US2278103A - Transfer mechanism for multiple station headers - Google Patents

Description

March3l, 1942; J. H. FRIEDMAN 2,278,103

I TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE STATION HE ADERS Y I Filed May a, 1941 5 Sheets-Shet 1 I mvsnrron r/OHN H' FRIEDMAN A T TOENE Y5 March 31, 1942. R p u- 2,278,103

TRANSFER MECHANISM FdR MULTIPLE STATIOI} HE'ADE'RS 7 Filed May 6, 1941 s Sheets-Shget 2 v IINVENTOR. 'r/OH/V H; memo/mu v WWW;

' ATTO NEYS I March 31, 1942. J. H. FRIEDMAN 2,278,103

' TRAN FER MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE STATION HEADERS Filed May 6 '1941 s sheets-sietxs F I I I 'IAIIVENTOR.

T/OHN H- FRIEDMAN A Tram/5Y5.

Patented Mar. 31, 1942 TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE "STATION HEADERS John' H. Friedman, Tiflimohio, assignor to The National Machinery corporation of Ohio mpany, Tiifin, Ohio, a

I Application May :6, 1941, Serial No. 392,078

"19 Claims.

This invention :relates to machinesfor making bO1l3$,7SCI6WS and similararticles, and particularlytowmachine fior successively-performing a series of operations upon blanks.

Machines for performing :a plurality of operations upon blanks cut off from wire or red stock are illustrated in the patents-to FI'OSt,"NOS.

2,020,658-and 2,020,659, and .in my PatentrrNo.

2,020,660. Machines of 'the type illustrated, in

said patents have been arranged, for'example, to cut off blanks from suitable-stock; upset, ex-

trude and trim the blanks by successive pairs .of cooperating tools and dies; transfer the blanks to .a pointing mechanism; and then transfer the pointed blanks to "a roll threading mechanism.

The tools for heading, extruding and trimming the blanks have ordinarily been arranged in horizontal alignment across the face of a requires increasing the width of 'theiheading slide, with a consequent increase of the spacing :between the side members of the frame. Such widening of the machine not :only increases "the size and cost of the parts in direct proportion to the increasein width, but necessitates superimposing a further increase in the size and cost -of'the elementsof the machine in order to retain the same strength and rigidity. The endportion of 'the frame, for example, must not onlybe widened to provide space for the station, but

ciprocating :heading slide, with the cooperating dies correspondingly arranged on the die-breast .01 end portion ofthe main frame within which the slide is mounted. Suitable means have been provided -.to transfer the blanks "from -the cutofi die .to .the successive extruding :and heading dies,

the patent to Clouse No. 2,026,823. In .the masuch as the transfer mechanism illustrated in725 chines illustrated in said Frost Patent N0.

2,020,658 and in my Patent No. 2,020,660, the last station provided by the cooperating tools on the header slide and bed frame is.a trimmingstation in which the .blanks are pushed through a trimming die {into a passageway in the header slide .from which the blanks are transferred to the-pointing mechanism mounted .on the side of the bedframe.

It frequentlyhappens that it is desired to form articles in such an automatic machine by a process in which itis not necessary to push the blanks through .a trimming die, and in which the final operation performed onfthe 'bl'ank'sfb'y the tools carried by the jheadin'gslide is of such a nature that the blanks cannot "be pushed into aflpas'sageway in the headers'lide. Such articles may be completed by the operations performed by the heading slide'too'ls, orfurther operations such as pointing, threading, or .both, may be required. In order to utilize a combined machine of the .type referred to and illustrated 'in the aforesaid patents in the manufacture of such articles, it has heretofore been necessary to provide an idle station at which the blanks are simply pushed axially into a passageway from which they may be transferred to succeeding operations or collected as completed articles.

To provide such an idle station, however, re-

must be increased in section to retain'the same strength because of the wider spacing of its .pointsofconnection-to the side frame members.

