US2636319A - Polishing machine - Google Patents

Description

April 28, 1953 W. B. KNIGHT POLISHING MACHINE l Filed Oct. 20. 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l WMM 1N VEN TOR. j/l/eJZter 5 BY 5 Sheets-Shea?l 2 W. B. KNIGHT POLISHING MACHINE April 28, 1953 Filed oct. 20,

1N V EN TOR. Wsszzar ./f

Wonu/Ens.

April 28, 1953 W B, KNlGHT 2,636,319 POLISHING MACHINE Filed 0G11. 20, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 621.; INVENTOR.

' Waff/V575.

April 28, 1953 w. B. KNIGHT POLISHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 20, 1948 INVENTOR. 4e/fer B: /f/f'gf. BY M @VM April 28, 1953 w. B. KNIGHT POLISHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 20, 1948 NVENTOR. Mffc-f E/f BY v c 42945.? y@

Patented Apr. 28, 1953 Application October 20, 1948, Serial No. 55,585 18 Claims. (Cl. 51-76) The present invention relates to polishing machines and more particularly to an improved machine for finishing the heads of screws and other similar workpieces. l

It is conventional in the finishing of chromeplated screws to obtain the desired bright finish on the screws by what is commonly known as bright plating. This bright plating requires a relatively long period of time and the operators must be very highly skilled to insure proper control of the bath and removal of the workpieces at the proper time.

may be eliminated by bufng the screw heads after plating.v When there is to be a bufng operation after the plating, the plating process may be stepped up considerably and the time thereof out to a third or less of the time required for the delicate bright plating process, and an operator having little or no skill may be used rather than the very highly skilled operators required for-the 'I'he necessity of employing this delicate and expensive bright plating process f bright plating process. It has, of course, been 1 known for some time that the necessity of bright plating could be eliminated in thismanner by employing a bung operation after the plating, but there has been no satisfactory known means for performing the bufng operation Without undesirably high labor expenses.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved machine for bufiing the heads of screws and similar workpieces, which machine operates automatically and has a very large output.

vAnother object of the present inventionis to provide an improved machine for finishing the. -heads of vscrews and similar workpieces which includes a hopper for .receiving a relatively large number of the screws and means which automatically moves the screws from the hopper and past the bufng station.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an impro-ved hopper for screws or other similarlyr headed workpieces and a finger and slide assembly associated with the hopper adapted to remove the workpieces from the hopper and deliver them along the slide assembly in single file.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a hopper and nger and slide assembly combination, the construction of which is such that the screws or other workpieces are removed from the hopper freely and without becoming jammed between the hopper sembly.`

A further object is to provide an improved hopper for screws and similar workpieces which and finger and slidegashopper has an inclined bottom having a circular.

slot adapted to receive the shank of the screw or other workpieces, and includes baille means for facilitating the collection of the screws in the slot. y

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved conveyor and supporting means adapted. to transport and support a plurality of screws or similar workpieces arranged in singleV file and vertically disposed.

It is alsoan object of the present invention toprovide such a conveyor and supporting means adapted to automatically pick up such screws or workpieces at one end and automatically discharge them at the other end.

Another object of the present invention is Ato provide an improved polishing machine including improved means mounting the polishing wheels.

thereof whereby the wheels may be readily adjusted relative to the workpieces and whereby the pressure with which the- Vpolishing wheels are heldlagainst'the workpieces may be varied as desired.. I

Other and in certain cases more detailed obj ects will-become apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawings, the following specification and the appended claims.

In the drawings: y

Figure .1 is a view in perspective of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken view in longitudinal section of the construction illustrated in Fig. l, taken substantially along the line 2 2 thereof;

Fig.-3is an venlarged sectional View of the cony struction illustrated in Fig. 2 taken substantially-- along the line 3 3 thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 2 taken sub- I stantially along the line 4 4 thereof;

Fig. 5 'is a broken elevational view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 2 taken in the direction of the arrow 5; y

Fig. 6 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 5 taken substantially along the line 6 6 thereof;

Fig. 7 is a broken plan View of the constructio illustrated in Fig. y2 taken from the line 1 1 Fig. 8 is an enlarged broken elevational view of theA construction illustrated in Fig. '7 taken from the line 8 3 thereof;

Fig. v9 is a sectional view of the construction.. illustrated in Fig. 8 taken substantially alongf the line 9 9 thereof; Fig. l0 a broken sectional view of the con-V struction illustrated in Fig. 8 taken substantially along the line lll- ID thereof;

