US2015573A

US2015573A - Automatic selecting and loading device

Info

Publication number: US2015573A
Application number: US579641A
Authority: US
Inventors: Silas A Strickland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1931-12-07
Filing date: 1931-12-07
Publication date: 1935-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 1952-09-24

Description

Sept. 24, 1.935. s. A STRlQKLAND 2,015,573

AUTOMATIC SELECTING AND LOADlNG DEVCE Fi1ed Dec. '7, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet ..1

4mm N y ATTORNEYS' Sept. 24, *1935. s. A. s 'rRlcKLAN'D AUTOMATIC SELECTING AND LOADING DEVICE Filed Dec. '7. 1931 5 sheets-sheet r'2 sePf- 24, 1935- ls. A. sTRlcKLANn 2,015,573

AUTOMATIC SELECTING AND LOADING DEVICE Filed Dec. 7, 1951 5 sneetsv-she'et 5 vz 2a- 32 30 34 Sept 245 1935- s. A. sTRlcKLAND AUTOMATIC SELECTING AND LOADING DEVICE Filed Dec. 7, 19351 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 24, 1935 I mirra!)l STATES AUTOMATIC SELECTING LOADING DEVICE Silas A. Strickland, Detroit, Mich.

Application December '1, 1931, Serial No. 579,641

37 Claims.

This invention relates generally to assorting mechanisms, and relates more particularly to mechanisms designed' to assort articles of an elongated type, such for instance, as the blanks used in the yproduction of taper rollers for use in bearings, this being the particular service of the invention as disclosed, although it is obvious that the mechanism may be employed for the assorting of other articles or objects.

In taper roller bearing structures, aside'from the question of the angle'of taper*which can be provided approximately when the blank is being formed-the question of the length of the roller and of its maximum diameter are of the greatest importance, since upon these depend the proper operation of the bearing itself. The bearing deals with both load and thrust conditions and hence the question of the amount of advance o! the roller in the thrust direction determines the 20 vcharacter of activity ofthe particularroller in the bearing assembly.

It is possible to take care of small variations in both dimensions during the nal grinding operations, but where the operations are based on high production conditions, material variations in either or both dimensions could materially aiect the output, since the grinding mechanisms could not 'take care of such large variations and retain the production capacity that is essential under such operations.

As a result, it is desirable that the blanks which are to be used should be tested as to both dimensions in order vto eliminate the delivery of widely-varied blanks to the grinding mechanisms. This is desirable since the blank-production mechanisms, also operating under large production conditions, cannot produce blanks which are exactly similar as to dimensions, etc., at all times. The present invention is designed to meet these conditions, and is generally arranged relative to one of the grinding mechanisms so that the accepted output of the testing mechanism- `are tested for length, those of the proper length being delivered to the acceptance discharge point, while those which are over or under the proper'length, are passed to the discard discharge l and eliminated from the apparatus. -The ac- 5 cepted blanks then pass to a second station-,still travelling endwise and without regard to which end ofthe roller is in advance-,in which station the rollers are presentedto a testing support ar'- ranged in such manner that whileo'n the sup- 10 port the latter supports the roller intermediate the roller ends. As fa result of this type of support, the small ends can enter butthe large ends cannot pass. Consequently, rollers which are presented large end first cannot pass into the l5 support vand are temporarily rejected and later -f reversed end for end andagain presented to the support. Blanks which are undersizeclv in the diameter dimension will not .be retained by the support, and are thus elimi- 20 nated from the apparatus. The advance of the support toward the delivery position carries the 'succession of ,accepted blanks-with they blanks uniformly positioned as to end relationships-to a simple mechanism' for tilting the 25 blanks to enter the discharge conduit en route to the grinding mechanism with lthe blanks travelling endwise, so that all blanks are similar-` ly presented to the grinding /mechanism feed control. 30,

sipated. The presence of these permits the las- 40 sorting apparatus to operate under higher speed conditions, due to the fact that the vsuccessive elimination of discards provides a percentage effect relative to the accepted blanks, so that the speed of the assorting apparatus can be arranged l to ensure an average delivery of accepted blanks to approach capacity conditions of the grinding mechanismthe protective devices serve to meet the conditions where the percentage of discards is less than the average.

From this it will be understood that theinvention is designed to permit or the production of taper rollers under large production conditions,

by initially providing for an approximate sizing action provided by the asserting mechanisms.l to

speeds suiicient to maintain the mass supply for' the asserting mechanism.

' of the selector mechanism in rejecting a mem- Fig- 10 is a detail plan upper structure removed;

face approximately in alinement with the innersurfacek of the flared end 1. Directly beneath the I To these and other ends, therefore, 'the nature of which will be understood es the invention is hereinafter described, said invention consists in the improved constructions andcombinations or" parts, as more fully disclosed in the following description, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly described in the appended claims. v

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical section of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of the machine in a plane at right angles to that of Figure l and showing the selector mechanism in section;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view with certain of the upper structure removed;

Fig. il is a side elevation, partly in section;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line of Figure E;

. Fig. 6 is a section on the line E-S of Figure 2; Fig. 7 is a detail section in the same plane as Figure 2, showing the action of the selector mechanism on a roller of proper dimensions;

Fig. 8 isa similar section showing the action ber that is too short;

Fig.- 9 is a. similar section showing the action' of the selector mechanism in rejecting a member that is too long;

.-,- with eer-tain of the Fig. 11 ,is a detail end view; Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view of the tollower in the selector mechanism; and

\ ignote corresponding parts throughout.

As shown in Figure 1, the trame structure of the machine includesa base l on which is mounted a hollow column having an enlarged upper end 3. A cover plate 4 is secured vupon the upper-A end and in turn has secured thereto a partition Si for a purpose which will presently appear. Upon the plate 5 is mounted a housing orbody i having a flared upper end 1.

Directly beneath the flared end l? is flxedly mounted a liner 8 presenting a conical inner `surmember 8 is rotatably mounted a conical memberor hopper 5 having a. downwardly extending sleeve portion I0. The upper end oi' the sleeve is mounted in a bearing l I within the body 8. Ata lower point, the sleeve portion l0 carries a worm gear I2 keyed thereto at I3 and meshing with a driving worm Il, journalled in the body -6 and driven by any suitable means.

I5 for the sleeve I0 and also carries packing material l I6 engaging the sleeve so that the body 6 may be packed with lubricant between the bearin'gsll and liwithout danger 'of leakage to the lower parts. of the mechanism.

Upon the ared'end 1 is secured a top plate I1 which in turn carries a depending stud I8 lying in the axis of the funnel or hopper formed bythe presently appear.

