US3698616A

US3698616A - Gaging mechanism for fastener attaching machine

Info

Publication number: US3698616A
Application number: US155756A
Authority: US
Inventors: William A Erhardt Jr
Original assignee: TRW Inc
Current assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
Priority date: 1971-06-23
Filing date: 1971-06-23
Publication date: 1972-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-17

Abstract

In combination with a snap fastener attaching machine, there is an improved gaging mechanism for holding the work and transporting the work to selected positions relative to the fastener setting tools for the attachment of a plurality of fastener components in a spaced, predetermined pattern. The work transporting portion of the gage carries a key movable therewith through a keyway on a fixed section of the gage and the keyway defines a network through which the key travels to establish the spacing and pattern of the fastener components. A plurality of spaced switches which control the operation of the fastener setting tools are mounted on the gage proximate the keyway and the said switches are adapted to be sequentially, momentarily closed by the key and a switch actuator on the work moving portion on the gage as the key travels through the keyway network, whereby the fastener setting tools are automatically fired at intervals determined by the speed at which the work is moved and when the selected areas of the work to which fasteners are to be attached in the desired pattern are successively positioned at the interface of the setting tools.

Description

United States Patent Erhardt, Jr. Oct. 17, 1972 [54] GAGING MECHANISM FOR FASTENER ATTACHING MACHINE [57] ABSTRACT [72] lnventor: William A. Erhardt, Jr., South In combination with a snap fastener attaching Weymouth, Mass. machine, there is an improvedgaging mechanism for [73] Assigneez TRW Inc Cleveland Ohio holding the work and transporting the work to selected positions relative to the fastener setting tools Filedi Jlllle 1971 for the attachment of a plurality of fastener com- [211 APPL No: 155,756 ponents in a spaced, predetermined pattern. The work v transporting portion of the gage carries a key movable therewith through a keyway on a fixed section of the US. Clgage and the keyway defines a network through 227/64 the key travels to establish the spacing and pattern of [51] Int. Cl. ..A4lh 37/04 the fastener components A plurality f spaced [58] Flew of Search "227/2, 3, 18, switches which control the operation of the fastener v 227/66, 100, 104 setting tools are mounted on the gage proximate the keywa and the said switches are adapted to be [56] References C'ted sequen tially, momentarily closed by the key and a UNITED STATES PATENTS switch actuator on the work moving portion on the gage as the key travels through the keyway network, 2,646,185 7/ 1953 Huelster at "227/100 whereby the fastener setting tools are automatically 3,028,601 4/1962 TI'OSke ..227/99 fi at intervals determined by the speed at which the 3,281,045 10/1966 Schmidt ..227/lOOX work is moved and when the Selected areas f h 3,331,544 7/1967 Bachmanalret work to which fasteners are to be attached in the 3,602,418 8/l971 Erhardt, Jr. ..227/3 Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. Atl0rneyPhilip E. Parker et al.

desired pattern are successively positioned at the interface of the setting tools.

7 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEDum 17 m2 5 FIG. 4

INVENTOR ATTORNEY PATENIEnum I7 I972 SHEET l [IF 6 PRS 2 FIG. 8

FIG. 7

INVENTOR WILLIAM A. ERHARDT, JR.

FIG. IO

BY K

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ATTORNEY PATENTED B 3 6 98,816

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INVENTOR WILLIAM A. ERHARDT, JR.

ATTORNEY PATENTEDBII 17 I972 3.698.616

sum 6 0r 6 I; no W8 3 SM sw2 sw3 vAc. I \tg SW4 I :Esws I MACH RC! RL MOTOR 62 MS jc I FIG. l4

INVENTOR WILLIAM A. ERHARDT, JR.

