US3128931A - Seyffarth - Google Patents

Description

R. SEYFFARTH 3,128,931 ROLLER SUPPORT AND GUIDE MECHANISM FOR STRIP AND SHEET MATERIALS April 14, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 27, 1961 Ham/2D SEYFFAETI/ INVENTOR.

p 4, 1964 R. SEYFFARTH 3,

ROLLER SUPPORT AND GUIDEMECHANISM FOR STRIP AND SHEET MATERIALS Filed April 27, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 20/4/20 SEVFFAQW/ INVENTOR.

Aprl] 14, 1964 R4 SEYFFARTH 3,128,931

ROLLER SUPPORT AND GUIDE MECHANISM FOR STRIP AND SHEET MATERIALS Filed April 27, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 v 4 f i A j 58 5 a 58a lQ/C'f/IED SE/FF/Qfi/ INVENTOR.

April 14, 1964 R. SEYFFARTH 3,128,931

ROLLER SUPPORT AND GUIDE MECHANISM FOR STRIP AND SHEET MATERIALS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 27, 1961 aamep 55/0742/7/ INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,128,931 ROLLER SUPPORT AND GUIDE MECHANISM FOR STRIP AND SHEET MATERIALS Richard Seyifarth, 77 Main St., Bedford Hills, N.Y. Filed Apr. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 105,929 8 Claims. (Cl. 226-199) This invention relates to a support and guide mechanism for use in conjunction with stamping presses to support and guide strip and sheet materials fed to such stamping and punch presses.

In the conventional type of stamping press now in use, the upper portion of the press, in which the stamping dies are mounted, is tilted at an angle relative to the base, in order to facilitate manual handling of the pieces stamped in removing them from the dies.

In many stamping operations, the material used is usually a relatively thin strip material, which is fed from a stock reel, or other suitable support means to the die.

Due to the fact that the stock reel is usually mounted on a substantially horizontal axis, in order to provide uniform feeding, and it is necessary to tilt the strip material to an angle conforming substantially to the angular position of the die in the press, the transition from the substantially horizontal position of the reel to the angular position of the face of the dies has presented a number of problems.

The primary feature of applicants apparatus is that it is readily adjustable for height, and angular setting, so that the strip, or sheet material can be fed directly into the space between the punch and the die, to facilitate high speed stamping on relatively short runs.

Another feature is that essentially the same support and guide mechanism can be utilized with a wide range of widths and thicknesses of strip material, and a wide range of angular positions of the die and press bed.

Another feature is that essentially the same apparatus can be utilized with narrow or wide strip material, or for supporting and guiding relatively wide rolled or flat sheet material, to be fed to a press or other suitable apparatus.

A major feature of the device is that the roller portion thereof can be utilized for straightening strip material preparatory to feeding it to the die in a stamping press.

A primary feature of the invention is that it is readily adjustable for height, lateral adjustment, and angular position in several planes, so that it can be introduced between the reel or other feed mechanism and the die, tilted in the press at the required angle to guide the sheet or strip material between the die and the punch.

The accompanying drawings, illustrative of one embodiment of the invention and several modifications thereof, together with the description of their construction and the method of adjustment, control and utilization thereof, will serve to clarify further objects and advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 represents a plan view of one embodiment of the roller support and guide mechanism in the mounted position.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational View of the roller support and guide mechanism, shown in FIGURE 1, mounted on a support base and column.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the roller end of the roller support mechanism shown in FIGURE 1, taken on the line 3-3, FIGURE 1, with the head supporting the rollers and the rollers shown moved through an angle of 90 in dot-dash lines.

FIGURE 4 is a rear view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 2, with the roller support arm moved to an angular position relative to the column.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-section through the support column, shown in FIGURE 2, and a plan view of the base supporting the column, taken on the line 55, FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a full size longitudinal section through one of the rollers shown in FIGURE 1, the section being taken on the line 6-45, FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a schematic side elevational view of the rollers shown in FIGURE 1, rotated into an angular position to guide a strip material.

FIGURE 8 is a schematic front elevational view of the rollers shown in FIGURE 7, with a strip material fed and guided between the rollers, the view being taken on the line 8-8, FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a schematic side elevational view, similar to FIGURE 7, of a plurality of rollers, such as those shown in FIGURES 1 and 7, showing a plurality of pairs of rollers used to guide a single strip of material.