'I'he previously mentioned partition 5 carries another bearing` ries a xed stop echar di! parts l, il and The member le has an enlarged conical lower end lil entering the apex of the member il and obstructing the passage 2d which connects the member il with the sleeve lo. in the member i9, however, is formed a 5 groove 2l (Figure d) forming s. restricted passage for admitting material from the hopper to the opening in arm P22 tired to the flared end l and extends into the hopper as may also be seen in 1o Figure The rotating member li carries a screwthread which, in conjunction with the xed. member 22, agitates the material in the hopper.

The inachineas illustrated herein is adapted :more particularly for the feeding of tapered bearl5 ing rollers which are thrown into the hopper by any suitable ineens. The cross-sectional area of the passage 2t is slightly greater than the similar area at the diameter of the rollers but less 'than the area ci a longitudinal section of the 20 roller, so that the rollers Will be delivered to the opening 29 only in lengthwise position for endwise movement. A

A tube 2d has its lower end set in the bottom of the enlarged top 3 and 'extends into the sleeve 252 l0. The lower end of the tube is xed in position by a nut screwed against the same and having a bore 26 registering with the inner wall of the tube 2d.

The column 2 has a ange 21 to which is bolted 3o" an outwardly extending bracket 28. 'Ihe bracket in turn supports a block or body 29 extending beneath the nut 26. The member 29 has a longitudinal passage BEI, the upper side of which is enlarged to form a guideway 3l, as shown more 354 clearly in Figures 5 and 6 for a purpose which will Finally. a member 32 is secured upon the body 29 at one end thereof and'- has a. bore 33 forming'a prolongation of the bore 26 and extending to the passage 30 as may be seen 40 in Figures 2, 7, 8 and 9. The member 32 has sight holes 32' through which the pieces may be seen as they drop through this member. I

In the passage is mounted a slide 3l in the form of a, hollow sleeve and preferably rectangu- 45- lar in cross section. The upper wall of the slide is formed with an opening 35 adapted to registerwith the bore 33 in one position of the device, as shown in Figure 2. The side walls of the slide are notched or shouldered at 36 for a purpose 50 i which will presently appear. In the bottom wall ci the slide is formed another slot 31 offset somewhat from the slot 35.

A plunger 38 also of hollow construction is slidably mounted in the slide 34 and has an 55 operating stern 39 passing through an end of the slide. Directly adjacent the stem, the plunger has an open top adapted to communicate directly with the bore 33 in certain positions of the parts. The bottom of the cylinder has an open- 60 ing adapted to register with the slot 35 and with the bore-33 when the parts are in the retracted position shown in Figure 2. Adjacent the slot, the plunger is built up to form a partition or abutment si and from that point is ex- 65 tended through the open end or the slide and is ici-mcd with a. depending stop lug d2.

Thctre'e or enteric-r end of the stem 35 carcent which is ar siidable sleeve M. rl'earthe slide 3d, the stem 70 3d hase. do secured tnereto by a pin 48.' A

coil spring d? surrounds the stem between the lmembers Mend An oscillatory arm Bis .fjoined to the slidable collar I4 and is actuated by securing the actuating means-for the stem u 45 engagesv the slide.

through the mediux'nof the spring 41 and cup 45; Another spring 49v surrounds the stem 39' -between thecup 45 and the adjacent end of the slide. This spring is lighter than the spring 41, so that on inward movement of the arm 48,

the spring 49 is firstv compressed until the Vcup e In this movement, the plunger moves relatively to the slide, and on continuedinward movement of the .arm 48, both the .plunger and slide. move together. there being however a. resilient drive connection between the arm and the cup.

The bottom Wall of the member. 29 has a dis- 'charge opening 50 communicating'with the passage 30 land offset somewhat from the b'ore 33. This outlet is so positioned lasto communicate with the bottom slot 31 of the slide during the `initial movement ofthe latter as shown in Figures 2, 8 and 9'. Adjacent the'outlet 50 is another discharge outlet also communicating with the passage and oilseta greater distance from the bore 33 to register with'the slot 31 at a later interval in the inward movement of the slide.

Beneath the body 29, another block y92 is secured to the bracket 28 and is formedI with a trough or chute 53 in communication with the outlet 50. As will presently appear, this chute receives irregular members which have been rejected by the selecting mechanism. T heblockA A plate 55 is slidably mounted in the guideway 3i vand has an upstanding portion 56 normally abutting the member 32 (Figs. 2 and 4). The base ofthe piece 5 8 has a pair of lugs 51 extending into a notch 58 cutin the member 32 at the 'guideway 3 i.

bore 33. 'Ihe space between the lugs is sufficient to receive one of the elements delivered 'into the bore from the sleeve 24. A cross piece 59 is laid over the sliding plate 55 and has its ends bolted as at 60 (Figure 3) to retain the plate in the An angular member 6 I is secured to the piece and is'formed at one end with acam surface 82 as may be 'seen in Figures 3,- 4

and 6. In the block 29 is mounted a stop pin 63 adapted `to enter the passage 30 but normally retracted therefrom by a spring 84 engaging a head formed in the pin. This head normally engages the cam surface 82 as shown in Figure 3. In the upstanding member 56 is slidably mounted a plunger( 83 .(Fi'gure 12) held under pressure against the slide 34 by a spring 41. The lower edges of the plunger lying transverse of the slide are beveled intermediately as at 88, so that the corners 89 remain intact. The lower `face of plunger 88 normally rests in a'notch 18 on the top of plunger 38 over abutment 4I.

Themembers to be passed through the selecting mechanism may be assumed to be tapered bearing rollers delivered from the hopper to the bore 33 in the manner already described. Each end of such a member has a small projection in the center thereof as the result of .the machine operations employed in its manufacture.- To ac- .commodate these projections, the bottom surface of the plunger 43 has a small groove 13 communicating with a similar groove 1| in the underside of the slide plate 38. To accommodate the lower projection, wall ofthe hollow slidev 34 has a short groove 13 v adjacent the slot 31. A rod 13 extends iromthe.

the upper face of the bottom slidable member 96 sl'idably through the back of the member 32 as shown more clearly in Figure 3. 'Ihe outer end of the rod carries a stop collar 14,

and the external part of the rod is surrounded' s by a spring 15 bearing against the collar and the ilxed member 32, thereby drawing the slidable member against the xed member.

