US3579787A

US3579787A - Machine for applying lugs or the like to bobbins or the like

Info

Publication number: US3579787A
Application number: US760267A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph J Cervenka; Marvin E Hetzel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-09-17
Filing date: 1968-09-17
Publication date: 1971-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 1988-05-25

Abstract

Machine for applying lugs or the like to plastic bobbins or the like when the bobbins include post means and the lugs include hole means matable with the post means and collapsible means coacting with the hole means to decrease the size of the hole means and lock the lug to the bobbin, and the machine includes means feeding lugs into alignment with bobbins at a lug-applying station, means severing lugs from a strip form of lugs, means applying the lugs to the bobbins, and means collapsing the lug collapsible means to secure the lug to the bobbin.

Description

United States Patent 1 3,579,787 [72] Inventors Joseph J. Cervenka [5 6] References Cited 428 E. Crescent, Elmhurst, Ill. 60126; UNITED STATES PATENTS f 177 Rm, 1,579,875 4/1926 Lundberg 29/520 60546 2,177,191 10/1939 Sandberg 29/520 [21] P 760,267 2,515,881 7/1950 Makenny 29/203 [22] Sept- 1711968 3,425,119 2/1969 Holtfreter a 29/520 [451 Palm May 1971 3,432,925 3/1969 Woolley 29/203 Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Attorney-Kinzer, Dorn & Zickert ABSTRACT: Machine for a l in lu s or the like to lastic [54] ggg g ggg OR THE LIKE bobbins or the like when the gbbi ns iiclude post meai is and he lu 5 include hole means matable with the 0st means and 9 Claims, 21 Drawing Figs. t p

collapsible means coacting w1th the hole means to decrease [52] U.S. Cl 29/203, the size of the hole means and lock the lug to the bobbin, and 29/208 the machine includes means feeding lugs into alignment with [51] Int. Cl. H05k 13/04, bobbins at a lug-applying station, means severing lugs from at 823p 19/04 strip form of lugs, means applying the lugs to the bobbins, and [50] Field of Search 3 means collapsing the lug collapsible means to secure the lug to 29/20 208, 400, 520, 417, 208 (D), 203 (DT); 198/19 the bobbin.

, PATENTED mwzsusn 3579.787

sum 1 u; 7

INVENTORS JOSEPH J. CERVENKA MARVlN E} HETZEL BY ?7 A TORNEYS PATENTED was ml 3 579-. 7 87 SHEET 2 or 7 INVENTOR JOSEPH J. CERVENKA MARVlN E. HETZEL BY 42?; dmud A TORNEYS PATENTED "M25 [97! SHEET 3 0F 7 INVENTOR JOSEPH J. CERVENKA MARVIN E. HETZEL ATIORNEYS MGE INVENTOR JOSEPH J. CERVENKA MARVIN E. HETZEL 7 mum AT ORNEYS PATENTED M25 197i h, E x H1 g PATENTED W25 I97! SHEETSUF? F1 F1 8 l p INVENTOR JOSEPH J. CERVENKA MARVIN E. HETZEL flg ydmml AT 0 RNEYS PATENTED W25 l97| SHEET 8 0F 7 INVENIUR JOSEPH J CERVENKA v MARVlN E. HETZEL. BY

AT 0 RNEYS MACHINE FOR APPLYING LUGS OR THE LIKE TO ROBBINS OR THE LIKE This invention relates in general to a lug-applying machine, and more particularly to a machine for successively applying lugs or the like to successive plastic bobbins or the like.

Heretofore, application of terminal lugs on plastic bobbins has generally involved the use of a terminal lug with a serrated tang that would be received in an opening or socket formed in the plastic bobbin, wherein the opening or socket would be of a size slightly smaller than the tang, so that the tang would selflock in the opening. The plastic bobbins are employed in relays or solenoids with coil turns, wherein the lugs attached to the bobbins include tines that are used for attaching conductive wires thereto. The terminal lug and mounting arrangement heretofore employed has been objectionable, since the pull strength of the lugs relative the bobbins is insufficient and many times causes malfunction by not maintaining a securely locked position on the bobbin. A terminal lug device that overcomes these difficulties is disclosed and claimed in our copending application for Pat. Ser. No. 725,068 filed Apr. 29, 1968, now US. Pat. No. 3,510,823.