FIGURE 10 is a schematic side elevational view, similar to FIGURE 7, showing the rollers rotated into a horizontal position to straighten a section of the metal strip fed between the rollers.

FIGURE 11 is a schematic front elevational View, similar to FIGURE 8, showing two pair of rollers used as a melans for supporting and guiding a wide sheet of materia FIGURE 12 is a front elevational view of a stock feed reel mounted on one of the rollers shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 13 is a partial side elevational view and partial section through the stock reel shown in FIGURE 12, the section being taken on the line 13-43, FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is a front elevational view of a modification of the roller support and guide mechanism, shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, in which a second support mechanism on which a stock reel is mounted, is included.

FIGURE 15 is a side elevational view of the modified roller support and guide mechanism, and the auxiliary support mechanism, shown in FIGURE 14, the view being taken on the line 15-15, FIGURE 14.

It will be understood that the following description of the construction and the method of operation of the roller support and guide mechanism is intended as explanatory of the invention and not restrictive thereof.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals designate the same parts throughout the various views, except where otherwise indicated.

One embodiment of the construction, shown in FIG- URES 1, 2 and 3, comprises a roller support head 15, which is supported by a tubular column 16, forming part of a base 17, which supports the head.

The head is supported by a tubular sleeve 18, which forms part of a swivel bracket 19, shown in FIGURE 1, the sleeve 18 being adjustably attached to the column by a pair of socket head, or other type of set screws 20, 20a, shown in FIGURE 2.

The tubular adjustment arm 21 of the head 15, is slidably and rotatably fitted to a second tubular sleeve 22, which is integral with a swivel support bracket 23, which is supported by the swivel bracket 19, supporting the head, a tubular section 25, integral with the support bracket being rotatably supported by a tubular collar 26, which is integral with the sleeve 18, a pair of set screws 27 clamping the collar 26 to the tubular swivel section 25 of the bracket.

A flanged holder 29 is attached to the tubular support arm 21, at the roller end of the support head '15, a triangular or other form of flange 30, which is integral with the tubular section 31 of the holder, fixedly supporting the mounting head 32, which supports the tubular rollers 33, 34, in the manner shown in FIGURE 6.

A flange 35, integral with the head 32, the contour of which follows substantially the contour of the flange 36, of the holder 29, is attached to the flange of the holder by a plurality of screws 36, such as those shown in FIG- URE 2, or by other suitable attaching means.

As shown in FIGURE 6, each of the tubular rollers 33, 34 is supported by a long swivel screw 37, the cylindrical body section 38 of which rotatably supports a pair of bronze composition, or other type of tubular bush ings 39, 39a, the outer diameter of each of which is pressed into a cylindrical counterbore at one end of the tubular roller.

The reduced diameter threaded end 40, of the swivel screw, is threadably fitted to the internal threads in the head 32. The pilot section 38a, at the threaded end of the cylindrical body section of the swivel screw 37, is fitted to a cylindrical counterbore 41 formed in the head, adjacent the internally threaded portion thereof, to accurately align the rollers perpendicularly to the outer face of the head and maintain accurately the parallel relation between the rollers 33, 34, as shown in FIGURE 1. A substantially cylindrical head 42, integral with each of the swivel screws, retains each roller in the relative position, shown in FIGURE 6, the spacing between the inner surface of the head 42 of the swivel screw and the outer surface of the mounting head 32 of the rollers 33, 34 being somewhat greater than the length of the rollers, to enable the rollers to rotate freely about the body 38 of the swivel screw 37.

The position of the rollers may be adjusted for height, longitudinal position, and angular position in several planes, in a manner shown in FIGURES l, 2, 3 and 4 and hereinafter described.

The entire support head is both vertically and rotatably adjustable relative to the tubular column 16, by which the support head is supported.

The tubular sleeve 18, which is fitted to the vertical column is vertically adjustable relative to the column 16, to any height relative to the base 45 of the column, and to any angular position about the column.

The sleeve 18, and consequently the support head 15 are held in their adjusted position, relative to the column, by pressing the tips of the set screws 20, a, shown in FIGURE 2, against the column.

