US1351429A - Mechanism for forming and assembling snap-fastener springs - Google Patents

Description

A. J. LEWIS. MECHANISM FOR FORMING AND ASSEMBLING SNAP FASTENER SPRINGS.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET l- APPUCATION FILED AUG-5| I916.

ATTORNEY A. J. LEWIS. MECHANISM FOR FORMlNG AN'D ASSEMBLING SNAP FASTENER SPRINGS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-5| I916.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

a SHEE TS SHEET 2.

Arroknmx A. J. LEWIS.

MECHANISM FOR FORMING AND ASSEMBLING SNAP FASTENER SPRINGS.

Patented Aug. 31,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-5; 1916.

I IIVVENTUR f ATTORNEY ARTHUR I. LEWIS, or sT RATEonn;'coiiimg mw; Q H- t; I coM'lPANY oF BBIDGEPORT,"CONNECTICUT, A; 'coRPomr'rioN or comzrncrroun l' 'MEGHANISM FOR roijuvrrne Ann essnmi'a'tme sNABFAsTEnnn SPRINGS.

To all whom concern: I I :Be it known'that I, ARTHUR- J. L'nwrs, a

citizen of the United States-residing at "Stratford, county of 'Fairfield, State of" Connecticut, have'invente'd an. Improvement} in 'Mechanism for' Forming and Assembling Snap-Fastener followingv .is a specification. I I.

' Y liable automatic mechanism for forming the V springs from blanks of wire and fora'ssem- This invention relates-to the manufacture of the socket members" of snap fasteners, so called, the socket members'o'f whichare pro- 7 '1 vided with wire springs ofp'eculia'r' formation whichlock-theflshank's' of the other fas [tener members in engagementiwithf the; socket members, and the inventionhas for its object to provide quick operatin g, and re bling them in the socket members; In the accompanying drawings a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a planyiew of my novel autoy matic mechanism partly broken aw ay, show ing the position ofthe parts at the endof the spring-forming operation and before? the assembling operationg Fig; 2 a section on th i eez'ifn Fig. 1;

lookingin the direction ofthearrows p Fig. 2 a detail sectional View on the line '22 in Fig. 2, sh'owingthe sidecams as providedgwith bumps to produce a spring setting movement'of the jaws; I

Fig. 3 a sect'on'on the line in Figgl. v V g v v 1116211137 f. e lfi gfi k mf 32' onthe cam mem-f looking in the direction ofthearrows E Fig. 4adetail plan iew show-ing'the jaws,

forming punch and form in their normal position and a lan 1? wirejin position to: :be operated upon; r

,IFig. 5 a similaryiew showingthe position partly completed the formation of aspring;

Fig. 7 a View of the spring asformed by the cooperation of the jaws, forming punch and form";

Fig, 8 a partial plan yiew showing theposition of the parts after the fo'rm has been retracted and the j aws'have carried the completed spring to the assembling position.

bIing'a' spring in thes'ocket member Springs, of which the 1 forming bed; 22 a slide adapted toreciprocatelongi I Y tudinallyin way's'jln'slide- 21. and independof the parts when the jaws have completed their portion ofthe'forming operation 1 V v Fig. 6 a similarview, the punch ,h-a'vi ngj" ing} serews ee whichf engageside cams 3'1 on opposite sides 'ofjjthe cam member. These Lwhich are o'p'ene'dby a spring'BS connected} V v v 100 and actftodrajw; the'rear ends of said 'levers snapffastener; 7 I p Fig; 10 a detail lan view and Fig. '11 La; 1

detail' se'ctional yiew on an} enlarged I scale" showing the, position of [the wirej spring f r Z 6 bIank'rel'atiVeIytO onerjjaw andthe form; when the forming operation commences;

'Fig. 12 an, elevation and' Fig lBan verte'd plan View of the assembling punch V; l;'

Fig. 14 end View oflthlel form;

"Fig. 15 a View correspondlng lwith -Fig.8',

Specification-of LettersPatent. Fate'nted -Al ig 319 1920. I "Application filed August-.5;ieie se iaino. 1133153. 3

