US2284690A - Screw and lock washer assembly machine - Google Patents

Description

June 2, 1942.

SCREW AND LOCK WASHER ASSEMBLY MACHINE w. vSTERN 2,284,690

Filed June 5.. 1959 7 sheets-sheet 1 ATToRNEY,

June 2, 1942. w. STERN SCREW AND LOCK WASHER ASSEMBLY MACHINE Filed June 5, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY June 2, 1942. 4 w. STERN.

scREw AND Loox WASHER ASSEMBLY MACHINE Filed June 5, 1959 'r sheets-shed;

` INVENTOR. BY; il/z'l'am/ lefrb ATTORNEYS. v

` VJune 2, 1942.

w. sTr-:RN 2,284,690 scREw AND Loox wAsHEn'AssEMBLY-MAcH1NE Filed June 5', 19:59, 7 sheets-sheetA @f "mw W ,357 Z4 xi om 1 y June 2, 1942.

w. ST1-:RN SCREW AND 'LOCK WASHER ASSEMBLY MACHINE Filed June 5, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 x INVENT OR. y BY Zelf/'v "'@/f//ww ATTORNEYJ.

June2, 1942. fwjsTERN 2,284,690

SCREW ANDLOCK WASHERASSEMBLY MACHINE M Jaen@ .ct b

ATTORNEYJ Jue 2, 1942. w. STERN -I 2,284,690

S-CREW AND LOCK WASHER ASS'EMBLY MACHINEv Filed June 5, 1939 Y 7 Sheets'heetj ATroRNEY' Patented June 2,Y 1942 UNITED .STAT

Es PATENT OFFICE scREw AND LocK WASHER ASSEMBLY MACHINE William Stern, Park Ridge, Ill.,

Tool Works, Chicago, Ill.,

Illinois assignor to Illinois a corporation of Application June 5, 1939, Serial No. 277,344

(C1. esa-s4) 13 Claims.

`rate random mass of lock washers followed by the interassociation or assembly of each of the fasteners into operative association'with an individual lock washer, and tothe discharge of the finished assembly to a thread rolling mechanism or other instrumentality for enlarging the shank of the screw element beneath the washer.

The present invention contemplates the assembly of screw and Washer elements by entraining the washer elements upon a conveyor and positively carrying said elements into position adjacent the path' of feed ofthe screw elements, where each screw element is Vpositively.moved into the central aperture in a washer.

Itis an object of the present invention to provide a method and a machine wherein the washer conveyor remains operative after the association therewith of the fastener element to convey the assembly away from the point of assembly.

The present invention has for its object to provide a construction for assembling Washers and screw elements as above, wherein the washers are handled and conveyed by a simplified rotary disk conveyor movable in one direction for continuously moving washers directly from the mass of washers to the assembly point.

It is a further object of the present invention to I' provide an assembly mechanism as an attachment capable of being readily associated with known or standard thread-forming machines or other machines containing mechanisms to which assembled screw and Washer units may advantageously be supplied.' which attachment comprises a washer supply mechanism, a washer delivery mechanismwithdrawing washers from the supply mechanism and conveying the washers tofa predetermined.

point and 'a mechanism'which extracts screw elements from'a screw-feeding mechanism and by manipulation of the said screw elements axially shifts eachof the elements into a lock washer, the washer.r delivery mechanism also returning the: assembled units to the screw-feeding mechanism forV delivery toa thread-forming mechanism.

I tis an important object of the present invention to provide. means 'for forcibly telescoping a.

fastener into `a washer to interengage properly the elements while the respective elements are positively held in alignment.

Another object of the present invention contemplates the provision of an intermittently operated rotary conveyor plate which is provided with peripheral recesses adapted to receive individual washers and isinclined to facilitate movement of the washers into the peripheral rece/ss .and to cause excess washers adhering to the face o f the conveyor plate to', gravitate into the :original mass or supply. -The step-by-step movement of the conveyor plate also facilitates the-'movement of I the washers into theperipheral recesses of the conveyor plate.

The present invention has for a yet additional object to provide a simplified stop or control mechanism which positively prevents' operation of the assembly means when a washer is not delivered to the point of assembly at the proper time for assembly with a screw element. It may occur from time to time that, due to failure to supply the washer hopper or for other cause, the

washer-receiving means may not properly receive a washer for conveyance to the point of assembly. It will be obvious from'the description which follows that the present invention obviates the possibility of th'e delivery'of unassembled fasteners from the present machine.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevational view of a machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the machine of Figure 1 but shown from the opposite side;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the same machine taken from the end of the machine as viewed from the left of Fig. 2 or the right of Fig. 1; Fig. -4 is a detailed sectional view taken I through the washer feed and assembly mechanism on the line 4-4 .of Fig. 1;.

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional viewof the adjustable mounting of the assembly mechanism taken on. the line 5-5 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a detailed plan View of the washer supply and assembly mechanism taken -at an angle'of substantially 30'degrees to the horizontal corresponding to theinclination of Ithis assembly to show the parts in proper plan rela- These additional and substitute Fig, -8 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a detailed perspective view of a portion of the screw element directing or assembling means;

Fig. 10 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line IU-IIJ of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a detailed section view as in Fig. 10 but showing the parts in another vrelative position;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken centrally through the screw element assembly means on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 8; v

Fig. 13 is a detailed sectional View identical to the lower part of Fig. 12 but showing the parts in a further relative position;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the fastener receiving jaws;

Figs. 15 and 16 are elevational views partly in section showing finished assemblies produced in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken centrally through the detail shown in Fig. 13 on the line ill-l 'l thereof;

Fig. 18 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line i8-i8 of Fig. d; v

Fig. 19 is a detailed View identical to Fig. 18 but showing the parts ina different relative position;

Fig. '20 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 29-26 in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the washer dislodgng finger shown in Fig. 20.