The support arm 21 of the head is angularly adjustable relative to the axis of the column from the normal position, shown in FIGURE 1, to an angularly adjusted position, such as that shown in FIGURE 4, by rotating the tubular section 25, which supports the tubular arm 21 of the support head, within the tubular collar 26, which is integral with the swivel bracket 19, which is mounted on the tubular column 16. The collar is held in the adjusted position such as that shown in FIGURE 4, by tightening a pair of clamp screws against the tubular section of the swivel bracket 19.

The adjustable arm, which supports the two rollers 33, 34 is longitudinally adjustable along the tubular sleeve 22, which is integral with the support bracket 23.

The arm is also rotatably adjustable within the sleeve 22, in order to move the rollers from one angular position, shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, to an adjusted angular position 33a, 34a, such as the position shown in FIG- URE 3, with the axes vertically aligned, as shown in dotdash lines, shown in FIGURE 3.

A pair of clamp screws is fitted to the sleeve 22, of the bracket in the same manner as those shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3, in order to clamp the sleeve 22 to the adjusting arm 21.

The tubular column 16, which forms part of the base 17, is attached to the relatively flat base plate 45, by a bracket 46. The support bracket 46 includes a tubular section 47, to which the tubular column 16 is fitted, and a flat flange 48, which may be of substantially triangular form, as shown in FIGURE 5, the flange 48 being attached to the base plate 45 by a plurality of screws 50, as shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURES 7 through 11 show various methods of supporting and locating the rollers 33, 34, shown in FIG- URE 1, in order to perform a variety of operations in conjunction with various types of strip and sheet materials, the rollers 33, 34 and the head 32 supporting the rollers being rotated into various angular positions, shown in FIGURES 7 through 11, in order to perform a variety of operations, using strip and sheet material.

In the operation shown in FIGURE 7, the axes of the rollers 33, 34, shown in FIGURE 1, are moved into an angular position, shown in FIGURE 7, by rotating the arm 15 supporting the head 32, which supports the rollers, the arm being rotated within the tubular support sleeve in the manner shown in FIGURE 3.

In this position, the spacing between the outer circumferences of the rollers 33, 34 is equal to, or slightly greater than the thickness of the metal strip 51, which is fed between them.

FIGURE 8 is a schematic front elevational view of the rollers 33, 34, shown in FIGURE 7, and the metal strip 51 fed between the rollers.

In this arrangement, the axes of the rollers 33, 34 and the metal strip may be located in a horizontal position, as shown in FIGURE 8, or the rollers may be tilted to an angular position in the manner shown in FIGURE 4, in order to feed the strip material at an angle corresponding to the angular position of the bed of the inclinable press, and the die supported thereon, thus feeding the strip material along the proper angular position to correspond with the position of the face of the die.

FIGURE 9 shows three sets of rollers 33, 34, 33a, 34a and 33b, 34b located in alignment with one another, the axes of each pair of rollers 33, 34 being tilted to an angular position, corresponding to the angular position of the rollers shown in FIGURE 7.

In this construction, each pair of rollers 33, 34 is supported by a separate roller support head 32 in substantially the same manner as those shown in FIGURE 1.

In this arrangement, the strip material 51 is fed and guided between the rollers in substantially the same manner as that shown in FIGURE 7, except that a longer section of the strip material is supported, as there are three pairs of rollers 33, 34, simultaneously supporting the strip.

The front elevational view of each pair of rollers 33, 34, shown in FIGURE 9, is substantially the same as that shown in FIGURE 8, the axes of the rollers and the face of the strip material located between them being substantially horizontal, as shown in FIGURE 8, or tilted to an angle corresponding to the angle of the bed of the press, and the die mounted thereon, in the manner shown in FIGURE 4, and hereinbefore described.

FIGURE 11 shows two pair of rollers 33, 34 located in axial alignment with one another, the axes of the individual pairs of rollers being located in an angular position relative to the sheet material in substantially the same manner as those shown in FIGURE 7.

In this arrangement, the pairs of rollers 33, 34 and the individual heads 32 supporting each pair of rollers, are located a considerable distance apart, in order to enable the rollers to support and guide a relatively wide metal sheet 53, or other material, in the manner shown in FIGURE 11.

The head supporting each pair of rollers, in the arrangement shown in FIGURE 11, would be supported by an individual column 16 in the manner shown in FIGURE 2, the columns being relatively movable in order to enable the spacing between the pairs of rollers 33, 34, 33a, 34a to be increased or decreased to accommodate wider or narrower sheets of material.

