US2601785A - Sampling mechanism for can top feeding apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 1, 1952 R. K. POTTLE 2,601,785

SAMPLING MECHANISM FOR CAN TOP FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 50, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EV TOR.

ma am July 1, 1952 R. K. PQTTLE 2,601,785

' SAMPLING MECHANISM FOR CAN TOP FEEDING APPARATUS INVENTOR July 1, 1952 R. K. POTTLE 0 SAMPLING MECHANISM FOR CAN TOP FEEDING APPARATUS Filed 001;. 50, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS SAMPLING MECHANISM FOR CAN TOP FEEDING APPARATUS R. K. POTTLE July 1, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet '4 Filed Oct.

INVENTOR.

A r TOE/VEKS SAMPLING MECHANISM FOR CAN TOP FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 50, 1946 R. K. POTTLE July 1, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q M MS my 5 v M 4 J w a o l 3 1. m m M k L m Y C E 6 g B a Q A Q Q 1e Q x s m o N A 5 7% L. Nun

Q N \m w R m f l \N EW .2 m M 7/ 7 3w S w E g A u B wt R m E Q Q. it 3 8 3 $1 3 a N x Q. Li

Patented July 1 1952 SAMPLING MECHANISMFORCAN TOP FEEDING APPARATUS Raiph Pottie, New York} N. assig'iior to Amman-can Company, New York; N. Ya; a coiiifiration anew J ersei' Appiieamn October so, 1946. seriaiNo. 701%,683

14 Claiiins.

The present i iiiieiitioni'elatesto a-macnineior counting and re mg "flat articles-sum as can ends an the like 'a'rifdlias arnciusrrererenceto a machine in which some or the articles are diverted 'i'oi' inspetien purposes at the termination of each counter a piedteiinined number of articles. I I

An object of the ini/e'htion'isfthe provision of a counting and feeding machine wheiein fiat articles are fed in a eqnu'nuous procession without any interruption diifingcduhtiiig of a piedetermined hufrib'ei of articles and'tlien the counted articles elf'adi ahced alor'ig 'a'path or travel for subsequent operatioiiior for packing and storing. I I

Another object istne piovisi'onof such a machine wherein a predeterm ned niiinbr' of articles are divertedfof inspection purposes afterthe completion of everycountsothat acheck may be had on the articles-b ingaovaneea; v

Numerous other ohjcts' and advantages of the invention will be appafentas it-is'bett'r understood from the renewing description, which, taken in conne'tion with the actioinpaniring drainrings, discloses a piefe'tred embodiment thereof.

Referring to' the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodyingthe instant invention, with'pai'ts Broken away;

Fig. 2 is a'ldngitu'cliijalsection takensubstantially along the me 2: 2 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is atransverse section taken substantially along the brdkenline 3-'-'3 in Fig; 2, with parts broken away; I

Fig. 4 is'a tep'plan'sejction takensubstafitially along the line lli'n Fig.2, with parts broken away; v

Fig. 5 is a partial side elevation showing a clutch detail, with parts broken away and parts in section; I I

Fig. 6 is an end elevation "as viewed from the left in Figs. land 2', with partsbraken back and parts shown in section; I

Fig. '7 is a new ermrmnemgs and showing a modified former the invention, parts being broken away; I II Fig. 8 is a fragrnentafy top plan View of the machine shown i'ri Figll'i; and I I Fig. 9 is a 'sectionalview' takenjsubstantiaily along the broken line =-9 in Fig. 7;-

As a pr ferred emeediment of the instaiitinvenue 1'1 the-drawings illustrate a maehme for 2 meta-1 can ends Aerie-tor advancing them along a line of travel for other'op'erations or for packing into containers for shipment and storage. In the instant invention 250 can ends are counted outand advanced andfollowing'this, two or more ends as the case may require, are set aside for inspetion purposes. I

The operation of the machine is continuous, the counting, feeding and inspecting operations being effected without any interruption in the new of can ends throughthemachine. The can ends A to-be counted and advanced are received from any suitable source of supply in a continuous procession. If desired these can ends may'come 'di'rectlyfro'm the presses which produce them.

