US944559A - Metal-crimping machine. - Google Patents

Description

A. JOHNSTON. METAL GRIMPING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1909. Y

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

i El@ ii www@ 3f l j r|| 1@ Ul I A A JOHNSTON. METAL GRIMPING MACHINE.

APPLmATIoN FILED MAY 22, 1909.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. JUHNSTGN. METAL GRIMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1909. 4 Qr;559 x Patented Dec. 28, 909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. JGHNSTON,

METAL GRIMPING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 22. 1909.

@@gyg@ Patented Dec. 28, EGQ.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

@Milne RUNrrED srArEs rarENr OFFICE, l

- l ALLEN JOHNSTON, or OTTUMWA, IOWA.

\ METAL-CRIMPING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 28, 1909.

Application led May 22, 1909. Serial -N o. 497,612.

i To 1l-whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ALLEN JOHNSTON, of Ottumwa, Iowa, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Sheet-Metal-.Crimping Machines, which `invention Vis fully set forth inthe following'. specification.

This invention relates to means for crimpv ing strips of sheet metal.

. The more .particular object in viewis to provide a machine for `automatically and regularly crimping strips of sheet metal designed `for use in making the toothed 'por- 'tion of gear wheels, suoli, for example, as the gear wheels shown and described in my application for Letters -Patent Serial No.

' 420,690, filed March L12, 1908. 'While this is the special object in view, the invention isnot limited to crimping sheet metal for this specificpurpose, but, as will be manifest from .reading the description herein, it is applicable to the crimping of sheet metal for a variety of uses.

j According to the present invention, the

regular and uniform crimping of the sheet metal strip is effected by having the strip of metal gripped between two sets of jaws at a distance apart equal to the length of the strip required to form that portion of the crimp extending from the center of the crown of one crimp to the center of the crown of the next succeeding crimp, and

then bringing the two sets of jaws together whereby the straight portion of the strip thus lying between the two sets of jaws is bent up into the crimp, means'being employed to control vthe direction of the crimp l so that it will always be uniformly .in the same direct-ion, -that is, in the present instance `shall always be crimped upward. Preferably, the movement between the two sets Ofjaws is bythe present invention obta-ined byI having one pair ofholding jaws *stationary-during the crimping movement, j while the other pair moves forward toward .the stationary pair of jaws to effect the crimp. While this 'particular movement lis .shown in the drawings, andis the one preferred,the invention is not limited to this kind of movement between the two sets of the two sets of jaws might be employed with.

jaws, since' it is manifest that the two sets of jaws might move toward each other, or other kinds of relative movement between the same result. A crimp having been effected,- the vibratory pair of jaws moves backward lto takea new hold upon the strip of sheet metal, the extent of this backward movementbeing determined by suitable stop mechanism, which likewise determines thc amount of metal entering into the next succeeding crimp. Upon the next succeeding forward movement of the vibrating jaws, the relatively stationary or holding pair of jaws open, and as the vibrating jaws move forward again, the entire strip of metal, iu

lcluding both the crimped and the uncrimped portion thereof, is advanced a distance equal .tdr that between the centersofthe crowns of two adjoining crimps, when there is a pause 1n the forward movement of the vibratory crimped strip. Immediately thereafter, the

`vi-loratory jaws continue their forward move-v ment, and the next succeeding crimp is formed. It will thus be seen, that the vi.

bratory jaws perform the double function of feeding the strip forward and-crimping the same, and thatv lthe holding jaws are stationary so far as any relative movement in a right line to or from't-he crimping jaws is concerned, their only movement being an trating the invention, is disclosed inl the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that said drawings are for the. purpose of illustration only, and are not iii-- tended to define the limits of the invention,

reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

In said drawings, Figure 1l is a front elevation of the machine, with the parts in the position which they occupy at the instant when a crimp has beencompleted; Fig. 2 is a like view with the parts'in the position .which they occupy just before the feeding movement of the vibratory jaws begins; Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective of the holding jaws, the parts being separated for better showing their construction; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the upper end of the v1- bratory member with its attached parts;

