US2781014A - Capacitor terminal tab forming machine - Google Patents

Description

' Feb. 12,1957

Filed Feb. 6, 1951 a a I i 27 C 1 ?65 F. O. GILUN CAPACITOR TERMINAL TAB FORMING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l lli IN V EN TOR 17 0x1055 Owem Gill/2h A1TORNEYS 5 Sheets-SheetS F. O. GlLLlN CAPACITOR TERMINAL TAB FORMING MACHINE Feb. 12, 1957 Filed Feb. 6, 1951 1W ATI'ORNEYS INVENTOR Ffiancas Owen Gala/1 1957 F. o. GILLIN CAPACITOR TERMINAL TAB' FORMING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 5. 1951 fiance's Owen Oz'llz'm B am A'ITORNEYS Feb' 12, 1957 F. o. GlLLlN CAPACITOR TERMINAL TAB FORMING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 6, 1951 INVENTOR fiazz'ca's Owen Gillan I BY I I A'ITORNEYS United States Patent CAPACITOR TERMINAL TAB FORMING MACHINE Francis Owen Gillin, New Bedford, Mass., assignor to Aerovox Corporation, a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 6, 1951, Serial No. 209,676

2 Claims. (Cl. 113-1) This invention relates to apparatus for feeding tape and forming tabs therefi'om for use with a machine for stitching such tabs to lengths of foil to form protruding terminals when such foil is Wound into capacitors.

Where pre-cut terminal tabs are manually positioned transversely of the foil preparatory to then clinching them to the foil in the course of winding the foil together with its associated paper dielectric on a mandrel to form a capacitor section, the operation is slow, costly and likely to be inaccurate by misplacernent in the positioning of such tabs.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide a mechanism which is relatively simple in construction, having but few parts, none of which are likely to become deranged, which is sturdy, compact and capable of continuous use for long periods of time without need for stoppage for adjustment or repair and which may readily be operated by even a relatively unskilled workman, by which the terminal tabs need not be precut but are fed in appropriately measured lengths for accurate positioning relative to the foil and out 01f in the course of winding the foil and paper upon an appropriately driven mandrel all in coaction with a tab stitching mechanism which latter may be of conventional construction.

According to the invention, the mechanism includes means for holding a roll of metal tape from which the tabs are to be formed, means for advancing predetermined lengths of tape past a severing means so that the leading end of the tape is introduced to the tab stitching machine, means for accurately aligning the free end of the tape with the operating elements of the tab stitching machine, and means simultaneously for severing the tape to form a tab therefrom and for stitching such tab to the foil.

Desirably the roll of tape is in frictional engagement with a feed roller positively driven through suitable drive linkage from a shaft to which a measuring feed roller is aflixed, the latter having an associated gripping roller resiliently urged thereagainst to grip the tape therebetween. Means are provided simultaneously to rotate said feed rollers so that the tape may be drawn from the roll by the measuring feed roller and associated gripping roller to be passed between a pair of normally spaced cutting blades, said first feed roller eliminating drag on such tape as it is advanced to prevent slippage thereof between the gripping roller and the measuring feed roller.

In order that tabs of predetermined length may be formed, the measuring feed roller is designed to be rotated intermittently in but one direction, the length of tape advanced by said roller between and past the cutting blades being determined by the amount of each intermittent rotation of said measuring roller. To actuate said cutting blades, one of which is fixed and the other of which is reciprocable, the latter blade is desirably controlled by a shaft oscillating in timed relation with the Patented Feb. 12, 1957 ice operation of the stitching machine so that a tab will be severed from the length of tape and simultaneously stitched to the foil strip.

Desirably, a deflector arm is positioned between the cutting blades and the stitching machine and movable against the tape prior to the stitching operation to align the free end of such tape with the operating elements of the stitching machine so that the tab may be securely stitched to such foil strip in accurate position.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view with parts broken away showing the tape feeding and tab forming apparatus associated with the tab stitching machine,

Fig. 2 is a detail elevational view on a larger scale taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the left hand portion of the apparatus,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the right hand portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional detail view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 3,

Figs. 7 and 8 are plan views of the portions of the machine shown in Figs. 3 and 4 respectively,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on a larger scale taken along line 99 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view on a larger scale of the tape deflector,

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on a larger scale taken along line 11-11 of Figs. 7 and 8,

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectionalview taken along line 1212 of Fig. 11,

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 of Fig. 12,

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 taken along line 1414 of Fig. 12,

Fig. 15 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 1515 of Fig. 11, and

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken along line 1616 of Fig. 15.

