US2113549A - Bundling machine - Google Patents

Description

R. NEHER BUNDLING MACHINE April 5, 1938.

Filed Nov. 27, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR RoyNeher,

Q1 MM up, ATTO NEYS April 5, 1938. NEHER 2,113,549

I BUNDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY Roy Neher,

ATTO RNEYS April 5, 1938. R. NEHER BUNDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 mg a a 'lNVENTdR 1 Roy Nehar,

QQGWA April 5, 1938. R. NEHER BUNDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 0y Neher,

6&4, ATTORNEYS April 5, 1938. R. NEHER BUNDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR RoyNeha MGM ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 5, 1938 2,113,549 BUNDLINGMACHINE Itoy Neher, fClarence Center,.N. Y., assignor to j Natio nal, Gypsum Company, Buffalo, N. Y.

ap lication November 27, 1936, Serial No. 112,906 19 Claims. T( ci.,2'1c+9) This invention. relates to. a method and 'appaopposite sides of the group of units, the strip being of such width that it extends completely across the side edges of all of the units and has marginal portions which extend for some distance across the upper and lower faces of the upper and lower unit respectively, in the group.

In the preferred form only these marginally extending portions of the strip are coated with adhesive material and the intermediate portion of the strip, which lies against the edges of the wall boards, is not so coated. By this method a convenient and sufliciently secure package is produced and yet one which may be readily broken when desired by merely slitting the strips along the side edges of the wall board units.

An aim of the present invention is to provide an improved method and new apparatus for receiving a-stacked group of units of the type described, insuring accurate superposition thereof, and afllxing the secured strips thereto.

In proceeding according to the principles of the present invention a stack containing a predetermined number of units is placed at the receiving end of my new apparatus and is thence fed automatically forwardly in the machine to a predetermined point where suitable instrumentalities become automatically eifective to insure correct and accurate superposition of the slabs comprising the stack and firm abutment of the stack with its immediately preceding stack. The accurately aligned pile of slabs then proceeds forwardly in the machine and the conveying mechanism is so arranged that successive piles of slabs are maintained in abutting end-to-end relationship.

While in such abutting end-to-end relation a continuous strip or ribbon of material, which may be paper or the like, is providedwith a coating of an adhesive material and applied to eachlongitudinal side edge of the stacks continuously and with marginal portions of the strip extending above and below the stacks of slabs. The projecting marginal portions of the strips are subsequently turned inwardly and caused to adhere to the upper and lower marginal portions of th top and bottom slabs, respectively.

Following the application of the adhesivestrip, i a cutting'mechanism, which is arranged to operate in timed relation with themovement of successive stacks or groups of slabs throughthe machine, sever's the heretofore continuous strip .at

the point where the successive stacks" or groups abut. This severance takes place substantially simultaneously at the side, top and bottom parts of the bundle and without interrupting the continuous movement of successive bundles through the machine.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated suitable apparatus for proceeding according to the method of the present invention but it is to be understood that the form shown in the drawings exemplifies merely my present preferred embodiment and that the present invention is not limited thereby or in any other way excepting as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a general side elevational view of the apparatus here involved;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view on a larger scale of the portion of the apparatus which lies at the feed end, that is, the end where successive stacks of wall board or the like are manually introduced to the machine;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the intermediate portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of that portion of the apparatus lying at the delivery end of the ma-- chine, that is, at the point where the completed bundles or packages emerge and are removed from the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end elevational view, partly in cross section, looking from the forward end of the machine and illustrating the actuating elements for the pile-aligning means;

Fig. 6 is a transverse cross sectional view taken approximately on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 and illustrating the fastening strip severing mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the means provided for causing the severing mechanism to become operative; and

Fig. 8 is a further fragmentary side elevational view of this actuating mechanism with parts in cross section.

In the apparatus illustrated as my preferred embodiment I have provided a pair of parallel driving and conveying chains Ill which pass about a pair of sprockets II at the delivery end of the apparatus and a pair of sprockets i2 at the feed end. The pair of sprockets H are mounted upon and fixed for rotation with a shaft I3 which carries also a sprocket I4 which constitutes the 5 driving means for the conveying chain and the other moving instrumentalitles of the apparatus.

The sprocket |4 may be connected, as by the gear reduction unit being connected in turn with means for varying and controlling the speed of operation. This latter device may be a variable speed transmission of the Reeves type, with its driven shaft carrying a sprocket for association with the driving chain I5.

The upper reach of each conveying and driving chain l0 extends directly between its associated sprockets H and l2 and is supported at its under side by a track member 9, but the lower portion thereof passes about intermediate sprockets l6 and ii, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear, and a tensioning roller l8. The movement of the driving sprockets H is counter-c1ock-.

wise as viewed in Fig. 1 so that the movement of the upper reach of each driving chain Ill is from right to left, as viewed in that figure.