The operation of the selector mechanism thus far described is as follows: 10,

The selection during this stage is based on the length of the article (a taper roller bearing, for instance), the purpose being to select those of a proper length and 'to reject those which are either e too short or too long. The slot 2l has forced the lo individual delivery of therollers in an endwise direction from the mass in the hopper, but with- 'I out attempting to force delivery small end flrst, cr vice versa, theonly condition being that they advance endwise through the alined channels 20 leading to bore 33. The startof the selection 'as to length begins with the position of the parts in Fig. 2. In this position the

slots

35 and 40 are alined with slot 33, so that the roller delivered to bore 33 will 25A drop downward until it comes -to rest on the upper face of the bottom of the slide 34. In such position, 'a roller of the proper length willbe located in both of the

slots

35 and 40 and be in position to be advanced laterally of the roll 30 axis by movements of arm 48. With a roller of theA proper length, its top will be sufiiciently abovey the bottom of notch 16 as-to cause it to be ciiective with a cam face 68 but remain clear of piece 58. If the roller is too short, its top sur- 35 face will not reach to a height sulcient to engage and actuate plunger 31. If the rollerv is too long. its upper face `will extend above the bottom of piece 58.. Assuming the roller to be of the proper length, 40 a movement of arm 48 toward the right in Fig. 2 will cause both slide 34 and plunger 38 to advance, resistance to advance being insuftlcient to compress either of thesprings 41 and 49, so that the parts initially travel as a unit. As the 45.l advance proceeds. the slide advance closes slot 5D ahead of the positioned roller,'so that the adv-' vance of the latter does not open slot 50 for the roller.` The advance brings the roller to plunger 66, the top of the roller engaging the cam face 68 50` and raising the plunger 68 so that the corners of the latter are raised out or engagement with the notch 38 of slide 34, thus permitting the latter to continu-e its advance. 'I'he advancel then continues until slide 34 engages stop l1, a position 55 which leaves slot 31 alined with slot 5i. With the advance of the slide 34 thus stopped, the continuance of the advance'of arm 48 acts to compress spring l49.during the continued advance of plunger 38, until cup 45 contacts with thefend 60 of slide 34, at which time slot 40 is also alined with the

slots

31 and 5|, thus permitting the rollerl to pass into slot 5i for further action. Figure '1 illustrates the positions of the parts as the roller vis approaching its position of discharge through @5.

slot 8|. l Assuming that-the roller is too short, the initial advance of slide and plunger from the position of Figure 2 will bring the roll to its position vrelative to cam 68. But in this case, the height of the roller is 'not sumcient to raise plunger 83,

with the result that shoulders 38. engaging plunger 88, `prevent Afurther advance of the slide 34.

At this time, slot 31 is still alined with slot 50.e and hence the further kindependent advanceof plunger 3s during which spring i9 is being coinpressed, will bring slot l0 into alinement with slot 3l when cup 45 becomes engaged with the end of the slide, thus placing the parts in position to discharge the roller, the discharge,

however, being through slot 5% and into the rejectedrgroup. Figure 8 shows the position of the parts at the latter time. Further travel of arm 48 to complete its cycle simply compresses spring 39, since the locked slide 3d, with cup 45 in engagement therewith, prevents further advance of rod 39.

When the roller is too long, the immediate action is dierent. The height of the roller in such case does not permit its top to pass the bottom of piece 56, so that the upper portion lies opposite a face 82 of this piece. Hence, the advance of arm '5B not only produces the advance of the slide Sli and. plunger S8, carrying with them the roller, but the advance of the roller carries with it the slide 55 with the parts car-- ried thereby, this movement continuing until the pin 83 is advanced into the path of the slide 34 by the coaction of cam 62 with head B5. At this time slot 31 is in alinement with slot 5G, and under the continued advance of plunger 38, during which spring #i9 is being compressed slot d is brought into alineinent with slot 3i at which time the roller drops out through slot 50 into the rejected group. Figure 9 illustrates the positions of parts during the latter part of this cycle of operation. The movement of the slide 55 is permitted by the yielding of spring l5, the latter acting to return slide 55 to its normal position when the roller has been discharged, the return movement oi' arm l returning the sli-:le 3d sunicient to carry notches 3E to their normal position. Should the springs @l and is prove in sumcient to shift the slide 55 a suicient distance to bring slot lil into alinement with slot 3l in presence of the resistance of spring l5, a handle d3 on slide 5S will serve to permit manual ao'- vance of this slide Auntil cup i5 engages the slide.

As will be readily understood, in each of the operations there is an initial concurrent advance of slide 3d and plunger S5, during which spring 9 is not aected followed by a selective action on the slide to determine the length of the advance of the latter, the selection being 'made by the length of the roll, the action being made manim fest by the activity or inactivity of plunger 5%, in case of the proper length of roller or ashort roller, and by the advance of slide 55 out of its normal position where the roller is too long. In each instance, the advance of the slot is stopped with. its slot 31 in alinement with one orthe other discharge slot or outlet, and in each instance, the plunger 38 then continues its advance until slot 40-becomesallned with slot 31, this being controlled by the contact of cup 45 with the end of the slide to limit the plunger advance, a limit that is fixed by stoppingV the advance f slide 34 in each of the operations described, the plunger then continuing to advance .to bring slots 4l! and 31 into alinement,'the continued advance of'the plunger being permitted by the compression of spring 49.

As will be understood, the articles or vblanks which pass out through slot .full and chute 53 are the Vrejected ones and are thus passed permanently out of what may be termed the sup-V ply. Those which are delivered into chute 512i through'slot 5i are those which have been accepted and continue onward in the general cycle as the supply. Vin other words, the blanks from the mass in the hopperpass to a testing point individually the latter forming a supply; at this testing point, the blanks are tested as to length, and only those of the proper length characteristic continue onward as the supply, the rejected ones passing out` oi the path.

The test as to length is not the only one that is needed. The blanks are generally -shaped to an approximately uniform dimension, but under production conditions there is necessarily no assurance of exactness and similarity in dimensions of a succession oi blanks. derstood that there may also be variations in the diameter characteristic of the blank, thus requiring a testing of each blank in this respect in order to eliminate those which may not come within certain dimensional characteristics suitable for the production of the finished roller. Since the blank is subsequently ground to its exact dimensions diametrically, a small range of variation is permissible in the tests in this diinension.

The initial test in this respect is made at the time the blanks pass from the hopper into passage 2i, it being obvious that oversize blanks diaznetrically will not pass through the passage 2|. The latter may therefore be considered as presenting the maximum diameter characteristic. Obviously, there may beblanks which are undersize in this dimension. The latter would not provide for the proper size finished roller, and hence must be taken from the supply. Since there is a variation permitted, advantage is taken of vthis fact to provide a testing characteristic by suit-A able mechanism which not only will serve to elim-- inate the undersize blanks but will automatically deliver the accepted blanks with the same selected end in advance, regardless of which end may have been in advance during the previous travel of the blank through the apparatus. Brieily stated. thi-.s result is obtained by the manipulation of the blank.

