US3768135A

US3768135A - Assembly apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3768135A
Application number: US00217336A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Maguire
Original assignee: Gillette Co LLC
Current assignee: Gillette Co LLC
Priority date: 1972-01-12
Filing date: 1972-01-12
Publication date: 1973-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-30
Also published as: CA981001A

Abstract

Apparatus for loading an elongated blade strip into components of a band type razor includes a winding spindle adapted to have one end of the blade strip attached to it, a resilient restraint adapted to engage the other end of the blade strip, a support member for receiving in supporting relation a razor body component, a drive for rotating the winding shaft, a drive for moving the support member, and control mechanism for sequentially rotating the winding shaft to coil a portion of the blade strip, then moving the support structure to position a second portion of the blade strip in alignment with the blade support platform while tension is maintained on the blade strip by the resilient restraint, then inserting the blade coil into the razor body, and further rotating the winding shaft to draw the trailing end of the blade strip into the razor body.

Description

[ Get. 30, 1973 United States Patent 1 Maguire ASSEMBLY APPARATUS [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for loading an elongated blade strip into components of a band type razor includes a winding Inventor: Richard J. Maguire, Duxbury, Mass.

[73] Assignee: The Gillette Company, Boston,

Mass.

spindle adapted to have one end of the blade strip at- 22 Filed: Jan. 12, 1972 tached to it, a resilient restraint adapted to engage the other end of the blade strip, a support member for re- Appl. No.: 217,336

ceiving in supporting relation a razor body component, a drive for rotating the winding shaft, a drive for MmM,R WIM ZQM /3 Q 92 19 3D d m 8 2 09 0 21 0 2 9 23 "9 m l h C u r u 8 u e u S L m I. S UI .F HUN 555 [[l.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS resilient restraint, then inserting the blade coil into the razor body, and further rotating the winding shaft to 29/211 M X Maquire............................ 29/208 D draw the trailing end of the blade strip into the razor body.

2,750,659 6/1956 Sassi........... 3,500,528 3/1970 13 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Attorney-Willis M. Ertman PAIENIEnnm 30 ms 3.768435 SHEET 20F 7 m GI PATENYED 0U 30 I975 SHEET 30F 7 wOm PATENIEDucI so new:

SHEET 4 BF 7 FIG 6 mmmm 3,768,135

' SHEET 50F 7 FIG 9 ASSEMBLY APPARATUS SUMMARY OF [INVENTION as the shaving element, an elongated razor blade strip that defines a series of shaving portions along its length.

A band type of razor houses an elongated thin flexible razor blade strip, one edge of which has been formed by appropriate techniques to provide an extremely sharp' and delicate cutting edge. Each such strip thus must be handled with great care to avoid damage to the sharpened edge.'Apparatu's for assembling such a blade strip in. a razor is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,500,528 and it is an object of this invention to provide improved apparatus for loading such blade strips into razor assemblies. Such apparatus must be capable of operation at production-rates of speed and should be versatile. Thus, another and more specific object of the invention is to provide novel and improved razor assembly apparatus of the type that assembles an elongated razor blade strip with other components of the razor, which apparatus is readily adjustable so that different lengths of razor blade strip may be easily and accurately accommodated;

A more specific further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for assembling a razor of the type shown in US. Patent application Ser. No. 187,610, filed Oct. 8, 1971 and assigned to the same assignee as this application, and more particularly to provide novel and improved apparatus for assembling a razor of the type in which there is adjustable shaving geometry.

The razor assembly apparatus of the invention includes a support member that is adapted to receive in supporting relation a razor body component that defines a blade supply position in which a coiled supply of razor blade strip is to be stored, a blade strip take up position and a support platform across which the razor blade is to be trained from supply position to take up position and where a shaving length of blade is exposed for shaving. A winding shaft mounted adjacent the support member is adapted to'haveone end of the blade strip attached to it and a resilient restraint is adapted to engage the other endof the blade strip.'The apparatus includes a drive for rotating the winding. shaft to form a coil of razor blade strip thereon and a drive for moving the support member to position portions of the blade strip at the support platform and take up position. The apparatus also includes a control mechanism which in sequence rotates the winding shaft to form a coil of a first, portion of razor blade strip on the winding shaft with a second ,portion and the trailing end being resiliently restrained, then moves the support structure to train one part of the second portion of the razor blade strip in alignment with the blade support platthe razor blade strip into the take up position.

