US2636320A - Polishing machine - Google Patents

Description

April 28, 1953' w. B. KNIGHT 2,636,320

POLISHING MACHINE Filed Apfil 5, 1950 e Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Wfjsfer Z5. Z1

W. B. KNIGHT POLISHING MACHINE April 28, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1950 W. B. KNIGHT POLISHING MACHINE April 28, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 5, 1950 20a Zd 42 IN V EN TUR.

April 28, 1953 w. B. KNIGHT POLISHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 5, 1950 \ITTI I INVENTOR. Weif 5 A ril 28, 1953 w. B. KNIGHT 2,636,320

POLISHING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1950 e Sheets-Sheet e INVENTOR.

We az er B Y Patented Apr. 28, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POLISHING MACHINE Webster B. Knight, Detroit, Mich.

Application April 5, 1950, Serial No. 154,034

Claims. 1 The present invention relates to a polishing machine for polishing the heads of screws or other similar workpieces.

This invention relates to an improved polishing machine of the type illustrated, described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No.

55,585, filed October 20, 1948.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved polishing machine of the above mentioned type, including an improved hopper into which the screws to be polished are loaded, an improved conveyor means for supporting the screws during the polishing operation, improved means for transferring the screws from the hopper to the conveyor means, and improved means for polishing the heads of the screws as they are carried along the conveyor means, all of which co-operate to form a polishing machine which more rapidly collects the screws to be polished, permits improved polishing of the workpieces, and greatly increases the production of the machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved polishing machine of the above mentioned type in which the conveyor means includes means for rotating the screws about their axes during the polishing operation, to insure complete polishing of the entire screw head.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hopper for a polishing machine of the above mentioned type, which hopper includes an annular axially upwardly opening slot and baffles engaging the screws disposed within the hopper causing these screws to fall across the slot to facilitate the collection of the screws within the slot.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved means for handling screws ,or other similar workpieces including an improved conveyor for supporting the screws during the polishing operation, a slide for delivering the screws to the conveyor, and improved transfer means for transferring the screws from the slide to the conveyor.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide improved polishing means for a polishing .machine of the above mentioned type, which polishing means includes polishing wheels and improved means for supporting the polishing wheels so the wheels may be adjusted toward and away from the conveyor means and so that the wheels may also be adjusted to vary the angle between the plane of the wheels and the path of movement of the screws along the conveyor. v

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved polishing machine providing greatly increased production and which is very versatile in that it may be readily adapted to handle various sizes of workpieces.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved polishing machine of the above mentioned type which is of sturdy, durable construction and which is reliable and efficient in operation.

Other and more detailed objects of the invention will be apparent from the consideration of the following specification, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, throughout the several views of which like reference characters designate like parts and wherein:

Figure l is a broken elevational view of a polishing machine embodying the present invention;

Figure 1A is a broken enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 1 taken along the line lA-IA thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged broken longitudinal sectional view showing the left hand portion of the structure illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 2, taken substantially along the line 3-3 thereof;

Figure 4 is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 2, taken substantially along the line l-4 thereof;

Figure 5 is a broken plan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 2, taken in the direction of the arrow 5 therein;

Figure 6 is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 5, taken substantially along the line 6-6 thereof;

Figure '7 is a broken perspective view of the structure illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 5, taken substantially along the line 88 thereof;

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 5, taken substantially along the line 9-9 thereof;

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 1, taken substantially from the line l0-l 0 thereof; and,

Figure 11 is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 1, taken substantially along the line llll thereof.

The improved polishing machine of the present invention generally comprises a fabricated main frame generally indicated at 20, a hopper 22 supported on a suitable frame 24, a conveyor generally indicated at 26 mounted on thefram'e 20 and adapted to support the screws and convey them along in position for the heads to be polished, pickup and transfer means generally indicated at 28 adapted to remove the screws from the hopper 22 and transfer them to the conveyor means 26, a plurality of polishing means generally indicated at 30 supported on the frame 26 and adapted to polish the heads of the screws as they are carried along the conveyor 25, and driving means for driving the conveyor 28, the polishing means 30 and the hopper 22.

