US2327228A - Machine for making lenses or the like - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 17, 1943. w. H. UMLANDT MACHINE FOR MAKING LENSES OR THE LIKE Filed June 25, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 17, 1943. w. H. UMLANDT MACHINE FOR- MAKING LENSES OR THE LIKE Filed June 25, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 17, 1943. w. H. UMLANDT MACHINE FOR MAKING LENSES OR THE LIKE Filed June 25, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 17, 1943. w. H. UMLANDT I MACHINE FOR MAKING LENSES OR THE LIKE Filed June 25, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 17, 1943. w. H. UMLANDT 2,327,228

MACHINE FOR MAKING LENSES OR THE LIKE Patented Aug. 17, 1943 mm stems PAT EN 0mm: r r mnsiiston 1;

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This invention. is a, novel automatic machine for making, lens s or he. 1ikebar i'cu arly'f ti su r ns. eed: al as and ool n translucent lens blanks; adeptejdjto be mounted in holes oropeningsin the feces 0i iiiuminatedi signs o-r'tlie like, said lens blanks beingxnad of thermo-piastic' or othermateri'agh themsaine 7 g preferably oft'he type disclosedimthe'o, l cati'on for'U: S. Letters Patent filed Jui'y M11939; by Berna-rd Hahn; Seria1'No.,286;2fi5 (now metugged intoU. S: betterslot'ent No. 2,252,5647deted11ingustf; 32; 1941'), which blanks, in normal heat- I stable condition, are of larger size or diameter then holes or openings in the sign; faces in,

which-they-ajfemounted; andwhi ch; beforein sei tioniimtheholes off the sign faces, must be heated; and reduced, by compressi'ongintoi so-coile'd' heat-unstable?" shape and condition-in which a; portion oigthe'bl-anks are 01- smaller diametelg or: sizeto intosaid holes or openings; so that when subsequently expended o1 enlarged" byiurs thefepplicotionofheat to their, no-rma1:"hee,t' stable i blanksg the blanks will: lock themselves in said. holes. However, my novel: machine may obviously beused any otherpurposesfor, which itis; adapted;

my present invention is an impro'vementupez; the handoperated machinefor heatingand corn- 'familia'iewith the art to adopt and use the-same;

- moved intothe feeding station; also to provide (2') an attachment, for wmm Si-ng the chucks; carrying the; heated blanks to; form' heads on the upper endsof the'blenks above the chucks; also to provide 63;) anattachmentfor grinding the .Eheadedf bljenks carried in chucks to} impart the desired dome o-r-other shape tothe heads ofthe blanks; andalso to provide-(4 an ottaelp ment for cooling the ground; blanks tocause some to retein theirheat-unstable shape ondeiy ordinary temperature; ranges before the" respective-- chucks havecompleted one orbit.- My

attachments-when applied tofthe Eatery Automatic thus provide a; machine having; meansfor! heating; feeding; heading; grinding; and cooling lens or otherblanksof thermoplastic mateeial on the like without requiring menu-al effort on the part'of" the operator; whereby a single operator may siipervise the functioning ofail-plurality of such-machines:

Qthen minor objects of: the-invention will behereine-fteg set forth;

I will explein the invention with r theaccompanying drawings which illustrate one practicel embodiment thei eof; to enable-othei s and will-summarize in-the'cl-ai'ms, the-novel fea:-.

tures]: ofconstruction, and novel combinations of pressing said lens blanks or thelikedisclosed in my co pendingapplication Serial-"No. 295-35 filed September 18, 1939- (now matured intolUi S Letters Patent No. 2,273,509 dated February 1-7;

1942) the: present invention consistingessential: 1y of attachment or attachments to the so called-*Barry Automatic button making inachines suchasdisclosed: in the- United StetesLetters: P'atent'No. 765,014; dated Jul y% 1904 which the machine comprises anendless series-- of button holding chucks moving in an orbital path-havingat one portion ofithepatha feeding ststi'on-- wherethechucks in succession alre'sup plied with button blanks, the chucks carrying said button blanks alongthe path forsubsequent opel ationthereonby tools which shapeand difil-l the button blanks-before same-- are disehar from the chucksrnoving insoidorbit.