The fundamental feature in this manip lation is the supporting of the blank by a carrier struc1- ture in which the support is provided by two opposing faces spaced a distance suiiicient to permit the smaller end of the roller to pass therefthrough but which will prevent the larger end passing, thus setting up the characteristic of a support for the roller intermediate its ends. A support o this type enables the assembly to vprovide the double duty or' eliminating undersize rollers and to arrange successive rollers to advance with the same end in advance. This will be understood from the fact that unless the roller approaches the space between the faces with the small end nrst it will be unable to enter the space unless it be an undersized roller. Hence, the roller approaching large end first will be rejected, and the undersize roller will pass completely through the space and be eliminated. The endrejected roller is then'turned end for end by the operation of the mechanism and thus again approaches tlie space with its small end first and enters the space to be properly supported.

The mechanisms for producing the latter rcsults will now be described:

1n the column 2 is journalled a shalt B5 in bearings 85. The upper end of this shaft carries a gear' 8l. meshing with a smallerv gear Eton the' sleeve Iii. The speed imparted tothe shaft 85 Hence, it can be un- -may obviously be varied by changing the sizes of a sleeve or bushing 90 having at one end a thrust nut 9| engagingthe bearing. A part of the bushing .9| is surrounded by a sleeve 92 terminating in a pair of opposed forks 90 for a purpose which will presently appear. n the sleeve 92 is mounted a bevel gear 90 meshing with another bevel gear 95 on the lower end of the shaft 85. The

gear 90 is pinned to the sleeve 92 as at 96. A collar 91 is inserted between the bearing 09 and the adjacent ends of the members 92 `and 90. A

shaft 98 passes through the vbushing 90 and carries a transverse pin 90 which is normally received in the forks 93. A housing 99 is secured to the same side of the base I and contains a spring |00 which exerts athrust on the bearing 89 and -therefore against the sleeve 92 and gear 90. A smaller spring I 0| bears against the bushing 90 and a collar |02 on the shaft, thereby drawing the pin 90' into the forks 90.

A plate |08 is secured to the sidel of the base and around the shaft |00 by bolts |09. The plate is tted over a hub member ||0 secured to the base i and may be adjustably spaced from the base byA means of lock nuts on the bolts |00. The plate |00 has a laterally projecting flange ||2.l Adjacent the plate is' a hub ||0 mounted on the shaft |00 and extending partly into vthe :'-hub ||0. To the'member ||0 is secured a plate ||0 having a flange ||5 directed towards the flange ||2 and forming a space. H0 therewith.

The confronting edges of the anges ||2 and ||5 are beveledinwardly as at |11.

The chute 50 which receives the vmembers 10 of proper length leads tothe disks |00 and ||0 and -is adapted to discharge into the space 0 therebetween. 'I'his space however is so adjusted as to' receive the narrower ends of the members but not the wider'ends. Consequently, those mem'- extends from the .boss inwardly below `the bottom of the chute. A- spring |25 draws the lever towards the chute, and themovement of the lever in this direction is limited by a stud |20`engaged -by a stop pin |21 also extending from the bossA '|22.- The outer or rotary plate V||0 is formed witha series of radial slots into which may `be adjustably mounted one or more cam members |29 projecting'beyond the periphery 0f the plate in a manner to swing-the lever |20 outwardly in passing the same. When the lever'returns under' the action-of the spring the nger |20 strikes 'a member 10 as shown in Figure 13 and thus changes the position of the members in the bottom of the chute 50. means, the members 10 not initially presenting their narrower ends to canenterthe space.

" On the base is secured'a member |00 which the space ||0 may be turned about so thatthey extends upwardly at an angle into the space between the plates |08 and ||0 alongside the out-v let of the chute 50. This member has a V-groove |3| and further has apair of plates |02 .xed to itssiges and extending into close proximity to s terminating adjacent the upper-.end of the mem- 15 ber |30. The upper edge of the trip member is rounded as at |00. The members 10 that remain suspended between the plates are rolled by the rotary plate |'|0 unti1 their lower ends engage the trip |00, as shown in Figure 2, whereupon they ,20 are raised and upset in riding over the curved `edge |00 to place their larger ends foremost.

Plates |05 are secured to the sides of the member |00 exteriorly of the plates -|00 and ||0 in a` manner to form a chute for the members 10 as 25 they drop oif the edge |00. From this chute, the members fall through an inclined tube |05 and are passed through a timed escapement mechanism |01 to grinding apparatus |00 as shown in my copending application, Serial No. 328,328, led 30 December 26, 1928. f y

A bracket |00 extends from the block 52 -and serves as the bearing fora shaft |0| (Fig. 4)*to which the lower end of the arm 08 is secured. From this'shaft extends also another arm |0235 having at its lower end a roller |00 lying in the path of the cam membenor members |20'. Consequently, the arm 00 is actuated as often as the lever |20. A lug |00 extends from the 'shaft |0| and is drawn towards the member 52 by a spring 40 |05. The action of the spring is limited bythe engagement of the end of the wall of the slot 10 against the corners 05 of the plunger 00.

If the members 10 pile up in the tube |05 as far as the stud |01, the stud will rest on one of the members and, through the bell crank |00, will throw the arm |00 inwardly to shift slot 05 outv of its receiving alinement suillcient to preventl feed of blanks; the movement lwill also draw the roller |00 away fromthe periphery of the disk 0. In this position, the rollerv |00 is either not 55 engaged by the cam |20 at' or insufilciently-- to perform a full operative stroke of the slide .00 and plunger 00. Under the conditions. de;

liveryof members to the plates'is interrupted, f and excessive accumulation of members in the tube |00 and chute |05 vis prevented. v If for anyreason the-rotary disk ||0 shoul become jammed and .the shaft |00 locked, the

drive on the sleeve 02 causes the forks' 00 to ride oi! the'pin 00. of the shaft 00, the latter vbeing 05 moved towards the shaft |00 against the tension :of thespring |0|. The shaft-00 has a pair of spaced collars |50 and |5| at. its outer end, and a locking'iinger |50is pivoted-on'the 00 near the collars. Ifit is desired todisconnect l the sleeve 02 permanently from the shaft 00, the

latter is moved inwardly untiithe pin leaves the l 4 forks .00. `Atthis time, the space between the collars is directly in line with the' member |50 which maygnowbeswungintothisspace. '15,

In the modification shown in Figure 13, the base member l 55 of the discharge chute [5S leading to the grinder has its upper end relieved at ll' in order to aord no interference with the suspended members 'l as they are moved towards the chute. In other words, the members 'i3 are not tripped in the same manner as in the previously described construction. In the present instance, the trip member is in the form of a piece l58 fastened to the upper part of the chute l in a manner to be engaged by the tops of the members 18. Consequently these members ride down the chutes with their smaller ends foremost.