Fig. l1 is an end elevational view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1 taken from the right-hand end thereof as viewed in Fig. 1 and showing parts broken away;

Fig. l2 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 11 taken along the line 12J-l 2. thereof;

Fig. 13' is an enlarged broken elevational View of the construction illustrated in Fig. 11 taken from the line iii-i3 thereof;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 13 taken along the line lll-I4 thereof; and

Fig. 15 is a partially diagrammatic View of the drive of the machine illustrated inFigql.A

Referring to the drawings, the machine .generally comprises a supporting frame generally indicatedet 2da hopper. 22 mounted at one. end of. the frame 2d. for rotation about an inclined axis' and. having, a circular slot in which Vthe screws` are collected Yduring rotation of. the hopper,` con'-` greater detail, and referring to Figs. A'1, 2' and 5,V the hopper 22 is frusto-conical in'shape and has an axially extendingA shaft 32 by means of which' itis-'supported in an inclined positionV in bearings 34 and rnounted on the framev 29.' The hopper 22 is mounted on the shaft32` for rotation therewith by means of plates 38 and 48 disposed onopposite sides of the bottonil S2 of thel hopper, which are driven the shaft'32` and are secured to' the Ihopper bottom d2 by means of' bolts lill?. The shaft 32 is driven from a pulley wheel 4S by means of a bevel gear d8 mounted for rotation therewith which engages Vand drivesasecond bevel gear 55B fixed on the shaft'32.`

Thehopper 22 is provided'with a false bottoni comprising an annu-lar ring 52 scoured to the cone'- icalwall of the hopper 22 and disposed-in a planev at right angles to the shaft 32. A plate 54is reeY ceived withinthe annular ringy 52 and cooperates therewith to denne the circular slot'.' The-plate4 5d is mounted on the annular ring 52V by a plu-A rality of channeleshapedbrackets ilfse'curedl 'to theunder sidesoithe ring 55E-'and plate 5d.' The shape of the brackets E@` is such that they wil'lnot interfere with'theffshanksv of screws inthe slot 2d? Adjacent the slot 24. the ring 52 and the plate 5d arerecessed as indicated at 56E and E8' to provide :an annular channel adapted to' receive the heads of the screws and materially reduce the likelihood of the screws which vhave collected in thefslot Ell fromI being removed therefrom by engaging otherscrews in theY hopper 22;A To facilitate the collection of the screws in the slot 2li the hopper is'also provided with a baille 6D having a conical inner wall surface, the `inner` edge" of which engages the annular ring 52 adjacentv the recess bfi, and the'o'uter edge of which engages the con-ical wall of the hopper 22. Thisbaie 6d in effect forms a fillet which prevents the collection of-fscrews in the corner-defined by the annular 'l-mounted-'oir the frame 2U" in spaced relation to ,4 ring 52 and the conical wall of the hopper 22, and defines a surface directing the screws into the slot 24. In the embodiment illustrated the conical inner surface of the baffle t3 has an apex angle of approximately eighty degrees.

The hopper 22 is also provided with spring ngers El mounted on the underside of the plate 54 and projecting upwardly into the slots 2li at spaced intervalsi thereof forV insuring that screws collecting in the slots 2li will be carried around the slot during rotation of the hopper 22.

Referring now in particular to Figs. 2, 5 and 8, the pick-up and transfer means generally indie cated' at 2S comprises a pair of bars t?. which are secured inspaced, parallel relation by a plurality of brackets 523 spaced therealong and welded thereto. Thesebraokets EE are U-shaped and are so. secured to the bars @2 that there is ample clear ance between the upper surfaces of the bars and the web portion of the bracket to permit the heads of screwsto under the web portion of the brackets'when-the shanlrs of 'the screws are received vbetween the bars 62 and the heads slide along the upper surfaces of the bar tZLas illustrated i'nFig.-

The upperends of the bars '62, as best illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 are formed to define nger portions 66 which ride in the recesses 56': and''1 of the ring 52 and plate 5d for the-pur'- posev of sliding underV the heads ofv screws moving along-the slot 211"towardthe 'linger portions fillY and lifting the screws from the slotv 2d onto thebars 52 where they are supported' by their heads which-slide along the upper surface of the Ybars 62;" To preventlwedging of the screws. between the.A false bottonro the hopper and the bars the finger portions Sciare carefully formed so that they' denne an axial extension ofthe slot' 2t'. This is accomplished-by curving the finger portions Sabout the axis of the hopper 22.A The finger portions 6B are so. curved for alength suffi-Y cient toinsure. that: prior to the. passage of the f head of' each .screw from such curved portion, the

shankzof i1-he.. screw has' been completely with'- drawn `from 'the slot 24.'

