US2170942A

US2170942A - Feeding finger

Info

Publication number: US2170942A
Application number: US184652A
Authority: US
Inventors: Evasic John
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-01-12
Filing date: 1938-01-12
Publication date: 1939-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 1956-08-29

Description

J. EVASIC FEEDING FINGER Filed Jan. l2, 1938 lill. ,Iliff n ff.

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w\ N\ l Y I I .IH/ l I V Aug'.` 29, 1939.

Patented ug. 29, 1939 UNITED sTATss PATENT orrres FEEDING FINGER John Evasic, Detroit, Mich. Application January 12, 1938, Serial No. 184,652

6 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a feeding finger adapted for use for feeding elongated strips of metal into machines which are intended to perform work upon the strip of metal. In this` type of mechanism the feeding finger is generally attached to a feeding tube, both of which are reciprocated by the operating machine to feed forwardly a pre.- determined length of the strip of material and then withdraw and move longitudinally of the material to obtain another grip. In the forward movement, the strip of material fed is gripped tightly and in the backward movement the strip is released to permit the feeding nger to obtain another grip. It commonly happens that when the strip of material has been fed forwardly its desired length, the movement of the feeding tube. has not as yet been coinpleted with the result that as the completion of this movement is effected, parts of the machine as well as the strip of metal and the feeding finger and tube, are placed under strain often resulting in distortion and. sometimes in fracture or other damage to parts of the machine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a feeding finger so arranged and constructed that while it will feed forwardly, the strip of metal under firm pressure, it will also, when this pressure extends beyond a predetermined pressure, permit a yielding of the parts connecting the feeding finger and the feeding tube to relieve the mechanism of undue strain.

it is another object of the invention to provide a floating connection between the feeding nger and the feeding tube so that when undue pressure is exerted between these two parts, a yielding of the connections may be effected.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple and effective gripping member in the feeding finger whereby the strip of metal to be fed may be firmly gripped on the forward stroke and easily and quickly released on the backward stroke.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a feeding linger so arranged and constructed that a minimum number of parts are utilized for effecting a rm grip.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, and in which,

(Cl. Zit-61) Fig. 1 is a side, elevational view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, central, sectional view of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view slightly enlarged taken through the feeding finger.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line i-ll of Fig. 3.

In the drawing I have illustrated the invention used with a feeding tube 9. Slidably connected to the rear end of this feeding tube, in telescopic relation therewith, is the hollow thrust delivery member i0, threaded through which is a set Screw H riding in an axial slot i2 formed in the tube. 9. member ld is connected to the operating part of the machine with which used and serves as a means for effecting a reciprocation of the tube 9. Positioned within the head and engaging at one end, the end of the tube il and at its opposite end the base of the. thrust delivery member It is a coil spring i2 vwhich serves to retain the head l0 thrust rearwardly of the tube 9. The base of thev thrustdelivery member it is formed with a central opening i?. through which the rod i@ of metal to be ttedextends. Inserted slideably in the forward end of the tube 9 is a feeding finger sleeve I5 which is prevented from being withdrawn from the tube Q by means of the set screw I6. .A spring il embraces the sleeve i5 and engages, at one end against the end of the tube 9 and at the opposite endagainst the face of the head |48 for normally retaining the sleeve l5 thrust outwardly of the tube El. Threaded on the head i3 is a cover IS which serves to retain in position the gripping mechanism located Within the head. V'l'.l'iis gripping mechanism comprises a ring 2t having an openn ing formed therethrough of sufficient size to permit play when the rod Id is projected therethrough. Extending axially of the ring Eil, at one side thereof, is a flange or axial extension 2l which is provided with a peripherally projecting ball 22 to facilitate slideable movement of the ring 2%] axiallyof the head i8. In` this slideable movement the ball 22 engages against the inclined inner surface 25 of the head I8 so as to effect a rocking of the ring 2i! axially and thereby clamp the ring 2li on the rod i4.

A spring 23 serves to engage the ring 2i) and force it inwardly of the head E8 to normally maintain it in clamped position. This construction is such that as the head I8 is moved axially of the rod i4 to the left of the drawing, the ring 20 will be tilted so that its axis is inclined to This thrust delivery the axis of the rod I4 and thereby the rod I4 will be gripped by the ring 20 suciently to effect a feeding of the rod I4 in unison with the movement of the sleeve I5. When the rod I4 is held firm at one end and the head I8 is moved axially thereof to the right of the drawing, therring 20 will release its grip and permit a free sliding of the head I8 longitudinally of the rod I4.

In the feeding movement the thrust is delivered from the head I through spring I2 tothe tube 9 and from the tube 9 through the spring I1 to the head I8. There is thusl a floating mounting in which yieldable parts are utilized for transmitting the feeding thrust. The springs I2` and I'l are of sufficient tension that these parts do not move relatively to. each other in a normal operation but serve to present a` Suiciently rigid structure for normal feeding of the rod I4. However, should an undue obstruction be met so that abnormal resistance would be encountered, the springs II and I2 would permit the yielding of the parts sufficiently to prevent damage either to the feeding tube, the feeding nger, or the connecting parts.

In this way I have constructed a feeding finger which is simple in structure and which is highly efficient in use and free from the objectionable features enumerated herein.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of structure shown but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. A feeding finger of the class described, comprising: a hollow thrust delivery member; a tubular member mounted in telescopic relation with said delivery member; a head; a gripping mechanism in said head for gripping a workpiece projected therethrough; a sleeve projecting outwardly from said head and slideably ins'ertible into said tubular member; a spring for resisting slideable movement of said sleeve inwardly of said tubular member; and a spring in said thrust delivery member for resisting inward movement of said tubular member relatively to said thrust delivery member.

2. In a feeding linger of the class described, a cup-shaped head having a tapered inner surface; an annular member mounted in said head adapted for embracing a work-piece projected through said head; and an axially directed flange on one side of said annular member engageable with said tapered surface for effecting a tilting of said annular member on the Workpiece for clamping the same.

3. In a feeding nger of the class described, a cup-shaped head having a tapered inner surface; an annular member mounted in said head adapted for embracing a, workpiece projected through said head; an axially directed flange on one side of said annular member engageable with said tapered surface for effecting a tilting of said annular member on the workpiece for clamping the same; and a spring in said head for moving said annular member into position for effecting the engagement of said flange with said tapered surface.

4. In a feeding nger of the class described, a cup-shaped head having a tapered inner surface; an annular member mounted in said head adapted for embracing a workpiece projected through said head; an axially directed flange on one side of said annular member engageable with said tapered surface for effecting a tilting of said annular member on the workpiece for clamping the same; a spring in said head for moving said annular member into position for effecting the engagement of said flange with said tapered surface; and a rotatable member carried by said flange and engageable with said tapered surface for reducing friction between said tapered surface and said flange.

5. In a feeding nger of the class described: a cup-shaped head; an annular member positioned in said head adapted for embracing a workpiece projected through said head; an axial extension on said annular member projecting outwardly from one face thereof; and means associated with said head engageable with said extension upon axial movement of said annular member for effecting a tilting of said annular member on the workpiece for clamping the same.

6. In a feeding finger of the class described: a cup-shaped head; an annular member positioned in said head adapted for embracing a workpiece projected through said head; an axial extension on said annular member projecting outwardly from one face thereof; means associated with said head engageable with said extension upon axial movement of said annular member for effecting a tilting of said annular member on the workpiece for clamping the same; and resilient means engageable with said annular member for effecting axial movement thereof.

JOHN EVASIC.