There is shown in'. the figures of the present drawings one illustrative machine embodying the principles of the present invention, which machine comprises a screw thread rolling mechanism of a standard known type such as shown in Wilcox Patents Nos. 1,584,263 of May 11, 1926, and 1,798,919 of March 31, 1931. In-so far as the essential and standard portions of the thread rolling machine are concerned, namely,

'the frame and supporting portions, the thread rolling dies, the transfer and starting mechanism, as well as the driving mechanisms forA the same, these are in general substantially unmodified. It is accordingly thought unnecessary in disclosing the present invention to reiterate in detail these known constructions.

In accordance with the present invention, the machine disclosed for illustrative purposes lcom-- prises a thread rolling machine of the foregoing type provided with one or more additional and substit te mechanisms by which the-said machine liay be adaptedfor the production of permanently assembled screw and washer units.

mechanisms comprise, as shown in Figs. i to 4, a screw blank hopper and feed mechanism 20, a washer supply and conveying mechanism 22, a screw blank shifting or assembly mechanism 24 for directing each screw blank into association with'a washer, and a control system for preventing the actuation of the screw blank assembly mechanism 24 unless a washer is in proper operative position, the last-named control means comprising a washer detector unit 26 and a locking mechanism 29 It should be for the `assembly mechanism 2d.

noted that the washer conveying mechanism 22' and the assembly mechanism 24 comprise driving and control means, both enclosedfor-convenience'within a housing 30 providing'a umtary construction which, as will hereinafter more I fully appear, may be readily attached as an accessory to standard machines.

. the, thread rolling dies. the assemblies comprises 4, 6, andv 8) spaced to engage The screw thread rolling machine shownin the drawings comprises a main base or pedestal 32 (Figs. 1 and 2) surmounted by an auxiliary base or pedestal 34 secured to or formed integrally with the pedestal 32 and extending upwardly therefrom at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the horizontal. The frame or pedestal supports "crank or pitman 46. A cam 48, rigid with shaft 49 also driven from gearing 44; moves a follower 50 at predetermined times to reciprocate a slide bar starting mechanism which assists and directs the screw blanks into engagement with the dies. The slide bar, designated by the reference numeral 52, is slidably supported in the frame of the machine, as clearly shown in Figure 4, for reciprocation in a direction parallel to the faces of the dies 36 and 38 and as is known carries on its forward end a suitable starter nger (not shown), aligned centrally of the space between the dies. 'I'he starter slide bar 52 is moved by the action of the follower mechanism 5B through an arm 56 rigid with a rock shaft 58 journaled in the upper portion of the frame, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, and which is caused to `rock in accordance with the movement of the follower mechanism by a link 66 and arm 62.

The present embodiment provides a guide chute 6d down which the associated screw blank and washer assemblies gravitate to thel region of the engages each assembly at the end of the chute 64' and shifts it laterally through a feed passage into operative position centrally of the space between The guide chute 64 for a pair of spaced bars 68 and l@ (Figs. 1, beneath the head portion of the assemblies, while permitting the screw shank to extend between the intermediate slot or space. A cover rail or bar 'l2 resides above the spaccato retain the fastener assemblies within the chute. It lwill be understood that the bars forming the guide chute 64 are fastened to the frame of the machine by suitable brackets (not shown) and the bars may be preferably relatively adjustable in known assemblies of varying dimension.

In accordance with `the present invention, a quantity ofvscrew blanks is massed in a hopper of the screw blank feeding mechanism 20 and the screw elements are continuouslydire'cted one by onealong a path of' supply in a direction toward the. thread rolling mechanism into a point of assembly. The washers are similarly dumped or massed in a feed hopper yvhich is a part of the lwasher conveying and feeding mechanism 22. At

`screw element assembly device 24 actsl to grasp each screw element and to direct it bodily and axially through the central aperture of an aligned ing to the thread rolling dies by way of the transfer mechanism 66. 'It will be understood that, in accordance with the present preferred embodiment herein described, the surface material forming the shank of the screw blank is `caused to ow radially by the action of the thread rolling dies so that the crests of the nal threads project outwardly for a sufficient distance to provide an abutment permanently retaining the washer and screw in associated. position. Threaded units are discharged from the machine adjacent the lower portion of the xed thread rolling die 36 into a suitable receiving tray.

The hopper and feed mechanism for the screw blanks Thefeed hopper 20, shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, is inv general of a type hitherto/known and employed upon the thread rollingmachines to which reference has previously beenmade.

The constructioncomprises a hopper casting 14` mounted upon a bracket casting 16'for adjustmentvat right angles to a guide or delivery chute 18. 'I'he guide chute 18 is formed by bars 80 and 82 (Fig. 6) to receive the screw blanks in the same manner-as the guide chute 64, and a cover bar 84 (Fig. 1) extends above the other bars. The several bars are mounted at their opposite ends to suitable supporting brackets (not shown) secured to thev hopper 14rand are preferably so mounted as topermit adjustment of the bar 80 toward and away from the bar 82, and adjustment of the cover plate 84 toward and away from both of the other plates or bars to accommodate screw blanks of differentsizes. Y.

- The casting 16, .which supports the hopper 14, is adjustably mounted upon the housing 30 which contains the drive and control mechanism for the washer feeding and screw blank assembly means; that is to say, the casting "16 is bolted to a plate 86 as at 88,.the bolts passing through vertically elongated apertures to permit relative vertical adjustment of the bracket in the plane Aof the plate 86 and through the agency of an adjustment screw 90. v

It is particularly important to note that the housing 30 is in turn mounted upon the pedestal 32, a slide-way or channel 92 on its opposite surface embracing a plate 94, rigidly bolted to the pedestal 32 as shown in Figure l. The housing 30, as well as all theelements supported thereby,

are accordingly laterally shiftable or adjustable,-

suchl adjustment being controllably effected through the agency ofv a' bracket 96 bolted to the end of the plate 84, as at 98, and receiving an -adjustment screw threadedly engaging the housing 30 as shown in Fig. 5. Due to the presence of a pair of xed collars |02 upon the screw shaft |00, rotation of the shaft will shift the housing 30 laterally ofthe pedestal, in which position it is retained by a jam nut |04.

From the foregoing it will be apparent'that the several parts of thepresent device are relatively adjustable for proper alignment and coordination. it is thought that the importance of these adjustments will become apparent from the following description. f

screw blank.

Slidably mounted in suitable guide-ways in the hopper casting 14 is a reciprocating plate |06 which, as it moves upwardly, picks up screw blanks from the mass of blanks in the hopper and drops them onto the guide chute 18. A clearing wheel or ratchet |08 normally rotated. in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 1 overlies the chute 18 and extends into the hopper to displace any'misarranged screw blanks and ,to assure an uninterrupted procession of blanks or screw elements down the chute 18. It should be noted that the clearing or ratchet wheel |08 is rotatably journaled in a housing ||0 pivoted as at ||2 upon a bracket ||4 projecting forwardly from the lower portion of the hopper casting 14.

It will be evident from a consideration of Figures 1 and 3 that the weight of the housing ||0 willnormally tend to move the assembly in a clockwise direction about pivot H2, such movement being limited by means of an adjustable screw ||6 abutting a fixedportion of the hopper. The adjustment device ||6 may be readily prearranged to space the lower portion of the clearing wheel |08 from the chute bars 80 and 82 a sufficient distance to permit free passage of the head portion of a properly associated screw or Ratchet or clearing wheel |08 lis driven from the shaft 49 by a pulley ||.8, driving belt |20, and

pulleys |22 which in turn drive a belt |24 to a ratchet wheel drive pulley |26.v Vertical reciprocation of the plate |06 is effected by` a crank arm or pitman |21 operated from a crank disk |28 journaled on the hopper casting 14 as shown in Fig. 3 and driven by sprocket chain |30 from shaft |32, driven in turn by the gearing 44. The screw blank and feed mechanism is accordingly actuated directly from the drive motor 40 which motivates the operation of the thread rolling device.

1n operation, the mass or bodyy of screw blanks dumped into the feed hopper 14 is, through the reciprocation of the plate, |06, arranged upon the delivery chute 18 along which they gravitate downwardly tothe point of assembly.

The hopper feed and conveying mechanism for the washers The washer feed mechanism 22 is shown more shell |34 embraces and is secured to an annular bracket |36 (Fig. 8) bolted to the top of the housing 30 as at |38. A recessed disc or conveyor plate |40 forms the bottom wall of the hopper (see Figs. 6 and 8) The plate |40, being circular is mounted shell |36 and secured to a shaft |42 journaled .in anti-friction bearings |44, which bearings are mounted in an inwardly projecting portion |46 of the housing 30 (Fig. 8).

As is clearly shown in Figs, 6 and 8, the periphery of the disk |48 is provided with a plurality of radially facing notches or recesses |48` to receive lock washers and the disk adjacent its periphery is substantially cut away to a thickness not substantially more than the thickness for rotation upon the annular of the washers to be handled. Figure 8 clearly illustrates the manner in which .the peripheral portion of the disk |40 rotates in contiguity to theannular bracket |38, so that washers received within the recess |48 will be carried in an annular or curved path by'the disk while sliding upon the upper surface of the bracket |36.

From the foregoing vit will be evident that washers massed at random within the hopper shell are vpermitted to fall into the recesses adjacent the lower part of thedisk 40. The pres.l

ent invention contemplates the rotation of this disk in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 6, to convey the selected washers in the recesses to a point just beneath the lower extremity of the delivery chute 18. In order to assure successive placement of washers within the recesses |48, a plurality of radial baflies or plates |50 project inwardly from the shell wall |34 and are each spaced a short distance above the conveyor disk |40. These plates |50 function to retain the washers of the mass against rotation with the conveyor plate |40 and to rearrange the Washers in position suitable for reception within the recesses |48, it being apparent that to pass between the plate 158 and the disk |40 it is necessary that the washers be aligned in substantial parallelism with the disk (see Fig. 8)

