Patent GB-243472-A (GB)
Title: Improvement in machines for making baskets
IPC: B27M3/36
Filed: 1924-09-10
Abstract: 243,472. Dehn, F. B., (Saranac Automatic Machine Corporation). Sept. 10, 1924. Machines using continuous wire.-Relates to a machine for making open-ended bushel or like baskets of frustro-conical shape from staves reinforced by hoops. Upon a base 1, Figs. 3 and 9, is mounted a turntable 2 rotatable about an axis 3 and provided with equidistant vertical members 4 upon each of which a tapered basket form is rotatably mounted. Each form carries horizontally disposed rings 6, 7, and 8, and has two rows of stave holders or clips 9 under which staves are adapted to be inserted in overlapped relation. In operation, inner hoops 16, 17, Fig. 11, are applied by hand to the rings 6, 8, of a form whilst it is in a position remote from the stapling means, staves 15 are placed in position over them, and strips for the external hoops 18, 19, 20 are fed on to the staves. The forms, to which are secured ratchet wheels 14, are adapted to be rotated intermittently, as described later, and are also carried by the intermittent rotation of the turntable towards the stapling mechanism. Three staplers 22, 23, 24, of ordinary construction mounted on a member 25, are employed to effect the connection of the hoops and staves, the staples being clinched against the rings 6, 7, 8 of the forms. The staplers are operated by an arm 30 mounted on a reciprocating bar 27 mounted in guides in the bracket 26 and operated from a shaft 32. To enable the forms to be rotated in relation to the action of the stapling mechanism, a spring-controlled ratchet dog 35 actuated in connection therewith is arranged to rota,te intermittently the ratchet wheel 14 of the form which has been brought in.to its field of operation. Rotation of the turntable is derived from a vertical shaft 41 carrying a fixed arm 42 having at its outer end a roll 43 engaging a series of straight lateral grooves 44, Fig. 5, in a member 45 secured to the underside of the turntable, the top of the arm having a segmental part 46 adapted to engage notches 47 in the periphery of the part 45. With the segment 46 rotating in one of the notches 47 the turntable will remain at rest in the position shown in Fig. 5, but on the roll 43 entering the next groove 44 motion will again occur, the result being that the turntable does not move whilst a form is being rotated in front of the stapling mechanism, but on the completion of a basket, shaft 41 starts to rotate and shaft 32 stops, discontinuing the stapling operation for a sufficient time to permit the next form with its assembled basket to arrive in position. The machine is driven from a horizontal shaft 48 having a bevel pinion 50 engaged by a gear 51 loose on the shaft 32, the arrangement being such that power can be taken to operate either the shaft 41 or the stapling mechanism. To actuate the former, a loose pinion 52 is provided, fast to the clutch member 53, gears 54, 55, and 56 effecting the transmission, a second clutch member 58 fast to an eccentric 59 being adapted to actuate the reciprocating bar 27 of the stapling means. The gear 51 has upper and lower slots and the two clutch members have movable clutch pins whereby in known fashion the gear can be locked to either cluch member by the operation of a vertical rock shaft 64, Fig. 9. To render the operation of the rock-shaft automatic however, the upper end has a wheel 70 having a single tooth 71, Fig. 5, adapted to be engaged by a hook 72 pivoted to the machine, the wheel having a connection with an arm 76 pivoted to swing horizontally, and carrying a roll 78 adapted to be engaged by a cam 79 on the underside of arm 42 just before it stops in the position shown in Fig. 5, whereby the turning of the rock-shaft sufficiently to open the turntable clutch 53 and close the other one is effected, thus causing the stapling mechanism to come into operation. When the stapling of a basket is finished, a cam 82 on a ratchet wheel mounted near the hook 72 strikes a projection 83 on the hook, releasing the wheel 70 and permitting the rock shaft to move under the influence of a spring 80, so shopping the stapling mechanism and causing the turntable to be actuated. 'Wire to form the staples is fed in timed progression from rolls 88, Fig. 10, on a vertical shaft 89 to each stapler through a tube 91, the shaft 89 being intermittently rotated by means operated from the eccentric 33. The strips to form the external hoops are fed between the staplers and the sides of the basket through guides 99 on a bar 100 supported by a beam 97 carried by the axis 3. The feeding of these strips becomes automatic after the first staples have been driven. The beam 97 carries brake shoes 98 adapted to bear upon the top plate 10 of the basket form opposite the stapling mechanism, in order that the form shall be stopped in proper position to receive the staples. After stapling, the form moves forward to a delivering position at which the finished basket is removed after being given a twist to disengage the staves from the clips.