US2616157A

US2616157A - Workpiece supporting and feeding mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2616157A
Application number: US21257A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred E Drissner
Original assignee: National Acme Co
Current assignee: Devlieg Bullard Inc
Priority date: 1948-04-15
Filing date: 1948-04-15
Publication date: 1952-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 1969-11-04

Description

Nov. 4, 1952 A. E. DRISSNER WORKPIECE SUPPORTING AND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed April 15, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet l Q 1952 A. E. DRISSNER 2,616,157

WORKPIEICE SUPPORTING AND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed April 15, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 4, 1952 A. E. DRISSNER 2,615,157

WORKPIECE SUPPORTING AND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed April 15, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 1. -//7NVENTOR. In

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Nov. 4, 1952 A. E. DRISSNER 2,616,157

WORKPIECE SUPPORTING AND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed April 15, 1948 a Sheets-Sheet 4 v INVENTOR J 4 4 w M M Nov. 4, 1952 A. E. DRISSNER 2,616,157

WORKPIECE SUPPORTING AND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed April 15, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ]N VEN TOR.

fllfre'clEDrissner Nov. 4, 1952 A. E. DRISSNER 2,616,157

WORKPIECE SUPPORTING AND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed April 15, 1948 6 SheetsSheet 6 o 2o I00 I40 \50 z 240 2 300 a 34c :50 STOCK s mi MAC TOP 1 7 ST P El CYCLE STOP mops smv I 5 5 5 V C l5.. 0 cnucmuc. A9 JEfik u I a 0 I o 1 E I: STOCK -s cm FEED FEED JV Q 935; we a FEED l l l I I l l I IN V EN TOR.

Patented Nov. 4, 1952 WORKPIECE- surronrmo AND FEEDING MECHANISM Alfred E. Drissner, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The National Acme Company, a corporation of Ohio Application April 15, 1948, Serial No. 21,257

8 Claims.

My invention relates in general to an automatic spindle machine capable of rotating and working an elongated and warped workpiece, and in particular to the workpiece supporting and feeding mechanism of the spindle machine.

Many various spindle machines have been constructed in which the workpiece is fed endwise through the spindle or the head of the machine. These machines, however, have never been capable of handling large workpieces which may be warped. The previous spindle-fed automatic machines have been constructed for'making bolts or other similar small diameter articles. When the workpiece is small in diameter it is very easy to construct a supporting structure for supp-orting the part of the workpiece which extends out of the head of the machine. large diameter workpiece is used the simple supporting structure, which is commonly a ring through which the workpiece extends, is inadequate and soon becomes damaged. I have constructed a supporting structure which will support this workpiece and which will permit the tail end of the workpiece to whip about While'it is rotating. My supporting structure has supported a solid workpiece of 12 inches in diameter which was warped from inch to inch in its diameter. It can be easily seen that rotating an elongated workpiece of these dimensions with only one end of the workpiece chuck ed will cause the tail end to build up tremendous whipping power. After the workpiece has built up a .ro-' tational and whipping momentum, it would soon pound to pieces a lead lined sleeve or othersimi lar cushioned support sleeve. I have discovered the structure which is described and claimed herein.

One or the objects of my invention isthere fore to provide asingle spindle bar machine capable of handling elongated and warped large diameter workpieces. g

Another object ofmy invention is'to provide a spindle machine with a chucking c'ollet'and a feeding mechanism to feed the workpiece endwise through the spindle and into the chucking collet.

Another object of my invention is to provide a supporting structure in which the workpiece engaging sleeve thereof can move reciprocally towards and away from the chucking colletv and thereby move the workpiece endwise into the chucking collet.

Another object of my invention is to provide a However, when a i 2 bar machine with a supporting structure which will support the whipping tail end of an elongated warped workpiece while it is rotating.

