US2717099A - Transfer block for ring setting machines - Google Patents

Description

G. J. RUNDBLAD ET AL TRANSFER BLOCK FOR RING SETTING MACHINES Filed March 7, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet l p 6, 1955 7 \G. J. RUNDBLAD ETAL 2,717,099

TRANSFER BLOCK FOR RING SETTING MACHINES F'iled March 7, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. J. RUNDBLAD ETAL 2,717,099

TRANSFER BLOCK FOR RING SETTING MACHINES Sept. 6, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March '7, 1951 Sept. 6, 1955 G. J. RUNDBLAD ET AL TRANSFER BLOCK FOR RING SETTING MACHINES Filed March 7, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 p 6, 1955 G. J. RUNDBLAD ETAL 2,717,099

TRANSFER BLOCK FOR RING SETTING MACHINES Filed March 7, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 l W H VII/I Sept. 6, 1955 G. J. RUNDBLAD ETAL 2,

TRANSFER BLOCK FOR RING SETTING MACHINES Filed March 7, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheetfi 1m mg mm m2; .7 Y

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P 1955 G. J. RuNDBLAb ETAL 2,717,099

TRANSFER BLOCK FOR RING SETTING MACHINES iled March '7, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 466 34 5@ ALL Sept 6, 1955 G. J. RUNDBLAD ETAL 2,717,099

TRANSFER BLOCK FOR RING SETTiNG MACHINES Filed March '7, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 htllllllllllf TRANSFER BLOCK FOR RING SETTING C IN S George J. Rundblad, Wheaton, and Eremeldo Cairelli,

Chicago, Ill., assignors to Wilson-Jones Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 7, 1951, Serial No. 214,414

12 Claims. (Cl. 221-493) This invention relates to a transfer block for ring setting machines and is particularly concerned with means for automatically removing a ring from a row of similarly aligned rings and positioning it on a setting die.

The type of ring setting machine for which the trans.- fer block is particularly designed is fully described in the application of Buenger et a1. filed January 30, 1948, under Serial No. 5,318, which issued as Patent No. 2,667,797 on February 2, 1954. Accordingly, the structure of the ring setting machine will not be specifically described in the present application except in its relationship to the transfer block which comprises the sub ject matter of the present invention.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide improved means for separating the end ring from a column of rings aligned on an aligning rod, and to move said ring automatically into position in a ring setting die so that it may be set in a prong plate. Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in whichr Figure 1 is a perspective view of the transfer block embodying the invention, showing the actuating mechanism with the pusher blade forward, just after it has pushed one ring on to the setting die;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the transfer block, showing the ring aligning rod, but with the actuating mechanism omitted, with the parts in the position occu: pied after the end ring has moved from the aligning rod o he tran fer l k ut e ore th upp r plung he been moved into its recess far enough to permit said end ring to fall into the vertical recess;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear perspective v ew of th a ig ng r V Figure 4 is a perspective view of the transfer block just after a ring has dropped in the vertical recess;

Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the setting die adapted to receive a ring from the transfer block, with a portion of the prong plate carrier strip broken away -.to show the die structure;

Figure 6 is a top view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the transfer block, actuating mechanism, and associated setting die;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 6 and the punch press structure associated therewith;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 8+8 of Figure 6 with the punch press structure assoc ated with the setting die;

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view, taken substant ally along line 99 of Figure 7; I

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially along the line 10-10 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially along the line 11--11 of Figure 8;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a prongplate with two of its rings set therein;

2,717,099 Eatented Sept. 6, 1955 ice Figure 13 is a front elevation of the transfer block with the parts in the same position as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 14 is a front elevation of the transfer block with the parts in another stage of the ring transfer operation; and Y I Figure '15 is a front elevation of the transfer block with the parts in another stage of the operation. I

In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a transfer block having its upper portion cut away for '1 approximately half its width adjacent its front edge, as

indicated at 3. The cut away portion 3 communicatesdireetly with a vertical recess 4 which extends from the front face 5 through the entire height of'block 2 An aligning rod 6 has one end 7 positioned in cut away por- 15 tion 3 adjacent vertical recess-4. The'end 7 is held position by means of a bracket S'secured to ne face of a plate 9. The plate 9 is held in space from the top of block 2 by rubber cushioning members 10 and is secured in place by bolts 11 which pass through the rub 2!.) ber members 10 so that a limited amount of movement between plate 9 and block 2 is permitted. This move: ment is necessary because the aligning rod 6 is vibrated to shake rings 12 down towards end 7 and block 2 is, of course, stationary. The rings 12 straddle a portion of the periphery of rod 6 and the headed ends 13 of the rings are aligned by means of an aligning bar 14 which is positioned from the. peripheral surface of rod 6 a distance sufficient to permit the small'ends of the rings to extend therebetween, but close enough to prevent the headed ends 1.} from passing therethrough. Movement of the rings inv the opposite direction is prevented by a plate 15 which is secured. in any suitable manner to a flat portion 1 6 of rod 5 formed by cutting away a portion of the rod 5 adjacent end 7. The plate 15 -fits against the headed ends 13 of rings 12 and its end is flush with the end 7 of rod 6.