Referring now to the drawings, the tab stitching machine and the tab forming and feeding apparatus are so inter-related as to operate in conjunction with each other and may be mounted, for example, on a base B. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the tab forming and feeding apparatus desirably comprises means for holding a roll R of metal tape 20 such as aluminum, from which the tabs are formed, means for severing the tape and means for advancing the tape to feed predetermined lengths to the severing means so that tabs of desired length may be formed, said means being desirably mounted on an elongated substantially rectangular plate 21 preferably of heavy metal stock supported in a vertical plane in any suitable manner.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 8 the means for holding the roll of tape R desirably comprises a pair of upstanding plates 22 and 23 preferably substantially rectangular as shown, retained in spaced parallel relation as by a block Z4 intervening therebetween near the lower edges thereof. The plates 22 and 23 are desirably afiixed near their vertical edges 25 as by screws 26, to a bracket in the form of a strip 27, affixed by screws 31 near the end 32 of supporting plate 21. Plates 22 and 23 each has a vertical slot 33 therein transversely aligned with each other and extending downwardly from the top edges 34 of said plates.

Longitudinally aligned with said slots 33 and positioned therebeneath is a stud shaft extending transversely between plates 22 and Z3 and journalled in suitable bearing openings therein, said shaft having a feed roller 36 aflixed thereon between said plates 22 and 23. As shown in Fig. 8, stud shaft 35 extends rearwardly of plate 23 and de sirably has a sprocket wheel 37 EifiiXBd thereon as by means'of set screw 38 extending through the hub 39 of said sprocket wheel. The roll R of tape is positioned between the upstanding plates 22 and 23, and has an axial shaft 41 extending transversely through vertical slots 33 so that the lower peripheral edge of said roll R will rest on the periphery of the feed roller 36.

With this construction, it is apparent that as tape is drawn off the roll R in the manner hereinafter to be described, and the diameter of the latter is reduced, by reason of the weight of such roll, it will gradually move downwardly between'plates 22 and 23 and remain inrcontact with the feed roller 35.

The tape advancing mechanism to draw tape from the roll'R desirably comprises a measuring feed roller 44 which, as shown in Figs. 3, ll, 12 and 14, has an axial hub 45 encompassing and affixed to horizontal drive shaft 46 by means of a set screw 47. Shaft 4c is desirably journalled in'transversely aligned bearing openings 48 and 49 respectively, in the supporting plate 21 and in a substantially rectangular plate 51 (Figs. 3 and 12) that is mounted on plate 21 and retained in spaced parallel relation with respect thereto as by means of spacer members 52 (Fig. 8). y

In order to retain the tape 2 against the periphery of the measuring feed roller 44 which is desirably knurled as at 53, so that the tape may be advanced thereby in the manner hereinafter to be described, a gripping roller 54 is provided, movable against said measuring feed roller 44 so as to clamp the tape 20 therebetween. Although gripping roller 54 could be mounted in any suitable manner, it desirably is idly mounted, as shown in Fig. 3, on a stud 55 extending laterally inward toward supporting plate 21 from an arm 55 secured as by screws 57 to the lower end and at the outer face of anupright arm 58, said arms forming a bell crank lever 59 which is pivotally mounted on a screw 6i) threaded into the supporting plat-p 21. V

esirably the gripping roller 54 has a disc 6i (Fig. 12) on the outer face thereof also rotatably mounted on stud 55 and of diameter slightly greater than gripping roller 4% so' that the edge of disc 61 will overlap the peripheral edge of said measuring fed roller 44 to prevent lateral displacement of the tape .29 between said rollers.

Means are desirably provided normally to urge the bell crank lever 59 in a clockwise direction'about its pivot 69 as shown in Fig. 3 to move gripping roller 54 toward the periphery of feed roller Although any suitable means may be used for this purpose, in the embodiment herein shown (Figs. 3 and 4), a coil spring 62 is inter- 'posed between two lengths of Wire 63, 64 affixed respectively to the upper end of upright arm 58 and to the upper end of a post 65 which latter is secured at its lower end as by screws 65 near the upper edge of the supporting plate 21.

Means are desirably provided to rotate measuring feed roller 44- *and also to rotate shaft 46 so that the feed roller 36 may also be rotated as by means of a sprocket chain 7% operatively connecting sprocket wheel 37 and sprocket wheel 43. To this end a. pair of clutches 67 and 68 (Figs. 12, 13 and 14) are desirably provided on each side of plate 21 respectively, designed to permit rotation of feed rollers 36 and 44 andshaft 46 in only one direction i. e., in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Figs. 3 and 11. Although the clutches could be of any suitable type, each desirably, as shown, comprises a clutch disc 69, 71 preferably of steel, positioned respectively in circular cavities '72 and 73 in hub 45 and in a cup-shaped casing 74, the latter being afiixed by set screw 75 upon shaft 46 to the rear of plate 21. Each of the discs which are identical has its periphery cut away to define a plurality of substantially right angle notches 76 in each of which a pin or roller 77 is positioned, the latter being normally urged to wedge between the adjacent face 78 of the cavity and the inner wall 79 of the notch 76 as by a coil spring 81.

