US2046394A - Lamp filament sorting machine - Google Patents

Description

LAMP FILAMENT SORTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 N BY ATTO'RNE July 1936. E. c. LINDEGAARD 2,046,394

LAMP FILAMENT SORTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ill BY ATTORNEY y 1936. E. c. LINDEGAARD 2,045,394

LAMP FILAMENT SORTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gym Wk? "H JIM ATTORN E Patented July 7, 1936 UNITED STATES LAMP FILAMENT SORTING MACHINE Erik C. Lindegaard, East Orange, N. J., assignor to Westinghouse Lamp Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 28, 1933, Serial No. 654,014

23 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of incandescent electric lamps and relates more particularly to a. machine for sorting helically coiled filaments according to overall lengths.

Incandescent lamps as constructed in accordance with modern practice include a helically coiled filament usually comprised of fine tungsten wire. These filaments contain definite amounts of wire and constitute a resistance element which,

upon the passage of electrical energy therethrough, become heated to incandescence and constitute a light source.

Coiled filaments may be made either by winding a filamentary wire upon a mandrel and cutting the mandrel wound wire into sections of predetermined lengths or they may be wound by means of what is termed a mandrelless coil-winding machine wherein the filamentary wire is coiled to the desired pitch and diameter in the absence of a mandrel. As the filamentary wire is coiled and coils issue from the mandrelless machine they are cut into sections of predetermined lengths.

The production of incandescent electric lamps 5 is attended by certain definite requirements insofar as the dimensions and proportions of the component parts of the lamps are concerned so that the finished product will be of a quality to meet the manufacturers standard. Y

Although mechanism is provided for cutting an indefinite length of helically coiled filament into sections of uniform length, insofar as the actual amount of wire is concerned in a given coiled section, the overall lengths of the coiled 35 sections may vary slightly. It becomes necessary, therefore, to sort the coils and to select or remove coiled sections which do not fall within the limits of certain predetermined overall lengths.

The sorting of the coils to collect groups of 40 coils of similar lengths is of particular importance in connection with the use of an automatic mounting machine. The high-speed production of lamps has made it desirable to provide machines for automatically mounting coiled sections 45 and mechanism is therefore provided for positioning the coiled sections and clamping or welding the ends to lead wires of a lamp stem. The automatic mounting of lamp filaments makes it necessary to provide coiled sections of definite 50 and uniform overall lengths so that when positioned to be received by a mechanism for performing the automatic mounting operation, the means, such as the jaws which grip the ends of the filamentary section, may be given a fixed position "55 and the filaments or coiled sections may be fed thereto without failure of the jaws to grip the ends of the filament by reason of a difierence in the overall filament lengths.

7 It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide means for automatically selecting coiled sections of uniform lengths.

Another object of the invention 1 to provide a machine for selecting coiled sections of different lengths and for collecting sections of similar lengths in groups.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following description together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a coiled sorting machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line IIII in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a view taken on line III-III in Fig. 2;

Figured is a view taken on line IV-IV in Fig. 2;

Figure 5 is a view taken on line V-Vin Fig. 2;

Figure 6 is a view taken on line VI-VI in Fig. 2;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a jaw actuating plunger;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an adjustment block for longitudinal adjustment of a jawj V V Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view partly in section showing a gauge rod for use in I gauging the length of a coiled section;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary detailed view showing a ratchet driving rod; and I V Figure 11 is an enlarged plan view partly in section showing gauge members and gripper jaws in various positions during the gauging operation.

Although the present invention may be employed to sort elongated articles capable of being gripped at their ends, the selected embodiment of the invention is especially constructed to sort sections 9 of coiled filamentary wire. Sections of helically wound filament which may be termed coils are cut from windings of indefinite length and, as above pointed out, slight variations occur in the overall lengths of the coils.

The present machine, therefore, operates to handle the extremely fine filaments and sorts them into groups, each group containing coils of a given length. 7

The main operating elements of the machine may include head ID, a coil-removing head H and a coil-receiving element l2. [The sorting head lll is rotated and the coil removing head II is reciprocated to andfrom operative position V 'themotor and other operating mechanisms; The

with the sorting head. Mechanism for actuating the sorting and removing .means may comprise a motor l3 having suitable reduction gear box l4 provided with a driving gear wheel 15.

