US2728572A - Feeding devices for pressing and other machines - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 27, 1955 Q F, CLARK 2,728,572

FEEDING DEVICES FOR PRESSING AND OTHER MACHINES Filed April 9. 1952 2 sheets-sheet 1 z 17 0 ff 1 y 516 3/4? 33242529 Z FIGS. 4Z

/NVENTO ga/m5 f7 CLARK By ATTO/FNfy Dec. 27, 1955 G. F. CLARK 2,728,572

FEEDING DEVICES FOR PRESSING AND OTHER MACHINES Filed April 9, 1952 2 Sheets-Shea?. 2

A TTORNEY United States Patent 'O FEEDING DEVICES FOR PRESSING AND OTHER MACHINES George Frederick Clark, West Drayton, England Application April 9, 1952, Serial No. 281,395

Claims priority, application Great Britain January 24, 1952 2 Claims. (Cl. 271-2.5)

This invention relates to feeding devices for machines such as pressing machines and the like and to improvements in feeding devices for strip material comprising a base on which is slidably mounted a pivoted gripping blade carrier movable by links connected to the arms of a pair of bellcrank levers, the other arms of the bellcrank levers having fulcrums on the base, links connecting the intermediate fulcrum of each bellcrank lever to levers having fnlcrums on the base and means for moving the latter mentioned levers or links whereby the carrier will be moved rearwardly to raise the gripping blade from the strip material mounted on the carrier and spring .means for returning the parts to their normal position to eiect the feeding of the strip forwardly the said material being gripped by the pivoted gripping blade to effect the feed of the strip material on the forward movement of the carrier.

The present invention being an improvement over the disclosure in my :zo-pending application for Gripping and Feeding Devices for Machines, Serial No. 153,208.

The object of the present invention is to provide a more efficient device of the above character, the said device adapted to be readily adjusted to facilitate the feeding of the strip material and the parts so designed as to prevent bouncing due to the speed of the machine and to be capable of adjustment for material of various thicknesses.

A further object is to provide improved means whereby the feed of the material can be minutely adjusted to suit various requirements.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in providing a gripping and feeding device for strip material comprising a base, a guide formed in said base, a slidably mounted carrier having a pivotally mounted carrier of a gripping blade thereon, means comprising levers, links and beller-ank levers for moving the carrier against the action of springs when actuated by,f0rinstance, a pressing machine and a stop to limit the movement of the carrier said stop adapted to be adjusted by a micrometer.

The invention also consists in providing the slidably mounted carrier with blade adjusting means and the blade carrier with means for the connection of the means for moving the slidable carrier so that the blade will be raised out of operative position before the slidable carrier is moved.

The invention further consists in tting at the rear end of the base a spring pressed plate adapted to be lifted by the rotation of a nut to facilitate the feeding of the material but when adjusted to so engage the strip as to prevent rearward or lbackward movement of the strip.

One form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a feeding device forstrip material the parts being shown in their normal position before being operated by the cam-of a pressing machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan thereof;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation thereof ICC showing relative position of the parts at the commencement of a feeding stroke;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on the line a-a of Fig. 2 to show more particularly the adjustable stop;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on the lines b--b of Fig. 2 to show more particularly the blade carrier;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the blade carrier;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken on the line c-c of Fig. 2 showing the means to prevent rearward movement of the strip material and Fig. 8 is an end view of the gate portion of the device.