In commencing operation, the driving means is set in motion so that the conveying chains I'll move continuously and an initial stack or pile of slabs of predetermined number is manually placed by the operator with one of its ends, the left hand end as viewed in Fig. l, resting directly upon the conveying chain Ill and its other end resting upon a roller 9 mounted for free rotation upon a shaft 20 and .disposed slightly above the level of the upper reach of the conveying chains I0. The friction between the stack of slabs and the upper surface of the conveying chain I0 is sumcient to move the stack from right to left until its right hand end leaves the roller l9 and drops until it rests completely upon the conveying chains Ill.

During the dropping movement of the stack of slabs from the roller l9 to the conveying chains In, the stack of slabs strikes a plate 2| which is pivotally'mounted as at 22. The plate 2| has a 'rearwardly extending arm 23 affixed thereto,

which engages an extension spring 24 whose other end is anchored to a fixed part of the apparatus and which serves to resiliently hold the.

plate 2| in the angular position illustrated in Fig. 1. Also afllxed to the plate 2| is another plate portion 25 extending substantially at right angles thereto and disposed between compleare rotated counterclockwise about the pivot 22 and the plate portion engages the rear edges of the slabs comprising the stack and tends to correct any misalignment of the several, slabs comprising the stack.

The stack, in dropping, also strikes the upper end of a vertically disposed bar 21 which is illustrated in greater detail in Fig. 5. The bar 21 passes through an opening provided therefor in a plate member 29 which is part ,of the framework of the apparatus and is provided with a cam notch 29. The bar 21 is held in the position lllustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 by means of a spring member 46 disposed about the lower portion of the bar "and arranged to permit resilient downward movement thereof.

A bell crank lever having horizontally and upwardly extending. arms 33 and 3| respectively is mounted for free rotation on a pivot 32. The terminal portion of the arm 30 engages a notch in the bar 21 which provides a latch 33 'and the other arm 3| of the bell crank lever is provided with an opening for receiving the terminal portion of a rod or bar 34 which is associated with and by its movement opens and closes pneumatic valve-means 35. The arm 3| is further provided with an extension spring 36 which is anchored at one end to a fixed part of the apparatus and constantly urges the bell crank, lever in a clockwise direction about its pivot 32. In the position illustrated in Fig. 5, such clockwise rotation is prevented by engagement of the arm 30 with the latch 33 and the valve 35 is in a closed position. I

. The initial downward'movement of the bar 21 against the resilient resistance offered by the spring member 46, causes counter-clockwise rotation of the bell crank lever, and the rod 34 is moved to the left as seen in Fig. 5 to cause bar 21 engages the side wall of the opening provided in the plate 28 and causes the bar 21 to move to the left, as seen'in Fig. 5,.a distance sui ficient to release the arm 30 from the latch 33, whereupon the bell crank lever is moved clockwise by the spring 36 until the valve 35 has again reached a closed position.

The resilient means 46 moves the bar 21 upwardly when pressure is removed from its upper end, whereupon the latch 33 again engages the end of the arm 30 and the parts reassume the position illustrated in Fig. 5.

The momentary opening of the valve 35 establishes communication between a source of pneumatic or other fluid pressure and the interior of a cylinder 31, Fig. 2. The surge of fluid pressure causes a piston 38 to move downwardly as seen in- Fig. 2, against the action of a spring member 39. By means of a piston rod 40 the piston 38 is associated with a vertically disposed plate member 4| which is located at one side of the apparatus and in a position slightly outside the normal path of travel of the stacks of slabs.

The momentary movement of the piston 38 to and fro in its cylinder 31 causes the plate member 4| to move into and out of engagement with the longitudinal side edges of the stack of slabs then passing along the conveying chains at this point and moves the several slabs temporarily against a vvertically extending stationary plate 42 provided at the opposite side of the stack of tions with respect to each other.

The stack of slabs continues along the conveying chains Ill and passes beneath a feed roller 45 which is driven in a clockwise direction by a chain and sprocket drive 43 which takes its motion from the shaft carrying the sprocket I6.

At a time after the alignment of the stack has taken place, and preferably before the stack has passed completely beneath the driven roller 45, the next succeeding stack of slabs is placed in initial position by the operator with one of its ends upon the rear end of the first stack of slabs and its other end resting upon the roller IS. The friction between the two stacks of slabs is sumcient to move the later placed stack along with the first stack until the forward edges of the later placedstack strike a stop plate 44 which the feed roller 45. Relative sliding movement then takes place between the two stacks of slabs.

until the moment when the rear edges of the first placed stack pass beneath the stop plate 44, whereupon the forward endof the second placed stack drops to the driving chains Ill and is carried along thereby in the manner previously described for the first placed stack.

It is to be'noted that inthe case of all save the first stack, the longitudinal aligningv of the several slabs is positively eii'ected in that the.

aligning plate portion engages the rear edges of a stack and urges the forward edges of that stack into abutting relation with the rear edges oflthe preceding stack. the successive stacks of slabs are carried along in abutting. relation by the conveying chains In incooperation with the driven roller they pass beneath a series 01' idlerrollers 50.

