US2492250A - Leaded slat unit forming machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 27, 1949 w. H. wlLcox LEADED SLAT UNIT FORMING MACHINE 4 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 21, 1947 INVENTOR P llll ll.-

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ATTORNEYS .Dec. 27, 1949 Filed Oct. 21, 1947 w. H. wlLccx LEADED SLAT UNIT FORMING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1949 W. H. WILCOX LEADED SLAT UNIT FORMING" MACHINE Filed Oct. 2]., 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ZU- Jfi. Wilcox ATTORNEYS 9 1949- w. H. WILCOX LEADED SLAT UNIT FORMING MACHINE File d Oct; 21, 1947 '4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ildg. 4

' INVENTOR w. f6. Wilcox ATTORNEYS pencils comprises relation to said face Patented Dec. 27,1949

LEADED SLAT UNIT FORMING MACHINE William H. Wilcox, Stockton, Calif., assignor to California Cedar Products Company, Stockton, Calif., a corporation of California Application October 21, 1947, Serial No. 781,208

12 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to an improved machine for use in the wooden pencil manufacturing industry.

One of the steps in the manufacture of wooden in a plurality of semi-circular, transversely spaced grooves extending lengthwise in one face of a wooden pencil slat, and then affixing, by gluing, another similarly grooved slat in matching whereby to snugly enclose the leads and form a unit from which a number of rough cut pencils may be sawed.

In particular the present invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, a novel power driven machine operative to automatically assemble such slat and pencil lead units, as in the preceding paragraph, preparatory to sawing such units into rough cut pencils.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine, as above, which comprises, in novel combination, a conveyor table adapted to feed a row of the initially grooved slats in a predetermined path, and a rotary, lead laying mechanism cooperating with such row, in timed relation, whereby to deposit a single, initially separate pencil lead in each groove with passage of the slats.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine, of the type described, which includes,

beyond the lead laying mechanism, a novel slat feeding mechanism arranged to automatically apply to each leaded slat of the row, the other and cooperating matching slat which completes the slat unit; such other slat preferably carrying the glue substance which adheres the engaged slats in unitary relation.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a rotary, lead laying mechanism, for the above machine, which is of unique construction and operation, including a rotary disc assembly peripherally notched for the reception, and feeding in accurately timed relation, of the pencil leads to the grooved slats on the conveyor table.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical, economical and smooth operating machine, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional elevation of the rotary, lead laying mechanism.

placing initially separate leads Fig. 3 is a cross section, enlarged, on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged rear end view of the machine,-partly broken away.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the slat conveyor system, beyond the lead laying mechanism.

Referring now more particularly to the charactors of reference on the drawings, the machine comprises an upstanding, horizontally elongated main frame i supported from the floor and including transversely spaced side beams 2, between which a horizontal conveyor table assembly 3 is mounted.

The leading laying mechanism is indicated generally at 4, and cooperates with said conveyor table assembly 3 from above and. intermediate the ends of the latter. Such conveyor table assembly comprises a pair of endless, longitudinally extending belt conveyors 5 and 6 disposed ahead of and beyond, respectively, the lead laying mechanism 4.

Adjacent ends of the belt conveyors 5 and 6 are spaced, and between such ends the conveyor table assembly 3 includes a yieldable platform I, and transversely spaced slat hold-down shoes 8 floatably cooperate therewith from above.

Some distance ahead of the slat hold-down shoes 8, and the lead laying mechanism 4, there are transversely spaced, longitudinally extending slat hold-down fingers 9 disposed above the edge portions of the upper run of the endless belt conveyor 5 a distance slightly greater than the thickness of a pencil slat.

The pencil slats iii are rectangular by elongated, and On one face include a plurality of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending semicircular grooves I preformed in said slats.

One operational purpose of the present machine is to place, automatically, in each of such grooves H of the slats I0, an initially separate length of pencil lead; these leads being indicated at 12, and the same are of a length approximating the length of said slats.

