Adjustable feed apparatus for strip material

Claim 2

Apparatus for advancing material along a course comprising: a first member reciprocable between first and second positions and carrying first material engaging means for advancing said material along said course as said first member moves from its first position into its second position, a second member reciprocable between third and fourth positions and carrying second material engaging means for advancing said material along said course when said second material engaging means is in a material engaging position and as said second member moves from said third position into said fourth position, said second material engaging means being shiftable relative to said second member into and out of said material engaging position, means for shifting said second material engaging means into and out of its material engaging position, and drive means connected to said first and second members for causing simultaneous reciprocating movement of said first and second members wherein the distance of material advancing movement of said second member exceeds the distance of material advancing movement of said first member, said first material engaging means including means permitting relative movement between said material and said first material engaging means when said second material engaging means is shifted into its material engaging position and said second member is moved from its third position into its fourth position, whereby one rate of advance of said material as determined by the distance of first member movement is effected when said second material engaging means is shifted out of its material engaging position and another rate of advance as determined by the distance of second member movement is effected when said second material engaging means is shifted into its material engaging position, said drive means including first and second drive parts rockable about parallel axes, means connecting said first drive part to said first member for imparting said reciprocating movement to said first member upon rocking of said first drive part, means connecting said second drive part to said second member for imparting said reciprocating movement to said second member upon rocking of said second drive part, the distance of movement of each first and second member being related to the respective angle through which each first and second drive part is rocked, and means including a pair of arms interconnecting said first and second drive parts, each arm rigidly connected at one end to a drive part, a connecting rod having one end portion pivotally connected to the opposite end of one of said arms and its other end portion pivotally connected to the opposite end of the other of said arms, the distance between the rocking axis of said first drive part and the connecting rod pivot axis of the arm connected to said first drive part exceeding the distance between the rocking axis of said second drive part and the connecting rod pivot axis of the arm connected to said second drive part whereby rocking of said first drive part through one angle causes rocking of said second drive part through a greater angle, thereby varying the respective distances of movement of said first and second members.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pivotally connected end portions of said connecting rod are shiftable longitudinally of the connecting rod so as to vary the spacing between opposite ends of said arms.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 and including means for rocking one of said first and second drive parts.

Claim 5

Apparatus for advancing material along a course comprising: a first member reciprocable between first and second positions and carrying first material engaging means for advancing said material along said course as said first member moves from its first position into its second position, a second member reciprocable between third and fourth positions and carrying second material engaging means for advancing said material along said course when said second material engaging means is in a material engaging position and as said second member moves from said third position into said fourth position, said second material engaging means being shiftable relative to said second member into and out of said material engaging position, means for shifting said second material engaging means into and out of its material engaging position, and drive means connected to said first and second members for causing simultaneous reciprocating movement of said first and second members wherein the distance of material advancing movement of said second member exceeds the distance of material advancing movement of said first member, said first material engaging means including means permitting relative movement between said material and said first material engaging means when said second material engaging means is shifted into its material engaging position and said second member is moved from its third position into its fourth position, whereby one rate of advance of said material as determined by the distance of first member movement is effected when said second material engaging means is shifted out of its material engaging position and another rate of advance as determined by the distance of second member movement is effected when said second material engaging means is shifted into its material engaging position, said first and second members paralleling one another and extending transversely of said course, the end portions of said first and second members being positioned on opposite sides of said course and supported by guides so as to be reciprocable within the same general plane, said drive means including first and second parallel shafts extending transversely of said course, means connecting said first shaft to said first member for imparting reciprocating movement to said first member as said first shaft is rocked about its axis, means connecting said second shaft to said second member for imparting reciprocating movement to said second member as said second shaft is rocked about its axis, the distance of movement of each first and second member being related to the respective angle through which each first and second shaft is rocked, a first arm having one end rigidly connected to said first shaft, a second arm having one end rigidly connected to said second shaft, a connecting rod having one end portion pivotally connected to the opposite end of said first arm and the other end portion pivotally connected to the opposite end of said second arm, the distance between the axis of said first shaft and the connecting rod pivotal axis of said first arm exceeding the distance between the axis of said second shaft and the connecting rod pivotal axis of the second arm whereby rocking of said first shaft through one angle causes a rocking of said second shaft through a greater angle so as to cause said second member to move a greater distance along said guides than said first member.