As shown in Fig. 12,.the pins. associated with disc69 are retained in their associated notches 76 by means of an outstanding peripheral flange 82 on the outerface of said disc 69. The pins associated with the disc 71 are retained in their associated notches by means of a cover plate 33 positioned over circular cavity 73 and over the end face of disc '71, said cover plate 33 being aifiXed to the rear face of plate 1 by means of screws 84 which extend through a flange conformation 85 desirably'formed integral with said cover and being affixed to disc 71 as by a screw 8-9.

As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, a pinion 86 is desirably idly mounted on shaft between clutch disc 65 and plate end of a stud 92 which extends through 53. The

front end of'the stud-"92 extends through transversely aligned openings in the legs (Figs. 8, ll, Hand 16) formed at the bifurcated end of an arm 94 which pivots on said stud. Legs 93 straddle a lug '95 upstanding from the surface of an elongated arm 96 and preferably formed integral therewith, said stud 92 also extending through lug pivotally to mount said arm 95.

Gear 91 is desirably rigidly connected to arm 9 to be movable therewith, as by means of a set screw 97 which extends transversely through an opening in'gear 91 over the top edge 98 of'plate 51 and is threaded into a stop member 131. The latter is rigid with and preferably formed integral with arm 94 on the inner side thereof, and .eX-tends laterally over the top edge 93 of plate 51, being adapted to abut against said top edge to limit the pivotal movement of arm 94 in both clockwise and counterclockwise direction.

Arms 94 and 9d are desirably connected so that upon rotation of arm 96 about its pivot 92 as by a handle rod 102 (Fig. 11) aflixed to the free end of said arm as at 193, arm '94 will also be rotated. To this end it is preferred to provide a stud 163d slidable in an opening in arm 96 and having its upper end 1% positioned between the legs 1437 formed at the free end 1% of arm 94 which also is bifurcated, a pin 199 pivotally connecting said studs to said legs 107. By means of a coil spring 111 encom passing that portion of stud 104 beneath arm 96 and compressed between said arm 96 and a nut 112 screwedj on the threaded end of said stud, the arms 94 and 95 will be resiliently retained in juxtaposed parallel relation so,

that both arms maybe moved simultaneously in either clockwise or counterclockwise direction. However, upon abutting of said stop member 191 against the top edge 98 .of plate 51 when the handle is moved in a clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 11, although the 1 arm 94 will be restrained from further pivotal movement on stud 92 the arm 96 will continue to pivot illustratively to the position shown indot and dash lines, compressing the coil spring 111 which will take up the impact caused bore 113 in stop member ittll, said screw protruding beyond the face 1150f the stop member to engage the top edge 98 of plate 51 when-the'arm 94 is pivoted to its extreme counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 11 which movement does not rotate the feed roller 44 by reason of the clutches 67 and 68. Thus, as the arm 96 is pivoted to the position shown in Fig. 11 the measuring feed roller 44 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction a fixed amount determined by the amount of rotary movement of gear 91.

In order to guide the tape 21) as it is drawn from the roll R by feed roller 44, a plurality of idler rollers 117, 118 and 119 are desirably provided, rotatably mounted on the supporting plate 21 by means of studs 121 extending laterally outward from said plate. Desirably one of said rollers, illustratively roller 119 has a flange 122 thereon preferably formed integral therewith on the outer periphery thereof, thereby preventing lateral displacement of the tape 29 on said roller 119 as it passes thereover.

Means are desirably provided to prevent the inner edge of the tape 21? from rubbing against the plate 21 as the tape 21 is drawn past the rollers 44 and 54. To this end, as shown in Fig. 11, the supporting plate 21 has a substantially rectangular opening 125 therethrough near the adjacent peripheries of rollers 44 and 54. Positioned in said opening is a roller 126 having its periphery extending slightly beyond the plane of the front face of the supporting plate 21. The roller is rotatably mounted in vertical position between the legs 127 of a substantially U-shaped bracket 128 and is retained in said opening as by means of a leaf spring 129 afiixed at one end as by welding to the cross piece of said bracket which extends beyond the rear face of said supporting plate and at its other end as by screws 131 (Fig. 8) to the rear of said plate.

Desirably the position of the periphery of roller 126 with respect to the plane of the front face of the supporting plate 21 is adjustable as by means of a screw 133 (Figs. 7 and ll) threaded through an opening in plate 21.

Means are desirably provided associated with the rollers 44 and 54 to guide the tape 2% therefrom to the cutting mechanism for severing such tape. To this end, an elongated closed channel 135 (Fig. 6) is desirably provided extending longitudinally of the supporting plate 21 in substantially the same horizontal plane as the adjacent peripheries of rollers 44 and 54.

Although the channel may be formed in any suitable manner, in the embodiment herein shown, a substantially rectangular block 136 is affixed as by screws 137 to the supporting plate so as to extend longitudinally thereof and arcuately cut away at 138 to clear the periphery of roller 44. The upper surface of the block 136 adjacent the supporting plate 21 has a longitudinal recess 139 therein over which extends a cover strip 142 affixed to the upper edge of the block adjacent the outer edge thereof as by screws 143, the space between the floor of the recess and the undersurface of the cover defining said elongated channel 135.

