US1627412A - Method and apparatus for forming articles from sheet material - Google Patents

Description

1,627,412 May 3 1927- H. BUCKERT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR F'ORMING ARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL Filed Ju1.v18. 1924v 8 sheets-Sheet 1 fw la. l.. l.. .il J |l l uw I Nv N+ I7/ 1:, mahwbffyl Ma 3 192 1627412 y 7 H. E. RucKER'r METHOD AND APPRTUS FOR FORMING' ARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL Filed -July 18. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 1,627,412 May 3 1927 H. E. RucKERT 4 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL Filed Jul v118. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 May s, 1927. 1,627,412

H, E. RUCKERT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL Filed July 18. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 f May 3, 1927. 1,627,412

H, E. RUCKERT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES FROM ySHEET MATERIAL Filed July 18. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 y H, E. RucKERT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL Filed July 18. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheel'I 6 y H. E. RUCKERT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL Filed July 18. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 1,627,412 May 3 1927- H, E. RucKERr METHOD AND APPARATUSl FOR FORMING ARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL Filed July 18. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented May 3, 192?.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY E. RU'cHERT, OP PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNoR, ,RY MEsNE AssIGNMENTs, lTo SANITARY PRODUCTS CORPORATION OE AMERICA, OE PHILADEL- PHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA'ION OF VIRGINIA.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR Ieo'RIrIINGrv ARTICLES `PROM SHEET MATERIAL.

Application led July 1-8,

to provide means for forming articles from sheet material rapidlyand in large quantities andk also to provide means' for delivering said articles in nestedv relation in stacks of a predetermined numbereach, said operations being carried on automatically, and re- A ducing to a minimum the necessary manual labor and personal supervision, and consequently the cost of production.

The more particular Objects of the invention will best be understood from the following description of one form of mechanism by which the invention may be carried into effect, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood, however, that the particularl constructions and operations described and shown have been chosen for illustrative purposes merely, and that the invention, as defined by the claims llereunto appended, may be otherwise practiced Without departing from its spirit and scope.

In thev drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, and ,Y l Fig. 2 a front elevation of the machine proper. Fig. 3 isa horizontal section taken stantially on the line 3--3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the rack for sub- I supporting the supply of sheet material. the A introduction of the latter into the machine being illustrated diagrammatically.

Fig. 5 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of portions of the^ bolster, web Afeeding mechanism, and discharging mechanisun Fig. 6 is a side elevation of -the parts shown in Fig. 5. l Fig. -7 is a rear elevation of one of the feed slides with its attached web guiding plate.

Fig. 8 is 'a' section taken substantially on the line 8 8, Fig. 6.`

Fig. V9 is a transverse vertical section, taken substantially on the line 9-9, Fig. 3, of the bolster and upper die carrier.

1924. serial No. 72s,s3.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal vertical section otone palr of cooperating dies, illustrating the forming operation. Fig. 11 is a View similar to Fig. 10, show- 1ng the dies separated, and illustrating the removal of the completed articles by the travel of the Web. v

Fig. 11a is a view similar to Figs. 10 and 11 illustrating the means for insuring the removal of the completed articles from" the path of movement of the dies at the succeeding operationof the machine. l

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the nesting and counting mechanism.

Fig. 13 is a rear elevation, partly in section on the line 13-13, Fig. 12, of the mechanism shown in the latter figure.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary detail view of a portion of the ratchet controlling the shifting of the nesting containers.-

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the nesting devices as viewed from the line 15--15, Figs. x2 and 3.

Fig. 16 is an end view of one-Of the con- I tainers. Y Fig. 17 is a section the line 17-17, Fig. 15.

The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a die press the frame of which asv Shown comprises a 'two-part. base 25 1 and 2) upon which rest legs 26 supportin a bolster 27 (see also Fig. 3) from whic rise uprights 28 integrally connected at their tops by a transverse portion 29. A ram 30 is formed with slides. 31'guided in ways 32 carried by the uprights 28, said ram being lifted. by springs 33 connecting said ram with cross heads 34-supported by the transtaken substantially on verse frame portion 29,and being depressed by means'of cams 35 on a main shaft 38 journalled in bearings in the upright members. '.Ihe main shaft 38 is provided with a gear 39 which meshes with a pinion '24 on a power shaft 23 journalled in brackets 22 bolted to the'uprights 28, said power shaft being -provided with a pulley 391 through which power iS supplied to the machine. The cams 35 cooperate'with cam rollers 40 loo` preferably carried by adjustable posts 41 rising from the ram. Secured to the bed 27 isA a bolster 42 (see also Fig. 9)' ,carrying lower combined blanking out` and forming diesl 43 which .cooperate with complementary upper dies 44 in a die carrier 45 securedto the ram 30. The bolster 42 and die carrier 45 are detachably secured, as by bolts, to the bed 27 and ram 30 respectively, so as toy be readily removable for the purpose of changing the dies, and are relatively guided by means of studs 46 depending .from the die' carrier 45 and sliding in openings 47 (Fig.l