Block 2 is provided with another recess 17 entending laterally from vertical recess 4 and having its bottom approximately in alignment with the bottom of cut away portion 3. The recess 17 extends rearwardly from the front face-5 of block 2 a distance sufficient to receive one of the rings 12 from red 6. A semi-circular plunger 18' is rigidly secured to a shaft 19 which extends through an opening 20 in block 2 The opening 20 extends from the de o r s 1 a l th ay thr gh the b o k I9 form a bearing for the shaft 19. The edge .of plunger 18 adjacent the aligning. rod 6 is cut away, as indicated at 2.1, to leave a projection 22 adapted to abut end 7 of the aligning rod and to receive the end ring 12 there.- from as the vibration of the aligning rod moves the rings towards the transfer block. When the projecti n 22 receives the ring from aligning rod 6 it is positioned in vertical alignment with vertical recess 4.

,Block 2 is provided with another recess 23 in vertical alignment with recess 17 and positioned adjacent the bottom of the block. A fiat plate 5 is secured to the front face .5 of the block and covers the front ends ,of recesses 1 7 and 23. A plunger 24 is rigidly secured to a 60 shaft 25 which extends through an opening 26, similar to the opening 20. The block is also provided with a pair of vertically aligned slots 27 and 2 8 which extend entirely push he ai o om t e t a as 5 t t e pp s t ee-2 S ots a d 8 e mm i a w t v r r 65 s t 4 9Pi 9 te r v rse a .23 es ee e y- A S p a e bl de 9 and a ru h. la a m un ed f reciprocatory movement in slots 27 and 18, respectively. The blade 30 is rigidly secured to the front .endof a shank 33 nd blade 31 is similarly secured ,to the front endof ashank 34.

VA nk 35 s s ured to the rea en e 'shan an a link 36 is secured to the rear end of shank A rocker arm 37 mounted on a shaft 38 pivotally mounted in a bracket 39 has one end secured to link and its opposite end secured to link 36, as indicated at 40 and 41, respectively. Rocker arm 37 is rocked by an arm 42 rigidly secured to shaft 38 and reciprocated by any suitable means. The stud 40 which secures link 35 to rocker arm 37 extends through an elongated slot 43 which permits relative movement between link 35 and rocker arm 37.

The stud 40 also helps secure a shoe 44 to one side of the rear portion of shank 33. Stud 40 passes through a slot 45 in shoe 44 and another stud 46 passes through an elongated slot 47 in the shoe so that rocker arm 37 may move shoe 44 forwardly after forward movement of link 35 and blade 30 has stopped. The link 35 is pivoted to shank 33 at 46 so that its other end may move up or down slightly as the rocker arm 37 rocks about its pivot 38. The shoe 44 can not be pivoted, so the slot 45 is elongated vertically to permit the stud 40 to move up wardly and downwardly as rocker arm 37 pivots about 38. The shoe 44 has a roller 48 rotatably secured to its lower wall 49 and maintained in engagement with a carnmed edge 50 of an L-shaped arm 51. A pair of tension springs 52 each having one end secured to stud 40 and its other end secured to a stud 53 projecting from the link 35 exert a constant force against the rear end of the link 35 pulling it forwardly as soon as the arm 42 starts its upward pivotal movement.

The L-shaped arm 51 is secured to one end of a lever 53, as indicated at 54. The lever 53 is pivotally mounted in a recess 55 in block 2, as indicated at 56. A spring 57, seated in one wall of recess 55 and bearing against lever 53 exerts a constant force urging the rear portion of lever 53 outwardly from the block 2. The roller 48 exerts a positive force against the cammededge 50 of arm 51, forcing the rear portion of lever 53 inwardly against the action of spring 57 when shoe 44 is moved forwardly by rocker arm 37 afterforward movement of link 35 has been stopped. The forward edge of lever 53 is connected to shaft 19 so that pivotal movement-of the lever about its pivot point 56 moves the plunger 18 laterally in its recess 17. A stop member 58 is adjustably secured to link 53 between its pivot 56 and the shaft 19 so that the lateral movement of plunger 18 is limited.

