US1122680A

US1122680A - Hoop forming and splicing machine.

Info

Publication number: US1122680A
Application number: US72775812A
Authority: US
Inventors: Newton K Bowman; John C Hewitt
Original assignee: AMERICAN HOOP SPLICE Co
Current assignee: AMERICAN HOOP SPLICE Co
Priority date: 1912-10-25
Filing date: 1912-10-25
Publication date: 1914-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 1931-12-29

Description

N. K. BOWMAN & J. C. HEWITT.

HOOP FORMING AND SPLIOING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25, 1912.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914."

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HOOP FORMING AND SPLIGING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 25, 1912.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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N. K. BOWMAN & J. C. HEWITT.

HOOP FORMING AND SPLIGING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25, 1912.

1,1 22,680. Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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N. K. BOWMAN & J. G. HEWITT.

HOOP FORMING A'ND SPLIGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25, 1912.

1 ,1 22,680. Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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N. K. BOWMAN & J. 0. HEWITT.

HOOP FORMING AND SPLIGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 001. 25, 1912.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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N; K. BOWMAN 5: J. G. HEWITT.

HOOP FORMING AND SPLIOING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 25, 1912.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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N. K. BOWMAN & J. G. HEWITT.

HOOP FORMING AND SPLIGING MACHINE.

I APPLICATION FILED OUT. 25, 1912. 1,122,680. PatentedDec. 29, 191i 10 SHEETS-SHEET 7 QR s Mime mm THE NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHOTO'L'THQ. wA mNnroM a c N. K. BOWMAN & J. C. HEWITT.

HOOP FORMING AND SPLICING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 25, 1912.

1,122,680. Patented De0.29,1914.

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N. K. BOWMAN & J. G. HEWITT. HOOP FORMING AND SPLIGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED DOT. 25, 1912.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

N. K. BOWMAN & J. O. HEWITT.

HOOP FORMING AND SPLIOING MAUHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 25, 1912. 1,1 22,68() Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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8mm flfioiroiyay fC'. iwza Maine/11x UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

NEWTON K, BOWMAN, 01F NOIQTI-I LAWRENCE, AND JOHN C. HEWITT, OF CANTON, OHIO, A53 IGrNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE AMERICAN HOOP SPLICE COMPANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

Hoor romaine AND SRLIQING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters ZEatent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

Application filed October 25, 1912. Serial No. 727,758.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatwe, NEWTON K. Bow- MAN and JOHN C. HEWITT, citizens of the United States, residing at North Lawrence and Canton, respectively,'in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements'in' Hoop Forming and Splicing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to machines de signed for bending hoop blanks into circular form and splicing the ends ofthe hoop blanks, and particularly to improvements on the hoop formingmechanism shown in the prior patent ranted to Newton K. Bowman on the 31s 'day of July, 1908, No. 827,607.

The general object of the invention. is to provide a macl1ii1einto which lioopblanks may be inserted, and by which the blank may be bent around a form, and to provide in connection therewith means whereby splice plates having prongs projecting therefroiirmay be fed from a magazine, forced against the meeting ends of the hoops and clamped securely "thereon, the completed hoop being then" ejected from the machine.

A" fiiitl1e1"object isto improve the detailed construction of the machine illustrated in the prior pzit'ent 'above "referred to so as to provide for a simpler and more positive actuation of the mechanism therein shown and generally to simplify the consti'uction illustrated.-

A. 'fiuther" object is to :irovide a form aroiind which the'hoo'p blan: is bent,whi'ch forniis adjustable withincertain limits so as to accommodate blanks of difi'erentsizes.

A furtherob j'ect is to provide'means for positively engaging the bent blank by the bending means so as to prevent any shifting of the free ends of the blank when the splice plate is being applied.

A still further objectisto provide improvedmechanism for feeding the "sjplim plates one b'yoiie from the magazine, and means coacting"therewith for preventing the ejection ofmore than one splice plate at a time from the magazine.

A further object is 'to provide mechanism for stopping the ejection of blanks from the magazineas iii case of breakage any part.

Another object istdprovide 'means for supporting hoop blanks in such position that they may be readily fed to the magazine.

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hoop forming and splicing machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation taken from a viewpoint opposed to that in Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is'a plan view of the machine. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the line 55 of Fig; i. Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the blank clamping mechanism, the form and a portion of the blank bending jaws, the blank bending jaws being in their retracted position. Fig. 7 is a like view to Fig. 6 but showing the jaws in their forward position and the hoop bent around the form." Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the splice plate magazine and the means for feeding a splice plate therefrom. Fig. 9 is a like view to Fig. 8 but showing the parts in the position taken when the splice plate is bent around and clamped to the free ends of the hoop. Fig. 10 is a like view 'to Fig. 9 but showing the jaws partly opened and the hammer projected to complete theoperation of clamping the splice plate upon the hoop. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 1111 of 9. Fig. 12 is a perspective detail view of the base plate carrying the hammer, the hammer mounted thereon and the ejector. Fig. 13 is an under side perspective view of theplatel i shown in Fig. 12 and showing the clamping slide, the figure also showing inperspective the levers whereby the clamp ing slide is'operated and the ejector actuated. Fig. 14k is a perspective detail view of the uppermost clenching'jaw. 15 is a perspective view of the forward end of the magazine. Fig. 16 is a vertical section on the line 16-46 of Fig. 17. Fig. 17 is a vertical section on the line 1717 of Fig. 16. 18 is a. perspective detail view of the and the yoke upon which it is mounted. Fig. 19 is a fragmentary elevation partly sectional of the end of one of the arms 20, the lower roller engaging the track 8 and the upper roller which engages the hoop be ing in section. Fig. 20 is a perspective detail view'of the meeting ends of a hoop and a perspective view of the splice plate before its application to the hoop. Fig. 21 is a like view to Fig. 20 but showing the splice plate which has been applied and clenched.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

