US2392776A - Magazine for nail feeding mechanisms - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 8, 1946. P. SCHULTZE 2,392,775

MAGAZINE FOR NAIL FEEDING MECHANISMS I 5 Sheets-Sheet '1 Original Filed April 29, 1942 ua 2 "no n na c c Q Q INVENTOR P4v Sca y/.725

/ @ZZMW ATTORNEY x Jan. 8, 1946. P, SCHULTZE MAGAZINE FOR NAIL FEEDING MECHANISMS Original Filed April 29, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 8, 1946. P. SCHULTZE 2,392,776

Y MAGAZINE FOR NAIL FEEDING MECHANISMS Original Filed April 29. 1942 5 heetsheet 3 Jan'. 8, 1946. scHu T'zE 2,392,776

' MAGAZINE FOR NAIL FEEDINGYMECHANISMS' Original Filed April 29, 1942' 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Jan. 8, 1946. P. SCHULTZE 2,392,776

MAGAZINE FOR NAIL FEEDING MECHANISMS Original Filed April 29, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTQRNEY Patented Jan. 8, 1946 MAGAZINE FOR NAIL FEEDING MECHANISMS Paul. schultze Danbury, Conn assignon to Doran Brothers, Incorporated, Danbury, Conn acorporation of Connecticut U Original application: 7 April 25!, 3 1942; Serial N01.

441,044." Dividedand this; application June: 14,

1-944, Serial No. 540,204

vrec ims. (CI; 1+6") Thisinvention relates toan rapparatus for the construction or'asse'mbly'of highspeed picker'roll eiements. such as thepicker' rolls r or picker cylinders employed in apparatus f or-.blowing. or-sepstating fur for felt: manufactrue,:.-andimore particularly to an apparatus; Jsu'ch as" a magazine, with feeding mechanismdor supplying pickerrpins to the apparatus that assembles the pinsto their rollasupport. v

.This application. is a division of my application; Serial No. 441,644, filed April 29, 1942.

- nether object is toiprovide a practical. and r ble apparatus for rapidly and eflicientlysupplying a pin-setting mechanism with pins or the iike and. that willtbe of simple construction; and reliahle action. Another objectnis: towprovideua pint-supplying or pin feedingmechanism iniw-hich the-advantages oi rotary motions or; movements may bereliably and dependably gained. even though the pin-receiving. mechanism operates at repeated intervals or intermittently; Another objectis toprovide. a. magazine. and feeding mechanism for containing a supply of pins or the like and feeding from the mechanism; in always the same relationship, where the pinsaredissimilarly shaped at their two ends, andlcapableot operating, rapidly, smoothly and without jamming.

Another object is to provide a mechanism of the above-mentioned character so constructed and'operatingas to achieve the advantages of shortness and rapidity 01" mechanicalmovements where the latter have to-take place at high speed, andtherehyand in other'ways to'achievdhigh speed of operation of the feeding mechanism.

Another object is to provide'an-apparatus' that i will be capable, at high rate dfspeed, of feeding the pointed'pihs, from-a suitable supplyor mass thereof in-which-they are haphazardly contained, always with thesame one of their dissimilar'ends headed in the same direction, to'the; pin-forcing device, but in a manner to insure continued rapidity of successive action of theVdevice.

Another object is torprov ide ancapparatus of theaahove-mentioned character that willybe *of dicatedirithefbllowing claims r In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of various: possible embodiments of my'invention: f

Figure 1 is a front; elevation of'the complete apparatus; 7

Figure -2 is a planviewr, thereof. with certain partsomitted or broken away to show certain other parts moreclearly; n I

Figure 3 isau end elevation asseenirom the leftin Figure-l; 1 Figure ;4' is .a: sectional. line 4-4of Figure "I; certain parts being broken awayor omitted; Y 5 a Q 7 Figure 5 is a view as'seen along; the line- 5- 5 ofFigurel, v I

Figure 6' is' a view Of pa t. of the -apparatu as seen.- along the line-G tter Figure5;. I p

Figure 7 is a detachedvertical sectional view as seenalong. the line -1-1 of Figure -6;

Figures 8 and 9 are elevations on alarger scale of illustrative formsof pins; a i

Figure -10 is1 an elevation, partly in section, as seen along the-1ine10-40 ii-Figure 6; and

Figure 11 is an elevation partly in section, as seen alongthe line He-H: of Fig-urefi. I

Similar reference characters refer. to similar partsthroughout theiseveral viewsv oi the draw.-

mgs. a

As conducive to av clearer understanding of,

certain features of this-invention, it might here be notedothat, in the fur feltindustry, blowing machinesare: employed to effect separation from the desired fur fibres of heavier fur fibresand foreign or undesirabletmaterial like pieces of skin, and that in suchnmachinesh there are em.-

ployedrpicker rolls tthatphavetto be driverrat. high rotary speeds, speeds on the orderv tofu/1,000

R. P. M., the separatingvaction above mentioned takingcplace, in .coaction with. other. elements, as a result of thehigh velocity irnparteduto the. pan ticlesv by the rapidly. revolving picker rolls. In such actions, the heavier orundesiredrparticles or lmaterialsare caused. to exert centrifugal. forces on the .order. of 4,000 R, is appropriate Where the picker pins areiclosely set and project trom the picker ro11' forabout A". The pins are preferably of metal, such as stcelrand where prov etc as seen-along the with the phenolic condensation product;

jecting ends are pointed the shanks may be plain the relatively substantial size or mass of thepins,

there should be good dynamic balance of the picker roll and such a secure anchorage of the pins therein as to resist the components of cen-' trifugal force tending to dislodge them, for loss of pins would not only'diminish the action and efliciency of the picker roll but also effect unbal- Moreover, the pins are very numerous. To provide a practical, eihcient and high speed apparatus for uniformly distributing and assembling and anchoring such picker pins to a rotary picker rollelement is one of the dominant aims of this invention. V