Asfis.fclearly'illustrated'in 'the drawings, the

ngerst' are disposed. `to engage the plate 5d and thea ringfiZ at'. apoint where: they move down' wardly during rotation ofthe.- hopperV 21 Inthe preferred embodiment illustrated the ngers .66

engagev the ring' and. plate at approximately the" onefoclockposition, or approximately thirty degrecs frionr the uppermostfpointiof the slot 2t.. It4

will be appreciated, of coursepthat in theabove described -arrangernentthe hopper-22 is rotated in a .clockwise direction aszviewed inFig. 5.

Iri spaced relationto its` upper: end; the pick-up and'v transfer..assembly. 23. is held in proper positionzby anjarmzrone. end of which is welded. or

otherwise. suitably secured" toY one of the. brackets vibrator 'ill' whichis secured tothe frame 25k and 65k:transmits -sufficient vibration to the bars 62 to" greatly speed up the= travel of the screws down thebars.

Atl the lower'end of the4 bars B2'theA screws are' transferred to the conveyor mechanism eenerally indicated. at 26. Referring in particular to Figs; '7, 8, 9` and 10, the conveyor mechanism 26 is" mountedon a horizontally disposed longitudinally extending plate l2 bolted to the frame 2B,

and'a secon-d horizontally disposed plate 'hi mustang-31ev the plate 12 for adjustmentv toward and 'awayfrom the plate '12. The adjustment of the platel 14 is effected by means'of a screw '|5 rotatably mounted on the frame 20 and engaging tapped depending projections 'l on the plate l2. This construction permits varying of the tension in the hereinafter described conveyor b elts l't as desired. These conveyor belts 'F0 comprise two generally parallelly disposed endless belts of conventional trapezoidal cross-section which are trained overa pair of pulleys 18 mounted in spaced relation on a shaft 80 extending transversely of the machine and rotatably supported in bearings 82 carried by the plate lll. These pulley belts 16 extend along the plate l2 and at its remote end are trained over a second pair of pulley wheels -811 one inclined side of the belts 'i6 and support the portions of the belts received in the guide blocks in the partially twisted positions illustrated in Fig. 4 in which the free adjacent inclined surfaces of the belts are disposed in parallel relation. The belts 'i6 are held against climbing out of the recesses 90 in the blocksA 88 by cover plates 92 secured to the upper surfaces of the blocks 08. In operation of the machine these adjacent parn allel surfaces of the belt 'It firmly grip the shank portion of the screws therebetween and prevent the screws from being thrown from the belts 'l0 by the action of the finishing or polishing wheel 30 illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 4. The spacing of vthe guide blocks 88 is substantially less than that between the pulley wheels of each of the pairs of wheels 'I8 and B4.- This causes the belts i6 to converge between the wheels 'I8 and the guide blocks B8 and to diverge between the guide blocks 8B and the wheels Sli. The block elements 88 back up the belts 'I6 throughout substantially the entire length of the travel of the screws therealong, and are adjustable toward and 'The screws are transferred "to the conveyor l belts 'i5 at the lower ends of the bars 02, shown in detail in Figs. '7, 8, 9 and l0, where the upper courses of the belts I6 converge as they pass from the spaced pulley wheels lis to the point where they enter the guide elements 08. To insure 62 to the belts l5 the lower ends of the bars are tapered as illustrated in l0 to a substantial?,7 knife edge at their lower end whereby the shank of the screw may be grasped by the belt immediately upon its swinging beyond the end of the bars 62 which it will be appreciated will be prior i to the head of the screw passing clear of the lower end of the bars 62 because of the vertical position of the screw in the inclined slide. Also, to prevent undue wear on the belt lli the outer lower corners of the loweredge of the bars (i2 are rounded `off adjacent the lower end of the bars 62, as best illustrated in Fig. 9. The bars 62 are supported and accurately positioned at their properV transfer of the screws from the slide bars lower-end by means of a pair of. plates |00 individual to and welded tothe lower ends of the bars B2. The outer ends of the plates |00 rest upon-.-

the upper surfaces of the guide blocks 88 andare l screwed or otherwise suitably secured thereto-.

The adjacent edgesof the plates v|00 are paralleli and spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing z between the parallel bars |52. ciated that the plates |00 also function to facili- It will be appretate proper transfer of the screws from the slide bars 62 to the belts 'I6 in that they properly locate .'f thel heads of the screws during' the transfer. It .f3 will be appreciated, of course, that the upper courses of the belts 16 travel from left to right as viewed in Figs. 2, v8 and 10, and that as the belts' 16 diverge, the screws will be dropped and may be caught in a suitable portable bin or other vcontainer.

1t win be noted that at each end of the" cori-" veyor belt 16 the pulleys vmand 84 over which they are trained are mounted on a single shaft.A This arrangement insures that the two conveyor" belts 16 will travel at the same speed thereby assuring that there will be no twisting of the screws supported between the conveyor belts l0 duringA their movement therealong. These pulley wheels 'i3 and 84 and the shafts 80 and 80 upon which they are carried are driven by means which will be hereinafter described.

As may be seen in Fig. 1, the machine includes by duplicate means.

pairs of wheels 30 will sufce for the other. The

pair of wheels 30 at the lright hand end of thef` machine as viewed in Fig. l, are mounted on and v' driven on a shaft |02 extending axially therethrough. -which .is journaled intermediate the spaced wheels 30 is apair of spaced bearing blocks |015 mounted at the outer lower end of an adjustable arm |00 pivotally mounted at its other end on a shaft |08 extending longitudinally ofthe machine and journaled in bearing blocks H11,y

mounted on the machine frame 20. The arm l 06 is formed in two slidablyconnected parts 'which may be adjusted relative to each other by a screw H2 for varying, the effective lengthof thejar'ms The shaft |02 carries a pulley wheel I I4 secured v, thereto intermediate the bearing blocks |04 and is driven through this pulley wheel I |4 by means of a belt. I6 trained thereover and also-trained over a pulley wheel H8 `on the shaft |03. The'l shaft |08 is in turn driven by-a motor |20 mounted on theframe 20 at the base of the machine through a belt |22 trained over a pulley wheel |24 mounted on the motor output shaft |2 0 and a second pulley wheel |2tflxed to the shaft |08.v

For controlling thepressure of thepolishing wheels 30 on the worknieces carried by the conf f v eyor means 25 the outer end of the arm |05is, connected through a link |23 to an adjustable.

plate |30 which isslidably mounted in a substantially vertically extending angle iron frame.

|32 which is welded or otherwise suitably secured at its lower end to the frame 20. Asbest illus'- trated in Figs. 1 3 and la, the plate |30 is urged. downwardly by a pair of elongated springs |34, the upper ends of which are connected v tothe the frame |32 by means of a vertically extendingI 7*, i3d rotatably -moun extcndinamember 13E. anda. second uppertransf versely extending. trame. member ist., The screw I 38; carries. a .pair of wintefnuts;l ldceach ofA which is-lconnected :by a. pail? of. springs- 144, .to` the4 plate I 3.1L' It.' willA be appreoiatedthat the. springs M4.

not:infppositijorxv to and -counteisbalance the springs; L34.

Itywillnow be appreciated; that the `abovedc.- scribed construction permits the: polishing. wheels 3Q; to: be adj-.usted both vertically and transversely relative'to Ithe conveyor means 26 and permits, a predetermined-.desired pressure to be exerted upon the workpiecesbythe polishing wheels 3o through the. action of the. springs i3d.

Asuitable. hood partially illustrated. at. 141.6.A may bepnovide'd and, if desiredgnayy beconnected with an associated exhaust fan and" conduit (not.

ot-polish-ngf wheels 30 ares-mounted ony arm i43- f corresponding to the; arm lilo and driven .through a.-.shaft. ly 511' :disposed in aria-1 :alignment with the.

sh-afti w8. and drivenvby a motor |52.. corresponding; to the. motor I 2.5!.