A further object of my invention is to provide a mechanism for rotatably supporting an elongated and warped workpiece in a rotary spindle with a supporting socket carried by supporting track means and disposed in axial alignment with the spindle, and means in this socket to engage the warped workpiece and movable with the whipping movement of the workpiece. Another object of my invention is to provide a machine having a rotaryspindle with a chucking collet and a workpiece support and feed means for feeding the workpiece endwise into the chucking collet with synchronized cam means to open the chucking collet when the workpiece is being fed therein.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of m invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 of my drawings is a perspective view of a spindle machine showing my workpiece support and feed mechanism;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the back of this same machine showing the stock stop and various cutting tools; I I Figure 3 is an enlarged side-elevational view with certain parts shown in cross section to 11- lustrate the rotary spindle with the chucking; collet and the workpiece support and feed mechanism; r Figure 4 is a view along the line 4-4 of Fig Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the workpiece support mechanism showin the position of the bearing unit in the supporting socket while'a perfectly straight workpiece is being supported;

Figure 6 is an'enl'arged exaggerated view the same as Figure 5, illustrating the position of the bearing unit in the supporting socket wh'ile,sup-' porting a Warped workpiece; Figure 7 is also an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating how the bearing unit may be'forced into the supporting socket by a warped work: piece; V 1 i Figure 8 is a schematic drawing to better. 'il-f lustrate the operation of the support and feed mechanism in synchronism with the rotary spindle and chucking collet; and 1 Figure 9 is a cam'diagr'amof the cycleoto'peration of my machine." j

I have designated my single spindle machine which I have constructed and successfully operated, as having a head structure 10 and a back housing structure l'l mounted on a base l2. The head structure I supports a rotary spindle I? having a chuckin collet 21. Cut-off and forming tools M, which are shown in perspective in Figure 2, are disposed on the sides of the head structure andjnear the chucking collet 21. In the description of my machine I am not describing these tools, since they in no way aifect the operation or construction of my workpiece support and feeding mechanism 13 or its association with the rotary spindle and chucking collet. Therefore, these Working tools may be of any suitable design and construction commonly known in the art of automatic machines, and the operation thereof may be controlled by any suitable means. The head structure I0 may be of any suitable housing construction and; is designed to rotatably support the rotary spindle which extends therethrough.

"I'hav'e designated the workpiece support and feed mechanism with the number l3. As is illustrated' Figure lof my drawings, this workpiece support and feed mechanism '13, which is suppdrtdby the head structure l0 and the back housing structure ll is operable to support an elongated and warped workpiece'while'it is being rotated by the rotary spindlelT-disposed'within the head structure 10. The workpiece is forwarded endwise through the rotary spindle and into the chucking collet 21 for machining by the 1061's l l'illu'st'rated in perspective in Figure 2. The workpiece may be said to have'a forward end-portion which extends through the head'of the machine and is engaged by the working tool, and to have a 'tail-erid'which is'supportecl bythe workpiece support and feed mechanism 13. The head structure [0 of my machine has a front Wall l5 and'a back wall It. Thefront wall l5 J'i's next adjacent the cutting tools 14 which are shown in perspective in"Fi gur e2. The back wall l6fis substa'ntially parallel to the back housing structure "I I, anon spaced therefrom. The front wall ['5 and the'backwa'll'lfi have 'an'aligned opening through which'the rotary "spindle ll eateries, This rotaryspindle,'-including' all of its component parts;'is best illustrated 'in the Figure 3 of the drawings. "reconstruct this" rotary spindle 'il' which is illustrated in cross section in'Figure' 3, I have usedla 'spindleshell '28 which extendsthrough the headstructu're" 18' and is 'bearinged inthe openings in thefront wall l5 and the back wall 16; insert "2| having a cam face '22 on the inside thereof is drivingly fastened in the for ward'endo'f'the spindleisliell '20 by adrive pin23 oi other'suitabl iheajhs." This insert 2"Ijis usually constructed or a'liardenedsteelto resist wearing caused by'the operation of the chucking collet. "I

have found it very advisable to use'tapere'd roller bari n'giaoesffl to rotatably'suppbr't the spindle Shell ZUintI'iefrCint wan l5 and in the back wall I6 of the head'st'ruc'ture' f0. The'tapered roller bearing races prevent 'e'ndwise play of the rotary spindle in the he'afdfwithout having any high fricen shoulders rubbingaga inst 'each other: 'These roller bearing races 24- are a standard roller bear ing race unit which will rotatably support" the s indle in the head, and 'atfthe same time prevent endwise'pl'a'y or movement of thespindle. Itis understood that any "suitable bearing means may be employed for'this purpose."

