Die cutter blanket-anvil locking arrangement

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6612214
  • Patent Number
    6,612,214
  • Date Filed
    Friday, October 5, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 2, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Original Assignees
  • Examiners
    • Shoap; Allan N.
    • Alie; Ghassem
    Agents
    • Carella, Byrne, Bain, Gilfillan, Cecche et al.
    • Gilfillan, III; John G.
    • Squire; William
Abstract
A molded anvil blanket is formed with a projection depending at each end, the ends for abutting when wrapped about the anvil, the anvil having a transverse channel for receiving the projections. The projections mate to form a common recess enclosed by a metal angle member secured to each projection. The angle member and projections have a transverse slot for mounting the blanket end and projections on a pneumatic mechanism attached to the anvil. The mechanism includes an air cylinder secured to the anvil in a radial anvil bore. The cylinder has a shaft which extends in response to pressurized air. A spring attached to the air cylinder and to a T-bar which releasably engages the blanket common recess normally biases the projections locked into the channel in a fail safe mode. The activated air cylinder lifts the projections out of the channel so the blanket ends can be manually released from the anvil by sliding the T-bar out of engagement with the projections via the slots in the projections and angle member.
Description




This invention relates to securing arrangements for securing a die cutter blanket to an anvil about which the blanket is wrapped for use in a sheet material die cutting apparatus.




Die cutter blankets are thermoset molded urethane material that wrap about steel circular cylindrical anvils. The anvils typically have a longitudinal axially extending bore and a channel in the surface thereof extending along the anvil longitudinal axis. The blankets are wrapped about the anvil and have locking projections in some embodiments. The blankets are sheet material with opposing end edges at which the locking projections are located. The ends are complementary and the locking projections engage when inserted into the channel. The locking projections interlock when inserted into the anvil channel, locking the edges to the blanket and locking the blanket to the anvil and precluding the blanket from rotating about the anvil.




U.S. Pat. No. 3,765,329 discloses one aspect of a blanket with such projections. The plastic blanket has a sheet metal inner liner. The locking projections form a two part snap in construction in which a female part receives a male part, the female part depending from the blanket at one end edge thereof with a longitudinal rounded groove and the male part is complementary to the groove and snaps into the groove. The male part may be made of metal. The female part has a metal support. The male and female parts depend from the blanket edge for insertion into the anvil channel.




Other complementary locking structures are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,073,207, 4,848,204, 3,885,486, 4,867,024, 5,078,535, 5,720,212, 5,758,560, 5,916,346 and 6,135,002. All of the above patents use inerlocking complementary depending structures which fit into the anvil channel and cooperate with each other and the anvil channel to lock the blanket ends together and to the anvil in interference fit in the anvil channel. These require the projections to be force fit into the anvil channels to obtain the locking action. Typically the projections are hammered into the channel to interlock surface features of the mating projections or to interlock the projections with the channel. In addition, the projections may be bolted to the anvil channel using brackets.




Another locking arrangement for locking blanket ends together employs interlocking interdigitated fingers which are somewhat dovetail in shape. The interlocking fingers are in the same plane as the blanket sheet material and overlie the anvil. The anvil has a channel. The interlocking fingers overlie the channel. The blanket interlocking finger end portions have a depending projection which fits within the anvil channel to preclude the blanket from rotating relative to the anvil.




The problem with the above constructions is that the locking projections that are inserted into the anvil channels mate typically in interference fit. This requires the projections to be hammered into the anvil channel. This is cumbersome. Also, to remove the blanket requires a reverse process which is even more difficult because the blanket ends need to by pried out of the anvil channel. This is a labor intensive operation and costly to implement. The present inventor recognizes a need for a simpler and easier to install and uninstall blanket locking arrangement which is faster and more economical to implement.




According to the present invention the above problems are minimized by a die cutting anvil-blanket assembly comprising a plastic material die cutter blanket lying in a plane and having opposing ends, each end having a projection depending from the plane. A roller anvil has an outer surface and a longitudinal first bore defining an axis about which the anvil rotates, the anvil having an axially extending channel in the outer surface, the blanket being wrapped about the anvil with the opposing ends and projections abutting each other, the projections being located in the channel in a locked state. A pneumatic apparatus is secured to the anvil and is coupled to the blanket for selectively securing the projections in the channel in the blanket locked state and for selectively displacing the projections out of the channel to a blanket unlocked state.