Considering the above mentioned components in greater detail, the hopper 22 is formed "of metal and has a conically shaped side wall to which is disposed on an inclined axis as best'i l'l'ustratedin Figures 1, 2 and 7. At its inner and smaller diameter, the conical wall 34 carries an annular bottom ring 36 welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto. Within the opening defined by the annular ring 36, a bottom plate '33 is supported on a plurality of b-shaped brackets it. The plate 38 co-operates with the annular ring 38 to define an annular slot -42. Adjacent the slot 42, the upper surfaces of the ring 36 and plate 38 are formed to define annular recesses in which are supported annular rings "45 and "4% respec- 'tively, which are secured in place by a plurality of 'screws 48 and 59. The annular rings id and 4,6 cooperate to define an annular slot 52 aligned with the larger 'slot :32 defined by the ring '35 and plate 33. It will be appreciated that the size of the slot 52 may be 'varied to correspond to the size of the screw being run 'on the machine and provide maximum collection of the screws in the slot 52 by replacing either or bothof the annular rings 44 and 4B.

A plurality of angularly spaced 'b'aflles 54 are mounted on the inner surface "of the conical wall '34 and'secured thereto by screws 56. The baffles 54 are inclined relative to the straight 'line elements of the conical wall 34 so that the lower or axially inner ends of the baffles "54 trail the outer ends of the baffles during rotation of the hopper, which in the construction illustrated, is in the clockwise direction indicated "by the "arrow in Figure 4. The bafiies d terminate "at their inner ends adjacent the bottom ring 38 "of the hopper and function to carry screwsdisposed in the hopper 22 upwardly during rotation of the'hopper 22 in the direction indicated fcausing the'mto fall downwardly toward 'the "slot 52, thereby facilitating collection of screws in theslotSZ.

an annular collar "581s welded 'to the outer side of "the conical wall 34 adjacent its "lower or inner end and has a cylindrical outer surface '60 having a 'pair of pulley grooves which receive V-belts 62 for rotating the hopper 22 about its inclined air is. The 'h'o'ppe'ris 'rotatably supported on the frame "24 by a plurality of rollers 84 suitably supported on the frame '24 and adapted to engage the cylindrical outer surface 6t of the collar '58, and other rollers 66 also mounted on the frame 24 and engaging a bottom surface 68 of the collar '58, which bottom surface 68 is disposed at right angles to the cylindrical surface 60. The pulley belts 62 are trained over a drivepulley supported on theframe 24 in laterally spaced relation to the hopper 22 in parallel relation thereto and drivingly connected to a suitable electric motor 12.

The pickup and transfer means 28 mentioned above includes a pair of generally parallel fiat strips M which are-interconnected' at'spaced intervals therealong by L-shaped elements it and 18 clamped together by bolts 80. These connecting elements support the strips i l in parallel spaced relation to define a longitudinally extending slot 82 therebetween adapted to receive the shanks of the screws, the heads of which engage and are supported upon the upper edges of the strips M. These strips 14 define an inclined slide along which the screws are transferred from the hopper 22 to the conveyor 28. At their upper ends the strips 511 are shaped to define finger 84 adapted to ride on the upper surface of the annular rings 46 and 46 at opposite sides of the slot '52 and remove from the slot 52 the screws which have collected therein and are carried to the fingers M by the rotation of the hopper 22. These fingers 84 function as described in greater detail in my copending application, Serial No. 55,585, filed October 20, 1948, to efiiciently remove the screws which collect in the slot 52 and transfer them to the slot defined by the strips where they slide along the strips 'i' i with their heads supported on the upper edge of the strips 14. The upper ends of the strips '14 are supported on a suitable framework generally indicated at 86 to dispose the -fingers M in the above described relation to the slot 52. 'The' framewor k tt is suitably supported on the hopper frame 2 as by supporting elements 8-? secured to the hopper frame 24 '(see Figure 7').

As'clearly "illustrated in the drawings, the strips 'l fil slope downwardly from the fingers "8'4 at their upper ends toward the conveyorfifi. To facilitate ra'pidtravel of the-screws downwardly along the strips 74, a pair of pneumatic vibrators 38 are secured to the frame '85. These vibrators 88 prO- duce a vibration of the strips 15, resulting in rapid movement of the screws downwardly toward the conveyor '26. At the lower end of the strips 54, the screws are transferred to the conveyor 26, as hereinafter described.