The lateral movement of lower plunger 24 is controlled by a lever 59 pivotally mounted in a recess 60 in block 2, as indicated at 61. A spring 62, mounted between the pivot 61 and the rear end of the lever, exerts a constant force tending to push the rear portion of lever 59 outwardly from block 2. A stop member 63 is secured to lever 59 between pivot point 61 and shaft 25 to limit the inward movement of plunger 24. The rear edge of lever 59 is secured to an arm 64 having a cammed edge 65 engaging a pin 66 projecting upwardly from shank 34. The pin 66 moves forwardly with shank 34 until it engages cammed edge 65, which it then moves laterally in one direction to cause a comparable lateral movement of the lower plunger 24 in the opposite direction; The operation of the various parts of the mechanism will now be described so that the functions of the parts may be clearly understood. Referring to Figures 1 and 13, the plunger 18 is in position to receive a ring 12 on projection 22 which abuts end 7 of ring aligning rod 6. The two preceding rings 12 and 12" respectively are shown just after the first ring 12 has been ejected from the transfer block by the pusher blade 31, and the second ring 12" has dropped to the bottom of vertical recess 4. The aligning rod 6 is constantly vibrated during the operation of the ring setting machine. The vibration of rod 6 causes the column of rings on the rod to move towards the end 7, so that when the plunger 18 is in engagement with the end 7, the end ring will be moved from the end 7 on to the projection 22. The arm 42, shown in Figure by causing the upper portion of rocker arm 37 to move forwardly. The forward action of rocker arm 37 pulls link 35 forwardly, thereby moving separator blade 30 forwardly between abutting end 7 of the aligning rod and the contiguous face of projection 22 of the upper plunger 18. The separator blade keeps the next end ring on aligning rod 6 from becoming laterally displaced. As soon as blade 38 has separated end ring 12 from the column of rings on the aligning rod 6, the roller 48 engages carnmed edge 59 ofarm 51.

As arm 42 continues its upward pivotal movement the link 35 can not move forwardly because the shoulder 67 abuts the rear face 29 of block 2, but the elongated slot 43 permits shoe 44 to move forwardly, against the action of springs 52, and the roller 48 engages arm 51 to move the rear portion of lever 53 towards the block 2. This movement of the rear portion of lever 53 causes a corresponding movement of shaft 19 inthe opposite direction, so that upper plunger 18moves into recess 17 to strip the ring 12 from projection 22 and cause it to drop into the vertical recess 4, as shown in Figure .15. The ring 12 comes to rest on the top of lower plunger 24 which moves into recess 4 as the upper plunger moves into recess .17.

The arm 42 is then moved pivotally downwardly about its shaft v38. The first portion of the downward movement of arm 42 causes shoe 44 to retract, and thereby releases arm 51 from its engagement with roller 48. This movement allows spring 57 to move the rear portionof lever 53 away from block 2 so that upper plunger 18 is moved towards the end 7 of aligning rod 6. During this rearward movement of shoe 44 the stud 48 is moved into engagement with the rear end of slot 43. Continued downward movement of arm 42 causes retraction of link 35 and separator blade 30, so that the next ring can move from the end 7 of the aligning bar 6 on to the projection '22 of upper plunger-18'for the start of the next sequence of operations. At the same time the separator blade 30 is being retracted,-'the pin 66 is in engagement with cam edge 65 of arm 64 to move the rear portion oflever 59 inwardly against'the action of spring 62. This moves lower plunger 24 into recess '23 so that the ring 12 which was resting on top of the lower plunger, falls to the bottom of vertical recess 4. The next phase of the operation is the start of the sec-- ond upward pivotal movement of arm 42. The sequential movement of parts in the upper portion of the transfer block is the same as-hereinabove described in connection with the first upward pivotal movement of arm 42. In addition to the movements described above, each upward pivotal movement of arm 42 causes pin 66 to move out of engagement with cam edge 65 of arm 64 so that spring 62 will move the rear portion of lever 59 away from block 2. The forward portion of lever 59, acting through shaft 25, moves lower plunger 24 towards recess 28, thereby positioning the ring 12 in front of the pusher blade 31, which has been retracted by the upward pivotal movement of arm 42. The retraction of pusher blade 31 is caused directly by thelower portion of rocker arm 37 which pulls shank 36 with it when it is moved away from transfer block 2 by oscillation of shaft 38 to which the arm 42 and rocker arm 37 are rigidly secured. When' the'arm 42 is moved downwardly again, the pusher blade 31 is moved forwardly by the positive interconnection between the lower portion of rocker arm 37, the link 36, and the shank 34 of the pusher blade 31. As shown in Figure 5, the setting die 68 comprises a steel block 69 having an anvil 7t) projecting rearwardly therefrom. A groove 71 is provided in the upper rear edge of amino to"'facilitate positioning of the headed end of the ring. A fixed stop member 72 engages the bottom end of the ring to position it properly, and a pivoted stop memher 73 engages the headed end of ring 12 so as to retain it'in proper position. Block2 is provided with abase plate 74 which has a groove 75 extendingforwardlv' from the front edge of slot 28 to the front edge of the base plate. The groove 75 facilitates movement of the rings across the base plate as they are moved forwardly into engagement with the setting die.

From the above it will be noted that as the second ring 12" falls in vertical recess 4 when lower plunger 24 is moved into recess 23, as shown in Figure 13, the first ring 12 has been pushed into engagement with the ring setting die, and the third ring 12 is positioned on the projection 22 of upper plunger 18. All of this movement takes place during the downward pivotal movement of arm 42. When the arm 42 is moved upwardly, the second ring 12" is moved laterally from the bottom of recess 4 into recess 28 by lower plunger 24, and the third ring 12 drops from upper portion of vertical recess 4 to the top .of lower plunger 24, as shown in Figure l5. The next downward movement of arm 42 causes the second ring 12" to be pushed into engagement with the ring setting die, the third ring 12 falls in vertical recess 4 from the top of lower plunger 24 to the bottom of the recess 4 as the plunger 24 is moved .out of recess 4 into recess 23, and a fourth ring is positioned on projection 22 of upper plunger 18. The transfer block has two rings positioned therein at all times, with a third ring positioned on the projection 22 of upper plunger 18 as one of the two rings is being pushed into engagement with the ring setting die and the other of the two rings is falling to the bottom of vertical recess 4. Although it requires two complete cycles of the moving parts to transfer each ring from the end of aligning rod 6 into position in engagement with the ring setting die, 3

one ring is positioned in such engagement every time the arm 42 completes one downward pivotal movement. Accordingly it is obvious that the operation of positioning rings into engagement with the setting die is twice as fast as if the machine worked on only one ring at a time.

When each ring is positioned in the ring setting die shown in Fig. 5, a prong plate 77, shown in Figure 12, is positioned with one hole 78 engaging the headed end 13 of a ring 12. As the punch press is moved downwardly the punch pin strikes head 13 of the ring, thereby swaging the ring end around the hole 78 to secure the ring securely in place in the prong plate.

Although We have described a preferred embodiment of our invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details of structure may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of our invention. Accordingly, we do not desire to be restricted to the exact structure described, except as limited by the appended claims.

We claim:

1 1. A transfer block for ring setting machines, comprising a block having a vertical recess medial of its front edge, the upper front edge of said block being cut away on one side of said vertical recess, a transverse recess in said block aligned horizontally with said cut away portion and extending from the side of said vertical recess opposite said cut away portion, a plunger mounted in said transverse recess, means for moving said plunger transversely of said block within predetermined limits, said plunger having a projection on one side thereof movable into' said 'cut away portion when said plunger is moved to the limit of its movement in one direction, said projection having a ring mounted thereon when said projection is positioned in said cut away portion, said transverse recess being of less height than the overall height of the ring mounted on-said projection, means for retracting said plunger into said transverse recess, the edge of said block adjacent said transverse recess engaging said ring and stripping it from said projection upon retraction of said plunger thereby causing it to fall into said vertical recess, the lower portion of the front edge of said block having a recess adjacent said vertical recess, another plunger positioned in said last mentioned recess, means for moving said last mentioned plunger trans versely to move said ring transversely of said block from said vertical recess, and a pusher blade aligned with said ring after it has been moved transversely from said vertical recess, said pusher blade being reciprocable in said block to push said ring forwardly out of said block.

2. In combination with a transfer block having a sepa rator blade and a pusher blade reciprocable therein, and a plunger movable at right angles to said blades, said plunger having a shaft secured thereto, a link connected to said separator blade and another link connected to said pusher blade, a rocker-arm connected to both of said links whereby said blades are alternately reciprocated in said block, a lever pivoted to said block, said lever having one end secured to the shaft of said plunger, an L-shaped arm secured to the other end of said lever, and a shoe mounted on one of said links, said shoe engaging said L: shaped arm and being operable after said. separatorblade is inits-forward position to move said L-shapedann transversely relative to said block and thereby move said lever 'pivotally, said pivotal movement of the lever being effective to move said plunger away from said separator blade.