In one aspect, the anvil includes a second radial bore in communication with the channel and with the anvil first bore, the pneumatic apparatus comprising an air cylinder secured to the anvil in the first bore and associated with the second bore for selectively displacing the blanket from the locked state to the unlocked state.




In a further aspect, the pneumatic apparatus includes a spring for normally biasing the blanket in the locked state.




In a further aspect, the air cylinder includes a shaft for extending in response to applied pressurized air, and a yoke secured to the air cylinder shaft, the yoke including a member releasably engaged with the projections for displacing the projections in response to displacement of the shaft.




In a still further aspect, the air cylinder includes a shaft, the pneumatic apparatus including a spring having a predetermined bias and coupled to the anvil and to the shaft, the shaft being retracted to the locked state in response to the bias of the spring and for extension to the unlocked state in response to pressurize air applied to the air cylinder against the spring bias.




In a further aspect, an interface member is secured to the anvil and arranged to secure the air cylinder thereto.




Preferably, the interface member comprises a first member secured to the anvil in the channel and a second member depending from the first member and located in the radial bore, the second member being secured to the air cylinder.




In a further aspect, the projections at each blanket end has a recess, the recesses of the projections cooperating with each other with the blanket ends abutting in the locked state to form a single recess, the pneumatic apparatus including a member releasably engaged with the single recess for displacing the projections to the locked and unlocked states.




In a further aspect, the projections each have a slot which slots cooperate to releasably receive the member.




In a further aspect, the blanket comprises a plastic sheet member lying in a plane and having first and second opposite ends, the sheet member for wrapping about the anvil with the ends abutting. A first projection depends from the first end and a second projection depending from the second end, the first and second projections each having a recess therein distal the plane, the recesses for forming a single complementary recess extending along the blanket ends and open at one recess side facing radially away from the plane of the sheet member with the ends abutting. A first member is attached to the blanket at the first end for forming a recess wall at the one recess side.




In a further aspect, a die cutter blanket anvil has a longitudinal axis about which the anvil rotates, the blanket having opposing ends and a depending projection at each end, the projections having a common cavity, the anvil outer peripheral surface having a channel extending transverse to the axis for receiving the projections in a blanket locked state. The anvil comprises an elongated first shaft having a longitudinally axially extending first anvil bore. A plurality of second radial bores are in the first shaft, each second bore in communication with the channel and with the first anvil bore. A pneumatic apparatus is attached to the anvil in the first anvil bore at each the second radial bores, the pneumatic apparatus has a second shaft which extends in the respective second radial bore in response to a pneumatic force applied thereto. A blanket engaging device is attached to the second shaft for releasably engaging the blanket opposing ends for lifting the projections out of the channel to a blanket unlocked state from a locked state in the channel in response to extension of the second shaft. A blanket engaging member is included in the device for retaining the projections in the channel in the blanket locked state to releasably lock the blanket to the anvil.











IN THE DRAWING





FIG. 1

is a side fragmented sectional elevation view of a blanket and anvil locking arrangement and assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a more detailed view of the assembly of

FIG. 1

taken at region


2


;





FIG. 3

is a more detailed fragmented sectional end view of the locking arrangement of the blanket to the anvil embodiment of

FIGS. 1 and 2

in the closed locked state;





FIG. 4

is a view similar to that of

FIG. 3

showing the locking arrangement in the open unlocked state;





FIG. 5

is an isometric view of an air cylinder and T-bar and yoke used to open and close the locking arrangements of

FIGS. 3 and 4







FIG. 6

is a view similar to that of

FIG. 5

but showing also the engagement of the T-bar and yoke with metal angle portion of one of two end edges of the blanket of

FIGS. 1 and 2

;





FIG. 7

is an isometric view of the air cylinder of the various figures coupled to a T-block which is fastened to the anvil and to the air cylinder and with a portion of the blanket metal liner and angled reinforcement metal members attached to the liner at the blanket end regions;





FIG. 8

is an isometric view of a bushing used with the embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 9

is a more detailed fragmented side elevation sectional view of the T-bar and yoke of

FIGS. 5 and 6

;





FIG. 10

is a fragmented sectional side elevation view of the abutting end edges of the blanket of the present invention; and





FIG. 11

is a view similar to that of

FIG. 2

illustrating a further embodiment of the present invention in which the spring actuated air cylinder and spring is different than the spring and cylinder of the

FIG. 2

embodiment.