FIGURE 10 shows the two rollers 33, 34 arranged in another position, with their axes located along a substantially horizontal line, similar to that shown in FIGURE 1.

In this arrangement, the rollers 33, 34 are utilized to straighten a strip 54 of material which is fed between them. The strip 54 of metal is fed under tension from .a position below the outer circumference of the first roller 33, through the gap between the rollers, thence along the outer circumference of the second roller, thus straightening the strip and eliminating any irregularities that may be formed on the surface of the strip.

The front elevation of the rollers, shown in FIG- URE 10, is also similar to that shown in FIGURE 8, the axes of the two rollers being either substantially hori- Zontal, as shown in FIGURE 8, or tilted to an angle corresponding to the angle of the bed of the press and die supported thereby, in order to have the strip, after straightening, follow the angular position of the surface of the die in substantially the same manner as that hereinbefore described.

FIGURES 12 and 13 show a single roller 33, such as that shown in FIGURE 1, employed to rotatably support a reel 55, which is used to feed the strip material 56, which is wound around the reel, to a die or other suitable point, at which it is used for stamping or other suitable purpose.

In order to provide an individual roller 33 in the head 32, shown in FIGURE 1, the second roller 34 is removed from the head, by removing the swivel screw 37 supporting the second roller.

The reel includes two substantially circular side walls 57, 57a, each side wall being cut out to provide an outer rim 58, of circular contour, and a plurality of radially positioned arms 60, 60a, which are attached to the central hub 61 and integral with the outer rim 58.

FIGURES 14 and show a modification of the roller support and guide mechanism, shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, in which an auxiliary support mechanism is mounted, a stock reel, similar to that shown in FIG- URES 12 and 13 being incorporated therewith.

In this construction, the primary roller support and guide mechanism is essentially the same as that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, except that the tubular arm 21 of the support bracket is located at an angle to the horizontal plane and the substantially vertical plane of the axis of the tubular column 16. The angle of the tubular arm 21 relative to the substantially horizontal plane, on which the flat base is mounted, corresponds to the angle formed by the face of a die, located in an inclined press, relative to the horizontal plane.

An auxiliary swivel bracket 63 is mounted on the tubular arm of the support bracket, the auxiliary swivel bracket including a tubular sleeve 64, and a swivel section 65 incor orated therewith, the swivel section supporting a tubular swivel arm 66, which supports the secondary swivel bracket 67, shown in FIGURE 14.

The secondary swivel bracket 67, which is similar in construction to the auxiliary swivel bracket, includes a tubular sleeve 68. The tubular arm 69, on which the auxiliary support mechanism is mounted, is supported by the bracket 67. Swivel section 70, similar to that of the swivel section 65, is pivotally supported by the tubular swivel arm 66.

As shown in FIGURE 15, a reel support bracket is mounted at the outer end of the tubular swivel arm 69.

This bracket includes a tubular sleeve 71, which is attached to the outer end of the swivel arm 66. A swivel section 72 integral with the tubular sleeve 71, is fitted to the tubular arm 69, on which the head 73 supporting the tubular roller 74, on which the stock reel is mounted, is supported.

A mounting head 73, similar to that shown in FIG- URE l, is mounted at one end of the tubular support arm, the mounting head 73 being supported by a flanged holder 29, similar to that shown in FIGURE 1, a triangular flange 30, similar to that shown in FIGURE 1, which is integral with the tubular section of the holder, fixedly supporting the mounting head 73, which rotatably supports a single roller 74, in the same manner as that shown in FIGURES 12 and 13.

A substantially triangular flange 75, which is integral with the mounting head 73, is attached to the flange 30 6 of the tubular holder in substantially the same manner as that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

As shown in FIGURE 15, the single roller 74, which rotatably supports the stock reel 76, is substantially parallel to and located a distance from the pair of rollers 33, 34, mounted on the head 32 of the roller support bracket, shown in FIGURE 14, and substantially parallel to the rollers 33, 34, to allow strip material 77 fed from the stock reel 76 to be guided by the guide rollers 33, 34, and fed to the die mounted on the bed of an inclined press.

The stock reel 76, shown in FIGURES 14 and 15, which is similar to that shown in FIGURES 12 and 13, includes a pair of substantially parallel side walls 79, 80, which are substantially parallel and spacedly located relative to one another, the side walls being supported by and attached to a central tubular hub 81, which is rotatably supported by the tubular roller 7 4, shown in FIGURE 15.