The framework of the machine comprises the parallel, spaced, longitudinally extending supporting beams 2 which may be formed in any suitable manner but as shown are castings provided with the legs 3. These side pieces 2 are supported in spaced relation to each other in any suitable manner.

Mounted upon the middle of the supporting beams is a form composed of approximately semi-annular segments constituting opposed sections 5 and 6, each having an inner vertical flange 7 and a basal flange S formed with a mar inal flan e 9 the marginal flange 9 being less in height than the flange 7. This marginal flange 9 is concentric for a distance with the flange 7. The basal flange of each section is extended rearward and inward as at 10 at a tangent to the curve of the

flanges

7 and 8, and these i 9 constitute opposite tracks extending forward in divergent lines from the rear of the machine and then curving in an arouate form forward and toward the middle of the machine. The inner vertical flange 7 of each section is extended rearward and toward the middle of the machine and the extension 7 of said flange is of less height than the flange 7. It will be seen that the two sections 5 and 6 when in position constitute an annular form interrupted at front and rear. form above described are attached to a base plate 1 1 as will be later described. In order to provide for the adjustment of this form to suit larger or smaller hoops, we form the rear ends of the segmental webs of the form each with a slot 13 and the forward ends each with a bolt opening. The sections 5 and 6 are mounted upon the plate 1% (see Fig. 13) which is provided with upwardly projecting bolts 15 which pass through the forwardly disposed perforations in the sections and upwardly projecting stud bolts 16 which pass through the arcuate shaped slots 13. Thus the segments are pivoted each at its forward end and adjustable nearer to or farther from each other at their rear ends;

The rear portions of the side pieces 2 as shown in Fig. 5 are relatively near to gether and adjacent their upper edges are formed with longitudinally extending grooves 17 upon which moves a slide or The sections constituting the carriage 18 having lateral tongues projecting into. the grooves. Extending up therefrom are studs 19 upon which are pivoted the bending arms or formers 20. Each of these arms as shown in Fig. 7 is bowed or curved and each has a strengthening flange- It will be seen that upon a forward movement of the carriage from the position shown .in Fig. 6 to that in Fig. 7, the forward ends of the arms will first move in straight divergent lines and then will be moved toward each other, and that upon a reverse movement ofthe slide this motion will be reversed so that the arms are first drawn apart and then move in straight lines toward the center and rear of the machine into the position shown in Fig. 6.

In order to reciprocate the slide it is formed with a depending yoke 24- having a transverse pin 25 with which the slotted upper end of a lever 26 engages as illustrated in Fig. 5. This lever is pivotally mounted at its lower end betweenv the rear pair of legs and is provided with a laterally projecting stud engaging a cam, this cam acting to oscillate the lever and thereby reciprocate the slide. The details of the driving mechanism will be described later, I

however.

Mounted at the rear end of the machine and extending between, the spaced side pieces 2 is a cross piece 27 having a central hub through which passes a stem 28' having a head 29 at its inner end constituting a buffer, a coil spring 30 being disposed around the stem 28 and between the head and the cross piece and resisting any inward movement of the head. This buffer takes up the shock caused by the complete retraction of the sliding carriage on which the arms are mounted. This buffer is illustrated most clearly in Figs t and 5.

Mounted upon the plate 14 as illustrated I rocating for this purpose. This slide is reciprocated by means of a bell crank lever engaging a cam as illustrated in Fig. 5 and as will be further described.

In order that the hoop may be held firmly in place after it has been bent around the form, we provide each of the sections 5 and 6 of the form with a prong 3-1 (see Fig. 6) disposed each at the forward end of its corresponding'fiange 7, which prongs engage the hoop as its ends are forced inward against the form. W e may also provide the arms 20 with springs adapted to engage the hoop as the arms embrace the form which firmly hold the hoop in place with a resilient grasp. After the hoop has been bent around the form by the bending arms 20 and the ends abut against each other, it is in position for the splice plate.

As shown in Fig. 20, the splice plate 7) consists of a thin metal plate having prongs punched from it. These prongs are arranged in two vertical sets, one set being spaced from the other so as to leave an intermediate plain portion 6 and the machine is designed to bend 01' fold the plate around abutting ends of the hoop as shown in Fig. 21. The splice plates are initially carried in an elongated magazine 36 which as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is mounted on supporting brackets disposed on cross members 37 sup ported on the side beams 2. Each magazine consists of an elongated trough having a width equal to the width of the splice plate but less in height.

