US1619077A - Work-handling mechanism for bolt machines - Google Patents

Description

1, 1 ,077 March 1,1927. J' A KINNEY 6 9 WORK HANDLING MEGHAHISM FOR BOLT MACHINES Filed D80. 2 9. 1921 4 SheevLS-Sheel*l 1 M rch 1 19 7. y

a 2 J. A. KINNEY WORK HANDLING MECHANiISM FOR BOLT MACHINES Filed Dec; 29. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 1, 192'1. 1,619,077v

J. A. KINNEY woRK HANDLING 'MBGHANISN Fon BOLT MACHINES ,l

Filed Dec. 29, 1921 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

UITED STATES JAMES A. KINNEY, OF LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA., ASSIGNOR TO BETHLEI-IEM STEEL COMPANY, OF BETI-ILEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

' WORK-HANDLING MECHANIS-M FOR BOLT MACHINES.

Application 1ed December 29, 1921. Serial No. 525,646.

This invention relates to automatic mechanism for handling the work in a metal turning machine, and is particularly adapt ed for use with that class of machines which thread or point bolts. Y

VThe objects of the invention are to provide an improved carrier mechanism for transferring blanks from a delivery chute or other source of supply to the gripping devices which grip and hold `the blanlrs while the same are being machined; to arrange such carrier so as to avoid the collection of dirt or foreign matter within its moving parts; to provide facilities for adjustment of the gripper ljaws; and to provide means for segregating the pieces after they are machined from the scrap cut therefrom.

ther novel features of construction an advantages will hereinafter clearly appear in the detailed description of this invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an automatic bolt threading machine, having the improved features applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine as shown in FigureV 1, parts appearing in section;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing the position of the 'ma- 'chine when a bolt to be machined is gripped; Fig. d is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the position of the machine when the gripper is in its open position and the ej ectorvchnte placed to receive a falling bolt; Fie. 5 is a vertical cross sectionon line emo in Figure 2;

Fig. 6 is detailed sectional view illustrating the adjusting means for the movable gripper jaw.

The machine consists of a frame 10 mounted on legs 11. Gn the frame, mounted in hearings, is a driving shaft 12 driven by a pulley Keyed to rotate with the driving shaft 12 is a' spiral gea;1 le Vmeshing with a corresponding gear 15 leye'd to the sleeve 16 disposed ahove and at right angles to the aid driving shaft. Integral with or rigidly secured to, the sleeve 16 is a worm 17 which meshes with worm wheel 18, the latter belinedly mounted on a cam shaft 19. Aligned with the sleeve 16,A and. slidingly mountedl therein, lis theY end of a spindle 20. rlhis spindle is ymounted in bearings attached to tie frame 10, and has fastened to .its end opposite the sleeve a cutting die head 21 or other suitable tool.

The spindle 2O and die head 21 which forms the thread on the bolt blank are operated through a mechanism, not shown, actuated by a cam on the shaft 19 but as such mechanism forms no part of the presentinvention, vit is considered unnecessary to describethe same in detail, but only to show the relation between'the cutting die and the feeding and gripping mechanism.

Referring to VFigures 1 and 2, mounted to rotate with the shaft 19 is a cam 22, which operates a center board 23 of 4the hopper v24 through the bell crank lever 25. To one arm of the latter is rotatively attached a roller 26 which is in contact with the face of the cam 22, the end of the other arm of lever being connected to an arm 27 by a connecting rod or spring link hereinafter described. The arm 27 extends at right angles to and is integral with a boss 29 rotatively mounted on'the shaft 30 which is mounted in a suitable bearing attached to the hopper 24. Also integral with said bossv 29 and extending at right angles thereto, is an arm 31 to which is rigidly attached the center board 23, whichk engages in a slot formed in the bottom of the hopper bowl.

The connecting rodl or link between the lever 25and arm 27 consists of a cylinder 32 (see Fig. 2) open at one end and pivot ally connected at its solid end to the arm of the lever 25, the open end being Closed by a screw plug 33. Extending centrally through the latter and to the bottom of the cylinder 82 is a rod 34 of smaller diameter than the bore of the cylinder through almost its entire length, but is increased in diameter at its end within said cylinder to slidingly fit the latter and also form a shoulder 35. At its end outside the cylinder the rod Se is threaded and adjustably attached to the end piece 36, ywhich is pivotally connected to the arm 27. Surrounding the rod 34 is a Coil spring 37, the ends-of which bear against the plug 33 and the shoulder 35, respectively. The spring 37 is so designed that the pressure against the shoulder 35 keeps the rod 34 in contact with the bottom ofthe bore of the cylinder 32, during the lift of the center board through the pile of blanks in the hopper 24e, but in the event of excessive obstruction caused bya deformed blankpr foreign matter between respectively.

