GB290455A - Improvements in machines for assembling the links of gear and like chains - Google Patents

Abstract

290,455. Seuthe, A. June 11, 1927. Chains.-The parts of block chains are assembled, ready for the heading of the rivets in a separate machine, by automatically feeding the chain blocks, links and rivets to a channel between sets of dies which first move towards each other to assemble one part of the chain and then move longitudinally to feed the assembled part along the chain channel. The chain blocks are initially placed in a hopper 26 where they are stirred by driven arms 28, Fig. 3, and delivered by a rotary ring 29 to a chute 31 whence they descend to a chain channel 25. A slide 56 reciprocating transversely of the channel has fingers which feed chain links from hoppers into position under and above the chain blocks. Rivets in a magazine are stirred and fed by rotary slotted rings to chutes 48, 50 issuing above nippers which seize the rivets and carry them in a vertical position into alignment with the holes in the chain block and link opposite the slide 56. Dies 18-24 are mounted in reciprocating heads 10, 11 above. and below the chain channel respectively, the heads themselves being mounted on a slide 7 adapted to be reciprocated longitudinally of the machine by linkage from a cam 6. The die heads on being advanced towards each other cause the die 18 to locate the last block arriving from the hopper, the dies 19, 22 to locate two adjacent blocks and their link 35, the dies 20 to force the aligned rivets 42 through a link 35 till the tops of the rivets are just below the tops of the blocks and the dies 24 to return the rivets through the top link 36. The slide, 7 is then moved longitudinally to feed the assembled chain along the chain channel after which the dies are opened and the slide 7 returned alone. The chain is locked in position at each position of rest by a toothed wheel 68, Fig. 2, coacting with the assembled chain and locked by a pawl 69 controlled through linkage by a cam 74. A pinion 76 on the spindle of the wheel 68 drives a counter 77 which may automatically interrupt the assembling of the chain after a predetermined length, by means of a stop 78 which actuates a cam rod 83 thereby causing a pin to lock the rivet about to issue from the shoot 50. The machine is started by a manually controlled clutch.