US2542055A - Mechanism for loading sheet material into magazines - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1951 c. G. PREIS ETAI. 2,542,055

MEcHANIsM FOR LOADING SHEET MATERIAL INT0 MAGAZINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 5. 1947 INVEORS It 4. im ATTORNEYS Feb. 20, 1951 c. G. PREIS ETAL 2,542,055

MEcHANIsM EoR LOADING SHEET MATERIAL INT0 MAGAZINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1947 Feb. 20, 1951 c. G. PREIS ET AL MECHANISM FOR LOADING SHEET MATERIAL INT0 MAGAZINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 5, 1947 E NNN EN Si ATRNYS Feb. 20, 1951 c. G. PREIS ETAL,

MECHANISM FOR LOADING SHEET MATERIAL INT0 MAGAZINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 5 194'? Y li Wiwm@ m E mwN-rom f j ATTORNEYS kvm.

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Patented Feb. 20, 1951 MECHANISM FOR LOADING SHEET MATERIAL INTO MAGAZINES Carl G. Preis, Forest Hills, N. Y., and Ronald E. J.

Nordquist, Maplewood, N. J., assignors to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 5, 1947, Serial No. 766,342

I Claims. (Cl. 214-6) The present invention relates to a mechanism for loading sheet material into magazines for subsequent feeding therefrom and has particular reference to transfer devices for receiving the material in stacked formation and for transferring it into a remotely disposed magazine. This is a companion application to our copending United States applications Serial Number 766,340 flled August 5, 1947 on Mechanism for Stacking Sheet Material, Serial Number 766,341 filed August 5, 1947 and Serial Number 766,343 led August 5, 1947, on Mechanism for Loading Sheet Material into Magazines.

An object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism for loading sheets of material into magazines for subsequent feeding therefrom wherein a magazine of a machine for utilizing the sheet material may be kept constantly supplied with the material from a remotely located source of supply in a highly eilicient manner which facilitates high speed production and economy of operation.

Another object is the provision of such a mechanism wherein the material may be handled in unitary stacks of a plurality of sheets s as to provide for rapid handling of the material without excessive speed of operation.

Another object is the provision of such a mechanism wherein they material in the magazine of the machine which uses it may be readily replenished while the machine is in operation without in any manner interfering with the feeding of the material from the magazine for use in the machine.

Another object is the provision in such a mechanism of a novel transfer device wherein stacks of sheet material may be readily transferred from a traveling remotely located sourcev of supply to the magazine of the machine for utilizing the material, in a rapidly smoothly operating manner which facilitates high speed operation of the machine.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a mechanism embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away and parts shown in section;

Figs. 2 and 3 taken together comprise a transverse sectional view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, the view being taken substantially along the line 2-2 in that figure, with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 4 4 in Fig. 3, with parts broken away, and certain of the .parts shown in a different position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail of parts shown in Fig. 4, with parts broken away; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 6-6 in Fig. 2.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawings illustrate a mechanism for loading stacks of strips, blanks or sheets A (Fig. 1) of sheet material, such as tin plate or the like1 into a supply magazine B (see also Figs. 3 and 4) of a strip feed punch press C or other machine for forming container parts or other articles from the strips or blanks as desired. The stacks of strips A may be received from any suitable source of supply such as a scroll shear, slitter or other machine remotely located relative to the punch press C. As they are received each stack is deposited on a platform D (Fig. 1) disposed above and adjacent a conveyor E which may be continuously or intermittently operated as desired and which extends from the place of reception of the stacks t0 the punch press C.

Upon/the reception of a stack of strips A on the platform D, the platform moves down toward the conveyor E and deposits the stack on the conveyor. 'I'he conveyor carries the received stack into a transfer station F disposed adjacent the punch press C. At this station, each stack of strips as it is received is lifted from the conveyor into a traveling transfer carrier G.

Upon reception of a stack in the carrier, the carrier moves laterally with respect to the con- `veyor and carries the stack into a position below and in alignment with the magazine B of the press. While in this alignment, a pusher device H (see also Fig. 4) disposed adjacent the magazine, pushes the stack out of the transfer carrier and deposits the stack into the magazine B through its open bottom. In this manner the magazine B is kept lled with strips without in anyway interfering with feeding or removal of the strips individually from the top of the magazine for use in the punch press. I

In the mechanism, the conveyor E comprises a plurality of endless chains Il (Figs. land 2) disposed in spaced and parallel side-by-side relation and extending the full length of the mechanism. There are three of these chains Il and each chain carries a plurality of short flats or treads I2 which provide a continuous table or support for carrying the stacks of strips A.

