US3204904A

US3204904A - Support means for a plurality of horizontal bars

Info

Publication number: US3204904A
Application number: US292272A
Authority: US
Inventors: Eric R Peterson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-07-02
Filing date: 1963-07-02
Publication date: 1965-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 1982-09-07

Description

Sept. 7, 1965 E. R. PETERSON 3,204,904

SUPPORT MEANS FOR A PLURALITY 0F HORIZONTAL BARS Filed July 2, 1963 FIG. I

INVENTOR ERIC RONALD PETERSON 5 zz/a /4 FIG. 2'

United States Patent 3,204,904 SUPPORT MEANS FOR A PLURALITY 0F HORIZONTAL BARS Eric R. Peterson, 23 Miller Sh, Staten Island, N.Y. Filed July 2, 1963, Ser. No. 292,272 9 Claims. (Cl. 248-125) This invention relates to apparatus to facilitate the insertion of Spacer bars into a pallet loaded with a stack of paper to be cut, and more particularly to such apparatus having vertically adjustable means to lift and support said spacer bars.

Paper mills commonly ship pallets or skids of paper having typical dimensions of 53 inches by 78 inches by 36 inches high. A load of paper this size would weigh in the order of 4000 pounds. The paper house receiving the skid load from the mill may cut the sheets again to a smaller size for shipment to the printer or the printing plant may cut its own sheet.

Generally, a stack 53 inches by 78 inches by 6 inches high and weighing approximately 650 pounds, may be cut by a single stroke of a standard cutting machine. In many instances, the height of the stack to be cut is de lineated by transverse spacer bars inserted into the stack at suitable intervals. Typical apparatus utilizing this mode of operation is described and illustrated in my copending application for a Multiple Sheet Handling Device, filed April 17, 1963, and assigned Serial No. 276,- 116.

As described therein, the spacer bars are inserted transversely into the leading edge of the stack at suitable intervals, such as indicated by ream markers. When fully inserted, the bars are adapted to overhang each side of the stack. It should be understood that ream spacing is used only by way by example and that other more convenient spacing may be and are used.

The insertion of the topmost bar is relatively easy since only the leading edge of a 6-inch height of paper must be lifted. However, it will be appreciated that as the successively lower bars are inserted, the task becomes increasingly difficult. In addition, as greater heights of paper are manipulated, there is the danger of moving the edges out of vertical alignment. Should the stack be shifted, then succeeding cutting operations will not be accurate and will result in wastage of stock. Concurrent with costliness of such wastage is increased operator fatigue and the resultant lowering of efiiciency of plant personnel.

The present invention is adapted to support the spacer bar at its overhanging end portions after each bar has been inserted. Moreover, each bar is maintained slightly elevated relative to its normal position during the insertion of subsequent lower bars so that the leading edge of the paper above the last inserted bar is not resting on the remainder of the stack. Thus, only the leading edge of the next successive layer downward, say, the thickness of a single ream of paper, need be lifted in order to insert the next spacer bar.

By this means, each layer of the desired height may be marked with a spacer bar and supported above the remaining paper in the stack. The intervals are thereby marked as accurately and as frequently as required and the danger of disrupting the stack during bar insertion is averted. It will be appreciated that lifting only the leading edge of a 650-pound stack may be done with greater ease than lifting the leading edge of a 4000-pound stack, as would be required to insert the lowermost bar. Without the present invention, the bars were forced into the stack to avoid having to lift excessive weights.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus that will support a plurality of spacer bars subsequent to their insertion.

"ice

It is another object to provide apparatus that will support a plurality of spacer bars in an elevated position with respect to the leading edge of the remaining stack of paper.

Still another object is to support said spacer bars in an elevated position, said support'being provided on either side of the stack of paper.

An additional object is to provide mobile apparatus that may be brought to the stack of paper and be removed after the spacer bars are inserted.

A further object is to provide spacer bar support apparatus that is inexpensive to fabricate and easy to use.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will, in part, be pointed out with particularity and will, in part, be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the appended drawing.

In the various figures of the drawing, like reference characters denote like parts.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view in section taken along line 22 of FIG. 1, with the stack of paper and the spacer bar omitted for clarity.