- ispartly 'biokefifaweygijin the act of see; i

. v v, 5 showing the substitution of a rotaryfholder, i 7' foifallreci'procatingholder. .Fig. 161 a cen tral; sectional View corresponding therewith;

andFig. 17 Iis an-"enlarged detail sectional 7 in the; direction of the arrow. 5

view'on the line 1711117, in'Fig. 9, looking 20 denotesjth'eibed, 211a slide 7 reciprocate longitudinally 'in Ways, in" the ently thereof, 23 jaws carried by levers 2' tii pivotedftojislide' 21'g'as Pat .2i5gilfnd 26; the

formingl'punch which-is carried by slide 2 2;}?

The jaw leyers and both slides are operated bymeans offla cam member 27 carried by'la driving shaft 28 journal ed in the bed. Slide 21 isproyided with a) rearwardly'eXt-end-j ing arm 29 carrying a roller 30 which e11 1 V gages "a groove 3i the cam fmember' whereby reclp'roc'atory' movement is impart;

ed tofsaid slide. Slide 22 is reciprocateidj by nectedto' slide'QQQ-and' to a 35 extending of thejaw'lever's are proyidedwith adjustcame. act to force. the rear ends of the jaWil levers. outward andfthus. close the jaws;

to the jaw'leversiback'of thei'r pivotal point toward each other and thus o enthekij awsj,

slide 21 limit the inward mov'e rnentbf the 1 1' W ve s. ae lwe i u h We g? when the adjusting screwshrideidown the f inclines of tjhe side cams, Stop pins 39 in.

movement of the jaws. 40 denotes the form for springs which is adapted to be recipro cated vertically infthe bed by suitable operating mechanism, not shown as specifically it forms no portion of the present invention. The forward end of the form passes through a hardened plate 41 secured to the bed... The

is provided ith'a .sockettti to receive the articles in which'the springs are to be assembled, and which I term spring-receiving ar ticles, (in the [present instance the fastener members''Qand carries them to the spring receiving or assembllng pos1t1on,'as w ll be more I fully explained. f

In the formillustratedin Figs. 1,2, 8 and 9, the holder is a slide adapted to reciprocate in away in the bed. i In Figs. 15 and 16, I have illustrated afor'm in which a rotary holder is used in lieu of reciprocating holder. .65 denotesa disk provided with sockets 66, to receive the articles and mount edto rotateon a stud 67, and 68 denotes a friction washer bearing upon the face ofthe disk. The disk isprovided in its edgewith notches 70, adapted to be'enga'ged by a pawl 69,1controlled by a spring 72. The pawl is pivoted to a slide 71, whichis' adapted to reciprocate ina way in the bed. A hardened plug jt8', seated'in'the bed, forms a base for the socket in the assembling position The. operative portions of the jaws are provided with half sockets 49 which together form a socket which receivesthe form in the spring; forming operation and through which the assembling punch 50 passes in the assembling operat on, as Wlll be moreifully explained. In thebacks of the aws and'surrounding their half sockets andfextending across the "tops of the operative portions of the jaws are" I )p p 9, the holder moves towardthe to the grooves 51 adapted toreceive the wire spring blank," The assembling punch has reciprocatj-ory movement imparted to it 1n a path' vertical to the bed'jbysuitableoperating mechanism. L This punch. operating. me'chaQ nism and the wire feeding mechanism are notj'shofwmasspecifically they form no poi tionof thepr'esent' invention, it being deemed .suflicientior the purposes of this specificatijon to-state that the wiremay be. fed to the machine in any ordinary or preferred manner and that the assembhngfpunch may be operated by any suitable mechanism. The

. wire is fed to the machine through a quill 52,

each operation of the feeding mechanism supplying just the requiredlength of wire to form a springblank. The instant the feeding operation cease's,a cutteri53 coiiperating with the forward 'end of the quill cuts off the blank. 1 1 Any ordinary or preferred form of feedingand cutting-0E mechanism may be biing punch.

