US3122177A - Spring unit structure forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 25, 1964 E. A. KAMP s am: mm: sT UcTuRE FORMING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 23, 1961 w W N m. QM N 1% Q w g ww km Feb. 25, 1964 E. A. KAMP 3,122,177

SPRING UNIT STRUCTURE FORMING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 23, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

W Mada/Q1 Feb. 25, 1964 E. A. KAMP 3,122,177

SPRING UNIT STRUCTURE FORMING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 23, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY. 53 w 2&

Feb. 25, 1964 M 3,122,177

SPRING UNIT STRUCTURE FORMING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 23, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 33 i/Zji/m INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,122,177 SE RENG UNET EZTRUCTURE APPARATUS Ewald A. Kemp, Chicago, 151., assignor to The Englander empany, 122., Chicago, iii, a corporation oi Belaware Filed den. 23, 1%51, Ser. No. 84,l9 3 Claims. (1. res-92.7)

The present invention relates to machines for assembling coil springs together by means of helical retaining or binding elements to form spring cores for inner spring mattresses, and is concerned more particularly with the production of the helical spring retaining or binding elements used in these machines.

'Machines of this character form inner spring mattress cores by assembling together successive rows of coil springs by means of helical spring retaining elements, each row of springs in a mattress core being bound to the next adjacent row of springs by two helical retaining eleents which extend transversely across the rnatress core along the upper and lower sides, respectively, of the core. In a typical assembly machine of this character, the pair of helicfl spring retaining elements used to bind each successive row of springs to the preceding row of springs assembled in the core being formed are driven simultaneously into assembled relation to the coacting springs.

In mattress core assembly machines of the type which are the special concern of this invention, successive pairs of helical retaining elements are produced in timed relation to cycling of the machine by means of elical retaining element supply apparatus which forms each successive pair of retaining elements simultaneously. Conventional helical retaining element forming apparatus previously used in spring core assembly machines of the character recited has been characterized by a number of shortcomings and inadequacies which are overcome by the present invention.

Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide, for use with a spring core assembly machine of the character recited, new and improved means for automatically forming spring retaining helices from wire stock, in a manner which assures unfailing dimensional accuracy in the length of each helix formed, thus providing full effectiveness of the individual retaining helices upon assembly of the retaining helices in a mattress core, while at the same time obviating any necessity for trimming the assembled helices.

Another object is to provide, for forming pairs of spring retaining helices simultaneously, new and improved helices producing apparatus which operates automatically and dependably to form each spring retaining helix of each successively formed pair of helices to an exact predetermined length.

Another object is to provide an improved spring retaining helices forming machine of the character recited which utilizes a continuously moving mechanical power drive to intermittently produce pairs or" spring retaining helices, each of which has a longitudinal length accurately conforming to prede errru'ned dimensional specifications.

Another object is to provide improved apparatus of the character recited, in which pairs of spring retaining helices are formed simultaneously from two wires which are driven simultaneously through a pair of helices forming "ice dies by means of common power drive structure which is operated continuously, thus obviating the necessity for starting and stopping the power drive srtucture, even though the helices are formed only intermittently.

Another object is to provide wire helix producing apparatus in which the length of each of two helices formed simultaneously by the operation of a common power drive is determined independently of the length of the other helix to accurately conform to predetermined dimensional specifications.

Another object is to provide improved wire helix forming apparatus in which the formation of individual helices and the cutting of the individual helices to exact lengths are controlled by a common power actuator.

