US2402110A - Bullet distributor - Google Patents

Description

J1me H, 19 6. c. w. YATES ET AL BULLET DISTRIBUTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2, 1944 INVENTORS cf/AP/N M YATas KENNETH J Vosr W 3 AGENT June 11, 1946.

W. YATES ET AL ZAGZJ 1G BULLET DISTRIBUTOR Filed. Feb. 2 9, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 l l WM 6 V pm; WW

i 66 I I INVENTORS C'HAFl/V 14/. YATES BY KENNETH J 7057 AGENT Patented June 11, 1946 BULLET DISTRIBUTOR Chapin W. Yates, Milford, and Kenneth J. Yost, Westport, Conn assignors to Remington Arms Company, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., a corpora-' tion of Delaware Application February 29, 1944, Serial No. 524,396

V The present invention relates, in general, to ap-- paratus for assembling articles, and, in particular,

'to an improved agitating device for supportingarticle holding plates or blocks which are adapted to receive articles in separate recesses and orient the articles in a predetermined position.

In the manufacture of articles such as cartridges, the component parts of the cartridges,

: and, in particular, the bullets are made sepations of all the bullets extend in the same direction. Certain types of bullet holding blocks known in the art as transfer plates embody an auxiliar plate which is slidably mounted in the holder and adapted to temporarily support the bullets in the apertures of the holding block and to be moved so as to release the bullets whereby they may drop down through the apertures of 7 the block. These transfer plates are particularly suited for assembling bullets into the mouths of loaded cartridge cases. Other types of holding blocks are adapted to temporarily support the 7 Claims. (Cl. 2262) bullets for transfer into other apertured plates,

, the transfer being made by inverting the super- ,7 posed assembled plates. For example, when dipping bullets into a colored lacquer bath, an apertured plate is chosen which is adapted to supeach bullet will project from the bottom of the apertured plate when the latter is inverted perdnitting a predetermined length of the nose of port the bullets so that a portion of the nose of The present invention provides an improved shaker for supporting a plurality of bullet holding blocks and is characterized by improved performance which more than doubles the rate of production of earlier types of shakers.

In the drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic showing of the 'im proved bullet distributor of this invention including a hopper for feeding bullets to the distributor and a conveyor belt to recirculate bullets from the distributing device to thehopper.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bullet distributor frame includi'ng'an apron onto which the bullets are delivered from a hopper and guides for supporting the bullet holders.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section of the bullet distributor showing the frame supporting means and the bullet receiving receptacle located beneath the distributor.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation in section of one of the bullet holding blocks.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the bullet holding blocks.

Referring to the drawings, the bullet distributor or shaker embodies a substantially rectangular frame indicated generally at J! in Fig.2 comprising side members 12 and end members l3. Both the side and end members are formed of a suitable material and are of a configuration to combine strength with lightness. "In the embodiment shown, the members comprise angle iron stock but other suitable material may be used. A brace I4 is fastened between the side members l2 at substantially the center of the frame and is provided with a plurality of apertures [5 in the top surface thereof for the purpose hereinafter described.

Welded or otherwise secured on the bottom of each corner of the frame 'is a' substantially rectangular hard metal plate I6 adapted to constitute a bearing surface for floatingly supporting the frame on suitable rollers I! which are rotatably mounted on fixed trunnions l8 extending laterally and at longitudinally spaced points from the inside wall of a pair of spaced parallel rails Ill. The latter are fixedly secured at their opposite ends between the end walls 20 and .22 respectively of a bin or receptacle indicated generally at 23, see Fig. 3 and hereinafter described. In accordance with this construction, the distributor frame H is movably supported by the fixed rails 19 in the upper open end of the bin 23.

The frame is given a reciprocating motion of relatively short stroke by providing a yokeshaped connecting rod 24 which is connected. at its bifurcated ends by suitable bearing blocks 25 to a transverse" rod 26 of the frame II. The opposite end of the connecting rod is pivotally connected to an eccentric pin 21 of a disk 28 which is keyed-to a drive shaft 29 conveniently 3 supported in bearings on the front wall 20 of the bin 23. When the shaft 29 is rotated, the eccentric pin and connecting rod transmit a relatively violent shaking or agitating motion to the frame, the latter riding freely on the rollers I 1.

