Coupon inserter

Claim 2

A coupon inserter for picking up a coupon from a source of supply and depositing it into a container comprising a tray structure receiving a supply of coupons, a reciprocating member supported for linear reciprocation, means drivingly connected with the reciprocating member for causing reciprocation thereof, coupon pickup means mounted on said reciprocating member for oscillatory movement from a coupon pickup position to a coupon discharge position, means connected with said coupon pickup means for causing movement thereof between its positions in response to reciprocation of the reciprocating member, said reciprocating member being in the form of a slide block, guide means guidingly supporting said block for movement in a path substantially parallel to the face surface of a coupon to be picked up from the tray structure, and means adjustably supporting the tray structure for orientation of the coupons in proper relation to the pickup means when in its pickup position, said coupon pickup means including a shaft mounted on the slide block fo oscillation with respect thereto, a laterally extending arm connected to the shaft, a suction cup mounted on the end of the arm for engaging the face of the coupon and picking up the coupon for movement to a discharge position, and means disposed tangentially of the path of movement of the coupon adjacent its discharge position for transferring the coupon from the pickup means to a container, said transfer means including a substantially vertically disposed platE, endless belt conveyor means disposed in opposed relation to the plate and defining an upper entrance area for a coupon and a lower discharge area for a coupon for receiving a coupon from the coupon pickup means and conveying it downwardly for discharge into a container.

Claim 3

The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for moving the coupon pickup means includes a pinion gear rigid with said shaft, a rack gear stationarily mounted parallel to the path of movement of the slide block with the pinion gear in meshing engagement therewith whereby movement of the coupon from the point of pickup to the point of discharge is continuous and repetitive with the coupon moving in a cycloidal path.

Claim 4

A coupon inserter comprising a substantially vertically disposed support plate, a pair of brackets projecting from one side of said plate, a pair of parallel, vertically inclined guide rods supported from said brackets, an inclined guide plate supported by the brackets in spaced parallel relation to the guide rods, an inclined rack gear supported from said brackets in spaced parallel relation to the guide rods and guide plate, a slide sleeve slidably received on the guide plate, means adjustably securing the sleeve on the guide plate, a tray structure carried by said sleeve for movement therewith and for receiving a supply of coupons, a slide block mounted on said guide rods for reciprocation in parallel relation to the face surface of a coupon at the discharge end of the tray structure, a shaft journaled on said slide block for oscillatory movement, a pinion gear mounted on said shaft along one side of the slide block in meshing engagement with the rack gear whereby longitudinal reciprocation of the slide block will cause the shaft to be oscillated about an axis substantially parallel to the face surface of a coupon at the discharge end of the tray structure, a laterally extending arm mounted on said shaft alongside of the slide block in opposed relation to the gear on the shaft, said arm including a suction cup on the outer end thereof for swinging movement from a pickup position with the suction cup engaging and picking up a coupon at the discharge end of the tray structure and swinging it in a cycloid manner to a discharge position in response to reciprocation of the slide block whereby the gear and slide block are disposed laterally of the path of movement of the coupon from the tray structure to a position where it is discharged from the suction cup, means drivingly connected to the slide block for reciprocating it along the guide rods whereby the spaced guide rods stabilize the slide block during its movement, means disposed tangentially of the path of movement of the suction cup at the point of discharge of a coupon for receiving a coupon therefrom and discharging it downwardly into an upwardly open container, said last named means including a substantially vertically disposed plate having a laterally curved upper end, endless conveyor belts disposed in opposed relation to the plate for guiding and moving the coupon downwardly therebetween with the upper end portion of the conveyor belts and the curved upper end of the plate defining an entrance area for receiving the lower end of a coupon being transferred from its pickup position to its discharge position by the suction cup, said plate and conveyor belts being supported from said vertical support plate.

Claim 5

A coupon inserter comprising a substantially vertically disposed support plate, a pair of brackets projecting from one side of said plate, a pair of parallel, vertically inclined guide rods supported from said brackets, an inclined guide plate supported by the brackets in spaced parallel relation to the guide rods, an inclined rack gear supported from said brackets in spaced parallel relation to the guide rods and guide plate, a slide sleeve slidably received on the guide plate, means adjustably securing the sleeve on the guide plate, a tray structure carried by said sleeve for movement therewith and for receiving a supply of coupons, a slide block mounted on said guide rods for reciprocation in parallel relation to the face surface of a coupon at the discharge end of the tray structure, a shaft journaled on said slide block for oscillatory movement, a pinion gear mounted on said shaft along one side of the slide block in meshing engagement with the rack gear whereby longitudinal reciprocation of the slide block will cause the shaft to be oscillated about an axis substantially parallel to the face surface of a coupon at the discharge end of the tray structure, a laterally extending arm mounted on said shaft alongside of the slide block in opposed relation to the gear on the shaft, said arm including a suction cup on the outer end thereof for swinging movement from a pickup position with the suction cup engaging and picking up a coupon at the discharge end of the tray structure and swinging it in a cycloid manner to a discharge position in response to reciprocation of the slide block whereby the gear and slide block are disposed laterally of the path of movement of the coupon from the tray structure to a position where it is discharged from the suction cup, means drivingly connected to the slide block for reciprocating it along the guide rods whereby the spaced guide rods stabilize the slide block during its movement, means disposed tangentially of the path of movement of the suction cup at the point of discharge of a coupon for receiving a coupon therefrom and discharging it downwardly into an upwardly open container, said last named means including a substantially vertically disposed plate having a laterally curved upper end, endless conveyor belts disposed in opposed relation to the plate for guiding and moving the coupon downwardly therebetween with the upper end portion of the conveyor belts and the curved upper end of the plate defining an entrance area for receiving the lower end of a coupon being transferred from its pickup position to its discharge position by the suction cup, said plate and conveyor belts being supported from said vertical support plate.