US3023647A

US3023647A - Apparatus for forming workpieces

Info

Publication number: US3023647A
Application number: US749496A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles E Bawtinheimer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-07-18
Filing date: 1958-07-18
Publication date: 1962-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 1979-03-06

Description

March 6, 1962 c, E. BAWTINHEIMER 3,023,647

APPARATUS FOR FORMNG WORKPIECES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 18, 1958 Ll@ @nu 006 INVENTOR.

CHARLS E BAWUNHHMER March 6, 1962 c. E. BAWTINHEIMER 3,023,647

APPARATUS FOR FoRMNG woRKPIEcEs 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 18, 1958 INVENTOR.

CHARLES E EAW-Y \N EWNER BY ff/M, M4 1 WM United States atent 3,923,647 APPARATUS FR FORMIN G vi/ORKPHECES Charles E. Bawtinhemer, 2469 Bamman Drive, Midland, Mich. Filed July 18, 1958, Ser. No. 749,496 Claims. (Cl. 77-32.2)

This invention relates to apparatus for forming workpieces in strict accordance with a preformed model or pattern and more particularly the invention pertains to apparatus for use in drilling linger holes in bowling balls at such locations and of such configuration that the drilled holes will conform to the span and normal curvature of the users ngers.

Most of the bowling balls currently in use are provided with linger holes which are drilled straight into the ball and with diameters to accommodate the thumb and one or more other ngers of a users hand. Bowling balls formed in this manner are rather dimcult to use with any great degree of control inasmuch as the ball must be supported solely by the pressure exerted by squeezing the thumb and fingers towards one another. The difficulties inherent in bowling balls formed in the described manner have been recognized heretofore and various proposals have been made to overcome them. For example, it has been proposed that rubber or the like pads be inserted in the finger holes to provide for a more secure grip and some of these pads have been shaped to approximate the curvature of the users lingers. More frequently, the bowling ball users will coat their fingers with a chalk or rosin substance whereas others attempt to obtain a form-fitting grip by whittling the finger holes in a bowling ball. It also has been proposed to form the nger holes of a bowling ball along the arc of a circle, thereby approximating to some extent the natural curvature of a users fingers. The difficulty with this particular construction, however, is that it, like the straight hole method, forms holes in a bowling ball which only approximate the spacing or span of a prospective users fingers.

Ideally, a bowling ball should have its finger holes spaced according to the spacing of the intended users fingers and of a diameter to accommodate the fingers freely, and the holes should be formed on a curvature corresponding to the natural curvature of the users ngers. Such a bowling ball naturally would fit the users hand better, provide a better grip, and enable the user to have more control over the ball inasmuch as there would be less chance of the ball slipping from his grasp prior to the time he intended to release it.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for forming linger holes in a bowling ball corresponding to the spacing and configuration of the users fingers.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the kind referred to which is capable of forming a workpiece such as a bowling ball in strict accordance with a preformed pattern or model,

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the kind described which is capable of drilling not only curved, form-fitting finger holes in bowling balls, but also is capable of drilling straight holes when desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out specifically or will become apparent from the following description when it is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary, diagrammatic view illustrating the manner of forming linger holes in a pattern or model bowling ball;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side-elevational view of apparatus formed in accordance with the invention;

"ice

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partly sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational view of a detail of the apparatus shown in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a partly sectional view of a bowling ball formed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a wiring diagram for a portion of the apparatus; and

FIGURE 7 is a wiring diagram for another part of the apparatus.

Apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 2 as comprising a base 1 having its upper surface slotted as at 2 to receive a slide 3 which is slideable back and forth in a horizontal plane between dovetail guides 4 provided on the base. The supporting plate 3 is of less width than the base 1 and may be secured in a selected position of adjustment relative to the base 1 by means of a number of set screws 5, two of which are shown in FIGURE 2. Connected by means of bolts 6 to opposite ends of the base 1 are two pairs of supporting arms 7, each of the supporting arms being provided with axles or shafts 8 on which are rotatably journaled rollers 9, the rollers on each of the arms 7 being vertically spaced from one another. Above the level of the base 1 is located a supporting plate 11 having a laterally extending ange 12 at its opposite ends which is received between the rollers 9 so as to be supported thereby for to and fro movements in a horizontal plane parallel to the plane of movement of the slide 3.

