US1352748A - Feed mechanism - Google Patents

Description

F. V. HART.

FEED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION HLED APR.27. 1918.

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F. V. HART.

FEED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION HLED APR. 27. 1918.

F. V. HART.

FEED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27. 1918.'

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

/78 14/17/7555 /80 Imr/ETDC c3T Usrren sreres rersnrosriee-v" FEED VERNE Hear, or LYNN, MAssAci-:Usnr'rsuzissienoia, BY MESNE AssIeNMnNTs,

To UNITED sHon MACHINERY coRroRA'rIoN, or rA'rnasoN, NEW JnnsnY, A coni PORATION OF NEXV EERSEY. i

,FEED nadzieniem.

Specificationof Lettersatent.. Pafentjd Sept. 14s, 1920.

Application fiiea 'April 27, 1918. sensi Np. 281,159.

T0 (all where it may concerfa: i

Be it known that I, Finn) V. HART, a citizenof the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of ,Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the vention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the' same. y

This invention relates to 'mechanisms for feeding articles or pieces of material, and it has special reference to mechanisms for feeding pieces of sheet material that are'o'f wedge-shaped or uniformly tapering crosssection such as the ordinary dinked or polygonal wedge-lifts'employedin the formation of shoe-heels.

In a cop'ending application, Ser. No. 136,935, filed December 14, 1916, byl the present applicant, a feed-mechanism is dis;

closed which is adapted to successively eject or feed wedge-shaped lifts from the bottom of a rotatable magazine in which the lifts are stacked in alternating; 'face-to-face relation, that *is7 with their thick and thin ends itogether. The magazine is 'periodically given a half turn, whereby the successive lifts ejected therefrom are'caused to occupy similar posltions wlth respect to thelr .ta-

pers. i

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a feed-mechanism of modified construction and operation which shall beiadapt-ed to accomplish a igeneral'result' similar to that of the structure in the above indicated copending application,. i. c., feeding' wedge-lifts or the like from ia stack in which they are alternately arranged, in such a manner that they shall occupy similarpo-l sitions with respect to their tapers, but which shall attainA the desired end by'successively removing the' lifts from'the stack and subsequently rota-tingthem in their own planes into similar positions, in lieu of ro-` tatingthemagazine prior to the ejection, as

in the structure of the application referred to. v

In accordanceiwlth the present invention, one of the features, through the agency of Vwhich the above object 'is accomplished',

comprises a stationary magazine in which wedge-lifts are stacked 1n alternate rela- 'tion and 'from which the liftsuare successively removed by means of a picker which picks up the lifts and transfers them to a position of, discharge, during. `whichtrans'- feral, the 'lifts are rotated through-certain angles-in substantially their own planes' to bringfthe lift-s, as discharged, into 1similar positions with respect to their tapers. Other objects and features of the invention willV become apparent lfrom lthe i followingjdescription of the preferred embodiment there'- z of illustrated in theV accompanying drawings. o i

i Obviously, the vinvention is 'not in any sense restricted to the 'particular structure and operation shown and described, as many modifications may be made therein within the spirit and scopef' of the invention.

` Broa-dly considered, the invention' is not restricted to acting upon tapering or wedgeshaped articles but isapplicableto articles of other conig'urations,` which |are alternately arranged, and, for one reason or another, are desired to be fed into similar ,posi-l i tions with respect to some characteristic orl dlstmguished feature.

The invention will reference to the accompanymg, drawin'gs which Villustrate theipreferred embodiment thereof, inwhich; Figure 1 is a view in side -elevation of a machineV constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figf is a view in rear elevation of the apparatus shown 1n F1g.`1; Fig. ,3 is a plan view of a portion ofsthe apparatus, particularly illusabout to release and deposit arlift.