These rollers are mounted with vertically movable journals so that they rest upon the upper I surfaces'oi the stacks and hold them in intimate contact with the chains I0. ,7 Upon their emergence from between the idler-rollers and the chain Hi the stacks arrive atthe'position where a the before mentioned fastening orpackaging strips are applied to each of their longitudinal side edges. p

This mechanism is illustrated in greater de-, tail in Fig. 3 wherein the numeral 5| indicates continuous stripsof paper of a width somewhat r from the supply'reels greater than the height of a stack of slabs and drawn from reels 52 located at each side of the apparatus. Each strip 5| passes through means 53 for applying an adhesive coating to its marginal portions on one surface. are of conventional design and need not be described in detail herein. 40

After the strips leave the means 53 they are coated upon their upper surface and at their oppositemarginal portions only with paste, glue, or other suitable adhesive. Each strip passes about an idle roller 54 having a vertical axis andthereby causing the strip to assume a position which is at right angles to'it's; position when leaving the coating mechanism. The strip is then passed about a second freely rotating roller 55 which has likewise a vertical axis'and is located closely adjacentand just outsidethe normal path of movement of the longitudinal side edges of the stacks as they pass through the apparatus.

A roller 56 at each side of the apparatus is carried by arms 51 which are pivotally mounted at 58. An extension spring 59 is secured at one of its ends to a fixed part of the apparatus and at its other end to one of the arms 51 to urge the arms 51 to rotate in a clockwise direction and thereby cause the roller to bear resiliently against the strip 5| and cause it to assume a position in intimate contact with the longitudinal side edges of the stacks of slabs. The width of the strips 5| and the width of their coated marginal portions are such that when the strips are in this position their coated marginal portions extend equal distances above and below the stack ofslabs.

The previously applied portions of the strips 5|, by their securement to the'moving series of stacks, cause the strips 5| to be fed continuously rollers at the same rate of movement as that of the stacks 'of; slabs chains ill; a

The means 53' 52 and over the several.

along the conveying for turningthe coated marginal portions of the strips 5| inwardly and to apply pressure thereto and cause adhesion between the upper and lower'marginal portions of the strip and the upper and lower marginal portions of the stack of slabs respectively. In my preferred embodiment I provide two pairs of rollers 6|], which may be ofrubber or other resilient material and which are mounted for free rotation upon arms 6|.

f The upper pair of arms 6| are mounted for pivotal movement in a vertical plane in blocks I33 by means of pivot pins |3|. Arms I32 are mounted for Joint pivotal movement with the arms 6|. The arms ii! are offset in a vertical plane so as not to interfere with the rollers 80 and carry at their outer ends weights I33 which may be adjustable lengthwise of the arms I32 to vary their turning movement about the pivot III. The weighted arm tends to rotate its associated roller carrying arm 6| about the pivot |3| and thereby move the roller 60 firmly against the upper surface of the stacks of slabs, the degree. or pressure exerted by the upper rollers 60 being varied and controlled by the location of the weights I33 upon the arms 32.

The lower pair of rollers 60 are similarly pro- .vided with pivoted arms 6| (not shown) which are likewise pivotally positioned in blocks I30. In the case of the lower pivoted arms 6|, the weighted arm associated therewith extends in an opposite direction from the pivot |3| so' that the tendency of the weighted arm, in the case of the lower pair of rollers, is to rotate the roller carrying arms 6| in such direction that the lower pair of rollers 60 are urged firmly against the under surface of the stacks of slabs.

The four associated sets of blocks and arms (are mounted for horizontal pivotal movement as at 62, and are provided with means for engaging arcuate slots 63 formed in plates 64 secured to stationary portions of the machine to provide horizontal angular adjustment for each roll 50.

It will be seen that, by means of the weights I33 and the arms I32, all of the rollers 60 are urged uniformly against the four longitudinal marginal portions of the stacks of slabs regardless of variations which may occur in the total thickness of a stack of slabs.

The rollers 60 are preferably so positioned angularly that they rotate in a plane at a substantial angle to the plane of the side edges of the stacks and henceproduce a folding of the strips 5| and exert a substantial wiping action against the marginal portions of the stacks, as illustrated in Fig. 3, causing the marginal portions of the strips 5| to be brought into intimate contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the stack as hereinbefore mentioned.

' A second pair of rollers 65 are provided at each side of the machine which are likewise mounted for free rotation but in a plane at a lesser angle larin formandmounted similarly to the rollers 65 but at a still less angle to the side edges of the g v machine and-further inwardly with respect'to A series'of' freely rotating rollers are provided w the stack of sothat they cause the marginal Fig. 6 and-the stacks 88 and 83 and the valve edge portions of the strips to adhere closely the surface of the stack of slabs.

The vertical disposition of tin pairs of rolls 88, 85, 81, 68, and 69, located at each side of the machine is such that whenthe stacks pass between the rolls, they are elevated from the sur- 1 face of the conveying chains I8, as appears in are pushed through this portion of theapparatus by succeeding abutting stacks extending back to the power driven feed rolls. In this way the maintenance of the abut- .ting relationship of the successive stacks as they pass the strip-applying instrumentalities is positively insured.

