US605338A - Machine for heading cartridge-shells - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. B. PLACE. MACHINE FOR HEADING UARTRIDGE SHELLS.

No. 605,338. Patented June 7,1898.

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Patented June '7, 1898.

W. B. PLACE.

MACHINE FOR HEADING CARTRIDGE SHELLS.

(No Model.)

s Sheets- Sheet 3.

(N0 Model.)

W. B. PLACE. MACHINE FOR HEADING CARTRIDGE SHELLS. No. 605,338.

Patented June 7, 1898.

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@NETED STATES PATENT. Fries.

MACHINE FOR HEADING CARTRIDGE-SHELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,338, dated June 7, 1898.

Application filed November 20, 1891. Serial No. 412,571. (No model-J T at whom it may concern.-

llc it known that I, VILLIAM B. PLACE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the town of Kin gs Mills, in the county of WVarren, in the State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Machines for Heading Cartridge-Shells, which will be set forth in the accompanying description and drawings.

This invention relates to machines for making cartridge-shells, and it is particularly designed for use in heading shells.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine which is simple and efficient for heading cartridge-shells.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction, combination, location, and arrangement, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine constructed in accord ance with the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a broken detached detail View showin g the construction for operating the crimper by which the upper end of the cartridge-shell is crimped or contracted. Fig. 3 is aview in front elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detached detail broken view, in front elevation, of the lower end of the delivery-chute, showing the transferringfingers, the shaft upon which said fingers are mounted, and the weighted arm. Fig. 5 is a detached detail view, in transverse horizontal section, on the line a a, Figs. 4 and 6. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the clamping-fingers spread apart. Fig. 6 is a detached detail broken view, in vertical central section, of the construction shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the shell-delivery device. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detached detail view, in vertical central section, of the shell-crimping device. Fig. 10 is a detached detail view, in side elevation, of the crimping-die. Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 12 is a detached ,detail view, in top plan, of the shell lifting antlsupview, in side elevation, of the same. Fig.14 is a detached detail view, in top plan, of the heading die. Fig. 15 is a view in side elevation of thesame. Fig. 16 is a detached detail view,'in front elevation, of the feedingchamber with the agitating device arranged therein. Fig.- 17 is a view in side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 16. Fig. 18 is a detached detail view, in front elevation, of the receiving-hopper. Fig. 19 is a view in side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 18. Fig. 20 is a broken detached detail view, in top plan, of the cam-flange for actuatingthe shell lifting and supporting pin. Fig. 21 is a similar view, in side elevation, of the same. Fig. 22 is a detached detail view in plan of the shell-holding dial. Fig. 23' is a vertical central transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 21 is a broken detached detail view in perspective, showing arrange Reference sign A designates a suitable framework, constructed of any suitable shape and material and arranged to support the several parts of the mechanism hereinafter to be described. Suitably mounted in the frame A is a shaft 13, adapted to be rotated from any suitable source. A crank-wheel O is mounted upon one end of shaft 13 outside of the frame, and is provided with a pin a, arranged to be received in an elongated slot formed in the end of a lever D, which will hereinafter be more particularly described. Mounted on the shaft B and arranged to surround the c'rank-wheel O or otherwise snitably placed is an eccentric E, the strap of which has an arm which is connected to the upper end of a lever F, said lever being pivotally mounted intermediateit-s ends on frame A and having a slot a slightly elongated at the lower end of said lever, in which slot I ticularly Figs. 1, 3, and 24,) which meshes with a pinion J, mounted upon a short shaft K. Suitably journaled and mounted on shaft porting pin. Fig. 13 is a detached detail .K are" the clamping-fingers L, the operation of which willhereinafter be more fully explained and described. From this construction it will be seen that when shaft 13 is rotated the lever F is vibrated about its pivot, thereby effecting a rocking of crank-arm G, and hence an oscillation of shaft H and gear I, such oscillation being imparted to shaft K through the engagement of gears J and I, thereby swinging or rocking the arms L, as will presently be more fully explained.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the lever D is pivotally mounted upon the frame intermediate its ends, and by reason of the play of pin a, of crank-wheel C in the elongated slot 0' in the upper end of said lever D an oscillation of said lever about its pivot is effected when the shaft B is rotated. At its lower end the lever D is connected through a link (1 to a slide-block M, mounted to slide in suitable guides formed on or bolted to the framework of the machine. This slide M carries a pawl e, arranged to engage the ratchet-teeth I) (see Figs. 3, 22, and 23) on the dial-plate N. By this construction it will be seen that when shaft 13 is rotated a stepby-step rotation of the dial-plate is effected through the oscillating lever D and reciprocating block M, as will be readily understood.