The can ends asthe'si are received in the machine fall into position on top of a stack of such ends located in a magazine 2| (Figs. 1, 2 and'fi) which is bolted to a plate22 mounted on top of a frame 23 which constitutes the main frame of the machine. Guide *rods Z4 secured in the top of the magazine keep the ends in place on the stack.

The c-anerids in the magazine are disposed at an a-n'gle to the horizontal; the lowermost can end in the stack being siipported at two oppositely disposed point-s adjacent its outer edge transversely 6f the machine. The lowermost edge portion of this can end rests on a stationary step Eifo'rhjdiha guide iai-l 2f! securedto the plate 22 and extending through the magazine 2|. The opposite upperedgeportion or the canend rests one. ledge of a fotatab lciit on knife or element 29 which disposed in an opening 3| m the side or the ihagafiiiie.

The cut-off knife 29 is cylindrical in shape and is formed with a Wide spiral thread 32 which eiten'ds out team is anextensmn of the ledge 2'8; This afrafignientpiovides a Wedge shaped cut -off blade 30,: Whichisihduntd on the upper end ofa drive shaft 34 jdurna'le'din bearings 35 formed in the plate '22 ahdinthefrarne '23. The

shaft is rotated continuously in any suitable manner in tirne With the other moving parts of the machine. This is a conventional cut 'off device used inrnahy cah-inakihg rnachines.

Rotation of thecutoffkifiif 29 separates the avo-iowermost -can ends at the bottom of the stack in the-magaz1ne This is effected by the rotating cut-ofiblade seat the upper end of the groove 32, cuttihgin between the second can end from the "bottom and theean endneiat above;

Hence for each rotationof the cut-off knife 2%, one pair or two canends-as a unitare' separated item the remaining ends the stack and are mvd ddWfi through the s'iiiiil 'gffJOV' in the knife. The guide rail 27 functions as a hinge point. At the lowermost end of the spiral groove 32 the pair of can ends drop free of the cut-off knife and come to rest on the plate 22. They are then in an opposite inclined position with the one edge portion still supported on the step 26 of the guide rail 2'! and the opposite edge portion supported on the plate 22. A shoulder 37 on the bottom of the cut-off knife temporarily retains the two ends in this position.

While in this downwardly inclined position the pair of can ends are fed as a unit from the magazine 2i and are advanced along a straight line path of travel for subsequent operations or for packing as hereinbefore mentioned. This advancement of the can ends is effected by a plurality of spring held feed dogs H (Figs. 1 and 2) which are disposed in spaced recesses 42 formed in a reciprocating feed or stroke bar 43 (see also Fig. 6). of the machine for substantially its full length in an opening 45 formed in the plate 22. The bar operates in a slide-way 46 formed in the machine frame 23.

The feed bar 63 is reciprocated through a forward or feeding stroke and thence through a return stroke in time with the separation of the can ends from the stack within the magazine, there being one feeding stroke for each pair of can ends. For this purpose the feed bar is formed wi h. a pair of depending lugs 48 (Fig. 2) which carry a pivot pin 49 mounted in one end of a short link The opposite end of the link is pivotally carried on the upper end of an actuating arm 52. This arm is mounted on a pivot pin 54 carried in a pair of spaced bearing blocks 55 (see also Fig. 4) which extend inwardly from the machine frame 23.

Intermediate its ends, the arm 52 is pivotally connected to the outer end of a crank link 56. The inner end of the link is mounted on a crank pin 57 secured in a crank disc 58 (see Figs. 2

and 4) keyed to a rotatable drive shaft 59 which may be the main drive shaft of the machine. The drive shaft is journaled in a long bearing 62 formed on the machine frame 23. This drive shaft is rotated continuously in any suitable manner, as for example through a gear 63 (Fig. 4), at a speed which gives it one rotation for each pair of can ends separated by the cutoff knife 29 from th bottom of the stack of ends in the magazine 2|. Thus the speed of the drive shaft is timed with the separation of the can ends. This provides proper reciprocation of the feed bar 43 in time with the separation of the can ends.

On a forward or feeding stroke of the feed bar 43 its feed dog 4| engaging behind the pair of can ends A separated from the stack in the magazine 2| advances these two can ends along the guide rail 21 and a cooperating parallel rail H which is disposed adjacent the cut-off knife 29. A clearance opening 12 formed in the side of the magazine adjacent its base permits of this feeding of the can ends from the magazine. The step 26 of the rail 21 is tapered downwardly along this path of travel so that the pair of can ends shifts from an inclined position into a horizontal position as the ends advance along the rail.

