US1695461A - Extension-ladder-assembling machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 18, 1928.

' y '1,695,461 J.'E. KALGREN EXTENSION LADDER AssEMBLING MACHINE l Filed Ju1y14, 1927 1o sheets-sheet 2 Sirf-l @25:51 Y br @ffgw f mm; i

Dec. 18, 1928. 1,695,461

J. E. KALGREN EXTENSIONl LADDER ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed July 14, 1927 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 EXTENSION LADDER ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed July 14, 1927 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dern 1s, 192s.

Dec. 18, 1928. l

J. E. KALGREN EXTENSION LADDER AssEMBLING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed IJuly 14, 1927 97 Zi-71.94 708 /f7Z Jb Jb y J. E. KALGREN EXTENSION LADDER AssEMBLING MAGHINE Fixed July 14. 1927 10 Sheets-Shet 7 Ja/i lila] /l/llf I J. E. KALGREN EXTENSION LADDER AssENBLING MACHINE IIII Dec. 1s, 192s. 1,695,461 I J. E. KALGREN v EXTENSION LADDER ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Jul 14, 1927 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 MWWQ Dec. 1s, 192s.

10 Sheets-Sheet 10 J. EL KALGREN EXTENSION LADDER ASSEMBLING MACHINE Flled July 14 1927 Figs. 1 .a-nd 2 are views in side' elevation l showing` the head and rear sections ot the ma Y Patented Dec. 18,1928.v

UNITED sfr-Ares jaoHN n. KALGREN, or MINNEAPOMS, MINNESOTA, AssIeNoa To QT. RQOLARN corn Y YPANY, or MINNEAPOLIS, ALiynNisrasOrrA, A corteonAfrieN'or 4Mi'NNNsorA.

EX'riiNsION-LADDER-AssnMBLrNe MACHINE.

Application filed July 14,

v My invention has for itsgobj ect to provide highly efficient extension ladder assembling machine, and to this end it consists oli' the novel devices andcombinations of devices hereinafter described andA defined in the claims.v f f In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters yindi-y cateV like `parts throughout he several views.

Reierring to the drawings:

chine, respectively; c y

Figs. 3, et and 5 are ragmentaryplan views showing lthe rear, intermediate and head sections of the machine, respectively; A j

1 Fig. 6 is a view partly in end elevation and partly Vin transverse vertical section taken on the irregular line 6-6 of Fig-2, on an enlarged scale ;V Y Y Fig. 7 is a view partly in` elevationand partly in transverse vertical section taken en lthe line 7- 7 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 8 is a view partlyin rear end elevation and partly in transverse vertical section taken on the line 8 8y of Figi 2, on an 'enlarged scale, some parts beingbrolen away and other parts .shownj bymeans otbroken lines;v i i Fig. r9 is a fragmentary plan view of the cross-heads and eccentric connections shown in Fig. 8 at thehead ysection O'I'themaChine; Fig'. 10 is fragmentary sideelevation ot the n'iacliine at the head section as shown in Fig. 1v, on an eiil'arged scale I ,i Fig. 11 is aragmentarydetail viewwith some partssectioned on the line 11j-110i'v Fig. t, on an enlarged scale;

,Figa V12Ais a fragmentary detail view with some parts sectioned von the line 12,-12 of 4; Y Fig. 13 is a plan view showing the manual control Jorthe centering javsand the antomaticclutch. release mechanism; y l f I Fig'. 14 is a detail view with some partssectioned on the line 14-'1tof'Fig- 13 Fig-15 is adetail view. with somepai'ts sectioned on'the'line 'l5-15 otFig. 13;

Fig. 16, is a view .principallyin diagram showing theright-hand pair of jaws as shown infFig. 8, released; u 'A I i.