'Referring' to the drawinzs, the apparatus 'shown comprises a framelO upon. whichthe p various parts and Operating mechanisms of the machine are 'mounted; a magazine'l forcontaininga plurality of wedre-shaped lifts 7 which are stacked ltherein in superposed face-to-face relation, with their'thick and thin ends Valternating';

'80 be best understood by` a conveyer 14;

that is operated step-bv-step and towhich the lift's in the magazlne are successlvely transferred and upon which they are deposited; a picker 16 for plckmg up the successlve lifts in the magazine and retain- V`ing them under control while being transferred to the conveyer; a supporting arm 18 that is pivotally mounted at one end and carries the picker 16 at the other, and which is adapted to be swung back and forth to aotuate the picker from' a position overlthe magazine to a position above the conveyer; Operating Vmechanism including an actuating leverO for raisino' and lowering` the picker with respect to its swinging supporting ar toppermit itV to remove a lift from the magazineand deposit it upon the conveyer; oper- 'atin' mechanism, including a chain 22, for partially rotating the picker in opposite directions during the successive transferring moveinents from the magazine to the conveyer, whereby the alternately stacked ,lifts in the magazine are 'caused to occupy similar positions when deposited upon the conveyer; and a plurality of stops 24 that are adapted to automatically release the picker in its 'discharging position above the conveyer, whereby the lifts arejdeposited thereon. w i

The frame 10, which supports the various parts and'operating mechanisms of the api paratus, comprises side pedestals 26 and 28 upon which is mounted a cross plate 30 that supports the magazine 12. Thesidepedestals also support an upright bracket 32 upon which the swinging varm 18 is pivotally positioned. I

Power is supplied to the machine continu ouslv froin a suitable source through a belt 'that' engag'es pulley 36 which is fizzed to shaft 38, said shaft having bearings in the side pedestals 26 and 28.

i The shaft 38 isprovided with a plura-lity of cams 40, vand '42 that are rig'idl'i7 secured thereto, d also with a fixed gear 114: that meshes with coperating gear 46 that is riklfidl),7 secured to a sleeve 8 that is fastened to an auxiliary shaft 50 having' bearings inv the side : pedestals 26 and 28. The sleeve 48 also carries a gear 52 that coperatively en-` gages a 54; that conveniently forms a part of sleeve 56 which is loosely mounted on'the she-ft 88. The sleeve 56 is provided with a cam 58. The gearing, just described, serves to rodu-ce the speed of operation of the cam 58, and as designed, said cam is rotated at one/ half the speed o f operation of'the canis 10, 4:1 and 4:2, for a purpose that wil hereinafter appear.

The magazine 12 VV inalternating stacked relation comprises a pluralitj;7 of uprig'htv stationary angle members 60 and 62, and movable clamping member 641i, all of which are mounted on the cross-plate 30 and are adjustably positioned in a suitable manner in order Ato vaccommodate lifts of different sizes. The movable,

for holding wedge-lifts clamping member 64 is pivotally mountedV upon a pin 66 and is provided with a lever arm 68 havii'ig a lost--motion pin-andeslot connection with one arm of a bellcrank 70, the otherarm of which carrie's a roll 72 that coperatively engages the cam e by means of which the clamping member is actuated. A spring 74 is attached to the clamp ing member 6dand tends to maintain the roll 72 in engagement With the cam i.

rhe upper end of the clarnping` member 6d is preferably provided with small teeth 75 to assist in firml'y clamping the upper lifts 11V in the stack, and the upper inner edges of the angle members 60 and 62 and the :'lainping member 6a are provided with bevels 76 order that the uppermost lift shall be loosely positioned so that it may be removed bythe picker, as will be hereinafte more fully pointed out. V

The stack of wedge-lifts W is supported upon a movable follower 78 that is secured to a follower rod 80, the lower end of which is provided with an annular guide bracket 82, the ends of which have sliding engage ment with a plurality of guide rods 84h that are suitably secured to the frame. In order to raise the follower 78 and the lifts 'supported thereon, a fleXible cord or other suitable member 86 is attached near the lower end ofthe follower rod and passes over pulleys 88. A weight 90 is attached to the other end of the cord and constantl1 tends to raise the follower 78 and lifts supported thereby.