The tubular roller 74 supported by the auxiliary head 73, is rotatably supported by a swivel screw 37, similar to that shown in FIGURE 6, the threaded end of the swivel screw being thread-ably fitted to the auxiliary mounting head 73, which is shown in FIGURE 14.

In all other respects, the roller support and guide mechanism, shown in FIGURES 14 and 15, and the auxiliary stock reel roller support mechanism, shown in FIGURES 14 and 15, are substantially the same as that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The method of supporting the rollers 33, 34, may be substantially as shown in FIGURE 6, or modifications thereof may be substituted to rotatably support the tubular rollers 33, 34.

In place of the tubular bushings 39*, 3% shown in FIG URE 6, needle bearings may be substituted, in order to reduce the bearing friction to a minimum.

The method of supporting the tubular arm of the support head, and the method of pivotally supporting the tubular arm in various planes, and to provide longitudinal adjustment of the tubular arm, may be varied depending upon the length of the tubular arm, the diameter thereof, and the range of angular movement of the tubular arm and the rollers in various planes, required in a particular operation.

The support base and the column supporting the support head 15 may be constructed in the manner shown in FIGURES 2 and 5, or various modifications thereof may be introduced, depending upon the height of the columns required, and the spacing required, between the columns of the multiple roller installation, shown in FIGURES 9 and 11.

In these multiple roller installations, the individual pairs of rollers and the heads supporting them would each be supported by a separate tubular, or cylindrical column. These columns may be supported by individual bases, such as that shown in FIGURE 5, or a single large flat plate may be substituted for the individual bases shown in FIGURE 5. Where a large base plate is used, an individual bracket, such as that shown in FIGURES 2 and 5, would be utilized to support each of the columns 16, the flanges of the brackets being attached to the base plate in the manner shown in FIGURES 2 and 5.

The brackets may be attached to the base plate in fixed positions, relative to one another or the spacing between the column brackets may be adjustable, depending upon the requirements of a particular installation.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the specific details described above and shown in the drawings, and that various modifications are possible in carrying out the features of the invention and the operation, actuation, and the method of utilization thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A roller support and guide mechanism for relatively thin sheet materials, comprising a plurality of pairs of substantially cylindrical rotatable rollers, the individual rollers of each pair of said rollers being substantially parallel to one another, one roller of each pair being coaxially aligned with corresponding rollers of the other pairs, means rotatably supporting each cylindrical roller of each pair, combination support and adjustment means supporting the roller support means for each pair of rollers, a support column adjustably supporting the combination support and adjustment means for each pair of cylindrical rollers, the combination support and adjustment means including a longitudinal support member providing longitudinal and rotational angular adjustment of the roller support means, the roller support means including a support head adjustably supported by the longitudinal support member, said combination support and adjustment means providing longitudinal and multiple angular adjustment of each pair of cylindrical rollers, relative to the support columns, each of the rotatable cylindrical rollers including a tubular roller, the means rotatably supporting each of the tubular rollers being a substantially cylindrical member removably supported by the support head, bearing means fitted to each of said tubular rollers adapted to rotatably support the tubular roller on the cylindrical member, and means for clamping the support head to the longitudinal support member in the adjusted position.

2. A combination feed and roller support and guide mechanism for flat materials, comprising a first pair of substantially cylindrical rotatable rollers, the rollers of said pair being substantially parallel to one another, and a second individual roller, located a distance from and substantially parallel to the first pair of parallel cylindrical rollers, means rotatably supporting the first pair of rollers, a first combination support and adjustment means supporting the means supporting the first pair of cylindrical rollers, the first combination support and adjustment means, including a first longitudinal support member, providing longitudinal and rotational angular adjustment of the roller support means, the first roller support means including a first support head rotatably supported by the first longitudinal support member, and a second combination support and adjustment means supporting the means supporting the second individual roller, the second combination support and adjustment means including a longitudinal support member, providing longitudinal and rotational angular adjustment of the roller support means, the second roller support means including a second support head rotatably supported by the second longitudinal support member, and means supported by the first combination support and adjustment means, adjustably angularly supporting the second combination support and adjustment means, a support column adjustably supporting the first combination support and adjustment means for the first pair of rollers, said first combination support and adjustment means providing longitudinal and multiple angular adjustment of the first pair of rollers, relative to the support column, the second support and adjustment means providing longitudinal and multiple angular adjustment of the second individual roller relative to the first pair of rollers, each of the rotatable cylindrical rollers including a tubular roller, the means rotatably supporting each of the tubular rollers being a substantially cylindrical member removably supported by the support head bearing means fitted to each of said tubular rollers adapted to rotatably support the tubular roller on the cylindrical member, and means for clamping the support head to the longitudinal support member in the adjusted position.