To sever the tape discharged from the outlet end 144 of channel 135 the cutting mechanism shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6 is desirably provided. This mechanism may cornprise a pair of coacting blades 147 and 148. As shown in Fig. 5, movable blade 147 desirably comprises a substantially rectangular strip of hardened steel slidably mounted so as to be vertically reciprocable in a holder 149, which is preferably a substantially rectangular block 151 of metal having a longitudinal central recess 152 therein slightly greater in depth than the thickness of blade 147 which is therefore free to slide in said recess which is closed by a cover plate 153, affixed thereover by means of screws 154. The holder 149 is desirably affixed to the plate 21 adjacent a vertical slot 155 therein by means of a substantially L-shaped bracket 156, which retains the holder 149 and the blade 147 therein in vertical position extending at right angles to plate 21 with the rear edge of said holder extending through said slot 155.

The holder 158 for the fixed cutting blade 148 is accommodated in the enlarged bottom portion 157 of slot 155. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, holder 158 desirably comprises a block having a shoulder 159 at the rear thereof which rests on the lower edge 161 of the enlarged portion of slot 155. The holder 158 is securely retained in position on said supporting plate 21 as by means of a plurality of screws 162 extending transversely through the lower end of the block and threaded into the plate. The fixed blade 148, which desirably is a substantially rectangular, elongated block of hardened steel, is positioned with its lower end in a transverse slot 163 through the top portion of said block, and removably secured in said slot by means of a screw 164 extending upwardly through the base of holder 158 into a threaded opening in blade 148. With the blades 147 and 148 thus mounted, the cutting edges 165 and 166 thereof may be positioned adjacent each other and will extend at right angles to the plate 21 transversely of the length of tape 20 as it passes therebetween.

Means are desirably provided to reciprocate said movable blade 147 so that the cutting edge 165 thereof may be moved past the cutting edge 166 of the fixed blade 148 to sever said tape 20. Although any suitable means may be used for this purpose, in the embodiment herein shown, the movable blade 147 has a transverse slot 167 in the upper edge thereof which is exposed through aligned enlarged circular openings 168 and 169 in the block 151 and the cover plate 153 respectively, near the upper ends thereof. Extending through openings 168 and 169 and through the transverse slot 167 is a pin 171, afiixed at its root end near the periphery of the end face 172 of the enlarged head 173 of horizontal actuating shaft 174 and extending longitudinally thereof, said enlarged head being positioned in opening 168 which serves as a bearing therefor. Means are desirably provided rotatably to mount shaft 174 longitudinally of plate 21, yet to restrain said shaft from longitudinal movement. To this end a portion of said shaft near the enlarged head 173 thereof is of reduced diameter as at 175 and the shaft is retained against the plate 21 as by means of a block 176, desirably afiixed near its lower end as by screws 177 to plate 21 and having a notch 178 therein on the inner face thereof into which fits said reduced portion.

Means are desirably provided to guide the tape 20 as it is moved between and beyond the cutting blades 147 and 148. To this end a substantially rectangular bar 181 is provided afiixed as by screws 182 to the supporting plate 21 and extending longitudinally thereof, said bar having its top surface 183 lying in a horizontal plane slightly below the cutting edge 166 of the fixed blade 148 and the outlet 144 of channel 135. Desirably bar 181 has a horizontal deflector plate 184 positioned thereabove which may be aflixed to the supporting plate 21 as by means of screws 185 extending through an upright flange 186 preferably formed integral with said deflector plate. The deflector plate 184 which extends substantially parallel to bar 181 is slightly spaced therefrom to define a guideway 1S7 therebetween and is upwardly curved as at 188 at the inlet end of said passageway to ensure that the length of tape may enter therein.

The mechanism heretofore described is designed to operate in conjunction with a tab stitching mechanism which as it per se forms no part of this invention will be but briefly described.

The tab stitching mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 3 desirably comprises a pair of upright supporting bars 191 and 192 retained in parallel relation by spacer bars 193 and 194, the assembly being retained in vertical position by means of screws 195 extending through the spacer bar 194 and threaded into the supporting base B of the mechanism. Rotatably mounted between the upright supporting bars 191 and 192 adjacent spacer bars 193 and 194 respectively are a pair of eccentric cams 197 and 198 each preferably an elongated rod. One of said cams, illustratively cam 197 extends longitudinally of actuating shaft 174 and is axially aligned therewith. Cam 197 desirably "has reduced portions 201, 202 .(Figs. 1 and 9') at its respective ends journalled in associated bearing openings in the upright supporting bars 191, 192 and one of said reduced portion, i. e., portion 201 extend through the bar 191 and as shown in Fig. 9 is operatively connected to the actuating shaft 174 so that the latter will rotate with the cam 197 to sever the tape.