The chains II operate over idler sprockets I4 located at the entrance or receiving end of the mechanism (at the left as viewed in Fig. 1) and driving sprockets I5 located at the opposite end of the mechanism. The idler sprockets I4 are mounted on an idler shaft I6 while the driving sprockets are mounted on a driving shaft I'I. These shafts are carried in bearings formed in a frame I8 which constitutes the main frame of the mechanism. The driving shaft may be rotated in any suitable manner in time with the various moving parts of the mechanism. Between the sprockets I4, I5, the chains II operate along and are supported against sagging, by longitudinal chain tracks I9 (Fig. 2) secured to crossrails 2U of the main frame I8.

The platform D which initially receives a stack of strips A for depositonto the treads I2 of the conveyor chains I I for advancement therewith is located at the entrance end of the conveyor. This platform is a sectional platform comprising sections which extend transversely of the mechanism and which are located between the conveyor chains II and immediately beyond the two outer conveyor chains. 'I'here are thus four platform sections for the three conveyors.

The platform sections are mounted on a vertical slide 22 (Fig. 1) which operates in a slide bracket 23 the ends of which are secured to the main frame I8. The slide is reciprocated vertically through a down or stack depositing stroke and thence up through a return stroke by a lever arm 24 having its outer end engaged in the slide. The inner end of the lever arm is mounted on a cross shaft 25 carried in brackets 2'6 which depend from the chain tracks I9.

The shaft 25 is rocked in time with the other moving parts of the mechanism by an actuating arm 28 which is secured to the shaft. The outer end of the actuating arm is connected to a piston rod 29 having a piston which operates within a cylinder 3U secured to the main frame. The piston is reciprocated within its cylinder by any suitable fiuid medium, such as air, or oil under pressure which is introduced into and discharged from the cylinder by way of pipes or tubes 3i secured in the cylinder adjacent its ends.

Hence when the platform D moves down through a depositing stroke it lowers the stack of strips A down onto the treads I2 of the upper runs of the conveyor chains II and continues on down below the treads so as to clear the stack. This transfers the stack to the conveyor and thus the conveyor carries the stack forward into the transfer station F adjacent the punch press C.

At the transfer station F the received stack of strips A is lifted clear of the conveyor E and preferably is swung through an arc toward the transfer carrier G for deposit thereinto. This removal of the stack from the conveyor is eiected preferably by a plurality of hingeable lifter plates 35 which extend transversely of the mechanism. These plates are normally disposed just below the upper runs of the conveyor chains I I and between the chains and immediately beyond the two outer chains in a manner similar to the sections of the platform D. There are four of these plates for the three conveyor chains.

The lifter plates 35 are secured to a plurality of suport arms 36 which are formed on a transverse rail 31 (Fig. 2) having pivot lugs 38 located at the ends of the rail. These pivot lugs carry short pivot studs 39 which extend into brackets 40 bolted to the main frame I8. One of the pivot lugs 38 is formed with a depending actuating arm 43 which is connected by a link 44 to a slide block 45 4 carried in a slide bracket 46 secured to the main frame I8.

The block 45 is connected to a piston rod 41 having a piston which operates within a cylinder 48 secured to the main frame. The piston is reciprocated within its cylinder by any suitable fluid medium, such as air, or oil under pressure which is introducedI into and discharged from the cylinder by way of pipes or tubes 49 secured in the cylinder adjacent its ends. Reciprocation of the piston lifts the lifter plates 35 through an up or lifting stroke and thence down through a return stroke in time with the'reception of the stacks of strips A at the transfer station.

The transfer carrier G which receives the stack of strips A from the conveyor chains II is normally disposed at the transfer station F in an angular or inclined position above the conveyor E and extends transversely of the conveyor in spaced relation thereto so that a stack of strips advancing into the station will readily pass under the carrier. This carrier comprises a movable hollow rectangular frame 53 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) which is open at top and bottom. The frame is movably supported by a plurality of rollers 54 which are carried on the transverse side walls of the frame. The rollers ride on and travel along tracks 55 which extend transversely of the conveyor E and which project laterally toward the punch press C, terminating adjacent the feedin end of the press just beyond but including its supply magazine B. These tracks are secured to pairs of connected, arch-forming brackets 58, 59 which are bolted to the main frame I8 and a lateral extension 60 of the main frame.

