US2514801A - Paper crimper and stacker - Google Patents

Description

July l1, 1950 G. G. sAPP PAPER CRIMPER AND STACKER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed sept. 13, 194e July 11,195o G @SAPP v 2,514,391y

. PAPER CRIMPER AND STACKER Filed Sept. l13, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 6em/d 6. Sapp JNVENToR.

BY @am www 52H55@ l mined path of travel. i

Patented .uy 11:," 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAPER CRIMPER AND STACKER Gerald G. Sapp, Damascus, Va., y Application September 13, 1948, Serial No. 49,087

This invention relates to a novel device for forming straight fold edges in sheets of material and has for its primary object to crimp or corrugate and stack sheets of paper, suchy as employed in the manufacture of honeycombs, in a uniform and reliable manner.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a machine for crimping a continuous strip of paper or vsimilar pressable sheets of other material, such as sheet metal, cardboard or the like, which will be automatic in operation to receive a continuous strip of material at one end, convey the strip from a supply source, such as a roll, drum or the like, and simultaneously form folds in thestrip and stack the strip, after fold formations, in a die or box at ment for a predetermined period of travel.

A meritorius feature of this linvention resides in the combination of a pairof upper and lower carriers, having a plurality of transversely disposed teeth, which are moved into meshing engagement responsive to `movement of the carrier and travel of the teeth over actuatingl means, with means provided for retaining the teeth in `meshing engagement for a predeter- Yet another important feature of this invention resides in the provision ofl means for resiliently anchoring the complementary teeth in transverse position between a pair of lower chains and a pair'of upper chains `or conveyors, the

15 Claims. (Cl. 154-30) attained by this invention, a preferred embodiment of which is set forth in the following specication and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: o i

Figure; is a vertical sectional view taken on a central longitudinal plane through the machine, showing a portion of the teeth and appurtenant structure in section, with the opposite side ofthe frame for the machine shown in elevation;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the transverse plane of line 2-2 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the housing or casing transversely disposed in spaced formaon line 5-,5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is'an enlarged sectional view, illustrating the meshing engagement of the complementary upper and lower teeth, the same being disposed in coactive pressing engagement on a o continuous strip of material, and

Figure 7 is a view in perspective of the means provided for receiving the crimped or corrugated strip of material.

The paper crimping machine, generally designated by the reference character l0 and generally illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 comprises a base platform l2 upon which are mounted a pair of laterally opposed end standards or posts I4 and a similar end pair I6. Each of the longitudinally opposed posts of the pairs I4 and i5 are rigidiiied and connected by longitudinally extending brace bars I8 and 20, which also serve as supporting means for appurtenant structure of the machine.l

Axles or shafts 22, 24, 26 and 28 are `trans-- versely disposed between the pairs of end stand'- ards, as seen in Figure 1, with the extending end of each of the axles rotatably journaled in conventional journal boxes or the like 30, and the shafts22 and 24`placed in spaced vertical alignment between the pair of posts I4 and the shafts 26 and 28 placed in longitudinal alignment therewith between the posts I6. A pair of transverselyaligned and spaced sprockets 32 or similar gear or drive transmittingy members are secured on the shaft 22 and a similar pair of sprockets `34 are carried by the shaft 26 in longitudinal alignment with vthesprockets 32; A pair of chains 36 and 38 are vtrained over and communicate with the sprockets, the entire assembly defining an upper pair of carriers or endless conveyors 4i). In an identical fashion, a lower pair of carriers or conveyors 42 is provided and has a similar path travel in close relation with the upper pair. The lower pair of carriers comprises a pair of transversely aligned sprockets 45 carried by the shaft 24 and a complementary pair 46, carried by the shaft 28 with endless conveyor or chains 48 or similar flexible connecting members connected rwith the respectively longitudinally aligned sprockets of the pairs M and 46.

The chains 36 and 38 are formed in a similar manner and comprise a plurality of parallel links 50 which are interconnected by solid bars 52 pivotally connected between the opposing'endsof the parallel links, as seen in Figure 3.

A plurality of channel members Eel, constituting housings or casings, are transversely .disposed between the upper and lower pairs of chains. For this purpose, the channel members l are formed at their Yopposing :extremities with extending flanges .56 and 58 which areapertured` as at 6U to receive a connecting member, such as-a rivet or the like 62, in association with ythe bars 52. Thus, the teeth housings are rested on theltransversely opposing pairs of chains in a depending manner.

