements, and means to move said portion into the path of reciprocation of said elements to be operated on thereby; said latter means including a resilient guide tube for the wire. 2: In a machine for forming staples from staple stock wire automatically fed thereto, the combination of a reciprocating staple forming element, means to feed staple stock wire continuously toward the path of reciprocation of said element, means to deflect the direction of feed of the staplestock wire to feed a portion thereof to one side of the path of reciprocation of said element, and means to move said portion into the path of reciprocation of said element to be operated on thereby. 3. In a machine for forming staples from staple stock wire automatically fed thereto, the combination of staple forming elements including a reciprocating staple former, means to feed the wire longitudinally of its axis to one side of the path of reciprocation of the staple former, and means to move the wire laterally of its axis into the path of reciprocation of the staple former, while maintaining the longitudinal feed of the wire.

4. In a machine for forming staples from staplestock wire automatically fed thereto, the combination of staple forming elements including a reciprocating staple former, means to feed the wire longitudinally of its axis to one side of the path of reciprocation of the staple former, and a resilient guide tube to move the wire laterally of its axis into the path of reciprocation of the staple former.

5. In a machine for forming and driving staples, the combination of staple forming and driving elements including a cutter to sever staple stock wire fed thereto, means to feed staple stock wire continuously to said elements, and a flexible and resilient guiding means interposed between said elements permit deflection of the moving staple stock wire from its normal course of travel and to return it toward its normal course of travel.

6. In a machine for forming staples, the combination of staple forming elements, means to feed staple stock wire to said elements, and a flexible and resilient guide tube interposed between said elements and the feeding means to permit deflection of the staple stock wire from its normal course of travel and to return it toward its normal course of travel.

'7. In a machine for forming staples from staple stock wire fed thereto, the combination of staple forming elements including a reciprocating staple and the feeding means to former, means to feed staple stock wire continu. ously toward the path of reciprocation of the staple former, means to deflect the course of travel .of said wire when the staple former is in the path of travel of the wire and means to return the wire to its normal path of travel when the staple former moves out of said path.

8. In a machine for forming staples from staple stock wire fed thereto, the combination of staple forming elements including a reciprocating staple former, means to feed staple stock wire longitudinally of its axis continuously toward the path of reciprocation of the staple former, means to deflect the course of travel of said wire when the staple former is inthe path of travel of the wire, and means to move the wire laterally of its axis to return it to its normal path of travel when the staple former moves out of said path.

9. In a machine for forming staples from staple I stock wire fed thereto, the combination of staple forming elements including a reciprocating staple former, means to feed staple stock wire continuously toward the path of-reciprocation of the staple former, means to deflect the continuously moving wire around the path of reciprocation of the staple former, and means to move the wire intermittently into the path of reciprocation of the staple former.

10. In a machine for forming staples from staple stock wire fed thereto, the combination of staple forming elements including a reciprocating staple former, means to feed staple stock wire longitudinally of its axis toward the path of reciprocation of the staple former, means to deflect the longitudinal movement of the wire around the path of reciprocation of the staple former, and a resilient guide tube to move the wire laterally into the path of reciprocation of the staple former.

11. In a machine for forming staples from staple stock wire automatically fed thereto, the combination of staple forming elements including a reciprocating staple former, means to feed staple stock wire thereto continuously in the direction of the axis of the wire, and means to reciprocate the moving wire laterally of its axis into and out of the path of travel of said staple former, said latter means including a resilient guide tube for the wire.

12. In a machine for forming staples from,

staple stock wire automatically fed thereto, the combination of staple forming elements including a reciprocating staple former, means to feed staple stock wire thereto continuously in the direction of the axis of the wire and means to reciprocate the moving wire laterally of its axis into ing a reciprocating staple former, and a resilient" guide tube. to feed staple stock wire into the path of reciprocation of said former in a direction laterally of the axis of the'wire.

15. In a machine for forming staples from staple stock wire automatically fed thereto, the combination of staple forming elements and means to feed staple stock wire thereto continuously in the direction of the axis of the wire and intermittently in a direction laterally of the axis of the wire. 7

16. In a machine .for forming staples from staple stock wire automatically fed thereto, the combination of staple forming elements and means to feed staple stock wire thereto in a direc-. tion laterally and longitudinally of the axis of the wire; said means including a resilient guide tube for the wire.

1'7. In a machine for forming staples from staple stock wire automatically fed thereto, the combination of staple forming elements and means to feed staple stock wire thereto in a direetion laterally of the longitudinal axis of the wire; said means including a resilient guide tube for the wire.

18. In a machine for forming staples from staple stock wire automatically fed thereto, the combination of staple forming elements and means to feed staple stock wire continuously thereto, said feeding means including a resilient guide tube for the wire constructed and arranged to move the continuously moving wire laterally of its axis to present the wire to the operation of said elements. I

19. In a machine for forming staples from staple stock wire automatically fed thereto, the combination of staple forming elements including a reciprocating cutter and former, means to feed staple stock wire continuously thereto, and

means to subject the moving wire intermittently to the operation of said elements.

20. In a machine for forming staples from staple stock wire automatically fed thereto, the combination of means to feed staple stock'wire continuously, and staple forming elements including a reciprocating cutter and former constructed and arranged to sever a piece of the moving wire and'form it into a staple without in-. terrupting the continuous feeding movement of the body of the wire.

21. In a machine for forming staples from staple stock wire automatically fed thereto, the combination of a loop bar over which the staple is formed, a reciprocating staple former to form the staple over the loop bar, means to feed staple stock wire between the loop bar and the former,

and means to sever the wire; said wire feeding means including a resilient guide tube for the wire adapted to feed it laterally of its axis between the loop bar and the staple former.

22. In a machine of the character described,

the combination of means to feed staple stock wire, means to deflect the normal course of travel of the wire, and a flexible and resilient guide tube for the wire having one end fixed against movement and the other end free to flex with the wire, whereby the flexibility of the tube will permit the wire to be deflected from its normal course of travel, and the resiliency of the tube will return the wire to its normal course of travel when the deflecting influence-is released.

23. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means to feed staple stock wire continuously, and a reciprocating staple former adapted to sever a piece of the moving wire and form it into a staple.

24. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means to feed staple stock wire continuously, a reciprocating staple former adapted to sever a piece of the moving wire and form it into a staple, and a staple driver.

25. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means to feed staple stock wire continuously, a reciprocating staple former adapted to sever a piece of-the moving wire and form it into a staple, and a reciprocating staple driver.

26. In a machine of the character described, the combination of reciprocating staple forming and driving elements, means to feed staple stock wire continuously toward the path of reciprocation of said elements, means to deflect the direction of feed of the staple stock wire to feed a portion thereof to one side of the path of reciprocation of said elements, and means to move said portion into the path of reciprocation of said elements to be operated on thereby.

27. In a machine of the character described, the'combination of staple forming and driving elements andmeans ,to feed staple stock wire thereto continuously in the direction of the axis of the wire and intermittently in a direction laterally of the axis of the wire.

ALFRED L. ROSENMUND. GEORGE P. IGLEHEART.

Images