A preferred and illustrative form of rotary base or picker roll element for supporting and anchoring the pins comprises'a tubular or sleeve-like element indicated generally by the reference character 20 in Figures 1, 2 and 0i the drawings, being relatively thin-walled, made of a material of good tensile strength, and preferably of amoldable material such as phenolic condensation product, preferably with fibrous' rnaterial such as layers of suitable fabrics embedded therein and impregnated by and bound together The sleeve element may have an inside diameter of 2%"; an outside diameter of 3 making a wall thickness of 2". Such a sleeve element, of which several may be axially aligned, may be mounted upon a drum-like shaft of metalonto'which it snugly fits and is sleeved and suitably secured thereto, and as so mounted may function in the above-mentioned fur blowing machines.

The pins? preferably take a form like those shown in Figures 8 and- 9,being preferably'of metal, such as steelfand' being dimensioned to have good points as at 21f and good rigidity to resist the reactions of the mechanical forces exerted in the blowing machine; thus, they may be of a diameter on the order of v They have shanks 22 preferably cylindrical and in the form of Figure 9 the shank is provided with threads 23 of relatively large pitch 7 and preferably terminating short of thelstub end cated in Figure LanaIogous to a multiple thread 'of substantial pitch, the holes, as isbetter indicated. in Figure'fi, extending completely through the wallet the sleeve 20, the diameter of the'holes H is somewhat less than the diameter of the shank 22 of the pins P where the latter are plain, as in Figure 8, so that thefit of the shank into a holeis analogous to a force fit. and where pins of steeppitch threads are employed as in Figure 9. the diameter of the holes is just about equal to the root diameter of the threads 23 so that the threads have to cut themselves a corresponding threaded pathway into the material of the sleeve 20, the pin undergoing rotary movement in the process. The tough character of the material of I sleeve 20 thus causes it, in either case, to securely efiect tightly embedded and securely anchored in the material. The great number of pins are to be assembled to the sleeve with a security or anchorage likethat above mentioned and moreover with their centers of mass equidistant from the axis of the sleeve. a i c j The apparatus for effecting such assembly comprises a base 25 with supportsv or legs 26, and upstanding from the base 25 are standards 21 and 28 of which standard 21 is rigidly and fixedly j secured as by the screws 3iland standard 28 is detachably securedto the base as by a threaded stud 3| projecting downwardly from the standard through an'open-ended slot 32 in the base 25,.

threaded stud 3| receiving a handoperated Jclamping nut 33. In standard '21 is rigidly anchored, as by a pin 35, a relatively heavy and strong shaft 35 whose'opposite end enters a hole 3'! in the standard 28, thus to support the righthand end of the shaft 36.

Shaft 36 rotatably and slidablya supports a cylindrical structure of which the right-hand portion is in the form of a mandrel $9 of a length appropriate to receive'thereon the sleeve 20 and of which the left-hand portion is threaded as at 40, the portion 40 having thereon threads which in number and'pitchcorres'pond to the number and pitch of the rows of the holes Him the sleeve 20.

extent and displaced from each other" by 180 so that successive sleeves' interfit and interlock at their adjacent ends, I prefer to utilize such stepped or cut-out ends of the sleeve for fixing its position. relative to the threaded part 40 and hence, intermediate of the parts 39 and 40 Imay provide an annular shoulder 4| presenting at'its right-hand end, as viewedin Figure 1 a step or cut-out of 180 extent with which the left-hand v end of sleeve 20 interfits and thus holds the sleeve 20 against rotation relative to the mandrel 39,

'as is clear from Figures 1 and 2, and onto the end ofmandrel 39 I may slip a collar 42 temporarily anchored as by a set screw 43 to hold the sleeve 20 against axial movement out of interlocking relation with the shoulder 4 I.

In drilling the'helical row or rows of holes the start of each helix is properly related to the cut-outs 20 and N of the sleeve so that hence all drilled sleeves that'are in succession related to the mandrel 39 to have the pins'forced into their holes have their helix or helixes of holes always properly related to the threaded member 40 and also to the fixed point in the apparatus, pin is to be driven home. 1

By loosening up the hand nut 33, the standard 28 may be slipped off toward the right; leaving the shaft 36 supported as a cantilever from" the standard 21, whence, after loosening the collar 42, the collar and the" sleeve 20 may be slipped ofi the mandrel 39 and right hand end of shaft36,

to be replaced by another, by a reverse sequence Thus, where the latter has four rows'or 7 helixes, portion 49 has four threads,'xT 1"," 1 V aseagvre' man-(r thereby the posltion tor whlchi 'lt-z is: returned. v

The mandrel 39 has an outside diameterto snugly receive the sleeve 20 thereovenrso that the cylindrical surface or mandrel 39 closes oil and forms the bottoms for all of the holosIH: in? the sleeve 20 (see Figure The'structure 3 9 may be made hollowor I tubular; if" desiredgex cepting'of course at' those portions,- such as the ends,where it is bored to a: diameter to form a sliding and rotary fit relative to the flxew shaft 36; g v I "The, shaft 38 is of suflicient. extent "relative-' to thelength'of the structure "ditto-givearangeot sliding movement su'filcient' to' traverse the errtire length" or the sleeve 'Zll relative 'to-':the point; where the apparatus operates toiforcesa pin into a 'hol'e in the sleeve, and'in the ionn shown-in the drawings, that point is in the -vertical axis of-a vertically movable pin-zeroing devlcerwhich includes a plunger 45, preferably located underneath, and in; line with the vertical plane through,- the shaft 36. As shown in.Flgures rand 2,' the sleeve is at a point substantially'halfway ofi its sliding traverse along shaft 36.