The splice plates are fed forward in the trough by a follower 38 (see Fig. 8) which is attached to a cord 39 extending forward along the bottom of the magazine and passing over a roller 4:0. The cord is then carried back to the end of the machine and passes over a pulley ll supported on a bracket 42-. A counterweight i -8 (see Fig. 3) is attached to the depending end of the cord and acts to feed the follower forward. In order that the follower may be held steady within the magazine, it is provided with an extension 45 and a block as, which block fits the internal configuration of the magazine. To accommodate the cord 3%), the bottom of the magazine is longitudinally grooved as at 4:4.

Adjacent the forward end of the magazine in the bottom thereof is transverse delivery slot through which the splice plates are adapted to be fed one by one in succession, and disposed in the magazine trough adjacent this slot and normally inward thereof is a detent or gate 48 (Fig. 17) having a protuberant middle portion 49. The purpose of this protuberant middle portion is to engage the middle portion of the splice plate so that the face of the gate will not come in contact with the sharp ends of the prongs on the splice plate and tend to bend these prongs inward. The gate is attached toa yoke 50 with ribs 51 on its sides which travel in slots 52 formed in the forward end of the magazine as shown in Fig. 15. The rearward extremities of the ribs 51 are provided with the outwardly projecting lugs 53, each lug being formed with an inclined face 5st adapted to be engaged by actuating wedges as will be later described.

Extending vertically downward at the forward ends of the sides of the magazine and extending across the slots 52 are the blocks 55 and disposed between each of the blocks and the adjacent lug 53 is a coil spring 56 which acts to urge the gate rearward with relation to the forward end of the magazine and normally hold the gate in such position that it will prevent the dis charge of a splice plate from the discharge opening 17. This position is shown in Fig. 9. lVhen the gate is moved toward the forward end of the magazine, it permits the forward movement of the first splice plate and permits it to drop through the slot and be received upon the clamping devices as will be later described.

As a means of actuating the gate and reciprocating it toward and from the front of the magazine, we provide on each side of the magazine at its forward end the vertically disposed rods 57 (see Fig. 15). These rods pass through guide blocks 58 attached to the sides of the magazine and the upper and lower ends of the rods are connected by the cross bars 59 and 60 respectively. Springs 1 surround the rods 57 at the upper ends thereof and disposed between the upper cross bar 59 and the blocks 58 and tend to force the rods 57 upward.

Mounted upon each rod 57 is a member 69. having the form of a block and provided with an upwardly and forwardly extending rounded portion 63 which acts as a wedge and which is adapted to engage with the forward inclined face of the corresponding lug 53. It will be seen that as the rods 57 move downward, the gate will be moved toward the front end of the magazine to permit the discharge of. a splice plate and that as the rods move upward, the springs 56 will force the gate forward into a position to prevent the discharge of the splice plate. Means is also provided for manually preventing the discharge of a plate, but this mechanism will be later described.

Means must be provided for positively forcing the first splice plate of the series contained in the magazine forward into position where it may drop through the slot 47, and also to prevent or detain the succeeding splice plates from being moved forward at the time that the first splice plate is dropping. For this purpose we provide a chisel or wedge shaped separating blade designated 64: which is mounted upon the cross means of a movable abutment.

. will now be described.

bar 59 as shown in Fig. 15 and which has a downwardly tapered blade formed with a chisel edge as illustrated in Fig. 18. As the bar 59is drawn downward by the rods 57, this blade will enter between the rear face of the first splice plate and the front face of the next succeeding splice plate and will support these splice plates forcing the first splice plate forward into register with the slot 47 and holding the succeeding splice plates back. The means for reciprocating the bars 57 is illustrated in Fig. 8 inwhich designates a bell crank lever pivotally mounted upon the under side of the magazine trough, the forward end of this lever extending over and engaging with the cross bar 60. The other end of the bell crank lever is provided with a roller 66 which is operated by means of operating mechanism to be later described. After the splice plate has been discharged from the magazine, it drops downward upon suitable supporting means and is carried forward and pressed against the abutting ends of the hoop by After it is so pressed into engagement: with the hoop, the bending meansoperate to bend the upper and lower ends of the splice plate around the hoop and then a hammer opr crates which forces the splice plate home and forces the prongs firmly into the wood of the hoop.

The mechanism for receiving the splice plate after it is discharged, for carrying it forward against the hoop and bending it,

Brackets 37 as before stated are supported on cross pieces 47 which are rectangular in form so as to pro vide guides through which operates a plunger bar 67 (see Figs. 8, 9 and 10). This bar is formed at its forward end with a head 68 having a horizontally extending concave recess 69 in its forward end, this recess having the contour of the front face of the hoop and its top edge. The mechanism for reciprocating this bar will be later stated. The bar 67 is formed with guide channels 70 in its opposed sides in each of which is mounted a slide 71, each slide being shorter than the length. of the corresponding channel. The bar is transversely slotted as at 72 and 72 for bolts which pass through these slides and through the bar. The head 68 is reduced in thickness and pivotally mounted thereon are the opposed jaws 73, one above and one below the head. To provide this pivotal mounting, the head is formed with knuckles and each jaw has a pair of cars which embrace the knuckles and through which passes a bolt 74:. The jaws project in front of the head and each jaw is provided with an inwardly extending terminal end or lip 75. Each jaw is also preferably formed with a medially disposed strengthening rib and each jaw extends rearward toa point approximately in line with the forward end of the slot 7 2. Links 76 extend from the rear end of each jaw, there being a pair of links to each jaw embracing the bar 67, and the upper and lower pairs of links are connected by means of a transverse pivot bolt which passes through the slot 7 2 and operates therein. This pivot bolt also passes through the slides 71 so operates a bell crank lever designated 78,