the Working surfaces, the cra-nk arm cOntinues its throw and compresses said spring between the shoulder and the plug 33, thereby lengthening the Connecting rod 28 and eliminating breakage that Would followY if the latter' was of rigid structure.

rlhe top of the center board 23 is slotted, as at 38, to receive the shanks of the bolt blanks which are lifted by their `heads when the said center board pivots from the shaft 8O swinging with a fan-like motion until the top face is liush With the chute 39, which has a slot throughout its length to correspend with the slot 38 in the center board to allow the blanks to slide down to a separator Ll0, the purpose of the latter being to feed the blanks separately to a carrier, hereinafter described. The aforesaid chute and separator are Well known to those versed in the art and are not claimed as new, so a detailed description of these features is considered unnecessary.

'Fixed to the cam shaft 19 is a cam all which operates a crank ai). to rotate the carrier sha Also keyed to the shaft 43 is a laterally :'tendng arm 42a carrying a depending Weight all from its outermost end, this Weight being disposed to keep the roller of the cra-nk l2 in Contact with the cam path on the cam Lll. rl`he shaft i3 is mounted on the frame l0 in suitable bearings and extends longitudinally of said frame beneath a reciprocating blank carrier, hereinafter described, this carrier being operated by an arm 45 keyed to said shaft, and extending upwardly therefrom.

The carrier includes a slide 46, slidably mounted in a dovetail groove l? formed in the face of bracket 48, this bracket being rigidly connected to the frame l0 in a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 43 and spindle 20. rlhc slide f6 is given a reciprocating motion by means of the arm the upper bifurcated end of which engages a block j'iivotally mounted on the slide. Journalled longitudinally in said slide 46 is a: shaft 49, the ends of which project past the end faces of the slide to receive aY cani lever or arm 50 and a bolt carrier 5l,

The bolt carrier 5l is keyed to that end of the shaft il@ projecting towards the center line of the frame l() and the cam lever 50 is keyed to thefother end. Immediately above the shaft 49 is an invexedi cam groove 52 ferm d on the underside of an overhanging extensiony 53 in tegral With the bracket 46. The groove 52 eng .ges a roller nounted on the end of the lever 56 and is arranged so that when the slide 46 isj caused to move along the face of the bracket -l-S actuated by the arm 45, the shaft L19 is oscillated or rotated through a .predetermined angle. On its upper face the bolt carrier 5l isv shaped to form a cradle L51@ which is adapted to receive the, bolt blank' in an inclined position from the chute 39.

lllhen the slide 46 is caused to move t0- Wals the center of the machine, the bolt carrier and cradle being attached to the shaft 49, swing through a certain angle operating in unison with the lever 50 following the cam groove 52, and in this manner a bolt which was received at an angle corresponding to that of the chute 39 is moved to a horizontal position and aligned parallel with the axis of the spindle 26 and in a position Within the swing of the movable gripper jaiv dlater described. The moveinents of the parts are, of course, so timed that as the blanks are delivered by the separator 51.0they Will be received by cradle 5la of the carrier and delivered in position to be gripped by the movable jaw 54 as said jaiv is operated.

lt should be sta-ted that the cain groove 52 is so formed'that for certain short periods of travel of the slide 46 rotary motion is not imparted to the shaft 49; the first period is to all iv the bolt carrier to clear the chute before beginning the angular movement; the second part is after the bolt is in its hori zontal position and is Abeing placed Within the swing of the movable gripper jaw 5st. An apron 46@ integral with the slide and vf'- 1 e A Jitending therefrom abuts tne end oi the chute and is of such Width as to close the exit from said chute 39 during the passage of the bolt carrier across the machine. The plane of the upper face of said apron coincides with that of the bolt carrier when the latter is in its position before the chute. The overhanging projection 53 on the frame serves to protect the pai-ts beneath from dust and other foreign matter which contributes to the ellicieney of the machine.

Also keyed to cani shaft l5) is cani 55 to operate the gripper shaft 56 through the medium of a crank lever 5T keyed to the end of the gripper shaft. Relatively mounted on a pin projecting fromthe lever 5'? vis a roller in Contact with the annular rim of the cam This contact is caused by the overhanging Weight of the gripper parts later described` which weight may be supple nienled by an overhanging independent Weight The gripper shaft 56 (not shown). rotate3 or osclllates in suitable bearings. either end attached to the frame l0, and has near its endopp site the lever 57 an arm 58 (see Eig. S) e lending at right angles there-- to. This arm o8 is bifureat-d and hf otatively mounted at its extended end and Within the fork, a trunnion block 59, which slidably engages a thrust rod 60, the latter extending downwardly through the block 59 to receive.a coil spring 6l Which is inte`r posed betweeny the block 59 and an adjustable collark 62 threaded to the lower end of said thrust rodv 60. An eye is formed at the E) ll lLeitner? upper end of the rod '60 which is pivotally connected to th-e center of a toggle joint 63. One of the links of said Vjoint is connected to the frame 10, the 'other being connected to an extension of the movable gripper jaw 54.

