US2013426A - Blank feeding mechanism for extruding machines - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 3, 1935- H. D. SIMKINS ET AL BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EXTRUDING MACHINES 3 Sheqts Sheet l ATTORNEYS Sept. 3, 1935. H. o. SIMKINS ET AL 2,013,426

BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EXTRUDING MACHINES Filed Jan. 17, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 9a 9 I Wu Fig.5

fi m/Yer 252M225 A TTORV E Y3 p 1.935- H. D. SIMKINS El AL 2; 0l3',426

BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EXTRUDING MACHINES Filed Jan. 17, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I Howard D. I Q's OZJYETPDEZ 0c A TTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 3, 1935 I UNITED STATES BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EXTRUDING MACHINES Howard D. Simkins, Cleveland Heights. and

Oliver P. De Loe, Cleveland,

Ohio

Application January 17, 1931, Serial No. 509,522

15 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved form of mechanism for feeding screw blanks or the like.

In the present disclosure, this mechanism is employed for feeding screw blanks to an extruding mechanism but it is to be understood that it may be employed also in combination with other forms of mechanism. In the present case, the extruding operation is performed independently and separately from the thread-forming operation. After the extruding operation, the threads are rolled in a separate machine. This means a better product, as rolled threads are stronger andmore accurate than out threads. Thus, the present invention covers a less complicated and yet more efiicient form of machine than heretofore known. It is to be understood also that the feeding mechanism here disclosed may be modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention and all such modifications'or variations are intended to be covered by the accompanying claims. I

This invention comprises .an improved form of mechanism which will deliver the blanks one at a time and in rapid succession from the end of the chute to the extruding mechanism, and which can be employed for either short or long blanks.

Another object consists in the provision of a die and operating means therefor by which the successive blanks can also be pointed simultaneously with the extrusion of the same, so as to avoid the necessity of a separate operation.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description and claims when considered together with the accompanying drawings.

- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the present improved form of combined mechanism; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the blank feeding means; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 bf Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 1; Figs. 5 and 6 are detail sectional views of the rotatable disk associated with the hopper; Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of the blank feeding means; Fig. 8 is taken on line 88 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 9 is taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

The screw blanks are fed from the double hopper within the oppositely disposed vertical walls I and 2 suitably mounted upon the supporting frame of the machine structure, by means of mechanism now to be described. These blanks which are supplied from the double hopper are received in the inclined chute between the walls 2 whilethe other end of the chute extends downwardly from the double hopper so as to feed the blanks to the extruding mechanism at the lower end of the chute. The side walls I and 2 of the hopper and chute are mounted together in pairs so as to be adjustable together toward and from each other for the purpose of varying the width of the chute for different sizes of blanks to be fed therealong Virtually, the blanks are fed simultawusly from a pair of hoppers into the same adjustable chute provided between the adjacent inner walls of the companion hoppers. This adjustment is made by means of the threaded members 3 which engage the base portions of the hopper sides I and which are mounted in the flanges 4 upon the frame structure; and there are provided also the set screws 5 for locking the same in the position to which they are-adjusted. This adjustment will be further explained below.

