US1905715A - Nut blank feeding mechanism - Google Patents

Description

A ril 25, 1933. E. H. INGRAM ET AL NUT BLANK FEEDI-NG MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, 1951 wwmtou o .ViMA/ April 25, 1933.

E. H. INGRAM ET AL NUT BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM Filed March 9, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 5 T2 Jag, 54 a 65 26 r I z M6 5 34 27 r '89 Z 529,7? iz, wmmgfi'w f/ E. H.1NGRAM ET AL 1,905,715

NUT BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM April 25, 1935.

Filed March 9, 19:51 7 I 3 Sheets-Sheet s Patented Apr. 25, 1933 EDWARD H. INGRAM, oFPHILADELPIIIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ANnvIoroR'E. PEAMON,

OI BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS. BY SHERBININ Application filed March 9,

This invention relates to a mechanism for feeding nut blanks to a machine whereby the openings in theseblanks are provided with an internal screw thread, and more particularly to a mechanism which will feed to a screwthreading or tapping mechanism nut blanks which have previously been deflected at the center and are adapted to be straightened subsequent to the threading operation so that they will operate to lock themselves on the bolts to which they are applied.

It is the object of this invention to provide simple, efiicient and reliable feeding mechanism for nut blanks of this character which first selects the nut blanks from a promiscuous mass and delivers them in a predetermined position to an accumulating chamber from which latter the nut blanks are delivered to means whereby the nut blanks are presented in the proper position for engagement with a screw threading tap without liability of the blanks tippingover due to insufficient support and also when subjected to the pressure of the liquid coolant delivered against the same during the thread cutting operation.

In the accompanying drawings: I

Figure l is a front elevation partly in section of a nut blank feeding mechanism embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 33 Fig. 1.

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of a deflected hexagonal nut blank and a deflected square nut blank ofithe character which are .to be fed to the tapping mechanism by the feed mechanism of this invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on'line 6-6 Fig. 7.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section taken on line 77 Fig.6.

Figure 8 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 8-8 Fig. 3, looking inwardly.

Figure 9 is a similar section looking outwardly.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the means for position- .to the tapping mechanism while the axis MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO HELEN KOCH DE NUT BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM.

1931. Serial No. 521,084.

ing the nut blanks preparatory to progressing the same to the tapping mechanism.

In the following description similar characters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Although this machine may be organized for feeding nut blanks of various forms to machines which perform various operations thereon, the present machine is more particularly designed for feeding nut blanks to a machine which taps or cuts a screw thread in the opening thereof, each of said blanks, beforebeing fed to the tapping ma-' chine, having its central part deflected along a diametrical line and in the direction of the axis of the blank so that upon straightening this nut blank after being tapped, the threads thereof willbe deformed and thereby operate as a lock for holding the nut on the bolt or other part to which it is applied, such nut blanks being shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 9 and 10. I

As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the nut blank is provided across its diameter with a deflection 20 extending in the direction of the axis of the blank so that this deflection forms an offset on the blank at right angles to the undeflected wings 21 of the same on opposite sides of the deflected portion thereof, thereby forming a convex diametrical face 22 on one side of the blank and a concave diametrical face 23 on the opposite side thereof. In Fig. 4 the nut blank is provided with a hexagonal periphery 24 while in Fig. 5 the blank is provided with a square periphery 25 but the contour of the nut blank may be round or of any other suitable for'm.

It is desirable in threading these nut blanks to feed the same to the tapping mechanism or other -machine which operates thereon by facingthese blanks always in the same diiection. In the present case it has been found desirable to feed such blanks of the blank is in line with that of the screw threading tap or cutting tool and with the convex side of the blank advancing toward the tap.

A plurality of nuts of this character are dumped promiscuously into a supply hopper or reservoir 26 of any suitable construction which is mounted on the main frame 27 of the machine, this hopper being open at the top for the reception of the blanks and provided on its lower part with a laterally projecting outlet or neck 28 from which the nut blanks are delivered to the mechanism which selects the blanks and positions the same so that they all face in the same direction before being delivered to the mechanism which moves the same to the tapping mechanism.