one arm of which extends forward and is provided at its end with a laterally projecting cam engaging roller 7 8 The other arm of the bell crank lever projects upward on both sides of the bar 67, it being provided with parallel ears for this purpose, and through the arm formed by these parallel ears passes a bolt 80 which also passes through the rear ends of the slides 71. It will therefore be seen that an oscillation of the lever 78 will cause a reciprocation of the slides 71, a reciprocation of the pivot pin 76 and an oscillation of the jaws 73, and that because of the fact that the bar 67 is slotted, these movements will occur independently to a certain extent of the movement of the bar 67.

Means must be provided for supporting a splice plate when it is discharged from the magazine and guiding it into position immediately in front of the jaws 73. To this end as illustrated in Fig. 14, the upper jaw has attached to it upwardly extending guides designated 79. These guides are U- shaped in cross section disposed at each end of the jaw and are spaced from each other the width of a splice plate. As illustrated,

these guides are carried upon the face of i the upper jaw 73 by means of a transverse T angle iron which is bolted to the upper face of the jaw adjacent its forward face when the jaw is in the position shown in Fig. 8. The guides 79 extend directly upward and are disposed immediately beneath the dis charge opening 1 7 of the magazine so that a splice plate dropping from said opening will enter said guides and be guided down to the position shown in Fig. 8. In order to hold it in this position and prevent its immediate descent to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8, we provide a downwardly extending supporting hook 81 illustrated most clearly in Fig. 8 which at its upper end is attached to the magazine and has a lower end bent at right angles as at 82 and which when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 8 extends through a perforation 83 in the plate 80 so that it pro jects beyond the face of the jaw and beyond the face of the plate in such position as to support the splice plate as shown in full lines in Fig. 8. It will be seen from Fig. 9, however, that when the plunger bar 67 moves forward, the terminal end 82 of the hook 81 will be withdrawn from the perforation, permitting the splice plate to drop down into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8 where it is supported by means of a hook shaped lug 8i projecting outward from the face of the lower jaw.

In this position the splice plate is supported in advance of both jaws and in such position thatits middle is in alinement with the middle of the hoop. After this has been accomplished, the bar 67 is moved forward, that is, toward the hoop carrying the splice plate with it, and the splice plate is forced against the face of the hoop. The jaws are sufiiciently open at this time to permit the passage of the hoop between the jaws and the head 68 therefore forces the splice plate to conform to the contour of the face of the head thereof as shown in Fig. 10. Pre-. vious to this, however, a hammer or anvil 85 has been moved forward into position behind the meeting ends of the hoop so as to form a solid abutment for the hoop and thus cause the prongs of the splice plate to be forcibly pressed into the woodof the hoop.

The forward movement of the head 68 causes an initial bend of the splice plate sov that the ends of the splice plate may be engaged by the terminal ends 75 of' the jaws 73 as the jaws are moved from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 9. At this time the hammer is retracted so as to permit the jaws to close, but as soon as the jaws are opened, as inFig. 10, the hammer is again forced between the jaws to deliver a plate.

The hammer is designated as 85 and is mounted in a guide 86. The hammer is actuated by means of an angular lever 87' mounted loosely upon the shaft 115. This lever has a slotted upper end which passes into a slot in the hammer. The free end of the lever is made intwo sections, the Sec tion 88 being pivoted to the free end of the lever for rotary adjustment, and formed with a slot 90 through which a bolt car ried by the body of the lever passes, where by to lock the section 11 in any ad"ust ed position. The outer end of the section 88 is formed with an outwardly projecting roller 88" adapted to engage in a cam track 118 as will be later described.

For the purpose of ejecting the barrel hoop after it has been spliced, we mount p n t e p ate ls b tween th s gm nts 5 n 6 a ej cting finger sign ted 91 which is pivoted at'its middle between ears 92 and which is bifurcated at its rear end final blow upon the splice for engagement with a depending link 93 as illustrated in Fig. 5, which in turn is connected to an operating lever. The rear end of the finger 91 is widened so as to engage under the rear portion of the barrel hoop, the fingei being disposed so that its rear end projects into the space between the rear ends of the sections 5 and 6 as illustrated in Fig. 1, and therefore immediately beneath the hoop when the same is closed. As soon as'the ends of the hoop have been fastened and the hammer and plunger bar retracted so that the hoop is free, then the rear end of the finger is snapped upward lifting the hoop into such position that it may be readily grasped by the hands of the operator and removed.