The :crankshaft, which reciprocates'the heading .slide and mustwithstand as a bending load the heavy pressures of upsetting, is journalled in the frame side members, so that an increase in the spacing of these side members requires a substantial increase in the'diameter of thecrankshaft. The increase in mass of all" of the "moving parts increases the bearing loads and inertia -loads, thereby reducing the maximum permissible speed ofthe machine.

Thus the provision of an extra station increases the weight and cost of the machine and decreases the speed and output-out of proportion to themere increase in width,-and excessively out of proportion to the results obtained, where the last operation to be performed on the blank by the heading slide is an upsetting or similar operation and theextra .station is provided solely to transfer the blanks.

The object of the present invention is to removethe blanks from the last station formed by the cooperating tools on the heading slide and bed frame to .a point where they can be picked up .and transferred to subsequent operations or positions, without moving the blanks into a passageway in the heading slide or bed frame, thereby'permittinga machine with a given number of heading stations to be used for carrying out manufacturing processes which heretofore have required an extra station with the consequent great increase in cost andv weight of the .machine. .Other objects are to move the blanks bothlaterally and vertically from the final heading station; to combine a transfer mechanism operating to move blanks in' a straight line from one working station to another with a transfer fingers and move the same progressively through a tube or chute in a simple and efiicient manner. Other objects and advantages will appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the die-breast of the machine equipped with a transfer mechanism in accordance with the present invention with the transfer fingers in position to close upon blanks ejected from the die.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the transfer mechanism in position to deliver the transferred blanks.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine with parts broken away to show the final die station in section.

Figure 4 is a detail side view of the blank receiving tube;

Figure 5 is a section through the machine on the line 5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a partial top plan view of the machine.

Referring to the drawings,'the numeral III designates the die breast of the bed frame of a multiple station headingmachine, which is formed integral with the side frame members II and I2. A suitable stock feedmechanism is arranged to feed stock through a cut-off die I3 which is disposed at one side of the machine. The cut-off die is preferably mounted on a cut-off slide I4 arranged to be reciprocated vertically to shear off a blank from the end of the stock which is fed forwardly and raise the cut-off blank into alignment with the line of heading dies, as illustrated in the patent to Clouse No. 2,131,936. This patented cut-off-mechanism is preferred although it will be understood that any suitable form of means for cutting off blanks and carrying the same into position for the first operation may be employed if desired.

Dies to receive the blanks and hold the same while they are operated on by the tools carried by the heading slide are arranged in horizontal alignment as indicated at I5, I6 and H. A' transfer slide I8 is mounted upon the bed frame for horizontal reciprocation above the line of dies and is provided with cooperating pairs of gripping fingers I9, 29, and H mounted upon shafts 22. The fingers-I9 are arranged to pick up blanks from the cut-off die'l3 and carry the same to the first heading die I5. The fingers 29 are arranged to carry blanks ejected from the die I5 to the die I6, and the fingers 2| are arranged to carry blanks ejected from the die I6 to the die" The particular type of transfer mechanism illustrated is constructed and operated as disclosed in the Clouse Patent No. 2,026,823,. to which patent reference is made for a more complete disclosure of the transfer mechanism. Each pair of fingers I9, '20, and 2| is constantlyurged closed by a spring 23 secured to the ends of the pair of fingers projecting above the shafts 22. The. transfer carriage I8 is reciprocated by a crank 24 oscillated through shafts 25 and 26 by a rack 21 reciprocated by the crankshaft. of the machine. -The fingers are spread open at the proper time in'the cycle of operations by a cam 28 driven by a suitable shaft of the machine. The drive may be arranged as illustrated in said Patent No.- 2,026,823, or as illustrated-in Patent No.

A heading slide 29 is slidably mounted in the side members II and I2 of the bed for reciprocation toward and away from the die-breast. The slide is reciprocated by a pitman (not shown) connected to the crankshaft 30. The forward face of the heading slide carries tools 3| arranged to cooperate with the heading die I5, I6, and H. The slide may be constructed and operated as illustrated in the aforesaid Frost Patents No. 2,020,658 and No. 2,020,659, and when desired may likewise be provided with roll threading dies behind the crankshaft as illustrated in said Frost patents.