The positioning means include a rotating receptacle or bowl 29 which turns about a' horizontal axis and comprises a conical body 30 which has an inlet 31 at its small end communicating with the outlet of the hopper, and a disk-shaped head 32 which extends across the large end of the body and turns therewith. Various means may be provided for rotatably supporting the body and head of the positioning bowl or receptacle and turning the same, but those shown in the drawings have been found satisfactory and consist of a horizontal longitudinal shaft 33 passing centrally through the head and body of the bowl and journaled at its inner end in a bearing 34 on the bottom of the feed hopper while its outer or front end is journaled in a bearing 35 arranged outside of the bowl and mounted on the adjacent part of the main frame, a ratchet wheel 36 secured to the front end of the operating shaft, a ratchet lever 37 pivotally mounted on the shaft 33 and provided on one of its arms with a spring-pressed ratchet pawl 38 engaging with the ratchet, a shifting rod 39 passing through the other arm of the lever 37 and yieldingly connected therewith by means of a spring 40 surrounding this rod and interposed between the lever 37 and a collar 41 which is adjustably connected with this rod, and a rotary driving shaft 42 journaled in the lower part of the main frame and provided with an eccentric 43 which engages with an eccentric strap 44 on the lower end of the shifting rod, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The body of the positioning bowlis secured to the shaft 33 by means of a hub 45 secured to this shaft by means of a set screw 46 and connected by arms 47'with the adjacent part of the bowl body, and the head of the bowl is provided with a central collar 48 which is secured to the shaft 33 by means of a set screw 49.

During the rotary motion of the driving shaft 42 the ratchet lever is oscillated and thereby causes the pawl 38 and ratchet wheel 36 to intermittently rotate the positioning bowl or drum step by step in the direction of the arrow shown in connection with this bowl in Figs. 1, 8 and 9. y

The nut blanks pass from the lower end of the feed hopper through the inlet of the positioning bowl into the lower part thereof Where they are arranged promiscuously and as the positioning bowl rotates some of these blanks are picked up and acted upon by positioning means on the periphery of the bowl so that these blanks all have their convex sides facing inwardly and their concave sides facing outwardly and will be deliveredin this position from the bowl. For this purpose the bowl is provided at its periphery between the marginal parts of the head of'the bowl and the large end of the conical body thereof with an annular row of positioning openings each of which in the present case corresponds in cross section to the contour of the nut blanks which are to be fed. In the present case these openings, as best shown in Fig. 10, are so formed that the same consist of two circumferential end portions 50, a convex face 51 of rounded form extending rearwardly from the central part of the front wall of. the positioning opening, and a concave face 52 extending forwardly from the central part of the rear wall of the respective opening.

These positioning openings are preferably formed between a pair of hardened steel rings 53, 54 which are removably mounted on the opposing sides of the head and body of the positioning bowl so as to permit rings of this character having one form or size of positioning openings to be replaced by similar rings having different forms or sizes of positioning openings, and thereby enable the same machine to be used for feeding nut blanks of different shape andsize to suit different requirements. The front positioning ring 53 is preferably seated against an outwardly facing shoulder 55 formed on the inner side of the disk and detachably secured thereto by means of bolts 56 and the rear positioning ring 54 is provided on its rear side with an annular rib 57 which engages with an inwardly facing shoulder 58 on the large end of the bowl body and is detachably connected with the latter by means of bolts 59, as shown in Fig. 3. The positioning openings between the rings 53, 54 are preferably formed by providing the rear side of the front ring 53 at intervals with rearwardly projecting lugs 60, and engaging the rear ends of these lugs by the front side of the'rear ring 54 so that the latter extends across the spaces between the several lugs and thereby forms the positioning openings therebetween. V

As the nut blanks arranged within the lower part of the positioning bowl are tumbled around by the rotary movement of this bowl those blanks which are in the proper register with one or another of the positioning openings will be unable to enter such an opening. Each of the blanks in order to enter one of the positioning openings must be so arranged relative thereto that its deflected central part registers its concave and convex faces respectively with the convex and concave faces of one of the positioning openings While the wings of the blank are in line with the end parts of the respective positioning opening. \Vhile the blank is in this position the same is free to enter the respective positioning opening, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Those nut blanks which are not in the proper position to enter a positioning opening in the lower part of the bowl are carried idly upward from the lower part of the bowl into the upper part of the same where these blanks are again returned into the top of the pile or mass of blanks within the bowl and mingle with the remaining blanks therein, and sooner or later assume a position in which they are properly aligned with the positioning openingsof the bowl and enter the same preparatory to being discharged therefrom.

Due to slight variation" in theform of the nut blanks some of them are liable to become stuck in thepositioning openings instead of being discharged from the outer ends thereof and for this reason means are I provided for automatically dislodging such openings while the same are on the upper nut blanks from the positioning openings, which meansare so organized that the nut blanks are ejected from the positioning side of the positioning bowl and the'dislodged 'nut blanks are returned to the mterior of the same.