At the end of the feeding stroke, the feed bar d3 moves back through a return stroke to its original position, leaving the fed pair of can ends in their advanced position for further advancement on succeeding strokes of the feed bar. Guide rail extensions 13, 14 of the rails 21, H are The stroke bar extends longitudinally 4 provided for guiding the can ends through the machine durin succeeding strokes of the feed bar.

At the time the feed bar begins this back stroke the next pair of can ends to be advanced has already been separated from the remainder of the stack in the magazine. Hence during the return stroke, the feed dog'fil engages this separated pair of ends and is depressed as the dog 7 travels back under them.

The separated can ends are held against backward movement during this travel of the feed dog, by a pair of holding fingers 15 (Figs. 1 and 2) which are located one on each side of the separated can ends. The can ends in advance of the first pair are held by pairs of similar fingers E5. These fingers are mounted on pivot pins 11, one of which is secured in the guide rail 21 while the others are fastened in the plate 22. A coil spring I8 around each' pin normally holds the fingers in an inwardly projected position. A stop pin 19 adjacent a tail piece on each of the fingers 15, and secured in the plate 22, limits the inward travel of the fingers 15. In like manner a necked-in portion of the two guide rail extensions 13, 14 adjacent a tail piece of each finger it permits their travel. Both of these stop elements permit outward movement for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained.

In the instant machine, 250 can ends are to be counted out and advanced before diversion of the can ends for inspection purposes. This is the equivalent of 125 unitary pairs of can ends as fed from the magazine 21 by the feed bar 43. Thus the feeding of 250 can ends requires half the number of feeding strokes of the feed bar.

The counting of these required can ends and strokes of the feed bar 43 is effected by a simple gear counting mechanism which includes a properly proportioned continuously operating gear train and a clutch device. For this purpose the drive shaft 59 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) carries on its outer end a pinion 82 which meshes with and drives an intermediate idler gear 83. The idler gear is mounted on a short idler shaft 84 journaled in a bearing 85 formed in the machine frame 23. The idler shaft is continuously rotated.

The idler shaft 84 carries a driving pinion 81 which meshes with and drives a cam shaft gear 83. This gear is loosely mounted on one end of a normally stationary cam shaft 89 whichcarries a one revolution clutch 99 (Figs. Band 5). The cam shaft is carried in bearings 9| formed in the machine frame 23. The gear 89 rotates continuously at a speed 21 times slower than the feed bar drive shaft 59. In other words the cam shaft gear makes one revolution for every 21 revolutions of the drive shaft and for the feeding of 21 sets or pairs of can ends. I

The cam shaft gear 88 is formed integrally with a driving pinion which meshes with and drives a clutch gear 96. This clutch gear is mounted on a short shaft 91 which is journaled in a long bearing 98 formed in the machine frame 23. This clutch gear completes the counting gear train and is continuously rotated at a speed of one revolution for every pairs of can ends fed by the feed bar 43.

Hence during one complete cycle of operation of the machine, the reciprocating feed bar 43 continuously feeds 125 pairs of can ends A while the counting gear train operates to rotate the clutch gear 96 through one complete revolution.

As the feed bar 43 moves forward through its S 125th feeding stroke and thusadvances the 125th pair of can ends, the clutch gear 96 completes its singlerevolutiom Thereupon the clutch 90 is operated and this sets the cam shaft 89 into motion for one complete revolution.

Operation of the clutch 90 is effected by acam IOI (Figs. 3, 4 and which is formed on the side of the clutch gear 95. The cam operates against a cam roller I02 which is carriedon the upper end of a lever I03. The lower end ofthe lever is mounted on a rocker shaft I04 carried in a pair of spaced bearings I 05 which depend from the machine frame 23. Between the bearings the rocker shaft I04 carries aflapper plate I31 of the clutch 90.