Means is provided to advance the shaft |42 and, accordingly, the conveyor plate |48 rotationally step by step, each increment of advance being equal tothe space between the centers of two adjacent recesses |48. To this end a driving motor |52 on the lower wall of the housing 36 (Fig. 4) drives a shaft |56, journaled in the lower wall of the housing, through worm reduction gearing |58. Shaft |56 in turn, through sprocket and chain drive means |60, continuously rotates a shaft |62 journaled in an outwardly projecting integral bracket portion |64 formed on an inner wall of the housing 30 (Figs. i and 7). A spaced parallel shaftl |66, also journalled in the projecting portion of the bracket |64, as well as an integral annular flange |61 upon the upper wall of the housing 30 (Fig. 8) is driven from Ashaft |62 by spur gear |68 (Figs. 4 and 7) meshing with a gear |10 on the shaft |66. The shaft |62 mounts a cam |12 for rotation. 'I'his cam cooperates with a cam follower |14 mounted on rocker or pawl plate |16. It should be noted that the rocker plate |18 is journaled for rotation relative to the lower end voi the shaft |42- in accordance with a construction clearly shown in Figure 8. This construction provides an index or ratchet wheel |18 keyed upon'the lower end of rotatable shaft I ing shouldered as at |80 for bearing engagement within an aperture in plate being retained in position by means of a retaining collar |82 and jam nut |84. A pawl |86 is pivoted upon theplate |16 as at |88 for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel the plate |16, this latter |42 the ratchet wheel` be- |18 and is normally urged into engagement'with the ratchet by means of compression spring .|90 operating between a recess |82 in the pawl and an abutment |94 on the upper surface of the plate |16. A coil spring |96, extending between an extension ofthe pivot' '|88 and an adjustable fastening |98 on the wall ofthe housing 80, resiliently urges the rotatable plate |16 in a counter-clockwise direction as shown Fig. 'I to retain the follower |14 against the c m |12.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that as the cam follower 14 moves to the right it tends 75 to carry with it the pawl |86, for moving the ratchet wheel a distance corresponding to one tooth space. It will be understood that the-pawl formation is such as to forcibly urge the ratchet' in a counter-clockwise direction, while causing the pawl to slide over the periphery ofthe ratchet wheel when the plate '16 is moved in the clockwise direction.

An indexing means is provided for `positively retaining the rotatable disc at each position of vadvance and comprises an indexing linger 200,

slidablyL arranged in abracket 202 andfresiliently urged toward the ratchet wheel-by compression spring 204 (Fig. 7). Indexing finger 200 is retracted by means of one end of a bell crank lever 206 journalled on pivot 208. The opposite end or arm of the bell crank lever 208 mounts an anti-friction shoe 2H)l providing a follower cooperating with a cam 2|2 keyed on shaft |66. After each-successive advancement of the ratchet wheel |18 the cam 2|'2 permits the bell crank to move in a counter-clockwise direction for permitting index nger200 to engage the ratchet wheel. Theratchetwheel, its shaft |42, and they conveyor disk |40 accordingly remain stationary for a predetermined increment of time until the advancing mechanism is again actuated to rotate the plate through 'the next successive increment of rotational advance. From the foregoing it will be apparent that the step-wise movement of the plate is continuously effected as long as the drive motor |52 is in operation.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the step-wise movement of the disk |40" the ratchet drive mechanism cooperates to assisty in dislodging excess or improperly positioned washers and to assure their `proper positioning within the respective recesses |748.

It may sometimes occur that in spite of this construction the tooth portions of adjacent washers will become interengaged to cause one or more excess washers to be conveyed adjacent a properly received washer. Resilient fingers or baflles 2|4 (Figs. 6, 20 and 21.) positively prevent the delivery to the assembly station of more than one washer in each recess. baille members is clearly illustrated in Fig 20, where it will be seen that they comprise a down-4 wardly extending more or less resilient flange 2|6 secured to the shell |34 Vas at 2| 8. It should be noted that the lower edge of the wall or flange 2|6 provides a recess 220 bounded at its inner extremity by means of\a downwardly projecting lug 222. As clearly shown in Fig. 20, the recess 220. is of suicient depth to accommodate the passage of one excess washer. It is of great importance to note, however, that the width of the recess 220, as defined by the wall |34 and the lug 222 is less than the diameter ofthe lower washer received within the recess |48 in the delivery disk |40 and designated for purposes of illustration by the'letter A. In other words, the recess 220 is radially yshortened and possesses a radial dimension less than that of a washer. -As a result ofA this arrangement any The action of thesev assembly.

by leaf spring means 242% lThe pivoted jaws 226 have the fcim of bell excess washer improperly superimposed upon a washer A will necessarily register with the recess 228 so that its peripheral prong portions engage with the lug or projection 22,2. By -virtue of the fact that the lug 222 is xed and immovable upon the hopper shell |34, further movement of the conveyor disk will cause the excess washer to rotate or shift it about the relatively fixed point of engagenat with the lug 222, causing positive dislodgm The individual washers received withn the recesses |48 progressively move to an assembly station adjacent the lower end of the screw blank delivery chute 'I8 and just overthe lower bars 68 and 18 of the assembly chute 64,'as shown in Figs. 4, 6, 8, and 18. Accordingly, it will be understood that the annular continuity of the shell |34 and bracket construction |35 is relieved at this point to permit the peripheral edge cf the delivery disk |48 to project over the delivery chute or track 54. So, also, it-will be apparent that at this point lthe annular continuity of the shell |34, which functions to retain washers radially within the outwardly facing recesses, is interrupted to permit radial retraction of the Thus the fastener element at this point is shifted into the central aperture o f each respective washer and further progressive movement of the plate |48 causes. each assembled washer and screw to be extracted from its r-ecess |48 by the engagement of the'screw shank with the delivery track 64. I