A further object is to provide spring retaining helices producing app ratus of the character recited in the preceding objects which is inherently capable or" operating dependably without strain over a long service life.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FZGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a spring core assembly machine incorporating the fllustrated embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken with reference to the line 22 of FIG. 1, and illustrating the relationship of a helical retaining element to coacting springs which are assembled together in the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end View of the helices forrnin apparatus taken with reference to the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale, taken with reference to the line 44 of FIG. 3;

5 is a vertically extended, side elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in PEG. 3, as viewed from the right-hand side of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a plan view looking down from the top, with reference to FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a simplified sectional view, taken with reference to the line 7-7 of iFl-G. 1, and illustrating control witches which respond to the positioning of a helical spring retaining element in the assembly machine;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the mechanisms and controls used in producing successive pairs of helices;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of helix forming s ructure, taken generally along the line 9-9 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional View, taken generally along the line ltl'l=3 of BIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional View, taken with reference to line 11-11 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 12 is a side view of a typical pair of spring assembly helices used in the machine.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the invention is embodied in an assembly machine 20 designed to assemble spring cores for innerspring mattresses from preformed coil springs. The machine 2% comprises a spring assembly unit 22 defining a spring receiving throat 24 in which rows of coil springs 26 are positioned for assembly into an innerspring mattress core comprising a plurality of juxtaposed rows of springs. The individual springs 26 have a generally hourglass or dumbbell shape in which spiral spring convolutions extend between circular convolutions 28 on opposite ends of the springs. The convolutions 28 on the lower ends of adjacent springs in two successive rows of springs 26 inserted into the throat 24 are illustrated in FIG. 2.

The basic construction of the spring assembly unit 22 of the machine 20 is well known in the art. The machine unit 22 illustrated in the drawings is commercially available from the Frank L. Wells Company, of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Hence, it is unnecessary here to present a detailed description of the various mechanisms used in this machine unit.

The assembly in the machine unit 22 of a spring core unit for an innerspring mattress begins with the placement of a row of springs 26 in the assembly throat 2.4. This first row of springs is located in the throat 24 immediately to the rear of the positions within the throat in which succeeding rows of springs to be assembled are placed.

Placement of the initial row of springs 26 in a rearward position within the throat 24 is followed by placement of an identical row of springs in the throat 24 in juxtaposition to the preceding row.

The two juxtaposed rows of springs 26 thus positioned in the throat 24 are bound together in assembled relation to each other by means of a pair of helical retaining or binding elements 31), 32, which for simplicity will be referred to in some instances as helices. A typical pair of helices 30, 32, used in assembling each row of springs 26 to a preceding row of springs in the machine, is illustrated in FIG. 12. These helices are formed from wire stock, as will presently appear, and will be referred to, respectively, with reference to the drawings, as the upper helix 3t) and the lower helix 32.

After a row of springs 26 has been placed in the throat 2.4 in readiness for assembly to a preceding row of springs, the machine unit 22 cycles to move two previously formed helices 30, 32 through helical paths which thread the helices into binding relation to the adjacent end convolutions 28 on the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the springs 26 of the adjacent spring rows.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the manner in which the lower helix 32 is threaded into retaining or binding relation to the lower convolutions 28 of corresponding springs 26 of two adjacent rows of springs. The structural components of the machine unit 22 which drives a pair of helices 30, 32 into binding relation to adjoining springs are conventional and need not be described in detail here. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the means provided in the machine unit 22 for driving the upper helix 3% into binding relation to the springs 26 comprises a pair of opposed helix driving roller elements 31, 33 disposed in opposed spaced relation to each other to receive therebetween and to frictionally engage a helix 3! The roller elements 31, 33 are located adjacent one end of the row of springs 26 to be bound and are driven intermittently by a motor 35 to impart a rotary motion to the intervening helix 3% causing the helix to thread its way endwise into binding relation to the springs 26. Rotary motion imparted to a helix 30 by the roller elements 31, 33 shown in FIG. 7 is continued by conventional helix driving roller means (not specifically illustrated) extending along the throat 24. Similarly, the lower helix 32 is driven rotatably into the throat 24 by a pair of lower helix driving roller elements 37 driven intermittently by a motor 39.

The completion of movement of a pair of helices 30, 32 into assembled relation to coacting springs is sensed by two switches 34, 36, FIGS. 1 and 8, connected electrically in series with each other. Tripping of the two sensing switches 34, 36 by the helices 39, 32 driven into their fully assembled positions causes the machine unit 22 to cycle, to retract the assembled springs through the throat 24 through a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the end convolutions 28 on an individual spring. This readies the machine unit 22 for reception of another row of springs in the throat 24, for repetition of the assembly cycle.

