US2984425A - Spool winding machine - Google Patents

Description

IVENTOR.

Filed March 5, 1956 May 16, 1961 J. J. THAYER SPOOL WINDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1956 y 1961 J. J. THAYER 2,984,425

SPOOL WINDING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1956 May 16, 1961 J. J. THAYER SPOOL WINDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheei 5 Filed March 5, 1956 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent SPOOL WINDING MACHINE Josephus J. Thayer, 1010 Cherry Lane, West Lafayette, Ind.

Filed Mar. 5, 1956, Ser. No. 569,547

14 Claims. (Cl. 242-18) This invention relates to a spool winding machine and it is an object of the invention to provide improved apparatus of that character.

Various forms of ribbon are produced in what is actually or practically a continuous process, to the effect that the ribbon as produced is wound on reels of substantial size. Such reels may, for example, carry many hundreds of lineal feet of ribbon. In some cases these reels are purchased by retailers, and short lengths of ribbon are cut off by the retailer in accordance with the individual customers requirements. However, a substantial quantity of ribbon is presently sold packaged, in which case relatively short lengths of ribbon, generally a few feet in length, are wound on individual spools and arehandled by the retailers in this form.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved machine for transferring relatively short lengths of ribbon from a large reel, containing a relatively continuous supply of ribbon, to relatively small spools.

In the past such transfer of ribbon from a reel to spools has required numerous manual operations for each spool to which ribbon is transferred.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved machine for automatically transferring short lengths of ribbon from a reel to successive spools in which no manual operations are required after the machine has started.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved spool winding machine in which the severed or free end of a ribbon supply is automatically inserted in a slit formed in the spool to hold the end of the ribbon to the spool as it is wound.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved spool winding machine in which ribbon, as it is drawn-onto the spool, drives metering apparatus which limits the length of ribbon to be wound on the spool, in which the free end of theribbon supply is only lightly secured to the spool, and in which slack ribbon is automatically provided between the spool and the metering apparatus such that an appreciable length of ribbon may be wound on the spool before the winding of the ribbon on the spool is required to accelerate and drive the metering apparatus.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved spool winding machine in which a relatively heavy reel of ribbon is continuously unwound to supply ribbon to intermittently rotated successive spools and in which means are provided for handling the slack ribbon which thereby must accumulate between intermittent windings on successive spools.

It is another object of the invention to provide a spool winding machine having improved apparatus for automatically feeding, cutting, and wrapping protective sheet material about successive spools after ribbon has been wound thereon.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved spool winding machine having one or more Patented May 16, 1961 of the features defined above while being elficient, reliable and economical to manufacture.

This invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals,

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are perspective views of the front of a spool winding machine illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the back of certainribbon metering apparatus included in the machine illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a schematic layout of the metering apparatus shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail drawing of a portion of the metering apparatus included in the apparatus of Fig; 4;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of spool handling apparatus included in the machine illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are views of certain detailed apparatus incorporated in the machine of Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings is particularly adapted to the winding of ribbon from a large supply reel onto relatively small spools. It will become apparent, however, that the overall invention and various features thereof are readily adapted to various applications.

In the drawings, a rotary carriage 20 in the form of a disc carries four spindles 21 thereon for receiving spools 22. While the spools are arranged on these spindles they are subjected to all of the operations performed by the machine. More particularly, and as subsequently described in detail, the free end of a ribbon supply is se cured to the spool, the spool is rotated to wind a given length of ribbon thereon, and the ribbon is covered by a layer of material to protect the ribbon against dirt and physical abuse.

Empty spools may be supplied to the machine on a track 24. The spools may be placed on the track manually or automatically and are preferably urged to the left in Fig. 1 by any suitable means, such as a suitable spring biased member, not shown in the drawings. Progress of the empty spools along the track 24 is limited by engagement with a wall 25, best seen in Fig. 3. A spool 22 which has advanced along the track 24 to a point where it strikes the wall 25 is in position to be dropped down on another track consisting of a pair of rods 26, best seen in Fig. 3.

Movement of individual spools 22 from the supply track to the track 26 may be accomplished by. a pivotally mounted plunger 27. When the latter rotates or pivots forwardly in Fig. 3, it thrusts the leading spool forwardly such that it falls onto the track 26, the spool resting securely between the two rods which form this track.

With an empty spool 22 resting on the track 26, and with an empty spindle 21 available on the carriage 20 and in alignment with the central axial opening 22a of the spool as it rests on the track 26, a plunger 28 which slides on a rod 28a engages the spool 22 and drives it toward the carriage 20 and onto the awaiting spindle 21. In Fig. 3 an empty spool is shown thus arranged on a spindle 21 while another empty spool 22 has already been thrust onto the track 26 by the pivotable plunger 27. The plunger 28 has of course beenwithdrawn so that it is in position to drive the new spool 22 onto the next available spindle 21.

It will already be apparent that the pivotable plunger 27 and the sliding plunger 28 must be synchronized not only with each other but with the rotary carriage 20. The drive means for driving the plunger 27, the plunger 28, and the carriage 20, along with many other operating parts of the machine, are not disclosed in detail in the drawings or described herein. Since most of the operating parts of the machine must be synchronized, it is practical to drive the entire machine from a single power source. Suitable gears, cams, and other conventional drive means for actuating the various operating parts of the machine may be connected to a single power source such that they are locked in synchronism, various elements preferably being adjustable such that the phase relationship between various operating parts may be regulated to assure reliable operation.

Drive means for a machine such as that disclosed in the drawings and described herein is necessarily relatively complex because of the large number of moving parts, with the result that a complete disclosure thereof would require many sheets of drawings and a very extensive description. At the same time, the drive means may be of very common and conventional form, readily devised by anyone skilled in the art. In view of this and in view of the fact that the basic drive means does not, of itself, constitute a feature of the present invention, it is not shown in the drawings or described in detail herein.