The ` channel members 5,4 serve as housings or casings for the teeth 64, =as`seen in Figures 3, 4 and V6. The housings or casings have parallel opposed side walls 66 and SS joined :.byra straight bottom Vwall 'l0 and having an open top. The opposite ends of the bottom wall ll! are oiset form-ing extension .casings 12 and M The teeth 64, as seen in Figure 6, are generally lA-shaped and have a sguarebottom or base .portion 7.6, the opposing sides 'i8 andll of each of the teeth running upwardly and inwardly and converging at the'minor point or apex .82, so that the major portion of the teeth is of triangular configuration. However, the sides 18 and t!) 4.are tpfnallelfat the base orsquare portion so that the sameslidably engage the vside walls '.66 and "58 of the `(,:asing ,54, which is necessary to assure the rigid and upright position of the Vteeth ,at vall times and .to control the .outward `directional movement of the-teeth, during the papercrimping operation,..as wille-be later described.

The bottom surfaceof the base portionof each of the teeth .is adapted .to -oyerlie .the extension casings'l'? and ld, ,as seen in Figure 4. In this respect, the .ends of .each of the elongated .teeth are resiliently mounted in the casing 55 by means of the compression springs A811 which are connected between the end wall of ythe `extension casings 'l2 and'llll .and the bottom surface of the base portion 'I6 vof each -of the teeth, adjacent the Opposing ends of the teeth. Thus, the teeth are normally held entirely within the casing 54 but can be urged `outwardly by lan external force and then returned to the casing through the -urgement-of the springs 84.

Means is provided for raising the `teeth from their respective similar casings or housings 5:1 responsive to the travel path and movement of the upper and lower pairs of carriers or conveyors. The means provided comprises a pair of oppositely extending operating studs lor lingers L85 and 88 which are disposed through vertical slots v@il in the end walls -of the casi- ugs 5,4, as seen in Figures 3 and 4. The studs ,extend integrally from each of :theteeth through the guideslots VSi! and itu-nc` tion to move theA teeth upwardly `from the .casing 54% responsive to vmovement of vthe :studs over `va,

cam surface. Thus, any suitable means may be provided, that could be conveniently and easily journaled in the path of travel of the teeth and 'would be adaptable to engage the studs, which would ride upon and over the means and thereby raise the teeth corresponding and coincidentally with the movement of the upper and lower pair of chains or carriers.

In this respect, a pair of transversely opposed yupper idler wheels or pulleys I92 vare provided and a similar :lower pair 94 is provided, the'idler wheels 92 and 9d being` disposed in vertical alignment,

,as seen in Figure 2. The idler wheels, of course,

are smaller indiameter than the main sprockets and are disposed rearwardly from the center point ofthe .drive sprockets so that the teeth are at all timesin ,an upright position when the studs S6 and engage and travel on the annular periphery ofthe wheels. A pair of arms 96 are adjustably carried by the pair of longitudinally extending brace `bars i8 through the medium of a laterally extending spindle f9.8 which -is `transversely inserted through .the .bars .i8 and adjiustably held in thedesired position -by means .of the set screws ll, which vertically penetrate the bars I8 and engage the pin 98.. At the opposite or angularly depending ends of the arms vSll are laterally ei;- tended stub axles or the like H32, upon which the idler wheels 92 .are journaled.

VIn a vsimilar fashion, the pair of lower idler wheels '9d are adjustably held in .an angularly raised position in complementary alignment with the idler wheels .9 Las seen in Figure 5.

It canbe appreciated that the idler wheels can be easily adjustedso. as to govern and control the raised ,movement of the teeth .64. Thus, depending upon the desired depth of Vfold and the type of materialfthe idler wheels can be located in any adjusted -position so 4that the studs andSS are forced, `in their .movement on the circumference of the wheels, to movethe needed distance in the guide slots 96 and thereby raise the teeth yEll.

