US2829477A - Automatic racking apparatus - Google Patents

Automatic racking apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US2829477A
US2829477A US418510A US41851054A US2829477A US 2829477 A US2829477 A US 2829477A US 418510 A US418510 A US 418510A US 41851054 A US41851054 A US 41851054A US 2829477 A US2829477 A US 2829477A
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racks
rack
bars
cam
cams
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US418510A
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John L Folly
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RCA Corp
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RCA Corp
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J19/00—Details of vacuum tubes of the types covered by group H01J21/00
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J2893/00—Discharge tubes and lamps
    • H01J2893/0001—Electrodes and electrode systems suitable for discharge tubes or lamps
    • H01J2893/0012—Constructional arrangements
    • H01J2893/0026—Machines for manufacture of grids or anodes

Definitions

  • Another object of this invention is to eliminate the manual separation and incident mutilation of such parts by making the parts individually accessible.
  • Still another problem results from random reception of parts in that it is ⁇ diiiicult to obtain a representative sample of the parts produced by the parts making machine over a period of time due to the intermingling of the parts with each other. Accurate and efficient quality control over the machine is thus frustrated.
  • lt is a further object of this invention to provide a means for automatically stopping the parts making machine if the parts do not conform to certain maximum tolerances.
  • @ne form of apparatus embodying this invention includes a source of parts or Workpieces, which may be the ejecting portion of a coil winding machine; a reservoir of workpiece receiving means such as racks; means for moving ,the workpiece receiving means under the source ot workpieces; a tunneling means ⁇ between the source of workpieces and the workpiece receiving means to guide the workpieces to a predetermined position on the workpiece receiving means, and means for collecting and storing a plurality of workpiece receiving means after they have received their portion of workpieces.
  • the workpiece receiving ⁇ means may take the form of racks having recesses formed in their upper surfaces of slightly llarger size than the workpiece to be received.
  • the lower surface of the racks may have gear teeth formed therein to allow them to be moved in a longitudinal direction by a co-acting gear wheel.
  • the reservoir of workpiece receiving means may be a magazine containing the above described racks one on top of the other.
  • the bottom rack being free to move longitudinally out of the magazine and out from under the other racks.
  • the means for moving the racks may be one or more gear wheels positioned so as to engage the gear teeth in the lower surfaces of the racks and being in working contact with the bottom bar in the above described magazine.
  • the drive gear is caused to rotate by power derived from the coil winding machine aforementioned, thus giving a longitudinal motion to the bottom rack.
  • the bottom rack moves along a bed and between guides thereon which orient it with the ejecting portion of the coil Winding machine causing each of the recesses ⁇ in the upper surface of the racks to be brought directly under such ejection portion in succession.
  • the tunneling means may take the form of a drop tube having a tapered bore and positioned to receive Workpieces from the coil winding machine at the enlarged portion of the bore and discharge them into the recesses in the racks from the restricted portion of the bore.
  • the racks continue to move longitudinally down the bed after receiving a full load of workpieces until they come to the collecting and storing means.
  • the collecting and storing means may comprise cams which are powered by the motion of the racks themselves. The cams cause the racks to be ejected laterally ott the bed and onto a ⁇ rack receiving means such as a tray, each successive rack completing the ejection of the rack immediately ⁇ preceding it.
  • Fig. l is a view in elevation of an apparatus embodying this invention, for automatically receiving the output of a filament coil Winding machine.
  • Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. l, with certain of the parts omitted.
  • Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the drive and loading portions of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
  • Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the ejecting and storing portion of the apparatus shownin Figs. l and 2.
  • Fig. 5 is a view, partly in section, of an end portion of one of the racks used in this embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of one of the workpieces to be received by the apparatus of this embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the drop tube for guiding.
  • Fig. 8 is a view taken along line 8--5 of Fig. 3 of the drive mechanism ofthe apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
  • Fig. 9 is a View taken along line 9--9 of Fig. 1 showing guide'members in contact with a rack after the rack has received workpieces.
  • the embodiment of the invention that hasbeen chosen for illustration is apparatus adapted to receive the output or a double-helical iiiarnentcoil winding machine 11.
  • the coil winding machine 11 operates as follows: A reel 13 of tungsten wire (e. g. .003 inch in diameter, for example) is mounted in operative relation to the coil winding machine 1l. Wire 15 from the coil is threaded through a wire holding device 17 which maintains a constant pressure on the wire 15, a short piece of the wire projecting beyond the wire holding device 17. A pincher arm 19, movably positioned opposite the wire holding device 17, is caused to move toward the wire holding device 17 and grasp the short piece of wire projecting therefrom.
  • a pincher arm 19 movably positioned opposite the wire holding device 17 is caused to move toward the wire holding device 17 and grasp the short piece of wire projecting therefrom.
  • the pincher arm 19 then moves back to its original position pulling a length of wire 21 through the wire holding device 17.
  • a coil winding die 23 is located immediately under-the path of pincher arm 19 so that the length of wire 2l is trailed across it by the pincher arm 19.
  • a wire cutting device adjacent to the wire holding device 17 cuts ott the length of wire as soon as the pincher arm 19 has reached the extent of its travel and the length of wire 21 falls across the coil winding die 23.
  • a coil winding mandrel 25 positioned directly over the coil winding die 23 forces the length of wire 21 through the coil winding die 23 as the pincher arm 19 releases it.
  • the wire is formed into a double helical coil with axially extending rectilinear legs and drops free of the bottom of the coil winding die 23.
  • the apparatus of this embodiment of the invention is designed to receive each of such coils as it drops free of the coil winding die 23 and place them in spaced array with respect to each other. Brietly this is accomplished by automatically receiving each of the coils in a separate recess in racks containing a plurality of such recesses.
  • this apparatus provides a magazine 27 for holding a plurality of racks 29 having coil receiving recesses in their upper surfaces and gear teeth 31 in their lower surfaces.
  • Two gear wheels 33 and 35 are provided to drive the racks 29 longitudinally along a bed 37 and under the coil winding die 23.
  • a drop tube 39 is positioned between the coil winding die 23 and the racks 29 as they travel along the bed 37. The drop tube 39 is adapted to receive the coils as they drop free of the coil winding die 23 and direct them into recesses in the racks 29.
  • the racks 29 continue their longitudinal travel until they reach the end portion of the bed 38 where two cams 41 and 43 are caused to turn by the longitudinal motion of the racks 29 forcing the racks laterally off the end portion of the bed 37 and onto a tray 45 capable of holding a plurality of racks 29.
  • the workpiece to be received by the apparatus illustrated is a double helical ilament coil 47.
  • the coil 47 consists of a coiled end portion 49 and another end portion comprising two rectilinear legs 51 or leads.
  • the coil is produced from a single length of wire 21. (e. g. tungsten for example) by a coil winding machine 11 and is ejected from the machine vertically anna-477 with its coiled end portion 49 at the bottom.
  • the coil is ejected downward from the coil winding die 23 of the coil winding machine 11.
  • the racks 29 comprise an elongated 1oar 53 composed of a rust proof material (e. g. linemized Bakelite, for example).
  • Regularly spaced recesses 55 may be drilled in the upper surface of the bar 53.
  • the recesses 55 are slightly larger in diameter than the coils 47 to be received and may be countersunk at 57 to provide easy entrance for the coils 47.
  • the depth of the recesses 55 is sutlicient to accommodate the entire coiled end portions 49 of the coils 47. But the rectilinear legs 51 of the coils 47 will project out of the recesses 55 thus providing for easy removal of the coils 47 from the recesses 55 by gripping the projecting legs 51.
  • the lower surface of the bar 53 is provided with gear i teeth 31 adapted to mesh with a gear wheel to impart longitudinal motion to the bar 53.
  • the magazine A magazine 27 is provided for holding a pluralityof horizontally oriented racks in vertically extending array.
  • the magazine 27 consists of metallic strips 59 welded together to form a latticed channel capable of holding the plurality of racks 29 one on top of the other with their gear teeth 31 extending downward.
  • the upper end of the magazine 27 is open to allow the introduction of additional racks 29 as needed.
  • the lower end of the magazine 27 is partially closed by a bed portion 61.
  • a gear wheel 33 with which the gear teeth 31 of the bottom rack 63 are meshed, closes the remainder of the lower end.
  • An opening 65 is provided in the magazine 27 adjacent one end of the bottom rack 63 to allow the bottom rack to move longitudinally out of the magazine 27 and out from under the remainder of the racks 29 in the magazine 27.
  • the magazine 27 is provided with an electric switch 67 which will automatically shut oit the apparatus when only one rack is left in the magazine 27.
  • the drive mechanism The racks 29 are moved out of the magazine 27 and along the bed 37 by two gear wheels 33 and 35.
  • one of the gear wheels 33 closes a portion of the lower end of the magazine 27 thus being in working contact with the bottom rack 63 in the magazine 27.
  • the other gear wheel 3S is adjacent the coil winding machine 11, axially parallel with the rst gear wheel 33 and positioned to engage the gear teeth of the racks 29 as they move along the bed 37.
  • the two gear wheels 33 and 35 are mechanically connected to rotate in unison by a chain system.
  • the gear wheels 33 and 35 are caused to rotate by power derived from the coil winding machine 11.
  • One end of a turnbuckle 69 is mechanically connected to the pincher arm 19 driving member of thc coil winding machine 11.
  • the other end of the turnbuckle 69 is mechanically connected to a pawl 71 and ratchet wheel 73 device, the ratchet wheel 73 being disposed in an axially vertical position.
  • the axle 75 of the ratchet wheel 73 serves as the axle of a trst bevel gear 77. Thus any rotation of the ratchet wheel 73 is transmitted directly to the bevel gear 77.
  • a second bevel gear 79 meshed with the first bevel gear 77, is caused to rotate.
  • the axle 81 of the second bevel gear 79 serves also as the axle 81 of the gear wheel 35 adjacent the coil winding machine 11 and the chain sprocket 83 associated therewith.
  • a chain 85 connecting the chain sprocket 83 associated with the gear wheel 35 adjacent the coil winding machine 11 and the chain sprocket 87 associated with the gear wheel 33 under the magazine 27 causes both gear wheels 33 and 35 to rotate in unison and in accordance with the movements of the pincher arm 19 ofthe coil winding machine 11.
  • the ratchet wheel 73, andthe bevel gears 77 and 79 are adapted to transform each completed movement of the pincher arm 19 of the coil winding machine 11 into rotary movement sullicient to cause the gear wheels 33 and 35 to move the racks 29 a distance equal to the distance 89 between the centers of the recesses 55 in the racks 29.
  • the racks 29 are only in working contact with the-gear wheels 33 and 35 at the beginning of their travels being moved along the bed 37 after losing contact with the gear wheels 33 and 35 by end to end contact between succeeding racks 29, one of such succeeding racks being in working contact with the gear wheels 33 and 35.
  • the bed 37 comprises a flat metal surface interrupted to allow the gear teeth 91 of the two gear wheels 33 and 35 to project through it and engage the gear teeth 31 of the racks 29.
  • the bed 37 has mounted thereon a plurality of roller guides for contacting the sides and top of the racks 29 ⁇ as they pass along the bed 37, thus guiding them in apredetermined path.
  • the roller guides take the various forms of stationary vertical roller guides 93, spring loaded vertical roller guides 95, horizontal roller guides 97, and horizontal channel-roller guides 99.
  • the stationary vertical roller guides 93 are cylinders having their axes vertically disposed and xedly positioned in rolling contact with the sides of the racks 29 as they pass. Most of the stationary vertical roller guides 93 are positioned in pairs to contact opposite sides of the racks 29 at variouspoints along the bed 37. However, at points adjacent to the coil winding machine 11 stationary vertical roller guides 93 are positioned along the side of the bed 37 opposite the coil winding machine and spring loaded vertical roller guides 95 are positioned opposite the stationary vertical roller guides 93 along the side of the bed 37 adjacent to the coil winding machine.
  • the springs 96 of the spring loaded vertical roller guides 95 cause the spring loaded vertical roller guides 95 to bear against the side of the rack passing therebetween, thus forcing the rack iirmly against the stationary vertical roller guide 93 and insuring accurate alignment of the recesses in the racl; with the drop tube 39.
  • the horizontal roller guides 97 are cylinders having their axes horizontally disposed and are positioned to make rolling contact with the upper surfaces of the racks 29.
  • Springs 9S are included in the mounting of the horizontal roller guides 97' to cause them to bear downward on the racks as they pass thereunder.
  • the horizontal channel-roller guides 99 are spool-like rollers mounted with their axes horizontally disposed. zontal roller guides 97.
  • the width of the channel 101 in the horizontal channel-roller guides 99 is slightly greater than the diameter of the recesses 55 in the racks 29.
  • the horizontal channel-roller guides 99 are positioned by 'l'hey are spring loaded as are the horii spacers 100 so that the flanges 102 of theguides 99 cont
  • the drop tube 39 is positioned in operative contact with the coil winding die 23 of the coil winding machine and fixedly positioned over the path of the racks 29 along the bed 31 by a metallic support 1013.
  • the drop tube comprises two telescoping tubes 105, 107, having their axes vertically disposed.
  • the inner tube 105 of the two being rigidly positioned over the bed 37 by a metallic support 103 so that its lower end is immediately over the racks 29 as they move along the bed 37.
  • the inner tube 105 is of metallic composition and has a tapered bore 111, the restricted portion of the bore 111 being at the lower end of the inner tube 105.
  • An aperture 113 is formed in the wall of the lower end portion of the inner tube 105, opening in the direction of travel of the racks 29, to allow the rectilinear legs 51 of the coils 47 to pass out of the inner tube 105 when the rack 27 is moved.
  • the second tube 107 movably surrounds the upper end portion of the inner tube 105 and comprises an electrically insulating tube 107 having a metallic upper end 109.
  • a helical spring 115 surrounds the inner tube, one end resting on the metallic support 103 and the other bearing on the lower end of the insulating tube 107 tending to cause the metallic end thereof 109 to project beyond the upper end of the inner tube 105.
  • the metallic upper end 109 of the second tube 107 is in physical contact with the lower surface of the coil winding die 23 of the coil winding machine 11, such contact being firmly maintained by the pressure ofthe helical spring 115 against the second tube 107.
  • the metallic upper end 109 ⁇ of the second tube 107 has a larger tapered bore 117 than the tapered bore 111 of the inner tube 105.
  • the inner tube 105 and the metallic upper end 109 of the second tube 107 are electrically insulated from each other by the second tube 107.
  • the metallic upper end 109 of the second tube 107 is provided with an electrical terminal 119 to which may be attached one lead of an electrical device for shutting off the apparatus.
  • the other lead of the device for shutting off the apparatus being effectively connected to the inner tube 105.
  • the rack collecting and storing mechanism The longitudinal motion of the racks 29 continues after they have received coils 47 from the drop tube 39 and until they reach the end portion of the bed 38.
  • Two cams 41 and 43 positioned along the path of the racks on the end portion o f the bed 38 are actuated by the longitudinal movement of the racks 29 transmuting it into lateral movement of the racks.
  • the racks 29 are caused to move laterally olf the end portion of the bed 3S and away from the cams 41 and 43, onto a tray 45 capable of holding a plurality of the racks in horizontally extending array.
  • the cams are mounted on the end portion of the bed 33 on a vertical axis and free to rotate in a horizontal plane parallel to the bed.
  • the cams 41 and 43 are mechanically connected together by a chain and sprocket system (shown at 121 in Fig. l) so that they will rotate synchronously when ⁇ either cam 41 or 43 is actuated.
  • the cams 41 and 43 are shown in solid lines in the position they assume upon collection of a lirst rack 123 shown in dotted lines.
  • a :second ⁇ rack 125 is shown as it comesinto Contact with the first cam
  • the first cam 41 has two identical lobes disposed 180" ⁇ from each other about the axis of the cam 41, each lobe having two active surfaces 127 and 129.
  • the receiving surfaces 127r are arcs of a circle designed so that the end of the rack 125 will be tangential at various points therein throughout the rotation of the cam 41, thus preventing any appreciable lateral motion from being transmitted to the rack 125 by the receiving surface 127 of the cam 41.
  • the transmitting surfaces 129 of the lobes of the irst cam 41 are arcs of a circle designed so that the side of the first rack 123 will be tangential at various points therein throughout the rotation of the cam 41.
  • lateral movement is transmitted to the rst rack 123 with a minimum of longitudinal movement.
  • the second rack 125 moves longitudinally after coming into contact with the lirst cam 41 rotating it to the position shown by the dotted lines.
  • the second cam 43 is rotated synchronously with the iirst cam 41, by the chain and sprocket system 121, assuming the new position indicated by dotted lines, the second rack 125 continuing to move longitudinally until it comes into contact therewith.
  • the second cam 43 has two identical lobes disposed 180 from each other about the axis of the cam 43 each lobe having two active surfaces 131 and 133.
  • the receiving surfaces 131 of the lobe of the second cam 43 are rectilinear and parallel to provide a clearance gap in the second cam 43 to accommodate the rack 1.25 during the rotation of the cam 43.
  • the transmitting surfaces 133 of the lobes of the second cam 43 are cornposed of arcs of two circles having different radii. The arcs are combined to form a continuous surface such that lateral movement may be transmitted to a rack, during the rotation of the cam 43 through a large arc, with a minimum of longitudinal movement of the rack.
  • the side of the rack to which lateral movement is being imparted is tangential to the transmitting surface 133 of the second cam 43 throughout the rotation of the second cam 43.
  • the second rack 125 moves longitudinally after coming into contact with the receiving surface 131 of the second cam 43, rotating it to the position shown by solid lines. lt should be noted that due to the identical form of the two lobes of each cam only 180 of rotation is necessary to return the cams 41 and 43 to the positions indicated by the solid lines, although the lobes of the cams are reversed thereby.
  • the first cam 41 rotates synchronously with the rotation of the second cam 43 as induced ⁇ by the second rack 125.
  • the second rack 125 is caused to move laterally by the rotation of both cams 41 and 43 until it assumes the position heretofore occupied by the lirst rack 123 (as shown by the dotted lines) pushing the iirst rack 123 laterally further onto the tray 45.
  • the tray 45 has three walls 135 which are high enough to extend Ibeyond the ends of the projecting legs 51 of the coils in the racks 29. A portion of the wall adjacent to the second cam 43 is cut away, a switch arm 137 taking the place of such side portion.
  • the switch arm 137 is pivoted at 139 and spring loaded to remain in position unless one of the racks 29 should miss or be delected away from the cams 41 and 43 and continue to move longitudinally.
  • a rack, so deflected will come into contact with the switch arm 137 and force it against a safety switch 141 positioned immediately adjacent thereto.
  • the safety switch 141 is adapted to turn off the apparatus when the switch arm 137 comes into contact with it. When the deflected raclt is removed, the switch arm 137 will return to its normal position and the apparatus may be started again.
  • An aperture 143 is formed in the wall of the tray 45 opposite the open side of the tray adjacent to the bed 37.
  • a micro-switch 145 is positioned to project through* the aperture 143.
  • the iilled tray 45 may then be removed, thus releasing the micro-switch 145, an empty tray put in its place and the apparatus re-started.
  • the tray 45 has handles aiiixed to the two opposite walls 135 thereof, serving both to facilitate handling of the tray 45 and to allow a plurality of such trays to be stacked on top of each other without danger of slippage between contiguous trays.
  • the operation of the apparatus of this embodiment of the invention may be best understood by tracing the racks 29 through the apparatus.
  • a plurality of the racks .29 are placed into the magazine 27 which will be empty except for one rack which is left in the magazine 27 due to the action of the magazine switch 67.
  • Other racks will be in end to end Contact along the bed.
  • the pincher arm 19 will travel to the wire holding device 17 and grasp the wire projecting therefrom.
  • the motion of the pincher arm 19 will be transmitted by the turnbuckle 69 to the pawl 71 causing it to slip over and engage another tooth on the ratchet wheel 73.
  • the racks 27 then remain a-t rest while the coil winding mandrel 25 forces the length of wire 21 through the coil winding die 23 forming a coil 47 which drops into the drop tube 39.
  • the drop tube 39 guides the coil 47 into the empty recess which is now located directly thereunder.
  • the spring loaded vertical guide rollers maintain the positioning of the racks while the coil is being dropped into each empty recess as Ithey are brought under the drop tube 39.
  • the pincher arm 19 again travels over to grasp the projecting Wire and the process is repeated bringing another empty recess under the drop tubes 39.
  • the above described intermittent motion of the racks 29 continues, pulling the rack left in the magazine 27 out from under the racks placed on top of it and allowing the bottom one of such racks to take its place.
  • the horizontal guide rollers 97 and the horizontal channel guide rollers 99 prevent the racks 29 from buckling against each other as they push or are pushed by other racks 29 along the bed 37.
  • the rack that was on the portion of the bed 38 adjacent to the rack collecting and storing mechanism is brought into 'contact with the first cam 41 causing it to rotate, such rotation being transmitted to the second learn 43 by the chain and sprocket system 121 connecting the two and pushing any preceding racks into the tray 45.
  • the rack 125 continues to move, after rotating the first cam 41 to a position where it no longer receives rotation from the rack 125, and comes into contact with the second cam 43 causing it to rotate.
  • the lrotation of the second cam 43 is transmitted back to the first cam 41 which is forced against the rack 125, moving it laterally unltil it loses contact with the end of the rack succeeding it.
  • the succeeding rack then repeats the travel that has just been described with respect to the rack preceding it, the preceding rack being pushed into the tray 45 thereby.
  • the micro-switch 145 associated with the tray 45 will be depressed and the apparatus shut off.
  • the apparatus will also be shut off by the magazine switch 67 if the number of racks 29 in the magazine 27 is reduced to one.
  • Apparatus for automatically racking Icoiled structures comprising amcoil winding machine, a plurality of elongated coil receiving racks, a magazine for containing said racks, means for moving said plurality of coil receiving racks longitudinally along apredetermined path from said magazine -and into operative relation with said coil winding machine, means for collecting said coil receiving racks after said ra'cks have received coils comprising two cams spaced from each other along said path and actuated solely by said motion of said racks,and means for actuating said moving means in timed relation to the operation of said coil winding machine,
  • ⁇ Apparatus for receiving workpieces comprising a plurality of elongated workpiece receiving means, means for moving each of said workpiece receiving means longitudinally in a predetermined path, and means for collecting said workpiece receiving means icomprising two deiecting ⁇ members spaced fromeach other along said path and actuated to deflect said workpiece receiving means solely by the longitudinal motion of said workpiece receiving means.
  • Apparatus for receiving articles comprising a plurality of article receiving means, said article receiving means comprising bars having recesses in one surface thereof for accommodating said articles, another surface of said bars being adapted 'to receive motivation for said bars; means for applying motive power to said other surface of said bars for moving said bars in a predetermined path; and means for collecting said bars at the end of said path, said means for collecting said bars comprising two cams spaced from each other along said path and actuated solely by said motion of said bars.
  • Apparatus for receiving articles comprising a plu- 10 rality of bars each having recesses in one side surface thereof for accommodating said articles and gear teeth in the opposite side surface thereof for receiving motivation for said bars; a reservoir containing said plurality of bars with said gear teeth extending downward; means including a gear wheel for engaging said gear teeth and applying said motivation to each of said plurality of bars in succession for moving said bars in a predetermined path from said reservoir in end-to-end relationship; and means for collecting said bars after they have received articles, said means for collecting said bars comprising two cams spaced from each other along said path and actuated solely by said motion of said bars.
  • Apparatus ⁇ for receiving workpieces comprising: a plurality of bars each having recesses in one side ⁇ surface for accommodating said workpieces and gear teeth in the opposite side surface; a magazine containing said bars, with said gear teeth extending downward, in vertically extending array, said magazine being adapted to allow the bottom one of said bars of said vertically extending array to move longitudinally; a gear Wheel engaging said gear teeth in said lower surface of said bottom one of said bars in said vertically extending array; means for rotating said gear wheel to move ⁇ said bottom one of said bars of said vertically extending array longitudinally out from under the other said bars in said vertically extending array; means for guiding said bars in a predetermined path in end-to-end relationship; and means for collecting said bars after they have traversed said predetermined path, said means for collecting said bars comprising two cams spaced from each other along said path and actuated solely by said motion of said bars.
  • Apparatus for automatically receiving workpieces comprising: a plurality of bars each having recesses in one side surface for accommodating said workpieces and gear teeth in the opposite side surfaces; a magazine containing said bars, with said gear teeth extending downward and in vertically extending array, said magazine being adapted to allow the bottom bar of said vertically extendingarray to move longitudinally out from under said vertically extending array, another of said bars taking the place of said bottom bar; agear wheel positioned to engage said gear teeth in said lower surfaces of the bottom bar of said vertically extending array; means for rotating said gear wheel to move the bottom bar of said vertically extending 4array longitudinally in a predetermined path in end to end relationship with ⁇ previous bottom bars whereby said previous bottom bars are moved in said path; and means ⁇ for collecting said bars after they have traversed said pathcomprising two cams spaced from each other along said path actuated solely by said motion of said bars.
  • Apparatus for automatically receiving workpieces comprising: a plurality of bars each having regularly spaced recesses in one side surface for accommodating said workpieces and gear teeth in the ⁇ opposite side surface; a magazine containing said bars with said gear teeth extending downward and in vertically extending array, said magazine being adapted to allow the bottom bar of said ⁇ verticallyextending array to move longitudinally out from under said vertically extending array, another of said bars taking the place of said bottom bar; a gear Wheel positioned to engage said gear teeth in the bottom bar of said vertically extending array; means for intermittently rotating said gear wheel to impart intermittent longitudinal motion to the bottom bar of said vertically exending ⁇ array, said longitudinal motion occurring in in crements equal to the distance between said regularly recurring recesses in said side surface of said bars; means for guiding said bars in a predetermined path in end to end relationship; and means for collecting said bars after they have traversed said path, said means for collecting said bars comprising two cams spaced from each other along said path and actuated solely by said longitudinal motion
  • Apparatus' for automatically receiving workpieces comprising: a plurality of bars each having regularly spaced recesses in one side surface for accommodating said workpieces and gear teeth in the opposite side surface; a magazinewcontaining said bars, with said gear teeth extending downward, in vertically extending array; said magazine being adapted to allow the bottom bar of said vertically extending array to move longitudinally out from under said vertically extending array, another of said bars taking the place of said bottom bar; a gear wheel positioned to engage said gear teeth in the bottom bar of said-vertically extending array; means for intermittently rotating said gear to impart intermittent longitudinal motion to' the bottom bar of said vertically extending 'array, said longiudinal motion-occurring in increments equal to the'distance between said regularly recurringV recesses in said surface of said bars; means for guidingsaid bars in a predetermined path in end-to-end relationship; means for collectingy said bars after they have traversed said path, said means'tor collecting said bars being actuated solely by
  • Apparatus for receiving workpieces comprising: a plurality of workpiece receiving means; means for moving each of said plurality ofworkpiece receiving means longi tudinally along a predetermined path; and means for collecting each of said plurality of workpiece receiving means, said means for collectingV said workpiece receiving'means comprising two cams rotatably mounted along said predetermined path, said'cams being spaced from each other a distance less than the length of said workpiece receiving means and being mechanically connected to rotate in unison, each of said plurality of workpiece receiving means coming into contact with each ofvsaid twocam wheels in turn imparting rotation to both of said cam wheels, said rotation of said cams imparting lateral movement to each of said plurality workpiece receiving means; and a tray for receiving each of said plurality of workpiece receiving means as they are moved laterally by said cam wheels, said means for collecting said work- ⁇ piece receiving means being actuated solely by said motion of said workpiece receiving means.
  • a racking means includes at least two elongated racks movable longitudinally
  • the improvement comprising a collecting means for successively collecting said racks, said collecting means including a track for-said racks, two cams spaced from each other along said track, ⁇ said cams being mounted for synchronous rotation in angles normal to saidtrack, each of said cams having two identical lobes disposed oppositely of each other about theaxis of said cams, each of said lobes of each of said cams CII having 'a surface adapted tov receive motion Afrom Vsaid racks when said racks are moved longitudinally along said track and another surface adapted to impart motion to said racks at a right angle to said longitudinal motion of said racks, said cams being oriented with'respect to each other such that when one of said cams is receiving motion the other of said cams is imparting motion, said cams being actuated solely by said longitudinal motion of said racks.
  • Apparatus for receiving workpieces comprising at least two elongated racks movable in a longitudinal direction along a track and means for successively collecting said racks including a iirst cam and a second cam spaced from each other along said track a distance less than the length of said racks, each of said cams having two identical lobes disposed oppositely from each other about the axis of said cams, said axis of said cams being perpendicular to the surface of said track along which said racks move and being oriented with respect to said track such that said lobes of said cams may project thereover, said cams being mechanically interconnected for synchronous rotation, each of said lobes of said cams having a surface for receiving motion and a surface for imparting motion, said receiving surface of said rst cam comprising an arc of a circle and said surface for imparting motion of said tirst cam comprising an are of a circle, said receiving surface of said second ⁇ cam being rectilinear and

Description

April 8, 1958 J. L. FOLLY v 2,829,477
AUTOMATIC RACKINIG` APPARATUS Filed March 25, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 8,A 1958 .1. L. FoLLY AUTOMATIC RACKTNG APPARATUS Filed March 25 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.
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April 8, 1958 J. l.. FOLLY AUTOMATIC RACKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 25 1954 Jazl IL. Zac/MJL UnitedStates Patent O AUTOMATIC RACKNG APPARATUS John L. Folly, Lancaster, Pa., assigner to Radio Corporation `of America, a corporation of Delaware Application March 25, 1954, Serial No. 418,510
11 Claims. (Cl. 53--16tl) This invention relates to machines for the automatic production of parts and particularly to devices for automatically receiving and holding individual parts in orderly array as they are produced. t
In the mass production of parts, such as coiled wire structures for use in electron tubes for example, it has been a practice to collect the finished parts from a parts making machine in a random fashion and without regard to any particular orientation. Such collection may be accomplished by allowing the finished parts to fall free into a receptacle capable of holding a plurality of such parts. The parts must be removed Vfrom the receptacle and separated from each other before they can be used or subjected to further processing.
Where the finished parts tend to become entangled with each other or are delicate and` easily damaged or both, considerable time is consumed in removing them from the receptacle and separating them from each other. The removal of coiled structures, of the type referredito, from a common receptacle is a delicate operation which must be done by hand. Such structures include a coiled end portion and another end portion comprising rectilinear legs. The leg end portions tend to become entangled with the coiled end portion of other coiled structures and the coiled end portions tend to become entangled with each other. Such entanglement requires care and skill in separating the coiled structures without deforming or mutilating them.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention toprovide a means for receiving parts in spaced relation to each other, thus preventing entanglement of such parts.
Another object of this invention is to eliminate the manual separation and incident mutilation of such parts by making the parts individually accessible.
Another problem inherent in the random reception of parts from a parts making machine as described above is that further automatic handling of the parts cannot be effected without some manual preparatory operation.
Accordingly, it is a further object of this invention to provide for the uniform orientation of parts as they are received from the parts making machine to facilitate further automatic handling.
An additional problem arises from the fact that parts received in a common receptacle are unprotected from damage which might result from contact with each other or from accidental contact of other kinds.
Therefore, it is another object of this invention to provide apparatus for receiving and storing parts in individually protected array.
Still another problem results from random reception of parts in that it is `diiiicult to obtain a representative sample of the parts produced by the parts making machine over a period of time due to the intermingling of the parts with each other. Accurate and efficient quality control over the machine is thus frustrated.
Thus it is still another object of this invention to facili- 2,829,477 `Patented Apr.` 8, 1958 "ice Z tate the sampling inspection of finished parts by making them readily accessible in groups or individually.
lt is a further object of this invention to provide a means for automatically stopping the parts making machine if the parts do not conform to certain maximum tolerances.
@ne form of apparatus embodying this invention includes a source of parts or Workpieces, which may be the ejecting portion of a coil winding machine; a reservoir of workpiece receiving means such as racks; means for moving ,the workpiece receiving means under the source ot workpieces; a tunneling means` between the source of workpieces and the workpiece receiving means to guide the workpieces to a predetermined position on the workpiece receiving means, and means for collecting and storing a plurality of workpiece receiving means after they have received their portion of workpieces.
The workpiece receiving `means may take the form of racks having recesses formed in their upper surfaces of slightly llarger size than the workpiece to be received. The lower surface of the racks may have gear teeth formed therein to allow them to be moved in a longitudinal direction by a co-acting gear wheel.
The reservoir of workpiece receiving means may be a magazine containing the above described racks one on top of the other. The bottom rack being free to move longitudinally out of the magazine and out from under the other racks.
The means for moving the racks may be one or more gear wheels positioned so as to engage the gear teeth in the lower surfaces of the racks and being in working contact with the bottom bar in the above described magazine. The drive gear is caused to rotate by power derived from the coil winding machine aforementioned, thus giving a longitudinal motion to the bottom rack. The bottom rack moves along a bed and between guides thereon which orient it with the ejecting portion of the coil Winding machine causing each of the recesses` in the upper surface of the racks to be brought directly under such ejection portion in succession.
The tunneling means may take the form of a drop tube having a tapered bore and positioned to receive Workpieces from the coil winding machine at the enlarged portion of the bore and discharge them into the recesses in the racks from the restricted portion of the bore.
The racks continue to move longitudinally down the bed after receiving a full load of workpieces until they come to the collecting and storing means. The collecting and storing means may comprise cams which are powered by the motion of the racks themselves. The cams cause the racks to be ejected laterally ott the bed and onto a `rack receiving means such as a tray, each successive rack completing the ejection of the rack immediately `preceding it.
The invention is more completely described in connection with the appended four sheets of drawings in which like numerals denote like parts and wherein:
Fig. l is a view in elevation of an apparatus embodying this invention, for automatically receiving the output of a filament coil Winding machine.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. l, with certain of the parts omitted.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the drive and loading portions of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the ejecting and storing portion of the apparatus shownin Figs. l and 2.
Fig. 5 is a view, partly in section, of an end portion of one of the racks used in this embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of one of the workpieces to be received by the apparatus of this embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the drop tube for guiding.
`the workpieces of this embodiment of the invention into the racks shown in Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is a view taken along line 8--5 of Fig. 3 of the drive mechanism ofthe apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
Fig. 9 is a View taken along line 9--9 of Fig. 1 showing guide'members in contact with a rack after the rack has received workpieces.
Referring to Fig. 1 the embodiment of the invention that hasbeen chosen for illustration is apparatus adapted to receive the output or a double-helical iiiarnentcoil winding machine 11. Briefly the coil winding machine 11 operates as follows: A reel 13 of tungsten wire (e. g. .003 inch in diameter, for example) is mounted in operative relation to the coil winding machine 1l. Wire 15 from the coil is threaded through a wire holding device 17 which maintains a constant pressure on the wire 15, a short piece of the wire projecting beyond the wire holding device 17. A pincher arm 19, movably positioned opposite the wire holding device 17, is caused to move toward the wire holding device 17 and grasp the short piece of wire projecting therefrom. The pincher arm 19 then moves back to its original position pulling a length of wire 21 through the wire holding device 17. A coil winding die 23 is located immediately under-the path of pincher arm 19 so that the length of wire 2l is trailed across it by the pincher arm 19. A wire cutting device adjacent to the wire holding device 17 cuts ott the length of wire as soon as the pincher arm 19 has reached the extent of its travel and the length of wire 21 falls across the coil winding die 23. A coil winding mandrel 25 positioned directly over the coil winding die 23 forces the length of wire 21 through the coil winding die 23 as the pincher arm 19 releases it. The wire is formed into a double helical coil with axially extending rectilinear legs and drops free of the bottom of the coil winding die 23.
The apparatus of this embodiment of the invention is designed to receive each of such coils as it drops free of the coil winding die 23 and place them in spaced array with respect to each other. Brietly this is accomplished by automatically receiving each of the coils in a separate recess in racks containing a plurality of such recesses.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, this apparatus provides a magazine 27 for holding a plurality of racks 29 having coil receiving recesses in their upper surfaces and gear teeth 31 in their lower surfaces. Two gear wheels 33 and 35 are provided to drive the racks 29 longitudinally along a bed 37 and under the coil winding die 23. A drop tube 39 is positioned between the coil winding die 23 and the racks 29 as they travel along the bed 37. The drop tube 39 is adapted to receive the coils as they drop free of the coil winding die 23 and direct them into recesses in the racks 29. The racks 29 continue their longitudinal travel until they reach the end portion of the bed 38 where two cams 41 and 43 are caused to turn by the longitudinal motion of the racks 29 forcing the racks laterally off the end portion of the bed 37 and onto a tray 45 capable of holding a plurality of racks 29.
The invention will be more clearly understood by a detailed consideration of each of the elements of the apparatus of this embodiment and of the workpiece which is to be received thereby.
The workpiece Referring to Fig. 6, the workpiece to be received by the apparatus illustrated is a double helical ilament coil 47. The coil 47 consists of a coiled end portion 49 and another end portion comprising two rectilinear legs 51 or leads. The coil is produced from a single length of wire 21. (e. g. tungsten for example) by a coil winding machine 11 and is ejected from the machine vertically anna-477 with its coiled end portion 49 at the bottom. The coil is ejected downward from the coil winding die 23 of the coil winding machine 11.
The rack This apparatus is adapted to receive each coil as it drops from the coil winding machine 11 in a separate recess in a rack 29 having a plurality of such recesses. Referring to Fig. 5, the racks 29 comprise an elongated 1oar 53 composed of a rust proof material (e. g. linemized Bakelite, for example). Regularly spaced recesses 55 may be drilled in the upper surface of the bar 53. The recesses 55 are slightly larger in diameter than the coils 47 to be received and may be countersunk at 57 to provide easy entrance for the coils 47. The depth of the recesses 55 is sutlicient to accommodate the entire coiled end portions 49 of the coils 47. But the rectilinear legs 51 of the coils 47 will project out of the recesses 55 thus providing for easy removal of the coils 47 from the recesses 55 by gripping the projecting legs 51.
The lower surface of the bar 53 is provided with gear i teeth 31 adapted to mesh with a gear wheel to impart longitudinal motion to the bar 53.
The magazine A magazine 27 is provided for holding a pluralityof horizontally oriented racks in vertically extending array. Referring to Figs. l and 2, the magazine 27 consists of metallic strips 59 welded together to form a latticed channel capable of holding the plurality of racks 29 one on top of the other with their gear teeth 31 extending downward. The upper end of the magazine 27 is open to allow the introduction of additional racks 29 as needed. The lower end of the magazine 27 is partially closed by a bed portion 61. A gear wheel 33, with which the gear teeth 31 of the bottom rack 63 are meshed, closes the remainder of the lower end. An opening 65 is provided in the magazine 27 adjacent one end of the bottom rack 63 to allow the bottom rack to move longitudinally out of the magazine 27 and out from under the remainder of the racks 29 in the magazine 27. When the bottom rack 63 is moved longitudinally out of the magazine 27 the remainder of the racks will descend by force of gravity and the rack that rested upon the bottom rack 63 will take the place of the bottom rack 63. The magazine 27 is provided with an electric switch 67 which will automatically shut oit the apparatus when only one rack is left in the magazine 27.
The drive mechanism The racks 29 are moved out of the magazine 27 and along the bed 37 by two gear wheels 33 and 35. Referring to Figs. l and 2, one of the gear wheels 33 closes a portion of the lower end of the magazine 27 thus being in working contact with the bottom rack 63 in the magazine 27. The other gear wheel 3S is adjacent the coil winding machine 11, axially parallel with the rst gear wheel 33 and positioned to engage the gear teeth of the racks 29 as they move along the bed 37. The two gear wheels 33 and 35 are mechanically connected to rotate in unison by a chain system.
Referring to Fig. 3, the gear wheels 33 and 35 are caused to rotate by power derived from the coil winding machine 11. One end of a turnbuckle 69 is mechanically connected to the pincher arm 19 driving member of thc coil winding machine 11. The other end of the turnbuckle 69 is mechanically connected to a pawl 71 and ratchet wheel 73 device, the ratchet wheel 73 being disposed in an axially vertical position. Referring to Fig. 8, the axle 75 of the ratchet wheel 73 serves as the axle of a trst bevel gear 77. Thus any rotation of the ratchet wheel 73 is transmitted directly to the bevel gear 77. A second bevel gear 79, meshed with the first bevel gear 77, is caused to rotate. The axle 81 of the second bevel gear 79 serves also as the axle 81 of the gear wheel 35 adjacent the coil winding machine 11 and the chain sprocket 83 associated therewith. A chain 85 connecting the chain sprocket 83 associated with the gear wheel 35 adjacent the coil winding machine 11 and the chain sprocket 87 associated with the gear wheel 33 under the magazine 27 causes both gear wheels 33 and 35 to rotate in unison and in accordance with the movements of the pincher arm 19 ofthe coil winding machine 11. The ratchet wheel 73, andthe bevel gears 77 and 79 are adapted to transform each completed movement of the pincher arm 19 of the coil winding machine 11 into rotary movement sullicient to cause the gear wheels 33 and 35 to move the racks 29 a distance equal to the distance 89 between the centers of the recesses 55 in the racks 29. The racks 29 are only in working contact with the- gear wheels 33 and 35 at the beginning of their travels being moved along the bed 37 after losing contact with the gear wheels 33 and 35 by end to end contact between succeeding racks 29, one of such succeeding racks being in working contact with the gear wheels 33 and 35.
The bed and the guides Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the bed 37 comprises a flat metal surface interrupted to allow the gear teeth 91 of the two gear wheels 33 and 35 to project through it and engage the gear teeth 31 of the racks 29. The bed 37 has mounted thereon a plurality of roller guides for contacting the sides and top of the racks 29 `as they pass along the bed 37, thus guiding them in apredetermined path. Referring to Figs. 3 and 8, the roller guides take the various forms of stationary vertical roller guides 93, spring loaded vertical roller guides 95, horizontal roller guides 97, and horizontal channel-roller guides 99. Referring to Fig, 3, the stationary vertical roller guides 93 are cylinders having their axes vertically disposed and xedly positioned in rolling contact with the sides of the racks 29 as they pass. Most of the stationary vertical roller guides 93 are positioned in pairs to contact opposite sides of the racks 29 at variouspoints along the bed 37. However, at points adjacent to the coil winding machine 11 stationary vertical roller guides 93 are positioned along the side of the bed 37 opposite the coil winding machine and spring loaded vertical roller guides 95 are positioned opposite the stationary vertical roller guides 93 along the side of the bed 37 adjacent to the coil winding machine. The springs 96 of the spring loaded vertical roller guides 95 cause the spring loaded vertical roller guides 95 to bear against the side of the rack passing therebetween, thus forcing the rack iirmly against the stationary vertical roller guide 93 and insuring accurate alignment of the recesses in the racl; with the drop tube 39.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 3 the horizontal roller guides 97 are cylinders having their axes horizontally disposed and are positioned to make rolling contact with the upper surfaces of the racks 29. Springs 9S are included in the mounting of the horizontal roller guides 97' to cause them to bear downward on the racks as they pass thereunder.
Referring to Fig. 9, the horizontal channel-roller guides 99 are spool-like rollers mounted with their axes horizontally disposed. zontal roller guides 97. The width of the channel 101 in the horizontal channel-roller guides 99 is slightly greater than the diameter of the recesses 55 in the racks 29. The horizontal channel-roller guides 99 are positioned by 'l'hey are spring loaded as are the horii spacers 100 so that the flanges 102 of theguides 99 cont Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the drop tube 39 is positioned in operative contact with the coil winding die 23 of the coil winding machine and fixedly positioned over the path of the racks 29 along the bed 31 by a metallic support 1013. The recesses 55 in the racks 27 are axially aligned with the drop tube 39, one at a time, due to the action of the roller guides and the drive mechanism. Referring to Fig. 7, the drop tube comprises two telescoping tubes 105, 107, having their axes vertically disposed. The inner tube 105 of the two being rigidly positioned over the bed 37 by a metallic support 103 so that its lower end is immediately over the racks 29 as they move along the bed 37. The inner tube 105 is of metallic composition and has a tapered bore 111, the restricted portion of the bore 111 being at the lower end of the inner tube 105. An aperture 113 is formed in the wall of the lower end portion of the inner tube 105, opening in the direction of travel of the racks 29, to allow the rectilinear legs 51 of the coils 47 to pass out of the inner tube 105 when the rack 27 is moved.
The second tube 107 movably surrounds the upper end portion of the inner tube 105 and comprises an electrically insulating tube 107 having a metallic upper end 109. A helical spring 115 surrounds the inner tube, one end resting on the metallic support 103 and the other bearing on the lower end of the insulating tube 107 tending to cause the metallic end thereof 109 to project beyond the upper end of the inner tube 105.
The metallic upper end 109 of the second tube 107 is in physical contact with the lower surface of the coil winding die 23 of the coil winding machine 11, such contact being firmly maintained by the pressure ofthe helical spring 115 against the second tube 107. The metallic upper end 109 `of the second tube 107 has a larger tapered bore 117 than the tapered bore 111 of the inner tube 105.
The inner tube 105 and the metallic upper end 109 of the second tube 107 are electrically insulated from each other by the second tube 107. The metallic upper end 109 of the second tube 107 is provided with an electrical terminal 119 to which may be attached one lead of an electrical device for shutting off the apparatus. The other lead of the device for shutting off the apparatus being effectively connected to the inner tube 105.
The rack collecting and storing mechanism The longitudinal motion of the racks 29 continues after they have received coils 47 from the drop tube 39 and until they reach the end portion of the bed 38. Two cams 41 and 43 positioned along the path of the racks on the end portion o f the bed 38 are actuated by the longitudinal movement of the racks 29 transmuting it into lateral movement of the racks. Thus, the racks 29 are caused to move laterally olf the end portion of the bed 3S and away from the cams 41 and 43, onto a tray 45 capable of holding a plurality of the racks in horizontally extending array. The cams are mounted on the end portion of the bed 33 on a vertical axis and free to rotate in a horizontal plane parallel to the bed. The cams 41 and 43 are mechanically connected together by a chain and sprocket system (shown at 121 in Fig. l) so that they will rotate synchronously when `either cam 41 or 43 is actuated.
Referring to Fig. 4, the cams 41 and 43 are shown in solid lines in the position they assume upon collection of a lirst rack 123 shown in dotted lines. A :second` rack 125 is shown as it comesinto Contact with the first cam The first cam 41 has two identical lobes disposed 180"` from each other about the axis of the cam 41, each lobe having two active surfaces 127 and 129. The receiving surfaces 127 of the lobes of the first cam 41, with one of which the end of second rack 125 is Vin contact, re-` ceives longitudinal motion fromthe rack and transmutes it 'into self-rotation. The receiving surfaces 127r are arcs of a circle designed so that the end of the rack 125 will be tangential at various points therein throughout the rotation of the cam 41, thus preventing any appreciable lateral motion from being transmitted to the rack 125 by the receiving surface 127 of the cam 41.
The transmitting surfaces 129 of the lobes of the irst cam 41, one of which is shown in contact with the side of the irst rack 123 (shown in dotted lines), are arcs of a circle designed so that the side of the first rack 123 will be tangential at various points therein throughout the rotation of the cam 41. Thus lateral movement is transmitted to the rst rack 123 with a minimum of longitudinal movement.
The second rack 125 moves longitudinally after coming into contact with the lirst cam 41 rotating it to the position shown by the dotted lines. The second cam 43 is rotated synchronously with the iirst cam 41, by the chain and sprocket system 121, assuming the new position indicated by dotted lines, the second rack 125 continuing to move longitudinally until it comes into contact therewith.
The second cam 43 has two identical lobes disposed 180 from each other about the axis of the cam 43 each lobe having two active surfaces 131 and 133. The receiving surfaces 131 of the lobe of the second cam 43 are rectilinear and parallel to provide a clearance gap in the second cam 43 to accommodate the rack 1.25 during the rotation of the cam 43. The transmitting surfaces 133 of the lobes of the second cam 43 are cornposed of arcs of two circles having different radii. The arcs are combined to form a continuous surface such that lateral movement may be transmitted to a rack, during the rotation of the cam 43 through a large arc, with a minimum of longitudinal movement of the rack. The side of the rack to which lateral movement is being imparted is tangential to the transmitting surface 133 of the second cam 43 throughout the rotation of the second cam 43.
The second rack 125 moves longitudinally after coming into contact with the receiving surface 131 of the second cam 43, rotating it to the position shown by solid lines. lt should be noted that due to the identical form of the two lobes of each cam only 180 of rotation is necessary to return the cams 41 and 43 to the positions indicated by the solid lines, although the lobes of the cams are reversed thereby. The first cam 41 rotates synchronously with the rotation of the second cam 43 as induced `by the second rack 125. The second rack 125 is caused to move laterally by the rotation of both cams 41 and 43 until it assumes the position heretofore occupied by the lirst rack 123 (as shown by the dotted lines) pushing the iirst rack 123 laterally further onto the tray 45.
The tray 45 has three walls 135 which are high enough to extend Ibeyond the ends of the projecting legs 51 of the coils in the racks 29. A portion of the wall adjacent to the second cam 43 is cut away, a switch arm 137 taking the place of such side portion. The switch arm 137 is pivoted at 139 and spring loaded to remain in position unless one of the racks 29 should miss or be delected away from the cams 41 and 43 and continue to move longitudinally. A rack, so deflected will come into contact with the switch arm 137 and force it against a safety switch 141 positioned immediately adjacent thereto. The safety switch 141 is adapted to turn off the apparatus when the switch arm 137 comes into contact with it. When the deflected raclt is removed, the switch arm 137 will return to its normal position and the apparatus may be started again.
An aperture 143 is formed in the wall of the tray 45 opposite the open side of the tray adjacent to the bed 37. A micro-switch 145 is positioned to project through* the aperture 143. When enough racks have been collected by the cams 41 and 43 to till the tray 45I the first rack collected will be forced into contact with the microswitch 145 shutting oft" the apparatus. The iilled tray 45 may then be removed, thus releasing the micro-switch 145, an empty tray put in its place and the apparatus re-started. The tray 45 has handles aiiixed to the two opposite walls 135 thereof, serving both to facilitate handling of the tray 45 and to allow a plurality of such trays to be stacked on top of each other without danger of slippage between contiguous trays.
Operation The operation of the apparatus of this embodiment of the invention may be best understood by tracing the racks 29 through the apparatus. A plurality of the racks .29 are placed into the magazine 27 which will be empty except for one rack which is left in the magazine 27 due to the action of the magazine switch 67. Other racks will be in end to end Contact along the bed. When the coil winding machine 11 is started the pincher arm 19 will travel to the wire holding device 17 and grasp the wire projecting therefrom. The motion of the pincher arm 19 will be transmitted by the turnbuckle 69 to the pawl 71 causing it to slip over and engage another tooth on the ratchet wheel 73. As the pincher arm 19 moves back trailing a length of wire 21 across the coil winding die 23 its motion will again be transmitted to the pawl 71 by the turnbuckle 69 causing the pawl 71 to turn the ratchet wheel 73 through an arc of predetermined length.
The rotation of the ratchet wheel 73 will 'be transmitted through the bevel gears 77 and 79 to the gear wheels 33 and 35 which will move the rack in the magazine 27 and those on the bed 37 a distance equal to the distance 39 between the centers of the recesses 55 in the racks 29, the rack in the magazine 27 and the rack immediately preceding it being driven by actual contact with the gear wheels 33 and 35. The remainder of the racks on the bed are pushed along by the motion of such racks in contact with the gear wheels 33 and 35.
The racks 27 then remain a-t rest while the coil winding mandrel 25 forces the length of wire 21 through the coil winding die 23 forming a coil 47 which drops into the drop tube 39. The drop tube 39 guides the coil 47 into the empty recess which is now located directly thereunder. The spring loaded vertical guide rollers maintain the positioning of the racks while the coil is being dropped into each empty recess as Ithey are brought under the drop tube 39. The pincher arm 19 again travels over to grasp the projecting Wire and the process is repeated bringing another empty recess under the drop tubes 39.
The above described intermittent motion of the racks 29 continues, pulling the rack left in the magazine 27 out from under the racks placed on top of it and allowing the bottom one of such racks to take its place. The horizontal guide rollers 97 and the horizontal channel guide rollers 99 prevent the racks 29 from buckling against each other as they push or are pushed by other racks 29 along the bed 37.
At the same time, the rack that was on the portion of the bed 38 adjacent to the rack collecting and storing mechanism is brought into 'contact with the first cam 41 causing it to rotate, such rotation being transmitted to the second learn 43 by the chain and sprocket system 121 connecting the two and pushing any preceding racks into the tray 45. The rack 125 continues to move, after rotating the first cam 41 to a position where it no longer receives rotation from the rack 125, and comes into contact with the second cam 43 causing it to rotate. The lrotation of the second cam 43 is transmitted back to the first cam 41 which is forced against the rack 125, moving it laterally unltil it loses contact with the end of the rack succeeding it.
The succeeding rack then repeats the travel that has just been described with respect to the rack preceding it, the preceding rack being pushed into the tray 45 thereby. When the tray 45 is tilled with racks the micro-switch 145 associated with the tray 45 will be depressed and the apparatus shut off. The apparatus will also be shut off by the magazine switch 67 if the number of racks 29 in the magazine 27 is reduced to one.
It should be understood that the operation described proceeds intermittently in accordance with the longitudinal motion imparted to Itlre racks 29 by the gear wheels 33 and 35.
Should one of the racks 29 be deected and not come into conta'ct with the cams 41 and 43 properly so that a rack 125 continues to move longitudinally without rotating the cams 41 and 43, it will icome into contact with a switch arm 37 associated with the tray 45. The switch arm 137 will be forced against a safety switch 41, thus shutting off the apparatus until the deflected rack is removed.
If a coil 47 fails Ito pass through the drop tube 39 properly because it does not conform to certain maximum tolerances and becomes lodged therein other coils will lodge against it and the drop tube 39 will be filled with coils 47. However, when enough coils 47 have lodged in the drop tube 39 to provide an electrical path between the metallic upper end 109 of the insulating tube 107 and the metallic inner tube 105 an alarm will be set off and the apparatus will beautomatically shut off by an electrical device `connected between the terminal 119on the metallic upper end -109 of the insulating ltube 107 and the inner tube 105 of the drop tube 39. When the drop tube 39 is cleared of lodged coils the apparatus maybe re-started and will operate as before,
The many advantages and applications of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above description of one embodiment thereof. This invention is not confined to the embodiment that has been described in detail here, but is equally applicable to a great number of automatic operations in which it is desirable to receive each finished product *thereof individually and in spaced and protected array.
What is claimed is: v
l. Apparatus for automatically racking Icoiled structures comprising amcoil winding machine, a plurality of elongated coil receiving racks, a magazine for containing said racks, means for moving said plurality of coil receiving racks longitudinally along apredetermined path from said magazine -and into operative relation with said coil winding machine, means for collecting said coil receiving racks after said ra'cks have received coils comprising two cams spaced from each other along said path and actuated solely by said motion of said racks,and means for actuating said moving means in timed relation to the operation of said coil winding machine,
2. `Apparatus for receiving workpieces comprising a plurality of elongated workpiece receiving means, means for moving each of said workpiece receiving means longitudinally in a predetermined path, and means for collecting said workpiece receiving means icomprising two deiecting` members spaced fromeach other along said path and actuated to deflect said workpiece receiving means solely by the longitudinal motion of said workpiece receiving means.
3. Apparatus for receiving articles comprising a plurality of article receiving means, said article receiving means comprising bars having recesses in one surface thereof for accommodating said articles, another surface of said bars being adapted 'to receive motivation for said bars; means for applying motive power to said other surface of said bars for moving said bars in a predetermined path; and means for collecting said bars at the end of said path, said means for collecting said bars comprising two cams spaced from each other along said path and actuated solely by said motion of said bars.
4. Apparatus for receiving articles comprising a plu- 10 rality of bars each having recesses in one side surface thereof for accommodating said articles and gear teeth in the opposite side surface thereof for receiving motivation for said bars; a reservoir containing said plurality of bars with said gear teeth extending downward; means including a gear wheel for engaging said gear teeth and applying said motivation to each of said plurality of bars in succession for moving said bars in a predetermined path from said reservoir in end-to-end relationship; and means for collecting said bars after they have received articles, said means for collecting said bars comprising two cams spaced from each other along said path and actuated solely by said motion of said bars.
5. Apparatus `for receiving workpieces comprising: a plurality of bars each having recesses in one side` surface for accommodating said workpieces and gear teeth in the opposite side surface; a magazine containing said bars, with said gear teeth extending downward, in vertically extending array, said magazine being adapted to allow the bottom one of said bars of said vertically extending array to move longitudinally; a gear Wheel engaging said gear teeth in said lower surface of said bottom one of said bars in said vertically extending array; means for rotating said gear wheel to move `said bottom one of said bars of said vertically extending array longitudinally out from under the other said bars in said vertically extending array; means for guiding said bars in a predetermined path in end-to-end relationship; and means for collecting said bars after they have traversed said predetermined path, said means for collecting said bars comprising two cams spaced from each other along said path and actuated solely by said motion of said bars..
6, Apparatus for automatically receiving workpieces comprising: a plurality of bars each having recesses in one side surface for accommodating said workpieces and gear teeth in the opposite side surfaces; a magazine containing said bars, with said gear teeth extending downward and in vertically extending array, said magazine being adapted to allow the bottom bar of said vertically extendingarray to move longitudinally out from under said vertically extending array, another of said bars taking the place of said bottom bar; agear wheel positioned to engage said gear teeth in said lower surfaces of the bottom bar of said vertically extending array; means for rotating said gear wheel to move the bottom bar of said vertically extending 4array longitudinally in a predetermined path in end to end relationship with `previous bottom bars whereby said previous bottom bars are moved in said path; and means `for collecting said bars after they have traversed said pathcomprising two cams spaced from each other along said path actuated solely by said motion of said bars.
7. Apparatus for automatically receiving workpieces comprising: a plurality of bars each having regularly spaced recesses in one side surface for accommodating said workpieces and gear teeth in the `opposite side surface; a magazine containing said bars with said gear teeth extending downward and in vertically extending array, said magazine being adapted to allow the bottom bar of said `verticallyextending array to move longitudinally out from under said vertically extending array, another of said bars taking the place of said bottom bar; a gear Wheel positioned to engage said gear teeth in the bottom bar of said vertically extending array; means for intermittently rotating said gear wheel to impart intermittent longitudinal motion to the bottom bar of said vertically exending` array, said longitudinal motion occurring in in crements equal to the distance between said regularly recurring recesses in said side surface of said bars; means for guiding said bars in a predetermined path in end to end relationship; and means for collecting said bars after they have traversed said path, said means for collecting said bars comprising two cams spaced from each other along said path and actuated solely by said longitudinal motion of said bars.
8.*Apparatus' for automatically receiving workpieces comprising: a plurality of bars each having regularly spaced recesses in one side surface for accommodating said workpieces and gear teeth in the opposite side surface; a magazinewcontaining said bars, with said gear teeth extending downward, in vertically extending array; said magazine being adapted to allow the bottom bar of said vertically extending array to move longitudinally out from under said vertically extending array, another of said bars taking the place of said bottom bar; a gear wheel positioned to engage said gear teeth in the bottom bar of said-vertically extending array; means for intermittently rotating said gear to impart intermittent longitudinal motion to' the bottom bar of said vertically extending 'array, said longiudinal motion-occurring in increments equal to the'distance between said regularly recurringV recesses in said surface of said bars; means for guidingsaid bars in a predetermined path in end-to-end relationship; means for collectingy said bars after they have traversed said path, said means'tor collecting said bars being actuated solely by said motion of said bars and comprising a rst cam and a second cam in spaced relationship to each otherand operatively/positioned adjacent said predeterminedpath, said iirst cam and said secondy cam being mechanically connected to rotate in unison, the active surfaces of said cams being adapted to transmute said' longitudinal motion of said bars into lateral motion of said bars, and a tray for receiving said bars in operative relation to said predetermined path such that the bars will entersaid tray laterally.
9. Apparatus for receiving workpieces comprising: a plurality of workpiece receiving means; means for moving each of said plurality ofworkpiece receiving means longi tudinally along a predetermined path; and means for collecting each of said plurality of workpiece receiving means, said means for collectingV said workpiece receiving'means comprising two cams rotatably mounted along said predetermined path, said'cams being spaced from each other a distance less than the length of said workpiece receiving means and being mechanically connected to rotate in unison, each of said plurality of workpiece receiving means coming into contact with each ofvsaid twocam wheels in turn imparting rotation to both of said cam wheels, said rotation of said cams imparting lateral movement to each of said plurality workpiece receiving means; and a tray for receiving each of said plurality of workpiece receiving means as they are moved laterally by said cam wheels, said means for collecting said work-` piece receiving means being actuated solely by said motion of said workpiece receiving means.
l0. In apparatus forfreceiving workpieces in which a racking means includes at least two elongated racks movable longitudinally, the improvement comprising a collecting means for successively collecting said racks, said collecting means including a track for-said racks, two cams spaced from each other along said track,` said cams being mounted for synchronous rotation in angles normal to saidtrack, each of said cams having two identical lobes disposed oppositely of each other about theaxis of said cams, each of said lobes of each of said cams CII having 'a surface adapted tov receive motion Afrom Vsaid racks when said racks are moved longitudinally along said track and another surface adapted to impart motion to said racks at a right angle to said longitudinal motion of said racks, said cams being oriented with'respect to each other such that when one of said cams is receiving motion the other of said cams is imparting motion, said cams being actuated solely by said longitudinal motion of said racks.
1l. Apparatus for receiving workpieces comprising at least two elongated racks movable in a longitudinal direction along a track and means for successively collecting said racks including a iirst cam and a second cam spaced from each other along said track a distance less than the length of said racks, each of said cams having two identical lobes disposed oppositely from each other about the axis of said cams, said axis of said cams being perpendicular to the surface of said track along which said racks move and being oriented with respect to said track such that said lobes of said cams may project thereover, said cams being mechanically interconnected for synchronous rotation, each of said lobes of said cams having a surface for receiving motion and a surface for imparting motion, said receiving surface of said rst cam comprising an arc of a circle and said surface for imparting motion of said tirst cam comprising an are of a circle, said receiving surface of said second `cam being rectilinear and said surface for imparting motion of said second cam comprising arcs of two circles having diterent radii combined to form a continuous surface, whereby said cams alternately receive motion from the longitudinal movement of the racks while imparting a minimum of lateral motion to said racks and impart lateral motion to said racks with a minimum of longitudinal motion, said cams being actuated solely by the longitudinal motion of said racks.
References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,117,433 Owens Nov. 17, 1914 1,559,199 Straight Oct. 27, 1925 1,742,321 Rogers Jan. 7, 1930 1,905,099 Jay Apr. 25, 1933 1,929,913 Clemons Oct. 10, 1933 1,954,278 Adams `Apr. 10, 1934 2,014,833 Burns Sept. 17, 1935 2,076,236 Holloway Apr. 6, 1937 2,252,626 Goldbeck Aug. 12, 1941 2,297,596 Westin Sept. 29, 1942 2,346,285 Beaulieu Apr. 11, 1944 2,356,108 Wahlstedt Aug. 15, 1944 2,363,189 Magnusson Nov. 21, 1944 2,380,320 La France July 10, 1945 2,543,370 Kludt Feb. 27, 1951 2,613,861 Goerlitz Oct. 14, 1952 2,619,869 Stewart Dec. 2, 1952 2,630,903 Currivan Mar. 10, 1953 2,633,251 Bruce Mar. 31, 1953 2,684,523 Simshauser July 27, 1954
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US3152428A (en) * 1961-06-26 1964-10-13 Clevite Corp Loading mechanism
US3180505A (en) * 1961-08-03 1965-04-27 Rca Corp Tray and tray unload mechanism
US3509690A (en) * 1967-12-20 1970-05-05 Trw Inc Machine for assembling electrical components in a card package
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