Along its transverse side walls, the transfer frame 53 carries a plurality of stack supporting fingers or elements 65 (Fig. 5) which are disposed in recesses 66 (see also Fig. 2) formed in the frame walls. These fingers extend up into the transfer frame and at their lower ends are mounted on pivot pins 61 carried in hinge plates secured to the frame side walls (see Fig. 2). The upper ends of the fingers are formed with stop lugs 68 which normally engage against a pair of transverse guide plates 69 secured to the inner faces of the frame side walls. Flat springs 19 interposed between the ngers and the frame side walls within the recesses yieldably retain the fingers in place. The inner edges of the fingers, adjacent the stop lugs are formed with stack supporting ledges Il which project inwardly beyond the guide plates 69..

Hence when the lifter plates 35 swing a stack of strips A upwardly toward the transfer frame 53, the stackenters the frame through its open bottom and is pushed by the plates, past the supporting ledges 'II of the finger 65. The fingers move inwardly in their recesses 66 against the resistance of their springs 'I0 during this inserting operation. As soon as the stack is above the ledges 'II of the fingers, the fingers snap back under the stack. Thus when the lifter plates 35 move down through their return stroke they leave the inserted stack within the transfer carrier, supported on the ledges 'II of the fingers. Curved portions 'I3 of the guide plates 69 project down below the transfer frame and guide the stack into place Within the carrier.

As soon as the returning lifter plates 35 are clear of the transfer carrier 53, the carrier with its stack of strips A is shifted laterally along its tracks 55 into a position directly under and in alignment with the supply magazine B of the punch press C. This shifting of the transfer car- 8 rier is brought about by a stroke multiplying device which includes a pair of spur gears 10, 11 which mesh with and drive a long rack 'Il secured to the transfer carrier.

The gear 18 is mounted on a vertical driving shaft 19 carried in a pair of spaced bearings 80 formed on the adjacent lbracket I8. The gear 11 is mounted on a stub shaft 83 secured in a boss 84 formed on the upper roller track 55. The two gears 18, 11 are rotated in unison and at the same peripheral speed and direction, by an intermediate gear 88 which is mounted on a stub shaft 81 secured in a boss 08 on the upper roller track 55 adjacent the boss 84. This arrangement of driving gears is provided for extended travel of the rack 1I and the transfer carrier connected therewith.

The driving gear 16 is rotated by a pinion 8| (Fig. 2) which preferably is formed integrally with the driving gear. This pinion meshes with and is driven by a rack 82 which slides in a groove 93 formed in the side of the upper roller track 55. One end of this rack is connected with a piston rod 94 having a piston which operates within a cylinder 96 secured to the upper roller track 55. The piston is reciprocated Within its cylinder through a carrier advancing stroke (toward the right in Fig. 2) andl thence through a return stroke, by any suitable fluid medium, such as air or oil under pressure which is introduced into and discharged from the cylinder by way of pipes or tubes 49 secured in the cylinder adjacent its ends. It is the reciprocation of the piston, in time with the other moving parts of the mechanism, that shifts the transfer carrier G into register with the supply magazine B of the punch press C.

The supply magazine B is similar in construction to the transfer carrier G but is secured in a stationary position adjacent the punch press C.l

In order to facilitate transfer of the stack of strips A from the carrier to the magazine, the magazine is located closely adjacent and slightly above the path of travel of the transfer carrier and is disposed in an angular or inclined position to correspond to the position of the carrier. The magazine is supported on the upper roller track 55 and the lateral extension 60 of the main frame |8.

Like the transfer carrier G, the supply magazine B comprises a hollow rectangular frame |I (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) which remains in a stationary position as mentioned above. Along its transverse side walls, the magazine frame carries a pair of guide plates |02 and a plurality of spring held stack supporting fingers or elements |03 which have stop lugs |04 and support ledges |05 similar to the fingers 05 of the transfer carrier G and which are disposed in recesses |08 in the frame side walls. These fingers extend up into the magazine frame and at their lower ends are mounted on pivot pins |01 carried in hinge plates |08 secured to the frame side walls (see Fig. 3).