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of the adjustable spacer bar support means of the present invention with a portion broken away to show the position retaining means.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an alernative embodiment of the adjustable support means for the present invention illustrating different position retaining means.

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawing, the bar support structure is-generally indicated by the reference character 10 and is comprised of a pair of spaced, vertically standing columns 12. Carriage 14 which is provided with rollers or casters 16 supports the columns and permits the movement of the apparatus within the plan-t.

Structural members

18a, 18b and 18c are included to assure rigidity of the entire apparatus.

Columns 12 may be, as shown in the drawing, in the form of an I-beam or an H-beam, having a web portion 12a and at least one flange portion 12b. Other configurations may also be employed providing that the spacer bar support means to be described hereinafter may be adjustably positioned thereon. Advantageously, the columns are steel and are welded to carriage 14. The structural members are also steel and are welded to the columns and the carriage. Bar support members 22 are adapted to slide vertically on columns 12 and are'guided thereon by one of the flanges 1212, as shown in FIG. 2.

As may be seen in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, body portion 24 of bar support 22 is hollow and rectangular in shape having

side walls

26 and 28 and

end walls

30 and 32. Wall I 32 is provided with a central slot 34 extending between the top and bottom open ends of body portion 24, said slot being substantially the same width as web portion 12a of channel member 12. Slot 34 is adapted to slide on web 12a and be guided thereby. The inside dimension between

walls

30 and 32 is greater than the thickness of web 121;, the purpose of which will be brought out'hereinafter. I

Bar support member 22 is provided with a horizontal extension 36 depending outwardly from and substantially at right angles to body portion 24. When the apparatus is in use, extension 36 projects past the leading edge L of the stack of paper in the direction away from support structure 10. Columns 12 are positioned proximate to and on either side of the stack of paper loaded on skid or pallet P so that support members 22 slidably positioned thereon are similarly disposed. Therefore, support member extensions 36 will be positioned in the areas occupied by the spacer bar end portions when the spacer bars are inserted.

In body portion 24, there is further provided position holding means comprising a pair of studs 42 which pass through wall 30 so that the ends opposite the heads thereof are proximate the outside surface of flange 12b.

In order to use the apparatus of the present invention, the operator manually inserts a spacer bar S at the topmost desired level which may be noted by a ream marker R. Bar S is inserted such that one leg is between two adjacent pieces of paper and so that the other leg of the spacer bar, perpendicular thereto, abuts the leading edge L of the stack. Bar 8 is adapted to overhang each side of the stack. For this purpose, the spacer bars are some- What longer than the Width of the :stack. The leading edge L may now be dropped back onto the stack with the spacer bar in place and the topmost bar supports 22, on each vertical column 12, are then manually raised to engage and lift the spacer bar at its overhanging ends. Because body portion 24 of the bar support fits loosely on flange 12b of the column, and because the weight of the paper and the spacer bar .is resting on extension 36 of bar support member 22, a moment will be set up with flange portion 12b of column 12 as the fulcrum.

As a result of this clockwise moment, as denoted by arrow a in FIG. 1, studs 42 will engage flange surface 12b and prevent any downward motion of the bar support m mber 22, the spacer bar S, or the papersupported thereon. The use of screws for the studs has been found to be advantageous in that they are adjustable and may readily be replaced if they should become damaged or worn after protracted use.

An alternative to the use of studs 42 is shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 wherein end wall 50 of body member '52 may be provided with an inwardly turned flange 54 on its lower edge. Flange 54 will also engage flange surface 12b when a moment is set up as hereinbefore described. Further, flange 54 may be serrated to provide one or more teeth to positively abut flange 12b and to prevent any downward slipping thereof.

The sequence of steps is repeated for each successively lower spacer bar until insertion of all the desired spacer bars into the entire stack is completed. It should be noted that as each bar is being inserted, the only paper that must be lifted is that layer immediately below the last spacer bar above. All spacer bars above the one being inserted are held elevated above the position they would normally assume in a stack readyfor cutting. When all spacer bars are in place, the pallet is lifted as by a fork lift truck for delivery to a utilization device such as is shown in my copending application. The lifting motion of the truck releases the overhanging ends of the spacer bars from extensions 36 of the bar support members.