The transfer mechanism for removing the blanks from the final heading die I! comprises generally an arm 32 pivoted as at 33 to a stationary bracket 34. The arm 32 is arranged to be swung about the pivot 33 by means of a link 35 pivoted to the arm at 36 and to a suitablebracket 31 carried on the transfer slide I8. The arm 32 carries at its free end a fixed gripping finger 38 and a movable finger 39 pivoted to the arm 32 at 40. The finger 39 is formed as a bell crank with its upper portion 4I ext endedand terminating in a cam 42. A spring 43 is arranged between the arm 32 and the cam 42 constantly urging the gripping finger 39 toward the fixed finger 38 so as to grip blanks therebetween. The cam42 is extended laterally in position to engage the upper end 44 of the adjacent gripping finger 2| of the main transfer mechanism.

To receive the blanks from the final transfer arm 32, a tube 41 is clamped in a suitable bracket 48 mounted on the side frame member II of the machine. Theforward end of the tube is notched I on itsunderside as illustrated at 49 so that blanks carried by the arm 32 can be moved upwardly into alignment with the bore of the tube. The tube 41 is slotted for a short distance on its upper face as illustrated at 50 to receive a depending finger 5| secured in a slot in a bar 52 mounted for reciprocation above and parallel to the axis of the tube 41. The finger 5| is formedrwith a bifurcated end 53 arranged to fit over the shanks of the completed blanks behind their heads and to slide in the tube 41 when the bar 52 is reciprocated.

To reciprocate the bar 52 it is formed on its upper face with rack teeth 54. A lever 55 is pivoted to the bracket 48 at 56 and is provided with a sector 51 adjustably secured to the lever 55 by a bolt 58. The sector is formed with teeth 59 engaging the rack teeth 54. The lever 55 is connected by a connecting rod 60 to a lever 6I which is pulled rearwardly by a spring 62 and moved forwardly by a cam 63 mounted on the crankshaft 30 and engaging a cam roller 64 on the lever 6 I. i

.In operation the heading slide is reciprocated toward and away from the die-breast by means of the rotating crankshaft 30. During each cycle of theoperation the cut-off die I3 shears off a length of stockforming a blank. While the header slide is spaced from the die-breast, ejector rods, such as the ejector rod 65' shown in Figure 3, are moved forwardlyby suitable cams on the cam shaft 66', which is oscillated by a link 61 connected to the crankshaft, to eject the new blank from the cut-01f die I3, and simultaneously eject the blanks from the dies I5, I6, and IT. At this time the transfer slide I6 has been moved to the position shown in Figure 1, and as the blanks are ejected from the dies I3, I5, and I6 the gripping fingers I9, 20, and 2I close upon and grip the blanks. As the fingers close to grip the -2,| grip the blanks ejected from as illustrated in Figures Z and 3.

blanks, the end Mof the right-hand finger 2| is .moved to the left, as seen in Figure l, allowing the spring ;43 to press the cam 42 to the left. .As a consequence the finger "39 is moved toward the finger :38 by the spring 2-4,3,;;gripping :the blank ejected from thedie I] as the fingers i9, 20, and the dies l3, l5 and It.

After the blanks have been fully ejected and gripped in the varioussets of :fingers, the transfer slide t8 isamoved'to the right as seen in Figure 1 totheposition shown in FigureZ. During this movement the fingers l9 carry the blank from thecut-off Edie i3 .into alignment with the 1 opening intheadie l5,rand the fingers ZfizandZl similarly carry the blanks ejected from the dies .l5 and I5 into alignment with the dies l5 and I1, respectively. When this movement is completed the header slide again approaches, its forward center .and the tools 26 on the header slide engage the blanks held in alignment with the dies [5, I6, and I1 and ,force these blanks into the die openings. As soonas the blanks have been entered into the dies and before the heading slide tools contact with the transfer fingers, the fingers are opened so as to clear the heading slide tools and permit the same to upset or otherwise work the blanks positioned in the dies. This operation and timing are likewise fully disclosed in said Clouse Patent vNo. 2,026,823 and in (the Clouse Patent'No. 2,131,936.