After the strips 5| have been thus suitably secured to the side edges of the series of stacks, continued movement of the stacks brings them to a point where means are provided for severing the heretofore continuous strips at precisely the point where the several stacks of slabs abut. The cutting mechanism, illustrated in Fig. 4 and in greater detail in Fig. 6, is adapted to operate without cessation of movement of the assembled stacks.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 7, and 8; I have provided at the delivery end of the machine and adjacent the driving sprockets II a lever I8 pivotally secured to a fixed part of the machine as at H and having an upwardly extending portion 12 which extends between the driving chains I8 and into the path of movement of the stacks of slabs. This extending part I2 is spaced at a distance equal to the lengthof one stack of slabs from.

the cutting mechanism which I have indicated generally at I3 in Fig. 1 and is adapted to move about its pivot when engaged by the "end of a stackof slabs so that its lower arm portion 88 moves to the right as seen in Figs. 1 and 7, there by. imparting a similar movement to a longitudinally extending bar I8 which is pivotal-1y connected to the outer end of the arm 88.

Adjacent its other end the bar I4 has a cam notch 15 which engages the side walls of an opening I5 provided in the frame structure of the apparatus. At its outer end the bar I! is notched to engage an upwardly extending arm 11 of a bell crank lever pivotally mounted at I8 and whose other arm portion I9 is provided with an extension spring tending to cause counterclockwise pivotal movement of the arm, which movement is normally prevented by engagement of the arm 11 with the notch in the bar I4.

A valve 8|, of conventional design has a valve rod 82 which engages the arm I9 of the bell crank lever. When the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. 8, the valve is closed and held in such closed position by a spring 83. When the bar II is caused to move to the right, as seen in Figs. '7 and 8, through impingement of a stack of slabs against the upwardly extending arm I2,

' the bell crank lever is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction by the notch in the outer end of the I4 and against the resistance of the springs 8| is thereby caused to bar open momentarily.

Further movement of the bar ll to the right causes it to move upwardly by reason of the engagement of the cam notch 15 with the side wall of the opening I6 until its outer end is moved out of engagement with the arm ll of the bell crank lever, whereupon the bell under the impetus of the springs 88 and 83, to

' the position illustrated in the drawings and fluid movement through the valve 8| 'is again interrupted.

- plate 94, for adjustment crank lever returns,

The opposite sides of the valve 8| are connectedrespectively 'to the source of air pressure hereinbefore mentioned and toa' fluid operating mechanism for cutting means 13 which will hereinafter be described in detail.

When it is desired to package or bundle stacks of slabs of different lengths, the lever 18 is pivoted at other points provided therefor upon the framework of the apparatus and bars 14 of different lengths are utilized. The bar I4 may be formed sectlonally so that parts thereof may be removed or added to vary its effective length.

After the lever 18 has been rotated by contact with the edge of a stack of slabs, and the stack has passed thereover, the stack engages a pair of curved straps 86 which are anchored at their ends to the framework of the machine and whose center portions'are bowed outwardly so that they extend above the surface of the conveying chains I8 as indicated in Fig. 1. The

slabs. At this time the cutting'mecha'nisms I3 have acted to sever the binding strips 5| in a manner which will hereinafter be described and the finished bundle stack of slabs may be manually removed from the machine or may be pushed out by the following bundle until they overbalance and are deposited into suitable delivery devices.

We refer now to Figs. trated one of the pair of cutting mechanisms heretofore generally designated I3. Each cutting mechanism is carried by a block 98 whose lower end is provided with a threaded extension for engaglngin a gland nut 9| which serves to rigidly connect the block 98 to a bushing 92 which is freely rotatable in an opening provided in a plate 93. stationary plate 94 which forms part of the framework of the machine and is secured thereto for transverse sliding movement by means of suitable screw and slot connections, not shown.

The transverse movement of the plate 93 with respect to the plate 94 is controlled by the adjusting screw 95. The adjusting screw 95 has an enlarged portion 96 which bears against one face of a bearing block 91 carried by the plate 94 and a collar 98 retains the screw 95 against screw 95 engages a complementary threaded opening in a block 99 carried by the slidable plate The manner in which rotation of the adjusting screw 95 ing movement of the plate 93 with respect to the of the former, will now be apparent.

Secured to one face of the block 98 is a member I88 which in the present instance is provided with three cylindrical openings, eachcarrying a piston member I8I having a piston rod I82, which extends through a bore provided in the block 98 j and engages a cutter holding member I83 disposed on the opposite side thereof. Acompressibie spring I84 may be provided between one or more of the pistons IM .and the opposed. face of the block 98 to normally retain the pistons at their left hand limit of movement as viewed in Fig. 6. The ends of the cylinders which lie opposite the block 98 are closed by a member I85. The bushing 92 is connected at its lower end to a pressure conduit I88 and when the valve The plate 93' is positioned upon a j 4 and 6 wherein is illusaxial movement. The outer threaded end of the causes relative transverse slid- "cutter holding member I03.

member illustrated in Fig. 8 is caused to be momentarily opened by engagement of a stack of slabs with the arm I2, fluid communication is established between the source of fluid pressure and the interior of the cylinders through the bushing 92, a passage I01 provided in the block 90, a passage I00 provided in the member I00 and a passage I09 in the member I05, the latter having branch passages IIO leading to the interiors of the several cylinders.