'As shown the gripping and feeding device for attachment to, for instance, a press tool or machine comprises a base casting 1 of substantially rectangular shape having a longitudinally extending aperture or guideway 2 for a slidably mounted carrier 3 having a horizontal guide slot 4 and a pivotally mounted carrier 5 of a gripping blade 6 under which strip material such as strip metal indicated at 7 is adapted to be fed in the manner to be hereinafter described. The slidable carrier 3 in the form of an L-shaped member to provide a vertical wall 8 is formed with a depending block 9 which is ,machined to provide opposite vertical side surfaces 10 to slide in the guideway 2. This guideway 2 is formed with inwardly and longitudinally arranged ribs 11 which are machined to provide upper and lower horizontal surfaces 12 and 13, respectively. The block 9 is also machined to provide horizontal surfaces 14 to slide on the horizontal surfaces 12 on the ribs 11. The carrier 3 is frictionally held in the guideway 2 by resilient means such by a plate 15 of spring material co-operating with the machined surfaces 13 on the underside of the ribs 11 the said plate 15 being held by screws 16 screwed into the depending block 9 formed on slidable carrier 3 or by nuts fitted on downwardly projecting studs mounted on the lower side of the depending block 9 of the carrier 3. The forward movement of the carrier 3 and the feed of the strip material is adapted to be regulated by a stop member 17 slidably mounted in the guideway 2. Conveniently this stop member 17 is formed with a depending lug or extension 18 and with lower machined faces 19 to co-operate with the upper faces 12 of the ribs 11 mounted in the guideway. The setting of thisstop member 17 is adapted to be adjusted to a fine degree by the operation of a micrometer. The depending lug 18 of this stop 17 has a threaded aperture 20 to co-operate with a line threaded rod 21 which is mounted forrotation in the base member 1. One end of this rod 21 is mounted in a bearing 22 formed in the base 1 and the other end extends longitudinally of the base and out through an aperture in the end wall of the base casting 1. On this projecting end of this rod 21 is mounted a micrometer. Adjacent to its end this rod 21 is enlarged in diameter at 23 to engage against a sleeve 24 screwed into the end wall of the base casting 1. This sleeve 24 is formed with oppositely arranged flats 25 to engage in a slot 26 formed in a gate 27 secured on the end wall of the base casting 1. On the sleeve 2d is mounted the micrometer thimble 28 which is held against relative rotation on the rod121 by a pin 29. This pin 29 projects through a large hole in a locking sleeve 30 mounted on the rod 21. The outer end of this rod 21 is threaded for the reception of n lock nut 31. The micrometer thimble 28 and the lock nut 31 have milled peripheries so that they can be manually adjusted. In operation the micrometer thimble 28 is rotated to adjust the stop member 17 to limit the feed of the strip material which passes through the horizontal guide slot' 4 in the upstanding portion 8 of the L-shaped carrier 3 and under the gripping blade 6. It will be seen that the micrometer adjustment can be locked by the lock nut 31 as the hole in the sleeve 30 willgive sufficient play for locking. This locking is effected by 3 the locknut 31 pressing the locking sleeve 39 against the sleeve 24. The L-shaped carrier 3 is formed with a pair of side arms 32 carrying a pivot pin 33 for the carrier 5 of the gripping blade 6. The gripping blade 6 is formed with a knife or inclined lower edge and is attached by bolts 34 to the blade carrier 5 formed with rod-like side extensions 35 at its upper end. These extensions 35 of the blade carrier are adapted to move in an arc about a centre formed by the pivot pin 33 when operated in a manner to be hereinafter described. Between the side arms 32 the vertical wall of the L-shaped member 3 is formed with a threaded aperture for the reception of an adjusting screw 37 to engage against and limit or restrict the upward movement of the blade 6 and to prevent bouncing due to the speed of the machine. This adjusting screw 37 is fitted with a lock nut 33. The heads of thc adjusting screw 37 and the lock nut 33 are formed with milled peripheries whereby they may be manually adjusted. To the rod-like extensions 35 of the blade carrier 5 are connected a pair of links 39 which are connected to a cross-shaft 4t) fitted on the arms of a pair of bellcrank levers 41 which have their other arms mounted on a cross-shaft 42 carried in brackets 43 formed on the base casting 1. The intermediate fulcrums of the bellcrank levers 41 are mounted on a cross-shaft 44 and connected by a pair of links 45 to a cam operated cross-shaft 46 carried by levers 47 mounted on another cross-shaft 48 carried in brackets 49 formed on the base casting 1. The cam operated shaft 46 is preferably fitted with a roller or rollers 50 to co-operate with a cam or the like indicated by the arrow x of a pressing or other machine. To each outward extension of the cross-shaft 48 is secured one end of a coiled tension spring 51. The other ends of these springs 51 are connected to the ends of the cross-shaft 44 forming the fulcrums of the bellcrank levers 41. To the rear end of the base casting 1 and just behind the bellcrank levers 41 is mounted a spring pressed plate 52 so fulcrumed at its upper end in a ange 53 formed on the upstanding frtment or gate 27 secured to the rear of the base casting 1 as to engage the strip material by its lower edge. This strip material indicated at 7 is adapted to be fed through a slot 54 in the gate 27 and onto a ground surface 55 of the base casting 1. Conveniently this plate 52 is formed at its upper or fulcrum edge and at an intermediate position with a vertical slot 56 to receive oppositely formed flats 57 formed on a screw member 58 to prevent its rotation. The side walls of these flats 57 are curved to permit of angular movement of the plate 52. The screw threaded end of this screw member 58 is adapted to screw into a knurled nut 59 mounted for rotation but for non-removal in the opstanding itment or gate 27. Between the head 60 of the screw member 58 and the rear side of the plate 52 is mounted a coil conical spring 61. The lower edge of the plate 52 is chamfered and the mounting of this plate is such as to permit forward movement of the strip material vbut to prevent its rearward movement. It will be seen that the arrangement is such that the plate 52 can be released from engagement with the strip material by adjusting the nut 59. Further the plate 52 can be held in such a position as to permit the strip material to be fed readily into the device by the rotation of the knurled nut 59. The width of the gate slot 54 is adapted to be controlled by locking a pair of wing-shaped adjusting plates 62 mounted on pivots 63 which also provide means for securing the gate 27 to the end wall of the base 1. The feeding device above described is formed with apertures 64 for the reception of bolts or the like whereby it may be mounted on a press tool or machine and conveniently actuated by a cam or inclined edge of a plate secured to the press tool such as the downwardly movable plunger thereof indi: cated at x. The said cam or inclined edge co-operates with one of the before-mentioned rollers 50 on the cam'y operated shaft 46 and is adapted when the carrier is moved to its rearmost position to engage the roller by the straight side of the plunger x.