The. principal objects of my present" invention pants," for which protection; is desired;

ln saiw drawings:

' -1l ig.- 3; enlarged penspective View; on the blank feeding attachment, indicating the-"adder 9 cent parts of the, "Betr-y. Automatic machine.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan View of the blank feeding attaohment, v

Elsi 5 is e vertical sectien on thedineis-fl;

4',- showing the pick u-p finger of the feeding; at; tachmezit ih contact with a blank-holding chuck; Fig 6: is: ar-vi'ew: similao toF-ig. 5 but showing the position ofthe partsjusteftc; a; blank has,

been deposited into the: engaged chuck, show.- ing; the knife par-tily' entesedi: intothe heated plastic-red in the act of severing-o blank the-re from; i

'7- is a: viewsimilarto Fig 6- but showingthe position of the paitswhen theknife hasccmpletied itscutting operation; 'j ustprior tothe dis eference to- Eig'. 1 i s esfi omj: elevationoi a. portion; oi BarpyiAutematie buttonama-king machieelook-J ir'zg at the blank feeding station, a'nd sho-Wing myi g attachments applied.

engagement of the pick-up finger from the chuck. v

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the feeding plate and its bracket, detached.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged elevation of a lens: blank, as cut from the plastic rod.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the blank, headed just prior to grinding.

Fig. 11 is an elevation of the ground blank in lens form.

The Barry Automatic button machine to which my attachments are applied, comprises an endless series of button holding chucks A respectively mounted in an endless series of chuckholding rotatable spindles B having tops 13', spindles B being loosely mounted in housings C pivotally connected together to form an endless chain running around a pair of spaced notched wheels (not shown) in the machine in the usual manner, one wheel being fixedly mounted on a center shaft D driven by means of gearing (not shown) from a shaft E (Fig. 2) carrying a pulley E rotated by belt F running around pulley E and around a, pulley G on drive shaft G which is rotated by a suitable prime mover (not shown) whereby the series of chuc :s A are caused to move in an orbital path. The other or idler notched wheel for the endless chain of housings C is mounted on a shaft H rotated by said wheel.

Spindles B are each provided with belt pulleys B2 engaged by spring belts. J running entirely around theseries of spindles B, and around a spring tensioned pulley, and around a drive pulley K mounted on a shaft K driven through gearing in housing L from drive shaft G, said belts J causing the spindles B to rotate continuously in their housings C during their orbital movement in the machine. v 7

Spindles B have a loose fit within housings C permitting considerable play therein; and the lower ends A2 of chucks A extending below the lower ends of spindles B and carry balls A3 riding upon an endless cam track M, in the usual manner, to raise or lower the chucks A in their respective spindles B according to whether the balls are riding upon a high or low portion of cam track M. When the balls A3 are riding on a low portion of cam track M the chucks A will be lowered and expanded in their spindles B so that the upper ends willlie substantially flush with the tops B of the spindles as indicated in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, 6 and 7 but when balls A3 are riding upon a high portion of'cam track M, chucksA will be raised in their respective spindles B to contract around and initially grip the lens blanks deposited or contained therein. i I

The above described construction of the Barry Automatic machine forms no part of my present invention.

The blank feeding means My novel lens-blank feeding attachment comprises a base plate I (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) supported by brackets Ia having split clamps Ib-secured'to uprights N--N of the Barry Automatic *machine substantially opposite the ends of the low portion of cam track M (Fig; 1) Clamps I!) support plate I in fixed position somewhat below the level of the tops B of spindles B. Brackets Ea preferably have a slotted connection-with the base plate I whereby same may be adjusted to fit difierent spacings of uprights N on different models of the Barryfmachine. v V

Each bracket Ia carriesa lug Ic havinga hole slidably receiving a horizontal rod Id, said rods carrying a guide bar 2 which engages the upper portions of the series of spindles B as shown in Fig. 3 in order to maintain the series of chucks A in alignment as they approach and pass the point feeding station. Coiled springs Ie around rods Id are interposed between guide bar 2 and the lugs I c, to yieldably urge guide bar 2 into the path of the spindles B, suitable heads on the inner ends of rods Id preventing the rods from passing out through the lugs Ic.

. Upon base plate I i a guide I f for a reciprocable carriage 3 disposed parallel with and adjacent the run of the endless series of chucks A.. Carriage 3 carries a pick-up finger 4 pivoted thereon at 411, said finger having a hooked outer end 417 (Fig. 4) adapted to be successively engaged with the spindles B of the series and intermittently move the carriage 3 on its forward stroke -in the direction of travel of the chucks A and along with the movement thereof. A spring 3a conecting one upright N and a post so on carriage 3 yieldably restores carriage 3 on its return stroke to normal position, in which the adjacent end of the carriage abuts against a fixed bumper Ig mounted on the adjacent end of guide If, whenever the hooked end 4?) of finger 4 becomes disengaged from a spindle B.