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ATTORNEYv GAGING MECHANISM FOR FASTENER ATTACI'IING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Y The invention is directed at improvements in the snap fastener attaching machine art, particularly the classes of the art which are related to gaging mechanisms for automatically positioning a garment or other work at the fastener setting station and automatically firing the setting tools for the accurate attachment of the fastener components to the work in a desired sequence or pattern. The combination of attaching machines and gages in the art to which the invention relates are frequently found in US. Art Class 227, Subclass 3, entitled Elongated Member Driving Apparatus with Control Means Responsive to Work Feed Means.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the prior art one finds disclosures of a number of fastener attaching machines equipped with work transporting gages which move unidirectionally relative to an attaching station for setting a plurality of colinear fasteners spaced equidistantly or variably on the work. From the prior art one also learns of rotating gages for affixing fasteners in a generally circular pattern. However, when one searches the art for mechanisms adapted to set a plurality of fasteners in a spaced pattern wherein they are not colinear or disposed on a common circle or ellipse, one finds that the earlier practice was to utilize templates for marking the work and then sighting the marks beneath the setting tools and manually moving the work to position successive marks at the attaching station; and that the later practice has been to utilize duplex or multiplex attaching heads arranged to either simultaneously apply the fasteners in a given pattern or to apply the fasteners incrementally responsive to movement of the work by a reciprocating gage from a first to succeeding attaching stations. The practice of utilizing template markings and manual sightings is, of course, laborious, time consuming and inefficient, while the use of multiple sets of attaching heads is obviously costly and in one sense inefficient in that the heads must be entirely rearranged or adjusted when the spacing between fasteners is to be changed from one particular job run to another. Thus, it was the recognition of the need for an improved gaging mechanism for use in combination with an attaching machine which would facilitate accurate indexing of the work to a setting station for the automatic application of a plurality of spaced fasteners in a predetermined pattern thereto utilizing a single setting station (i.e., a single head or set ofattaching tools), which motivated the development of the presently disclosed mechanism. The disclosed structure which satisfies the aforementioned need in an efficient and economical manner is seen to represent a novel solution to the problem which one would not derive from the prior art teachings.

Further appreciation of the improvement in the art which raises the disclosure to the level of invention will be realized by one who proceeds to a consideration of the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows in conjunction with a viewing of the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an improved gaging mechanism according to the invention for attaching four snap fastener studs in a desired pattern on a workpiece;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the gaging mechanism depicted in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are partial side elevational views of the gaging mechanism looking from the right and left of FIG. 2, respectively;

FIG. 5 is a partial top plan view of the left side of a variation of the gaging mechanism desired to automatically apply two snap fastener sockets in a desired pattern on a workpiece;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the portion of the gaging mechanism depicted in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial top plan view of the-right side of the gaging mechanism depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the portion of the gaging mechanism depicted in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a pair of baby pants having snap fasteners applied to tabs at the corners thereof in patterns dictated by the improved gaging mechanism;

FIG. 10 is a partial plan view of a pair of baby pants depicting the tabs at the corners thereof as laid open prior to the setting of fasteners thereon;

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the work clamping jaws of the gaging mechanism in the open condition and further depicting the tabs at one corner of a pair of baby pants inserted beneath and around the work supporting pins;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 11 subsequent to the closing of the work clamping jaws;

FIG. 13 is a schematic wiring diagram of the controls for a fastener attaching machine equipped with the gaging mechanism depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic wiring diagram of the controls for a fastener attaching machine equipped with the variation of the gaging mechanism depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An improved gaging mechanism 2 according to the invention is utilized in combination with a typical snap fastener attaching machine wherein the components of a snap fastener part are hopper fed to tracks for carriage thereby to a vertically reciprocating punch and' die also frequently referred to as upper and lower setting tools which come together at a fastener setting station A to fix the fastener components to work positioned at the station and between, i.e., at the interface of, the setting tools. While there are many different types of snap fastener elements, the usual components of a combination are a stud fixed by a work piercing eyelet and a socket fixed by a work piercing pronged ring. The attaching tools are usually motor driven through conventional means including a drive belt, a pulley or fly wheel, a drive shaft and a standard onerevolution clutch. The clutch is activated for one complete revolution of the drive shaft through a linkage connected to a control solenoid. Thus, the attaching or setting tools complete one down-up or updown cycle each time the solenoid is energized. Assuredly, one having a working knowledge of the snap fastener attaching machine art will be cognizant of this type of machine and its driving mechanism, but those who are unfamiliar with the art may have reference to US. Pat; No. 2,645,374 (G. D. Pickering) which discloses and describes the components and operation of a typical attaching machine in considerable detail.

The gaging mechanism in both variations depicted in the drawing is supported by and mounted on a pair of main mounting plates 4 which are fastened to the support frame 5 of the attaching machine at a level below the setting station A and perpendicular to the path of travel of the reciprocating fastener setting tools. A pair of opposed bearing blocks 6, each having a generally cylindrical bore 8 extending therethrough, are fixed to the upper surface of the support plates 4 adjacent the rear edges 10 thereof.

The work holding and transporting mechanism which is generally designated by the reference numeral 12 is depicted in the out or retracted position and includes left and right hand support rods 14 which are slidably seated in the bores 8 in the bearing block 6 for linear travel relative to the blocks as limited by the collars 16 mounted on the inner ends of the rods beyond the bearing blocks and adjacent their outer ends as is best seen in FIG. 1. The outer ends, i.e., the ends remote from the bearing blocks 6, of the support rods are fastened to slide bar seats 18 and through the said seats to the reinforcing plate 20. The slide bar seats and reinforcing plate are movable along with the support rods toward and away from the bearing blocks but are not movable transversely relative thereto.