This is preferably accomplished by means. of a star-shaped ejector or dislodging wheel.

which is mounted with its hub 61 on a spindie or shaft 62 arranged horizontally and lengthwise above the positioning bowl and supported at its rear end-in bearings 63 on the front side of the'hopper and at itsfront end in a bearing 64 onrthe main frame, and said dislodgingwheelhaving an annular row of teeth 65 which are adapted to engage successively with the positioning openings of the bowlfrom the outer side thereof. As. the positioning bowl turns the dislodging wheel is also turned therewith inthe manner of intermeshing gear Wheels so that the teeth of the dislodging wheel engage successively with the positioning openings of the bowl and cause any -nut blanks which may be It has been found in practice that in the absence of any provision to prevent it, the

mass of nuts in the corner between the lowermost part of the body' of the bowl and the head thereof is liable to become jammed therein due to the wedging actionof the downwardlyconverging f surfaces of. the bowl at this point which interferes withthe free movement of the nut blanks into the positioning openings along the lower part of the'periphery of the bowl. To avoid this, an

annular baflle flange 66 is provided which is formed on the rear positioning ring 54 and projects inwardly toward the axis of the bowl so as to form an annularchannel 67 between therear side of this baffle and the adjacent large end of the-body'of the bowl, and also forming an annular clearance space or passage 68 between the front side of this battle andthe inner side of the bowl head, as shown in Fig. 3. By means of this baille the nut blanks resting directly against the lowermost part of the'large end of the bowl body are held away from the lowermost part of the'head of the bowl whereby those blanks arranged at a distance from the lowermost register with the same on the lower part of. the bowl will drop out from the; outer or lower endsof these positioning openingsand into engagement with, a curved land 69 which is arranged close to and. extends circumferentially along the outlet ends of the positioning openings from a pointabout horizontally in line with the axis of the drum downwardly .to a point short of a vertical line extending. through this axis.

As the bowl during its rotary movement carries its positioning openingspast this stationary-land any nut blanks within the positioning openingswillrest on this land and slide circumferentially over the same so that the nut blanks still remain in the positioning openings at this time until they reach a guiding channel 70 which extends from'the lower end of the land circumferentially around the periphery of. the bowl in line with the positioning openings thereof and in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of the bowl. e p

As the nut blanks in the positioning o enmgs of the bowl successively reach this 0 anoel the samedrop out of these openingsand mtothechannel and are carried along the bottom of this channel which is arranged substantially tangentialrelative to the periphery of the bowl. This movement of the blanks is effected by engagement of each following nut blank with the preceding blank so that those blanks which have been discharged from the bowl into the guiding channel will move in procession through this channel to the outer end of the latter. Upon reaching the outer end of the guiding channel the nut blanks drop into a delivery chute having an upper inclined section 71 which communicates at its upper end with the outcr end of the guiding channel and a lower vertical section 72 which connnunicates at its upper end with the lower end of the inclined section, while its lower end terminates above the place where the nut blanks are received and supported preparatory to being moved to the tapping or threading mechanism.

\Vhen the nuts are supplied by the positioning mechanism to the delivery chute as fast as the tapping and threading mechanism takes the blanks away from the lower end of the delivery chute, then the positioned nut blanks pass more or less regularly from the guiding channel 70 directly into the upper end of the delivery chutesection 71. If however the positioning mech-' anism picks out more nut blanks at any particular time than the tapping mechanism disposes of, then such excess number of 'positioned blanks will be temporarily stored in an accumulating chamber 7 3 which forms an upward extension of the outer end of the guiding channel 70 and the upper end of the delivery chute 71 and extends circumferentially around the ascending part of the bowl at the periphery thereof to a point preferably slightly above a line extending horizontally through the axis of the positioning bowl, as shown in Figs. 1, 8 and 9. The width of this accumulating chamber is the same as the width of the guiding channel 70, which widtl: is sufficient to permit the nut blanks to more freely sidewise in the same position in which they leave the positioning openings of the bowl, but prevent the same from tilting or becoming disarranged, thereby insuring maintaining the nut blanks always in the position in which the. convex faces of their deflectedcentral parts project rearwardly.

If for a time the positioning mechanism should miss in selecting or positioning a number of blanks corresponding to the number which are fed to the tapping mechanism, then the nut blanks for maintaining the continuity to the tapping mechanism will be withdrawn from those which have accumulated in the chamber 73. This accumulating chamber is of such size that it will accommodate a sufficient number of positioned nut blanks as will insure against interrupting a may be employed in connection with the nut blank feeding mechanism above described, that shown in the drawings comprises a stationary tap or threading tool 74 which is arranged horizontally and in rear of the place below the lower end of the blank delivery chute where the blanks come to rest afterbeing discharged from the chute preparatory to being moved to the tap.

