US1078778A

US1078778A - Machine for gaging and distributing articles of different thicknesses.

Info

Publication number: US1078778A
Application number: US54177810A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lester L D Elderkin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1910-02-03
Filing date: 1910-02-03
Publication date: 1913-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 1930-11-18

Description

I L. L. D. ELDERKIN. MACHINE FOR GAGING AND DISTRIBUTING ARTICLES OF DIFFERENT THIGKNESSBS.

APPLIOATIONIILED FEB. a, 1910.

1,078,778.- Patented Nov. 18, 1913. 5 LS r 4 BHEETSSHEBT 1.

2f I g Q LasZerZflEZaZerin m I Q Q 5 L. L. D. ELDERKIN. MACHINE FOR GAGING AND DISTRIBUTING ARTICLES OF DIFFERENT THIGKNESSES. APPLICATION FILED P33. 3, 1910.

1,078,778, Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

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x Z I L. L. D. ELDERKIN. MACHINE FOR GAGING AND DISTRIBUTING ARTICLES OF DIFFERENT THIGKNESSES. APPLICATION FILED rmm, 1910.

1,078,778. Patented Nov. 18,1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

a E jg I im ugn/Z021 Z7 ZeSZarLQZZdaM/W L. L. D. ELDERKIN. MACHINE FOR GAGING AND DISTRIBUTING ARTICLES OF DIFFERENT THIGKNESSES.

APPLIGATION FILED rm. 3, 1910 Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

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J wvesaaax time and the expenseof skilled labor reqn'lredfon sorting articles in this way entra n STATES Parana onrioiif.

LESTER L. D. ELDERKIEN, OF BOSTON, MASSACH USETTS.

mama Eon GAGING AND nrs'rnr'iz'urmo ARTICLES or DIFFERENT THICKNESSES.

inc eats;

To a'fil' whomc't may concern Be it known that I, LESTER L. D. ELDER KIN, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have inventedjcertain new and useful Improvements in Ma chines for Ga ing and Distributing Articles of'Diiier'ent thicknesses, of which the 01 lowingis a specification.

This'inven-tion relates to mechanism for gaging the thickness of various articles and 1s combined: withwork-carryingmechanism and with automatic mechanismby which the work-engaging means is caused to dischargeor"release the articles at various oints so thata mass of articles'of various tlllCkIlQSSGS' may be sorted and deposited" at difierent pointsaccording to th'elr relative thickness;

In themanu'tact'ure of boots and shoes, the blanks-of leather which are subsequently incorporatdirrtothe bootsand shoes as soles and heei-lifts-are out or' died from hides which vary in thickness at 5 difl'erent points:

The result of the cutting or dieing operation isthat the soles -or*lifts become indiscriminately intermingled without regard to their 5 thicknessand it" is therefore necessary to separate them into various lots; each lot' comprising-only tliose soles or'lifts which are of approximately equal'thickness: Hithcite the separating or sortin of the soles or lifts has been accomplish manually by:

inserting-thearticles one by one betwe'en'cm operative member's of a gaging mechanism' which is provided-withindicating means by which the operatoris advised as to the thickness ofthe article. The operator, after obtaining anindication of'the thick ness,- depositsthe article in an appropriate rccept-acle designated for articles of a particular thickness; The consumption of Warrant the provision ofa machine which may automatically gage the thickness of the articles introduced to it and carry the articles to various-points and disoh arge'them at various points according to their thick-v ness so that all of such articles as are of one thicknessmay be deposited at" one point and those of other thicknesses may be deposited respectively at other. pointsa Totlris end thepr'esent invention pro- Videswi machine comhining' work gaging and carry-in means for carrying articles of variousfthic mess, and means for effecting the-release =of' fhe=-articles by thecarrying Specification of Batters-Patent.

Patented Nov. 18; 1913.

Application fileii February 3, 1910. SerialNo. Eel-778.

companying drawings show a machine of the above "specified character whichis especially adapted to gage anddeposi't articles such assol'es and lifts. I

A filrther object of the intention is' to gagethe thickness'of-each article at'a' plurality of points. Thisis accomplished by in'-' dependent calipers whereby the thickness of' the article at one oi the several points may begaged' independently of the members which engage the article at the other of said points.- This feature of the invention is rovided especially when the machin'is to e'employed for asserting soles.