The present invention deals with a machine for securing terminal lugs or the like to plastic bobbins or the like, wherein the lugs include holes adjacent a raised and collapsible portion, and the bobbins include one or more posts upstanding from a flat portion, as disclosed in our copending application. The machine includes a conveyor having pins thereon for receiving bobbins and carrying the bobbins through a lug-applying station. The conveyor is advanced step by step, and one feature of the invention is the indexing mechanism employed for advancing the conveyor. The machine is in the general fonn of a press having a punch plate slidable toward and away from a die holder. A punch member is mounted on the die holder and actuated by the forward stroke of the punch plate to sever a lug from a strip form of lugs and mount the lug onto the bobbin, and thereafter collapse the collapsible portion of the lug to lock same to the bobbin. The lug strip is fed into the lug by applying station, so that the endmost lug can be severed from the strip from of lugs and applied to the bobbin at the lug-applying station. Feeding of the lug strip is coordinated with the indexing of the conveyor through the punch plate on its forward and return stroke. Thus, the method of applying the lugs to the bobbins includes the steps of positioning a lug in alignment with a bobbin so that lug hole means will mate with the bobbin post means upon application of the lug to the bobbin, applying the lug to the bobbin, and collapsing the collapsible portion to firmly secure the lug to the bobbin. Further, the method includes successively mounting lugs on successive bobbins wherein the bobbins are advanced through the lug-applying station by conveyor and the lugs are severed from a strip form of lugs. While the present invention will be described as being applicable for applying lugs to bobbins, it should be appreciated that it is equally applicable for applying fasteners to plastic bodies, as set forth in our copending application.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for applying lugs or the like to plastic bobbins or the like, wherein application is efficiently and quickly accomplished.

Another object of this invention is in the provision of a machine for successively applying lugs to successive bobbins, wherein the lugs are firmly secured to the bobbins and will not pull loose.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:

FIG. I is a front elevational view of the lug-applying machine according to the present invention, with some parts omitted for purposes of clarity, and showing the punch plate in the home position, as well as the movable components mounted on the die holder;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the Iug-applying machine shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the bobbin conveyor employed in the machine according to the present invention, and shown in'association with certain parts of the machine for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the conveyor drive and indexing mechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the lug strip form feeders and a part of the bobbin conveyor;

FIG. 6 is a broken sectional view taken through the adjusting mechanism for adjusting the position of the punch member to accommodate bobbins of various sizes and taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken through the adjusting mechanism and illustrating the locking pin in extracted position;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a part of the movable frame for the punch holder to illustrate the locking notch, wherein the guide and locking pin have been omitted;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical view of the punch holder and the punch plate taken substantially along line 9-9 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a part of the bobbin conveyor and illustrating the manner in which bobbins are oriented along the track guide;

FIG. 11 is a transverse, fragmentary sectional view, somewhat diagrammatic, of the track guides and illustrating the manner in which a bobbin is oriented by the track guides and flange support;

FIG. 12 is a detailed, front elevational view of the punch holder as it is associated with the strip form of lugs; H

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 with the strip form of lugs omitted and a part of the punch holder broken away to illustrate the collapsing blade on the punch holder; p

FIGS. 14 to 17 are somewhat diagrammatic views of the die holder and punch holder illustrating the steps of severing a lug from the strip form of lugs, applying the lug onto the bobbin, so that the post means mates with the hole means, and collapsing of the lug to lock same to the bobbin;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a part of a strip form of lugs illustrating one type thatmay be applied with the machine and method of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a bobbinand a lug in perspective to further illustrate the application of a lug to the bobbin;

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of a bobbin having a lug applied thereto; and

FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken through the bobbin flange and lug substantially along line 2I-2l of FIG. 20.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, an illustrated embodiment of the present invention-includes a base or frame 24 adapted to mount the machine onto a flat surface or table 25; The machine is in the form of 'a press and includes generally a die holder 26 supported on the base and coacting with a punch plate 27, that is mounted onaa punch head slide 28 for reciprocal movement toward and away from the die holder. Thus, the die holder is stationary or fixed relative the base 24.