Adjacent to each of the four corners of the slide 3 is provided a journal block 13 in which is rotatably mounted a shaft 14 which is threaded at its upper end as indicated at 15. The upper, threaded end of each of the shafts 14 extends through a threaded opening formed in a mounting platform 16, and each of the projecting ends of the shafts 14 is provided with a sprocket Wheel 17 around which is trained a sprocket chain 1S. The platform 16 is so mounted that it is horizontal, but is capable of movement in a vertical plane upon rotation of the shaft 14.

Means is provided for rotating the shafts 14 and comprises an electric motor 19 which may be mounted on the slide 3 adjacent to one of the shafts 14. The armature shaft 2t) of the motor has fixed thereto a bevel gear 21 which meshes with a similar gear 22 fixed on the adjacent shaft 14. The `arrangement is such that operation of the motor `19 will cause rotation of the adjacent shaft 14 and the rotation of the one shaft 14 will be transmitted to each ofthe others via the sprocket wheels 17 and the chains 18 so as to cause movement of the platform 16 up or down, depending on the direction of drive of the motor 19.

The mounting platform 16 is provided with a pair of openings in each of which is fixed a bushing 23 by means of which a pair of

shafts

24 and 25 are rotatably supported on the platform 16. Each of the

shafts

24 and 25 may carry at its upper end a sprocket wheel 26 and 27, respectively, around which is trained a sprocket chain 2S, and the shaft 25 may be provided with a bevel gear 29 fixed at its upper end in a position to mesh with a similar gear 30 fixed to the armature shaft 31 of an electric motor 32 supported on the platform 16. The arrangement is such that operation of the motor 32 will cause rotation of the shaft 2S and rotation of the latter shaft will be transmitted to the shaft 24 via the sprocket wheels 26, 27 and the chain 28.

Fixed to the lower end of the shaft 25 is a yoke 33 (see FIGURE 4) having a pair of spaced apart arms 34, each of which is provided with an opening adapted to receive a stub shaft 35. Corresponding ends of each stub shaft are fixed to a mounting harness 35 comprising a pair of spaced side arms 37 interconnected at corresponding ends by a transverse bar 38 and being rigidly connected at their opposite ends to a plate 39 having a centrally located opening 48 therein. rihe distance between the plate 39 and the transverse bar 33 is such as to accommodate a workpiece such as a bowling ball blank B therebetween, but the diameter of the opening di) is less than the diameter of the blank B so as to prevent the latter from falling through the opening. The crossbar` 33 of the harness is provided with a threaded opening through which extends `a threaded shaft 41 having a clamping block 42 at its lower end shaped to correspond to the curvature of the blank B and adapted to bear against the latter to clamp the blank firmly in the plate opening 4d. The upper end of the shaft 41 may be provided with a crank or handle 43 to facilitate turning the shaft.

The connection of the harness 36 to the yoke 33 is such that the hardness and the blank carried thereby are rotatable about a horizontal axis corresponding to the axis of the stub shafts 35. In order to determine the angular position of the harness, one of the shafts 35 may have fixed thereto a protractor 44 having a scale 45 inscribed thereon adapted to be read in conjunction with a pointer 46 fixed on the adjacent yoke arm 34. To tix the harness in a selected position of adjustment, the arm 34 of the yoke may be provided with a bracket 47 in which is adjustably mounted a set screw 48 that is adapted to bear against the protractor 44.

The shaft 24 is provided with a pattern or model supporting apparatus similar to the workpiece supporting apparatus just described and corresponding elements of the model supporting apparatus are numbered the same as the elements of the workpiece supporting apparatus,

but followed by the letter a. The difference between the two supporting devices is that the stub shafts 35a, instead of being fixed to a harness such as the harness 36, may be screwed or otherwise secured to a mounting board or panel 148 on which a model `or pattern M is secured.

The model or pattern M comprises a hemispherical mass of initially workable but hardenable material such as wax, putty, plaster of Paris, or the like, which may be clamped or fixed in any suitable manner to the mounting board 148. To form the model, the mass of material, in a semiplastic state, is supported on a table 49 or the like and the user for whom a bowling ball is to be made inserts a desired nurnber of his fingers into the mass to form finger holes therein. The user works his fingers in the mass to form holes of the desired shape and configuration and conforming substantially to the normal span and configuration of the lusers fingers. Thereafter, the mass of material may be permitted to harden, whereupon the model M may besupported on its supporting apparatus in the manner shown in FIGURE 2.