FIG. 1

, assembly


10


in the present embodiment comprises a steel circular cylindrical anvil


12


having a longitudinal axis


18


and an axial array of abutting die cutter blankets


14


wrapped about the anvil


12


. The assembly


10


is used in an apparatus in which dies (not shown) cut sheet material (not shown) moving over the rotating anvil


12


and blankets


14


. In a die cutting process, blank sheet material such as cardboard and the like is die cut as the sheet material passes over the rotating blanket. The anvil


12


,

FIG. 3

, has a channel


16


that extends for the length of the anvil along the anvil axis


18


, FIG.


1


. The channel


16


is square or rectangular in transverse section,

FIG. 3

, depending upon a given implementation. The anvil


12


is hollow and has an axially extending bore


13


. Bearings (not shown) mount the anvil


12


upon a drive mechanism which rotates the anvil and attached blankets.




Representative blanket


14


,

FIGS. 4 and 10

, has identical end portions


20


′ and


22


′ as the other blankets


14


. The blanket


14


is polyurethane plastic (thermoset plastic) molded sheet material that terminates at two end edges


20


and


22


at respective ends


20


′ and


22


′. Two molded projections


24


and


26


depend from the respective ends


20


′ and


22


′. The projections are complementary and form a composite single projection


28


(

FIG. 10

) complementary with the channel


16


(

FIG. 3

) for precluding rotation of the blanket


14


relative to the anvil


12


as the anvil rotates during the die cutting process. The projections are closely received in the channel


16


, but are not in interference fit therewith. The projections could be slightly in interference fit with the channel


16


to assure a tight fit of the composite projection in the channel.




The blanket


14


and projections


24


and


26


,

FIG. 10

, are molded attached to a sheet metal support liner


30


. The liner


30


has a planar blanket support portion


30


′ which extends for the length of the blanket and two legs


32


and


34


bent at right angles to the planar portion


30


′, leg


32


being at end


20


′ and leg


34


being at end


22


′. Projection


24


has an arcuate recess


36


and projection


26


has a mirror image arcuate recess


38


, recesses


36


and


38


each being one fourth a circular cylinder in mirror image relation and forming a common semi-circular cylindrical cavity or opening forming a single recess


40


,

FIG. 10

, with the ends


20


′ and


22


′ and projections abutting during engagement of the projections with the anvil


12


channel


16


. The cavity or opening recess


40


faces in a radial direction


44


normal to and away from the plane


42


of the blanket


14


. The molded plastic material forming the cavity or opening recess


40


is open in direction


44


except as provided by L-shaped members


46


and


48


which together cooperate to enclose the recess. The cavity or opening recess


40


extends along the length of the channel


16


(FIG.


3


).




Member


46


has one leg


50


welded to the liner leg


32


and is encased in the molded plastic material of the projection


24


. The other leg


52


extends across the common cavity or opening recess


40


to enclose the recess


40


at the otherwise open side distal the plane


42


. The end edge of the leg


52


abuts projection


26


, or in the alternative, may be spaced somewhat from the projection


26


to substantially enclose the cavity or opening recess


40


at the otherwise open side of the cavity or opening recess


40


.




Member


48


similarly has one leg


54


welded to leg


34


of the liner


30


′ and a second leg


56


at a right angle to leg


54


which is juxtaposed with leg


52


of member


46


. Members


46


and


48


preferably are steel. Legs


34


and


54


are encased by the plastic material of projection


26


. Member


48


leg


56


has a slot


58


and member


46


leg


52


has a slot


60


, the slots


58


and


60


being juxtaposed with the edges


20


and


22


abutting as shown in FIG.


10


and juxtaposed with a portion of the cavity or opening recess


40


.




In

FIG. 1

, the anvil


12


has an axially extending array of, preferably twelve in this embodiment (only some of which are shown), identical radially oriented rectangular bores


62


in communication with the anvil


12


outer peripheral surface


64


and bore


13


. An air cylinder


66


is associated with each bore


62


. Each cylinder


66


,

FIGS. 1 and 2

, has a member


68


that is secured to the anvil


12


via an interface member


70


. Further, each air cylinder


66


has a shaft


72


and is a one way unit. This means that the shaft


72


is extended by applied pressurized air in only one direction, direction


74


. When the pressure is removed the shaft is released and free to move in direction


74


′ opposite direction


74


.