The mechanism for operating the several instrumentalities heretofore described is as follows: The driving shaft by which power is communicated to the machine is designated This shaft passes entirely through the frame upon which the machine is supported and carries upon it the usual driving pulley 95 and the clutch mechanism 96, the power being communicated to the machine or removed from engagement therewith by means of the shipper lever 97 The shaft 94 is provided with a pinion 98 which engages with a toothed gear wheel 99 mounted upon a shaft 100. This shaft passes entirely through the frame of the machine and carries on its extremity the pinion 101 (see Fig. Q). Mounted loosely upon the shaft 94 is a toothed wheel 102 constituting an idler and large in size relatively to the pinion 101. This gear wheel 102 meshes with a toothed gear wheel 103 mounted upon a shaft 10st which extends through the rear end of the machine and carries upon it opposed cam disks 105. There are two of these disks, each having cam tracks upon its inner face so as to form a double card, as it may be termed, for the actuation of the plunger bar 67. This bar at its extremity is formed with laterally projecting pins 106 upon which are mounted the rotatable sleeves 107. The inner face of each cam disk is formed with a cam track 108 which is set eccentrically to the aXis of rotation of the cam disk, and it follows from this that a rotation of the shaft 104: will cause a reciprocation of the plunger bar 67. The reason for having the opposed cam disks is that thereby a much firmer engagement is secured and the stroke is more positive with less chance of any of the parts bending or giving than would be the case were only one cam used.

Referring to, Figs. 2 and 5, it will be seen that passing through the side pieces 2 of the main frame is; a shaft 109 which at its outer end is provided with a gear wheel 110 which meshes with the pinion 101. This shaft 109 carries upon it the cam 111. This cam has a portion of its cam track extending circumferentially around the disk, the remainder of the cam track extending in an approximately chordal line across the face of the disk as at 112, the middle of this transversely extending portion being deflected toward the center of rotation as illustrated in Fig. 10. Projecting into this cam track is the roller 78. It will be, seen from Fig. 5 that so long as the roller 78 engages with the circumferential portion of the cam track, the slides will be held in their retracted position but that as this roller engages with the transverse portion of the cam track 112, the free end of the lever 78 will be depressed as it enters the chordal portion of the cam track, thus moving the slides forward, spreading the links 76 and separating the rearward extensions of the jaws 73 and causing the jaws to grip around the hoop and splice plate as shown in Fig. 9.

The depressed middle portion of the cam track 112 causes the final. gripping of the jaws which looks the splice plate upon the hoop and this middleportion passes, the jaws again rise to the position shown in Fig. 10 to permit the entrance of the hammer between the jaws. Meshing with the gear wheel 110 is a gear wheel 113 which is relatively large in proportion to wheel 110 and is mounted upon a shaft 114. Mounted upon a shaft 115 is a gear wheel 116 which meshes with gear wheel 113 and which forms the axis of the angular lever 87 above referred to. Mounted on the shaft 114 is a cam 11'? formed as illustrated in Fig. 5 upon one face with a cam track 118. This cam track is concentric to the axis of the cam for a portion of its length, but has an offset portion119. The circular portion of the cam track tends to hold lever 87 in such position that the hammer is held normally against the meeting ends of the hoop, but when the roller on the lever meets the be ginning of the offset portion 119 the lever will be shifted to quickly withdraw the hammer to permit the ends of the splice plate to be clamped around the hoop and then the hammer will be forced forward to its normal position delivering the final'blow upon the splice plate, as above stated.

The gear wheel 116 meshes with an idler pinion 120 which meshes again with an idler pinion 121, both of these pinions' being mounted upon stub shafts projecting from the side frame of the machine. The idler pinion 121 in turn meshes with a relatively large gear wheel 122 mounted upon a shaft 123 which is supported in bearings carried by the side members 2 of the frame. This shaft 123 extends transversely across the frame, and as seen in Fig. 5 carries the cam disk 124 which is circular for nearly its entire extent but has projecting from it the stud 125 having bevel faces. This stud is adapted to engage with the rear end of a lever 126 which carries at its end a roller 127 tracking upon the periphery of the cam disk 124. This lever is rotatably mounted at its middle on a shaft 128 (see Fig. 13), and the forward end of the lever is connected to the link 93. It will be obvious then that the lever 126 will be reciprocated, once in each rotation of the shaft 123 and this reciprocation occurs in time to actuate the ejector to discharge the complete hoop. Also mounted upon the shaft 128 is a bell crank lever formed with a central barrel 129 surrounding the shaft 128 and carrying a rearwardly projecting arm 130 and an upwardly projecting arm 131. The upwardly projecting arm 131 is pivotally connected by means of links 132 to the slide 33, the slide being formed with a depending lug 133 with. which the links engage by means of a pin 134.

Mounted upon the shaft 123 is a relatively large cam disk 135, one face of which is formed with an arcuate rib 136, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, adapted to engage intermittently with a roller 137 carried by the arm 130. With the cam disk 135 revolving in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 5, it will be obvious that upon an engagement of the rib 136 with the roller 137, the roller will be lifted and the links 132 shifted forward thereby carrying the clamping member 31 against the hoop. The other face of the disk 135 is formed with a cam track 138 which is approximately ellipsoidal in form,

one portion of the ellipse extending concentric to the aXis of the disk while the inner portion of the cam track is eccentric to the axis ofthe disk and extends into proximity to the shaft 123.

Mounted upon a shaft139 disposed in a slot 140 in the lower ends of the rear legs is an upwardly and rearwardly projecting lever 26 which carries a roller'l41 which engages in the cam track 138. The upper end of the lever 26 has a slotted head 142 through which the pin 25 passes, this pin being connected to the slide 18 as previously described.