The flapper plate IIlI normallyis in a position to engage against a clutch dog I I I (Fig.5). The dog is pivotally mounted in arecess IIZ'formed in a clutch barrel I I3 of the clutch 90. The clutch barrel is secured to the cam shaft .89. The dog within the recess H2 is backed up by a spring barrel I I5 located in a bore in the. clutch barrel II3.

As the clutch gear 95 approaches the end of its single revolution, its cam IBI rocks the lever I83 and the flapper plate I01 inwardly. This movement of the flapper plate releases the clutch dog II I from its flapper plate engaging position and hence its spring barrel II5 forces the dog outwardly. The clutch dog thus engages the inner surface of a clutch ring III which surrounds the clutch barrel and which is formed on the continuously rotating cam shaft gear 83. The outer end of the released clutch dog immediately falls into a notch I I8 formed in the rotating clutch ring Hi. This looks the gear 88 and the cam shaft 89 together for one complete rotation of the cam shaft.

During this one revolution of the cam shaft 89 the flapper plate IIi'I is returned to its normal position so as to reengage the clutch dog III at the end of the rotation. Engagement of the dog releases it from the clutch ring notch Ila and the cam shaft thereupon stops while the gear 88 continues to rotate through a new cycle.

The single rotation of the cam shaft 89 effects the discharge from the magazine 2I of one pair of can ends for inspection purposes, as hereinbefore mentioned. This is brought about by a discharge dog I2 I (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) which is pivotally mounted in a recess I22 formed in the feed bar 43 adjacent and to the rear of the feed dog 4 I. This dog is normally depressed below the upper surface of the feed bar and hence is inactive during the feeding of the 125 pairs of can ends.

Intermediate its ends, the dischargedog I2I is formed with a depending arm I23 (Figs, 2 and 6) which carries a roller I24. Theroller I24 of the discharge dog is disposed adjacent a longitudinal track I26 which extends along and below the path of travel of the feed bar 43. This track is formed on the outer end of a lever 12! (see also Fig. 4) which is mounted on a pivot shaft I28 carried in a pair of spaced bearings. I29 formed on the machine frame 23. This lever is formed with an inner armI3I which. carries a cam roller I32. The cam roller operates against an edge cam I33 mounted on the cam shaft 89. A spring I34 stretched from the arm I3I to a pin I35 in a lug I36 of the bearing 85, keeps the cam roller in engagement with the cam. I

During normal operation of the feed bar 43 the roller I24 of the discharge dog I2I is out of engagementwith the track I26 andthiskeepsthe dog depressed so that it readily passes under the can ends in the magazine 2|. However, just as soon as thefeed bar 43 begins the return stroke following its th feeding stroke, which is coincident with the beginning of the rotation of the cam shaft89, the cam roller I32 onthe arm I3I falls into a notch I38 (Fig. 2) in the cam I33 and thisrocks' the lever I21 upwardly. This upward movement of the lever lifts the track I26. The track engages and raises the dog roller I24 and this lifts the discharge dog I2I alcove the top surface of the feed bar.

With the discharge dog I2I in an elevated positionduring the 125th return stroke of the feed bar, the dog engages and discharges from the magazine 2I the 126th pair of can ends A. The dogpushes this pair of endsbackward, past the holding fingers I5 (Figs. 1 and 2), through an opening in the side of the magazine and delivers these ends into a chute 'I4I secured to the machine frame 23. The chute directs these two can ends to any suitable place of deposit for inspection purposes.

As soon as the discharge dog I2I has delivered the 126th pair of can ends into the chute I4I for inspection, thecam roller I32 of the arm I3I rides out of the cam notch I38. This rocks the lever I21 back into its original position and thus permits thedischarge dog I2I to fall back into its depressed position in the feed bar. I

Since the 126th pair of can ends has been diverted for inspection purposes on the 125th back stroke of the feed bar 43, thereare no separated can ends ready in the magazine to be fed forward on the next following or 126th feeding stroke of the feed har. Hence on this stroke of the feed bar no can ends are fed forward. This creates a space or skip in the continuous feeding operation of the feed bar and thus marks the termination of one feeding cycle of 125 pairs of can ends. The cam shaft 89 upon the completion of this cycle ceases rotation, through withdrawal of the clutch dog I II as hereinbefore mentioned, and remains stationary through the following feeding operations of the feed bar 43 until another batch of 250 can ends have :been counted out and advanced asdescribed above.

As a modified form of the invention, Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings illustrate a machine which is similar to the preferred form just explained but in which the means for discharging the can ends for inspection purposes are slightly different. In this modified form of the invention the guide rails I3, I4 along which the can ends A advance in pairs, are cut short and terminate adjacent a continuing movable platform I5I disposed in a recess formed in the plate 22. This platform is formed on the upper ends of a pair of arms I52 projecting upwardly from a hub I53 carried on a shaft I54 journaled in a pair of spaced bearing brackets I55 depending from the table of the main frame 23.

The hub I53 is formed with a depending cam arm I58 which carries a cam roller I53 which operates against an edge cam I6I mounted on the cam shaft 89 in place of the usual cam I33. A spring I62 holds the cam roller against the cam. One end of the spring is hooked into one of the platform arms I52 while the other end is secured to a pin I64 secured in the table of the main frame. The cam IIiI, like the cam I33 in the preferred form of the invention, is normally stationary and thus holds the platform stationary.

Generics-advancedalong the guide rails 13, I4

by the stroke bar 43" are deposited on the platform II on the forward stroke of the bar by the last feed dog on the bar. These canends are im mediately picked up from the platform for further advancement, by feeding devices comprising a pair of spaced and parallel, vertically disposed feed screws or Worms I68 located above and adjacent opposite sides of the platform.

The feed screws I68 are mounted on vertical shafts IE9, the lower ends of which extend through the plate 22 and are journaled in bearings formed in the table of the main frame 23. The screws are continuously rotated in unison and in opposite directions by bevel gears III which are carried on the lower ends of the screw shafts. These gears mesh with and are driven by driving gears I12 carried on a drive shaft I73 j ournaled inbearings formed in the main frame. The drive shaft I13 is rotated in any suitable manner in time with the other movable parts of the machine.

Hence as a pair of can ends A are received on the platform IEI, the feed screws I68 immediately pick them up and convey them upwardly to a suitable place of deposit. The moving can ends are guided during this vertical travel by a plurality of vertically disposed guide bars I15 disposed adjacent the screws. There are four of these guide bars and they are carried in brackets I15 bolted to the plate 22.

As in the preferred form of the invention, 125 pairs of can ends A are advanced along the guide rails 73, I4 and are picked up. by the feed screws I68 before the one revolution clutch 90 is tripped to set the cam shaft 89 in operation to throw out one or more pairs of following can ends for inspection purposes. This tripping of the clutch 96 is effected just as the stroke bar i3 is about to move forward through its 126th stroke to deliver the 126th pair of can ends .onto the platform I5I.

Setting of the cam shaft 39 into motion by the tripping of the clutch I rotates the cam I6I through one revolution. As soon as the cam begins to turn, the cam roller I59 rides up onto a long high portion of the cam and this immediately rocks the platform I5l downwardly into an inclined position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. '7. In this position, the platform is below and in spaced relation to the lower level of the feed screws I68 and its forward end is in alignment with a downwardly inclined discharge chute I8I secured to the main frame 23. This movement of the platform takes place just as the stroke bar begins to move forward on its 126th stroke. The platform remains in this depressed position for approximately three quarters of the revolution of the cam I6 I, which is sufficient time to permit the stroke bar 43 to complete its forward stroke and to move back through about one half of its return stroke.

Hence the stroke bar 43 delivers the 126th pair of can ends onto the depressed,'incline positioned platform and instead of these ends being picked up by the feed screws I68, the ends pass directly over the platform and enter the discharge chute I8 I. The chute directs them to any suitable place of deposit for inspection purposes. It is in this manner that certain of the can ends after the completion of each count of 125 pairs, are diverted for inspection purposes.

Just before the cam IBI completes its one revolution, the cam roller I59 rides off the high portion of the cam. This returns the platform I5I to its normal can end receiving position for the 8 reception of the next 125 pairs of can ends to be picked up by the feed screws I68. The platform is in this position when the stroke bar 43 completes its 126th return stroke.

As soon as the bar completes this return stroke the clutch operates to stop the rotation of the cam shaft 89 as in the preferred form of the invention. The cam IBI thereupon comes to rest and thus holds the platform I5I in its elevated position as described above for the duration of the feeding of the next batch of can ends.