Considering now'the drive means for the con.-

veyorfmeansfland the hopper 2-2 and referring inyparticulan tovliigs.A 1, 2, ll and l5, a suitable.

supported ori-...the frame. im..y The shaft. $64 in...

turn drives; a.. third` shaft; i661, .which is. rotatably supported.- on.theiramezowthrough Va belt, l... Tha shaft; 16.8, also. carries a pair. oi pulley Wheels I lik from,vfhich.- the. above .described shaft' 85,. at

theirighthand end. of .theA machine as .viewed inl Fig-1, .is driven .by beltslfl .trained over. a vpair of fpulleywheels .11.4, fixed to the. shaft. 36, atoppo.-

site .sides ofthe. pulley wheels. 8d, .The shaftg, at.

the left, hand end of.. the. conveyor' mechanism..ady

is driven'fronnthe. shalt 86. by a. son: of belts., .i161 trainedover .parsof pulley AWheels 11.8 and 18.0, mounted-respectively. on. the .shafts .8o. and. 8.o.

adjacent the outer ends thereof.A The use of the beltsi-.-l.1,6 relieves. the.- conveyor. Vbelts 16. .o the load-,otthe shaft. Bil trornwhich .thelhopper 22,1.Slalso drivenas. hereinafter.- described.

Thelllonper 2.2 isdrlven .from the. shaft, 8D. by a.

belt. l 82; Awhich is. trained over a pulley.. wheel LM., to. .the-rear.A end of. the. shaftilll,l as best .ill-use. tratedin 7, and also. trainedfover .the above described pulley wheeled which drivesthe hopper shaft` .32?.a-ndlhence the. hopper .2.3. through. the bevelgearsil and .59 asabove described.

Theelectricmotorsr 152, 12o and-,15.4. maybe suitably connectedv .to and respectively. controlled. byv conventional p .ushfbutton typer switches .1.8.4, I'88.'and,.l.8 8 which may be suitably located. on ,the frame 2.0...

Itwillnow .be .understood that a limited variar. Y

tion` .in the.- Vscrew: sizevv may .be permitted. for a glvenlwidthof thehopper slot 24 .andspacing of.

theslida bars .62... For screws not within` these.

Iimits .i.t.is...of. oourse,.;apparent that a'diiferent plate 5.4 .and slide bar assembly 62, may be .ern1V ploxed to. accommodatethedesired screw size..

1t; will..newbeappreciated that. the. above described machine. provides. an. improved` means Permitting screws froma large mass. ,to be.. auto- .ted inthe transversely:

matically-pollshcd -wtha .bare-minimumof vlabor;v expense therebygmakingpossible. the, use. .ofsholts fast; plating processes lcarried .on by relatively; unskilled operators;4

. 1t will also. be appreciatedthat thel applicantsmachine may be. used for-.polishingthorough screwsn priorto. plating, permitting a better plat.- ing ofthe. heads thereof.

While only one embodiment of Vtheinvention. has been illustrated and described in detail,v it will. be. readily appreciated` by those slilledin thev art; that numerous modifications andchangesv maybe made without.y departing from the spirit, of the present. invention..V

What, is. claimed. is:

l. A polishing machine fornse innishinglthe.; heads oi screws. and likeworkpiecessaid machine.l comprising a. hoppenmounted for rotation about.. an inclined `axis and-having, :an axially upwardly-- Ipresenting annular slot `adapted to collect said screws and cfa Width. adapted to. receive the.- shanksr oft said screws .but not permit passageof. the heads thereof sothat theV screws, are supe*- ported with-their Shanks hangingv in said-slot, a.

frame,4 conveyor means mounted on saidframef for supporting said screws. in-.postion `to -*bepol-.. ished,; motive means for .driving said hopper and said conveyor ymeans and` operatively connectedtheretofpick upl and transfer means connectingsaid hopper and said conveyor means for removing said screws romvsaid slot .and transferring. their;V tov said conveyor; means said pick, up and:Y transfer means includingr'a slide. deiiningl a. slot, communicating at its upper end` with said annueA lar slot of said hoppen: and polishing means'` mounted on said frameforpolishingsaidscrews during their movement onsaid conveyor means.;-

2. fili polishing lmachine for use infinishingtheI heads of screws and like workpieces, said machine.- conlprising a Vhopper mounted for rotationabout: an inclined axis and having. an axially Aupwardlynl presenting; annular slot. adapted tocollect said screws ander a Widthadaptedto receivethe Shanks oisaidscrews but not. permit passage; of theheads therecffsofthatthe screws are support. ed,v with their' -Shanks hanging in 'said-slot, aframe, conveyor means mounted on said-frame for; supporting Said screws in positionto.- beypol-v ished, :notice means for driving said hopperand said conveyor means and operativelyconnected` thereto, aslide connectinasaid hopper and saidl conveyor means randadapted- .to deliver .said screws to said conveyor means. individu-aiminvertically disposed position With head endfup-,r said slide having a pain-.oi ngers adapted torernove.. said; screws from vsaid sloi'I and deningva= slot .communicatingwith said annular slotoffsaid hopper, and polishing means mounted on saidl frame for polishing said; screws during their:v movement along saidconveyor means..