'I' have fastened a'dr'i've gear '2 5; to the spindle shell by means of a key'whichi's illustrated as being disposed between the spindle shell 20 and the drive gear 25. This drive gear 25 may be gearingly connected to the electric motor or other drive means for rotating a rotary spindle [1. In the machine which I have constructed, I place this drive gear on the spindle shell 20 and between the front wall I5 and the back wall 16 of the head structure IO. Thus, th'e driving of the spindle is completely enclosed by the head structure and is disposed between the tapered roller bearing races 24 which bearingly support the spindle shell 20. A collet 21 having a cam face 28 to engage the cam face 22 of the spindle shell 20 is inserted into the spindle shell 20. This chucking collet 21 is adapted for endwise movement of the spindle shell, and when forced into the spindle shell closes onto a workpiece which is inserted therein. The collet cam face 28-and the cam face 22 on the spindle shell 00- operate to radially contract the collet 21 when it is axiallymoved. I have found it very advisable' to provide the collet 21. withfpads 29 on the inside surface thereof. These pads 29 may be easily changed; and their "dimensions are controlled bythesize of the workpiece which is to be machinedJFor example, for 'a large diameter workpiece a very thin pad'29 would be used, and for a small "diameter workpiece a thick pad 29 would be used.

' 'I have provided the collet 21 with a col-let tube 30 threadedthereon'and extending through the back 'wallj'l6 ofthe' head "structure [0. 'This collet tube '30'interc'o'nnect's' the collet 2] and'a spring typ'e chucking' mechanism 3| therein, whichnormally urges the collet tube 30 and the collet 21' therewith endwise for gripping a workpiece inserted'in the rotary spindle. "The outside diameter ofthe collet tube 33 is smaller or lessthanthe inside diameter of the spindle shell 20. 'When a warpedj'elongated workpiece is inserted 'in' the machine, the workpiece .is rotated by the collet "chuck "at the forward end of the machine or next t'o'the p'ad's 29. In Figure 3 of mydrawings, I illustrate a spacing between 'the' feed 'tube'fill andthe collet tube 30. In the 'actual'construction of the machine which I have "built; this space need be only a fewf'sixteenths of an inch 'to' permit the feed tube to whip about with the whipping movement of thetail' end of the workpiece.

The spring type chucking mechanism H which operates the'collet 21'torotate the workpiecefis disposed between the back'wall l6 of thehead' structure] l flfand"t he' back housing structure I'll. Thi's''spring type chucking mechanism 31 has a ho'using"3 5 carried by 'the spindle shell 20; A plurality of chucking'sprihgs' 36, axially aligned Withthespindle' shell '20"arej carried within this housing 35; 'A'c'o'llet tube plate'3'1 extends about the spindle shell 20 and is movable axially into the housing "35 and against'fthe urging. of the chucking springs 36; 'This"collet tube plate 31 may be fastened 'to'the housing'35 by bolts: 38 which extend through thechucking springs 36 and the wall ojfl the' housing -35" and. are

- threaded Iinto the' colletftube plate; The chucking fsprings 13s urgerhe .collet' tube-plate '31 axially'of the spindle shell 20 and towards t e back housing II. I .have further provided the collettube with a thrust nu 39 which is threaded onto'theend ofthe collet tube. Thrust roller bearings '40, space this thrust nut 39 from the comet tubeplate 31.

"I'he thrust nut/39 is fastened to the collettube plate 33!,by bolts 4j whereby thecollet tubeplate 31 rotates with the thrust nut 39 and the collet tube 30. The chucking springs 36 urge the collet tubeplate 31 out of the housing 35 to keep the collet chuck 21 gripping the workpiece held thereby. A thrust ring 42 extends about the thrust nut 39 and is axially movable to compress the chucking springs 36 in the spring type chucking mechanism 3|.- This thrust ring 42 is pivotally carried by a cradle 43.- A chucking cam 44 is provided to actuate and move this chucking cradle 43 to compress the chucking springs and open the chucking collet 21. This chucking cam 44 is carried by a cam shaft 86 and is coordinated with the workpiece support and feed mechanism in such manner that the workpiece will be moved endwise into the chucking collet while the chucking collet is open.

