US3057326A - Blank dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 9, 1962 0. G. JEDDELOH BLANK DISPENSER Filed Maroh 8, 1960 INVENTR.

Ofio Cade ddeloh United States Patent Ofifice 3,057,326 Patented Oct. 9, 1962 3,057,326 BLANK DISPENSER tto G. Jeddeloh, 266 Lathrop Road, Grants Pass, Greg. Filed Mar. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 13,529 8 Claims. (CI. 118-236} This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing blanks, and more particularly to apparatus for storing a plurality of blanks that includes mechanism for removing blanks, one at a time, when needed, and passing the same over a rotating applicator roll whereby the blank may be prepared for use.

In the manufacture of plywood, it is common practice to repair imperfections on the face of completed panels by applying patches to the panels. Panels may contain pitch pockets, pin knots, cracks, bad joints, broken corners, etc. and these imperfections are repaired by routing out surface portions of the panel and inserting into the cavity formed a covering patch. Common patches used are the socalled bull nose patch (which is a medium-Iong fiat patch With rounded ends) and the shim patch (which is an elongated, relatively narrow wooden strip). In applying a patch, the usual technique has comprised manually either to apply glue to a panel and and then pick up a patch and place it thereover, or pick up a patch, apply glue to its underside and set the patch in place. Couventional practices however, have been time consuming, since a workman has had to drop any tools that he is working with, thence pick up a patch from a pile, and perform the glue application as another step.

A general object of the invention, therefore, is to provide nova] apparatus for ejecting blanks, such as patches, one at a time, from a stack, wherein the patches during their removal from the stack automatically have material such as glue applied to one of their faces thereby preparing them for insertion into a panel.

Another object is to provide novel apparatus wherein patches may 'be removed one at a time from a stack, such apparatus being operable first to shift the bottom patch of the stack laterally from the stack over an applier roll Without completely removing the patch, and then to hold the patch in a partially removed state With an end exposed and in a convenient position for an operator to grasp hold of the patch.

In applying glue to a patch, a rotatable applier-roll device has many advantages, and such normally is constantly driven, in order that a thin film of still liquid adhesive always be carried on its surface. For adhesive to be applied evenly over the face of 9. patch, it is important that the patch be pressed firmly down on the roll as it passes thereover. A feature and object of the invention is to provide a dispenser for patches wherein a patch is ejected partially from a stack while being moved over a normally constantly driven applier roll, so constructed that the patch presses firmly against the roll when it is passed thereover, and also constructed so that the patch after its partial removal is not shifted in position under the action of the roll but instead maintained in a partially removed condition. According to this invention, a patch is maintained in a partially removed state through the expedients of (1) applying a pinching pressure to the trail end of the patch as the same is removed which resists displacement of the patch, and (2) providing guide means defining a path of travel for 3 patch that functions to guide a patch against the surface of the applier roll at enough of an angle to produce good pressure of the ap plication of glue, but at an angle sufiicient to produce frictional grabbing of the patch by the roll such as Would overcome the resistance to movement resulting from the pinching pressure on the patch.

A further, more specific object is to provide a dispenser construction which includes ejection mechanism whereby one patch at a time is first engaged and then moved forwardly over a roll as described, such ejection mechanism undergoing an operating stroke during the removal of a patch, such operating stroke being limited so that it is insufiicient completely to remove a patch.

-A still further object is to provide, in a dispenser having a rotating applier roll, nove] guide structure operable to defiect a patch against the roll as it is drawn thereover.

A still further specific object is to provide a guide structure for supporting elongated shim patches after they are removed from a collection of the patches and then drawn over the surface of an applier roll.