Upon each side of the chute within the hopper, there is provided an oscillating member 6 which has movement up and down within the hopper along side the opposite walls 2 of the chute so as to feed the blanks from the hopper onto the top of the chute. As clearly indicated in Fig. 4, the top edges of the oscillating members 6 are inclined inwardly and downwardly so as to facilitate the feeding of the blanks to the chute, and the top edges of the chute upon the opposite sides thereof are also inclined downwardly and inwardly for the same purpose. The blanks are intended to be fed in this manner to the top of the chute so that the shanks thereof will find their way down into the chute with the heads thereof resting upon the top of the chute for feeding in such position therealong- As a means of preventing the blanks from sticking in the chute and for the purpose also of facilitating the settling of the shanks of the blanks in the chute, we have provided the rotatably mounted disk 1 for cooperation with the chute at the point approximately where the chute extends through the front wall of the hopper. This rotatable disk or kicker is mounted upon the shaft 8 for operation by a mechanism to be later explained. The disk 1 is connected with its operating mechanism for operation in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, and is provided with four projecting teeth 9 located at 90 thereabout. The forward edges of the teeth 9, as indicated at 9, are squared so as to effectively engage the blanks for removal of the same from the chute in case they have not already found their way into proper position within the chute. The other edges of the members 9, as indicated at 9 are beveled so as to facilitate rotation of the same, the top edges of the walls of the chute being rec ssed as indicated at Ill, to accommodate the otation of the disk I with the teeth 9. Th disk 1 is provided also with oppositely disposed pairs of adjustable fingers ll. These fingers II are positioned diametrically with respect to the disk 1 and are adapted for adjustment by means of the screw l2 which extends diametrically of the disk I and engages at its two ds the inner surfaces of the oppositely dispose fingers Ii. The screw I 2 is reversely threaded upon its two end portions so that upon rotation of the screw in one direction, the fingers engaged by the two ends thereof will be adjusted in opposite directions. In this way, the fingers may be moved either outwardly or inwardly by adjustment of the screw 2. The middle unthreaded cut-out portion of the screw 2 is adapted for locking engagement by the plain, reduced end portions of the oppositely disposed set screws l3 which extend diametrically in the disk I, and access may be had thereto from opposite points thereof. Upon loosening the screws 13, but without withdrawing the reduced ends thereof from the annular recess or cut-away portion of the screw I2, the adjustment of the screw I2 may be effected in the manner already explained and may then be set in such adjusted position by means of the set screws I3. As will be seen from Fig. 5, the projections rotate in planes corresponding with the inner edge portions of'the walls 2 of the chute, and just above the same in order to engage the blanks which might have lodged upon the top of the chute and thereby precipitate the same toward the chute so that they may fall thereinto. However, as above stated, any blanks which do ,not find their way into the chute, will be returned to the hopper by the kicking action of the teeth 9. Extending just above the top of the chute and immediately over the space provided therein, there is pr vided the strip 4 as a means of retaining th blanks in the chute as they are fed therealong. The one end of the strip l4 terminates in the region of the disk 1 and is beveled upon its lower side at the upper end thereof, as indicated by reference numeral I5, for the purpose of facilitating the passage of the heads of the blanks as they settle within the chute in their progression past this point.

The means for operating the oscillating arms within the hopper, and the rotatable disk I will now be described. The drive wheel I! which may be driven by belt connection from any suitable source of power, operates the chain of pinions and gears indicated by reference numerals l8, I9, 20, and 2|. Upon the shaft of the gear 2| are mounted a pair of eccentrics 22 and 23 which have connections 24 and 25 with the lever arms 26 and 21 which carry the oscillating members 6 for raising and lowering the same in alternate succession, as already indicated. Both of the levers 26 and 21 are mounted for such rocking The arms 2e and 21 are adapted for lateral adjustment along the axis 28 and with them the sides I and 2 of the hopper, the arms 26 and 21 being formed with yoke portions, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Extending across these yoke portions are the rods which afford pivotal actuating connection for the operating arms 24 and 25. Thus, there is aiforded'variation in the width'of the chute, as referred to above.

The fly wheel I! is provided with a sprocket upon its shaft which, by means of the belt indicated in Fig. 1, drives the disk I in the direction and for the purpose already explained, the disk I being suitably mounted on axis 3 in the machine structure, as indicated in the drawings.

With the mechanism already described, the

. the oscillating members 6. By means of the rotating disk and the means provided thereon, the blanks are then assisted in finding their way into the chute, while those which would otherwise still rest upon the top of the chute and thereby clog the entrance thereto, are kicked back into the two sides of the hopper by means of the two pairs of teeth ,9 provided upon the disk for this purpose. In the normal operation of themachine, the blanks which are thus fed into the chute will be suspended therefrom by means of their heads which extend across the top of the chute and will descend by gravity down the chute which is sufiiciently inclined for this purpose. As a means of preventing the blanks which are kicked back by the disk 1 from being thrown upwardly and possibly out of the hopper, I have provided the deflecting strip which extends across the inside of the hopper in the region of the disk 1, as indicated in Fig. l.