3. A roller support and guide mechanism for relatively thin strip materials, comprising a plurality of pairs of substantially cylindrical rotatable rollers, the individual rollers of each pair of said cylindrical rollers being substantially parallel to one another, one cylindrical roller of each pair of rollers being substantially parallel to the corresponding cylindrical rollers of the other pairs of rollers and spacedly located relative to the corresponding cylindrical rollers of the other pairs of rollers, means rotatably supporting each cylindrical roller of each pair of rollers, combination support and adjustment means supporting the roller support means for each pair of cylindrical rollers, a plane through the axes of rotation of each pair of cylindrical rollers being angularly positioned relative to the surface of a metal strip fed between the pairs of cylindrical rollers, the combination support and adjustment means including a longitudinal support member providing longitudinal and rotational angular adjustment of the roller support means, the roller support means including a support head supported by the longitudinal support member, each of the rotatable cylindrical rollers including a tubular roller, the means rotatably supporting each of the tubular rollers being a substantially cylindrical member removably supported by the support head, bearing means fitted to each of said tubular rollers adapted to rotatably support the tubular roller on the cylindrical member, and means for clamping the support head to the longitudinal support member in the adjusted position.

4. A roller support and guide mechanism for fiat materials, comprising a plurality of substantially cylindrical rollers, said cylindrical rollers being substantially parallel to one another, means rotatably supporting the cylindrical rollers, combination support and adjustment means supporting the roller support means, a support column adjustably supporting the combination support and adjustment means for the cylindrical rollers, said combination support and adjustment means providing longitudinal and multiple angular adjustment of the cylindrical rollers, relative to the support column, the combination support and adjustment means including a longitudinal support member providing longitudinal and rotational angular adjustment of the roller support means, in multiple planes, the roller support means including a support head adjustably supported by the longitudinal support member, each of the rotatable cylindrical rollers including a tubular roller, the means rotatably supporting each of the tubular rollers being a substantiallly cylindrical member removably supported by the support head, bearing means fitted to each of said tubular rollers adapted to rotatably support the tubular roller on the cylindrical member, and means for clamping the support head to the longitudinal support member in the adjusted position.

5. A roller support and guide mechanism for fiat materials, comprising a first pair of substantially cylindrical rollers, the first pair of cylindrical rollers being substantially parallel to one another, and a second individual roller located a distance from and substantially parallel to the first pair of cylindrical rollers, means rotatably supporting the first pair of cylindrical rollers, combination support and adjustment means supporting the roller support means, a support column adjustably supporting the combination support and adjustment means for the first pair of cylindrical rollers, said first combination support and adjustment means providing longitudinal and multiple angular adjustment of the cylindrical rollers, relative to the support column, and a second combination support and adjustment means supporting the second individual roller, and means supported by the first combination support and adjustment means, adjustably angularly supporting the second combination support and adjustment means, the combination support and adjustment means including a substantially tubular longitudinal support arm, a first swivel bracket adjustably fitted to the support column, a second swivel bracket slidably and angularly adjustably supporting the tubular support arm, means formed in said first swivel bracket rotatably supporting the second swivel bracket, the rotatable support means of the first swivel bracket providing rotational angular adjustment of the longitudinal support arm about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the support column, the roller support means including a support head adjustably supported by the longitudinal support arm, means for clamping the first and second swivel brackets in their adjusted position, and means for clamping the support head to the longitudinal support arm in the adjusted position, the means rotatably supporting each of the tubular rollers being a substantially cylindrical member threadably fitted to the support head, and bearing means fitted to each of said tubular rollers, adapted to rotatably support the tubular roller from the cylindrical member, means for clamping the first and second swivel brackets in their adjusted positions, and means for clamping the support head to the longitudinal support arm in the adjusted position.