1'? isairagmentary plan viewci one of the sqeezinp; abutments;

Figs. 18, 19 and 2O areplan yiews showingl 192/7. l. serial No. 295,828.

diiierent types oit .ladder ,f sections .assembled on the'inachine; F 21 is a detail view with 23423 ot 'saidiigfure The 'trame ofthe machine includes heavy cast head, rear, Vand intermediate pedestals 23,24 and 25, respectively, rigidly connected. at theirl bases'bya centralilongitudinally ex`` tended I-beam 2 6 and .at their top portions by a pair of laterally spaced sideloiigegitudihv nally exten ded II-beams 27. Said rameitur- HCE D some partssec-'K ticnedontheline 21"-21 otFg.18on an 25 's a. view of the ladder shownin 'Fig'. 3, with some parts'sectloned on the line ther includes `heavy castskeleton Cross vtie members 28 rand29 supportedonthe I-jbeams 27and rigidly connect the same. 4As shown,

there are two cross tie members 29 and they f are substantially like the cross tie. members ing gear. cases 30 formed therewith midway between the I-beams2.k Each cross tie memy28 with the exceptionthat they have depend- 'i ber28rv29 has formedr therewith,v at its end portions, ways31 on whichapair of cross@` Y heads 32 are slidably mounted for movement toward or from each other, transversely of the machin f f The crossheads 32 on each sidentthe machine are rigidly'V connected for common slid- Y ing' movement by a longitudinally extended sill BS'in the form of aninverted channel '100 'i `rlheeccentric shattl is driven from an electric motor 39 mounted on the I-beam 26 at the rear oi the `machine and hasa rela-v tively small pulleyO on its armature shaft aligned with a relatively large pulleyy 41- leose on ashort traiisi'ierse shaft L12 journaled mbearingson a gear `case 13 formed with.

the vinternnediete pedestal A belt runs; I

over the pulleys 40 and 4l. To connect t-he pulley 41 to the shaft 42 there is provided a yieldinvl'y set clutch 45, such as the Fordson type, iagraminatically illustrated in Fig. 7. Keyed tothe shaft 42, Within the gear case 43. is a worm 46 which meshes with a worm gear 47 keyed to a counter-shaft`48. This counter-shaft 48 extends parallel to and under the shai't 42 and is jo'urnaled in the gear cases 30 and 43 and in bearing brackets 49 on the I-beains 26. Keyed to the counter-shaft 48, Withineach gear case 30, is a relatively small gear 5() which meshes With a relatively large gea-r 5l keyed to the eccentric sha1-it 34. Obviously, through tlie above described driving connections from the motor 39, the tvvo sets of cross-heads 32, one on each side of the machine, are `irst moved toward each other and then from each other once during each rotation of the shaft 34 by its eccentrics 35. i

Automatic means manually set in motion, as Will presently appear, are provided for releasing the clutch and holding the same e released to cause the eccentric shaft 34 to make one complete rotation and then stop. This automatic means includes a substantially L-shaped lever 52 intermediately pivoted at 53 to a depending bracket on the under side ofthe gear case 43 with its short arm extended upward into engagement with the clutch 45 and with its long arm extending horizontally under said gearcase. A vertically movable plunger 54 is slidably l mounted at its intermedia-te portion in a relatively long hearing 55 on the gear case 43, and its lower end is normally held in con-tact with the long arm of the lever 52 by 'a coiled spring 56. This spring 56 encircles the plunger 54 and is compressed between the bearing 55 and an adjustable abutment 57 in the form of a nut on the lower end portion of said plunger. The tension of the spring 56 is such as to overcome the spring. not shown, in the clutch 45 and holds the lever 52 in a position to release the clutch 45 so that the pulley 41 is normally loose on the shaft 42.

To manually lift the plunger `54 against the tension of the spring 56 and thereby release the lever 52 andperlnit the clutch 45 to set, there is provided a foot treadle 58 intermediately fulcrumed at 59 on the I- beams 26, with its short end engaging the long arm of the lever at its under side so as to lift said arm at the time the lever 52 is operated by the foot treadle 58 which ex tends transversely of the machine.

