US2052760A - Blank rotating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 1, 1936. JHFRlEDMAN I 2,052,760

BLANK ROTATING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 5, 1953 y 2v Sheets-Sheet 1 Jbh zzmu'ammmm Qtturnrgs.

P 1936- J. H. FRIEDMAN 2,052,760

BLANK ROTATING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 5, 1953 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 i i, IL 5 55 33 35553f 51 32 35 .fis

5 "to r? v A I 4,0529 v ,4 7 35 fimflmlffimflnnmmr Patented Sept. 1, 1936 PATENT OFFICE BLANK ROTATING MECHANISM John H. Friedman, Tiflin, Ohio, assignor to The National Machinery Company, Tififin, Ohio Application September 5, 1933, Serial No. 688,240

11 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism whereby a' blank, while being transferred from one position to another between the dies of a forging machine, header or the like, will be automatically rotated a predetermined distance about its individual axis.

While the invention can be used in connection with different kinds of feeding mechanism, it is more especially designed for use in connection with the structure disclosed in the patent to W. E. Ehinger issued on July 4, 1933, Number 1,916,608.

It is an object of the invention to combine with a feeding mechanism one or more rollers for gripping a blank while it is being transferred, means being employed for imparting rotation automatically to a blank engaging roller whereby the blank, through frictional engagement with the roller, will be given a partial rotation prior to being deposited in the new position to which it is being fed.

Another object is to provide rotating mechanism which is simple and compact in construction and adjustable automatically to blanks of different diameters.

, With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts and in certain steps of the method hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts and in the disclosed method without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

' In the accompanying drawings'the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure "l is an elevation of a portion of a forging machine and its feed mechanism provided with the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2,.Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevation of the feeding fingers and the rotating mechanism carried thereby, a series of blanks being shown in section in their several positions between the gripping dies.

Figure4 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 3.

Figure is a section on line 5-5, Figure 3.

The feeding mechanism per se which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawingsis substantially the same as that disclosed in the patent to Ehinger herein before referred to. It ineludes a bracket l adapted to be secured to the top of the forging, heading, or other type of metal working machine where it will extend over the die box or that portion of machine wherein are located, in the present instance, a stationary gripping die A and the movable grip- 5 ping die B. These dies, in-the structure illustrated, are provided with opposed series of M pressions indicated at a and b respectively, the impressions a being adapted to register with the corresponding impressions b when the dies A and B are brought into contact. A heading or upsetting die C or similar device may be arranged for acting on stock gripped between the dies A and B and is arranged for movement relative to said dies. The construction and oper-ation of the dies A, B and C constitute, in themselves, no part of the present invention and it is not deemed necessary to illustrate or describe the mechanism employed for operating these parts. It need only be stated that the die B is adapted to move against the die A once during each cycle of the machine and during this same cycle the die B will move toward and away from the dies A and B while they are in contact. V The bracket l hasa shaft 2 journaled thereon carrying cams 3 and 4 preferably shaped substantially as shown, for example, in the drawings. The peripheral portion of cam 3 engages an antifriction roller 5 carried by an arm 6 extending upwardly from a slide 7. J ournaled upon the back face of this slide near the lower end thereof are spaced rollers 8 while extending from the front of the slide is a lug 9. Another slide I0 is movably mounted on the front face of the slide 1 and has an upwardly extending arm ll provided with an anti-friction roller l2 adapted to engage the periphery of the cam 4. A pivot pin I3 is extended backwardly from the slide II and has a spacing collar l4 designed to work within a recess [5 formed in the upper end of the slide 1. A slot 16 is provided in the slide I0 and projecting forwardly from the slide at the upper end of this slot is a lug l1. Another lug I8 is extended forwardly from the slide I0 at one side of the lower portion of the slot I6.

The slides I and ID are mounted for reciprocation within a guideway l9 formed within the bracket I and extending perpendicularly above the space in front of the dies A and B. An ear 2G is extended forwardly from this bracket and slidably mounted therein is a rod 2! secured to and extending upwardly from the ear l8. This rod has a spring 22 thereon, the spring bearing downwardly on the'ear 2G and upwardly against an adjustable head 23 on the rod. Thus the Spring acts normally to support the slide H) in raised position with its roller |2 in contact with the periphery of the cam 4. The ear I! on this slide lil projects through a slot 24 in the front of the bracket and is located above the ear 9 on slide 1 which extends through the slot l6 in slide It]. A rod 25 is secured to and extends upwardly from the ear 9 and is slidable within the ear l1. On this rod is mounted a spring 26 which bears downwardly against the ear I! and upwardly against the adjustable head 21 of the rod. Thus it will be seen that while spring 22 yieldingly supports the slide I0 and holds the roller |2 against the cam 4, spring 26 yieldingly supports the slide 1 from the slide ID to hold its roller 5 against the periphery of the cam 3.