' The gripping means consists of a stationary upper jaw 64 att-ached to the bracket 65 so as to be vertically adjustable and the swinging lower jaw 54 which is pivotally mounted on the bracket 65. The pivot about which the movable gripper jaw 54 swings consists of a bolt 66 having an eccentric head 66fL which serves as a bearing for the jaw 54, the shank of the bolt resting in a bearing integral with bracket 65. The end of the shank extends from the face of the bearing to receive a keyed collar 6T, and a further extension is threaded Vto receive a clamping means such as nuts 67 and washer. 1f it is required to adjust the gripper jaw 54 due to the wearing of the gripping surface or for any other reason, the nuts are loosened and a. suitable tool is insertedvin the holes provided in the collar 67. The latter may then be rotated in either direction rotating the bolt 66, thus changing the center axis of the head relative vto the center axis of the bolt blank when the latter is resting against the upper jaw 64. An annular V-shaped projection 671 on the collar67 and ak correspending groove in the bracket 65 Vare formed as a friction device to prevent further movement of the bolt after setting, and during the operation of the machine.:- Also keyed to the gripper shaft 56 is a forked lever 68, to the end of which is swivelly att-ached a connecting rod 69, which in turn is joined by a swivel connection at its other end to a forked lever 70y keyed to and projecting perpendicular from a'transverse shaft 71 mounted in bearings attached to the framework of theV legs 1.1,pthe said swivel connections being of a form commonly known as a universal joint. Keyed to shaft 71 is an armv 72 which carries an ejector chute orreceptacle 73 located under the grip-r pers 54, 64 and having a radius of operation within the path of a falling bolt released by said grippers.

It should be understood the vvarious levers are arranged so that when a boltblank is gripped by the jaws 54 and 64 of the grip-l ping mechanism, the cam 55 pressing over th-e lever 57 causes the block 5.9 to press down on the spring 61, which in turn presses .down on the collar 52 attached to the lower endv of the rod 62, thus spreading the toggle 63, This spreading imparts pressure to the 54 to firmly grip the bolt blank. rlhe block 59 vcontinues to travel after the bolt blank is gripped compressing the spring 61, thus exerting substantially uniform yielding pressur-e on the toggle joint '68. The arm 7 2 is positioned on the shaft 71 yrelative to the lever 70 so that when the bolt blank is gripped the ejector chute attached to said arm is swung forward from beneath the bolt so that the scrap cut from the latter vfalls through an opening in the frame 10 to a pan (not shown). When the gripper jaw 54 is swung in its open position the ejector chute is swung into the path ofra dropping bolt, catches it` and on its return to its forward position ejects the bolt into a lreceiving box (not shown).

It will be noted that all the gears are rotated by alcommon shaft to give proper timing and uniformity of action. The gripper mechanism and the ejector chute are operated by the same cam which insures positive action between the associated movement of these parts and the blank carrier 51 is operated in proper timed relation with the y movable gripper jaw 54 so that such jaw grips a blank delivered by the carrier and holds the same while it-is operated upon by the tool 21, thecarrier in the meantime returning to its position adjacent-the chute 39 to receive another blank.

In using the device tLe operator throws bolt'blanks promiscuously into the bowl of the hopper 24, and then starts the machine to drive the sleeve 16 and spindle 20- and thereby rotating the cam shafty 19 together with the various cams mounted thereon. The center vboa-rd 23 passes through the pile yof blanks lifting several of the latter by the heads, the shanks falling in the slot providediin the topl thereof. When the top face of the center board is flush with the top face of the chute 39, the slot in the former coincides with the slot inthe latter, and owing to the incline the bolt blanks gravitate towards the lower end of said chute to the separator 40, operated by a cam 74, keyed to shaft 43 ror in ran other suitable manner. rThis separator fee s the blanks one at a time to thelextreme end of the chute to be received by the cradle' 51 of the carrier 51. The Vlatter carries the blank'across the machine and tiltsit to a horizontal position, the blank being lifted out of the cradle by the lowergripper 54 and clamped against the upper jaw 64. The rspindle 2O advances Vthe tool or cutting die 21, which reti-acts after Y' threading the bolt, the gripper jawr opens ejecting the bolt which is caught by the ejector 73. In the meanwhile the bolt carrier has moved over to bring' a vsecond blankinto position to be gripped by the jaws and during theVA closing of the latte-r the ejector swings forwardandejects the bolt previously machined. f

