US2959845A

US2959845A - Apparatus for assembling articles

Info

Publication number: US2959845A
Application number: US542547A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joel R Johnson
Original assignee: Western Electric Co Inc
Current assignee: AT&T Corp
Priority date: 1955-10-25
Filing date: 1955-10-25
Publication date: 1960-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 1977-11-15

Description

Nov. 15, 1960 J. R. JOHNSON 2,959,845

APPARATUS FOR AssEMBLING ARTICLES Filed oct. 25, 1955 5 sheets-sheet 1 /A/ VN TO/i Kdo/wsa# W5/S. hat.

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Nov. 15, 1960 J. R. JOHNSON -APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING ARTICLES s sheets-sheet? Lidl] /A/ VFA/TOR 'f Ado/Wawy Filed 001'.. "25. 1955 Nov.v 15, 1960 J. R. JoHNsYoN f APPARATS FOR ASSEMBLING ARTICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed ,001.. 25, 1955 United, Seres Patent() APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING ARTICLES Joel R. Johnson, Chicago, Hl., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 25, 1955, Ser. No. 542,547

7 Claims. (Cl. 29-203) This invention relates to apparatus for assembling articles and more particularly to apparatus for assembling spoolheads and magnetic slugs on relay cores.

An object of this invention is to provide apparatus for rapidly assembling spoolheads and magnetic slugs on relay cores.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for assembling spoolheads and magnetic slugs on relay cores and for threading relay coil lead wires through apertures in the spoolheads being assembled on the cores.

In an apparatus forming a specific embodiment of the invention a spoolhead is held in a nest inra reciprocable holder in alignment with a relay core secured in a stationary nest. The holder is moved to force Vthe spoolhead onto the core, whereupon the core is removed from its nest and a plurality of magnetic slugs are manually placed thereon. The core is again positioned in the stationary nest andthestroke of the holder is adjusted whereby, when another spoolheadV is inserted into the reciprocated holder, this spoolhead is forced onto the core above the slugs so that the slugs havespoolheads onbothtopandbottom.A w Y Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will be- .come apparent by reference tothe following detailed description and the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred 4embodiment of .the invention, in whichI Fig. l'is a fragmentary plan view of the device'showing the threading needles for the coilleads in their lowermost position; Y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of the device showing the spoolhead held in the holder and the relay coil lead wires looped over the needles;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the device showing the holder in its raised position and the latch in position to engage the holder when it is moved down; y

Y Fig. 4 is an enlarged view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the spoolhead held in the reciprocable holder;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of the device showing the holder moved into engagement with thecore; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5 and showing the latch engaged with the holder; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line-77 of Fig. l showing the holder in position to assemble the lower spoolhead on the core;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the disclosure of Fig. 7 showing the relay coil lead wires threaded through the lower spoolhead by the needles;

Fig. 9 is a View taken along line 9-9 of Fig. l showing the handle in first position;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the device showing the holder moved in position to assemble the upper spoolhead on the core above the slugs;

Fig. Vl1 is a fragmentary plan view showing the air 'cylinder and piston; and ^"Fig.' l2 is a perspective view of the relay after the vspoolheads and magnetic slugs have been assembled thereon. l

ICC

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a base 11 is shown supporting a housing 12 having a nest 13 ,for receiving a lower end 16 of a relay core 17 of a 4wellknown type on which is mounted a relay coil 18 and upon which is to be assembled by the method and apparatus of the present invention a lower spoolhead 21, a plurality of apertured slugs 22, and an upper spoolhead 23, in that order. These elements, in assembled relationship, are best illustrated in Fig. l2.

A lower guide member 26 secured to the base 11 slidably supports a pair of rods 27 held in spaced relationship by an upper spacing plate 30 and a lower spacing plate 31, these

plates

30 and 31 being rigidly secured to the rod 27. A holder 32 having a nest 33 for receiving one of the

spoolheads

21 or 23 is secured to a shaft 34 which is slidably mounted in

apertures

37 and 38 in the lower spacing plate 31 and the lower guide member 26, respectively, so that the holder 32 is in alignment with the core 17 held in the nest 13 in the housing 12 and is movable toward the core 17. The structure including the

spacing plates

30 and 31 and the rods 27 may be considered a ram which moves the holder 32 to assemble the spoolhead on the core 17. A resilient member 39 secured to the holder 32 extends downward pastthe nest 33 therein for engaging the

spoolhead

21 or 23 to retain it in the nest 313. A tension spring 41 secured atone end to the holder 32 and at its other end to the upper spacing plate 30 urges the holder 32 upward into engagement with the lower spacing plate 31. A bolt 42 threaded into the holder 32 passes through a hole 43 in the lower spacing plate 31 whereby a head 44 of the bolt 42 engages 4the lower spacing plate 31 to limit downward movement of the holder 32 relative to the lower spacing plate 31. A handle 47 is secured to the holder 32 to permit the operator to manually move the holder to bring the

spoolhead

21 or 23 into engagement with thecore 17 to Yinsure that the

spoolhead

21 or 23 is properly alignedwith the core 17 (Figs. 5 and 6). A spring loaded latch 48 has a portion 49 which engages the holder 32 to prevent upward movement thereof when the holder 32 is manually moved into engagement with the core 17. A cam surface 50 on the portion 49 is engaged by the holder 32 to pivot the latch 48 out of the path of the holder 32 as it is moved down. Y

A pair of needles 53 mounted in apertures 54 in the lower guide member 26 and secured therein by set screws 55 extend downward through apertures 58 and 59 in the lower spacing plate 31.and the holderV 32, respectively. The needles 53 have hooked ends 60 which extend through holes 63 in the lower spoolhead 21 held inthe nest 33 whereby, when lead wires 64 of the relay coil `18 are looped over the hooked ends 60 of the needles 53 and the holder 32 is moved downward, the lead wires 64 are threaded through the holes 63 in the lower spoolhead 21. The upper ends of the needles 53 are in abutment with apertured pins 68 rotatably mounted in the lower guide member 26 whereby, when it is desirable to raise the needles 53 to assemble the upper spoolhead 23 on'the core 17, the pins 68 are rotated until apertures 69 (Fig. lr) therein are in alignment withthe needles 53 and the set screws 55 are loosened to permit the operator to manually move the needles 53 to a raised position (the upper ends of the needles 53 passing through the apertures 69 in the pins 68). The set screws 55 are then tightened to Yhold the needles 53 in this position. Y A i A shaft 72 secured to the upper spacing plate 30 passes through an aperture 73 in an upper guide member 75 and is secured to a piston 74 of an air cylinder 77 whereby, when the piston 74 is actuated, the rods 27 and the

spacing plates

30 and 31 are moved downward to engage the holder 32 to force it downward over the core 17.V A

The upper end of the core 17 is supported by a bar 78 which is slidably mounted in the housing 12, the lower end of the core 17 being held in the nest 13A as described above. A pin 79 passing through the bar 78Ais rotatably mounted in a block 80 which is slidably mounted in a slot 83 in a lever 84 secured to a shaft 85 passing through an aperture 87 in the housing 12. A spring 88 mounted in an aperture 89 in the lever 84 urges a plunger 92 into engagement with the housing 12 to maintain the lever 84 in a position to hold the bar 78 in engagement with the upper end of the core 17 to support it. An actuating lever 93 secured to the shaft *85 carries a roller 95 which is in alignment with `a cam member 96 secured to the lower spacing plate 31 whereby, when the piston 74 is actuated to move the

spacing plates

30 and 31 downward to engage the holder 32 (which has been manually moved into engagement with the core), the cam member 96 engages the roller 95 and moves it to pivot the lever 84 and withdraw the bar 78 from the path of the holder 32.

A clamping member 100 secured to a shaft 101 passing through an aperture 102 in the housing 12 is provided for engaging the lower end of the core 17 to hold the core in position when the bar 78 is moved out of the path of the holder 32. The clamping member 100 thus holds the core 17 in a cantilever fashion when the bar 78 is withdrawn. A lever 104 secured to the shaft 101 is pinned to a U-shaped bracket 105 which is threaded onto a rod 106 extending upward through the lower guide member 26 and the upper spacing plate 30 and which rod has a nut 109 threaded onto its upper end above the upper spacing plate 30. A compression spring 110 is mounted on the rod 106 between the lower guide member 26 and an adjusting nut 108 on the rod 106 whereby the rod is urged downward to pivot the lever 104 and the clamping member 100 to hold the core 17 in proper position. When the piston 74 is at its uppermost position the upper spacing plate engages the nut `109 and holds the rod 106 above 'its lowermost position, thereby compressing the spring 110 and pivoting the clamping member 100 to permit the insertion or removal of the core 17 from the device. The nut 109 is moved on the rod 106 to adjust the force applied by the compression spring 110 to hold the core 17in secured to a portion of the base 11. A rod 118 pinned to the locking member 113 extends upward through the lower guide member 26 and the upper spacing plate 30 and has a nut 119 threaded onto its upper end above the upper spacing plate 30. A compression spring 120 mounted on the rod 118 between the lower guide member 26 and the locking member 113 urges it toward locking engagement with the latch 48 whereby, when the

spacing plates

30 and 31 are moved downward toward the holder 32 held by the latch 48, the lower spacing plate 31 engages the cam surface 50 on the latch 48 and pivots it into locked engagement with the locking member 113, thereby preventing the latch 48 from engaging the holder 32 on its upward stroke. As the

spacing plates

30 and 31 are raised by the air cylinder 77 after the

spool head

21 or 23 is assembled on the core 17, the tension spring 41 maintains the holder 32 in engagement with the lower spacing plate 31, thereby elevating the holder 32 with the

spacing plates

30 and 31. When the

spacing plates

30 and 31 and the holder 32 approach their uppermost position the upper spacing plate 30 engages the nut 119 on the rod 118 and raises it, thereby compressing the spring 120 and unlocking the latch 48 whereby it is free to engage the holder 32 when it is once again moved downward into engagement with the core 17.

A plate 123 secured to the shaft 72 and having a pair of spaced bolts 124 depending therefrom is carried downward by the moving shaft 72 untilthe bolts 124 engage 'plate 31-Fig. 7).

the upper guide member 75, thereby positively limiting downward movement of the holder 32 to insure that the lower spoolhead 21 is properly positioned on the core 17. An irregular shaped stop 126 which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 72 in engagement with the upper guide member 75- is moved from a first position out of alignment with the bolts 124 into a second position in alignment with the bolts 124 whereby they engage the stop 126 instead of the upper guide member 75 when the shaft 72 is moved downward, thereby limiting downward movement of the holder 32 to position the upper spoolhead 23 on the core 17 (the slugs 22 having been manually loaded onto the core 17 after the lower spoolhead 21 was assembled thereon). In this manner the stroke of the holder 32 is adjusted to assemble the

spoolhead

21 or 23 in a predetermined position on the core 17. A handle 130 is secured to the stop 126 for moving it and a spring pressed latch 131 mounted in the upper guide member 75 enters

recesses

132 or 133 on the stop 126 to hold it in the `rst or second position, respectively. A rod 127 `secured to the upper guide member 75 extends upward through a notch 128 in the plate 123 to prevent rotation of the plate 123 relative to the stop 126.

A switch 136 secured to the base 11 for actuating the air cylinder 77 to move the piston 74 downward is operated by a cam 137 mounted on the holder 32 when it is moved downward into engagement with the core 17. A plate 138 pivoted to the base 11 and connected to the handle 130 by a link 139 has a flange 141 into which is threaded a short bolt 142 and a long bolt 144. Switch 147 secured to the upper spacing plate 30 for actuating the air cylinder 77 Yto move the piston 74 upward `is carried downward by the upper spacing plate 30 until the switch 147 engages and is closed by one of the

bolts

142 or 144, whereupon the air cylinder 77 is actuated to raise the

spacing plates

30 and 31 and the holder 32. If the handle 130 is in first position for assembling the lower spoolhead on the core 17 the switch 147 engages the short bolt 142 and, if the handle 130 is in second position for assembling the upper spoolhead 23 on the core 17, the

switch 147 engages the long bolt 144. In this manner the stroke of the holder 32 is controlled to properly position the spoolhead 2'1 or 23 on the core 17. `The bolts 124 carried by the plate 123 engage the upper guide member 75 on the stop 126 to limit downward movement of the holder 32 in case the switch 147 should fail for any reason.`

In operation, with the handle 130 set in the rst p05 sition, thecore 17 having a relay coil 18 mounted thereon is manually placed in the device with the lower end 16 of the core 17 in the nest 13 in the housing 12 and the upper end of the core 17 resting on the bar 78. The lower spoolhead 21 is inserted into the nest 33 in the holder 32 with the needles 53 projecting through the holes `63 in the spoolhead 21 and the relay coil lead wires 64 are manually looped over the hooked ends 60 of the needles 53 (Figs. 2 and 3). The operator then moves the handle 47 downward until the holder 32emgages the core 17` and the portion 49 of the latch 48 engages theholder 32 lto hold it down `(Fig. 6). At this point the cam 137 engages and closes the switch 136 which actuates the air cylinder 77 to movethe piston 74 downward. As the piston 74 moves down the lower spacing plate 31 moves toward engagement with the holder` 32 and the `spring 1110 is compressed to pivot the clamping member 100 to a position where it holds the core 17 in proper position. 'I'he cam member 96 then engages the roller and pivots the` actuating lever`93 to withdraw the bar 78 from the path of the holder 32 (which is moved downward when it is engaged by the lower spacing The lower spacing plate 31 now engages they cam surface `50 on thelatch 48 and pivots it into locked engagement with the locking member 113 (Fig. 7). The piston 74 moves the holder 32 and `the lower spoolhead 21 downward until the switch `li'l'lis closed by engagement with the short bolt 142 threaded into the ange 141, whereupon the piston 74 moves upward yto raise the holder 32. The bolts 124 engage the upper guide member 75 to stop the holder 32 if the switch 147 should fail. After the lower spacing plate 31 and the holder 32 clear the core l17 the ca-m member 96 clears the roller 95 and the spring 88 pivots the lever 84 to move the bar 78 into position to support the upper end of the core 17. As the

spacing plates

30 and 31 and the holder 32 reach their uppermost positions the rod 118 is raised slightly to release the latch 131 and the rod 106 is raised slightly to pivot the clamping member 100 and free the lower end of the core 17.

The core 17 is then removed from the device and the slugs 22 are manually loaded onto the core above the lower spoolhead 21,

The set screws 55 securing the needles 53 are then loosened and the pins 68 are rotated until the apertures 69 therein are in alignment with the needles 53, whereupon the needles are Ymoved upward to a position where they clear the upper Ispoolhead 23 when it is placed in the nest 33 in the holder 32. The set screws 55 are Ythen tightened to hold the needles 53 in this raised position.

The handle 130 is moved to the second position to align the long bolt 144 with the switch 147 and to align the stop 126 with the bolts 4124, and the upper spoolhead 23 is placed in the nest 33 in the holder 32. The core 17 having the coil 18, the lower spoolhead 21 and the slugs 22 assembled thereon is placed in the device and the operator moves the handle I47 downward to close the switch 136, whereupon the device functions as described above to assemble theupper spoolhead 23 on the core 17 above the slugs 22.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of this invention. Numerous other arrangements may -be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall Within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A device yfor assembling spoolheads on cores including coils having lead wires comprising a supporting member having a nest for receiving one end of the core, a movable member for engaging the other end of the core to partially support it, a movable holder for supporting an apertured first spoolhead in alignment with the core, actuating and interconnecting means for moving the holder toward the core whereby the core enters the aperture in the rfirst spoolhead, said iirst spoolhead also having a plurality of holes through which the lead wires are to be threaded, means -for threading the lead wires through said holes as the rst spoolhead is moved toward the core, means responsive to the actuating and interconnecting means for clamping said one end of the core in the nest in the supporting member, means responsive to the actuating and interconnecting means for withdrawing the movable core engaging member from the path of the holder to permit said holder to force the iirst spoolhead onto the core, control means for adjusting the actuating and interconnecting means to vary the travel of the holder whereby a second spoolhead assembled on the core is spaced a predetermined distance from the first spoolhead.

2. In a device for assembling spoolheads on cores upon which are mounted coils having lead wires, a base, a housing mounted on the base and having a nest for receiving the lower end of a core, a movable member mounted on the housing for `engaging the upper end of the core to partially support it, a holder slidably mounted above the base for holding an apertured first spoolhead in alignment with the core, actuating and interconnecting means mounted on the base for moving the holder to force the core into the aperture in the first spoolhead and thus assemble said rst spoolhead on the core, said rst 6 1 -spoolhead having aV plurality of holes through which the lead wires are to be threaded, means for threading the coil lead wires through the holes in the, first spoolhead as the holder is moved toward the core, a clamping member operated by the actuating and interconnecting means -for holding the lower end of the core -in the nest in the housing, means actuated by the actuating and interconnecting means for withdrawing the movable core engaging members from the path of the holder, a switch for controlling the actuating and interconnecting means to withdraw the holder from the core, said switch being mounted on the actuating and'interconnecting me'ans for movement therewith, andmeans mounted on the -base -for closing the switch at a plurality of predetermined points in its path of travel whereby a second spoolhead assembled on the core is spaced a predetermined distance from the firstspoolhead. l

V3. A device for assembling spoolheads on relay cores having coils mounted thereon, comprising a base, a housing mounted on the base and having a nest for receiving the lower end of a core having a coil mounted thereon, a bar slidably mounted in .the housing for engaging the upper end of the core to partially support it, a plurality of guide members mounted on the base, a pair of rods slidably mounted on one of the guide members, a pair of apertured plates -secured to the rods, an apertured holder slidably mounted on the plates and having a nest for holding an apertured iirst spoolhead whereby the aperture in the first spoolhead is in alignment with a portion of `the core which is to be forced into said aperture, means relay coil looped over the hooked members are threaded through the iirst spoolhead when the holder is moved toward the core, means secured to the holder for moving it into engagement with the core, Va latch `for maintaining the holder in engagement with the core, an air cylinder mounted on the base, a movable piston mounted in said air cylinder, a shaft secured to the piston and to one of the plates whereby actuation of the piston in the air cylinder moves the plates and the rods, means mounted on the base responsive to the pisition of the holder -for actuating said piston to move said rods and plates to lforce the first spoolhead onto the core, means responsive to the position of the plates for withdrawing the core-engaging bar from the path of the holder, a clamping member mounted on the base and responsive yto the position of the plates yfor holding 1e core in position when the core-engaging bar is withdrawn, means responsive to the position of the plates for unlocking the latch to permit the holder to be withdrawn from the core with the rods and plates, a switch -for controlling the air cylinder to withdraw the holder from the core, said switch being mounted on one of the plates for movement into alignment with the projecting elements to limit movev ment of the holder to insure that the second spoolhead is spaced at said predetermined distance from the first spoolhead.

4. A device for assembling an apertured spoolhead on an elongated core, comprising a base, means on said base -for engaging the core at one end and holding theV core in a cantilever fashion to leave the other end of the core free, means mounted on the base for temporarily engaging and supporting the ree end of the core,

a ram on said base, a holder mounted on said ram for carrying a spoolhead in alignment with and into engagement with the free end of the core, switch means for initiating operation of said ram, means for actuating said Switch means whereby said ram is actuated to move said holder and force the spoolhead onto the core, means connected to said temporary core engaging and supporting means, and camming means connected to said ram and movable therewith for engaging said Ilastmentioned means to `withdraw said temporary core engaging and supporting means just prior to ythe spoolhead being forced onto the core.

5. A device for assembling an apertured spoolhead on an Velongated core, comprising a base, means on the base for holding `the core atone end in a cantilever fashion to leave the other vend free, a ram mounted on the base, a holder slidably mounted `on the ram for carrying a spoolhead in alignment with the free end of the core, said holder being capable of movement with respect to the ram to place the spoolhead in engagement with thefree end of the core, switch means for initiating operation of the ram, and means for actuating the switch means when the holder has been moved to place the spoolhead in engagement with the core, whereby the ram is `actuated to move the holder and force the spoolhead onto the core.

6. A device for assembling an apertured spoolhead on an elongated core, comprising a base, means on the `base for holding the core at one end in a cantilever tuating the switch means when the holder `has been moved to place the spoolhead `inengzigement with the core, whereby the ram is actuated to move'said holder and force theA spoolhead onto the core. p

7. A device for assembling anV apertured spoolhead on an elongated core, comprising a base, means on the base 4for holding the core at one end in a cantilever fashion to leave the other end free, a ram mounted on the` base, a holder mounted on the ram for carrying a spoolhead in alignment with and into engagement with the free end of the core, switch means for initiating operation Vof the ram in one direction, means for actuating the switch means whereby `the ram is actuated to move the holder and force the spoolhead onto the core, a second switch means for actuating said ram inthe reverse direction, said second switch means being positioned adjacent the'path'of travel of said ram, a plurality of Vswitch engaging elements also positioned adjacent the path of travel of said ram at spaced apart points along the path, means movably mounted on said base for selectively 4moving one or the other of said elements into the `path of said second switch means for engagement therewith when said ram is moved, whereby a first spoolhead and a second spoolhead may be assembled on said core a predetermined distance` apart.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,639,700 Martin Aug. 23, 1927 2,281,479 Chirelstein Apr. 28, 1942 2,355,833 Bertalan Aug. 15, 1944 2,425,127 Schafer Aug. 5, 1947 2,584,231 Schmidt Feb. 5, 1952 2,612,681 Camras Oct. 7, 1952 2,702,936 Hurt Mar. 1, 1955 2,750,659 Sassi June 19, 1956