The assembly mechanism The assembly mechanism for receiving the screw elements one by one from the delivery chute 18 and projecting them through the aperture in the successive lock washers is shown in detail in Figs. 4, 6, 8 to 14, and 17. As each screw elementv is delivered to the end of the chute 18,

it gravitates into `a recess 224 (Fig. 14) formed The jaws 226 are pivotally mounted as at 232 f upon a vertically reciprocable slide 234 journaled in a housing 236 (Figs. 4, 8, 12, and 13). The slide 234 has a generally cylindrical body portion embraced by an anti-friction bearing lining 238 in the fixed housing 236, so that the slide is';

freelyshiftable longitudinally in a direction axially of the cylinder. To steady the relatively movable parts, a friction brake block 248 extends through the sidewall ofthe housing 236 and bearing liner 238 into contact with the shiftable member 234 and is urged into engagement fulcrumed by pin 244 and tensioned by intermediate machine screw 246V engaging the housing 236. The fixed housing 236 is mounted upon aproiecting bracket portion or arm 231 (Figs. 4 and 8) of an upwardly projecting pedestal 239 rigidly mounted on the upper surface of the housing 38. For purposes-of cnvenience, the lslidably with the end of bracket arm 231 by means providing lateral adjustment to and from housing 236 is engaged CTI cranks (Fig. 14) having laterally projecting arms 248 engaged by projections 258 on a laterally extending, resiliently mounted bar 252 urged downwardly and away from the main 'portion of the slide 234 by a pair of compression springs 254. The resilient force applied upon the projecting arms 248 therefore retains the lower portion of the jaws 226 in closed position, as clearly shown vin Fig. 13. Opening or spreading of the jaws just before final driving of the screw element into assembled position is effected by abutment means comprising a pair of adjustable stop screws 256, threadedly supported in the lower portions of brackets 258 integral with the fixed housing 236. As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the adjustable abutment members 256 reside just below the extremities of the laterally extending jaw arms 248 in position to contact and rotationally shift the jaw mechanism when the slide hasreached its lower position. This action of the parts is specifically illustrated in Figure 12 wherein it will be noted that the impingement of the ends of the arms 248 upon the fixed abutment screws 256 has caused the arms 248 to move upwardly against the resilient action of the springs 254, whereby the jaws are spreader shifted outwardly to clear the head of the screw blank.

During this action, the shifting or driving bar 238 comes into action. This bar 238 is rigid with a sleeve 259, movable axially Within a central ybore in the slide 234. It should be noted that the sleeve has a flange 26.8 at its lower extremity, limiting the upward movement of the sleeve 259 with respect to the slide. Jam nuts 26| on the upper threaded portion of the sleeve 259 similarly limit downward movement of the slide and may be adjustably positioned in order to predetermine the relative movement between the parts.

It should be noted that the rigid interconnection between the driving bar 238 and the sleeve 259 is adjustably maintained by means of intertting threads and the lock nut 262 at the upper exthe plane of interengagement 24|, this constructremity of the parts, whereby the bar 238 may be adjusted into proper driving relationship with fastener heads of varying size and shape. Since, as will hereinafter more fully appear, the entire slide assembly is driven by means engaging the sleeve 259, it will lbe evidentthat the slide 234 normally rests and is supported upon the lower ange 268 of the sleeve 259, as clearly shown in Figure 13. When the slide has been permitted to fall to its lower position, however, the bar 230 may move axially into fastener driving position, as clearly shown in Figure 12.

From the foregoing, it will be manifest that shifting of the vertically reciprocable slide 234 'and its associated parts between predetermined elevations will cause screw elements to be successively engaged by the jaws 226, conveyed ddwnwardly into association with a washer and then released by vsaid jaws and positively driven into engagement with the washer.

The mechanism for accomplishing the shifting o f the foregoing slide construction comprises a bracket arm 264 rigidly engaged with the sleeve 258 by jam nuts 266. The opposite extremity of the bracket arm 264 (Figs. 4, 6, and 8) is rigid with the vertically shiftable control bar 268, slidable longitudinally within the upstanding pedestal 239 which is bored centrally for this purpose and provided with a bearing liner 218. A compression coil spring 212, embracing the shaft or bar 268 within the sleeve or pedestal 239 (see Fig. 8), abuts oppositely against a collar and 19. In accordance with this able assembly mechanism vtoward its lowermost position. Movement upwardly against the tension of the spring 212 is effected by means of a cam member 216 rigid with shaft |66 and engaged by cam follower 211 on the lower extremity of shaft 268. It will be understood that shaft |66 is the shaft hitherto described in detail and which is constantlyA driven to actuate the indexing mechanism for effecting control of the washer conveying disk.

It will lie-obvious, therefore, that this shaft additionally functions to actuate the cam mechanism whi- :h results in the individual shifting of the screw elements into assembled association with the respective washers.' More specifically, upon actu: tion, the continuously rotating cam 216 alternately raises and lowers the follower 211 and accordingly the shaft 268 and the arm 268 to cause the slide 234i and associated jaw construction to move from an upper position wherein a screw blank is received from the chute 18 to a lower position wherein the screw' blank isv driven into position and then released.

Downward movement of the rodv230 is limited by the engagement of the head of an adjustable set screw 218 (Fig. 8) carried by the arm 264 with the stationary arm 231, the set screw being 'slidably guided at its unthreaded end in an aperture in the arm 231. A yieldable Washer 219 absorbs the force of the engagement between the screw and arm 231.

ance with the delivery of a washer to assembly..

position The control of the screw blank assembly mechanism for preventing the delivery of incomplete lassemblies to the delivery track 64 is illustrated more in detail in Figs. 4', 6, 8 to 13, incl., 17, 18, construction as stated above the detector mechanism 26, arranged adjacent the assembly point, closes an electrical circuit when any of the recesses 48 arrives at the assembly point in empty condition, the circuit serving to maintain the reciprocating portions o f the screw blank shifting and driving mechanism positively in upper inoperative position until such time as a. properly positioned washer arrives at the assembly point.