In a particular embodiment, the apparatus includes a support arm that is mounted for coordinated movement with the support member (which is a rotatable turret) between a position in blade coil supporting juxtaposition with the winding shaft to support the razor blade strip as being coiled by the winding shaft and a position remote therefrom. This support arm includes a magnet which magnetically assists in the alignment and maintenence of that coil during the winding operation. The razor includes an arbor component at the take up position and apparatus coordinated with the movement of the support turret imparts an offset to the arbor structure as a function of movement of the support member. The winding spindle drive includes a clutch mechanism and two latch structures that are adjustable relative to one another, a first latch structure which defines a starting position for the winding spindle and a second latch structure which defines an end position for the winding spindle as a function of the desired number of blade lengths to be inserted into the razor. The clutch enables the drivemechanism to overtravel while the winding shaft is latched. The drive system includes a reciprocable drive system that moves between two fixed positions and a drive ratio and direction changing mechanism. The spindle drive system operates to provide in sequence rotation of the winding shaft at a first rate of speed to provide the variable length coil of the blade strip on the spindle, rotation of the winding spindle at a lower rate of speed to draw the trailing end of the blade strip which is of fixed length into the take up position for attachment to the take up arbor, rotation in the opposite direction at the low rate of speed to unwind the coil from the winding shaft so that it fills the supply position and the winding shaft may be withdrawn therefrom, and further rotation in the same direction in the resetting operation at the initial rate of speed. In each of the four operations, the reciprocating drive travels its full length of drive from one position to the other.

The'apparatus is designed to assemble adjustable razors of the type shown in Ser. No. 187,610 and includes retractor mechanism coordinated with the operation of the blade winding and insertion mechanism that retracts the blade support platform and' its adjustment member so that a cooperating adjustment lever may be inserted. The adjustment lever is secured to the body component and includes. a cam surface that engages the cam follower member attached to the blade support platform. The retractor mechanism includes a support that defines a stop, a firstlever member that is pivotally mounted on the support and defines a guideway, and guide surfaces which aid in positioning a cover member for attachment to the body member after the length of razor blade has been inserted in the body member; a retractor member mounted for sliding movement in the guideway, a second lever member that is pivotally connected to the first lever member and includes a coupling portion for moving the retractor member in an adjustment member retracting operation; and an actuator. The actuator moves the first and second levers as a unit from a position remote from the stop surface to a second position where the first lever is engaged with the stop and the retractor member is adjacent the blade support platform. Continued movement of the actuator in the same direction then pivots the second lever relative to the first lever to cause the coupling portion to move the retractor member in the guideway of the first lever member in an adjustment member retracting operation to permit insertion of an adjustment lever into the subassembly of razor components.

It will thus been seen that the invention provides versatile apparatus which facilitates assembly of band type razors. The apparatus provides coordinated rotation of the winding spindle and movement of the support turret which enables a first portion of a thin, elongated blade strip to be initially tightly coiled; a second portion than to be positioned for insertion into a razor body component and clamped; and then the trailing end of blade strip to be drawn into and attached to the take up mechanism in a sequence of steps that may be performed automatically or each step may be manually initiated. The apparatus accommodates a retractor mechanism and its operation in the system operating sequence which is particularly useful in assembly a variable geometry type of band razor.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be seen as the following description of a particular embodiment progresses in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a razor assembled with apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of components of the razor assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of apparatus in accordance with the invention for assembling components of the razor assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a top view of portions of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side view with parts broken away of portions of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of portions of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing a portion of the apparatus in a second position;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of portions of the drive structure employed in the apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a sectional diagrammatic view taken along the line l0-l0 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a control diagram showing pneumatic components of the system; and

FIGS. 12-15 are a series of diagrams indicating steps in the assembly process.

DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENT The razor assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a body member 10 of molded plastic that defines a blade support platform 12, a blade supply chamber 14, and an aperture 16 in which is joumalled a blade take up structure 18. A blade strip 20 having a sharpened edge 22 has a lug 24 secured to its leading end and a similar lug secured to its trailing end. A slot 26 in arbor 28 of take up member 18 is of sufiicient width to receive the lug at the trailing end of the blade.

The body member 10 includes structures 30 that define two cylindrical alignment passages 32 located immediately above blade supply chamber 14; and two transverse slots 34, each having a latch surface 36. Two projections 38 overlie support platform 12 and each has a vertical front latch surface 40 and defines a rearwardly extending groove in which the rear portion of the blade strip 20 is received. A guard bar 42 is secured to the blade support platform 12 by a hinge web and depending from guard bar 42 is an adjusting lever structure 44 which includes three arms 46 which support a connecting web 48 so that two apertures 50 are defined. Stud 52 projects downwardly from the center of web 48.

