US2184752A

US2184752A - Transfer mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2184752A
Application number: US187481A
Authority: US
Inventors: John F O'brien
Original assignee: Waterbury Farrel Foundry and Machine Co
Current assignee: Waterbury Farrel Foundry and Machine Co
Priority date: 1938-01-28
Filing date: 1938-01-28
Publication date: 1939-12-26
Anticipated expiration: 1956-12-26

Description

J. F. OBRIEN TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Jan. 28, 1938 M. RR m m m m W l N vA W J F, a, I 7 5 $5 06 2 11M /I E=== $21K r11 11 11 l 011117114 6/ Q m 0 4 a 1 4 w 1% w W @F V v w 7 w 'Dec. 26,

Patented Dec. 26, 1939 TRANSFER MECHANISM John F. O'Brien, Waterbury, Conn., assignor to The Waterbury Farrel Foundry and Machine Company, Waterbury, Oonn., a corporation of Connecticut Application January 23, 1938, Serial No. 187,481

12 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in transfer mechanisms. While adapted for use with any transfer mechanism of the general type herein shown, it is particularly adapted for use with such transfer mechanism as is shown in Wilcox Patent No. 1,982,460, issued November 27, 1934. In the upsetting machine therein shown there are four dies and three sets of transfer fingers for simultaneously transferring a blank by each set of fingers from one die to another die, actuated through two crank shafts that receive motion from a reciprocating rack. The transfer fingers move in timed relation with other parts, such as cut-off mechanism, punches or the like. The reciprocation of the rack rotates the crank shafts, which in turn move each pair of fingers in an arcuate path from one die to another die, and while traveling in one direction carry the blanks from one die to the next die and travel in the reverse direction for a new blank. The first of said dies, for convenience, will be referred to as the receiving die and the latter as the delivery die. In the operation of the transfer fingers it is desirable that their movement be variable, that is, either delayed or advanced when in predetermined positions. as the character of the blank and other considerations may dictate. In some cases it is desirable to delay movement of the fingers and in other cases to advance such movement. It is one of the principal objects of this invention to provide means whereby such action and movement may be conveniently and positively attained.

To these, and other ends, this invention consists in the transfer mechanism, having certain details of construction and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and more 'particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawing, in which like numerals of reference indicate like-parts in the several figures:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of an upsetting, heading machine or the like, with this improved mechanism associated therewith;

Figure 2 is an end view of the transfer mechanism, the parts in section being shown generally upon line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the cams, taken generally upon line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figures 4 and 5 are views of the cams in two of their relative positions;

Figure 6 is a view of one cam, the part in section being shown on lines 6-8 of Figure 3;

Figure '7 is a sectional view of the other cam, taken generally on line 1-1 of Figure 3; and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the path of motion of the transfer fingers. V

In the drawing, i0 indicates the body of a header, upsetting machine or the like; ii a die block in which is mounted a plurality of dies l2, l3, l4 and it. The three sets of fingers severally designated I 8, i1 and i3 are movably mounted upon the shafts l9 which are actuated by the two crank shafts 23 and the reciprocating rack 2i. The rack, finger shafts and associated parts are supported upon a fixed platform 22 or the like.

The above described mechanism is shown and described in detail in the above mentioned Letters Patent No. 1,982,460, to which reference is hereby made. The mechanism of said patent is shown merely for the purpose of illustration, as other similar mechanism may be utilized equally as well.

Fixed to the body In is a bracket 23, in which are the

shafts

24 and 23. Upon the shaft 24 are fixed two cam plates 23 and 2'1. Journaled upon the hub of plate 26 is a cam 28, and upon the hub of plate 21 a cam 23, each cam having a cam groove 30 in the inner faces thereof. For convenience the cam 23 is referred to as the inside cam and 23 the outside cam. Each of the cams is adjustable about the shaft 24 and secured in their adjusted positions by screws 32 which project through arcuate slots 3i in the cam plate and arethreaded into the adjacent cam.

On the shaft 25 is a rock lever 33 having a journal pin 34, which projects on opposite sides of one end of the lever and carrying the rolls 3!, one roll within the groove 33 of cam 28 and the other in the groove of cam 29.

An extension lever 31 is connected with the rock lever 33 by a stud 38 and a shear pin 33, this pin being sufflciently strong to maintain the

levers

33 and 31 fixed in relation to each other under normal conditions, but weak enough to break under an abnormal strain. When this pin is thus ruptured the extension lever 3'! is free to pivot on stud 33 without deriving motion from the lever 33.

A bolt 42 or the like, projects through the spaced arms of the fulcrumed end of the lever 33 and an arcuate slot 43 in the extension lever 31, which prevents any tendency of the lever arms spreading apart when the pin 33 is being sheared;

An adjustable connection is made between the rack 2| and lever 31 by means 01' the yoke blocks 39 and intermediate turn buckle mechanism 40.

. One yoke block is connected with the lever'3l by an adjusting screw 4|. Movement is imparted to the rack 2| from the cam mechanism through the rock lever 33 in a. well known manner.

