US1616641A

US1616641A - Machine for assembling clothespins

Info

Publication number: US1616641A
Application number: US101835A
Authority: US
Inventors: Simon S Tainter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1926-04-13
Filing date: 1926-04-13
Publication date: 1927-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 1944-02-08

Description

Feb. 8 1927.-

s. s. TAINTER MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CLOTHESPINS Filed April 13, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVEZN'PEII/IZ 51W Feb. 8,1927. 1,636,641

s. s. TAINTER MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING cnomwsrms Filed April 13, "1926 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 if INvENfFEU z Mam b W AME.

Feb. 8, 1927.

s. s. TAINTER MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CLOTHESPINS Filed April 13. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 1927' s. s. TAINTERL MACHINE FOR-ASSEMBLING CLOTHESPINS Filed April 13, 1926 t 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jay/Z0 certain parts of atented Feb. 8,1927. v

SIMON S. PAINTER, OF DIXFIELD, MAINE.

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLIHG CLOTHESPINS.

Application filed Apri1 l3, 1926. Serial No. 101,835.

A well-known form of clothes-pin comprises two clamping members generally made of wood and a spring member, the spring member having a coil portionwhich lies between the two clamping members intermediate their ends, the ends ofsaid spring having portions which engage the clamping members to secure the spring thereto, all so arranged that said spring will normally holdthe jaw portions of the clamping members in yielding engagement with each other, the other ends of said clamping members serving as handles which are normally spread apart when the clamping jaws are closed and which may be pressed toward each other by the user in order to open the jaw members. The objeet of the present invention is to provide a machine for assembling the clamping members and spring together.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the novel features thereof will be pointed. out and clearly defined in the claims at the close of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a substantially complete machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, the feeding means for the clamping members being omitted.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on line 4-4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a completed and assembled clothes pin.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the springmember before it is assembled with the clamping members. Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating successive positions of the .work and the machine during the cycle of operations. v

Fig. 11 is a section on line 11 of Fig. 9. Referring to the drawings, particularly to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the so-called snap clothes pin for which the machine is especially adapted is indicated at C and comprises two clamping members generally made of wood having handle portions a, 1) respectively, terminating at their opposite ends in jaw portions a, b respectively, and a spring member S which secures the clampcut-away portions orgrooves and then feeding the clamping ing members together .intermediate their ends in such a manner as to form a fulcrum somewhat similar to a pair of pincers and at the same time holding the jaws yieldingly in engagement with each other. In this position the rear ends of the handles are spread apartbut when the handles are pressed toward each other the jaw portions will be spread apart. The spring member is formed with a barrel portion d and with upper and lower leg portions 6 and f re spectively. The upper arm 6 has an inwardly extending substantiall lateral portion 9 which has a right ang e bend at its free end to form a downwardly extending portion h. The lower-arm f has a correspondingly inwardly extending lateral portion 2' which has a right angle bend at its free end to form an upwardly extending portion 3'.

Each handle member a, b has a substan- I tially semi-circular cut-away portion or groove k on its inner side intermediate the ends corresponding to the curvature of the barrel portion of the spring. Between the k and the jaw each handle member is formed with a notch Z on its outer side for the reception of the free ends h, j of the spring. The jaw members areformed with cooperating curved notches m, m to allow for the clothes line in well-known manner. 4 Before assembly, appears as shown in the spring member S Figs. 6 and 7 with the free ends it and 7' in engagement with'each other. It is the object of this machine to assemble the parts by first spreading the free ends of the spring apart from each other members forward to cause the handle portions a, b of the clamping members to enter between the spread free ends of :the spring far enough for the cut-away or groove portions 70 of the clamping members 'to embrace thebarrel portion of the spring at which time the free ends of the spring are permitted to'snap toward each other and engage with the notches Z in the outer sides of the clamping members. I

Preferably, the machine is provided with means for automatically feeding the clamping members and the springs to the assembling mechanism. For convenience, the .feed mechanism will be briefly described first. The two co-operating clam ing members and the spring for each clot es pm all,

from the tion for the assembling operation.