In

FIGS. 2 and 7

, the interface member


70


comprises a base member


76


and a cross member


78


. In

FIG. 7

, only the liner


30


and the angled members


46


and


48


attached to the liner are shown for simplicity of illustration and to show the relationship of the parts. The base member


76


may be separate from the cross member


78


and attached by screws not shown. In the alternative, the base and cross members may be formed from one piece steel or aluminum. In

FIG. 7

, the interface member


70


is attached to the air cylinder member


68


by screws


80


. The base member


76


is a rectangular in cross section block. The cross member


78


is a flat sheet member that is rectangular in cross section. The member


78


has arms


82


and


84


. Arm


82


has a through hole


86


and arm


84


has a through hole


88


. Screws


90


,


92


,

FIG. 2

, fasten the arms


82


and


84


via the holes


86


,


88


to the anvil


12


in anvil recess


94


in the bottom wall


96


of the anvil channel


16


. The base member


76


has a through bore


98


.




In

FIGS. 3

,


4


and


8


, a circular cylindrical bushing


101


is mounted inside of the bore


98


. The bushing may be mounted recessed so that it is flush with the interior wall of the bore


98


in a manner not shown. The bushing may be secured by press fit into the bore


98


.




In

FIGS. 5 and 9

, yoke assembly


100


includes a yoke


102


secured to a blanket engaging cross member


104


which may be one piece as shown or two pieces screwed together (not shown). The yoke


102


is a tubular circular cylindrical member with a central axial bore


105


and a transverse through bore


106


in opposite sides of the yoke


102


and aligned with each other to receive a pin


109


. The bore


105


receives the shaft


72


of the air cylinder


66


. The shaft


72


is secured to the yoke


102


by pin


109


passing through air cylinder shaft


72


bore


108


and secured in bores


106


, by press fit, for example, or by screw threads (not shown).




The cross member


104


is secured to the yoke


102


by neck


110


. The cross member


104


has a semi-circular cylindrical cross section


112


in end view as seen in FIG.


5


. The cross member


104


fits within the cavity or opening recess


40


of the blanket projections


24


,


26


(

FIG. 10

) as shown in FIG.


3


and is complementary in shape to the cavity or opening recess


40


, e.g., partial-cylindrical. The cross member


104


is secured to the yoke


102


by neck


110


. The cross member


104


has a semi-circular cylindrical cross section


112


in end view as seen in FIG.


5


. The cross member


104


fits within the cavity or opening recess


40


of the blanket projections


24


,


26


(

FIG. 10

) as shown in FIG.


3


and is complementary in shape to the cavity or opening recess


40


, e.g., partial-cylindrical.




A coil compression spring


116


has one end secured to the air cylinder member


68


,

FIG. 3

, and the other spring end is secured to the cylinder shaft


72


or in the alternative to the yoke


100


. The spring


116


is normally biased in the quiescent position of

FIG. 3

wherein the yoke is pulled downward by the spring in direction


74


′. This locks the yoke assembly


100


cross member in the blanket locked position of

FIGS. 1-3

.




In operation, in

FIG. 4

, the air cylinder is extended by applying pressurized air to it. The pressurize air is applied simultaneously to all of the air cylinders in the array, FIG.


1


. The control


122


couples a source of pressurized air to outlet line


124


. Line


124


is connected by line


126


in parallel to the input lines


127


-


130


and so on of all of the air cylinders


66


of the array. The shafts


72


of all cylinders thus simultaneously extend to the blanket unlock state of FIG.


4


. The blankets


14


are assembled one at a time to the anvil, the blanket


14


of

FIG. 4

being representative.




A blanket


14


is wrapped loosely about the anvil in the desired axial position as shown in FIG.


4


. The blanket ends


20


′ and


22


′ are spaced above the anvil in exaggerated form for purposes of illustration. The ends


20


′ and


22


′ are displaced in directions


118


and


120


toward one another in directions


118


and


120


. The respective legs


52


and


56


of members


46


and


48


are also displaced in these directions. The respective slots


60


and


58


collectively receive the yoke assembly neck


110


during this displacement. The legs


52


and


56


overlap as displaced in these directions until the blanket ends edges


20


and


22


abut. The respective concave recesses


36


and


38


when abutting form the composite cavity or opening recess


40


, FIG.


3


. In this position, the locking cross member


104


of the yoke assembly


100


is located in the cavity or opening recess


40


and extends in the axial direction of axis


18


(

FIG. 1

) over the overlapping legs


52


and


54


. The locking cross member


104


is also over the channel on either side of the anvil bore


62


.




The remaining blankets


14


of the array are then assembled in sequence to the respective yoke assemblies of the array attached to the anvil


12


until all are in place with there end edges abutting as in

FIG. 3

but spaced above the anvil as in FIG.