The gear wheel 15 is disposed in mesh with a gear wheel l6 .loosely mounted on a horizontal gear wheel I6 is provided with pawls l5. and J6 whichengagea ratchet wheel IT secured tothe shaft II. 'This constructionmakes it possible for an' operator to move the various operating partsof the machinebyturning'a fiy wheel 28 which is securedto the shaft I! and which serves to actuate the coil sortingmechanism in a manner to be later described: Inasmuchas the machine may be operated by turningthe fly wheel by hand it is possible 'to readilymake the necessary adjustments of the coil-sorting elements by trial. I r

The horizontal "shaft I! is. provided with a bevelled gear .23 in mesh with a bevelled gear 24 andv one end of a shaft 25; The shaft 25 may 7 be journaled in a bearing 26 on the bearing plate '22 and a bearing 21 on a suitable supporting bracket .28. :The opposite endof the shaft 25 is, provided with adisc 29 having an eccentrically di'sposedfwristpin 3| to' which one end of ajconnecting rod 32 is pivotally attached. The other end of [the connecting rod 32,18 .pivotally attached to an arm'33 (see Fig. =10). pivoted on a shaft 34 and carrying. a do gj35 for engagement with :teeth 36 of a ratchet wheel 31. l

The arm 33 is loosely mounted on'the shaft 34 and the ratChetwheel is pinned or otherwise secured to the shaft. Thus an oscillatory move- V ment of,.the-arm 33, by reason of the motion translated from the shaft 25, will cause aninter- "mittent'rotary motion-of thesiha-ftfu about its "member42. and secured tothe bushing 38 by a suitable set' longitudinal axis. The shaft- 34 'is disposed in a stationary guide bushing 38 rigidly secured in 'afbra'cketi39. At one end of the shaft-34 -is se-j cured a cylindrical conveyor. movable upon a *ro'tationof the shaft 34'. Intermediate the conveyor and the bracket 38 is a "stationary cam This cam member is mounted on scre'wandis held in position by a lock collar '43.

Adowl or steadypin extends from the bracket 39 and into an aperture in the body of the stationary camrnember 42-1to hold the same in a definite position. 'The'cylind-rical conveyor 4| is provided'with equally spacedlong-itudinal slots 45 to receive coiled sections from a source of supply 46 Means for depositing the coiled sections in the and drop it-througha chute onto a guide surface 49 and thence into a positioned slot. Jaws,

operable topicl: up -coi1sf0rdeposit, are shown ingco-pending-application Serial No; 487,238 filed October 8, 1930; which application. is assigned to the-wassigneeof the present invention; 7

Inthe absence of coil depositing'mechanism; "such ase-the gripper jaws -41, coils maybe deposited in the chute 48 by hand. The slots45 which receive the coils may be of any suitable number spaced around the periphery of the conveyor and each slot is provided-with ang-exreceiving element 12.

' tending lip 5| to maintain the coils onthe conveyor until each slot has reachedthe lowest position of its movement .whereuponany coil remaining in the slot will be deposited in a receptacle 52. As will be later described, the coils which are carried aroundwith the conveyor and deposited in the receptacle 52 are coils which are selection. V

For the purpose of positioning coiled sections indefinite relation to their respective slots, each slot is provided with a' push rod or gauge 53. 2

Each push rod is provided with a spring member 54 (see Fig. 9) in theiorm of a memberhaving two arms 55 and 51 connected by a coi1ed sec-. tion. Each of the arms 55 and 51 is tensionally urged awayfrom the other'and the arm 55 enof a length too'short tobe within the range of gages a head 156 on the push rod 53 and arm 51' r engages a. bushing 58 in which the push rocl is movable. 7V 7 The spring member :54v for each push. rod is clampediin a skirt 59 extending from a hub 5! on the conveyor 41 When theiconveyor is moved.

the heads 5.601 the push "rods engage .cam surface62 of the cam member42 and tend tomove a coiled section along its slot. The movement of "each push rod 53 is regulated so thatupon its complete movement the distance between its end and the edgeofethe slot 45 will be afixeddistance. i. Y, e Thus,' if a coiled section is of sufilcient length to project beyond the edge of the conveyor (see Fig. 11) a pair of jaws 63 will be operated, by

means presently to be described. to remove the coil'and drop it into one of a number of receptacles 64 positioned at the bottom of the coil .moved. e V

As above mentioned, if a. coiled section is dropped into one of the slots 45 and it projects Five receptacles 64 are employed in the present construction and'each receptacle isf-positioned beneath guide plates or partitions 64' which direct-coils released from the The receptacles more than apredetermined distance, it is first W .fidjllStBd by a centering plunger '65 and then 7 After. the-adjustor plunger 56 has moved the "coiled;

moved inwardly by. an adjustor plunger 65.

section inwardly leaving it to project a predetermined distance, one of 'the gauges orpush rods :53 is moved to engage the inner end of thecoiled section. If the coiled section is of a given predetermined length, the .push'rod will contact with the inner end of-thecoil without moving forward. T I-f, however the coiled. section is of alength greater than thedistance between the advanced face-of the adjuster plunger. and the end -ad-' vanced, one "of the push rods 53 will move the r j coiled section outwardly and'the distance the coil 7 slots ;45 may comprise a pair of gripper jaws 41 operable to pick up a coilfrom 'the supply 46 extends from the edge of theconveyo'r will, obviously, be greater than the distance between the edge of the conveyor.

beyond the edge ofthe conveyor and will thus be 1 carried around and eventually discharge in the receptacle 52.

It will be appreciated that thecoils or coiled.

sections, as they are received from the cutting mechanism, are out within extremely narrow limits for lengthand the only variation. in the engths :ottlre severed coils occurs by reason or slight variations in the pitch or slight irregulariparticularly Fig. 11 which is an enlarged view,

show seemingly great variation in lengths, such variation is very small and the selection of coils is carried out to an extremely fine degree.

The mechanism for gripping and removing the coiled sections constitutes the coil-removing head H and is equipped with five of the heretofore mentioned coil-gripping jaws 63 which may, as a whole, be considered as coil-removing members 6?. These members have a scissor-like construction and comprise lever members 68 and 69. The lever member 68 is provided with a short arm II and a long arm 12 and the lever member 69 is provided with a short arm 13 and a long arm l4. Tnese arms are pivotally mounted on a pin 15 and are free to rock as a unit about the pin 15, which is mounted on a slide block 16 between guide plates N.

A tension member 18 mounted on the pin 15 is provided with oppositely actuating arms to normally hold the jaws 63 closed. For the purpose of opening the jaws each coil-removing member is provided with a jaw-opening plunger 19 mounted on a movable cross-head 8| and held by a set screw 82. The plunger 19 is provided with an eccentrically disposed contact end 83 and a knurled finger piece 84 so that by adjusting the set screw 82 the contact end 83 may be adjusted about the longitudinal axis of the plunger. The purpose of this adjustment is to cause a slight movement in the position of the coil-removing member as a unit after the jaws are opened.

It is evident that the plunger may also be adjusted endwise to vary the position of the contact end 83 so that the jaws may be opened or closed in predetermined time relation.

A further adjustment of coil-removing members 6'! is accomplished by means of an adjustment screw 88' (see Figs. 2 and 8) held in a slot in plate 96. The screw 84 threadedly engages the threads 86 in a slide block 16. This adjustment means makes it possible to move the coil-removing members 61 so as to vary the length of the portions gripped by the jaws 63.

By reason of the construction and adjustability of the plunger 19 they may, by trial, be adjusted to guide the jaws 63 into their proper positions to grip a coil positoned in a slot. It will be appreciated that, inasmuch as a slight variation occurs in the space relation of the coiled sections, each of the members 61 must be slightly adjusted. which adjustment is readily acomplished by the means aiiorded. Once the adjustment is made, the machine may operate continuously.

For the purpose of actuating the coil-removing member 57, as well as the plunger 19, mechanism. as more clearly shown in Fig. 2, is provided. This mechanism may comprise a slide carrier 85 movable on a table 86 integral with the base plate 2 l. The slide carrier has a vertical extension 81 at one end on which the coil removing members 61 are mounted.