These and other objects and advantages are obtained by the invention, the same being described hereinbelow in conjunction With the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the dispenser, showing at the top of the dispenser holders for supporting stacks of patches, and generally beneath such holders ejection mechanism for removing patches one at a time from such stacks, and in the path of the patches as they are removed from the stacks an applier-roll mechanism for applying glue to their undersurfaces;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 1, viewing from left to right in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a type of applier roll that may be used in the invention, removed from the apparatus better to illustrate details of its construction;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of portions of an applier roll and guide structure that guides a patch over its surface; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of one of the holders in the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 indicates generally the frame of an embodiment of the apparatus, such frame having a suitable base whereby the apparatus may be supported on a table or similar supporting surface. In the embodiment illustrated, it is contemplated that the dispenser and its frame be light and compact enough t0 enable relatively easy moving of the dispenser from one location -to another. Frame 10 supports at the top of the unit a pair of holders or hoppers, 14, 16 for bull nase patches. At the rear of the unit or to the right in FIG. 1 is an elongated hollow hopper 17 for shim patches. Mounted at the forward end of the frame or to the left of the frame in FIG. 1 is applier roll or applicator mechanism 18 for applying adhesive to the bottom Surfaces of patches. Completing a general description of the device, underneath hoppers 14, 16 is ejection mechanism 20, used in shifting patches one at a time from hoppers 14, 16 over applied-roll mechanism 18.

Considering now specific details of the components just briefly outlined, and first of all holders or hoppers 14, 16, these are secured to frame 10 through a top plate 26 that is made integral with the frame. Each hopper takes the form of an elongated upright metallic casing substantially rectangular in cross section. Thus,considering hopper 14, and With reference to -FIGS. 1 and 5, this comprises a continuous side wall 8, a pair of continuous end walls 30 and 32, and a side wall 34 opposite side wall 28, defined by flanges 34a, 34b, that is open along the length of the hopper. In cross section, the interior of each hopper has the approximate size of the patch which is to be stored therein. Thus patches may be stored in a hopper as a stack. At the base of each hopper is a floor 36, and this supports the bottom patch of a stack. Over the top patch in a stack is placed a weght 38 which may be provided With a handle 39. The opening along the length of side wall 34 enables handle 39 to protrude outwardly from one side of a hopper With the weight still free to move down in a casing as the height of a stack decreases. The opening also afEords an operator a means visualIy to check the contents of each hopper.

Forward end wall 32 of each hopper, adjacent fioor 36, is provided With guide means of structure defining a path accommodating the removal of a single blank or patch from the stack by shifting it laterally to one side of the hopper. Thus there is formed in end wall 32 an opening 41, and integral with side walls 28, 34 and projecting forwardly of the opening are finger portions 42, 43. Over the top of the opening and secured to end wall 32 is a spring 46, with a turned over lower end that is positioned to press downwardly against the top of a patch removed from the hopper and passed thereunder. The spring and fingers operate to guide a patch forwardly from end wall 32 and also to defiect it slightly downwardly as it emerges from the hopper, as perhaps best illustrated in FIG. 4.

Hopper 17, used for shim patches, comprises a metal cylinder closed :at its base so that it can hold a number of such patches on end. Shim patches may have a length of sorne 30 or 40 inches, and it has been found oonvenient because of their length to store them as a bundle of patches on end.

With reference to ejection mechanism 21), to the rear of each hopper 14, 16 is a horizontal push plate 50, of small enough Width to fit between the side walls of the hopper that is in front -of it, mounted on a standard 52. Each push plate is supported =at a level slightly above the hopper floors .36. End walls 30 of the hopper (those in front of the push plates) are provided with openings 54, accommodating the insertion of the forward ends of the push plates therethrough. Each push plate has a thickness that is somewhat less than the thickness of a patch. In operation, when a push plate is inserted into an opening 54, it first engages the rear edge of a patch, and on further movement of the push plate, it operates to push the patch forwardly and out of an opening 41.

Each push plate 50 is reciprocated back and forth by means of a rod 56, that is slidably mounted on wall portions 58 that extend between the sides of frame 10. Such wall portions are notched at 60 to receive the rods. At the forward end of each rod is a handle 62, used in moving the rod back and forth.