A hand wheel I02 carried by a shaft I03 may be actuated to move the chucking cradle 43. The shaft I03 is carried by the cradle 43 and engages the head structure I0. This hand wheel I02 per mits manual operation, of the chucking mechanism when the machine is not in operation.

- The workpiece support and feed mechanism I3, best illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, is disposed in axial alignment with the rotatable spindle and between the head structure If! and the back housing structure I I of my machine. I have provided parallel track members 53 extending between the head structure and the back housing structure to support the workpiece support and feed mechanism I3 for movement towards and away from the head structure rotary spindle. In the machine which I have constructed and which is illustrated in the drawings as the preferred embodiment of my invention, I have used cylindrical or elongated rods for the parallel track members 53. The track members have threads on the ends thereof and may thus be threaded into the head structure I and extend through an opening in the back housing structure II. Lock nuts I disposed on each side of the back housing structure II prevent loosening of the track members 50.

My workpiece support and feed mechanism I3 generally comprises a roller bearing unit 52 operably socketed in a socket 53. In Figures 5, 6, and 1 I illustrate my roller bearing unit 52 as being constructed from tapered roller bearing races 54 and 55 mounted in a housing 56. This bearing housing 56 has a socket ring or flange 51 extending 'thereabout and adapted to be seated in the socket 53. The socket ring 51 has a radius surface 58 on one side thereof, and a radius surface 59 on the other side. These radius surfaces 58 and 59 engage the socket 53 and are curved to permit slight wobbling or rocking of the bearing unit 52 in the socket 53. I have fastened a feed tube 66 to the inside of the roller bearing unit 52 and to the housing thereof, 55. This feed tube 60 extends through the spring type chucking mechanism 3I and into th collet tube 36 terminatin at the chucking collet 21. The feed tube 60 is slidable axially relative to the collet tube and the chucking collet to feed the workpiece endwise into the chucking collet.

I have found it preferable to provide this feed tube 60 with a workpiece pad 6I (see Figure 3) which engages the workpiece. By using these workpiece pads 6| inside the feed tube 60 I do not have to have a feed tube for each diameter workpiece which will be run through the machine. If a small diameter workpiece is to be machined the pad 6| is replaced by a larger pad which will grip the smaller workpiece. The feed tube 60 and the roller bearing races 54 rotate with the workpiece and thus with the chucking collet 21.

The socket 53, illustrated in Figure 5, which supports the roller bearing unit or feed slide 52, is constructed from a socket housing 65 and a. socket cap 66. The socket housing 65 defines a socket surface 61 on the inside thereof toengage the radius surface 53 on the socket ring 51. The socket cap 66 is bolted to the socket housing 65, and thus forms the other side of the socket. I have inserted a ring 68 in the socket housing-65 and have provided this ring 68 with a socket sur-; face 69 to engage the radius surface59 of the socket ring 51 on the feed slide or roller bearing unit 52; The ring 68 is slidable in the housing 65 towards and away from the socket surface 61. Pressure springs 10 are mounted in aligned recesses in the socket cap 66 and the ring 68 to urge the ring 68 towards the socket surface 61 of the socket housing 65.

The socket housing 65 illustrated in Figure 3 is carried by a truck 12 which rolls on the parallel track members 58. The truck 12 has top truck Wheels 13 which rest on the track members 50, and has bottom truck wheels 14 which are carried along underneath the track members 56., These top and

bottom'truck wheels

13 and 14 on the truck 12 movably support the workpiece support and feed mechanism I3 for movement along the track members 56 towards and away from the head structure III of the machine. When the workpiece support feed mechanism I3 is 'moved towards the head structure I3 a workpiece supported thereby is moved endwise into the chucking collet 21 by the feed tube 66 which extends into the rotary spindle. When the workpiece support and feed mechanism I3 is moved away from the head structure I0 and towards the back housing structure II; the feed tube 60 slides overthe workpiece which is held by the chucking collet 21.