The spacing of the strips Hi may be such'as to accommodate a Wide range of screw sizes "since it need only be smallenough to prevent the screw heads from falling between the strips 14 and great enough -to be slightly more'than "the shank diameter of the screws.

if necessary, of course, means maybe provided on the elements it and T8 ifor clamping the strips M in various spacedrela- The above mentioned conveyor means 26 comprise 'a pair of laterally spaced conveyorbelts 90 and 92. These belts at and 92 are conventional "endless 'V-sha'ped pulley belts and define generally horizontally extending loops, portions of which extend in spaced parallel relation to define a slot therebetween adapted to receive the shanks of screws carried by the conveyor. The main portion of the conveyorfi is mounted 'on'a horizontally disposed plate 94 supported "on the main frame 20 and extending longitudinally thereof. At the right hand end-of 'the'plate 94, as viewed in Figure 1, and which is seen'on an enlarged scale in Figure -l1, a pair of'coaxial shafts 96 and 98 are mounted in spaced pairs of bearing blocks tilt and I62 respectively. Pulley wheels F04 and 106 aresecured to the adjacent ends of'the shafts '96and'98 respectively. The oonveyor'beltssiland 92 are trained 'over the pulley wheels 104 and 106 "respectively. At "the opposite or left hand end of the main "frame '20, as viewed in' Figure '1, a

pair of plates 108 and H0 are independently :mounted 10!! the main frame 20 in the plane-of the plate 9'4, forzmovement toward 'and awayfrom the plate 94.

The plates I08 and H0 carry coaxial shafts I20 their adj acent' surfaces. -I-96 are shaped to receive the pulley belts-90 and 5. and I22 rotatably supported thereon in pairs of bearing members I24=and I26 respectively. Referring to Fig. 2, thebearing members-I24 are secured by bolts I23 to supports I welded or otherwise secured to the plate I08. Movement of the plate I08 toward and away from'the plate 94 is effected by rotation of a handwheel I I2 through a screw I I4, which engages in a threaded boss I I6 on one of the supports I25. Movement of the plate H6 toward and away from the plate 94 is similarly efiected by a handwheel II8. Pulley wheels I28 and I30 are fixed on the adjacent inner ends of the shafts I20 and I22. The conveyor belts 90 and 92 are trained over the pulley wheels I28 and I30 respectively. It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the tension in the conveyor belts 90 and 92 may be independently adjusted by rotation of the handwheels H2 and H8.

The conveyor belts 90 and 92 are driven through conveyor drive means generally indicated at I32 and comprising a motor I34 mounted in the lower right hand portion of the main frame 20, as viewed in Figure 1, the output shaft I36 of which carries a drive pulley I38 connected by a belt I40 to a large pulley I42 on an idler shaft I44. The idler shaft I44 also carries a small sprocket wheel I46 which is connected by a chain I48 to a large sprocket wheel I50 on a second idler shaft I52. drive sprocket wheels I54 and I56 which drive the shafts 96 and 98 respectively through chains I58 and I60 trained over sprocket wheels I62 and I64 mounted respectively on the shafts 96 and 98.

It will now be appreciated that properly varying the sizes of the sprocket wheels I54 and I56 or I62 and I64, the relative speed of the conveyor belts 90 and 92 may be varied to produce any desired amount ofrotation of the screws as they are carried along by the belts 90 and 92. It has also been found that rotation of the screws may be obtained when the sprocket sizes are the same by adjusting oneof the handwheels H2 and H8 to produce a partial slippage of one of the conveyor belts.

To provide an effective uniform drive of the conveyor belts 90 and 92, under heavy load conditions the shaft 96, at the right hand end of the conveyor, is connected to the shaft I20 in the left hand end thereof by a double pulley belt I66 trained over pulley wheels I68 and I10 fixed on the shafts 96 and I20 respectively, and the shaft 98 is similarly connected to the shaft I22 by pulley belts I12 trained over pulley wheels I14 and I16 fixed on the shafts 98 and I22. Under light load conditions the belts 90 and 92 may transmit their own driving force completely and the belts I66 and I12 may be dispensed with.

A pair of longitudinally extending backup members I86 and I88 carry outwardly extending legs I81 and I89 welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto and having elongated slots I9I and I93 through which extend bolts I90 and I92 which engage in tapped holes in supporting blocks I82 and I84 spaced longitudinally of the plate 94 and welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto. It will be readily appreciated that this construction permits the backup members I86 and I88 to be adjusted relative to each other to vary the spacing therebetween.

These backup members I86 and I88 extend in spaced parallel relation and have recesses I94 and I96 respectively formed in the upper portion of These recesses I94 and The idler shaft I52 carries small 92 and support them with their adjacent-faces disposed in spaced parallel relationas best-illustrated in Figures 6 and 8. The belts 90 and 92 are held against movement upwardly out of the recesses I94 and I96 by plates I98 and 200 seecured to the upper surfaces of the backup members I86 and I88 by bolts 202 and 204. The upper surfaces of the backup members I86 and I88 are inclined downwardly toward their outer edges and the adjacent portions of the cover plates I98 and 200 taper to thin sharp edges 206 and 208 spaced apart sufficiently to prevent interference with the heads of the screws during movement thereof along the conveyor 26. At the left hand end of the conveyor 26, as viewed in Figure 1, and which is shown on an enlarged scale in Figure 5, supports I18 and I are provided on the backup members I86 and I88, which carry spaced rollers 2 I 0 and 2 I 2 supported for r0- tation about vertical pivot pins 2I4 and 2I6 extending through the supports I18 and I80 and receiving'nuts 2 I5 and 2I1 on threaded lower end portions thereof. These rollers 2 I 0 and 2I2 have annular grooves 2I8 and 220 respectively, adapted to respectively engage the conveyor belts and 92 intermediate the flywheels I28 andv I30 and the backup members I86 and I88, and turn the belts to the above described position in which the adjacent faces thereof are disposed in the proper spaced parallel relation which is main tained by the backup members I86 and I88.

To the left of the rollers 2 I 6 and 2 I 2, as viewed in Figure 5, the supports I18 and carry supporting blocks 230 and 232 welded to the upper surface thereof. These blocks 238 and 232 carry plates 234 and 236 which are horizontally disposed and have finger portions 238 and 240 respectively, which project between the rollers 2I0 and 2I2 and are disposed in engagement with the upper surface of the conveyor belts 90 and 92. As best illustrated in Figure 8, the thickness of these fingers 238 and 240 progressively decreases from their outer edges to their adjacent inner edges. Also, the thickness of the fingers 238 and 240 progressively decreases from the left to the right, as viewed in Figure 5. Brackets 242 and 244 overlie a portion of the plates 234 and 266 and these brackets 242 and 244 and the plates 234 and 236 are secured to the supporting blocks 238 and 232 by suitable screws 246 and 246. At their adjacent edges, the brackets 242 and 244 have vertically disposed flanges 250 and 252 between which are received the lower ends of the slide strips 14. These slide strips 14 are secured to the brackets 242 and 244 by screws 254 and 256, and, as best illustrated in Figure 9, terminate above the belts 90 and 92. thereby avoiding any interference therewith.

It will be appreciated that screws sliding down the slide strips 14 are transferred from the lower end thereof to the plates 234 and 236, from which they are picked up by the engagement of the conveyor belts 90 and 92 with the shanks of the screws as the belts 90 and 92 converge from the pulley wheels I26 and I30 toward the rollers 2I 0 and 2I2. The formation of the plates 234 and 236 with the fingers 238 and 240, as above described, facilitates the transfer of the screws from the slide strip 14 to the conveyor belts 90 and 92.

At the right hand end of the conveyor mechanism 26, as viewed in Figure 1, and which is shown on a larger scale in Figure l1, the backup members I86 and I88 have supports 2 60 and 262 which are integrally-formed thereon or suitably 7 secured thereto and upon which mounted rollers 284 and 266 similar to the above described rollers 24-41 and 242 and which similarly support the conveyor belts so and ii2 disposed with the adjacent f-aces thereof in spaced parallel relation. It will be noted that the pulley wheels Hill and H36 are spaced apart so that in moving to these pulley wheels from the rollers 2M and Y26", the conveyor belts Q8 and 2 diverge. Accordingly, just beyond or 'to the right, :as viewed in Figure 11, of the rollers first :and 2&6, the screws are dropped :trom :the conveyor, belts 9i] and -Bil. 1n the construction illustrated in the drawings, a slide 268, .suitelhly rmpported. on the frame .213

of the polishing machine, is disposed to receive the screws falling from the conveyor belts se and 92 and convey the screws to 'a suitable retentacle (not shown).

During the travel of the screws along the conveyor 28,, :the heads of the screws are polished shy the polishing means generally indicated at 30. :Any desired .rnunber hi the above mentioned polishing means he may be employed. In the construction illustrated in the drawings, five such polishing .means 3c are employed and since they are all similar, only :one will he described in detail herein. Referring .to Figures 1, and 11, the polishing means 38 are supported on a top plate 2T9 mounted on the frame 23. Each of the polishing means 3.!) includes a plate (232 supported on the upper surface of the plate 2'39 :contact therewith and having a cylindrical boss 27M welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto :and depending therefrom. The boss 2M extends through an aperture 213 in the plate 21'! 0 and provides a pivotal connection permitting pivotal movement of the plate 212 relative to the plate 210. A motor $212) is mounted on the upper surface of the plate 212 and secured thereto by a plurality of bolts 288, one of which extends Each polishing means also includes a pol-ish- .ing wheel 2'32 "fixed on one end of a horizontally disposed shaft 28s journaled in a movable hear- Sing block 2% and which carries :a pulley wheel 2*88 fixed to its 'other end. The bearing block 28 8 :is supported on the cylindrical boss 2 of the plate 2-12 by a pair of oppositely threaded shafts are and .7392 which are carried by the @bearing block 2% and the boss 215 respectively and interconnected by a turnbuckle 294. The pulley wheel 2-8-8 and hence the polishing wheel .282, both of which are secured .to the shaft .2345, isdriyen by belts .2 8S trainedrover the wheel 288 and also trained overapulley wheel ESBmounted ,on one end of a 3,08. The shaft -3i'lli ,piv- .otally connects and .rotatahly carried by links 332 and 2M ,pivotally connected to the cylin- .dr-ical boss 2H and the bearingblocl; 28.8 respec tively, as indicated at .306 and 388. .At .its op- ;posite end, themovable shaft tilt carries a pulley wheel -3.i.0 secured thereto and about which is trained a pulley belt 3.12 which is also trained over adrivepulley it carriedcn the outputshaft 318 of the motor 273. The plate 2.18 is provided with a suitable aperture #(not shown) through which the pulley belt 3G2 extends, and which is shaped to prevent interference with the pulley lbelt 3.12 during pivotal movement of the ,plate 222 relative to the platefl ii.

The bearing block 286 and hence the polishing wheel .282 is adjusted vertically by means of the turnbuckle 294 and is held in desired adjusted position transversely of the conveyor 25 by e 10d 31h which is horizontally disposed and=one end \of which is pivotally connected to the bearing block 286 by the screw =3! 8., 23-5 illustrated in Figure 1A, ior movement in a horizontal :plane. The other end of the rod 3 i8 is externally threaded as indicated at are and extends between a pair of .fixed angle .irons 6 22 supported "on the main frame 20. The threaded portion 328 carries a pair of .nuts 3:2 3 and too-operating washers 326 which engage the angle irons .322 at opposite sides thereof and which may be adjusted to position the bearing block. .285 as desired. It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the above mentioned pivotal connection of the plate 212 to the plate 21 and the ,piyotal connection of the rod .314? to the hearing black ,286, permit the vertical plane of the polishing wheel 282 to :be inclined relative .to the conveyor 2.6 to any desired adjusted position.

A suitable housing 3,28 is carried by the .bearing block 286 and partially encloses the polishing wheel 332. The polishing compound and :other foreign materials incident to the polishingoperationrmay he carried away through a conduit 3 3i! connected to asuitable exhaust fan (-notshownl.

In general, it is believed that the operation -.of

n the above described polishing machine is apparlfrom the foregoing description :of its construction and accordingly, only a brief statement :of theioperation will hegiyen herein. Operation of themachine is initiated by placing .a quantity of screws, the heads :.of whichlare to be polished, in the hepper 22 and turning on the motors .1 2, i313 and 213. As the hoppcriil rotates in the disection indicated Coy the arrow in Figure 4, the :screwsare collected in the-slat 5;! with the heads supported on the upper surfaces of the annular rings i l and 55. .This collection of the .screwslin the slot 52 istacilltatedby the actionof the baffies :54 ,as above described.

Rotation of the hopper 22 carries the screws disposed in the slot 52 to the fingers M which slide under the heads of the screws and lift them from the slot .52. The screws then slide down the strips ill with the .heads supported .on the upper portion "Di the strips 143 and this movement is iacilitaterl by the pneumatic vibrators '88 :(seeEigur-e 2'). At the-lower end of thestrips 55-4,, the screws slide onto the transfer plates ,234 and 236 ,frem which they .are carried away by the conveyor helts 9i} and 9-2 which converge below the transfer plates :23% and 236 to :a position in which theylgrip the shanks of the-screws and carry them ,i'rom the transfer plates 2,34 and 236 and longitudinally along between the backup members 486 and I88 with their heads supported on the upper surfaces of the conveyor belts 9i: and 92. During .this movement along the conveyor belts, the-screws are carried under the polishing-wheels 282 dri-venrby thermotorZlB. These wheels are adjusted vertically relative to the screws icy the tumhuckles 29,4 and are adjusted so that the polishing wheels are disposed at 'the desired angle relative to the path of movement cf the screws by adjusting the position of the plates 2 1d :onthe top plate After passin the last, or right hand onerofzthe polishing wheels 2282, as wiewed in Figure l, "the screws are dropped from the conveyor belts :90

and s2 as they -diverge from rthe rollers '25! and 618 toward thepulleywheels 1M and M36 carried --on the shafts 1% and 38 at the right .hand end of the machine. The finished screws dropped from the belts 90 and 92 are caught in the slide 268 and slide downwardly into a suitable receptacle (not shown). It will be appreciated that the machine may be adjusted as above indicated to accommodate screws of varying sizes and that the polishing wheels 282 may be turned as desired to insure polishing all portions of the screw heads.

While only one specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A polishing machine for use in finishing the heads of screws and other like workpieces, said machine comprising a hopper mounted for rotation about an axis inciined to the vertical and having an axially upwardly presentingcircular slot communicating with the interior thereof and adapted to collect said screws and a plurality of bafiles disposed outwardly of said slot and adapted upon rotation of the hopper with a quantity of screws therein, to carry a number of said screws from the lower portion of said hopper upwardly and cause them to fall toward said slot; a supporting frame; conveyor means mounted on said frame disp'osed in spaced relation to said hopper and including a pair of con tinuous belts having portions which extend in parallel relation and have adjacent surfaces disposed in spaced parallel relation adapted to engage the shanks of the screws, said conveyor means including a pair of rollers individual to said belts mounted at corresponding'ends of said parallel portions of said belts and supporting said belts at the adjacent sides of said rollers with said surfaces in said spaced parallel relation; a pickup and transfer means for removing said screws from said hopper and delivering them to said conveyor means and including a slide having fingersdisposed in said hopper for removing screws from said slot, said slide extending to said conveyor means and beingprovided with a pair of transfer plates extending between said rollers for transferring said screws from said slide to said belts; polishing means including a polishing wheel disposed above said parallel portions of said belts for polishing the heads of said screws during their movement along said conveyor means and means mounting said polishing means on said frame for adjustment to vary the angle between the plane of said polishing wheel and said parallel portions of said belt; and means connected to said conveyor means for driving each of said belts at a predetermined desired speed independent of the speed of the other of said belts.

2. A polishing machine for use in finishing the heads of screws and other like workpieces, said machine comprising a hopper mounted for rotation about an axis inclined to the vertical and having an axially upwardly presenting circular slot communicating with the interior thereof and adapted to collect said screws and a plurality of battles disposed outwardly of said slot and adapted upon rotation of the hopper with a quantity of screws therein, to carry a number of said screws from the lower portion of said hopper upwardly and cause them to fall towardsaid slot; a supporting frame; conveyor means mounted on said frame disposed in spaced relation to said hopper and including a pair of con-- tinuous belts having portions which extend in parallel relation and have adjacent surfaces disposed in spaced parallel relation adapted to engage the shanks of the screws, said conveyor means including a pair of rollers individual to said belts mounted at corresponding ends of said parallel portions of said belts and supporting said belts at the adjacent side of said rollers with said surfaces in said spaced parallel relation; pick up and transfer means for removing said screws from said hopper and delivering them to said conveyor means and including a slide having fingers disposed in said hopper for removing said screws from said slot, said slide extending to said conveyor means and being provided with a pair of transfer plates extending between said rollers for transferring said screws from said slide to said belts; polishing means including a polishing wheel disposed above said parallel portions of said belts for polishing said screws during their movement along said conveyor means, and means operatively connected to said hopper, said polishing means, and said belts for driving said hopper, said polishing means and said belts.

3. A hopper for screws and other similarly. headed workpieces, said hopper comprising conical side wall, a bottom disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said conical side wall and including an annular ring extending radially, inwardly from said conical side wall at the smaller end thereof toward the axis of said conical side wall and a circular plate concentric with said annular ring and disposed within the central opening defined by said annular ring, said plate having its radially outer edge spaced radially inwardly of the radially inner edge of said ring and co-operating therewith to define an annular slot therebetween communicating with the interior of said hopper and adapted to collect said workpieces therein, means external of said hopper supporting said circular plate disposed as above described, a plurality of baiiles mounted on and spaced about the inner side of said conical side wall, said baffles projecting inwardly from and extending generally axially along said side wall.

4. A hopper as defined in claim 3, wherein said baflies terminate at one end adjacent said bot tom.

5. A hopper as defined'in claim 3, wherein eachof said bafiles is disposed at an angle relative to the straight line elements of said conical side wall such that upon rotation of the hoppers in one direction, the outer end of each baffle leads the inner with the result that screws engaged bythe'bafllesare urged inwardly toward said bot-- tom.

6. A hopper as defined in claim 3, wherein said ring and said plate carry co-operating annular elements removably secured thereto defining an annular slot therebetween registering with said first named slot, said annular elements being readily replaceable for varying the size of said last named slot.

7. Means for handling screws and other similarly headed workpieces comprising conveyor means including a pair of continuous belts, means supporting said belts with portions extending in parallel relation and with adjacent surfaces of said portions'disposed in spaced parallel relation and adapted to engage the shanks of said screws, said last named means including a pair of roll ers individual to said belts. disposed at corresponding ends of said parallel portions of said belts and supporting said beltsv at the adjacent If sides of said when; with said adjacent suriaces of said belts in said spaced parallel relation, said last named means also including a pair of guides spaced from said rollers and spaced from each other adistance greater than the spacing between said rollers so that between said guides and said rollers said belts converge toward said rollers, and means for delivering said screws to said conveyor means and including a slide inclined relative to and downwardly toward said parallel portions of said belts and having a slot adapted to receive the shanks of said screws, said slide being adapted to support said screws with the headed end above said slot, and a pair of transier plates directly connected to said slide and extending between said rollers for transferring said screws from said slide to said belts;

8 Means for handling screws and other similarly headed workpieces, comprising conveyor means including a pair of continuous belts, means supporting said belts with portions extending in parallel relation and with adjacent surfaces of said portions disposed in spaced parallel relation and adapted to engage the shanks of said screws,

said last named means including a pair of rollers individual to said belts disposed at corre sponding ends of said parallel portions of said belts and supporting said belts at the adjacent sides of said rollers with said adjacent. surfaces oi said belts in said spaced parallel relation, said 1 belts converging toward said rollers; a hopper comprising a conical side wall, a bottom disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said conical side wall and including an annular ring extending inwardly from said conical side wall at the smaller end thereof and, a circular plate concentric with said annular ring and co-operating therewith to define an annular slot therebetween, meazns external of said hopper supporting said circular plate disposed as above described, a plurality oi baiiles mounted on and spaced about the inner side of said conical side wall, said baiiles projecting inwardly from and extending generally axially along said side wall; and means for automatically feeding said screws from said hopper to said conveyor means, said last named means including a slide extending. from. said hopper to said conveyor means and provided with finger means at one end thereof mounted within said hopper adjacent said slot and adapted to transfer said workpieces from said slot to said slide and apair 01 transfer plates connected to said slide and projecting between said rollers above said belts for transferring said: screws from said slide to said belts; v

9'. Means for handling screws and. other similarly headed workpieces comprising a frame; conveyor means mounted on said frame and including a pair of continuous belts, and means supporting said belts with portions extending in parallel relation and with adjacent surfaces of said portions disposed in spaced parallel relation and adapted to engage the shanks of said screws, said last named means including a pair of rollers individual to said belts disposed at corresponding ends of saidparal-lel portions of said belts and supporting said belts at the adjacent sides of said rollers with said adjacent surfacesof said belts. in. said spaced parallel relation, said last named means also including a pair of guides spaced from said rollers and spaced from each other a distance greater than the spacing between said rollers so that between said guides and said roll-- one said belts converge toward said rollers; a slide mounted on said frame adapted to iced screws to said conveyor means; said slide defining a slot of uniform width inclined relative to and downwardly toward said parallel portions of said belts a pair of transfer plates supported on said. frame and disposed generally horizontally and overlying the upper surfaces of said belts, said plates defining a slot therebetween continuous with said slot defined by said slide and being adapted to receive screws from said slide and support them with their heads engaging the adjacent upper surfaces of said plates and their shanks extending downwardly through said slot, said plates being disposed adjacent said rollers so that as said belts converge toward said rollers they are adapted to engage the shanks of screws on said transfer plates and carry them along with the belts.

10. Means: for adjustably supporting a wheel for polishing the heads of screws and other like workpieces which. are moved horizontally along a conveyor, said means comprising a frame, a supporting member molmted on said frame for pivotal movement relative thereto, a bearing block disposed directly below said member, a shaft j'ournaled in said bearing block and. adapted to carry said wheel, means supporting said bearing block on. said supporting member in fixed position: relative thereto and adjustable for moving said bearing block vertically to. selectively move said wheel toward and away from said conveyor, afirst link having one end pivotally connected to said bearing block, a second link having one end pivotally connected to said supporting member, a shaft pivotal-11y connecting the other ends oi said links and carrying first and second drive pulleys fixed. thereto, a third pulley fixed to said first named shalt, a motor mounted on said supporting member having an output shaft and a fourth pulley fixed thereto, an endless belt trained over said. first and. third, pulleys and a second endless belt trained over said second and fourth pulleys, and means adjustably securing said supporting member to said frame whereby said first named shaft may be secured in a desired adjusted horizontal position relative to said conveyor.

ll. Means for handling screws as defined in claim 7 and including means operatively connected to: said belts for driving said belts with a desired diifierential between the speeds of said belts.

12. Means for handling screws and other similarly headed workpieces comprising conveyor means including apair of continuous belts, means supporting said belts with portions extending in parallel relation and with adjacent surfaces of said portions disposed in spaced parallel relation and adapted to engage the shanks of said screws, said last named means including a pair of rollers individual to said belts disposed at corresponding ends of said parallel portions of said belts and supporting said belts at the adjacent sides of said rollers with said adjacent surfaces of said belts in said spaced parallel relation, said belts converging toward said rollers, and means for delivering said screws to said conveyor means and including a slide inclined to the horizontal and having a slot adapted to receive the shanks of said screws and said slide being adapted to support said screws with the headed end above said slot, and a pair of transfer plates connected to said slide and extending between said rollers for transferring said screws from said slide to said belts, said transfer plates overlying said belts and defining a horizontally extending slot therebetween forming a continuation of the slot of said slide and a portion of which extends between said rollers and is aligned with the space adjacent said surfaces of said belts.

13. Means for handling screws and other similarly headed workpieces comprising conveyor means including a pair of continuous belts, means supporting said belts with portions extending in parallel relation and with adjacent surfaces of said portions disposed in spaced parallel relation and adapted to engage the shanks of said screws, said last named means including a pair of rollers individual to said belts disposed at corresponding ends of said parallel portions of said belts and supporting said belts at the adjacent sides of said rollers with said adjacent surfaces of said belts in said spaced parallel relation, said belts converging toward said rollers, and means for delivering said screws to said conveyor means and including a slide inclined to the horizontal and having a slot adapted to receive the shanks of said screws and said slide being adapted to support said screws with the headed end above said slot, and a pair of transfer plates connected to said slide and extending between said rollers for transferring said screws from said slide to said belts, said slide terminating above said belts to prevent interference of said slide with said belts.

14. Means for handling screws and other similarly headed workpieces comprising conveyor means including a pair of continuous belts, means supporting said belts with portions extending in parallel relation and with adjacent surfaces of said portions disposed in spaced parallel relation and adapted to engage the shanks of said screws,

said last named means including a pair of rollers individual to said belts disposed at corresponding ends of said parallel portions of said belts and supporting said belts at the adjacent sides of said rollers with said adjacent surf-aces of said belts in said spaced parallel relation, said belts converging toward said rollers, and means for delivering said screws to said conveyor means and including a slide inclined to the horizontal and having a slot adapted to receive the shanks of said screws and said slide being adapted to support said screws with the headed end above said slot, and a pair of transfer plates connected tosaid slide and extending between said rollers for transferring said screws from said slide to said belts, said belts being V-belts and said rollers having their outer surfaces of a configuration adapted to fit the belts and hold them with said adjacent surfaces disposed in said spaced parallel relation.

15. Means for handling screws and other similarly headed workpieces comprising a frame; conveyor means mounted in said frame and including a pair of continuous belts, and means supporting said belts with portions extending in parallel relation and with adjacent surfaces of said portions disposed in spaced parallel relation and adapted to engage the shanks of said screws, said last named means including a pair of rollers individual to said belts disposed at corresponding ends of said parallel portions of said belts and supporting said belts at the adjacent sides of said rollers with said adjacent surfaces of said belts in said spaced parallel relation, said belts converging toward said rollers; a slide mounted on said frame adapted to feed screws to said conveyor means; a pair of transfer plates supported on said frame and disposed generally horizontally and overlying the upper surfaces of said belts, said plates defining a slot therebetween and being adapted toreceive screws from said slide and support them with their heads engaging the adjacent upper surfaces of said plates and their shanks extending downwardly through said slot, said plates being disposed adjacent said rollers so that as said belts converge toward said rollers they are adapted to engage the shanks of screws on said transfer plates and carry them along with the belts, the thickness of said plates progressively decreasing in the direction of movement of said belt so that screws carried from said plates by said belts will be disposed with their heads substantially in engagement with the upper surfaces of said belts.

WEBSTER B. KNIGHT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 173,634 Hoppin Feb. 15, 1876 188,569 Beers Mar. 20, 1877 326,153 Richards Sept. 15, 1885 1,306,596 Duke June 1'0, 1919 1,888,480 Storm Nov. 22, 1932 2,203,287 Smith June 4, 1940 2,252,498 Flaws Aug. 12, 1941 2,263,897 Makenny Nov. 25, 1941 2,356,472 Rothaug Aug. 22, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 447,879 Germany Aug. 1, 1927 578,309 Germany June 14, 1933

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