At the front end of the machine the latter includes, in connection with the main frame I, an upstanding, forwardly inclined slat hopper l3 in which a multiplicity of the slats H] are disposed transversely, with the grooved faces upward. The slats Ill are fed, one at a time and in spaced relation from the bottom of the hopper I3, by an endless transfer conveyor I4 01 cleat type which delivers in turn to the lower end of an endless cleat-type elevator conveyor l5 disposed ata forward and upward slope and arranged to deliver the slats onto the upper run of the endless belt conveyor 5.

The slats as fed onto the upper run of the endless belt conveyor 5 are disposed transversely on the latter in confinement between the side beams 2, and further the speed' of the conveyors is such that said slats abut in edge-to-edge relation on said upper run, whereby the slats feed in a continuous or unbroken row below the lead laying mechanism 4.

The endless belt conveyors 5 and 6 are driven by endless chain and sprocket units [6 from cross shafts l1, and the latter are in turn actuated by another endless chain and sprocket unit 18 which is driven from a countershaf-t l9 journaled transversely in the frame. The countershaft I9 is driven from a gear box 20 actuated from an electric motor 2! by an endless belt 22. The endless elevator conveyor l5 drives from the conveyor 5, while the endless transfer conveyor .14 "drives from said elevator conveyor l5.

With the above arrangement the several described conveyors may be run in desired predetermined timed relation. This timed relation is such that the row of slats on the conveyor table assembly 3 is continuous or unbroken ahead of, and below, the lead laying mechanism, but be- .yond the latter and on the endless belt conveyor -6 the slats are spaced apart somewhat, as shown. This is accomplished by a differential in speed between the conveyors 5 and 6.

The row of slats on the conveyor table assembly 3 is indicated generally at 23, and as such row of slats passes over the yieldable platform 7 in held-down relation by the shoes 8, the lead laying mechanism 4 functions in automatic, accu- -;rately-t-imed relation to deposit a single lead 12 in each of the grooves l i. This lead laying mechanism 4 is constructed and functions as follows:

Somewhat beyond the yieldable platform 1., the main frame I includes a pair of upstanding, transversely spaced side posts 24 fitted at the top with rearwardly extending side plates 25 gen- -erally above the platform 1. A longitudinal, sup.. porting arm 26 is journaled at one end in connection with a cross shaft 2-! for vertical adjustment, and extends rearwardly from said cross shaft to a-termination in overhanging relation to said yieldable :platform I, but below the side plates 25. This supporting arm 26 is vertically adjustable by means of an adjustment device, indicated generally-at '2 8.

At its rearmost or free end the supporting arm 26, which is disposed lengthwise, and centrally between the sides, of the conveyor table assembly3, is fitted with a gear box 29, through which a cross shaft 39 extends in journaled relation. On opposite sides of the gear box 29 the cross shaft 30 is provided with fixed hubs 3|, and lead laying discs 32 of circular configuration are secured against the outer ends of the hubs 3| by hand nuts 33 threaded onto projecting end portions of said cross shaft 39. These lead laying discs 32 are peripherally notched, as at 34, with the notches equally spaced and preferably of saw-tooth configuration therebetween. Correspondi-ng notches 34 are alined transversely of the machine, and the discs 32 run adjacent but laterally inwardly of the slat hold-down shoes 8.

The cross shaft 30 is driven by a bevel gear unit 35 in the gear box 29, which bevel gear unit 35 is.in turn operated by a longitudinal shaft 36 which extends from the gear box 29 to a similar gear box 31 associated with the cross shaft 2 1.;

4 there being a ear system (not shown) between said cross shaft 2! and the longitudinal shaft 36 within the gear box 31.

The cross shaft 21 is driven by an endless chain and sprocket unit 38 from the endless belt conveyor 6. With this driving arrangement, the lead laying discs 32 are driven at a peripheral speed exactly the same as the speed 'of the advancing slat row 23.