The inner end 'of finger 4 is relatively broad,

the inner rear corner of finger 4 normally yieldably maintains trigger 5 in the position shown in Fig. 4 and also normally urges the outer hooked end 41) of finger 4 to swing into the path of movement of spindles B. T

Movement of the-spindle B engaged by hook 419 towards the right (Fig. l) will correspond ingly move carriage 3, by means of finger 4, in the same direction and at the same speed as the spindle until trigger leg 5b engages a trip 1 fixedly mounted on guide if (or on base plate I) whereupon trigger 5 will pivot in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4) causing leg 5c thereof to swing out of engagement with the wall of notch 4c to ermit the hooked end 4b of finger 4 to slide out of engagement with the spindle B'to which it had been hooked, whereupon the spring 3a will act to return carriage 3 to its normal position,

i. e., into contact with fixed bumper Ig. As soon however as leg 51) of trigger Eretracts from trip a land hooked end sb of finger 4 is released from engagement with spindle B, spring 5d will simultaneously again swing finger 4 into the path of movement of spindles B so that hook 4?) will engage the next following spindle of the series,

. and trigger. 5 will also be restored by spring 5d 7 Adjacent carriage 3, disposed above the path of movement of the series of spindles B, is a verthe right of Fig. 1, causing the chuck A to rise in its spindle and compress the portion of blank 9a confined in the chuck, said spindle then moving-the blank under a rotating circularseries of jackets 20 which in turn carry compression plungers 2! which are mounted on the center shaft H of the Barry Automatic machine.

Each of the jackets 20 is tubular and is carried by a web having a hub 20a fixedly mounted on shaft H so as to rotate therewith. Jackets 20 are disposed on the same radius with respect to shaft H as the spindles B, and are also spaced the same distance between centers as the spindles in rounding said end of the orbit, so that the jackets are moved synchronously with the spindles to insure that there will always be a jacket disposed above each spindle B when the latter is rounding the adjacent end of the orbit. Each jacket 20 has a slot 2% (Fig. 3) inits upper end at the lower end of which slot is a laterally projecting lug 200 in which is fixedly mounted a vertical pin Zildhaving a nut 206 on its upper end. Vertically slidably mounted in each jacket 26 is a plunger 2! having a lateral arm 2m (Fig. 3) slidably engaging slot 2% in the wall of the jacket, said arm Zia having 'a hole slidably receiving the pin 23d of the jacket, arm 2Ia limiting the downwardlmovement'of the plunger. in

the jacket. A coiled spring 2Ib around pin 20d interposed between arm 2| aand nut 20c yieldably resists upward movement of the plunger 21 in its jacket 20 At the lower end of each plunger is a substantially semi-circular wall 2|c of sufficient radius to permit the chuckA to enter therein, said wall being adapted to engage the tops B of the spindles B moving over the high portion of the cam track M.

As the successive chuck A with the still hot or heated blanks to travel along the high surface of cam M of the Barry machine, the tops B of the related spindles B come into contact respectively with the lower ends of the walls 210 of the series of plungers 2! carried by thejackets 20, which plungers are held down by the compression springs Zlb, and 1511011 contact yieldably forces the spindlesB downon theirrelated'chucks A, thereby tightly compressing to, a muchreduced diameter the portions of the lensblanks Sa'embraced by the jaws of the chucks, result-,

ing in headed blanks 9am (Fig; 10) In Fig. '1, the first three spindle tops B from the right, which are disposed above the high portion of cam M, are shown in contact. with the walls 2 lo of plungers 2| and the blanks carried in their related chucks A are, marked 9am since these blanks would be headed as shown in Fig..10.

Similarly the first three spindle tops B from the leftin Fig. 2 which are disposed above thehigh portion of cam M are'shown contacting the walls 2 In of their related plungers; while the nexttwo spindle tops are shown dropped below the walls 210 since said spindles have moved onto a lower portion of thecam M.. I

g r The blank grinding me ans V The headed blanks Sarcare then carried along their orbit in the rotating chucks A to the side to the machine, said shaft 26 having a belt pulley 21, and a belt 28 runs around pulley 21 and,

around a pulley 29 mounted on the driven shaft K of the Barry machine, to constantly rotate the emery wheel 25. In event the heads of the blanks 9am are to be left flat or unfinished the grinding operation may be readily omitted.

When the lens blank 9a is finally shaped to the form Bar or Say shown in Figs. 10 and 11, it then passes in itsorbit under a spray of cold water from spray pipe 30 to chill the lens, as the lens must be chilled while it is held in the die or chuck in order that same may retain its heat-unstable shape. A stream of cold water from pipe 3| is also played directly upon emery wheel 25 to keep said wheel free from dust, dirt, and sludge and also to initially cool the still heated lens blanks carried along with the chucks A.

From the emery wheel 25 the lens blanks Say are carried around the orbit to the pull-down track R (Fig. 1) where the grip on the blanks Bay by chucks A is released; and suction removes the finished lens blanks from the chucks in the same manner customary in removing buttons from the Barry Automatic machine.

My attachment might also be used for turning buttons by merely feeding a rod into the tube 8, slicing a blank therefrom by knife I2, feeding it into the chuck A, and then'passing it under a suitable tool held in jacket 20 for turning the pattern on the projecting end of the blank instead of the plunger 2! shown in the drawings.

I do not limit my invention to the exact form shown in the drawings, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

said portion for automatically feeding blanks said severing means comprising a reciprocable carriage beside the orbit; means on the carriage for automatically engaging and disengaging successive chucks to move the carriage therewith through successive forward strokes; means for returning the carriage to normal position when disengaged from the chucks; and a knife on the carriage adapted to sever a blank from the rod on each forward stroke of the carriage thereby depositing successive blanks thereon.

3. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, said feeding means comprising a reciprocable carriage beside the orbit; means on the carriage for automatically engaging and disengaging successive chucks to move the carriage therewith through successive forward strokes; means for returning the carriage to normal position when disengaged from the chucks; said severing means depositing a blank on the carriage on each for- "aeanees 7 Ward. stroke or the carriage, and means on the carriage for depositing a blank therefrom. into dies in one direction and said contracting: means comprising; acam track supporting the chucks in the spindles, said'track having an offset por-, tion for shifting the chucks-to contact the jaws; and a seriesof yieldablemembers synchronized with the movement ofthe chucks and engaging successive spindles inway 'of't'lie ofiset portion tourge same ina direction opposed'to that im m I parted to the chucks by'the' track;

5 Ina combination as set'forth in claim 1-,-said shaping meanscomprising a rotatable grinding wheel having a contoured periphery adapted: to

engage the heads ofthe successivebl'anksiin the chucks and means for rotatin-gsaid' chucks-.-'

6. In combination, .an endless series of blank holding chuck-s moving in an orbital path, means at one portion of said orbit for holding a rod of plastic blank forming material; means in said holding means for heating said rod; means at said portion for opening the said chucks; means at said portion for successively severing lengths from said rod while heated to form blanks; means at said portion for automatically feeding blanks into the successive opened chucks, the upper ends of the blanks projecting above said chucks; means at another portion of the orbit for contracting the chucks around the portions of the blanks disposed therein to compress said portions of the heated blanks to a diameter less than that of the projecting ends of the blanks; means at still another portion of the orbit for shaping the heads; and means for cooling the blanks in the chucks prior to-discharge of the blanks therefrom.

'7. An attachment for feeding blanks into an endless series of blank holding chucks moving in an orbital path at one portion of which the chucks are open; comprising a base mounted at said portion; a reciprocable carriage mounted on said base; means on the carriage positioned to automatically engage and disengage successive chucks to move the carriage therewith through successive forward strokes; means for returning the carriage to normal position when disengaged from the chucks; means for depositing a blank on the carriage on each forward stroke thereof; and means for depositing a blank from the carriage into the particular chuck engaged by the carriage.

8. In an attachment as set forth in claim '7, a feeding plate on the carriage disposed above the path of movement of the chucks; a fixed plate disposed between the tops of the chucks and the feeding plate and terminating within the stroke of the feeding plate; said feeding plate having a hole therethrough disposed coaxially of the chuck engaged by the carriage; means for feeding a blank into said hole during one stroke of the carriage, said blank resting on said fixed plate, whereby said blank will drop into the underlying chuck when shifted by the feeding plate over the edge of the fixed plate on the next forward stroke of the carriage; said feeding plate being mounted on an arm pivotally mounted on said carriage; an abutment on the carriage against which the arm normally contacts; and yieldable means urging the said arm against the abutment whereby the feeding plate may pivot during movement of the carriage-in event of'anr unyielding obstruct-ion confinedflin-t the" hole or thezfeeding plate:

the lower: end 0;":