When the transfer carrier G with its stack of strips A comes into register with the magazine B, the stack of strips is pushed upwardly out of the carrier through its open top and is pushed directly into the supply magazine B. 'I'his transfer of the stack is brought about by the pusher device H which is disposed below the path of travel of the transfer carrier and in line with the supply magazine.

The pusher device H includes a fiat rectangular pusher plate ||5 (Figs. 3 and 4) which is slightly it will pass through the transfer carrier with substantial clearance. This pusher plate is secured to the inner end of a slide ||6 carried in a slideway ||1 formed in a bracket ||8 vbolted to the later extension of the main frame I8. The outer end, of the slide is formed with a lug |2| which is preferably connected to a piston rod |22 having a piston |23 which operates within a cylinder |24 secured to the bracket I8.

The piston |23 is reciprocated within its cylinder by any suitable fluid medium, such as air or oil under pressure which is introduced into and discharged from the cylinder by way of pipes or tubes |25 secured in the cylinder adjacent its ends. Reciprocation of the piston moves the slide ||6 and its pusher plate ||5 through a forward or pushing stroke and thence through a return stroke.

On the forward stroke of the slide I8, the pusher plate ||5 engages against the bottom of the stack of strips A in the transfer carrier G and pushes the stack upwardly from the carrier into the supply magazine B through its open bottom end. As the stack enters the magazine, it engages the support fingers |03 which are supporting any strips.already in the magazine, and pushes the fingers outwardly rinto their recesses |06 against the resistance of their springs. As the stack continues its upward travel it engages against the strips already in the magazine and pushes them further up into the magazine until the entire stack is above the support ledges |05 on the fingers. The fingers ithereupon snap back under the stack.

Thus when the pusher plate ||5 moves down through its return stroke it leavesthe transferred stack within the magazine, supported on the ledges |05 of the support fingers |03. When the pusher plate I5 has moved down through the transfer carrier G and is clear of the carrier. the carrier shifts back away lfrom the magazine B into its original position over the conveyor E for the reception of a subsequent stack of strips A and a repetition of its travel to the magazine for another transfer operation. In this manner the magazine B is kept well supplied with strips A so that the pressC may be maintained in continuous operation.

The punch press C shown in the drawings as an example of a machine for utilizing the strips A fed into the magazine B is of the type disclosed in United States Patent 1,443,761, issued January 30, 1923, to H. Schoendelen on Safety Device for Punch Presses and the Like. Such a press is equipped with vertically movable suction cups 3| (Figs. 3 and 4) which move down through the open top of the magazine B, grip the upper strip A, and carry it up out of the magazine into the path of a plurality of stripper fingers |32. The stripper fingers engage behind the upper edge of the strip A and strip it off the suction cups while simultaneously pushing it down against a guide rail |33 secured to an inclined feed table |34 of the press C.

When the strip A is on the table |34, its back end is engaged by one of a plurality of feed fingers |35 on a reciprocating feed bar |36 disposed in a groove |31 in the table |34. Reciprocation of the feed bar advances the strip in an intermittent or step-by-step manner into the press C for the forming of container parts or other articles therefrom as desired. This is a conventional construction of strip feed presses.

It is thought that the invention and many of smaller in dimensions than the strips A so that 78 its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form. construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form herelnbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. A mechanism for loading sheets of material into magazines for subsequent feeding therefrom, comprising in combination advancing means for moving a stack of sheets along a predetermined path of travel and into a transfer station, a supply magazine spaced from said advancing means for receiving and holding sheets for subsequent feeding therefrom, a transfer carrier movable between said advancing means and said supply magazine, means at said transfer station for removing a stack of sheets from said advancing means and for transferring the stack to said transfer carrier, means for moving said transfer carrier through an advancing stroke and through a return stroke, means for guiding said carrier for alignment with said supply magazine, and means disposed adjacent said supply magazine for removing the stack vof sheets from said transfer carrier and inserting it into said magazine for maintaining a supply of sheets in said magazine.

2. A mechanism for loading sheets of material into magazines for subsequent feeding therefrom, comprising in combination advancing means for moving a stack of sheets along a predetermined path of travel, a supply magazine remotely disposed relative to said advancing means and having open sides for receiving and holding sheets for subsequent feeding therefrom, a transfer carrier corresponding in shape and size with said magazine and having corresponding open sides, means for moving said carrier back and forth between said advancing means and said supply magazine, means for removing a stack of sheets from said advancing means and for inserting it into an open side of said transfer carrier, and a pusher device disposed adjacent said supply magazine and operable against the sheets in the transfer carrier aligned wtih the magazine for pushing the sheets out of the opposite open side of the carrier and into the adjacent open side of the magazine.