Various modifications obviously may be 1 mad-e inthe details of the foregoing construction without departing from the spirit of the invention as embodied in the appended claims.Y l y j Y Ha-ving thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. In a. machine of the kind described, in combination, means for gripping a` blank and holding the same in fixed position comprising a stationary upper jaw and a movable lower jaw, a chute for delivering blanks, a carrier adapted to receive blanks from said chute and movable to a position beneath the stationary jaw when the movable jaw is retracted to bring a blank in opposed relation with respect to the upper aw to be gripped by said jaws, means for moving said carrier back and forth between said chute and said gripping means, and Vmeans for operating said movable jaw in timed relation with said carrier.

2. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of means for gripping blank, a chute angularly disposed and laterally oidset with respect to the gripping means, a slide movable transversely of the gripping means and of the chute, and a blank carrier on the slide and movable angularly with respect to the slide through an angular distance less than 90O between the vplane of a bolt at the delivery end of the chute and the plane of a bolt in the gripping means, wher-eby the carrier may be brought into proper relation with respect to the chute to receive a blank from the latter and in proper relation with respect to the gripping means to deliver a blank to the latter.

3, In a machine of the kind described, the combination of means for gripping a blank comprising vertically opposed and relatively movable jaws, a chute angularly disposed and laterally offset with respect to the gripping means, a slide movable transversely of the gripping means and of the chute, and a blank carrier on the slide and angularly movable with respect to the slide, whereby the carrier may be brought into proper relation with respect to the chute to receive a blank from the latter and in a position beneath the stationary jaw when the movable jaw is retracted for gripping by the aws.

4f. In ya machine of the kind described, in combination, means for gripping a. blank and holding the same in fixed position,l a chute for supplying blanks and inclined with respect to the gripping means, a slide, acarrier mounted onV said slide` and movable therewith, means for oscillating the carrier, said carrier being adapted to receive blanks from said chute and deliver the same direct to said gripping mechanismjand means for reciprocating said slide.

5. ln a machine of the kind described, in combination, means for gripping a blank and holding the same in fixed position comprising a stationary jaw and a movable j aw, a chute for supplying blanks and inclined with respect to the gripping means, a slide, a carrier mounted on said slide and movable therewith, means for oscillating the carrier, said carrier being adapted to receive blanks from said chute and transfer the same to a position to be gripped by said jaws, and means for operating said slide and said movable jaw in timed relation.

6. ln a machine ofthe kind'described, in combination, means for gripping a blank and holding the same in fixed position, an inclined chute for delivering blanks, said chute being laterally displaced from the gripping means and angularly disposed with respect thereto, a carrier for receiving blanks from saidv chute and delivering the same direct to said gripping mechanism, means for moving said carrier back and forth between said chute and gripping mechanism andmeans for moving said carrier into an inclined position when adjacent said chute and intoY a horizontal position when adjacent said gripping mechamsm.

.7. ln a machine of the kind described, in combination, means for gripping a blank and holding the same in iixed position, an inclined chute for delivering blanks, a carrier for receiving blanks from said chute and delivering the same direct to said grip-Y ping mechanism, means for moving said carrier back and forth between said chute and gripping mechanism, a fixed cam, Iand means connected with said carrier and engaging said cam for moving said carrier into an inclined position when adjacent said chute and into aI horizontal position when adjacent said gripping mechanism.

8. ln a machine of the kind described, in combination, means for gripping and holding a blank in liked position, an inclined chute for supplying blanks, a` slide, an oscillating member mounted thereon, a carrier connected to said member, an arm also connected to said member, means for reciprocating said slide whereby said carrier is caused to move back and forth between said chute and gripping mechanism, a fixed cam for engaging said arm and 'oscillating said member, whereby said carrier is caused to occupy an inclined position when adjacent said chute and horizontal posit-ion when adjacent said gripping mechanism. Y

9. In a machine of the kind described, in

combination, means for gripping and lrOldl inga blank in lined position, a tool Vfor operatlng on the blank so held, a chute for Vsupplying` blanks Yanddisposed at an angle to the gripping means, a reciprocatingcan rier adapted to receive blanks'in one position from said chute and deliver the samel in another position direct to said gripping means, means for reciprocating said carrier. and means for changing the angular posi; tion of thegcarrier as it moves'back and forth between said chute and 'gripping means `to bringsaid carrier .into kproper yrelation with respect to the chute and to the gripping means.

