US3863823A

US3863823A - Strip Stock Feeding Mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3863823A
Application number: US393731A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur L Allred
Original assignee: Allred Metal Stamping Works Inc
Current assignee: Allred Metal Stamping Works Inc
Priority date: 1973-09-04
Filing date: 1973-09-04
Publication date: 1975-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-04

Abstract

An apparatus for feeding a continuous strip of metal to a punch press for stamping on a die with the stroke of the feeding mechanism being uniform. A first pair of reciprocating, nonreversing rollers grip and advance the strip stock a precise distance. A second pair of rollers prevent retrogressive movement of the stock advanced by the reciprocating first pair of rollers. The first pair of rollers are reciprocated through a linkage from a rotatable member which, in turn, is driven from the press through a clutch mechanism. The length of the stroke is adjusted by varying the distance from the center of rotation of the rotating member to the location where the feed roll reciprocating linkage is connected to the rotating member.

Description

United States Patent [191 [111 3,863,823 Allred Feb. 4, 1975 [54] STRIP STOCK FEEDING MECHANISM 3,650,449 3/1972 Mundus 226/142 75 In tor: Arthur L. Allred, Hi h Point, NC. 1 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher [73] Assignee: Allred Metal Stamping Works, High 57 ABSTRACT [22] Flled: Sept 1973 An apparatus for feeding a continuous strip of metal [21] Appl. No.: 393,731 to a punch press for stamping on a die with the stroke of the feeding mechanism being uniform. A first pair of reciprocating, non-reversing rollers grip and adfi 226/142 i g/ gg vance the strip stock a precise distance. A second pair i 148 156 of rollers prevent retrogressive movement of the stock 1 le 0 can 0 6 advanced by the reciprocating first pair of rollers. The first pair of rollers are reciprocated through a linkage 56 Rf d from a rotatable member which, in turn, is driven 1 e erences from the press through a clutch mechanism. The UNITED STATES PATENTS length of the stroke is adjusted by varying the distance 2.348.456 5/1944 Dickerman 226/148 from the center of rotation of the rotating member to 2.397333 /19 6 Borton 226/148 the location where the feed roll reciprocating linkage 2,514,261 7/l950 Scheffey 2261142 is connected to the rotating member. 254L737 2/1951 Bardsley 226/141 X 3.371.834 3/1968 Willits 226/141 X 9 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB 41% 3,863,823

SHEET 1 BF 3 PATENTED 3,863,823

SHEU 3 UF 3 STRIP STOCK FEEDING MECHANISM BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to feeding mechanisms and more particularly to a feeding attachment adapted to be mounted adjacent a press for uniformly feeding continuous strip material to the press.

Briefly, the feeding assembly includes a first pair of knurled, non-reversing rollers for gripping and advancing the stock strip an accurate, preselected distance. The first pair of rollers are reciprocated by a linkage and rotating member which receives its drive from the press. The linkage is adjustably mounted off-center of the rotating member. A second pair of knurled, nonreversing rollers prevent retrograde movement of the strip advanced during the back stroke of the reciprocating feed rollers. A clutch, interposed between the rotating member and the drive from the press, permits the feed stroke to be correctly adjusted without turning the press. Each pair of rollers is provided with means for separating the rollers to facilitate insertion of the strip material therebetween and at least one roller of each pair is eccentrically mounted to adjust for different thicknesses of strip material to be fed.

One of the primary objects of the invention is the provision of a new and improved feeding mechanism for continuous strip material.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a feeding mechanism which prevents overfeed and eliminates lost motion while precisely feeding a selected, predetermined length of continuous strip material.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a feeding mechanism which can be readily adjusted to vary the feed stroke and to accommodate strip material of various thicknesses.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent when considered in view of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the strip advancing apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the strip feeding apparatusfor directing strip material from a supply coil to a press;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the strip feeding apparatus and illustrating the drive arrangement from the press to the reciprocating strip engaging and advancing rollers;

FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevational view of the apparatus illustrating the directions of rotation of the pair of knurled rollers;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, perspective view of the drive disk or crank and illustrating an adjustment means for varying the stroke of the pair of strip advancing. feed rollers;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary view, partly in section, of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the mechanism for locking the adjustment means at a preselected position;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged side elevational view, partly in section, of the clutch arrangement for driving the disk from the press;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one plate of the clutch;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged real elevational view of one of the knurled roller units for intermittently advancing the strip mate rial and illustrating the spring means for feeding the rollers toward each other; and

FIG. 12 illustrates an enlarged, exploded view of one of the knurled rollers and the mounting therefor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawing and particularly to FIG. I, the apparatus for intermittently feeding material a prescribed distance accurately and uniformly includes a base frame 20,

upstanding end members

22, 24 fixed to the base frame 20 adjacent the ends thereof and a pair of spaced

guide rods

26, 28 secured to the

end members

22, 24.