On the upper surface of the supporting plate 11 is fixed a'pair of

mounting brackets

51 and 52, `the spacing between them corresponding'substantially tothe spacing between the

shafts

24 and 25. On the bracket 51 is supported an electric motor 52a having leads 53 and 54 connected through a switch (not shown) to a suitable source of electric energy. The armature shaft 55 of the motor is directed upwardly towards the bowling ball blank B and is fitted at its upper end with a cutting toolV 56 of a suitable kind capable of boring into the blank. v

On the bracket S2 is fixed in any suitable manner a tab or ear S7 to which is pivotally connected, by means of a pin 58, one end `of a feeler or follower device 59. The device 59 comprises a rod 6) which receives at its Vupper end a Vsocket member 61 formed at the lower end of a knob V62 the same size and shape as the tool 56. At the lbase pf Vthe socket formed in 4the socket member 61V is a normally closed

switch having blades

63 and 64 and adapted to be opened upon telescoping movement of the arm et) and the socket member 61 by engagement with a post 65 formed at the upper end of the arm 60 and projecting towards the switch blade 53. vThe blade 63 and the post 55 normally are maintained out of engagement by means of a spring 6e which is interposed between the upper end of the arm 60 and the base of the socket formed in the socket member 61.

Also mounted on the supporting bracket 52 is a vertical post 67 to which is secured one end of a tension spring 68, the other end of the latter being fastened to an eye 69 fixed on the rod 69. The arrangement is such that the follower device normally is urged to rock about the axis of the pin 58 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG- URE 2, and the extent of clockwise rocking movement of the device 59 is limited by a stop member 7 (i mounted on the bracket 52 in a position between the device 59 and the post 67.

As has been pointed out earlier, the supporting plate il is mounted for to and fro movement between the several pairs of rollers 9. Means is provided for effecting to and fro movements or" the member 11 and the parts supported thereby and comprises a reversible, D.C. motor 7i mounted on the base 1 and having its armature shaft 72 connected to a coupling 73 which also is connected to a driving shaft 74 forming part of a gear reduction mechanism '75 of known construction and supported also on the base 1. The gear reduction mechanism includes a driven shaft 76 which is threaded as indicated at 77 and which extends through a threaded opening 78 `formed in the supporting member 11. The arrangement is such that operation of the motor 71 will cause the supporting plate l1 and its associated parts to be moved to the left or to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 2, depending upon the direction or" rotation of the motor.

The invention includes means for actuating the motor 7 i and preferably comprises a light reflective device such as a mirror 79 rigidly connected to the follower arm 66 and arranged to receive a beam of light directed from a lamp 8G or similar device through a lens 81 and retiect it in the general direction of a pair of spaced apart photoelectric cells 82 and 83. The construction and arrangement of the motor actuating mechanism are such that, when the follower device S9 is in a vertical position, the light beam reected by the mirror 79 passes between the photoelectric cells 82 and 83 so that no more light falls on one than on the other. Y

The photoelectric cells 82 and 83 form part of a circuit illustrated in FIGURE 6. Other elements of the circuit include a pair of triode electron tubes 84 and 84a and the motor 71. The circuit derives its energy from one or more transformers, preferably one, but for purposes of illustration the circuit is disclosed as including four primary transformer windings P-1, P-Z, P-3 and P4. Associated with the primary winding P-1 is a secondary winding S1 connected at one of its ends to a wire 85 which is connected to one of the terminals of the photoelectric cell 82 and also to one of the terminals of the motor 71. The other terminal of the transformer winding S-1 is connected through a resistor 86 to a line 87 which is connectedto the other terminal of the photoelectric cell 82 and to the grid S8 of the triode 84. The plate S9 of theY tube 84 is connected by a wire 90 to one side of a secondary winding S-Z associated with the primary winding P-Z; the other side of the winding S-Z being connected toa wire 91 which leads to one end of a secondary winding S-3 and which also is connectedto one terminal of the photoelectric cell 83, the cathode 92 of the tube 84a, and to the remaining terminal of the motor 71. From the other terminal of the .secondary winding S-3 extends a line 93 which is, connected through a resistor 94 to a terminal of the photoelectricV cell 83 and to the grid 95 of the tube 84a. The plate 96 of the tube 8,5 is connected by a wire 97 to one terminal of the secondary winding S-4, the other terminal of which is Vconnected to the wire 35. The wire S5, as is shown in FIGURE 6, also is connected to the cathode 92a of the tube 84. The terminals of the motor 71 are bridged by a wire 98 in which is located a capacitor 99. Also included as part of the electrical circuit shown in FIG- URE 6 is a constantly excited field winding 100 for the D.C. motor 71. The apparatus shown in FIGURE 6 is essentially a pair of interconnected rectifier circuits arranged to balance one another except during certain conditions yet to be explained. If necessary or desired, suitable amplication stages may be incorporated in the circuit between the photocells and the motor 71.