As an empty spool is thrust onto an awaiting spindle 2.1, its leading surface is pierced by a pin 30, seen in Fig. 7. The pin 30 is mounted on a shaft 31 which is slidable axially within the carriage 20, such a pin and rod being provided for each spindle 21. Means are pro vided the shaft 31 and the pin 30 to the right and to the left in Fig. 7 in synchronism and in proper phase relationship to other operating parts of the machine. When the shaft and pin are thrust to the right, in Fig. 7, such that the spool 22 as it is thrust on the spindle 21 is pierced thereby, it will be apparent that the spool 22 is locked against rotation with respect to the carriage 20, since the pin 30 is off center from the spindle 21. The pin 30 is preferably moved forward, or to the right in Fig. 7, before the spool 22 is slid onto the spindle 21, and remains in this position until just before the spindle 21 rotates the spool 22 to wrap ribbon thereon. The spool is thereby locked against rotation with respect to the carriage 20 during this period.

Immediately after a spool 22 has been slid onto a spindle 21 by the plunger 28, a knife blade 33 carried by a movable arm 34 is moved toward the spool so that it punctures the cylindrical surface of the spool, the slit thus provided preferably extending axially of the spool. After the spool has thus been punctured, the arm 34 withdraws the knife 33 in order that the spool may be free to move with the carriage 20.

The carriage 20 now rotates through an angle of 90 degrees, bringing the punctured spool to the top position in Fig. 1. At the same time, a fully wound spool is moved from the top position to the left-hand position with the unsevered ribbon 40 trailing therebehind. As may readily be seen in Fig. l, the position of the ribbon is such that the empty spool which moves to the top position on the carriage 20 bears upwardly against the ribbon, so that the ribbon passes over the cylindrical surface of the spool.

A second knife blade 41 mounted on an arm 42 is now moved toward the empty spool and in alignment with the ribbon 40 to sever the ribbon. Preferably, the knife blade 41 engages the ribbon at a point at which it is in contact with the empty spool as this facilitates the severing of the ribbon. The knife blade 41 thereby makes an incidental slit in the spool, but this is of no consequence.

Immediately before the time that the knife blade 41 severs the ribbon, a blade 43 mounted on an arm 44 and having a relatively blunt end, moves toward the empty spool in alignment with the slit previously formed by the first-described knife blade 33. Apparatus, subsequently to be described, assures that the ribbon 40 overlies this previously formed slit. The blunt blade 43 hesitates at the surface of the spool and holds the ribbon thereagainst during the time that the knife blade 41 is cutting the ribbon. Immediately after severance of the ribbon by the knife blade 41, the blade 43 continues its movement and tucks the free end portion of the supply ribbon into the slit previously formed by the knife blade 33.

Preferably, the tuck blade 43 moves only a short distance into the spool to the effect that the free end of the supply ribbon lies outside the spool and a double thickness of ribbon material is caught in the slit formed by the knife blade 33, but if desired the tuck blade may drive deep enough to draw the free end of the supply ribbon into the interior of the spool. This operation secures the free end of the supply ribbon to the empty spool such that subsequent rotation of the spindle 21 and hence of the spool 22 may Wind ribbon on the spool.

Apparatus by which the blade 43 may be driven in the two-step motion described above is illustrated in Fig. 9. Here, the arm 44 may be seen to be a continuation of a supporting arm 45, being pivotally connected thereto by the pin 46. Pivotal motion is limited by a pin 47 in the supporting arm 45 and a cooperating slot 47a in the arm 44. A spring 48, arranged as shown, urges the arm 44 downwardly with respect to the supporting arm 45 such that the pin 47 is normally at the top of the slot 47a. The supporting arm 45 is, of course, connected to suitable drive apparatus as are the various other operating parts of the overall machine.

It will now be apparent that as the supporting arm 45 rocks downwardly the arm 44 and the blade 43 will move downwardly until the blade touches the ribbon where it overlies a spool. The force of the spring 48 is not sufficient to force the blade 43 into the spool slit and hence the blade pauses in its downward movement until the pin 47 reaches the bottom of the associated slot 47a. Pivotal movement of the supporting arm 45 is then transmitted directly to the arm 44 and hence the blade is positively driven down to force the ribbon into the spool slit.

Each spindle 21 terminates in a clutch element 50, seen in Fig. 7, which is the driven half of a complete fric tion clutch. A single driving clutch element 51 is mounted on the housing of the machine and is so positioned that it is in alignment with the driven clutch element 50 when the corresponding spindle 21 is in the top position of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The driving clutch element 51 is keyed to a shaft 52 and is slidable thereon, the shaft being driven by a pulley 53 and a belt 54. A fork 55 or similar device is provided for moving the driving clutch element 51 against the driven clutch element 50. At such time as the desired length of ribbon has been thus wound on the spindle 22 the fork 55 withdraws and permits the two clutch elements 50 and 51 to disengage. It will be seen that the spool 22 is locked against rotation with respect to the spindle 21 by a pin 56 protruding from a plate 57 which is in turn secured to the spindle 21.

It has been found that the length of ribbon wound on successive spools can be controlled more accurately by separate metering apparatus than by controlling the total angle of revolution of the spindle 21. Such metering apparatus is shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention and is described below. In view of this, the total angle of revolution of the spindle 21 for each spool winding need not be precisely controlled. For this reason, it is practicable to drive the spindle through the belt 54. This is desirable since the spindle 21 is preferably rotated at a high speed. At such time as the proper amount of ribbon has been wound on the spool and the ribbon is restrained, all as described below, the friction clutch= 50-51 may slip, whereby there is" no dama'geito the machine, the spool, or the ribbon.

The clutch element 50 is also engageable with a movable brake member 59, the operating portion of which is shown in Fig. 7. This brake member operates simultaneously with the clutch element 51 to release the clutch element 50 when the clutch is engaged and to brake the clutch element 50 when the clutch disengages.

The metering apparatus referred to immediately above, along with certain apparatus for traversing the ribbon back and forth along the axial length of the spool as it is wound thereon, is contained primarily within a housing 60, shown at the right in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and the inner working parts areillustrat'ed in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. Mounted on the outside of the housing 60 is the actual metering wheel 61 and an idler wheel 62. Both wheels preferably have a soft rubber periphery in order to provide goodfrictional engagement with the ribbon 40. Additional friction is provided by the fact that the two Wheels 61 and 62 bear resiliently against each other with the ribbon passing therebetween. As may be seen best in Fig. 2, the ribbon 40 is supplied to the lower surface of the wheel 62, passes around 180 degrees of the periphery thereof, between the wheels, and around 180 degrees of the periphery of the metering wheel 61.