Suitably mounted upon shaft B is an cecentric 0, (see Figs. 2 and 3,) the strap of which is connected to an arm a, mounted upon a short shaft f, journaled in suitable bearings in the frame A, and upon which shaft is carried a finger or arm d, arranged when said crank-arm c is actuated in one direction to engage a vertically-reciprocating rod P, which is mounted to slide in suitable guides formed or mounted on the main frame. A spring 6 is arranged to normally project the rod P upwardly for the upper end thereof -to engage the crank-arm d, said spring being interposed between the frame A and a projection g, carried by said rod. From this construction it will be seen that when shaft B is rotated an oscillation is imparted to crank-arm c, which oscillation is transmitted through the short shaft f, upon which said arm is mounted, to the cam-finger or crankarm (l,which, through its engagement of the upper end of rod P, effects a downward movement of rod P and against the action of spring 6. It will also be seen that when a further rotation of shaft 13 causes the eccentric O to rock the arm 0 in the other direction the rod P, under the influence of spring 6, is returned or elevated to its original or normal position.

The sleeve or collar f, secured to or formed with an arm h, is mounted upon to reciprocate with rod 1, and said collar f carries the mechanism for reducing and crimping the end of the shell. The construction of this mechanism is shown most clearly in Figs. 2, 3, 9, 10, and 11 and consists therein of a sleeve Q, suitably mounted in the arm 7L of collarf and through which passes freely the bolt g, having limiting and adjusting nuts h upon lower end slotted and slightly flared, as clearly shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11. The head 'i is arranged to normally rest upon the upper end of the reducing and crimping die R. From this construction it will be seen that when the rod P is projected downwardly, carrying with it the collar f, the crimping-die R incloses the upper end of the shell and such depression effects a slight reduction in size and a slight crimping of the upper end of the shell, thereby adapting the shell to receive, in the subsequent operation of the machine, the head, as will presently more fully appear, the spring j permitting a slight yielding when occasion requires of the crimping-die. The arm h',carried by collarfand which in turn supports the crimping-die, as above described, also carries a plunger or gage 7t, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, for gaging the depth of the wad in the shell-case before such gage reaches the point where the crimping-die acts thereon, the arrangement being such that the shell-carrying dial N is actuated by each rotation of shaft B to present a headless-shell case with the depth of the wad properly gaged therein to the action of the crimping-die at the same time that it presents the next succeeding headless-shell case to the action of the gage, the headless-shell cases when placed in position on the pins in the carrying or supporting dial N containing the wads, which have been previously inserted therein, and the purpose of the gage is to provide means by which the -wads may be forced down from the end of the case to be operated upon by the crimping-die a sufficient distance to avoid interference with the crimping or reducing operation, as it frequently happens that the wads when placed in the shell-cases are not left at a uniform point therein, and in the present instance this gaging of the depth of the wads in the shellcase is effected by the gage or plunger, as above described, which operates in advance of the crimper.

In the operation of the machine after the wads are gaged as to their depth from the upper ends of the shellcases said shell-cases are next presented to the. action of the crimpingdies and are then next presented in position to receive thereon the metal cups forming and constituting the heads. These metal cups or heads are first placed in a suitable hopper S, (shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and in detail in Figs. 18 and 19,) such cups being arranged to present their open ends toward the front of the machine. The hopper S is arranged to be detachably mounted upon and in communication with an enlarged chamber S, whereby IIO the heads may slide by gravity from the hopper into such chamber. Mounted in said chamber is a disk T, which, if desired, may have a roughened, grooved, or corrugated surface, which acts against the metal cups or heads to effect when said disk is rotated an agitation of the heads contained in said chamber, whereby said heads are properly fed from said chamber into a chute Z, communicating at its upper end with said chamber. The agitating-disk T may be rotated or actuated through any suitable arrangement of mechanismas, for instance, a pulleyk or anysuitable revolving part of the machine. It is to be observed that the space between the front and the back walls of the hopper S and of the chamber S is just suiiicient to accommodate the lengths of the cups or heads, and the delivery-chute Z is of just suflicient size to receive a single column of the heads. In order to permit the heads to drop by gravity from hopper S into the agitating-chamber S and from this into the delivery-chute Z, I prefer ably arrange said part-s in substantially a vertical position, as shown. Through the delivery-chute Z the heads slide in a single column to the lower end thereof, where they are normally arrested by a cut-off device m, (see Fig. 0,) which is yieldingly held in position to form a cut-off by means of a spring m, placed in a recess of the frame A and arranged to bearat one end against the frame and at the other end against the cut-off m, as clearly shown. The cut-off device m is mounted in the support for the lower end of the chute and may be cut away on its upper surface to form an eflicient support for the column of cups or heads. A weighted finger 'n is pivoted in brackets formed on the feeding-chute Z near its lower end and projects below the end of the chute and normally bears against the cutoff m.

The clamping-fingers L, above referred to, which, as described, are mounted upon shaft K, comprise pivoted fingers or jaws having their outer meeting faces or edges suitably grooved to conform to the contour of a head, and said correspondingly-grooved edges are normally and yieldingly compressed toward each other by means of springs 07/, acting upon their outer edges, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. In Figs. 5 and 5 I have shown two sets of fingers L, so that during the operation of the cupsetting die, presently to be referred to, as one set of clamping fingers or jaws releases the cup the other set will grasp it, thus firmly and accurately holding or guiding the cup or head until it has reached its seat on the end of the shell-case. By the arrangement of the shaft K, gears I J, shaft II, arm G, lever F, and eccentric E, as above described, said shaft K, carrying the clamping-fingers L, rocks said fingers into position to receive the head from the lower end of the chute Z. As

said jaws approach the position to receive the a pin or wedge 0', having a pointed end, as 'f clearly shown in Figs.5, 5, and 6, adapted to enter beveled kerfs formed in the meeting edges of eaclf pair of the clamping-fingers,

thereby enabling the pairs of fingers to receive and clasp a cup therein. Simultaneously with the approach. of the fingers to the position to receive the cups from the lower end of tubeZ said fingers engage and push back out of the way the cut-off m, said cutoff being slid back out of the way and against the action of the spring m, above referred to, which normally tends to return said slide or cut-off into its cut-off position. From this it will be seen that a cup is permitted to 'drop into the opening in the meeting faces of the jaws L. A weighted finger it serves to confine and guide the cup while the clamping fingers or jaws are pushing back the cut-off, and hence said weighted finger prevents the cup from dropping from out of line of the jaws.

A spring maybe used to force this pivoted finger inwardly. After a cup or head has been deposited in the transferring-fingers or clamping-jaws L a further actuation of shaft Beffects a rotation of shaft K, through the ar ran gement of shafts, cranks, levers, and gearf ing above described, in a direction to carry or to rock said clamping-fingers away from i the lower end of the chute Z, and this carries the head into position to be received on the end of the shell-case, which has previously been reduced and crimped by the action of the crimping-die. While held in this position, I

a suitable reciprocating plunger or rammer (not shown) carrying a die A presently to be more fully described, is advanced and firmly forces the head down upon the" shell and pinches or clenches thesame upon the shell in the usual manner.

The shells are successively fed to the gag-er,

step rotation is imparted to said dial" through the engagement with the ratchet-teeth b IIO This dial N is v thereon of the pawl 6, carried by slide M. a

The dial N is arranged to operate over the flange W, (shown most. clearly in Figs. 20 and 21,) which flange has portions of its surface cut away, so as to form inclines or cams, as,

shown at P, and the pins U are arranged to rest upon the edge of flange W, whereby when the dial is revolved said pins are successively permitted to be withdrawn into their sockets 1) until the upper ends thereof are flush with the top surface of'the dial N o'rare projected vertically in their sockets in order that their upper ends mayproject above the top surface of the'dial N by reason of the cam-flange TV.

I prefer to form the pins U in two parts, as clearly shown in Figs. 12 and 13, consisting of an outer sleeve 1", over which the headlessshell cases are slipped, and an inner rod 3', and I arrange a spring at to bear at one end against a head formed on said rod 3 and at the other end against said outer sleeve 4', whereby a yielding motion of the sleeve rela tively t0 the rod may be secured, it being understood that the headed rod is the part that rests upon the edge of the cam-flange NV. The arrangement is such that, as will be seen from the foregoing description,when the shellcases are presented to the wad gage and crimping devices the shell-supports are projected longitudinally through their sockets in the dial N to elevate the shell-cases above the top surface of the dial by means of the cam-flange W, and when the shells are presented to the head-setting mechanism a cutaway portion of the cam-flange is encountered in the path of travel of the shell-supporting pins, thereby permitting said pins to be withdrawn into their sockets, whereby the shell-cases are supported during the operation of the head-setting die A thereby avoidin g danger of injuring and spoiling the shellcase during the head-setting operation. Arranged within each socket in the dial N, at the upper end of such socket, is a sleeve 7;, held in place by a screw r, as clearly shown in Fig. 22. Each sleeve or die 12 has a rabbet a formed near its upper end, which, in conjunction With the head-settin g plunger, forms a shoulder upon the metal cup or head. After the head-setting mechanism has accomplished its work the next actuation of the carrier-dial N presents the now headed shell to the extracting mechanism, by which the headed shell is removed automatically from the carrier at the same time the pin supporting the headed shell is caused to ride up the inclined surface of the cam-flange W, so as to project the headed end of the shell above the top surface of the dial plate, enabling the shell-extractor to seize and remove the shell. The extractor which I employ in the present instance is shown clearly in Figs. 1, 3, 7, and 8 and is composed of a tube formed with a head (designated by reference-sign V,) which head is provided with inclined guides or Ways for the hook-arms s, which latter have limiting-nuts b on their upper ends. Suitable means for reciprocating vertically the extractor may be provided. In the present instance I provide a lever 25, pivotally mounted at one end of the frame A and at its other end connected to the tube, and said lever is connected intermediate its ends to a crosshead 03, mounted to reciprocate in ways in the frame and actuated from the main shaft B by a connecting-rod connected to a crank on said shaft.

The operation is as follows: When a headedshell case is presented by the actuation of carrier-dial N into position for the extractor to operate thereon, said extractor is reciprocated downwardly, the arms 8 riding over the rim of the head of the shell-case until the hooks on the lower ends of said arms 3 are in position to engage the rim of the head. An upward reciprocation of the extractor causes said hook ends of the arms to lift the shell-case clear of the pins, the shell-case remainin g suspended by the engagement of the hook ends of the arms 8 upon the under side of the head-rims. Upon the next cycle of operation of the extractor the previously-extracted shell is forced upwardly into the tube of the extractor, when the extractor is lowered to remove the next succeeding shell, and this action is repeated by successive cycles of operation until finally the shells are forced out of the top of the extractor-tube.

In the foregoing specification, while Ihave described the best form of apparatus which I have up to this time contemplated carrying out my invention, it is manifest that many variations may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. I therefore do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise construction shown and described.

It is also manifest that the machine above described may be put to other uses than those mentioned, all of which it will be impossible, of course, to recite within the limits of this specification; but it may be observed that the hopper, the feeding-disk, the guide-tube, the weighted finger, the clamping or transferring fingers, the sliding cut-off, and the mechanism for operating these several parts may also be utilized in exactly the form shown in the accompanying drawings to cap or prime a cartridge, the caps being placed in the hopper and fed through the machine just as the metal cups or heads are fed through, as described in the specification. Of course when such parts are used for priming or capping the shell they must be made of a size adapting thein for such purpose, and other parts of the machine, such as a revolving dial and pins for carrying the shell, must be modified to suit this modification.

I am aware that it is not particularly new to use a feeding-disk to carry metal cups or caps forward in an approximately horizontal plane to clamping and transferring fingers, which in turn take such cups or caps and by a half-revolution place them upon the shells; but in such construction the services of two persons are required for each machine, one to place the shells on the shell-carrying dial and the other to constantly sit at the rear of the machine and place the cups or caps on the feeding-disk, which latter conveys them to the clamping and transferring fingers; but by my construction one person stationed at the rear of a number of machines can attend to the introduction of the heads or caps for three or more of the machines, because the hoppers and feeding-disks are arranged in an approximately vertical position; and therefore the heads or caps descend by gravity to the feeding-disk and are carried by the continuous rotation of the latter to the feeding or guiding chute, through which they again descend by gravity to the clamping or transferring fingers or jaws.

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and a form of apparatus embodying the same and having described the construction, function, and mode of operation of such apparatus, what'I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of the extractor with the lever having one of its ends connected with such extractor and its other end pivoted to the frame and its fulcrum secured to a sliding head connected to the main shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a machine of the class described, a combined reducing and crimping mechanism consisting of a sleeve and rod fastened through the sleeve and limited in its downward movement, a spring normally pressing the rod downward, and a die internally formed so as to reduce and crimp the end of the shell, such die resting against the springpressed rod, and mechanism connected with the main shaft for actuating the reducing and crimping mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a machine of the class described and in combination with a wad-gage, a shell-case crimper, a head-setting plunger and an eX- tractor, a revoluble shell-casecarrying dial, shell-case supports arranged therein com prising two portions elastically supported with reference to each other, and means arranged in the path of revolution of said dial for projecting said supports above the surface of said dial during the action of said wad-gage, crimper and extractor and for withdrawing said support below the surface of said dial during the action of said headset-ting plunger, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a machine for heading cartridge-shells, the combination with a vertically-disposed hopper adapted to receive the caps or heads therein, a revoluble disk havingrotating corrugations in said hopper and forming one wall of the cap or head receiving chamber a vertically-arranged chute or raceway, all of size adapted to receive the heads or caps in single file, and connected at its upper end with the cap or head chamber of the hopper, a spring-pressed plunger arranged to project transversely across the lower end of said raceway and forming a cut-off for the column of caps or heads contained therein, a shell-case carrier, means for depressing said plunger and for receiving and transferring a head or cap from said raceway to said carrier, and means for applying the transferred head to the end of the shell-case, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a vertically-disposed hopper, a revoluble disk mounted therein and forming one wall of a chamber adapted to receive the caps or heads, a vertically-arranged chute or racewaycommunicating at its upper end with said chamber, means yieldingly mounted for supporting a column of caps or heads in said chute or raceway, a shaft arranged adjacentto the lower end of said raceway, clamping-fingers mounted thereon to rock therewith, and adapted to receive and transfer the heads or caps from the raceway to the shell-cases, a main operating-shaft and eccentric mounted thereon ,a pivotally-mounted lever arranged to be engaged and rocked by said eccentric and means actuated by the rocking motion of said lever for imparting a quarter-revolution and return to said clamping-finger-supportin g shaft, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a machine'of the class described, a revoluble dial, a series of shell-case supports arranged therein, said supports comprising an exterior sleeve and an interior pin and a spring interposed between'said sleeve and pin, a stationarily-held cam arranged in the path of travel of the shell-case supportsrand adapted to elevate and depress said supports as said dial revolves, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a machine of the class described, a framework, a shell-case-feeding mechanism, a main driving-shaft mounted in said framework, a plunger-head arranged to be actuated by said shaft, a shell-case head-setting mechanism mounted on said plunger-head, a fixed guide mounted on said framework, a rod mounted to slide in said guide, a spring arranged to maintain said rod yieldingly in elevated position, a rocking shaft ,mounted in said framework and having an arm arranged to engage said rod,an eccentric mounted on said main shaft and connected to a crank-arm on said rocking shaft, whereby when said main shaft is actuated said rod is depressed against a yielding resistance, and a shell-case crimping-die carried by said rod, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a machine of the class described, a head-setting mechanism, a head-feeding device and means for transferring the heads from said feeding device to said setting mechanism and for holding and guiding the same during the action of said setting mechanism comprising two pairs of clamping-j aws superposed the one pair upon the other, a rocking support for said clamping-jaws, means for simultaneously opening both pairs of jaws to receive a head, and means for rocking said support comprising a pivotally-mounted lever, means for rocking the same about its pivot and connections between said lever and support, as and for the purpose set forth. g

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a chute or raceway adapted to receive a column of heads or caps, a plunger mounted to reciprocate transversely therethrough, a spring arranged to yieldingly maintain said plunger in position to form a support for the column of heads; clampingfingers and means for actuating the same, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a plunger-head and headsetting devices carried thereby, of a plu ngerrod, a crimping-die carried thereby and arranged to crimp the end of the shells preparatory to receiving the heads thereon, means for projecting said rod longitudinally, whereby said crim ping-die is advanced to its work, and means for yieldingly resisting the longitudinal projection of said rod and for returning the same to normal position, as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a machine of the class described, a chute, a support for the end of said chute, a

spring-pressed cut-off device carried by said support, said cut-off device cut away upon its upper surface and adapted to be projected across the end of said chute, a pivotallymounted head-transferring device, means for rocking the same, said head-transferring device adapted to be rocked to engage and force said cut-off device back out of the line of travel of the heads in said chute, thereby permitting the head to drop into the jaws of the transferring device, as and for the purpose set forth.

12. Inahead-assembling machine, achute, a pivoted finger at the end thereof, a movable support for the column of heads and a pivotally-mounted head-transferring device and means for rocking the same, all eo1nbined and arranged, as and for the purpose set forth. 1

XVILLIAM l3. PLACE. \Vitn esses:

F. O. TUTTLE, L. R. Mvnns.

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