Pivotally mounted on the pin I3 between the collar 4 and the back wall of the guideway in bracket l are downwardly extended arms 28 and 29 which extend, between the rollers 8 and are normally pressed thereagainst in any suitable manner, as bymeans of an interposed spring 30.

As before stated the foregoing structure has alreadybeen disclosed in the Ehinger patent and, in itself; constitutes no part of this invention. The present improvements include opposed feeding fingers 3| and 32 which extend downwardly from the arms 28 and 29. The finger 32 is formed. in its active face with depressions or recesses 33 spaced apart distance equal to the distances between the impressions in the dies A and B. These recesses are adapted to receive the several blanks S while being transferred from one position tofanotherand; if desired, a pair of blank engaging rollers 34 can be mounted in finger 32 adjacent one or more of'these recesses. Where these rollers are employed they will project beyond the wall of the adjacent recess so as to frictionally engage the blank which extendsinto said recess.

The finger 3| can be formed with parallel side flanges 35 extending longitudinally thereof and toward the finger 32 so as to present gripping edges 36 for engaging the blanks being acted upon.. Slots 3'! are formed in these flanges to rec'eive'the necks 38 of a roller 39 located between the flanges; The flanges are cut away adjacent to the ends'of roller 39 to'ex'pose portions of the roller'asindicated at 40 and to prevent contact by the flanges with a; blank being rotated. An arm 4| is extended from one end of :roller 39' through a slot 42 in finger 3| and pivotally connected to the end of this arm is a rod 43% slidably 'mountedin a guide car 44 at the back of the finger; l

A fixed stop ,45 is extended back of the finger 3| and rod 43 is slidably mounted therein. A collar 46 'issecured to'the rod and is held normally pressed 'againstthe ear 44 by a spring 41 which is mounted on rod 43 between collar 46 and stop 45. L A head 48' is located at the upper end of rod '43 and is normally spaced from the stop 45.

1 The, roller 39 is engaged by a spring 49 secured tothe finger 3| and exerting a constant pressure against the roller so as to force it normally toward the finger 32;

Obviously the two fingers can be constructed in various ways. For example finger 3| can be rovided with guard flanges 50 at the sides thereof between which rod 43 and the parts associated therewith are located.

The operation of the gripping fingers 3| and 32 is the same as that disclosed in the Ehinger patent herein mentioned and can be described briefly as follows:

The outer sides of the upper portions of arms 28 and 29 constitute cams indicated at 5| and 52 respectively. These cams cooperate with the rollers 8 during the movement of the rollers relative to the arms for the purpose of producing properly timed operations as hereinafter explained.

With reference to the cam 4 which actuates the slide l0 carrying pivot pin l3 it might be stated that the movement of the slide produced by one rotation of cam 4 willbe equal to the distance between two adjoining depressions a and when the roller 2 is in contact with that portion of the cam 4 nearest the shaft 2 the arms 28 and 29 and fingers 3| and 32 will be supported in their uppermost positions with the uppermost 'recess 33 in line with one side of a receiving channel 53 formed by the upper corner portions of the meeting faces of the dies A and B. The remaining recesses 33 will be at one side of the uppermost impressions a and I). These relative positions of the parts have been illustrated in Figure 1 and constitute the first position of the series assumed by the parts during the feeding operation. When slide I0 is thus supported in its uppermost position with the fingers 3| and 32 spread apart and raised, the roller 5 is also in its uppermost position in engagement with cam 3. Consequently the shifting rollers 8 are located above the lower portions of the cam faces 5| and 52 as shown in Figure 1. 1

With the parts located as illustrated in Figure 1 a length of stock indicated at S is placed in the recess 53 at the upper end of the meeting faces of the gripping dies A and B. The placing of this stock can be effected either by hand or automatically as may be desired. The rotation of shaft 2 is preferably timed with the reciprocation of the die C and one complete rotation of this shaft will take place during each cycle of movement of the die C.

As the cams rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow from the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2 (which is the first position) a por tion of cam 4 will move over the roller, l2 so that the slide it] will not be thrust downwardly. Instead it will be maintained at its uppermost position. While being thus held, however, cam 3 will thrust downwardly on the roller 5 and cause slide 1 to push the rollers 8 downwardly along the cam faces or edges 5| and'52 of the arms 28 and 29. Consequently the two arms and their fingers.3| 'and32 will be swung toward each other to the position's shown in Figure 3. Thus the stock supported in the recess 39 will be gripped in the upper recess 33 by the finger 3| and, if any stock previously fed to the machine is located in the impressions a and b of the gripping dies A and B, said articles will at the same time be gripped between the fingers so as to be held within the other recesses 33.

Following the completion of the foregoing operation the cam 3' continues to press downwardly on the roller 5 and the slide 1 so as to thrust one of the rollers 8 off of the cam 38 while the other roller 8 continues downwardly in engagement with the cam 5|. Consequently the two arms 28 and 29 will be swung laterally so that the stock engaged by the fingers 3| and 32 will be swung out of the impressions a. 'Ihis movement is permitted because prior to thisaction the .movable gripping. die B has shifted away from the stationary die A. During this further movement of 'the slide 1 under the action of the cam 3, thecam 4 continues to maintain the roller l2 and theslide I0 in their uppermost positions. This second step in the operation is followed by the third step wherein thefingers 3| and 32, while held together in engagement with the work, are moved downwardly .to transfer the work from the levels at which the fingers gripped the same to the next lowest level. Thus the stock that had been fed to the recess 53 in the first stage of the operation is carrieddownwardly to position between the uppermost impressions a and b. This operation takes place because the two cams 3.. and t at this time thrust downwardly. simultaneously upon the two rollers 5 and I2 until the slides are brought. to their lowermost positions with the rollers 8 maintaining substantially the same positions relative to the cams 5| and 5 2 that had been occupied by them in the preceding step.

The slide 7 next starts moving upwardly, so as to carry the rollers 8 along the cam faces El and 52 which are so shaped as to'maintain the fingers close together in gripping engagement with the work. Shortly thereafter the moving die B comes .against the die A so that the work is gripped :between the dies and immediately thereafter the rollers 8 travel upwardly sufficient distances to allow the fingers to move apart so as to release the work and leave it in engagement with the dies. The fingers are then carried upwardly by the springs 22 and 25 which lift arms 28 and 29 and their fingers 3| and 32 to maintain the rollers of the slides in contact with the respective cams and, obviously, the opened fingers 3| and 32 are finally brought back to the first position illustrated in Figure 1. It might be stated that asthe dies A and B grip the work the heading or upsetting die C comes against the work and shapes the projecting portions thereof.

The present improvements are brought into action during each downward or transferring action of the apparatus. If one roller 39 is used it will be so located as to engage one of the blanks in an intermediate position of the blank. Thus when the blanks are bodily removed from the impressions b and are lowered to their next adjoining positions as heretofore explained one of the blanks will be gripped by the roller 39 and as the fingers move downwardly the head 48 will ultimately come against and be held back by the stop 45. Consequently further downward movement of rod 43 with the finger will be prevented and this will result in rotation of roller 39 by its arm 4| and consequent rotation of the blank engaged by the roller. This rotation of the blank will be completed as the blank is brought to its new position and after the dies A and B have closed upon the blanks the fingers will move upwardly to their initial positions dur ing which time spring 41 will restore roller 39 to its normal position. Thereafter the rotating operation will be repeated every time the blanks are transferred.

While rollers 34 have been illustrated for cooperation with roller 39 to grip a blank it is to be understood that under some conditions these rollers 34 need not be used.

It will also be noted that roller 39 has been shown in Figure 5 with a knurled or roughened surface. Such a surface might be found desirable under some conditions.

While only one roller 39 has been shown it is to be understood that other rollers with corresponding operating mechanism could be used in the finger 3| so that more than one blank could be rotated during each transfer operation. These additional rollers 39 could be used with or without the rollers 34. As the modified arrangement is an obvious one, it has not been deemed necessary to illustrate it.

The several steps of feeding the work downwardly from one position to another, imparting a partial rotation to a blank during such downwardmovement, and the return of the fingers 3| and 32 to their initial positions all take place during one cycle of movement of die 0.

Where several shaping operations take place in converting rough stock to a finished article, the

die C can be formed with different impressions for successively receiving and shaping the stock. In the structure illustrated four of these impressions are provided and, consequently, four pieces of the stock can be in operative engagement with the machine simultaneously, namely the initial length of the stock in the upper recess 53, the stock in the upper impressions a and b which has been subjected to the first upsetting operation, the stock in the next lowest impressions a and b which has been subjected to the second upsetting operation, the stock in the third lowest impressions a and b which has been subjected to the third upsetting operation and the completed article in the lowermost impressions a and b which has received the final or finishing upset. In Figure 2 these five pieces of the stock have been shown in their proper positions immediately following the withdrawal of the upsetting die C from engagement therewith and after a new pieceof stock has been placed in the recess 53. Obviously, therefore, when the gripping die B is moved away from the gripping die A following the gripping action of the fingers 3| and 32, the lowermost article which is not gripped by the jaws and has been completed, will fall by gravity out of the lowermost impressions a and b while the remaining four articles gripped by the fingers 3| and 32 will be carried downwardly one stage by the operations heretofore described. Thus during each cycle of the machine during which the die C moves toward and from the dies A and B, one article will be delivered complete from the machine.

By imparting a rotation to one or more of the blanks while they are being transferred between the dies it is possible to produce articles in a better finished condition than where the rotation is not effected.

What is claimed is:

1. In a metal working machine cooperating blank gripping fingers mounted for reciprocation, a blank engaging roller carried by one of the fingers, yielding means for holding the roller normally against rotation, and means controlled by the movement of said finger in one direction for imparting a rotative motion to the roller against the action of said yielding means and while in frictional contact with a blank.

2. In a metal working machine cooperating blank gripping fingers mounted for reciprocation, a blank engaging roller carried by one of the fingers, yielding means for maintaining a frictional contact between said roller and a. blank, a stop, a spring restrained rod having limited sliding movement relative to the stop, and an operative connection between the rod and the roller for effecting a delayed rotative motion of the roller during the movement of its finger in one direction.

3. In a machine of the class described, a die having a plurality of blank receiving apertures therein, transfer means for transferring work blanks from one of said blank receiving apertures to another, said means comprisinga pair of fingers and meansformoving the fingers, means for turning a work blank held by said fingers about its axis, said means comprising amovable memberassociated with one of saidfingers and adapt'edto engage a work blank to be turned, and a-member pivotally connected to said movable member and operably connected to a stationary portionof the machine whereby on movement of the finger the movable member is movedrelative to the'finger.

4. In a machine of the class described, a die having a plurality of blank receiving :apertures,

transfer fingers for transferring work blanks between said blank receiving apertures, a turning jaw in the end of one of said fingers, said jaw being movable relative to said finger and-"being adapted to turn a work blank held by said fingers.

\ "5. In a machine of the class described, a die havingap'lurality of blank receiving apertures, transfer fingers for transferring work blanks between said blank receiving apertures, a turning jaw in the end of one of said fingers, said jaw being movable relative to said finger and being adapted to turn a work blank held by said fingers, and means responsive to movement of the finger for effecting movement of the jaw relative to the finger.

6. The combination of a pair of gripperdies having a plurality of die stations, transfer fingers for transferring work pieces between said die stations, and turning jaws in the end of said fingers, the jaws being movable relative to the fingers and being adapted to turn work pieces held therebetween.

7. The combination with a pair of gripper dies having work stations, transfer fingers for transferring workpieces between said stations, and lugs in the ends of and movable relative to said fingers adapted to grip awork piece held therebetween, said lugs being adapted to impart limited rotational movement to said work pieces.

8. The combination with a pair of gripper dies having work stations, transfer fingers adapted a blank held therebetween.

-9. The-combination with a pair of grip-per dies having work stations, mutually pivoted transfer fingers'for transferring work pieces between said stations, and a jaw'in the end of one of said fingers adapted to engage a work piece held therebetween, said jaw being movable relative to said finger andbeing adapted to impart a combined arcuate and rotational movement to said work pieces a 10. The combination with a pair of gripper dies having work stations, mutually pivoted transfer fingers adapted to transfer work blanks between said stations toward or away from said pivot, a blank engaging jaw in the end of one of said fingers, said jaw being movable relative to said finger, and means actuating said jaw to cause rotational movement of a blank held therebetween.

11. In a machine of the class described, a die having a plurality of blank receiving apertures therein, transfer means for transferring work blanks from one of said blank receiving apertures to another, said means comprising a pair of fingers having a common moving support, means for moving the support, meansfor turning a work blank held by said fingers about its axis, said means comprising a movable member associated with one of said'fingers and adapted to engage a blank tobe turned, and a member pivotally connected to said movable member and operably connected to a stationary portion of the machine whereby on movement of the finger the movable member is moved relative to the finger.

. JOHN H. FRIEDMAN.

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