The helices 30, 32 used in the successive assembly cycles of the machine unit 22 are supplied in pairs by a helices forming unit 38 of the machine 20 which is designed to operate automatically in timed relation to the assembly unit 22 to produce two helices 3G, 32 simultaneously from wire stock.

Having reference to FIG. 4 of the drawings, two helices 3t), 32 are formed simultaneously in the machine unit 38 by two helix forming dies 49, 42 mounted on one side of a vertical support plate 44 in the machine unit 38. As shown, the support plate 44 is mounted on an underlying base 46 which provides support to a driving motor 48.

As shown, the two dies 4%, 42 are formed generally as mirror images of each other, the die 40 being positioned in overlying vertically spaced relation to the die 42. The two dies 49, 42 are oriented to discharge helices 3t 32 into two parallel, vertically spaced tubes 50, 52 which extend, with reference to FIG. 1, from the immediate vicinity of the forming dies 49, '42 to the right hand end of the spring assembly throat 24. The two tubes 50, 52 serve to support two helices 3t 32 in readiness for threading into assembled relation to the upper and lower ends of adjacent rows of springs, as previously described. It will be understood that the helices 30, 32 travel from right to left in moving into their assembled positions, the previously mentioned sensing switches 34, 36 being located at the left end of the throat.

Two wires 54, S6, supplied from reels of wire stock are forced through the respective helix forming dies 40, 42 by two pairs of wire feeding or driving rollers 58, 6t and 62, 64.

Even though the successive pairs of helices 39, 32 are formed only intermittently, provision is made for rotatably driving all the feed rollers 53, 6t and 62, 64 continuously, thus obviating the need for starting and stopping the feed rollers and the driving structure used to rotate the rollers.

All four feed rollers 58 to 64 are driven continuously from the electric driving motor 48 which is continuously energized while the assembly machine 20 is in operation. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the motor 48 is connected through a belt 66 to drive a pinion 6S meshing with a bull gear 76 supported on a horizontal gear driving shaft '72 journaled in the vertical support plate 44. The shaft 72 also supports the previously mentioned feed roller 64, the gear 7t being located on the side of the support 44 opposite from the feed rollers. The shaft 72 is connected nonrotatably to both the feed roller 64 and the bull gear 70.

A gear 74 nonrotatably mounted on the driving shaft '72 between the gear 75 and the support 44, as shown in FIG. 3, meshes with a gear 76, which drives the feed roller 62 through a common drive shaft 78 for the roller 62 and gear 76.

The gear 74 also meshes with a gear 8% which drives the feed roller 66 through a common support shaft 82 journaled on the support 44. The gear ed, in turn, meshes with a gear 86 which drives the feed roller 53 through a common support shaft 88 journaled on the support 44. The peripheries of the upper pair of feed rollers 58, 649 define grooves 9%, 92, FIG. 6, designed to engage opposite sides of the wire 54 fed between the rollers. The lower pair of rollers 62, 64 are similarly grooved to engage the coacting wire 56.

The wire 54 emerging from between the rollers 58, 60 is guided into the upper helix forming die 49, FIGS. 4, 9 and it), by a wire guiding block 94 defining a wire guiding bore 96 extending to the input end of the die 40 from the position where the wire 54 emerges from between the coacting driving rollers. Similarly, the wire 56 issuing from between the feed rollers 62, 64 is directed into the inlet end of the die 42 by a guide block 98, FIG. 4, forming the counterpart of the guide block 94 described.

Wire gripping or driving pressure is applied between the opposing rollers of the two pairs of wire driving rollers only intermittently as necessary to form successive pairs of helices 30, 32.

To provide for cont ol of the wire driving pressure between the rollers 58, 69, the support shaft 88 for the roller 5-8 is supported on the plate 44 by a spherical bearing 1%, FIG. 6. The spherical support bearing 1%, itself, is formed on a conventional commercially available construction. It provides freedom of the shaft 88 to swing sufficiently to release wire driving pressure of the roller 58 on the wire 54.