The pushing of the nut blank from the place of deposit below the delivery chute is effected in the present case by means whic include a horizontally movable plunger l9 which is retracted into a position in front of the lower end of the passage of the chute. After a nut blank has been deposited in front of this plunger, the latter is moved forwardly into engagement with the blank when the latter. is pushed forwardly against the tap, whereby the cutting edges of the same form a thread in the bore of the nut blank, after which the feeding plunger is again retracted and the nut blank is caused to move lengthwise toward the tail or shank of the tap by reason of the propelling effect of the threads of the tap in the manner which is Well-known in this art.

The rotary movement of the nut blank while engaging the tap is effected by means of a hollow or tubular chuck 75 which surrounds the tap and engages the periphery of the nut blank soas to compel the latter to turn with the chuck, this chuck being journaled in suitable bearings 76 on the adjacentpart of the main frame. A rotary movement is imparted to the chuck by means which include a gear wheel 77 secured to the exterior of the chuck, as shown in Fig. 3.

In addition to pushing the nut blank from a point below the delivery chute to the threading tap the plunger also serves to conduct a coolant against the nut and the tap for the purpose of lubricating these parts during the cutting operation and also preventing the same from becoming unduly heated. For this purpose the plunger is made hollow as shown and means are provided for forcing a liquid coolant of any suitable character through the plunger, which coolant flows forwardly through the plunger and is discharged against the nut blanks and the adjacent parts of the tapping mechanism.

Means are provided below the lower end of the delivery chute for holding the nut blanks in an upright position and preventing the same fromtipping either due to insutlicient support at the lower end of the blank if the latter is comparatively thin and the pressure of the coolant against the same, thereby enabling the plunger to always push the nut blank toward the tap in alignment with that of the latter. The preferred; con

struction of this retaining device isasfollows: I T a The numeral 78"1'epresents a stationary base arranged on the main frame below the lower end of the delivery chute and ate,

point between the path of the plunger.

- On its upper side this base is provided with a half-round recess 79 which receives themeans which arrest the downward movement of the nut blanks as they issue'fromthe. lower end of the delivery chute and also support this blank preparatory to moving the same toward the threading tap by means ofthe feeding plunger; This retaining device comprises two semi-(glindrical'sections' which together form a ametrically splitv sleeve, the joint of which extends lengthwise and vertically. The rear parts 80 of these two retaining sections are of semi-cylindrical form and together eonstitute a complete", cylinder which is arranged; in rear ofthe passage way of the delivery chute,and the front parts 81 of these sections are quartercircle form and together constitute a semi-1* cylinder, as shown in Figs. 6' and 7; These two semicircular sections of the retaining device are pivoted at their lower ends 'on the bottom of the recess in the base so that these sections can move toward and from. each other, this pivotal connection being effected preferably by means of keys 82 see cured to the lower ends of these retaining;

sections and engaging,with bearin s 83 in the lower part of the recess 79 in t e base.

These two retaining sections are yieldingly moved toward each other and held in this position by spring means which preferably consist of two shifting pins 84 slidin in guideways 85 on opposite sides of the Tmee and engaging their inner ends with hearing recesses 86 on the outer sides of the retaining sections, and springs 87 arranged in the rear parts of the guideways 85 and engaging their inner ends against the outer ends of the shifting pins while their outer ends engage screw plugs 88 secured in the ad'acent parts of the base, as best shown in ig. .6. After each nut blank drops from the lower end of the delivery chute the same lands in the concave supporting surface 89 formed between the front parts 81 of the two retaining sections. The supporting surface-89 which is engaged by the underside of the nut blank at this time is of somewhat larger diameter than the diameter-of the opening 90 which is formed between the rear parts a of the retaining sections, thereby producing front. partsof the retainer sections,the same .is incapable of tipping rearwardly toward the tap by reason of the annular. shoulder 91 on the retainer sections, and this nut .blankfiS. also incapable oftilting forwardly vdue to\t hefront end oflthe plunger being .sutficiently close to the nut blank while in its retracted position at this time, as shown inFig. 7 H

Upon now moving the plunger toward the tap, theadvancing end ofthe, same will,

engage the frontside of the nutblank and push the same through the retainer sections and against the tap, during which time the retainer sections will be expanded by engagement ofthe nut blank withthe inclined shoulder between the large front diameter and" the small rear diameter -in the bore thereof. After the blank has been pushed rearwardly toward the tap a suffieient extent to clear the retainer sections, the latter are again moved toward each other by the action ofthe return springs, 87 so that the retainer sections are in the proper position for receiving the next following nut blank from the delivery chute and holding the same against tiplping out of place preparav tory to being fe toward the tap orthread ing tool during the next following forwardmotion of the plunger. v

This retaining device therefore positively prevents the nut blanks from getting out of alignment or tipping out'of place. regardless of whether the nut blanks are thick or thin and thereby insures proper presentation of the nut blanks to the tap and avoids waste which would otherwise be. caused by feeding nut blanks improperly to thetap, as

well as avoiding injury to the machine.

We claim as our invention: v LA mechanism for' feeding nut blanks which are provided with a diametrical deflection across the central parts thereof, comprising a rotarybowl of conical form into the small endsof which nut blanks are introduced promiscuously intosaid bowl, two

positioning rings mounted opposite each other on the periphery of the large end of said. bowl and having their opposing surfaces: constructed ,to orin an annular row of positioning openings through which the nut blanks are adaptedto pass from the in- 1 terior ofthe bowl tothe exterior thereof,-the

corresponding. sides of the openings in one of said rings having con-vex faces and the corresponding sides of the openings in the other ring having concave faces conforming to the shape of the nut blanks being fed the large end of said bowl bein provided with means to prevent the nut's'trom'falling out of this end of the bowl. I f 2. A mechanism forfeeding nut blanks v t n I Q which are provided with a diametrical de- 10 fiection across the central partsthereof, comprising a rotary bowl of conical-form into the small end of which nut' blanks are introjduced proniiscuously into said'bo'wl, two positioning rings mounted Opposite each other on the periphery of the large end of said i bowl and having their opposing surfaces constructed to form an annular row of positioning openings through which the nut blanks are adapted to pass from the interior of the bowl to the exterior thereof, the corresponding sides oft-he openings in one of said rings having convex faces and the corresponding sides of the-openings in the other ring having concave faces conforming to the shape of the nut blanks beiru fed, and said rings being interchangeable tor others having difi'erent sizes of openings the large end of said bowl being provided with means to prevent the nuts from falling out of this 80 end of the bowl. 7 a

3. Amechanism for feeding nut blanks which are provided with adiametrical deflection across the central parts thereof, comprising a rotary bowl adapted to' receive a 36 promiscuous mass of such blanks andhaw ing a conical body provided at its small end,

of the openings in one of said rings having convex faces and the corresponding sides of the openings 111 the other rlng having concave faces conforming to the shape of the blanks to be fed, and an annular baflle flange extending radially inward from the positioning ring which is next to'the large end of the conical body of thebowl, and forming an internal annular channel therebetween;

5. A machine for feeding nut blanks comprising a rotary bowl adapted to receive promiscuously a mass of nut blanks to be'fed and provided with an annular row ofopenings through which the blanks are adapted to pass from the interior to the exterior of the bowl, and means for ejecting any nut blanks which may become stuck in said openings including a rotary wheel arranged externally of the bowl and provided with an annular row of teeth which are adapted to mesh successively with the openings in said bowl and push any blanks caught therein back into the bowl, the large'end of said bowl being provided with means to prevent the nuts from falling out of this end of the bowl.

In testimony signatures.

whereof We hereby aflix our EDWARD H. INGRAM. VICTOR E. PEARSON.

with a blank inlet and a disk'head arranged across the large end of the body opposing positioning rings mounted on the'peripheral 4 parts of the head and the large endof said body and having their opposing sides constructed to form an annular row of post tioning openings through which the blanks are adapted to pass from the interior to the exterior of thebowl, the corresponding sides of the o enings in one of said rings having convex aces and the corresponding sides of the openings in the other ring having concave faces conforming to the shape of the blanks to be fed. y

4. A mechanism for feeding nut blanks which are provided-With a diametrical dcflection across thecentral parts thereof, com- ,prising a rotary bowladapted to receive a j 5 promiscuous mass of such blanks and having a conical body providedatits small end with a blank inlet and a disk head arranged across the large end of the-body, opposing positioning rings mounted on the peripheral parts of the head and the large end of said body and having their opposing sides constructed to form an annular row of positioning openings thronghwhich the blanks arerad apted to pass from the interior to the exterior of the bowl, the corresponding sides

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