The punch head slide 28 is slidable in gibs 29. The punch head slide 28 is reciprocally driven by a crank 30 connected thereto and extending upwardly to be connected onto a crank arm 31. A crankshaft (not shown) is connected to the crank 31 and to a suitable fly wheel (not shown) that is drivingly connected to a suitable motor (not shown). The motorwould continuously drive the fly wheel, and a clutch would be provided for selectively connecting the crankshaft to the fly wheel to drive the crank through a single revolution that would include a forward or downward and return or upward strokes. The clutch would be operated by a suitable relay or solenoid through a control actuated by the operator. Operation of the machine responds to the cycling of the crankshaft when driving the punch head slide and punch plate through a forward and a return stroke.

Mounted on a die holder are a bobbin conveyor 32, a pair of lug strip form feeders 33, and a pair of punch holders 34. The

bobbin conveyor 32 carries the bobbins to the lug-applying station, while the lug feeders 33 feed lugs into alignment with the bobbin at the lug-applying station. Punch holders 34 orient the lug at the lug-applying station, sever the endmost lugs from the strip, hold the bobbin in lug-applying position, mount the severed lugs onto the bobbin, and collapse the collapsible portion of the lugs to lock the lugs onto the bobbin. The punch holders are actuated by the punch plate 27. Further, the lug feeders are actuated by the punch plate 27 and the indexing of the bobbin conveyor is actuated in response to the cycling of the punch plate.

In order to better understand the operation of the machine, reference is made to FIGS. 18 to 21, which show in detail the strip form of lugs and the bobbin construction. As seen particularly in FIG. 18, the strip form of lugs 35 that is fed to the lug-applying station by the lug feeders 33 includes a plurality of lugs 36 arranged in side-by-side relation and interconnected by connecting portions 37. When severing a lug 36 from the strip form, the connecting portions 37 are actually cut away to thereby leave a lug 36, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. Each lug 36 includes a flat base 38 having hold means therein in the form of a pair of holes 39 and a raised or collapsible portion 40 struck between the holes and coacting therewith, so that upon collapsing of the collapsible portion, the holes 39 are decreased in size. Tines 41 are provided as extending from the flat base 38 for the purpose of connecting conductive wires to the lug.

A bobbin of the type adapted to receive a lug 36 is generally designated by the numeral 42 and includes a central body 43 of generally rectangular, cross-sectional shape, and end flanges 44. It can be appreciated that wire is wound about the body 43 between the end flanges 44 to define a coil for the solenoid or relay. The outer surface 45 of the end flanges is flat and extends nonnal to the axis of the body 43. Upstanding post means in the form of a pair of cylindrical posts 46 are formed on the outer surface 45 of the end flanges at each end of the end flanges, so that a lug may be applied at one or both ends of each end flange. Upstanding ribs 47 are formed on the outer surface 45 of the end flanges and which facilitate the fixing of the bobbin at the lug-applying station during the lug-applying operation, as will be more clearly explained hereinafter. The core of the body 43 is open or hollow at 48 to facilitate the mounting of the bobbins on the bobbin conveyor 32.

As seen inFlG. 19, the holes 39 of each lug 36 must be aligned with the posts 46 of a bobbin 42 in a precise manner before application of the lugs onto the bobbins. When the lug is mounted on the bobbin where the posts mate with the holes, the collapsible portion 40 is collapsed, whereby the edges 39a of the holes bite into the posts 46, as seen particularly in FIG. 21 to lock the lug to the bobbin. Since the bobbin is of plastic, and the lugs would be of a relatively soft material, deformation of the lugs and bobbin can readily be appreciated to obtain the necessary locking relationship therebetween. The machine of the present invention is adapted to mount simultaneously a lug on each end of an end flange, but it should be appreciated that the machine could be readily adapted to mount only a desired lug on an end flange of a bobbin, if so desired.