Similarly, the shaft 78 is supported on the plate 44 by a conventional spherical bearing 182, FIG. 3, which allows movement of the roller 62 to release driving pressure on the wire 56.

Wire gripping pressure is applied between the opposed rollers 58, 61 by power actuating means which provides for substantially instantaneous application and release of the wire gripping pressure. For this purpose, a powerful pneumatic actuating cylinder 124 is mounted on the side of the support 44 opposite from the rollers 58, 6% and located above the gears 89, 35, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The power output plunger 1% of the cylinder 124 connects with a lever 1&3 which operates through a horizontal shaft 119, FIG. 5, to effect rotary displacement of a pressure applying cam 112 located on the opposite side of the support 44-. The earn 112 operates against a cam following carriage 114 which supports two pressure applying rollers 116, 118, FIG. 4, in engagement with the periphery of the roller 53 at the side of the roller 58 generally opposite from the roller 61). The pressure applying follower 114 is mounted on suitable support structure 12% which holds the follower 114 against movement around the axis of the shaft 88, while providing for movement of the follower toward and away from the axis of the shaft 33.

The air cylinder 194 is controlled by an electrically operated control valve 122 positioned at one end of the cylinder, as shown in FIG. 5.

To apply driving pressure between the rollers 58, 66, the valve 122 is operated to efiect retraction of the output rod 196 of the cylinder 104. This effects compression of a pressure spring 124 encircling the rod 106 between a spring seat 126 on the rod and the lever 19%, FIG. 5. The compressive force in the spring 124 acts to swing the cam 112 in the clockwise direction with reference to FIG. 4, to force the roller 58 toward the roller 61 to apply feeding pressure to the wire 54, whereupon the rollers 58, 61) which have been rotating continuously, force the wire through the die 4% from which the wire emerges in the form of a helix.

To release the wire driving pressure on the rollers 58, 69, the valve 122 is operated to extend the actuating rod 111% to swing the cam 112 in the counterclockwise direction with reference to FIG. 4, to allow the roller 53 to move away from the roller 60.

The means used to control application of wire gripping ressure between the rollers 58, 6i? is duplicated for controlling the application of wire gripping pressure between the rollers 62, 64. Thus, as shown, a pneumatic actuating cylinder 131) controlled by a valve 132 operates through a cylinder rod 134, compression spring 136, arm 138, shaft 14s (FIG. 5) and cam 142 (FIG. 4) to apply wire clamping pressure through follower carriage 144 and pressure rollers 146 to the rollers 62, 4.

The power actuators 104, 131 are connected to sever helices formed in the respective dies 40, 42, as an incident to operation of the actuators to release wire driving pressure from the respective pairs of rollers 58, es, and 62, 64.

As shown in FIG. 4, the pressure applying cam 112 operated by the actuator 1il4 is formed at one side of the control shaft 119 on one end of a lever 1515 which projects beyond the other side of the shaft 111) to pivotally connect with an actuating head 152 for a reciprocable helix shearing plunger or die 154, FIGS. 4 and 9 to 11.

The shearing plunger 1-54 is reciprocably mounted in a support block 15d for the die 41 for transverse movement across the outlet end of a cylindrical barrel 158 from which the helix formed in the die 41 issues toward the tube 50. A shearing or severing edge 169 formed on the plunger 154 coacts with the barrel 153, which has an oblique outer end, to sever the portion of the adjacent helix which extends from the helix forming die 4% beyond the shearing edge 160.

It will be recalled that the power actuator 164 rotates the control shaft in the clockwise direction with reference to FIG. 4 to apply gripping pressurebetween the rollers 58, 69. This movement of the shaft 116 retracts the shearing plunger or knife 154 from its helix severing position. Subsequent operation of the actuator 1114 to turn the control shaft 11% in the counterclockwise direction releases the gripping pressure between the rollers 58, 6t} and follows through to move the helix shearing plunger 154 into shearing relation to the barrel 158, to cut off a helix 3%, as described.

In a similar manner, the other control actuator 13% operates through the control shaft 141 and lever 162 on the shaft 14 1) in a connector 164 to actuate a shearing plunger 166 which forms a counterpart of the previously described shearing plunger 154. The plunger 166 operates in the same manner as the plunger 154 to sever the helix 32, as an incident to operation of the actuator 1319 to release driving pressure on the rollers 62, 64.

The two helix forming control actuators 164, 1311 are synchronized with the spring assembly unit 22, to initiate production of a pair of helices 3t 32 in timed relation to cycling of the machine unit 22. As previously described, movement of two helices 3t 32 into assembled relation to coacting rows of springs 26 operates the two sensing switches 34, 36, to initiate a spring assembly retracting phase of the operating cycle of the unit 22. This operational phase is sensed by a suitable synchronizing switch 17%, illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 8. This figure also illustrates diagrammatically how the sensing switch 176 is operated by an assembly unit machine element 172 upon closure of the switches 34, 36. The sensing switch is connected electrically to the two control valves 122, 132, to operate the two actuators 124, to apply driving pressure to the two wires 54, 56, FIG. 4, to start production of another pair of assembly helices 36, 32.

Even though the two helices 319, 32 are produced simultaneously, the length of each helix is controlled and determined independently of the production and termination of the other helix.

The helices 39, 32 being formed move through the tubes 51 52, as described, until the leading ends of the respective helices actuate two sensing switches 181), 182 located adjacent the throat 24, near the outlet ends of the tubes 59, 52, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. The sensing switches 18%, 182 operate independently of each other and are connected to the respective valves 122, 132, to effect operation of the actuators 124, 13%) independently of each other.

The spacing of the switches 181i, 132 from the respective cut-off or severing plungers 154, 165, determines the length of the respective helices 3t 32. Triggering of the switch 189 causes the actuator 104 to virtually instantaneously release driving pressure on the wire 54. The virtually instantaneous response of the actuator 124 to the switch to terminate production of the helix 30 stems from the high actuating power of the actuator 154 in relation to the relatively low inertia of the rather light weight parts used to apply gripping pressure between the rollers 58, 61). While the rollers 58, 6t and the transmission used to rotate the rollers have rather large rotary inertia, this is of no consequence, since this structure continues to rotate. The pressure releasing movement of the light weight parts which apply pressure to the roller 58 is extremely fast and effects a substantially instantaneous stopping of movement of wire through the die 40. The actuator 104 follows through to sever the helix 3% which has a length which is conformed precisely to predetermined dimensional specifications by the substantially instantaneous stopping of movement of the wire 54 through the die 40, in response to operation of the switch 180.

In a similar manner, the switch 182 operates through the valve 132 to effect an extremely accurate dimensioning of the helix 32 independently of the length of the helix 30.

The accuracy with which the lengths of the helices 30, 32 is determined obviates any necessity for trimming or otherwise working of the helices to compensate for variances in the lengths of the helices, which is of decided advantage in manufacturing the spring core units.

The fact that the wire feeding rollers in the machine unit 38 are rotated continuously obviates complications which would arise from any necessity for starting and stopping these rollers intermittently in the production of successive pairs of helices.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not necessarily limited to use of the particular construction illustrated, but includes the use of variants and alternatives within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. In a machine for intermittently producing wire helices each of which has a predetermined exact overall length, the combination of first and second wire driving rollers, means supporting said rollers in opposing relation to each other and including means for permitting limited movement of said first roller toward and away from said second roller, continuous drive means connected to at least one of said rollers to rotate the latter continuously, wire supplying means for supplying wire to said rollers for movement therebetween, wire driving pressure applying means coacting with said first roller to urge the latter forcefully toward said second roller to apply effective Wire driving pressure to wire intervening between the rollers, said wire driving pressure applying means including a fast acting power actuator for releasing said first roller for movement away from said second roller to effectively terminate the application of wire driving pressure to wire intervening between the rollers, said power actuator being operable independently of both said rollers and said continuous drive means therefor to release said first roller for movement away from said second roller independently of the instantaneous rotary positions of both of said rollers, a helix forming die positioned to receive and form into a helix wire discharged from between said rollers upon the application of driving pressure to the wire by the rollers, helix and sensing means connected to control said roller releasing actuator and being positioned in spaced relation to said die to sense and respond to movement into a predetermined first location or" the leading end of a ,helix being discharged from said die, helix severing means positioned to sever at a predetermined second location between said die and said first location a helix discharged from said die, said helix sensing means being positioned in relation to said helix severing means to provide a predetermined exact spacing between said first location at which said sensing means responds to the leading end of a helix to eifect release of said first roller for movement away from said second roller and said second location at which said severing means severs a helix discharged from said die, and means for guiding a helix from said second location to said first location.

