US1455639A - Feeder for metal blanks - Google Patents

Description

May l5, 1923. 1,455,639

J. A. MCGINNIS FEEDER FOR METAL BLANKS FiledJune 27, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

mw. 2 5 h 5 Q 4 4I S l d m .l .u 2 m 8 s `l-.In .o 11m: mk Smm l L 9 N51 mL, Gum cme M `.am Ama d Jmm Di EF E F May l5, 1923.

INVENTOR.

. 9 M M Mm, W Y ab@ W.. 1, y. .o 5 M I a m 1 s m L Y a Cu M M m M i f l1! Y l i @L Z D u Z l ,||1|| .|1l|| E F a n 5 /f lf fr Zf 4 n B 4 w .2 n Y WNV i f vm z 4 L M J a .laZ 3 Patented May 15, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1,455,639 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. MCGINNIS, OF WHEELING. WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO WHEELING STAMPING COMPANY. A CORPDRATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

FEEDERr FOR METAL BLANKS.

Application filed June 27, 1921.

Bv it known that I. JOHN A. hCGlNNiS. a citizen of thv, United States. residing;r at Yhevling. in thv ifoniity of Ohio and State of'llvvst Virginia. liarv invented a iivw and useful Iniprovvnivnt in Fvvdvrs` tor Metal Blanks. of which thv following; :1 full. clear, and vxavt dvsvril'ition. rvfvrvnvv livin;r had t0 thv accompanying dra wings. formingA apart ot' this spvvitivation. in which:

Figure l is a Sidv elevation partly hrolivii away of a feeder embodying in v invention;

Figiirv 2 is a plan Yivw:

Figure 3 is a svvtioii on thv linv III-lllV of Figui-v Q:

Figure l is a rvrtiviil svvtion taken in a planv :it substantially righty anglvs to thv plane ot' the svvtion ol' li'liirv it;A

Fignrv 5 a top plan rivw sith Sonie. ot' thv t'vvdvr invnihvis` rviiiorvil:

Figure ti a side iivw ot i `ne of the fevdvr nivn'ihvis;

Fig'nrv T a top plan view ol' thv vut-ott' n ivniher:

Figurv 8 in a plan View partly broken away. Showing evi-tain partsy of the invvliaiiisin;

Fin'nrv t) a pvrnpvvtivv Yivw of one of thv lever inenibvrs. and

Figure l0 in a View partir in Sidv vlvvation and pai-tl).r in vvi'tival Section showing thv vain post and adjacent parte.

Mi' in\vnti0n has rvlat'ion to a fvvdvr t'or nivtzil blanks and iS partivularl)v designed For liSv in l'vviliii, r thv lilanlis urteil in Ythv ii1aiil|- tiivtiire ol thv horlivb` :1nd raps ot' vollapsihlv nivtal tuhvs. :ilthongh it` is eipialllir wvll adaptvd Vtor use in feeding other cirriilar dialin or liliiiilcs.

The olijvvt oll nii' invention to provide a simple. vtliviviit. and rvliahlv l'vvdvr ot thil character h i' iiivaiis ol' whivh thv hliinls ina;V hv fed siicvvenirvly and :il rviriilar intervals to thv rnavliinvs or div:` whivli avt upon the hlzinlis aftvr ther are lvil. thv ilvlii'vny ol' the hlanlis hy thv l`vvilvr living' in tiiiivd rvlation to the movvinviit of tihv forming divS.

The nature of my invention will be hvStiindvrstood h r refvrvnvv to thv arvompanyinnr drawings in which l hiii'v shown a prvlvrrvd vniliodiiiiviit ot nii' inrvntioii. which will now hv ilvsorihvd. it hviiiir prvinisvd5 however. that Yaiioiia4 vliniigfv#` inap' hv nitido in tlin detaily of vonsiiintioii. :1..i'iiiigviiivnt and combination of the .Yiirvral parta withH Serial No. 480,658.

ont departing from the spirit and scope ot thv iiivvntion as defined in thv appvndi. iflaiiiis.

lii thvsv diawings. tho nunivriil 2 designates a siiitiihlv hopper which is rigidlyY si cured to a liasv plato 8. ThiS hopper prefvralily has downwardly curved convex inner walls servingr to prevent lpilingr up of the hlaiil` hviiig' agitated. The shell of this hopper has its lower portion 2 of larger internal and external diainvtvrs than the intermediate portion ot' thv hopper. this enlarged and otiset portion ot` thv hopper vavity forming a SeatY for an annular ratchet, ring Jr haring pvriplieral tvvth 5. The ring IY is dvsigiivd to hv given :1 Stvp-liy-stvp rotary iiiovvniviit, in an)v Snitalilv inaiinvr. In thv vonstriivtion shown. this n'iovvnivnt is vtievted hy nivans o'lA thv spring prvssvd pawl whivh iS pivotally nioniitvd at 7 upon a rvviprovatin ql pawl arrivr har 8. The bar H is iiioiintvd to rvviprovatv in siiitahln guides in thv liasv platv 3 and'liiis rigidly Secured ilii-rvlo an iipwardlitY extending post 9 in whivh is formi-d an oblique vain slot ltl (see "igiii'v 10). The slot is engaged by an anti- 't`rirlion rollvr l1 on thv vnd of an arm 1:2 whit-li in vonnvvtvd to soiiiv moving part of Athv iiiarliinv wliivh the tvvdvr Supplies. Siivh as thv i'vviprovating Cross hvad or div carrivr li. (Svv Figure l). As thv nieniher 13 is iiaipria-iitvd vvrtivally.l thv partS thus dv- -st-rihvcl will operatv to vii'vvt a Stvp-hystvp rotation of the ringr 4.