Referring to Figs..- 2-and 3, ran angle.--bar.-30 is shown -.mounted i'oni. the right handqend of the frame H and is fixedly secured to the end piece I3 by suitable fastening means such as Welded joints. The vertical leg of the bar 30 is provided with a plurality of apertures 32 and is-adapted to form a flange for supporting anrarticledispersing member or ap1'ons33. sTheelatter-tisna substantially rectangular :plate mrovided with transversely spaced V-shaped. notches 34 in its forward edge and a flange/35. depending atxsubstantially right angles at its rear end. Theflange 35 has a plurality of longitudinally disposedfs'lots 36 corresponding in number to the apertures 32 of the angle bar 30 and adaptedtt-ol receive ,bolts J'hwherebmtheapron membenmaylbeadjustably l fastened to the :-bar:-3D. '.,Imaccordance withthis -.construction, (the .i-lapron member .may .be madjusted vertically with. respect: to .theif-rame l I. The apron is'made-sufiiciently; rigid=by.providing .d'epending flanges38z-along .thelsidesthereof while mpwardly and outwardlyextending viianges= 3 9::31'6 .=provided- .-to prevent cartridges. .from.. falling. off

the sides of the apron.

:isecuredl-on the forwardtendwof the movable =framell iS-"TBJI angle-bar l40, the-vertical leg r of which :is provided with; longitudinal. slots 42 to receive adjusting bolts 43. The -latter.,are secured l in :correspondi-ng apertures ---44 to the end piece l3 and serveatorfastentthe anglehbar -40 thereto: and to. enab1eadjustment -of: therbar 40 vertically with respect to the frame.

1 Supported on the .-brace --l 4 -1 an :angle -bar -:mem-ber 45,-.'the lower edge of v:its upright .leg being? in engagement "with .the topof the. .brace M. :The ban-'45 is held: adjustably .inathis ,posiationzwbyrmeans Mia-plurality: of bolts 46 which extend-through suitable, hole 4'! :in the laterally cdisp'osed. portion '45 :ofthe :bar' and .arereceived .-intthe:correspondingeapertures l5 oft-the brace. :Suitable ;-nuts :48 eon the l,bolts-v 46 sareeadapted toiffastenjt'l-iev boltss -securely .-to'- .thebrace I4. :and tito-xthebar 45.

Mounted :cntheeangle members waand '45- are 'aai"fplurality 0f qguide. "members 50 sand- 52 which are adapted to support the cartridge holding ::bcks 0r;pla-tesin the.-.frame :ll. .Each.,guide .:memberr50 comprises a longitudinaL rib portion 53 preferably. provided with arbevel-led upper aedgerfl: andtaperedforward and z-rearward ends 55::and :56; respectively. The taper sat. each end cofalthe-"rib, and, in particular, .the, rear end 1' 56 1 is adapted to. correspond to they Veshaped notches 410i the. apron. 33 so.- as -to. make al-nice fit therein forithe purpose hereinafter described. Exiten'ding. laterally from each side of a rib 53-.and atzfsubstantially right -ang-lest thereto isa -..fiange 51 =which:is"welded or otherwise formed on the lower-redge of; the rib: and& extends from the front tvend sthereof ;--rearwardly. ,'I-he length .of the fiange;.is substantially four-fifths of .--the:- length ref: thew-lb and terminates in a :downwardly; curved tailtportionflifl. The forward end. of then-flange rzis :turnedxup atzxsubstantially right angles to 1 formzat. projection .;or. ;lip 159, .1th8 .upper. edge :of

'w'vhich': is curled over to provide a: smooth rounded ssurtace. @In lathe ylpresent embodiment, three. of Zthesenguide members,;'50.-:are..mounted in. spaced tparallel relationship. on the.,-upper plane;surfaces of the angle members 40 and 45, each guide being permanently fastened to the angle members by welded joints or other suitable fastening means. The guide members 52, of which there are two, are similar to the guides 50 but are adapted to 5 be welded to the outer ends of the angle members parallel to the inner guideso50. To this end; each'outeli uide member. 52. has 2a, single inwardly extending flange 51 which is substantially similar to the flanges 51. The upper longitudinal l0 edge of each outer guide member 52 comprises an upwardly and outwardly flared flange 54.