A pair of arms 2 are pivotally mounted ad- Jacent the upper and lower outer corners of the The arms H2 are urged toward each other by leaf springs I I3 carried by the cutter holding member I03 and their movement toward each other is definitely limited by abutment ofthe arms with portions of the cutter holding member I03. As illustrated in Fig. 6, the arms II2 are at their minimum distance from each other.

Carried by the outer end of each arm H2 is a cutting wheel or rowel Ill and a vertically extending cutting knife H5, which is preferably notched as illustrated, extends intermediately of the arms H2 and is rigidly secured to the cutter holding member I03.

It will be seen that the admission of fluid under pressure to the cylinders through the passageways IIO will cause the pistons IN, the piston rods I02 and the cutter holding block, together with the various instrumentalities carried thereby, to move toward the row of joined stacks passing through the machine, whereupon the cutting wheels III ride up onto the upper and lower surfaces of the strip II and are pressed thereagainst by the springs H3 to eiiect severance'ot the strip 5| at these points.- Just prior to the inward limit of movement of the cutting disks I II, the vertically extending knife II! engages the vertical portion of the strip II and effects severance thereof. I p

As has been stated, the bushing 92 serves to mount the entire cutting mechanism pivotally with respect to the plate Bland means are provided for normally maintaining the cutting mechanism in a predetermined position with respect to its pivotal mounting. These means in- Y is clude a strap member IIIi having pivotal connection at one of its ends with the upper end 01' the block 00 at a point concentric with the lower bushing 92 as at Ill, and at its other end secured to the plate 93 as at II8.

Carried by the strap IIB, intermediately of its ends, is a second strap II9 which carries an adjusting screw I20 having suitable means for looking with respect to the strap H9 and having its outer end in abutting engagement with the side of the block I00 when the cutting mechanism is in normal position with respect to its pivoted mounting, that is, when the cutting disks Ill and the knife I I5 lie in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the stacks of slabs through the machine. The cutting mechanism is normally maintained in this'position with the block. I00 abutting the adjusting screw I20 by means of a spring member I22 which is anstrip Ill and between the abutting stacks of slabs.

The retrograde movement of the cutting mechanism, under the impetus of the spring I04, need not be so quickly accomplished since further pivotal movement of the cutting mechanism may take place against the resistance of the spring I22 until the cutting wheels II 4 completely leave the stacks of slabs, whereupon the cutting mechanism will be immediately restored to its normal position by the spring member I 22.

Another set of two pairs oi. resilient rollers I25 is provided beyond the cutting mechanism and these rollers are similar in form and disposition to the rollers 61, 68, and 09. The rollers I25 serve toadditionally urge the now severed strips 5| against the upper and lower surfaces of the stacks of slabs and also tend to correct any loosening of the strips 5| which may have occurred adjacent the ends of the stacks during the operation ofthe cutting mechanism.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for bundling flat slabs of material comprising means for moving a series of stacks of slabs in a continuous, substantially direct path, means for initially supporting each stack serially in a position above the immediately preceding stack in such manner that the stack so supported is brought into said moving series at the time that the preceding stack has passed from beneath said supported stack, other means actuated by the movement of said stack into said series for correcting misalignment of said stack, and means for joining the several slabs comprising each stack to each other for handling and shipment.

2. Apparatus for bundling fiat slabs of material comprising means for moving a series of stacks of slabs in 'a continuous substantially direct path, means for preliminarily supporting such stacks successively in a position above the immediately preceding stack with one of the ends of said supported stack resting upon the preceding stack in such manner that the supported stack will drop to a substantially abutting relation with respect to the preceding stack as said preceding stack passes from beneath the supported stack and means rendered operable by the dropping, of said supported stack for engaging against the edges of the slabs comprising said stack at the end, opposite the abutting end to urge the stack into firm abutting relation with the preceding stack.

3. Apparatus for bundling flat slabs of material comprising means for moving the series of stacks of slabs in a continuous substantially direct path, means for preliminarily supporting such stacks successively in a position above the immediately preceding stack with one of the ends of said supported stack resting upon the preceding stack in such manner that the supported stack will drop to a substantially abutting relation with respect to the preceding stack as said preceding stack passes from beneath the supported stack, and other means operable by the dropping of said supported stack into abutting relation for engaging the longitudinal side edges of the slabs composing the stack for insuring accurate transverse alignment and positioning of the slabs in the stack.

- mediately preceding stack with one of the ends of said supported stack resting upon the preceding stack in such manner that the supported stack will drop to a substantially abutting relation with respect to the preceding stack as said preceding.

stack passes from beneath the supported stack, means rendered operable by the dropping of said supported stack for engaging against the edges of the slabs comprising said stack at the end opposite the abutting end to urge the stack into firm abutting relation with the preceding stack to insure accurate longitudinal alignment and superposition of the individual slabs composing the stack and other means operable by the dropping of said supported stack into abutting relation for engaging the longitudinal side edges of the slabs composing the stack for insuring accurate transverse alignment and superposition of the slabs in the stack. v

5. An apparatus for bundling flat slabs of material comprising means for moving a series of stacks of slabs in a continuous, substantially direct path, means maintaining the series of stacks in abutting relation, means for securing a continuous strip of binding material to the longitudinal marginal portions of said series of stacks, and means for severing said strips at the points of abutment of the several stacks, said severing means comprising cutting elements positioned for periodic transverse movement against the sides of said series of stacks, movable means for said cutting elements permitting longitudinal movement thereof and resilient means for normally maintaining said cutting elements in a predetermined longitudinal position but permitting longitudinal movement of the cutting means with the series of stacks when said cutting means are in engagement with said binding strip.