Although the cam 197 and shaft 174 may be connected in any suitable manner, in the embodiment herein shown, the end'of cam 197 has a rectangular cavity 263 therein into which extends the correspondingly shaped end 204 of shaft 174.

The other reduced portion 262 of the earn 197 extends through. an opening in a lever 205, the latter being ai'hxed to said cam be means of a screw 296 which extends through the end of said lever and through the reduced portion 202 of said cam.

Positioned between upright supporting bars 191 and 192 beneath cam 197 and extending parallel thereto is a' vertically movable, substantially rectangualr bar 268. The cam 197 is esirabiy substantially oval in cross section and has a flat undersurface 210 (Fig. 1) against which the bar 208 is resiliently urged as by means of tensed coil springs 269 compressed between said bar 268 and the surface of a bar 211 extending parallel to the cam 197 and afiixed at each end to the upright bars 191 and 192 respectively, the bar 208 being restrained from transverse displacement by means of an upright arm 214 (Fig. 3) affixed at its lower end to bar 211 and resting at its upper end against bar 268.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, bar 208 carries a plurality of depending stitching pins 212 extending parallel to each other in a plane longitudinally of bar 208 and reciprocable respectively in a corresponding plurality of vertical openings 213 in said bar'211. Associated with bar 211 is a bar 216 which extends parallel to bar 211 and is spaced'therefrom as at 217 to define a passageway therebetween, said bar 216 also being afiixed at each end to the upright supporting bar 191, 192. The bar 216 has a plurality of bores 218 therethrough vertically aligned respectively with the bores 213 in bar 211 and with the pins 212 reciprocable therein so that said pins may enter the bores in bar 216.

Associated with bar 216 and positioned therebelow' between said bar and cam 198 is a bar 219 vertically movable between upright supports 191 and 192. The bar 219 carries a plurality of upright sleeves 221 parallel to each other in a plane longitudinally of bar 219, said sleeves being vertically aligned respectively with the bores 218 in bar 216 so that they may reciprocate therein. The bar 219 is normally urged away from bar 216 by means of'a plurality of coil springs 222 compressed between bars 216 and 219, the downward movement of said bar 219 being limited by the earn 198 on which said bar rests. As shown in Fig. 3, cam 198 desirably has a portion of its upper face cut away so that in cross section it defines a semi-cylindrical portion 223 of diameter less than that of the'bottom portion 224 of said cam 198, said bar 219 normally riding'on said cam portion 223.

Cam 198 desirably has a reduced portion at each end journalled respectively in associated bearing openings in upright supports 191 and 192 and one of said reduced portionsextends through an opening in a lever 225, the

3) will lie directlybeneath the pins 212 over the strip of foil P which has been advanced between bars 211 and 216. To this end as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, supporting bar 1 91 desirably has. a transverse notch or inlet 238 therein at the input end .of the passageway 217 between bars 211 and 216 and a deflector guide 229 is desirably associatedwith said inlet 228. The guide 229 illustratively comprises substantially an L-shaped member having its vertical leg 231 afiixed as by screw 232 to the outer surface of upright support 191 and having its horizontal leg 233 extending through inlet 228.

To retain the free end of the tape 21) directly beneath pins 212, in the embodiment herein shown in deflecting finger 235 is desirably provided (Fig. 10) pivotally mounted at its lower end near the outlet of guideway 187 and movable transversely of bar 181 into a vertical slot 236 in the outer face thereof. The nose end 237 of said finger is adapted to abut against the outer longitudinal edge of the tape 23 in the guideway 187 to move'the latter laterally therein so that the free end thereof will be aligned with pins 212 in the stitching mechanism.

Although the finger 235 could be mounted in any suitable manner as shown in Fig. 10, it is affixed at its lower end as by set screw 239 to one end of a horizontal shaft 241 rotatably mounted in a longitudinal bore in a block 242 afiixed as by screws 243 to the undersurface of bar 181. Afiixed to the other end of shaft 241 is a lever 244 connected at its lower end by a pitman 245 to a solenoid 246, desirably controlled by means of a micro switch 247 mounted on a bracket 248 afiixed to the plate 51 as shown in Fig. 3. The micro switch is designed to be closed to encrg'me the solenoid when the arm 96 of the tape feeding mechanism has moved to the limit of its feeding stroke as shown in Fig. 11 and to this end the micro switch 247 has an operating arm 249, the free end of which extends in the path of movement of a trip finger 251 afiixed to the end of arm 96 and extending laterally outward therefrom. Means are desirably provided to rotate the cams 197 and 198 to move the bars 208 and 219 and their associated pins 212 and sleeves 221 respectively toward each other to perform the stitching operation. To this end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the free ends of levers 20S and 225 which are substantially vertically aligned, are pivotally connected to an up right arm 253, the latter havinga substantially L-shape'd portion at the lower end thereof and preferably formed integral therewith. Desirably the vertical arm 254 of said L-shaped portion is pivotally connected as at 255 to a pitman 256, the latter being connected at its lower end to a plunger 257, desirably of the air operated type and designed to pull on said pitman to pivot said levers. The plunger 257 is desirably controlled by the same micro switch 247 which controls the solenoid 246 and is designed to operate slightly later than the solenoid 246 for the reason hereinafter to be described. 9