hvviirvil to thv ring lto rot-atv thvrvwith within thv lo .'vr portion of thv. hopper eiwit;Y arv two superimposed feeder inemlivrs if and '16. rl"hvsv inay bo connected to thv ring 4 in anyv Suitable mannvr aS by the lit-li' 1T indicated in Figure 5. The two parts arel otx annular forni, and arc provided on their pvril'ihvries alignvd vertical teedingchannelsy 18 through which the blanks may pass hvtwvvn said members, the lower pov tion of thv hoppvr cavity and the. inner wall of the ring 4. Tho twoinvmbeis l5 and 16 arv separated by a. cnt-0H" device 19 shown in Figiirvs 4 and 7, and which is rigidly keyed to a lions 3 on the hase plate 3. so as to romain stationary. This vut-off inenihvr is in thv foi-iii of an annular plate having a. segmental projection ma. This projection t9 ovvnpivs a. position directll over the diS- vhargv opening 20. Which lent s through tho has@ plat? 2 and communicates With the upper end of a delivery chute 21, the construction and arrangement of the passage 20 and the chute 21 being such that the metal blanks A can drop therethrough in edgewise position.

22 designates an agitating device within the hopper cavity and which is for the iurpose of preventing the metal blanks `troni packing too solidly in the hopper. This device is in the form of the frustrum of a cone and is mounted to revolve upon the pin 23 which is secured in the base plate 3. Its periphery is formed with a helical rib 2-1, the

i pitch of which is directed upwardiy to thereexert a constant lifting action upon the b sinks. The cone is rotated by a suitable connection with the feeder member 15, such as the dowel pin 25, shown in Figure 3.

26 designates a gate which is arranged to move into and ont of the upper portion of the chute 21 so as to alternately support `and release a blank failing through the chute. This gate is shown in blank-supporting posi tion in Figure 4. The gate is periodically actuated in proper timed relation by any suitable means. In the drawings I have shovgn the gate as being carried by a reciprocating bar 27 which is actuated by a lever 28 fulcrumed to the base plate 3 at 29 and hav` ing its opposite end provided with a post 30 which projects upwardly between the two followers 31 of the centraiizing springs 3Q, which are seated in the reciprocating pawl carrier 8. he lever 28 also has an upwardly projecting guide pin 33 which works in a guide slot 34, as best shown in Figure 2. It will be readily' seen that the gate 2G will by means of the connections just described, be reciprocated in proper timed relation to the movements of the machine being supplied by the feeder, the actuating movement being derived from the part 13 of such machine.

If, for any reason, it is desired to empty the hopper quickly, the member .27 may be pulled outwardly to withdraw the gate 26 from the chute and may be liiid in this position by a latch device 35, which can be swung into engagement with a notch 3G in said member 27.

The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing. The metal blanks A to be fed are placed in mass in the cavity of the hopper 2 where they are constantly subjected to the loosening action of the agitator 22. The blanks are gradually worked into edgewise position, passing down into the channels in the feed members 15 and 16, as shown in Figure 4, the lowermost blanks resting upon the upper surface of the base `plate until a lower blank is turned into registry with the upper end of the discharge passaee 20. At this time all of the blanks imme iately above the blank which is to be discharged into said channel are supported b the segment 19* of the separator or cutl-o device 19. Therefore, only one blank at a time can be discharged, such discharge occurring at each stepbystcp rotation of the parts. Each blank is heldin the shute 21 until it is released at the proper time by the withdrawal of the gate 2G.

-lily Vinvention provides a feeder of the character described which is simple in its construction and operation, there being a few movable parts and those being of a character such that they are not likely to get out of order. r1`he action of the feeder is there fore reliable and etlieient and can be depended upon to supply the blanks in regular succession and at the proper time intervals to the dies which shape the blanks. feeder is used in connection with machines for forming blanks for parts of collapsible tubes, the dies in question may be the cxtrusion dies which form the body of the tubes, or they may be the dies which shape the caps or closures for the tubes. As above stated, however, my invention is not limited to use in connection with machines of this particular character.

I claim:

1. In a feeder for metal blanks, a hopper having downwardly curved convex inner Walls, a conefshaped agitator rotatably mounted within the hopper and having a helical lifting rib upon its periphery, said rib having a pitch sufficient to move the blanks circumferentially simultaneously with the lifting thereof, and rotatable feeder means in said hopper below said agitator, substantially as described.