2. In a machine for intermittently producing wire helices each of which has a predetermined exact overall length, the combination of first and second wire driving rollers, means suppq ting said rollers in opposing relation to each other and including means for permitting limited movement of said first roller toward and away from said second roller, continuous drive means connected to at least one of said rollers to rotate the latter continuously, wire supplying means for supplying wire to said rollers for movement therebetween, cam means coacting with said first roller to move the latter toward said second roller to apply effective wire driving pressure to wire intervening between the rollers, a reciprocatory pneumatic actuating motor connected to said cam to operate the latter to effect movement of said first roller toward and away from said second roller independently of the instantaneous rotary positions of both of said rollers, a helix forming die positioned to receive and form into a helix wire discharged from between said rollers upon the application of driving pressure to the wire by the rollers, control means for said actuating motor including a helix end sensing switch positioned in spaced relation to said die to sense and respond to movement into 7 a predetermined first location of the leading end of a helix being discharged from said die, helix severing means positioned to sever at a predetermined second location between said die and said first location a helix discharged from said die, means connecting said actuating motor to said severing means to operate the latter to sever a helix at said second location as an incident to operation of said actuating motor to effect movement of said first roller away from said second roller, said helix sensing switch being positioned in relation to said helix severing means to provide a predetermined exact spacing between said first location and said second location, means for guiding a helix from said second location to said first location, and said control means including means for operating said actuating motor to effect movement of said first roller away from said second roller in response to operation of said switch by movement of the leading end of a switch into said first location.

3. In a machine for intermittently producing pairs of wire helices each of which has a predetermined exact overall length, the combination of two pairs of wire driving rollers, means supporting the two rollers of each pair in opposing relation to each other and including means for permitting limited movement of a first roller of each pair toward and away from the other roller of the pair, continuous drive means connected to at least one roller of each pair to effect continuous rotation of the rollers connected with the drive means, wire supplying means for supplying wires to said respective pairs of rollers between the rollers of each pair, two independent wire driving pressure applying means for said respective pairs of rollers, each Wire driving pressure applying means coacting with said first roller of the corresponding pair to urge the coacting first roller forcefully toward said other roller of the pair to apply effective wire driving pressure to wire intervening between the two rollers, each wire driving pressure applying means including a fast acting power actuator for releasing said coacting first roller for movement away from said other roller of the coacting pair to effectively terminate the application of wire driving pressure to wire intervening between the rollers, each power actuator being operable independently of both rollers of the corresponding pair and said continuous drive means therefor to release said first roller for movement away from said other roller of the corresponding pair independently of the instantaneous rotary positions of both rollers of the pair, two helix forming dies positioned to receive and form into helices wires discharged from between said respective pairs of rollers, two helix end sensing means connected to said respective actuators to effect operation of the latter for releasing said respective first rollers for movement away from said other rollers, said two helix end sensing means being positioned in spaced relation to said respective dies to sense and respond respectively to movements into predetermined first locations of the leading ends of helices being discharged from said respective dies, two helix severing means positioned to sever respectively at two predetermined second locations between said respective dies and said respective first locations helices discharged from said respective dies, said two helix end sensing means being positioned in relation to said respective helix severing means to provide between each of said first locations and the corresponding second location a predetermined exact spacing, and means for guiding helices from said respective second locations to the corresponding first locations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Iobke Sept. 22, 1931 Bond Dec. 8, 1931 Heilman et a1 Mar, 8, 1938 Taylor Sept. 12, 1939 Bergstrorn Feb. 16, 1960 Freundlich Nov. 22, 1960 Spuhl Nov. 20, 1962

