US280296A - Metal-screw machine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. F. & A. B. CURTIS. METAL SCREW MACHINE.

No. 280,296. PatentedJune' 26, 1883.

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"METAL SCREW MACHINE.

No. 280,296. l Patented June 26, 1883.

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(ilo Model.) 5 Sheets-.Sheet 3Q F. 8v A. B. CURTIS.

METAL SCREW MAHINE.

Patented June Z6', 1883.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4. F. 8u A.l B. CURTIS. METAL SCREW MACHINE.

Patented June 26, 1883.

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METAL SCREW MAGHINE. I No. 280,296. Y Patented Jlme 26. 1883.

UNiTEn 4STATES PATENT FFICE.

FRANCIS CURTIS ANI) ALIRT CURTIS, OF CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS.

vIVI'ETAL-SC REW IVI'ACHINE.

ASIPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,296, dated June 26` 1883.

` Application filed January Sl, 1883. iNo model.)

machine, as will hereinafter be more fully set.

forth.

In the drawings, Figure I is a plan View of the top of the machine. Fig. Il is an elevationv of one side of the machine, showing a portion of the same. Fig. III is an, elevation of the other side, showing a part thereof. Fig.

` IV is an elevation of one of the ends of 4the machine. of the tool-holders.

are detail views of parts of the mechanism.

Fig. IX is an enlargedlongitudinal section of the chuck-spindle, and Figs. X, XI, XII, and XIII are detail views of the same.

M is the frame of the machine, constructed in any suitable 'Way to afford the required bearings for all of the movable portions of its mechanism. 4

Power is applied through a belt to the pulley m upon spindle J, and from the pulley m. is, through belt o, carried to shaft o, and from thence is, through the gear n, transmitted, through worm n and gear p, to the cam-bearing shaft N.' The pulley my, forms part of or is intimately connected to a gear-wheel, Z, and both are axially intersected by the spindle J. The spindle J, through which the wire is fed,Y and in which it is held to be operated upon by forming-tools, has journals above the lbed of the machine at j j., The spindle J, besides bearing the hubbed gear Z, bears also the gear 7c.

Between the shaft o and spindle J is acounter-shaft, i', supported in bearings from the bed of the machine, and this counter-shaft is `provided with the gears h and g. The gear g is engaged with the constantly-revolving gear Z, and the gear 11 through the intermediate gear, i, with the gear Both gears Z land k are loose upon the spindle J, and are provided upon their inner and opposite faces with clutch-studs Z and 7c.

y Intermediate these gears, and splined to the spindle, is the clutch-wheel f, which is automatically moved to alternately fix one or the other of gears l k to the spindle, and it will be seen that the gearl either directly revolves the spindle, when fast to it, or indirectly, through the countershaft and in a reverse direction, when running loose upon it. f

The spindle J is transversely slotted from `side to side, and in this slot e move, with their holder, and also vibrate on their hinges radially to the axis of the holder, the jaws l/ of feed clamp d. This ismore particularlyillustrated Y,in the enlarged views, Figs. IX and X, show `ing the jaw-holder d sleeved upon the spindle and adapted to be automatically reciprocated thereupon to have the feeding-jaws d move therein. The feeding-jaws d extend inward and meet upon opposite sides of the wire to be fed, and, being each hinged to the holder eccentrically to its longer axis, swing freely in 011e direction, while they firmly clamp an intermediate rod acting to move them in the opposite direction.

Interposed springs el, as shown, cause the clamp ends to oppose each other with a force insufficient'to offer an obstacle to the movement of the jaws over the wire when held by the chuck at the end of the spindle, but enough to causerthe jaws to act instantly when the holder is moved in the direction to feed the wire to the chuck.

' The chuck (shown more fully in the enlarged their outside a j ournalfsurfaee for thechuek inv its bearings from the frame M. The jaw-arms c in their grooves extend beneath a conical sleeve, b, a guide, b, for jaw-moving levers 13", and an adjustable collar, b, which serves as .a fulcrum for levers b, and the varms c receive the hookends of the levers b, which levers are arranged to have their heads above their hooks bear against the near wall of the collar bf, so that when the free ends of levers b in IOO v a line with the outer surface of the spindle are viding a means of returning them to the proper' position when the chuck is opened, the jaws c are provided with transverse grooves c, into which hook ends c of arms c', by means of which both a longitudinal and transverse movement is permitted the jaws. The collar b is made to screw upon the outside of the spindle,

so that its position may be adjusted relatively to the-heads of the levers bf, to cause, by. a greater or less interval between the two surfaces, more or less movement to the jaws. The levers b are guided in their rise or fall by slots in part b, and springs b* bear against them from the outside to bring their free ends against the spindle, and so return the arms c to open the jaws c. rIhe springs b* are received in a counterbore in the ends ofscrews b5, and by running in the screws the pressure upon the levers b may be increased, while-one may be quickly replaced by removing the screw holding it. The jaws c are provided with anges c5, overlapping theslots vin the head of the chuck in which-they move, as seen in Fig. XIII, by means of which they are prevented from falling when not supported by the stock within the chuck.