ln operation, the plate 52 is first lifted by operating the knurled nut 59 and the strip material of any desired width and thickness adapted to be operated upon by a press tool is passed through the longitudinal slot 54 in the gate 27 and threaded into the horizontal slot 4 and under the gripping blade 6 of the slidably mounted carrier 3. The plate 52--is now adjusted according to the thicknessV of the material so that its lower edge just engages the strip material and to prevent any return movement. This adjustment is such as to prevent any curving of the strip material lifting the plate 52 from its operating position which lifting would entail a loss of feed. The gripping blade 6 is also adjusted by the adjusting means 37 according to the thickness of the strip material so as to be only just clear of it. This adjustment is such as to prevent any bouncing of the blade when the feeding device acts at a high speed. Upon the lowering of the cam of the pressing machine the inclined edge thereof will engage one of the rollers 5G on the cam operated shaft 46 of the device and the links 4S arranged parallel with the base casting 1 will be moved rearwardly by the front levers 47 and the bellcrank levers 41 will turn on the cross-shaft 42 carried by the base casting 1. Upon first movement of this lever and link mechanism rearwardly, against the action of the coiled springs 51 through the medium of the longer arms of the bellcrank levers 41 and links 39 connected with rod-like ends 35 of the gripping blade carrier 5, the gripping blade 6 will be raised by turning the same on the pivot pin 33 and the rod-like ends 35 of the blade carrier 5 will be moved to their rearward position and the carrier 5 will engage against the adjustable screw 37. Thus the gripping blade will be raised only slightly above thestrip material but the latter will be gripped and held against rearward movement by the spring pressed plate 52 at the rear end of the base casting 1. Upon further operation of the lever and link mechanism the slidable carrier 3 will be moved rearwardly through the medium of the pivoted carrier S of the gripping blade 6 to the position shown in Figure 3, rearwardly away from the adjustable stop 17 to a distance according to the shape and downward movement of the cam on the pressing machine. Upon the raising of the cam plate x the coiled springs S1 will return the parts to their initial position and the strip material will be gripped by the gripping blade 6 and fed into the press tool. During the feeding operation the gripping blade carrier 5 will be outof contact with the adjusting screw 37. It will be understood that the amount of feed and travel of the strip can be varied by adjusting the stop 17 through the medium of the micrometer. Further the gripping blade 6 may be so adjusted by the adjusting screw 37 that it will engage or move strips of various thicknesses. The provision of bellcrank levers in the carrier operating means will multiply the movement of the carrier and obtain a length of feed in excess of that which would be obtained by levers and links alone.