4


. At this time the control


122


,

FIG. 1

, is operated to remove the pressurized air from the line


124


and from the air cylinders


66


in the array. The springs


116


then automatically retract the yoke assemblies to the locked state position of

FIG. 3

substantially at the same time as the pressure is removed from the air cylinders. This action forces the projections


24


and


26


into the anvil


12


channel


16


and locks the ends


20


′ and


22


′ of the blankets


14


of the array in the anvil channel


16


,

FIGS. 1-3

. This provides a fail safe operation in case the pressurized air source and control


122


fail and pressurized air is lost. The springs


16


always keep the blanket in the locked state when pressure is not supplied to the air cylinders.




To place the blankets in the unlocked state, the pressurized air is once again applied to the various air cylinders


66


extending the shafts


72


of all of the cylinders to the unlocked state of FIG.


4


. Selected ones of the blankets


14


are then removed and replaced by new blankets as needed.




While springs have been shown to provide a fail safe operation in case of loss of pressurized air, it will occur that a two way air cylinder that in response to pressurized air can be operated in two opposing directions. That is pressurized air is supplied to the cylinder in two opposite directions selectively by a control (not shown) to place the air cylinder shaft in either the locked or unlocked state. This avoids the use of the springs and may require additional pressurized air lines. However, in this case the fail safe feature is not provided. In addition, the two way operation may be provided the air cylinders in combination with the springs to provide the additional feature of pressurized air locking of the blankets if desired.




In

FIG. 11

, the embodiment is similar to that of

FIG. 2

except the air cylinder and spring are different. Parts with the same reference numerals are the same in the two figures. In

FIG. 11

, the air cylinder


123


has a shaft


124


that extends at portion


130


from the cylinder radially further into the anvil bore


13


. The extended end


132


of the portion


130


is threaded and receives nut


128


to secure the spring


126


to the shaft


124


. In this position the spring is extended in its quiescent position. When air pressure is applied to the cylinder


123


, the shaft portion


130


retracts into the cylinder and the spring


126


compresses. When pressure is removed, the spring


126


returns the shaft portion


130


to the extended position of FIG.


11


.