While the welded channel construction shown is presently preferred, it will be appreciated that standard tubular piping and mating fittings may be employed within the teachings of the present invention to achieve an equivalent device. That is, a concentric cylindrical fitting may be used to slide up and down a vertical tubular support.

The apparatus of the present invention is relatively inexpensive and simple to fabricate, yet it is rugged and durable. The present invention isa useful adjunct to paper cutting machinery in that it performs a task that was heretofore time consuming and tiring. The present invention is mobile and may be used in various work areas to insert spacer bars in several stacks so that a continuous supply of paper is available for the cutting apparatus.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiments of the invention presently contemplated and it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

. What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for the simultaneously and releasably support of a plurality of horizontal, transverse, spacer bars in a stack of paper sheets wherein the ends of the spacer bars overhang each side of the stack comprising:

(A) at least two spaced vertical columns each having a smooth, single planar binding face, said columns adapted to be disposed proximate to and on either side of the stack of sheets; and

(B) at least two one-piece bar support members slidably disposed one above the other on each of said columns whereby said bar support members engage the underside of the overhanging spacer bar ends during upward travel and are adapted to be an-gularly cocked in a plane perpendicular to the transverse position of the supported spacer bars for engagement with said columns to prevent downward travel when supporting the spacer bars.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a mobile carriage adapted to support said columns.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bar support members are hollow and rectangular having a first inside dimension substantially the same as the width of said vertical column and a second inside dimension at right angles to and in the same plane as said first inside dimension, said second inside dimension being larger than the width of said vertical column.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said column is comprised of at least one flange portion and a web portion connected to :said flange portion and wherein said support members are hollowand have a. slot therein, the slot being adapted to slidingly engage said web portion, the hollow portion having a dimension slightly greater than the thickness of said flange portion.

5. The apparatus of claiml wherein said bar support member includes an extension thereto comprising a horizontal leg depending outwardly from and substantially at right angles to said support member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 including position holding means integral with said bar support member, said posit-ion holding means adapted to maintain said bar support member in engagement with the underside of the overhanging spacer bar ends and in engagement with said columns whereby said bar support members are angularly disposed to said columns.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said position holding means are comprised of at least one stud threadably engaged in ,said bar support member, whereby the ends opposite the head of said stud is proximate said column during the upward travel of said bar support member and whereby the end opposite the head of said stud is adapted to abut said column when said bar support members are in engagement with the underside of the overhanging spacer bar ends.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said position holding means is comprised of an inwardly turned flange on the lower edge of said bar support member.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said inwardly turned flange includes a multi-toothed edge adapted to positively abut said columns.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 985,079 2/11 Venard 248-246 1,276,677 8/18 Mittleburg 248-246 1,343,445 6/20 Gaiters 248-221 1,686,993 10/28 Sutter 248246 2,316,892 4/43 Saul 248- 2,365,410 12/44 Holmes 248-125 2,736,526 2/56 Forbes 248--125 2,765,136 10/56 Knapp 248-246 3,066,665 12/62 Reilly 248125 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR THE SIMULTANEOUSLY AND RELEASABLY SUPPORT OF A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTAL, TRANSVERSE, SPACER BARS IN A STACK OF PAPER SHEETS WHEREIN THE ENDS OF THE SPACER BARS OVERHANG EACH SIDE OF THE STACK COMPRISING: (A) AT LEAST SPACED VERTICAL COLUMNS EACH HAVING A SMOOTH SINGLE PLANAR BINDING FACE, SAID COLUMNS ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED PROXIMATE TO AND ON EITHER SIDE OF THE STRACK OF SHEETS; AND (B) AT LEAST ONE-PIECE BAR SUPPORT MEMBERS SLIDABLY DISPOSED ONE ABOVE THE OTHER ON EACH OF SAID COLUMNS WHEREBY SAID BAR SUPPORT MEMBERS ENGAGE THE UNDERSIDE OF THE OVERHANGING SPACER BAR ENDS DURING UPWARD TRAVEL AND ARE ADAPTED TO BE ANGULARLY COCKED IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO THE TRANSVERSE POSITION OF THE SUPPORTED SPACER BARS FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID COLUMNS TO PREVENT DOWNWARD TRAVEL WHEN SUPPORTING THE SPACER BARS.