Claim 6

Apparatus for advancing material along a course comprising: a first member reciprocable between first and second positions and carrying first material engaging means for advancing said material along said course as said first member moves from its first position into its second position, a second member reciprocable between third and fourth positions and carrying second material engaging means for advancing said material along said course when said second material engaging means is in a material engaging position and as said second member moves from said third position into said fourth position, said second material engaging means being shiftable relative to said second member into and out of said material engaging position, means for shifting said second material engaging means into and out of its material engaging position, and drive means connected to said first and second members for causing simultaneous reciprocating movement of said first and second members wherein the distance of material advancing movement of said second member exceeds the distance of material advancing movement of said first member, said first material engaging means including means permitting relative movement between said material and said first material engaging means when said second material engaging means is shifted into its material engaging position and said second member is moved from its third position into its fourth position, whereby one rate of advance of said material as determined by the distance of first member movement is effected when said second material engaging means is shifted out of its material engaging position and another rate of advance as determined by the distance of second member movement is effected when said second material engaging means is shifted into its material engaging position, said first and second members paralleling one another and extending transversely of said course, the end portions of said first and second members being positioned on opposite sides of said course and supported by guides so as to be reciprocable within the same general plane, said drive means including first and second parallel shafts extending transversely of said course, means connecting said first shaft to said first member for imparting reciprocating movement to said first member as said first shaft is rocked about its axis, means connecting said second shaft to said second member for imparting reciprocating movement to said second member as said second shaft is rocked about its axis, the distance of movement of each first and second member being related to the respective angle through which each first and second shaft is rocked, a first arm having one end rigidly connected to said first shaft, a second arm having one end rigidly connected to said second shaft, a connecting rod having one end portion pivotally connected to the opposite end of said first arm and the other end portion pivotally connected to the opposite end of said second arm, the distance between the axis of said first shaft and the connecting rod pivotal axis of said first arm exceeding the distance between the axis of said second shaft and the connecting rod pivotal axis of the second arm whereby rocking of said first shaft through one angle causes a rocking of said second shaft through a greater angle so as to cause said second member to move a greater distance along said guides than said first member.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said material engaging means comprises fingers protruding from said first and second members adapted for seating within accommodating holes in said material, each finger being shiftably carried within a bore in a said member and biased outwardly thereof so as to normally protrude from said member, each finger having a material abutment side adapted to engage the margin of a hole in said material and to urge the material forwardly along said course as said member moves from its first into its second position and a beveled portion positioned generally oppositely of said abutment side adapted to engage the margin of said hole and cause the finger to be cammed into its receiving bore and thus disengaged from said material as said member moves from its second into its first position.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the fingers carried by said first member normally project into said course and wherein the fingers carried by said second member are mounted to a shiftable part which Is carried by said second member and which is shiftable relative to said second member so as to move the fingers mounted thereto into and out of said course, and means for shifting said part to selectively position the fingers mounted thereto into said course.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for shifting said part is carried by said second member.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 5 and means for rocking one of said first and second shafts.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first member carries one row of said fingers and second member carries another row of said fingers, said rows of fingers being parallel, the end portions of said connecting rod being shiftable longitudinally relative to the axis of said rod so as to vary the spacing between opposite ends of said first and second arms and thereby vary the rotational relationship of said first and second shafts independently of said shaft rocking means and thus cause the spacing between rows of fingers to be correspondingly varied.

Claim 12

Apparatus reciprocable advancing material along a course comprising: a first member reciprocable between first and second positions and carrying first material engaging means for advancing said material along said course as said first member moves from its first position into its second position, a second member reciprocable between third and fourth positions and carrying second material engaging means for advancing said material along said course when said second material engaging means is in a material engaging position and as said second member moves from said third position into said fourth position, said second material engaging means being shiftable relative to said second member into and out of said material engaging position, means for shifting said second material engaging means into and out of its material engaging position, and drive means connected to said first and second members for causing simultaneous reciprocating movement of said first and second members wherein the distance of material advancing movement of said second member exceeds the distance of material advancing movement of said first member, said first material engaging means including means permitting relative movement between said material and said first material engaging means when said second material engaging means is shifted into its material engaging position and said second member is moved from its third position into its fourth position, whereby one rate of advancement of said material as determined by the distance of first member movement is effected when said second material engaging means is shifted out of its material engaging position and another rate of advancement as determined by the distance of second member movement is effected when said second material engaging means is shifted into its material engaging position, said drive means including a rockable drive part, means connecting said first and second members to said drive part, said member connecting means including an arm rigidly connected at one end to said drive part, a first link pivotally connected between one of said first and second members and the opposite end of said arm, a second link pivotally connected between the other of said first and second members and said arm at a location intermediate the ends of said arm, one of said first and second links including shiftable parts, one of said shiftable parts attached to the first or second member which is connected to said one first or second link, another of said shiftable parts attached to said arm, means carried by said one first or second link for shifting its link parts to cause a variation in spacing between the arm and the connection of said one first or second link to the first or second member.