When the transfer slide moves to the right to the position illustrated in Figure '2, the link .forces the arm 32 upwardly about the pivot 33 to the position shown in Figure 2. The blank gripped between the fingers 32 and 39 is thereby .carried upwardly and outwardlyinto alignment with the bore of the tube 4'1, the head of the blank entering the :notch .49 in the tube and passing behind the bifurcated end 53 of finger At this time the cam 42 is moved away from, the finger end 44, as shown in Figure '2, so that the cam 42 isnot affected by theopening of the fingers I'9, Hand 2! when the header slide approachesits forward position and the blank held by the fingers38 and 39 remains gripped by the tension of the spring t3. While the transferslide l8 dwells :in;its right-hand position, as illustratedin Figure 2, during the completion of the heading op eration on the blanks vin:the dies l5, .l6,-and il the high part of the cam 53 passes the roller '64 so that the spring 62;pulls the lever .6! to the left asseen in Figure 3. This movement is trans- :mitted through. the lever and sectorl5l to the 1 bar 52 so ,that'the bifurcated end 53 of thefinger 5| pulls the blank from between the fingers 38 and 39 and into the tube.

At the completion of the heading stroke the header slide again recedes from' the dies and the transfer carriage 18 moves to the left with the fingers 19, 20, and 2:! open so that these fingers are in position to again grip the blanks ejected from-the dies l3, l5, and it. During this movement the link 35 returns thearm 32 to the position shown in Figure 1, and as the arm 32 approaches alignment with the die H the cam 42 engages the finger end M and again opens the finger 39. As the blanks are again ejected from thedies the cycle is repeated.

.As each blank is pulled from between the fingers 38 and 39 into the tube 41 by the bifurcated finger end '53, theblankspreviously deposited in the tube 47 are engaged bythe incoming blank and advanced one blank lengthalongthe tube.

The tube 41 .is aligned ;with ,a transfer tube 65 which is preferablyiinclinediupwardl to a maximum elevation indicated at 66, from which the blanks *may be 'fed byigravity through a "chute or tube'to a succeeding operation as disclosed in the aforesaid Frost Patent .No. 2,020,658, or as disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,109,918. The blanks may be led to a roll threading mechanism as disclosed in said patents or to any otherstation at which itiisydesired to,=act upon orcollect the blanks-sequentially.

It will beseen :that with "this novel ftransfer arrangement it is possible :to utilize a final die I! for, performing :an upsettingor extruding operation of such a nature that the blank cannot be pushed into a tube-in the die or in the .header slide in-t hemanner inwhich'the blank is.JDushed through a trimming punch in my prior Patent No. 2,020,660, and .aitthe :same time retain control of theblanks and advance 'themin orderly sequence toanother operation. This :is accomplished, without widening .of the; header slide, die- .breast and [bed frame as would be .necessary to provide the same number of upsetting stations with an additional idle or trimming station at which the completed blanks could be pushed into a tube in the header slide. It will be understood .of course that any desired number of dies or tively lighterthan would be required to carry the same loads'in thewider machine. For example, to maintain a given strength and rigidity in 'the die-breast ill of the machine with an increased width requires not only the addition of the neoessar-ymetal to give the increased width with the same section, but also an increase in the section of the frame part because of theincreased spacing-of the point of connection of the die-breast ID to the-sideframe members I l and1l2. Similarly the widening of the header slide increases the spacing of the rbearings of thecrankshaft .3!) in the-frame members l1! and 1'2, necessitating an increase in the size of the crankshaft and of the hearings in orderto maintain the same strength and rigidity. In addition the transfer arm 32 and associated parts can be made substantially lighter than an additional set of transfer fingers i9, 20, and ZI, with their operating mechanism, thus reducing the'mass of thetrans- .fer mechanism which must-be reciprocated and permitting reduced. bearing loads and inertia losses and higher speed of the machine.

