US1600715A - Cap selecting and feeding mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 21 1926.

w, CAMERON CAP SELECTING AND FEEDINGMECHANISM 2 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed May 7. 1924 liwercz o r' M56022,- came/mm Sept. 21, 1926. 1 1,600,715

. :W. CAMERON C AP SELECTING AND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed May 7, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented s er, ,21,'192s'.

IVUNITED STATES PA'T-ENT OFFICE,

WILLIAM uration, or cincae npmors, Assmnon '10 c'mnaon can macnmnmr commm, or CHICAGO, rumors, nconrona'rron or rumors. 4

CAP SELECTING AND FEEDING MECHANISM.

Application filed Bay 7, 1924. Serial No. 711,535.

.r 'This invention ertains to mechanism for selecting andfee ing caps or other similar articles and while the principles thereof are capable of embodiment in machines designed for various purposes, the partlcular form of the invention shown therein is adapted to be used in conjunction with a cap thread rolling machine such as is disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 653,059, filed July 23, 1923.

The caps which; my present invention is designed to handle are'cylindrical in shape, closed at'o e end and provided'atothe other vradially projecting peripheralend with flan e, and aremade of sheet metalor other re erred material preferably by a stampin operation. v

ese caps in variousfstages of comple- "tion are fed ,to machines which perform some operation upon the caps. In order that the caps may be' properly presentedto the machine which operates upon them it is a in the magazine until they assume the rei t, and deliver the ,with great rapidity. The machine, therefore, is capable of delivering properly posiquired osltion.

Anot er purpose of' In invention'is. to

provide amechanismwhic ,while operatingslowly so as to require but little power and be'subject to very slight wear, will select properly positioned caps tioned ca s in large uantities.

A furt er objecto the invention is to rovide a machine which can be accommoated to handle ca s of-various sizes and dimensions by simp y removingthe selects mg c linder and replacin :itIby another cy in er equiiip'ped with stu s of a different length or di erently spaced apart.

'To facilitate an understanding of my invention a preferred embodiment thereof is shown on the accompanying drawings, referring to which: I} f r 1 ig. 1 is an end elevation ofa selecting and feeding mechanism embodying my invention, I

vprovide the mar inal flangle a -Fig. 2 is a similar fr entary view-with the outer wall of the eed chute removed, Flg. 3 is a side elevation of the construe-4 tion shown in Fig. 1, and i Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views taken on the lines 4-4 and 5-5, re-

spec'tively, of Fig. 1'..

''Referring now to the drawings more in detail, reference character 6 indicates generally a magazine or hopper into the open upper end. of which the caps are dumped.

This magazine may be supported in any I suitable manner as, for instance, upon an upright post 7. Through the hopper a shaft 8 extends, which is rotatably journaled in a bearing 9 formed integrally with the hopper and is held therein against longitudinal displacement by collars 11 and 12. The lower portion of the hopper is provlded with a laterally discharge opening disposedconcentrically with the. shaft 8 and a bearing ring 13 projecting laterally from the margin of this opening affords a bearin for the inner end of a tapered cylinder, shel or barrel 14, as will be apparent from Fig.

'3. This cylinder increases in diameter towards its outer end to provide a shell of substantially truncated cone shape and is sharply flared at its extreme outer end-to 15. Upon its ed to provide periphery the cy inder is s a. belt pulley 16 by which t e cylinder is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 through the intermediary of abelt17. U r

The outer end of the cylinder is closedby a circular substantially flat plate 18 provided with a hub 19 adapted to be slipped onto the end of the shaft 8 and securely locked thereto by a set screw 21 or other preferred means, This end plate is also secured to' the marginal flange 15 of the c linder by a series ofbolts 22 (Fi 1 and 5) and is maintained in s aced ref:-

:tion with respect to theflange 15 y spacing members 23 carriedvby the bolts 22, as will be a parent from F1g.'5. These s acing' mem ers are circular in shape an theirouter ends are cutaway to provide recesses 24 adapted to accommodate the flanges 25 of the'ca s 26 when the caps are properly ositione in the groove, or as I may term 1t, radial slot 27 formed between, the flange the 15 and the end plate 18.

'The flange 15 is provided between spacing members 23 with studs 28 arranged in spaced relation circumferentially of the flange" and projecting toward the plate 18. The spacing of these studs is such that the bodies of the caps 26 will pass between them.