Applier-roll or applicator mechanism 18 is mounted in a box-like structure 66, and this structure 66 in turn is supported on the side walls of frame 10, and secured in place as by screws 68. Structure 66 along its backside has a transverse wall 70, and this wall constitutes a means limiting forward movement of the push plates. Thus the push plate 50 for hopper 14 may be moved by moving its standard 52 to the dashed position indicated at 52a, and thence further forward travel is prevented by reason of the fact that its standard 52 strikes wall 70. In this dashed position 52a, a patch ejected y the plate, such as patch 71, is partially, but not completely removed from the stack, and has its rear end pinched between the patches and weight above the patch and the floor 36 below the patch. Note that the forward end of patch 71 in this position protrudes quite far forwardly of the hopper and is in a position easily to be grab-bed by an operator. The push plate 50 for hopper 16 is similarly constmcted, and When moved -to its forward lim-it position does not completely eject a patch, :but only partially removes the patch. In moving forwardly from the positions shown in solid outlines in FIG. 1 to the forward limit positions defined by wall 70-, the push plates of the ejector mechanism undergo what is referred to as an operating stroke, and as noted such operating strokes are insuflcient completely to remove patches from the hoppers.

Guide structure slightly different from that -discussed in connection with the hoppers 14, 16 is provided for directing shim patches stored in hopper 17 against the applierroll mechanism. Specifically, across the rear end of the apparatus is an elongated wire support 72 secured at its ends t-o frame 10. Intermediate positions of the support arch upwardly from the frame, and are provided Wi-th a pair of concave bends 74. These concave bends are to cradle the rear ends of shim patches, Adjacent to appIier-roll mechanism 18 at the forward end of the unit is a pair of tunnel guides 76 (one is provided for each bend 74) each With converging side walls 78 and top and bottom walls 80, 32. These receive the forward ends of shim patches threaded through their hollow interiors. The support and tunnel guides are separate and spaced apart structures, and room is provided an operator manually to grasp a center portion of a shim patch that has its ends supported in a funnel guide and one of the bonds 74. In using the guide structure, a shim patch is inserted through one of the funnel guides and its other end rested in a bond 74. After this the patch may be advanced through the guide by grasping its middle and forcing it to the left in FIG. 1.

In the case of hoppers 14-, 16, the organization of Weights providing a pinching pressure on the patches contained therein oonstitutes a means offering resistance to movement of a patch along its path of travel relative to the hopper, whereby a patch tends to lue held in place after partial removal. In the case of the guide structure comprising support 72 and guides 76, the constriction resulting from the converging walls of the guides per- -forms this function.

Considering the applier-roll mechanism l8, this comprises a shaft mounting a series of grooved rolls indicated at 92, 93, 94 and 95, spaced along the shaft. The grooves of each roll are defined by annular flanges, shown for roll 93 at 9911 and 991). The shaft is journalled at its ends in end walls 96, 98 of the box-like structure 66, and secured to one end is a pulley wheel 100. In normal Operation, the applierroll is driven constantly, and drive to the applier-roll is from :a motor 102 mounted Within framework 10 toward the rear f the unit through a belt 104 trained Over pulley 100.

Shaft 90 extends transversely of the path of patches leaving funnel guides 76 and the guide structure at the base of each of the hoppers. Portions of the circumferential surfaces of rolls 92 and (these surfaces constituting glue-applying surfaces), rotate in the paths that the guide structures define for the patches -during their travel forwardly in the unit. Thus, considering the guide structure at the base of hopper 14 (fingers 42-, 43, spring 46 and opening 41), and referring to FIG. 4, this guid structure is operable to direct 3. patch traveling therethrough against upper surface portions of the grooved roll directly in front, these upper surface portions moving in the path of the patch. The patch, on traveling toward the roll, is directed downwardly on the roll and impinges on the roll at an angle which is sufi'icient to produce good contact With the roll. The angle, While sufficient to cause good contact, is not so great as to cause "any frictien between the roll and the patch to overcome the punch pressure produced by weight 38 and the resistance to movement of the patch that results. In the case of the guide structure for the shim patches (funnel guides 76 and support 72), the funnel guides perform similarly, and operate to direct the lead end of a patch downwardly on the roll directly in front.

Completing the description of the appIier-roll mochanism, indicates a shield oovering the roll mechanism where access to rolls 9295 is not necessary. A reservoir for glue is indicated at 114, such reservoir comprising spaced inner and outer walls 116 and 118, respectively. The space 119 between the inner and outer walls is used for circulating -cooling water, helpful in preventing the contents of the reservoir from prematurely hardening. Supply and exhaust conduits 120, 122 connect with this space.

Explaining briefiy the operation of the apparatus, should an operator want a relatively short patch from hopper l4, he pulls the rod 56, connected to the push plate for the hopper, until the rod reaches its limit position, determined by its standard 52 striking wall 70. This positions a patch in the position of patch 71 in FIG. 1. On travelling from the hopper, this patch is directed downwardly on the surface of applier-roll 94 in front of the hopper by spring 46. On contacting the roll, the spring gives slightly and the patch may flex to some extent, which enables the patch to travel over the roll to the position shown. The pinch pressure produced on the tail end of the patch is suflicient to hold the patch in place, against any moving effect of the rotating applierroll. The patch has glue applied to most of its bottom face by the roll, and an operator on grasping its exposed end may pull the remainder of the patch over the roll, with glue being applied to the remainder of its bottom face. If push plate 50 is then returned, on a succeeding actuation a similar result coeurs. The ejector mechanism for the larger of the hoppers 16 performs substantially in the same manner. Shim patches, as already indicated are fed manually over the applier roll mechamsm.

The groove provided the circumference of each roll fuuctions to guide forward portions of a patch squarely over the roll. Many patches have beveled edges, and by using grooved applier rolls, glue can be applied, not only to the bottoms of the patches, but also to their beveled edges.

The apparatus of the invention has been found to speed up considerably patching of the imperfections in plywood panels. It is appreciated that the invention has been explained in connection With the patching of plywood panels, but this is for reasons of illustration, and it is obvious that the aparatus could be used in similar or related operations. It is also obvious that changes in the construction and parts can be made Without departing from the invention. It is intended to cover all modifications and variations of the invention that would be apparent to one skilled in the art and that come Within the scope of the appended clairns.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A dispenser for elongated rigid and semirigid blanks of given length comprising a holder with sides and a base for holding a stack of such blanks, guide means defining a path adjacent said base and through a side of said holder accommodating the removal of a single blank from the stack by sliding it laterally out from under the stack, a rotatable applicator mounted for rotation about an axis extending transversely of said path and having a circumferential glue-applying surface that rotates partially in said path at a distance from said holder that is less than the length of a blank, said applicator engaging the underside only of a blank moved in said path and there being unobstructed space opposite the applicator and above such a blank, means below said path for supplying glue to said applicator, and ejector mechanism constructed on actuation to engage an edge of a blank and shift the same a predetermined distance along said path and against said glue-applying surface, said ejector mechanism being constructed so that the predetermined distance it moves a blank is sufficient to move the blank onto said applicator but insufficent completely to remove a blank from said holder.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said rotatable applicator comprises a grooved applier roll with opposed side flanges that operate to confine a blank from lateral movement as the same passes against the roll on leaving said guide means.

3. A dispenser for elongated rigid and semi-rigid blanks of given length, comprising a horizontally disposed rotatable and normally constantly driven glueapplier roll having an unobstructed space above it and bounded by a glue-applying surface about its circumference, a holder with sides and a base constructed to hold a stack of blanks positioned to one side of said applier roll, guide means defining a path adjacent said base and through a side of said holder accommodating the removal of a single blank from a stack by sliding it laterally out from the stack, means ofiering resistance to movement of a blank relative to said holder, said guide means defining a path for a blank during its removal from the holder that extends substantially normally of the rotation axis of the glue-applier roll and into upper portions of said glue-applying surface and that is shorter than the length of a blank, said guide means also being constructed to guide a blank so that it impinges on said surface at an angle which is great enough to produce good contact between the blank and surface but not so great as to cause any frictional grab between the surface and the blank sufficient to overcome the resistance of the means offering resistance to movement of a blank, means below said path for supplying glue to said applier roll, and mechanism for shifting a blank through said passage and along said path and into said surface, said mechanism on actuation moving the blank a limited distance that is sufficient to cause the blank to come in contact with the applier roll but insufficient to cause complete removal of a blank from said holder.