To prevent the elevation of the stack of lifts until such time as desired, the cam 4-2 is so designed as to normally maintain the clampi'ng member 611 in firm clamping en-v each cycle of operation in proper timed .co-

operation with the operation of the picker to permit the lifts to beraised into engagement with the picker, as will be hereinafter set forth. w

Vhile the machine of the present invention is broadly adapted to'feed lifts from a Stack in which they'are alternately arranged, in such manner that they shall occupy similar positions with respect to their tapers, the machineis particularly intended to be utilized as a unit of a machine or system for building heels, such, for instance, as set forth in Letters i'atent No. .1,28672 granted Dec. 3, 1918, to Erastus VVinkley. The machine of the application referred to comprises a link conveyer which is deposited in superposed 'relation to buildl flatheels. By the substitution of the machine of thel present invention atone of the i' stations,'the apparatus of the above mentioned applicatlon may be employed to build The tonveyer 111, therefore, will conveniently serve purpose of the conveyer of the aforesald heel-bulldine machine upon which heels are assembled and the wedgelifts TV are deposited. The conveyer 111 comprises a series of links 92 that are pivotaliy connected together in a suitable manner by means of pins 9/1; The conveyer 111 is preferably actuated step-by-step by any suitable means (not shown), and, at each step of its actuation, a link is presented in position to receive a wedge-lift VV from the magazine 12. i

The alternately stacked wedge-lifts `W in 'the magazine 12 are successively seized and removed therefrorn bythe picker 16, which transfers them through the swinging of the arm 18 to a position above the conveyer 14, whence tney are deposited upon the previously assernbled lifts L upon the successive links thereo'f.4

The picker 16 (Fig. ,comprises asleeve 96 that is longitudinally movable and rotatable within the outer end of the swinging arni 18, said sleeve being provided with a central. recess through which anvactuating rod 100 loosely projects. A plurality Vof pointed claws 102 are pivotally mounted in spaced relation at the lower end of the picket sleeve 96 and have coperative engagement with the lower end of the rod 100, through the agency of which the claws may be positivelyl operated, 'either to force the clawsoutwardly to impale a lift or to withdraw them to release the lift. Near the lower end of the rod 100, a collar 104: is provided which is adapted to engage a shoulder 106 in the sleeve 96 under'certain conditions, whereby the picker, as aV whole, may be raised in position. The upper end of the sleeve 96 (Figs.V 1 and 5) is provided with a recess 118 to receive a spring 110, the

lower end of which abuts against shoulder 112 and the upper end of which engages a coliar 11-1 that is pinned to the rod The spring 110 is of sufficientV strength to normally maintain the collar 10-1 in englagement with shoulder 106 of the sleeve 96, but which is adapted to yeld under predetermined conditions when the rod 100 is deprcssed to cause the claws 102 to impaie a lift. I

For the purpose of retaining a lift VV that is seized or impaled by the claws 102, the sleeve 96 is provided with a spring actuated latch. 116 that is adapted to coperate with and restrain the collar 1141 when said collar and associated rod 100 are depressed. The latch 116 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 118 and is provided with a tail piece 120 that eXtends laterally into suchposition o that `it .may be engaged at predetermined As hereinbefore stated, the picker 16 is adapted for rotative niovement to turn 'the successive iifts in partiai' rotations in opposite directionsv and, to lproduee such movenient, a sprocket 122 islsupported in the arrn 18 and connected to the siecvetf by a spline l124i so as to rotate the sleeve without 'interfering Vwith the `longitudinal movenients. 'i' i' To` enable to-and-fro' between the magazine 12 and the conveyer 111,: said picker is mounted upon the free end of lthe swinging supporting arm 18, whichv is pivotally mounted upon' a sleeve 126 that projects through and is carried by arms 128` and 130 of the' upright braeket 32.V The sieevep126 is rotatably mounted within said arms and is supported by means of a collar 132 thatis pinned thereto and rests upon aV portion-1841L of the supporting armV 18. The .swinging arm V18 is actuated back and forthv through the agency of'a lever'136 that is secured thereto, the outer .end of which lhas a' universal connection 188 with a viii-nk 1110 that has another universal.` conn ction 1312 with the vupper end of an arrn of 'a bell-erank 11111 having' another 146 which coopcrativeiy engages the cam 4-0. A spring'tlf-l-S acts upon the hell-cr to maintain said-cam roll in en; ageinent with said cam. z i 'i A picker -16 is raisedpand lowered bodily with respect'to the supporting arm 18, and the clafws 102 thereof areactuated by means of the rod 100 and the actuating lever 20 in a manner to be now described. The actuating` iever 20 is pivotally Vmounted' intermediate its ends upon an upwardly projecting lu 150 that constitutesv part of the picl're' supporting arm 18. The outer end of the lever 20 is bifurcated and engages the' opposite sides of a. spool 152 that is secured to the upper endflof the r0d100, while the opposite end of` the lever 20has a pivotal connection to a 'connecting rodv 15a that projects loosely through the sleeve 126.V Thel ment of the supporting arin 18, visztrans-V ferred to a position above the conveyer'lfit.