lThe-a-uXi-liarylframe comprisingthe two angle -=.barimembersfl sand 45 and the guide members $50. and-252rlweldedixthereto may be adjusted with respect -tothevmain frame I I by moving th angle bars vertically, so as,.t-o vary the slope or inclination of the auxiliary frame, and hence the flanged rportions 51 and 51 of the guide members. As pointed out above, the "rear bevelled ends of the ,guide zmembers; 50,:are. adapted-tmbelengaged in .therespective ,-V shaped notches 34 ofetheiapron "33 whichhold the rear .end;p0rtions.0t the,guides s50 in ,proper :spaced. parallel.- relationshipawhile permittingadjustment .of-the, guidemembers relative to.the;apron. ;In.accordan ce.withthis con- .struction, the inclinationloflth .holding blocks which are adapted to. be supportedomtheflanges 51,-and. 5'l of the.auxiliarylframerisadjustable. to correspond to .the .inclination -of .the a ron 33 -whereby the. upper; surfacesof .thecblockswill l-ie substantially in-the plane, ofthe apron. v

.The. cartridge holding .blockstll,-v one; of. which is shownin FigsA and 5,.eomprisesafiatsubstantiallyvrectangular wooden baseportion 62, .a fiber .boardtop portion-63 and a metalbottomplatelfl. As shown, a plurality. of counterboresare :formed inthe fiberboard portion in axial .alignmentrwith apertures in. the wooden portion ofthe .block. In the, present. embodiment, each holder ,blockcontains .one. hundred and, .fortyseven ,counter-bored ,apertures, but itwill be understoodthatthe .-numher-and configuration of the aperturesmay be .altered to accommodatezarticlesofl various sizes and -weights and that theholderblock itself may) com- ;prisenther suitablesmaterials. (The metalwbotrtom platevfi lrmay be turned up; over theendsrof t the wooden :portion. of. :the block tqprovideadong wearing- ,surface for the ends asnwell (as vforflthe bottomf.of the holder. .Suitablezprojectionssor tong-uesfifi =and Glare formed-integrally at :each end. respectively. of thefiber bore-portion, ofdt-he holder -;block to facilitate. handling thereof and .-to provide docking. v-means- -therefor .as: described .beloW.

:As :shown. in .E'igs.. 1 .and ..3,..;each h0lder .is adapted to .,be. slipped between 18, ,.pair. of vguide membersfill and to bersupportedtherebetween on thewflanges thereof, the. frontsedg or shoulder 64 of a holder block being.seatedbehindwthe lip portions-59 .ofthe-corresponding flanges. -.'I"he ton ue BLatthe rear end ofthe holder .blocksis adapted toextend beneath the for-wardnotched edge of .the apron 33andto.abutaeprojecti0n.or rib =68 which is. fastened.v to the lapron 'and which extends transversely .across the,;apron. parallel. to its lforward edge.

The rib "68 vconstitutes a .stopmembernwhich .properly locates the holder block in thee-guide members 50 in juxtaposition to the apron. More- 70. over, .the, ribs or. stop 68 and ,rthem'lips. v59 of ithe holder supporting. flanges .51: are ispacedlapart a redetermined, distancesutth .that. a lholderlblo'ck .wi-llbe securely locked therebetween while bdll'ets are being distributed therein." from the' aprontby 75 the shaking motion of the frame. When a"holder has been filled, the operator may seize its forward tongue 66 and lift the holder upwardly over the lips 59 and readily withdraw it by pulling it forwardly in the direction of motion of the shaking frame ll without interrupting the distribution of bullets into the other holding blocks in the frame.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the cartridges are delivered onto the dispersing apron 33 from the discharge spout 69 of a hopper which is conveniently located above and adjacent the rear end of the apron. Due to the shaking motion of the frame, the bullets being discharged onto the apron will be wildly scattered over the surface thereof and will slide and roll down therefrom across the counterbored surfaces of the holder blocks 60. The construction and dimensions of the counterbores are such that each bullet will, automatically enter into an aperture heel end first in a well known manner.