3. YMeansfor handling screws andother sim,- ilarlyheaded Workpieces comprisingA a .framal a.' hopper mounted .on said fra-maior rotation; about an inclined axis and. having a-platel extending transversely osaidhopper. at right .angles to. said axis and having anaxially upwardly presenting annular slot adapted .to collect. said.- workpiecesz and.` of, a width adapted izo-freely receive the shank of. said. Workplaces butnot permit-passage' of .the heads thereof whereby said workpieces are sup-.fportedwithy their headends uppermost, .andan inclined slide assembly connected to said frame and defining a slot. for supporting. saidfworkpieces in .said position. said, slide assembly having -a pair of .ngers atits upper end defining theup.

per end portion of said slot ofsaid slide and dis'- posed so -that said upper end portion of said slot of said slide communicates with said annular slot, said iingers being adapted to automatically transfer said workpieces from said slot in` said plate tosaid slot in said-slide assembly, and said inclined slide assembly being adapted to convey said workpieces from said hopper and feed them along said slot in said slide assembly. y 4. Means for handling screws and other similarly headed vworkpieces comprising a frame, a hopper mounted n said frame for rotation about an inclined axis and having a platev extending transversely of said hopper at right angles to said axis and having an axially upwardly presenting annular slot adapted to collect said workpieces and of a width adapted to freely receive the shank of said workpieces but not permit passage of the heads thereof whereby said workpieces are supported with their head ends uppermost, and an inclined slide assembly connected to said frame and deiining a slot for supporting said workpieces in said position, said slide assembly having a pair of lingers at its upper end dening the upper end portion of said slot of said slide and disposed so that said upper end portion of said slot of said slide communicates with said annular slot, said fingers being adapted to automatically transfer said workpieces from said slot in said plate to said slot in said slide assembly, said inclined slide assembly being adapted to convey said workpieces from said hopper and feed" them along said sl'ot in said slide assembly, and means connected to said slide assembly for vibrating the latter for facilitating movement of said workpieces therealong.

5. Means for handling screws and other similarly headed workpieces comprising a frame, a hopper mounted on said frame for rotation about an inclined axis and having a plate extending transversely of said hopper at right angles to said axis and having an axially upwardly presenting circular slot adapted to collect said workpieces and of a width adapted to freely receive the shank of said workpieces but not permit passage of the heads thereof whereby said workpieces are supported with their head ends uppermost, and an inclined slide assembly connected to said frame and defining a slot for supporting said workpieces in said position, said slide assembly -havinga pair of spaced fingers at its upper end adapted to automatically transfer said work? pieces from said slot in said plate to said slot in said slide assembly, said ngers overlying said plate at opposite sides of said circular slot and deiining an upper end portion of said slot of said slide communicating with said circular slot, said inclined slide assembly being adapted to convey said workpieces from said hopper and feed them along said slot in said slide assembly, said ngers being disposed to remove said workpieces from said slot in said plate at a point at which the adjacent portion 0f said plate moves downwardly duringV normal rotation of said hopper. A vi3. Means for handling screws and other similarly headed workpieces comprising a frame, a hopper mounted on said framefor rotation about aninclined axis and having al plate extending transversely of said hopper at right angles to said axis and having an axially upwardly-presenting circular slot adapted to collect said workpieces and of a width adapted to freely receive the shank of said workpieces but not permit passage of the heads thereof whereby said workpieces are supe ported `withll'zeir head ends uppermost, and an 'inclined slide assembly connected to said frame and deiining a slot for supporting said workpieces in said position, said slide assembly having a pair of iingers at its upper end adapted to automatically transfer said workpieces from said slot in said plate'to said slot in said slide assembly, said ingers overlying said plate at opposite sides of said circular slot and dening an upper end portion of said slot of said slide communicating with said circular slot, and said inclined slide assembly being adapted to convey said workpieces from said hopper and feed them along said slot in said slide assembly, and said lingers being so constructed and arranged that during the removal of each of said workpieces from said slot in said plate the head end of the workpiece is moved in the surface of a cylinder whose axis coincides with said inclined axis and the radius of which is equal to the radius of said circular slot whereby vjamming of said workpiece in said slots is prevented.