By mechanism hereinafter described, the individual leads I 2 are fed to the assembly of the lead laying discs 32 at the top thereof, with each lead engaging in corresponding notches 34 and spanning between said discs; escape of the leads from the discs being prevented, on their downward course or path of movement, by an upstanding, lead retaining .guard 39. As each lead reaches the bottom of the lead laying disc assembly, it escapes the discs 32 and falls into a then matching one of the grooves l I; the arm 26 being vertically adjusted so that the discs 32 11111 close to the grooved upper surface of the-adjacent slat Ill on the yieldable platform 1-. Thus, as the row 23 of slats 18 pass belowthe rotating .lead laying disc assembly, the grooves H havezleads automatically placed therein, and the leads thenceforth travel with the slats of said-row-on-to the endless belt conveyor 6, On the upper run of the endless belt conveyor 6 the slats arespaced apart or gapped, as at 40, as previously described.

The assembly of the lead lay'ingdiscsidz is supplied withthe individual leads-42 by means of the following arrangement:

Generally above the cross shaft 2-! and supported between the side :posts 2 11s a hopper box 4| in which a supply of the leads i2 is disposed transversely of the machine. -Anr-endless,fiexible feeder belt conveyor 42 is journaled between the side posts 24 with the adjacent and-upwardly moving run of said belt conveyor. workingwi-thin the hopper-box-4I. Such endless feeder i-belt conveyor 42 is transversely g-rooved,-a's at 43,'and each groove picks up one of the leads 12' as said one run passes through the hopper box '41.. At the upper end of the conveyor 32, the leads 1'2 transfer from the grooves 4| onto a pair of. transversely spaced cross-over bars 44 mounted in connection with the side plates 25, *andth'ehce said leads extend as a stack at a downward and rearward incline on transversely'spaced stack supporting bars 45 which lead downwardly to corresponding discs 32 extending laterally inwardly of thezsa'm'e and to a termination beyond 'iZhQLfiBI'HThGPi'ES thereof. The stack of leads I2 :as "supported by the bars 45 is heldagainst deformation by an adjustable guide plate structure 46.

The stack of :leacls is 'indicatedgenera'lly at 4'1, and with the described 'a-rrangementfor the support thereof, the lowermost leadrin such' stack is -successively picked off and carried away by the assembly of the discs :32 for. the lead lay ingoperation previously described.

The endless feeder beltconveyor 4-2- is driven at such speed as to maintain the stack 4-! substantially full at all times 'and the cross-over bars 44 are spaced apart such distance that too short leads which may be "delivered by the conveyor 42 onto said bars do not remain supported th'er'eby, but fall downwardly into 'a reject receptacle 48. The conveyor 42 is driven at proper speed, and in any suitable mannerpfrom the endless-chain and sprocket unit 38 which drivestthe cross shaft 21.

After the slats I'll have the leads :42 placed into =thegro0ves I Land said slats advance on the conveyor 6 with the :gaps :4-0 \therebetween, sa-id '5 slats are picked up at the discharge end of said conveyor 6 by an endless chain conveyor 49 of cleat type; the cleats being spaced about the conveyor equally, and being shown at 59. The endless chain conveyor 49 delivers directly onto a further endless chain conveyor 51, also of cleat type and including cleats 52; the cleats 52 of the conveyor running in trailing relation to the corresponding cleats 56 of the conveyor 49 so that as said leaded slats deliver onto the conveyor 5! fromthe conveyor 49, there is a definite dwell or period when said slats remain stationary. The common cross shaft 53 of the conveyors 49 and 5! is driven by an endless chain and sprocket unit 54 from the countershaft l9, whereby to provide proper timed driving of said conveyors.

Asthe upwardly facing and leaded slats I6 reach the point of dwell, indicated at 55, and at which point the leaded slats are still in transversely extending relation, a further or top matching slat 55 is applied to complete the leaded slat unit. The top slat preferably carries the adhesive which adheres each top slat 56 to the corresponding leaded or bottom slat ID.

The top slats 56, which are pre-grooved and disposed with the grooved face downwardly, are fed-in predetermined timed relation-to engage upon corresponding grooved or bottom slats it by means of the following mechanism:

Laterally of the point of dwell 55 of the slats ID on the conveyor 5|, the main frame I is formed with a hopper 51 adapted to receive the top slats 56 in a stack wherein saidslats extend lengthwise transversely of the machine. This slat hopper 51 is maintained filled with slats in any suitable manner, as by means of a hopper and conveyor system, indicated generally at 58, of the same type as the system which includes the hopper 13 and conveyors l4 and I5.

The slats 56 from the hopper 5'! are intermittently fed from the bottom of the latter transversely of the machine toward the conveyor 5|, by an endless, laterally extending forward conveyor 59 of cleat type; the slats in the row fed by the conveyor 59 being in adjacent end-to-end relation. The conveyor 59 is driven from a gear box 60 by an endless chain and sprocket unit 6!, and said gear box derives its power from the countershaft H).

An endless chain and sprocket unit 62, also driven from the countershaft I9, provides the means for power actuating the hopper and conveyor system 58.

The endless feed conveyor 59 terminates short of the conveyor 5i, and between these elements the row of the slats 56, in end-to-end relation, is supported by transversely spaced rails 63. These rails have a gap between adjacent ends, and a glue applying wheel 64 runs in said gap in engagement with the downwardly facing, grooved faces of the slats 56 in the row, whereby to apply the glue to said faces. The wheel 64 runs at the bottom in a glue tank 65 and said wheel is rotated from the gear box 60 by an endless belt and pulley unit 66.

After application of the glue thereto, the slats 56 are advanced laterally of the conveyor 5!, and in predetermined timed relation, onto the corresponding grooved slat ill at the point of dwell 55. The slats 56 are thus fed into matching engagement onto the leaded slats II! to complete the leaded slat units, indicated at 61, from which rough-cut pencils are adapted to be sawed during a subsequent operational step. From the point of dwell 55 the completed leaded slat units 5! feed from the machine as they discharge from the conveyor 5|.

In order to assure of their disposition in a proper horizontal plane, the slats l9,,run,on transversely spaced rails 68, particularly at and adjacent the point of dwell 55. If found necessary, a suction hood 69 may be mounted directly over said point of dwell, whereby to impart a slight lift to the top slats 56 as each thereof shifts laterally of the machine over the corresponding, leaded bottom slat II); the slats after engagement moving or sliding out from under said hood 69 without difficulty.

. The described machine provides an automatic, smooth operating mechanism for the formation of leaded slat units, each including the pair of matchingly grooved slats with a lead disposed in each groove, and with the slats adhered together.

' From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

VJhile this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired;

1. A'leaded slat unit forming machine including a supporting frame, a conveyor table mounted on the frame adapted to feed pregrooved slats along a predetermined path, with the grooved face of said slats upward, a pencil lead laying mechanism mounted above said path in adjacent relation to the latter, said mechanism being operative to deposit pencil leads in the grooves of the slats so fed, another mechanism cooperating with the conveyor table beyond the lead laying mechanism operative to feed other pre-grooved slats, with their grooved faces downward into matching face to face engagement with corresponding ones of the leaded first named slats, and means operative to drive said conveyor table and mechanisms in timed relation; said conveyor table including a conveyor system arranged so that the leaded first named slats occupy a point of dwell beyond the lead laying mechanism, and said other mechanism being timed in its operation to feed said other slats onto the corresponding ones of the leaded first named slats at such point.