The worm n, through worm-wheel p, rotates shaft N, extending from end to end of the frame M, and upon shaft N are all of the cams governing the automatic operations upon the wire from the moment of its introduction to the rotary spindle J until the iinished screw is deposited. As seen in Figs. I and II, cam E, through hinged lever E,`moves clutch-collar f to make either gear Zor k fast with the spindle. Cam B, through lever B', moves the clamp` d to feed the wire, and cam A, through lever A,-moves the cone-sleeve b to close or release the chuck.

The main tool-holder H is constructed as follows: Two disks or segments of disks, H

H, are secured to a shaft, H, parallel to the spindle J, and supported inl bearings 2 2 from the bed or frame o'f the machine. These disks are framed together and fixed to the shaft H,

' and in corresponding holes therethrough, and

other convenient means of engagement with a swinging'lever, C, adapted totbe' caught. by said lever only when opposite the spindle, and has a coil-spring to return it whenreleased from said lever.

In practice the collars Q have an arm guided and `supported between `rodsv Q, extending from end to end of the holder, which serve not only to steady them, but to keep in one position forked ends adapted to move over a stud upon the end of lever C, as shown in Fig. I. AThe shaft H is prolonged outside of the frame M, and is provided with a pinion, G, and upon the extreme end has also apulley, I. The pinion G engages with an upright rack, G, guided in theframc, and having its lower end resting upon the perimeter. of cam-wheel D, so that, being lifted by said cam-wheel, it revolves theholder H, through the pinion G, to a degree determined by the cam.

Attached to and extending over the pulleyV P is apbelt, Pv, connected at its lower end to a coil-spring, P, attached in its turn atene end to a fixed point ofthe machine, so that when the rack andpinion are released by the cam D the pulley is revolved to lower the rack and` return the holder H. The cam-wheel D is so formed, as shown in Fig. IV, as to successively bring each tool-stem into line with the axis of `the spindle J, and afterward to permit the pulley P and its connections to quickly return the holder H to its starting-point.

Vithout a departure from the spirit of this invention the peculiarly constructed and arranged tool-holder H may be returned by a cam and rack acting upon a duplicate pinion, or in any equivalent manner. One of the ends or disks of the holder H is provided upon its perimeter with a series of notches, a,

ated by the lever .to release the holder to permit its revolvingV movement.

. In Fig. I the bolt a is shown pressed forward by its spring c in the direction of the notches a in the front disk, H, of the holder, `and engaging, by means of a stud, lr,.with the link r', secured to le'ver C. The stud is re- ;eeived in an elongated slot in link, o, adapted to permit the link to reciprocate with the stem-moving lever and retract the bolt a to release the holder H only in time for its movement. At other times its spring bears the end of the bolt against the inner face of disk H'to instantly Ashoot .it into a notch, af, when the corresponding tool-stein is in exact position relative tothe. spindle J. v

In Figs. .-I and II are shown the cam C for .moving the tool opposite the spindle, and the ,lever C', having means for engaging with the collars on the tool-stems.

In holder H is rshown the last tool operating. upon the screw, and the mechanism connected TOO IIO

therewith. This is shown more fully in the longitudinal section, Fig. VI. A hollow stem, 3, provided with means to return it from the spindle and to cause it to be engaged with lever C', is formed into a spring-chuck at one end, and provided internally with avspring-plunger, s'. The front end of the plunger is pressed by its spring against. the end of the screw within the spring-chuck, and the rear end projected beyoud the stem s.

A head, R, moving in line with stem s, has a spring plunger-head, t, in a bore thereof, the surrounding wall of said bore being adapted to bear upon the en d of stem s, while the plunger-head tcomes against the projecting plunger s. As the head R moves toward the stem 's from the position seen` in Fig. I, the head first brings the inner end of plunger s" against the screw carried by the spring-chuck, when, being rigidly held, the continued advancement of head R forces the projecting portion of stem s/ into head R', compressing the spring supporting the plunger-h ead t. Finally,

the head R moves the stem s to relax the grip v of the spring-chuck, when the springy under head t causes the plunger s to eject the screw. The spring of the plunger s is only of strength enough to return the plunger s to the posi-l tion shown in Fig. I. The head R is secured to a rod, R', splined or otherwise guided to move without rotation in the frame M, and is connected to an arm, S, from a rock-shaft, S, hung in bearings in the frame, and moved by an arm, S, acted upon by cam-wheel C in its revolution, and, as shown, a spring, S, effects the return of head R when the arm S is released by "cam C.

The nicking-tool T is attached to a vertical shaft journaled in a swinging frame, T, as shown in Figs. Iand III. The frame T furnishes bearings for the horizontal shaft T, having the gears U and U, the gear U engaging with the gear u on the saw-shaft, and the gear U constantly or intermittently engaging with the constantly-revolvingl gear 7L upon the counter-shaft The frame T is hinged at or near one end, at v, tothe bed of the machine, to'move smoothly over the same whenswung, and is swung by cam I, through lever I, hinged centrally to-frame M, tohave its ends bear upon cam I and surface of frame T. of the machine, returns the frame-Twhen re leased by cam I. The gear U may be con-` stantly engaged with gear l1, or may lniesh with it upon the swinging of the 'frame T.-

The cutting-off tool is supported from the.. framevMto reciprocate in a horizontal plane* transversely to the axis of the spindle J and its stem 'w has the spring w to retract it in its bearings. l

Beneaththe stem w, and parallel thereto, is

the stem V, held from rotating; in the bed or frame M, provided upon its outer end withthearm V', and surrounded by a coil-spring inter- A spring, o, from frame Tto the body end of stemV is longitudinally slotted to receive the end of a flat wedge, W, which moves in a vertical plane. The wedge W slides in a guide and support NV', rigid with and pendent from the frame M, and provision is made forits elevation to any desired degree through the bed ofthe machine. The free surface of the wedge, in its upward movement, coming `against one end of the slot instem V, slides the stem-td, ward the spindle, and the arm V, coming against the projecting end of stem iv, 'car-A ries its tool against the screw in the spindlechuck. The wedge W has a stud upon its side in p'osition'to be acted upon by the cam F, and has also a coil-spring, w', attached at one end to the guide-piece XV', which serves towithdraw the wedge and permit the springs of the stems w and V to retract them. This is more particularly shown in the detail, Fig. VII, where one end ofthe slot in stem V is formed of around pin, (seen in this'view in sectiom) machine, as clearly shown in Fig. II, which rack is acted upon by cams on wheel L, and positively revolves the holderK to bring suc- IOO The pinion X rests -upon a rack', a", supported by thebed of the cessive tools in position to be brought by stem V against the stock in the spindle-chuck. The holder K, arranged as shown in Fig. IV, can be formed of two sides framed together to afford bearings for the different tool-stems, which sides may consist of a circle, or` of any part required to seat the desired tools, and to insure sufficient stiffness to the tools thus borne in a IIO holder outside of the frame-support a block,

Y, from the machine-bed presents a surface, y, of configuration corresponding to that of the tool-holders of the stems in- `holder K, so that when the tool is operating it is rigidly supported andall jumping or chatteringisavoided. This is shown inFigs. I and Il.

In the elevation views, Figs, Il, III, and IV, only so much of the machine'is shown 'in' each as is considered necessary to illustrate the invention as a whole.

The consecutive operations of the mechan- Aism above'described in the manufacture of metal screws is as follows: "The stock being in the spindle and thechuck open, cam-wheelB causes a given lengtlrof the wire vto be fed into f position, and cam-wheel A closes the chuck to grip thewire. After thechuck is closed, camwheel C- advances the sliding stem in holder H, and a box-tool on said stem turns down the wire projecting from the chuck. The continued revolution of cam-wheel C returns thc sliding tool-stein into position and simultaneously operates to release the tool-hol der H. TWheny holder H is released, cam-wheel D raises the vertical rack G to revolve the hol der H to bring the next tool or die in position, the die being carried forward in turn to cut the thread.

Then the thread is cut, cam-wheel E throws the clutch-slide j" into the reversing-gear, and when the screw is run out ofthe di e, cam-wheel E throws slide j' back again to give a forward rotation to the 'spindle J, Meanwhile camwheel D turns the holder H to bring the removing-tool upon stem s into alignment with the threaded screw in the spindle. Vhile holder H is taking abovementioned position, the cam-wheel F throws the cutting-off tool into operation. During the advancement ofthe cutting-off tool the removing-tool is brought forward to loosely inclose the screw in its spring-chuck, and as soon as eut off, the action of cam-wheel C retract-s stem s, taking the screw with it, tightens the chuck, and also, by with.- drawing the locking-bolt, permits holder H to be returned to its primary position. At this time the first operation above enumerated. recommences at the spindle, and while camwheel C is moving forward the first box-tool, cam-wheel I swings the nicking-saw past the screw in position to be nieked, and while the first box-tool is still moving forward, the plunger in stem s is brought into operation, as bel'ore described, to eject the completed screw.

To make a thumb-screw, when a box-tool and die may be'sufiicient in holder H, toolholder K holding the headshaping tools, and

being in position to perform the first opera tion upon the head of the screw in the spindle, canrwheel F moves forward the first tool. Then cam-wheel L revolves the holder K to bring the next tool in place'. ln turn this second. tool, which may be\a milling-tool, is advanced. The cam-wheel F, as in case of all of the other cam-wheels, may have adjustable 'cam-blocks t0 govern the movements of as many tools as required, and it requires no more than general skill to adjust these cam-blocks' to the class of screw to be made.

Now, having described our invention, what we claim is- 1. A stock-feeding spindle having a transverse sl ot extendin therethrough, and a sleeve, d, adapted toA be automaticallyr slid upon the spindle over said slot, and carry with it spring feeding-jaws d', hinged thereto to bear upon opposite sides of the stock and vibrate in saids slot, substantially as shown and described.

2. A spindle, J, having a conical cap, c, and slotted jaw-holder, jaws c c, and jaw-arms c c, connected to permit the jaws to move radially as well as parallel tothe axis -of the spindle, levers b, hooked to jaw-arms cf c to swing upon their rear ends or heads, a collar,

b, adjustable upon the spindl e, and having its vertical face form a fulcruni for'the rear ends of levers b, a guide, b, arranged upon the spindle to guide the levers b while vibrating from or toward the axis of the spindle, and provided with springs for depressing the ends of said levers, and a conical sleeve, I), arranged upon the spindle, and means to reciprocate it to vibrate the levers b, as shown and described.

3. The combination of spindle J, cap c, and slotted jaw-holder with jaws c and arms c', connected thereto, bearing b, adjustable upon the spindle, levers b, arranged to have one end bear against collar b, their other in path of cone-sleeve b, and hooked to jaw-arms c at a point intermediate their ends, lever-guide b, springs Z1 and their adjustable holders b5, and cone-sleeve b, with means for reciprocating it, all arranged to operate as and for'the'purpose set forth.

4. yThe tool holder H, consisting of the pieces H H, framed together and to a journaled axis, H, two or more tool-stems seated in the ends H H, provided with. retractingsprings, and means, as Q, for engaging with a vibrating lever when in line with the spindle, and a spring-actuatedlocking-bolt, a, adapted to lock the holder as each tool comes in position and release it after the tool has been withdrawn, substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination, with the oscillating holder H, having sockets a, arranged in the end H, in number and position relative to the tool-stems, as shown, the spring-bolt a', in bearings in the frame M, and the slotted link r, connected to the bolt a and to the tool-driving arm or lever, and adapted to engage with the bolt during the backward movement of the lever. y

6. The combination, with a spring chuck adapted to reciprocate in a tool-holder, and having a spring-plunger with a rearward-projectingend, of a head, R, splined to the frame M, having an elastic surface opposite the plunger, inclosed by a rigid surface opposite the stem of the collet, and automatically reciprocated to come against both to release the screw from the spring-chuck and eject it, substantially as shown and described.

7. The combination of rock-shaft S, having arm S, with means for rocking it, and arm S, head R, having stem R, engaged with arm S, and having in its face the elastic bearing t, and the spring-chuck having the projecting plungerstem s, all arranged to operate substantially as shown and described.

. S. Aframe, T', resting on the bed of themachine, and hinged at one end thereto, two geared shafts hung inv said frame at right angles to each other, one provided with a nicking-saw, T, andthe other with a gear near the frame-hinge, engaged with a gear j ournaled to and revolving in the frame M, and means, substantially as shown, to automatically swing the frame T to'and from Ythe screw held in IOO IIO

track of the saw, all combined and arranged substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of frame T', hinged at o, and having saw T and driving-shaft T", and .5 gears u, U, and U', spring n', lever I', and cam I, all arranged to operate in the manner and for the purpose set forth. n 10. A stem, V, arranged in the frame M to reciprocate therein Without rotating, and to eX- Io tend beyond the outside of the frame,and provided with an arin upon its outer end, and with a retracting spring, a tool stem supported Without the frame M, and adapted to reciprocate atright angles to the spindle and have its 15 outer end in contact with the arm, a Wedge supported by and free to slide inthe frame M, having one end passing through a` vertical slot in stern V, and mechanism, `substantially as shown,for automatically reciprocating the slid- 2o ing Wedge, combined/and operating substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

11. A pinion, X', a pinion-shaft, X, in bearings in the frame M, at right angles to the axis of the spindle, a tool-stem support, K, securedy to shaft X, and seating tool-stems at a radial distance from shaft X equal to the distance of the axis of the spindle therefrom, a rack, w, to

holder K. 1

FRANCIS CURTIS. ALBERT B. CURTIS. Witnesses:

R. F. HYDE,

WM. H. CHAPIN.

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