US2063927A

US2063927A - Key assembling machine

Info

Publication number: US2063927A
Application number: US734060A
Authority: US
Inventors: James M Holloway
Original assignee: American Can Co
Current assignee: Primerica Inc
Priority date: 1934-07-06
Filing date: 1934-07-06
Publication date: 1936-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 1953-12-15

Description

Dec. 15, 1936. M LLOW Y 2,063,927

KEY ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1934 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 15, 1936. J HOLLOWAY 2,063,927

KEY ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEY ASSEMBLING MACHINE Application July 6, 1934, Serial No. 734,060

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to a manually operated apparatus for securing keys to cans and has as an object the provision of a simple apparatus which is portable, which places a key on the top of a manually positioned can and clinches it onto the cover seam by bending part of the key around the seam.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such an apparatus wherein the manual actuation of a foot treadle eifects the feeding of individual keys from a magazine to a pre-determined location on a positioned can and holds the key in place while clinching it to the can.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of an apparatus embodying the present invention, parts of which are broken away;

Fig. 2 is a combined front elevation and sectional view of the upper part of the apparatus, the section being taken substantially along the line 22 in Fig. l with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 in Fig. 1; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary part sectional views of the upper portion of Fig. 3 showing the parts in different positions.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings as a preferred embodiment of the instant invention comprises a manually operated mechanism in which a can or container having a closed end is manually placed in vertical position upon a table member in a centralizing pocket and in position for the reception of a key.

Here it is under a key positioning opening formed in an overhanging plate which carries a slide having a key shaped opening which communicates with a magazine located on top of the plate. The magazine holds a stack of keys which have U-shaped hooked ends. The slide is actuated by a cam secured to a vertical rod which is pivotally connected to a foot treadle. Manual actuation of the foot treadle performs a series of operations which will now be described.

The first of these operations is. performed by the slide just mentioned. The slide serves as a feeding device which removes the lowermost key in the stack from the magazine and transversely conveys it to the key positioning opening where it falls vertically from the slide through the opening and drops on top of the can with its hooked end superimposed upon and overhanging the cover seam.

The slide then remains stationary while a holding device having an anvil block moves into engagement With the key adjacent its hooked end and holds it in place. A clinching finger constituting a bending element moves simultaneously with the anvil block and comes into engagement with the overhanging key hook bending it around the cover seam in a tight clinch.

The series of operations is concluded by the time the foot treadle is down as far as it will go. Releasing the pressure on the treadle permits the various operating parts to return to their original positions.

The disclosed embodiment of the invention includes a main column ll (Fig. 3) which is supported on a base i2. The column supports the various working parts of the mechanism including a horizontal table H! which is adapted to support a can i5 on which an opening key may be secured.

The table projects laterally from the column and is formed as part of a bracket I6. The bracket is provided with a hub H which encircles the column and which is secured to it by a pin l8.

The can I5 has top and bottom cover members 2| preferably secured as by double seams 22 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5). Such a can is manually positioned on the table in a pocket 24 formed in a centralizing plate 25 (see Fig. 1) which is secured to the top of the table by screws 26. A groove 21 is cut in the plate adjacent the lower edge of the pocket to accommodate the bottom seam 22.

Plate 25 locates the can in a predetermined position on the table in relation to a key shaped key positioning opening 29 formed in a horizontal overhanging plate 3|. The overhanging plate is supported on a bracket 32 which is formed with a hub 33. This hub encircles the column I l above the hub I1 and is secured to it by a pin 34. The plate is also provided with a substantially rectangular central opening 35 through which parts of the apparatus extend and which communicates with the key positioning opening 29.

Keys 3'1 are stacked within a magazine 4| which is supported by and is secured to the top of a cover plate 42 which in turn is screwed to the top of the overhanging plate 3|. The cover plate partially covers the key positioning opening in the plate 3!. The keys within the magazine extend parallel to and are a short distance from the key positioning opening.

Individual keys are moved from the bottom of the magazine to the key positioning opening by a slide 44 having a key shaped slot 45 formed in one end. The slide is disposed beneath the cover plate 42 in a channel 46 which is formed in the top of the plate 3 i. The slide in its retracted position as shown in Fig. 1 aligns its slot 45 with the bottom of the magazine 4|. In this position the stack of keys rests on the bottom of the channel 46.

The thickness of the slide is substantially equal to the thickness of one key so that the lowermost key is wholly within the slide slot with its hooked end extending from the side of the slide and projecting out into the opening 35. Slide and key are now moved toward the key positioning opening 22 by a lever arm, slide and cam mechanism which will now be explained.