3. In combination-with-a transfer block,- a rod having a plurality of-rings aligned thereon, a plunger having a projection thereon, means to move said plunger to bring said projection into engagement with one end of-said rod, said rod being vibrated to move the end ring from said rod on tosaid projection, a separator blade, ineaus to move said separator blade between said projection and said end of the rod, and means operable when said sepae ratorblade is in its forward position to movesaid plunger away from said separator blade. 7 I

4. In combination with a transfer block, a rod having a plurality of rings aligned thereon, a plunger having a projection thereon, means to move said plungerrto posi-, tion said projection in engagement with one end of said rod, said rod being vibrated to move the end ring from said rod on' to saidprojection, a separator blade, a link connected at one end to said separator blade and extending rearwardly of said block, a shoe connected to said link, means to reciprocate said link to move said separator blade forwardly into position between the end of said rod and said projection,'means to movesaidshoe forwardly when said link is in its forward position, and means operatively connected to said shoe and saidplunger to move said plunger transversely from said separator blade when said shoe is moved forwardly. r

5. In combination with a transfer block, a rod hav-. ing a plurality of. rings aligned thereon, a plunger having a projection on one side thereof, means to move said plunger to positionsaid projection in engagement with one end of said 'rod, a shaft extending from the other side of said plunger through said block, a leverengaging the end of said shaft, said lever being pivoted adjacent one edge of the transfer block, said rod being vibrated to'move the end ring from said rod on to saidprojection, a separator blade mounted in the transfer block, a link connected at one end to said separator blade and extending rearwardly of said block, means to reciprocate said link to move said separator blade forwardly into position between the end of said rod and said projection, an arm secured at one end to one end of said lever, a shoe connected to said link, and means operable when said separator blade is in its forward position to move said shoe into engagement with said arm to move said arm transversely relative to said transfer block and thereby cause said lever to move about its pivot, said pivotal movement of said lever causing said plunger to move transversely away from said separator blade.

'6. A transfer block having a separator blade and a pusher blade alignedvertically therein, a plunger aligned horizontally with said separator blade and another plunger aligned horizontally with said pusher blade, each'of said plungers having a shaft extending through said transfer block, separate links connected to said separator blade and said pusher blade, both of said links being connected to a rocker' armoperable to alternately reciprocate said blades, a lever pivoted to said transfer block, said lever having one end secured to the shaft of said first mentioned plunger, an L-shaped arm secured to the other end of said lever, a shoe mounted on one of said links and operable to move said L-shaped arm transversely of said transfer block when said separator blade is in its forward position, thereby moving said lever pivotally and also moving said first mentioned plunger away from said separator blade, another lever pivoted to said transfer bloclqsaid last mentioned lever having one end secured to the shaft of said second mentioned plunger, an arm secured at one end to the other end of said last mentioned lever and having a cammed edge adjacent its other end, and a projection on said pusher blade engaga'ole with said 'cammed edge to move said last mentioned arm transversely of said transfer block when said arm is moved forwardly, said last mentioned arm moving said last mentioned lever pivotally upon such transverse movement to move said second mentioned plunger transversely of said pusher blade in the same direction as the movement of said first mentioned plunger.

7. A transfer block having a vertical recess medial of its front edge, upper and lower transverse recesses communicating with said vertical recess, a plunger transversely movable in said upper transverse recess, another plunger transversely movable in said lower transverse recess, each of said'plungers having a shaft extending through said transfer block, a pair of levers pivoted to said transfer block and secured respectively to the ends of said shafts, a pair of arms secured respectively to the ends of said levers, each of said arms having a cammed edge, a. separator blade and a pusher blade mounted in said block, separate links connected to each of said blades, a rocker arm connected to both of said links, said rocker arm being operable to reciprocate said blade alternately, a shoe mounted on the link connected to said separator blade, a projection mounted on said pusher blade, said shoe being movable forwardly by its link when said separator blade is in its forward position, said shoe and said projection being each engageable with the cammed surface of one of said arms to move said arms transversely of said blockalternately in the same direction upon forward movement of said shoe and said projection, said arms acting through said levers to move said plungers alternately in the same direction, and spring means urging said levers in the opposite direction and operable when said separator and pusher blades are moving rearwardly to move said plungers in the opposite direction, the forward and rearward movement of said shoe and said projection being synchronized to move said upper and lower plungers simultaneously in opposite directions.