It is'cu'stomary in selecting a sole to take as the basis oi -selection the thickness of'the sole at theniarginal portion of the torepart; If "the sole is, of' the reqiiired'- thickness" at themarginal portion of the forepart, the thickness of the other portions of the sole is comparatively unimportant. v To those-skilled in the'art, the reason for selectf ing-a sole according to this basis of compari son is WeII knoWnan'cl requires'no explanation. F'or'the purpose, then of equlpping a sorting machine with means for gaginga sole and 'depositingthe sole, solely w'ithregard to the-thickness of the marginal porf tion of the forepart, the r )resen't invention provides work-ga-ging-and carrying means including a-plurality of separate individual movable-jaws or feelers arranged to engage I the Inarginal'portion of the forepart of a soleat separate points, said jaws or feelers,- howev'er, being-related to each other in one' sense as a unit and combined with'means' controlled. by any one or all of sa'idjaw's' or feelers-Tor effecting the retraction" of the" jaws or feelers and 'the'conseqnentdischarge or release "of the sole. It may be desirable :to so organize the jaws or feelers as to en able the individtlal jaw engaging the point otininimu-m thickness'to control the releas ing'means, whereby thepoint at'which the" sole is released and discharged may be 'determined by that point of the marginal portion of tlie' for'epart which is of minimum thickness.

Having pro i'deda machine iriclucliiigtlle several mechanisms herembefore recited, it

is desirable to provide recording means whereby the number of articles discharged at each of the several discharging points, may be recorded. The present invention therefore includes counting devices, one at each of the discharging points, said devices being connected and actuated by the releasing means whereby the number of articles discharged ateach point is recorded.

Of the accompanying drawings which illustrate a machine for automatically gaging and distributing articles, Figure 1 represents a top plan view of a machine embodying one form and arrangement of mechanisms adapted especially to the gaging and distributing of heel lifts. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of said machine on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 representsa horizontal edge elevation, of one of the gaging and carrying devices with which the machine is provided. Fig. 4 represents a vertical section on line 14 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a similar vertical section in which the gaging mechanism is in a different position. Fig. 6 represents a vertical section of said machine including means for holding an article in position to be received by the gaging and carrying means. Fig. 7 represents a vertical section of a form of gaging and carrying mechanism especially adapted for gaging the marginal portion of the forepart of a sole. Fig. 8 represents an elevation of the gaging mechanism included in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 represents a plan view of a fragment of the carrying means included in Figs. 7

and 8. Fig. 10 represents an elevation of a shoe sole blank. Fig. 11 represents an elevation of a shoe sole blank. Fig. 12 represents a perspective view of a spring follower.

Similar reference characters indicate the same parts wherever they occur.

Referring first to the form illustrated by Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the machine consists essentially of a rotary carrier which is mounted to rotate about a vertical axis, and which is rotated by mechanism which renders its rotary movement continuous and uniform. The carrier is substantially circular and at or near its periphery are mounted a series of gaging devices each of which. is adapted to receive and carry a single article. The gaging devices therefore move continuously in a circular path and they are supplemented by a series ofstation ary devices with which the aging devices are adapted to cooperate to effect the release and discharge of the articles. The several gaging devices are identical in construction and arrangement and the several releasing devices are identical in their operation, but differ slightly in construction and in their arrangement. All of thegaging devices. however, are adapted to cooperate with all of the releasing devices, but the gaging devices are positioned independently of each other by the several pieces of work and they are therefore controlled by the work and thereby caused to effect selective cooperation with any one of the several releasing devices.

The structure of the machine herein illustrated includes an upstanding base 10 formed with a horizontal shoulder 11 and a cylindrical portion 12 extending vertically...

The shoulder 11' and cylindrical portitn 12 13 continuously includes a gear 16 aflixed to said table, a pinion 17 intermeshed with said gear, a shaft 18 carrying the pinion 17 and also carrying a bevel gear 19. The shaft 18 is journaled in a boss 20 supported by the stationary table 14. The table 14 also sup ports brackets 21, 21, which furnish bearings for a shaft 22. The shaft 22 is provided with a bevel gear 23 engaging the gear 19 and with one or more pulleys. The drawing includes two pulleys indicated respectively, at 24 and 25, said pulleys being respectively tight and loose, and a belt connected to a. source of power.