6. Apparatus for bundling flat slabs of material comprising means for moving a series of stacks of slabs in a continuous, substantially-direct path, means maintaining the series of stacks in abutting relation, means for securing a continuous strip of binding material to the longitudinal marginal portions of said series of stacks, and means for severing said strip at the points of abutment of the several stacks, said severing means being mounted for pivotal movement on a vertical axis, and means for moving said severing means transversely in timed relation with the movement of the stacks for engaging said severing means against the longitudinal side edges of the stacks at their points of abutment for severing said binding strip, and resilient means for normally retaining said severing means in a predetermined position with respect to its pivotal mounting but permitting pivotal movement thereof against the resistance of said resilient means when said severing means is in engagement with the moving stacks or the binding strip, said resilient means being adapted to return the severing means to normal position when engagement of the severing means with the stacks and binding strip is discontinued. v

7. -In combination with apparatus having means for continuously conveying articles in a substantially direct path, cutting 1 mechanism positioned adjacent the path of movement of said articles and means for periodically moving said cutting mechanism transversely against said articles for performing a seven'ng operation, said cutting mechanism being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis substantially at right angles to the path of movement of the articles and resilient means for normally retaining said cutting mechanism in a predetermined position about said axis whereby severing engagement between the cutting mechanism and said articles may cause pivotal movement of said cutting mechanism against the resistanceof the resilient means, said cutting mechanism being returned to normal position by the resilient means when the severing engagement is interrupted.

8. In combination with apparatus having means for continuously conveying articles in a substantially direct path, cutting mechanism positioned adjacent the path of movement of said articles and means for periodically moving said cutting mechanism transversely against saidarticles for performing a severing operation, said cutting mechanism being mormally retained against longitudinal movement with respect to the path of movement of said articles by spring means, said cutting mechanism being adapted to move longitudinally with said articles and against the resistance of the spring means when the cutting mechanism is in severing engagement with said articles.

9. Apparatus for bundling flat slabs of material comprising means for moving a series 01 stacks of slabs in a continuous path, means disposed adjacent the path of the stacks for applying means for securing the individual slabs of each stack to each other, means for initially supporting each stack serially in a position above the immediately preceding stack with one of its ends resting upon the preceding stack and its other end supported by said means, said means having antifriction bearing contact with. said stack whereby the stack is moved longitudinally with said preceding stack, means for arresting the movement of the stack at a predetermined point whereby the preceding continuously moving stack moves out from under said first mentioned stack whereupon the latter drops into the plane of the preceding stack in substantially abutting relation, and -means actuated by the dropping of said stack for moving the several slabs comprising said stack into accurate vertical alignment.

10. Apparatus for bundling flat slabs of material comprising means for moving a series of stacks of slabs in a continuous path, means disposed adjacent the path of the stacks for applying means for securing the individual slabs of each stack to each other, means for initially supporting each stack serially (in a position above the immediately preceding stack) with one of I its ends resting upon the preceding stack and its other end supported by said means, said means having anti-friction bearing contact with said stack whereby the stack is moved longitudinally with said preceding stack and means actuated by the dropping of said stack for engaging the back of the stack and urging said stack intimately against the preceding stack.

11. Apparatus for bundling flat slabs of material comprising means for moving a series of stacks of slabs in a continuous path, means disposed adjacent the path of the stacks for applying meansior securing the individual slabs of each stack to each other, means for initially supporting each stack serially (in a. position above the immediately preceding stack) with one of its ends resting upon the preceding stack and its other end supported by said means, said means having anti-friction bearing contact with said stack whereby the stack is moved longitudinally with said preceding stack, means for arresting the movement of the stack at a predetermined point whereby the preceding continuously moving stack moves out from under said first mentioned stack whereupon the latter drops into the plane oi the preceding stack in substantially abutting relation, means actuated by the dropping of said stack for engaging the back of the stack for urging the stack against the preceding stack and means actuated by the dropping of said stack for moving the several slabs comprising said stack transversely into accurate vertical alignment.

12. Apparatus for bundling flat slabs of material comprising means for supporting a series of stacks of slabs in a substantially straight line, power driven means adjacent one end oi said supporting means for engaging said stacks successively and positively moving said series of stacks toward the opposite end of the apparatus through the abutting relationship of said stacks which is maintained by said power driven means, 1 cans intermediate said power driven means and said opposite end of the apparatus for applying continuous adhesive strips to the opposed longitudinal side edges of said series'of stacks with said stacks in abutting relationship, and means acting in timed relation with the passage of individual stacks through the apparatus'ior severing saidv strips adjacent the abutment of suceessive stacks.