As will be understood, the arrangement of the length-testing and diameter-testing mechanisms is such as to set up what may be termed a predetermined standard of dimension. For instance, a blank which will pass beneath the member 5'! and which will raise the plunger S5 to inactive position, would be a blank whose length dimension was within this predetermined standard, since only a blank capable of meeting these conditions would permit slide 36 to advance to the position of Figure 7. Similarly, the width dimention of the space between the supporting faces of disks |98 and iid can provide such standard.

It will also be understood that the various channels, etc., reaching from the hopper to the discharge chute |36 form a travel path for the blank, such path. obviously including the path taken by the blank while in the testing mechanisms. In this path the blanks are normally positioned to move in an endwse direction, but in the testing portions of the path` the movements of the blank are transverse to such endwise direction; but such transverse movement does not change the general endwise condition, so that when released from the testing mechanisms the blank continues to travel in such endwise relation.

And in the operation of the length-teting mechanism, it will be readily understood that the two elements-the slide St and plunger 38, travel both in unison and relatively to each other, the length of the relative movement being similar in all cases, due to the fact that this length is controlled by the cup 45. The length of the movement in unison, however, varies. With the short roller, the length is the distance travelled by the slide until 38 contacts with plunger 66; with the long blank, the length is determined by the contact of the slide with stop 63; and with the standard length it is determined by the contact of slide 3i with stop Tl. Hence, the length of the slide movement is varied, and it is this variation that permits discharge of the blank through the proper outlet, since it is this that controls the position of opening 3l, the purpose of the relative movement being to bring opening 4c oi the plunger 38 into proper relation with opening 31 to permit the passage of the blank;

the length of the relative movement can thus bepositive advantages in operation. A few of these L will be' referred to.

It is unnecessary to enlarge upon the advantage of eliminating unsuitable blanks before the rollgrinding station is reached. Such elimination limits the work of the roll grinder to action rollers that are capable of being used, thus saving the time and expense of grinding an unsuitable roiler, and eliminates the necessity of carfully measuring and inspecting the completed roll in its length and diameter dimensions. In addition, assuming an approximate percentage of rejected rollers, it can be understood that the assorting apparatus canbe speeded up relative to the grinding mechanism, so that the latter will l5 be able to work at approximate capacity. Should the percentage of unfit blanks be less during a period, the control mechanism brought into action by the element Ml will prevent choking of the grinding mechanism.

The feed of the roller is endwse of the roller with the length tests provided by lateral or sidewise movements of the roller. In this way the roller is prepared initially for the diameter test and the upsetting action, if the latter be required. Consequently, the size testing and positioningrof the rollers as to delivery can all be done at practically two points or stations of the apparatus, one of these testing as to length and the other as to diameter and to position. Asa result, there is no need of an attempt'to force delivery from the` mass with a particular end ofthe roller in advance, making it a simpler and more rapid operation at the start of the travel of the roller as an individual.

The particular arrangement of testing is also of advantage. Obviously, the tests are most advantageously made by a stage operation, since the discards of the iirst test need no longer be considered at the second testing station. How- 40 ever, by making the length test as the rst stage, it permits the second test to be made by the particular method employed at the second stage, where the diameter test is actually made by the supporting mechanism which transmits the blank from the chute 54 to the delivery chute, thus requiring no speciic gaging structure other than the support itself. In addition, it enables the end for end upsetting of the roll for the purpose of A positioning the latter without any material difllculty or a special station.

The stage testing as to dimensions is of advantage due to the fact that it permits the discards to be segregated into separate receptacles, one based on'variations in length, and the' other on 55 variations in diameter, but with the proper length. As a result,it makes it possible to utilize the discards for other operations without initially making a careful test of the discards individually, the apparatus automatically dividing the discards into the two maior classes.

By providing the test in-advanoe of grinding* the tests can be made with less exactness conditions, since the succeeding operations are such as to correct for the small variations which the testing mechanism permits. Hence, the testing mechanism can be made more substantial and able to better resist deterioration thanwhere the tests are to be made with 'extreme accuracy; in the "latter case the mechanism mustbe able to operate with complete exactness, and the attempt to operate'under production conditions is more likely to produce rapid deterioration of parts and thus necessitate frequent repairs.

structurally, the several mechanisms are simaci-5,579,

out of order even under the onerous conditions.

of operations capable of meeting the conditions of production output. The machine is generally automatic in operation-this is varied only under abnormal conditions, as whenv it is necessary to move slide 55 manually. 'Ihe specific advantages of individual structures are obvious and need not be referred to in detail.

Althoughl specic embodiments of the invention havebeen illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention, as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim isz- 1. In a mechanism forselecting articles of a given length, a body having a material inlet and two` material outlets, one for regular and the other for irregular articles of manufacture, a hollow slide beneath said inlet and over said outlets, a plunger vslidable within said slide,said slide having an intake opening adapted toregister with said inlet and an outlet slot adapted to register with either of said outlets', said plunger being adapted to receive an article of material and having also a slot in its bottom adapted vto register with said outlet slot, a follower under pressure and adapted to extend into the path of said slide, stop means between said follower and slide,

said follower being adapted to be moved out of the path of said slide by an article of regular length received in said plunger and slide, and a yieldable driving connection between said plunger and slide, whereby the slot of said plunger may be brought into register with said outlet slot.

2. In a mechanism for selecting articles of a given length, a body having a. material inlet and two material outlets, one for regular and the other for irregular articles of manufacture, a hollow slide beneath said inlet and over said outlets, a plunger slidable within said slide, said slide having an intakey opening adapted to register with said inlet and an outlet slot adapted to register with either of said outlets, said plunger being adapted to receive an article of material and having also a slot in its bottom adapted to register with said outlet slot, a follower under pressure and adapted te extend inte the pech er said slide,A

stop means between said follower and slide, said follower being adapted to be moved out of the given length, a body having a material inlet and two material outlets, one for regular andthe other for irregulararticles of manufacture, a hollow slide beneath vsaid inlet and over said outlets, a plunger slidable within said slide, said slide hav` Y, ing an intake opening adapted to registerwith said inlet and an outlet slot'adapted to register with V,either of said outlets, said plunger being adapted to receive an article of material and having also a slot in its bottom adaptedito register with said outletA slot, a follower-under pressure and adapted to extend into thepath of said slide. .stop means between said follower and slide, said follower having a beveled edge engageable byan article of .regular length received in said plunger lets, aplunger slidable within said slide, said slide and slide, whereby said article moves said follower out of the path of said slide, and a yieldable driving connection between said plunger and slide, whereby the slot of said plunger may be brought into register with said outlet slot. I