Means are desirably provided to clench the stitched portion of the tape 29 and the foil together. For this purpose in the embodiment herein shown a horizontal anvil bar 261 (Fig. l) is associated with the bars 211 and 216 and has its top surface desirablyaligned with that of the lowermost bar 216. ,The anvil 261 which is afiixed in any suitable manner to the base of the machine so as to extend parallel to bar 216, has a hammer member associated therewith which, as shown in Fig. 1, desirably comprises a lever 262 extending longitudinally of the anvil immediately thercabove resting on a fulcrum 263. The lever 262 ispivotally connected at its rear end as at 264 to the armature of a solenoid 265, mounted by spacer members 266 to the base B, whereby upon actuation of said solenoid the rear end thereof will be raised rapidly to bring the free end of said lever against the anvil 261 with great force.

In order to advance the foil P so that the stitched tab will be advanced from beneath the pins 212 to be presented to the anvil 261, the pulling mechanism shown in Fig. 1 is desirably provided. This mechanism desirably comprises a base 268 preferably a rectangular metal plate alfixed to the base B as by screws 269. Mounted on said plate are a pair of spaced upstanding bars 271 and 272 desirably pivotally mounted at their lower ends on the ends of a rod 273 which extend parallel to the anvil 261 and is mounted in parallel bearing blocks 274 and 275 afdxed to plate 268 as by screws 276. Aflixed to the upper end of bars 271, 272 as by screws 277 and eX- tending therebetween is a spacer bar 278 beneath which is positioned an elongated cam bar 279 desirably substantially oval in cross section, and pivotally mounted at each end in bearing openings in bars 271, 272. One end of cam 279 which desirably is of reduced diameter, extends through the bearing opening in bar 272 and has a crank 281 affixed thereto, the latter desirably having a notch 282 (Fig. 2) in the rear edge thereof to receive a laterally extending pin 280 .aflixed to upright bar 272, when the crank is in substantially vertical position. The crank 281 and the cam 279 are so positioned with respect to each other that when the crank is in substantially vertical position, the major axis of the oval shaped cam will be in substantially horizontal position.

Positioned beneath cam 279 and spaced therefrom when the major axis of the cam is in substantially horizontal position is a clamp bar 283 which extends parallel to cam 279. As shown in Fig. l the clamp bar 283 carries a plurality of depending studs 284 threaded at their upper end into the undersurface of said bar, and extending respectively through associated openings in a retaining bar 285 afiixed at each end to upright bars 271, 272, the ends of said studs protruding beneath bar 285 being of enlarged diameter. Desirably a coil spring 286 encompasses each of said studs and is compressed between the opposed faces of the retaining bar and the clamp bar, normally resiliently to urge the latter upwardly. Desirably the upright supporting bar 272 has a slot 287 completely therethrough to permit insertion of the lengths of paper P1, P2 and foil F in the manner hereinafter to be described.

Means are desirably provided to limit the pivotal movement of the upright bars 271 and 272 on shaft 273. To this end as shown in Fig. l, a pair of brackets 288, 289 are provided each having an upright leg and a horizontal leg, whereby said brackets may be alfixed to plate 268. The upright leg of bracket 288 is desirably rearwardly inclined and a screw 291 is threaded through said leg near the upper end thereof with the nose end of said screw lying in the path of movement of upright bar 272. The upright leg of bracket 289 is desirably substantially vertical and it also has a screw 292 threaded therethrough having its nose end in the path of movement of said upright bar 272. Thus, the pivotal movement of said upright bars 271 and 272 is limited by the distance between the nose ends of said screws.

Associated with upright bar 272 is a micro switch 293 which is adapted to close when said bars 271, 272 have pivoted forwardly on shaft 273 the desired extent. The micro switch 293 is desirably mounted on a bracket 294 afiixed by screws 295 to plate 268 and has its actuating arm in the path of movement of the nose end of a screw 297 threaded through upright bar 272, said micro switch 293 being connected to solenoid 265 to energize the latter when the upright bars 271 and 272 have been pivoted forwardly in the manner hereinafter to be described.

Means are desirably provided to guide the lengths of paper P1 and P2 which pass between spacer bar 193 and cam 197 and between cam 198 and spacer bar 194 respectively and the foil F which passes between bars 211 and 216 through the space between cam 279 and clamp bar 283. To this end, the lengths of paper P1 and P2 and foil F all desirably pass between a pair of elongated rollers 298 and 299, which extend parallel to anvil 261 and are vertically spaced from each other, said rods being desirably aflixed at one end to an upright block 301 mounted on the case B.

10 Operation To set up the machine herein described for operation, as shown in Fig. 4, the roll R of tab foil is positioned between upright plates 22 and 23 so that shaft 41 rides in vertical slots 33 and said roll rests on feed rollers 36. The length of tape 20 is threaded over roller 117, under roller 118 and over roller 119, being restrained from lateral displacement by flange 122 of said last named roller. The tape is then passed between feed roller 44 and gripping roller 54 which may be lifted away therefrom to permit introduction of such tape therebetween. The tape 20 is then threaded through the channel and from the outlet 144 of said channel between the normally spaced blades 147 and 148 and through the inlet of guideway 187 to the end of the latter.

The strips of paper P1 and P2 shown in Fig. 1 are passed between spacer bar 193 and cam 197 and spacer bar 194 and cam 198 respectively; the strip of foil F is passed between bars 211 and 216 at right angles thereto and the three strips are then passed between rollers 298 and 299 and bars 271 and 272 of the pulling device through the space between cam 279 and clamp bar 283. The ends of the strips are then positioned on the winding mandrel M in conventional manner.

The operator may then rotate the mandrel M to wind a few turns thereon so that the ends of the superposed strips P1, P2 and F will be securely retained on said mandrel. At this time the following operation is performed.

The operator may grasp the handle rod 102 of the feed mechanism and move it to the position shown in Fig. 11. As a result arm 94 will be pivoted and the gear 91 atfixed to stop member 101 will be rotated in a clockwise direction, the rotation of said gear being limited by the abutment of stop 101 against the upper edge 98 of supporting plate 51. Rotation of gear 91 will rotate pinion 86 and clutch disc 69 in counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 11, thereby to rotate feed roller 44.

At the same time the shaft 46 to which the feed roller 44 is affixed will also be rotated in a counterclockwise direction to rotate the sprocket wheel 43 thereon. Rotation of the sprocket wheel 43 will, through sprocket chain 70 and sprocket wheel 37, rotate feed roller 36 thereby to rotate the roll of tape. Simultaneously, the rotation of feed roller 44 will cause the tape 20 which is pressed thereagainst by gripping roller 54 to advance through the channel 135, between blades 147 and 148 and through guideway 187 so that the end of the tape is positioned between the bars 211 and 216 of the stitching machine.

As the length of foil F is positioned so that one of its longitudinal edges is adjacent the horizontal leg 233 of guide 229 which is of greater thickness than the foil, the end of the tape as it is advanced through inlet 238 will pass over said foil and not abut against such edge. By reason of the rotation of roll R, no drag will be caused thereby, which might otherwise cause slippage of the tape as it is advanced between the rollers 44 and 54.

The length of tape fed between the bars 211 and 216 of the stitching machine and hence the length of the tab formed is determined by the amount of rotation of the measuring feed roller 44 and this in turn is controlled by the amount of rotation of gear 91 which is limited in its clockwise movement by the abutment of stop 101 against the top edge 98 of plate 51 as shown in Fig. 11 and in its counterclockwise movement limited by the adjustment screw 114 against said top edge.

When the handle rod 192 has reached the limit of its clockwise movement, the laterally extending trip pin 251 will contact the arm 249 of the micro switch 247 causing the latter to close, thereby closing circuits (not shown) to the solenoid 246 and the plunger 257. As the latter is of the air operated type it will function a bit slower than and 225 to rotate eccentric cams 197 and 193. V of the conformation of such cams the former, i. e., cam

197 will first press down on bar 208 against the tensed coil springs 209 to force the stitching pins 212 through the tape 20 and the foil strip F. Further pivotal movement of lever 225 will cause cam 19% to raise bar 219 thereby lifting sleeves 221 so that the pins 212 may enter such sleeves to rivet the tape 20 to the foil strip.

Simultaneously with the rotation of cam 19 7, actuating shaft .174 will also be rotated so that the pin 171 afiixed thereto will move in clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 5. Thus the blade 147 will be moved downwardly against fixed blade 148 to sever the tape 24 passing therebetween to cut off the tab length.

At this time the plunger 257 and solenoid 245 which are only momentarily energized by the closing of the micro switch 247 will be de-energized and as the pull on the levers 205. and 225 will be released, the bars 208 and 219 will move apart under the urging of the tensed coil springs 202 and 222 and the shaft 174 will be rotated to move the pin 171 in counterclockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. to raise blade 147. Thus the pins 212 and sleeves 221 also will move apart to permit movement of the stitched tab and foil therefrom. At the same time the pitman 245 connecting the solenoid 246 to lever 244 will move upwardly under the urging of a coil spring (not shown) so that the finger 235 will move away from the longitudinal edge of tape 2%.

The operator then may pull crank 281 (Figs. 1 and 2) forwardly to rotate the latter in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 2. As the result of such movement the elongated cam 279 will grip the superposed lengths of foil F and paper P1, P2 therebeneath. Continued forward movement of crank 281 will cause bars 271 and 272 to pivot forward thereby pulling on the lengths of foil and paper and moving the tab which has been stitched to the foil from beneath the blocks 211 and. 216 to between the anvil 261 and the hammer 262. As bars 271 and 272 pivot forwardly, limited by the abutment of bar 272 against screw 292, trip screw 297 will abut against the actuating arm of micro switch 293 closing the latter to complete a circuit (not shown) to the solenoid 265. Energization of this solenoid will cause the armature thereof to move upwardly pivoting the lever hammer 262 about pivot 263 so that the end of the lever strikes against the stitched portion of the foil and tab which is on the anvil to spread out the material about the perforations in such foil and such tab thereby clenching the two securely together.

The operator'then may move the crank to the position shown in Fig. 2 to release the length of paper and foil and to pivot bars 271 and 272 to their rearmost position with bar 272 abutting against screw 291 (Fig; 1) and rotate the mandrel M slightly until the stitched tab passes between the cam 2'79 and clamp block 283, through the slot or notch 287 in upright arm 272, and is wound between successive layers on the mandrel. The mandrel may then berotated by a suitable motor at high. speed until the desired number of turns have been wound thereon.

The operator need merely sever the superposed layers of paper and foil at a point between the mandrel and the pulling mechanism and remove the wound capacitor from necessary to move handle rod 162 in a counterclockwise 12 a direction as shown in Fig. 11 until screw' 114 abuts against the top edge of plate 51. Q

' Although. such movement will rotate pinion 86 and disc 69 in a clockwise direction, the pins 77 (Fig. 14) will normally move out of wedging engagement with walls and 79 and hence the feed roller 44 will not be rotated. However, in the event 'the pins 77 should be so tightly wedged as to remain in locked position, the

. feed roller would rotate in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 11. Such rotation is undesirable as the tape would be drawn away from the blades 147 and 148 and hence on the next feeding operation no tab would be formed.

By reason of the clutch 68 such difficulty is avoided for if the pins 77 should remain in locked position in dutch 67 which would tend to causefeed roller 44 and shaft 46 to rotate, the clutch 68 would stop such rotation. Thus as the casing 74 of clutch 68 rotates with shaft 46 and as disc 71 is secured to fixed cover 83 by screws any slight rotation of casing 74 in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 13 would cause the pins 77 of clutch 68 to wedge between wall 78 and 79 thereby restraining said casing and shaft 46 from rotation and consequently restraining feed roller 44 affixed to said shaft.

As a result, there is no likelihood of rotation of feed roller 44 in any but a counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 11 and hence only tabs of predetermined length will be formed. 7

With the construction thus described, a highly effective apparatus is provided which may readily be combined with a tab stitching machine to feed lengths of tape to the latter and sever the same to form tabs of predetermined length in timed relation with the stitching operation.

As the apparatus does not'require handling of the individual tabs, there is little likelihood that they will be deformed and hence the number of rejects of the finished product will be kept at a minimum.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

' 1. Apparatus of the character described for forming sage .of tape longitudinally therethrough and the passage of foil transversely therethrough, a rotatable cam to reciprocate said perforating means, means for severing tabs from a continuous length of tape, said means comprising a fixed blade and a reciprocable blade, means operatively connecting said cam and said reciprocable blade, means for feeding predetermined lengths of tape past said severing means into said longitudinal passageway of said stitching means to present such tape to said perforating means, solenoid actuated means for aligning the end of such tape with said perforating means, means to rotate 7 said cam and reciprocate said blade, a micro switch controlled by said feeding means and controlling said solenoid and said cam rotating means, and actuated when said predetermined length of tab has been fed, said solenoid being designed to operate prior to said cam rotating means.

2. Apparatus of the character described for forming tabs from a continuous length of tape and for stitching such tabs to foil strip, said apparatus comprising tab stitching mechanism including perforating means having a longitudinal passageway associated therewith for the passage of tape longitudinally therethrough and the passage of foil transversely therethrough, a rotatable cam to reciprocate said perforating means, means for severing tabs from a continuous length of tape, said means comprising a fixed blade and a reciprocable blade, means operatively connecting said cam and said reciprocable blade, means for feeding predetermined lengths of tape past said severing means into said longitudinal passageway of said stitching means to present such tape to said perforating means, means for aligning the end of such tape with said perforating means, means to rotate said cam and reciprocate said blade, and means controlled by said feeding means for actuation when said predetermined length of tab has been fed, and associated with said aligning means and said cam rotating means for operation of the same in sequence.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 85,249 Shipley Dec. 22, 1868 308,119 White Nov. 18, 1884 1,286,210 Beugler Dec. 3, 1918 1,894,379 Link Ian. 17, 1953 2,297,948 Eisenhauer Oct. 6, 1942 2,333,966 Weiss Nov. 9, 1943 2,406,418 Walters Aug. 27, 1946 2,430,377 Vorreyer Nov. 4, 1947 2,547,644 Hogue et a1 Apr. 3, 1951

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