In Figure 5 of my drawings I illustrate the position of the component parts of the workpiece support and feed mechanism I3 when the work: piece is true and is not warped or out of alignment. In observing the drawing it is noted the roller bearing unit 52 is alignably seated in the socket 53. However, when a warped workpiece is put into the machine the bearing unit 52 must be allowed to whip or move with the workpiece. In Figures 6 and 7 I illustrate positions of the bearing unit in the sockets in exaggerated whipping position. Even though the workpiece is whipping, and thus the bearing unit 52 is carried about thereby, it is still supported by the socket 53. The ring 66 and the pressure spring 10 in the socket 53 always maintains a contact between the bearing ring'51 and the inner surfaces of the socket housing 65. I have discovered that by using this roller bearing unit-so that the feed slide rotates with the workpiece and by using the socket 53 to support the roller bearing unit, the workpiece is allowed to whip while it is rotating and yet does not build up tremendous whipping forces which would damage machines. The workpiece also does not have a chance to build up a force before it engages the socket; thus a very large and heavy workpiece may be supported.

As is illustrated in Figure 3, a spring abutment member 16 is fastened to the back housing structure II and encloses the end of the spring tube 15 which extends beyond the back housing structure. A feed slide spring 11 is operably carried by this spring tube 15 and abuts the spring abutment member 1-6 and the truck 12 to urge the truck 12 and'theieeding mechanism therewith towards the chucking collet. The spring H has a strength great enough to expand lengthwise to feed the workpiece endwise into the. chucking collet. I have provided a .cam mechanism associated with the truck 12' to. compress the spring and thereby move the feed slide mechanism awayfrom the chucking collet in readiness to move theworkpiece endwise into the chucking collet. This cammechanism comprises a feed cam 18 and a feed cam. roller 19: engaging the feed cam '18; The feed cam 18 is. carried by a suitable cam shaft 80 extending from the head. lrll towards the back housingstructure. H. The cam shaft 80. may berotated bygany suitable means, and, as is shown in the working diagram of Figure 8,.is synchronously connected .with the operation ofthe working tools and chuck collet. The feed cam roller 139-; is rotatably carried by the. truck 12 and engages the-reed cam 7 8. When the feed cam18. is ro tatecl' the truck 'IZis moved on the track- 50 towards-the. back housing H and away from the collet.

In Figure 8 of my. drawing I illustrate symbolically my workpiece support and 'feeding mechanism including the stock stop. and the chuckingcollet. In this drawing, I diagrammatically illustrate the rotary spindle H:,, which has the drive gear 25, rotated through a pinion gear-95 by. a suitable driving unit 96. Thedriving unit 95 is. symbolically.illustratedias being connected to thepinion gear 95: by dash-dot lines 91-. A second pinion gear 98; also engaging the driving gear, 25 drives the camshaft .811 through: suitable gearing and drive means illustrated by the dash-dot lines and the gear; box; 99. The stock'stop is also illustrated as being operated, through a rack and-gear mechanism 85, controlled by a stock stop cam 86 which is carried by the-cam ha tfifi-r he workpiece din mechanism-.113 a lllnt tat dla be n ymbo cal y.connected--an pe a ed. b h eed. mlfi: by: meam fdash 9!: line. land; he: chucki me hanism; 3 l is: symbolically connected to thechucking cam; 44: br-the ashe ine Hil- The complete operation of the machine-may; be. easily. followed by referring; to the: Figure; 9

l-p nd a diagram of thestock-stop-chucb ing and the workpiece feeding mechanism. The