\engagement with the barrel of the sp scribed hereinafter.

the pin slide have separate feeding mechanism. There are two hoppers 20, 21, for the clamping members, two rotary feed wheels 22, 23, respectively, to receive the clamping members hoppers, and vertical chutes or

guideways

24, 25, into which the said clamping members are delivered by the rotary feed wheels, the said clamplng members '1 sliding by gravity down the guideways into 10 proper relative osition for the assembling operation. Preihrably, a partition 96 is provided between the

guideways

24, 25. This feed mechanism will be more particularly described hereinafter.

sist of avertieal chute 26 having a guide way 27 into which the springs are fed to slide by gravity down onto a bed 28 where each spring in turn will be in proper posi- A pin 29 normally projects up through an aperture in the bed 28 in alinement with the axis of the barrel of the spring and extends through the said barrel to hold the spring in posi- 25 tion on its bed during thespreading of the arms of the spring and the assembling of the clamping members with the spring. The springs should be so positioned when fed into the chute 26 that the axis of the barrel 30 d of the spring will be in alinement with the axis of the pin 29. The said pin is mounted on a slide member 30 vertically slidable in r the bed 28 and means are provided for moving the slide to carry the pin down outof ring after the parts are assembled to permlt the removal of the assembled clothes pin. The,

mechanism for actuating the said slide 30 and pin 29 will be more particularly de- Means are provided for spreading the two opposite arms of the spring preliminary to the insertion of the clamping members between said arms. The bed 28 is formed with a guide way 31 for 30. The lower arm of the spring rests on the top of the bed and the barrel extends up above the bed.

Side guides

32, 32 are provided to form a guide way 40 in which the clamping'members are 0 moved in assembling them with the spring.

In order to spread the fingers k, j of the spring, the arms e, f which are in different vertical planes flaring away from each other have to be moved toward each other, that is, Into vert1cal planes wh ch are morenearly together, although the horizontal planes in ,which they move remain the samev so that the vertical distance between the said arms e, f, remains the same. The said spreading means consist of two horizontally

movable spreader bars

34, 35, mounted respectively on slides 36, 37 movable in guideways in the bed of the machine in opposite directions to each other, the upper spreading member 34 being adapted to engage the upper arm 6 of The feed mechanism for the springs consufficient movement to spread the arms 6, f

of the spring a sufficient distance to permit entrance of the handles a, b of the clamping member.

Recesses

3, 3 are formed in the

side walls

32, 32 of the guideway 40 to receive the ends of the arms of the spring when they are spread apart.

The clamping members are discharged from the lower ends of the

vertical guideways

24, 25 into the horizontal guide way 40 in the bed of the machine. Aslide member- 42 is provided which is adapted to engage the rear ends of the jaw portions a b of the-clamping members to push the said clamping members alon .in the guide way and push the handle portions 0:, Z) in between the fingers h, j after they arespread apart. The slide first moves forward to bring the curved notches k, is into alinement with the barrel of the spring and at the same time to bring the notches Z, Z into alinement with the vertical fingers h, j'of the spring at which time the fingers h, j, will snap into the notches Z, Z due tothetension of the spring, and the curved. notches or grooves k,'lc of the clamping members will snap into engagement with the barrel d of the spring. The slide then moves forward a short distance further toeject the assembled Clothespin. v

Means are provided to actuate the incarrying slide 30, the spring

spr'ea ing members

34 and 35 and the-pusher slide 42 for the clamping members in proper timed relation to each other. Any suitable means may be provided. 1

The particular means shown in the drawings is a series of cams 50, 51', 52 mounted on a drive shaft 4. Thepin slide 30 is actuated .by the rim cam '50 mounted on said shaft 4. A spring '5 is'conneeted at its lower end to a collar 6 loose on the shaft4-and is connected-at its upper endtoa ing from the slide 30. The said spr ng holds the lower end of the slide 30 in constant engagement with the periphery ofthe cam 50. The said camis formed with a Y pin 7 project-v and carry'the pin 29 down outofengagement with the barrel of the spring so that the assembled clothes pin can be removed. As soon as said cam 50 has rotated far enough to bring the inclined end of the depressed portionof the cam to the pin, the said pin willride up' on the inclined end 10 on the rim of the cam, and the slide and pin will be carried up into operative position ready to receive the barrel of the next spring.