- Just beyond the lower end of the chu there is located the extruding mechanism which comprises the reciprocating die holder 32 and the extruding die 33 adapted to receive the screw blanks in succession for projection thereby against the stationary member 34 mounted in the frame of the machine structure. The die 33 is adapted to receive the shank of the screw blank as it is fed thereto by means of an improved form of mechanism'to be later described. In the present illustration, there is included also a die 33 which is adapted to point the end of the blank by the same operation, that is, to bevel the corner edge of the end thereof. The combination of dies which makes possible the simultaneous performance of these two operations upon the screw blank is illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings. The necessary spacers will of course be employed in association with the die or dies. And it is to be understood that in this machine there may be employed only the die 33 for performing only the extruding operation, or there may be employed only the pointing die 33 for performing only the pointing operation, or there may be employed both the extruding die and pointing die for performing the two operations at the same time. The means for reciprocating the die holder 32 with the die or diescomprises an eccentric 36 which is mounted upon the shaft 35 .with suitable operating lever connection 36 with the die holder. The shaft 35 is in turn operated by means of the gear 31 which meshes with the gear 38 upon the shaft of the flywheel Mounted also upon the shaft 35, there is provided the cam 39 which engages the roller 46 upon the lower end of the operating arm 4| which is connected at its other end to the lever 42 pivotally mounted upon the axis 43 in the machine frame. The free end of the lever arm 42 is provided with the spring 44 which is anchored in the frame of the machine and which is adapted to normally force the leverarm 42 in counter-clockwise direction about the axis 43, as viewed in Fig. 1. The action of the cam 39 is to rotate the connection to the lower projection provided upon the under side of the slidable carriage 46 which is located belowthe chute and which is adapted to be given sliding movement thereby within the stationary slide-way 41 oppositely arranged in the machine frame. The slide member 46 carries a mechanism which is actuated by such sliding movement for the delivery ofv the blanks one at a time from the lower end of the chute to the die of the extruding mechanism. This mechanism for deliveringthe blanks will now be described.

Referring to Fig. 7, it will be seen that upon the slidable carriage 46 there are provided a pair of oppositely disposed adjustable cooperating fingers. 48 and 48 for delivering the individual screw blanks one at a time in rapid succession movement toward and from the same by virtue of V the lengthened bolts 49 which extend through holes in the finger 49. This finger has its forward endbent inwardly and forwardly, as indicated, and the end of the chute wall 2 is correspondingly formed at this point. As indicated in Fig. 7, the bent end portion of the finger 49 extends partially across the mouth of the chute so as to enable the forward-most blank to rest temporarily thereagainst and to support the remaining blanks in the chute during the delivery of the forward blank by the fingers 48, 48 The finger 49 is maintained in such position by means of the coil spring 50 which is mounted upon the side of the wall 2 of the chute.

Upon the opposite side of the carriage 46 there is pivotally mounted about thegaxis 5| the arm 52 which has mounted upon its forward end in an adjustable manner the clampng finger 48, already referred to. The forward end of the finger 48 is notched so as to engage about the shank portion of the screw blank. Thus, with the cooperative action of thefingers 48 and 48 there is effected a three-point engagement of the shank of the screw blank as it is removed from the delivery end of the chute. The lever arm '52 is normally actuated by the coil spring 54 so as to force the finger 48 into position for engagement with the screw blank. That is, the influence of the spring 54 is in clockwise direction about the axis 5|. The spring 54 surrounds a pin which is mounted upon the lever arm 52 provided at its one end with an abutment 55 ';way 41. The roller 56 upon being-advanced to-,

ward the left, as viewed in Fig. 7, will engage the cam shoulder5'l and cause such turning movement of the plate 58 which is then looked in such position by the engagement of the shoulder 60 over the cooperating shoulder 6| of the companion plate 62. This plate 62 is pivotally mounted at 63 on the guide-way 41 and is normally turned incounter-clockwise direction about theaxis 63 by means of the spring 64 which has. its one and anchored to the guide-way 41, while its other end engages overthe hook 65 upon the end of the member 62. 7