To automatically lock thepl'unger 54 in an inoperative position at the time the same is raised by the foot treadle 58, there is provided a latch plate 60 slidably mounted in a easing 61 on the gear case 43. This latch plate 60 is yieldingly projected by a spring 62 compressed between the rear end ot said latch plate and the back of the casing 61 and is provided with a round transverse aperture 63 adapted to receive a cylindrical head 64 on the upper end of the plunger 54 when the lock `plate 6() is retracted and thus hold the same, as shown in Fig. 15. The latch plate 60 is also provided'withia notch 65 which extends rearward from its aperture 63 to receive a reduced hub portion 6601i the lower end of thehead 64 at the time the plunger 54 is lifted to prevent projecting movement of thel .latch plate 66. At the time the plunger V54 is lifted by the foot treadle '58, the vlatch plate 60 is moved by the spring 62 under the head 64 and thereby supports the saine and holds the plunger 54 raised against the Yaction of the spring 56 after the pressure on the foot treadle 58 has been rel leased. Vith the plunger 54 thus held, the

leverl 52 is released from the action thereof so that the clutch 45 may set; To trip the latch plate 60 out of action and thereby release the plunger54 and permit the same to operate the lever 52 and release the clutch 45 onceeach half rotation 68 are so arranged that rotation of the shaft 34 is stopped with the eccentrics liolding the crossheads 32 in either of their two extreine positions.

To manual-ly retract the latch plate 60 and thereby release the lunger 54 to permit the sameto automatica ly operate the lever 52 A and release the clutch 45 in case ot an einergency, there is provided a lhand lever 69 piv oted at 70 to one of theI-beains 27 and attached to the rear end of said latch plate by an eye-equipped stem 71. The shape of the eye in the stem 71 is such as to permit free movement of the' latch plate 60 in one direction by the spring 62 and in the other direction by the lugs 68 Without moving the lever 69. Y

Mounted oneach sill 33 isa plurality of fixed bases 72 spaced longitudinally of the machine and having Ways 7301i which squeezing abutn'ients 74 are slidably mounted. These bases 72 are so arranged that the bases 72 on one of the sills 33 are directly opposite the bases 72 on. the other sill and the ways 73 of each pair are aligned. By thus arranging the bases 72, the squeezing abutments 74 are positioned in co-operating pairs ywith vthe abutments of each pair on opposite sides of the machine. The opposing taces'of each pair of squeezing abntments 74 are trans verselycrowncdat.

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iso.

Each squeezing abutment=74 issecuredv to its base 7 2 for movement on its way 7 3 transversely of the :machine and toward and from the other squeezingabutment 74otfthe respective pair 'by a long transverse screw rod 7 6; vThese screw rods 76 are turnably mounted in bearings 77 von the under sides of the bases 7 2 andare heldagainstendwise movenientby opposing collars78 on said `rodsland l.

engage opposite ends/of the bearings 77. *The ment with depending nut-acting members 79 on the squeezingabutments 74. "Theouter endsfolithe screw rods 78 are'la-ttened for the application otawrench by which said rods maybe turned. j. l. l.

The screw rods. 7 6 ot each pair arehaxially aligned, `have right andleit-hand threads `and are connected orfcommon rotation but lwith freedom for endwise movement i-n respectto each other by couplingl sleeves i 80 telescoped onto' untlireadedinner end portions ,otsaidrods and held 1for .rotation with ysaidfscrew rodsby pins 81 which work in longitudinally extended slots 824 in said sleeves. Th'e 'purposeof the sleeves-.80 is to rpermit anyone I pair of screw .rods 76 to be,simultaneously'adjusted from eithery side ot.themachinefand impart reverse-movements v-to, the respective pair of squeezingabutments so that they may be adjusted different distances apart, toil 'apurposethatwill presently appear.

The upper surfaces ofthe bases72, at the `opposing'faces ot thesqueezing abutments 7 4,

afford supportsf83 fora pair of ladder side bars A. Oni the innerends of eachpair of bases 72 is a Vpair -otyup'standing rung-sup ports 84 hai/'iner reversely extended base porytions that are slidably mounted in seats inthe bases 7 2 vand secured thereto ttorV adjustments Atoward andlrom each other by set screws 85,

whichextend through slots inl said base porj tiene. In the upper ends ofthe rung'supports84 are V-shaped rrungseafts 86,. It may be here stated that the ladder sideb'aisy A are bored to form seatsB in their ,o osine'faces.