At the periphery of the rotary table 13 is a series of stationary jaws, each stationary jaw being associated with a movable jaw. The jaws as shown by the drawings comprise depending blocks or plates 26 and adjustable screw-headed studs 27 carried by said plates. These jaws are preferably arranged equi-distantly around the periphery of the table and may be more or less in number than those shown. The number provided for the machine illustrated is eight. The screws 27 extend inwardly and radially and their inner ends constitute abutments which engage one surface of a lift to be gaged. The opposite surface of the lift is engaged by 'a movable jaw 28 arranged in a recess in the table 13 and mounted upon a pivot stud 29. The axis of the stud 29 I extends substantially parallel to the direction in which it moves when the carriage rotates, and the jaw 28 depending therefrom is therefore adapted to move radially with relation to the carriage when approaching the stationary jaw. The worlcengaging surfaces of the stationary and movable jaws are substantially parallel to their direction of carrying movement and a lift such as that indicated at :0, Figs. 3 and 4 when held by and between the jaws, is held in a vertical position with its broad surfaces extending substantially parallel to the direction in which the lift is carried. Each movable jaw 28 is provided with an nected to the arms 30 exert their tension to close the jaws 28 and the lifts which are introduced between the cotiperative jaws are supported by reason of the yielding tension due to said springs. I

At "the point where the lifts are intro duced to the machine, it may be desirable to provide a device for holding the lifts one at a time, until they are grasped and removed by the carrying jaws. A device for this purpose is illustrated by Fig. 6. and includes a fixed arm 32 and a stationary spring arm 33 arranged to cooperate with the end of the arm 32. The abutting ends of the two arms meet at a point slightly below the horizontal plane of the work-engaging jaws and they are so arranged as to permit insertion of a lift by an upward edgewise movement of the lift. The spring arm 33 is here shown as supported by a bracket 34, aflixed to the central standard 10. A lift may be inserted between and held by the

arms

32 and 33 at any time and-the next pair of jaws to arrive at the point where the lift is so supported is initially opened, the movable jaw 28 being permitted to close in response to the tension of its spring 31, in passing the lift held between the arms. In this way the lift is grasped by the jaws and is carried edgewise and removed from the supporting arms and continues to be carried a by the jaws until the movable jaw is subsequently opened against the tension of its spring 31.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the reference characters A, B, C, H, I and J are arranged in an arc concentric to the axis of rotation of the table 13. The letter A indicates the receiving point, or in other words, the pointat which the lifts are introduced to the machine. The direction of rotation of the table 13 is indicated by an arrow and the lifts grasped by the

jaws

27, 28, are therefore carried to points B, O, H, I and J, and to such intermediate points as are presumably included for a complete machine. The letter B is used here to represent the first of a series of points of discharge and the remaining letters indicate the succeeding points of discharge. The points designated by the letters B to J inclusive may, if desired, be considered as representing receptacles for the reception of the lifts which are discharged. The releasing mechanism by which the movable jaws 28 are opened comprises a detector at the upper end of each of the arms 30 and a series of actuating members pivotally mounted upon the sta tionary table 14, and arranged to be engaged by the detectors. The positions of the several detectors are of course determined by the thickness of the lifts in the jaws and the actuators which are engaged by the detectors are preferably arranged to efiect the release of lifts of minimum thickness at receptacle B and the release of the lifts of greater thickness at the successive receptacles according to the relative thickness of the lifts so that the lifts of maximum thickness may pass all of the intermediate receptacles and be discharged at the last rcccptacl-e of the series at J.

