US2759500A

US2759500A - Knotting mechanism for coil springs

Info

Publication number: US2759500A
Application number: US417203A
Authority: US
Inventors: Martin J Nelson
Original assignee: WUNDERLICH SPRING MACHINERY CO
Current assignee: WUNDERLICH SPRING MACHINERY CO
Priority date: 1954-03-18
Filing date: 1954-03-18
Publication date: 1956-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 1973-08-21

Description

Aug. 21, 1956 M. J. NELSON 2,759,500

KNOTTING MECHANISM FOR COIL SPRINGS Filed March 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

/l/a7 aka JA/zbarz B Y I 1956 M. J. NELSON 2,759,500

KNOTTING MECHANISM FOR COIL SPRINGS Filed March 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 21, 1956 M. J. NELSON 2,759,500

KNOTTING MECHANISM FOR COIL SPRINGS Filed March 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 21, 1956 M. J. NELSON 2,759,500

KNOTTING MECHANISM FOR COIL SPRINGS Filed March 18-, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4- IN V EN T 0R.

J agfUVJ I/ekm United States Patent 2,759,500 KNOTTING MECHANISM FOR COIL SPRINGS Martin J. Nelson, Chicago, 11]., assignor to Wunderlich Spring Machinery Company, a corporation of Illinois Application March 18, 1954, Serial No. 417,203 14 Claims. (Cl. 140-101) This invention relates to knotting and/or crimping mechanisms for coil spring producing machines. The knotting mechanism of this invention, while generally applicable to various types of coil spring producing machines, is particularly adaptable for use in the coil spring producing machine shown and described in William E. Wunderlich Patent No. 2,604,202, issued July 22, 1952.

Coil spring producing machines, such for example as the one disclosed in the aforementioned patent, usually include a coiling mechanism, knotting mechanisms, a stacker mechanism, and a transfer mechanism for advancing the coil springs from the coiling mechanism through the knotter mechanisms to the stacker mechanism. The knotter mechanisms knot the ends of the wire of the coil spring by wrapping the ends of the wire about the end convolutions thereof. At the same time, the end convolutions of the coil spring may be also crimped into offset form.

The knotting and/or crimping mechanism of this invention is an improvement over that disclosed in said William E. Wunderlich patent. The knotting and/or crimping mechanism of this invention as well as that of said William E. Wunderlich patent for knotting coil springs comprises a die for receiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a gauge member for positioning the end of the wire of the coil spring with respect to the die, a guiding and clamping member for guiding and positioning the end convolution of the coil spring with respect to the die, a pair of opposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring about the clamped end convolution thereof.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a new and improved knotting mechanism wherein the gauge member, the guiding and clamping member, the pair of opposed slides and the knotter gear are operated in timed relation in a new and improved manner.

Briefly, the knotting mechanism of this invention includes a carriage pivoted at one end to a first rotating shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end. A second shaft is carried by the carrier intermediate its ends and a mutilated driving gear is fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith. A pair of gears are mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals. A box cam is fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith and a link which is pivoted at one end to the second shaft has a cam follower at its other end received in the box cam. Means are provided for pivotally mounting the link intermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that the box cam rotates the carriage about the first shaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates the knotter gear through the pair of gears during those predetermined intervals. Preferably the means for pivotally mounting the link intermediate its ends includes a second link which is pivoted at one end to the first link and which is pivoted at its other end to an adjustably mounted block whereby the knotting position of the knotter gear may be adjusted at will. The knotting mechanism also includes a locking cam having a high dwell and a low dwell which is ice fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, and also a member. fixed to the pair of gears adjacent the locking cam and {having a recess engaging the high dwell of the locking cam normally to prevent rotation of the pair of gears but permitting rotation thereof when the low dwell of the locking cam is adjacent said member during said predetermined intervals.

The knotting mechanism also includes a third rotating shaft and means including a fourth rotating shaft interconnecting the first and third rotating shafts to drive them in synchronism. A pair of pivoted arms are provided for operating the opposed slides toward and away from the die, and a pair of cams are fixed to the third shaft for moving the slides toward the die for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die during said predetermined intervals. A fifth shaft is provided for operating the guiding and clamping member and here a cam is fixed on the fourth shaft and a cam follower is located on the fifth shaft, the cam and cam follower operating the guiding and clamping member during said predetermined intervals. A sixth shaft is provided for operating the gauge member. Here a cam is fixed to the first shaft and a cam follower is provided on the sixth shaft, the cam follower engaging the cam for operating the gauge member at the beginning of the predetermined intervals.

Further objects of this invention reside in the details of construction of the knotting mechanism and in the cooperative relationships between the component parts thereof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification, claims and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a coil spring producing machine, such as that of the William E. Wunderlich patent aforementioned, and including the knotting and/ or crimping mechanisms of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a back view of one of the knotting mechanisms with the cover plate removed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a coil spring which has been knotted and/or crimped by the knotting mechanism of this invention;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the knotting mechanism of this invention and taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the front of the knotting mechanism of. this invention;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the knotting mechanism and taken substantially along the line 66 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail sectional views of the adjustable pivot shown in the upper right hand portion of Fig. 6, Fig. 8 being taken substantially along the line 88 of Fig. 9 and Fig. 9 being taken substantially along the line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective'view showing the various parts for operating the gauge member, the guiding and clamping member, the pair of opposed slides, and the knotter gear;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing on enlarged scale the manner operating the knotter gear;

Fig. 12 is a substantially horizontal view taken substan tially along the line 1212 of Fig. 6.

Referring first to Fig. l, a coil spring producing machine is generally designated at 10 and it may be of the type shown and described in the aforementioned William E. Wunderlich patent. The machine 10, embodying the knotting and/or crimping mechanism of this invention, operates to produce coil springs 11 such as shown in Fig. 3, wherein the end convolutions 12 of the spring 11 are knotted as at 13. The end convolutions 12 of the spring 11 may also be provided, if desired, with offsets 14.

The coil spring producing machine includes a reel arrangement 15 for feeding wire to be formed into the coil springs and a coiling mechanism 16 for coiling the wire into the double-ended coil springs 11. When the coil springs are thus formed by the coiling mechanism, they are grasped by fingers 17 carried by radial arms 18 of a transfer mechanism 19 which is intermittently rotated through a Geneva motion (not shown). The coil springs thus formed are advanced to a knotting mechanism 20 wherein one end of the coil springs is knotted, and if desired, crimped into an offset. The coil springs are then advanced to a second knotting mechanism 21 where the other end of the coil springs are knotted and may also be crimped into an offset. The knotted coil springs are then advanced by the transfer mechanism 19 to a stacker mechanism designated at 22.

The coiling mechanism 16 and the stacker mechanism 22 are supported by a column 24 carried by a base 25. The knotting mechanism 20 is supported by a column 26 carried by the base and the knotting mechanism 21 is supported by a column 27 carried by the base 25. The knotting mechanisms 20 and 21 are identical in construction, they being arranged on opposite sides of the transfer mechanism 19 so that one end of the coil spring is first applied to the knotter mechanism 20 and then the other end thereof is applied to the knotting mechanism 21.

The knotting mechanism includes a substantially cylindrical housing 30 having access openings and an internal partition 31. It is also provided with a removable rear cover plate 32 and a removable front cover plate 33. As shown in more detail in Figs. 4 and S the front cover plate 33 is centrally provided with a die 35 having an opening 36 for accommodating the knotter gear. Where the end convolutions of the coil spring are to be offset as indicated at 14 in Fig. 3, the die 35 is provided with a pair of

projections

37 and 38. A pair of

opposed slides

39 and 42 are slidably mounted in the front cover plate 33. An abutment member 40 is suitably secured to the slide 39 and a block 41 is adjustably positioned with respect to the abutment member 40 and is clamped in adjusted position on the slide 39. In a like manner, the slide 42 is provided With an abutment member 43 and a block 44 is adjustably positioned with respect to the abutment member 43 and is clamped to the slide 42. The blocks 41 and 44 are provided with recesses for accommodating the

projections

37 and 38 on the die 35 for forming the offsets 14 in the end convolutions of the coil spring 11. A lever 45 is pivoted at 46 to the front cover 33 and is provided with an extension for engaging the abutment member 40. A pin 47 is carried by the slide 39 and is engaged by the extending end of the lever 45 for retracting the slide 39 and hence the block 41. In a like manner a lever 48 is pivoted at 49 to the front cover 33 and is provided with an extension engaging the abutment member 43. Here also the slide 42 carries a pin 50 for retracting the slide 42 and hence the block 44. The upper ends of the

levers

45 and 48 are provided with

cam followers

51 and 52, respectively which are drawn toward each other by a spring 53 interconnecting the two

levers

45 and 48. The

cam followers

51 and 52 engage a pair of

cams

54 and 55 respectively, carried by a shaft 56. As the shaft 56 is rotated, the

cams

54 and 55 operate the

levers

45 and 48 to move the

slides

39 and 42 and hence the blocks 41 and 44 toward and away from the die 35.

A gauge member 58 is pivoted to the front cover plate 33 at 59 and it is provided at its upper end with a gauging surface 60 for positioning the end of the wire of the coil spring. One end of a link 61 is pivoted at 62 to the gauge member 58 and the other end of the link is pivoted at 63 to a block 64 which is adjustably mounted by adjusting screws 65 in an arm 66 carried by a shaft 67 journaled for oscillation in the end plate 33. The gauge member 58 is urged to retracted position by a spring 68. As the shaft 67 is oscillated the gauge member 58 is oscillated about its pivot 59 for positioning the end of the Wire of the coil spring.

A guiding and clamping member 70 is pivoted at 71 to a block 72 carried by the front cover plate 33. One end of a link 74 is pivoted at 73 to the guiding and clamping member 70 and the other end of the link is provided with a slot 76 for receiving a pin carried by an arm 77 secured to a shaft 79 journalled for rotation in the front cover plate 33. A cam member 79 is resiliently secured to the arm 77 by a spring mechanism 80. The arm 77 and hence the guiding and clamping member 70 are held in retracted position by a spring 81. As the shaft 78 is oscillated against the action of the spring 81 the guiding and clamping member 70 is advanced toward the die 35 and continued movement of the arm 77 applies spring pressure to the clamping and guiding member 70 through the spring operated arm 79 engaging the clamping and guiding member. When the shaft 78 is oscillated in the opposite direction, the arm '77 and the guiding and clamping member 70 are retracted.

In the operation of the knotter mechanism thus far described, the end of a coil spring is inserted over the die 35 by means of the transfer mechanism 19. The gauging member 58 is advanced to accurately position the end of the wire of the coil spring and at substantially the same time the guiding and clamping member 70 is advanced to accurately position the end of the coil spring on the die 35. Then the

slides

39 and 42. with their blocks 41 and 44 are advanced to clamp the coil spring against the die 35. At this time, the offsets are formed into the end convolution of the coil spring. Then the knotter gear is raised for wrapping the end of the wire about the end convolution of the coil spring. Before the knotter gear knots the end of the wire, the gauging device 58 is retracted. After the end convolution of the coil spring has been so knotted, then the knotter gear is lowered, the

slides

39 and 42 and their blocks 41 and 44 are retracted and the guiding and clamping member 70 is retracted. The knotted coil spring is then removed from the die 35 by the transfer mechanism 19 and then the end of another coil spring is placed over the die 35 by the transfer mechanism for knotting the same. Thus, the knotter mechanism is operated at predetermined intervals for knotting the coil springs as they are presented thereto by the transfer mechanism.

A shaft 85 is transversely mounted for rotation in the housing 30 by means of

bearings

86 and 87. A carriage 88 is mounted at one end for rotation on the shaft 85 by a bearing portion 89. The other end of the carriage 83 carries a pair of spaced plates 90 which rotatably mount a knotter gear 91 having a slot 92 for receiving the end of the wire of the coil spring for wrapping the same around the end convolution of the coil spring. Intermediate its ends the carriage 88 carries one end of a shaft 94, the shaft 94 being secured in a suitable boss 95 on the carriage 88. The other end of the shaft 94 is secured in a boss 96 on a lever 97 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 85 by a bearing boss 98. The shaft 94 so supported at its ends rotatably carries a gear 100 which meshes with the knotter gear 91. The gear 100 is also provided with a circular member 101 having an arcuate recess 102. The gear 100 also carries a gear 103. The gear 100, the member 11. 1 and the gear 103 rotate together on the shaft 94.

Secured to the shaft 85 for rotation therewith is a bOf. cam 105 having a cam track 106. A cam follower 107 carried by one end of a link 108 is received in. the cam track 106. The other end of the link 108 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 94 by a bearing boss 109. One end of a second link 110 including a pair of arms is pivoted to the link 108 intermediate its ends by a pivot pin 11.1. The other end of the second link 110 is pivoted at 112 to a block 113 which is slidably mounted in a track 114 of a block 115 secured to the front cover plate 33. A screw 116 mounted in a bracket 117 operates to adjust the block 113 upwardly and downwardly in the guide track 114. A locking screw 118 is utilized for lockingthe block 113 in adjusted position. As the box cam 105 is rotated, the

links

108 and 110 operate to raise and lower the carriage 88 and the shaft 94 carried thereby. This also operates to raise the knotter gear 91 to knotting position at desired or predetermined intervals and then to retract the knotter gear to the lower position.

The box cam 105 carries a mutilated gear 120 having a portion of its periphery provided with gear teeth 121 and the remaining portion of its periphery recessed as indicated at 122. The gear teeth 121 of the mutilated gear 120 engage at predetermined intervals the gear 103 on the shaft 94 for rotating the knotter gear 91 through several revolutions at predetermined intervals. The mutilated gear 120 and hence the box cam 105 carry a locking cam 123 having a high dwell 124 and a low dwell 125. The high dwell 124 of the locking cam 123 normally is received in the recess 102 of the circular member 101 to prevent rotation of the pair of

gears

100 and 103. When however the low dwell 125 of the locking cam 123 comes adjacent the member 101, then the pair of

gears

100 and 103 are unlocked so that they may be rotated by the mutilated gear 120. In this way, the knotter gear 91 is normally positively locked against rotation but is freed to rotate during predetermined intervals.

Secured to the shaft 85 is a cam 127 which engages a cam follower 128 on a crank arm 129 secured to the shaft 67. As the shaft 85 is rotated, the cam 127 and the cam follower 128 operate to oscillate the shaft 67 to advance and retract the gauging member 58. The shaft 85 is continuously rotated by a bevel gear 133 secured thereto, the bevel gear 133 meshing with a bevel gear 134 secured to a shaft 135 suitably mounted in bearings 136 and 137. The shaft 135 is driven by a gear 138 secured thereto which meshes with a gear 139 carried by a shaft 140 suitably mounted in a bearing 141 in the partition 31 and in a bearing boss 142 in the rear cover plate 32. The shaft 135 carries a cam 144 which is contacted by a cam follower 145 carried by an arm 146 secured to the shaft 78. As the shaft 135 is rotated, the cam 144 and the cam follower 145 oscillate the shaft 78 to advance the positioning and clamping member 70 and to retract the same.

The shaft 56 which carries the

cams

54 and 55 for operating the

slides

39 and 42 is journaled for rotation by a bearing 148 in the front cover plate 33 and a bearing 149 in the partition 31. The shaft 56 is driven by a gear 150 secured thereto which meshes with a gear 151 carried by a shaft 152. The gear 151 which is an idler gear meshes with the gear 139 which is carried by the shaft 140. The shaft 140 which is the drive shaft for the knotting mechanism carries a sprocket wheel 154 which is connected by a chain 155 to a sprocket wheel 156 carried by a shaft 157. The shaft 157 is driven by the power mechanism which drives the coiler 16 and the transfer mechanism 19 so that the knotting mechanism 20 is driven in timed relation with the coiler and the transfer mechanisms.

The other knotting mechanism 21 is of the same construction as the knotting mechanism 20, it being driven by a drive shaft 140' carrying a sprocket wheel 154' connected by a chain 155' to a sprocket wheel 156 carried by a shaft 157'. The

shafts

157 and 157 are suitably geared together so that both knotting mechanisms 20 and 21 are driven in timed relation with respect to each other as well as in timed relation with respect to the coiling mechanism 16 and the transfer mechanism 19.

The various shafts which drive the cams and gears which in turn operate the gauge member, the positioning and clamping member, the clamping slides and the knotter gear are all continuously rotating shafts which are keyed together for rotation. Accordingly, positive operation of the parts is assured and the parts are all operated in positive timed relation. When the knotter gear 91 is not operating, it is maintained in a locked position. The

6 v upper or operating-position of theknot'ter' gear may be readily adjusted, and the operating positions of the other parts of the knotting mechanism may also be readily adjusted.

While for purposes of illustration one form of this invention has been disclosed other forms thereof may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to this disclosure and therefore this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die for receiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a pair of opposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate i-ts ends, a mutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, a box cam fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other end received in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box cam rotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during said predetermined intervals.

2. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die for receiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a pair of opposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, 2. box cam fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other end received in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box cam rotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during said predetermined intervals, said means for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends including a second link pivoted at one end to the first link intermediate the ends of the latter, and an adjustably mounted block pivotally mounting the other end of said second link whereby the knotting position of said knotter gear may be adjusted.

3. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die for receiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a pair of opposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end,..a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, a box cam fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other end received in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box cam rotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during said perdetermined intervals, a locking cam having a high dwell and a low dwell and fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, and a member fixed to the pair of gears adjacent the locking owl and having a recess engaging the high dwell of the locking cam normally to prevent rotation of the pair of gears but permitting rotation thereof when the low dwell of the locking cam is adjacent said member during said predetermined intervals.

4. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die for receiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a pair of opposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, :1 box cam fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other end received in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box cam rotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during said predetermined intervals, said means for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends including a second link pivoted at one end to the first link intermediate the ends of the latter, and an adiustably mounted block pivotally mounting the other end of said second link whereby the knotting position of said knotter gear may be adjusted, a locking cam having a high dwell and a low dwell and fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, and a member fixed to the pair of gears adjacent the locking cam and having a recess engaging the high dwell of the locking cam normally to prevent rotation of the pair of gears but permitting rotation thereof when the low dwell of the locking cam is adjacent said member during said predetermined intervals.

5. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die for receiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a pair of opposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, a box cam fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other end received in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box cam rotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during said predetermined intervals, a third rotating shaft, means interconnecting the first and third rotating shafts to drive the same in synchronism, a pair of pivoted arms operating said opposed slides toward and away from the die, and a pair of cams fixed to the third shaft for moving the slides toward the die for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die during said predetermined intervals.

6. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die for receiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted (a gauge member for engaging the end of the wire of the coil spring for positioning the same with respect to the die), a pair of opposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated drivinggear for rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, a box cam fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other end received in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box cam rotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during said predetermined intervals, a third shaft operating said gauge member, a cam fixed to said first shaft, and a cam follower on said third shaft engaging said last mentioned cam for operating said gauge member at the beginning of said predetermined intervals.

7. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die for receiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted (a guiding and clamping member for guiding and positioning the end convolution of the coil spring with respect to the die), a pair of opposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, a box cam fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other end received in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box cam rotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during said predetermined intervals, means including a third shaft rotating said first shaft, a. fourth shaft operating said guiding and clamping member, a cam fixed to the third shaft, and a cam follower on said fourth shaft engaging said last mentioned cam for operating said guiding and clamping member during said predetermined intervals.

8. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die for receiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a gauge member for engaging the end of the wire of the coil spring for positioning the same with respect to the die, a pair of opposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of the Wire of the coil spring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, a box cam fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other end received in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box cam rotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during said predetermined intervals, a third rotating shaft, means interconnecting the first and third rotating shafts to drive the same in synchronism, a pair of pivoted arms operating said opposed slides toward and away from the die, and a pair of cams fixed to the third shaft for moving the slides toward the die for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die during said predetermined intervals, a fourth shaft operating said gauge member, a cam fixed to said first shaft, and a cam follower on said fourth shaft engaging said last mentioned cam for operating said gauge member at the beginning of said predetermined intervals.

9. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die for receiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a guiding and clamping member for guiding and positioning the end convolution of the coil spring with respect to the die, a pair of opposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated driving gear for roating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, a box cam fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other end received in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box cam rotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during said predetermined intervals, a third rotating shaft, means including a fourth rotating shaft interconnecting the first and third rotating shafts to drive them in synchronism, a pair of pivoted arms operating said opposed slides toward and away from the die, and a pair of cams fixed to the 10 third shaft for moving the slides towardthe die for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die during said predetermined intervals, a fifth shaft operating said guiding and clamping member, a cam fixed on the fourth shaft, and a cam follower on said fifth shaft engaging said last mentioned cam for operating said guiding and clamping member during said predetermined intervals. ltgglgl 10. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die for receiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a guiding and clamping member for guiding and positioning the end convolution of the coil spring with respect to the die, a gauge member for engaging the end of the wire of the coil spring for positioning the same with respect to the die, a pair of opposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and a knot-ter gear for Wrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, a box cam fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other end received in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box cam rotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during said predetermined intervals, a third rotating shaft, means including a fourth rotating shaft interconnecting the first and third rotating shafts to drive them in synchronism, a pair of pivoted arms operating said opposed slides toward and away from the die, and a pair of cams fixed to the third shaft for moving the slides toward the die for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die during said predetermined intervals, a fifth shaft operating said guiding and clamping member, a cam fixed on the fourth shaft, and a cam follower on said fifth shaft engaging said last mentioned cam for operating said guiding and clamping member during said predetermined intervals, a sixth shaft operating said gauge member, a cam fixed to said first shaft, and a cam follower on said sixth shaft engaging said last mentioned cam for operating said gauge member at the beginning of said predetermined intervals.

11. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die for receiving the end' convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a pair of opposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, a box cam fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other end received in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, the arrangement being such thats'aid box cam rotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at said predetermined inter- Ill vals and said mutilated gear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during said predetermined intervals, a locking cam having a high dwell and a low dwell and fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, and a member fixed to the pair of gears adjacent the locking cam and having a recess engaging the high dwell of the locking cam normally to prevent rotation of the pair of gears but permitting rotation thereof when the low dwell of the locking cam is adjacent said member during said predetermined intervals, a third rotating shaft, means interconnecting the first and third rotating shafts to drive the same in synchronism, a pair of pivoted arms operating said opposed slides toward and away from the die, and a pair of cams fixed to the third shaft for moving the slides toward the die for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die during said predetermined intervals.

12. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die for receiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a gauge member for engaging the end of the wire of the coil spring for positioning the same with respect to the die, a pair of opposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and a knotter gear for Wrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated riving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, a box cam fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other end received in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box cam rotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during said predetermined intervals, a locking cam having a high dwell and a low dwell and fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, and a member fixed to the pair of gears adjacent the locking cam and having a recess engaging the high dwell of the locking cam normally to prevent rotation of the pair of gears but permitting rotation thereof when the low dwell of the locking cam is adjacent said member during said predetermined intervals, a third shaft operating said gauge member, a cam fixed to said first shaft, and a cam follower on said third shaft engaging said last mentioned cam for operating said gauge member at the beginning of said predetermined intervals.

13. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die for receiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a guiding and clamping member for guiding and positioning the end convolution of the coil spring with respect to the die, a pair of opposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, a box cam fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other end received in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box cam rotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during said predetermined intervals, a locking cam having a high dwell and a low dwell and fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, and a member fixed to the pair of gears adjacent the locking cam and having a recess enganging the high dwell of the locking cam normally to prevent rotation of the pair of gears but permitting rotatien thereof when the low dwell of the locking cam is adjacent said member during said predetermined intervals, means including a third shaft rotating said first shaft, a fourth shaft operating said guiding and clamping member, a cam fixed to the third shaft, and a cam follower on said fourth shaft engaging said last mentioned cam for operating said guiding and clamping member during said predetermined intervals.

14. in a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die for receiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a guiding and clamping member for guiding and positioning the end convolution of the coil spring with respect to the die, a gauge member for engaging the end of the wire of the coil spring for posi tioning the same with respect to the die, a pair of opposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, a box cam fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other end received in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box cam rotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during said predetermined intervals, a locking cam having a high dwell and a low dwell and fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, and a member fixed to the pair of gears adjacent the locking cam and having a recess engaging the high dwell of the locking cam normally to prevent rotation of the pair of gears but permitting rotation thereof when the low dwell of the locking cam is adjacent said member during said predetermined intervals, a

third rotating shaft, means including a fourth rotating shaft interconnecting the first and third rotating shafts to drive them in synchronism, a pair of pivoted arms operating said opposed slides toward and away from the die, and a pair of cams fixed to the third shaft for moving the slides toward the die for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die during said predetermined intervals, a fifth shaft operating said guiding and clamping member, a cam fixed on the fourth shaft, and a cam follower on said fifth shaft engaging said last mentioned cam for operating said guiding and clamping member during said predetermined intervals, a sixth shaft operating said gauge member, a cam fixed to said first shaft, and a cam follower on said sixth shaft engaging said last mentioned cam for operating said gauge member at the beginning of said predetermined intervals.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,429,253 Rhenstrom Sept. 19, 1922 1,993,162 Gritz Mar. 5, 1935 2,604,202 Wunderlich July 22, 1952