The detector mechanism comprises a housing 280 rigidly secured to the upper surface of the housing by means 282 permitting lateral adjustment of the device to accommodate the assembly of washers of varying size, as will here inafter more fully appear. Control lever 284, pivoted on the housing as at 286, extends outwardly thereof and supports upon its extremity a rotatable follower or roller 288, noted that the .bar 10 of the assembly delivery track or chute 64 is relieved or recessed as at 290 so that the periphery of the roller may extend into the recesses |48. As clearly shown inv Figs.l 12 and 13, the outer periphery of the-roller 288 is arranged in the same plane with the recesses |48. A spring arm I292 urges the roller 288 into the said recesses, this movement being adjustably limited -by means of an adjustment-screw 294. A switch 295. operated by adjustable set screw 296 on lever 284, completes an electrical circuit.

when the lever arm 2841s rotated to its hunting It should vbe 211| on shaft 268 and against the sleeve liner 210y to urge the shaft and the remainder of the shiftpoint devoid of a lock washer as shown in Fig. 19. At other times, however, the roller rides against the periphery of the conveyor disk |40 or in contact with the peripheral portions of washers containediwithin the recesses |48, as clearly shown in Fig. 18, to break the foregoing electrical circuit.

.The aforesaid electrical circuit effects control of a solenoid 298 mounted upon a bracket 300 at Athe upper portion of the pedestal support 239 (see Figs. 6, 8, and 9). The armature of the solenoid is rigid with the laterally extending block 302 resting upon the upper surface of the pedestal 239. As clearly shown in Figs. l0 and 1l, the block 302 is congurated with an interlocking tooth portion along its upper edge as at 304 for engagement with a notched recess 306 in the vertically shiftable control shaft 268.

The block is normally held disengaged from the reciprocating shaft 268 when the solenoid is de-energized by means of a tension coil spring 308, engaging the end of the armature and a laterally extending portion 3|0 of the bracket 300 (see Figs. 6 and 9). Outward movement of the control block 302 is limited by means of an adjustable abutment screw 3|2s carried by the portion 3|0 of the bracket 300.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that as long as the recesses |48 in the conveyor dial are occupied, the solenoid 298 will remain unenergized. Should an unoccupied recess |48 reach the assembly pointjdetector roller A 288 is permitted to move into theI recess to close the circuit to the solenoid at the points 295, thus actuating the armature to draw the control block 302 against the shiftable bar 263. As` the'bar starts to descend control the assembly operation, the blockl 302 engages into the recess 306 to lock Athe entire shiftable assembly in its uppermost The operation of thje machine as a whole From the foregoing it will be apparent that the body of screw blanks,` either threaded or unthreaded, dumped or massed within the hopper 14, are' continuously, through the feed action of reciprocating plate |06, arranged in the chute 18 and permitted to gravitate downwardly to the foot thereof. 'I'he chute 18 is aligned in substantial tangency to the peripheral portions of the rotating conveyor disk which picks up individual washers from a mass or body of washers arranged at random in the washer hopper or shell |34 and conveys the washers one by one to the assembly point below but slightly in advance of the lower end of the chute 18. At this time the washers and the screw elements are respectively supported so that their respective axes are substantially parallel. In accordance with the foregoing, the washer conveyor disk |40 moves with a rotary interrupted or stepwise motion and at the end of eachincrementof advancement a'washer recess |48 containing a washer is brought to rest directly at the` assembly point, that is, indirect axial alignment with the recess 224 formed by the scre'w blank receiving jaws 226. At this time the jaws are in their uppermost position in alignment with the end of the chute 19, wherefore the lowermost screw element gravitates into the goingV remarks, as the' jaws 226 approach the washer, they are separated to release the washer head and an axial application of force is made to the head by means of the driving bar 230. At this time it will be noted that the washer of the assembly, while being contained within a recess 148 of the conveyor disk, is nevertheless resting directly upon the top surface of the delivery chute bars 68 and 10 so that a positive application of force to the fastener head may be employed to positively associate the elements in final assembled position.- When the assembly is complete, the conveyor disk Mil is again set in motion to convey not only the embraced washer but the assembled screw element away from the point of assembly, as shown clearly in Figs. 18 and 19. It will be noted, however, that since the shank of the screw is embraced at both sides by the longitudinally extending bars 68 and 'i8 and since these bars extend tangentiallyy to the path of conveyance, the assemblies are gradually extracted or ejected from their recesses and thus delivered directly to the inclined chute Slt along which they gravitate to the transfer mechanism of the thread rolling machine.

Assuming that the operator should fail to supply washers to the washer receiving hopper or shell, the conveyor 'disk would continue to move rotationally in stepwise order to, one by one, align the peripheral recesses with the slot in the lower guide 68. Upon movement of an unoccupied recess to the point of assembly, the detector roller 288 moves into the unoccupied recess to cause the control circuit of the solenoid 298 to be closed and the solenoid instantaneously moves the stop block 302'into engagement with the reciprocating rod of the assembly mechanism to retain it in inoperative position. When an occupied recess |48 reaches the point of assembly, the roller is moved backwardly, the' circuit opened, and the solenoid de-energized to release the reciprocating rod and permit direction of a screw element into the washer. It will be apparent from the foregoing that the present machine is automatic in operation and positively assures the supply of only properly assembled units to the thread rolling device. The present invention, moreover, provides for the depositing of individual washers from a random mass into a conveyor in predetermined supported position with respect tothe conveyor and for the positive conveyance of these washersto a point of assembly. While positively supported, a screw element is inserted within the fastener at a point intermediate of the path of conveyance. The conveyor then proceeds to move to the point of discharge, carrying the as- 60 tion of the assembly from the conveyor is ef sembled unit, and at said point of discharge ejec- After assembly, the screw vand washer units gravitate along the chute 64 and in the illustrative embodiment are then transferred to the thread rolling dies 36 and 38 in which a retaining thread is formed on eachscrew blank beneath its associated washer.