- 5 4. In a mechanism for selectlngarticles of a given length, a body having a material inlet and two material outlets,l `one, forregular and the other for irregular articles of manufacture, a"

hollow slide ben'eath said inlet and over said outhaving an intake opening adapted 'to register with saidinlet and an outlet slot adapted to register with either of said outlets, said plunger being adapted to rec-ive an article of material and having also a slot in its bottom adapted to register with said outlet slot, a follower underpressure and adapted to extend into the path of said slide, a shoulder on said slide'adapted to be stopped-by an edge of said plunger and'to hold the outlet-20 slot of said slide over the irregular 'material outlet, said. edge having a Abevel engageable by an f article of regular length receivedln said 'plunger and slide, whereby such an article moves the follower out of the path of the slide, and a yieldable 25' driving connection between said plunger and slide, whereby the slot of said plunger maybe brought intoA engagement with said outlet slot. 5. In a mechanism for selecting articles offa given length, a body having a material inlet and 30- register-with said outlet slot, a follower under 40 pressure and adapted to extend intol the path of said slide, a shoulder on said' slide adapted to be stopped by an edge of said plunger and to hold the outlet slot of said slide over the irregular ma-V terlal outlet, said edge having a bevel engageable byan article of regular length received in -said plunger and slide, whereby such an article moves the follower out of the pathof the slide, a yieldable driving connectionv between 'said plunger and slide, whereby the slot of said plunger may be 'brought into engagement with said outlet slot-and a permanent stop engage'- able by said slide when the outlet vslot thereof registers with the regular material outlet,

6. In a mechanism for selecting articles of a 55-l given length, a body having a material inlet and two material outlets, one for regular and the other for. irregular articles of manufacture, a

hollow slide beneath said inlet and over said outlets, a plunger slidable within said slide, said slide having anintakeopening adapted to register with said inlet and an outlet'slot adapted to register withieither of said outlets, said 'plunger being adapted to receive an' artlcle'fof material' v andha'ving also a slot in its bottom adapted to 65 register. with, said outlet lslot, a block slidably mounted on said body over said slide, a follower 4under pressure in` said block, 'a wall portion formed with said block between said material outlet and follower and engageablelby an article of excessive length received in said plunger and slide, whereby'to shiftsaid block on further actua` tion;of-said plunger and slide, means operable o n shifting vofl said blockfor stopping said slide vwith outlet slet. tnereor nl register withy the ing said block, and a yieldable driving connection between said plunger and slide, whereby said plunger may be moved relatively to said slide until its outlet slot registers with the outlet slot of said slide on suchy further shifting of said block.

7. In a mechanism for selecting articles of a given length, a body having a material inlet and two material outlets, one for regular and the other for irregular articles of manufacture, a hollow slide beneath said inlet and over said outlets, a plunger slidable within said slide, said slide having an intake opening adapted to register with said inlet and an outlet slot adapted to register with either of said outlets, said plunger being adapted to receive an article of material and having also a slot in its bottom adapted to register with said outlet slot, a block slidably mounted on said body over said slide, a follower under pressure in said block and adapted to extend into the path of said slide, said follower being positioned to be moved out of the path of said slide by an article of regular length received in and moving with said plunger and slide, a wall portion formed with said block between said material outlet and follower and engageable by an article of excessive length received in said plunger and slide, whereby to shift said block on further actuation of said plunger ahd slide, means operable on shifting of said block for stopping said slide with the outlet slot thereof in register with the irregular material outlet, means for further shifting said block, and a yieldable driving connection between said plunger and slide, whueby said plunger may be moved relatively to said slide until its outlet slot registers with the outlet slot of said slide on such further shifting of said block.

8. In a mechanism for selecting articles of a given lengt-h, a body having a material inlet and two material outlets, one for regular and the other for irregular art'cles of manufacture, a hollow slide beneath said inlet and over said outlets, a. plunger slida-ble within said slide. said slide having an intake opening adapted to register with said inlet and an outlet slot adapted to register with either of said outlets, said plunger being adapted to receive an article of material and having also a slot in its bottom adapted to'register with said outlet slot, a block slidably mounted on said body over said slide.

a follower under pressure in said block and adapted to extend into the path of said slide, sa'd follower being adapted to be held out of the path of said slide by an article of regular length received in said plunger and slide, a wall portion formed with said block: between said ma.- terial outlet and follower and` engageable by an article of excessive length received in said plunger and slide, whereby to shift said block on further actuation of said plunger and slide, means operable on shifting of said block for stopping said slide with the outlet slot thereof in register with the irregular material outlet, means for further shifting said block, a yieldable driving connection between said plunger and slide, whereby said plunger may be moved relatively to said slide until its Outlet slot registers with the outlet slot of said slide on such further shifting of said block, and stop means between said follower and slide and operative to hold the outlet slot of said slide over the `Irregular material outlet when an article of insufficient length fails to move said follower.

9. In a mechanism for selecting articles of a.

irregular material outlet, means for further shiftgiven length, a body having a material inlet and two material outlets, one for regular and the other for irregular articles of manufacture, a hollow slide beneath said inlet and over said outlets, a plunger slidable within said slide, said 5 slide having an intake opening adapted .to register with said inlet and an outlet slot adapted to, register with either of said outlets, said plunger being adapted to receive an article of material and having also a slot in its bottom adapted to register with said outlet slot, a block slidably mounted on said body over said slide, a follower under pressure in said block, a wall portion formed with said block between said material outlet and follower and engageable by an article of excessive length received in said plunger and slide, whereby to shift said block on further actuation of said plunger and slide, a stop pin normally held out of the path of said slide,

a cam carried by said block and adapted to pro- 2o ject said pin into the path of said slide on shifting of said block, said pin `being positioned to stop said slide with the outlet slot thereof in register with the irregular material outlet, means for further shifting said block, and a yleldable driving connection between said plunger and slide, whereby said plunger may be moved relatively to said slide until its cutie:r slot registers with the outlet slot of said'slide such further shifting of sa`d block.

l0. In a mechanism for selecting articles of a given length, a body having a material inlet and two material outlets, one for regular and the other for irregular articles of manufacture, a hollow slide beneath said inlet and over said outlets, a plunger slidable within said slide, said slide having an intake opening adapted to register with said inlet and an outlet slot adapted to register with either of said outlets, said plunger being adapted to receive an article of 40 material and having also a slot in its bottom adapted to register with said outlet slot, a block slidably mounted on said body over said slide,

a follower under pressure in said-block, a wall portion formed with said block between said mai5 terial outlet and follower and eugageable by an article of excessive length received in said plunger and slide, whereby to shift said block on further actuation of said plunger and slide, a stop, pin normally held out of the path of said slide, a cam carried by said block and adapted to project said pin into the path of said slide on shifting of said block, said pin'being positioned to stop said slide with the outlet slot thereof in register `with the irregular material outlet, means for further shifting said block, a. yieldable driving connection between said plunger and slide, whereby said plunger may be moved relatively to said slide until its outlet slot registers with the outlet slot of said slide on such further shifting of said block, and stop means between said follower and slide and operative to hold the outletislot of said slide over the irregular material outlet when an article of insumcient length fails to move said follower.