- complete: cycle ofoperation of the machine ;oc--

curs-during one rotation; of 3 the cam shaft 811; and thus one rotationof eachofthje: cams 44., :18', and 85. Following through. the; cam: diagram ure;9,- it is;illustratedthatwhen the mais il'i- ODQQQQOXI thestock -stop isfirst low- Fd; eeneage the; w rkpiec when it" is;.moved endwise into the chucking collet: .Whilewthe stock stopis-in this lowered position. the chuck-. etis opening to;,'release the- .vwcjrkpiece-to otheworkpiece togbe-moved end-wise anda ti hefi eoh to 1 4.; The cam l'flsmoves he kp ceasnnnortc and; eed; mechanism. alon thetrack ;5ll;towards;the 1back housing. H in read-u mess-for; moving the Work-piece forward into-:the chuckingcolletl Further rotationoof the cams shaft. 80, permits the. feed spring 11 5 to expand; thus moving the workpiece feeding mechanism towards thehead-l 0 to move the workpiece into the: chuckingcol-let and against the feed or stock stop fl' l After the .workpiecehas. been -moved; endwise-the chuqking cam ii-permits. the chuck-. ing. collet to closeon the workpiece; and the stock stop can fifira'isesthe, stock; stop fl so thait- -the;

workpiece may be machined. After the workpiece has been machined and the finished product cut-' fro m the end th'er eof, this complete cycle of again moving the workpiece end-wise is repeated! The whole c'ycl'eincluding the machining and the chucking of the workpiece may thus be a. continuous and automatic cycle.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of .particularity in its preferred form, it is understood that the pr'e'sentdisclosure of the preferred form. has been made only .by. way. of example and that; numerous changes. in the. details. ofconstruction. and the combination and arrangement of parts. may. be resorted to withoutdeparting from theyspirit and the. scope of the; invention; as hereinafter claimed.

What,.-is;claimedis 1.. In a mechanism. for rotatably supporting'an elongated workpiece, a rotary spindle; having; "a.

' col-letI tube..- with. arco'llet; tracle means. extending longitudinally, fromthe; spindle,v a socket carriedi by the. track; meansland disposed in. axial alignmentmwith the 'spind1e:.:for. reciprocal movement toward: and away from the collet, said socket hav ingmopposed: in'ner bearingsurface means; a ringhavingqouter contact surface means rockabl-y-fitting. between said. opposed inner bearing surface means of: said socket, a food tube connected to and, supported: by isaidsrin'g. in. axial alignment with the spindle,- said .feedtube jbeingwi'thin the collet. tube and. spaced: therefrom and receivin'gand. supporting the. workpiece in substantial alignment. withthe collet: and having rneans to grip. the workpiece to. move the same longitudr' nallyint'o the collet. upon longitudinal movement of" the socket; and ring towardthecollet,- saiid opposed inner bearing surface means orsaia socket .compri'sing first and second inner bearing surfaces divergingl'y disposed with-respect to-eachother, said oute'r contact" surface means of. saidring comprisingfirst and second outer contacting; surfaces. converging-1y disposed with respe'ct"to each other and fitting respectively against said firstv and second: inner bearing surfaces of's'a'id socket, said. second inner bearing sulra'ce be-ing longitudinally. mov-ably rnoun'ted with' respect jto said first inner bearing surface, said ring being laterally andfrockablir'movabledn'saidsocket and permitting. whipping-movements of said f'eed tu'lie and the workpiece therein upon l ngitudin'aI movement ofsaid secondinner-bearing surface with respect to the first inner bearingsurface -and resilient means urging said second innerb'earing;