Coactlng' with the threaded" element 40 is a block-M having aiacefl migure '2) thatis curved and threaded to mate with the threaded surrace ot the part 0, beinglilreasegment of a nut.

Block' H is-held-against movement lengthwise of the guiding'shaft 3Gbutismount'ed to be moved toward or away from tllrealzled elenxent ll so as to engage or disengage-its thread. 'Conveniently; it is'supported-on anarm'n fixed to iii end, shaft 49 being supportedin two upstanding and 3) secured to a shaft supported in bosses 58' and 51 projecting upwardly from the: base 25 like the bosses 5l--52 that supportshaft 49.

Shaft 55 can swing inthe bosses 51 but is held against axialmovementby the engagement of armH-with the boss 56 andby the engagement ofan arm 58 at its'other' end 'wlth'the boss 51. Arms 51 and 58 extend upwardlwarid in'parallelism (Figures 2, 3and'4land intheir upper ends fixedly support the ends of a holding pawl 60 which, being conveniently in'the form of'a square rod, presents throughout its length, which is at least equal to the traverse stroke of the structure 39-40, a single tooth l'ike portion'for coaction with a toothed ratchet-wheel 6i mounted or formed at the left -hand end of therotary and slidable structure 39-40. Thus holding pawl 80' may coact with the ratchet wheeltlat'any point in the axial movement of the wheel 6| whose teeth are in number the same as the number of holes-H in'a single turn of the sleeve 20 or of the helicalrow of holes. g I

'Spring 53=willthus be-seen to bias the threaded block 4'! into engagement with'the'threads of part lll and'to bias also the'holding j pawl 60 into block -41 my be'amanuallyiidise; rromgthethreadedpart w; g To-the left' of ratchet wheeI -fl, as seen infi ures'l and 2, the structure 39 40: is constructed as at saytoi'provide a-beanngfor the hub fl 'ofa bell crank lever 64 having an upwardly-directedarmlwflbywhich is'pivotally carried, as]?! the pin '65 a-pawl' W urge'd in any suitable wayyas by" it's i own weight, into- .coacting relation "to-Etheratchet wheelil (see'Figures sander;

The other arm 64 of the bell" crank lever it extends rearwardly anddownwaidlyand has secur ed" to" it one end ofa-crod '6 whose other: end is-rigidly secured-to the arm 58 of a lever 68 whose hub" 54% has "a bearing "coaxial" withthe hearing of hub 64*"01?lever64';'and"thisbearing is conveniently and preferably-formed in, the lefthandjportionofi the shoulder 41 '(Figures' 1 and 2') ofth structure +410;

'Ajbracket 10 secured adjacentthe rearend of" the base 25'carries ahorizontal pin "H (Figures 2, 3, and 4,) which forms a horizontal plvotifor one arm T2? of a V-shaped lever 12 (see Figure 1) at whose. apex, is mounted a roller 13" which is thereby positioned underneath the rod .6.1, and whoseother arm 12" extendsdownwardly through acsuitableaaperture in the .base 2'5,and has mounted on. its. end: a roller on cam follower l4 for coactlon with a cam 15.

Cam "liis mounted upon a shaft l'l extending transverselysoi andgbelow thebase 215 from which extend downwardly suitable means such-as an armtlarandoneof thelegs ZBsuitably bored or providedgwithtbearings for the shaft 1,-l. I

By. means: of. the; rotating .cam 21.5, the lever I2 is actuated! in clockwise direction; about its: pivot pin 1+ (18s viewediinEigure 1).andgiven a-return. stroke;oncevfor each. revolution of, the .cam 15. and' at a' suitable point in its rotation, cam follower 14: beingaheldiiin coaction with the cantltiv in any suitable. way as, for example, :by the. weight of the lever 12 and the weight of the rod ("and the lever armsfifl and-68 which tend to swing "downwardly or innounter-clockwise; directiom asrviewedinltigure'li. I

. Accordingly, upon "the upward swing or stroke of lever-121' (Figures) roller .13 moves-upwardly. and; being-um:engagement'withthe rod ET irrespective of? the position (if-the structure 3940 lengthwise. of? the guide shaft. 36,-moves thelatter upwardly and thus moves the pawlfiii in counterclockwise direction to rotatevthe ratchet wheel 81 ahd hence th e structure 39--"40 by'an amount equal-t0*the distance'between two teeth of the ratchet wheel 61 the angle of movement corresponding-"to the angle subtended b two successi've holes H'in a helical row of'holes' in" the sleeve 20, the holding pawl 60 yielding toward the right as this rotary movement commences and being inefi'ect-cammed out of thesp'ace between two teeth but being entered into the next succeeding space'under the bias of spring 53, thus not only-to hold the structure-7& initsnewhositionQbht also, by bottoming inthe-succeeding space, accurately fixing the step of rotary movement to the above-mentioned angle. a g

, "And asthatrotary movement takes place, the coactiombetween the threaded pa-rt 40 and the block l'l (Figure l) *flectsia movement of translation ofthe-structure 39-49 a10ng1its-guiding 'support 'iifi; and with the actuatin pawl'moving the direction above described and f with the threads orrpart'lfl being as shown in Figure *1,-

'that-step of rotary movement is accompanied by v I There is thus brought into alignment with the verticalaxis of plunger 45 the nextsucceeding hole H of the particular helix of holes being operated upon. 's