9) in the bolster 42. rllhe sheet material is fed intermittently, by mechanism hereinafter described, Abetween successive depressions of the ram, over the lower dies 43 and below the upper dies 44, so that, at each stroke of the ram, a plurality of blanks are punched from the stock and said blanks simultaneously formed into articles. shown in lt ig. 3 the `dies are preferably arranged in two transverse rows, the dies in each row being staggered with respect to the dies of the other row, so that at each stroke of the ram the dies of the iear row operate upon portions of stock left between the openings punched by the dies of the front row. lt will be obvious, however, that the dies may be arranged in a single row` or otherwise as ma be preferred.

rllie sheet material is supplied to the machine in the form of continuous webs, a plurality of which are fed through the machine in superposed relation, so that at each stroke of the ram each pair of dies will punch from the stock a plurality of blanks and form the same into a group of nested articles A (see Fig, 10). As shown in Fig. 4, tive webs W1, W2, W3, W4, and W5 are supplied from five reels R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 -supported by an inclined rack 48.

ln order to relieve the intermittent web feeding mechanism, hereinafter described, of the relatively heavy work-of drawing the webs from the several reels and leave said feeding mechanism -free for the accurate control of the webs during their passage between the dies, said webs are drawn from their respective reels and' introduced into the machinein the desired superposed position by means of a pair of feed rollers .49 journalled in bearings in brackets 50 supported by the bed 27, said rollers being connected with one another by gears 51 (Figs. 2 and 3) and continuously rotated at a speed equal to the resultant speed of travel of the web under the action of the intermittent feeding mechanism. As shown,l

nected by a crossed belt 63 with a relatively large pulley 64 on a shaft 65 journalled in brackets 66 bolted to tlie uprights 28. The shaft 65 is provided with a relatively .small pulley 67 connected by a belt 68 .with a relatively large pulley 69 on the main shaft 38. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the variable speed transmission device 6() comprises a pair of double cone pulleys 70 on the shafts 59 and 61 connected by a belt 71 the engagement of which with said pulleys is controlled by a shifter 72 operated by a screw 73 provided with a hand wheel 74. By operating the hand wheel 74 the relative speeds of rotation of the shafts 59 and 6l may be determined, and the speed of rotation of the feed rollers 49 very delicately controlled. rllhis variable speed mechanism is of well known construction and hence a further detailed description thereof is not .deemed necessary. Between the feed rollers 49 and the intermittent feeding mechanism, the compound web W, formed by the seveial superposed webs W1, W2, etc., passes between a pair of idle rollers 75 adapted to support between them a slack portion B of the web in the form of a depending loop or festoon. will at all times be sufficient to permit the operation of the intermittent feeding mechanism, and this amount may be kept substantially constant by controlling or varying, from time to time, the speed of rotation of the feed rollers` 49 by operation of the hand wheel 74.

The mechanism for intermittently feeding the web (Figs. l-to 3 and 5 to 8) comprises four slides 76, said slides being disposed in pairs located respectively at opposite sides of the web, and the slides of each pair being disposed respectively at the front and rear of the dies, as shown in Fig. '3. The two slides of each pair are mounted for longitudinal movement on a guide 77, said guide being carried by plungei's 78 (Fig. 9) mounted for vertical movement in the bolster 42. Each of the plungei's 78 is formed with an axial opening to receive a spring 79 supported by a tliiinble 80 carried by the bolster, the upward movement of said plunger, under the influence of its spring 79, being limited by engagement of a shoulder 81 thereon with a plate 82 secured to the upper face of the bolster. The spring 79'and plunger 78 constitute means for resiliently supporting vthe guides 77 whose normal position is fixed by the stop plates 82, but which are depressed at eacli stroke of the .ram by abutment studs 83 on the die carrier 45. The slides 76 of each pair are rigidly connected with each other by a rod 99, while the forward andrear slides of the respective pairs are rigidlv connected by transverse plates 100 having guide slots 101 through which the Vweb The amount of slack B provided passes, said rods 99 and plates 100 connect# ing the several slides into a substantially rigid frame which is reciprocated as a unit on the guides 77 to effect the feeding ofthe web, as hereinafter explained.