6. A combination feed and roller support and guide mechanism for fiat materials, comprising a first pair of substantially cylindrical rotatable rollers, the rollers of said first pair being substantially parallel to one another, and a second individual roller, located a distance from and substantially parallel to the first pair of parallel cylindrical rollers, mzans rotatably supporting the first pair of rollers, a first combination support and adjustment means supporting the means supporting the first pair of cylindrical rollers, and a second combination support and adjustment means supporting the means supporting the second individual roller, and means supported by the first combination support and adjustment means, adjustably angularly supporting the second combination support and adjustment means, a support column adjustably supporting the first combination support and adjustment means for the first pair of rollers, said first combination support and adjustment means providing longitudinal and multiple angular adjustment of the first pair of cylindrical rollers, relative to the support column, the second support and adjustment means providing longitudinal and multiple angular adjustment of the second individual roller relative to the first pair of rollers, the first combination support and adjustment means including a first longitudinal support member providing longitudinal and rotational angular adjustment of the first roller support means, the first roller support means including a first support head adjustably supported by the first longitudinal support member, each cylindrical roller of the first pair of cylindrical rollers including a tubular roller, the means rotatably supporting each tubular roller of the first pair of cylindrical rollers being a substantially cylindrical member, removably supported by the first support head, the second combination support and adjustment means including a second tubular support member providing longitudinal and rotational angular adjustment of the second roller support means, the second roller support means including a second roller support head, adjustably supported by the second tubular support member, the second individual cylindrical roller including a tubular roller, the means rotatably supporting the second individual tubular roller being a substantially cylindrical member, removably supported by the second support head, means for clamping the first support head to the first longitudinal support member in the adjusted position, and means for clamping the second support head to the second longitudinal support member in the adjusted position.

7. A combination feed and roller support guide mechanism for flat materials, comprising a first pair of substantially cylindrical rotatable rollers, the rollers of said pair being substantially parallel to one another, and a second individual roller, located a distance from and substantially parallel to the first pair of parallel cylindrical rollers, means rotatably supporting the first pair of rollers, a first combination support and adjustment means supporting the first pair of rollers, the first combination support and adjustment means including a first longitudinal support member, providing longitudinal and rotational angular adjustment of the roller support means, the first roller support means including a first support head rotatably supported by the first longitudinal support members, and a second combination support and adjustment means supporting the means supporting the second individual roller, the second combination support and adjustment means including a longitudinal support memher, providing longitudinal and rotational angular ad justment of the roller support means, the second roller support means including a second support head rotatably supported by the second longitudinal support member, and means supported by the first combination support and adjustment means, adjustably angularly supporting the second combination support and adjustment means, a support column adjustably supporting the first combination support and adjustment means of the first pair of rollers, said first combination support and adjustment means providing longitudinal and multiple angular adjustment of the first pair or rollers, relative to the support column, the second support and adjustment means providing longitudinal and multiple angular adjustment of the second individual roller relative to the first pair of rollers, each of the rotatable cylindrical rollers including a tubular roller, the means rotatably supporting each of the tubular rollers being a substantially cylindrical member removably supported by the support head, bearing means fitted to each of said tubular rollers adapted to rotatably support the tubular roller on the cylindrical member, and means for clamping the support head of the longitudinal support member in the adjusted position, the first combination support and adjustment means including a first substantially tubular longitudinal support arm, a first swivel bracket adjustably fitted to the support column, a second swivel bracket slidably and angularly adjustably supporting the first tubular support arm, means formed in said first swivel bracket angularly adjustably supporting the second swivel bracket, the rotatable support means of the first swivel bracket providing rotational angular adjustment of the first longitudinal support arm about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the support column, the first roller support means including a support head adjustably supported by the first longitudinal support arm.