The construction of one of the detectors is illustrated by Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive. The detectors are indicated at 35. They are $6- cured at the upper ends of the arms 30 b screws or bolts 36 which extend throng slots '37 in said arms. The slots permit'adjustability of the detectors in a direction toward or from the axis of the table 13 and the adjustment may be determined by set screws 38. The operative portion of each detector is pointed as shown in plan view by Fig. 1. The detectors point in the direction of rotation of the table and they are so positioned by reason of the thickness of the lifts between the jaws that they move in a circle of relatively short radius when controlled by a relatively thin lift and in a circle of relatively great radius when controlled bya liftof maximum thickness. The actuators by which the jaws are opened at the several points of discharge are indicated respectively at b, 0, ii, h, i, and j. Theseveral actuators are of the same general character but are here shown as differing slightly in shape. The positions of the successive actuators are graduated so as to effect the release of the lifts of minimum thickness at B and of the lifts of greater thickness at the successive points according to their thickness. The several actuators are pivotally mounted upon ins or studs 10. The studs extend vertical and the actuators are therefore adapte to swing in a horizontal plane when engaged by the detectors. Each actuatoris initially positioned by a set screw. L1 and is normally held against its set screw by a spring &2. The actuators are preferably pointed and arranged to normally extend in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the table 13. The point of the actuator b is relatively near the axis of rotation and the positions of the points of the successive actuators are graduated so that each succeeding point is slightly farther from the axis of rotation than the preceding point: The detector 35-carried by a movable jaw which is engaging a lift of minimum thickness, is positioned by the lift so that it is within the radius of the point of the actuator b. The detector therefore impinges against the actuator thereby swinging the actuator outwardly about its pivot 40. The point of the actuator enters a recess in the detector and 45 opened by the preceding actuators and for the detector is therefore moved outwardly by reason of the swinging of the actuator. In this way, the arm 30 is retracted against the tension of its spring 31 and the movable jaw 28 is separated from. the lift so that the lift becomes released and may drop into the receptacle B. When the detector has so far advanced as to leave the actuator b, the latter is returned by its spring 42 to its stop 41 in which position it is ready to be engaged by any subsequent detector. The detector of a jaw 28 engaging a lift of materially greater thickness is positioned by the lift so as to avoid the actuator b and the lift is therefore carried to one of the sub sequent points of discharge, the point of discharge being determined by the cooperation of the detector with the first actuator lying in its path. Each movable jaw 28, upon being opened, is locked in open position by a detent shown in the form of a spring follower 43. (See Figs. 3, 4 and 5). A spring follower is provided for each of the jaws 28. Said followers are mounted in brackets 44, mountedupon the rotary table 13, and they are engaged by springs 43 which normally tend to move them toward the arms 30. Each arm is provided with a plate 46, said plate presenting a shoulder 45, (Fig. 2) which cooperates with the follower. When the jaw 28 is closed as shown by Fig. 4, the end of the follower 43 abuts against the side of the plate 46 and does not interfere with the opening of the jaw. \Vhen the arm 30 is retracted a ainst the tension of the spring 31, the en of the plate 46 passes beyond the follower 43 and the follower is thereupon projected in front of the shoulder and locksthe aw in open position. All of the jaws which are opened as the result of the action of the actuators b, 0, etc, remain locked in open position until they once more arrive at the receiving point indicated at A. The actuator j is so formed as to effect the opening of all of the aws which are not this reason it is not necessary to provide an adjustable stop for the actuator nor a spring for normally holding it in one position. The actuator j may therefore remain stationary at all times and effect the opening of the jaws by reason of its inclined surface j which is adapted to deflect the detectors which engage it. The jaws approaching the receiving point A are therefore always open to receive a lift at the point A.

When the jaws arrive at point A their spring followers 43 are automatically retracted so that they may be closed by their springs 31. The means here shown for effecting the retraction of the followers is 'shown by Fig. 1. The followers are engaged by bell-cranks 50, each bell-crank being pivtally mo ed at 51. The bell-crank of each follower engages shoulders formed upon the follower as the result of providing a recess 52 in the follower for the reception of the bell-crank. The bell-cranks are provided with blocks 53 which engage a stationary cam 54 mounted upon the table 14. The cam 54 is so arranged as to efiect a movement of each successive bell-crank to retract the follower 43 when the

jaws

27, 28 are on opposite sides of a lift held by the

stationary arms

32, 33. If, for any reason, there is no lift in the

arms

32, 33, when a pair of jaws is passing said arms, the movable jaw is closed as if there were in fact a lift at that point. All of such jaws as pass point A without receiving a lift are opened by the first of the series of actuators. It is apparent therefore that the actuator b may be encountered as well by detectors of empty jaws as by detectors of jaws carrying lifts of minimum thickness.