The mechanism disclosed has a furtheradvantage .in that its timing is controlled by the main transfer slide I8. Thus when the main transfer mechanism hasi'been properly timed and adjusted for any particular size of blank, the Supplemental transfer arm 32 is automatically properly timed for the same blank. The position of the bar .152 at thebpposite limits of its stroke may be readily adjusted by adjusting the sector '51 with respect to the lever 55, so as to accommodate any desired blank length. Likewise the tube 41 may be removed from the bracket 48 and replaced .by artube .of a different length so that the :notched end 49 is positioned to receive the .head :of the particular 'blank being :made.

Although I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention it will be understood that various modifications and variations of structural details and arrangements of parts may be made without departing from the scope of the various features of my invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine having a bed frame, a reciprocating slide, a die on said bed frame, a cooperating tool on said slide, and means for supplying blanks to said die to be worked upon by said tool; a transfer mechanisrn' comprising an arm carrying gripping fingers, said arm being pivoted at a relatively stationary point above said die for swinging movement in a plane transverse to the direction of movement of said slide, said arm being swingable to a position with said fingers aligned with said die to receive a blank ejected therefrom, and to a position laterally out of the path of said slide and above said frame, a guideway for blanks supported by said frame, and means for transferring blanks from said fingers to said guideway when said arm is in said last mentioned position.

2. In a machine having a bed frame, a reciprocating slide, a die on said bed frame, a cooperating tool on said slide, and means for supplying blanks to said die to be worked upon by said tool; a transfer mechanism comprising an arm carrying gripping fingers, said arm being pivoted above said die and being swingable in a plane transverse to the direction of movement of said slide to a position with said fingers aligned with said die to receive a blank ejected therefrom, and to a position out of the path of said slide, a guideway for blanks supported by said frame, and reciprocating means for withdrawing a blank from said fingers when said arm is in said last mentioned position and advancing the same along said guideway.

3. In combination, a bed frame carrying a die, a header slide reciprocably mounted in said frame and carryinga tool to act upon blanks held in said die, a transfer arm pivoted to said frame for swinging movement in a plane transverse to the direction of movement of said header slide, blank receiving means carried by said frame above and to one side of the line of movement of said header slide, and means for swinging said transfer arm in timed relation to the movements of said header slide to a position in alignment with said die to receive blanks therefrom and to a position in alignment with said blank receiving means to deliver blanks thereto.

4. In combination, a bed frame carrying a die, a header slide reciprocably mounted in said frame and carrying a tool to act upon blanks held in said die, a transfer arm carrying blank gripping fingers, said arm being pivoted to said frame, blank receiving means carried by said frame above and to one side of the line of movement of said header slide, and means for swinging said transfer arm in timed relation to the movements of said header slide to a position with said gripping fingers in alignment with said die to receive blanks therefrom and to a position with said gripping fingers in alignment with said blank receiving means to deliver blanks thereto.

5. In combination, a bed frame carrying a die, a header slide reciprocably mounted in said frame and carrying a tool to act upon blanks held in said die, a transfer arm carrying blank gripping fingers, said arm being pivoted to said frame, blank receiving means carried by said frame out of the line of movement of said header slide, means for swinging said transfer arm in timed relation to the movements of said header slide to a position with said gripping fingers in alignment with said die to receive blanks therefrom and to a position with said gripping fingers in alignment with said blank receiving means to deliver blanks thereto, and means associated with said blank receiving means for removing blanks from said gripping fingers.

6. A multiple station header comprising a bed frame having a plurality of aligned dies, a header slide reciprocably mounted in said frame carrying tools to cooperate with said dies, a transfer carriage movable parallel to the line of said dies having fingers for carrying blanks from one die to the next, blank receiving means mounted on said frame out of the line of movement of said header slide, and a transfer arm pivoted to said frame and movable about said pivot from a position in line with the last of said dies to a position in line with said blank receiving means, and means for moving said transfer carriage and said transfer arm in timed relation to the reciprocation of said header slide.