The flanges of the caps being of greater diameter than the space between adjacent studs, the cap will not be permitted to drop from the magazine unless the cap be positioned in the slot, as shown in Fig. 4, with the flange 25 opposed to the plate 18'so that it will clear the ends of the studs 28.

Adelivery chute consisting of an arcuate portion 29 and a straight portion 31 is ar ranged to receive the caps from the cylinder. The arcuate portion comprises a grooved plate 32 and a side wall 33 secured to the plate by bolts 34 or other means. The

the bottom of the groove beingshaped simi larlyto the'bottom of the groove in the portion 31 of the chute and from Fig. 4 it will be observed that this portion of the chute comprises a plate 35 having a step shaped groove 36, the outer face of which is closed 1 by the plate 37. The straight portion. 31

of the chute extends to a machineto which the caps are delivered or is adapted to deliver the same into a basket or other receptacle as desiredi In the operation of my improved mechanism the caps to be selected and fed are dumped into the open top of the hopper 6 from which'they fall into the revolving cylinder 14.

The width of the groove 27 is slightly greater than the axial length of the caps so that the caps will I readily fall by gravity into this groove. Such caps as are positioned in the groovewith their flanges toward the end plate 18 will be permitted to pass through between .adjacent studs into the delivery .chute while those caps which are reversed endwise, that is, are positioned with e 15, will be retained by the studs in the'cyhnder and prevented from entering the chute. It will be apparent, therefore, thatfonly those selected caps which are positioned with .the open ends in the desired direction are permitted to enter the chute and these selected caps are delivered all faced in the .Same direction from the lower end of the chute.

For the ,purpose of dislodging' any caps which might become caught orbound between adjacent studs 28 I have providedat the top of the magazine a starwheel 38 mounted on an arm 39 projecting laterally from the hopper, this wheel being positioned so that its prongs can enter between the 1 studs of the selecting cylinder as the'cylinder is revolved'and be thereby rotated. Any

: cap, therefore, which'may become lodged between the studs-is pushed inwardly and freed from the studs so that it will drop back into v plate 32 is grooved to accommodate the caps '26,

the revolving cylinder and eventually be discharged into the chute.

It is believed that the construction, operation, and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be ap arent from the exceeding the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims,

I claim 1. A selecting and feeding mechanism for caps and the like, comprising a rotatable cylinder flared at one end, anend plate v secured thereto and spaced therefrom to provide a peripherally opening delivery slot of a depth greater than the radius length of said caps and the like, and selector studs projecting into said slot, the said slot constituting a guiding means for feeding only properly disposed caps to the said selector studs tothereby prevent an accumulation of improperly positioned caps upon the selector studs. t H

2.- In -a selecting and feeding mechanism, the combination of a stationary hopper having a circular discharge mouth in a sub- 'stantially vertical plane, a horizontally disposed shaft, a tapered cylindrical shell communicating at its-smaller end with said hopper and mounted on said shaft to rotate concentrically with said hopper mouth, means at the larger end of said shell for selecting and permitting the delivery of selected articles, a delivery chute positioned to receive said articles, and means for rotating said shell. I v

3. A selecting and feeding mechanism comprising a rotatable cylindrical shell outwardly flanged at one end, a hopper having a dischargemouth in continuous communication with the opposite end of said shell, a member arranged in conjunction with the said flange to provide a slot therebetween, n i

and selecting devices in said slot.

4. A selecting and feeding mechanism comprising a rotatable cylindrical shell outwardly flanged at one end, a hopper having 5 a discharge mouth forming a continuous passageway with the opposite'end of saldg shell, a member spaced from said flange to provide a slot therebetween, selecting devices in said slot and toward the bottom thereof and a wheel having projections cooperatively arranged with said shell for rotation upon rotation of said shell for 'dislodgingimproperly placed articles in'said selecting means.

5. A selecting and feeding mechanism comprising a rotatable cylindrical shell having an outwardly projecting peripheral flange at one end thereof, a hopper having a discharge mouth forming a continuous passageway with the opposite end .of said shell a member cooperating with said peripheral flange to provide to slot therebetween, selecting devices arranged in said slot and spaced from one side thereof whereby properly disposed articles will be passed by said selecting devices and improperly disposed articles will be returned by said selecting devices, and means projecting into said .slot and operable upon rotation of said shell for dislodging articles stuck in said slot.