It is thought that the invention and. many of 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 hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a machine for counting and feeding flat articles, the combination of a magazine for holding a supply of articles, a reciprocable feed bar adjacent said magazine, actuating devices for moving said feed bar through a feeding stroke and a return stroke, means on said feed bar for advancing the articles, means for counting a plurality of feeding strokes of said feed bar to advance a predetermined number of articles, discharge means also on said feed bar and operable only on a return stroke after said predetermined number of articles has been advanced, and means connected with said counting means for operating said discharge means to divert from said magazine a second number of articles for inspection purposes.

2. In a machine for counting and feeding flat articles, the combination of a magazine for holding a supply of articles, a reciprocable feed bar adjacent said magazine, actuating devices for moving said feed bar through a feeding stroke and a return stroke, a feed dog on said feed bar for advancing the articles, means for counting a plurality of feeding strokes of said feed bar to advance a predetermined number of articles, a

normally inactive discharge dog also on said feed bar and operable only on a return stroke after said predetermined number of articles has been advanced, and means connected with said counting means for activating said discharge dog to divert from said magazine other articles for inspection purposes.

3. In a machine for counting and feeding flat articles, the combination of article supplying means, a reciprocable feed bar adjacent said article supplying means, actuating devices for moving said feed bar through a feeding. stroke and a return stroke, a feed dog on said feed bar for advancing from said article supplying means during a plurality of feeding strokes a predetermined number of articles, a normally inactive discharge dog also on said feed bar and operable only on a return stroke after said predetermined number of articles has been advanced for diverting from said article supplying means a second predetermined number of articles for inspection purposes, and means for activating said normally inactive discharge dog on said return stroke for bringing it into article diverting position.

4. In a machine for counting and feeding fiat articles, the combination of articles supplying means, a reciprocable feed bar adjacent said article supplying means, actuating means for moving said feed :bar through a feeding strok and a return stroke, means 01.15am feed her for advancing fromsaid articlesupplying means during a plurality of feedingstrokesa predetermined number of articles, normally inactive means also on said feed bar and operable only on a return stroke after'saidpredetermined number of articles has been advanced for diverting from said article supplying means ausecondpredetermined number of articles for inspection purposes, and means for activating said normally inactive means on said return stroke for rendering ityoperable for diverting said, articles from said article supplying means.

5. In a machinefor counting and feeding flat articles, the combination of article supplying means, a reciprocable feed bar adjacent said article supplying means, actuating devices for moving said feed bar through a feeding stroke and a return stroke, means on said feed bar for advancing a predetermined number of articles from said article supplying means during a plurality of feeding strokes, a normally inactive discharge dog carried in said feed bar in a depressed position, and means operable on a return stroke of said feed bar following the advancement of said predetermined numberof articles for raising said inactive discharge dog into operative position for diverting from saidarticle supplying means a second predetermined number of articles for inspection purposes.

6. In a machine for counting and feeding fiat articles, the combination of article supplying means, a reciprocable feed bar adjacent said article supplying means, actuating devices for moving said feed bar through a feeding stroke and a return stroke, means on said feed bar for advancing from said article supplying means during a plurality of feeding strokes a predetermined number of articles, a normally inactive discharge dog carried in said feed bar in a depressed position, an actuating element carried on said inactive discharge dog, and means operable on a return stroke of said feed bar following the advancement of said predetermined number of articles and engageable with said actuating element on said inactive discharge dog for raising said dog into operative position for diverting from said article supplying means a second predetermined number of articles for inspection purposes.

7. In a machine for counting and feeding flat articles, the combination of a magazine for holding a supply of articles, a reciprocable feed bar adjacent said magazine, actuating devices for moving said feed bar through a feeding stroke and a return stroke, means on said feed bar for advancing from said magazine during a plurality of feeding strokes a predetermined number of articles, a normally inactive discharge dog carried in said feed bar in a depressed position, an actuating element carried on said inactive discharge dog, actuating means engageable with said actuating element for raising said discharge dog into operative position for diverting from said magazine a second predetermined number of articles for inspection purposes, and cam means operable in time with said feed bar actuating devices for bringing said actuating means into engagement with the discharge dog on the return stroke of said feed bar following the advancement of said predetermined number of articles for separating articles for inspection purposes.