7. A multiple station header comprising a bed frame having a plurality of aligned dies, at header slide reciprocably mounted in said frame carrying tools to cooperate with said dies, a transfer carriage movable parallel to the line of said dies having fingers for carrying blanks from one die to the next, blank receiving means mounted on said frame out of the line of movement of said header slide, and a transfer arm pivoted to a relatively fixed point and swingable from a position in line with the last of said dies to a position in line with the last of said dies to a position in line with said blank receiving means, and means for moving said transfer carriage and said transfer arm in timed relation to the reciprocation of said header slide.

8. A multiple station header comprising a bed frame having a plurality of aligned dies, a header slide reciprocably mounted in said frame carrying tools to cooperate with said dies, a transfer carriage movable parallel to the line of said dies having fingers for carrying blanks from one die to the next, blank receiving means mounted on said frame out of the line of movement of said header slide, and a transfer arm having blank gripping fingers, said arm being pivoted to a relatively fixed point above the line of said dies and swingable from a position with said gripping fingers in line with thelast of said dies to a position with said gripping fingers in line with said blank receiving means, and means for moving said transfer carriage and said transfer arm in timed relation to the reciprocation of said header slide.

9. A multiple station header comprising a bed frame having a plurality of aligned dies, a header slide reciprocably mounted in said frame carrying tools to cooperate with said dies, a transfer carriage movable parallel to the line of said dies having fingers for carrying blanks from one die to the next, blank receiving means mounted on said frame out of the line of movement of said header slide, and a transfer arm having blank gripping fingers, said arm being pivoted to a relatively fixed point above the line of said dies and swingable from a position with said gripping fingers in line with the last of said dies to a position with said gripping fingers in line with said blank receiving meansQmeans for moving said a 13. A multiple station header comprising a bed transfer carriage and said transfer arm in timed relation to the reciprocation of said header slide, and means associated with said blank receiving means for removing blanks from said gripping fingers.

10. A multiple station header comprising a bed frame having side portions and an end portion, said end portion carrying a plurality of aligned dies, a header slide reciprocably mounted in said frame between the side portions thereof carrying tools to cooperate with said dies, means for feeding elongated stock, cut-off means carried by the end portion of said frame in advance of said dies for cutting off successive lengths of stock to form blanks, the side portions of said frame being spaced apart only a sufficient distance to accommodate said cut-off means and said aligned dies, means for transferring blanks from said cut-off means to the first of said dies, and from each die to the next successive die, blank receiving means mounted on one of the side portions of said bed frame out of the line of movement of said header slide, and a transfer arm mounted on said frame and movable in a plane transverse to the direction of movement, of said header slide for transferring blanks from the last die of said series to said blank receiving means.

11. A multiple station header comprising a bed frame having side portions and an end portion, said end portion carrying a plurality of aligned dies, a header slide reciprocably mounted in said frame between the side portions thereof carrying tools to cooperate with said dies, means for feeding elongated stock, cut-off means carried by the end portion of said frame in advance of said dies for cutting off successive lengths thereof to form blanks, the side portions of said frame being spaced apart only a sufiicient distance to accommodate said cut-01f means and said aligned dies, means for transferring blanks from said cut-off means to the first of said dies and from each die to the next successive die, blank receiving means mounted on one of the side portions of said bed frame out of the line of movement of said header slide, and a transfer arm pivoted to a relatively fixed point and movable to a position between and in line with the last die of said series and its cooperating tool on said header slide to receive blanks from said die and to a position in line with said blank receiving means to deliver blanks thereto.