A friction brake plate 63, also seen best in Fig. 3, is provided for bearing against the inner flat surface of the metering wheel 61 to terminate rotation thereof when the desired length of ribbon has passed thereby. The control apparatus contained within the housing 60 serves to control the operation of the brake plate 63 to stop and release the metering wheel '61 at the proper times, all as subsequent describedj The traversing device, also controlled by the apparatus within the housing 60, comprises primarily a pivotably mounted rod 65 having a pair of prongs 66 at its free end.

The traverse arm 65 is secured to a lever arm 67 through a shaft 68, the latter being concealed by a bearing sleeve 69 in Fig. 3 but being shown schematically in Fig. 6. As the rod 65 is pivoted back and forth, the ribbon 40'which passesbetween the prongs 66 is guided back and forth along the axial length of the spool 22. The ribbon must be located consistently and with some accuracy, between spool windings, over the slit formed in each successive empty spool by the' knifebla'de 33; in order for the ribbon cutting knife 41 andthe tuck blade 43 to be operative. It is necessary, therefore, that the traversing arm 65 be accurately located after each spool winding.

Referring now to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the wheel 61 is mounted on a shaft 71 whichterminates in a worm 72. This drives a worm gear 73, seen in Fig. 4, which serves as a friction clutch element frictionally engaging and driving a clutch element 74. The latter is secured to a shaft 75 about which the worm gear 73 rotates freely. A spring 76 maintains the two clutch elements 73 and. 74 resiliently in frictional engagement.

A gear 78 secured to the shaft 75 meshes withra larger gear 79 mounted on ashaft 80. This shaft drives a cam 81 whose operation will bestbe understood by referring again to Fig; 5. A camfollower arm 82 is secured to a shaft 83 and is urged against the cam 81 bya spring 84, the latter being shown schematically in Fig. 5 but not visible in Fig. 4.

Speed reduction by the worm and gear 72 and 73, and by the gears 78 and 79, is selected such that the desired length of ribbon to be wound on one spool 22 will have passed over the periphery of the metering wheel 61 when the cam 81 makes one complete revolution. At the end of each revolution of the cam 81, the tip of the cam follower 82 falls into a slot 86 in the cam. The corresponding. pivotal movement of the. arm 82 causes rotation of the shaft 83 withthe result that another arm 87 secured to the same shaft operates a switch 88, shown schematically in Fig. 5 but not visible in Fig. 4.

This opens a previously closed circuit from the line wire A of Fig. 5 through a lead 89, themovable switch:

contact 90, the upper fixed contact 91, a lead 92, a solenoid 93, a lead 94, and the other line wire B. This circuit, when complete, energizes the solenoid 93 to maintain an arm 97, a shaft 98 and a second arm 99 in a clockwise direction against the action of a spring 100. The arm 99 in turn maintains a rod 101 to the right in Fig. 5 by virtue of its engagement with a plate 102 secured to the rod, and the rod maintains the brake plate 63 to the right and away from the metering wheel 61 against the action of a spring 103.

When the cam 81 completes one revolution such that the cam follower 82 falls into the slot 86, the above-described circuit is interrupted by separation of the contacts and 91. with the result that the brake plate 63 is forced against the metering wheel 61 by the spring 103 to terminate rotation thereof.

When the metering wheel 61 and hence the ribbon 40. are thus stopped, the previously described friction clutch 50-51 which drives the spool 22 slips. After the clutch is disengaged by operation of the fork 55 and sometime before the next spool is to be wound, the common drive means for the machine may cause actuation of a push rod 106 to move it upwardly, in Fig. 5, against the action of a spring 107. This pivots the shaft. 83 and withdraws the cam follower 82 from the slot 86 in the cam 81. As soon as the cam follower 82 is thus raised out of the slot 86, an arm 108 freely mounted on the shaft 80 is drawn by a spring 109' against a stop pin 110,

such that the end of the arm 108 lies alongside the slot 86 and prevents the cam follower 82 from falling back into the slot 86. This reenergizes the solenoid 93 and frees the metering wheel 61 and the entire metering apparatus for another cycle of operation.

Means have been described above for limiting the amount of ribbon which may be wound on each successive spool, the metering wheel 61 being braked by the brake plate 63 when the cam 81 has been driven through one complete revolution by the metering wheel and the associated speed reducing gears. The metering apparatus as shown in the drawings and as described above is automatically repetitive by virtue of actuation of the push rod 106 by any suitable operating part of the common drive means.

The traverse arm 65 preferably operates through a substantial number of cycles during the winding of the prescribed length of ribbon on one spool in order that the ribbon may be wound smoothly on the spool. This is accomplished through the use of a cam 112 secured to the shaft 75. The cam 112 is thereby driven through a number of complete revolutions for each revolution of the cam 81 by virtue of the gear reduction between the gears 78 and 79. As seen in Fig. 6, the cam 112 is heart shaped and actuates a cam follower in the form of a roller 113. This roller is rotatably mounted on the previously described arm 67, this arm and the traversing arm 65 both being secured to the shaft 68. A spring 114, shown schematically in Fig. 6, maintains the cam roller 113 in contact with the cam 112. It will now be apparent that as the cam roller 113 is moved inwardly and outwardly of the shaft by the cam 112, the traversing arm 65 will be pivoted reciprocally.

Accurate positioning of the traverse arm 65 between spool windings, in order to assure that the ribbon 40 trailing from a wound spool will fall over the slit formed by the knife blade 33 in the next spool to be wound, is accomplished by engagement of an arm 116 with a movable stop 117 at the end of each operating cycle of the metering apparatus. As may be seen in Fig. 6, the arm 116 is secured to the shaft 75 and hence rotates with the heartshaped cam 112. The movable stop 117 is secured to the The solenoid 93 is thus deenergized.

7 shaft 83 (see Fig. 5) and moves into the path of the arm 116 when the cam follower 82 drops into the slot 86 of the cam 81. The arm 116 and the movable stop 117 may be seen, in part, in Fig. 4.