It will occur to one of ordinary skill in this art that still other various modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosed embodiment is for illustration and not limitation. The invention is defined by the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A die cutter blanket for use with an anvil having a longitudinal axis about which the anvil rotates, the anvil having a channel in the surface thereof extending transverse to the axis, the blanket comprising:a plastic material sheet member lying in a plane and having first and second opposite ends, the sheet member for wrapping about the anvil with the ends abutting; a first projection depending from the first end and a second projection depending from the second end, the first and second projections each having a recess therein distal the plane, the recesses for forming a single complementary recess extending along the blanket ends and open at one recess side facing radially away from the plane of the sheet member with the ends abutting; and a first member attached to the blanket at the first end for forming a recess wall at said one recess side, the first member having an edge, a slot in the first member forming a through opening in said recess wall at said one recess side in communication with the recess and in communication with the edge.
  • 2. The blanket of claim 1 further including a second member attached to the blanket at the second end for overlying said first member.
  • 3. The blanket of claim 2 wherein the second member has a through opening therein and forming a slot in communication with an edge of the second member, each first and second member slot being juxtaposed with each other for forming a through opening in said recess wall at said one recess side in communication with said recess.
  • 4. The blanket of claim 1 wherein the first member is L-shaped having a first leg attached to the first projection generally transverse to the plane and a second leg forming said recess wall.
  • 5. The blanket of claim 2 wherein the first and second members are L-shaped and each having a first leg attached to a different one of the respective first and second projections generally transverse to the plane and a second leg in said overlying relation.
  • 6. The blanket of claim 5 wherein the blanket includes a metal liner attached to the sheet member, the liner having a third leg in the first projection and a fourth leg in the second projection, the first member attached to the third leg and the second member attached to the fourth leg.
  • 7. The blanket of claim 2 wherein at least one of said first and second members is arranged to at least partially enclose said complementary recess.
  • 8. A die cutter blanket anvil having a longitudinal axis about which the anvil rotates, the blanket having opposing ends and a depending projection at each end, the projections having a common cavity, the anvil outer peripheral surface having a channel extending transverse to the axis for receiving the projections in a blanket locked state, the anvil comprising:an elongated first shaft having a longitudinally axially extending first anvil bore; a plurality of second radial bores in the first shaft, each second bore in communication with said channel and with said first anvil bore; a pneumatic cylinder attached to the anvil in said first anvil bore at each said second radial bores, said pneumatic cylinder having a second shaft which extends in the respective second radial bore in response to a pneumatic force applied thereto; and a blanket engaging device attached to the second shaft for releasably engaging the blanket opposing ends for lifting said projections out of said channel to a blanket unlocked state from a blanket locked state in the channel in response to the extension of said second shaft; and for retaining said projections in said channel in the blanket locked state to releasably lock the blanket to the anvil.
  • 9. The anvil of claim 8 further including a resilient element coupled to the anvil for normally biasing the blanket engaging device to the blanket locked state, for retraction of the second shaft in a direction opposite to said extension and for displacing the projections into said channel.
  • 10. The anvil of claim 8 wherein said pneumatic cylinder comprises an air cylinder responsive to selectively applied pressurized air.
  • 11. The anvil of claim 9 wherein the resilient element comprises a spring coupled to the anvil.
  • 12. The anvil of claim 10 wherein the air cylinder has a shaft extended by the applied pressurized air, the blanket engaging device including a yoke assembly comprising a yoke attached to the second shaft in said radial bore and extending in a first direction out of said radial bore and a blanket engaging member attached to the yoke extending in a second direction normal to the first direction for reception in the channel for engaging the blanket, the second shaft in response to the applied pressurized air extending to the blanket unlock state from the locked state, the blanket engaging device for causing the blanket engaging member to pull the projections into said channel to the blanket locked state and, in response to said second shaft extending, for pushing the projections out of the channel to the blanket unlocked state.
  • 13. The anvil of claim 12 further including a base member in each said anvil radial bore and a transverse member attached to the base member and secured to the anvil in the channel, and a fastening device for securing the air cylinder to the base member.
  • 14. A die cutting anvil-blanket assembly comprising:a plastic sheet material die cutter blanket lying in a plane and having opposing ends, each end having a projection depending from the plane; a roller anvil having an outer surface and a longitudinal first bore defining an axis about which the anvil rotates, the anvil having an axially extending channel in the outer surface, the blanket being wrapped about the anvil with the opposing ends and projections abutting each other, the projections being located in said channel in a locked state; and a pneumatic apparatus secured to the anvil and coupled to the blanket for selectively securing the projections in said channel in the blanket locked state and for selectively displacing said projections out of the channel to a blanket unlocked state.
  • 15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the anvil includes a second radial bore in communication with the channel and with the anvil first bore, the pneumatic apparatus comprising an air cylinder secured to the anvil in the first bore and associated with the second bore for selectively displacing said blanket from the locked state to the unlocked state.
  • 16. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the pneumatic apparatus includes a spring for normally biasing the blanket in the locked state.
  • 17. The assembly of 15 wherein the pneumatic apparatus includes a spring for normally biasing the projections in the locked state.
  • 18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the air cylinder includes a shaft for extending in response to applied pressurized air, and a yoke secured to the air cylinder shaft, the yoke including a blanket locking member releasably engaged with the projections for displacing the projections and blanket ends in response to displacement of the shaft to the unlocked state.
  • 19. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the air cylinder includes a shaft, the pneumatic apparatus including a spring having a predetermined bias and coupled to the anvil and to said shaft, said shaft being retracted to the locked state in response to the bias of said spring and for extension to the unlocked state in response to pressurize air applied to the air cylinder against the spring bias.
  • 20. The assembly of claim 15 including an interface member secured to the anvil and arranged to secure the air cylinder thereto.
  • 21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the interface member comprises a first cross member secured to the anvil in the channel and a second base member depending from the first member and located in the radial bore, the second base member being secured to the air cylinder.
  • 22. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the projections at each end has a recess, the recesses of the projections cooperating with each other with the blanket ends abutting to form a single recess opening, the pneumatic apparatus including a blanket locking member releasably engaged with said single opening recess for displacing the projections and blanket ends to the locked and unlocked states.
  • 23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the projections each have a slot which slots cooperate to releasably receive the blanket locking member.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Number Name Date Kind
3602970 Smith Sep 1971 A
3739675 Duckett et al. Jun 1973 A
3765329 Kirkpatrick et al. Oct 1973 A
4073207 Kirkpatrick Feb 1978 A
4191076 Bollmer et al. Mar 1980 A
4848204 O'Connor et al. Jul 1989 A
5076128 O'Connor et al. Dec 1991 A
5078535 Kirkpatrick Jan 1992 A
5720212 Kirkpatrick Feb 1998 A
5916346 Neal Jun 1999 A
6135002 Neal Oct 2000 A