The bobbin conveyor 32, FIG. 3, includes a loading end 49 and a discharge end 50, wherein bobbins are loaded on the conveyor at the loading end, advanced step by step through the lug-applying station and discharged from the conveyor at the discharge end 50 into a chute 51 that leads to a receptacle or container. An upstanding deflector 51a is provided adjacent the discharge end 50 of the bobbin conveyor to deflect the gravitationally discharged bobbins into the chute 51. The conveyor includes an endless chain 52 trained about an idler sprocket 53 at the loading end and a driving sprocket 54 at the discharge end. A plurality of spaced pins 55 are mounted on the chain 52 for receiving the bobbins. As seen in FIG. 10, an enlarged portion at the base of each pin defines a shoulder 56 against which the bobbin bottoms when it is inserted on the pin. The bobbin insertion station is designated at 57, and at this point the bobbin is loosely held on the pin 55. As the bobbin is advanced step by step by. the conveyor into the lug-applying station, it is driven between opposed tracks 58, FIG. 11, that have opposed, guiding faces including flange guiding faces 59 and flange support faces 60. The flange guiding faces 59 are essentially vertical and serve to position the bobbin precisely along the conveyor path, so that the posts on the end flanges are precisely located for application of the lugs. The shoulders 60 support the upper flange of each bobbin and provide a bottom limit position when the punch holder is actuated. A holddown member is provided on the punch holder to engage the top of the bobbin and hold it down against the shoulder 60 when the bobbin is in the lug-applying station. The tracks 58 only extend in the area of the lug-applying station, as following application of the lugs, it is no longer necessary to maintain the bobbins in a precise position. Once again the bobbins are freely received on the pins, so that they fall off by gravity at the discharge end of the conveyor when the chain carrier moves toward the underside of the drive sprocket 54.

The forward idler sprocket 53 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 61 that is suitably supported in brackets 62 that extend from the die holder 26; The driving sprocket 54 is mounted on a shaft 63 rotatable in a frame extension 64 that extends from the base 24.

The indexing mechanism which effects the step by-step movement of the conveyor includes a fluid coupling 65 mounted on the shaft and having its output connected to the shaft 65 and its input connected to a pulley 66 that is rotatably mounted on the shaft 63. Power is applied to the pulley 66 through an endless belt 67 that is also trained about a pulley 68 on a motor 69. The motor 69 runs continuously during the operation of the conveyor to impart power to the fluid coupling 65. An indexing wheel 70, FIGS. 3 and 4, is mounted on the shaft 63, and provided with stop pins 71 and 72 on opposite sides thereof for coaction with

stops

73 and 74, respectively, carried on an indexing slide 75. The stop pins 71 and 72 are circumferentially arranged and staggered relative each other. The indexing slide 75 is slidably mounted in a slide mounting or block 76, and is drivingly connected to a piston rod 77 of an air cylinder 78 that is mounted on a support plate 79. The support plate 79 is in turn mounted on the table 25. While the air cylinder 78 is illustrated for reciprocating the indexing slide 75 and moving it between first and second position, it should be appreciated that any other type of drive means may be provided to effect the reciprocal movement of the indexing slide. When the indexing slide 75 is in the position shown in FIG. 4, the stop 74 blocks the pins 72, while movement of the indexing slide to the other position releases the pins 72 and causes the stop 73 to block the pins 71. Since the pins are in staggered positions, movement of the indexing slide between its first and second positions will permit advancing of the conveyor one step at a time. The constant power being applied to the shaft 63 by the fluid coupling 65 effects advancing of the conveyor 32 during the reciprocal movement of the indexing slide 75.

The operation of the air cylinder 78 is controlled by a threeway solenoid valve 80 having an inlet 81 and

outlets

82 and 83, the latter of which lead to the opposite ends of the air cylinder 78. The inlet 81 is connected to a suitable source of air pressure. Dumps 84 and 85 are provided respectively for the

air supply lines

82 and 83. The solenoid control valve 80 is operated by an indexing switch 86 mounted for actuation by the crank arm 30 at the end of the upward or return stroke of the punch plate 27 to effect advancing of the conveyor after the punch holder 34 has cleared the lug-applying station. A second switch 87, FIG. 4, is actuated by the indexing slide 75 to condition the solenoid valve to cause movement of the slide in one direction when the slide 75 is in the position shown in FIG. 4, whereby closing of the switch 86 effects movement of the indexing slide to cause the stop 73 to move into the path of the stop pin 71, while the stop 74 is moved out of the path of the stop pins 72.