In order to support the hoop blanks in such position that they may be readily deposited by the operator, between the clamping jaw 31 and the rear portion of the form, we provide a blank supporting frame as illustrated in Fig. 1 comprising upwardly and outwardly projecting supporting brackets 143 and transverse supporting strips 144 connected by longitudinally extending sup porting members 145. The width of the frame is, of course, less than that of the shortest hoop which is to be used with the machine. Preferably the frame is also provided at one end with a centering plate designated 146. This plate is slightly bowed as shown in Fig. 4 so that theouter end of the plate extends laterally beyond the line of the adjacent longitudinal member 1 15, the inner end of the plate being so disposed from the axial plane of the machine that it will accurately center a hoop as illustrated in Fig. 1. i

The operation of the vmachine is as follows: As soon as a hoop blank is deposited between the clamping jaw'31 and the rear end of the form, the clamping jaw moves forward so as to clamp the middle of the hoop blank in place, and this action tends to bend the hoop blank at its middle so that the ends of the forming arms 20 may easily engage the same. As these forming arms ,move forward and inward following the cam tracks on the form sections, they press the freeen'ds of the hoop together until the hoop is in the position shown in Fig. 7. It is to be understood that Fig. 7 does not show the complete movement of. the arms 2-0. The complete movement of the arms 20 carries the rollers on the extremities of the arms into a position of alinement with the adjacent ends of the sections 5 and 6. Previous to this having happened, a splice plate has been discharged from the magazine and rests upon the support 8% as illustrated in Fig. 8. As soon as the hoop is in position, the bar 67 moves forward into the position shown in Fig. 9 and against the hoop. During the entire time that the hoop is being formed from the blank, the hammer S5 is at the forward limit of its movement so as to form a firm abutment for the meeting ends of the hoop to permit the headof the bar 67 to forcibly press the prongs of the splice plate into the wood of the hoop. As soon as the bar 67 has moved forward and pressed the splice plate into position the cam 111 shifts the slide 71 forward, thus turning the jaws to the position shown in Fig. 9,"and bending the splice plate over the hoop and clamping it in place, the hammer having been momen tarily retracted to permit this operation. The jaws then open partly as previously described, that is, take the position shown in Fig. 10, and as soon as this has occurred the hammer again moves against the inner face of the splice plate so that the splice plate is compressed against the hoop and between the hammer 85 and the head of the bar 67. As soon as this has occurred, the bar 67 moves away and the jaws are opened, and at the end of the stroke these jaws will take the position shown in Fig. 8, the guides 7 9 extending vertically and being disposed beneath the discharge opening l? of the mag azine. As the jaws move rearward, the rear rounded end of the upper jaw will come in contact with the roller 66 on the rear end of the bell crank and will shift this roller upward, thus lowering the for ward end of the bell crank and depressing the cross bar 60, the rods 57 and the cross bar 59. This action as previously eX- plained will carry the wedge block 62 downward, forcing rearward the lugs 53 and forcing the gate or detent 4:8 rearward. As the cross bar 59 is depressed, the blade 64: enters between the first splice plate of the series and the next adjacent plate, separates the two and while forcing the first splice plate forward into position to drop through the slot -7, holds the remainder of the splice plates from any forward movement. Upon the next forward movement of the bar 67, together with the jaws 73, the forward end of the bell crank lever 65 will be carried upward by means of the spring 61 on the rods 57 and this will raise the blade 6-1:, permitting the follower 38 to shift the series of splice plates forward so that another splice plate will lie against the gate and into position to drop when the gate moves forward. Meanwhile the hammer has moved backward as has also the clamp 31, and as soon as this occurs the forward end of the ejecting lever is depressed, lifting the rear end of the hoop upward into such position that it may be readily grasped by the operator and removed from the machine. it is sometimes necessary to prevent the discharge of the splice plates either because it is desired to stop the operation of the machine in this regard, or else because a portion of the machine breaks, and for this purpose we provide a small shaft 147 which extends through the rear end of the yoke and at its forward end connected to the middle of the projecting plate or block 49, this plate being slidable to a limited extent with relation to the gate though moving therewith. The forward end of the shaft 1%? isswiveled to the plate and surround ing the shaft is a coil spring 14-8 which acts to hold the plate retracted with relation to the gate so that it will move with the gate. Extending across the shaft is a pin 1&9 contacting with the rear end wall of the yoke, and the yoke is provided with a vertical groove 150 within which the pin is normally received. ll hen it is desired to prevent the discharge of splice plates from the magazine, this shaft 1 2'? is shifted ward against t force of the spring 148 and rotated ough a quarter revolut on so that the pin 1' bears against the inner face of the yoke ii and thus holds the plate slightly projected relative to the gate. ll hen so projected, it will be obrious that the splice plates will not be allowed to move forward so as to drop through the discharge opening, and that as a consequence the blade 6% when it reciprocates will simply enter between the gate and the first splice plate and will have no effect in the way of feeding the splice plates forward.

IV hat we claim is:

1. In a hoop forming machine, a supporting frame, a hoop form comprising opposed sections spaced from each other, the forward ends of the sections being pivoted and the rear ends of the sections being adjustabletoward or from each other, hoop forming members moving along the faces of said sections and around the form and adapted to engage with the hoop to thereby force the hoop into conformity with the form and cause the ends of the hoop to meet opposite the forward end ofthe space between said sections, means for bending a splice-plate around the meeting ends of the hoop, and a hammer reciprocatingly mount- .ed in the space between the forward ends of said form sections and acting to clench the splice-plate upon the hoop.

2. In a hoop forming'machine, a form comprising opposed segmental sections spaced from each other, the forward ends of the sections being pivoted and the rear ends being adjustable toward or from each other, each section having a circumferential track and a tangential extension of the track merging thereinto, a slide movable toward or from the form, hoop forming arms pivoted upon said slide, the extremities of the arms being provided with means for engaging the tracks.

3. In a hoop forming and splicing machine, the combination of a stationary hoop form composed of opposed spaced sections pivoted at their forward ends and adjustable at their rear ends toward and away from each other, a hoop clamping member mounted at the rear end of said form and adapted to initially bend the hoop around the form, said hoop clamping member having a length greater than the utter-most width to which the rear ends of the sections can be adjusted from each other, mechanism for bending the end portions of the hoop blank equally about said form to cause the ends to meet opposite the space between the front portions of the sections, means for applying a splice plate to the meeting ends of the hoop, a mechanism for bending the splice plat-e around the meeting ends of the hoop, a hammer for delivering a blow upon the splice plate to clamp the ends thereof, said hammer operating in the space between the forward ends of the form section, and means operating in the space between the rear ends of the sections for ejecting the completed hoop.

l. In a hoop forming machine, a form comprising opposed segmental sections spaced from each other, the forward ends of the sections being pivoted, the rear ends being adjustable toward or from each other,

eachsection having a circumferential track and a tangential extension of the track merging thereinto, a clamp having an arcuate clamping member disposed in parallel relationto the form and slidably mounted for movement toward or from the form, said member acting to initially bend a hoop blank and clamp it to the form, and said clamping member having a length greater than the uttermost expansion of the rear ends of the form sections, means operating on each side of the clamp and form for bending the hoop blank around the form, means for successively shifting the clamp toward the form operating. said bending means, retracting said bending means and retracting the clamp to release the hoop from its engagement with the form.

c o. In a hoop forming machine, a circular form provided with outwardly projecting prongs, said form including a track extending parallel thereto, and hoop bending members movable along said track to force the hoop into contact with the form and into engagement with the prongs.

6. In a hoop forming machine, an approximately circular form, oppositely disposed pivoted arcuate arms, means causing the extremities of the arms to travel parallel to the circumference of the form to bend a hoop blank around the form, and springs mounted on the inside faces of the arms to engage the hoop blank when the arms have traveled through the full extent of their movement in one direction.

7. In a. hoop forming machine, a form comprising opposed sections spaced from each other, means for bending the hoop blank around said form, an ejector disposed between the sections at the rear end thereof and including a lever, the rear end of which projects beyond said form and beneaththe hoop carried thereon, and means for depressing the other end of the ejector to raise the hoop from the form.

8. In a hoop forming machine, a: supporting frame, a plate mounted thereon, a hoop form mounted on said plate, guideways formed upon the under side of the plate at the rear end thereof, a slide mounted in said guideways, an arcuate clamp mounted upon the slide and movable with the slide toward and from the form, and means engaging said clamp for reciprocating the same.

9. In a hoop-forming and splicing machine, the combination with a hoop forming mechanism, of a bar movable longitudinally toward and from the hoop-forming mechanism and having a splice plate engaging head, clamping jaws pivoted "ad jacent their forward ends to the head adj acent the front face thereof, the pivots of said jaws being oppositely disposed to each other, means for reciprocating the bar, and

means for independently oscillating said jaws. I i

10. In a hoop and forming splicing machine, the combination with a hoop forming mechanism, of a presser bar movable longitudinally toward and from the forming mechanism and having a splice engaging head formed with a splice receiving recess, opposed clenching jaws pivoted adjacent their forward ends to thehead above and below the same, means for supporting a splice plate upon and in front of one of said jaws, means for reciprocating the presser bar toward and from the hoop forming mechanism, means for holding the jaws station ary and in open position while the presser bar is moving forward toward the hoop forming mechanism, means for closing the jaws to clench the splice plate around the hoop, means for opening said aws, a hammer, means for shifting the hammer against the rear side of the splice plate to clench the same, and means for retracting the hammer, the presser bar and the jaws therewith.

11. In a hoop forming and splicing machine, the combination with hoop forming mechanism, of a bar movable longitudinally toward and from the forming mechanism and having a splice plate engaging head, said bar being longitudinally slotted, clenching jaws pivoted intermediate their ends to said head above and below the same and having rearwardly extending prolonged portions, a reciprocating member mounted on the bar, links connecting the prolonged portions of the jaws to said reciprocating member, means for reciprocating the presser bar, and means for independently shifting said reciprocating member.

12. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a reciprocating presser bar, jaws pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the bar adjacent the forward end thereof and movable therewith, said jaws having rearwardly extending arms, actuating means for said jaws movable with the bar and movable independently longitudinally of the bar, and links connecting the rear ends of the arms to said jaw-actuating means whereby upon a forward movement of the jaw-actuating means the links will be forced outward and the jaws rocked upon their pivots to cause the for- \-'ard ends to move in arcs of circles toward each other and toward the end of the presser bar.

13. In a hoop forming and splicing machine, the combination with a hoop forming mechanism, of a reciprocating presser bar formed with a recess in its forwardend adapted to receive a splice plate, of upper and lower splice clenching jaws pivoted at their forward ends upon said head, the forward faces of said jaws being curved, one

of the jaws being provided with upwardly extending splice plate guides and the other jaw with a splice plate support, said support extending outward from the front curved face of the jaw.

14:. In a hoop forming and splicing machine, the combination with a hoop forming mechanism, of a longitudinally movable presser bar reciprocatable toward and from the hoop forming mechanism, said bar being longitudinally slotted, jaws pivoted at the forward end of said bar and having rearwardly extending prolongations, slides mounted on said bar for independent longitudinal movement, links connecting said prolongations of the jaws with said slides, a cam reciprocating the presser bar, a cam independently rotatable with relation to the first named cam, and a bell crank, one arm thereof engaging said slides and the other arm engaging said cam.

15. In a hoop forming mechanism, a splice plate magazine having a discharge opening at its forward end, means for feeding a plurality of splice plates longitudinally along said magazine, a reciprocating gate for alternately closing and opening said discharge opening to permit the dis charge of splice plates, vertically reciprocating members mounted on the magazine for actuating said gate, a bell crank lever pivoted to the magazine, the forward end thereof engaging said reciprocating members. the rear end thereof extending clownward, a presser bar longitudinally reciprocatable beneath said magazine, jaws mounted on the forward ends of said presser bar, means mounted on the presser bar for independently oscillating said jaws, the rear end of one of said jaws engaging with the depending arm of the bell crank lever to reciprocate the gate and permit the d1scharge of a splice plate upon the rearward movement of the jaws.

16. In a hoop forming and splicing machine, a splice plate magazine having a discharge opening in its bottom at its forward end, means for feeding a plurality of splice plates along the magazine toward the discharge end thereof, a gate shiftable to intermittently cover and uncover the discharge opening, vertically disposed reciprocating members carried upon said magazine and engaging the said gate to reciprocate the latter, a bell crank lever pivoted to the under side of the magazine and having one arm thereof operatively engaging the reciprocating members and the other arm thereof projecting downward and rearward, a presser bar supported beneath the magazine and supported longitudinally thereof, hoop forming mechanism opposed to said presser bar, means for reciprocating the presser bar toward and from the hoop forming mechanism, jaws mounted upon the forward end of the presser bar and having rearwardly extending prolongations, the prolongations of one ,of a splice plate from the magazine, a support mounted 011 the lower jaw and splice plate guides mounted on the upper jaw and adapted to register with the discharge opening when the presser bar is in its retracted position whereby to guide a splice plate onto the saidsupport and in front of said presser bar, and means for independently reciprocating the presser bar and oscillating said aws.

17. In a hoop forming and splicing machine, the combination of a hoop form, mechanism for bending a hoop around the form, a hammer movable into a position behind the meeting ends of the hoop, means for applying a splice plate to the meeting ends of the hoop, means for forcing said hammer into position behind the meeting ends of the hoop and for then withdrawing said hammer and simultaneously bending the ends of the splice plate around the meeting ends of the hoop, and means for again forcing said hammer forward against the hoop to clench the bent ends of the splice plate.

18. In a hoop forming machine, a hoop form comprising two opposed separated sections, a hammer reciprocatingly mounted between said sections, means acting to bend a hoop blank around said sections to bring the meeting ends thereof immediately in front of said hammer, means for applying the splice plate to the meeting ends of the hoop blank, a cam operatively engaging said hammer to reciprocate it, and means for bending the ends of the splice plate around the edges of the meeting ends of the hoop while the hammer is reciprocating.

19. In a hoop forming machine, a hoop form, means for bending a hoop blank around the form, means for applying a splice plate to the meeting ends of the hoop blank,

7 means for solidly supporting the meeting ends of the hoop blank while the splice plate is being applied, means for bending the ends of the splice plate around the hoop blank,

chine, the combination with a hoop supporting means, of a splice plate pressing member havlng a head formed w1th a concave recess adapted to receive the splice plate, means for supporting a splice plate immediately in advance of the head, means for advancing the pressing member against the hoop to force the splice plate into said recess and initially bend the plate over the front of the hoop, and'means mounted on the forward end of the pressing member and movable toward the center of thesplice plate for bending the margins of the splice plate over the edges of the hoop'and forcing said margins toward each other and toward the outer face of the hoop to cause the splice plate to snugly embrace the hoop.

21. In a hoop forming and splicing machine, the combination with hoop supporting means, of a splice plate pressing member having a head formed with a concave recess adapted to receive the splice plate, oppositely disposed jaws pivoted respectively above and below the head, the inner faces of said jaws extending outward and toward the axial center of the head, means for supporting a splice plate in advance of the jaws, means for advancing the pressing member against the hoop to force the splice plate past said jaws and into said recess to cause the splice plate to snugly fit the front face of the hoopand initially bend the splice plate around the hoop, and means-for rocking said jaws upon their pivots to cause the forward ends of the jaws to move toward each other and toward the hoop to thereby bend the margins of the splice plates around the upper and lower edges of the hoop inwardly against the hoop.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

1 THos. F. TURNER,

,F. E. VVEIDLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washingtom l). G.