An intermediate upstanding member 30 is mounted for reciprocable displacement intermediate the

end members

22, 24 and is guidably supported upon the

rods

26, 28 by means of slide bearings 32. A stock feeding assembly 34 is positioned upon the horizontal reciprocating intermediate upstanding member 30. A similar stock feeding assembly 36 is located upon the forward upstanding end member 24.

Each of the

assemblies

34, 36 is provided with cooperating top and bottom

knurled rollers

38 and 40 which are non-reversing and rotate only in the direction of the arrows, FIG. 5. As shown most clearly by FIG. 11, the

rollers

38, 40 are mounted upon a block or bracket 42 supported upon either the forward, stationary upstanding member 24 or the reciprocable, intermediate upstanding member 30. The bracket 42 includes a portion 43 slidable in the T-shaped groove 44 of

member

24 or 30 for permitting the

assemblies

34 and 36 to be selectively positioned longitudinally of the

members

24 and 30 by suitable fasteners 46.

The

rollers

38, 40 preferably are of the roller bearing clutch type, rotatable in one direction only, and manufactured by the Torrington Company. At least the low ermost roller 40 is provided with an eccentric mounting adjustment to accommodate different thicknesses of the strip material 48. As shown by FIG. 12, the roller 40 is mounted upon an eccentric assembly 50 which, in turn, is supported on a shaft 52 having an end portion 54 threadably secured to the bracket 42. Upon loosening of the shaft 52 to prevent rotation of the washer 56, the roller can be displaced relative to the roller 38 to receive strip material 48 of various thicknesses. The pin 58 secured to washer 56 is received within an opening 60 in the eccentric assembly 50 to rotate the eccentric assembly and therefore the roller 40 about the shaft 52. After selectively positioning the roller 40, the shaft 52 may be tightened to retain the roller and eccentric in position. The roller 38 may also be eccentrically mounted if so desired.

The roller 38 normally is mounted for vertical displacement relative to roller 40 to facilitate lateral insertion of the strip material 48 between the rollers. Roller 38 is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 62 supported by an inverted U-shaped member 64 which is vertically, slidably displaceable between

members

66, 68 of the bracket 42, FIG. 11. Spaced upstanding posts 70 have their lower ends secured to the inverted U-shaped member 64 and their upper ends connected by member 72. The bracket 42 includes a portion 74 extending between

members

66, 68 and has secured thereto a first cam member 76 and a post 78. A second cam member 80 surrounds the post 78 and is biased downwardly into engagement with the first cam member 76 by a spring 82. During normal operation, the cam member 80 is recessed within cam member 76 and the roller 38 is biased downwardly to engage the strip 48 between the

rollers

38, 40, as shown by FIG. 4. To separate the

rollers

38, 40 for insertion of the strip 48 therebetween, lever 84, secured to cam member 80, rotates member relative to cam member 76 to separate the members and consequently the

rollers

38, 40. The U-shaped member 64 is pulled upwardly by the cam member 80 pushing vertically against the connector 72 and posts 70. A nut 86 retains the spring 82 upon the post 78.

The strip of material '48 being unwound from the supply roll 90 is directed to the stock feeding assembly 34 by means of guide rollers 92 which engage the side edges of the strip material 48. Preferably the rollers 92 are flanged, as shown by FIG. 3, and mounted upon support blocks 94 which are adapted to be selectively adjustably mounted by fasteners 96 which cooperate with the generally T-shaped slot 98 of the upstanding end member 22.

The intermediate upstanding member 30 supporting the feeding assembly 34 is reciprocated along the guide rods or

rails

26, 28 by a rotating disk 100 and

rods

102 and 104. The rod 102 is guided through an opening 106 in the vertical end member 22 upon displacement thereof and has one end rigidly secured to the intermediate upstanding member 30 and the opposite end pivotably attached to rod 104 by coupler assembly 108. The opposite end of rod 104 has a rounded portion 110 coupled to a pin 112 mounted upon block 114. The

disk 100 normally is driven by the press 1 16 and the pin 112, having the rod 104 coupled thereto, is off-center with respect the axis of rotation of the disk 100. Upon rotation of the disk 100, the pin moves in a circle around the axis of rotation of the disk 100 thereby displacing the rod 104 connected thereto and reciprocating the rod 102 in feeding assembly 38. The arrangement of the disk 100 and

rods

102 and 104 permits displacement of the feed roller assembly 34 at slow speeds adjacent the extreme limits of the length of stroke of the feeding assembly 30 and at rapid intermediate speeds. Slowing of the speed of the feeding assembly just before reversal of the direction of the feeding assembly 30 on the forward stroke prevents overfeed of the strip material 48.

The disk 100 is driven from the press 116 by means of the drive shaft 118, universal coupling 119, gear housing 120, drive shaft 122, clutch 124,

bevel gears

126, 128 and member 130.