A horizontal lever arm 48, mounted at one end on a stud 49 which is threadedly engaged in the top of the plate 3!, overhangs the plate and extends toward the slide 44. The free end of the lever arm is disposed between and engages a pair of pins which are threadedly secured in the top of the slide and which project up through an elongated slot 52 formed in the cover plate 42.

Lever arm 48 is moved back and forth by an actuating slide 50 which is located beneath the plate 3| and which is connected with the lever arm by a pin 55. The pin is threadedly engaged in the top of the actuating slide and extends up through an elongated slot 56 formed in the plate 3| and also projects into a slot 5'! formed in the lever arm near its pivot stud. Movement of the actuating slide pivots the lever arm which in turn moves the slide 44,

Actuating slide 54 extends parallel with the slide 44 and slides within a pair of spaced bearings 58 which are secured to the bottom of the plate 3| by screws 59. Between the bearings the slide is enlarged in a hollow rectangular body having. a central opening 6|.

The actuating slide is moved by connection with a cam mechanism. For this purpose it carries a cam roller 63 which is horizontally disposed in the central opening of its body and which is mounted on a pin 64 secured in the side walls of the body. The roller rides within a cam slot 65 cut through a vertical cam plate 66 which is interposed in the slide opening BI and which extends up through the plate opening 35.

Raising and lowering of the cam is also under the direct control of the operator and for this purpose the cam is secured by screws 68 to one side of a vertically disposed rod 69. The rod extends through the central opening 6| of the actuating slide and also through a hole H cut in the table l4. At its lower end it is pivotally connected to a foot treadle 12 by a pin 13 which passes through the treadle intermediate its ends. One end of the treadle is pivotally mounted in a slot 14 formed in the column H and is connected with a pivot stud 15. Its opposite end carries a foot pad 76.

A spring Tl, interposed between the treadle and the bracket l6, holdsthe former in its unoperated or raised position as shown in Fig. 3. In this position, the rod 69 and cam 66 are also raised and the slides 54, 44 are retracted, the slot 45 of the latter slide being in registration with the bottom of the key magazine as hereinbefore referred to.

When the slide and key are moved toward the key positioning opening 29, by the mechanism just described, the slide comes to rest with its slot 25 in alignment with the key positioning opening which permits the key to fall through the latter onto the top of the can with its hooked end overhanging the projecting top can seam 22.

After the key is in position on the can the next step which takes place is the holding of the key. This is immediately followed by a clinching operation which is effected by devices connected with the upper part or" the rod 69. For this purpose a key holding finger and anvil block 8! (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) is secured to the end of a lever 82 by a screw 83. The opposite end of the lever is pivoted on a stud 84 which is held in bearings 85 formed integrally with the column H and which project up from its top surface. A lug 86 formed on the lever 82 and extending on the opposite side of the pivot stud engages with the top of the column when the lever is in raised position and serves as a stop for the upward movement of the lever.

The upper end of the rod 69 passes through a slot 88 formed in the lever 82 and is surrounded by a coiled spring 89 which is interposed between a lock nut 9| threadedly engaging the end or the rod and a recessed collar 82 which encircles the rod and is disposed on top of the lever covering the slot 88. The spring normally presses the lever down against a bifurcated end of a link 94 which is slotted as at 95. The slotted end of the link engages a pin 96 which is carried by the rod 59 and which projects out from opposite sides. The other end of the link 94 is also bifurcated and is pivoted to the sides of the block on a pin 9?.

As long as the treadle is in unoperated or raised position and the parts connected therewith are shown in Fig. 3, the slotted end of the link 94 is held against the bottom of the lever 82. When the foot treadle is depressed the anvil block is lowered through the spring connection 39 and a projection 98 formed on the bottom of the block moves into engagement with the top of the key 3? just in back of its hooked end as shown in Fig. 4.

A depending lug 99 formed on the bottom of the lever 82 forms a limit stop for this key holding movement and strikes against the projecting end of a set screw l Si. The screw passes through and is threadedly held in the upper end of the column :I being locked in adjusted position by a locknut During the descent of the anvil, the link 94 also moves down, being pivoted on its connection with the anvil and in so doing moves a clinching tool I65 toward the can and brings a toe-like projection I06 adjacent the hooked end of the key. The tool Hi5 preferably is formed integrally with the link 94 and depends from its bottom edge.

As the rod 69 is further lowered the link 94 is moved thereby downwardly and away from the lever 82 as the spring 89 yields and its toe-like projection I06 engages and moves in the end of the key. This action bends the end of the key around the can seam in a tight clinch as shown in Fig. 5. This completes the series of operations incident to placing and clinching the key in position on top of the can.

As the manual pressure on the foot lever is released the spring 17 lifts the foot lever and the rod 69 and the clinching tool is drawn away from the can seam. This restores the various parts to their original positions. The can may now be manually removed.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material ad;- vantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for attaching opening keys to containers comprising in combination, a stationary support for holding and centering a container, a magazine for holding a supply of keys, a stationary plate associated with said magazine and having a key positioning opening in alignment over said support, means reciprocable relative to said magazine for successively delivering individual keys from said magazine into said opening, the latter locating a key in attaching position on a container positioned on said support at one end of travel of said reciprocable means, and means reciprocable in a vertical direction for actuating said key delivering means.

2. An apparatus for attaching opening keys to containers comprising in combination, a stationary support for holding a container, a plate having a key positioning opening in alignment over said support, centralizing means carried by said support for positioning a container in alignment with said opening, means reciprocable over an end of a positioned container for successively delivering individual keys from a source of supply into said opening, the latter locating and insuring the positioning of a delivered key in attaching position on a container positioned on said support and means reciprocable in a vertical direction for actuating said key delivering means.

3. An apparatus for attaching opening keys to containers comprising in combination, a stationary support for holding a container, a magazine for holding a supply of keys, a plate associated with said magazine and having a key positioning opening in alignment with said support, slide means for successively conveying and delivering individual keys from said magazine to said opening, and vertically reciprocable means for moving said slide and a key into registration with said opening for dropping said key through said opening into a predetermined position on a located container resting on said support.

l. An apparatus for attaching opening keys to containers comprising in combination, a stationary support for holding a container, a magazine for holding a supply of keys, a plate associated With said magazine and having a key positioning opening in alignment over said support, means for successively conveying individual keys from said magazine into said opening, the latter locating and insuring proper positioning of a key in attaching position on a container positioned on said support, means movable relative to said key for holding the key in attaching position prior to attaching the key to the. container, and bending elements movable with and operating at the conclusion of movement of said holding means for clinching a part of said key to said container.

5. An apparatus for attaching opening keys to containers comprising in combination, a stationary support for holding a container, a magazine for holding a supply of keys, a plate associated with said magazine and having a key positioning opening in alignment over said support, means for successively conveying individual keys from said magazine into said opening, the latter locating and insuring proper positioning of a key in attaching position on a container positioned on said support, devices for holding the same on said container, and means moving with and operable at the conclusion of movement of said holding means for clinching a part of said key to said container.

6. An apparatus for attaching opening keys to containers comprising in combination, a stationary support for holding a container, a magazine for holding a supply of keys, a plate associated with said magazine having a key positioning opening in alignment over said support, means for successively conveying individual keys from said magazine into said opening, the latter locating and permitting a key to fall in attaching position on a container positioned on said support, devices movable relative to the key for holding said key on said container, means moving with and operable at the conclusion of movement of said holding means for clinching an end of said key to said container, and means for actuating said key holding devices and said bending elements in unison.

7. An apparatus for attaching opening keys to containers comprising in combination, a stationary support for holding a container, a magazine for holding a supply of keys, a plate associated with said magazine and having a key positioning opening in alignment over said support, means for successively delivering individual keys from said magazine into said opening, the latter 1ocating a key in attaching position on a container positioned on said support, devices for holding said key on said container, bending elements operative with and at the conclusion of movement of said holding devices for clinching an end of said key to said container, and common means for actuating said key delivering means, key holding devices and said bending elements in successive order respectively.

8. An apparatus for attaching opening keys to containers comprising in combination, a stationary table for supporting a container having a projecting cover seam, a plate having a key positioning opening therein, means mounted on said table for locating said container under said opening and in alignment therewith, slide devices for individually conveying keys, having one end formed in a hook, into alignment with said opening for dropping said key through said opening and into position on the top of said container with said hook end overhanging said projecting cover seam, devices for holding said key in applied position, and bending elements movable with and operable at the conclusion of movement of said holding devices for clinching said hook end around said projecting seam.

9. An apparatus for attaching opening keys to containers comprising in combination, a stationary table for supporting a container, centering means on said table for centering and maintaining said container stationary in key receiving position on said table, and interconnected means successively operable to first position a key on said stationary container and then secure the same in position without moving said container from the centering station.

10. An apparatus for attaching opening keys to containers comprising in combination, a stationary table for supporting a container, means for positioning said container onsaid table, a plate having an opening located over said table, slide devices for individually delivering keys to said opening by means of which the delivered keys are placed by a single movement of said slide devices in key attaching position on the containers, devices for holding said keys in attaching position, bending elements for securing an end of a said placed key to said container, and means movable in a single direction for successively actuating said feeding devices, said holding devices and said bending elements.

JAMES M. HOLLOWAY.