Mounted in appropriate bearings in the slide bar seats 18 and beneath the reinforcing plate 20 is a transversely movable slide bar 22 which extends between the seats 18 and outwardly beyond the seats at its left and right ends. Three solid,

cylindrical pins

24, 26 and 28, from left to right, respectively, in FIG. 1, are secured to and depend from the slide bar 22, with pin 28 having a roller 30 mounted on the lower end thereof.

Fixedly mounted on the front face of the slide bar 22 are a pair of spaced handles 32 (not shown in FIG. 2) and a pair of generally rectangular, boxlike housings 34 each of which has a bore therein opening at the inboard or opposing sides of the said housings. As is best depicted in FIG. 1, a spring loaded pin 36 which is seated in each of the housings 34 and extends laterally therefrom is connected at its opposite end to one of a pair of work clamping jaws 38. Likewise fixed to the front face of the slide bar 22 and projecting outwardly therefrom between the jaws 38 are a pair of spaced, cylindrical work supporting pins 40 which are adjustable to vary the spacing therebetween in that the slide bar embodies a plurality of the selectively spaced bores in which the said pins may be seated. Each of the jaws 38 has a generally semicircular groove 42 formed in the opposing faces thereof for clamping the work to the support pins 40 when the jaws are closed. The jaws arev depicted in the open or work receiving condition in FIGS. 1 and 11 and the closed or work clamping condition in FIGS. 2 and 12.

The jaws 38 are also connected to a movable actuating mechanism 44 which is slidably supported beneath the slide bar 22 and moves laterally and independently relative to the slide bar during opening and closing of the jaws and simultaneously with the slide bar during movement of the work to the attaching station A. The jaw actuating mechanism 44 includes the depending angle arm 46 which is best seen in FIG. 2. The jaws and actuating mechanism are also selectively adjustably movable relative to the slide bar to accommodate variations in the spacing of the work supporting pins 40. As is best seen in the left hand portion of FIG. 1, the support rods 14 are normally biased toward the out or retracted condition by a coil spring 48 having one end connected to the adjacent bearing block 6 and the other end connected to a lug 50 projecting laterally from the collar 16 at the remote end of the support rod. The identical spring biasing assembly may be used on the right hand support rod and bearing block if so desired. Lastly, with respect to the work transporting mechanism per se, it should be noted that the work supporting pins 40 are disposed at the level of the setting station A where, as aforesaid, the setting tools of the attaching machine come together to apply the components of a fastener part to the work.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, one will observe that a guide track 52 having a generally T-shaped track 54 formed therein is secured beneath each of the main mounting plates 4 adjacent the front edges and left and right front corners thereof. A T-shaped slide 56 is disposed in each of the correspondingly shaped tracks 54 and each slide has a jaw opener bar 58 secured to its inboard end and projecting perpendicularly upwardly therefrom. The upper outboard faces 60 of each of the bars 58 oppose the inboard faces of the angle arms 46 which depend from the jaw actuating mechanism 44. Secured by suitable mounting brackets beneath each of the guide tracks 52 and adjacent the outboard sides of the mounting plates 4 are solenoids 62 to the right and 64 to the left, respectively. The operating

arms

66 and 68 of each of the

solenoids

62 and 64 are connected to appropriate linkages 70 at the undersides of the reciprocating slides 56. Each of the linkages 70 is pulled in to maintain the slides 56 and jaw opener bars 60 in the forward condition depicted in FIG. 2 under the tension of coiled springs 72 which are connected between the linkages 70 and fixed lugs 74 depending from the stop blocks 76 that are mounted at the underside of the guide tracks 52.

The present gaging mechanism was developed primarily, although not exclusively, for the rapid attachment of snap fastener components in a predetermined pattern to a synthetic plastic baby pant designed to hold throwaway diapers. The snap fastener components, to wit, four studs secured by eyelets and two sockets secured by pronged rings, are attached to

cotton tabs

80,80a which are stitched to the corners of the baby pants 82 as depicted in FIG. 10. The

tabs

80,80a are of sufficient length to permit the central portion thereof to be inserted beneath the support pins 40 of the transporting mechanism, as depicted in FIG. 4, when the jaws 38 are opened, after which the ends of the tabs are folded over to provide in effect a double thickness tab to which the snap fasteners are applied in the desired arrangement. The operation of the jaws 38 to permit insertion of the tabs 80 around the pins 40 is controlled by a typical single throw spring loaded foot switch which will be further described along with other controls hereinafter. When an operator depresses the foot switch to close same,