Plunger 45,iat'the conclusion of the Just-de- 7 scribed movements isin lowermost-position, a

position better shown in Figure '7 and it is brought into that position, by mechanism abouttobe described, in order to achieve the actuation of sepi arable throat 'elements'which in Figures and '7 are shown as comprising two pivotally mounted members 8| and 82. These members are pivotally mounted on pins 83 and carried in spaced ears formedgin the upper portion of a boss 85 preferably formed integrally with the base 25 and bored or drilled as at 86 to form an accurate guide for the cylindrical plunger 45 to guide its axis preferably in a line at right angles to, and intersecting, the axis of the mandrel 39 and hence of the sleeve 28. 1

axis, with a tapered hole or recess 81 thatis conformed generally to the shape of the pointed or 7 tapered ends-2| of the pins P (Figures 8- and 9),

a pin P is supplied to the plunger 45 and injected into the recess 81 pointed end first, from a supply magazine generally indicated bythe reference character 89 and by coacting mechanism to insure that no pin is supplied to the plunger reversed end for end and to insure reliable assembly of the pin to the plunger, during the short interval of time available. 7 7

Magazine 89 comprises a base plate 98 supported at an incline by'an upward and rearward extension of the bracket I8 and'extending centrally through the plate member 98 and h'avinga suit- Y ablebearing in the outer end of bracket-'18 isa shaft 9| at whose upper end is secured a somewhat conically shaped hub 93, being preferably detachably secured in any suitable way as-by the thumb nut, 94; at the lower end of -hub93 is'se- 7 cured a circular plate of a thickness on the ordertof the diameterof the pins P, and extend ing abouttthe periphery of the rotary disk 96 is a cylindrical'wall 98, parts 96 and 98 together forming a container into whicha suitable quantity of pins P are placed. Brackets 91 secure part98 to the base 98. r j

At the outer periphery of the bottom or plate ends, headed" in clockwise direction, cannot reg-' aaaar'ze;

V astep of traverse 'of the' 'structure3948in a-di-i rection toward the right as viewed in- Figure 1. 1

arranged in succession but :with the tapered por-t tions I88 of all of them heading in the same direction. ,1 1 I I As the disk plate 96 is rotatedin clockwise direction in Figure 6, its underface moves relative to the frame'plate 98 and its upper face, upon which'the haphazardly arranged mass of pins rests, tendsto drag the pins along with it, but due to the tilt of the structure as better appears in Figure 5, the mass of pins tends to gravitate and 'remain somewhat concentrated within the lower left hand portion of the container 96-98. a This gravitation, aided by the rotary movement of the bottomiplate 96, insures the lining .up of the pinstangentially and in the general region of the (apex of the anglebetween'thewall 98 and the bottomplate 98where they are of lowermost elevation, and individual pinstend to hug into that'apex'. Such of them as do so with their pointed-,-ends heading clockwise (Figure 6) fall into the slots 188, one by one, as the'slotsare successively brought through the region of lower elevation of the magazine, resting, against the frame plate 98 relative to which they are carried or moved clockwise.

1 Such ofthe pins as are not thustrapped in a slot, I88, for-example; pins that have their, shank ister with and enter a; slot, butin the process of being agitated and moved around by the slow rotation of the plate 96 eventually become turned end for end, gravitate into the above-mentioned apex, and enter or are trapped by'the slots I88, and thus start, upon their controlled :movement of translation about the axis'ofthe magazine.

-In'the frame plate 98 is formed a straight channel I8I of a depth and width adequate to accommodate pins P, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, and

channel I8I extends in adirection so that it partakes of the incline of the frame plate 98 and so that it {underlies the rotary bottom plate96 and is tangent tothe circle along which the 'midpoints of the slots I88 are aligned. This relationship of tangency is generally indicated in Figure 6 at A. Accordingly, pins P which become seated in the sloi's l88 as the latter traverse the region sub element 98, which rests snugly andflatwise against the upper face of the frame plate 98 and rela tive to which it rotates, and within the circular or cylindrical boundaryformed by the inner face of the wall element 98, I provide inthe member e 96 a series of apertures or recesses I88which have substantially the same shape as the pins P as the latter are'viewed in Figures sand 9 or as they are shaped in central longitudinal cross-section and hence each recess or slot I88 'hasa portion I88 corresponding to the shank part 22'of the pins and V a tapered forward portion I88 corresponding; to

the tapered 0r pointed portions 2| of the pins, and as shown in Figure 6, the apertures or slots I 88,

preferably substantially equidistantly spaced are stantially like that indicated at B, are trans- .ported in clockwise direction from the region B and'as the slots l88 are successively'brought to the region Aof 'tangency and hence successively brought into a position overlying and aligned with the channel I8I, thepins, no longer finding support upon the upper face of the frame plate 98, drop into the channel I81 and due to its inclination slide downwardly toward the left as viewed in Figure 5, along the channel. Should the channel I8I be filled throughout its length byrpins P, the pins in thechannel I8I prevent the pin-in a slot I88 'from dropping into the channel I8] and any such pin remains in the slot I88 and has to make a 360 circuit of movement before it is'again r'ui'esented at the region of tangency to the channel 'I'he number of slots I88 and the rate of drive of the slotted plate 98 are such that, even allowing for failure of pinsto enter some of the slots during a single rotation, pins are presented'at; the region A of tangency at a rate greater'than the rate at which the plunger 45 can assemble the pins to the sleeve 28 as the latter isgiven step by step rotary and traverse movements, thus to insure against gaps in any helical row of pins on the sleeve 28. 7 The shaft all (Figure 5); of themagazine struc- .ture is preferably drivenirorn an auxiliary shaft ii; I

m; janIiPthe bott'om edges of the gates bottom in 'slots -Iii'land "I38 respectively that extend transversely of the channel carrying member 'a pin a'nd thus hold it from moving along the channel, and as shown in Figure 6,'with gate I 36 holding-a pin P as just stated, gate I may r-straddle a'nd hold the-next succeeding pin P 'against downward. -movement inthe channel; even though itsl'pointed end touches the fiatror jstub' end of the'pin stopped by the gate I36.