used. The shape of the form will becle arly understood from Fig. 14;, which is an end elevation. The external contour is circular;

lVithin this circular contour the is mllled. out to form a longltudinal-recess indicated by 54. At the base of the recess is a site sides of groove 5 5 are rounded longitudinal grooves 56 nto'whlch the WET-30f the spring blank is pressed by the. form ng punclnaswill be morefully explained. Q The sides ofthe'form comprise, upwardly extending arms 57 which are rounded at their up per ends (about which the wireiof the bla'nk is curved), and which incline inward toward each other, the lower portion 'ofrecess being Wider than the upper portionif- The" hole in plate ll through which'the form passes corresponds substantially in configuration with the configuration of the form. Theshape of the assembling punch will be clearly understood from Figs. 12 and 13, the

essential requirement being that'the end of the punch be so shaped as to remove the' formed springs from {the jaws and deposit" them in the fastener'members. I have shown the face of the assemblingpunch'as pro vided with a hole 58 surroundedby a rib' 59.

from which wings 60 and'61, alinement, extend to the edge of the face. .Hole 58 is 7 provided'to receive the tip of the central stud of,a" fastener member, The rib and wings comprise the bearlng portions of the asscm The r b bearson'the loops ct the spring, and thewings pass between the 'aws rib 59 en 'a in 'the'central ortion of J 7 b ti 3 I the "spring, wing 60 engaging the periphery of the spring and wing 61 engag ng the ends The article holder, shown of the spring.

only in the assembling position, recip'roc'ates 1n-its way transversely toslides 21 and 22. 1 From the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8 and receiving position where the 'sp 7 7 f-J lng art cles are placed in the sockets by siut- I able ffeedingmec'hamsm. 1 'From' the IGC6lV v 1 ing position the'article holder moves to the;

assembling position and after the assembling operatlompresently to be described, returns again to the receiving'position where the mechanism, nor. the ejecting mechanism is shown, as specifically these mechanisms form 7 i no porti'onlof'the present invention 7 Starting wlth the aws" and .iiOIHllZU o J I? punch inthe position shown "in-Fig.- at, a feeding operation takes place leaves a bi'anl of wire in position'to be operated upon, as in Figs. 4, 10 and 11, the blank ly by cooperation of the jews,- term and'plate 41. Next-'i' ollowsa retraction ofslide 21 which causes the 'j'etwsto move" backward from the position shown in Fig"; 4 toward that in Fig. 5, and bend thejblank over the The movementof the slide is followed by a closing movement 'of the jaws; which-cla'sps the blank aboutthe form-and over the ends of arms57, the blank now 13 ing in the socket fol-med by' half sockets 49,

form.

with the ends of the blan'kfextending' outward and lying on opposite sides of the tongue of the forming punch and in notches 43 "Next follows a forwardmovement'of slide 22 and the formingpunch; The ends of the blank will now be pushed'forward by the iorining punch, as shown in Fig. '6',

the arms of the blank bent inward over arms means .for moving the ]=2LWS carry ng ethe-V completed" springkto the assembling pos t1on 3 'aholder forxca rrying spring-yreceivmg;

57 and folded into recess54', the movement continuing untilthe forming punchreachw the position shown. in, Fig. 1; Loops 62bit the completed spring; indicated by '63'; will now lie ingroov'es, 56 in the form and-the tongue of the forming punch will be received in groove inthe form, the ends of'the springlying' parallel with .e'ach other on op' posite sides ofthe tongue", as clearly shown in Fig. 1 Theforr'n now moves backward to the position shown Fig. 9, the tongue, jaws and spring remaining as. in Fig. 1. WVhile the parts are" inf this position and be fore the assembling'operation, I mayor may not, depending upon conditions,fimpart a clos ng movement tothejaws, th'e'efiect of: which is to set the spring to the shapezin which it-has beenformediwhil'e the ends of the spring are still separat'edby the tongue.