Claim 13

Apparatus reciprocable advancing material along a course comprising: a first member reciprocable between first and second positions and carrying first material engaging means for advancing said material along said course as said first member moves from its first position into its second position, a second member reciprocable between third and fourth positions and carrying second material engaging means for advancing said material along said course when said second material engaging means is in a material engaging position and as said second member moves from said third position into said fourth position, said second material engaging means being shiftable relative to said second member into and out of said material engaging position, means for shifting said second material engaging means into and out of its material engaging position, and drive means connected to said first and second members for causing simultaneous reciprocating movement of said first and second members wherein the distance of material advancing movement of said second member exceeds the distance of material advancing movement of said first member, said first material engaging means including means permitting relative movement between said material and said first material engaging means when said second material engaging means is shifted into its material engaging position and said second member is moved from its third position into its fourth position, whereby one rate of advancement of said material as determined by the distance of first member movement is effected when said second material engaging means is shifted out of its material engaging position and another rate of advancement as determined by the distance of second member movement is effected when said second material engaging means is shifted into its material engaging position, said drive means including a rockable drive part, means connecting said first and second members to said drive part, said member connecting means including an arm rigidly connected at one end to said drive part, a first link pivotally connected between one of said first and second members and the opposite end of said arm, a second link pivotally connected between the other of said first and second members and said arm at a location intermediate the ends of said arm, one of said first and second links including shiftable parts, one of said shiftable parts attached to the first or second member which is connected to said one first or second link, another of said shiftable parts attached to said arm, means carried by said one first or second link for shifting its link parts to cause a variation in spacing between the arm and the connection of said one first or second link to the first or second member.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first link is pivotally connected between said first member and the opposite end of said arm, said second link pivotally connected between said second member and said arm at a location intermediaTe the ends of said arm, said first link including shiftable parts, one of said shiftable parts attached to said first member, another of said shiftable parts attached to said arm, means carried by said first link for shifting into link parts to cause a variation in spacing between the arm and a connection of said first link to the first member.

Claim 15

Apparatus for advancing material along a course comprising: a first member reciprocable between first and second positions and carrying first material engaging means for advancing said material along said course as said first member moves from its first position into its second position, a second member reciprocable between third and fourth positions and carrying second material engaging means for advancing said material along said course when said second material engaging means is in a material engaging position and as said second member moves from said third position into said fourth position, said second material engaging means being shiftable relative to said second member into and out of said material engaging position, means for shifting said second material engaging means into and out of its material engaging position, and drive means connected to said first and second members for causing simultaneous reciprocating movement of said first and second members wherein the distance of material advancing movement of said second member exceeds the distance of material advancing movement of said first member, said first material engaging means including means permitting relative movement between said material and said first material engaging means when said second material engaging means is shifted into its material engaging position and said second member is moved from its third position into its fourth position, whereby one rate of advancement of said material as determined by the distance of first member movement is effected when said second material engaging means is shifted out of its material engaging position and another rate of advancement as determined by the distance of second member movement is effected when said second material engaging means is shifted into its material engaging position, said drive means including a rockable drive part, means connecting at least one of said first and second members to said drive part, each material engaging means including fingers protruding from said first and second members adapted for seating within accommodating holes in said material, each finger being shiftably carried within a bore in a said member and biased outwardly thereof so as to normally protrude from said member, each finger having a material abutment side adapted to engage the margin of a hole in said material and to urge the material forwardly along said course as said member moves from its first or third into its second or fourth position and a beveled portion positioned generally oppositely of said abutment side adapted to engage the margin of said hole and cause the finger to be cammed into its receiving bore and thus disengaged from said material as said member moves from its second or fourth into its first or third position.

Claim 16

Apparatus for advancing material along a course comprising: a first member reciprocable between first and second positions and carrying first material engaging means for advancing said material along said course as said first member moves from its first position into its second position, a second member reciprocable between third and fourth positions and carrying second material engaging means for advancing said material along said course when said second material engaging means is in a material engaging position and as said second member moves from said third position into said fourth position, said second material engaging means being shiftable relative to said second member into and out of said material engaging position, means for shifting said second material engaging means into and out of its material engaging position, and drive means connected to said first and second members for causing simultaneous reciprocating movement of said first and second members wherein the distance of material advancing movement of said second member exceeds the distance of material advancing movement of said first member, said first material engaging means including means permitting relative movement between said material and said first material engaging means when said second material engaging means is shifted into its material engaging position and said second member is moved from its third position into its fourth position, whereby one rate of advancement of said material as determined by the distance of first member movement is effected when said second material engaging means is shifted out of its material engaging position and another rate of advancement as determined by the distance of second member movement is effected when said second material engaging means is shifted into its material engaging position, said drive means including a rockable drive part, means connecting at least one of said first and second members to said drive part, each material engaging means including fingers protruding from said first and second members adapted for seating within accommodating holes in said material, each finger being shiftably carried within a bore in a said member and biased outwardly thereof so as to normally protrude from said member, each finger having a material abutment side adapted to engage the margin of a hole in said material and to urge the material forwardly along said course as said member moves from its first or third into its second or fourth position and a beveled portion positioned generally oppositely of said abutment side adapted to engage the margin of said hole and cause the finger to be cammed into its receiving bore and thus disengaged from said material as said member moves from its second or fourth into its first or third position.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the fingers carried by said first member normally project into said course and wherein the fingers carried by said second member are mounted to a shiftable part which is carried by said second member and which is shiftable relative to said second member so as to move the fingers mounted thereto into and out of said course, and means for shifting said part to selectively position the fingers mounted thereto into said course.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said means for shifting said part is carried by said second member.