surfacelongitudinally towardsaid first" inner bearing-surface and therebyresiliently and-*rock ably-supporting. said ring within said-socket to permit said whipping movements'of the feed-tube and {the workpiecethereinl l 2. In a mechanismforrotata'bly supportingan' elongated workpiece; a rotary-Q spindle having a col-letftube with a toilet; track-'- means extending longitudinally fro'lr'lthe spindle; asocke't carriedby; the "track-means "and-disposed in axial alignment-withthespin'dle for reciprocal movement toward and away from thecollet, said sockethaw ing-opposed inner bearing surface means; aring. having outer contactsurface means rockably fit= ting between said opposed inner bearing surface means of said sock'et; a feed tube connected 'to-and supported 1 by..saidi ring in axial alignment with the spindle, said feed 'tube beingwithin the collet tubelandspaced therefrom and-receiving and sup= porting. the. workpiece; in substantial alignnl'ent with. the. collet and having means --togrip -th'eworkpiece to move the same longitudinally into the collet upon longitudinal movement of the socket and ring toward the collet, said opposed inner bearing surface means of said socket comprising first and second inner bearing surfaces divergingly dispose-d with respect to each other, said outer contact surface means of said ring comprising first and second outer contacting surfaces convergingly disposed with respect to each other and fitting respectively against said first and second inner bearing surfaces of said socket, said second inner bearing surface being longitudinally movably mounted with respect to said first inner bearing surface, said ring being laterally and rockably movable in said socket and permitting whipping movements of said feed tube and the workpiece therein upon longitudinal movement of said second inner bearing surface with respect to the first inner bearing surface, resilient means urging said second inner bearing surface longitudinally toward said first inner bearing surface and thereby resiliently and rockably supporting said ring within said socket to permit said whip,- ping movements of the feed tube and the workpiece therein, and spring feed means engaging the socket to move the same including the ring and the feed tube therewith along the track means towards the collet to feed the workpiece endwise through the spindle and into the collet.

3. In a mechanism for rotatably supporting an elongated workpiece, a rotary spindle having a collet tube with a collet, track means extending longitudinally from the spindle, a socket carried by the track means and disposed in axial alignment with the spindle for reciprocal movement toward and away from the collet, said socket having opposed inner bearing surface means, a ring having outer contact surface means rockably fitting between said opposed inner bearing surface means of said socket, a feed tube connected to and supported by said ring in axial alignment with the spindle, said feed tube, being within said collet tube and spaced therefrom and receiving and supporting the workpiece in substantial alignment with the collet and having means to grip the workpiece to move the same longitudinally into the collet upon longitudinal movement of the socket and ring toward the collet, said opposed inner bearing surface means of said socket comprising first and second inner bearing surfaces divergingly' disposed with respect to each other, said outer contact surface means of said ring comprising first and second outer contacting surfaces convergingly disposed with respect to each other and fitting respectively against said first and second inner bearing surfaces of said socket, said second inner bearing surface being longitudinally movably mounted with respect to said first inner bearing surface, said ring being laterally and rockably movable in said socket and permitting whipping movements of said feed tube and the workpiece therein upon longitudinal movement of said second inner bearing surface with respect to the first inner bearing surface, resilient means urging said second inner bearing surface longitudinally toward said first inner bearing surface and thereby resiliently andlrockably supporting said ring within said socket to permit said whipping movements of the feed tube and the workpiece therein, spring feed means engaging the socket to move the same including the ring and the feed tube therewith along the track means towards the collet to feed the workpiece endwise through the spindle and into the collet, and cam means operably associated with the socket to compress the spring feed means and thereby move the said socket including the ring and the feed tube therewith along the track means away from the collet in readiness for another feeding movement.

I 4. In a mechanism for rotatably supporting an elongated workpiece, a rotary spindle having a collet tube with a collet, track means extending longitudinally from the spindle, a socket carried by the track means and disposed in axial alignment with the spindle for reciprocal movement toward and away from the collet, said socket having opposed inner bearing surface means, a ring having outer contact surface means rockably fitting between said opposed inner bearing surface means of said socket, a feed tube bearingly connected to and supported by said ring in axial alignment with the spindle, said feed tube being within said collet tube and spaced therefrom and receiving and supporting the workpiece in substantial alignment with the collet and having means to grip the workpiece to move the same longitudinally into the collet upon longitudinal movement of the socket and ring toward the collet, said opposed inner hearing surface means of said socket comprising first and second inner bearing surfaces divergingly disposed with respect to each other, said outer contact surface means of said ring comprising first and second outer contacting surfaces convergingly disposed with respect to each other and fitting respectively against said first and second inner bearing surfaces of said socket, said second inner bearing surface being longitudinally movably mounted with respect to said first inner bearing surface, said ring being laterally and rockably movable in said socket and permitting whipping movements of said feed tube and the workpiece therein upon longitudinal movement of said second inner bearing surface with respect to the first inner bearing surface, and resilient means urging said second inner bearing surface longitudinally toward said first inner bearing surface and thereby resiliently and rockably supporting said ring within said socket to permit said whipping movements of the feed tube and the workpiece therein.