8. In a ring setting machine, a transfer block provided with a pair of horizontal slots aligned vertically with each other, a vertical recess contiguous to one side of said slots, a separator blade reciprocable in one of said slots, at pusher blade reciprocable in said other slot, a pair of vertically aligned transverse recesses communicating with said vertical recess, a plunger movable transversely in one' of said transverse recesses, another plunger movable transversely in said other transverse recess, and syu chronized mechanism for reciprocating said blade simultaneously in opposite directions and for moving said plungers simultaneously in opposite directions, the upper plunger moving into its recess simultaneously with the forward movement of said separator blade in its slot.

9. In a transfer block adapted to receive a plurality of rings fed successively to said block from a continuous line of aligned rings, a separator blade operable to hold back all of the continuous line of rings except for the end ring to cause the rings to be fed to the block individually, a pair of laterally movable plungers operable to successively engage a ring fed to said block, a pusher blade operable to move a ring forwardly of said block after it has been engaged by the second of said plungers, and means synchronizing the movements of said blades and said plungers, said plungers being moved in opposite directions so that as one plunger clears the vertical recess the other plunger enters it, the first of said plungers moving out of engagement with its ring simultaneously with the forward movement of said separator blade, whereby said rings may be continuously and successively moved by controlled stages from the point at which they are, fed to the transfer block to a position forwardly of said block.

it). in a transfer block adapted to successively receive a series of individually fed rings, a separator blade reciprocable in a slot in said block to regulate the individual feeding of said rings from said series of rings, a pusher blade reciprocable in another slot in said block to move a ring from said block to a position forwardly of said block, a pair of lateral recesses in said block, a laterally movable plunger in each of said recesses, a vertical recess in said block contiguous to each of said slots and said lateral recesses, and a rocker arm operatively connected to each of said blades and said plungers, said rocker arm moving said blades and said plungers in synchronization, said plungers being moved in opposite directions simultaneously to enter and leave the vertical recess, the first of said plungers moving into its lateral recess to drop aring in said vertical recess simultaneously with the forward movement of said separator blade, to move rings continuously and successively from the point at which they are initially received by said block, through.

said vertical recess and into position forwardly of said 7 block.

11. In a transfer block for transferring rings from supporting means, a pair of vertically aligned slots extending through said transfer block from the front face thereof to the opposite face thereof, a vertical recess connecting said slots, a plunger movable transversely within said block, the path of travel of said plunger intersecting said vertical recess, a separator blade, a pusher blade, said separator and pusher blades being reciprocable within the upper and lower slots of said block respectively at right angles to the movement of said plunger, said vertical recess extending in a vertical plane intersecting the forward portion of the path of travel of each of said blades, a shoulder at the intersection of said upper slot and said vertical recess for stripping a ring from said plunger as said plunger is retracted from said vertical recess, separate links connected to said separator blade and said pusher blade, a rocker arm connected to both of said links whereby said blades are alternately reciprocated in said slots, and means actuated by said rocker arm after said separator blade is in its forward position to move said plunger away from said separator blade. i

12. In a transfer block for transferring rings from supporting means, a pair of vertically aligned slots extending through said transfer block from the front face thereof to the opposite face thereof, a vertical recess connecting said slots, 21 plunger movable transversely within said block, the path of travel of said plunger intersecting said vertical recess, a separator blade, a pusher blade, said separator and pusher blades being reciprocable within the upper and lower slots of said block respectively at right angles to the movement of said plunger, said vertical recess extending in a vertical plane intersecting the'for ward portion of the path of travel of each of said blades, a shoulder at the intersection of said upper slot and said vertical recess for stripping a ring-from said plunger as said plungeris retracted from said vertical recess, separate links connected to said separator blade and said pusher blade, a rocker arm connected to both of said links whereby said blades are alternately reciprocated in said slots, means actuated by said rocker arm after said separator blade is in its forward position to retract said plunger from said vertical recess, said means including a lever pivoted to said block, and spring means engaging said lever to move it in the reverse direction when said separator blade is moved rearwardly, thereby moving said plunger in the reverse direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Stenman July 30, 1935 Ward Feb. 17, 1942 Ward Oct. 24, 1944 Fether Sept. 5, 1950 Van Sittert et al May 28, 1951 Buenger et a1 Feb. 2, 1954

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