Another part of the electrical apparatus is disclosed in FIGURE 7 as comprising a wire 101 leading from the motor 19 through a push button switch 102 to a source of energy such as 110 volt A.C. From the other terminal of the motor 19 leads a wire 103 which is connected to the movable switch blade 63 to the source of energy.

To condition the apparatus for operation, the model M having preformed finger openings 50 therein is mounted on the stub shafts 35a of the model supporting shaft 24. Thereafter, the slide 3, the supporting plate 11, the supporting platform 16 and the backing member 148 are adjusted relatively to one another so that the knob 62 of the follower device 59 enters one of the preformed finger openings 50 and bears against one of the walls of the opening in such manner that the arm 60 is located in a vertical position. Simultaneously, the bowling ball blank B is inserted in its harness 36 and the latter adjusted to the same angularity as the model mounting plate 148, as is determined by the positions of the protractors 45 and 45a. In these conditions of the parts, the cutting tool S6 will be in a position to bear against the surface of the blank B to bore an opening in the latter.

When the apparatus has been conditioned in the manner described, the motor 52a may be started to drive the cutting tool 56. As the cutting of the blank B progresses, the push button 102 may be actuated by the machine operator to cause the motor 19 to turn the shafts 14 in such direction as to cause the platform 16 to lower, thereby feeding the blank B tothe cutting tool 56. As long as the follower arm 60 is in a vertical position, light reflected from the lamp 80 will pass between the photoelectric cells 82 and 83, energizing neither of them, with the result that, at any given instant, the grid of one triode tube 84 will be biasedvnegatively and its plate positively, whereas the grid of the other triode tube will be biased positively and its plate biased negatively. As a result, the motor 71 is in a condition of electrical balance and no movement of the mounting plate 11 takes place. As the platform 16 is lowered, however, the wall of the finger opening which receives the knob 62 will fall away from the latter, thereby enabling the spring 68 to swing the arm about the axis of the pivot pin 58. As the arm swings, the mirror 79 also will swing so as to reiiect light from the lamp 80 to one or the other of the photoelectric cells 82 and 83, thereby energizing the affected cell and completing a circuit to the motor 71 to cause it to drive the mounting plate 11 and its associated parts in one direction or the other tending to restore the arm 60 to its vertical position. As a result, the knob 62 of the follower device 59 will be enabled to follow the contour of the linger opening 50 and since the motor 52a follows the movements of the mounting plate 11, the opening 50a drilled in the bowling ball blank will conform to the preformed opening 50 in the model M. As the drilling operation of the blank B proceeds, the motor 32 may be operated so as slowly to cause rotation of the blank B and the model M about the axes of their

respective shafts

25 and 24. Rotation of the shafts 24 and '25 will assure reproduction in the blank B of the holes formed in the model.

When the platform 16 has been lowered to an extent such that the knob 62 of the follower device 59 engages the base of the opening 50 in the model, further lowering movement of the platform 16 will compress the spring 66 interposed between the arm 60 and the socket part 61 so as to enable the projection 65` to engage the spring switch arm 63 and open the switch, thereby causing operation of the motor 19 to cease. Thereafter, the motor 19 may be operated in the reverse direction to withdraw the model and the blank in a direction away from the mounting plate 11 so as to free the follower device and the cutting tool from the bores of their respective holes.

When one of the holes 50a has been formed in the blank B, the model M may be readjusted relative to the follower vdevice 59, and the blank B adjusted an equal amount to the cutting tool 56, so as to effect the cutting of a second opening 50a in the blank B corresponding to a second opening 50 in the model M. This procedure may be repeated for as many linger openings as are to be formed in the blank B. Ultimately, a bowling ball such as is shown in FIGURE 5 will be formed with finger openings 50a conforming exactly to the openings 50 which were preformed in the model M. In this connection, it is not necessary to conform to the configuration of the users fingers those regions of the finger holes which would be adjacent to the backs of the users fingers when the ball is in use, inasmuch as these regions of the finger holes are not in contact with the users fingers. Accordingly, whenever reference to conformation of the finger holes to a users fingers is made, it is intended to refer to those portions of the finger holes which would lie adjacent to the inner surfaces of the users fingers. However, it is not intended to limit the invention to conforming only the inner portions of the finger holes to the users ngers, as the holes may be formed in such manner as to approximate the shapes of the users fingers.

The disclosed embodiment is representative of a presently preferred apparatus according to the invention, but is intended to be illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is dened in the claims.

I claim:

l. Apparatus for forming an opening in a workpiece according to the contour of an opening in a preformed model compiising means for supporting said model and sa'id workpiece; means mounting said supporting means for movement in two planes normal to each other; a follower device; means mounting said follower device for movement along the contour of the opening in said model as said model is moved in either of said planes; a cutting tool engageable with said workpiece upon movement of said supporting means in either of said planes; unitary means mounting said follower device and said cutting tool for conjoint movement relative to said supporting means in a plane parallel to one of said two planes and in a direction normal to the direction of movement of said supporting means in either of its planes; and means operatively connected to the mounting means for said follower device and said tool and responsive to movement of said model for effecting movement of said follower device and said cutting tool in the plane of movement of their mounting means.

2. Apparatus for forming an opening in a workpiece according to the contour of an opening in a preformed model comprising means vfor supporting said model and said workpiece; means mounting said supporting means for movement in two planes normal to each other; a follower device including light reflective means; means mounting said follower device for movement along the contour of the opening of said model as said model is moved in either of said planes, a cutting tool engageable with said workpiece upon movement of said supporting means in either of said planes; unitary means mounting said follower device and said cutting tool for conjoint movement relative to said supporting means in a plane parallel one of said two planes and in a direction normal to the direction of movement of said supporting means in either of its planes; a source of illumination arranged to illuminate said light reiiective means; and light sensitive means operatively connected to the mounting means for said follower device and said tool and responsive to light reflected by said reflective means for effecting movement of said follower device and said cutting tool in the plane of movement of their mounting means.

3.V Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including means for rotating said model and said workpiece.

4. Apparatus for forming an opening in a workpiece according to the contour of an opening in a preformed model comprising a base; a platform mountedon said base for movements towards and away from said base and for movements parallel to said base; a support; means mounting said support intermediate said platform and said base for movements in two mutually normal directions in a plane parallel to said base; model supporting means; means mounting said model supporting means on said platform for movement therewith; workpiece supporting means; means mounting said workpiece supporting means on said platform for movement therewith and conjointly with the movement of said model supporting means; a cutting tool; means mounting said cutting tool on said support in a position to engage said workpiece and for movement relative thereto with said support; a follower device engageable with said model; mounting means for said follower device on said support and movable with the latter; means connecting said follower device to its said mounting means for movement with the latter and for movement relative to its said mounting means so as to permit said follower device to follow the contour `of the opening in said model; and means operatively connecting said follower device and said support and responsive to movement of said follower device along the contour of the opening in said model for moving said support and consequently said cutting tool an amount proportional to the movement of said follower device.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 including means connected to said model supporting means and to said workpiece supporting means for rotating said model and said workpiece.

6. The apparatus set'forth in claim 6 wherein said operatively connecting means comprises light reflective means on said follower device; a source of illumination arranged to illuminate said light reflective device; light sensitive means arranged to receive light reflected by said reective device; and electrical means operated by reflection of light to said light sensitive means.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 9 wherein said f ylight sensitive means comprises a pair of spaced apart photoelectric cells and wherein said light reflective device is so arranged on said follower device that light normally is reflected between said cells so as to fall on neither.

8. Apparatus for forming iinger holes in a bowling ball blank in conformity with nger holes in a preformed model, said apparatus comprising means for supporting said model; means for supporting said blank; rst mounting means mounting each of said supporting means for conjoint movement in -both vertical and horizontal planes and for conjoint rotation about spaced axes; a movable follower device adapted to lfollow the contour of a hole formed in said model; a cutting tool adapted to cut a hole in said blank; second mounting means unitarily mounting said follower device and said cutting tool adjacent to said model supporting means and to said blank supporting means respectively and for conjoint movement in a horizontal plane in a direction normal to the directions of movement of each -of said supporting means in each of the first mentioned planes; driving means connected to said second mounting means for driving the latter -to and fro, said driving means including an electric motor in circuit with light sensitive means operable upon illumination to supply electric energy to said motor to drive the latter; a source of illumination; and light reilective means carried by said follower device and movable with the latter as the follower device follows the contour of said hole in said model to reflect light from said source to said light sensitive means.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim l2 including power means connected to said first mounting means operable to move the latter vertically towards and away from said second mounting means.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including power cut-oi means carriedrby said follower device and connected to said power means for disabling the latter upon movement of said iirst mounting means a distance corresponding to the depth of the hole in said model.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS