US1409224A - mcmanus - Google Patents

Description

C. E. McMANUS.

CORK ROD EJECTOR MACHINE. APPLICATION men MAY '23. 1921.

Patented Mar. 14,1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET C. E. McMANUS;

CORK ROD HECTOR MACHINE. AP PLICATION FILED MAY 28. 1921.

Patenfed Mar. 14, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- m ETfi W WWW therein to the accompanying rods into disks of the 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. MQMANUS. 0F NEW'YQRK. N. Y.

CORK-ROD-EJECTOR MACHINE.

7'0 all whom'z't may 0012mm.

Be it known that Crmnniis F1. MoiJANUS, a citizen of the United States residing at the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of :lew York, have invented certain new and usetul improvements in Cork- Fiod-Ejector Machines, o'twhich' the following is a specification, reierence beinghad drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to cork rod ejector machines, and more particularly to a machine adapted to force composition cori: rods from within the tubes in which they are formed, the functioning of toe machine being automatic. 7

Cork rods to be ejected by a machine embodying my invention are used extensively iii-the vi'oduction of sealing disks for bottle caps, .iu being merely necessary to slice such equired thickness preparatory r seiubling them in the bottle cap structure. Such rods areiorincd by pacl-zing granular cork having thin tihn ot a suitable binder thereupon, in metallic tubes, which tubes and their contents, to Wit the closely packed and cemented granules of cork, are passed through a vulcanizingor baking oi en. As a result of the application of heat to the cork composition, the mass thereof will expand, but both ends oi? the tube being closed to check longation ot the rod in the tube, such expansion serves merely to supplement the packing machine in securing the desired density in the mass ot composition in the rod.

"iVitl'i this premise, the machine ot my invention is designed to torce the completed rods from their inclosing metallic tubes with a rapidity which will give to the machine capacity approximating that of the baker with which it is associated, and without injury to the rods.

To secure the desired result, it is necessary to provide a machine embodying therein a pluiiger, the stroke ot which substantially eiguals the length oi? the tubes containing the cork rods, and a suitable intermittently actuated feeding mechanism for delivering the tubesconsecutively, or in small groups with relation to the plunger mechamsm. The rodsare fed to the machine in bulk, being accurately positioned with relation to said plunger mechanism, and intermittently advaiiced in synchronisin with thetunction- Specification of Letters Patent.

' ejection of Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

1921. Serial No. 473,427.

ing of said plunger mechanism so as to cause each reciprocation of the plunger or plungers to eject each rod in a position where it be received by the operator of the machine, or delivered to some other mechanism, it desired. 1 The end plug is removed theretroni immediately upon the the rod or prior to the delivery thereof to the slicing machine.

The intermittent actuation of the feed mechanism must therefore not only be timed with relation to said plunger mechanism, but must be sufficiently precise as to its quan tity of feeding movement to accurately position the filled tubes and thus avoid collision between the plunger end and the end of the metallic tube.

The receiving chute, or hopper, adapted to receive the packed tubes in bulk, is so constructed as not to require any accuracy of the positioning of the tubes when feeding the machine, the mechanisms of the machine not only properly placing the tubes with relation 'to each other, but shitting them transversely of the machine, when necessary, so as to bring them between substantially rigid walls having openings therein for the passage of the plungers and for the movement of the rods from the tubes, thus causing said tubes to be rigidly held against displacement transversely of the machines, means being provided adjacent the plunger mechanism "for preventing their vertical displacement.

The capacity of the machine may be varied according to the number of plunger rods used, it being possible touse one or more plungers, as desired, although experience has demonstrated that an operator can work to the best advantage when using two plungers. This capability of variation in the number of plungers, requires a selectively operative actuating means for the tube feeding mechanism, or a variation in the speed of said mechanism in direct ratio with the number of o'lungers used.

Since there is a slight tendency for the rods to adhere to the inner wall of the tubes, 1 preferably. provide a plunger mechanism which will be so actuated as to start the ejecting action at low speed so as to break any slight bond between the rod and the tube, after which, the speed of the tube is immaterial. By using a crank and pitman driving mechanism for the plunger, I secure a slow start in the feeding movement of the .ed' to. guidesaid plunger, and permit the passage of a cork rod from a tube, respectively, while holding the tube against movement with the plunger, intermittently operative feeding means adapted to. accurately j position the. tube with relation to said oppositely disposed means, and means adapted to receive tubes and position them with relation to; said feeding means whereby they will be successively delivered thereto; and in such other novel features of constructionand combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth, and descr bed, and more, particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

. Referringto the drawings,

1 is a plan View of a. machine embodying my. invention, a portion thereof be- .in bIO. i

en away and condensed;

l ig; 2 is a. front eleyation of the end plate at the delivery end of the machine;

Fig.

is a section on the line 2-3 of Fig. isa section on the line of tig, 5 is a side elevation of a' portion of the feed chain;

Fig. 6 isja section on the line 6-6 of v Fig; 7 is; an end view of the .machine broken away and condensed;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8.-8 of Fig. I showing the actuating means for the feedingmechanism whentwo plungers are used;

and y Fig. 9 s asect on on the l1ne9,,9 of Fig.

7, showing the actuating means for the. feeding. mechanism when but a single plunger is used. t i I Like numerals refer to likeparts throughout the several views. 1 v In the embodiment of my invention shown inthe drawings, I employ at one end of the .machine, a hopper orchute having side walls 10 and; 11 and'an. open bottom containing inclined runways 12, the packed tubes being delivered todsaid chute or hopper in bulk and without regard to their-lateral position and being adapted to descend by. gravity toward the bottom of, the inclined ways 12.

.The-side walls 10 and ll merge into para lel guide walls 13 and 14 spaced apart a distance substantially equalling the length oft-he. tubes, either or both of the side walls 10 and llbeing laterally pitched with relation to its co-operating guide. wall. 13 or 14 to, afford Sufficient clearance in the chute or hopper to avoid the necessityfor any accurate positioning of the tubes therein. l

i Vhile the tracks or ways 12 have a downward pitch, the guide walls 1314 have an upward pitch, shown more particularly in Fig. 1; and terminate adjacent oppositely disposed lates or frames 15 and. 16, the former-of which has a guide opening or openings therethrough for the plunger, 01' plungers, to be hereinafter referred to, and the latter of which has an opening or openings therein through which the cork rods may be ejected. The openingsin. the plate 16 should. be slightly larger thanthe inside, and smaller than the outside diameter of the tubes, so that this plate will receive the thrust on the tubes resulting from the tendency; of the cork rods to adhere to the inner wall of the-tubes as they are being ejected therefrom.

o-operating with the supply hopper or chute, is an intermittently operative feeding mechanism consisting of sprocket chains 1718, the alternate links of which have outwardly projected fingers 19 so spaced as to permit a tube to be contained between succeeding fingers, while accurately positioning a group of tubes with relation. to each other and to the openings in the plates 1516, when a plurality of such openings .are used. Said chains pass" about sprocket 7 wheels carried by the shafts 20, 21 and 22 respectively, the shaft 22 being a driving shaft, and the other two merely idling shafts,

an arrangement which is merely a matter of convenience for closely associating the power for actuating the feeding mechanism with the power for actuating the plunger mech-.

'anism, and permitting both mechanisms to ower and time the be driven from the same source of in synchronism, so as to properl actuation of the feeding mechanism with that of said plungers. The shaft 20 is upon av lower plane than the shafts 21 and 22 so as to cause the upper reach of the chain between the sprocketsupon the shafts 20- and 21 to substantially coincide in. pitch with the guide walls 13 and 14:.

The fingers 19 upon the feed chains 17 and 18- which are rectilineally arranged with relation to each other, will. ensure the tubes contained in the hopper or chute being. fed one at a tinie'in properly spaced positions, and will prevent movement of the. tubes from the hopper or chute except under the control ofthe feed chain, and one at a time.

Extending from the plate 15 are guides 23 having. mounted thereon. a cross head 24 carrying one or more plungers 25, one end of said plunger or plungers having a free sliding fit in the opening-or openings in the plate 15. Said cross head is connected with a gear wheel. 26, driven from any desired source of power, by'ineans of the pitman 27, a construction which permits the starting of said tubes at low speed and a slowing down of the speed thereof toward the end of their stroke, thus avoiding any substantial compression of the cork rod within the tube during the initial application of the thrust of the plunger against same, and facilitating the breakage of any bond between the rod and the wall of the tube, although the composition of the binder employed is such as to minimize any such tendency.

The tube feeding mechanism is driven from the shaft of the wheel 26 by means of the chain and sprocket mechanism 28, geared by means of the intermeshing bevelled gears 29 with a cam shaft 30, the number of. cams upon said shaft corresponding with the number of openings in the plates 15 and 16 and the height of the rise of the different cams being in direct ratio with the number of openings. These cams are selectively opera tive according to the set-of the machine.

I have found in actual practice that the machine can be operated at an effective maximum capacity when using but, two

plungers, although it is apparent that the number of plungers may be increased, if desired, When but two plungers are used, the shaft 30 will have thereon two cams 31 and 32, the-throw of the cam 31 being approximately twice that of the cam 32 so that with each rotation of the cam shaft, when the cam 31 is operative, the chains 17 and 18 will have a movement corresponding to the distance between the centers of the adjacent fingers 19, and when the cam 32 is operative, the movement will be just twice that resulting from the actuation of the cam 31. Adjacent the shaft 30 is a counter shaft 33, geared to the shaft 22 bymeans of the intermeshing gears 34, said shaft having mounted thereon two ratchet wheels 3536 having associated therewith respectively the swing frames 37 and 38 carrying gravity pawls 39 and 40 respectively co-operating with the ratchet wheels 35 and 36. By this construction the chains 17 and 18 will be intermittently advanced by a rapid movement and will have a dwell of suflicient length to permit the plungers to eject the cork rods from the tubes.

lVhen conveying the tubes from the hopper or chute, slight flexibility in the chain does not impair the efiiciency of the machine, but flexure of the chain intermediate the shafts 21 and 22 might result in sufiicientdisplacement of the tubes with relation to the openings in the plates 15 and'16 to cause collision between the plunger or plungers 25 and the ends of the tubes, notwithstanding that the diameter of these plungers is determined merely by the desired strength of material without regard to the inside diameter of the tubes, since the thrust of the plunger will be against the metallic plugs used to close the bottom of the tubes when packing same. Furthermore, the tubes may have a tendency to rise as a result of vibration about the machine. To obviate the above conditions, I provide above and below the openings in each of the plates 15 and 16, rigid horizontally extending guides 4l42 spaced apart a'distance substantially equalling the outside diameters of the tubes, the ends of which, if desired, may be slightly bevelled, although the rounded surface of the tubes will ensure their passage from the chains to between the guides. These guides in conjunction with the succeeding fingers 19 upon each chain will ensure the accurate positioning of each tube as it approaches the position where the plungers will be operative thereon.

The plungers 25 are removably mounted in the cross head 24, so that either or both of them may be used, as desired.

Connecting the plates or frames 15 and 16 are stay rods 43.

The tubes to be fed are indicated at 44 and the cork rods therein at 45.

The operation of the herein described mechanism is substantially as follows The tubes 44, before they are filled and packed with the cork composition, have in serted in one end thereof a metallic closure plug, the other end not being so closed. As the rods emerge from the baker or vulcanizer, the operator removes them from their supports and places them in the hopper or chute of the ejecting mechanism with the metallic plugs upon the side thereof adjacent the plunger mechanism. These tubes will descend the runway 12, the laterally pitched wall 10 of the hopper or chute bringing any misplaced tubes into the proper position as they approach the guide walls 13 and 14. v

The chains 17 and 18 cross the plane of the runway 12 so that the descent of the tubes will be arrested by engagement with said chains, and the tubes will successively fall into the pocket formed by succeeding fingers 19 carried by said chains, and be advanced one at a time or in groups of two or more, corresponding with the number of plungers 25 used in the machine.

The feed mechanism with its spaced pockets will with each cycle of operation, be advanced, the feeding movement ,being an intermittent movement through the medium of the cam and pawl and ratchet mechanism 31', 35, 37 and 39, or 32, 36, 38 and 40, thus feeding the tube with relation to the plates or frames 15 and 16 either singly or in groups, affording a dwell when the tubes are properly positioned with relation to the plates or frames 15-16, approximating the 7 proximatelyjthree inches only.

7 which tractedjto the full extent, the ends thereof will be; spaced away from the horizontal guides 4A andAQ carriecladjacent the plate s v-aqsnificie dista c to permit' he, p a 27 1;to pass the horizontal center of; the gear 26$ the q an ty efrthis movem n s h jtna-an is approaching and passing said center, a fiording an ample; interval for the gfieedin-g n ovementsof the chains -17 and 1 8, Whic when twotubesareied will be ap- 1 1.1g: ie lr 1L1); srn.- the chains 1 {and 18 will cometo rest iwith'the' ends of thetube or tubesgfrom which the cork rod is to be ejected, between the-horizontal guides 4.1; and t2with the: axis Qfsuubes i alinem n t he Ope i g in the platesorfra inesl5 and 16 respectively a s Substantially simultaneously with the stopp g of the feeding me hanis the plunger or plungers 25 will engage theplug atthe'end of the tubes and'with a slowinij ovemem ill fo ce; t QJiQ SLI IQ II the t ibes, effectiv y br aki g e I d b w th rod nd; the-wal th tub f e b any 4 01 .b to e the-rod w i be s je t ny1m t i lrpre sure uch as; wou cour; if the init-ial speed; of the phingers were t l. 7' v i the ope ato plug theret rter each agtuationogt the lee.

e 'odsarc ejected from the tubes, seizes-l them, removes the; end In; and stacksthe rods or delivers them to; somev other mechanism. .;The, empty tubes; upon the, next feeding mmiememt a e rem ved? from the? machine and KQhlll'IlfidqtQthfi pzmker or rstoredl v ;1 As the filled tubes come to position between the guides 41 and 42, and the plates 0 fr m s m the: e s o' ea h tube ill engage; ther plate or frame 16 with its edge projecting slightly-within the edgeof the en uing; n; a plate, thus; affording ampleclearanco in sai'd opening, forthe pas sage of the cork :rod

;.lVh;ile -the feedingmiovement of the tubes with each actuation of the feeding mechanism, when twoi plungers are used, will: be appronimately three inches, the thrust of the Qlungens-is approximately twofeet. Hence the, machinemust have an-intermiten vdr ve' o h eed ng m c n will effectthe advance.;.of the tubes lirine hflt ligh t val whe th p tme s a vpmech n t,- nd ea h h OIJZ OHtQl "center .of-the crank wheel 26 while the pln ngers are completely retracted. Vh-ile it is preferable 1 to remove the filled tubes; (lire ctly from the baker or, vulcanizer, and; deliver them: to the ejecting: machine,

i this "is not essential and theltubes may be stored rafter hremoyal fro] n the, baker or ul;- Since twhen using but a single jlunger the ejecting ma-chine is running. at ba .fiif ip emle ts ra-c wh nlcon tions are such as to require the full'ca-pacity of the machine. two plungers' are used. 11cm however the baker 0r-v-ulcaigiizer is not-running tocapacity, but one plungeris used. i 31 By gearing the actuating means for the feeding mechanism; to the actuating means for the plunger or plungers, said mechanism andsaid plungerslnay be synchronized in their functions with su'liicient accuracy for the purposes of the machine,-t hus simplifying: the designof' the machine and avoiding likelihood of a collision of parts through accumulated error which might'occur if the feeding mechanism and the plungers were actuated from individual sourcesof power.

ltis; not my intention to limit the invention to the details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings. The essential characteristics of the machine ate 'a storage devieeadapted to receive tubesin bulk, an

intermittently operativefieeding mechanism adapted to; automaticallyuremoue the-filled tubes from said; storage. dei iceone at a time l. A cork rod e ector n'iz'i'chine-(- mhod ving therein a reciprocatory plunger, oppositely disposed means having ,OPGTHIIQS therethrough adaqptedto guide saidiilungei', and

permit the nassageof a cork rod. fiioinaf tube respectively, awhile holding; tlietuhe against movement with the plunge i; intermittently opei ative" feeding means adapted ,to' ac rate] position the tub; oppositely disposed meal 7 "id nieansadapt- 9d tofreceive tubes and position tl'iei n with relatibn. to. said :Feedin meansrivhereby they \ijllllfijfillfl essiyelv delivered thereto. I 2. A cord rod cjetor machineembodying therein a. plate having); an o ie ning the-rewith relation {to-said through, the dimensions of Whichare such as to permit the passageoii af cork rod and to engage the end oithetube aboutYsaidirod, a reciprocatory plunger, guiding means there} for for ho] ding said pllinger in alinmentwvith saidJopening, means nl:ipt e l to, receive packed tnbes iu hulk, an; intci- 1nitumtly op eratiye'. feeding. mechanismadapted to progres velji remove tubes-from said: means 11nd p sition theu wi t-h relation to sa i d pl ate, 1

and actnatingv means i'oi said feeding: mocha nism operatia ei while: said plunger isretracted "fronia tube. a '3. A can;rod-g jet machine embodying therein plate having an" openin." there through, thedimensionsoli wl icli are such as to permit the passage of a cork rod and to engage the end of the tube about said rod, a reciprocatory plunger, guiding means therefor for holding said plunger in alinement with said opening. means adapted toreceive packed tubes in bulk, feeding means having an endless sequence of pockets adapted to receive tubes from said last named means and convey them to adjacent said plate and position them in axial alinement with said plunger, and intermittently operative actuating means for said feeding means whereby feeding movement will be imparted to the tubes while said plunger is retracted from a tube.

4. A cork rod ejector machine embodying therein a plate having an opening therethrough. the dimensions of which are such as to permit the passage of cork rod and to engage the end of the tube about said rod, a reciprocatory plunger, guiding means therefor for holding said plunger in alinement with said opening. an inclined runway upon which tubes may be deposited in bulk and along which they'may descend by gravity, feeding means having an endless sequence of pockets adapted to be moved across the plane of said runway, whereby tubes will pass successively from said runway into the pockets of said feeding means, and be conveyed thereby to adjacent said plate and in axial alinement with said plunger, and intermittently operative actuating means for said feeding means whereby feeding movement will be imparted to the tubes while said plunger isretracted from a tube.

5. A cork rod ejector machine embodying therein aplate; having an opening there through, the dimensions of which are such as to permit the passage of a. cork rod and to engage the end of the tube about said rod, a reciprocatory plunger, guiding means therefor for holding said plunger in. alinement with said opening, means adapted to receive packed tubes in bulk, oppositely disposed, parallel chains extending from adjacent said means to adjacent said plunger. each of said chains having a sequence of outwardly extending, pocket forming fingers thereon adapted to successively engage and remove tubes-from said means and position them in axial alinement with said plunger, and intermittently operative actuating means for said chains whereby the tubes will be conveyed from said means towards said plate with a step by step m'ovement and while said plunger is retracted from a tube.

6. A cork rod ejector machine embodying therein a plate having an opening therethrough, the dimensions of which are such as topermit the passage of a'cork rod and to engage the end of the tube about said rod, 21 reciprocatory plunger, guiding means therefor for holding said plunger in alinement with said opening, an inclined runway upon which tubes may be deposited in bulk and along which they may descend by gravity, oppositely disposed. parallel chains crossing the plane of said runway and extending across said plate, each of said chains ger ls'retracted from a tube.

7. A cork rod ejector machine embodying therein a plate having an opening there through, the dimensions of which are such as to permit the passage of a cork rod and to engage the end of the tube about said rod, a reciprocatory plunger, guiding means therefor for holding said plunger in alinement with said. opening, means adapted to receive packed tubes in bulk,oppositely disposed, parallel sprocket chains extending from adjacent said means to adjacent said plunger, each of said chainshaving a sequence of outwardly extending, pocket forming fingers thereon adapted to successively engage and remove tubes from said means and position them in axial alinement with said plunger, shafts carrying sprocket wheels co-operating with said chains respectively, a ratchet wheel carried by one of said shafts, a swing frame adjacent said ratchet wheel, a pawl carried by said frame and co-operating with said wheel, a shaft counter to said .last named shaft, a cam carried thereby and acting upon said swing frame, and means synchronized with the ac tuating means for said plunger operative upon said cam shaft, said cam being so set as to actuate said swing frame when said plunger is retracted from a tube.

8. A cork rod ejector machine embodying therein a reciprocatory plunger, oppositely disposed means having openings therethrough adapted to guide said plunger, and [permit the passage of a cork rod from a tube, respectively, while holding the tube against movement with the plunger, guides above and below the openings in each of said means, said guides being spaced apart a dis tance approximating the outside dimension of the tubes, intermittently operative feeding means adapted to accurately position the tube with relation to said oppositely disposed means, and means adapted to receive tubes and position them with relation to said feeding means whereby they will be successively delivered thereto.

9. A cork rod ejector machine embodying therein a reciprocatory plunger, oppositely disposed means having openings therethrough adapted to guide said plunger, and

a swing frame adjacent each of said ratchet wheels, a pawl carried by each of said frames and. cooperating with its associated wheel, a shaft counter to said last named shaft, a plurality of cams each having rises of different heights carried by said last named shaft and acting upon said swing frames respectively, whereby said pawls may be se lectively engaged with said ratchet wheels to cause said chains to be advanced to a variable extent with each actuation of said cam shaft and in proportion to the number of piungers carried by said cross head, and means synchronized with the actuating means for said cross head operative upon said cam shaft, each of said cams being so set as to actuate the swing frame associated therewith only when said cross head is positioned so as to retract the plunger or plungers carried thereby from the tube or tubes. 14. A cork rod ejector machine embodying therein a plate having an opening therethrough, the dimensions of which are such as to permit the passage of a cork rod and to engage the end of the tube about said rod, a reciprocatory plunger, said plunger being or" relatively smaller diameter than the inside diameter of a tube from which the cork rod is to be ejected, guiding means therefor for holding said plungerin alinement with said opening, means adapted to receive packed tubes in bulk, an intermittently operative feeding mechanism adapted to progressively remove tubes from said means and position them with relation to said plate, and actuating means for said feeding mechanism operative while said plunger is retracted from a tube.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 3d day of May, 1921.

CHARLES E. MoMANUS.

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