36, -rial comprising means for moving a' series of Y 13. Apparatus for bundling flat slabs of mate- 1 .stacks ofslabs in a continuous, substantially direct path, means mantainingthe" series of stacks in abutting relation, means for securing a concutting 'means tinuous strip of binding material tothef-longi I tudinal marginal portions of saidseries of stacks, and means for severing saidstrip-at the'points of abutment of the several stacks-said last men-,-

tioned means comprising a hydrauliccylinder disposed horizontally and tr ansversely*of the path of movement of said slabs and having apistcn anda piston rod extending in a direction 1 1 toward the longitudinal sideedges of said stacks, carried on said piston rods, and valve means for admitting fluid to said cylinder in timed relation with the movement of successive stacks through the apparatus .for moving "said cutting means against said stacks at their points of abutment through movement of said piston and piston rod.

14. Apparatus for bundling flat slabs of ma- .terial comprising'means for moving a series of stacks of slabs in a continuous, substantially difrect path, means maintaining the series of stacks in abutting relation, means for securing a continuous strip of binding material to the longitudinalmarginal portions of said series of stacks,

and means for severing said strip at the points of abutment of the several stacks, said last mentioned' means comprising a hydraulic cylinder disposed horizontally and transversely of the path oi movement of said slabs and having a plston'and a piston rod extending-in a direction toward the longitudinal side edges of said stacks, cuttingmeans carried on said piston rods, and valve means for admitting fluid to said cylinder in timedrelation with the movement of successive stacks-1 through the. apparatus for moving said cutting means against said stacks at their points of abutment through movement 'of-said piston vertical axis, and resilient means for normally.

retaining said cylinder and cutting meansin predetermined position upon said axis with the axis of the cylinder extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal side edges of the stacks, whereby engagement of the cutting means with the moving stacks is accommodated by corresponding movement of the cutting means against the resistance of said resilient means.

15. Apparatus for bundling fiat slabs of material comprising means for moving a series of stacks of sla'bs in a continuous, substantially direct path, means maintaining the series of stacks in abutting relation, means for securing a continuous strip of binding material to the longitudinal marginal portions of said series of stacks, and means for severing said strip at the points of abutment of the several stacks, said last mentioned means comprising a hydraulic cylinder disposed horizontally and transversely oi the path of movement of said slabs and having a. piston and a piston rod extending in a direction toward the longitudinal side edges of said stacks, cutting means carried on said piston rods, and valve means for admitting fluid to said cylinder in timed relation with the movement of successive stacks through the apparatus for moving said cutting meansagainst said stacks at their points of abutment through movement of said piston and piston rod, said cylinder and cutting means being mounted for joint movement and resilient means for normally retaining said cylinder and cutting means in predetermined position, whereby engagement of the cutting means with the moving stacks is accommodated by corresponding movement of the cutting means against the resistance of the resilient means.

16. 'Apparatus for bundling fiat slabs of material comprising means for moving a. series of I stacks of slabs in 'a continuous, substantiallydirect path, means maintaining the series of stacks in abutting relation, means for securing a continuous strip of binding material to the longitudinal -marginal portions oi said'series of stacks, and '1 means for severing said strip at the points of abutment of the several stacks, said last mentionedmeans comprising a hydraulic cylinder'disposed horizontally and transversely of the path of movement of saidslabs and having a piston and a piston rod' extending in a direction toward the longitudinal side edges of said stacks, cutting J 17. Apparatus for bundling flat slabs of material comprising means for moving a series of stacks of slabs ma continuous, substantially direct path, means maintaining the series of "stacks in abutting relation, means for securing i the marginal portions of continuous strips of binding material to the longitudinal marginal portions of the upper and lower surfaces of said series of stacks with the intermediate portion of said strip extending across" the longitudinal, ver tically extending edges of the stacks, and means for severing said strip at the points of abutment of the several stacks, said severing means being mounted for pivotal movement on a vertical axis,

and means for moving said severing means transdetermined position with respect to its pivotal 1 mounting but permitting pivotal movement thereof against the resistance of said resilient means when said severing means is in engagement with the moving stacks or the binding strip, said resllient means being adapted to return the severing means to normal position when engagement of the severing means with the stacks and binding strip is discontinued,

18. Apparatus for bundling fiat slabs of material comprising means for moving a series of stacks of slabs in a continuous, substantially direct path, means maintaining the series of stacks in abutting relation, means for securing the marginal portions of continuous strips of binding material to the longitudinal marginal portions of the upper and lower surfaces of said series of stacks with the intermediate portion of said strip extending across the longitudinal, vertically extending edges of the stacks, and means for severing said strip at the points of abutment of the several stacks, said severing means comprising means mounted for movement toward and away from the longitudinal side edges of the stacks in timed relation with the passage of stacks through the apparatus and comprising a vertical- 1y extending cutting means for severing the internor mediate portion of said strip at the points oi abutment of the stacks and cutting rollers positioned above and below said vertically extending cutting means and extending forwardly therefrom in the direction of movement of the severing means, said cutting rollers being adapted to move across the upper and lower marginal portions of said stacks at their points of abutment for severing the marginal portio-nsof said strip.