6. In a cap selecting and feeding mechanism, a rotatable shell of truncated cone shape with the axis thereof horizontally disposed, a hopper adjacent and adapted to feed articles into the small end of said shell, the large end of said shell having an-outwardly flanged pel 'i hery, a member opposed to the large end. 0 said shell to provide .a' slot of a depth'to receive a capandbf a width greater than the length of a cap cir- .of said cylinder.-

cumferentially of the shell, and means within said slot forjpermitting the discharge of properl positioned caps and for preventing the discharge of improperly positioned caps.

7. In a device of the character described, a hopper having a substantiallyv cylindrical discharge opening, a rotatable cylindrical shell having one end adjacent to and concentrically ,arranged with the discharge opening of and'inlconstant communication with said hopper, whereby articles discharged from said hopper will be continuously received insaid shell, selecting devices. in connection with said shell, and means' for. rotating said shell;

8. In a selectin and feeding mechanism, the combination 0 a hopper, a tapered cylindrical member communicating at its smaller end with said hopper and provided. at its larger end with a radiall 'disposedcircumferential flange, an end p ate opposed to but spaced from said flange to provide a periph- 'eral slot of substantial radial depth, studs projecting from said flange within .s id slot and a predetermined distancetoward said plate, and a grooved delivery chlite mounted in co-operative relation 9. In a selecting and feeding mechanism,

the combination of a hopper provided with a a lateral opening, a shaft extending concen- 'trically through said opening, a tapered cylind'rical member rotata ly mounted with its smaller end'in constant communication with the hopper, an end' plate secured on said shaft and opposed to but spaced :from the a larger end of said-cylindrical member, studs gojectinginto the space between said memr and said end plate and spaced from said" end plate, a delivery chute positioned to receive articles passing b etween'said studs, and means for dislodging articles lodged between said studs.

10. In a selecting and feeding mechanism,

'the combination of a.rotatab le cylindrical member provided at one end with a ci rcumslot eonstitutinggui ing caps to the selectingmeans only when the caps are in their properly alined posito the flanged end I' -ferential radially disposed flange, means.

for delivering ca s or the-like into the'opposite end of sai member, a plate opposed.

to the flanged end of the member and forming in conjunction with said flange a slot adapted to receive and guide caps from the cylindrical member, and selecting meansdischarge from the mechanism of improperly'positioned caps while permitting the discharge of properl positioned caps, said g means for delivertions, to thereby prevent an accumulation of caps in various improper positions from resting and accumulating on \said selecting means.

11. In 'a' selecting and feeding mechanism, the combination of a cylinder open at one end for the reception of caps to be selected and provided at its other end with a radially disposed discharge slot adapted to g'o receive and guide caps mm the cylinder, and means in said slot spaced radially outwardly from the receiving end thereof for I selecting caps disposed in the slot, said slot constituting a. gu ding means for delivering only properly alined caps to said selecting means, to thereby prevent an accumulation of caps in various lmproper positions from resting upon the said selecting means.

12. In a selecting and feeding mechanism, the combination of a cylinder 0 .en at one end for the reception of caps to e selected and provided at its other end with a .radially disposed discharge slot adapted to 'receive-and guide caps from the cylinder, and pins projecting into said slot from one wall thereof and remote from :the receiving mouth of the slot for selecting caps disposed in the slot, said slot constituting a guldmg means for feeding means only in their properly alined position, to thereby prevent an accumulation of improperly positioned caps upon the said remotely positioned 'selectmg pms.

13. In a selecting and feeding mechanism, the combination of a rotatable cylinder open at one end for the "reception of caps and provided at its other end with a. radially circumferential delive slot ich said caps are delivere studs space apart circumferentially of. the cylinder and extending into said slot so as to .prevent the delivery of im roperly positioned caps and permit the de ivery of properly positioned caps,"and means comprising fingers adaptedito' roject inwar dl between the successlve stu s as the cyhn or is rotated for dislodging caps retained by the attending?h studs, said: slot constitutin'g a guiding means" for deliverin only roperlyflalined caps to l i the said selecting studs tq thereby prevent caps, to the selecting.

an accumulation of improperly positioned caps upon the selector studs.

14:. In a selecting and feeding mechanism, the combination of ahollow rotatable member open at one end for the reception of caps and provided at its other end with a radially extending discharge slot, selecting studs arranged in spaced relation in said slot,

and a rotatable dislodging device compris l0 ing a plurality of fingers adapted to project into said slot between successive studs as the cylinder is rotated, whereby caps retained by th estuds are dislodged, said slot constituting a guiding means for delivering only properly alined caps to the said selecting studs to thereby prevent an accumulation of improperly positioned caps upon the selector studs.

WILLIAM CAMERON.

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