Thus, as the carriage 46 is advanced toward the left, as viewed in Fig. '1, the blank engaged between the fingers 48 and 48' will be delivered thereby past the finger 49 which is caused to I recede from the path of the blank but which at once returns to its former position. The roller 56 will at the proper moment engage the cam shouldern5l so as to cause the plate 58 to be the finger 48 will snap'out of engagement with the blank and return for engagement with the next blank. As the finger 48 approaches the end of the chute, engagement of roller 56 with the rear portion of plate 58 causes the finger 48 to be withdrawn preparatory to engaging'the fore most blank. Then when roller 66 abuts projection 66, arm 62 is turned in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7, so as to release the shoulder 6| from engagement with the shoulder 68, whereupon the spring 54 will instantaneously return finger 48 to engaging position. Spring 64 turns lever 62 in counter-clockwisedirection and at the and 6| are then in disengaged position and the finger 48 which has now been returned to engaging position with respect to the next or foremost blank in the chute, is now in proper co-operative position with the finger 48 for repetition of the,

same operations already described.

As the blanks are fed by gravity down the inclined chute, there is herein provided a means for relieving the blanks in the lower part of the chute from the increased pressure which wouldotherwise be exerted by the weight'of the blanks in the upper part of the chute resting thereupon; This is for the purpose of preventing" accidental discharge of the blanks from the end of the chute during the period when the fingers 48 and 48 are delivering the foremost blank to the extruding die and when the finger 49 is released. This means comprises the fingers 61 and 68 adjustably mounted upon the rock arm 69 which is rockably mounted about the. axis 18. This arm is mounted upon the fixed guide-way 41, and the roller H is caused to ride down the incline 12 on the rear end of the arm 13, upon the forward end of which is mounted the adjustable finger 48 already referred to. The movement of the roller 'll along the shoulder 12 is effected by means of a coil spring 15 which engages the left handand portion of the lever 69, as viewed in Fig. 7. Such action causes the forward finger 61 to be withdrawn from the chute and the rear finger68 to be inserted between two adjacent blanks in the chute. As will be seen,-the finger 61 extends across the chute, while the finger 68 is in withdrawn position, according to thecondition illustrated in Fig. 7. These fingers are mounted upon the lever 69 at opposite points with respect to the pivotal axis 18 so that they will be moved alternately into position across the chute. In the position illustrated in Fig. 7, the blanks in the has previously occupied position just to the rear behind the new blank, which is being advanced,

will exert more or less forward movement upon the blanks along the lower part of the chute so as to prevent sticking of the same in the chute. I

With the improved form of double hopper a d blank-feeding means, the blanks will be fed at a considerably increased rate of supply from the double hopper to the chute by virtue of the alternately reciprocating pair of elevating members upon the two'sides of the chute. These members are counterbalanced and will not stick. Also, with the improvedform of rotating disk, the blanks are not only enabled to more readily find their way into the chute, but also the kicker disk will return the blanks which would otherwise clog the chute, to the two sides of the hopper and as a result, there is avoided any accumulation of the blanks in what has been commonly experienced as a dead spot in this part of the hopper in prior constructions.- Furthermore, the mechanism provided for delivery of the blanks one at a time from the lower end of the chute to the extruding mechanism is capable of operation at a comparatively increased speed. Thus, with the combined operations of the blank-feeding means and the blank-delivering means, together with the extruding and pointing operations, in a unitary machine structure, there is provided a complete, single form of device in which there is realized a considerable increase in the quantity production; and moreover, the mechanism for performing these operations 'is of a comparatively simple nature and not apt to get out of order. The mechanism is extremely dependable, the emciency'greatly increased, and there is produced a higher degree of quality so far as the finished product is concerned. and at a reduced cost. As above explained, the mechanism herein disclosed may be employed for performing either or both of the extruding and pointing operations.