8. A combination feed and roller support and guide mechanism for flat materials, comprising a first pair of substantially cylindrical rotatable rollers, the rollers of said pair being substantially parallel to one another, and a second individual roller, located a distance from and substantially parallel to the first pair of parallel cylindrical rollers, means rotatably supporting the first pair of rollers, a first combination support and adjustment means supporting the means supporting the first pair of cylindrical rollers, the first combination support and adjustment means including a first longitudinal support member, providing longitudinal and rotational angular adjustment of the roller support means, the first roller support means including a first support head rotatau'bly supported by the first longitudinal support memher, and a second combination support and adjustment means supporting the means supporting the second individual roller, the second combination support and adjustment means including a longitudinal support member, providing longitudinal and rotational angular adjustment of the roller support means, the second roller support means including a second support head rotatably supported by the second longitudinal support member and means supported by the first combination support and adjustment means for the first pair of rollers, said first combination support and adjustment means providing longitudinal and multiple angular adjustment of the first pair of rollers, relative to the support column, the second support and adjustment means providing longitudinal and multiple angular adjustment of the second indivdual roller relative to the first pair of rollers, each of the rotatable cylindrical rollers including a tubular roller, the means rotatably supporting each of the tubular rollers being a substantially cylindrical member removably supported by the support head, bearing means fitted to each of said tubular rollers adapted to rotatably support the tubular roller on the cylindrical member, and means for clamping the support head to the longitudinal support member in the adjusted position, the first com- 11 bination support and adjustment means including a first substantially tubular longitudinal support arm, a first swivel bracket adjustably fitted to the support column, a second swivel bracket slidably and rotationally adjustably supporting the first tubular support arm, means formed in said first swivel bracket rotationally adjustably supporting the second swivel bracket, the rotationally adjustable support means of the first swivel bracket providing rotational angular adjustment of the first longitudinal support arm about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the support column, the first roller support means including a first support head adjustably supported by the first longitudinal support arm, the second combination support and adjustment means including a second substantially tubular support arm, a third swivel bracket slidably and rotationally adjustably fitted to the first longitudinal support arm, a fourth swivel bracket slidably and rotationally adjustably supporting the second tubular support arm, means formed in said third swivel bracket angularly adjustably supporting the fourth swivel bracket, the second roller support means including a second support head rotationally adjustably supported by the second tubular support arm, means for clamping the first and second swivel brackets in their adjusted positions, means for clamping the first and second swivel brackets in their adjusted positions, means for clamping the third and fourth swivel brackets in their adjusted position, means for clamping the first support head to the first longitudinal support arm in its adjusted position, and means for clamping the second support head to the second tubular support arm in its adjusted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,521,636 Long et a1 Jan. 6, 1925 2,433,921 Nelson Jan. 6, 1948 2,506,354 Green May 2, 1950 2,801,102 Walter et al. July 30, 1957 2,802,633 Moore Aug. 13, 1957 3,052,393 McKenzie Sept. 4, 1962 3,058,640 Schuster Oct. 16, 1962

Claims (1)

1. 4. A ROLLER SUPPORT AND GUIDE MECHANISM FOR FLAT MATERIALS, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL ROLLERS, SAID CYLINDRICAL ROLLERS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO ONE ANOTHER, MEANS ROTATABLY SUPPORTING THE CYLINDRICAL ROLLERS, COMBINATION SUPPORT AND ADJUSTMENT MEANS SUPPORTING THE ROLLER SUPPORT MEANS, A SUPPORT COLUMN ADJUSTABLY SUPPORTING THE COMBINATION SUPPORT AND ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR THE CYLINDRICAL ROLLERS, SAID COMBINATION SUPPORT AND ADJUSTMENT MEANS PROVIDING LONGITUDINAL AND MULTIPLE ANGULAR ADJUSTMENT OF THE CYLINDRICAL ROLLERS, RELATIVE TO THE SUPPORT COLUMN, THE COMBINATION SUPPORT AND ADJUSTMENT MEANS INCLUDING A LONGITUDINAL SUPPORT MEMBER PROVIDING LONGITUDINAL AND ROTATIONAL ANGULAR ADJUSTMENT OF THE ROLLER SUPPORT MEANS, IN MULTIPLE PLANES, THE ROLLER SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING A SUPPORT HEAD ADJUSTABLY SUPPORTED BY THE LONGITUDINAL SUPPORT MEMBER, EACH OF THE ROTATABLE CYLINDRICAL ROLLERS INCLUDING A TUBULAR ROLLER, THE MEANS ROTATABLY SUPPORTING EACH OF THE TUBULAR ROLLERS BEING A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL MEMBER REMOVABLY SUPPORTED BY THE SUPPORT HEAD, BEARING MEANS FITTED TO EACH OF SAID TUBULAR ROLLERS ADAPTED TO ROTATABLY SUPPORT THE TUBULAR ROLLER ON THE CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR CLAMPING THE SUPPORT HEAD TO THE LONGITUDINAL SUPPORT MEMBER IN THE ADJUSTED POSITION.

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