As pointed out above, the holder block supporte ing frame H is mounted above the receptacle 23 to the end that when a filled block 60 is removed from the frame during continuous operation of the shaker, bullets rolling off of the dispersing apron 33 will be collected in the bottom 12 of the receptacle. The latter is inclined, as shown, and provided with a discharge port 13 whereby the bullets may be removed from the bottom of the receptacle.

In the present embodiment, the discharge port I3 of the receptacle is adapted to discharge the bullets onto the lower end of a suitable conveyor belt I4 which is arranged to return the bullets into the top of the hopper 10. It will be clear, therefore, that for any one filling or charging of the hopper, the bullet shaker may be run continuously until all bullets have been oriented and distributed into the holder blocks and that the operators only duty is to withdraw and empty each holder block as it is filled and to return the empty blocks back into the shaker. As each block is replaced in the shaker, it is securely locked therein between the projections 59 and stop 68 without interrupting the continuous operation of the machine. Moreover, the same shaker is readily adapted for orienting and distributing articles of.

different dimensions and weights by varying the inclination of the apron and apertured plates as described.

As is evident from the drawings, the blocks are supported on the flanges of the guide members with the longitudinal axis of the blocks parallel to the direction of motion of the shaker frame, and, in accordance with this construction, the blocks are withdrawn from and inserted into the frame by moving the blocks in the direction of reciprocation of the frame which greatly facilitates the handling of the blocks.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for automatically distributing articles comprising a movable frame; article dispersing means fixed to said frame; an article holder; means on said frame constructed and arranged to support the article holder adjacent said dispersing means and means for moving said frame to cause displacement of said articles from said dispersing means into said holder, said article holder being selectively removable from said supporting means for ejecting articles from said holder.

2. Apparatus for automatically orienting and distributing articles into an apertured block comprising a movable frame; an article dispersing apron on said frame adapted to support articles; means for adjusting the inclination of said apron with respect to said frame; a pair of spaced parallel flanges carried by said frame and constructed and arranged to support the apertured block in the'plane of said apron; and projections on said flanges to removably retain said apertured block in juxtaposition to said apron.

3. In a machine for distributing articles into a holder, the combination with a movable frame adapted to removably support a holder and means for agitating said frame; of means for continuously delivering articles to said holder comprising a frame supporting receptacle having an opening in the top thereof beneath said holder, and a discharge port in the bottom thereof; a hopper adjacent said holder constructed and arranged to feed articles to said holder above the top opening of said receptacle; and conveyor means ad- Jacent said discharge port to return articles to said hopper which fall from said hopper into said receptacle when a filled holder is removed from the frame.

4. In a machine for distributing articles into a holder, the combination with a movable frame having an article dispersing member, means carried by said frame to removably support said holder adjacent said dispersing member, and means for agitating said frame'whereby articles on said dispersing member will be displaced into said holder; of means for constantly feeding articles onto said dispersing member comprising a frame supporting receptacle having an opening in the top thereof immediately beneath said holder and a discharge port in the bottom thereof; a hopper adjacent said holder constructed and arranged to discharge articles onto said dispersing member; and conveyor means adjacent said discharge port to receive articles which fall from said dispersing member into said receptacle when a filled holder is removed from the frame and to return such articles to said hopper.

5. Apparatus for automatically distributing articles into a plurality of apertured plates comprising a movable frame; an apron on said frame adapted to support articles; means for agitating said frame whereby articles on said apron are displaced therefrom into the apertures of said plate; and means for supporting said plates to enable removal of a filled plate from said supporting means without interruption in the movement of said frame, said supporting means comprising fianged members carried by said frame and projections on each flanged member to engage a portion of a plate to releasably retain said plate in juxtaposition to said apron.

6. Apparatus for automatically distributing articles into a holder comprising a stationary frame; a movable frame mounted on said stationary frame; an article dispersing apron fixed to said movable frame; an article holder; means on said movable frame constructed and arranged to removably retain said holder on said movable frame in juxtaposition to said apron; and means for agitating said movable frame and said apron to displace articles from said apron into said holder, said holder retaining means being ar-

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