It will be understood that if the stopping of the metering wheel 61 by the brake plate 63 were very precise, the heart-shaped cam 112 would be stopped, at the end of each spool winding, at precisely the same angular position. Furthermore, operation of the cam 81 would prevent, and does prevent, any accumulative error. However, since a friction brake is employed, certain variables, such as coefficient of friction and spring pressure, along with other less definitive factors, tend to prevent accuracy of operation sufficient to assure proper alignment of the ribbon with the slit formed by the knife blade 83 in the next spool to be wound. For this reason, mechanical stop means in the form of the arm 116 and the movable stop 117 are employed to assure precise positioning of the heart-shaped cam 112 and hence of the traverse arm 165 at the end of each cycle.

In the event that the heart-shaped cam 112 and hence the shaft 75 are thus forcibly stopped while the metering wheel 61 is still rotating at an appreciable speed, the metering wheel is not brought to an abrupt halt, with possible resulting damage to the machine, since friction clutch 7374 may slip until the metering wheel 61 is brought to a full stop. The friction clutch 7374 also permits manual rotation of the shaft 75 through a hand wheel 118 (see Fig. 4 and Fig. 2), whereby, in the event of any misoperation of the machine, the metering apparatus may be advanced manually to its starting position.

Certain protective control apparatus is also shown in Fig. 5. A cam 120 is driven by the main source of power for the machine, through suitable gearing, such that it makes one complete revolution for each revolution of the cam 81. When the cam 120 reaches the position shown in Fig. 5, it opens the contacts of a switch 121 such that the power lines A and B are no longer connected to certain solenoids 122, 123 and 124 which control operation of various portions of the over-all machine. However, if the cam 120 is synchronized and in proper phase relationship with the cam 81, the switch 121 is thus opened by the cam 120 at the same time that the movable contact 90 of the switch 88 is brought into engagement With a fixed contact 125 of that switch. This serves to connect the power lines A and B to the solenoids 122, 123 and 124 such that the solenoids remain energized, and operation of the machine continues. If through some malfunction the cam 120 completes its cycle before the cam 81, the entire machine, with the exception of the spool winding drive will be deenergized until the cam 81 completes its cycle, after which the relays 122, 123 and 124 will again be energized and the machine may continue to operate. Since this protective control apparatus does not constitute a feature of the present invention and is not essential to the basic operation of the machine it is not described in further detail herein.

It will be apparent that the metering apparatus exerts an appreciable drag on the ribbon 40 even when running at normal speed. Furthermore, there is substantial inertia to be overcome when the metering apparatus is accelerated by the ribbon. If the ribbon 40 is secured to the empty spool 22 only by being tucked into the slit formed by the knife blade 33, it has been found that the drag necessarily created by the metering apparatus will cause the ribbon to pull out of the slit and fall free of the spool. However, if the spool 22 is permitted to rotate through an angle of approximately 90 degrees, or more, the gripping effect of the ribbon tucked into the slit is supplemented by frictional engagement of an appreciable length of ribbon with the drum of the spool. The connection of the ribbon to the spool is then suflicient to produce the pull necessary for acceleration of the metering apparatus, and the ribbon will not pull free of the spool.

In order to permit a limited winding of ribbon on the empty spool before the ribbon draws on the metering wheel 61, means are incorporated in the machine for providing slack ribbon between the spool and the metering wheel 61. As may be seen best in Fig. 2, the ribbon 40 as it extends from the metering wheel 61 to the spool 22 passes under a pair of spaced-apart pins 131 and 132. A third pin 133 is arranged below the ribbon 40 and between the pins 131 and 132, this pin being secured to one end of an arm 134 which is pivotable about its other end.

When a spool has been completely wound with ribbon, the carriage 20 carries the spool to the left-hand position, which is concealed in Fig. 2, and an empty spool is brought up into engagement with the trailing ribbon, all as previously described. At the same time, the arm 134 pivots upwardly to the position shown in phantom lines in Fig. 2, drawing the pin 133 and hence the ribbon upwardly between the pins 131 and 132. The ribbon thus drawn upwardly between the pins 131 and 132 is pulled off the wound spool against the braking action of the brake member 59, previously described. Before the rib bon 40 is severed by the knife blade 41 and is tucked into the empty spool by the tuck blade 43, the arm 134 swings downwardly, thereby providing a substantial length of slack ribbon between the empty spool 22 and the metering wheel 61. Accordingly, when the empty spool starts to rotate, it may wind this slack ribbon upon itself and thus supplement its grip on the ribbon before the ribbon is required to accelerate the metering wheel 61 and the associated metering apparatus.

While ribbon is being wound on an empty spool in the uppermost position on the carriage 20, the previously wound spool arranged in the left-hand position on the carriage 20 is covered with a protective wrapper, such as acetate tape. In the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. l and 3 clear acetate tape is employed in order that the ribbon on the spools may be visible to the purchaser. The tape preferably comes on a large spool 141 and is of such width that it covers the ribbon and may lie between the end pieces of the spools. The spool 141 is freely mounted on a shaft 142 and is so arranged that the tape may feed directly to certain tapehandling apparatus now to be described.

The acetate tape 140 first passes between a pair of plates 143 and 144, the lower plate 143 being in the form of a bracket which is secured to the main housing of the machine. The upper plate 144 is flanged such that an opening is provided between the plates, as shown, to receive the acetate tape.

A pivotally mounted shoe 145 is provided for gripping the tape and moving it to a position in which it may be wound onto the successive spools 22. More particularly, the shoe 145 is pivotally mounted on the main housing of the machine as seen in Fig. 1 and is power driven to oscillate through an arc of approximately 90. In Fig. 1 the shoe 145 is shown in its lower position.

The shoe 145 is connected to and forms a part of pneumatic apparatus which enables the shoe to releasably grip the cellophane tape. The pneumatic apparatus, other than the shoe 145 itself, may comprise merely a vacuum pump and a valve for intermittently connecting the shoe to the pump. Since the pump and the valve may be of conventional form they are not disclosed in the drawings or described in detail herein. As will subsequently become apparent, the pump need have only a very small capacity and be capable of producing only a slight vacuum. The vacuum pump is connected to the shoe 145 preferably through the shaft on which the shoe is mounted.