`It will be evident that the present invention provides a construction in which a suitable driving force is applied to the head of the fastener to force it into association with the washer, the

washer being meanwhile rigidlysupported and placement.

including a press engaging both screw elements and washers to effect assembly thereof, the attachmnt being fitted on the machine without any substantial modification or rearrangement of the several parts of the machine. Although the present invention has been described in relation to a thread forming machine, it will be evident` that in its broader aspects it is not so limited but may be employed in association with any machine or mechanism to which assembled .screw'and washer units may advantageously be supplied.

Froin the foregoing it will further be apparent that in accordance with the present disclosure the terms fastener element or screw element are intended to cover not only the original unthreaded screw blank but also fastener elements ln their final threaded condition.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its numerous advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of vthe following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. In a machine for assembling screw elementsI and washers, means for conveying screws to a delivery point, means for conveying Washers to an assembly point, assembly mechanism including means movable from an inactive position receiving a screw element at this delivery point to carry and insert the screw element into a washer at the assembly point, means adapted tol retain the assembly mechanism in inactive position, Washer detector meansv at the assembly point, and means controlled by said detector means for actuating and Areleasing said retaining means in response to the presence or absence of a washer at the assembly point. Y

2. In a machanism forv assembling screw and l washer elements, a holder for one of said elepositivelypositioned against axial and lateral disments and a slide carrying' relatively movable members `clamping the other of the elements to the slide for movement therewith, means for moving the members relatively to clamp said Aother element to theslide, means for moving the slide rectilinearly toward the holder to carry said element and telescope it with the complementary element in its holder, and positioned to engage said members as the slide approaches the holder y means for then relatively moving the members to release the assembled elements.

3. In a` mechanism for assembling screw and washer elements, a washer feed plate having spaced means receiving washers for conveyance by the plate, a slide, relatively shiftablemembers on said slide for holding a screw element and for carrying and inserting the screw element into a washer, indexing means'for actuating said feed plate step by step successively to position th'e washers in the path of a screw element held by said members, energy storing means for actuating said slide member in a direction to carry and insert the screw element into a Washer in the path of the screw element, power actuated means for moving said slide member in the opl storing means, and means operated by the posi` tioning of a washer in the path of a screwelement carried in the holding members for releasing said locking means.

The assembly mechanism, accordslide to engage the head of a screw element held in said jaw members and to force the -screw element through the washer aperture, electrically operable means for locking said actuating means against movement to actuate said tubular slidel a switch controlling said electrically operable locking means, and a washer sensing device controlling said switch to render said locking means ineffective if a washer is positioned for assembly with a screw element and to render said locking means eifective if no washer is positioned for assembly with the screw element.

5. In a mechanism for assembling screw and washer elements, a support, a tubular slide mounted ron said support, a pair Vof oppositely shiftable jaws, means pivotally mounting said jaws on said tubular slide, spring meansfor urging said jaws toward each other to hold a Vscrew element therebetween, means for feeding washers in succession to a position in the path ofl movement of a screw element carried by said jaws, means for actuating said tubular slide to carry and telescope a screw element held in'said jaws into a washer, each of said jaws having an abutment surface, and an adjustable stationary abutment means on said support and one for each jaw and each adapted to engage an abutment surface of a jaw to move the jaws away from each other to release the screwV element after being partially telescoped into the Washer and a ram rod within said tubular slide operable relative to the slide for thereafter forcibly pressing the screw element into final telescoped relation,

with the washer with the clamping head of the screw element adjacent the washer.

6. In a machine for assembling screw elements and washers, means for conveying washers to.

an assembly point, means for assembling screw elements with thewashers at said point, lmeans for actuating the assembly means, means including a washer actuated detector element positioned to engage a washer at the assembly point, and a locking device operatively connected to said detector element for locking said assembly means against actuation by said actuatingk means when the washer conveyor means' fails to deliver a washer to said assembly point.

7. In a machine for assembling screw elements and washers, means for holding a washer at an assembly location, a support, a slide mounted on location to insert said screw element in said washer so located, abutment means carried by said jaws, and stationary abutment means on said support in position to engage said jaw-carried abutment means to release said jaws from the screw therebetween as said screw is inserted in said washer, said stationary abutment means, and said jaw-carried abutment means and said jaw-mounting means being constructed to cause an opening movement of the jaws'releasing the screw therebetween prior to the termination of movement of the actuating slide rod, said actuating slide rod, as it continues to move after the jaws are open, pressing the released screw element engaged by said rod into nal telescoped relation with said washer held by said washer holding means at said location.