8. In a machine for counting and feeding flat articles, the combination of article supplying means, means for separatingsaid articles from said article supplying means, an article support adjacent said article supplying meansforretaining the separated articles in a predetermined position, feeding means for engaging and advancing a predetermined number of said articles along said support after they are separated from said article supplying means, counting means connected with said feeding means for counting the feeding operations of said feeding means to count out a predetermined number of articles advanced, and means moved by said counting means and operable after the advancement of all of said counted articles for diverting a subsequently separated number of articles from beyond the engagement of said feeding means to leave said articles for inspection purposes.

9. In a machine for counting and feeding flat articles, the combination of article supplying means, a platform for receiving the articles from said article supplying means, counting means for counting out a predetermined number of articles received on said platform, feeding devices disposed adjacent said platform for removing the received articles from said platform and for advancing the same, shifting means connected between said platform and said counting means for shifting said platform away from said feeding devices after the advancement of said predetermined number of articles to divert thenext received articles away from said feeding devices, and means for removing the diverted articles from said platform for inspection purposes.

10. In a machine for counting and feeding fiat articles, the combination of a source of supply of articles, feeding means for advancing said articles from said source of supply, a platform for receiving the articles from said feeding means, feeding devices disposed adjacent said platform for removing the received articles from said platform for further advancement, counting means for counting the feeding operations of said feeding means to count out a predetermined number of articles advanced into said feeding devices, means operable by said counting means for shifting said platform for diverting a said article from said feeding devices for inspection purposes after the advancement of said predetermined number of articles, and means for receiving said diverted articles.

11. In a machine for counting and feeding flat articles, the combination of article supplying means, an article support located adjacent said article supplying means and extending laterally therefrom, means for separating said articles from said article supplying means and for positioning them on said support, feeding means for advancing the separated articles along said article support, a gear train connected With said feeding means for counting the feeding operations of said feeding means to count out a predetermined number of articles advanced, a onerevolution clutch operable by said gear train at the termination of a count of said predetermined number of articles, cam means operable by said clutch through a predetermined cycle, and means operable by said cam means for removing from said support a second number of articles for inspection purposes. I

12-. In a machine for counting and feeding flat articles, the combination of article supplying means, an article support located beneath said article supplying means and extending laterally therefrom, means for separating articles from said article supplying means and for depositing the articles on said support, feeding means for advancing the separated articles along said support, counting means connected with said feeding means for counting the feeding operations of said feeding means to count out a predetermined number of articles advanced, and a vertically oscillatable member moved by said counting means and having cooperation with said feeding means after the advancement of said predetermined number of articles for removing articles for inspection purposes from said support.

13. In a machine for counting and feeding flat articles, the combination of article supplying means, an article support located adjacent said article supplying means and extending laterally therefrom, means for separating said articles from said article supplying means and for positioning them on said support, feeding means operable longitudinally of said support for ad-.

vancing the separated articles from said article supplying means, counting means connected with said feeding means for counting the feeding operations of the feeding means to count out a predetermined number of articles advanced, an oscillatable discharge, device laterally movable relative to said feeding means for removing articles from said support for inspection purposes, and cam means operable by said counting means after the advancement of said predetermined number of articles for actuating said discharge device.

14. In a machine for counting and feeding fiat articles, the combination of article supplying means, feeding means for advancing said articles from said article supplying means, a platform disposed in the path of travel of said advancing articles for receivingthe articles from said feeding means, counting means for counting a predetermined number of articles received on said platform, feeding devices for removing from said platform all articles constituting said counted predetermined number, and means connected between said platform and said counting means for shifting said platform periodically after the completion of said count for shifting a said article from position where it is removed in a dilferent manner, it then being further advanced by said feeding means to permit its disposition for inspection purposes.

RALPH K. POTTLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,225,410 Clark May 8, 1917 1,950,302 Hansen Mar. 6, 1934 2,180,604 Staude Sept. 20, 1938 2,297,847 Wilckens et a1. Oct. 6, 1942 2,359,641 Harlow Oct. 3, 1944 2,367,397 Harlow Jan. 16, 1945

Images