The clutch 124 permits setting of the feed without having to stroke the press. The clutch includes a plate 132 secured to shaft 122 by pin 134. The plate includes a recess 135 defining a cam surface 136, FIGS; 9 and 10, which normally receives a spring biased rod 138. The rod 138 is housed within an opening 141 defined by member 140. The sleeve-like member surrounds the drive shaft 122 and is rotatable relative thereto. The bevel gear 126 is attached to member 140 for rotation therewith. The spring 142 normally biases the rod 138 into the base of recess 130 and a pin 144 is provided for disengaging rod 138 from the plate 132. The pin 144 is displaceable within a slot 146, FIG. 4. Normally the clutch 124 couples the drive shaft 122 to the bevel gear 126 for driving the disk 100. However,

the clutch 124 may be disengaged by placing a removable handle or crank 148 upon the plate 132 and member 140, positioning the slot 149 of the crank 148 such that the pin 150, fixed to the member 140, is received therein and rotating the crank 148 such that the tapered surface 152 engages the spring biased pin 144 and disengages the rod 138 from the recess 135 of plate 132. Such action permits displacement of the beveled gears 126, 128 and disk 100 relative to the press drive shaft 118 and shaft 122. The correct length of feed of the strip material 48 can be obtained in this manner without turning the press 116.

The block 114, which supports pin 112, is dovetailed to the disk 100, as shown by FIG. 7, and is adjustable relative to the disk 100 by means of an adjusting screw 156. The block 114 is provided with spaced, parallel openings, one opening threadably receiving the adjusting screw 156 and the other opening receiving a rotatable'guide rod and lock 158. The ends of the screw 156 and guide rod 158 are supported by

members

160, 162 attached to the disk 100. i

A third opening 164 is provided in the block 114 and receives a small rod 166 having a first tapered end 168 which is adapted to abut the dovetailed groove of the disk 100 and a second end 170 which cooperates with the rod 158.

-In operation, a selected stroke X, FIG. 5, can be obtained by turning the knob 172 to rotate the screw 156 which displaces the block 114 and pin 1 12 to a selected location at one side of the center C of the disk 100.

During such adjustment, one end 170 of pin 166 slides along rod 158 while the other end 168 slides along disk 100. An indicator may be provided upon the block 114 and indicia provided upon the disk 100 to facilitate positioning of the block 114. Thereafter, the nut 174, which is fixed for rotation with the rod 158, is turned to rotate the rod 158 to a position, such as shown by FIG. 8, wherein the pin 166 is wedged between the rod 158 and the disk 100 thereby locking the block in the selected, adjusted position. The block may be released for subsequent adjustment by rotating the rod 158 such that the flat surface 176, FIG. 8, is opposite the end 170 of pin 166 thereby permitting slidable adjustment of the block 114.

While in the illustrated embodiment the rotating member'100 for supporting the adjustable block 14 and pin 112 is a disk, it is to be understood that various rotatable forms may be utilized for supporting the block 114.

I claim: a

1. Apparatus for feeding a continuous strip of material to a punch press comprising, a base, reciprocable means supported upon said base, means upon said reciprocable means for gripping and intermittently advancing said strip of material uniformly and accurately, means for preventing retrogressive movement of the strip material advanced by said gripping means, rotatable driven means mounted upon said base, drive means, including a clutch, selectively coupling said rotatable means with a press drive, adjustment means supported upon said rotatable means for selectively varying the stroke of said reciprocating means and the length of strip material fed, and means positively and directly coupling said adjustment means to said reciprocable means.

2. Apparatus for feeding a continuous strip of material as recited in claim 1, wherein said intermittently gripping and advancing means includes a pair of cooperating rollers, each of said rollers being capable of rotation only in one direction.

3. Apparatus for feeding a continuous strip of material as recited in claim 2, wherein at least one of said rollers is eccentrically mounted and adjustable to accommodate strip material of various thicknesses between the pair of rollers.

4. Apparatus for feeding a continuous strip of material as recited in claim 2, wherein said means for preventing retrogressive movement of the advanced strip material comprises a second pair of cooperating rollers, each capable of rotation in one direction only.

5. Apparatus for feeding a continuous strip of material as recited in claim 1, wherein said rotatable driven means supports said adjustment means, said adjustment means including a member secured to said coupling means for varying the position of said member relative to the center of rotation of said rotatable driven means.

6. Apparatus for feeding a continuous strip of material as recited in claim 5, wherein said rotatable driven means includes a disk.

7. Apparatus for feeding a continuous strip of material as recited in claim 5, wherein said adjustment means member is slidably displaceable relative to said rotatable driven means, said adjustment means further including locking means for securing said displaceable member in a selected position.

8. Apparatus for feeding a continuous strip of material as recited in claim 1, said clutch intermediate the press drive and said rotatable driven means including manual means for disengaging said clutch for permitting manual cycling of said reciprocable means without the press being cycled.

9. Apparatus for feeding a continuous strip of material as recited in claim 5, wherein said coupling means comprises a first link rigidly secured to said reciprocable means and a second link coupled to said adjustment means member on said rotatable driven means and coupled to said first link.