2. A leaded slatunit forming machine including a supporting frame, a conveyor table mounted on the frame adapted to feed pregrooved slats in a row along a predetermined path, the slats having their grooved faces upward and the grooves extending transversely of the direction of travel, a pencil lead laying mechanism mounted above said path in adjacent relation to the latter, said mechanism being operative to deposit pencil leads in the grooves of the slats so fed, and means arranged to drive the conveyor table and lead laying mechanism in timed relation; said lead laying mechanism including a supporting arm extending lengthwise above the row, means pivoting said arm for vertical swinging motion, a pair of transversely spaced discs journaled on the cross shaft, said discs being correspondingly peripherally notched, means to deliver pencil leads into corresponding notches of said discs above the low point thereof and with the leads spanning between said discs, and means to prevent-escape of the leads from said notches untilzsubstantially the low point of the discs isreached, the leads then feeding from the discs one ata time but successively into the grooves with movement of said row and rotation of said discs 3. A leaded slat unit forming machine including a supporting frame, a conveyor 'table mounted on the frame adapted to feed pregrooved slats in a row .along a predetermined path, the slats having their grooved faces upward and the grooves extending transversely of the direction of travel, a pencil lead" laying mechanism mounted above said path. in adjacent relation to the latter, said mechanism being operative to deposit pencil leads in thezgrooves of the slats so fed, and means arranged to drive the conveyor table and lead laying mechanism in timed relation; said lead laying mechanism including a driven cross shaftjournal'edabove said row, a supporting arm pivoted on the driven cross shaft and extending lengthwise'of the :row, means to vertically adjust the arm a separate cross shaft journaled on the arm, drive means between said cross shafts, a pair of transversely spaced discs securedon said separate cross shaft, said discs being correspondingly peripherally notched, means to deliver pencil leads into corresponding notches of said discs above the low point thereof and with the leads spanning between said discs, and means to prevent escape of the leads from said notches until substantially the low point of the discs is reachedHtheleads then feeding from the discs one ata time but successively into the grooves with movement of said row and rotation of said discs.

4. A leaded slat unit forming .machine including a supporting frame, a conveyor table mounted on the frame adapted to feed pregrooved :slats in a row along a predetermined path, the slats having-their grooved faces upward and the grooves extending transversely of the direction of travel, apencil lead laying mechanism mounted above said path in adjacent relation to the latter, said mechanism being 'operative to deposit pencil leads in the grooves of the slats so fed, and means arranged to drive the conveyor table and lead laying mechanism in timed relation; said leadlaying mechanism including a rotary unit, disposed to feed leads one at a time but succesively into the grooves with movement of said row and rotation :of said unit, the rotary unit being circumferentiall-y notched with the notches parallel to the axis of rotation, supporting means for a-stackrof trans.- versely extending leads, the lower end of said stack riding the peripherally notched rotary unit to deliver leads into said notches, means to prevent escape of said leads from the notches until substantially the low point of the rotary unit is reached, a hopper for a quantity of pencil leads, and means including an endless conveyor to feed leads from the hopper to the top .of said stack, such endless conveyor being. transversely grooved and one run traveling in the hopper in lead pick-up relation.

5. A leaded =s1at unit forming-machine including .a supporting frame, aconveyor table mounted on the frame adapted to feed ,preqgrooved slats in a row .along a predetermined path, the slats having their grooved :faces upward and the grooves extending transversely of the-direction of travel, a :pencil lead laying mechanism .mounted above said path in adjacent relationeto the latter, said mechanism being operative to deposit pencil leadsin thegr-oovesof the slats so fed, and means arranged to drive the conveyor table and lead'laying mechanism intimed relation; said lead laying mechanism including a rotary un it disposed to feed leads one at a time but successively into the grooves with movement of said row and rotation of said unit, the=rotary unit being circumferentially notched with the notches parallel to the axis of rotation, supporting means for a stack of transversely extending leads, the lower end of said stack riding the peripherally notched rotary unit to deliver leads into said notches, means to prevent escape of said leads from the notches until substantially the low point of the rotary unit is reached, a hopper for a quantity-of pencil leads, and means to feed leads fromthe=hopper to the top of said stack including a pair of transversely spaced bars over which the fed-leads must traverse in supported relation adjacent their ends, there being a receptacle below said bars to catch too short leads which fall between said bars.