The front cover member 60 has formed at its lower end an integral elongated handle portion 62. At its upper end are two spaced vertically projecting guard surfaces 64, one at either end of the recess in which guard bar 42 is received. At the base and extending rearwardly from that recess are two dowel pins (not shown) which are received in passages 32 and on each side wall are two latch surfaces 66 for engaging cooperating surfaces of body member 10. Below the irregular upper surface of the cover 60 is a transverse slot 70 (which receives camming member 72) and a projecting boss 74 which has a series of notches 76 which cooperate with a rib 78 in the rear of handle 80 for latching the camming lever 72 in a particular position. The camming lever includes a slot 82 which engages post 84 and a camming aperture 86 in which pin or stud 52 is received.

The rear cover member 90 includes a planar rear surface 92 from which project studs 94 which enter the rear portions of passages 32 in body member 10 and hook members 96 which engage latch surfaces 36 of slots 34 to secure the lower end of the rear cover 90 firmly to the razor body 10. Cap portion 98 overlies the blade support platform 12 and includes recesses that engage projections 38. The forward facing surfaces 100 at either end of cap portion 98 mate with rearwardly facing surfaces of projections 64 of the front cover 60 to provide an enclosure at either end of the blade support platform 12 that overlies the end of the platform about which the blade 20 is bent sharply so that the entire width of the blade is enclosed at those points.

The take up arbor structure 18 includes a shaft portion which is joumalled in port 16 of body 10 and connects the cylindrical arbor 28 to handle portion 114. At the forward end of the structure is a guide portion 116 concentric with shaft portion and an eccentric shaft portion 118 on which is mounted an indicator dial 120. A recessl22 in the front wall of arbor cylinder 28, in initial assembly, receives a pin that extends rearwardly from indicator disc 120. The reinforcing tab 24 secured to the trailing end of the blade strip is disposed in slot 26 with the blade tab 24 being detained by a projection in that slot 26.

Apparatus for assembling these razor components is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. That apparatus includes support plates and 152 which are maintained in spaced relation by posts 154. Mounted on the upper support plate 150 is a blade guide structure 156, a pivoted blade guide arm 158, a turret structure similar to the turret apparatus disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,500,528, a pivoted blade coil support arm 162, a positioning and clamp structure 164, and a control mechanism 166 having an operating handle 168. Drive and control mechanisms are supported from the lower plate 152 and from the under side of upper plate 150.

The turret 160 has a body 170 that is vertically m ovable as controlled by

cylinders

172, 174 each having

end surface members

176, 178 that engage the lower surface 180 of the turret body. The upper platform surface 182 of turret 160 receives body component 10 and guide pins 184, 186 project upwardly on either side thereof. That turret 160 is also driven in rotation by a series of gears that includes gear 190 that is driven by gear 192 mounted on shaft 194 which in turn is driven via

gears

196, 198 by motor 200 as diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 9.

Two shafts extend through the turret 160, a winding or supply station shaft 202 and an arbor or take up station shaft 290. Supply shaft 202 has a slot 204 at its upper end which receives the tab 24 on the leading end of a length of blade and a driven gear 206 below surface 180 which is connected by timing belt 208 to drive gear 210. That gear in turn is coupled by hysteresis clutch 212 which in turn is driven by gear 214 that is driven by belt 216 and timing belt gear 218. Gear 218 is mounted on shaft 220 which has gear 222 secured at its lower end. Shaft 220 is shiftable by the actuator diagrammatically indicated at 224 to move gear 222 between meshing engagement with high speed gear 226 and meshing engagement with low speed gear 228. Mounted on the same shaft as gear 226 is gear 230 and mounted on the same shaft as gear 228 is gear 232 which meshes with gear 230. Gear 228 is driven by gear 234 which is mounted on the same shaft as pinion 236, and pinion 236 in turn is driven by rack gear 238 operated by driving cylinder 240.

Shaft orientation control apparatus is also coupled to shaft 202 and includes gear 250 which meshes with gear 252; gear 254 on the same shaft as gear 252 which meshes with gear 256; shaft 258 on which gear 256 is mounted and which extends downwardly from plate 152; a radially extending latch lever 260 fixed for rotation with shaft 258; a second latch lever 262 angularly adjustable about the axis of shaft 258; arm 268 which carries a control cylinder 264 that cooperates with latch lever 260 and functions as an unwind stop 266; and arm 278 which carries two cylinders, an orient stop 270 that cooperates with latch lever 260 and is operated by cylinder 272 and a strip stop 274 that cooperates with latch lever 262 and is operated by cylinder 276. A diagrammatic showing of the drive and orient mechanism for shaft 202 is shown in FIG. 9; and additional details of the orient mechanism and latch levers are shownin FIG. 10. Each. latch lever carries a latch member 280 that is pivotally secured to its lever by pin 282 and biased by'spring 284 to a latch position. Each member includes a recess 286 which receives and latches the cooperating stop member and a camming surface 288.