Also, the particular blank feeding mechanism herein set forth may be employed in connection with other forms of mechanism than that for extruding and/or pointing blanks, and the scope of this application is to be so understood.

What we claim is: 1. In a machine for extruding screw blanks, the combination of a straight-line chute for feeding the blanks, an extruding mechanism located .in straight line with said chute, reciprocating means for transferring the blanks forwardly along a continued straight path from the chute to the extruding mechanism, and means for said mechanism.

' 2. In a machine for extruding screw blanks, the combination of a straight-line chute for feeding the blanks, an extruding mechanism located in straight line with said chute, blank-transferring means adapted for reciprocating movement along a path parallel to the chute and being adapted to transfer the blanks in succession forwardly along a continued straight path from the chute.

the combination of a straight-line chute forfeeding the blanks, an extruding mechanism located in straight line with said chute, reciprocatable means for automatically gripping a blank at the operating delivery} end urine chute, and transferring the same a ong a continued straight'path from the the extruding mechanism and there I chute t g I I releasin the blank'from engagement by the said gripping eans, whereby the blanks will be trans ferred successively and forwardly 'along the same path from the chutefor the extruding'operation, and means for operating said mechanism.

"4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a straight-line chute for feeding blanks, an operating mechanism located in straight line with said chute, a'slide-way arranged beneath the chute and parallel thereto, means reciprocatable along said slide-way for transferring the blanks in successionforwardly along a continued straight path from the chute to the said mechanism, said transferring means including a cam and spring for effecting engagement of the transferring'means with a blank from the end of the chute, and' said cam being actuated by the movement of said reciprocatable means along the slide-way.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a straight-line chute for feeding blanks, an operating mechanism located in straight line with said chute for receiving blanks therefrom, reciprocatable means for transferring a blank forwardly along a continued straight path from the end of the chute to a position to herece ved bysaid mechanism, means for permitting the transferring means to return upon engagement of the blank in said mechanism, and releasable means for preventing escape of the following blanks from the end of the chute during operation of said blank-transferring means.

6. In a machine for extruding screw blanks, the combination of a straight-line chute for feeding the blanks, an extruding mechanism located in line with said chute, reciprocating means for transferring the blanks with a positive forward movement from the chute along a continued straight path to the extruding mechanism, means actuated by the movement of said reciprocating means for engaging the blanks so as to prevent the same from sticking in'the chute, and means for operating said extruding mechanism and said blank-delivering means in properly timed relation.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a straight-line chute for feeding screw blanks, an extruding mechanism including a pointing die located in straight line with said chute, reciprocating means having continued straight line movement for transferring the blanks from the chute to said mechanism, and means for operating the same so as to thereby point the end of the blank by the extruding operation.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a straight-line chute, means for supplying blanks to said chute, a mechanism adapted to receive the blanks from said chute, and means reciprocatable along said chute for transferring the blanks in succession from the end of the chute to said mechanism, said transferring means including a plurality of reciprocatable fingers for engaging the foremost blank at the end of the chute, one of said fingers being mounted for lateral movement towards and from blankengaging position, a spring for normally forcing said finger into blank-engaging position, cam