Jior the reduced end portions Cof -rungs D, as best shown in Figs. 8, 16,v 17 and 21. Y

To longitudinally position'ladderside bars A for the longest ladderf,-tor which thepresent machine is adaptedvto assemblav-on the supports 83 with their rung seats B inthe same vertical planes with the rung seats 86 in thea'ung supports k84, there is provided permanent stops 87, .secured to the rear end of the sills 33. For similarly positioning ladder side bars A for shorter length ladders,-adjust able stops are provided, in the ormof hori.

zontal inwardly proj ecting'pins 88 `adapted to be removably mounted in boreilike seats 89 ormedin certainV of the pairs ,of squeezing abutment-s 74, seeFigsf4, 10 and 12. These stop pins 88 are removably heldin their seats 89 by spring pressed frictionk balls 90 that extend 'into shallow circumferentially ex- 1 Fig; 12)'. r screw rods 7 6 have screw-threaded:engage j.

Ytended grooves 91formed in said pins. The balls are mounted in vertical bores in the respective squeezing abutments .74, `normally j closed-by screw; plugs' 92. it will be noted Ithat the bottoms ofthe boresfin lwhich the balls `90are .mounted-are contracted at their lower ends so' as'to prevent saidballsir'om ,droppingout of said bores at the timetlie stop pins88 are removed therefroinjytsee To' center orl seats B in the ladder side bars A, longi'tudt` nally positioned by; either the stops 87, 'as i shown in lig.'3or the stopipins 88, as shown in Figs. 4 and 12, there is'provided a plurality or upper and lower jaws 93 and 94,re spectively, Varranged in; cooperating pairs.

These jaws 93and 94 are attached by shoul lde redeccentric bolts 95to certain of the ksqueezing abutments 74 and Aproject hori-v zontally. inw-ard therefrom; fflhe linnerfend portions of the jaws 93 and 94 of each pair are "jeurved toward each otherand thelower jaws .94 fare. arrangedto'swing. fromfinoperative vpositions below thev 'ladder' side "bargsupports f 83to positions above*V the same. The .vupper f1 jaws ,931hav'e longitudinal slotsf96 through f apport-said jaws'for-compound pivotal and {bodily' endwise nioveinentso that they will vmove from inoperative positionsy in which .they extendiabove the respective squeezing abutments 74 and outwardV otV thefcrowned w ich the respective pivot bolts 95 extendand :tac-'es 75 thereoiI into positions in which their tree ends overlie fthe ladder side bar supports f @3fm-Fiati3. 5 Y

i To .simultaneously operate'all ofthe pairs .of j aws 93-`94 on one Vside of themachine and impart reverse movements to the jaws ot each yof said pairs,tliere.is provideda jointed rock sl1ai"t,'the sections 97 oit' which have their ends mounted in cylindrical coupling members 98 p. rotatably mounted .invv .thea squeezing! f abutinents 74 to which said jaws areattaelred. .It

.will be noted by reference toFigs. 8, 4 and 5, that the two pairsjof jaws93-k-94, on opposite squeezing,` abutments 74, are mountedr on opposite sides thereof. "It, will- 'bealso be notedthat theA coupling members 98-areeX- tended 'outward .ronithe respective y.squeezingabutments 7 4 fto which the pairs of jaws 93-94 are pivoted to aiiord hubs 99. Each hub 99 is provided with a pair ofdametri- The sides ofthe seats 104 are convex in form to hold the shaft sections 97 With freedom Vfor angular movement in respect to the coulvided ahorizontal hand lever 105 pivoted at 106 to one of the squeezing abutments 74 and having a bell-crank extension 107 flexibly connected to a crank arm 108 on one section 97 of the rock shaft. Said flexible connection between the extension 107 and the crank arm 108is in the form of a ball 109 on said-arm and a slot 110 in said extension in which said ball fits for universal movement (see Fig. `13). Eachlever 105 is locked with the respective pairs "of jaws 93 and 94, either in their open or closed positions, by a gravity held hand lever 111 pivoted to the respective squeezing abutments 74 and having a multiplicity of longitudinally spaced ratchet teeth 112 arranged to interlock with a lock lug 113 on the lever 105. y

