US2793733A - Intermittent-motion apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 28, 1957 Filed June 27, 1955 S. KARAGEORGIEFF INTERMITTENT-MOTION APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 28, 1957 s. KARAGEORGIEFF INTERMITTENT-MOTION APPARATUS 3 Shets-Sheet 2- Filed June 27, 1955 S. KARAG EORGI EFF INTERMITTENT-MOTION APPARATUS May 28, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 2'7, 1955 %65 WWI/6.5

U i ed States Patent O 2,793,733 lNTERMITTENT-MOTION APPARATUS Stoian Karageorgielf, Clayton, Mo., assignor to Universal Match Corporation, Ferguson, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Application June 27, 1955, Serial No. 518,111 8 Claims. '(Cl. 198-19) This invention relates to intermittent-motion apparatus, and with regard to certain more specific features, to straight-line apparatus of this class for indexing workpieces, assemblies and the like.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of an intermittent-motion Workindexing machine which is capable of handling a large number of parts or assemblies for intermittent indexing movement; the provision of apparatus of the class described in which frictional resistance is minimized during translatory movements; the provision of apparatus of the class described which, during dwell periods, provides for accurate positioning of certain carriers, so that the work carried thereby may be accurately operated upon; and the provision of apparatus of this class which is relatively simple to construct, assemble and maintain. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of typical apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a right-end elevation of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 44 of Figs. 1 and 5;

Fig. 5 is a left side elevation of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on line 66 of Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on line 77 of Fig. 1.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding views throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a numeral 1 a base for carrying a superstructure 3. Numeral 5 indicates an electrical control box for a control switch-gear, further details of which will not be given, since they form no part of the present invention.

Within the base 1 is mounted a motor 7 which drives a suitable intermittent-motion mechanism 9. The drive is through a gear-reduction box 11 and a clutch and brake assembly 13. A lay shaft is driven from a connection between 11 and 13 by means of a chain drive 17. Further details of the parts 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 are not given, since they also form no part of the invention per se. It will sutfice to state that these parts intermittently drive a vertical shaft 19 from which intermittent motion is derived for driving the parts which constitute the invention. Also, the shaft 15 has for its purpose the provision of means for attaching drives to various tools that are to operate upon parts indexed by the apparatus. Numeral 21 indicates a coupling between shaft 19 and the intermittent-motion mechanism (Fig. 7).

2,793,733 ..P t9 a 28. 1

Referring more particularly to Fig. 4, there is shown at numeral 23 a bed plate supported upon the base 1 by means of spacing pillars 25. An apron 27 encloses the space between the base 1 and bed plate 23. On the bed plate 23 is a structure 29 which carries'bearings for four vertical shafts 31', 33, 35,- 37, the last three mentioned being similar. Shaft 31 is constituted by a hollow quill 39, through which shaft 19 passes (see Fig. 7). Shaft 19 is coupled to quill 39 by means of a shear pin 41 passing through flanges 43 and 45 attached to shaft 19 and quill 39, respectively. The bearings for the quill are shown at 47.

Keyed to the quill is a horizontally disposed doublechain sprocket 49 for driving a double roller chain 51. This chain (or flexible connector) passes around said sprocket 49 and around sprockets 53, 55 and 57, keyed respectively to the shafts 33, 35 and 37. Thus intermittent motion derived by shaft 19 from the intermittentmotion mechanism 9 is delivered to the chain 51. At suitable intervals along its length the links of the chain 51 are provided with side plates 59 having ears 61, each pair of ears supporting a plate 63 to which by screws 66 is attached a channel-shaped carrier 65 having upper and lower sides 70 and .72 in the form of extensions or flanges. Each carrier 65 has a vertically disposed outside surface for the attachment of workpieces or assemblies that are to be carried and intermittently moved to and from suitable disposed work stations located around the apparatus. At these work stations are suitable tools (not shown) for operating upon the workpieces during the dwell periods which occur between intermittent movements. Custom-made drives from the shaft 15 for tool operation are supplied by purchasers of the machines. Such drives are notshown because they do not form part of the present invention and are subject to wide variation in form, depending upon the demands of users.

It will be apparent that the carriers 65 cannot be supported alone by the chain 51, since it is flexible and tends to sag laterally when weighted, and more particularly if loads are applied to the workpieces on the carriers. Therefore, it is necessary to supply a sup porting giude for the moving carriers, which however, should not introduce an undue amount of friction during intermittent movements. At the same time, the guide should form a rigid backing for each carrier during dwell periods, to absorb thethrust from any tools operating upon the supported workpieces or assemblies, and to position accurately the parts being operated upon.

To the above end the structure 29 is provided with supporting means. The first of these is constituted by a series of channel-shaped anvil supports 67, arranged in alignment on the sides and ends of the machines. These are fastened to the structure 29, as indicated by the bolts 69. On the top and bottom of each support 67 are bolted rail type anvils or buttresses 71, 73, respectively. The countersunk holding bolts are indicated at 75. The anvils are provided with aligned outer vertical surfaces 77, engageable by inner vertical surfaces 79 on the backs of the carriers 65, provided the carriers are moved laterally from the positions shown in Figs. 4 and 6. An upper horizontal surface 81 on anvil 71 is engageable by an upper inner horizontal surface 83 on the carriers, provided the carriers can be moved down from the positions shown in Figs. 4 and 6. It will be understood that in the positions of the carriers 65 shown in Figs. 4 and 6 there is clearance between them and the anvils 71 and 73, thus eliminating sliding friction during carrier movements.

It will be understood that the clearances between the anvils 71, 73 and the buttressed surfaces of the carriers 65 are small (for example, a few thousandths of an inch) when the carriers are in clearing and passing positions relative to the anvils. In order to maintain the carriers 3 65 in said clearing positions while moving, the following structure is provided:

Supported from the superstructure 3 and overhanging the same are marginally overhanging top plates 85, 87, 89 and 91, to which certain guide assemblies are attached. These assemblies consist of aligned bars 93, bolted to said plates by means of bolts 95. Longitudinal corners of the bars 93 are beveled to accept angular-1y disposed' pins 97 which support rollers 99. Successive rollers 99 on the bars are staggered, as indicated in Fig. 5. They engage with rails 101, held to the tops of the respective carriers 65 by means of bolts 103.

The lower "margins of the carriers 65 also carry aligned beveled rails 105, held by bolts107. The bevels of these rails are engaged by staggered angled rollers 109, supported on pins 111 extending from bevels of aligned bars 113. Bars 113 are vertically movable on studs 115, being supported upon and biased upward by plungers 119 (Fig. 6) located in adjustable threaded sockets 121, threaded into the bed plate 23. Each plunger 119 is backed by a spring 123, which is enclosed and backed by a threaded plug 125. By threadably adjusting the sockets 121 in the bed plate 23, the springs 123 may 'be compressed sufficiently to press upward each supporting bar 113. The rollers 109 will force the carriers 65 and parts assembled thereon upward against gravity to the position shown in Fig. 4, i. e., with clearance space between all parts of the. carriers and the anvil rails 71 and 73. Heads 117 of studs 115 hold the bars 113 captive, in the absence of any series of the carriers 65 and their rails 101 and 105. Should any carrier 65 be laterally loaded with forces in addition to gravity during a dwell period, or likewise vertically loaded, or both (as by operations of tools on the work carried thereon), the surfaces 79 will engage surfaces 77, or surface 83 will engage surface 81, or both. This will push down the rollers 109 against the bias of springs 123. The loads applied to a carrier need to effect only a slight movement, with slight deflection of the chain and slight movement of the corresponding bar 113, in order to place the carrier in proper position of alignment wit-h adjacent work-ing tools.

The adjustments of the spring type supporting assemblies 119, 121, 123, 125 are preferably such that the forces of the springs 123 only slightly overbalance the gravity weight of assembled parts of and carried by the carrier 65. The result is that during dwell periods the application of a minimum force to the parts carried by a carrier 65 immediately forces the carrier against the buttressing anvils 71 and 73, so that the position of the work on the carrier is at once accurately determined :for operation of the working tools.

For protective purposes, peripheral guard rails 127 are attached, covering the assemblies on the bars 93 and 113, thus exposing to the outside of the machine only the outside surfaces of the carriers 65. It will be understood that at the corners of the machine there are no rails 101 and 105, bars 93, 113 or rollers 99, 109. Here the chain is supported by the sprockets only. Consequently, the carriers 65 are free to angle around the corners of the machine.

Operation is as follows:

Assume that shaft 19 is being intermittently driven from the drive 9, which intermittently drives the sprocket 49 and chain 51, and finally intermittently drives carriers 65 step by step, with periods of dwell between periods of motion. During periods of motion there are no operating loads applied to the carriers 65, their only loads being the workpieces or assemblies that they carry. These loads, including the weights of the carriers 65 and their rails 101 and 105 (including some chain load) are supported by the properly adjusted springs 123. The carriers move past the anvils 71 and 73 with clearance, beingraised and centered by the biasing action of rollers 109 toward rollers 99. Since the width of each carrier 65 is greater than the distance between three of the staggered rollers 99 and 109, there is always at least a three-point guide for each rail 101 and 105. The rolling action of the rollers 99 and 109 on the rails 101 and 105, respectively, and the clearance between the carriers and the anvils 71 and 73, assures a minimum amount of friction against chain movement.

At dwell points friction ceases to be a problem.

Thrust is then applied to the carriers 65 by reason of the action of tools operating on the work supported thereon. Thrust in general has downward and lateral components, with the result that the horizontal surface 83 engages the horizontal surface 81, and the vertical surfaces 79 engage the vertical surfaces 77. -As soon as the operations which occur during dwell cease, the thrust ceases accordingly, and the springs 123 then again force the carriers up into clearing positions relative to the anvils '71 and '73. The anti friction rollers 99 and passing rollers 109 then become the sole guides for subsequent movement of the carriers 65. In view of the above, it will be seen that friction is minimized during intermittent movements, while during dwell periods, during which thrusts are applied, the anvils 71 and 73 provide accurate alignment and support for the carriers. The spring-biased angled roller and track arrangement affords means for floating the carriers for movements, while also allowing them to assume predetermined offset positions during dwell, as determined by the anvils 71, 73.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. Intermittent-motion apparatus comprising an intermittentiy movable flexible connector having periods of dwell, a carrier attached to said connector and movable thereby to and from a dwell position at which working force transverse to the connector may be applied to the carrier, a fixed buttress arranged to be passed by the carrier at the dwell position, guide means for the carrier adapted to guide it past said buttress without substantial pressure engagement between them, said guide means including resilient means responsive to said working force applied to the carrier to allow movement of the carrier into engagement with said buttress.

2. Intermittent-motion apparatus made according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is a vertically disposed channel member, wherein said buttress comprises fixed rails within the upper and lower sides of the channel member, and wherein said guide means comprises beveled rails on the upper and lower outside sides of the channel, and upper staggered angularly related non-resilient rollers engageable by the upper rail and lower staggered angularly related rollers carried upon a lower resiliently mounted supporting member, said lower rollers having a supporting engagement with said lower rail.

3. Intermittent-motion apparatus made according to claim 2, including means for ad usting the resiliency of the mounting for the supporting member, whereby the weight of the carrier and parts supported thereby may be only slightly overbalanced.

4-. Intermittent-motion apparatus comprising an intermittently movable chain, carriers having upper and lower lateral extensions, said carriers being attached between said extensions to said chain and movable thereby, fixed upper and lower anvils respectively located at close spacing relative to at least the upper extension, upper and lower carrier rails respectively attached to the outsides of the extensions, fixed upper rollers engageable by the upper rails, and resiliently mounted lower rollers engageable by the lower rails.

5. Intermittent-motion apparatus comprising an intermittently movable chain, carriers having upper and lower horizontal flanges, said carriers being attached between said flanges to said chain and movable thereby to and from dwell positions in which in addition to gravity work ing forces transverse to the chain may be applied to the carriers, fixed upper and lower anvil rails respectively located at close spacing near each flange, beveled upper and lower carrier rails respectively attached to the outsides of the flanges, fixed upper rollers having angled axes and wedgingly engageable by the beveled upper rails, lower rollers having angled axes and wedgingly engageable by the beveled lower rails, a movable support for said lower rollers, and resilient means biasing said movable support in a direction adapted to maintain said wedging engagements against gravitational forces on the carriers but to move against the bias in response to said additional working forces applied to the carriers, whereby the carriers move into engagement with said anvil rails only under said working forces.

6. Intermittent-motion apparatus comprising a frame having straight sides and corners, horizontally disposed intermittently movable sprockets at said corners, a horizontally disposed chain carried by said sprockets, carriers attached to the chain, each carrier having upper and lower horizontal inwardly directed flanges, said carriers being attached between their respective flanges to said chain, upper and lower anvil rails attached along the straight sides only of said frame and located at close spacing within the flanges of said carriers, individual upper and lower carrier rails respectively attached to the outsides of the carriers, fixed upper rollers engageable by said upper rails, lower rollers engageable by said lower rails, movable supporting means for said rollers, and resilient means biasing said movable supporting means in a direction adapted to maintain said engagements against gravitational forces on the carriers but to move against the bias in response to additional forces applied to the carriers, whereby the carriers may move into engagement with said anvil rails.

7. Intermittent-motion apparatus comprising a frame having straight sides and corners, horizontally disposed intermittently movable sprockets at said corners, a horizontally disposed chain carried by said sprockets, carriers attached to the chain, each carrier having upper and lower horizontal inwardly directed supporting means, said carriers being attached to said chain between their respective supporting means, upper and lower anvils attached along the straight sides of said frame and located at close spacing within the supporting means of said carriers, individual upper and lower carrier rails respectively attached to the outsides of the carriers, fixed upper rollers engageable by said upper rails, lower rollers engageable by said lower rails, movable supporting means for said lower rollers, and adjustable resilient means biasing said movable supporting means in a direction adapted to maintain said engagements against gravitational forces on the carriers but to move against the bias in response to additional forces applied to the carriers.

8. Intermittent-motion apparatus comprising a frame having straight sides and corners, horizontally disposed intermittently movable sprockets at said corners, a horizontally disposed chain carried by said sprockets, carriers attached to the chain, each carrier having upper and lower horizontal inwardly directed flanges, said carriers being attached between their respective flanges to said chain, beveled upper and lower anvil rails attached along the straight sides of said frame and located at close spacing Within the flanges of said carriers, beveled individual upper and lower carrier rails respectively attached to the outsides of the carriers, fixed upper rollers having angled axes and wedgingly engageable by said upper rails, lower rollers having angled axes and wedgingly engageable by said lower rails, movable supporting means for said lower rollers, and adjustable resilient means biasing said movable supporting means in a direction adapted to maintain said wedging engagements against gravitational forces on the carriers but to move against the bias in response to additional forces applied to the carriers, whereby the carriers may move into engagement with said anvil rails.

No references cited.

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