solenoids

62 and 64 are energized and their operating

arms

66 and 68 pull in, i.e., to the right and left, respectively, as seen in FIG. 2. When the said operating arms retract, the linkages 70 are drawn in the same direction as are the connected slides 56 and the jaw opening bars 58, all movement of these components being against the increasing pull or bias of springs 72 which are placed further in tension. From a further consideration of FIG. 2, one will readily observe that the lateral retracting of the bars 58 precipitates an engagement of angle arms 46 on the slidable jaw actuating mechanism 44, which arms are retracted against the bias of the springs on the spring loaded pins 38 (FIG. 11), which springs are coiled up in compression, and the jaws 38 are opened to the extent depicted in FIGS. 1 and 11. With the jaws thus opened, the operator, while still holding the foot switch closed, grasps the ends of the baby pant tabs 80 and inserts same under and around pins 40 as heretofore mentioned and immediately releases the foot switch causing same to open. Immediately upon opening of the foot switch,

solenoids

62,64 are deenergized, their operating

arms

66 and 68 and linkages 70 are pulled left and right, respectively, in FIG. 2, as are slides 56 and jaw opener bars 58 thereby releasing angle arms 46 and actuating mechanisms 44 and permitting springs 36 to snap jaws 38 closed, as depicted in FIG. 2, whereby the baby pant tabs 80 are clamped to the pins 40 in jaw grooves 42, as seen in FIG. 12, whereupon the end portions of the tabs fold downwardly over the centi'al portion thereof.

For determining the sequence, spacing and pattern by which the invention is operated to apply fasteners to the work, the gage is equipped with what is best termed a fixed guide mechanism having a primary portion 84 disposed at the left side thereof, as depicted in FIG. 1, and an auxiliary portion 86 depicted at the right side of the same Figure. While the term fixed guide is used, it is to be understood that the guide is fixed in the sense that it does not move in its entirety relative to the gage although certain component parts thereof are movable within the guide assembly. The primary guide portion 84 is mounted on the upper surface of the left hand main mounting plate 4 slightly below the level of slide bar 22 and to the left of the adjacent support rod 14. For the four fastener attachment gage according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the guide includes a keyway 88 having an open ended entry channel 90 in which the guide pin or key 26 depending from slide bar 22 is normally at least partially seated when the work transporting mechanism is at rest in the fully retracted condition. Inwardly of its open end the channel 90 is constricted by a transversely shiftable, spring biased latch 92 having cavities in the base of the keyway. Immediately to the right of the stopblock 100 the reader will observe two narrowly spaced cavities 102 in the keyway base. The cavities 102 are designed to receive similarly spaced mounting pins on an alternate stop block 104 conveniently mounted at the rear of the fixed guide 84. Thus, if one desires to lengthen the keyway network in connection with an adjustment of the work supporting pins 40, clamping jaws 38 and control switches, to be later described, to increase the spacing between fastener settings, one may readily manually remove the stop block 100 and insert stop block 104 to lengthen the network b--b, the leftward extremity of which will thereafter be defined by end wall 106.

Fixedly mounted on the main mounting plate 4 adjacent the perimeter of the guide 84 are three normally open microswitches SW1, SW4 and SW5 having spring an angularly tapered internal facing surface 94 and an 1 actuating pin 95 fixed to and projecting from its upper surface. Rearwardly of the latch 92 the keyway defines a generally rectangular network indicated by the dotted line b b in FIG. 1 with said network being at least partially defined by a latch 96 that is pivotally mounted on a fixed block 98 and is normally spring biased to the rear as depicted in FIG. 1. The stop block identified by reference numeral 100 in FIG. 1 and which defines one end of the keyway network is secured by mounting pins at the underside thereof which seat in complementary loaded operating arms and to the left of the mounting plate, on an extension arm 108, two identical microswitches SW2 and SW3 are fixed to a mounting plate which is selectively adjustably mounted on the said extension arm. Thus, microswitches SW2 and SW3 can be adjusted toward or away from the mounting plate to accommodate variations in the desired spacing of fastener settings as the length of the keyway network is varied along with the spacing between support pins 40 and jaws 38, etc. Mounted adjacent 'each of the microswitches is an actuator mechanism comprising a fixed block 112 having through openings therein in which double-headed rivets 114 are mounted for limited travel relative to the mounting blocks. The rivets are normally biased away from the switches by the spring loaded operating arms thereof which are in contact with the inboard heads of the rivets. The actuating mechanisms are designed to protect the switches from accidental damage when the gage is in operation in that the amount of play in the actuator mountings is predetermined to permit the amount of rivet movement needed to close the switch contacts but also to prohibit the application of excessive force on the switches which might result in damage to the internal components thereof. As is clearly seen in FIG. 1, the rearward face of latch 96 is normally spring biased against the adjacent rivet head 114 to maintain microswitch SW1 in the closed position when the gage is at rest. 1

Having reference to FIG. 3 in addition to FIGS. 1 an 2, one will observe the auxiliary portion 86 of the fixed guide mechanism at the right side of FIGS. 1 and 2, which auxiliary guide mechanism includes guide block 116 bolted to main support plate 4, a latch 118 pivotally mounted on pin 120 and normally biased re arwardly by torsion spring 122 against the upper leg of a right angled latch check 124 mounted on the guide block. The auxiliary guide portion 86 defines a keyway or network indicated by a dotted line c-c (FIG. 1) through which guide pin 28 and the roller 30 thereon travel responsive to the operation of the work holding and transporting mechanism 12 in the mode to be described hereinafter.

The reader should now have reference to the schematic wiring diagram of FIG. 13 which depicts the control circuit and components thereof for the gaging mechanism above described which is designed to effect the attachment of four stud and eyelet fastener assemblies to the baby pant tabs depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10. All of the components of the control circuit not shown in the remainder of the drawings are mounted on a suitable control panel at one side of the machine frame with the exception of the solenoid which actuates the fastener setting tools, which component is disposed at the base of the main attaching machine structure. The circuit of FIG. 13 depicts main control switch MS which is manually closed to apply power to the attaching machine motor, left and

right hand solenoids

64,62 which are actuated through foot switch FS,'

fastener attaching machine solenoid MSOL which is energized through the closing of contacts RC1 of relay RLl and precipitates the actuation of the earlier mentioned one-revolution clutch for cycling the fastener setting tools, a three-position toggle switch TSW3, a push button switch PBS connected in series between the toggle switch and one side of the relay RLl, and the five trip microswitches SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4 and SW5 connected in parallel between the toggle switch and relay RLl with microswitches SW1 and SW5 being connected in series with one another. The three positions of toggle switch TSW3 include a neutral position wherein the push button switch and trip microswitches are inactive or bypassed so that the fastener setting tools cannot be activated even though the main machine motor is running, a rear or second position wherein the trip microswitches are active or in circuit for normal operation of the gaging mechanism but the push button switch is inactive, and a third or forward position wherein the trip microswitches are inactive but the push button switch is active for selected manual actuation of the attaching tools to effect individual attachments to repair earlier defective attachments or missed attachments incident to normal operation of the gaging mechanism.

The normal operation of the gaging mechanism, i.e., with toggle switch TSW3 in the rear position and main switch MS closed, will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 9, l2 and 13. As was earlier mentioned, an operator commences by closing foot switch FS to energize

solenoids

62,64 and open jaws 38, and thereafter graspsthe ends of tabs 80 on the baby pant and folds same around the support pins 40 (FIG. 11). Thereafter the foot switch is released thereby deenergizing the solenoids to permit jaws 38 to snap closed (FIG. 12) and fold the ends of the tabs 80 over thecentral portion thereof. The remainder of the baby pant rests on a support table 125 which is partially depicted in FIG. 4. The operator next grasps the handles 32 and thrusts the work holding and transporting mechanism 12 directly to the rear such that support rods 14 slide rearwardly through bearing blocks 6 and coil spring 48 is stretched in tension. One will note that the rearward movement of the transporting mechanism moves angle arms 46 out of the retraction path of jaw opener bars 58, ergo accidental or deliberate reclosing of switch FS will not open jaws 38. As the transporting mechanism 12 moves rearwardly, key 26 advances further into channel 90 in the fixed guide portion 84, cammingly indexes spring biasing latch 92 to the left in FIG. 1 and is ultimately impacted against and at least momentarily brought to rest against the forward face of pivotal latch 96. Simultaneously with the striking of latch 96 by key 26, which striking holds microswitch SW1 closed through the rear end face of the said latch engaging the adjacent actuating rivet 114, microswitch SW5 is closed by actuator 24 which engages the adjacent actuating rivet 114 and moves same to the right in FIG. 1 thereby deflecting the spring loaded arm of said microswitch to the closed position. The simultaneous closing of microswitches SW1 and SW5 energizes relay RLl closing its contacts RC1 and in turn energizing solenoid MSOL which activates the machines onerevolution clutch causing the setting tools to cycle to fix the first stud and eyelet combination to the baby pant tab at SE1, FIG. 9. Immediately after the first attachment has been made, in fact during the retracting phase of the setting tools cycle, the operator thrusts the slide bar 22 of the mechanism 12 to the left in FIG.

1. It should be noted at this point that the mechanism cannot be retracted or pulled forwardly in that latch 92 is spring biased to the right behind key 26 as soon as the latter clears the rear face of the latch upon insertion into the keyway. Thus, the slide bar 22 must bethrust leftward along path b-b until the key 26 strikes the forward section of the right face of stop block 100 at which point actuator 24 will automatically close microswitch SW2 by striking and forcing the adjacent actuating rivet 114 to the left in FIG. 1, thereby reactivating the setting tools to effect the fastener attachment at SE2, FIG. 9. The mechanism 12 is then thrust further to the rear along path b--b until key 26 comes to rest in the rearward left corner of the keyway 88 and actuator 24 closes microswitch SW3 to effect the fastener attachment at SE3, FIG. 9. The fourth fastener attachment at SE4, FIG. 9, is then effected by thrusting the slide bar 22 to the right to move key 26 further along path bb and bring it to rest in the rear right corner of the keyway at which point actuator 24 closes microswitch SW4 to again actuate the setting tools.

Upon completion of the fourth fastener setting SE4, the operator pulls the mechanism 12 forwardly toward the starting condition depicted in FIG. 1. As the mechanism is retracted, key 26 engagesthe rear face of pivotal, spring loaded latch 96 and swings the latch clockwise (about pivot point 96a) to cause the forward face thereof to engage pin 95 on latch 92 and index the latter to the left whereby key 26 can be drawn through channel 90 to the at rest condition depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. During the retraction of the mechanism the recoil of spring 48 assists the operator in moving the mechanism to the fully retracted condition. The reader will also observe that at the commencement of the retracting pull on the transporting mechanism, the clockwise pivoting of latch 96 removes the force on the adjacent actuating rivet 114 thereby permitting microswitch SW1 to immediately open, and that the subsequent reclosing of microswitch SW5 by actuator 24 fails to actuate the fastener setting tools in that microswitches SW1 and SW5 are connected in series (see FIG. 13) as aforesaid. Further, when key 26 has cleared latch 92 at the terminal portion of transporting mechanism retraction, latches 92 and 96 immediately return to the at rest condition depicted in FIG. 1 under the bias of the coil and torsion springs respectively acting thereon.

As soon as the operator has fully retracted the transporting mechanism 12, the foot switch FS is again depressed and closed to energize

solenoids

62,64 and open jaws 38 whereby the baby pant may be manually removed from support pins 40 and another set of tabs 80 wrapped around the pins whereupon the foot switch is released to deenergize the solenoids and allow jaws 38 to reclose and clamp the work and the gaging mechanism is then recycled to repeat the attaching sequence heretofore described. With respect to the said attaching sequence, it should be noted that simultaneously with the traverse of key 26 through keyway 88 along path b-b, the guide pin 28 is traversing the path c-c through auxiliary guide portion 86. When the transporting mechanism is first thrust rearwardly the roller 30 on guide pin 28 passes over the forward sec tion of guide block 1 16 and is impacted against the forward face of latch 118, which latch is restricted from moving rearwardly by the upper leg of latch check 124. When the work slide bar 22 is shifted leftwardly, further rearwardly and thence rightwardly, the roller 30 traverses path c-c and ultimately cams latch 118 clockwise about pivot 120 against the bias of spring 122 to move through the auxiliary guide and back to the FIG. 1 condition during the retraction of the transporting mechanism.

The reader will appreciate that in a mass production process wherein the gaging mechanism is employed to effect the maximum number of fastener attachments in the minimum amount of time by an efficient operator, the work transporting mechanism 12 and its slide bar component 22 are literally slammed back and forth and to and fro during traverse of the guide pin or key 26 through the network of keyway 88. That being the case, one will further readily appreciate the importance of mounting blocks 112 and rivets 114 seated therein for limited movement relative thereto to actuate the various trip microswitches responsive to the impacting of latch 96 and actuator pin 24 against the rivets. In fact, it is accurate to say that the utilization of protective switch contactor-actuators precisely according to the block and limited motion rivet arrangement disclosed or according to some other protective system is essential to consistently reliable functioning of the gaging mechanism in that the absence of such a protective system will result in repeated damage to the microswitches and highly undesirable machine down time incident to the repair and/or replacement of the switches or components thereof.

Should one desire to increase the lateral spacing between fastener attachments, i.e., increase the distance between attachments SE1-SE2 and SE3-SE4 (FIG. 9), the gaging mechanism can be quickly adapted to effect such a change by a few minor adjustments of the component parts thereof. Having reference to FIG. 1, the reader will observe in phantom the alternate bores F and G in slide bar 22 for the mounting of movable right hand work support pin 40 and the alternate tapped bores H, I and J to the right thereof into which the bolts fixing the right hand handle and

jaw assembly

32,38 are turned. To increase the spacing between fastener attachments, an operator or mechanic: moves the handle or jaw assembly to the right by shifting its mounting bolts from bores H and I to bores I and J, transfers support pin 40 from bore F to bore G, removes stop block 100 from keyway 88 and inserts alternate stop block 104 in the mounting pin cavities 102 to the left of latch support 98, and adjusts switch mounting plate 110 to the left on extension arm 108 utilizing alternate mounting holes for the fasteners which secure said plate to said arm. It should be readily apparent that once these minor'adjustments have been made, key or guide pin 26 will travel the entire length of keyway 88 to the end wall 106 thereof during leftward transfer of the slide bar 22, ergo, the work (tabs will be shifted laterally a greater distance between the sequential closings of microswitches SW2 and SW4.

The reader should now refer to FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 which depict a variation of a fixed guide mechanism used in conjunction with the gaging device and a fastener attaching machine having setting tools for affixing snap fastener sockets and work-piercing pron ged rings. The control circuitry for the variation of the fixed guide mechanism is depicted in FIG. 14. The work transporting mechanismused with the variation of the fixed guide is essentially identical with that previously described.

The left side section of the variation of the fixed guide 84a includes a keyway 88a having an entry channel 90a for receiving key or guide pin 26. The entry channel is partially constricted by spring biased latch 92a. Rearwardly of the latch the keyway 88a defines a generally rectangular network d-d with said network being established rearwardly by fixed stop block 126, one arm of removable, right angled stop block 128 and at its leftward extremity by the other arm of said removable stop block. The length of network d-d can be extended by inverting the removable stop block 128 and seating one of its retaining pins in auxiliary bore so that the end wall 106a of the keyway establishes the leftward extremity of network d-d, thereby increasing the spacing between fastener attachments. Mounted to the left of the guide 84a are normally open microswitches PRSl and PRS3, the latter on adjustable support plate 110a, and switch actuating rivets 114a seated in fixed supports 112a. Mounted at the leftward extremity of the guide 84a, below the level of mounting plate 110a and rearwardly of solenoid 64, is a latch solenoid LS connected through an appropriate linkage 132 to latch operating arm 134 and latch 92a.

The right hand section of the fixed guide variation is markedly different from the auxiliary guide for the four fastener attachment earlier described and consists of a fixed guide block 136 having an elongated rectangular recess 138 formed therein and opening at the forward edge 140 thereof. Trip microswitch PRS2 is fixed to the rear section of guide block 136 and an extension 142 of its operating arm projects forwardly to slightly over-' hang the rear wall 1380 of recess 138. Latch solenoid control microswitch LSS is bolted to a bracket fixed to the right end of guide block 136 and lies above the level of microswitch PRS2 (see FIG. 8). Microswitch LSS has an extension 144 of its operating arm projecting leftwardly toward an imaginary planar extension of the right end 146 of recess 138 in the guide block. Each of the extension arms 142,144 of microswitches PRS2 and LSS, respectively, are rotatable about pivot pins 142a and 144a in the direction of the arrows shown adjacent thereto in FIG. 7 and each carries a rotatable spool 142b, 144k at its terminal end.

To effect the attachment of snap fastener socket and pronged ring components to the opposite end corners of the baby pant depicted in FIG. 9, tabs 80a are placed in the work transporting mechanism and mechanism is thrust to the rear so that key 26 travels along channel 900, cams past latch 92a and impacts against stop block 126 at the right end corner of keyway 88a. Simultaneously with the impacting of the key against the stop block 126, actuator pin 24 on slide bar 22 closes trip microswitch PRSI and actuator pin 28 at the right end of the slide bar strikes spool 142b on the extension arm of microswitch PRS2 and closes the latter switch which as seen in FIG. 13 is connected in series with microswitch PRSl. Thus relay RLl and solenoid MSOL are energized to cycle the fastener setting tools and fix a snap fastener socket to the baby pant at SP1, FIG. 9. One will note that spool 144b on the extension arm of microswitch LSS is engaged by the right end of slide bar 22 as the mechanism 12 is thrust rearwardly but that the latch control switch is not closed in that the extension arm 144 is simply pivoted clockwise to a limited extent about pin 144a. One will further note that the slight overhang of spool l42b at the rear wall 138a of recess 138 inhibits damage to microswitch PRS2 since the actuating arm 142 can only be moved rearwardly to a limited extent, to wit, until pin 128 bottoms against the rear wall 138a of the recess in the guide block. The operator precipitates the second socket attachment at SP2, FIG. 9, by thrusting slide bar 22 to the left and key 26 along path dd until the key strikes the right face of removable stop block 128, at which point actuator pin 124 closes trip microswitch PRS3 to again cycle the fastener setting tools. Simultaneously, guide pin 28 and the roller 30 carried thereby are traversing the end wall 138a of the recess 138 in the right hand guide. Subsequent to the second fastener attachment the operator thrusts slide bar 22 back to the right along path d--d and the right end of the slide bar engages spool 144b on extension arm 144 thereby closing trip microswitch LSS and energizing latch solenoid LS whereby linkage 132 and operating arm 134 are pulled leftward as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 to index the latch 92a to the left against its springs bias whereupon the operator draws the transport mechanism 12 to the front and key 26 proceeds along channel 90a to the starting point depicted in FIG. 5. The reader will note that on the return or rightward shifting of the slide bar 22, the roller 30 on actuating pin 28 simply cams over spool l42b and extension arm I42 pivots slightly counterclockwise but does not close trip microswitch PRS2. Further, the roller 30 ultimately bottoms against the right end wall 146 of recess 138 and, since the slide bar 22 extends only a slight distance to the right beyond the roller, the actuating mechanism of trip microswitch LSS is effectively protected. Like the four fastener attachment gage earlier described, the two fastener variation can be readily adjusted to increase the spacing between fastener settings SPl-SP2 by adjusting right hand support pin 40 and handle 32 as earlier described, moving mounting plate 110a (and trip micro PRS3) to the left to its alternate seat 'and inverting stop block 128 to lengthen the keyway network dd.

Having considered the foregoing detailed description of the invention, which is intended to be illustrative as the opposed to limiting in nature, one should now refer to the claims which follow for a precise definition of the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a fastener attaching machine having reciprocating fastener setting tools which come together at an attaching station to apply the components of a fastener part to a workpiece positioned at the setting station, an improved gaging mechanism for setting fasteners on the work in spaced relation and a predetermined pattern, said gaging mechanism comprising means for grasping and holding the work and moving the work relative to the setting station, means for guiding said work holding and moving means during movement thereof whereby the work is moved to a first selected and subsequently selected positions relative to the setting station for applying fasteners thereto in the predetermined pattern with the work being momentarily brought to rest at each of said selected relative positions for the attachment of a fastener thereto, said guide means including a key connected to said work holding and moving means and being movable therewith and a keyway mounted on said gaging mechanism and defining a network through which said key travels responsive to actuating of said work holding and moving means, means for controlling the operation of the fastener setting tools fixedly mounted on said gaging mechanism, means for actuating said control means, said actuating means being connected to said work holding and moving means and being adapted to automatically energize the said control means responsive to movement of said key through the network defined by said keyway at intervals determined by the speed at which said key is moved, and means protecting said control means from being accidentally damaged by said actuating means during normal operation of said gaging mechanism.

2. In a combination according to claim 1, a gaging mechanism including manually actuated means for opening and closing said means for grasping and holding the work.

3. In a combination according to claim 2, a gaging mechanism including means which maintain said work holding means in the closed condition and inhibit accidental opening thereof during movement of the work relative to the setting station.

4. In a combination according to claim 1, a gaging mechanism including directing means which dictate that said key move in a predetermined path through the network defined by the keyway from the time the key enters the keyway and permits removal of the key from the keyway only through traverse of the said predetermined path.

5. In a combination according to claim 4, a gaging mechanism including alternatively installable structural components for said keyway which facilitate rearrangement of the network defined by the keyway to increase or decrease the length of the predetermined path the key must traverse whereby the desired spacing between fastener settings on the work may be accordingly selectively increased or decreased.

6. In a combination according to claim 1, a gaging mechanism wherein said means protecting said control means includes contactor means adapted to be impacted by said actuating means to energize said control prevent damage to said control means from the impact of said actuator means.

7. In a combination according to claim 1, a gaging mechanism wherein said work holding and moving means is mounted for planar movement toward, away from and transversely both left and right relative to the setting station.

Claims

6. In a combination according to claim 1, a gaging mechanism wherein said means protecting said control means includes contactor means adapted to be impacted by said actuating means to energize said control means during movement of the work holding means, as directed by the guide means, to those relative positions whereby the work is moved to a selected position relative to the setting station, said contactor means being housed in rigid mountings on said gaging mechanism but being transversely movable relative to said mountings, the extent of permissible relative movement of said contactor means being sufficient for energization of said control means but being precisely limited to prevent damage to said control means from the impact of said actuator means.