8. In a machine for assembling screw elements and washers, means for holding a washer at an assembly location, a support, a slide mounted on saidsupport for movement toward-and from the washer held by said means at saidlocation, a pair of opposing shiftable jaws for receiving a screw element therebetween, means for mounting said jaws on said slide to cause the jaws tocar-ry and partially insert a receiver screw element into a washer held by said holding means at said location, an actuating rod slidably mounted on said support for reciprocating movement toward and from the washer held by -the washer holding. means at the assembly location, power -releasing abutment means carried by said jaws,

, stationary abutment means on said support and said support for movement toward and from the washer held by said `means at said location, a pair of oppositely shiftable jaws, forreceivinga screw element therebetween, means for mounting said jaws on said slide to cause the jaws to carry and partially insert a received screw'element through a washer held by said holding means at said location, an actuating slide rod constructed and arranged in relation to the slide and jaws for movement relative to the 'slide toward vand from said washer location to engage a screw element in the jaws and to, drive said slide,

as well as the jaws holding said screw, toward the washer held by said'holding means at said positioned to be engaged by said jaw-carried abutment means for moving said jaws to release the screw as said screw is inserted in said washer, means associated-with said slide and said jaws normally urging said jaws toward each other to hold the received screw therebetween, said urging means being constructed and arranged to allow opening movement of said jaws upon engagement ofsaid stationary abutment means with said jaw-carried abutment means, said abutment means being so related that said engagement takes place. after vpartial telescoping of said screw with the washer held by its holding means atsaid location, said power means being constructed to'thereafter continue movement of said rod and slide toward the washer so that said rod will engage and press said released and' partially telescoped screw further into said washer slide to hold said slide against movement except yby said actuated rod when pressing upon a screw received between said jaws.

10. In a machine as set forth in claim 8, wherein there is provided friction material carried by said support and positioned to engage said slide for. holding said slide against movement except `by said actuating rod whenl one of said-spaced members engages said slide.

11..In a machine asset forth in claim 7,

wherein the jaw-carried abutment means comprisesan abutment surface on each jaw and said stationary abutment means comprises individually adjustable 'abutmenta one for each jaw and each adapted to engage an abutment surface of a jaw to move the jaws away from each other.

12. In a machine as set .forth in claim 8, wherein said slide comprises a tube; said support is provided with a tubular sleeve portion slidably receiving said tubesaid actuating rod is slidably mounted in said tube .and wherein the means movable with vSaid slide and forming spaced members for engaging the slide following an initial movement of the actuating rod includes means adjustably mounting one of said members relative to the slide for adjustment to vary the extent of initial movement of the actuating rod relative to the slide.

13. In a mechanism for. assembling screw elements and washers, means for feeding washers successively to an assembly location, a stationary support having a vertical guide above the washer when positioned at said location, a slide mounted in said guide for up and down movement toward l and from the washer when so located, a pair of oppositely shiftable jaws for receiving the screw 'element therebetween. means for pivotally mountingv said jaws on said slide for movement with the slide to carry and insert the screw element received between the jaws into a washer at said location when said slide is Vmoved downward toward the washer at said location, an actuating plunger on said slide andvprojecting between said jaws for engaging with a screw element when received between said jaws, a. driving shaft, driving connections between said shaft and said actuating plunger for reciprocating the plunger up and down upon operation of the driving shaft, means mounting said plunger with respect to the slide for an initial movement rela- 'tive to the slide to engage a screw received in said jaws upon downward movement of the plunger, said plunger being constructed and arranged to apply through the engaged screw received between said jaws, a downward force upon said jaws causing through the jaws and Athe means mounting the jaws on the slide a downward movement of the slide with the plunger after the plunger has engaged the screw received between said jaws, means associated with said plunger and said slidefor causing the upward movement of the slide with the plunger, said jaws having an abutment surface, and stationary abutment means adjustably mounted on said support and positioned to engage said abutment surfaces for movingv the jaws away from each other to release the screw element after being partially telescoped into the washer positioned by the washer feeding means at said location, said driving connections being constructed to continue the movement of said plunger after the screw has been released from said jaws to press the screw into final telescoping relation with the washer.

WILLIAM STERN.

'YNO 2, 281+,

CERTIFICATE oE'cRREcTIoN,

' June 2,.19L;2.

wILLIm STERN.

Itis hereby certified 'that errer appears in the printed specif'cat ion of'V the abo ve numbered patent requiring .correcti en as folllws-g. Page sec..

l ondr'eolumn, line\ll.2,beginning'uwith "2. Inamachanism" s ,trike cut'all to' qnd includingmelementsu'. in line 5M,A comprising claim. for the eleime -new numbered 5, 14,536, 7, 8, 9, -1o,- 11, 12 and 1'5gr'eeg142, 3,1,

'5, 6, Y, 8', 9, l0, 11 andllZ respectively; ii1"the bedding l-o-flhve"printed 'v specification, line'8, for-"'15 Claims@ read #-12 C1aims.; page B, sec- '.'nd oolum, line 26, for "receiver" read "received-.5.4; linesv 65 end 75, Y forl tl'rlvje claim reference numeral "7". read -6; same page 8.,'s'econ'd-co1- umn, line 69, and page' 9,' first column, line 7,.ffor' the 'claim reference withhiscorrection therein that the seme 'may confonn to the recerd ef the case in the Patent Office.

" signed and sealed this 11th day of August,- A. D. l191m.

- v Henri Van Ar-sdele,

(Seal) Acting Cmmsvsioer of Patents. .f'l

CERTIFICATE oF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2',2;l+,690.y June 2, 191m. wILLnn STERN.

It 'is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring ,correction as follows: Page '7, sec- 'ond column, line 14,2, beginning with "2. Inamachanism" strike out all to and 'including el'ementsd'in line 51|., comprising claim 2 and for the claims now numbered 5, u, 5, 6, 7 8, 9, 10,-11, 12- and15 read 2, 5,1 5,6, 7, 8, '9, 10., 1l and l2 respectively; in the headingto the printed specifica tion, line 8, for "l5 Cloims." read --12 Claims.; page 8, second column, I

line 26, for "receiver" read received; and that the said Lettere Patent A should be'r'eadwith Vthis correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the ,case in the Patent Office..

Signed and sealed 'this 28th day of July, A, 1'). 19142.

Henry Ven'ArsdalB, (.seal) A Acting Commissioner of Potente.

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