11. A loading device comprising a pair of dimension-testing disks, one of which is rotatable relatively to the other, said disks being axiallyalined and spaced at their peripheries to receive the smaller end and retain the larger end of an acceptabletapered member and permit discharge of an unacceptable member through the space. a chute for supplying such members and having its outlet disposed at the space between said disks, and agitating mamans in said outlet, the '[6 member-engaging faces Aoi' the disks being 'oi' smalllradial length and contacting the member intermediate the member ends, whereby an acceptable member will be advanced solely by contact of its periphery with said faces with lthe member free to swing on its points of engagement with the faces during the advance. V

12. A loading device comprising a pair oi' dimension-testing disks, one of which is rotatable relatively to the othe1",'sald disks being axially alined and spaced at their peripheries to receive the smaller end and retain the larger end ofl an acceptable tapered member and permit discharge of an unacceptablemember through the space, a chute for supplying such members and having its outlet disposed at the space between said disks, agitating means in said outlet, and a cam carried by the rotatable disk for actuating said means the member-engaging faces of the disks being of small radial length and contacting the member intermediate the'member ends, whereby an acceptable member will be advanced solely by contact of its periphery with said faces with the member free to swing on its points of engagement with the faces during the advance.

13. A loading device comprising a pair of dimension-testing disks, one of which is rotatable,

said disks being spaced at their peripheries to receive the smaller end and retain the larger end of an acceptable tapered member and permit discharge of an unacceptable member through the space, a chute for supplying such members and advance. f

15. A loading device comprising a pair of dihaving its outlet disposed at the space between said disks, a delivery chute extending from said axial withsaid delivery chute.

14.'A loading device comprising a pair of dimension-testing disks, one of which is rotatable relatively to the other, said disks being axiallyaimed and spaced at their peripheries to receive the smaller end and retainthe larger end of an acceptable tapered member and permit discharge of an unacceptable member through the space, a chute for supplying such members and having its outlet 'disposed at the space between said disks, means for delivering said members to said chute, and means carried by said rotatable disk for actuating said means, the member-engaging faces of the disks being of small radial length and contacting the member intermediate the member ends, whereby an acceptable member will be advanced solely by contact of its periphery with said faces withthe member free to swing on its points of engagement with the faces during the mension-testing disks, one of which is rotatable, said disks being yspaced at their peripheries l to receive the smaller end and retain the larger end -of an acceptable tapered member and permit discharge of lan. unacceptable member throughthe space, a chute for supplying such members and having its outlet disposed at the space between said disks, agitating means in said outlet, means for delivering said members to said chute, and means carried by said rotatable disk for actuating said means and operating said agitating means.

16. A loading device comprising a pair oi dimension-testing disks, one of .which is rotatable,

said disks being spaced at their peripheries to charge -oi'v an unacceptable member through the having its outlet disposed at the space between said disks. agitating means in saidoutlet, means for delivering said members to said chute, and a cam can'ied by said rotatable disk ior actuating said means and operating said agitating means. v

17. A loading device comprising a pair of disks, one of which is rotatable, said disks being spaced at .their peripheries'to receive the smaller end and retain the larger end of a tapered member, a chute for supplying such members and having its outlet disposed at the space between said disks, a delivery chute extending fromsaid space, means for' delivering said members to the first named chute, means carried by the rotatable disk for actuating said means, and means .engageable by members accumulated in the delivery chute for holding th first named means out of the path of the second. named means.-

18. A loading devicecomprising a pair of disks, one of which is rotatable, said disks being spaced at their peripheries to receive the smaller end and retain the larger end of a tapered member, a chute for supplying such members and having its outlet disposed at the space between said disks, a delivery chute extending from said space, means for delivering said members to the first named chute, means carried by the rotatable vdisk for actuating'said means, a bell crank lever carried bythe first named means and adapted to enter the 'delivery chute on actuation of said means, said lever being engageable by members accumulated in the delivery chute for holding the ilrst named means out of -the path of the second named means.

spaces. a chute for supplying such members and at their peripheries to -receive the smaller end and retain the larger end of a tapered member, a chute for supplying such members and having its outlet disposed at the space between said disks, a linger pivotally-mounted adjacent the outlet of said chute and adapted to enter said outlet, a 4

disks, a finger plvotally mounted adjacent the outlet of said chute and adapted to enter said outlet, a lever fixed to said finger, a spring 'connecting said lever to said chute and tending to ldraw said finger into said outlet, and a cam 'carried by said rotatable disk and engageable with said lever for periodically tensioning and releasing said spring.

21. In asserting mechanism for elongated tapered objects and wherein the objects are assorted dimensionally into' accepted and rejected classes; means for establishing a travel path through which the objects travel individually, means for delivering objects to the travel path in endwise direction, individual stations in such path for successively .testing the length and diameter dimensions of each object relative to predetermined standards of such dimensions, the travel path to and-from said stations being operative to maintain the object constantly in such endwisedirection during object advance, each station having means for moving the object in the path transversely of the direction of length of the object and for applying the test during such transverse movement, and outlet from the path at each station and to which the testing means delivers rejected objects, and means active in the path for causing successively-tested accepted objects to be delivered from the path with similar ends of the objects as the advance end.

22. In assorting mechanism for elongated tapered objects and wherein the objects are assorted dimensionally into accepted and rejected classes, means for establishing a travel Vpath through which the objects travel individually, means for delivering objects .to the travel path in endwise direction, individual stations yin such path for successively testing the length and diameter dimensions of each object relative to predeterminedv standards .of such dimensions, the travel path to and from said stations being operative to maintain the object constantly in such endwise direction during object advance, each vstation having'means for moving the object in thepath transversely of the direction of length of the object and for applying the test during such transverse movement, an outlet from the path at each station and to which the testing means delivers rejected objects, the diameter-testing means including a support for accepted ob- .jects with the support active on the object solely at .points intermediate' the ends of the object being tested.