- means for effecting rearward lateral movement of the finger, and means whereby forward movement of said finger will set said cam in position for effecting such lateral actuation of said finger and rearward movement beyond a predetermined point of said finger will release said cam from such set position.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a straight-line chute, means for supplying blanks to said chute, a mechanism adapted to receive the blanks from said chute, and means reciprocatable along said chute for transferring the blanks in succession from the end of the chute to said mechanism, said transferring means including a plurality of reciprocatable fingers for engaging the foremost blank at the end of the chute, said fingers being arranged to engage the opposite sides of each successive blank at the end of the chute, one of said fingers being mounted for lateral movement towards and from blankengaging position, a spring for normally forcing said finger into blank-engaging position, cam means for effecting rearward lateral movement of the finger, means whereby forward movement of said finger will set said cam in position for effecting such lateral actuation of said finger and rearward movement beyond a predetermined point of said finger will release said cam from such set position, and automatically releasable means located upon the opposite side of the chute for maintaining the foremost blank against accidental discharge from the end thereof, said releasable means being automatically disengaged by the transferring action of the foremost blank from the end of the chute.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of a straight-line chute, means for supplying blanks to said chute, a mechanism adapted to receive the blanks from said chute, and means reciprocatable along said chute for transferring the blanks in succession from the end of the chute to said mechanism, said transferring means including a plurality of reciprocatable fingers for 1 engaging the foremost blank at the end of the chute, one of said fingers having a recessed end for engagement of the blank and being mounted for lateral movement towards and from blankengaging position, means for normally forcing said finger into blank-engaging position, cam means for effecting rearward lateral movement of the finger so as to permit engagement of the same with the next blank, the other of said fingers having a plain end for engaging the blank upon the opposite side thereof, means whereby forward movement of said finger will set said cam means in position for effecting such lateral actuation of said recessed finger and rearward movement of said finger beyond a predetermined point will release said cam means from such set position,and means for maintaining the next blank in foremost position at the end of the chute during discharging movement of said fingers.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a straight-line chute, means for supplying blanks to said chute, a mechanism adapted to receive the blanks from said chute, and means reciprocatable along said chute and along a continued straight path for transferring the blanks in succession from the end of the chute to said mechanism, said transferring means including a plurality of reciprocatable fingers for engaging the foremost blank at the end of the chute, said fingers being arranged to engage the opposite sides of each successive blank at the end of the chute, and automatically releasable means located upon one side of the chute for maintaining the foremost blank against accidental discharge from the end thereof, said releasable means being automatically disengaged by the transferring action of the foremost blank from the end of the chute.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of a straight-line chute, means for supplying blanks to said chute, a mechanism adapted to receive the blanks from said chute, and means reciprocatable along said chute and along a con tinued straight path for transferring the blanks in succession from the end of the chute to said mechanism, said transferring means including a plurality of reciprocatable fingers for engaging the foremost blank at the end of the chute, said fingers being arranged to engage the opposite sides of each successive blank at the end of the chute, and automatically releasable means located upon one side of the chute for maintaining the foremost blank against accidental discharge from the end thereof, said releasable means having spring means for holding the same in engaging position and being automatically disengaged by the transferring action of the foremost blank from the end of the chute.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination of a chute, means for supplying blanks to the chute, a mechanism adapted to receive the blanks from the chute, means for transferring the blanks in succession from the end of the chute to said mechanism, means actuated by said transferring means for engaging the blanks so as to prevent the same from sticking in the chute, and automatically releasable means located upon one side of the chute and having means for holding the same in engaging position immediately in front of the foremost blank and being automatically disengaged by the transferring action of the foremost blank from the end of the chute.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination of a chute for feeding blanks, a mechanism adapted to receive the transferring the blanks from the chute to the mechanism. a pair of fingers located entirely upon one side of said chute and adapted to extend alternately across the path of the blanks in the chute, said fingers being spaced from each other at a distance corresponding approximately with the diameter of a blank, and means actuated by the said transferring means for alternately engaging said fingers in front of and to the rear of a given blank, respectively, vent the blanks from sticking in the chute.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination of a chute for feeding blanks, a mechanism adapted to receive the blanks, means for transferring the blanks from the chute to the mechanism, a pair of fingers located entirely upon one side of said chute and adapted to extend alternately across the path of the blanks in the chute, said fingers being spaced from each other at a distance corresponding approximately with the diameter of a blank, one of said fingers extending beyond the end of the other and both of said fingers being mounted together for movement back and forth about an axis so as to cause said fingers to alternately engage in front of and to the rear of a given blank, respectively, and means actuated by said transferring mechanism for manipulating said fingers about said axis of movement, whereby the blanks are released one at a time and they are prevented from sticking in the chute.

' HOWARD D. SIMKINS.

OLIVER P. DE LOE.

blanks, means for soas thereby to pre-

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