jaws, and the holding jaws .close upon the Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the machine, showing the cam mechanism for controlling thc opening' and closing of the holding jaws; Figs. 6 and 7 are details of the cams con`- trolling the vibratory jaws; and Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the machine showing the position of the various cams on the main shaft.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate like parts, 1 indicates the framework of the machine, of any suitable construction, and 2 apower shaft having suitable bearings in the frame 1. A

constantly driven ily-wheel 3 is mounted to be connected to or disconnected from the shaft 2, by means' of any suitable clutch mechanism 4 controlled by the workmen, as through the lever 5. As this'clutchmechanism forms no particular part of the present invention, it need not be further described herein. Pivoted to the frame 1 at 6 is a vibratory lever 7, whose upper end or head is provided .with a flange 8, moving under the lip of a bracket 9, whereby the lever 7 is guided in its vibrations and held ksecurely to its work. A spring 10` reacts between a bracket 111- and the vibratory lever 7, tending to throw the lever from theposition shown in Fig. 1 to'l that shown in Fig.

2, the limit of the'movements of the lever under the influence of the spring 10 being controlled by a screw 12 passing-'through a! bracket 13 on the frame, andprovided with the usual lock nut 14.

Mounted on theshaft 2 is a cam15 bearing againstan anti-frictional roller 16 car.- ried 'in the'head of the vibratory lever 7. The outline of the cam 15 is such that when the cam is in the :position shown in Fig. 2, the spring 10 throws the lever 7 t-o the right,

' and the further revolution of the'cam inthe direction indicated by the arrowvbrings a ,n portion of the cam 15" (which is concentric with the shaft 2) opposite the roller 1G, thereby 4producing a dwell in the movement of the lever`7.. Immediately thereafter, that portion 15of :the cam contacts with the roller 1G, acting to quickly throw the lever 7 from right to left, and at thc termination of the active part 15 of the cam 15 occurs 'a'second dwell 15', succeeding Vwhich the. diameter of the cam gradually increases,

as at 15".

Pivoted upon the vibratory lever at 17.- ls a lever 18 normally pulled downward by a.;

spring 19 reacting between the two levers 7 and 18.y Onthat end ofthe lever 18 adjacent to the power shaft 2 is a friction roller 20, which bears against a cam 21. This cam is of uniform diameter except at a part 21', which is shaped as shown in Fig. 7. When the part 21 is opposite the roller 20, spring 19 deprcsses the forward end of the lever 18, but ,when the roller 2,0 bears against the remaining portion of the cam 21, the forward forward face of the head 'ing into the head of the lever and a second screw 26vbea1s on the top of the jaw. By means of the two screws 25 and 2G, the desired position of the jawv 22 may be secured and maintained.

On the forward end ofthe lever 18 is an upwardly projecting rib 27, which 'when the rear endof the lever 18 is pressed downward, bears forcibly against the under side of the strip 28 of sheet metal to be crimped, and acts to lgrip the saidsheet firmly between said rib 27.and the lower edge of the jaw 22, the bearing of the rib 27 being slightly in advance of the bearing of the lower 'edge of the jaw 22,` forthe purpose of directing the bending of the crimp upward. Preferably, and as here shown, this rib 27 is not formed integrally with the lever 18,

but'is' formed on a'relnovable block of metal 29,.,secured by any suitable means, as by a set screw 30, to the'forward end ofthe lever i118.. Itwill be observed thatthe jaw 22 and 'the rib 27 constitute a pair of vibratory jaws between which the sheet metal strip 28 is gripped, for a purpose which will more fully hereinafter appear.

Mounted ablemeans, as a screw 33'.

chine isa rock shaft 34'having'keyed thereto an arm 35 (Figs. 1 and 2), whichfprojects over the jaw 32 and carries a holding jaw 3G provided with three toothed corrugatons approximately'the shape of the spaces interveningbet'ween the crimps or teeth'of the crimped sheet metal strip,as will be clearly understood byanfinspection of Fig. 3. This `holding jaw is 'secured tothe :arm' 35, as'by a screw 37. Passing through a vertical lhole or opening 38 inthe arm 35.a`nd the holding jaw 3G is a stripping pin 39, whose upper end bears loosely against a bracket 40 projecting outward fromthefram'e 1 of the machine. This stripping pin 39 is provided with an abutment 41, against which one end A of a spring 42 bears, while' the other end bears upon the top of the arm`35.

Referring'to Fig. 5, 43 isy a'l'ever shaped as shown in said gureand keyed to the shaft 34, 'and' pivoted to tlie lower portion on an outwardly projecting bracket 31 0n the main frame' is the lower member of a pair of holding jaws, here showninthe 'form of an anvil block 32, the 'same beingyretained in position by 'any suit.-

which Mounted in the main frame of the 'ma-l l lof said lever 43 at 44is a second lever 45,

is shaped as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5,' and the cani 47 is provided with Aa pin 48,

which contacts with the cam portion 49 on the lever 43 as the roller 46 comes opposite the descending portion 47 on the c ain 47.

Passing through the end ofthe lever 45 opposite the ioller 46, is a screw 50 whose upper end bears against a sleeve 51, mounted to turn loosely on the rock shaft 34, and arranged to be operated by a hiidle 52. This sleeve 51 has a fia-t or cut-away portion 53, which by turning handle 52 from a horizontal to a vertic'al position, may be brought opposite the screw 50, thereby permitting the screw and the end of the lever 45 to which it is secured to move upward.

The operation of the machine as thus de scribed is as follows z-For the purpose of inserting the strip of sheet metal to be crimped, the handle 52 is turned from the horizontal position shown in Fig. 5 to a vertical position, thereby bringing ,the ciit away face 53 onthe sleeve 51 -opposite the set screw 50, whereupon spring'54, reacting between the frame of the machine andthe lever 43, elevates sa-id lever, thus rocking the shaft 34 and the arm 35, and liftingA the holding jaw 36 up so that the sheet metal strip 28 may be inserted through the guide 55 (Figs. 1, 2 and 8) between the jaws 22 and 27, and between the holding jaws 32 and 36. This being done, the handle is thrown into the horizontal position shown in Fig. 5, thus acting to again depress the leiger 43, and rocking the shaft 34 andA arm to bring the holding jaw 36 down upon the sheet metal strip, .where it is-held between the jaws 32 and 36. The sheet metal strip being` thus in position, the operator connects the shaft 2 with the fly wheel 3 by operating the clutch 4 through the medium of the treadle lever 5, whereupon the vibratory lever 7 is advanced from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Eig. ,1. The several cams 15, 21 and 47 are sqtiined that as the lever 7 starts to advance, tlieirear end of the lever 18 is forcibly depressed by reason of the fact that the roller 20 is out ofthe ciit-away portion 21 on the cani 21, so that the sheet metal strip is firmly gripped between the lower edge of the jaw 22 and the 4rib 27 on the lever 18. During the first part of the advance of the lever 7, the roller c 16 thereon is in contact with the advancing portion 15 of the cani 15, andthe .pin 48 on the cain 47 is acting on theportion 49,

ofithe lever to hold it elevated, thereby v elevating the holding jaw 36, and permitting the strip 28 to be advanced or fed .for-` ward from right to left-iin Fig. 2. While the pin 48 on vthe cam 47 isin the dwell portion 49 of thd-lever43Qthe roller 6 on the lever 45 is in the dwell 'portion 4i of the cam 47, but as :the pin 48passes from under the dwell portion 49 of the lever 43, the

roller 46 comes in contact with the upward active portion' 47 of the cani .47, thereby forcibly depressing the lever 43, and thus bringing the holding jaw -36 down firmly upon the sheet metal strip 28. During this Vdescending movement of the jaw 36, the

dwell portion 1o of the cam 15 has been opposite the ro ler 16 on the vibratory lever 7, so that there ias been a slight momentary dwell in the forward advance of the jaws 22 and 27 and the strip gripped thereby, but at the instant that the strip is grasped and held between the holding jaws 32 and 36, the

active portion 15.* of the cam 15 comes into contact with thevroller 16 and the jaws 22 and 27 are then forcibly advanced to the p0- sition shown in Fig. 1. The latter part of the advance of the jaws 22fand 27,A acting in connection with the upward pressure on the under side of the strip of sheet metal by the rib of jaw 27, gives the metal an upward crimp the exact shape of which is deteriniiied by the contoui of the shaping die '23 of the jaw 22 and the corresponding contour of the oppositely disposed shaping die on the holding jaw 36, as will be clearly understood by an inspection` of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The crimp having' thus been formed, the cut-away portion 21 on the cani 21 comes opposite the roller 2O on the lever 18 at the same instant that the descending portion on the cani 15 comes opposite the roller 16 on the vibratory lever 7,

so that the grip on the sheet metal strip between the jaws 22 and 27 isrelieved, and at the saine instant the vibratory lever 7 is thrown from left vto right byv the action of the spring 10, the extent of such throw being determined by the position of the set screw 12 and the contour of the/ cam 15.

--of the4 lever 7-the roller 2O rides out of the dwellvportion 21 of the cam 21, andthe strip is again firmly gripped between the.

` yjaws 22 and 27. As thisgripping action occurs, the dwell 15 von the cam 15 comes opposite the roller 1 6, and the vibratory lever 7 therefore remains stationary'for an in istant, and it is at'this time that the pin 48 on the cam 47 acts onthe cain portion 49 of the lever 43, and that the roller 46 o-ii the -f lever 45 lenters the descending portion 47- f of the cam 47, thereby elevating the holding jaw 36. The metal strip is prevented from moving upward with the holding jaw 36 by the action` of the stripping pin 39,

which is held down in its engagement with l the bracket 40 on the frame.

At the instant when the holding jaw 36 is raised above the crimped strip, the active -portion of the cam 15 comes opposite the roller 16 on the lever 7, andadvances .the lever from right to left, thereby effecting a feed of the crilnped strip from right to left over a distance equal to the space the dwell 4 of the cam 47, the lever 43, .Y

and with it the arm 35, is again rocked so as to throw the holding'jaw 36 downward, the teeth on the under side of said jaw entering the spaces between .the crimps on the strip of sheet metal. Just'as this occurs, the roller 16k is actuated by the active cam portion 15 on the cam 15, and the vibratory'- leveris t-hen again advanced from right to left to effect the crimp as before described. The holding jaw 36, the crimping jaw 22, and the cams 15 and Q1 are all made removable, to theA end that other corresponding parts mayv bevsubstituted therefor, to provide for crimping sheets of metal of various thicknesses,.and to alsoprovide for elfecting crimps of varying form such as the right hand crimp in Fig. 1, where the inner sur faces of the, metal forming the crimp contact for the whole or a part of the depth of the crimp, orsuch as the more open forms of crimp shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Thus, when it isldesired to crnnp a strip of sheet metal for l the purpose of forming the same into a sheetr metal gear wheelV of'one pitch,

soA

one set offlcams and oneset of jaws may be employedfand whenga sheet of metal is to.

be crimped efor a ge'` Yfwheel having a differentnumber'of teetho diiferent pitch, a dif- -ferent set fof cams va djaws are employed.

When thischange islifnade, the throw of the vibratory leverl 7 has also to be altered, and this isreadily accomplished by means of the adjustable stop screw 12. By this simple means, provision is made for a great variety of crimps, land on sheet metal strips of a great variety Lof thicknesses.

It will becobserved that once the sheet metal strip is vintroduced and the crimping action begun, the machine continneswautoi matlcally toiperform its functions, and to efiectivelycrimp the strip until the entire' strip has beencrimped, no attention being' necessary on thepart. of the operator, except to insert a new strip when the preceding one has beenfully crimped. l

Various obvious changes may be made in the constructionof detailed parts of the machine without departing from the spirit of the invention, andsuch variations are designed to be included in the accompanying claims.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what is claimed is l. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of two sets of gripping devices seizing the strip at two points, a shaping die on each of said sets of gripsets of gripping devices toward the other.

2. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of two shaping dies which together have the contour of a crimp, two sets of gripping devices seizing the strlp at two points, means moving one of said sets of gripping devices ltoward the other and closing said dies on the crimp.

3. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of two sets of gripping jaws seizing the strip` at two points with sufficient 'of the strip between them to form a crimp, one member of each set of Yjaws having a shaping die, and means to bring the two sets of jaws together to close the shaping dies and form the crimp.

4. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of a'pair of grippinO jaws arranged to grip thestrip of meta and hold it stationary, a shaping die on one of said jaws having the contour of one side of the crimp to be formed, a second pair of gripping jaws arranged to grip the strip of metal'at a suflicient distance away froln said first set to forma crimp, a shaping die on one of said second set of gripping aws, and means moving said second set of aws toward said irst set to form the crimp;

In a machinefor crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of a shaping die having tliecontour of one side of a crimp, means reciprocating said die transversely to the strip, j asecond `shaping die having the contour Voif.tlie v other side of said crimp, and

`means reciprocating said second die lengthwise of saidstrip.

6. In amachinefor crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of a gripping or holding device carrying a shaping die having the contour of one side of a crimp, means reciprocating said holding device and die transversely to the strip, a second gripping device engaging saidst'rip and carrying a shaping die having the contour of the other side of` said crimp, andV means reciprocating said second wise of said strip.

7. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of two sets of gripgripping device and die lengthsoV lping devices, and means moving one of said llO its

` form one complete crimp, a die on each of said sets of gripping devices having the coni io tour of one side of a crimp, and means' reciprocating said sets of gripping means on lines transverse to each other.

8. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of a Stationary anvil,

a holding device having a. die conforming.

topart of the contour of a crimp, means reciprocating said holding device toward and from said anvil, a gripping device having a die conforming to the remaining part'of said crimp, and means reciprocating said gripping device toward and from saidanvil on a line transverse to the line of reciprocation of said holding device.

9. In a Vmachine for crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of ,a holding device for the strip, a die on said device having the contour of one ,side or face of a crimp, with a reciprocating gripping device the gripping members of which consist of two elements one of said elements being a shaping die having a contour conforming to the other side or face of said crimp, and the other gripping element constituting means to control the direction of the crimp.

10. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of an anvil, a reciprocating holding device, a die on said holding device having a contour corresponding to one face or side of a crimp, means reciprocating said holding device with a dwell at the end both of the to and the fro motion thereof, a gripping device, means giving said device a to yand fro motion with relation to said anvil, with -a dwell or interruption in the movement toward said anvil, and a die carried by said device and having a contour. conforming to the other side or face of said crimp.

11. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of a forming jaw having on its face the contour 'of one side of a crimp, a second jaw on which the strip is clamped by the first jaw, a reciprocating jawl having on its face the contour of the other side of the crimp, a clamping jaw clamping the strip to the reciprocating jaw and moving with it, and means reciprocating the two 'last named jaws.

12. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips to form gearing, two sets of gripping devices gripping the sheet metal strip at a suitable distance apart to form a crimp for a tooth of the desired size, and means fore'- ing one of said gripping devices toward the other until the inner faces of the crimp contact with each other.

13. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips to form gearing, two sets of lgaipping devices gripping the sheet metal strip at a suitable distance apart `to form a crimp for a tooth of the desired size, means controlling` the direction of the crimp, and means forcing one of said gripping devices toward the other until the inner faces of the crimp contact with each other. l

14. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips to form gearing, the combination of means controlling the direction of the crimp, and means forcing the inner surfaces of the metal of a crimp into contact with each other.

15. In al machine for crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of apair of vibratory feeding and crimpingjaws, means vibrating the same, means for varying the amplitude of vibration of said jaws, and means releasing said strip during the feed-` ing but seizing said strip during the crimping portion of each vibration.

16. In a machine for crimping sheet-metal strips, the combination of a pair of vibratory feeding and crimping jaws, means vibrating the same, and means releasing said strip during the feeding but seizing said strip during the crimping portion of each vibration.

, In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALLEN JOHNSTON. Witnesses:

Trios. E. Romans, F. A. VVnmHT.

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