5. In a machine for rotatably supporting an elongated and warped workpiece, the provision of, a housing, a collet tube journaled in said housing, a feed tube co-axially aligned with and spaced from said collet tube, tracks on said housing extending longitudinally of said feed tube, and socket and ring means movable as a unit on said tracks and bearingly and resiliently supporting said feed tube for reciprocal movement longitudinally of said collet tube, said socket means having first and second opposed bearing surfaces between which said ring means fits, said second bearing surface being movable toward and away from said first bearing surface and providing variable distances between said opposed bearing surfaces, resilient means urging said second bearing surface toward said first bearing surface, said ring means rockably fitting between said opposed bearing surface and accommodating axial mis-alignment between said feed tube and said collet tube.

6. In a machine for rotatably supporting an elongated and warped workpiece, the provision of, a housing, a collet tube journaled in said housing, a feed tube co-axially extending within and spaced from said collet tube, tracks on said housing extending longitudinally of said feed tube, andresilient, self-;aligning bearing means reciprocally movable on said tracks and'bearingly and rockably supporting said feed tube, said bearing means comprising socket and ring means, said socket means having first and secondfo p posed bearing surfaces between which said ring means fits, said second bearing: surface being movable toward and away from said first bearing surface and providing variable distancesbetween said opposed bearing surfaces, resilient means urging said second bearing surface toward said first bearing surfacesaid ring. means rockably fitting between said opposed bearing surface and accommodating axial mis-aligninent between said feed tube and said collet tubes .7

7. In a. machine for rotatably supporting an elongated and warped workpiece, the provision of, a housing, tracks on said housing, a collet tube journaled in said housing in parallel alignment with said tracks, a truck movable on said tracks, a socket. comprising a housing and a cap'carried byf said truck, va socket ring .mounted between said socket housing and said cap pressure spring means cooperating with said cap and pressing same against said socket ring to resiliently .hold the same in said socket housing, and hearing unit rotatably bearingedin said socket ring, a feed tube carried by said bearingunit, said feed tube extending within and spaced from said collet tube whereby onelend of a: warped workpiece inserted in the machine is carried by the collet tube and the other end is-carried by thefeed tube, said socket, ringrockably fitting between said, socket. housing and said cap and accommodating axial mis-alignment between said feed tube and said collet tube. g

8.7 In a machine for'rotatablysupporting an elongated workpiece the provision: of, a; hous ing, tracks on said housing, a collet tube journaled in said housing in parallel alignment with 40 saidtracks, a truck movable on said tracks, a socket. carried by said'truck, said socket having opposed inner bearing surface means, a ring; hav- 12 ing; outer contact surface. means rockably fitting between said, opposed innerbearing surface means: of, said socket, ahbearing unit rotatably bearingedmin' said ring, 'a feed. tube carried by said'bearin'g unit saidfeed tube extending within an'dspaced ifrom'said collet .tube whereby one end of.a workpieceinserted in the machine is carried by the-collet tube and the other end is carried. by I the feedfltube, said opposed inner bearing surface means. of saidsocketcompris'ing first andsecondlinner bearing surfaces diverg ingly dis'posed'with respect to each. other, said outer contact surface means of. said ring coni-v prising first and. second'out'er contacting surfaces converging'ly disposed. with respect to each other and fitting. respectively against said first and sec; ond inner'bearing surfaces of said. socketisaid second inner. bearing surface being longitudinally moyably' mounted with respect. to said first inner bearing surface, said ring being laterally. and rockably" movable in c said. socket. and. permitting whippingjmovements. of said. feed'tube and the workpiece f therein upon longitudinal,v movement of saidsecond inner bearing surface withrespct to the first inner bearingfsurface, and resilient means .urging said second inner bearingsurface' longitudinally toward said first inner bearing surf face and thereby resiliently and ro'ckably' sup porting said ring within saidsocket to permit said whipping movements of the feed tube and the workpiece therein. V r ALFRED E. DRISSNER.

' REFERENCES/CITED" The following references are of record in -th'e file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS