US2841309A - Button blank feeder - Google Patents

Description

July 1, 1958 J. c. WORST 2,841,309

BUTTON BLANK FEEDER Filed Oct. 25, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR se o/z Cl Vorst BY M ATTORNEYS July 1, 1958 J. c. WORST BUTTON BLANK FEEDER Filed 001;. 25 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR y 1958 J. c. WORST 2,841,309

BUTTON BLANK FEEDER Filed Oct. 25, 1955 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTOR ('10s hCJ Varsf BY 55mm ATTORNEYS July 1, 1958 J. c. WORST 2,341,309

BUTTON BLANK FEEDER Filed 001:. 25, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 -M --IIIIIVIII.NIIIIIIIIIIVIIIHIA Illllllll INVENTOR 'IluwA.

close vlz G I Vorst v ATTORNEYS United States Z,84li,309 Patented July 1, 1958 ice Joseph G Worst, Muscatine, Iowa Application Octoher 25, 1955, Eeriai No.

was.

This invention relates to button blank finishing machines, preferably those of the well-known Barry type having an endless series of button-blank-holding chucks which move in an orbital path in the machine, said path having at one point a feeding station into which the blanks are inserted into the chucks as they pass the feeding station, and carry the blanks around to other stations which grind, polish or drill the blanks and discharge the blanks from the chucks before the chucks return in their orbital path to the feeding station.

My present invention is a novel means for feeding button blanks, either of plain or shank type, into the moving chucks at the feeding station, said feeding means being adapted to blanks which are either plain or of fiat type, or have integral shanks.

One object of the invention is to provide feeding means of the above type having a safety mechanism in the feeding means which will eliminate damage to the buttons or breakage of machine parts in event the blanks in the feeding means should become jammed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feeding means of the above type in which the feed will be properly resumed after a jam is released, without any adjustment of the parts of the feeding means.

Another object of my invention is to provide a feeding means of the above type in which the feed into the open chucks is always in alignment with the orbital path of the moving chucks during said feeding operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a feeding means of the above type which, in the event of a button jam in the feeding means, will not feed any blank at all, thereby eliminating improper feeding, or wasteful spillage of the blanks on the factory A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient feeding means having provisions whereby it is impossible to feed more than one button blank at a time into the open chucks, and having means to eliminate the slipping of clutches or breakage of machine parts if a feeding stroke is impeded for any reason, the feeding means automatically resumingfeeding in perfect register with the moving chucks after any impeding blank is removed from the path of the fed blanks, without any machine adjustment.

Other minor objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one practical embodiment thereof, to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims, the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings: 7

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partly in section, of a conventional button grinding and finishing machine of the Barry type, showing my novel feeding means disposed at the feeding station.

Fig.2 isan enlarged pian' view of said feeding means, and showing a row of chucks and h me adjacent parts of the Harry machine; and showing the pivot arm of the feeding means engaged with one of the button-blank holding chucks of the Barry machine; also showing a row of button blanks being fed successively into feeding position.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a row of chucks of the Barry machine, and showing my novel feeding mechanism; also showing the cam which supports the chucks in the Barry machine and raises or lowers the chucks to open or close same respectively.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view on the line 44, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-5, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 66, Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail section, showing the feeding finger, and showing a row of button-holding chucks disposed thereunder.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing the location of the sliding pin which initially holds the button blanks in feeding position in the feeding finger prior to being ropped into the open chucks.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view of one of the button blanks initially received in the feeding finger prior to being dropped into the underlying open chucks.

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 9 but showing the feeding finger shifted into position to drop the button blank into the underlying open chuck as the feeding finger approaches the outward limit of its feeding stroke.

Fig. 11 is a section on the line al-ft1, Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a section on the line l212, Fig. 10.

The button-blank griding, polishing or drilling machine illustrated in the drawings is of the conventional type commonly known as a Barry blank finishing machine; and consists of a row of chuck spindles A which are pivotally linked together as at B to form an endless series adapted to run around notched discs or wheels C and D respectively mounted on upright shafts E and P, Fig. 1, one of which discs or wheels may be a driving wheel so as to move the endless series of chuck spindles in an Orbital path, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. In each of the chuck spindles A is a chuck G having expansible and contractable jaws at its upper end, the chucks G being supported upon ball feet H, Fig. 3, which adjust the chucks G vertically in their respective spindles A, said ball feet H engaging a cam I, Fig. 3, and riding upon the upper surface thereof, said cam J at the feeding station having an upwardly inclined portion J so that when the ball feet H ride upwardly on the inclined portion J, the fingers of the chucks G above the spindles A will be expanded to permit placement or discharging of a button blank L from the chucks G; but when the 'ball feet H ride upon the lower horizontal portion of cam I the chuck fingers will be contracted around the button blanks L and hold same securely in the chucks G while the chucks G pass through the grinding, polishing or drilling stations (not shown). As soon as the button blanks L have been placed in the expanded chucks G, cam I is inclined downwardly immediately beyond the feeding station to contract and securely hold the blanks L in the chucks G. The above arrangement of ball feet H and cam J in said Barry machine is well known in the art, and needs no further description herein; nor does same form any part of my present invention.

My novel automatic button-blank feeding means consists of a feed plate 1 of sufficient size to overlie the orbital path of the chucks G at the feeding station, said feed plate 1 being supported upon a horizontal arm 2 which is mounted on a clamp 3 surrounding one of the vertical frame members K of the Barry machine so as to be securely held in horizontal fixed relation. Preferably plate is provided with transverse slots d, Fig. 2, engaged by s 5 or the iikc on arm 2 which may be loosened I of the. chucks 3 so as' to permit feed plate 1 to be adjusted towards or from the orbital path of the row of chucks G at the feeding station so as to align the feeding finger (hereinafter described) with the axial movement of said row of chucks, after which the screws S may be tightenedto retain feed plate 1 in desired position. I,

Preferably feed plate 1 and arm 2 are provided with an adjustment assembly 6' to assist in properly holding and adjusting feed plate 1 on arm 2, said adjustment assembly being of any desired type, but as shown comprising a threadedbolt 6a rotatably mounted in a clip 612 on the outer edge of arm 2, bolt 6a being held in clip 65 against axial movement with respect thereto, and the threaded end of bolt 6zilengaginga threaded ear 6c on the outer edge of feed plate 1 so that as the bolt 6a is rotated in either direction plate'l will be shifted transversely of the arm 2. I On the rear. end of feed plate 1 are spaced strips 7 and 8 (Fig. 6) respectively, which are disposed at opposite sides of the axis of the orbital path of the row of chucks G, saidstrips 7-8 being of height greater than thethickness of thebutton blanks L whether plain or of shank type} Mounted upon the spaced blocks 7 and 3 is a fixed plate 9 which is disposed parallel with and above feed plate 1 between the blocks 7 and 8.' Between the limited by a screw 10aoon feedingfinger 10 which slides in a slot 9a in plate 9,-as shown in Figs. 1, 2', 7, 9 and 10.

leaf-spring 13 which, as shown in Fig. 6, lies within a recess formed between block 7 and the adjacent side of the feeding finger 10, which spring 13 when the feeding vfinger 10 is retracted to-the left (Fig. 11) is confined between block 7 and the adjacent face of feeding finger 10 so that the pin 12 will pass through a bore 102: in feeding finger 10 and its outer end will lie in the path of the button blank L which is seated in recess 10b of feeding finger 16; but when the feeding finger 10 is shifted to the right into feeding position as shown in Fig. 12,

leaf-spring 13 will spring away from the adjacent edge of .feeding finger lti and will thereby withdraw pin 12 out.-

wardly from bore 10x, thereby permitting the button blank L which is engaged in recess 1% of feeding finger it} to move axially of the feeding finger 10into position to overlie and drop into the opened chuck G which underbrackets 16 secured thereto in any desired-manner,- in

which is mounted a travel arm 17 (Figs. 1, '2, 3 and Sloping downwardly upon feed plate 1 is a feed chute V '11 in the form of a guide in which the button blanks L slide by gravity or the like, the lowermost blank L ex-:

tending through'a lateral opening in block 8 and being disposed upon the top surface of feed plate 1. Plate 9, as shown in Fig. 2, has a lateral slot 9b therein whereby the button blanks L from feed chute 11. may slide into a V feeding finger. It) is coaxial with the axis of movement of the underlying row of chucks G, and the parts are so I arranged that'the lowermost button blank L will be adapted to be seated in the underlying chuck G upon reciprocation of feeding finger 10.

the next 7 In order'that the row of chucks G underlying the feed plate 1 may be permitted to rise by action of the cam portion 1 without striking the underside of feed plate 1,

a groove 1x is preferably-provided in the underside of I plate'l, samev being of greater width than the upper ends of thechuckG, as shown in Fig. 6, so that when the ball feet H ride up the inclined portion J of cam J the tops G will not strike the under side of feed plate 1. Also' in feed plate v II 1, above the axis of movement of the 7 row of chucks-G, a slot 1 (Figs. 4 and ll) is provided of which is adapted to be reciprocated, as'hereinafter described,- parallel with the orbital movement of the row of chucks G at the feeding station; At the front inner corner of travel arm 17 is apivot arm 18 '(Figs. 1 and.2) pivoted'thereto on pin 19, a spring 20 (.Fig. 2) normally urging the pivot 'arm.18 .to. swing outwardly of the' axis of movement of travel. arm 17 so that the outer free end of pivot arm 18, as shown in Figs. 1, 2,4 andll will I contact .the frontof achuckspindle'A' so asto' shift the travel arm 17 to the right. (Fig. 2) by and with the move In order to release pivot ga'ged, a dog 22is provided on clamp bracket 3 which is fixed with respect to the Barry machine frame and is o 17 is moved by pivot arm 18, which is engaged withthe related chuck spindle A, and the forward end of pivot Iwill be shifted by such engagementsoas to swing the V inclined outwardly and inwardly withrespect to the movement of travel arm 17 so that when the travel arm arm 18 engages the dog 22 (Fig. 2) the pivot armo18 o pivot arm 18 towards the travel'arm 17 and thereby release the pivot arm 18 from engagement-with the chuck. spindle A, the pivot arm 18 normally; being projected; away from the travel arm 17. by action of "spring 20,

' In order to prevent the pivot arm 18' from swinging I guide rod 25 (Figs. 2, 4, s and 12 is provided which R is secured to the outer end of pivot arm 18 and which is adapted to con'tact the adjacent side of the chuck spindle the substantially semi-circular recess 10b is such that when the lowermost button blank L from chutell has 7 been deposited in the recess 10b prior to being' fed into chuck G, that when the feeding finger 10 is shfited to the 'righttFig. 4), the side of the feeding finger 10 will engage and 12, and hold the row'of buttonlblanks L in the feed chute 11: from further movement towardsfeeding finger In order a to prevent the lowermost button blank 'L which is engaged in the semi-circular recess 15b of feedthe next adjacent button blank 'L, as shown in Figs. 111 V outwardly from travel arm 17 an excess distance, a

A, .as clearly shown in Figs. 2' and 4, to maintain the pivot arm 18 in proper engagedposition with the said chuck spindle A. I f

In order to prevent jamming of the machine and'damage to'the parts thereof onto the button blanks in event the feed chute 11 should become jammed in anyway' with blanks L, relief means are provided, :as shown in 1 on travel arm 17, an adjustable abutment 32 being proin timer 1% from bein' forced out of the semi-circular D D V -vided to; normally maintainflthe pivot armi30substa.ntially normal to'the axis. dimovement of travel '17 against action of a'spring 33 .owhiehconnects. pivot arm -arm'18 from engagement with the chuck spindle'A with 'which'it has been enit i.) 30 with travel arm 17, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The angularity of pivot arm 30 with respect to travel arm 17, however, may be adjusted by proper setting of the adjustment means 32.

The outer end of pivot arm 30 carries a threaded screw 34 (Fig. 2) which is adjustable in pivot arm 39 and secured in adjusted position by lock nut 35, the outer end of screw 34 normally contacting an abutment 36 (Fig. 7) at the rear end of feeding finger 10, a spring 37 connecting pivot arm 30 with abutment 36 so as to yieldably maintain the abutment 36 in contact with the free end of screw 34. By the above construction, in event the button blanks L in feed chute 11 should bind, or the lowermost blank L in the recess 10b of feeding finger 10 should bind, when the travel arm 17 is shifted to the right (Fig. 2) by engagement of the pivot arm 18 with the chuck spindle A, the pivot arm 30 would merely yield to the left (Fig. 2) in a counterclockwise direction, thereby shifting screw 34 away from the abutment 36 of the feeding finger 19 so that the feeding finger 10 would not be shifted to the right (Fig. 2) automatically by the movement of the chucks G approaching and leaving the feeding station. As soon, however, as the jam of blanks has been relieved, the feeding mechanism would automatically assume its proper working relation with the pivot arm 35 normally yieldably disposed at right angles to the axis of movement of travel arm 17, whereupon, as each chuck A approached the feeding station, the travel arm 17 would be shifted to the right (Fig. 2) by automatic engagement of the pivot arm 18 with the related chuck A; and upon each reciprocation of the travel arm 17 towards the right (Fig. 2) the lowermost button blank L would be forced by the feeding finger 10 to the right (Fig. 2) to deposit a button blank L in the underlying opened chuck G; and as soon as the forward end of pivot arm 18 engages the dog 22, the pivot arm 18 would be swung towards the travel arm 17, thereby disengagingthe chuck with which it had previously been engaged, and the spring 21 will restore the parts to normal position so that the pivot arm 18 would be in position to be positively engaged by the next or following chuck spindle A in the row, so as to actuate the parts to insert the next or following button blank L in the next or following chuck G.

The feeder above described has been found to be very etficient in that it is impossible to feed more than one button blank I. at a time by reason of the receding pin 12, and by reason of the action of the pivot arm 3%) as a safety measure, which action eliminates the slipping of any clutches or breaking of parts in the button machine if the feeding stroke is jammed or impeded for any reason; and moreover, the provision of the pivot arm 30 and the receding pin 12 causes the mechanism to resume feeding in perfect register after any impeding jam or object is removed from the feeding path 11 0f the blanks L, without any adjustment.

Power to operate the feeding finger 10 is picked up from the moving chuck spindles A by the pivot arm 18, which is attached to travel arm 17 causing the travel arm 17 to move forward in perfect register with the movement of chuck A until a button blank L is deposited in the same, after which the pivot arm 18 is tripped by contact against stationary dog 22, and all moving parts of the feeding mechanism are pulled back by the spring 21 into normal original position where same dwell long enough for the next blank L to be advanced from the end of feed chute 11 into position to be fed into the next chuck G; this'cycle being repeated as each chuck G passes the feeding station;

The pivot arm 30 is normally held against a stop 32 on travel arm 17 by the spring 33, and pivot arm 30 transmits the stroke of travel arm 17 to the feeding finger 10 which pushes the blank L forwardly in perfect register with the chuck movement until the blank is dropped otf the feed plate 1 under which the chuck is passing and into the opened chuck G, but if, for any reason, normal movement of feeding finger 1b is impeded, the travel arm 17 continues its stroke cycle after cycle but the pivot arm 30 merely pivots on travel arm 17, stretching spring 33 during each stroke of travel arm 17 until the jam or foreign object is removed; then pivot arm 30 is again held by spring 33 against stop 32 on travel arm 17, and movement of the feeding finger 1b is resumed in perfect register with the chucks A without any readjustment on the part of the operator or attendant.

The receding pin 12 is needed only to keep the blank L that is in position to be fed from rolling forward, or to the right (Fig. 2) after being positioned in the recess 10b of the feeding finger it), as such forward movement would allow the next blank in the feed chute 11 to advance prematurely; and pin 12 recedes from this position during the forward stroke of feeding finger 10 so as to clear the blank completely during the return stroke of feeding finger 19.

My feeding mechanism is adaptable for use in feeding plain or flat blanks, as well as blanks which are provided with integral shanks.

I do not limit my invention to the exact form shown in the drawings, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. in combination with a button blank finishing machine having button holding chucks moving to and from a feeding station and having means at said station for opening said chucks to receive therein button blanks respectively; a feed plate on said machine overlying said ks above said station; a pair of spaced strips on said opposite sides of the axis of movement of said i; a feed finger reciprocably mounted on said plate 1 said strips, said finger having a recess in its side ted to receive a button blank; button blank feeding 1515 on said plate and adapted to feed blanks successively a reciprecable travel arm carried by said the axis of movement of the chucks; o the leading and of said travel arm; normally swinging the pivot arm into as the latter passes the feeding e adapted to en at of the travel ment with spring means .w retra to when the pivot arm 13 thus released into ngage the successive chuck; and a second i on the trailing end of said travel arm yieldably with said feed finger for reciprocating the latter n the travel arm, said yieldable connection perhe eed finger to remain inoperative in event of lanks at the feeding finger.

2. in a com ination as set forth in claim 1, means for adjustin feeding plate transversely of the of novement of the chucks.

' a a combination as set forth in claim 1, means for y maintaining a blank in said recess of the feed u- "l the feed finger is shifted into position to drop the blank into the chuck.

4. in a combination as set forth in claim 1, a leaf l- 3. in a combination as set forth in claim 1, an adustable stop on said travel arm normally engaged by said second Phdi are: for iii-aintahmi same substantially nor position to receive a button blank.

inal to .the travel arm; a second spring connecting the second pivot arm'and travel arm for holding the second pivotarrri against said'stop; athreaded member adjustably carried by the outer end of said second pivot arm and normallyiengaging'the trailing end of said feedfinger, to normally shift the feed finger with said travel arm; and a third spring connecting the outer end of the second pivotarm and. the said feed finger to yieldably maintain the threaded memberin contact'with said feed finger.

6. In a combination as set forthin claim 1, a guide rod carried by the outer end of the first pivot arm and adapted 'to engage the adjacent side 'of the chuck with which the pivotarm'is engaged to limit the outward swinging movement of said first pivot arm by the action of said yieldable means; 7 V r V "7. In a combination as. set forth in claim 1, a plate mounted on the tops of said strips above the feed finger;

and a pin on said feeding finger slidablein a slot in said plate to limit the reciprocating'movcment'of said feed 3. In acombination' as set forth in claim 7,, and said 7 platehaving a transverse slot therein registering with the the latter is shifted towards feeding position.

9. In a combination as set forth in clairn:1,said feed plate having a recess in its underside coaxial with'the axis of movement of the'chucks for permitting the chuck at the feeding station to rise thereunder into chuck opening 10. lncombination with a button blank finishing machine having an endless series of button holding chucks moving in an orbital path to and from a feeding station and having means at said station for opening said chucks to:receive therein button blanks respectively; a feed plate 7 pair of strips-'saidfingerhaving'arecessiriitsside adapted toireceivefa button blank; an inclined button blank feed-1 ing chute having itslower end securedcn ,said-jplate and iadaptedito; feedf blanks successively into the recess of said: finger; a: travel arm reciprocably carried by said plate; ,a'pivot .arni mounted at the-.Iezidingefid of said 7 travelrarrn; yieldable means 'for normally swinging the pivot iarm' outwardly pf 'said travel arm; a fixeddog carriedbysaid plate adapted to engage said pivotarm at mounted on said machine overlying said chucks above said i station, said plate having a slot therein in its side in alignment With/the axis of movement of said chucks;'a pair .betweensaid pair of strips, saidifinger having' a,recess in its side adapted to receive abutton blank; an inclined button blank feeding chute having 'its'lower endsecured 7 on said plate and adapted to feed blanks successively into the" recessof said finger; a travel arm reciprocably mounted on said machine parallel'with and spaced from the axis of movement of the chucks at the feeding station;

a pivot arm mounted at" the leading end of said travel arm; yieldable means for normally swinging the pivot arm into engagement with a chuck as the latter passes the released, into position to engage the next successive chuck;

and a second pivot arm on the trailing end of said travel arm yieldably connected with said feed finger for recip-.

rocating the latter by and with the travelarm, said yieldable connection permitting the feed finger'to remain inoperative in event of jamming of blanks at the feeding 111A button feeding mechanism comprising a feed ,7 7 plate having a slot therein in its side; a. pair of spaced strips on said plate atopposite sides of said slot; a feed V finger reciprocably -mounted.on;said plate between said of spaced strips on said plate at opposite sides of said 7 slot; a' feedffin'ger reciprocably mounted'on said Pl te '14. In mechanismas set Eforth' able stop. on said travel arm normally engaged jbysaid second pivotarm'for maintaining said second pivot arm 7 substantially normal to the travel arm; a spring con; necting the second pivot arm and travel armiforholdingf the second pivot arm against'said, stop; a threaded ment-2 retracting'ithe travel arm -to normal position; 'to'engage the'next successive chuck; and a second pivot; arm on the trailing *end of said travelarm yieldably' connected with said feed 'finger fo'r'reciprocatin'g the latter by 'and' with the travel arm, said yieldable connection permitting the feed finger 'to remain inoperative 'in event of jam ming of blanksat the feeding finger.

12. In a mechanism as set forth in claim l 1 means '7 V for initially, maintaining the. blank in said recess, of the 7 feed finger until the feed finger is shifted.

13. lnimechanism .as set ,forth in claim 11, a

spring on the side of the feed finger disposed between therfinger and one of said strips adjacent the leading end of the feed finger, said spring being adapted :to bow outwardly from the finger when thefinger approaches tain the leadingbutton blank confinedyin said recess, until thepin is drawn outwardly of its bore; by the forward movement of therfeed finger.

ber adjustably'carried by the outer end of saidfSecond pivot arm; and normally engaging the trailing end ,of said feed finger to normally shift the, feed fingerwith said I travel arm; and a second spring connecting the outer end of the second pivot arm and thesaid feed fingerto yieldably maintain the'threaded'member in contactwith said feed finger.

15. 'In mechanism as set: forth in claim 11, a'tplate mounted onthe'tops of said strips above the feed finger;

anda pin onsaid feeding finger slidable in a slot in said' plate to limit the reciprocating limits offsaid feed;

finger.

16.v In mechanism as set forth in claim '15, and said plate having a transverse slot therein registering *with the feed chute for permitting the lowermost button blank 7 V in the chuck to enter the recess in *the feed finger, the

next adjacent blank in thechute being restrainedfrom movement'by engagementwith the side'of the feed finger when the latterisshifted towards feedingpositionzfl 2* iniclaim 11, an time.

"Apr. 29, 1952-

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