" "-With the' pins all ofthe same length, and lying in'end to'end contact in-the channel IOI (Figure 6)-, 'thei gate I35 is positioned at such a point or 7 distance from the region A of tangency that,

' assuniingthe inclined channel IIJI to be completely filledawith the gate 135 in stopping position, the I uppermost pin of the row of pins in chanel-IIH' is just about at that point in the region? A of .tangency where it .was when it droppedfrom a slot I88 into the channel l8l, so .that'. a succeeding-pin brought; by the bottom 'plate 96'to the region of tangency cannot failor drop into the channel I 8 I. and slides over the pin already at that point without, becoming jammed; Hence element 96 with itsslots I 50 does not drop .a pin into channel IOI unless and *35 to;them,las by pins; I55 and I56, links I51 and until gate-I35, .in coaction with gate I36 aslater described, permits a downward advancing movement of the pins .in channelv Ifll by the distance -of the length of one pin, thus clearing a space -inthe channel ml at the region Alof tangency :back the pins that arexlined upsin channel IIII 7 between the gate I35 and the region A of tan- .gencya The single pin thus released rapidly slides down along the steeply inclined channel extension I21 and becomes assembled tothe recess 81in plunger45 in-the manner abovedescribed. Y

iThe upward. stroke ofplunger 45 now. commences andalso the gate I36 is returned. to closing position and gate I35 is moved to releasing or open position, allowing the aligned pins, in channel IIII to slide downwardly by a distance equalto the length of a' pin, the foremost pin and hence the moving row'of pins being stopped by closed gate. I36. Thus also the channel IOI in the region A of tangency is cleared for the reception of another pin.

Thechannel IDI is preferably of a length appropriate to accommodate a suitable number of pins, such as that suggested in Figure 6, so that gates I35 and I36 may, functionto release individual pins-to the throat andplunger inthe event that several slots I88 should be brought around to the region A of tangency in,an empty condition.

The gates I35 and 13s have arms I35 and "I36 'pinned ;or otherwise: secured to shafts I4I 40} therein in, which, is

and 142 respectively mdunteam bearings formed in; i a bearing block; I43'secured as by screws I44 to the-upper face of the channelcarrying-mem- 'be'r I-2'L and shafts I4I' and I42:have secured to 5 them "lever-"arms-I45- and l46 which at their outer;ends'(Figure 5) overlie and areengaged by the cam follower rods I I9 and I I8 respectively. Any suitable means'may be employed to bias the gates, into closing position, and conveniently the 0 weight ofthe'parts, including :the weight of the lever members I45 and I46 may servethat purpose, acting alsoto maintain the leveriarms in engagement with the cam follower rods. Preferably-lever arm I45 overlies lever arm I46, the '15 latter being suitably apertured as at I46 to permit the freepassage" therethrough of 0am follower:.rod II9 into engagement with the lever .a'rm 145,:- l I I I is The. above-mentioned upward stroke; of plung- 2 en 45 and control of its return stroke is preferably achievedby a. cam I4'I onthe main drive shaft 7 :11 (Figures-1, 3 and'4) shaped as shown in Figure: 1, with .the drive of shaft 11 being counter- V clockwise; .Coacting with cam'41' is a cam fol- 25 lower or roller I48 .rotatably supported by a pin I50 betweenthe bifurca'tions15l and IliI of a lever I5I, iwhose left-hand end -I5I, as seen in Figure 1*,zis pivotallysupported by a shaft or pin I52L'carried by two spaced bosses I53 and I54 30 projecting downwardly from the base 25.

At the right-hand end'as seen in Figure 1, the leverparts I5 l -I50; which extend to either side oisthegdownwardlyextending guiding boss 85 for the; plunger 4r5, (Figure 5) have pivotally secured I58 .respectively'which, atv their lower ends, pivtally engage asby, pins. or trunnions I6I and 7 162a plunger carrier I 63 V01' approprlatevertical extent and having. a vertical bore or-hole I64 received the lower end of the -P1un er.45.-

a I 7 ,Wherethe pins P are, threaded,v as in Figure 9,

so. that thepin undergoes rotary movement as it ;is-forced under substantial pressure into a hole 4511,1 7 l helsleeve 20, theplunger 45 is preferably supported jinthecarrier I63 esothat the plunger also play; partake o1 rotary movement with the pin. .For this; purpose .1 preferably interpose between thelower end; of plunger 45 and the bot .5 tom ofthe bore 164 a hardened steel ba1l I65 (Figure-ji-rpreferably giving the end face-of the plunger. 45 a concavity to form a seat I66 to hold the-ball I65 coaxially of the plunger 45, thus to bringitspoint of tangency with the bottom of .thehore I64 in coincidencewith th vertical axis of theplunger and thus insuring ease ornicety of rotary movement of the plunger relative to its carrier I6 3.-;' Y i r e Whetheror not the plunger 45 ismounted for rotarymovement, I preferably provide suitable means foradjustingthe extent to which the upa per end of theplunger45 approaches the axisof the mandrel 39 (Figure-5), in order to facilitate accommodatingthe apparatus to various requirements 'such aschanges in diameter of the sleeve ZU difiefent lengths of pins, and the like, but also toinsure that, for given conditions, th upward stroke of plunger 45 is such as will'brin g theend faces of all of the-pins, whether the lat- 70 ter are threaded or not, into coincidence with-the lnner cylindrical surface'ofthe sleeve 28 and against the outer cylindrical face of the mandrel I .Aqconvenient and preferred means comprises 15 a screw I51 threaded into the lower endpbrtion zoom-we of the bore 164 01? the carrier 3,1;theendl'1ace o! the screw 161 thus formingth bottom-wall of the-socket-like bore 1 64 into which the lower end 'of the plungeria seated, and with otherwise-fixed stroke of up and "down movement :of the carrier I183, as sby the lever I51 sanda a :1 (Figure 1)", the plunger may bemisedorxloweredv relative to the: carrier 163, by adjusting the screw 161 which maybelocked asiby ithe-lock-nut I58; thus vpermitting accurate Lfixing ofthe upper.