What l claim is:

l. A gripping and feeding device for feeding strip material into machines, comprising a base, a guide formed in said base, a carrier slidably mounted on said guide,

,a gripping blade member pivotally mounted on said carrier, means connected to the pivoted gripper to pivot it back and forth and simultaneously reciprocate the carrier, a stop adjustably positioned in said guide to limit the movement of the slidably motnited carrier, a micrometer device on said base for adjusting said stop along said guide, said micrometer device comprises a sleeve secured in one end of said base, a fine threaded rod journalled in said sleeve and extending longitudinally of said guide'and having a bearing at the other end of said base, saidstop being mounted on said tine threaded rod, and a micrometer thimble mounted on said sleeve and secured to the rod, said rod being formed with an enlargement to engage against the sleeve, a second sleeve is mounted on said rod within said thimble and extends from said Erst-mentioned sleeve to beyond said thirnble, said second sleeve having diametrically disposed holes, said thimble being secured to the said rod by a pin projecting through said sleeve holes, the outer end of the rod being threaded, and a lock nut threaded on said rod end for clamping said second sleeve against said rst sleeve to lock the micrometer thimble and rod in adjusted position.

2. A gripping and feeding device for feeding strip material into machines, comprising a base, a guide formed in said base, a carrier slidably mounted on said guide, a gripping blade member pivotally mounted on said carrier, means connected to the pivoted gripper to pivot it back and forth and simultaneously reciprocate the car- Iier, spring means between said base and said lever and link means for biasing said carrier in the other direction, a stop adjustably positioned to limit the movement of the slidably mounted carrier, said base having a surface over which strip material is fed, a support on said base and extending above said surface, a nut rotatably and non-removably mounted in said support, a bolt threaded in said nut, a plate loosely mounted on said bolt, and a spring between said plate and the head of said bolt and biasing said plate toward engagement between said support and strip material on said surface, said plate being formed at its fulcrum edge and at an intermediate position with a vertical bolt straddling slot, said bolt having oppositely arranged flats engaging the edges of said slot to prevent its rotation, the side walls of the flats being curved to permit angular movement of said plate relative to said bolt.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,007,236 Poierier Oct. 31, 1911 1,305,342 De Smith June 3, 1919 1,407,699 Marian Feb. 28, 1922 1,690,512 Uttz Nov. 6, 1928 1,826,498 Bignell Oct. 6, 1931 1,968,479 Dickerman July 3l, 1934 2,188,473 Dickerman lan. 30, 1940 2,222,168 Brooks Nov. 19, 1940 2,228,245 Barker et al. Jan. 14, 1941 2,278,921 Fischer Apr. 7, 1942 2,381,571 Buchan Aug. 7, 1945 2,397,833 Borton Apr. 2, 1946 2,428,493 Haller Oct. 7, 1947 2,514,554 Nowelsky July 11, 1950

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