Each of the slides 76 is provided with means for gripping and releasing the adjacent edge of the web lV, said means as herein shown comprising a fixed gripper member 84 secured to the slide and a cooperating pivoted gripper memberl 85 in the form of a dog carried by a rock' shaft 86 journalled in the corresponding slide 76 and having fast thereon an arm 87. The arms of the gripper dogs of each pair are con-y nected bya rod 88, while the arm 87 of the gripper on the 'forward slide each pair is extended upwardly above its point of connection with the rod 88 and has connected therewith the rear end of an operar.'- ing rod 89. It 'will be obvious that longitudinal movement of the rods 89 toward the rear ofthe machine, or toward the right in Figs. 5 and 6, will cause the gripper dogs 85 to grip both edges of the web in front of and behind the dies and advance said web, while longitudinal movement of the rods 89 in the opposite direction will cause said gripper dogs to release the web and the slides to'be returned to their initial position.

The operating rods 89 are connected at their forward ends to arms 90 which are longitudinally adjustable in clamps 91 secured to a rock shaft 92 in bearings 93 which are vertically adjustable in slots in the brackets 66 by means of adjusting screws 94. Between the clamps 91 (Fig. z) the rock shaft 92 has fast thereon a third clamp 95 in which is adjustably mounted an arm 96 connected atits upper end by a rod 97 with a crank pin 98 on the main shaft 38. It Will be seen that by adjusting the arms 90 and 96 longitudinally in the clamps 91 and 95, and by also adjusting the bearings 93 in the brackets 66 if necessary, the stroke of the slides can be varied in accordance with the requirements.

The cooperating dies 43 and 44 are formed with complementary blanking out portions 102 and 103 (Figs. 9 to 11) for punching blanks from the web W and with complen'ientary forming portions y104 and 105 for formingvsaid blanks into articles.'

The web W is supported and guided, during itsI passage between the dies, by a stripper plate 106 having openings to receive the blanking out portions 102 of the lower dies 43, said stripper plate being supported by springs 107 (Fig. 9) received in cavities 108 in the bolster42 and surrounding rods 109 secured at their upperv ends to said stripper plate, guided in the bolster, and carrying at their lower ends adjustable 112 and provided at its lower end with a stop nut 117 for limiting the upward movementof said plunger under the infiuence of the spring 114.

The dies are preferably heated in order to enable them to operate upon and shape dry, or untempcred stock, any suitable heatingv means being employed. As herein shown the forming portions of the dies are 'provided with peripheral grooves to receive electric heatingV elements or coils 118.J

Vvlhen the ram 30 descends, carrying with it the upper dies 44, the blanking out portion 103 of each upper die cooperates with the blanking out portion. 102 of the corresponding lower die to punch from the stock a plurality of. blanks, the stockv being clamped, during the blanking out operation. between the shaping portion 105 of the upperdie and the plunger 112 of the lowerdie, and the ejector pin 111 being forced backwardly into the upper die.' As the ram continues to descend, the plunger 112 is forced downwardly against. the tension of the spring 114, and the blanks are shaped into the' desired articles A, as shown in Fig.

10. The shaping movement of ,the diesv causes the web W and stripper plate 106 to be depressed by the ,blanking out portion 103 of the upper die, the guides 77 and feed -slides being simultaneously depressed by the abutment studs 83 to correspond with the depression of the web. As the ram rises, the stripper plate 106 and guides 77 are restored to their normal positions by the springs 107 and 79, while the completed nested-articles A are lifted out of thelower die by the plunger 112, acting under the influence of the springl 114, into the plane of theWebW'f determined by the normal position of the stripper plate, as'shown in Fig.A 11, so that, as the web is fed, said articles Will be^engaged by the edge of the` opening C from which the blanks were punched and thereby removed from the dies over the u stripper plate by the travel of the web.

The amount of travel of the web between vsuccessive operations of the dies is relatively small, in order to reduce the waste to a minimum, while the upper edges of the articles' A,` if the latter be of theflaring form shown, tend to overhang the edges of the openings C in the'web,`said articles lagging behind the Web somewhat since they, in their finished form, are somewhat smaller than the openings from which their blanks have been punched. ln order to prevent the overhanging edges of each set of articles formed by the forward row of dies from being struck by the upper dies of said row upon the next succeeding descent of the latter, special means are provided for removing said articles from the path of movement of said dies. As shown in Figs. 9 and 11a, said means comprises a set of dogs 5, equal 1n number to the dies of the forward row, said dogs being pivoted to studs 6 on the upper die carrier and being formed with Shoulders 7 which engage said studs and limit the downward swinging` movement oi' said dogs which normally assume, under the influence of gravity, a downwardly and rearwardly inclined-position. As the upper die carrier descends, vsaid dogs engage the formed articles and, as they are swung upwardly on their pivots, push said articles rearwardly out of the way of the descending` dies. Similar dogs may, if desired, be provided for'the articles formed by the rear row of dies, but in the construction shown said last named articles are discharged from the stripper plate 106 prior to the next descent of the upper dies, as will now be explained.