When the shoe 145 pivots upwardly its right-hand end lies below the right-hand end of the lower plate 143. A central opening is provided in this plate 143, and a vacuum port is provided in the shoe 145 adjacent its right-hand end. The vacuum pump is connected to the shoe in this position, the vacuum, or the external air pressure, forcing the acetate tape against the shoe with substantial force. When the shoe next swings to the right the leading edge of the tape is therefore drawn along with the shoe to a position in which it contacts a fully wound spool 22.

In this lower or right-hand position of the shoe, a recessed portion 147 thereof lies to the right of the plate 143. Immediately above the recessed portion 147 is a knifeblade 150, seen best in Fig. 3. This knife blade is mounted on an arm 151 and is power driven. When the shoe 145 reaches the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the knife blade 150 is driven down to cut the tape as it lies stretched above the recessed portion 147 of the shoe. The length of acetate tape thus cut off is sufiicient to reach around the spool 22 with a small excess. A wire bracket 152 may be provided for guiding the trailing portion of the severed length of tape on the shoe 145. A cut section of tape 140 of proper length is thereby provided, with its leading edge lying against the cylindrical surface of a fully wound spool 22.

While the severed length of tape is thus held in readiness for winding on a spool 22, a drop of suitable cement such as acetone is dropped on the center of the upper surface of the trailing end of the tape such that when the tape is wound around the spool 22, the trailing end which will overlie the leading end will be secured thereto. A supply of acetone is provided in a reservoir 155. As may be seen in Fig. 3, the reservoir is of substantial size and is located primarily within the housing of the machine. However, a narrow portion 156 protrudes from the machine and an opening 157 is provided in the upper surface thereof near the extremity of the narrow portion 156.

A dauber 160 is provided for dipping into the cement through the opening 157 and for depositing the drop of cement adhering thereto onto the upper surface of the acetate tape on the shoe 145. The dauber 160 is secured to an arm 161, which is in turn secured to an operating rod 162. Starting with the apparatus in the position shown in Fig. 3, the operating rod 162 is caused to move downwardly such that the dauber 160 is dipped into the cement through the opening 157. The operating rod then is caused to rise such that the dauber is raised above the reservoir 155. Next the operating rod pivots to swing the dauber clear of the reservoir and then moves downwardly to cause the dauber, or at least the drop of cement adhering to the bottom end thereof, to contact the acetate tape. The drop of cement is thereby deposited on the tape as desired. Subsequently, of course, the control rod 162 again rises and pivots such that the dauber 160 is again poised above the opening 157.

With a severed length of acetate tape thus positioned on the shoe 145 with its leading edge against the wound spool 22, a clamping device 165 pinches the leading edge of the tape against the spool. The clamping element comprises an arm 166, seen in Figs. 3 and 8, and a pair of fingers 167 and 168. The arm 166 extends into ahousing 170 seen in Figs. 1, Z and 3, wherein suitable drive means for the clamping device are located. The first operation of the clamping device is a pivotal movement in a counter clockwise direction to bring the free ends of the fingers 167 and 168 against the outer surface of the tape. It will be noted in Fig. 8 that these fingers are spaced apart such that they may pass to opposite sides of the shoe 145. It will be noted in this connection that the shoe 145 is narrower than the spool 22 andnarrower than the tape 140.

At this point in the operation of the machine the vacuum pump is disconnected from the shoe 145, and the shoe is preferably driven upwardly a short distance such that it is clear of the spool 22. The clamping device 165 is then driven around through a complete circle concentric with the spool 22 and in a counterclockwise direction. During this movement the fingers 167 and 168 continue to press the tape against the spool and thereby drag the tape and the spool with the clamping device.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the trailing end of the ribbon 40 is several inches in length. After the knife blade 41 has cut the ribbon the trailing end falls down on theright-h'a'nd' side of the wound spool;

. acetate tape around it.

It will be apparent that the dimensions of the machine should be such that the severed end of the ribbon will not extend. around the spool to the leading edge of the acetate tape since the trailing end of the ribbon would otherwise overlie the leading end of the acetate tape.

A brush 175 is arranged to bear against the ribbon on the spool 22 to keep the ribbon tightly wound as the clamping device rotates the spool and wraps the The brush is mounted on an arm 176 which is in turn secured to an arm 177. The latter arm extends into the main housing of the machine where it is supported for free pivotal movement. The clamping device .165 is, therefore able to wedge the brush upwardly and pass under it.

After the clamping device 165 has moved from its starting position, seen in Fig. l, and after the shoe has been raised a small amount, another arm 180, which is pivotally mounted on a shaft which is not readily seen in the drawings, is caused to pivot forwardly against the spool 22. It will be noted that the arm is relatively narrow, such that the two fingers 167 and 168 of the clamping device 165 may pass to opposite sides thereof.

As the clamping device 165 completes its 360 revolution about the spool 22, the fingers 167 and 168 along with the leading edge of the acetate tape pass under the trailing end of the tape. The arm 180 presses the central portion of the trailing end of the acetate tape against the leading end thereof. Since the drop of acetone is centered on the trailing end of the tape, the leading and trailing ends become cemented together under pressure of the arm 18!).

The protective wrapping of acetate tape is now properly applied to the wound spool of ribbon and affords protection against dirt and reasonably rough handling. When the carriage 2t) again rotates through a 90 angle the wound and wrapped spool 22 swings downwardly substantially tangent to the fingers 167 and 168 whereby the latter slide out from under the trailing edge of the acetate tape.

When the wound and wrapped spool is carried to the lowermost position by the carriage 20 it may be removed from the associated spindle 21 by any suitable means. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, this final step is performed automatically by an arm 132 shown in part in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. This arm operates on the previously described shaft 28a and is power driven to pivot about this shaft and to slide therealong. The free end of the arm 182, which is concealed in the drawings, is arranged to engage the spool 22 as it pivots upwardly and force the spool off the spindle when it slides outwardly away from the carriage. Since this element of the machine does not constitute a feature of the present invention it is not described in detail herein.

A supply reel is rotatably supported by a shaft 191. An appreciable drag on the reel is desirable in order to keep the ribbon taut, and a brake is preferably provided to stop the reel when operation of the machine is interrupted. The reel may contain several hundred feet of ribbon, whereby operation of the machine need be interrupted for threading a fresh reel of ribbon into the machine only at widely spaced times.v

Ribbon is drawn off the reel 190 by a power-driven roller 192. Two idler rollers 193 and 194 bear resiliently against the power roller 192 and are driven thereby. The upper idler roller 193 provides additional frictional engagement between the ribbon and driven rollers, and both of the idler rollers press the ribbon against the power-driven roller 192 to further assure against ribbon slippage. A ribbon guide 195 is provided for feeding the ribbon accurately to these rollers. A bent rod 196 supported by fixed arms 197 and 198 is also provided for assuring that the ribbon passes to the guide 195 without twists in the ribbonand substantially in 11 alignment therewith. Since the rod is bent downwardly at the middle, the ribbon tends to seek the lowest point of the rod, even though the ribbon is coming from the 'axial extremities of the reel 190.

Since the reel 190 along with its supply of ribbon 40 is quite heavy, and more particularly has considerable rotational inertia, it has been found to be impractical to drive the reel intermittently in order to match the intermittent winding of ribbon on successive spools 22. The ribbon 40 is therefore drawn continuously off the reel 190, whereas the ribbon is wound intermittently on the spools 22. The ribbon is, of course, drawn off the reel 190 at a rate approximately equal to the average speed at which the ribbon is wound on the spools 22.

It therefore follows that slack ribbon will accumulate during the successive intervals of time between the winding of ribbon on successive spools. It a substantial length of this slack ribbon is allowed to fall to the floor it tends to become tangled, with the result that it is not fed properly to the metering apparatus. A very simple device has been found to be eifective in circumventing this difliculty. A simple wire loop 199 is suspended from a substantial height, for example from the ceiling of the room in which the machine operates. The upper end of this wire loop is supported at a substantial distance from the machine with the result that the lower or ribbonreceiving portion of the loop tends to hang at a point substantially removed from the machine. Accordingly, as the slack ribbon accumulates between spool windings, the loop 199 falls away from the machine and takes up most of the slack. During a subsequent spool-winding operation the slack ribbon is taken in. This is permitted by the fact that a very light pull on the ribbon will cause the wire loop 199 to swing a substantial distance toward the machine.

The essence of the apparatus for supporting the substantial length of slack ribbon which accumulates during spool windings is that it be very flexible and have a substantial range of movement. More particularly, the ribbon-supporting element 199 is readily movable a substantial distance from its normal position by a relatively light force. The particular device illustrated in the draw ings, namely the wire loop 199, is in effect a relatively long and very light pendulum.

Apparatus has now been disclosed for automatically receiving an incoming line of empty spools, attaching the free end of a supply of ribbon to successive spools, winding a measured length of ribbon on the spools in smooth layers, cutting the ribbon, and applying a protective wrapping to the wound spool. Various features of the invention serve to overcome obstacles in the path to this over-all objective, and to make the over-all machine eflicient, reliable, and less expensive to manufacture.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and it is, therefore, contemplated to cover by the appended claims any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention having thus been described, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for winding measured lengths of ribbon on successive hollow spools, a movable carriage, intermittently driven spindles on said carriage for rotating spools and winding measured lengths of ribbon thereon from a relatively large reel of ribbon, said carriage being movable between such windings to bring an empty, spindle-carried spool against ribbon trailing from a wound spool, means carried by said carriage for maintaining spools arranged on said spindles in a predetermined relationship with respect to said carriage as said carriage moves, a knife blade power driven toward and away from an empty spool on one of said spindles when said carriage is in one position for cutting a slot in the cylindrical surface of such spool, a second power driven knife blade for cutting said ribbon and a relatively blunt blade power driven toward and away from such spool and in alignment with said slot when said carriage has moved said spool between windings to another position against said trailing ribbon with said spool maintained in predetermined relationship with respect to said carriage, whereby ribbon overlying said slot may be tucked into said slot by said relatively blunt blade, ribbon metering apparatus intermediate said empty spool and said reel and driven by passage of ribbon therethrough for limiting the length of ribbon wound on individual spools, means for permitting the winding of a substantial length of ribbon on said empty spool before the passage of ribbon drives said metering apparatus whereby said tucking of said ribbon into said slot in said empty spool and the friction of said substantial length of ribbon against said spool are sufiicient to accelerate and drive said metering apparatus, said means comprising a member engageable with said ribbon intermediate said empty spool and said metering apparatus and movable generally transversely of the ribbon, said member drawing on said ribbon before said ribbon is cut and releasing said ribbon before the subsequent spool winding, whereby slack ribbon is provided to permit such winding of a substantial length of ribbon on said empty spool before the passage of the ribbon drives said metering apparatus, means for withdrawing ribbon from said reel at a fixed rate substantially equal to the average rate of winding of ribbon on successive spools, pendulum means supporting the slack ribbon which necessarily accumulates between said intermittent windings of ribbon on successive spools, said pendulum means being arranged to fall away from the normal path of ribbon between said reel and said spools when slack ribbon accumulates, and to be drawn readily toward said path by said ribbon when said slack ribbon is wound onto said spools.

2. In a machine for winding measured lengths of ribbon on successive hollow spools, a movable carriage, intermittently driven spindles on said carriage for rotating spools and winding measured lengths of ribbon thereon from a substantially continuous supply, said carriage being movable between such windings to bring an empty, spindle-carried spool against ribbon trailing from a wound spool, means carried by said carriage for maintaining spools arranged on said spindles in a predetermined relationship with respect to said carriage as said carriage moves, a knife blade power driven toward and away from an empty spool on one of said spindles when said carriage is in one position for cutting a slot in the cylindrical surface of such spool, a second power driven knife blade for cutting said ribbon and a relatively blunt blade power driven toward and away from such spool and in alignment with said slot when said carriage has moved said spool between windings to another position against said trailing ribbon with said spool maintained in predetermined relationship with respect to said carriage, whereby ribbon overlying said slot may be tucked into said slot by said relatively blunt blade, ribbon metering apparatus intermediate said empty spool and said supply and driven by passage of ribbon therethrough for limiting the length of ribbon wound on individual spools, and means for permitting the winding of a substantial length of ribbon on said empty spool before the passage of ribbon drives said metering apparatus whereby said tucking of said ribbon into said slot in said empty spool and the friction of said substantial length of ribbon against said spool are sufiicient to accelerate and drive said metering apparatus, said means comprising a member engageable with said ribbon intermediate said empty spool and said metering apparatus and movable generally transversely of the ribbon, said member drawing on said ribbon before said ribbon is cut and releasing said ribbon before the subsequent spool winding, whereby slack ribbon is provided to permit such winding of a substantial length of ribbon on 13 said empty spool before the passage of the ribbon drives said metering apparatus.

3. In a machine for Winding measured lengths of'ribbon on successive hollow spools, a movable carriage, intermittently driven spindles on said carriage forrotating spools and winding measured lengths of ribbon thereon from-a substantially continuous supply, said carriage being movable between such windings to bring an empty, spindle-carried -spool'against ribbon trailing from a wound spool, means carried by said carriage for releasably locking spools arranged on said spindles against rotation with respect to said carriage as said carriage moves, a knife blade power driven toward and away from an empty spool on one of said spindles when said carriage is'in one position for cutting a slot in the cylindrical surface of such spool, means cooperating with said carriage for aligning such ribbon trailing from the wound spool with respect to the slot formed on the empty spool carried by said carriage, a relatively blunt blade power driven toward and away from such spool and in alignment with said slot when said carriage has moved said spool between windings to aposition against said trailing ribbon with said spool locked against rotation with respect to said carriage, whereby ribbon overlying said slot may be tucked into said slot by said relatively blunt blade, and a second knife blade power driven toward and away from said spool with said spool in said second mentioned position for severing said trailing ribbon intermediate said wound spooland said blunt blade.

4. In a machine for winding measured lengths of ribbon onspools, such machine having a movable carriage, intermittently driven spindles on said carriage for rotating spools and winding measured lengths of ribbon thereon from a substantially continuous supply, said carriage being movable between such windings to bring an empty, spindle-carriedspool against ribbon trailing from a wound spool, means for cutting said ribbon intermediate said spools and for lightly securing the free end of said ribbon supply to said empty spool, and ribbon metering means intermediate said empty spool and said supply and driven by passage of ribbon therethrough for limiting the length of ribbon wound on individual spools; apparatus for permitting the winding of a substantial length of ribbon onsaid empty spool before the passage of ribbon drives said metering means whereby said light securing of said ribbon to said empty spool and the friction of said substantial length of ribbon against said spoolis sufficient to accelerate and drive said metering means, said apparatus comprising a member engageable with said ribbon intermediate said empty spool and said metering means and mounted for movement generally transversely of the ribbon, whereby said member may draw on said ribbon before said ribbon is cut and release said ribbon before the subsequent spool winding to provide slack ribbon and to permit such winding of a substantial length-of ribbon on said empty spool before the passage of the ribbon drives said metering means.

5. In a machine for winding measured lengths of ribbon on spools, a movable carriage, intermittently driven spindles on said carriage for rotating spools and winding measured lengths of ribbon thereon from a substantially continuous supply, said carriage being movable between such windings to" bring' an empty, spindle-carried spool against ribbon trailing from a wound spool, means for cutting said ribbon intermediate said spools and for lightly securing the free end of said ribbon supply to said empty spool, ribbon metering apparatus intermediate said empty spool and saidsupply and driven by passage of ribbon therethrough for limiting the length of ribbon wound on individual spools, and means for permitting the winding of a substantial length of ribbon on said empty spool before the passage of ribbon drives said metering apparatus whereby said light securing of said ribbon to said empty spool and the friction of said substantial length of ribbon against said spool is sufl'icient 1 4- to accelerate and drive said metering apparatus, said means comprising a member engageable with said ribbon intermediate said empty spool and said metering apparatus and mounted for movement generally transversely of the ribbon, whereby said member may drawon said ribbon before said ribbon is cut and release said ribbon before the subsequent spool winding to provide slack ribbon and to permit such winding of a substantial length of ribbon on said empty spool before the passage of the ribbon drives said metering apparatus.

6. In a machine for winding measured lengths of ribbon on spools, such machine having a movable carriage, intermittently driven spindles on said carriage for rotating spools and winding measured lengths of ribbon thereon from a substantially continuous supply, said carriage being movable between such windings to bring an empty, spindle-carried spool against ribbon trailing from a wound spool, means for cutting said ribbon intermediate said spools and for lightly securing the free end of said ribbon supply to said empty spool, and ribbon metering apparatusintermediate said empty spool and said supply and driven by passage ofribbon therethrough for limiting the length of ribbon wound on individual spools; means for permitting the winding of a substantial length of ribbon on said empty spool before the passage of ribbon drives fixed members, whereby said member may draw on said ribbon before said ribbon is cut and release said ribbon before the subsequent spool winding to provide slack ribbon and to permit such winding of a substantial length of ribbon on said empty spool before the passage of the ribbon drives said metering apparatus.

7. In a machine for winding measured lengths of ribbon on spools, each of the latter being mounted on a frictionally driven spindle and rotated thereby to effect winding of ribbon thereon from a supply source, the improve ment which comprises a metering apparatus for limiting the length of ribbon which may be wound on said spool,

said apparatus including a metering wheel engaged and driven by the ribbon being wound on the spool, releasable brake means for frictionally engaging said wheel and preventing rotation thereof and stopping passage of said ribbon, and cam means driven by said metering wheel and operable after a predetermined angle of rev olution thereof to actuate said brake means into frictional engagement with said metering wheel.

8; A machine for winding measured lengths of ribbon on spools comprising a plurality of frictionally driven spindles for rotating spools to wind ribbon thereon from a supply source, and metering apparatus for limiting the length of ribbon which may be wound on each spool; said apparatus including a metering wheel having the periphery thereof engaged and driven by the ribbon being Wound on the spool, releasable brake means for frictionally engaging an end face of said wheel and preventing rotation thereof and stopping passage of said ribbon, speed reducing gear means driven by said metering wheel, first cam means driven by said gear means and operable after one revolution to actuate said brake means into frictional engagement with said metering wheel, oscillating means for guiding the ribbon from said wheel along the axial dimension of the spindle-accommodated spool, and second cam means driven by said gear means for controlling the oscillations of said guide means during each revolution of said first cam means.

9. In a machine for Winding measured lengths of ribbon on spools, a frictionally driven spindle for rotating a spool to wind ribbon thereon from a supply source, metering apparatus driven by passage of ribbon therethrough for limiting the length of ribbon which may be wound on said spool, said apparatus including a metering wheel engaged and driven by said ribbon, friction brake means for preventing rotation of said wheel and thereby stopping passage of said ribbon, speed reducing gear means driven by said metering wheel, and cam means driven by said gear means and operable after one revolution to actuate said brake means to stop said metering wheel, means for guiding said ribbon back and forth along the axial dimension of said spool as fed thereto, rotary cam means driven by said gear means for moving said guide means through a plurality of operating cyclesduring each revolution of said first-mentioned cam means, a power driven knife blade for cutting said ribbon after said spool has been fully wound, and positive stop means actuated by said metering apparatus at the end of one operating cycle thereof to stop said guide means at a predetermined position wherein it holds said ribbon in line 'with the path of movement of said knife blade.

10. In a machine for winding measured lengths of ribbon on spools, a frictionally driven spindle for rotating a spool to wind ribbon thereon from a supply source, metering apparatus driven by passage of ribbon therethrough for limiting the length of ribbon which may be wound on said spool, said apparatus including a metering wheel engaged and driven by said ribbon, friction brake means for preventing rotation of said wheel and thereby stopping passage of said ribbon, speed reducing gear means driven by said metering wheel, and cam means driven by said gear means and operable after one revolution to actuate said brake means to stop said metering wheel, a pivotable arm for guiding said ribbon back and forth along the axial dimension of said spool as fed thereto, rotary cam means driven by said gear means for moving said guide arm through a plurality of operating cycles during each revolution of said first-mentioned cam means, a power driven knife blade for cutting said ribbon after said spool has been fully wound, and positive stop means actuated by said metering apparatus at the end of one operating cycle thereof to stop said guide arm at a predetermined position wherein it holds said ribbon in line with the path of movement of said knife blade.

11. In a machine for transferring ribbon from a relatively large, heavy reel to successive, relatively small spools; in combination, regularly and intermittently driven spindle means for receiving and rotating successive spools to wind ribbon thereon, means for withdrawing ribbon from said reel at a fixed rate substantially equal to the average rate of winding of ribbon on said spools, and pendulum means supporting the slack ribbon which necessarily accumulates between said intermittent windings ofribbon on successive spools, said pendulum means being arranged to fall away from the normal path of ribbon between said reel and said spools when slack ribbon accumulates and to be drawn readily toward said path by said ribbon when said slack ribbon is wound onto said spools.

12. In a machine for transferring ribbon from a relatively large, heavy reel to successive, relatively small spools; in combination, regularly and intermittently driven spindle means for receiving and rotating successive spools to wind ribbon thereon, means for withdrawing ribbon from said reel at a fixed rate substantially equal to the average rate of winding of ribbon on said spools, and pendulum means supporting the slack ribbon which necessarily accumulates between said intermittent windings of ribbon on successive spools, said pendulum means being arranged to fall away from the normal path of ribbon between said reel and said spools when slack ribbon accumulates and to be drawn toward said path by said ribbon when said slack ribbon is wound onto said spools, said pendulum means being long and light in weight whereby a light pull on said ribbon may draw said pendulum a substantial distance from its normal position. i

13. In a machine for winding measured lengths of ribbon on successive hollow spools, a movable carriage, intermittently driven spindles on said carriage for rotating spools and Winding measured lengths of ribbon thereon from a substantially continuous supply, said carriage being movable between such windings to bring an empty, spindle-carried spool against ribbon trailing from a wound spool, means carried by said carriage for releasably locking spools arranged on said spindles against rotation with respect to said carriage as said carriage moves, a knife blade power driven toward and away from an empty spool on one of said spindles when said carriage is in one position for cutting a slot in the cylindrical surface of such spool, a relatively blunt blade movable toward and away from such spool in alignment with said slot when said carriage has moved said spool between windings to a position against said trailing ribbon with said spool locked against rotation with respect to said carriage, whereby ribbon overlying said slot may be tucked into said slot by said relatively blunt blade, at second knife blade power driven toward and away from said spool with said spool in said second-mentioned position for severing said trailing ribbon intermediate said wound spool and said blunt blade, and power driven apparatus for moving said blunt blade toward and away from such spool, said apparatus including a power driven base element and spring means intermediate said blade and said element whereby said blade may be brought into resilient contact with such ribbon and spool and remain temporarily in such contact until said base element directly engages said blade and drives said blade and said ribbon into said slit, said second knife blade being arranged to sever said ribbon while said blunt blade is resiliently pressing said ribbon against such spool.

14. In a machine for winding measured lengths of ribbon on successive hollow spools, means for holding ribbon resiliently against an empty spool while such ribbon is being severed from a wound spool of ribbon and then tucking such ribbon into a preformed slit in said empty spool, said means comprising a blunt blade for contacting such ribbon, a power driven base member directly engageable with said blade to force said blade and such ribbon into said preformed slit, and spring means normally maintaining said blade in advance of said base member as said blade is moved toward such spool, said spring means being yieldable when said blade contacts such ribbon whereby such ribbon is held resiliently against such spool until said base member directly engages said blade and forces such ribbon into such preformed slit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,809,660 Wild et al. June 9, 1931 1,868,663 Johnson July 26, 1932 1,912,250 Borletti May 30, 1933 1,962,757 Baker June 12, 1934 2,049,759 Blosser Aug. 4, 1936 2,190,597 Dritz Feb. 13, 1940 2,207,615 Crandall July 9, 1940 2,301,016 Cannard Nov. 3, 1942 2,460,723 Weesner Feb. 1, 1949 2,546,637 Robson Mar. 27, 1951 2,598,537 Hanson May 27, 1952 2,785,867 Gallagher Mar. 19, 1957 2,813,345 Scott Nov. 19,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CGRRECTION Patent N0n 2 984 425 May 16 1961 Josephus J, Thayer' It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent. should read as "corrected below.

Column 3, line 33 before "the" first occurrehce insert for driving column 5, line 33 for "subsequent" read subsequently -==u Signed and sealed this 10th day of October 1961.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC

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