10. In a machine of the kind described, in combination, means for gripping and holding a blank in fixed position, a ,chute for supplying blanks, a slide, means for reciprocating said slide, an oscillating member mounted on said slide, a blank carrier secured to said member, said carrier being movable back and forth from said chute to said gripping means as said slide is reciprocated, a projection on the frame of the machine overlying said slide, and having a cam groove on its under surface, an arm secured to said Ioscillating member and engaging said groove, said cam groove being so shaped as to cause said carrier to receive a blank in one position from said chute and move the blank to a different position when it is delivered to said gripping means.

11. In a machine of the kind described, in combination, a frame, a slide mounted thereon, a projection on said frame overlying said slide and having a cam surface on its under side, an 'oscillating member mounted on said slide, a blank carrier secured to said member, an arm secured to said member and eX- tending upwardly and engaging said cam surface, a chute for supplying' blanks, gripping means for holding the blanks in fixed position while being machined, means for reciprocating said slide whereby said carrier is caused to move back and forth between said chute and gripping means, said cam surface being shaped to cause said carrier to receive the blanks in an inclined position from said chute and move the same into a horizontal position when delivered to said gripping means.`

12. In a machine of the kind described, in combination, means for gripping and holding a blank while the same is machined, said means comprising a stationary upper jaw and a movable lower jaw pivoted to swing upwardly toward the upper jaw, a cradle for delivering blanks beneath the upper jaw and within the range of movement of the lower jaw,- a device fo-r supplying blanks one ata time to said cradle, means for reciprocating said cradle between said device and said jaws, and means for operating said movable jaw in timed relation with the movements of said cradle.

13. In a machine of the kind described, in combination, means for gripping and holding` a blank while the same is machined comprising a stationary upper jaw and a pivoted lower jaw, means for changing the position of the pivot of the lower jaw whereby its relation to the upper jaw may be varied, means for moving said jaw and means for positioning blanks within the range of movement of said lower jaw.

14. In a machine of the kind described, in combination, means for gripping and holdingV a blank comprising an upper stationary jaw and alower movable jaw pivoted to the frame Aof the machine, an eccentric pivot pin upon which said lower jaw' is mounted, said pin being lrotai'zable in its bearings to change Y the position of said movable jaw relative to the upper jaw, and means for operating said movable jaw.

15. In a machine of the kind described, in combination, means for gripping and holding a blank in fixed position comprising an upper stationary jaw and a lower movable jaw pivoted to the frame of the machine, toggle mechanism for operating said movable jaw and yielding means for operating said toggle mechanism, and means for changing the position of the pivot of the lower jaw whereby its relation to the upper jaw may be varied.

16. In a machine of the kind described, in combination, means for gripping and holding a blank comprising a stationary jaw and a movable jaw, means for operating said movable jaw to grip and release a blank, a tool for operating on the blank held by said jaws, an ejector chute, means operable in timed relation with respect to said jaw operating means for moving said chute into a position to receive the finished blank when the same is released from said jaws and for moving the same into a position to eject such finished blank when said movable jaw is operated to grip the succeeding blank, the last named position of said chute being such that material cut from the succeeding blank by said tool will not be received in the chute.

17. In a machine of the class described, in combination, means for gripping and holding a blank comprising a stationary and a movable jaw, a tool for operating on the blank held between said jaws, a movable ejector chute, driving means, means operated by the driving mea-ns for opening and closing said movable jaw, means operated by the driving means for moving said ejector chute to a position beneath said jaws when said movable jaw is opened and for moving the saine away from said position when said movable jaw is closed.

18. in a machine of the class described, in combination, means for gripping and holding a blank comprising a stationary aw and a pivoted jaw, a tool for operating on the blank held by said jaws, a pivoted ejector chute, driving means, means operated by the driving means for opening and closing said pivoted jaw, means operated by the driving means for moving said ejector chute to a position beneath said jaws when said pivoted jaw is opened and for moving the same away from such position when said pivoted jaw is closed, and a common shaft for operating said pivoted jaw and said ejector chute.

19. ln a machine of the class described, 1n combination, means for gripping a blank and holding the same in fixed position, a with said slide and adapted to closethe'ext Chute for supplying blanks, a recprocatory from the chute When the carrier s moved slide, a carrier mounted on the slide and toward said gripping means. l0 adapted to receive blanks from said chute In testimony whereof I hereunto ax my and deliver the same direct to said gripping signature.,

means, means for moving the carrier with Y respect to the slide, and an apron movable JAMES A. KINNEY. Y

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