The two slides 36, 37 which carry the .spreaders 34, are respectively actuated by the cams 51, 52 through intermediate mechanism as follows: A lever 53 fulcrumed at 54 carries on its lower arm a cam roll 55 which engages the rim of the cam 51 and is pivotally connected at its upper end at 56 with the slide 36. A tension spring 57 holds the cam roll 55 in engagement with the periphery of the cam.

When the cam roll 55 rides on the high part 58 of the cam the slide 36 is moved forward-to cause the spreader bar 34 to engage and move the spring arm 6. When the cam roll 55 rides ofi of the high part of the cam and on to the lower part 59, the spreader slide will be retracted by the spring 57.

A lever 60 fulcrumed at 61 carries on its lower arm a cam roll 62 which engages the rim of cam .52 and is pivotally connected'at its upper end at 63 with the slide 37. A tension spring 64 holds the cam roll 62 in engagement with the periphery of the cam 52.

- When the cam roll 26 rides on the high part 65 of the cam 52 the slide 37 is moved forward to cause the spreader bar 35 to engage and push the spring arm 7 in the opposite direction to the movement of spring arm 6. When the cam roll 62 rides ofi of the high part of said cam onto the lower part 66 the spreader slide -will be retracted by the spring 64. N

The slide member 42' for moving the clamping members into engagement with the spring S is actuated by an edge cam 67 on shaft 4 through intermediate mechanism as follows: A lever 68 fulcrumed at 69 carries at one end a roll 70 Which-engages the edge of the cam 67. The other end of said lever v68 is pivotally connected by a stud 71 with the outer end of a lever 72 fulcrumed at 73 to the frame of the machine. The inner end of said lever 72 is pivotally connected at 74 with the slide member 42. Thefulcrum connection at 73 and pivotal connectiom at 74 are through elongated slots to allow proper movement of'the lever. When the roll 70 rides,on the high part 75 of the cam 67 the slide 42 is moved forward for the assembling operation. When the roll 70 rides oif into the lower part 76 of the cam a tension spring 77 will retract the said slide.

It is important to have a dwell of the slide 42 after the parts are assembled and before plurality the additional forward movement to permit I the pin 29 to be withdrawn from engagement with the spring. The-cam 67 is formed with a fiat place 78 to permit the dwell for this purpose.

The feed wheels 22, 23 are formed with pockets or grooves 80 extending transversely of the periphery of the wheels into which the blank clamping members will be delivered by gravity through the outlet in the bottom of i the hopper. The attendant should see that the clamping members all lie parallel with each other in the hopper and with the handle ends all pointing in the same direction, so 4 through the vertithing like a roll, mounted on a spindle 82 and having peripheral beads 83, 84 which are adapted to engage in the grooves k andm in the clamping member, ifthe clamping mem- "ber blank is in proper position. In each case, the clamping member blank will ride under the doctor without being disturbed.

If a clamping member is lying inincorrect position so that the grooves 70, m/ register with the beads 83, 84, the blank will be knocked or kicked out of the pocket and back into the hopper again. Preferably the doctor or at least the beads, are of rubber so not to injure the blank. In order to provide a convenient means for keeping the "chute 26 supplied with springs, I provide separate holders onto which a plurality of springs may be strung and which may be positioned so that the springs may be automatically fed therefrom to the chute.

of these filled holders may be kept at hand so that the attendant may readily replace an empty holder by one of the filled ones. One suitable form of holder is shown A doctor it .is not in correct position. The docdo not in Fig. 1 of the drawings and is as follows: i

It comprises a wire spindle or rod 85secured to a holder member 86 and olfset there-I from so that the springs can slide freely on the spindle Without interference with the .holder.