3. A mechanism for loading sheets of material into magazines for subsequent feeding therefrom, comprising in combination advancing means for moving a stack of sheets along a predetermined path of travel and into a transfer station, a supply magazine remotely disposed relative to said advancing means for receiving and holding sheets for subsequent feeding therefrom, a lifter device disposed at said transfer station and engaging under a stack of sheets received thereat and removing the stack from said advancing means, and

a transfer carrier movable across said advancing means and toward said supply magazine and receiving the removed stack of sheets from said lifter device and carrying it to said supply magazine for maintaining a supply of sheets in said magazine.

4. A mechanism for loading sheets of material into magazines for subsequent feeding therefrom, comprising in combination advancing means for moving a stack of sheets along a predetermined path of travel, a supply magazine remotely disposed relative to said advancing means for receiving and holding sheets for subsequent feeding therefrom, a pair of spaced and parallel tracks extending from said advancing means to said supply magazine, a transfer carrier movable along said tracks and receiving a stack of sheets from said advancing means and carrying it to said supply magazine for maintaining a supply of sheets in said magazine, and actuating means connecting with said carrier and shifting said carrier along said tracks through a stack transfer stroke and a return stroke.

5. A mechanism for loading sheets of material into magazines for subsequent feeding therefrom, comprising in combination advancing means for moving a stack of sheets along a predetermined path of travel, a supply magazine remotely disposed relative to said advancing means for receiving and holding sheets for subsequent feeding therefrom, a pair of spaced and parallel tracks extending from said advancing means tov said supply magazine, a transfer carrier movable along said tracks and receiving a stack of sheets from said advancing means and carrying it to said supply magazine for maintaining a supply of sheets in said magazine, actuating means connecting with said carrier and shifting said carrier along said tracks through a stack transfer stroke and a return stroke, and a stroke multiplying device interposed between said carrier and said actuating means for shifting said carrier through a long stroke during operation of said actuating means through a short stroke.

6. A mechanism for loading sheets of material into magazines for subsequent feeding therefrom, comprising in combination an endless chain conveyor for carrying a stack of sheets along a predetermined path of travel and into a transfer station, a platform disposed adjacent one end of said conveyor for receiving a stack of sheets, said platform being movable toward and away from said conveyor for depositing the stack of sheets onto the conveyor, means for actuating said platform, a supply magazine remotely disposed relative to said conveyor and at an angle to the vertical for receiving sheets from the conveyor, yieldable support ngers in said magazine for retaining the sheets therein for subsequent feeding therefrom, a transfer carrier normally disposed at said transfer station above said conveyor and at an angle to the vertical to correspond with said magazine, said transfer carrier being movable between said conveyor and said magazine, a pivotally mounted lifter padat said transfer station and engaging under a stack of sheets received at said station and swinging the stack through an arc into said angularly disposed carrier, means for actuating said lifter pad, yieldable support fingers in said carrier for holding a received stack therein, actuating means for shifting said carrier and its stack of sheets into a position below and in alignment with said magazine, a pusher device adjacent said magazine and below the path of travel of said carrier, and actuating means for operating said pusher device for shifting the sheets from said carrier into said magazine.

7. A mechanism for loading sheets of material into a magazine for subsequent feeding therefrom, comprising in combination advancing means for moving a stack of sheets into a transfer station, a supply magazine spaced from said transfer station, said magazine being disposed for receiving and holding sheets in inclined position, a transfer carrier movable between said advancing means and said magazine, said carrier throughout its movement having an inclined position corresponding to the inclined position of said magazine, means for moving said carrier back and forth between said transfer station and said 9 10 supply magazine, swinging means locatedf aghsaig REFERENCES CITED transfer station for engaging a stack o ee on said advancing means and for swinging the mlf tilggltgexffens are of record in the stack into inclined position and inserting it in said inclined carrier, and sliding means located l UNITED STATES PATENTS adjacent said magazine for transferring the stack Number Name Date from said carrier into said supply magazine while 1.492.334 straight May 6 1924 maintaining its inclined position in the magazine. 2,148,371 Galloway Feb. 21D 1939 CARL G. PREIS. RONALD E. J. NORDQU'IST. l.

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