A stop plate 88 having adjustable stop screws 89 is provided to limit and adjust the forward movement of the slide carrier 85. Slidably mounted on the slide carrier 85 is the cross-head 8| having a base portion 9| provided with a pin 92 to which one end of a crank arm 93 is pivotally attached. The otherend of the crank arm is pivotally attached to a wrist pin 94 eccentrically positioned on a fiy-wheel 28 secured to shaft !1. The cross-head 8| is movable relative to the carrier 85, such movement being limited between stop plates 95 at one end of the carrier and a plate 96 at the other end thereof.

When the crank-arm 93 is operatedto'move the cross-head toward the coil-removing members 61,

the plunger 19 engaging said members, are oper-g; 5'

ated to open the jaws thereof and, by reason of the contact between the push rod 8| of the crosshead and the stop plate 96, the jaws are moved into position to grip ends of coiled sections extending from the conveyor. An opposite move- :19 ment of the crank arm 93 moves the cross-head ill thus removing the plunger 79 from operative relation to the members 61, permitting the jaws to grip coiled sections.

The cross-head continues in its reverse move- .15 ment until a stop member 91 thereof engages the stop plate 95 whereupon the cross-head causes the carrier 85 to move away. from the conveyor into position to deposit the coiled'sections over the several receptacles. A continued operation of 2D the crank-arm results in a return movement of the cross head bringing the plunger 19 into engagement with the members 61, causing the jaws to open and the coils to be deposited in their respective receptacles. A continued movement of 12.5 the crank arm 93 repeats the operation of opening the jaws at which time other coiled sections have moved into position to be gripped thereby. As the cross-head 8! is actuated the centering plunger 65 and the adjuster plunger 66 are operated.

Although the present machine is operable to select filaments having predetermined lengths, the present arrangement of the operating elements serves to select filaments having lengths within 235 given limits.

The lamp filaments as they are received from the coil winding machine, vary in length from 38 to 42 millimeters. The present machine is provided with five sets of coil or filament removinggio members, the first set serving to remove filaments of over 42 millimeters in length; the second-set removing filaments between 42 and 41 millimeters; the third set removing filaments between 41 and 40 millimeters; the fourth set re- 45 moving filaments between 40 and 39 millimeters and the fifth set serving to remove filaments between 39 and 38 millimeters.

Theabove arrangement of the jaws, as well as the schedule for the selection of sizes, is given: merely as an example of a practical embodiment of the invention. It is, of course, to be understood that more or less jaws may be employed and that the selection may be either narrowed or broadened depending upon the degree of diner-: ence required in the selection of filaments. If desirable, the machine may be operated to select filaments of only one size or to select filaments of several predetermined sizes or lengths.

It has been found, in the use of filaments in connection with a mounting machine, that filaments separated in accordance with the schedule above given, answer manufacturing requirements in the automatic mounting of lamp filaments.

However, if the filament is of greater length than 75 same operation follows for; filaments as they :38 millimeters, and it lies in a slot with one end projecting, the adjuster members '65 and 66 will "move it until an'end of the filament extendsfrom '.'the' edge ofthe slota'predetermined distance.

This distance removes the'end of the filament ,Efrom a path of travel which would bring .it in position to be gripped by one of. thepairs of fjaws 63. ,As the conveyor rotates, however, the

plungers 53 engaging with thecam 42 are moved and the filamentis caused to move endwise and r project from the edge of the conveyor 9. sufiicient V the end of a filamentof that length. If 'a, fila- V ment is between 41 and 42 millimeters the plunger 7 V1 mittent by reason or the pawl and ratchet 36 V '15,

distance to bring the end of the filament into position to be gripped by a pair of'jaws. 1 As will be noted, the plungers 53 have different degrees of movement by reason of the formation Y of the cam surface 62. The coil-removingmem has .61 (see Fig; 11) are indicated by reference letters A, B, C,.D, and E each member being dis- 1 posed adjacent to a plunger'53-whichj engages different portions of the cam surface :62. Thus filamentsdisposed in the slots ward different distances:

will'be moved for- If a filament is over 42 millimeters it will be removed by coil-removing member A since the distance between the end of the plunger opposite the member A and the jaws 63 is 42 millimeters or more, thus permitting the jaws 53 to receive 53 opposite to member B will move it forward one millimeter and it will be gripped by the jaws 63 on the member, B. The degreeof movementof the plungers 53 has been set at 'onemillimeter audit will be evident that the jaws "opposite each-plunger serve to secure the'ends; of all filaments within onemillimeter difference. filament is between 40 and 41 millimeters it will not be-secured by the jaws 'on member Blbut when moved opposite to memberC-the plunger will move it so thatxan end isreceivjed. The

reachcoil-removing members D andrE.

The movementof the conveyor drum is inter and after each movement of the conveyor it has a stationary period during which time the coilremo'ving members'are .advancedand retracted.

.This operation is accomplished by means of the crank arm '93. As'the members 5! are moved forward the actuating plungers 83'engage and separate the arms H and 13 of eachmember thus opening the jaws 63 to receive the endof a'filament. I

It has been found that although the slots are disposed in equal space relation on the drum,

the filaments vary in their: respective space relation by reason of the tangential relation of the slots tothe periphery of the drum. One filament will be at the bottom of a slot and the next at one sideor oif center with respect to the bottom and so on. This condition makes it difficult to determine the space relation required for the.

Jams 63.

was

member bodily. V 1 V g r The position of thejaws 631is; determined by trialand when once adjusted the machine op- Thepresent constructiomtherefore, as above described, provides the'eccentric' plungers 83 whichserve not only to open the jaws but to move the r'nembers' fi'l about their pivot so that,

the'several pairs of jaws may each be adjusted by reason of'the adjustability of theplungers 83, As each plunger moves to open the jaws it bears against an arm" of the member adjusting the erates without further attention insofar asthe If the V 1 port for articles,push rodsfor engaging'ends of space relation of the filaments in their respec-' tive slots is concerned. When themembei's. 61

'have been moved forward the jaws 63 are inpo- V 3 sition to, grip the end of anyfilament extending such a distance that its pathoirmovement 'will J bring it between a pair of jaws. a The plungers 8'3 then withdraw from between P the arms of the members 61 and the jaws close ,under theaction of their, springs .18. g

The members 61 all retractafter an actuation of I 7 their jaws and filaments secured between jaws opened and thefilaments drop into, the difierent receptaclesand are thus assorted for length. 7 Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described. herein, it is to' be, understood that modifications may be made therein without departing from the'spirit and.

scope of the invention asset forthin the appended claims. I V r r .i

What is claimed is: r V r 1. .A machinefor sorting filaments according to length comprising a drum, said drum having longitudinal slots to reecive filaments of different? lengths, means. movable along said slots .for .mov-

in said slots to project ends thereof from said support,'means for moving'said support to cause f said filament ends to travelthrough a givenpath,

plurality of pairs of jaws, means for. supporting said pairs of jaws in given positions with respect to the path .of movement of said ends, means for actuating said pairs of jaws to grip an end moving into range thereof,l means for opening said jaws to release gripped filamentsand means for collecting filaments gripped-by the respective jaws into separate groups/f 2. A machine for separating'elongatedj articles I V of different lengths into groups comprising a sup-" said articles-to move them to predetermined positions on said support, a carriage, means on said V carriage for gripping the ends of said articles, and 'meansfor moving'said support to position carriage to position said first mentioned means to grip said articles and meansfor causing said 17 gripped articles to .be released.

3.A machine for separating elongated articles 7' of different lengths into groups comprising a support forarticles, individually operable means for moving saidarticles to predetermined positions Q i gripping means; mounted on said carriage, means 65 g a for movingsaid filament support to position a projecting filament'to .be secured by said grip. ping means, .means for moving said carriage to 7 position said gripping means to secure the end of i said filament, means for actuating saidgrippingfi y o means 'to secure said end and means for moving .said carriage to remove said filament from said 7 filament support.

. 5. A lamp filament sorting machine comprising e a support for filaments, a push rod for engaging i5 are. moved over the respective receptacles; the plungers 83 againcome forward the jaws are g ing filaments endwise a predetermined distance said articles: for removal,means for moving said an end of each filament, means for individually actuating said push rods forv moving said filaments to project ends thereof from said support, a carrier, filament gripping means mounted on said carrier, means for movingsaid, support to position a projecting filament end to be securedv by said gripping means, means for moving said carrier to position said filament gripping means.

adjacent the ends of positioned filaments, means for actuating said gripping means to secure the ends of said filaments, means for actuating said carrier to remove said filaments from said support and means for releasing said filamentsfrom said gripping means. Y

6. A filament sorting machine comprising a rotatable carrier, said carrier having slots to rel ceive filaments, plungers movable in said slots foradjusting filaments in said slots to project the ends of the filaments, acarriage, aplurality of pairs of gripper jaws on said carriage, means for moving said carrier to position filament ends adjacent to said gripper jaws, means for moving said carrier to position filament ends between said jaws and means for actuatingsaid jaws to grip the ends of said filaments.

'7. A filament. sorting machine comprising a rotatable carrier, said carrier. having slots to refilament adjuster dividual filament adjustor members for moving filaments to predetermined'positions insaid slots, a carriage movable to and from said conveyor, a plurality of pairs of jaws -mounted' on said carriage for gripping the ends 'ofsaid filaments,

means for moving said carrier-to position 'filaments adjacent to said pairs of jaws, m'eans'for moving said carriage toward said conveyor, means for actuating said jaws to grip said filaments and means for moving said carriage away from said conveyor to. remove filaments. 1

9. A filament sorting machine comprising a conveyor having slots to receive'filaments, individual filament adjuster members for moving said filaments to predetermined positions in said slots, a movable carriage, a plurality fof pairs of jaws for gripping the ends of said filaments mounted on said carriage, means for moving said conveyor? to position filaments adjacent said pairs of jaws, means for moving said carrier to position said jaws to grip said filaments, means operable upon a movement of said carriage to cause said jaws to grip said filaments for removal from said conveyor and means for opening said jaws to release said filaments.

10. A machine for separating filaments of similar lengths into groups comprising a support for receiving a plurality of filaments of different lengths, individually operable means for moving said filaments endwise a predetermined distance to project the ends thereof from said support, a carriage, jaws for gripping a predetermined portion of the end of a filament mounted on said carriage, means for progressively moving said filaments into position to be gripped, means for movsupport, means for moving said support to cause ing said carriage to position said jaws to grip the, ends of filaments and means operating in timed 11. A machine for separating filaments of similar lengths into groups comprising a support for receiving a plurality of filaments of different lengths, push-rods for moving said filaments endwise a predetermined distance to project the ends thereof from said support, a reciprocal carriage, 10 jaws for gripping predetermined portions of the ends of filaments mounted on said carriage, means for progressively moving said filaments into position to be gripped, means for actuating said jaws to grip said ends and means for depositing gripped filamentsin acommon group. 1

12. A machine for collecting filaments of similar lengths into groups comprising a support for a plurality of filaments of different lengths, a member movable along the longitudinalzaxis of each filament for moving said filaments endwise a predetermined distance to project the ends thereof from said support, a carriage, a plurality of gripe per members mounted on said carriage and positioned to grip predetermined amounts of extended filament ends when said carriage is moved, means for moving said support to progressively position the filamentends to be gripped, means for moving said carriage to position said members to grip said ends and means for actuating said members to grip filament ends projecting from said support.

13. A machine for collecting filaments of similar lengths into groups comprising a support for a plurality of filaments of different lengths, a plurality of members for engaging the ends of the filaments, means for individually actuating said. members to move said filaments endwise a predetermined distance to project the ends thereof from said support, a carriage, a plurality of gripper membersmounted on said carriage and positioned to grip predetermined amounts of extendedfilament ends when said carriage is moved, means for moving said support to progressivelyposition the filament ends to be gripped, means for moving said carriage to position said members a to grip said ends, means for actuating saidmembars to grip'filament ends and means for moving said carriage to remove filaments from said support. l

14..A machine. for sorting filaments according to length comprising a drum, said drum having longitudinal slots to receive filaments of different lengths, means movable alongsaid slots for mov-s ingfilaments endwise a predetermined distance in said slots to project ends thereof from said support, means for moving said support to cause said filament .endsto travel through a given path, a. carriage, a-plurality of pairs of jaws, a carriage, for moving said pairs of jaws in given positions with respect to the path of movement of said ends, and means for actuating said pairs of jaws to grip a filament end moving into range thereof.

15. A machine for sorting filaments according to length comprising a drum, said drum having longitudinal slots to receive filaments of different lengths, means movable along said slots for moving filaments endwise a predetermined distance in said slots to project ends thereof from said said filament ends to travel through a given path, a plurality of pairs of jaws, means for supporting said pairs of jaws in given positions with respect to the path of movement of said ends, means for actuating said pairs of jaws to grip an end mov- V ingintoirange thereof, means for opening said 7 jaws to release gripped filaments and means for V into separate groups.

and means operable upon a movement of said car- [-veyor, means movable along said slots for moving collecting filaments gripped by the respective jaws 1 16. A machine for separating filamentsaccordfing to length comprising a cylindrical conveyor,

vlongitudinal filament receiving slots on said conveyor, means movable along said slotsfor moving filaments endwise in said slots, a carriage, a plurality of pairs of coil-gripping jaws mounted on said carriage,means for moving said carriage to dispose said members in position to grip said fila-; ments, means operable upon a movement of said carriage inone direction for opening saidjaws,

riage in another direction for closing said jaws. '17 A machine for separating filaments according to lengtheomprisinga cylindrical conveyor,

longitudinal filament receiving'slotson said confilaments endwise in said slots, a'carria'g'e, a pluralityof pairs of coil-gripping jaws mounted on said carriage,'means for operating 'said jaws-to grip filaments, means operable upon a movement of said carriage in one direction to open said jaws to release said filaments. 1:18. A machine for separating filaments-according tolength comprising a cylindrical conveyor, longitudinal filament-receiving slots on said con- 7 veyor, means movable along said slotsfor moving filaments endwise in said slots, a carriage, a plui rality of coil-gripping jaws for securing the ends means movable relative to said carriage for opening said jaws,said means operating upon a movement of said carriage to close said jaws and means for moving said carriage to move" said filaments endwise for removal from said supporti p 20. A machine for separating elongated articles of diiierent lengths into groupscomprising a sup- V port for holding said articles, in spaced. relation,

a plurality of receptacles arranged to receive said articles, means for moving said articles endwiseon said support to project ends thereof over one side of said support, meansrfor moving said support to successively position said extended ar-- ticles adjacent to said receptacles, a plurality of, pairs of gripping jaws, means for moving each.

' predetermined distance, means for removing said pair or-jawsto grip an endj of an article ex- Qtended a predetermined distance .from said sup port, means for moving said jaws to remove grip-j deposit off-articles of one length intoone receptacle and articles of a different length other receptacle. j I,

V 21. A machine for separating elongated articles into different groups' comprising: a support for into anholding articles in relation, a carriage, a plurality-of pairs oi'grlpping'jaws mounted on said carriage, a plurality of receptacles'disposed inspaoed relation between said support and said I carriage, means for moving said articles toextend '15 their ends 1a. predetermined distance-"from "said supportwover' difierentreceptacles;depending on thejlengths oi the articles, means for moving said carriage to position said jaws to gripthe extending ends of said articles.

22. A machine for separating elongated articles 1 into different groups comprising a supportfori articles, means'onf saidsupport' for holding articles injspaced relation, a pusher rod for moving 7 each article, means, tor intermittently moving 251' said support,"means {or moving said pusher 'rods a given distance during each" movement of said support, a, receptacle under each supported ar-- ticle, said pusher 'rodsser'vingto engage said articles and move the same to extend1the'endsoi' articles of different lengths ,overidiflferent recep tacles and means operating, with each intermit tent movement of said support to deposit may receptacle articles having. their-ends extended a predetermined distance. 35 23; A machine for separating elongat d articles into different groups comprisingia support for articles, means on said, support for holdingarticlesin spaced relation,v a pusher rod,for each 1 4-0 mittently'moving said support, means foremoving f said pusherrodsa, given distance during each; movement ofsaidsupportm' receptacle to receive 7 a article, means: for each pusher means'fioriinter articles under'each supported article, said pusher rodsservin'gt n a e saidarticles and move the 45" 1 same. to extend the ends thereof from: one side 7 0f said supportjarticles oiv different lengths'hav; ing their endsextended while overdifierent receptacles,glipper'jaws'movable overeach receptacle ing said jaws to grip said ends with each niovec to grip extended ends'of articles, means for movment of, said support, means for actuating said 7 jaws to grip articles having their ends extendeda jaws to move gripped articles 'from said support and. means for actuating said jaws to release articles for deposit in said receptacles. i

ERIK c. LIN'DEGAARD.

V ped articles from said support and means for f r actuating said jawsto release said articles for the

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