Claim 19

Apparatus for advancing material along a course comprising: a first member reciprocable between first and second positions and carrying first material engaging means for advancing said material along said course as said first member moves from its first position into its second posItion, a second member reciprocable between third and fourth positions and carrying second material engaging means for advancing said material along said course when said second material engaging means is in a material engaging position and as said second member moves from said third position into said fourth position, said second material engaging means being shiftable relative to said second member into and out of said material engaging position, means for shifting said second material engaging means into and out of its material engaging position, and drive means connected to said first and second members for causing simultaneous reciprocating movement of said first and second members wherein the distance of material advancing movement of said second member exceeds the distance of material advancing movement of said first member, said first material engaging means including means permitting relative movement between said material and said first material engaging means when said second material engaging means is shifted into its material engaging position and said second member is moved from its third position into its fourth position, whereby one rate of advancement of said material as determined by the distance of first member movement is effected when said second material engaging means is shifted out of its material engaging position and another rate of advancement as determined by the distance of second member movement is effected when said second material engaging means is shifted into its material engaging position, said first and second members paralleling one another and extending transversely of said course, the end portions of said first and second members being positioned on opposite sides of said course and supported by guides so as to be reciprocable within the same general plane, said drive means including a shaft extending transversely of said course, means connecting said shaft to said first and second members for imparting reciprocating movement to said first and second members as said shaft is rocked about its axis, said shaft and member connecting means including an arm rigidly connected at one end to said shaft, a first link pivotally connected between one of said first and second members and the opposite end of said arm, a second link pivotally connected between the other of said first and second members and said arm at a location intermediate the ends of the arm.

Claim 20

Apparatus for advancing material along a course comprising: a first member reciprocable between first and second positions and carrying first material engaging means for advancing said material along said course as said first member moves from its first position into its second posItion, a second member reciprocable between third and fourth positions and carrying second material engaging means for advancing said material along said course when said second material engaging means is in a material engaging position and as said second member moves from said third position into said fourth position, said second material engaging means being shiftable relative to said second member into and out of said material engaging position, means for shifting said second material engaging means into and out of its material engaging position, and drive means connected to said first and second members for causing simultaneous reciprocating movement of said first and second members wherein the distance of material advancing movement of said second member exceeds the distance of material advancing movement of said first member, said first material engaging means including means permitting relative movement between said material and said first material engaging means when said second material engaging means is shifted into its material engaging position and said second member is moved from its third position into its fourth position, whereby one rate of advancement of said material as determined by the distance of first member movement is effected when said second material engaging means is shifted out of its material engaging position and another rate of advancement as determined by the distance of second member movement is effected when said second material engaging means is shifted into its material engaging position, said first and second members paralleling one another and extending transversely of said course, the end portions of said first and second members being positioned on opposite sides of said course and supported by guides so as to be reciprocable within the same general plane, said drive means including a shaft extending transversely of said course, means connecting said shaft to said first and second members for imparting reciprocating movement to said first and second members as said shaft is rocked about its axis, said shaft and member connecting means including an arm rigidly connected at one end to said shaft, a first link pivotally connected between one of said first and second members and the opposite end of said arm, a second link pivotally connected between the other of said first and second members and said arm at a location intermediate the ends of the arm.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein one of said first and second links includes shiftable parts, one of said shiftable parts attached to the first or second member which is connected to said one first or second line, another of said shift-able parts attached to said arm, means carried by said one first or second link for shifting said link parts to cause a variation in spacing between the arm and the connection of said one first or second link to the first or second member.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each material engaging means comprises a row of fingers carried along each of said first and second members, said fingers protruding from said first and second members and being adapted for seating within accommodating holes within said material, each finger being shiftably carried within a bore in a said member and biased outwardly thereof so as to normally protrude from said member, each finger having a material abutment side adapted to engage the margin of a hole in said material and to urge the material forwardly along said course as said member moves from its first into its second position and a beveled portion positioned generally oppositely of said abutment side adapted to engage the margin of said hole and to cause the finger to be cammed into its receiving bore and thus disengaged from said material as said member moves from its second into its first position, whereby a variation in spacing between the arm and first or second member connections of said one first or second link causes a corresponding variation in spacing between the row of fingers carried by said first member and the row of fingers carried by said second member.