Thus, the indexing mechanism for the conveyor is actuated on the return stroke of the punch plate 27 to bring the next bobbin into the lug-applying station.

At the lug-applicating station, the opposed lug feeders 33 are arranged to feed the lug strip to the cutoff and applying position in step-by-step fashion and in coordination with the indexing of the bobbin conveyor 32. Thus, the lug strip 35 is fed through a strip positioning track 88 intermittently by a conventionally air operated feed unit The strip is advanced upon the return or upward stroke of the punch plate 27 following the clearance of the punch holder 34 of the lug applicating and cutting area. Each lug feeder includes a strip holdback unit 89 that prevents the strip from backing up through the track 88 once it has been advanced. A stripfeed clamp 90 effects the clamping and advancing of the strip. A feed actuator 91 is operated by movement of the punch plate 27 through a spring-loaded plunger 92 mounted on the punch plate The spring-loaded plunger 92 effects delayed action of the lug feeder by not operating the'feed actuator 91 to advance the lug strip until the punch holder has cleared the lug strip feeding area. In operation, initial downward movement of the punch plate 27 causes the spring-loaded plunger 92 to actuate the feed actuators 91 to the down position and cause release of the grippers 90 and retraction thereof to the back position. Since the grippers 90 are released, some freedom of movement of the strip is permitted so that a pilot pin 93, FIGS. 9, l2 and 13, can precisely locate the lug strip 35 for the strip cutting and mounting operations. Near the end of the upward or return stroke of the punch plate 27, the spring-loaded plunger 92 will allow upward movement of the feed actuators 91, which causes the lug feeders to grip and advance the lug strip one step and bring the succeeding endmost lugs into the lug applicating station. Thus, the functioning of the lug feeders is coordinated with the operation of the punch holder as determined by movement of the punch plate 27. The lug strips are fed at right angles to the bobbin conveyor 32, and it should be appreciated that one or both of the lug feeders may be operated at any one time.

To enable the machine of the invention to handle bobbins of various sizes, the lug feeders 33 and the punch holders 34 are adjustably movable together toward or away from the bobbin conveyor 32. As seen particularly in FIGS. 5 to 8, the lug feeders and punch holders are adjustably mounted for slidable movement along

gibs

93 and 94. A notch 95 is provided in a flange on the base for the lug feeders and punch holders for coaction with slots 96 and a locking pin 97 on the gib 93. Alignment of the notch 95 in the base with any of the slots 96 in the gib 93 and insertion of the locking pin 97 locks the lug feeders and punch holders in a predetermined position relative to the bobbin conveyor 32. It can be readily appreciated that the entire feed and applicating units may be movable quickly and easily to accommodate bobbin size variation.

Each punch holder 34 includes a movable block 98 that is vertically movable relative the die holder 26 on vertical guide bars 99. Springs 100 are provided between the movable block 98 and the die holder to normally bias the block into its upper position as shown in FIGS. I and 9. The pilot pin 93 is mounted on the movable block 98 and moves therewith to coact with one of the holes 39 of a lug in the lug strip for precisely positioning the lug strip, so that the endmost lug is in registry with the bobbin at the lug-applying station.

In order to assure the proper locating of a bobbin at the lugapplying station, a bobbin locator 101 is provided on each punch holder that first comes down and locates the bobbin so that the posts are in registry with the lug holes and holds the bobbin against the flange support faces 60 of the tracks 58. With registry assured in mounting the lug on the bobbin, the endmost lug can then be severed or cut from the lug strip, and a cutter bar 102, FIG. 13, on the punch holder movable block 98 coacts with a fixed cutter bar on the die holder 26 to sever the lug from the strip. The cutter also then serves to mount the lug onto the bobbin. The lower end of the cutter bar 102 is provided with a recess for receiving the raised portion 40 of the lug. Arranged within the recess is a collapsing tool 103 that is mounted in a vertical bore in the movable block and actuated by the punch plate 27 after the lug has been applied to the bobbin. As seen in FIG. 13, the upper end of the collapsing tool 103 includes a head 104 that protrudes above the upper surface 98a of the movable block 98 of the punch holder. The head 104 of the collapsing blade or tool 103 is engaged by delayed action by the punch plate 27, which first engages a driving spring 105 mounted on the top of the movable block 98 and normally extended to the position well above the collapsing tool head 104. Thus, initial downward movement of the punch plate causes engagement of the punch plate with the springs 105 of the punch holders to initially drive the punch holders downwardly. In the initial downward movement, the pilot pin 93 orients the lug strip 35 the cutter I02 severs the endmost lug from the lug strip and initiates moving same downwardly onto the bobbin, and the bobbin locator 101 engages the bobbin to precisely locate it for application of the lug. When the punch holder has bottomed on the die holder, further downward movement of the punch plate 27 causes collapsing of the spring 105 until the punch plate engages the collapsing blade head 104 and drives it downwardly to collapse the collapsible portion 40 of the lug and lock the lug to the bobbin. The steps of the operation are illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 17, wherein the punch holder 34 is shown in the upper home position in FIG. 14, while the endmost lug of the lug strip 35 is shown in general alignment with the bobbin 42 at the lug-applying station. FIG. 15 illustrates initial downward movement of the punch holder 34 and the enveloping of the lug by the recess 106 to prevent improper movement of the lug. The cutter 102 is shown in cutting position relative to the cutter bar member 102a. Note that the collapsing tool 103 is in the raised position. FIG. 15 shows the cutter bar 102 as having cut the endmost lug from the lug strip and as having applied the lug to the bobbin 42. The collapsing blade 103 is shown in its down position in FIG. 17 after having collapsed the collapsible portion 40 of the lug to lock the lug to the bobbin. As the punch holder retracts to its rest position upon retraction of the punch plate to its home position, and following the clearance of the punch holder from the cutting and applying area in the lug-applying station, the gripper on the lug feeder again grips the lug strip and advances same so that the next endmost lug is in lug-applying position. Thus, in rest position, the gripper of the lug feeder is in the advanced position and is gripping the lug strip. Sufficient spring force is provided in the spring-loaded plungers 92 to overcome the spring return force of the feed actuators 91 and maintain the feed actuators in down position until the punch plate 27 has returned to a position to allow the punch holder to clear the strip before it is advanced.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention, but it is understood that this application is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

We claim:

1. Apparatus for applying lugs to bobbins wherein the bobbins are provided with aflat surface and post means upstanding therefrom and each lug includes hole means matable with the post means and collapsible means coacting with the hole means and adapted to be collapsed following mounting of a lug on a bobbin to lock same to the post means thereof, said apparatus comprising a conveyor for supporting the bobbins and carrying same through a lug-applicating station, means for indexing said conveyor into and through said lug-applicating station, means for feeding lugs to the lug-applicating station, means for orienting the bobbin and lug in the lug-applicating station, means for applying a lug to the bobbin in the lug-applicating station, and means for collapsing the collapsible means of the lug in the lug-applicating station after it has been applied to the bobbin to lock the lug to the bobbin.

2. A machine for successively applying lugs onto successive bobbins wherein the lugs include hole means and a collapsible portion coacting with the hole means to decrease the size of the hole means upon being collapsed and said bobbins having post means for mating with the hole means wherein following application of a lug to a bobbin, collapsing of the collapsible portion locks the lug to the bobbin, said machine comprising, a crankshaft having a crank, a slidably mounted slide block in coupled engagement with said crank, means for cycling said crankshaft through one revolution for driving said slide block through a forward stroke and a return stroke, a die set including a punch plate and a die holder, means mounting said punch plate on said slide block to move therewith through a forward stroke and a return stroke, a conveyor for receiving a plurality of bobbins having a loading end and a discharge end for indexing a bobbin through a lug-applying station, means orienting the bobbins at the lug-applying station, means on said die holder for supporting a strip form of lugs and for feed ing the endmost lug into the lug-applying station in alignment with said bobbin, means on said die holder operable by said punch plate on the forward stroke for severing the endmost lug from the chain form of lugs and applying same to the bobbin, means on the die holder operable by said punch plate to collapse the lug collapsible portion during the forward stroke, and means operable upon the return stroke of the punch plate for indexing the bobbin conveyor and for feeding the chain form of lugs so that the next endmost lug is aligned with the next bobbin at the lug-applying station.