2. In a feeder for metal blanks, a stationary hopper having downwardly curved convex inner walls, an agitating device rotatably mounted within said hopper, said agitating device being of conical form with means upon its surface adapted to exert a progressive and gradual lifting action on the blanks in the hopper, and rotatable feeder means in said hopper below said agitator,

"substantially as described.

3. A blank feeder comprising a hopper, two superimposed feeder members rotatably mounted within the hopper and having ptiripheral feed channels, and a blank sepa- Yrator or cutoff device mounted in fixed position between said feeder members, substantially as described.

4. A blank feeding device, comprising a fixed hopper, two superimposed feeder mem bers rotatably mounted within the hopper and having a plurality of vertical feed channels, means vfor imparting a step-by-step rotary movement to said members, and a separatiner or cut-off device interposed between said members, the base of the hopper having a discharge passage located directly below the effective portion of the separating orcuboif device, substantially as described.

5. A blank feeding device, comprising a xVhen the tially as descrlbed.

a ratchet ring rotatably seated in said en- .larged portion, a pawl mechanism for 1ntermittently engaginer and actuating the ratchet ring, and fee er members rotatably .mounted within said hopper and ratchet ring and having a plurality of vertical feeding channels arranged to receive `and feed the blanks in edgewise positions, substantially as described.

v7. A blank feeder comprisn a hopper having its lower portion interior y enlarged, a ratchet ring rotatably seated in said en- Alarged ortion, a pawl mechanism for inten.

mittent y engaging and actuatin the ratchet rin and feeder members rotata ly mounted wit in said hopper and ratchet ring and having a plurality of verticalffeeding channels arranged to receive and feed'the blanks inedgewise positions, together With a blank separating or cut-off Adevice held in fixed position between the 'feeder members', and the base portion of the hopper member having a discharge'passage whose upper end is immediately below the effective portion of the separating or cut-off device, substan` 8. A blank feeder comprising a hopper, a plurality of feeder members rotatably `mounted within the hopper, the base of the hopper having a discharge passage, a delivery chute connecting with the discharge passage. and a movable gate `for said chute, together with means for reciprocating said gate, substantially as described 9. In a feeder fornnetalblanks, a hopper having downwardly curved convex inner walls, a feeder memberin said ho per rotatable about an axis extending Wardly through said hopper centrally thereof, and

means for receiving blanks from said memtially as described. a V v 10. In a feeder for metal blanks, a hopper 'having downwardly curved convex inner Walls, a feeder member in saidhopper, 'an agitator for insuring the delivery f blanks to said member, means for rotating said agitator about an axis extending upwardly through said hopper centrally thereof, and means for receiving blanks from said member, substantially as described.'

11. In a feeder for metal blanks, a hopper, an agitator therein, a pluralityof feeder members rotatably mounted in said hopper below said agitator, and means for receiving blanks as delivered by said members, substanti-ally as described.

l2. In a hopper for feedin metal blanks, a plurality of feeder mem ers rotatably mounted therein, each of said members having a blank receiving opening, cut-otl` means interposed between said members, and means for receiving -blanks as delivered by said Ymembers, substantially as described.

13. In a' feeder for metal blanks, a hopper, a base having a` delivery opening, a .feeder member in said hopper, said melnber having a blank receiving pocket, means for rotating said member to bringr the pocket -in alinement with said opening, and a cutolf above said member preventing the passage of a plurality of blanks through said opening when the pocket is in alnement therewith, substantially as described.

14. In a feeder for metal blanks, a hoper, a base yhaving a delivery opening, a.

eeder member in said hopper, said memberhaving a blank receiving pocket; means for rotating said member to bring the pocket in alinement with said opening, a cut-off above said member preventing the passage of a j plurality of blanks through said opening when the pocket is in' alinement therewith, and a second feeder member above said cutoff, substantially as described.

15. In a feeder for metal blanks, a hopper, a base Vhaving a delivery opening, a feeder member in said hopper, said member having a blank receiving pocket, means .for rotating said member to bring the pocket in al'nement with said opening, a eut-oil' above said member preventing the passage of a plurality of blanks through said openingwhen thepoeket is .in alinement therewith, and agitating means insuring the delivery of blanksto said member, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set -my hand.

.IQHN A. MGGINNIS loo" Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent-No. 1,455,639, granted May 15, 1923, upon the applicetion "of John A. McGinnis', of Wheeling, West Virginia, for an improvement in Feeders for Metal Blanks, .errors a pear in the printed specication requiring correct-ion as follows: Pge 1, line. 9g, after the Word periph' aries insert the word with; page l insert the syllables ber, snbstfm; `and that ythe said Letters `Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the seme may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Oice. l

Signed and sealed this 19th day of June, ALD., 1923. y

[am] v jj Y WM. A. KINNAN,

Aoing Conwmsimwr of Patefwa.

3, line 55, claim 9, after the syllable mem4

Images