limit of movement of the upperend face of the plunger 45: 1

As above noted, :the plunger 45' is nicely guided inlits up and down stroke :by thebore llifiinthe uiding bosses 85, and due to thezconnectiomof carrier l$3 to the leverl |5 l :by links 151-150, :the carrier-I53 follows the straight time rot-up and down motion determined by the :guiding of the plunger 45 in the bore 86; the" links 151--158partaking-01a islight' amountof swing (see 1') about'their lower pivotal connections 184-482 asthe axis o'f the upper pivotal. connections I55- jsfi 'tothe' lever partakesoia relatively small er-cuate motion under the control of :cam 5|. But the links I5'I-l58 insurepdurin'g the upward stroke 'of the plunger, a nicely balanced and-positlve applicationoi driving-force tosthe carrier 163 and hence to the plungeniand th'us each-pin may be dependably pressed or 'forced'intothe above-described anchoring relationship to the material forming the walls of its hole H in the leeve 2ll','and moreover each one oi? numerous pins becomes positioned at exactly the same distance from "the axis of the sleeve 2 so that the centers or mass of all of the pins are equidistant irom that axis and "with equal spacing-aboutthe circumference of the sleeve 20, nicety "of dynamic balanceiresults.

In and 5,'the plunger -45 is'shown in its uppermost position; thecam 141 having its highest point in engagement with th cam roller 148; it being noted thatas the plunger moves from theposition shown in Figure '1' to that shown :in Figure 5, throat elements-Bland 82.:are displaced in counterclockwise and; clockwise directions; respectively, by the action of the: plunger 15 :itself; the biaswof the throatelements urging and holding them against the sides of the plung'er 45, as-sh'own in l i'gurefigiand biasingzand' moving them back into positionsshowniinzFigm-ei7 as the plunger recedes or moves downwardly-from the position of:Figure' 5 to that of Figure 7.

During'theupward stroke of plunger-'45; the mandrel 39 and hence sleeve 20 are :held infixed position with thel'next succeeding hole H .of that particular helixor row presented to and fixedly held'in line with the upwardly moving .pin carried by the plunger, and the plunger :recedes and hence moves downwardly asa resultof movement of cam I41 in counterclockwise:direction from the position shown in Figure-1, it being noted that-the weight of the plunger-45, carrier 63 and lever I5 1 insure biasing'of the-camvfollower-always into engagement withthe cam H1, cam 1l6"(Figures 1 and '5) continues to hold gate 186 closed, the-cam follower li! thereof-being still on a low'part oi' the cam, while cam in, having opened'the-gate I (Figures 5 and fi) -shortly after cam M6 hasclosed the gate I35, such closurehaving taken place shortly rafter-"release of a single pin while the plunger li is'in its lowermost position, now moves theg ate I35 "in closing position, thusto vhold-block: the row oi pins-P in the channel H" to the right ot the gate 415; and thus preparing-forthe leaseby gate iu-xcam 15 of Fi'gure liiisplace'cl ahouthofi from the highest pointn'of cam M1), thus to actuate the ratchet: 56 to irotate the mandrel 39 -40 throughout the angle-subtended by two successessive holes H sin-a row and by :the --co"action betweennthe'threaded block ill and :the' threads of part 54.1w advance the-mandrel 'slidably along its support :flalby the right amount; looking pawl lilt acting -to:lo'ck the rotated parts aceurately in thelr new position.

Byr that time the lowest portion of cam- 141,

that portion being or" about 9B extent"and"of about :thesame radius throughout; comes- '=liito :coactionfwith the cam follower I43; thus-t0 ho'ld th plunger-1n its lowermost positiona's shown inzFigure' l, with thethroat fanning-elements 3 1 restored to coacting "relation with the pln receiving socket 281 in the plunger; and just about when 1 the plunger arrives l a'tits lowermost position', a high portionof cam i lf-rides "the cam follower" I I8 upwardly to lift the gate 136', thus releasing the single pin that had "been' isolated tmtweenthetwo gates and I36; that pin quickly moving down the channel extension 42 to be entered-into the plunger recess if as was above described.

Then the gradually rising portion in the "upper left-hand quadrant, asviewed in Figure 1, of cam IM, comes into action 'upon cam roller I48, progressively and steadily forcing the-plunger to the uppermostextreme of its upward" stroke to seat and embed the pin carried lay-it in the sleeve 20,- -but just about when that movement begins or shortly thereaftencam -I I6 closes the gate= l 36 and shortly after such closure cam I I1 opens gate i35 to permit the row of pin's in channel: I01 to slide downwardly to'b'e--stoppedby-closed gate I35, and shortly thereafter cam lfl =-closes gate 1 135 in order thus to place the single *pin between it and gate I-BF-underthe sole control of gate I36. 7

Suclisequences or steps to-=constitute a complete cycle thus take place during'a single revolution of ma'in drive shaft 'JFand of cam shalom, the ratio of "driving connection between' the' two being l to 1; whence thecycle repeats-itsell'in rapid succession, villustratively :at a irate to anchor ahout'fiopinsperminute.