As the articles A formed by the several sets of dies reach the rear edge of the stripper plate and the web passes through the guide slot 101 of the plate 100, said articles A fall from the openings C in the web lV upon a chute 119 (see ,particularly Figs. 5 and G) by which they are discharged upon an endless conveyor 12 which delivers them into 'a Second chute 11. The, conveyor 12 and chute 11 are divided transversely of the machine by al series ot' partitions 122 (see also Fig. 3) into a series of `compartments 27, one of said rollers being driven by a belt 125 from a pulley 126 (Fig. 1) on the power .shaft 23. The chute 11 is supported by brackets 127 secured to the rear edge of the bed 27 and carrying between them a bridge 128 (Figs. 1, 3 and 12) having a serieskof openings 129 with which the several compartments of the chute 11 communicate respectively. l As will. be obvious from the foregoing, the formed articlesv A are delivered into openings 129 of the bridge 128 in nested groups each of' a number corresponding to the number ot' superpoed webs from which they are formed, the number of groups so delivered to each of the openings`129 being the same and equal to the number of strokes of the ram or cycles of operations of the machine. The groups of nested articles so delivered are in turn nested with one another and are automatically dividedor segregated into nested stacks of a predetermined number each by mechanism which will now be described.

Journallcd in the brackes 127 is a transverse shaft 130 one'end of which is extended beyond the corresponding bracket 127 and further supported by a second bracket 131 (Figs. 2 and 13) secured thereto. Mounted on the shaft 130 between the brackets 127 is a carrier 133 (Figs. 2 and 15) for a pluraliy of sets of containers 134. T he number of containers in each set is equal to the number ol' dies, and consequently to the number of groups of articles formed at each cycle of operations ot' the machine, and the several groups ot' containers are disposed radially about the shaft 13() and are arranged to be.

therefrom, the shaft 130 being automatically and periodically rotated for ,this purpose by mechanism hereinafter described when the several containers of each set have received cylindrical form. Each of said containers is split longitudinally into two sections, one

. of which, designated by the numeral 136 in lugs. 15 to 17, is bolted oriotherwise fixed, together with a U-shaped hinge member 137, to the end of one of a series of radial arms 135 on the carrier 133, the end of said arm `forming the bottom of the container. rllhe other section 138 of each container has bolted or otherwise secured thereto, a U-shaped hinge member 139, ,the hinge` members 137 and 139 oi the corresponding containers of contiguous sets having overlapping lugs connected by a hinge pin 140, whereby the movable section of each container is hinged to the fixed section of the contiguous container. The hinged section 138 of each container is provided wifh projecting lugs 141, whereby it is guided into alincment with the corresponding fixed section 136 to close the container, which is held in closed position by a bail 142 hinged at 143 to/ the fixed section and surrounding the movable section. By releasing .the bail 142 of any container, said container maybe opened by swinging aside its hinged section 138, and the stack of nested articles removed therefrom.

.The articles are packed or nested in the several containers by means of a set of reciprocatingplungers 144' (Figs. 1, 3 and 12) which operatethrough the openings 129 in the bridge 128 'and are carried by stems 145 guided in a transverse bar 146 (Figs. 1 and 3) supported at its ends by the brackets 127. The stems 145 are connected to a transverse rod 17vwhich is engaged at its ends by the bifurcated ends of a pair of arms 1 8 on a rock shaft 19 journalled at its ends inthe brackets 127. The rock shaft 19 is 4.provided at its end with a third arm 15 connected by a rod 151 with one arm of'a bell crank 4 pivoted at 8 to a bracket 9 on the bed 27. The other arm of the bell crank 4 is provided with an abutment stud 1 which is engaged by a cooperating abutment stud 2 on the ram 30 .at each stroke of the latter, thereby depressing the plungers'144 to pack the articles in the containers 134. The stroke of the plungers 144 is constant, being sufficient to pack and compress to the desired extent the articles in the containerswhen the latter have received a predetermined number of said articles.

The mechanism for rotating the shaft 130 and carrier 133, to bring a second set of containers 134 into operative posiion under the bridge 128 when the containers of a first set have received lthe desired number of articles, is illustrated in Figs. 1, 12, 13 and 14. Keyed to the shaft 130 between the bracket 131 and the adjacent bracket 127 is the hub of a vlocking disk 157 having in its periphery 'a series of notches 158 corresponding in number and angular position to the sets of con. tainers and each adapted to receive the end of a locking pawl 10 pivoted on a stud 13 projecting from the bracket 127, said pawl acting normally to hold the shaft 130 and carrier 133 against rotation. The pawl 10 is held in locking-position by a spring 168 surrounding the stud 13, one end of said spring being secured tto a collar 186 on said stud, and the other being secured to a bell crank 14 pivoted on said stud and one arm of which is rigidly connected with said pawl by a screw bolt 187. Secured, as by screw bolts 161, to the hub of the locking disk 157 is an operating disk 162 also lformed in its periphery with a series of notches 163 corresponding4 in number and arrangement to the sets ot containers. Rotatably mounted on the hub of the locking disk 157 is a controlling disk 164 in the form of a ratchet having on its edge a series of teeth 16 formed by relatively shallow notches (Fig. 14) and one or more relatively deep notches 166. The ratchet 164-is held against retrograde movement by a holding pawl 167 pivoted to the stud 13 and is periodically advanced, at each cycle of operations lof the machine, by` an operating pawl 2() on a swinging pawl carrier 170 pivotally mounted on the shaft 130,

said pawl being held in engagement with the ratchet by a'sprlng 171 connecting the same with said pawl carrier. The ratchet 164 is held against overrunning undervthe inliuence of the pawl 2() by a brake band 172 secured at one end to an angular arm 173 projecting from the bracket 127 said brake and passing about the hub of the ratchet 164 and carrying ,at its opposite end a suitable weilght 174. The pawl carrier 170 com.-

prises a bell crank fulcrumed onthe shafty 130, the pawl 20 being carried by onearm of said bell crank, the other arm of which is i adjustably connected to one end of a rod 175 connected at its opposite end to an arm 176 on a rock shaft 21 journal'led in a bracket 178'Con the bed 27, said rock shaft having al second arm y17 9 connected by a rod 180 with a crank pin 181 projecting from a crank disk 182 on the main shaft 38.

At each cycle of operations of the machine, the pawl carrier 170 is oscillated through an angular distance corresponding substantially to the angular spacing of the sets of containers l134, and by engagement notches forming t e teeth 16 it is held outof engagement with the operating disk 162 but when said pawl is engaged with the deep notch 166 it is permitted also to engage one of the notches 163 in said disk 162' so as to turn the latter and with it the shaft 13() and carrier 133, bringing into operative position another set of containers 134. The pawl 2O is provided with an arm 183 having a lug 184 which cooperates with a lug 186 on the' free arm of the bell crank 14. When the pawl 2O is engaged with the shallow notches .of the ratchet 164 the 1u 186 is out of the path of movementA of t e lug 184 which moves idly thereover. When, however, said pawl is engaged with the ldeep notch 166, and with a notch 163 in the operating disk 162, the lng 184 is brought into a position to engage the lug 186, so that upon oscillation of the pawl carrier -170 the locking pawl 10 is lifted, thereby disengaging the locking disk 157 and unlocking the carrier. The notches 163 in the operating disk 162 are of a sufficient width to permit a small amount of lost motion between said disk and the pawl 20, as indicatedat 188 in Fig. 12, so that said -pawl is given an opportunity to disen-l posed individual webs lpasses through the idle rollers 75 between which and the feed rollers 49 a slack portion B of said web depends. The web IV is then intermittently fed between the dies 43 and 44 by the feed slides 76, the material advanced at each operation of said feed slides being drawn' feed slide 76 are depressed, as indicated in.

Fig. 10, said parts being, however, lifted substantiallyto the top of the lower dies 43 when the ram asoends, as indicated in Fig.

11, and the formed articles A being lifted by the plungers 112 to the level of the upper surface of the stripper plate 106l upon which the -webW is guided. When, therefore, the

web W is again advanced, the articles A,Y

which still remain in the openings C in the web from which the blanks were punched, are carried forward with the web to the rear edge of the stripper plate where they fall from the holes C upon the chute 19. The scra portion-of the web W passes rearward- 1y tiirough the slot 101 in the rear guide plate 100 and, in order to prevent the same from interfering with the nesting and count# ing mechanism, vmay, if desired, be passed over a roller 200' (Fig. l1) journalled in the brackets 127 and rotated by a belt 201 from a ulley 202 on the main shaft 38.A Thearticles A slide down the chute 119 onto the conveyor 120 in their respective compartments formed by the partitions 122, from which they are discharged by the several compartments of the chute 11 throngh the corresponding openings 129 in the bridge 128, intol the respective containers 134 of the set then in operative positionb'eneath said bridge', being packed into said containers in nested relation by the plungers 144. At

each operation ofthe machine, the ratchet 164 is advanced by the pawl 20, and after a predetermined number of operations said pawl enters the notch 166 which permits the same to engage one of the notches 163 in the disk 162. yThe next operation of said pawl, therefore, causes the same to release ithe locking pawl 10 and turn the shaft 130 and carrier 133.through` a sufficient arc'to re.

move the set'ofv filled carrier 134 from `be neath" the bridge 128y and bringl the next succeeding set` into position beneath said nested articles.'

ers are then released, the hinged sections .138 of said containers swung aside, the

stack of nested articles removed, and the containers closed,

'It will be seen that` a machineconstructed in accordance with the invention may be made of large capacity, so that its rate of production will be very high in proportion to the amount ofv manual labor or personal supervision required, the machine being entirely automatic in its operation and delivering the finished articles in nested stacks of a predetermined number each ready for shipment, so that the only labor or supervision required is the renewal of the stock when exhausted and the removal of the fully completed, nested, and counted articles. As herein shown, the machineis provided with five sets of cooperating dieseach operating upon five superposed webs of material, so as to produce twenty-live articles at each cycle of operation of the machine, the nesting and countingmechanism including five sets of containers, each set having six containers, (the number of sets corresponding to the number of sets of dies), the several sets being moved successively into operative position after each fifty operations of the machine, so that at each movement of the container carrier twelve, hundred and fifty articles will be delivered in live nested stacks of two hundred and lifty each.

Having thus describedY my invention, I claim:

1. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, the combination with means for supplying a'plurality of sh'eets of said material in superposed relation, of punch- `ing and forming means movable together for first punching blanks from all of said sheets simultaneously and then forming said blanks into a corresponding number of nested articles.

'webs simultaneously and then formingsaid blanks into a corresponding number 3. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, the combination with a reciprocating die 'press having combined blanking out and forming dies one movable relatively to the other and one of the dies having a part movable with the other die during the forming operation, of means for supplying a plurality of sheets of'said ma` teri'al and fecdingrthe same in superposed position betweensaid dies.

p 4. 'In a maclune of the class described, the

- combination of means for Supplying a plurality of sheets of material -in superimposed relation, cutting and forming means Asimultaneously movable for first cutting blanks from all of said sheets and then forming the same into a corresponding v`number of nested articles, and yielding means for centrally supporting the nested articles during the forming operation.

5. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, the combination with in termittently operating blankiiig out devices, of reciprocating means for feetjlirg a web of material intermittently between successive operations of said devices, and rotary means for feedingsaid web continuously to said intermittent feeding means.

6. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, -iii combinatiomnieans for Supplying a plurality of webs of said niaterial in superposed relation,.intermittently operating devices for punching blanks from all of said webs simultaneously and forming said blanks into a corresponding number of nested articles, means for feeding said supei'posed Webs intern'iittently between successive operations of said devices, and means for feeding said superposed webs contiiiuously to said intermittent feeding means.

7 In a macliinefor forniing articles from sheet material, the combination with intcrf mittently operating blanking out devices, of means for feeding a web of material intermittently between successive operations of saidv devices, means for feeding said web continuously to said intermittent feeding means, and means for supporting a slack portion of said web between said continuous feeding means and-said intermittent feeding means.

8. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, the combination with intermittently operating blanking out devices, of means for feeding a web of material inter mittently between successive operatioi'is of `said devices, and a pair of continuously rotating rollersfor feeding said web to said intermittent feeding means.

9. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, the combination with intermittently operating blanking out devices, of` means for feeding a web ot' material intermittently between successive operations of said devices,y a pair of continuously rotate ing rollers for feeding said web to said intermittent feeding means, and a pair of idle rollers between said feed rollers and intermittent feeding means, said feed rollers and idle rollers supporting between them a slack -portion of said web.

and also for bodily moving said sheets in the direction of cutting.

ll. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, the combination with intermittently operatingblanking out devices, of a reciprocating slide having web gripping means thereon for feeding a web of said material intermittently between successive opeiatioiis of said devices, and .means for feeding said web continuously to said slide.

l2. In a machine foi' forming articles from sheet material, the combination with intermitten'tly operating blaiikiiig-out devices, of a' reciproca-ting slide having web-gripping means thereon for feeding a web of said material intermittently between successive operations of said devices, and a. pair of continuously rotating rollers for feeding said web to said feed slide.