Suitable means is provided for maintaining under a definite pressure, the inter-engagement or meshing engagement of the upper and lower sets of teeth, 'carried by the vupper and lower pairs of conveyors, fas seen in Figure 1 .and preferably comprises 2,1 ,pair f of flipper, parallel outwardly turned channel bars AM and i106 whichlongitudinally extend the desired distance .in cooperative adjacency to a similarlydisposedpar'|08 and I lll. The mes-hing engagement of the teeth is retained by the rtravel Yci the ,studs 86 andll overthe opposing sur-aces or the vertically Opposed bars, as appreciated :upon :viewing Figure .2. The retaining bars 164, i661, izi and H0 are `rigidlymaintained in the .desired-,position through the medium ora plurality of bracing bars 1 l2 .which.vertically extend from the brace barsf 11'8 rand 2l] :and are boled "tothe retaining bars, as sseen in Figures 2 an The operation Aorxthissmachine is believed ascertainable, with respect to Figure l of the-drawings. A roll lofxzpressible material |20 is conventionallyfmaintained'under a certain amount of tension at @one -.end.lof 'the lupper and '-lower pairs .oficarriersend .the anaterialis fed from the roll :into Aa .passagewayilzl ywhich is 'den-ned by the :close parallel 'travel .path ofthe upper and lower pairs -of conveyors or lcarriers d -and t2. Of course, the vulziper-ancl lower pairsof chains or belts have the same rotating travel path. As the chains are rotated by the ,set -of sprockets, the transversely--disposed teeth vare brought into relation withv the! cams lor klid-1er -W-heels. The extendappended claims.

ingstues on the teeth, which are vertieany da posed prior to engagement of ltheca'msor Wheelsj` engage' the-cams and ridelup and over theVv periphery thereof. The travelxofthe studs on the cams or wheels raises the teeth and places thel `upp'erand lower sets of teeth in meshing engagement on the strip of material. .The teeth are i maintained inthe coactivepressing relationship by thelbars |04 and |06, |08 andV H10', .whichre-t Of course, the length of` theretaining bars, upon l `which `the studs travel, wouldzbe dependent upon ceivethe studs from `the cams vor Yidler wheels.

t the crimped sheet or materialto aA die or. stacking box |24, which is disposedl .horizontally at the opposite endof the passageway..l

of material through the passageway butalso functions to move the crimped Apaper .into the stacking box |24, so that thesheet `of'material crimped paperbylmeans of the..

Thus, the meshy ing engagement of the teeth functions not only to Icrimp the paper andlconveythe paper or sheet:

leaving the belt is pushed into .and through the n boXw, s

It is` to vbe particularly notedthat the studs when coming in contact with the vcams or idler wheels or pulleys gently raise and lower the teeth,

` of the two carriersuntil full meshing engagement is obtained with the sheet between the two sets of teeth, the teeth maintaining this position by the 1 extended studs transferring ofi" the idler wheels onto the slide bars of equal height for any i desired distance. The gradual raising and lowering of the teeth in contact with the paper prevents anytearing of the paper or prematurely crimping thereof.A The `springs 84 `distinctively and certainly withdraw the teeth from meshing l position so that uniform and accurate fold linesl are formed in the sheet of material. Y

Of course, glue lines may be applied to the sheet of material before going to the crimper and the lines lcan be protected during the crimping operation by providing gaps or openings in the teeth at the required spacing.

In view of the drawings and foregoing description and operation, it is believed that the novelty and merits of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. However, since various uses of this device are possible, it is to be understood that certain changes in the structure for moving the teeth and raising and lowering the teeth in meshing engagement on a strip of material can be effected, the same coming within the spirit of the invention and the s-cope of the Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: ,e

1. A machine for crimping paper compnsing a pair of upper and lower endless carriers having a parallel travel path in close cooperative relation, a plurality of vtransverse members disposed between the upper and lower carriers forming a passageway for a continuous strip of paper, interengaging means operatively connected with said members for cooperatively engaging the strip and moving the strip through the passageway and simultaneously forming folds therein,` means for moving said foregoing means into interengagement with the strip, means extending a1ongthe`p'a`ssag'eway for retaining said-"stripene" gagingmeans 1n engagement withv thestrip and means connected between said transverse'members-and the strip `engaging means vfor withdrawing 'said strip, l

- 2. Amachine for crimping paper comprising a plurality of upper and lower complementary membersfhaving a parallel travel pathinclose relations forming a passageway for a strip `of paper, interengaging teeth carried by said members for engagingV the strip and moving the strip in the passageway and simultaneouslyforming' folds-therein, means disposed in the path of travel vofrsaid teeth for moving said teeth into comple mentary engagement with the strip, means -forv retaining-said teeth in said engagement for a predetermined path of travel and resilient means connected between said members and the teeth for withdrawing the strip.

,3.A machine for crimping paper comprising..

a `pairlof upper and lower .juxtaposed endless carriers having a parallel path of travel, channel` members .transversely disposed between said carriers forming a, longitudinal passageway for a strip of continuous paper, teeth disposed in said channel members for engaging the strip and moving the strip `through the passageway simultaneously'` forming folds therein, meansA ,for pressing said teeth cooperatively von the str-ip, means for'` retaining said teeth vin pressing engagement andv release means connected between `the channel' members and said teeth.