3. A machine as defined in claim 2, wherein said means on the die holder operable by the punch plate for severing the endmost lug, applying same to a bobbin and collapsing the collapsible portion includes a vertically movable punch holder having a cutter for cutting lugs from the strip form, an applicating head for guiding movement of the lug onto the bobbin, and a collapsing blade for engaging and collapsing the lug collapsible portion.

4. A machine as defined in claim 3, wherein a driving spring is mounted on the upper surface of the punch member and first engageable by the punch plate to drive the punch holder downward and efiect cutting of a lug from the strip form and application of a lug to a bobbin, and a collapsing blade head protruding from the upper surface of the punch holder and engageable with said punch plate after collapse of the driving spring and when the punch holder has bottomed by application of the lug to the bobbin.

5. A machine as defined in claim 4, wherein a bobbin holddown member is mounted on the punch holder for engaging, orienting and holding the bobbin during application of the lug and collapsing of the collapsible portion.

6. A machine as defined in claim 5, and a pilot pin on said punch holder for coacting with the strip form to precisely locate same for the cutting and applying of the endmost lug.

7. A machine as defined in claim 2, wherein said means for indexing said bobbin conveyor includes a fluid coupling having its output drivingly connected to said conveyor and its input drivingly connected to a power source, an indexing wheel connected to said conveyor pin means on said indexing wheel, a slide having stops for the pin means and movable between first and second positions whereby moving alternately between said positions allows the power source through the fluid coupling to intermittently drive and index the conveyor, and means for driving said slide between said positions responsive to the return stroke of the punch plate.

8. A machine as defined in claim 2, wherein said means operable upon the return stroke of the punch plate delays operation of said plug strip feed means until the punch holder has cleared the lug cutting area.

9. A machine as defined in claim 8, wherein said strip feed means includes an actuator and said punch plate includes a spring mounted plunger for operating said actuator.

Claims

1. Apparatus for applying lugs to bobbins wherein the bobbins are provided with a flat surface and post means upstanding therefrom and each lug includes hole means matable with the post means and collapsible means coacting with the hole means and adapted to be collapsed following mounting of a lug on a bobbin to lock same to the post means thereof, said apparatus comprising a conveyor for supporting the bobbins and carrying same through a lug-applicating station, means for indexing said conveyor into and through said lug-applicating station, means for feeding lugs to the lug-applicating station, means for orienting the bobbin and lug in the lug-applicating station, means for applying a lug to the bobbin in the lug-applicating station, and means for collapsing the collapsible means of the lug in the lugapplicating station after it has been applied to the bobbin to lock the lug to the bobbin.

2. A machine for successively applying lugs onto successive bobbins wherein the lugs include hole means and a collapsible portion coacting with the hole means to decrease the size of the hole means upon being collapsed and said bobbins having post means for mating with the hole means wherein following application of a lug to a bobbin, collapsing of the collapsible portion locks the lug to the bobbin, said machine comprising, a crankshaft having a crank, a slidably mounted slide block in coupled engagement with said crank, means for cycling said crankshaft through one revolution for driving said slide block through a forward stroke and a return stroke, a die set including a punch plate and a die holder, means mounting said punch plate on said slide block to move therewith through a forward stroke and a return stroke, a conveyor for receiving a plurality of bobbins having a loading end and a discharge end for indexing a bobbin through a lug-applying station, means orienting the bobbins at the lug-applying station, means on said die holder for supporting a strip form of lugs and for feeding the endmost lug into the lug-applying station in alignment with said bobbin, means on said die holder operable by said punch plate on the forward stroke for severing the endmost lug from the chain form of lugs and applying same to the bobbin, means on the die holder operable by said punch plate to collapse the lug collapsible portion during the forward stroke, and means operable upon the return stroke of the punch plate for indexing the bobbin conveyor and for feeding the chain form of lugs so that the next endmost lug is aligned with the next bobbin at the lug-applying station.

4. A machine as defined in claim 3, wherein a driving spring is mounted on the upper surface of the punch member and first engageable by the punch plate to drive the punch holder downward and effect cutting of a lug from the strip form and application of a lug to a bobbin, and a collapsing blade head protruding from the upper surface of the punch holder and engageable with said punch plate after collapse of the driving spring and when the punch holder has bottomed by application of the lug to the bobbin.