Arbor shaft 290 extends down through the turret 160 and is biased in the counterclockwise direction by a spring (not shown). An arm 294 is driven by arbor orient member 296 and secured in a 60 rotated position by latch 298.

As indicated in FIG. 4, arm 158 is mounted on shaft 300 which extends through bushing 302 in plate 150 and is biased for rotation by spring 304. A spring 306 on shaft 300 urges arm assembly upward and a domed surface 308 is provided which may be manually engaged for depressing arm structure 158. At the end of about the axis of shaft 194. The other end 328 of lever 326 carries a follower 330 that engages the surface of cam 322 that is mounted on the drive shaft 334 of air motor 200. An arm 336 (FIG. 4), carried by shaft 334, actuates an interlock switch 338 which signals the position of arm 162.

A semicircular recess or opening 340 is formed in the end of arm 162 which recess receives shaft 202 and is surrounded by a 1700 gauss samarium cobalt magnet 342 that has its upper surface flush with the surface 344 at the outer end of the arm 162. Surface 344 provides a support surface for the strip 20 as it is wound with the lug 24 secured in slot 204 of winding spindle 202, when in the position shown in FIG. 3, the magnetic force assistingthe retention of the blade strip 20 in coil form on spindle 202.

Clamp structure 164 is operated by cylinder 350 and includes fingers 352 which form a depending extension of block 354 mounted for sliding movement on way plate 356 which in turn is secured by pivot shaft 358 on support structure 360. Spring 362 biases block 354 forwardly in the guiding way plate structure 356. Projecting ears 362 on either side of plate 356 receive pin 364 to which is coupled lever member 366 which has a depending foot 368 at its forward end 368 that engages pin 370 in recess 372 in block 354. Lever member 366 is in turn pivotally connected (by pin 372) to coupling arm 374 which is driven by piston rod 376 of cylinder 350. Block 354 is secured in way 356 by plates 378, 380, plate 380 having projecting guide surfaces 382.

Thus, with the piston rod 376 retracted, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the retracting structure is raised about pivot 358. As piston rod 376 is extended, the retractor structure is pivoted down to a horizontal position indicated in FIG. 6 until the lower surface of plate 356 engages surface 384. Upon further extension of piston rod 376, lever 366 is rocked about pivot shaft 364 to force retractor fingers 352 rearwardly compressing spring 362 and distorting the blade support platform 12 as shown in FIG.- 5, effectively withdrawing cam follower stud 52 so that an adjusting lever 72 may be inserted through slot and engaged on post 84, as indicated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. Upon retraction of piston rod 376, fingers 352 allow platform to flex forwardly so that pin 52 enters camrning aperture 86.

Other drive or adjustment mechanisms include

cylinders

400, 402 which operate

form arm structures

404, 406; cylinder 410 which operates stop 296 to rotate arbor shaft lever 294 as the turret is rotated by motor 200, rotating shaft 290, 60; and cylinder 146 which reciprocates operator 418 to pivot lever 420 and operate clamps 422 to clamp the blade strip 20 against the blade support platform 12 as shown in FIG. 7.

The control in this embodiment is a manually operated mechanism having handle 168 that rotates cam shaft 448 on which are mounted a series of cams 450, each of which has an associated control switch 452. Additional details of the control may be seen with reference to FIG. 11. As shown there, a fluid pressure source 454 is connected to valves 452-1 11, which valves are operated by cams 450-1 1 1 in the sequence as indicated. Each operation of lever 168 rotates

cam shaft

448, 60. Thus, for example, the first operation of lever 168 rotates cam 450-1, 60 to operate valve 452-1 to apply fluid pressure to orient stop cylinder 272 to extend stop 270. Pressure is also applied over line 456 to valve 452-6 to operate the rotary motor 200 to drive turret 170 in the counterclockwise direction to the position shown in FIG. 3. Upon the next operation of lever 168, cam shaft 448 is rotated another 60 releasing switch 452-1 and removing pressure from stop cylinder 272 and from valve 452-6.

In operation, with cam shaft 448 in the position (position 1) shown in FIG. l1, a razor unit has just been assembled and the turret platform surface 182 is in its lowered position ready for another assembly sequence. All the valves 452 are closed except valve 452-3 so that pressure continues to be applied to rack cylinder 240 to extend rack gear 238; and valve 452-11 so that the arbor stop control 296 is raised to the position shown in FIG. 4 to release arm 2514 from latch 296 permitting it to be reset by its biasing spring. The razor back and arbor 18 are loaded on platform 182 at this time, as shown in FIG. 12. Upon operation of lever 168, cam shaft 448 is rotated 60 (to position 2). As a result, valve 452-1 applies pressure to cylinder 272 to extend the orient stop 270 and over line 456 to valve 452-6 which, as controlled by cam 450-6 applies pressure to motor 200 to rotate the

turret

160, 360 to the position shown in FIG. 3. Stop 296 engages arm 294 to rotate

arbor

28, 50 where it is latched by structure 298. This operation also rotates cam 332-and through the linkage moves arm 162 so that the upper end of winding spindle 202 is in recess 340. Rack cylinder 240 also has pressure applied to it to retract it and reset the winding spindle 202 as controlled by the orient stop 270 and its engagement with latch arm 260. When stop 270 latches spindle 202, the hysteresis clutch 212 permits slippage so that the rack gear cylinder 240 is fully reset. In this position, as shown in FIG. 12, a blade strip 20 is loaded into support channel 156, passed through slot 312 and engaged in the slot 204 in the winding spindle 202.

Lever 168 is again operated to rotate shaft 448, 60 (to position 3). As a result of that operation, cam 450-1 operates valve 452-1 to return orient stop 270, releasing the latch arm 260 (and also removing air pressure from rotary motor 200); and cam 450-1 operates valve 452-4 to extend wind stop 274 and applies pressure to rack cylinder 240 to extend the rack gear 238 driving spindle 202 to coil blade 20 on magnet 342 carried by arm 162 and draw trailing tab 24 into slot 312 of arm 158 (FIG. 13) at which point wind stop 274 engages adjustable latch lever 262 to latch shaft 202. Thus a predetermined length of blade 20 has been wound on spindle 202, the length being a function of the angular position of latch arm 262. Rack gear 238 continues to be driven to its full extend, that point being signalled by actuator 242 operating interlock switch 244.

Lever 168 is then again operated to rotate shaft 448, 60 (to position 4), resupplying air over line 456 through valve 452-6 to rotate motor 200, retracting arm 162 and rotating turret 160 so that the strip is trained from spindle 202 about

pins

186 and 188 generally as shown in FIG. 14 with the strip aligned with the slot 26 in take up arbor 28. The completion of the turret rotation is indicated by actuation of switch 338 and as a result air is applied through valve 452-7 to operate cylinder 172 and raise the platform nine-sixteenths inch so that the coil of strip on spindle 202 is inserted into supply position 14 with a blade length disposed on the supply blade support platform 12 and another portion disposed in the slot 118 in arbor 28 as indicated in FIG. 14. In this position, samarius cobalt magnet 430 acts to hold the blade coil in the supply chamber 14.

Cam 450-9 also operates valve 452-9 to apply pressure to cylinder 224 to shift the gear train from high speed to low speed (gear 222 is shifted from engagement with gear 226 to engagement with gear 228)-with a resulting reversal of direction of spindle drive by cylinder 240. At this point handle 308 is depressed to release the trailing lug 24.

Operation of lever 168 rotates shaft 458 another 60 (to position 5) where cam 450-2 operates valve 452-2 to apply pressure to

cylinders

400 and 402 to move the

form arms

404 and 406 in and operates cylinder 350 to cause fingers 352 to retract platform 12 and pin 52. Cylinder 416 is operated by valve 452-10 to clamp the strip and retract the guide pins 186 and 188. The rack cylinder 240 is retracted and due to the change in gearing, spindle 202 is driven at a low rate of speed in a slack take up operation to pull the trailing lug 24 into the slot 26 in the arbor 28 as shown in FIG. 15. The dial 120 is placed on the arbor 28, the cover 60 is latched in place, as shown in FIG. 5, guide surfaces 382 being utilized to aid in the positioning of cover 60 and then the adjusting lever 72 inserted through the slot in cover 60.

Lever 168 is then again operated to rotate shaft 448 60 to position 6. In this position cam 450-2 releases valve 452-2 and thus releases the guard retract cylinder 350 and

strip form cylinders

400, 402; cam 450-10 releases valve 452-10 but pressure continues to be applied to cylinder 416 via interlock valve 244; unwind stop 264 is moved up under the control of cam 450-5 to limit the unwind; the rack gear 238 is driven forward to rotate the spindle 202 at low speed in strip unwind direction so that the strip 20 fills the supply cavity 14; and, when the unwind is complete, as signalled by interlock valve 244, pressure is released from strip clamp cylinder 416 and is applied over line 458 to valve 452-8 to operate piston rod 178 to raise the turret 160 so that the razor subassembly is free of the winding spindle 202. In this condition the razor subassembly can be removed from the platform and the back attached to the subassembly to provide a completed razor. After the back 90 is attached, take up mechanism 18 is rotated 50, advancing the blade strip 20 in a blade adjustment operation.

The next indexing of handle 168 rotates

cam shaft

448, 60 to position 1. Valve 452-5 is released, withdrawing the unwind stop 274 from its latch 262; valves 452-7 and 452-8 are released, allowing the turret to drop; valve 452-9 shifts gear 222 to high speed position; and valve 452-11 raises the arbor stop control 296, releasing the latch arbor shaft 290. Thus the system is reset for another assembly sequence. It will be noted that the length of the blade strip to be loaded into the razor may be varied merely by adjusting the angular position of latch arm 262. The system facilitates loading of band type razors and particularly, although not limited to such razors, the adjustable type disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 187,610, filed Oct. 8, 1971 and assigned to the same assignee as this application.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art and therefore it is not intended that the invention be limited to the disclosed embodiment or to details thereof and departures may be made therefrom within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Razor assembly apparatus comprising a support member adapted to receive in supporting relation a razor body component that defines a blade supply position in which a coiled supply of razor blade strip is to be stored, a blade strip take up position and a support platform across which said razor blade is to be trained from said supply position to said take up position and where a shaving length of blade is exposed for shaving, a winding shaft mounted adjacent said support member and adapted to have one end of said blade strip attached to it, a resilient restraint adapted to engage the other end of the blade strip, strip clamp apparatus, a drive for rotating said winding shaft to form a coil of a first portion of said razor blade strip thereon, a drive for moving the support member to position portions of said blade strip at said support platform and said take up position, control mechanism for sequentially rotating said winding shaft to'form a'coil of a first portion of razor blade strip on said winding shaft with another portion of said strip in engagement with said resilient restraint, then moving said support structure to position a second portion of said razor blade strip in alignment with said blade support platform structure of the razor body component and a third portion in alignment with said take up position, then moving the configured blade strip and the razor blade body component relatively towards one another to position the blade coil into said supply position, said second portion on said blade support platform and said third portion in said take up position while maintaining said strip in engagement with said resilient restraint, operating said strip clamp apparatus to clamp said strip in said body component, and then further rotating said winding shaft to draw the' trailing end of said razor blade strip into said take up position. v

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further including a support arm mounted for coordinated movement with said support member between a position in blade coil supporting juxtaposition with said winding shaft to support said razorblade strip as it is being coiled by said winding shaft and a position remote therefrom. E r

I 3. Razor assembly apparatus comprising a support member, an aperture in said support member, a first magnet surrounding said aperture adapted to receive in supporting relation a razor body component that defines a blade supply position in which a coiled supply of razor blade strip is to'be stored, a blade strip take up position and a support platform across which said razor blade is to be trained from said supply position to said take up position and where a shaving length of blade is exposed for shaving, a winding shaft mounted adjacent said support member and adapted to extend through said aperture to have one end of said blade strip attached to it, a resilient restraint adapted to engage the other end of the blade strip, strip clamp apparatus, a support arm having an open sided recess for receiving said winding shaft and a support surface extending radially from said recess, a second magnet in said support of a first portion of said razor blade strip thereon, a drive for moving the support member to position portions of said blade strip at said support platform and ,said take up position, control mechanism for sequentially moving said support arm to said first position, operating said first drive to rotate said winding shaft to form a coil of a first portion of razor blade strip on said winding shaft with another portion of said strip in engagement with said resilient restraint, then moving said support arm to said second position and moving said support structure to position a second portion of said razor blade strip in alignment with said blade support platform structure of the razor body component and a third portion in alignment with said take up position, then moving the configured blade strip and the razor blade body component relatively towards one another to position the blade coil into said supply position, said second portion on'said blade support platform and said third portion in said take up position while maintaining said strip in engagement with said resilient restraint, operating said strip clamp apparatus to clamp said strip in said body component, and then further operating said first drive to rotate said winding shaft to draw the trailing end of said razor blade strip into said take up position.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said razor further includes an arbor component at said take up position and said apparatus includes means coordinated with the movement of the support member to impart an offset to the arbor structure as a function of movement of said support member by said control mechanism.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said winding shaft drive includes a clutch mechanism and two latch structures that are adjustable relative to one another, a first latch structure defining a starting position for the winding shaft and a second latch structure defining a second position for the winding spindle as a function of the desired number of blade lengths to be inserted into said razor, said clutch enabling over-travel of said drive while said winding shaft is latched.

--6. The apparatusas claimed in claim 1 wherein said shaft drive includes a drive member movable between two predetermined positions, and a drive ratio and direction changing mechanism, and said control mechanism operates said shaft drive to provide in sequence rotation of the winding shaft at a first rate of speed to provide a coil of said blade strip on said winding shaft, rotation of said winding shaft a predetermined amount at a lower rate of speed to draw the trailing end of said blade strip into said take up position, rotation of said winding shaft in the opposite direction at the low rate of speed to unwind the coil so that said winding shaft may be withdrawn therefrom, and further rotation in said opposite direction at the initial rate of speed in a resetting operation, in each operation, said drive member being moved its full length of travel between said two predetermined positions.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said winding shaft drive includes a clutch mechanism and two latch structures that are adjustable relative to one another, a first latch structure defining a starting position for the winding shaft and a second latch structure defining a second position for the winding spindle as a function of the desired number of blade lengths to be inserted into said razor, said clutch enabling over-travel of said drive while said winding shaft is latched.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 and further including a support arm mounted for coordinated movement with said support member between a position in blade coil supporting juxtaposition with said winding shaft to support said razor blade strip as it is being coiled by said winding shaft and a position remote therefrom, said support arm including a magnet means for magnetically assisting the alignment and maintenance of said coil during said winding operation.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said razor further includes an arbor component at said take up position and said apparatus includes means coordinated with the movement of the support member to impart and offset to the arbor structure as a function of movement of said support member by said control mechanism.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further including retractor mechanism coordinated with the operation of said control mechanism for retracting said blade support platform.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said retractor mechanism includes a support that defines a stop, a first lever member that is pivotally mounted on said support and defines a guideway, a retractor member mounted for sliding movement in said guideway, a second lever member that is pivotally connected to said first lever member and includes a coupling portion for moving said retractor member in an adjustment member retracting operation, and an actuator operable to move said first and second levers as a unit from a position remote from said stop surface through a second position where said first lever is engaged with said stop surface and said retractor member is adjacent the blade support platfonn to a third position where said second lever is pivoted relative to said first lever to cause said coupling portion to move said retractor member in said guideway in a platform retracting operation to permit insertion of an adjustment lever into the subassembly of razor components.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said winding shaft drive includes a clutch mechanism, two latch structures that are adjustable relative to one another, a first latch structure defining a starting position for the winding shaft and a second latch structure defining a second position for the winding spindle as a function of the desired number of blade lengths to be inserted into the razor, said clutch enabling overtravel of said drive while said winding shaft is latched, a reciprocable drive member movable between two predetermined positions, and a drive ratio and direction changing mechanism, and said control mechanism operates said shaft drive to provide in sequence rotation of the winding shaft at a first rate of speed to provide a coil of said blade strip on said winding shaft, rotation of said winding shaft a predetermined amount at a lower rate of speed to draw the trailing end of said blade strip into said take up position, rotation of said winding shaft in the opposite direction at the low rate of speed to unwind the coil so that said winding shaft may be withdrawn therefrom, and further rotation in said opposite direction at the initial rate of speed in a resetting operation, in each operation said drive member being moved its full length of travel between said two predetermined positions.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said support member is a rotatable turret and further including a support arm mounted for coordinated movement with said rotatable turret between a position in blade coil supporting juxtaposition with said winding shaft to support said razor blade strip as it is being coiled by said winding shaft and a position remote therefrom, said support arm including a magnet means for magnetically assisting the alignment and maintenance of said coil during said winding operation.

Claims

1. Razor assembly apparatus comprising a support member adapted to receive in supporting relation a razor body component that defines a blade supply position in which a coiled supply of razor blade strip is to be stored, a blade strip take up position and a support platform across which said razor blade is to be trained from said supply position to said take up position and where a shaving length of blade is exposed for shaving, a winding shaft mounted adjacent said support member and adapted to have one end of said blade strip attached to it, a resilient restraint adapted to engage the other end of the blade strip, strip clamp apparatus, a drive for rotating said winding shaft to form a coil of a first portion of said razor blade strip thereon, a drive for moving the support member to position portions of said blade strip at said support platform and said take up position, control mechanism for sequentially rotating said winding shaft to form a coil of a first portion of razor blade strip on said winding shaft with another portion of said strip in engagement with said resilient restraint, then moving said support structure to position a second portion of said razor blade strip in alignment with said blade support platform structure of the razor body component and a third portion in alignment with said take up position, then moving the configured blade strip and the razor blade body component relatively towards one another to position the blade coil into said supply position, said second portion on said blade support platform and said third portion in said take up position while maintaining said strip in engagement with said resilient restraint, operating said strip clamp apparatus to clamp said strip in said body component, and then further rotating said winding shaft to draw the trailing end of said razor blade strip into said take up position.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further including a support arm mounted for coordinated movement with said support member between a position in blade coil supporting juxtaposition with said winding shaft to support said razor blade strip as it is being coiled by said winding shaft and a position remote therefrom.

3. Razor assembly apparatus comprising a support member, an aperture in said support member, a first magnet surrounding said aperture adapted to receive in supporting relation a razor body component that defines a blade supply position in which a coiled supply of razor blade strip is to be stored, a blade strip take up position and a support platform across which said razor blade is to be trained from said supply position to said take up position and where a shaving length of blade is exPosed for shaving, a winding shaft mounted adjacent said support member and adapted to extend through said aperture to have one end of said blade strip attached to it, a resilient restraint adapted to engage the other end of the blade strip, strip clamp apparatus, a support arm having an open sided recess for receiving said winding shaft and a support surface extending radially from said recess, a second magnet in said support surface, said support arm being mounted for coordinated movement with said support member between a first position in which said recess is in blade coil supporting juxtaposition with said winding shaft to support said razor blade strip as it is being coiled by said winding shaft and a second position remote therefrom, a first drive for rotating said winding shaft to form a coil of a first portion of said razor blade strip thereon, a drive for moving the support member to position portions of said blade strip at said support platform and said take up position, control mechanism for sequentially moving said support arm to said first position, operating said first drive to rotate said winding shaft to form a coil of a first portion of razor blade strip on said winding shaft with another portion of said strip in engagement with said resilient restraint, then moving said support arm to said second position and moving said support structure to position a second portion of said razor blade strip in alignment with said blade support platform structure of the razor body component and a third portion in alignment with said take up position, then moving the configured blade strip and the razor blade body component relatively towards one another to position the blade coil into said supply position, said second portion on said blade support platform and said third portion in said take up position while maintaining said strip in engagement with said resilient restraint, operating said strip clamp apparatus to clamp said strip in said body component, and then further operating said first drive to rotate said winding shaft to draw the trailing end of said razor blade strip into said take up position.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shaft drive includes a drive member movable between two predetermined positions, and a drive ratio and direction changing mechanism, and said control mechanism operates said shaft drive to provide in sequence rotation of the winding shaft at a first rate of speed to provide a coil of said blade strip on said winding shaft, rotation of said winding shaft a predetermined amount at a lower rate of speed to draw the trailing end of said blade strip into said take up position, rotation of said winding shaft in the opposite direction at the low rate of speed to unwind the coil so that said winding shaft may be withdrawn therefrom, and further rotation in said opposite direction at the initial rate of speed in a resetting operation, in each operation, said drive member being moved its full length of travel between said two predetermined positions.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said razor further includes an arbor component at said take up position and said apparatus includes means coordinated with the movement of the support member to impart an offset to the arbor structure as a function of movement of said support member by said control mechanism.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said retractor mechanism includes a support that defines a stop, a first lever member that is pivotally mounted on said support and defines a guideway, a retractor member mounted for sliding movement in said guideway, a second lever member that is pivotally connected to said first lever member and includes a coupling portion for moving said retractor member in an adjustment member retracting operation, and an actuator operable to move said first and second levers as a unit from a position remote from said stop surface through a second position where said first lever is engaged with said stop surface and said retractor member is adjacent the blade support platform to a third position where said second lever is pivoted relative to said first lever to cause said coupling portion to move said retractor member in said guideway in a platform retracting operation to permit insertion of an adjustment lever into the subassembly of razor components.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said winding shaft drive includes a clutch mechanism, two latch structures that are adjustable relative to one another, a first latch structure defining a starting position for the winding shaft and a second latch structure defining a second position for the winding spindle as a function of the desired number of blade lengths to be inserted into said razor, said clutch enabling overtravel of said drive while said winding shaft is latched, a reciprocable drive member movable between two predetermined positions, and a drive ratio and direction changing mechanism, and said control mechanism operates said shaft drive to provide in sequence rotation of the winding shaft at a first rate of speed to provide a coil of said blade strip on said winding shaft, rotation of said winding shaft a predetermined amount at a lower rate of speed to draw the trailing end of said blade strip into said take up position, rotation of said winding shaft in the opposite direction at the low rate of speed to unwind the coil so that said winding shaft may be withdrawn therefrom, and further rotation in said opposite direction at the initial rate of speed in a resetting operation, in each operation said drive member being moved its full length of travel between said two predetermined positions.