The shaft 24 is usually rotating continuously in the direction of the arrows in Figures 1, 4 and 5, and theheader gate or ram (not shown) carrying the punches,- reciprocates toward and away from the die block II.

In Figure 1 the line 44 indicates the position of the cams when the gate or ram is most distant from the die block, and the line 45 the start of the transfer motion of the fingers.

The diagrammatic view, Figure 8, is designed to illustrate the path of movement of one pair of fingers, the other pairs of fingers moving through a similar path.

The legend die line indicates the line that extends through the center of the dies [2, l3 and I4, the numerals 46 the receiving die, 41 'the delivery die, and the half circle in broken lines represents the path of the blank as it travels from the receiving die to the delivery die. An intermediate point in such transfer path being designated 48.

When there are a plurality of dies in excess of 'two the delivery die becomes the receiving die in the movement of the next pair of fingers. That portion of the movement of the fingers from the delivery die to the intermediate point- 48 is designated as lifting out, that is, the pairs of fingers are moving away from the delivery die and traveling toward the receiving die, and the remainder of such movement is designated as dropping in, that is, the pairs of fingers-are approaching the receiving die.

To accommodate varying classes of work and workpieces, it is desirable that the transfer fingers may be either delayed or advanced in their motion at either or both of the receiving or delivery dies and at an intermediatepoint therebetween.

In the form'of mechanism herein shown the cams and parts are arranged so that the transfer movement of the fingers requires approximately 105 of the rotation of the shaft 24, with a dwell of approximately 60, which allows sufficient time for the punches to push the blank into the die. The fingers during their lifting out movement travel through approximately 45 of the rotation of the shaft 24. The arrangement of the cams and parts as shown is such that these several degree requirements, namely, 105 transfer, 60 dwell, and 45 lifting out, may be advanced or retarded approximately 12 All of the degrees indicated, of course, may be varied, whether more or less, as desired.

The transfer fingers may dwell at the intermediate position indicated by 48, in Figure 8, varying from approximately 5 to approximately 55, during which time the gate or ram, with the punches thereon, moves away from the die block I I. Movement of the fingers from this point to the receiving die 46, termed dropping in is approximately 45, which also may be advanced or retarded approximately 12 Therefore, the dwell of the fingers at or near the intermediate point 48 from approximately 5 to approximately 55 and the dropping in thereof is independent of the timing of the transfer of approximately 105, dwell of approximately 60, and the lifting out of approximately 55. The remainder of the dwell to complete the 360 of rotation of the shaft 24 will vary approximately 50 to approximately 100, according to the relative position of the

cams

28 and 29.

Timing of the fingers l6, l1 and I8 is varied by shifting the relative axial position of the

cams

28 and 29 with each other, the movement of the lever 33 being derived from the cams. through the cam rolls 35. Three of the relative positions of these cams is shown in Figures 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7. In Figures 1, 4 and 5.the shaded portions represent the cam groove in the inside cam 28 arranged to overlie the outside cam 23. In Figure 1 the cams are illustrated in their relative positions when the gate orram is in approximately its rearmost position. From this position the fingers transfer the blank for 105 of the rotation of the cams and carry the blank from the receiving to the delivery die where they dwell for 60, then are lifted out for approximately 45, then dwell substantially at the intermediate point '48 for approximately 30, then pass through the dropping-in portion of their path toward the receiving die for approximately 45 with a dwell in register with the receiving die for approximately With the cam as thus positioned the dwell at the receiving die is approximately 75 and at the delivery die approximately 60.

As shown in Figure 4 the cams have been adjusted so that the cam 39 -is moved about the axis of the shaft 24 clockwise approximately 12 2- and the cam 28 counterclockwise 12 which results in a change of movement of the fingers by advancing the transfer and lifting out and retarding the dropping in of the fingers with the

dwells

50 and 55 respectively, instead of 75 and 60 respectively, aswith the cams positioned as in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 5 the cams have been fingers is advantageous where the fingers transfer blanks of various lengths and also with partially extruded blanks.

During transfer of an extruded blank the fingers usually grasp the smaller diameter thereof, therefore, the fingers should be moved away from the blank at the deliverydie in time to clear the next larger diameter of the blank as it is pushed into the die. Likewise, when the blank is reduced or extruded in the receiving die, it is desirable to delay the engagement of the transfer fingers with the blank as it is ejected from the die until the portion having the larger diameter has been ejected from the die sufliciently to permit the fingers to engage the blank at its smaller diameter. Under such circumstances the cams are adjusted to retard the fingers while the work is ejected from the receiving die and advanced after the blank is at the delivery die. Another desirable path of movement of the fingers, depending upon the character of the work, is to present the same in front of the opening in the receiving die as the blank is ejected therefrom and grasped by the fingers, and then transferring it to the delivery die. In such cases the fingers remain a greater length of time at the delivery die to enable the punches to project the blank into the die before the fingers are disengaged therefrom. Such result is obtained when theiiu aromas cams are positioned substantially as shown in Figure 4. During some portions of the rotation of the cams, the cam rolls 35 are controlled by the cam groove in both of the cams and during other portions by the cam groove in only one cam, at which time the cam roll associated with the non-operating cam projects into a clearance portion 49 of the cam-groove therein.

This mechanism will operate equally as well with tools other than dies.

Changes, additions and modifications can be made in the herein described mechanism without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with mechanism having a receiving station, a spaced delivery station and a die at each station; of means for grasping a blank as it is ejected from the die at the receiving station and carrying it through a defined path to the delivery station; and means for adjustably controlling the movement of such transfer means that its speed of approach at or near the delivery station may be accelerated or retarded.

2. The combination with mechanism having a receiving station, a'spaced delivery station and a die at each station; of means for grasping a blank as it is ejected from the die at the receiving station and carrying it through a defined path to the delivery station; and means for adjustably so controlling the movement of such transfer means that its speed of approach at or near the receiving station may be accelerated or retarded.

3. The combination with mechanism having a receiving station, a spaced delivery station and a die at each station; of means for grasping a blank as it is ejected from the die at the receiving station and carrying it through a defined path to the delivery station, and means for so controlling the movement of said grasping means that the point of contact thereof with the blank may be varied to accommodate blanks of varying lengths and sizes and the portion thereof then projecting from the die.

4. The combination with mechanism having a receiving station, 1 spaced delivery station and a die at each station; of means for grasping the smaller diameter of an extruded blank as it is ejected from the die at the receiving station and carrying it through a defined path to the delivery station; and means for so controlling the movement of said grasping means that it will only engage the blank at the receiving station after all of the portion of the blank having a larger diameter has been ejected from the die.

5. The combination with mechanism having a receiving station, a spaced delivery station and a die at each station; of means for grasping the smaller diameter of an extruded blank as it is ejected from the die at the receiving station and carrying it through a defined path to the delivery station; means for so controlling the movement'of the said grasping means that it will only engage the blank at the receiving station after all of the portion of the blank having a larger diameter has been ejected from the die and will be disengaged therefrom before said larger diameter portion is projected into the path of such grasping means.

6. The combination with mechanism having a receiving station, a spaced delivery station and a die at each station; of means for grasping a blank as it is ejected from the die at the receiving station and carrying it through a defined path to the delivery station; and means for controlling '7. The combination with mechanism having a receiving station, a spaced delivery station and a die at each station; of means for grasping a blank as it is ejected from the die at the receiving station and carrying it through a defined path to the delivery station; and means for controlling the movement of such transfer means that its speed of approach at or near the delivery station may be accelerated or retarded, said means comprising in part companion cams, andmechanism having parts thereon that project into the path of both of said cams and independently actuated at difi'erent times during the travel of said grasping means from one of said stations to the other of said stations.

8. The combination with mechanism having a receiving station and a spaced delivery station; of mechanism for transferring successive independent blanks of variable length from one station to the other station in a predetermined cycle, comprising in part an actuating arm, a rotatable shaft, a pair of spaced cams on the shaft having faces engaged by said arm; and means for adjusting the position of the cams whereby to vary the relative movement of the transfer mechanism at one or more places in its cycle of operations.

- 9. The combination with mechanism having a receiving station and a spaced delivery station; of mechanism for transferring successive independent blanks of variable length from one station to the other station in a predetermined cycle through a defined path at an accelerated or retarded speed, comprising in part a rotatable shaft, spaced members on the shaft, and an axially adjustable cam carried by each of said members; and a movable arm actuated by the cams.

10. The combination with mechanism having a receiving station and a spaced delivery station; of mechanism for transferring successive independent blanks of variable length from one station to the other station in a predetermined cycle through a defined path at an accelerated or retarded speed, comprising in part a rotatable shaft; an actuating arm; a pair of spaced members on said shaft: and an axially rotatable cam carried by each of said members, having a cam groove, that receives a part of said arm; and means for adjusting said cams on said members and relative to each other whereby to vary the movement of said arm.

11. In a device of the character described for use with a transfer mechanism having a receiving station; a spaced delivery station; and a movable arm through which independent blanks of various lengths are transferred from one station to the other station in a predetermined cycle through a defined path at an accelerated or retarded speed, including a rotatable shaft opposed cams carried by the shaft, each having a groove with an offset clearance portion adapted to receive a portion of said arm; and means whereby said cams may be adjusted about their common 12. The combination with transfer mechanism; of'a reciprocating member imparting movement thereto; a rock member having an operative connection with said reciprocating member; means to actuate the aforesaid members whereby independent blanks of variable length may be transferred successively from one station to another station in a predetermined cycle, comprising in part a rotatable shaft, a. pair of spaced cams on the shaft having faces engaged by said rock member; and means for adjusting the relative positions of said cams whereby to vary the relative speed of the transfer mechanism during 5 one or more portions of its cycle.

JOHN F. O'BRIEN.