the ,piclrer 16 to be actuated 1 that earries a cam rollV .ein

times by the one or 'the other of the stops V211, whereby the latch 116 is released.

li o 5 ilo i sproclet Thereupon, the 4picker is bodily depressed until the lift is placed upon the conveyer,

after which the claWs are Withdrawn and the lift released.v The picker is then again elevated and moved back to its initial position by the swinging movement of the supporting` arm 18. V

nasrnuch as the wedge lifts W are alternately staclzed'in the magazine 12 in such position that their breast edges are parallel to the direction of movement of the convVeyer, it is manifest that the picker 16 and thesuocessive lifts which are seizedtherehy must he rotated approximately through quarter turns inopposite directions and'in suhstantially the planes of the lifts during` the .transferring movement inorder that the lifts, as deposited upon the conveyer., shall occupy similar positions With respect to theirtapers and hreast edges. This rotative movement is efected through the agency of the chain 22 and the sprocket 122, as has heen hereinhefore mentioned. The chain 22, not only coperates With the 122 upon the picker, but also With a sprocket 162 that is pinned on the rotatahle sleeve 126. The lower end of said sleeve is provided With-a fixed segment 1611 that ineshes With a reciprocating segment 166 that is pinned upon a bolt 168 that projects downwardly from an arm 170 which is I integral With the upright bracket 32. The

segment is-provided With an arm 174: on the opposite side of its pivotal support which ha a'universal connection 176 With a link 178 having a universal connection 180 With the upper. end of an arm, constituting a part of a hell-crank'182, the other arm of which carries a roll 1811 that coperatively engages the cam 58. i a

-As has already heen Vset forthj the cam 58 adaptel'l to rotate at one-half the speed of the other canis on the shaft 38, so that although the picher 16 rotated first in one direction and then 'in the other, only one of such rotations occurs at each cycle of operation of the machine. Morleover, the cam so designed and positioned With ert to the other came that each rotation o; the p'ickez'? 16----that is, first in one direction aid then in the other--occurs during the transferring` nio'\"emen`t of the picler from the magazineV 12 to the conveyer 111. lt is evident, therefore, that as the altern'itely Staeked lift-s 18V in the magazine 12 are successi'vely transferred to the conveyer,

they are alternately rotated in suhstantially .their own planes in opposite direction wheiehy the desired similarity in position ie Weclge-lifts W upon the conveyer is By reason of the tuning of the *ii-e movenients of the picker, as just a no rotation of the picker is effected the return morements thereof to the magazine.

116 as the picker 16 is depressed to deposit a lift upon the conveyer..

Havintg,` descrihed vthe construction and operation of theiifarious parts and mechanisnis of the vmachine7 a description of a complete cycle of operation of the ratus Will he {iven in order that the relative time relation of the componentmech-V may he more clearly understood. Assuming' the Various parts of the appa' ratus to occupy the positions shown in Figs 1, 2 and 3, and that power is supplied to the machine, the operation thereof is as follows:

The cam 111, through the niechanism con-V trolled therehy, serves to lower the actuating' ro-:l 100, Wl1ich,"tlirough the agency of the sl'iring` 11.0, yieldinglydepresses.the picker hodily to its lowermost position over the .center of the magazine' 12, in which position the lower end of the picker sleeve 96 lies in the plane of the upper end of the magazine At this time, the cam 42, through its associated niechanism,` effects the temporary release of the clampin; memier 611- of the lift magazine 12, whereupon the follower 78 and the stack of lifts supported thereon is raised until the uppermost lift eng'ag'es the lower 'end of theV picker, Whence tle movernent thereof is arrested. Havinz thus brought the uppermost lift V7 into eng'agjement with the lower end of the pioker, the continued downward moyernent of the actuating rod 100 yieldingly maintains the sleeve 96 in engagement therewith through the agency of the spring' 110 and positively forces the claws 102 outwai'dly7 Wherehy the upperniost lift is impaled thereon and seized therehy. Duringr this operation, the collar 11/1 on the rod 100 is depressed sufliciently to enable the latch 116 to become operative to retain the claws in their outward seizinp; position.

Sulisequently, the cam 11-1 effects the hodily elevation of the piclffer 16 With the lift impaled thereon. The picher 16 and lift is then. transferred to aposition over the con Veyer 1-1 by a swing'ing moif'ement of the piclzer supportinef arm 18.v which is eifected by means of the cam 110. During the transferal of the picler lift to this positioin the cam 58, through its assoiated mechanism, effects a clockwise rotationjof the -oicker and lift7 Wherehy the lift is r^- tated in its own plane suhstantially a Quarter turn and is brought into the position indicated in 11, this position being` such so vlocated as to alternately engage the later; i 'ally extending` tail piece 120 of the lateh that the tail piece '120 of'the latch 116 isl directly above one of-the stop'sl 24, as shown 111 dotted lines in Fig. rhe cam 111 then causes the picker V16 to loyvered until the o lift is placed upon the previously assenibled lifts upon the link of the conveyer 14;. J ustV at the time When the lift is placed upon the conveyer, the tail-piece 120 of the lat-0110116' is brought into engagement With the' lstopl 211 immediately beneath it, andthelatch is thereby released. Fig' 5` illustrates the picker on the point of being released by one of the stops 24. Upon the subsequent raising of the actuating' rod 100, through the agency of the cam 41 duringthe initial'part' of which laction the sleev'e'96 is held down in engagement With the lift being deposited by means of the spring 110, the' clavvs 102 1, 2 and 3, it'being noted that during this) return movement no rotation of the'picker is produced, by .reason of the fact that the cam 58, which controls such rotation, is

o driven at only one-half the speed of the other cams. i

This cycle of operation is 'repeated as the operation of the machine continues,except that during the next cycle, and each alternate one, the picker is rotated in a counterclockWise direction instead of clockwise as,

just described, Whereby the next Wedge-lift *W andsucceeding alternate lifts, which occupy a reversed position in the Stack, are turned in their own planes 1n the opposite direction and are placed on the conveyer in similar positions wlth respect to their tapers and lbreast edges. By reason. of the opposite direction of rotation of the picker,'just referred to, the tail-piece 120 of the .'latch 116 is broughtl into position over the other stop 24 which, during the .loivering movement of the picker, effects the release of thel claws 102 in the same general manner as already set forth. p' 1 o e Having described. the Vconstruction and operation of the preferred embodiment of' the present invention, thatv which is claimed as new, is 2- 1. Blank feeding mechanism having,fin`

combination,a holder for a stack of blanks,

and mechanism acting to transfer the blanksV successively from the stack to ,a point of delivery and to. impart 'varyin'g angular movements to the blanks in substantially the lanes of their faces. i

2. Blank feeding mechanism having,jin combination, a holder for a stack'of blanks,

' ternately in opposite directions, Aand mechathe, same direction. A A,

' VBlank' feeding mechanism*having,fin

a picker, means. for actuatiiig the 'pic'ker to V' transfer the blanks successively'from 'the stack to av point o'f'delivery, and 'means-for imparting varyingrotary moveinents to the picker. t i y o, V

'3. Blank fee'ding mechanism having, in combination, a holder for a Stack-'of blank`s, l a pi'cker,v a Vpicker carrier, means for actuating the picker to take the blanks succes-` sively' from' the stack and for actuating the carrier to transfer the 'blanks to a point of delivery,v and means for impartingv varyin'g rotary movements to the picker in the ,carrien o i i 4; Bla-'nk feeding lmechanisn'i having, in; combination, a' holder for' afstack of'blanks,l a'jpicker, :means lfor actuating the pickertoV` transfer theV :blanks successively v'from' the `stack tora-point vof delivery, and means for directions. i i

rotatin'g 'the' picker alternately in` opposite ;5, Blank feeding mechanism havingpin4 combination, a vholder for heel lifts arranged in a stac'k'with their breast edges facin'g alnism for transferring the blanks successively fromV the Stack to a point of delivery. and for rotating the blanks inl the planes of their faces to deliver the' blanks With their breast edges facing in the same direction.?

6. Blank ,feeding mechanism having, i'n combinatiom'aiholder for heel lifts arranged in a stackwith their breast edges facing' al'- ternately` 'opposite `direction s,-`*a` picker, means for actiiating the picker to transferi 1000 the blanks successively from'the stack to a point of delivery`,`and means for imparting rotary' movements to'the'picker to deliver the' blanks with their breast edges ,facin'g inf' combination, a holder for heel lifts a'rr'angedl` in a Stack lWiththeirbre'ast edges facing alternately'in opposite directions, a' picker,V means forvactuating the picker to"transfer '110' the-blanksl successively from 'the :stack ;to a point of delivery, and ineansl'forrotating the' picker alternately in opposite" directions to deliver the' blanks With their breast tedg'es facing in'thesame'direction at right--angles 1105 toi the breast' edges` of the blanks 'in the Stack.

8.,Blank feedingzmechanism having,in combination, fan intermittentl'y fed conveyer upon which heel lifts arev assembled in vsuperposed relation, a holderfor vvedge" lifts arrangedfin a sta'ck withthei'r breast ed'ges f facing alternately 'in 'opposite directions, and picker'mechanism acting to transfer the lifts successively from the stack tothe conveyer and'to impart varying angu'lar. movements lto the ,blanks to bring their'breast edges 'into 'alinement With those ofvv the lifts upon which' they' are deposited.

9.1Blankfeeding mechanism having, in'

arranged'in a stackwithl their breast edges vnormal to those of the lifts on said conveyer and facing alternately in opposite directions, and picker mechanism acting to transfer thelifts succes'sivelyfrom the holder to the conveyer and to Vrotate the lifts alternately ;in opposite directions to bring their breast ledges into alinement With those of.

the lifts upon 'which they are deposited.

f10. A feed-mechanism for tapering articles of sheet material having, in combina-.,

` sleeve, a rod looselv vprojecting. through said tion, means for holding. a` stack of such articles: with their thick and thin ends alter-V nating,.and means forpicking the successive articles .successively' from the'stackV andV rotating :them in the iplanes of their faces v.so as to bring them all into similar positions With respect to their thick and thin ends.V j'

il. A feed-mechanism forrtapering articles having, incombination, means for holding a stackof said articles in-alternately ar-..

lranged'face-to-face relation, and means for `picking the articles successively from the stack and' rotating them in substantially the planes of their faces into similar positions with respectlto their tape'rs.

clavvs pivotally mounted at onewendrofsaid sleeve, a rod movable Within'saidpsleeve and connected to said claws, a spr1ng 1nterposed between saidvsleeve and said rod, and means` for actuating sald rod to move said sleeve w through said supportthroughrthe action of said spring and to `positively operate said.

claWs.

. 13. A stock-handling machine having, in combination, a support, an a-xially rotatable and vlongitudinally movable picker .carried thereby, means for longitudinallyactuating said picker, and means for -rotating said pickerrabout its ``axis While permitting longitudinal mo'vements thereof.

movable therein comprising a sleeve having a central recess, claws pivotally mountedat one endv'of said sleeve, positive means lprojecting .through said 'recess for Operating said claws, means for restraining said claWs in their operative position, means tendingv to move saidsleeve through said supporting member to release said claWs, and means for 12. A picker for seizing a piece of stock,

14.' A stock-handling machine; having, in combination, a supporting member and a f Vpicker carried thereby and longitudinally,

upon said sleeve, a rod extending through v said recess into operativee'ngagement With combination, a supporting member and a Apicker carried thereby, comprising a 'slidable sleevehaving a central recess therein, claws pivotally mounte'd at one end of said recess intooperative engagei Lentwvith said claws Vand'having.means for ei'lgaging said sleeve Where'bv it maybe raised, a spring 'interposed between said urod and saidsleeve,

means acting through said red, for causing said springrto depress'saidV sleeve, and for positijvely g Operating. said, claivs, and means carried by ysaid sleeveffor restrainingsaid claws in their operative positionzvvihile permitting movement of saidsleeve With re-v spect to saidV supporting member. i

17. A Astock-handling machine having, in combination, a magazine for holding stack of pieces, means for supporting the Stack. of pieces tending to Velevate Athem in Vsaid magazine, means, nor-mally restraining theV operation of said elevating means, a movable picker for seizing'tne upperinois't piece in the stack, means for moving said picker over said magazine in position to 'be engaged by ,the .uppermost piece-as the staclr is elevated, means, :for temporarily releasa ing said restraining 'means to permit the stack to be elevated into engagement with said picker, and means'for causing said-VV v-picker to seize. the uppermost piece'in the' Stack.

18. A stock-handling machine having, in combination, a niovable support, la pickerv slidably and rotatably mounted thereon, said picker comprising clavvs pivotally mounted at 'one end thereof, means for depressing said picker into engagement with and for causing said claws to seize a piece Vof stock, means for re'strainingsaid elavvsin operativev position, means for moving said sup-v port an'd picke'r, means for rotating said picker, and means for releasing said re-l straining means to permit the release of said clavvs from the piece of stock.V

o 19. Blank feeding mechanism having, in combination, a movable ,conveyer upon which heel lifts are assembled in superposed relation, a holder for Wedge lifts arranged in a stack With theirl breast edgesl facing alternately in opposite directions, and

`means for transferring the lifts successively from the stack to the conveyer and forvrotating them about axes Within their bou'ndaries in substantiallythe planes of their faces to bring their breast edges into alinement With those of the lifts on which they are deposited. i

20. A feed mechanism for tapering 'articles of sheet matei'ial having, in combination, a stationa-i'y magazine for holding a Stack of such articles With their thick and thin ends alternating, means for transferring the articles successively from the stack to a point of delivery, and means for rotating said articles in the planes of their faces and about axes Within their boundaries toV bring them all into similar positions at the point of delivery.

21. A feed mechanism for tapering articles havin r in combination a stationar magazine for holding a stack of said articles in alternately arranged face-to-fa-ce relation, and means forV transfei'ring the articles successively from the Stack to a' point of delivery and for rotating the articles in substantially the planes of their faces and about axes Within their boundaries during the transferring operation to bring them into similar positions at the point of delivery.

22. A feed mechanism for tapering articles having, in combination, a magazine for holding a sta-ek of said articles disp'osed in alte'rnate relation, a picker, a picker carrier, means for actuating the picker to take an article from the magazine and for actuating the carrier to transfer the article to a point'of delivery, means for rotating the 'picker during each transferring operation to bringthe articles into 'similar positions,

and means for actuating the picker to deliver the articles.

23. A stock-handling machine having, inl

combination, a stationary holder for a stack of tapering pieces of stock disposed in alternate relation, a pickerV for seizing the successive upperrnost pieces in the stack and traiisferring them to a point of delivery,

means for restraining the picker in its seiz ing position, means for rotating the picker in opposite directions during the successive transferring movements to bring the pieces into Similar positions with respect to their tapers, and a plurality of stopsl above the delivery point and acting successively to release said rest-raining means.

2a. A stock-handling inacl-iine having,in

25. A stockhandling machine having, inl

combinatiompmeans for supporting a piece of stock, a rotatable picker for seizing the stock, an arin for carrying-said picker, a pivotal support for said arm, means' for sivinging said arm and picker about said pivotal support, and means for actuating said pivotal support to effect rotative moveincnts of said picke'r.

FEED VERNE HART.

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