4. A dispenser for elongated rigid and semi-rigid patches, comprising a rotatable and normally constantly driven glueapplier roll having a glue-applying surface about its circumference, guide means defining a path for a patch that extends normally of the rotation axis of the glue-applier roll and into the glue-applying surface of the roll, means otering resistance to movement of a patch along said path, said guide means also being constructed to guide a patch so that it impinges on said surface at an angle which is great enough to produce good contact between the patch and surface but not so great as to cause any frictional grab between the surface and the patch sufficient to overcome the resistance of the means offering resistance to movement of a patch, and means for shifting a patch through said guide means and against said surface.

5. A dispenser for elongated rigid and semirigid patches, comprising a rotatable and normally constantly driven glue-applier roll having a glue-applying surface about its circumference and guide means defining a path for a patch that extends normally of the rotation axis of the applier-roll and into the glueapplying surface of the roll, said guide means comprising a funnel member adjacent the roll for receiving one end of a patch with wall portions for guiding all sides of a patch, and separate from and positioned radially of said roll a support for supporting the opposite end of the patch, the space between the funnel member and support being unobstructed so as to enable manual manipulation of middle portions of a patch positioned with its ends in said funnel member and on said support, the wall portions of said funnel member defining a constriction that offers resistance to movement of a patch therethrough and also being constructed to guide a patch so that it impinges on said surface at an angle which is great enough to produce good contact between the patch and surface but not so great as to cause friction between the surface and a patch to overcome the resistance ofered by the constriction of the funnel member.

6. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein said applierroll has a grooved glue-applying surface that operates to confine a patch from lateral movement as the same passes against the roll on leaving said guide means.

7. A dispenser for elongated wood patches comprising a frame and an upright hollow casing mounted on the frame adapted to hold a stack of patches, a base provided the casing and means for pressing patches in same stack held in the casing against said base, guide means defining a path adjacent the base and through a side of said casing accommodating the removal of a single patch from said stack held in the casing by sliding it laterally out from under the stack and through the side of the casing, a patch on its removal from such said stack being pinched between patches disposed thereabove and said base, a rotatable normally constantly driven applicator mounted for the most part -below the path of a patch during its removal from the casing for rotation about an axis extending transverseiy of said path, said applicator havng a circumferential glue-applying surface that rotates partially in said path at a location spaced from the casing a distance less than the length of a patch, said applicator engaging the underside only of a patch moved in said path and there being unobstructed space opposite the applicacor and above such a patch, means for supplying glue to said applicator spaced below said path for a patch, and ejector mechanism constructed on actuation t0 engage an edge of a patch disposed in said casing and shift the sarne a predetermned distance along said path onto said glu&applying surface, said ejector mechanism being constructed so that the predetermined distance it moves a patch is sufficient to move the patch onto said applicator but insufficient completely t0 remove the patch from said casing.

8. A dispenser for elongated rigid and semirigid blanks of given length comprising a holder with sides for holding a stack of such blanks, guide means adjacent one and of a stack of blanks in said holder defining a path through a side of said holder and accommodating the removal of a single blank from the stack by sliding it laterally out from the stack, a rotatable applicator moumed for rotation about an axis extending transversely of said path and having a circumferential glue-applying surface chat rotates partially in said path at a distance spaced from said holder that is -less than the length of said blank, said applicator engaging one side only of a blank moved in said path and there -being tmobstructed space opposite said applicator on the other side of such a blank, means for supplyiug g1ue to said applicator, and ejector mechanism constructed on actuation to engage an edge of a blank and shift the same a predetermined distance along said path against said glue-applyiug surface, said ejector mechanism being constructed so that the predctermned distance it moves a blank is sufficient to move the blank onto said applicator but insuficent completely to remove a blank from said holder.

Refcrences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 537,903 Reinhardt Apr. 23, 1895 1,025,926 Runy-an May 7, 1912 2,442,335 Bauer June 1, 1948

Images