.f l 13. In a machine for forming articles from sheet materia-l, -the combination with intermittently operating blanking out devices, of a slide having web gripping means thereon, means for reciprocating said slide to feed a web of material between successive' opera,- tions of said devices, said means having provision for adjusting the stroke of said slide, and means for feeding said web continuously to said slide.

lll. In a machine for forming articles from Vsheet material, the. combination with intervopeiating dies, of slides located respectively at opposite sides of said dies, web gripping devices carried by said slides, and means for reciprocating said slides in unison to feed a web of said material past said dies.

1'6. In a machine for forming articles from.

slieet` material, the combination with cooperating dies, of means for feeding aweb of said material past said dies comprisingv slides located at opposite sides of said dies, a web gripping dog pivoted to each of said slides, a iod connecting said dogs, and means connected'to oneof said dogs for reciprocating said slides.

. 17. In a machine of thecharacter described, web feeding mechanism comprising slides located respectively at opposite sides of the web, a plate connecting said slides and having a slot through which 'the Web paises, devices carried'by said slides for gripping the edges of the web, and means for reciprocating said slides in unison.

18. In a machine of the character' described, web feeding mechanism comprising a slide having web gripping means, a rock shaft, clamps carried by said rock shaft, an arm adj ustably secured to said rock shaft by one of said clamps and operatively connected with said slide, a second arm adjustably secured to said rock shaft by another of said clamps, and operating means connected with said second arm.

19. In a machine of the character described, Web feeding mechanism comprising a slide having Web gripping means, a rock shaft, an adjustable bearinor for saidrock shaft, clalnps carried by said rock shaft, an

arm adjustably secured to saidy rock shaft byone of said clamps and operatively connected with said slide, a second arm adjustably secured to said rock shaft by another of said clamps, and operatingmeans connected With said second arm.

20. In a machine for-forming articles from sheet materia-l, in combination, means for feeding a Web of said material, devices for punching blanks from said web and forming the same into a-rticles, and means for supporting said Web, said parts being constructed and arranged to cause said articles to remain in the openings in said web from which said blanks have been punched and to be withdrawn from the machine by the travel of the Web.

21. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, the combination With means for feeding a plurality of Webs of said material in supeiposed relation and for supporting the same, of` devices for punching blanks from all of said Webs simultaneously and forming said blanks into a corresponding number of nested articles and including means for supporting the articles in theA plane of the Web. i

22. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, the combination With mecha'- nism for feeding a web of said matrial and for supporting the same, of devices for punching blanks from said web and forming the same into articles, said Web-feeding mechanism comprising slides located respectively at opposite sides of said web beyond said punching and Aforming devices, a plate connecting said slides and having a slot through which the web passes, devices carried by said slides forgripping the edges of the web, and means for reciprocating said slides in unison.

23. In a machine for forming'articles from sheet material, in combination, means for feeding a web of said material, a fixed lower die, a reciprocating'upper die cooperating with said lower die to punch blanks from said web and form the same into articles, and a movably supported stripper plate as- Vsociated with said lower die and over which from sheet material, in combination, a. re-

ciprocating slide provided with gripping means for engaging and feeding a web of said material, a resiliently'supportel guide Vfor said slide, a fixed lower die, a recipr0cating upper die cooperating with said lower die to punch blanks from said web and form the same into articles, and a resiliently supported stripper plate associated with said lower. die and over which said web is fed.

6. In a machine for forming articlesY from sheet material, in combination, a bed, a ram, cooperating punching dies carried by said bed and ram respectively, a resiliently supported stripper plate cooperating with the dies on said bed, guides resiliently supported on said bed, and a slide mounted to reciprocate onsaid guides and provided with gripping means for engaging and feeding a web of material past said dies.

27. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, in combination, means for feeding a Web of said material, devices for punching blanks from said Web and forming the same into articles, means for supporting said web, said parts being constructed and arranged to cause said articles to remain in theopenings in said Web from which said blanks have been punched and to be Withdrawn from sa'id punching and forming devices by the travel of the web, a chute into which said articles fall from saidopenings, and a conveyor for receiving said articles from said chute and discharging the same from the machine.

28. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, in combination, means for feeding a web of said material, devices for punching blanks from said web and forming the same into artic-les, means for supporting the articlesin the plane of said `Web, means for guiding the Web out of the' machine, and means for permitting discharge of said articles through the web'.

29. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, in combination, devices for punching blanks from a web of said material and forming the same into articles, a pair of slides located respectively at opposite sides of the Web, devices carried by said slides for gripping the edges of the web, means for reciprocating said slides in unison to feed the web past said punching and forming devices, a plate connecting said slides and having a slotV through which the cany web assesbeyond said punching and formfrom sheet material,the combination with devices for feeding a web of said material and for' normally supporting and `guiding' the same in a redetermined plane, of de'- vices for'punching blanks from said web and forming the same into articles,'said devices having means'for restoringtlie formed arti- '.cles to the normal plane of said web, wherey they are withdrawn from the machine by the travel of the web.

31. In a` machine for forming articles? from sheet material, the combination `with devices for feeding a web of said material i and for normally supporting and guiding the' same in a predetermined plane, of cooperating dies for punching blanks from said web and forming` the saine into articles, said dies being provided respectively with ejecting means for restoring the formed articles tothe normal lane of said web, whereby they are with rawn from said dies by the .travel of the web.

32. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, in combination, a bed, a ram, lower and upper cooperating blankino' out and forming dies carried by said bed and ram respectively, devices for feeding a web of material past said 'dies and for normal- .ly supporting and guiding the same in a predetermined plane, an ejector associated with the upper die for releasing the formed articles there-from, and a ,lifter associated with the lower diefor restoring the formed articles to the normal lane Jof said web,

whereby they are with rawn from said dies- V by the travel of the web. v 33. In 4 a. machine for forming articles from .sheet material, in combination, means forl supporting and feeding a'web of said material, 'devices for punching blanks from said web and forming the same into articles,

said parts being constructed and arranged tocause said articles to remain inthe openings in said web from which said 'blanks have been punched and to be withdrawn from the machine by 'the travel of the web,` and add-- tional means for removing said articles from said punching and forming devicesin the direction of movement of theweb.. ,l

34. In a machine for formingmrticles lfrom sheet material, in combination, means for feeding and guiding a web of said material, a fixed lower die, an' upper diecooperating with said lower die to punch blanks from said web and form` vthe same into .ar-

ticles, a reciprocating carrier for said upper die, said parts being constructed and arranged toca-use' said articles to remain vin the openings in' said web from which said vblanks have been punched and to be withmaterial, meansV for intermittently moving the said web, and additional means for moving the formed articles relative to, and in the directionof the moving web.

3 6. In a machine for forming articles from. sheet material, the combination with means for feeding a plurality of webs of said material in superposed relation, of-

nieans for punchin blanks :from allf said webs simultaneous y and forming said blanks into a corresponding number of nested articles, means for restoring said articles to the openings in the web from which said blanks have been punched, and means for moving said articles relative to and in the direction of movement of said web.

37. The herein described method of forming articles from sheet material which consists in supplying a plurality of sheets of said material in superposed relation, punching blanks from all of said sheets and :torining said blanks into a group of nested articles While supporting the blanks in the` plane ofthe sheets.

38. The herein Adescribed method of forming articles from sheet material which consists in supplying a plurality of sheets of said material in superposed relation, punching blanks from, all of said sheets simultaneously and simultaneously forming said blanks into a group of nested articles, restoring said group of articles to the alined holes in the superposed sheets from which said lblanks have been punched, and moving said sheets in unison to carry away csaid.

. group of articles. 39. The herein described method of forining articles from sheet material which consists in supplying a plurality of sheets of and `moving verating dies carried b scribed, in combination, a bed, a ram, coop said bed and rain tor blanking out andl orming articles from a sheet ot material, and means carried by said ram for engaging the formed articles and removing them from proximity to said dies.

4l. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a bed, a ram, cooperating dies carried b said bed and ram for blanking out and orming articles from a sheet of material, and means operated by said ram for yengaging the formed articles and removing them from proximity to said dies.

42. lln a machine of the character described, in combination, a bed, a ram, cooperating dies carried b said bed and ram for blanking out and orming articles from a sheet of material, and means carried by said ram and operated by movement thereof for engaging the formed articles and removing them from proximity to said dies..

Legnaia t3. lin a machineot' the class described, the combination Voil? cooperating relatively movable die members, meansy for supplying a web therebetween, and means for oper ating said die members to bodily move the Web and to simultaneously cut and form a blank from the Web While maintaining the blank in the plane of the web.

44. The combination of cooperating mechanism for cutting blanks from a web and forming them into hollow articles, said mechanism including reciprocating means for supporting and reciprocating the web and the blank during the forming operation.

45. The combination with an intermittently operating device for forming an. article from sheet material, of means for feeding a web of material intermittently bel tween successive operations of said device,

and means for feeding said web continuously to said intermittent feeding means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY E. RUCKERT.

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