19. Apparatus for bundling fiat slabs of material comprising means for moving a series of stacks of slabs in a continuous, substantially direct path, means maintaining the series of stacks in abutting relation, means for securing the marginal portions of continuous strips of binding material to the longitudinal marginal portions of the upper and lower surfaces of said series of stacks with the intermediate portion of said strip extending across the longitudinal, vertically extending edges of the stacks, and means for severing said strip at the points of abutment of the several stacks, said severing means comp-ris ing means mounted for movement toward and away from the longitudinal side edges of the stacks in timed relation with the passage of stacks through the apparatus and comprising a vertically extending cutting means for severing the intermediate portion of said strip at the points of abutment of the stacks and cutting rollers positioned above and below said vertically extending cutting means and extending forwardly therefrom in the direction of movement of the severing means, said cutting rollers being adapted to move across the upper and lower marginal portions of said stacks at their points of abutment for severing the marginal portions of said strip, said eutting rollers being movable resiliently away from each other and being normally spaced at a distance less than the height of the stacks, whereby the cutting rollers are urged resiliently against said marginal portions and automatically adjust ROY NEHER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Iii-is hereby certified that error-appears "in'ftne printed 's e'c rie'auon ofth'e above nunbered patent requiring correction as To 'llows: Pa'ga' second oolnmn lines 57 58', and lines 75 and T lt," claims 10 and .ll. re"apective 1y, strike out the parentheses; and that; the said Letters Patentshould be read with'thiscorrectiontherointhatthe sam 'may conform to the record of the case in the Parenuforfical Signed and soaled'this 51st mic: May, A. 1). 19 a.

(Seal) Henry Van Arad'ale, Acting 'cnmisaioner of Patents;

portions of the upper and lower surfaces of said series of stacks with the intermediate portion of said strip extending across" the longitudinal, ver tically extending edges of the stacks, and means for severing said strip at the points of abutment of the several stacks, said severing means being mounted for pivotal movement on a vertical axis,

and means for moving said severing means transdetermined position with respect to its pivotal 1 mounting but permitting pivotal movement thereof against the resistance of said resilient means when said severing means is in engagement with the moving stacks or the binding strip, said resllient means being adapted to return the severing means to normal position when engagement of the severing means with the stacks and binding strip is discontinued,

18. Apparatus for bundling fiat slabs of material comprising means for moving a series of stacks of slabs in a continuous, substantially direct path, means maintaining the series of stacks in abutting relation, means for securing the marginal portions of continuous strips of binding material to the longitudinal marginal portions of the upper and lower surfaces of said series of stacks with the intermediate portion of said strip extending across the longitudinal, vertically extending edges of the stacks, and means for severing said strip at the points of abutment of the several stacks, said severing means comprising means mounted for movement toward and away from the longitudinal side edges of the stacks in timed relation with the passage of stacks through the apparatus and comprising a vertical- 1y extending cutting means for severing the internor mediate portion of said strip at the points oi abutment of the stacks and cutting rollers positioned above and below said vertically extending cutting means and extending forwardly therefrom in the direction of movement of the severing means, said cutting rollers being adapted to move across the upper and lower marginal portions of said stacks at their points of abutment for severing the marginal portio-nsof said strip.

19. Apparatus for bundling fiat slabs of material comprising means for moving a series of stacks of slabs in a continuous, substantially direct path, means maintaining the series of stacks in abutting relation, means for securing the marginal portions of continuous strips of binding material to the longitudinal marginal portions of the upper and lower surfaces of said series of stacks with the intermediate portion of said strip extending across the longitudinal, vertically extending edges of the stacks, and means for severing said strip at the points of abutment of the several stacks, said severing means comp-ris ing means mounted for movement toward and away from the longitudinal side edges of the stacks in timed relation with the passage of stacks through the apparatus and comprising a vertically extending cutting means for severing the intermediate portion of said strip at the points of abutment of the stacks and cutting rollers positioned above and below said vertically extending cutting means and extending forwardly therefrom in the direction of movement of the severing means, said cutting rollers being adapted to move across the upper and lower marginal portions of said stacks at their points of abutment for severing the marginal portions of said strip, said eutting rollers being movable resiliently away from each other and being normally spaced at a distance less than the height of the stacks, whereby the cutting rollers are urged resiliently against said marginal portions and automatically adjust ROY NEHER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Iii-is hereby certified that error-appears "in'ftne printed 's e'c rie'auon ofth'e above nunbered patent requiring correction as To 'llows: Pa'ga' second oolnmn lines 57 58', and lines 75 and T lt," claims 10 and .ll. re"apective 1y, strike out the parentheses; and that; the said Letters Patentshould be read with'thiscorrectiontherointhatthe sam 'may conform to the record of the case in the Parenuforfical Signed and soaled'this 51st mic: May, A. 1). 19 a.

(Seal) Henry Van Arad'ale, Acting 'cnmisaioner of Patents;

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