The-main drive shaft maybedriven'in-any suitable manner, conveniently by way-of an electric motor l l i which may. be secured to theunderslde of *base 2 5- as indicated at J12 i in Fig-lire 1', whenoe a drive chain 1'73 connects the motor sprocket-J14 with a sprocket l 15 mounted on ithe-rear-end -of shaft11; I

In Where. the holes H'inthe sleeve member 10 are. arranged helically, the operation is commenced, with the threads of partiw as shown in: Figured, at the right-hand end or. terminus ofthe ihelix -of holes in the sleeve .20, then-latter being appropriatelyipositioned in relation to the point of -,-'operation ofplunger I 5; for that purpose, bymanually-zsetting. the structure Sa -II: appropriately and relative to its supportiifi; drive being halted: fora that purpose.-

the thread loloek 4! bein withdrawn .toutfof e mefl ment with the threads of 'part'ilfli'thus'-.torpermt I disengaged, if desired, for purposes of manual setting of the mandrel structure.

I -Having,-appropriatelyset it; the initial starting position is accurately fixed by: the locking :pawl 60 and by the inter-engagement of, the threads of the block 41 and of the part 40, whence the drivev of the apparatus is started, repeating the above-mentioned cycles until a complete helix'of holes-H is, filled with pins, for example. the

helix corresponding to the row Rt. of Figures land 2. I The drive may now be stopped, and

V V the mandrel reset in relation to the point of oper- .Thus it will be seen that there has been pro- .vided in this invention an apparatusln which the several objects hereinabove'set forth together with many thoroughly; practical advantages are successfully achieved. The apparatus is of'dependable action and capableof high,spced ofas-,

sembly,.with good anchorage, of the large number of ,pinsto-each sleeve element, and is capable of .readyand facile control. 1 Also uniformity of distribution oithe pins is. assured, thus making for nicety of dynamic balance, eachpin being anchored or fixed at the same distance from the axisv of the sleeve element. Also the apparatus ation of the;plunger 45 tostart actionupon the a next helixgsuch as the helix RF, it beingsnoted that here the thread block 41 makes its reengagement with thethreads of part 40 in; a

relationship relatively displaced one with respect tothe other by one thread of the part 40, that displacement corresponding to the axial spacing or displacement'of the helix R next'to be filled with pins from the helix R just filled, and upon completion of assembly of the'pins to the second: helix or row, the resetting oi the mandrel structure 89 diminishes, more are added thereto and upon completion of assembly of pins to asleeve member 20 carried by the mandrel 39, the ap- V paratus is stopped, collar 4 2 ofthe mandrel 39 is released and the supporting standard 28- removed, whence the completed picker roll section is removed 'from mandrel 39 and another sleeve 20 slipped onto the mandrel 39 whence the collar 42 and the standard 28 are replaced, the new sleeve member 20 being properly fixed .in positionby th interlocking of its left-hand end portion (Figure 1;) with the, annular stepped shoulder 4 I. a I

, -Withthe sleeveelement 2n and the pinsP or,

materials or relative proportions asearlier above described, the resistance to entry of the pins into their respective holes in the hollowcylindrical or sleeve element 20 may be substantial, but the drive of the plunger 45;takes place under adequate force or pressure to force-fit the 1 pins, whether the latter, are threaded 'or not, and dependably anchor them into the sleeve element, and wherecthreaded pins are employed, such as the pin of Figure 9,;the lower endsof the threads preferably terminate short of the butt end of the pin so as to leave a short axial length, of unthreaded shank of the pin for nicety of initial guiding or entry of the shank into its hole, while the preferred rotary. mounting of the plunger 45 ment of the pin in cutting its own thread is transmitted to the plunger with so little resistancelthat damage or distortion to the fin-like cuttingthreads on the'pin or to the threads 7 which it cutsinto the walls of the hole is mini..-

:mizedor guardedagainst. l

is capable ofexerting, even thoughoperatingat substantial speed, the relatively large forces :or

pressures appropriate to; achieve the desired em;-

bedding or anchoring of the .pin shanks, in the material of the sleeve element.

, :As many possible embodiments. maybe made of the above inventionand as manyhchanges might be made in the embodiment abovesetfortli, it is tobe understood that all matter hereinbee ,fore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted asillustrativeand notinalimiting sense.- j a -Ic1aim: V V

' 1. An apparatus for feeding pointed pinsunidirectionally comprising ,a magazine for'holding a supply, of pins and having a driven bottom membergwith slots therein conforming. to'the shape of thepins and with the pointed :ends of the slots heading in the same direction, means forming an inclined'channel and havinga portion underlying said bottom member in line with the .path'of movement of the slots therein to receive pins, from said slots, saidv channel having an inclination appropriate to sliding movement of pins therealong by the efiect ofgravity therein, and means operating-upon a line of pins in said channel tov efiect step by stepsliding move.- ment thereof along said channel instepslat least equal toione ofthe dimensions, of a pinwhereby each step of sliding movement efiects removal of the remotest pin of the lines from said portionof said {channel so that another pin from said mag azine' may enter said channel through aslot moved over, said portion bysaid driven bottom member. V V 1 -2. Anjapparatus forlfeeding pointed pins unidirectionally comprising a-niagazine foreholdin a supply of'pins and having a driven bottom member :with slots thereinconforming to .the

shape of the .pins andiwith the pointed ends of the slots heading inthe same direction,cmeans dimensions of a' pin whereby each step of movement efiects removal of the remotest-pin-of the line of pinsin said channel'from .said portion of said channel so thatanother pin from said magazinemay enter said channelthrough a slot moved ,over said portion by said driven bottom member.