As is Well known, the lower section of an extension ladder is provided With a pair of rollers E mounted on brackets F secured to the side bars A thereof by rivets G and on which the sidebars A of an upper ladder secing members H pivoted at l to the side bars (lll) A iof said section, `and which hooks are ari ranged to engage any one of the rungs D on the lower ladder section `to support said upper section therefrom. v y

To upset or head the rivets G at the time the ladder bars A are held clamped by the squeezing abutinents 74, the pair of squeezing abutments 74 at the head of the machine is provided with a pair of anvil extensions 114, the'faces of which are flush with the faces of the respective squeezing abutments 74 (see Fig. 5). The second pair of squeezing valmtments 74 from the rear end of the Inachine is used as anvils for upsetting or headi lneen-w1 A are in converging relation and `have a constant taper, as shown in Fig. 19, or in whichV the side bars A are in converging relation at the lower portion of the ladder section and are parallelat the upper portion of said sectionfas shown in Fig. 20. In fact the ma- 4chine may be adjusted to assemble a ladder section in which thev sidebars A thereof may `be in various different relations.

In case it is necessary to separate the side barsA from the rnngs I) because of a defect in any part of the ladder section being assembled, or for any other reason, there are provided on each side ofthe machine a plurality of secondary abutments 115 in the form of hand levers which extend transversely of the machine and are intermediately pivoted at 116 to certain of the squeezing abutments 74 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 8). The inner or long 'ends of the secondary abutments 115 are in squeezing jabutments 74 and thereby causeV the side bars A to engage said secondary abutments and be carried thereby laterally outward With the squeezing abutments 74 and stripped from saidrungs.

By positioning all of the secondary abutments 115 in operative positions, the entire ladder section may be disassembled or any part of the laddersection may be disassembled by operating only `certain of the secondary abutments 115, for instance, when it is necessary to remove only a single rung.

The operation of the extension ladder assembling machine may be briefly described as follows: v

It may be assumed that there is an attend` ant on each side `of the machine and that the motor 39 is driving the pulley 41, which is normally looseon the shaft 42, so that the driving con-nectionsto the eccentric shaft 34 are idle. It also may be assumed that the two rows of crosshewds 32 are: separate and hence the squeezing abutments 74 are open as Welles the jaws 93 and 94. It is, of course, understood that the squeezing abutments 74 of each pair are properly spaced for the type of ladder to be assembled in the machine.

The attendants first place a pair of ladder side bars A, that have been bored to form the rung seats B, on the supports 83 with the outer faces of said bars against the crowned fares 75 o'fsaid squeezing abutments, thus bringing the rung seats lf m said exile bars with the rung supports, andautomatic means for lifting said bars from their supports and transversely positioning the same with their run `seats aligned with the rung supports in t e other direction. l

3. In an extension ladder assembling machine, two rows of squeezing abutments, op-

erating means for moving at least one row of said abutme'nts alternately toward and from the other row thereof,`rung supports between the two rows of squeezing abutments,y

tao-operating pairs of jaws for automatically transversely positioning a pair of ladder side bars in respect to the rung supports, and operating means for the jaws.

4. In an extension ladder assembling machine, two rows of squeezing abutments, operatin means for movinr Aat least one row of saida utments alternately toward andV from the other row thereof, rung supports between the two rows of squeezing abutments, ladderside bar supports at the opposing faces of said abutments, co-operating pairs ofjaws arranged to lift ladder side lhars from said supports and automatically transversely position the same in respect to the rung supports, and operating Ameans for the jaws.