6. A leaded slat unit forming machine including a supporting frame, a conveyor table'mou-n-ted on the frame adapted to feed pre grooved slats in a row along a predetermined path, the slats having their-grooved faces upward and the grooves extending transversely of the direction of travel, a pencil leadlaying mechanism mounted above said path in adjacent relation 'to the latter, said mechanism being operative to deposit pencil leads in the grooves of the slats so fed, and means arranged to drive the conveyor table and lead laying mechanism in timed relation; said lead laying mechanism including a rotary unit disposed to feed leads one at a time but successivel into the grooves with movement of said row and rotation of said unit, the rotary unit being circumferentially notched with the notches parallel to the axis of rotation, supporting means for a stackof transversely extending leads, the lower end of said stack riding the peripherally notched rotary unit to deliver leads into said notches, means to prevent escape of said leads from the notches until substantially the low point of the rotary unit .is reached, a hopper for pencil leads,=said hopper being mounted in spaced relation to the stack lengthwise of the machine, and endless belt conveyor 'journa'led .in upstanding relation :between :the hopper and stack, the upwardly moving run of said conveyor being transversely grooved and passing through the hopper in lead pick-up relation, and means to transfer the picked-up leads from said conveyor to the stack.

7. In combination, a conveyor system adapted to feed a row of upwardly facing, ore-grooved pencil slats in .a row, the slats being fed through one portion :of their ,path in abutment and through a following portion ofsaid path in spaced relation, said conveyor systemafeeding the row continuously through said one portion and with a dwell atone point in said other portion, a pencil lead laying mechanism operativeto deposit leads in the grooves of said slats. as they move through said one portion :of said path, and another mechanism operative to apply other pregrooved slats in matching relation to corresponding ones of said leaded first named slats at said point of dwell.

8. In combination, a conveyor system adapted to dead a row of upwardl facing, pro-grooved pencil slats .in a row, the slats being fed through one portion of their path -.in abutment and through a following portion of said path in spaced relation, said conveyor system feeding the row continuously through said one portion and with a dwell at one point in said other portion, a pencil lead laying mechanism operative to deposit leads in the grooves of said slats as they move through said one portion of said path, and another mechanism operative to apply other pregrooved slats in matching relation to corresponding ones of said leaded first named slats at said point of dwell; the lead laying mechanism including a rotary unit cooperating with the row of slats, and said other mechanism including a slat hopper and a conveyor to feed said other slats from the hopper to said point of dwell.-

9. A leaded slat unit forming machine comprising a frame, a first driven conveyor mounted in the frame, a second driven conveyor mounted in the frame in alinement with but spaced from the first conveyor, a yleldable platform disposed in the space between the conveyors, a pencil lead laying mechanism disposed immediately above the platform, means to feed grooved pencilslats onto the first conveyor whereby the movement of such first conveyor will move the slats across the platform and onto the second conveyor," and means effective to operate the pencil lead laying mechanism in timed relation to the slat movement to deposit leads into the grooves of a slat as the latter passes across the platform.

10. A machine as in claim 9 including yieldable slat hold down shoes mounted on the frame and overhanging the platform.

11. A machine as in claim 9 in which the movement of the second conveyor is timed to be slightly slower than the movement of the first conveyor.

12. A machine as in claim 11 including a third and fourth conveyor both of the cleat type, all of said conveyors being in alinement and arranged so that slats will be progressively fed from one conveyor to the other, the cleats on the fourth conveyor running in trailing relation to the cleats on the third conveyor whereby to provide a dwell on the fourth conveyor, and means to attach a second slat in matching relation to a slat as the latter is positioned at said dwell.

WILLIAM H. WILCOX.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,489,567 Weiss Apr. 8, 1924 1,783,997 Burden et al. Dec. 9, 1930

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