It is desirable to count the number of lifts discharged at each point. Counting devices are therefore provided, each of said devices being connected to an actuator to count the number of releasing movements of theactuator. With regard now to the actuators, it will be seen by reference to Fig. 1 that each is connected with a rod. The rods are indicated respectively at 0 d 71?, The several rods are connected to arms 0 d 71. and i of individual meters or indicating devices. The meters are indicated respectively at 0*, (Z k and i Their particular construction and mode of operation are immaterial inasmuch as any suitable device may be employed for the purpose.

The table 13 may be provided with segmentalstrips 55 of angular cross section, the

horizontal lips of said strips serving as stops or gages for determining as. shown by Fig. 4 the horizontal plane of the lifts which are inserted at A between the

arms

32, 33. The strips 55 are arranged intermediately with relation to the several pairs of

jaws

27, 28, and they may substantially fill the space between the pairs of aws so that a lift moved upwardly between the

arms

32, 33 at any time may encounter the horizontal lip of any one of the said strips.

When the machine is to be employed for gaging and distributing soles instead of heel lifts, the

jaws

27, 28, may be omitted and other means of a somewhat difierent charac ter may be substituted for gaging the marginal portion of the forepart of a sole. Before passing to a description of the gaging mechanism for gaging a sole, it will be well to refer to Fig. 10 of the drawings which illustrates a blank sole y. l Vhen the solegaging devices hereinafter described are substituted for the

jaws

27, 28 it is proposed to arrange them so that they will be adapted to receive and carry a sole in substantially the same relative position that in which such/as that shown by Figs. 7, 8 and 9. In

these figures, brackets such as that indicated at 60 are a iljustably attached to the periphery f the table by means of screws til which I extend through recesses 62 formed in the rackets. Each bracket is attached at one side only and is formed to provide a space 63 for the reception of the sole 11 A bracket 60 serves as a jaw against which the outer surface of the sole 2 may be pressed and the present invention provides a plurality of complemental jaws or feelers for each jaw 60, said feelers being arranged to engage the inner surface of the sole and to press against the sole with yielding tension. The several feelers of one group are indicated in Figs. 7 and 8 at 645, 64, and 6 1 and 65. 65?, and 65. The table 13 is provided with

recesses

64 and 65 for the reception of the jaws or feilers which as shown are arranged in two stir groups. The several feelers are arranged to engage the marginal portion of the forepart of a solo at the points indicated in Fig. 10 at 4?, 1 4 and 5, 5 and 5, respectively. This arrangement may be varied unreservedly, and the present invention intends to include every possible arrangement and number of feelers.

For example, Fig. 11 illustrates the several points of contact at an equal distance from the edge of the sole. For the sake of convenience in organizing the several feelers, they may be pivotaily' mounted upon a common pivot stud. 66, arranged in brackets 67 upon the table 13. The several feelers are provided with individual springs 68 by which they are normally held against the inner surface of the sole 1 It is the purpose of the present invention to provide gaging mechanism for each set of feelers, said gaging mechanism to be controlled by the feeler which engages the point of minimum thickness. With each set of feelers is associated an arm 130 which serves the same purpose as the arm 30 in the structure provided for gaging and distributing heel lifts. In the present form, the arm 130 is mounted upon a pivot stud 129, and ex tends upwardly. A spring 131 connected to the arm 130 tends to move the arm away from the axis of rotation of the table 18. At the upper end of the arm 130.is a detector 135 which may be in all. respects similar to the detectors 35. The detector 135 may cooperate with a series of actuators in all respects like the actuators hereinbefore described and indicated at b, 0, d, h, 2' and j. The arm 130 may also be providedwith a plate 146 to be engaged by a locking bolt or follower 14-3, like the follower 43. The upper ends of the feelers are held against a plate 70 affixed upon one end of a bar 71. The bar 71 is pivoted at 72 to the arm 130 and is likewise pivoted at 73 to a link 74 mounted upon a pivot stud 75. The radius of the l nk 74 is equal to the radius of the arm 1?, with regard to the distance of the pivot 72 from the pivot 129. The distance between the pivots 72 and 73 is equal to the distance between the pivots 75 and 129 and the bar 71 may therefore receive an oscillatory motion similar to that of a parallel ruler.