The spindle is shown as being bent at its upper end to form an arm 87 by which itis secured to the holder 86. The holder 86 has secured thereto one leaf 88 of a hinge.

A ,co-operating hinge member 89 is secured to the vertical chute 26 and has secured thereto a hinge pin 91. The hinge member 88 has a'barrel member 92 which can readily be engaged with the-hinge pin 91 by the attendant so as to connect the separable holder 86 with the vertical chute in such position that the springs strung on tlie wire spindle 1 the lever maybe adjusted so as to position the separable holder at varying angles of inclination if desired. It is referable to have the holder at a slight ang e of inclination with relation to the chute as shown.

A driving pulley 95 is shown on shaft 4.

Having thus described my invention, I-

claim v 1. In a machine of the character described,

means for spreading the arms of the spring of a snap clothes pin, and means for feeding the two clamping members of the clothes pin between the spread arms of the springl 2. In a maphine of the character described, means for spreading the arms of the spring of a snap clothes pin, means for feeding the two clamping members of the clothes pin between the spread arms of the spring, and means for releasing the spreading pressure on the spring arms after the "clamping members have entered between the said arms to a predetermined position in relation thereto.

In a machine of thecharacter described for assembling the clamping members of a snap clothes pin with a spring having an in-' tel-mediate coiled portion and having its end portions terminating in arms to engage the outer sides of the clamping members, means for spreading the arms of the spring to admit the two clamping members'of the clothes pin between the spread arms,and means for clothes pin feeding the said clamping members between the spread arms of the spring. 4.- In a machine of the character described for assembling the clamping members of a pin with a spring having an intermediate coiled portion and having its end portions terminating in armsto engage the outer sides of the clamping members, means for spreading-the arms of the spring to admit the two clamping members 'of the snap clothes for feeding the said clamping members be-. tween the spread arms of the spring, and means for releasing the spreading pressure on the spring arms after the clamping members have entered between the said arms to a predetermined position in relation thereto.

5. In a machine of the character described for assembling the clamping members of :1 having an intermediate coiled portion having its end portions terminating in arms to engagethe outer sides of the clamping members, and

means for causing the arms of the spring to s come into. clamping engagement with the outside of the clamping members of the pin the upper end of the pin 94 projecting from the. By providing a series of notches,-

arms at its free ends,

between the spread arms, means and to bring the coil portion of the spring iii between the said clamping members of t e in. I 6. In a machine of the character described, means for spreading. the free endsof a coil spring in which the coil forms an intermediate barrel portion terminating in arms at its free ends, the spread arms of the spring two cooperating clamping members of a clothes pin formed with notches to engage the said barrel and arms of the spring whereby the said arms and the barrel 'are permitted to snap into the notches in the clamping members.

7. In a machine of the character deand means for feeding between of a coilspring in which the coil forms an intermediate barrel portion terminating in means for feeding be.- tween the spread arms of the s ring two co: operating clamping members 0 a clothes pin formed with notches to engage the said barrel and arms ofthe spring whereby the said arms and the barrel are ermitted to snap into the notches in the c amping' members, and means for releasing the spreader mechanism from the spring after ing members are assembled with the sprin i 8. In a machine of the character described, means for spreading the free ends of a coil sprin in which the coil forms an intermediate its free ends, means for feeding between ing clamping members of a clothes pin formed with notches to engage the said barrel and arms of the spring whereb the said arms and the barrel are permitted to snap into the notches in the clamping members, means for releasing the spreader mechanism from the spring after the members are assembled with the sprin a reciprocable member which engages the arrel of the spring during the. assembling operation, and means for withdrawing said engaging member from the barrel after the parts are assembled. r

9. In a machine of the character described, means for spreading the spring in which the coil forms an intermediatebarrel portion terminating in arms at its free ends, means for feeding between the spread arms of the spring two cooperating clamping members of a clothes pin formed with notches to engage the said barrel and arms of the spring whereby the said arms and barrel of the spring are permitted to snap into the notches in the clamping members, means for releasing the spreader mechanism from the said spring after the said freeends of a coil the said clamparrel portion terminating in arms at said clam ping clamping members are assembled with the prin a reciprocable pin which engages the barrel of the spring during the assembling operation, means for withdrawing the pin 3 site arms of the spring an clamping members bers ofa snap c othes pin,

wheels into which respect vely the clampafterthe parts are assembled, the actuating mechanisms for for the feeding mechanism for the clamping members and the actuating mechanism for l thereciprocable pin'being all so timed with relation to each other that the said pin will bebrought -into engagement with the spring before the spreading members open the arms of the spring and W111 be retained in such engagement until the spring and arms are fully assembled and then will be withdrawn from engagement with the spring to permit the assembled clothes pinto be-removed.

10. In a machine of the character I described for assembling the clamping members of a snap clothes pin with a spring having an intermediate portion coiled in barrel form and having its end portions termiv nating 1n arms to engage the outer sides of the clamping members, a reciprocable member adapted to engage the barrel of the spring to hold it in position during the assembhng operation, two oppositely disposed slide members adapted to en age the oppospread them apartfrom each other, a support for the two which holds them in passage between the two alinement with the arms of the spring, means for pushing the bers in between the said clamping mem spread arms of the spring and then withdrawing, means for retracting the spreader members for the arms of the spring, and means for actuating said barrel engaging member, so timed that said member will, engage the barrel of the spring before the clamping member'sand spring are assembled and then withdraw from engagementwith the barrel of the spring.

11. In a machine of the character described, two upright feed chutes adjacent .each other for a pair of clamping members for a snap clothes pin, and 'a partition member between said feed chutes to maintain the twoclamping members of "each pair separated from each other during the passage thereof to the assembliiig mechanism.

12. In a machine of the character described, two hoppers for the clamping members of a snap clothes pin, two rotary feed wheels into which respectively the clamping.

members are dehvered from said hoppers and two upright feed chutes into which the said clamping members are respectively delivered by the said feed wheels. 13. In a machine of the character described; two hop ers for the clamping memtwo rotary feed wheels into which spin ing members are delivered from said hop- 6 the spreading mechanism, ;pers, two upright feed chutes into which the said clamping members are respectively delivered by the said feed wheels,

said feed wheels being formed with pockets each ofwhich is adaptedto receive a single clampmg member in .a predetermined position to be delivered to the assembling mechanism 14. In a machine of the character de- I scribed, two hoppers for the clamping members of a snap clothes pin, two rotary feed respectively the clamping members are delivered from said hoppers, two upright feed chutes into which the said -clamping members are respectively delivered by the said feed wheels, said feed wheels being formed with pockets each of which is adaptedto receive asingle clamping memher 'in a predetermined position to be delivered to the assembling mechanism anda doctor adjacent each feed wheel'so disposed that it will throw' out of the feed wheel any clamping member which does not lie in the pocket in. the predetermined position, said 'doctor consisting of a rotary member having peripheral ribs adapted to engage .-with notches inthe clamping position and thereby permit the said clamp:

clamping member ifthemember is .in its predetermined ing member to ride past thedoctor, said ribs being adapted to engage the clamping member in such manner as to throw it out of the feed wheel if the clamping member is not in its predetermined position to bring its notches in alinement with the said ribs.

1 5. In a machine of the character descrlbed, an upright feed chute for the springs of a snap clothes pin, said springs having an intermediate barrel portion formed bythe coil'of the spring, the ends of the springs terminating in arms, a-guideway for the springs, in combination with a separable holder for a plurality of springs to be fed into said chute, said holder comprising a spindle on which a plurality of engaging with the sprm s may be strung 'by barre thereof, and a holder for said spindle having means for detachably connecting the.

vsame with the machine in such position that the firings may slide bygravity from said e down into the guideway of the feed chute.

said feed chute having In testimony whereof Iaflix my signature. SIMON s. Time.