7. Means for handling screws and other similarly headed workpieces comprising a hopper mounted for rotation about an inclined axis and having a plate extending transversely of said hopper at right angles to said axis and having an axially upwardly presenting circular slot adapted to collect said workpieces, and a pair of spaced stationary fingers engaging said plate at opposite sides of said circular slot and defining a slot substantially equal in width to said slot in said plate and communicating therewith, said fingers being adapted vto remove workpieces from said slot in said plate. l y 8. Means for handling screws and -other similarly headed workpieces comprising a hopper mounted for rotation about an inclined axis and having a plate extending transversely of said hopper at right angles to vsaid axis and having an axially upwardly presenting circular slot adapted to collect said workpieces, a pair of spaced stationary fingers engaging said plate at opposite sides of said circular slot and defining a slot substantially equal in width to said slot in said plate and communicating therewith, said linger-s being adapted to remove workpieces from'said slot in said plate, and a portion of said iingers adjacent said plate being curved about said axis -whereby ,during movement of a workpiece along said portion ,of said lingers movement of the head-of the workpiece laterally of said circular slot is prevented. 'i 'f y '9. Means for handling screws and other similarly headed workpieces comprising a hopper mounted for rotation about an inclined axis and having a plate extending transversely of said hopper at right angles to said axis 'and having an axially upwardly presenting circular slot. adapted to collect said workpieces, and a pair 'of' spaced stationary ngers engaging said plate at opposite :sides of saidcircular slot and on the side of said plate which moves downwardly during normal rotation of said hopper, said in'gers'defining a slot substantially equal in width to said slot in said plate and communicating-therewith. 10.. Means for handling screws and other similarly headed workpieces comprising a hopper mounted 4for rotation about an inclined axis-and having a plate extending transversely of said hopper at right angles to said axis and having an axially upwardly presenting circular slot adapted to collect said workpieces, a pair of spaced stationary fingers engaging said plate Iat opposite sides of said circular slot and defining a-slot substantially-equal inwidth to said slot in "said platel and communicating therewith, said ingers being adapted to remove workpieces from Vsaid slot in said plate, and a portion of said ngers adjacent said plate being curved about said axis whereby during movement of a workpiece along said portion of said lingers movement of the. head of the workpiece laterally of said circular slot. is prevented, and Asaid portion being of such length that throughout the withdrawal of the shank of each workpiece from the slot in said plate, the head of the workpiece travels along said portion ofthe fingers.

l1. Means for handling screws and other similarly headed workpieces comprising a frame, a hopper mounted on said frame and having an annular slot adapted to collect said workpieces, a` slide connected to said frame and assembly including stationary spaced linger means dei-lning a slot communicating withy said annular slot Aofsaid hopper and adaptedfto pick up said Workpieces from said slot, conveyor means connected tosaidslide assembly 'and adapted to receive said workpieces irom said slide and transport them while-'securely holding them in predetermined position, said conveyor means including a pair of endless belts, and means mounting said belts for movement along a path such that corresponding courses of said- 4belts converge at one end, diverge at the other end and intermediate these converging and diverging portions-move in spaced parallel rel-ationwith the adjacent surfaces adapted l'to grip the shank `of Vthe workpieces.

12. Means for handling vscrews and rother similarly headed workpieces comprising a frame, a hopper mounted onA saidframe and having an annular slot `adapted to Acollect said workpieces, a'slide assembly connected to said frame and including stationary spaced finger means defining a slot communicating with said annular slot of said hopper 'and' adapted to pick up said'workpieces from said slot, conveyor means connected to said slide assembly Iand adapted to receive said Workpieces from `said slide and transport them Vwhilev securely holding them in predetermined position, said conveyor means including a pair of .endless belts; and 'means mounting vsaid belts'for movement at'the same 'speed and .along a'path Asuch'that therupper coursesof said belts converge atene tend,l diverge at the other-end, and intermediatefthese rconverging yand diverging portions'. :move infspaced parallel relation with `the adjacent surfaces thereof disposed in spaced parallel 'relation and adapted'to grip the shank ofthe workplaces.

v13. VConveyor means .for'screws andotherisimilarly headed workpie'cescomprising a pairof endless V-belts, means including two pairs A,of spaced :wheels: mounting said ybelts in generally parallel relations, pair.' iofparallel guideA elements disposed intermediate. .the ends of. 'correspending. coursesof said belts and having recesseslextending longitudinally thereof receiving and, oppositely twisting said corresponding courses and supportingv them in. a twisted position in which onelateral surface of eachis disposed-adjacent. and parallel. 'to a similar vlateral surface of the'other.