The outer surface of the plate '70 is parallel to the work-engagin surface of the abutment 60 and the area 0 the plate 70 is such as to cooperate with the upper ends of all of the feelers. As shown by Fig. 7, the feelers are pivoted midway between their extremities and a movement imparted to the lower end of any one of the feelers produces an equal movement at the upper end. The feelers therefore act with equal effect upon the plate 70 even though their lengths vary. If it is desired to amplify the movement of the detector the feelers may be pivoted nearer their work-engaging ends. In that event they may have separate pivots. It may be here stated that the spring 131 is relatively light and may be overpowered by any one of the springs 68, the purpose of providing the spring 131 is chiefly to take up lost motion in the joints of the several pivots so that the moving parts may not rattle and so that the detector may operate withprecision. The arms in the form firishdescribed, and the arms 130 in the latter form, are analogous to pointers or indicators. It is apparent that they would serve the purpose of indicators if they were arranged to cooperate with dials instead of the actuators b, 0, (Z, etc.

The mode of retracting the bolt or follower 143 may be in all respects like that prescribed for the retraction of the bolts 43 so that a sole may be automatically engaged by the feelers at the receiving point in the rotation of the table 13. When the feelers are released so that they may engage the sole with yielding tension. the feeler which engages the point of minimum thickness will be displaced more than the other feelers and the plate 70 will therefore be displaced and positioned by the feeler engaging the point of minimum thickness. The position of the detector 135 is therefore determined by the feeler which engages the point of minimum thickness and the cooperative engagement by the detector with any one of a series of actuators b. c, d, lb, 2', 3', will therefore control the releasing of the sole in the same manner as that prescribed for the releasing 'of a heel lift. As here shown the circuit-engaging surface of the abutment 60 is plane,

but if desired the abutment may be provided with small protuberances opposite the several feelers. Said protuberances may be either formed integrally with the abutment 60 or they may be afiorded by individually adjustableset screws, (not shown).

It is not intended that the present invention should be limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement, for various departures may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, since the machine comprises calipers,

and receptacles, it is obvious that either may be moved with relation to the other to provide for the deposit of the articles in the receptacles.

The operation of the machine is as follows :The articles to be calipered are inserted between the calipering members at point A (Fig. 1), the calipering members at this point being released by the statlonary cam 54 so that their closing springs 31 may close them. Each article thus gripped by the calipering members is carried thereby until the calipering members are opened by the appropriate actuator in the series 6, c, d, and so forth, the actuator which becomes effective being determined, as hereinbefore described, by the thickness of the article in the calipers. When the calipers are opened the article is discharged and the calipers are locked in full open position by their respective spring followers 43, so that they may not cause the operation of any other actuators which they may pass before completing a cycle. As each empty calipering de vice arrives at point A, its spring follower 43 is retracted by the cam 54 as aforesaid, and the calipering members may then be closed again by their closing spring 31 to grip another article. The operation of all the calipering devices is the same as that just described, each device being permitted to close at the point A and each being opened to discharge an article according to itsthickness at one of the several discharging points indicated. Each counting device counts only the number of articles discharged at the corresponding point.

The term calipers as used in the following claims, is used in its broad sense wherever the function of the jaws or feelers does not depend upon opening or closing movement.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention and described a way of mak ing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made-or all of the modes of its use, I declare that what I claim is:

1. A machine of the character described comprising feelers for engaging one side of a piece of work at a plurality of points, means for engaging the opposite side of the work in coactive relation with said feelers,

novavva and means for efiecting separation of said feelers and said coacting means, said means being controlled through the medium of the feeler or feelers nearest said coacting means.

2. A machine of the cnaracter described comprising feelers for engaging one side of the work at a plurality of points, a jaw for engaging the opposite side of the work, and I means for retracting all of said feelers, said means being controlled through the medium of one of said feelers.

3. A machine of the character described comprising a carrier, calipering jaws carried by said carrier, a detector, means for transmitting movement from one of said jaws to said detector to position the detector, and a series of actuators for opening said jaws, each of said actuators being arranged to be operatively moved by said detector upon movement of the carrier.

4. A machine of the character described comprising a carrier, a plurality of sets of calipering jaws carried by said carrier, a plurality of detectors, one for each set of said jaws, means for transmitting movement from said jaws to said detectors to position said detectors, and a series of movable members arranged to be engaged and moved singly by any one of said detectors, each of said movable members being adapted to coact with said detectors to open said jaws completely. I

5. A machine of the character described comprising a carrier, a plurality of sets of calipering jaws carried by said carrier,' a plurality of detectors, one for each set of said jaws, means for transmitting movement from the jaws of each set-to the detector of each set to position said detectors, a series of movable members adapted to be severally moved by and to severally move said detectors, said movable members being adapted to open said jaws completely at points corresponding to the location of the several movable members, and means for adjusting said movable members to vary their range of coaction with said detectors.

6. A machine of the-character described comprising a carrier, a plurality of sets of spring-closed calipering jaws carried thereby, a plurality of detectors, connections between said sets of jaws and said detectors whereby said jaws may position said detectors, a plurality of means for completely opening each set of said jaws at any one of a plurality of points, said means being determined and operated by said detectors, detents for holding the retracted jaws in open position, and means for moving said detents to release said retracted jaws.

7. A machine of the character described comprising a plurality of feelers for engaging one side of a piece of work at a plurality of points, a jaw for engaging the opposite side of the work, a movable support 130 for said feelers and jaw whereby they are moved with the work while engaging the same, and'means controlled by the feeler or feelers engaging the thinnest part of the work for retracting them all from the work.

8. A'machine-for carrying and distributin articles according to their thickness, saldmachine comprising a plurality of moving feelers, spring tensioned means for causing said feelers to engage one side of an article, means for engaging the other side ofthe article in coactive relation with said feelers soas to support and carry the article, and means controlled by one of said feelers for. effecting separation of said feelers and said coactive means to release the article.

9. A machine of the character described comprising caliper members for supporting an article, a plurality of said members being disposed to engage one side of such article to caliper a plurality of portions of the same, a movable support for said members, and means controlled by one of said members for retracting them to release the article.

10. A machine of the character described comprising caliper members, a plurality of which are disposed to engage one side of an article to caliper a plurality of portions of such article, and means controlled by one of said members for retracting them to release the article.

11. A machine of the character described 35, comprising caliper members a plurality of which are disposed to engage one side of an article to caliper a plurality of portions of such article, and means controlled by a caliper member engaging the thinnest portion for opening. the caliper members to release the article.

12. A machineof the character described comprising an abutment for engaging one side of the work, a plurality of independently movable caliper members for engaging the opposite side of the work at separate points of the same, means for moving said Copies of this patent may be obtained for means controlled by the caliper member en- 1 gaging the work at the thinnest point for opening the work-engaging members to release the work.

13. A machine of the character described comprising calipers for measuring the thickness of anarticle, a detector connected with the calipers to be positioned by one of the members thereof, a series of members, each adapted to coact with said detector to open said calipers, driving means for causing relative movement of said detector and said series of members to eifect coaction of the detector withone of said members, and adjusting means for each of said members whereby any one of them may be rendered operative or inoperative.

1 1. A machine of the character described comprising a carrier, means carried by said carrier for grasping a piece of work, detecting means, means adapted to be positioned by said grasping means to position said detecting means, and a series of movable members arranged to be engaged and moved by said detecting means, each of said members being adapted to move said detecting means, said positioning means, and said grasping means to effect the release of the work.

15. A machine for gaging and distributing articles, comprising a plurality of cooperative members for engaging opposite sides of an article, a plurality of said members being disposed to engage one side of the article, yielding means for causing said members to engage the article with yielding force, and means controlled by one of said members for opening said members to release the article.

, In testimony whereof Ihave afiixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

LESTER L. D. ELDERKIN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. 0.