23. In assorting mechanism for elongated tapered objects and wherein the objects vare assorted dimensionally into accepted and rejected classes, means for establishing a travel path through which the objects travel individually, means for delivering objects to the travel path in endwise direction, individual stations in such path v for successively testing the length and diameter dimensions of each object relative to predetermined standards ot such dimensions, the travel path to and from said stations being operative to maintain the object constantly in such endwise direction during object advance, each station having means for moving the object in the path transversely of the direction of length of the object and for applying the test during such transverse movement, an outlet from the path at each-station andv to which the testing means delivers rejected objects, the diameter-testing means including a support for accepted objects with the support active on the object solely at points intermediate and spaced from the ends o! the. object being tested.

24. In assorting mechanism for elongated tapered objects and wherein the objects are assorted dimensionally into accepted and. rejected classes, means for establishing a travel path through which the objects travel individually, means for delivering objects to the travel path in endwise direction, a length-testing station within. the path, said station including means for shifting an object in the path transversely of the direction of length of the object and during the transverse movement automatically determining the class to which the object belongs, an outlet from the path-at such station for rejected objects. a diameter-testing station in such path for testing length-accepted objects and including means for shifting such object transversely in such path and during the transverse movement automatically rejecting objects failing to meet the predetermined standard as to diameter dimension. an

outlet at such station for the rejected objects, the travel path to and from said stations being operative to maintain the object constantly in such endwise direction during advance, and means active in such path for causing successively-tested accepted objects to be delivered from the path with similar vends of the objects as the advance 5- ing an object in the path transversely of the di- 15 rection o! length of the object vand during the transverse movement automatically determining the class to which the object oe1ongs, an outlet from the path at such station for rejected objects,

a diameter-testing station in such path for testing 20 length-accepted objects and including means for l. shifting such object transversely in such path and during the transverse movement automatically rejecting objects failing to met',4 the predetermined standard as to diameter dimensioman outlet at such station for the rejected objects, .the travel path to and from said stations being operative to maintain the object constantly in such endwise direction during advance, the diametertesting means including a support'for accepted objects with the support active on the object solely at points intermediate and spaced from the ends of the object being tested.

26. Apparatus asl inclaim 24, characterized in that the diameter-testing means includes a support for accepted objects with the support active on the object solely at points intermediate and. spaced from the ends of the object being tested.

27. Apparatus as injclaim 24, characterized in that the length-testing means is operative on the 40 object for testing purposes regardless of which end of the obj ect may be in advance, and the diametertesting means is operative on the object for testing purposes only when the object is presented with a predetermined end in advance, means being provided at the diameter-testing station for agitating untested objects to cause proper presental tion thereof.

28. Apparatus as vin claim 24, characterized in that the length-testing means is operative on the e object for testing purposes regardless of which end of the object may be in advance, and the diameter-testing means is operative on the object for testllir purposes only when the object 1s presented with the smaller end in advance, means being provided at the diameter-testing station for agitating untested objects to cause proper presentation thereof.

29. Apparatus as in claim 24, characterized in that the length-testing means is operative on the G0 object for testing purposes regardless of which end of the object may be in advance, and the diametertesting means is operative on the object for testing purposes only when the object is presented 80. Apparatus as in claim 24, characterized in that the length-testing means is operative on the object for testing purposes regardless of which end of the object may be in advance, and the diameter-testing'means is operative on the object 75 for testing purposes only when the object is presented with the smaller end in advance, said latter means being operative to temporarily reject objects presented With the larger end in advance, means being provided for turning the temporarily rejected objects end for end and again presenting 'and spaced from the ends of the object being tested, said support being operative to temporarily reject objects presented with the larger .end in advance, means being provided for turning the temporarily rejected ob'jects end for end and again present themfor testing, whereby the objects undergoing diameter test will be tested under similar conditions.

32. In assorting mechanism for elongated tapered objects and wherein the objects are assorted dimensionally in to accepted and rejected j f classes, means for establishing a travel path through which the objects travel individually and normally in endwise direction, a length-testingv station within the path, said station including means for shifting an object transversely in such path and during the transverse movement 'automatically determining the class to whichl the object belongs, an outlet from the path at such station for rejected objects, a diameter-testing station in such path for testing length-accepted v ly prevent delivery of objects to the length-test-l ing means in'presence of an excess delivery of accepted objects at the delivery end ot the path.

33. In asserting apparatus for elongated ob"- jects, a length-testing mechanism positioned to receive the objects individually and successively by endwise movement and to deliver -the tested object by a similar movement, said mechanism being movable in directions transverse to such endwise direction of the object during the test, said mechanism including a pair of telescoped elements adapted to support the objectwhen received and during the transverse movement, said elements being adapted to travel both in unison and relatively to each other during the test, and

means rendered .active by the positioned object for controlling the point in the travel of the elements where the relative movement begins.' the element travel of both elements being in the same direction during the testing period.

34. Apparatus as in claim 33, characterized in v that the control means includes a member normally active to limit advance of one of the elements and thereby begin the period f relative movement ofthe elements, said member being member from its normal position to permit continued advance of the elements inunison while an object of less than standard length will be ineffective to move the member from such normal position.

35. Apparatus as in claim 33, characterized in that the-control means includes a member normally active to limit advance of one of the elements and thereby begin the period of relativeV movement of the elements, said mem'ber being movable relative to its support and so positioned that an object of standard length will move the l5 member from its normal position to permit continued advance of the elements in unison while an object of less than standard length will be ineffective tomove the member from such normal position, said member and its support being bodi- 1y movable with the object in presence of an object of greater length than the standard length, the control means including aI normally inactive stop for such element, said stop being adapted to be rendered active by the movement of said support.

36. In assorting apparatus for elongated objects, a length-testing mechanism .positioned to receive the objects individually and successively t by endwise movement and tol deliver the tested 30 object by a similar movement, said mechanism being movable in directions transversetd such endwise direction of. the object during the test, said mechanism-including a pair of telescoped elements adapted to support the object during the transverse movement, said elements b'eingl adapted to travel both in unison yand relatively to each other during the test, and means rendered active by the positioned object for controlling the point in the travel of the elements where the .rela- I tive movement begins, independent means being provided for limiting the' length of the relative movement of the members to cause such latter movement to b e'of equal length regardless of the point of beginning of such movement. 45 37. In assorting apparatus for tapered objects, a diameter-testing mechanism, having an objectpresenting station, means for presenting objects to said mechanism at such station, said members including two members having faces spaced apart a distance greater than the smaller diameter end of the object and less than'the point of greatest diameter of the object, said members being movable relative to each other in the direction of length of the faces, whereby objects of standard diameter dimension will be solely supported and transported by such faces with the support ac-.L tive intermediate the ends of the object when said objects are presented with the smaller diameter end inadvance and will reject objects presented o with the greater diameter portion presented in advance, and means operative in the presenting station for inverting such presentation-raiectedl yobjects and again presenting .them with the smaller end in advance. f

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