1.4. Conveyor means for-screws and other similarly headed workpieces comprising a pair of endless V-belts, means including two pairs of spaced wheels mounting said belts in generally parallel relation, a pair ofv parallel guide elements disposed intermediate. the vends 'of :corresponding courses of said belts andv having recesses :extending longitudinally thereof receiving andv opposite'ly *twisting saidcor-responding coursesl and supporting them ina twisted position in which one lateralfsurfaceof-'each is disposed adjacent and parallelv tov4 asimilar lateral surf-aceof the other, said wheels 'and saidf guide elements being soiconstructed and arranged that said lcourses of said belts converge betweenoneof Vsaid pairs of wheels and saidelements anddivergeV between said elements andthe other pair of wheels.

l5. Polishing wheel supporting means comprising anarmadapted'at one .aendto loe-pivotally mounted on a supporting lelement and including means for'varying'ftheeiective lengthvcf :said arm, la :shaft 'rotatablylmounted' in the other end ci saidY arm-.zand disposed substantially 'at right angles-theretdv said shaft' being adapted tov-have at least one polishing wheel .secured thereto'for rotationV therewith, aI frame, *a polishing vwheel positioning element mountedin said frameffor movementsubstantially at right angles to said arm in lits normal operatingrange, a-link pivotally connected at one zend to said other end offsaid arm and pivotallytconnected at its other end vto said polishingwheel positioning element, resilient means engaging said. wheel positioning element and Ysaid frame .urging Asaid Ywheel in one/direction, a .screw 'mounted lon -said Yframe Aand 4carryingi nut means threadedlthereon, andv` resilient means connecting :said vnut means andfsaid 'wheel positioning element and acting in opposition to said first named resilientmeans.

$16.'.A1hopper .forrscrews .and other similarly headed workpieces, said-hopper having a` bottom having a circular Aslot adapted, uponfrotati'on of said hopper. about an inclined axis, to collect .said workpieces therein-with thel shanks thereof ireceived in saidslot, saidhopper. also having'spring lingers mounted :on the under .side of said bottom and projecting.. upwardly into .said 'slot -ior engaging the-Shanks of-workpieces collected :in said slot toprevent said workpieces from sliding in said slot and remaining in the lower portion of said lslot during .rotation ofsaidhopper.

17." Means for handling screws and other similarly headed- Vworkpieces'comprisinga trama-'a hopper mounted on said 'frame and vhavingan annular 'slot adapted to collect 'said' workpieces, a VIslide assembly including 'spaced .finger means denning. a slot therebetween communicating with said-'annular slot; said finger means being'disposed above 'the-adjacent portion of said' hopper deiining the adjacent portion of said annular elution-engaging the" heads of said workplaces and lifting the said workpieces axially upwardly from said annular slot, 'and conveyermeans 'connected to said slide 'assembly `and adapted to receive said workpiecesirom said slide and transport 'them while .secuelyholdingthem in predetermined position.

.18. A hopper for'screws and. other similarly headed workpiecesadapted to be mounted. for rotation about .anw inclined axis, said hopper having a oonicalouterwall member rand a bottom plate extending transversely thereof and having itsfupper surface. Adisposed in av plane extending atright angles tosaid axisfsaid bottom plate having an annular sloticoaxial with'said axis and adapted, upon rotation of said hopper about said inclined' axis, to 'collect said workpieces therein with the shanks thereof received in said slot, said platebeing fixed to -said hopper wall member for rotation'therewith, lsaid hopper also having a baie'm'ounted therein and having a lconicalsurface; terminating at Lits Y:inner .edge adjacent .said

slot and terminating at its outer edge at the outer Number Name Date wall of said hopper. 1,205,314 Adams Nov. 21, 1916 WEBSTER B. KNIGHT. 1,290,659 Rehm Jan. 7, 1919 1,306,586 Duke June 10, 1919 References Cited in the f11e of thls patent 5 1,339,790 Swangren Sept-, 6, 1921 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,615,137 Ruby Jan. 18, 1927 1,697,626 Perrault Aug. 7, 1928 Nungegg B Name M Dzaelsw 2,127,071 Schmalz Aug. 16, 1938 1 f .ers ar- 2,194,050 Musuini Mar. 19, 1940 Rlchards Sept. 15, 2 June 4 383 126 Fiske Aug. 21 1888 1,097,012 Eldredge May 19, 1914

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