Patent GB-841048-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for severing strip material into discrete elements
IPC: G03D15/04
Filed: 1956-09-24
Abstract: 841,048. Cutting apparatus. EASTMAN KODAK CO. Sept. 24, 1956 [Sept. 28, 1955], No. 29115/56. Class 31 (1). [Also in Groups XVI and XXIV] Apparatus for severing strip material into discrete elements comprises an intermittently operable feeding means for feeding the strip material into a severing station, movablymounted members for edge guiding the strip material during its movement into the severing station, a severing means which is operable by or in timed relation to a drive means for effecting the intermittent movement of the strip material, the severing means being adapted to be actuated to perform a severing operation when the strip material is stationary, and means movable with the severing means for moving the edge-guiding members to a non- engaging position with respect to the strip material prior to contact of the severing means with the strip material and for retaining them in the non-engaging position during the actual severing operation. Preferably, the apparatus is intended for severing photographic strip material after exposure and development, the strip material or film F, Fig. 11, being provided with transverse apertures 10 and with notches 13, 14, 15 to indicate respectively the start of exposures, a reject frame and the last frame. The film is fed from a reel 20, Fig. 1, to a severing station 30 by means of a continuouslyrotatable sprocket 22 and an intermittentlyrotatable sprocket 28 between which a loop 26 is formed. The severing station comprises an aperture 32 in a plate 33, Fig. 5, on which are mounted fixed guide members 34, 35 and movable guide members 36, 37. The guide members 34, 35 are arranged ahead of the severing station and provided with slots 38, 39 which engage the edges of the strip while the guide members 36, 37 are arranged at opposite sides of the aperture 32 and provided with slots 40, 41, Fig. 3, which engage the edges of the strip as it is moved into position with respect to the aperture 32. A vertically-slidable magazine 42 is arranged below the aperture 32 for receiving the discrete elements and a magazine 43 is arranged beyond the aperture 32 for receiving the leader and trailer portions of the strip as well as the reject frames. The magazine 42 has arranged therewithin a receiving member 49 having a handle portion 56, Fig. 7, engaged by releasable pivoted latch members 50, 51 and comprising an elongated member 54 having a cross-section corresponding to the apertures 10 in the strip F. The sprocket 22 is driven from a shaft 61 driven by an electric motor 60 and the sprocket 28 is driven through Geneva mechanism in a housing 71 from a gear 64 on the shaft 61. The severing means 82 is reciprocated by means of a bearing 81 mounted eccentrically on a shaft 80 which is driven from the shaft 61 through gearing and a clutch 78 which is engaged when a solenoid 121, Fig. 12, is energized. The severing means comprises a block 85 supported by a head 93 and having a downwardly-extending portion 86 provided with two cutting edges 87, 88, Fig. 1, which co-operate with the sides of the aperture 32 to sever the strip. The block 85 is maintained in engagement with the bearing 81 by means of a spring 95. The edge guides 36, 37 are moved into a non-engaging position with respect to the severing means against the action of springs 105 by means of cam plates 96 mounted on each side of the portion 86 engaging rollers 98, 99 on the edge guides. The strip is located and positioned by means of a vertically-slidable plunger 107, Fig. 1, mounted in the block 85 for movement with the severing means 82 and provided with a pin 108 for engaging the aperture 10 in the element following the element to be severed. Two pairs of feelers 145 to 148 are located between the plunger 107 and the severing station 30, one pair of feelers being associated with each side of the strip. Feelers 145, 146 are pivotally mounted on a common pivot 149 and feelers 147, 148 on a common pivot 150, Fig. 4. Each of the feelers is provided with a portion 152 which trips its respective switch 153, 154, 155, 156 whenever the ends 157 of the feelers enter a notch. Mounted on the rear of the sprocket 28 and rotatable therewith is a plate 160, Fig. 3, in which a number of pins 161 corresponding to the number of teeth on the sprocket are slidably mounted and radially aligned with the sprocket teeth. Each of the pins is provided with two annular grooves 162, 163 for engaging a spring- biased ball 164 which is thereby retained in the plate 160. Adjacent each pin is an end 169 of a pivotally-mounted lever 165 the other end of which is pivotally connected to the spring- biased armature 172 of a solenoid 173. Upon energization of the solenoid, lever 165 is rocked counter-clockwise whereby the end 169 moves the pin 161 aligned therewith axially into a position in which the ball 164 engages groove 163. The end of the pin behind the plate 160 then extends into a position to actuate one of two switches for controlling the actuation of clutch 78 with respect to the first element of the strip. Upon de-energization of the solenoid 173, armature 172 is returned to its normal position by spring 174 and at a predetermined point beyond the switches, any of the pins 161 moved to an extended position are cammed back, by means of a member positioned in the path of the pin, to their normal position in which ball 164 engages groove 162. Operation.-The strip material on reel 20 is threaded round the sprockets 22, 28 and associated rollers into the severing station 30 with the leader extending into magazine 43. A hand wheel provided on shaft 61 is then turned and the strip material advanced intermitently until notch 13 is in the correct position. A position switch 178 and a line switch 179, Fig. 12, are then closed and if magazine 42 is properly positioned with respect to the severing station 30, switch 180 will be closed and motor 60 energized. With the energization of the motor, sprocket 22 is driven continuously and sprocket 28 intermittently. When the frame having notch 13 in its edge is stationary ahead of the severing station 30, end 157 of feeler 145 drops into notch 13 whereby switch 153 is closed. At the same time, cam 185 on shaft 61 maintains switch 186 closed and solenoid 173 is energized. Solenoid 173 actuates the pin 161 aligned therewith into an extended position which will then actuate switch 187 or 188 according to the position of switch 178. As the strip material is moved to advance another length, end 157 is moved out of notch 13 and switch 153 is permitted to open. As plate 160 rotates with sprocket 28 and approaches the end of its movement for the succeeding frame, the extended pin closes switch 187 to complete a circuit energizing solenoid 121. At this instant, the frame bearing notch 13 is in severing station 30. Solenoid 121 causes the clutch 78 to be engaged. This causes the head 85 to be moved downwards towards the strip material. During the time required for the clutch to be engaged and the block 85 to move downwards the element bearing notch 13 has been moved into reject magazine 43. Before cutting edges 87, 88 contact the strip material, cam plates 96 engage rollers 98, 99 to move guides 36, 37 outwardly into a position in which portion 86 is free to move into aperture 32 in plate 33. The first element to be severed is cut by both edges 87, 88 the severed element being moved through aperture 32 into magazine 42 and on to the end 55 of elongated member 54. The leader strip is deposited into magazine 43. As block 85 is returned by spring 95, guides 36, 37 are moved inwardly by springs 105 into their normal position for guiding the strip material into severing station 30. Solenoid 121 is maintained energized and clutch 78 remains engaged. As a result, as guides 36, 37 assume their normal position, the succeeding length to be severed is immediately moved into position. As long as the sensing feelers do not detect a notch in the edge of the strip material, the strip material is continually severed into discrete elements and deposited into magazine 42. A cam surface 190, Fig. 12, arranged in the path of pins 161 serves to move the extended pin 161 into its normal position, i.e. wherein ball 164 engages groove 162. Whenever a reject notch 14 is sensed by feeler 146 at the time the strip material is stationary, switch 154 is closed. While the film strip is stationary with the notch 14 in the sensing station, the preceding element is severed. During the latter portion of this stationary interval cam 185 opens switch 186 and, upon movement of the film strip, switch 154 is also opened. Solenoid 121 is de-energized for an interval sufficient to disengage the clutch 78. This disengagement of the clutch occurs while the element containing notch 14 is moving into the severing station and no severing action takes place while this element is in the severing station. After the time interval has elapsed, solenoid 121 is reenergized and clutch re-engaged. During the time taken for the clutch to become engaged and move the block 85 towards the film strip, the element bearing notch 14 has moved into reject magazine 43. Block 85 is, therefore, moved into engagement with the strip material and edges 87, 88 sever the strip to separate the rejected element. The cycle then continues with intermittent severing of the strip material until another reject notch is sensed by feeler 146. When two notches 15 are moved into position ahead of severing station 30, both feelers 145, 146 move into the notches whereby switches 153, 154 and 186 are closed and the entire circuit reverts to its original condition. However, motor 60 is still energized and trailer strip is fed intermittently by sprocket 28 into magazine 43 without severing. Removal of the severed elements is accomplished by pulling magazine 42 outwardly after opening switch 179 and then releasing latch members 50, 51 which permit withdrawal of member 49 by means of