Claims (1)

1. IN A MACHINE FOR INTERMITTENTLY PRODUCING WIRE HELICES EACH OF WHICH HAS A PREDETERMINED EXACT OVERALL LENGTH, THE COMBINATION OF FIRST AND SECOND WIRE DRIVING ROLLERS, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID ROLLERS IN OPPOSING RELATION TO EACH OTHER AND INCLUDING MEANS FOR PERMITTING LIMITED MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST ROLLER TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID SECOND ROLLER, CONTINUOUS DRIVE MEANS CONNECTED TO AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ROLLERS TO ROTATE THE LATTER CONTINUOUSLY, WIRE SUPPLYING MEANS FOR SUPPLYING WIRE TO SAID ROLLERS FOR MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN, WIRE DRIVING PRESSURE APPLYING MEANS COACTING WITH SAID FIRST ROLLER TO URGE THE LATTER FORCEFULLY TOWARD SAID SECOND ROLLER TO APPLY EFFECTIVE WIRE DRIVING PRESSURE TO WIRE INTERVENING BETWEEN THE ROLLERS, SAID WIRE DRIVING PRESSURE APPLYING MEANS INCLUDING A FAST ACTING POWER ACTUATOR FOR RELEASING SAID FIRST ROLLER FOR MOVEMENT AWAY FROM SAID SECOND ROLLER TO EFFECTIVELY TERMINATE THE APPLICATION OF WIRE DRIVING PRESSURE TO WIRE INTERVENING BETWEEN THE ROLLERS, SAID POWER ACTUATOR BEING OPERABLE INDEPENDENTLY OF BOTH SAID ROLLERS AND SAID CONTINUOUS DRIVE MEANS THEREFOR TO RELEASE SAID FIRST ROLLER FOR MOVEMENT AWAY FROM SAID SECOND ROLLER INDEPENDENTLY OF THE INSTANTANEOUS ROTARY POSITIONS OF BOTH OF SAID ROLLERS, A HELIX FORMING DIE POSITIONED TO RECEIVE AND FORM INTO A HELIX WIRE DISCHARGED FROM BETWEEN SAID ROLLERS UPON THE APPLICATION OF DRIVING PRESSURE TO THE WIRE BY THE ROLLERS, HELIX AND SENSING MEANS CONNECTED TO CONTROL SAID ROLLER RELEASING ACTUATOR AND BEING POSITIONED IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID DIE TO SENSE AND RESPOND TO MOVEMENT INTO A PREDETERMINED FIRST LOCATION OF THE LEADING END OF A HELIX BEING DISCHARGED FROM SAID DIE, HELIX SEVERING MEANS POSITIONED TO SEVER AT A PREDETERMINED SECOND LOCATION BETWEEN SAID DIE AND SAID FIRST LOCATION A HELIX DISCHARGED FROM SAID DIE, SAID HELIX SENSING MEANS BEING POSITIONED IN RELATION TO SAID HELIX SEVERING MEANS TO PROVIDE A PREDETERMINED EXACT SPACING BETWEEN SAID FIRST LOCATION AT WHICH SAID SENSING MEANS RESPONDS TO THE LEADING END OF A HELIX TO EFFECT RELEASE OF SAID FIRST ROLLER FOR MOVEMENT AWAY FROM SAID SECOND ROLLER AND SAID SECOND LOCATION AT WHICH SAID SEVERING MEANS SEVERS A HELIX DISCHARGED FROM SAID DIE, AND MEANS FOR GUIDING A HELIX FROM SAID SECOND LOCATION TO SAID FIRST LOCATION.

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