US1417440A - Metal-feeding apparatus - Google Patents

Description

H. C. ZENKE.

METAL FEEDING APPARATUS- APPLICATION FILED SEPT.5 1919- RENEWED AUG. 16. I92!- 1,417,440., Patented May 23, 1922.

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H. C.-ZENKE.

METAL FEEDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-5. 1919- mznswsn AUG. 16. 1921.

1,417,440. Patented May 23, 1922.

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HENRY C. ZENKE, OF RICHMOND HILL, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOlR TO SIMPLEX METAL FEEDER COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METAL-FEEDING APPARATUS.

Application filed September 5, 1919, Serial No. 321,761.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, HENRY G. ZENKE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Richmond I-Iill, county of Queens, State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Metal-Feeding Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to metalfeeding apparatus, particularly for linotype machines. It is intended to feed into the melting pot of such machines type-metal in suitable quantities to maintain the level of melted metal substantially constant, and as nearly as possible at such a rate as to maintain the temperature of the metal in the pot high enough to prevent chilling by the fresh supply which is fed into it; in that way preventing imperfect castings and economizing time and labor. The device which I have designed is automatic in its operation, and ordinarily requires no attention except to supply additional pigs or bars of metal when the sup-ply in the feeder runs low. Also it is held in place by a three-point support, by means of which it may be adjusted to any standard melting-pot, and may be shifted from one to another without the use of tools.

To carry out the objects of the invention, I arrange a chute in which the pigs are deposited, and provide a float which determines the level at which the hot metal in the pot is to be maintained. As pointed out, it is desirable that this level be maintained substantially constant in order to secure sound castings. I provide a releasing mechanism for the pigs, and a stop limiting the extent to which the pig enters the melted metal; and I so connect the detent with respect to an operating part of the linotype that it is released only at times when it is desired to replenish the metal in the reservoir. To eifect this, I provide a releasing mechanism, the connection of which to a positively actuated part of the mechanism is controlled and regulated by the position of the float, so that a part of the mechanism is actuated whenever thecasting mechanism of the linotype is operated; but the connection between the operating mechanism and the parts which release the pigs is only effected when the metal in the pot has been used until its level is as low as is desired.

erative until the pig or bar has fallen below Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23,1922.

Renewed August 16, 1921. Serial No. 492,872.

a desired point in the chute. It is preferredto have this point so selected that there will still be some margin of the bar left in the chute when the alarm is actuated, the connecting mechanism of the alarm being held out of operative position by the bar until the top of the latter has descended to such a point that an additional actuation of the detent would permit the entire remnant of the bar to enter the melting pot. I referably use, instead of the short pigs whic are used for feeding, a bar or pig of about twenty-five pounds in weight and twenty to twenty-four inches in length. By casting the metal in this form, loss by theft is avoided, as it is practically impossible to conceal the long bars or Without detection to remove the remnants of them from the machine after they have been melted off to such a size as renders them easily handled. To serve the purposes of my invention 1 provide notches in one or more edges of the bar, with which the detent engages, as presently to be described.

The accompanying drawings show an embodiment of my invention. Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device applied to the melting pot of a linotype machine, the latter being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a front elevation, looking to the right in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the releasing mechanism, looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an inserted plan of a detail.

Figure 1 is a plan view of part of one of the bars or pigs.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure .4, with the chute of Figures 1 and 3 shown in section in dotted lines; and

Figure 6 is a perspective of the spider embraced in the three-point support.

The chute is composed of right and lefthand members A A connected by the lugs A A and held together by the bolts A A, respectively. Secured by the bolt A to the lug A is a hook-shaped member A", which projects below the level of the metal in the melting pot and determines the depth to which the bar or pig is permitted to descend thereinto. The length of this detent is so selected that the amount of the bar which is lowered into the melted metal is not sufficient to chill the latter.

The chute A is carried upon a spider C, shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6. The spider is provided with hooks C C which engage under the ed e of the opening in the top of the pot Jag screws 0 c are threaded into thimbles C C, cast integral upon the spider; the lag screws 0 0* bear upon the top of the pot and the lugs C C engage under the edge of the opening, thus clamping the edge of the pot between the screws and the lugs. In placing the spider in position, screws 0 c are withdrawn until the lug D presently referred to, is adjusted to position, after which the screws 0" c are turned until they make contact with the top of the pot, preventing any accidental displacement of the apparatus after it is once adjusted, since its weight is sufficient to hold it firmly in position by gravity. The melting-pot is shown with the usual chimney B and lugs B are cast thereon upon which the cover, which is not illustrated, is pivoted. An arm C is also connected to the spider and car ries the operating rod G, presently to be described. This arm C extends across the face of the chute and has a depending arm C, on which are cast lugs 0 ,0 carrying the rod of the float, presently to be described more fully.

Cooperating with the spider C is a wedgeshaped or bevelled lug D attached by the screw (Z to a plate D which carries the operating parts. The bevelled lug D is formed with a slot on one side of it, in which is a screw (Z v securing it to the plate, so that the lug is. capable of vertical adjustment,

thusperinitting it to bear upon the lug B of the melting pot and as it is raised or lowered altering the angle at which the chute A stands with reference to the melting pot,

thus permitting adjustment over a considerable angle. As the various types of linotype machines have parts which differ somewhat in shape and thickness, this arrangement enables me to manufacture a single type of feeding apparatus and adjust it for any one of the standard machines.

The plate D is secured to the back of the chute by means of the bolts (Z, (Z, cooperating with lugs VA cast upon the side of the chute (see Fig. 1). A lug D (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and in full lines in Figs. 1

and 3) and other lugs (Z (Z (shown best in Fig. 3) are cast upon the inner face of the plate D. D serves to hold a spring E which will presently be described. All of the operating parts of the lever controlling the feed are carried by the plate D, and will be best understood from the rear view of Figure In this figure, E is the detent for the bar or pig, the bottom part of which, E, is projected beneath the chute and engages with the pig or bar which is to be fed. This lever E is pivoted at e to the plate D, and is of bell-crank form, having a projecting arm E which bears upon the spring E carried by the lug D. Another lever E is pivoted at e and is provided with a lug E*, which bears upon the lug D on the rear of the plate D, preventing the lever being pressed away from the lever-arm E; a projecting arm E from the lever E actuates the arm E of the lever E and a spring E cooperates with the lever E being seated in a lug on the arm E and bearing against the lug d on the rear of the plate D. Pivoted by a bolt 6 to the lever is another arm E carrying a wearing plate E having a sharp engaging edge. The lug E on the lever E bears against an adjusting screw '6 by means of which the edge of the wearing plate E may be raised or lowered to bring it nearer to or further from the operating part with which that plate cooperates, presently to be described, and thus determine the extent to which the float may be lowered before feeding meta-l into the pot.

At F (see Figs. 1 and 2) is a bell of the ordinary bicycle type, having an operating handle F A lever F has a head F which may be brought at desired times into the path in which is located the handle F This lever (see Figs. 2 and 3 particularly) is pivoted at 7 upon the lever E of the feed mechanism. In Figure 1, the lever F moves in the planeof the sheet and in Figures 2 and 3 in a path normal to the plane of the sheet, around the stud f. As will be seen from Figure 1, so long as there is a bar of metal in the chute the lower end of the lever F will be held to its full line position by the bar and the upper end with the head F will be outof the plane in which the handle F is located, so that the bell will not sound. If, however, the metal has been melted away until the lower end of the bar comes below the end of the lever F, as shown in dotted lines in the lower part of Figure 1, then the head F of the lever will fall to the dotted line position and when the lever E is pressed to the left, the bell F will be rung every time the machine is operated until a fresh bar is put into the chute.

At G (see Fig. 2) is shown the operating rod for the apparatus. 1 have indicated at L a small face-plate which is connected to a suitable part of the linotype machine, so that at every operation of the casting mechanism the face plate L will. press the rod G to the left. Secured to the rod G is a frame G to the end of which is secured a pin 9 upon which, and upon a stud 0 on the arm C of the spider, is arranged a spring G which tends to hold the rod G to the ri ht. At M is shown an operating button attached to the rod G, and projecting slightly below the frame G the left-hand end of the rod G (see Fig. 2) is bent over and carried through an angle-bar'H to the other end of which is secured a rodLmoving in the lugs 0 07, in the arm C of the frame of the spider'C. A collar 2' is secured to the rod 1,

and the spring I bearing on the lug 0, tends to hold up the rod 1; at the bottom of the rod is the float K, of cast iron or other refractory metal.

The operation of the device just described is as follows: So long as the metal in the pot B sustains the float K at a proper height, the bar H is held up so as to hold up the rod Gr, carrying the button M above the edge of the wearing plate E and as there is metal in the chute the head F of the lever F is out of the path of the handle F of the bell. Under these conditions whenever the casting mechanism of the linotype is operated the face-plate L forces the rod G to the left in Figure 2, carrying with it the button M, which, however, does not engage with the wearing-plate E so that the lever E is not operated and does not operate the lever E to release the detent E, which thus holds the bar in place. When the level of the metal in the pot has fallen so low that the float K no longer holds up the bar H, the button M descends until it engages with the edge of the plate E the position of which is adjusted by means of the screw E and lug E so as to come into the path of the button M when the metal in the pot is at a desired level. Under these conditions, the lever E is forced to the right in Figure 3, or the left in Figure 2, forcing down the arm E against the action of the springs E and E thus forcing down the arm E of the lever E, causing that lever to turn around its pivot c and withdrawing the lip E on the bottom thereof from beneath the bar, so that the latter descends until it is engaged by the hook A It will be observed that the bar N has notches n in its corner with which the lip E of the lever E may engage. As soon as a sufiicient amount of the metal has melted off so that the bar slides down far enough, the lip E engages with one of the notches n and holds up the bar until the feeding mechanism is brought into action again by the descent of the float K. 'When the bar descends to the position shown in dotted lines in the lower part of Figure 1, the end of the lever F is permitted to move to the rightin Figure 1, the head F of the lever falls into the path of the handle F and the alarm is operated at every actuation of the linotype casting-mechanism until the new bar of metal is inserted into the chute, putting the lever out of registry with the bellhandle.

It will be observed that the feeding device is wholly self-contained and may be removed instantly whenever it is necessary or desirable to do so, without tools, by lifting it out of its place and laying it aside. In practice it never gets too hot to be handled comfortably with the bare hand. To shift it from one type of machine to another may require slight adjustmentof the lug D if the two machines are of different styles; but this is easily done with a screw-driver, and there are no nuts, bolts, chains or pulleys to be altered or moved or removed.

It is obvious that changes might be made in the action of the apparatus or in its arrangement without affecting the scope of my invention and these I aim to cover by the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Metal-feeding apparatus for line-casting machines, comprising a chute for the cold metal, means for feeding the cold metal at desired times, a melting pot, and a three point support for the feeding apparatus embracing a spider over the opening in the melting pot, the entire apparatus being held in position by gravity only.

2. Metal-feeding apparatus for line-cast ing machines, comprising a chute for the cold metal and means for feeding it at desired times, a melting pot, and a spider carrying the metal-feeding apparatus, the latter being supported at three points over an opening in the melting pot, one of the points of support being adjustable to vary the angle of inclination of the chute.

3. Metal feeding apparatus for type-casting machines, comprising a chute for the cold metal, means for feeding the metal, such means operated by a moving part of the ma chine, a melting pot, and a spider supporting the chute and feeding apparatus over the melting pot, the support including the spider having three points of contact on the pot.

4. Metal feeding apparatus for type-casting machines, comprising a chute for the cold metal, a detent for the metal holding it in the chute, means for actuating the detent at desired times, a melting pot, and means for supporting the apparatus including a spider, the supporting means having three points of contact upon the pot, and holding the apparatus in position by gravity.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this twenty-ninth day of August, 1919.

HENRY C. ZENKE.

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