5. In an extension ladder assembling machine, two rows of squeezing abutmentsop erating means for moving at least one row of said abutments alternatelyv toward and from chine, two rows of squeezing abutments, op` eratin means for moving at least one row'of, said a utments alternately toward and fromV the other row thereof, rung supports between the two rows of squeezing abutments, co-operating pairs of aws for automaticall transversely` positioning a pair of ladder side bars in respect to the rung supports, and movable secondary abutments arranged to be set in po` sition to be engaged by ladder side bars held by said jaws and separate said bars by a movement of one row of saidabutments away from the other row thereof.

i 7. In an extension ladder assembling machine, two rows ofbases arranged in opposite pairs, squeezing abutments mounted on said bases,y rung supports betweensaid two rows of squeezing abutments, means for individ-A ually adjusting each pair of co-operating squeezing abutments to set the same different distances apart, and means for moving at least one row of said bases Aalteruately toward or `from the other row thereof.

`8. The structure defined inclaim 6 in which the operating means for said pairs of abut-` ments may be manipulated from either side of the machine. Y j

9. In an extension ladder assembling 1nachine, two rows of squeezing abutments, operatin means for moving atleast one row of said a )utments `alternately,toward and from` `the other row thereof, rung supports between the two rows of squeezing abutmeuts, eo-op- A erating pairs of pivoted jaws for automatically transversely positioning a pair of ladder side bars in respect tothe rung supports, and `cranloacting means for imparting re` verse movements to the jaws of each pair.

10. yThe structure defined in claim 8 in which the jaws of` each pair are individually mountedon eccentric ivot studs.

1l. `The structure etined in claim 6` in further combination with cio-operating pairs of jaws forautomatically transversely posi,-

to the rung supports, and openating means for simultaneously operating the pairsliof jaws at each side of the machine and forvv imparting reverse movements to the jaws of4 each pair including flexibly connected shaftsectionsh A .Y j

12. In an extension ladder` assembling 1na chine, two rows of squeezing abutments, oper-` ative means for movingfat least one row of said abutments alternatelyttoward and from the other row thereof, Vladder sidebar sup-` ports at the opposing `faces of said .abutments, rung supportsbetween said ladder side bar supports, upper and lower pairs of jaws arranged in co-op'erating pairsgfor automatiV i cally transversely positioninga :pair of ladder side bars onthe supportstherefor in respect to the run supports, said upper jaws being mounted or compound pivotal and bodily shiftingl movements in respect to the supportsfor the ladderl side bars, and means for simultaneously operating the pairsiof jaws. at each side of the machine and imparting A reverse movementsito jaws of each pair.`

13, Inan extension ladder assemblin machine, a pair of longitudinally `extend crossheads supporting atjleast one of said sills for lateral 4movement toward and from Vthe other thereof, a driven shaft, connections including eccentrics on said shaft for opersills,

tioning a pair offladder sideibars in respect Y ating the crossheads, opposite pairs of bases Y mounted` on the sills, cooperating pairs of squeezing abutments mountedlon the bases,

rung su ports betweenthesqueezing abut-` ments o `said pairs, and Vmeans forindividually `adjusting each pair of co-operating squeezin abutmeuts to set `the same different` distances apart. Y i

`1t. Inau extensmnladder assembling machine, two squeezing abutments operating means for moving atfleastone of said abutments alternatelytowardV and from the other thereof, a rnng'support between the ahnt#l f mentsgvand operating means having members `for automatically transversely centering a bars in respeotjto-thernng which the vabutments kare crowned llongitndinally in respect t0 theladder side bars and in which the 'verteXcs of the crowns are aligned with the rung support.

16. In an` extension ladder assembling machine, two squeezing abutments, operating p means for. moving at least one of said abut-V ments toward and from the other thereof, a rung support between the abutments, means for longitudinally positioning a lpair oi? ladder side bars having a pair oivrung seats t0 .align said yseats in one direction with the yrung support, and automatic meansfor transi versely positioningfthe ladder side bare vkto align the rung kseats in the other with the rung support. p

i In testimony whereof I affix my signature,l JOHN E. KALGREN.- v

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