12. A multiple station header comprising a bed frame having side portions and an end portion, said end portion carrying a plurality of aligned dies, a header slide reciprocably mounted in said frame between the side portions thereof carrying tools to cooperate with said dies, means for feeding elongated stock, cut-off means carried by the end portion of said frame in advance of said dies for cutting off successive lengths of stock to form blanks, the side por tions of said frame being spaced apart only a sufiicient distance to accommodate said blank feeding and cut-off means and said aligned dies, means for transferring blanks from said cut-ofl means to the first of said dies and from each die to the next successive die, a blank guideway mounted on one of the side portions of said bed frame out of the line of movement of said header slide, and a transfer arm pivoted above the line of said dies for swinging movement in a plane transverse to the direction of movement of said header slide for transferring blanks from the last die of said series to said blank guideway.

frame having side portions and an end portion, said end portion carrying a plurality of aligned dies, a header slide reciprocably mounted in said frame between the side portions thereof carrying tools-to cooperate with said dies, means for feeding elongated stock, cut-off means carried by the end portion of said frame in advance of said dies for cutting off successive lengths of stock to form blanks, the side portions of said frame being spaced apart only a sufficient distance to accommodate said blank feeding and cut-off means and said aligned dies, means for transferring blanks from said cut-off means to the first of said dies and from each die to the next successive die, ablank guideway mounted on one of the side portions of said bed frame out of the line of movement of said header slide, a transfer arm pivoted above the line of said dies for transferring blanks from the last die of said series to said blank guideway, and means associated with said guideway for withdrawing blanks from said transfer arm and advancing the same along said guideway.

14. A machine comprising a bed frame having spaced side portions and an end portion, said end portion carrying a die, a reciprocating header slide mounted between the side portions of said bed frame, said slide carrying a tool to act upon blanks held in said die, a guideway for blanks mounted on a side portion of said bed frame, transfer fingers movable from a position in alignment with said die to receive blanks ejected therefrom to a position in alignment with said blank guideway, and means for removing blanks from said transfer fingers and advancing the same along said guideway.

15. A machine comprising a bed frame having spaced side portions and an end portion, said end portion carrying a die, a reciprocating header slide mounted between the side portions of said bed frame, said slide carrying a tool to act upon blanks held in said die, a guideway for blanks mounted on a side portion of said bed frame, gripping fingers carried by a pivoted transfer arm and movable from a position in alignment with said die to receive blanks ejected therefrom to a position in alignment with said blank guideway, and means for removing blanks from said gripping fingers and advancing the same along said guideway.

16. A header comprising a bed frame having spaced side portions and an end portion, a reciprocating header slide mounted between the side portions of said bed frame, said slide and bed frame carrying cooperating tools to form headed blanks, a guideway for blanks mounted on a side portion of said bed frame, transfer fingers movable from a position in alignment with said die to receive headed blanks ejected therefrom to a position in alignment with said blank guideway, and a reciprocating finger arranged to engage the heads of blanks carried by said transfer fingers for withdrawing blanks from said transfer fingers and advancing the same along said guideway.

17. A header comprising a bed frame having spaced side portions and an end portion, a reciprocating header slide mounted between the side portions of said bed frame, said slide and bed frame carrying cooperating tools to form headed blanks, a tube to receive and guide blanks mounted on a side portion of said bed frame, transfer fingers movable from a position in alignment with .said die to receive headed blanks ejected therefrom to a position in alignment with said tube, and a reciprocating finger arranged to engage the undersides of the heads of blanks held in said transfer fingers to withdraw blanks from said transfer fingers and advance the same in axial alignment through said tube.

18. Blank transfer mechanism comprising an open ended tube to receive and guide headed blanks in axial alignment, gripping fingers movable in a plane transverse to the axis of said tube arranged to carry headed blanks into alignment with said tube with the heads of the blanks adjacent the open end of the tube, and means mov able axially with respect to said tube arranged to engage the heads of blanks held by said gripping fingers to withdraw blanks from said gripping fingers and move the same into said tube.

19. Blank transfer mechanism comprising an open ended tube to receive and guide headed blanks in axial alignment, gripping fingers movable in a plane transverse to the axis of said tube arranged to carry headed blanks into alignment with said tube with the heads of the blanks adjacent the open end of the tube, a finger arranged to clear the shanks of blanks held by said gripping fingers in alignment with said tube and to engage the heads thereof, said finger being movable to a position spaced from the end of said tube to permit said gripping fingers to carry a blank into alignment with said tube and to a position within said tube to engage the head of the blank and transfer the same from said fingers to said tube.

JOHN H. FRIEDMAN.

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