GB583072A - Assorting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

583,072. Assorting-machines. SHUMAN, M. June 27, 1944, No. 12210. [Class 106 (ii)] An assorting-machine for screws and the like in which the screws are firstly assorted according to head diameter, secondly according to head height and thirdly according to shank length. The'screws are placed into a hopper 1, Fig. 1, and pass singly along a shoot 2 into guide 3 wherein they are carried by diverging rotating shafts 4 and 5. The screws slowly advance along the shafts and drop through the space between them into various hoppers as soon as that space becomes wider than the diameter of the screw head. From the hoppers 6 they pass down shoots 8 into the notches 9 of a corresponding series of belts 10, 11, 12 mounted on pulleys 13 and 14. Each of these belts pass through a row of six casings, in which perforations are provided to allow passage of the screws. In the first three of these casings the screws are assorted according to height of head by means of dislodging members 37 mounted on rotating shafts 33, 34, 35 situated above the belts (see Fig. 4). In the next three casings the screws are separatedaccording to shank length by means of dislodging members 27 mounted on rotating shafts 23, 24, 25 situated below the belts. The screws that are dislodged in the first three casings are returned to hoppers 6 to pass again on to the continuously moving belts, the shafts 33, 34, 35 are stopped and the screws are sorted according to shank length. Connections for rotating the various shafts comprise an electric - motor 40 driving a shaft 41 on which is mounted a worm 42 engaging a worm-wheel 43 to rotate shaft 16 and the pulleys 13, 14. Spiral gearing 44, 45 rotates shaft 46 which, in turn, rotates shafts 23, 24, 25 by means of bevels thereby driving the screw dislodging members 27. Similarly, the members 37 are rotated from a shaft 54 attached to shaft 41 by means of clutch members 55, 56. The clutch members 55, 56 can be disconnected when it is desired to stop the shafts 33, 34, 35. Figs. 5 and 6 (not shown) illustrate a modified dislodging means in which a series of rotating discs are used.