4. A machine for crimping paper comprising a set of cooperatively spaced upper and lower pairs ofendless conveyors having a parallel path/lof travel, channel members transversely disposed on said pairs of conveyors, teeth resiliently mounted insaid channel members, means lfor pressing said teeth into meshing` relation, `and means for retaining said teeth in said relation for a pre.- determined travel period.V i

Ina machine for crimping material an up-4 per and lower set of complementary channelr members having a parallel path of travel in close relation forming a passageway for a continuous strip of material, teeth resiliently mounted in said channel members, means for raising said teeth from the channel members and pressing the teeth into complementary fold forming engagement of the strip, means for retaining said teeth in said relation, and means for withdrawing the teeth from said relation. i

6. In a paper crimping device, a plurality of resiliently mounted teeth disposed in complementary opposed relation, means for urging said teeth into meshing engagement and means for retaining the teeth in said engagement.

7. A paper crimping and stacking machine comprising a pair of upper and lower endless conveyors having a parallel path of travel in close relation forming a passageway for a continuous strip of material, a die disposed at one end of the passageway, channel members transversely carried by said conveyors, teeth resiliently anchored in said channel members, means for raising said teeth from the channel members into meshing engagement in the passageway for forming folds in the strip of material and conveying the multi-folded strip to the :die and means for retaining said teeth in said engagement for a predetermined path of travel.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein said means for raising the teeth includes cams jourmeans from said `engagement with the the teeth from engagement with ilaled. in Athe path oiv travel ofthe teeth, studs extending from said teeth and engageable on the i peripheryqofthe-cams. j

v.9. The combination yof claim 7, wherein Vsaid means for retaining the Ateeth in meshingfenr transversely Carried by the conveyors, meansfor movingrad ,teeth into meshing engagement of the stripforforming folds in the strip andpacking the :multi-folded strip in the receiver box. means extending longitudinally in the passageway for retaining said teeth in said engagement for a predetermined path of travel and meansA for moving said teeth lvertically out of engagement with :said strip at the receiver Abox end of the passageway.

`11.A paper crimping and stacking machine comprising a pair .of complementary conveyors havingaparallel and adjacent path of travel forming a passageway for a continuous strip of material, intermeshing teeth transversely carried .by .the conveyors, means for moving said teeth into Vmeshing engagement of the strip, means extending longitudinally in the passageway for retaining the teeth in said engagement :for a predetermined path of travel and resilient means .for moving said teeth Yin a vertical plane out .of intermeshing` engagement with the strip. 12A paper crimping andv stacking machine comprising a .pair of complementary conveyors.

having a parallel and adjacent path of travel forming a passageway for a continuous strip of material, intermeshing teeth transversely carried .by the conveyors, adjustable cams disposedk adjacent said passageway for moving'said teeth into meshing engagement of the strip, means for moving .said teeth into meshing engagement of the'k strip, means extending longitudinally inthe passageway; for retaining the teeth in said engagementfforxa predetermined path of travel and resi-lient;means for moving said teeth in a vertical plane out-of-intermeshing engagement with theY strip.

13. A paper crimping .and stacking machine comprising apairof endless conveyors having a parallel-path 'of'travel lin close relation forming a passageway for a. continuous strip of material,

.members 'transversely carried by said conveyor,

interengaging teeth resiliently carried by said merlibers,l means for moving said teeth into intermeshing engagement of the strip, said teeth forming folds'in theastrip .and'moving the same through thepassageway and means extending longitudinally in thev passageway for holding the teeth in intermeshing engagement of the strip for a predetermined path of travel.

14. YIn amaterialcrimping machine, an end- .less conveyor, aplurality of transverse members carried Aby. theconveyor, .teeth resiliently mounted on the members, adjustable cams operatively engageable with said teeth `for raising the teeth from the members and means for retaining said teeth raised from themember for a predetermined path .of travel.

vl5. Inl a kmaterial crimping machine, an endlessconveyor, a plurality of transverse teeth car ried by the conveyor, means for resiliently mounting the teeth on the conveyor, means for raising saidteeth from the conveyor and means for retaining said teeth in a raised position for a predetermined-path of travel.

GERALD G. SAPP.

Y REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,263,577 Lochman Apr. 23, 1918 1',617,018' Federhart Feb. 8, 1927 2,350,996 Atkinson et al June 13, 1944 2,428,979 May Oct. 14, 1947

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