Act In: an attachment: as settforth int claim '7, said means for depositing a blank on the carriage com rising holder for a rod of plastic .materialta feeding plate carried by. the carriage and underlying the hoider; a knife. blade carried by 'the carriage an ctadapted: tovsever alength from the rod. on each forward stroke c" the carriage; the cutting edge of 'the bladebermcd' by a; bevel on theunderside thereof; and; a flexible plate mounted. onand spaced above e feeding plate upon which. rests durhe .cuttin goperation; said flexible plate-being v yieldabletowards the reeding plate an amount equal to the' hicknessco-f' the knife blade as: the rod length being cut iscrowded towards; the feeding plate to. the bevel. of the cutting edge of blade, therebypreventing diagonalcutting of .tl1e rod;

' ra In anaiaachm'ent as set forth ihlclaim 7, said: engaging; and disengaging means corn-prisiinger piuoted'onthe carriage and having a chuck engaging outer end and a blunted inner end; a trigger pivoted on the carriage having one leg normally en aging the blunt end of the finger to prevent the finger from swinging out of the path of movement of the chucks; a fixed stop on the carriage normally engaging another leg of the trigger to maintain th first said leg in normal position; a yieldable member connecting the blunt end of the finger and the first mentioned leg of the trigger for normally urging the finger to swing into the path of movement of the chucks and t0 yieldably hold the second mentioned leg in contact with the fixed stop; and a trip on the base positioned to strike the second leg at the end of the forward stroke of the carriage and swing the trigger, thereby permitting the finger to disengage the chuck which it had engaged; the yie1dable member thereupon swinging the finger again into the path of the next following chuck and restoring the trigger to normal position.

11. An attachment for feeding blanks into an endless series of blank holding chucks moving in an orbital path at one portion of which the chucks are open; comprising a base mounted at said portion; a reciprocable carriage mounted on said base; means 'on the carriage positioned to automatically engage and disengage successive chucks to move the carriage therewith through successive forward strokes; means for returning the carriage to normal position when disengaged from the chucks; a holder for a rod of blank forming material disposed above the path of movement of th chucks and having an open lower end and a horizontal slot above said open end; a fixed plate above the chucks disposed below th holder; a knife on the carriage positioned to enter the slot on each forward stroke and sever a blank from the rod; a' feeder plate on the carriage disposed between the fixed plate and lower end of the holder; said fixed plate terminating within the stroke of the feeding plate; said feeding plate having a hole therethrough disposed coaxially of the chuck engaged by the carriage; whereby the cut blank confined'in the lower end of the holder will initially rest upon the feeding plate until the hole in the feeding plate registers therewith, the said blank then dropping into the hole and resting upon the fixed plate, and said blank subsequently dropping into the underlying chuck when shifted by the feeding plate over the edge of the fixed plate on the next forward stroke of the carriage.

12. In an attachment as set forth in claim 11, said tube and sa d holeiin the feeding plate being in vertical alignment at thevmoment the carriage 1 is returned to normal position, whereby a previously cut blank in the hole will support the rod in the holder until the carriage starts its next forward stroke.

'13. In an attachment as set forth in claim 11, a post mounted on said carriage; means for adjusting said post in the direction of movement of the chucks; an arm carrying said knif blade mounted on said post; means for vertically adjusting said arm; a second arm mounted on said post and carrying said feeding plate; means for vertically adjusting said second arm; and means on the base for adjusting said series of chucks laterally of the base in way of the carriage.

14.,An attachment for heading blanks projecting above the tops of an endless series of blank holding chucks slidably mounted in spindles moving in an orbital path, said chucks having split jaws receiving the'lower portions of the blanks, and said jaws being contracted when the chucks are shifted in their spindles in one direc- 1 tion, and said chucks sliding on a cam track having an offset portion for shifting the said chucks;

' said attachment comprisingta member mounted l5. In an attachment as set forth in claim 14,

I said member comprising a base mounted above respective chucks.

said series; an endless series of jackets carried by said base and overlying the respective chucks passing thereunder; means for vertically yieldably mounting said plungers in said jackets respectively; and projections on the lower ends of said plungers engagingthe upperends of the spindles of the chucks sliding upon said, ofi'set portion to'yieldably; depress the spindles on their WILLIAM HENRY UMLANDT;

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