This setting movement fof the' jaws is: 'ef- 'fected by providing si'de'cains 37 with bumps f (-see Fig. 2 the function of which is to cause a quickysetting movement or squeeze of the jaws, after which they return to the position shown in Figfil'; Slide'21 and the jaws now move fromthe' position shownv in I Fig. l to that showiiin Fig. 8', carrying the completed spring {to the assembling position. An instant later slide 22 a ndthe forming punchwill move backward from the po-' 'sition shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown inFig/ i. Holder lowi-th a spfing-r'ceiv ing ar'ticlein the socket will now'bje'in the' assembling position and the assembling pleted spring.-

' punch which is suitably adapted for the.

purpose will move forward and pass into the formed by half sockets 49' in the jawsand engage the spring; whichis carried forward out of the jaws by the assembling punch and is seated in the spring-receiving socket article lying in the socket in the holder. 7 The assembling punch now: moves backward to. its normal positio'n'and the jaws first open outward and then return to their normal posit1on as 111 Fig. e. The holder now moves to the receiving position-and the fastener bl-ing springs comprising a' form; jaws, means for causing the jaws tofi'rst move relatively to the form to' bend ablank of anh'ovedtrom the jaws and assembled mam-,

the" endsof thejaws anol'for'inin'g punch will now come Inence' the" formation oi. another spring, I these operations being. continuously re- Peated.-. Y Having claim: a,

1, 1; Mechanism for; forming and assem wire overthe form, and then closefand; clasp the blank about the form,v a' forming punch which completes the formation' oiiithe spring; I 1

articles to'the assembling position; and assembling-punch whereby springs arefrecles inthe'holdei't 1 2. Mechanism for forming springs compris i ing a: recessed form, jaws which move rela v tively to the form and bendablan kof' wire over it; and then close and clasp 'thebl ank,

extending outward, and a forming punch which pushes the ends of the blank inward v and causes the arms of the-tblanktoptold into the recess thG fOIlIl tolcompl te the o-g v 1 1 spring. a s

form to complete the; springgi the blank to fold into'fthe recess he v p 42'. Mechanism for forming :gprmggicom?' j prising a form longitudinal g re g:

I cess with grooves iirits baseg 'ja'ws whichf I bend a blan kof wire-' over the tormguleaving theyends "of the blank extending o'uttormin g' punch which pushes 115 ward;

the blankinw'ard and causes; 7 the"-arms fo the blank toi fold 'into -the grooves to impart theirshape to the come 5. Mechani in'its base,-- aws which bend ablankof wire Y i over the form, leaving theends ofthe' bl-ankof the'bla'nk, the punch acting to push the ends-of the blank inwardand cause the arms-- 0f. the blank to fold intothe said' Side st .75": thus; described my invention, In

:95: H aboutthe form, leaving the 'endsoftheblank 'nr-for forming springs? min 1 prising aform-shaving a longitudinal re: p cess w1th' a central groove" andside-grooves grooves, for the purpose set forth, the

tongue being received in the central groove.

6. Mechanism for forming sprlngs compr1s1ng a form havlng a longitudlnal recess and upwardly and lnwardly extending arms, jaws which move relatively to the form and bend a blank of wire over the form and then close and clasp the blank about the formyleaving the ends of the blank extending outwardly, and a forming:

punch having tongue lying between the ends of the blank, the punch acting to push the ends of the blank inward and fold the arms of the blank over the arms of the form and into the recess to shapethe spring.

7. Mechanism for forming springs comrisin a recessed form 'aws whichbenda'-bla1'1l -ofwvire over the 'form and then close and clasp the blank about the form,

leaving the ends of" the blank extending outward, a forming punch which pushes the ends of the blank inward and causes the arms of the blank to fold intothe recess in the form, and means for imparting a second closing movement of the jaws to set tending' outward, a forming punch which pushes the ends of the blank inward and causesrthe arms of the blank to fold into the recess in the form, said punch being provided with a; tongue lying between the ends of the blank,"and means for, imparting a second closing movement'to thejawsto set the spring after "retraction of the form.

s 9. Mechanism for forming and assembhng springs comprislng a recessedremp rocating form, aws. which bend a blank of wire over'the form, leaving the ends of the blank extending outward, a forming punch which pushes the ends of the blank inward and-causes the armsof the blank to; foldqinto'the recess in-the 'form to com-- plete the spring,: a holder forv carrying spring receiving articles tothe assembling posit on, means for movlng the aws with thelspnng therein tothe assembling pos "tion, and an assembling punch whereby V springs are removed from the awsand assembled in articles in the holder;

10. Mechanism of the character described comprising-,incombination, a form, jaws V which bend a blank of wire over the form, -andaformingpunch having notches which are engagedby the ends of the blank to complete-the formation of the spring by pushing the ends of the blank inward.

: comprising,

11. Mechanism of the character described in comblnatlon, a recessed form, means forbendlng a blank of-wlre over the form, anda punch which engages V the ends of the blank and completes the formation of the spring by folding the blank into the recess in the form.

12. Mechanism of the characterdescribed comprising, in combination, a form, means for bending a blank of wire cover the form," anda punch which engages the ends ofthe,

blank and completes the formation'iof-the spring by pushing against the ends of the blank in its forward 'movement.

13. llechanis'm of the character described comprising, in combination, a recessed form,

jaws which bend a blank of wire over the form, leav ng the ends extending outward, and a forming punch having a tongue lying so I between the-"arms of the blank andnotches engaged by the ends of the blank, movement of the punch causing the arms of the blank to fold into the recess intheform cip'rocating form, aws which bend a blank of wire over the form, leav1ngth eends extending outward, a forming punch which pushes the ends. of the blank inward and p Q35 14L. Mechanism of the'character described COIllPIflSlIlg, in combination, a recessed reca'usesithe armsof the blank' to fold into. the recess in thejform, and means 'forimparting a closing movement of the jaws l after the form is retracted'to set the spring.

15. Mechanism of the character described comprising, in combination, a recessed reciprocating form, jaws which bend ablank tending outward, a forming punch which pushes the'endslof the blankinward and of wire over the form, leaving the ends. ex-

causes the arms of the blank to fold into the recess in theform, a holder for spring- 7 receiving articles, and means for removing the spring from the jaws and assembling it in a spring-receiving article carried by the holder.

16. Mechanism of the 'character described 3 comprising, in combination, a-- recessed re clprocatlng form, JZLWS wh ch bendablank of wire over the form, leaving the ends ex- 9 tending outward, a forming punch wh ch pushes the ends of the blanklnward and 7 causes thefarmsof the blank to fold into the f recess in the form, a holder'for spring-re-' ceiving articles, means 3; for placing the 1 spring and holder 1n assembling relation-to each other, and an assembling punch "00- operating; with the holder.

'17. Mechanism of the characterdescribedcomprising, in: combination, a form,'jaws,

levers by which the jaws are carried, operat ing means for the jaws, a slide to which the levers are pivoted, a forming punch "cooperating with the form, a slide by which "said punch is carried, aholder' having a socket for sprlng-recelvlng articles, means for placing the spring and holder. in assembhng relation to each other, and an assembling punch cooperating with the holder.

means for imparting a setting movement to to move relatively form, jaws, having 18. Mechanism of'the characterdescribed 1 comprising, incombination, a reciprocating form, jaws, levers by which the jaws are carried, means for opening and closing the jaws, a slide to which thelevers are pivoted,

" a forming punch cooperating with the form,

a slide bywhich said punch-is carried,

blank of wire,

' the form, and means for imparting a clos- I over the form,

j I moved from the jaws 50,

7 7 comprising the socketed cups, I port, a pair of comprising, in combination, a reciprocating form, jaws blank of wire, means for causing the 'jaws' V to move relatively to the form shaped aboutover the support withthe ment with a cup carried by ing movement to the jaws after the form is retracted to set the spring. a 7

20,, Mechanism of the character described having grooves to receive a andbend the blank overthe form, means for closing the aws, a forming punch cotiperating with the 1 form, a holder for spring-receiving articles, means for placing the spring andholder in, assembling relation to each other, and an as.- sembling punch 1 cooperating g with the holder. V

21. Mechanism of the character described. comprising, in combinatiom'a reciprocating form, jaws having groovesto receive a blank of wire, means for causing the jaws to move relatively to, the form and bend the blank means 'for closing thejaws, a forming punch cooperating withtheform, a holder having; sockets to carry spring-receiving articles, means forplacing the spring and holder in assemblmgrelation to each other, and an assembling punch hav-o ingon its face a circular-rib with wings exwhereby a spring 7 is .rei and I assembled in an article carriedby the holder. 7

'22. A machine tending therefrom,

for makmg'snap fasteners combination of a support for, a form adjacent to the sup members movable toward-the form to shape about the form,"a piece :of wire fed'to a position adjacent to theform, means for withdrawing the form from between the pair of members so that the spring the form is held bythemem-o bers, means for-moving the members .to carry the spring held thereby to a position spring'in alinethe support, and

reciprocating plunger movable into the space between the two 'members into engagemoving portions oft-the piece of-wire near 7 the ends thereof into the -reces's in the form, V Y :means' for withdrawing the-Eform from be- :carried, by them to move-the e spring carried thereby. and move it ment with the spring by them to movethe spring bodily into the cup on the comprising; the combination of a support for socketed'cups, aform adjacent to the support about the form, .a pieceof wire fed to a positionadjacentto the form mea'ns for tween the members,l=means*for moving the members r laterally pto carry' 'the formed members into engagement with the spring.

into a cup on the support.

having a recess on oneside', a pair'of members movable toward the form to shape so 7 spring over said support in alinement with q a; cup carried by the-support,and a recipro f-catin'g plunger movable between the '24. A machine forma'king snap fasteners comprising the combination-of asupport for a socketed cup, aj

, port, 'a pair of members, means for relatively moving sa d members and the formto bend formadjacent to the lll 7 i about :the form,,a length of wire fed between' the form and said members, means for moving the members toward'the' form] Y to press the wire about the form, means for II1 0V1I1g the form from between themembers, zmeans fOrmovmgthe members laterally to carry the formed springoverjthe supportin I alinementwith azcupcarried-by the support, I

"and a" reciprocating plungermovable bespringbodily into a cup" on the support,

7' tween themembers into engagement with e the spring carried thereby to movethe i port, a pair of pivoted-levers, means for:

moving the levers laterally to bend. about 1 the form. a length ofwirebetween the form V and thelevers and for then moving the levers abeut their pivots to press the wire spring, held by them'over the support in {upon the form, means forthen withdrawing theform from between thelevers and mov -3 L ing thelevers laterally to vgcarry the formedflf alinement lwith a socketed cup carried by 7 the support, and a]recip rocatingz member movable between-the levers to' engage'the into [a socketed cup on thesupport,

r I 0? 26; Amachine 'fOI' mak ngsnap fasteners l comprising the combination of .a support for Q d WP a spr g-f min mechanism f ad acentto thesupportjfor bending a piece- Q of wire to form .a spring, oniefof the elements;

of the. spring-forming mechanismconstitut 'i a ing a holderfor the formed spring having 1 an openingl' ther'ethrough in which they formed spring is held, means forfmoving the holderwith the spring therein laterally to carry the-spring over ,the said support in alinement Withtt cup on the support, and a reciprocating plunger movable throughthe opening in the holder into engagement With ;a spring therein to move the spring bodily into the alined, cup on the support.

27; In a machine for making snapifasteners, a spring-forming mechanism and means for inserting the springs formed thereby into, socketed "cups, said spring-forming mechanism comprising the combination of'a form having a curved surface on one side anda recess on the other s1'de,-means for I pending a length. ofwlre about the curved surface of the form, a die having a projection andshoulders on opposite sides of the g :28. In a machine projection and means i t'or moving the die toward the form to cause the projection thereof to enter the recessin the'formand the shoulders on the diet'o' engage the ends ofthe Wire.

for makmg snap fastensocketed cups,-said spring-forming mecha-V 'ers, a spring-forming mechanism and means for inserting the springs formed thereby in nism comprising the combination of aform having a curved surface on one side and a recess on'tne other slde, a pan 'oi members at opposite sides of the form, 3 means for I moving themembers, and-the form relatively to .bend' about the curved surface of the form a plece of Wire fed hetweenthe ,form and said members and for then moving the 7 members toward each other. to press the Wire against the s'urfaceof the form, a die having 35 .a projection and shoulderslggat opposite sides of the projection andmeans for movingthe .die toward the form to enter the. recess

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