US3423811A - Tie bar forming and feeding apparatus - Google Patents

Description

TIE BAR FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATUS Sheet of 2- Filed April 4, 1967 3 3e 44 34 44 as 3c I6 I2 IQ I INVENTOR- RAW/wave Tnl. CLflAJTo/U Jan. 28, 1969 R. w. CLANTON 3,423,811

TIE BAR FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATUS 1 Filed Apfil 4, 1967 .Sheet 2 01'5 L Q INVENTOR. I .HQYMOND kl. CLAAJTOAJ W VZv/w- QT-r-OEAIEYS Jan. 28, 1969 R. w. CLANTON TIE BAR FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATUS Sheet Filed April 4, 1967 w R. T E. g J w ML m JQQ W QM H m0 w mN I W V 4 3 d w R Li w W w w mm H 41 w ir v f A j Jan. 28, 1969 R. w. CLANTON 3, 23 81 TIE BAR FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATUS Filed April 4, 1967 Sheet of 5 R4 VMOAJD w. Cum/mu INVENTOR.

Immul wwm' R. w. CLANTON 3,423,811 TIE BAR FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATUS Jan, 28, 1969 Filed April 4, 1967 Sheet J' 5r 5 II A l g, 1%.! L. '.:'l F LQ 4 INVENTOR. Ray/wave W. CLHAJTOIU United States Patent 13 Claims Int. Cl. B21f 45/00; 1323]) 23/02 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The application discloses apparatus for cutting and forming tie bars from wire rod stock and apparatus for feeding the formed tie bars into the molds of a concrete block-making machine designed to produce dual blocks connected by tie bars.

This invention has to do with apparatus for making concrete block units of the type wherein two blocks are disposed in parallel laterally spaced relation, being joined by metal tie bars or rods, the ends of which are embedded in the blocks.

A primary object of the invention is to provide novel apparatus for forming tie bars from wire rod stock and for feeding the formed bars to a concrete block-making machine in timed relation with the operation of the machine.

Another object is to provide a new and improved tine apparatus and associated structure for feeding metal tie bars into the mold of a concrete block-making machine. In this connection it is an object to provide a tine mechanism which positively grips the tie bars, moves them into the mold in a properly oriented position, posi tively ejects the tie bars and continues to 'hold them in position in the mold until the mold is filled or partially filled with concrete.

A further object is to provide novel and improved means for cutting and forming tie bars from long lengths or rolls of wire rod stock.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawings and the following description. Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of apparatus embodying the invention shown related to a concrete block-making machine;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, but on a larger scale;

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view on line 33 of FIG. 2 with portions of the apparatus broken away;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan view on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an inverted fragmentary plan view on line 6-'6 of FIG. 4 showing a portion of the tie bar forming mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but with the parts in a different relation;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view on line 88 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary detail view of a part of the mechanism shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view in the plane of line 1010 of FIG. 2, but showing the tine raised to receive tie bars from the tie bar forming mechanism;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10, but showing only tine and with this in a tie bar gripping position;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 but showing the tine in tie bar ejecting position; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary isometric view of the end of the tine in the tie rod gripping position of FIG. 11.

More particularly describing the invention, numeral Patented Jan. 28, 1969 11 generally designates the main frame of the apparatus which is generally rectangular in plan. It includes two rear corner posts 12, two .front corner posts 13, top side rails 14, top end rails 15, and lower side rails 16. The frame is adapted to bolt to the framework of a concrete block-making machine 17 (or be otherwise supported) at its front end and hence the corner posts 13 do not extend below the side rails 16 while the rear corner posts extend therebelow to serve as legs to support that end of the frame.

Mounted for vertical movement on the main frame is a carriage supporting frame 26 which includes the vertical posts 21, one at each side connected at their upper ends by a crossbar 22, and a horizontal frame structure including two side rails 23, braces 24, and a rear cross rail 25. The posts 21 are supported in roller assemblies 26 and 27 carried by the main frame upper and lower rails, 14 and 16, respectively, and additionally the horizontal frame is provided with rollers 28 which run against the rear corner posts of the main frame.

For the purpose of raising and lowering the supporting frame 20 I provide a pair of fluid jacks 30, each of which comprises a cylinder 3'1 mounted upon the crossbar 22 and having a piston rod 32 which is secured to a cross member 33 on the main frame.

A carriage 34 is mounted for movement along the side bars 23 of the frame 20. The carriage includes a main plate 35 that is fitted at its ends with roller assemblies 36, each having an upper roller 37 and a lower roller 38 which run against the upper and lower edges, respectively, of the side rails 23 of frame 20. Means is provided for moving the carriage along the side rails 23 of frame 20 so that it can be advanced and retracted with reference to the block-rnaking machine 17. This means includes a piston-cylinder unit 40 comprising a cylinder 41 mounted on the rear cross rail 25 of frame 20 and a piston rod 42 extending from the piston (not shown) and connected to the plate 35 at 43.

The carriage 34 supports two tines 44, although more may be used if required. The function of these is to receive tie bars from the tie bar cutting and forming mechanism 45 (or other source) and deliver them to the molds 46 of the block-making machine 17. For this purpose each tine is formed with one or more transverse slots 47 in its upper surface to receive the tie bars. Each tine has two outer plates 51 which are secured to the plate 35 by brackets 52. Between the outer plates is a pair of inner plates, individually designated 53 and 54 connected at their outer ends by end plate 55 so as to move together as a unit. Plate 53 is formed to provide a sharp projection or tooth 56 at one slot 47 and plate 54 is provided with a similar tooth 56 at the other slot for the purpose of gripping the tie bars when the two inner plates are moved to the rear relative to the outer plates, that is, to the position shown in FIGS. 11 and 13. Both inner plates are provided with a downwardly curved convex sloping surface 57 in the region of each slot 47 so that when the two inner plates are moved forward with respect to the outer plates the curved surfaces will serve to eject the tie bars from the slots, as best shown in FIG. 12. At an intermediate position between these two described above, the slots 47 are open for tie bars to be received from the tie bar cutting and forming mechanism 45 (or any other means) as best shown in FIG. 10.

The tines are caused to operate as above described by the following means. It will be noted that the two inner plates 53 and 54 extend rearwardly of the carriage plates 35 and also rearwardly of the inner ends of the outer plates 51. Each of the inner plates is provided with a rearwardly extending rod 60 that is threaded at its end to accommodate a nut 61. The rods freely pass through an actuating bar 62 whose function will be described later. A compression coil spring 63 is provided on each rod 60 between the nut thereon and bar 62.

In operation, when the carriage moves to the rear under the influence of the piston-cylinder unit 40 the rods 60 abut a fixed cross member 65 that is part of the frame 20. When this ocurrs the two inner plates 53 and 54 of the time are advanced as a unit relative to the outer plates 51 but only sufficiently to move the plates to the position in which they are shown in FIG. 10, that is, the intermediate position above referred to, wherein the slots 47 are Open to receive the tie bars 50. Rearward movement of the carriage is accurately controlled by an adjustable stop means 66 between cross member 65 and side plates 67 of the carriage 34 or other suitable means can be used for the purpose.

After the tines receive the tie bars the frame 20, which had previously been raised so that the tines would be just below the tie bar cutting and forming mechanism, the frame is lowered and the carriage advanced. As soon as the latter moves forward, springs 63 draw the inner plates 53 and 54 of the tines back, relative to the outer plates, causing the tie bars to be tightly gripped, as shown in FIG. 11. Forward movement of the carriage and upward movement of the frame 20 then positions the tines between the molds with the ends of the tie bars in the molds 46, the latter being slotted at 46 to receive the bars. The tie bars are ejected from the slots in the tines by moving the inner and outer plates 53 and 54 forward relative to the outer plates 51. This is accomplished by means of a pair of fluid jacks 70 mounted on the rearwardly extending side plates 67 of carriage 34 and the aforementioned actuating bar 62 which is carried at its ends on the piston rods 71 of the jacks. When the fluid jacks 70 are actuated to move the bar forward, it abuts the inner ends of the inner plates 53 and 54 and moves them forward to the position of FIG. 12.

The apparatus also includes the means 45 for automatically cutting and forming the tie bars from wire rod stock which is fed from any convenient source, the wire rod entering through feed rolls 80 which are driven by a suitable motor and gear reduction means 81, through a chain drive 82, and, in the form of apparatus shown, two such wires 83 are fed to the apparatus 45 which operates to form four tie bars on each operation.

The tie bar cutting and forming apparatus includes a main plate 84 attached to the frame and mounted to be horizontal. At the front the plate has an upright flange or end wall 85. Plate 84 has a wide central rectangular open area 86 extending longitudinally of the machine and spaced laterally of this, two other elongated rectangular open areas 87 and 88 of a width each one-half that of the central area. The undersurface of plate 84 is built up with raised areas, that is, they project downwardly from the surface 90 and, as shown, they are formed by plates 91, 92 and 93 welded, bolted or otherwise secured thereto which define channels 94 and 95 to receive the wire which is to be formed. In line with the channels is an apertured guide block 96 through which the wire rod enters the channels and at the opposite side of the plate are stop members 97 and 98.

Above the main plate are two movable plates 100 and 101, which carry cutting and forming dies that project through the open areas 86, 87 and 88 of the main plate. Each movable plate has two sets of forming dies at each side, plate 100 being provided with the set 102 which operates in the open area 87 and set 103 which operates in the center opening 86. The other plate has the set 104 in area 88 and set 105 in the central opening. The plates are moved in opposite directions, as indicated by the view, FIG. 7, wherein they have been moved through a major portion of the distance of their travel, and it will be seen that the cooperating sets of dies at the center serve to sever the wire rods in that region and that the set of dies in opening 87 in cooperation with the rod guide 96 serve to sever the rods there so that they can be formed into four tie bars 50. When the two plates have been moved slightly beyond the position in which they are shown the ends of the tie rods will reach the curved surfaces 88 of the dies and the tie rods will be freed to fall into the tines which will be in place to receive them.

Fluid jacks 108, connected in pairs between frame cross member 109 and the plates and 101, are used to move the plates.

It it to be understood that any suitable electrofiuid control and actuating system can be used for coordinating the wire feed to the tie bar cutting and forming means, for coordinating the operation of the latter with the operation of the tines, and for coordinating the entire apparatus shown with a concrete block-making machine.

I claim:

1. In a machine for molding concrete blocks having a mold structure adapted to form a pair of laterally spaced block bodies connected by tie bars, powered means for feeding a length of wire rod, powered forming means for receiving, cutting and shaping the fed wire rod into individual tie bars, and powered transport means for carrying the individual tie bars from their region of formation into said mold structure.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 in which means is provided for coordinating said feed means, said forming means said transport means whereby the same operate in sequence.

3. In apparatus for feeding tie bars to a concrete blockmaking machine having mold elements adapted to form a pair of laterally spaced block bodies connected by tie rods to form a dual block unit, a main frame, a second frame mounted on said main frame for vertical movement with respect thereto, a carriage mounted on said second frame for horizontal movement with respect thereto, a tie bar transporting tine mounted on said carriage, powered means connected between said second frame and said carriage for moving the latter, and powered means connected between said main frame and said second frame for moving the latter.

4. The apparatus set powered means between said second frame and said carriage comprises fluid means.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 in which means is provided on said main frame above said tine for feeding a tie rod onto said tine.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 in which said tine is provided with means for gripping a tie rod and for ejecting the same and in which means is provided for operating said gripping means and ejecting means in sequence.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 in which the means of the tine for gripping and for ejecting a tie rod comprises a transverse slot in the upper edge of said tine and relatively longitudinally movable elements of the tine.

8. In apparatus for feeding tie bars to a concrete blockmaking machine having mold elements adapted to form a pair of laterally spaced block bodies connected by tie rods to form a dual block unit, a main frame, a second frame mounted on said main frame for vertical movement with respect thereto, a carriage mounted on said second frame for horizontal movement with respect thereto, a tie bar transporting tine mounted on said carriage, said tine including two relatively longitudinally movable parts having a transverse tie rod receiving slot therein, said parts being adapted to grip a tie rod when one is moved relative to the other in one direction and adapted to release and eject a tie rod when moved in a relatively opposite direction, powered means for moving said second frame, and powered means for moving said carriage.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim 8 in which one of the parts of the tine is fixed to the carriage and the other is movable relative thereto, in which the movable part of forth in claim 3 in which the frames and between said jack the tine abuts a portion of the carriage to limit its movement in one direction and in which spring means is provided for yieldably holding said movable part in a given position relative to the fixed part.

10. The apparatus set forth in claim 9 in which powered means is provided for overcoming said spring means.

11. In apparatus for cutting and forming tie bars, a stationary main plate having means defining at least one wire rod receiving channel, said main plate having a pair of openings in the path of the wire rod at the ends of the channel, a movable plate adjacent a side of said main plate and having die elements extending therefrom through the openings in said main plate, die portions on said main plate cooperating with the die elements of said movable plate whereby to cut and form said Wire rod into tie bars upon movement of said movable plate, and means for moving said movable plate.

12. The apparatus set forth in claim 11 in which means is provided for mounting said movable plate on said main plate.

13. In apparatus for cutting and forming tie bars, a stationary main plate having means defining at least one wire rod receiving channel, said main plate having a central opening interrupting and two lateral openings at the ends of said channel, a pair of movable plates adjacent a side of said main plate and movable in opposite directions, said plates meeting along the center axis of said center opening and extending to the lateral limits of the lateral openings, said movable plates having cooperating die elements projecting through said center opening and each having die elements projecting through a lateral opening, die portions on said main plate cooperating with the die elements of said movable plates, said cooperating die elements of said movable plates and said other die elements of said movable plates and said die portions of said main plate cooperating upon opposite movement of the movable plates to cut and form said wire rod into tie bars, and means for moving said movable plates.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD H. EANES, JR., Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 29-34

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