- .3. An apparatus 'for feedingnpointedfpins uni- A directionallycomprising a magazineior holding a supply of pinsand having a driven bottom member with vslots therein conforming tothe shape of the pins and with the pointedends of the slots headingin the same direction, m eans forming can. inclined channel ,and having a portion un rlyin said-bottom. m r line with rest, said wall member having a slot therein conforming to the shape of the pins, means forming a channel having a portion underlying said wall member in line with the path of movement of the slot therein to receive pins successively from said slot whereby the pointed ends of the pins in said channel are headed in the same direction, means operating at timed intervals to release pins, one at a time, from the head end of the line of pins in said channel, and means for driving said magazine Wall member to present slots to said channel at a rate greater than the rate of one by one release of pins by said last-mentioned means.

5. An apparatus for feeding pointed pins unidirectionally comprising a magazine having a cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall with means supporting it with its axis tilted, thereby to cause pins therein to gravitate into the angle between said two walls at the lowest elevation thereof, said bottom Wall having an elongated slot conforming to the shape of the pins and positioned adjacent said cylindrical side wall and substantially at right angles to a radius, means for rotating said bottom wall to bring said slot repeatedly into said apex of lowest elevation to trap a pin if directed in the same direction as the pointed slot and to agitate other pins in the magazine, and means operating adjacent the path of rotary movement of the slot in said bottom wall for receiving a pin trapped in said slot.

6. An apparatus for feeding pointed pins unidirectionally comprising a magazine for pins having a driven wall member with slot means therein conforming to the shape of the pins with means for driving said wall member to trap in said slot means a pin from said magazine, and means forming a channel having a portion operatively related to the path of movement of the slot means in said driven wall member to receive pins therefrom and thereby form in said channel a line of pins with the pointed ends extending in the same direction.

7. An apparatus for feeding pointed pins unidirectionally comprising a magazine for pins having a driven wall member with slot means therein conforming to the shape of the pins with means for driving said wall member to trap in said slot means a pin from said magazine, means forming a channel having a portion operatively related to the path of movement of the slot means in said driven wall member to receive pins therefrom and thereby form in said channel a line of pins with the pointed ends extending in the same direction, and means operating in repeated cycles for effecting transfer, one at a time, of pins from the head end of said line and for effecting step by step advance of the line of pins in said channel, whereby the advance of said line of pins prepares said channel for the reception of a pin trapped in said slot means, said driving means driving said wall member at a rate to present said slot means operatively to said channel at a rate greater than the rate at which said means operating v in repeated. cycles effects "transfer of pins from the head end of said line.

8. An apparatus for feeding pointed pins unidirectionally comprising pin-holding means, 'a channel with means at one end thereof for transferring'pins therefrom one by one :to said .pinholding means, a magazine for -pins -having a movable wall against. which pins; rest-,saidwall havingslots thereinconformingsto the shapeof the pins and with .the pointed ends of the slots heading in the same direction and said wall memher being positioned to overlie said channel adjacent the other end thereof so that said slots are successively brought into overlying alignment with said channel to release pins into the latter, and means for moving said movable wall to traverse said slots over said channel at a rate greater than the rate at which said transferring means effects transfer of pins to said pin-holding means.

9. An apparatus for feeding pointed pins and the like comprising channel means for receiving a succession of pins, a magazine for pins having a movable wall against which pins rest, said wall having slot means therein conforming to the shape of the pins and said wall member being movable in a path to bring said slot means to overlie said channel means so that said slot means are repeatedly brought into overlying alignment with said channel means to release pins into the latter, and means for moving said movable wall to bring said slot means repeatedly over said channel means to substantially align said slot means and said channel for transfer to the latter of a pin from the slot means, said channel having a depth substantially equal to the thickness of a pin whereby a pin in said channel means can block entry thereinto of a pin from said slot means.

10. An apparatus for feeding pointed pins unidirectionally comprising a magazine having a base plate in an upper face of which is a channel for receiving pins or the like and having upstanding therefrom a cylindrical side wall with a portion of said channel extending within the compass of said side wall, a disk-like plate received within said cylindrical side wall and overlying said base plate and having means mounting it for rotation relative to the latter, said disk-like plate and said cylindrical side wall forming a container for holding a supply of pins, said disklike plate having slot means therein shaped to conform substantially to the shape of a pin and positioned in relation to said channel so as to be brought into or out of overlying registry with the channel in response to rotary movements of said disk-like plate, to thereby transfer pins one by one to said channel.

11. An apparatus for feeding pointed pins unidirectionally comprising a magazine having a base plate in an upper face of which is a channel for receiving pins or the like and having upstanding therefrom a cylindrical side wall, said channel having a portion intersecting the area within said cylindrical side wall substantially tangentially internally to the latter, a disk-like plate within said cylindrical side wall and overlying said base plate and forming with said side walla container for receiving a supply of pins or the like, said disk-like plate having slot means at its periphery conforming substantially to the shape of the pins to be handled and adapted to be brought into or out of overlying registry with said portion of said channel in response to movement of said disk-like plate about its axis to thereby effect transfer of pins one by one to said channel, and

7 pass of said side 1 means'for efiecting movement 'thereof about its axis. 7 a

'12. An apparatus for feeding pointed pins unldirectionallycomprising a magazine having a base plate in an upper vface of which is a channel for receiving 'pins or the like and having upstandingtherefrom a cylindrical side wall with a portion of said channel extending within the comwall, a plate-like member over' lying said base plate and forming with said cychannel in repeated cycles to thereby'effect one by one entry of pins into said channel. 7 PAUL SCHULTZE.

Images