US2479949A - Device for centralizing strip material - Google Patents

Description

u@ 23 W4. A. M. Mmm-EAT 29479:949

DEVICE FOR CENTRALIZNG STRIP MATERIAL Filed Sept. 9, 1947' 2 SheeiS-Sheet l Aug., 23, W49 A. we. MacPHEAT 294799949 DEVICE FOR CENTRALIZNG STRIP MATERIAL Filed sept. 9, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. z3, 1949 2,479,949 DEVICE FOB CENTRALIZING STRIP MATERIAL Alexander M. MacPheat, Brookfield,

lll., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 9, 1947, Serial No. 772,955 9 Claims. (Cl. 164-59) This invention relates to a stock centralizing device and more particularly to a centralizing device applicable to a punch press for centralizing the strip stock relative to the tools of the press.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a centralizing device of simple construction for centralizing strip stockrelative to a predetermined centerline.

In one embodiment of the invention as applied to a punch press for punching strip stock into contact springs of predetermined length having rounded front end portions, there is provided a block having a notch located on a predetermined centerline for receiving and centralizing the forward end of the stock, and in spaced relation to the block there is provided a member oscillatable about an axis on said predetermined centerline and a pair of rollers mounted diametrically opposite and spaced equi-distant from the axis of the member to receive the strip stock therebetween. The member is stressed for rotation about its axis by a spring to cause the rollers carried by the member to move into engagement with opposite edges of the strip stock and move the stock into predetermined position on the centerline.

In another embodiment of the invention, a pair of cylindrical members are mounted in spaced relation to each other in apertures in the dies for oscillation about axes on a predetermined centerline on which the stock is to be centralized. A pair of diametrically opposed rollers, spaced equi-distant from the axis, are mounted on each of the cylindrical members, and are spaced apart to receive the strip stock therebetween. Each of the cylindricall members is stressed for rotation by a spring to cause the rollers to revolve about the axis of the cylindrical member and engage opposite edges of the strip stock to centralize the stock along the predetermined centerline,

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description thereof and the accompanying drawings illustrating several embodiments of the invention wherein Fig. 1 is a partial plan view of the lower portion of a punch and die mechanism with the centralizing device associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 and indicated as taken substantially on the line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view of 'a portion of the centralizing device taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 4 is a detail bottom view of a centralizing member with the stock engaging rollers mounted thereon:

Fig. 5 is a partial plan view of the lower portion of a punch and die construction showing a modified embodiment of the centralizing device associated therewith;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 5 and taken substantially on the line 6-6 thereof; and

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view through the centralizing device taken on the line 'l-l of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a punch and die construction for operating on strip stock I0 and forming it into spring contact members of predetermined length, each spring member having a rounded forward end and a pair of perforations along its centerline. A die I2 is secured to a die holder I3 which, in turn, is mounted on a platen |94 of the punch press. Die apertures I5 formed in the die block I2 cooperate with a pair of punches I6 for perforating the strip along the longitudinal centerline thereof. The punches I6 are secured, by a retainer member I1, to a punch holder I8, which, in turn, is carried by a ram I9 of the punch press for reciprocation therewith. A notching punch 2|, mounted on the punch holder and cooperating with an aperture 22 in the die I2, forms a notch in the side of the strip I0. A conventional stripper plate 24 is mounted on a plurality of headed pins 25 for vertical movement relative to the punches I6 and 2| and is urged downwardly by springs 26 mounted on the pins 25. A die block 30, mounted on the die holder I3, is provided with a curved cutting edge 3| in spaced relation to a straight cutting edge 32 formed on the die block I2.l A punch 35 having similarly formed surfaces for cooperating with the cutting edges 3| and 32 is mounted on the punch holder I8 and acts, upon the downward movement of the ram, to shear a blank or slug from the stock I0 and. thus sever a completed spring contact member and form a rounded leading edge on the remainder of the strip of stock I0.

The strip I0 may then be advanced over the die block I2, either manually or by any suitable feeding mechanism, until it engages the curved surface 3'I of a notch 38 formed in the block 39 mounted on the die holder I3 adjacent the die block l2. The curved surface 31 of the notch 38 serves to centralize the forward end of the stock on a predetermined centerline 40 passing through the axes of the two punches I6 and to stop the stock in a predetermined punch and die.

The other portion of the strip stock above the die I2 is centralized by a centralizing device 42 to bring the centerline of the strip in alignment with the centerline 40. The centralizing device 42 is mounted above the strip I 0 in a recess 43 (Figs. 2 and 3) of a stationary stripper member 44, which is mounted on the die 30 and is provided With a guide slot 45 through which the stock IIJ is moved. The centralizing device 42 comprises an arm or member 41, to the central point of which is secured a pin 48. The pin 48, mounted in an aperture 49 in the block 44, is positioned with its axis on the centerline -40 (Fig. 1) so that the member 41 may oscillate about an axis on said centerline. A pair of diametrically opposed pins 50 and 5l are mounted in the member 41 equi-distant from the axis of the pin 48 and project downwardly from the mem-Y ber 41 to receive a pair of rollers 52-52 thereon. The rollers 52 are held in position between the lower surface of the member 41 and the top surface of the die 3D and are spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the strip to receive the strip I therebetween. The pin 5I (Fig. 3) extends upwardly through a slot 54 .in

position relative to the -\.the stripper 44 and is connected to one end of a spring 55, the other end of which is connected to a pin 56 on the stripper 44. The spring 55 tends to rotate the member 41 and move the rollers 52-52 equal amounts about the axis of the pin 48 toward the centerline 40. Thus the rollers 52 will engage the opposite edges of the stock I0 to accurately centralize the intermediate portion of the stock on the centerline 40.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the rounded forward end of the strip stock, as it engages the curved walls of the notch 33, is stopped and centralized thereby and the intermediate portion of the stock is automatically centralized by the centralizing device 42, whereby the stock is accurately positioned with respect to the centerline 40, and that when the ram I9 descends. the perforating and notching dies act to perforate and notch the strip an-d the punch 35ats to sever the contact strip from the stock and form a rounded end on the remainder of the strip l0.

In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. to 7, the die 60, mounted on a die holder 6l, has formed therein a pair of apertures 62-62 forming cutting edges which cooperate with a pair of punches 63-63 to perforate the strip stock I0 at predetermined points along the ce'nterline thereof. The punches 63 are secured by a retainer member 64 to the punch holder 65, which is secured to and reciprocates with a ram 66 of the punch press. A stripper block 61, yieldably mounted on the punch holder 65 for vertical movement relative to the punches, serves to hold the strip l0 in position on the die 60 during the punching operation. The stock strip I0 is guided for movement on a die block 60 and centralized thereon by a pair of centralizing devices 69.*69. Each centralizing device 69 comprises a cylindrical member mounted for rotation in cylindrical apertures 1| in the block 60. The cylindrical members 10 rest upon and are supported by the die holder 6I and have their upper flat surfaces flush with the upper surface of the die 60 and are rotatable about axes located on a centerline 12 passing through the axis of the punches 63-63. A pair of diametrically opposed pins 13, mounted equi-distant from the axis of the member 10, extend upwardly from the member 10 and have rotatably mounted thereon rollers 14-14, which are spaced from each other a distance slightly greater than the width of the strip stock I0 for receiving the strip stock I0 therebetween. The rollers 13 are of a height in excess of the thickness of the stock I0 and are adapted to engage the opposite edges of the stock when the members 10 are rotated to move the stock into a predetermined position with the centerline thereof in alignment with the centerline 12. are formed on members 18 and fit in recesses 11-11 in the die 60 and serve to limit the rotary movement of the member 10. Helical compression springs 19, mounted in recesses in the die 60, engage the lugs 16 and stress the cylindrical members 10 for rotation. The rotary movement of the cylindrical member 10 carries the rollers 14-14 about the axis of the member 1U and causes them to move simultaneously toward the centerline 12 and engage the opposite edges of the stock strip I0 to accurately centralize the strip I0 on the centerline 12. The die 6D, at one end thereof, is provided with a curved shearing edge 82 in spaced relation to a shearing edge 83 formed on the die 84, mounted on the die holder 6l. The shearing edges 82 and 83 cooperate with similarly formed edges on a punch 86 carried by the punch holder 65 upon reciprocation of the ram to punch a blank or slug from the strip I8 and form a rounded end on the strip at the same time that the punches 63-63 perforate the strip. Upon completion of the punching operation, the strip may be advanced until the rounded forward end thereof engages a stop surface 88 of a block 89 mounted on the die holder 6l. The stop surface 88 serves to stop the strip IU in a predetermined position relative to the die so that, upon the following downstroke of the ram, the punch 88, as it punches the blank from the strip, severs the completed contact spring e from the strip simultaneously with the perforating action of the perforating punches 63. In this construction of centralizing device, it will be seen that the stock is guided for movement along the predetermined centerline 12 by the rollers 14, which are yieldingly urged for equal movement in opposite directions toward the centerline 12 and into engagement with the strip, thus to accurately centralize the stripl on the centerline 12.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for centralizing strip stock on a predetermined centerline in a machine for processing said stock, the combination of means supporting the strip stock for feeding movement along said centerline, an oscillatable member, a pair of rollers mounted on said member and spaced apart from each other a distance greater than the width of the stock, means mounting said member for oscillation about an axis midway between the axis of said rollers and on said predetermined centerline and with the rollers positioned to engage the edge portions of said stock, and spring means for stressing said member for rotary movement to cause said rollers thereon simultaneously to move in opposite directions toward the centerline to centralize the strip stock.

2. In a device for centralizing strip stock on a predetermined centerline in a machine for processing said stock, the combination of means supporting the strip stock foi` feeding movement along said centerline, a pair of centralizing means in spaced relation to each other on said Laterally extending lugs 16 centerline, one of said centralizing means comline and with the rollers positioned to engage the edge portions of said stock, and spring means for stressing said member for rotary movement to cause said rollers thereon simultaneously to move in opposite directions toward the centerline to centralize the strip stock.

3. In a device for centrallzing strip material on a predetermined centerline, the combination of a support for said strip, an oscillatable member moimted for pivotal movement about an axis on said predetermined centerline, a pair of members on said oscillatable member having a pair of strip engaging elements thereon diametrically opposed and spaced equi-distant from said axis and spaced apart a distance greater than the width of said strip for receiving the strip therebetween, and a spring operatively connected to said S- cillatable member` to stress said member for turning movement about said axis to cause said strip engaging elements simultaneously to move in opposite directions toward the centerline to engage the edges of and centralize the strip.

4. In a device forcentralizing strip material on a predetermined centerline, the combination Y of a support for said strip, and a pair oi centralizing means in spaced relation to each other on said centerline, one of said centralizing means comprising an oscillatable member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis on said predetermined centerline, a pair of members on said oscillatable member having a pair of strip engaging elements thereon diametrically opposed and spaced equi-distant from said axis and spaced apart a distance greater than the width of said strip for receiving the strip therebetween, and a spring operatively connected to said oscillatable member to stress said member for turning movement about said axis to cause said strip engaging elements simultaneously to move in opposite directions toward the centerline to engage the edges oi and centralize the strip.

5. A device for centralizing strip material on a predetermined centerline comprising a member having positioning surfaces engageable with the forward end oi said strip for centraliz'ing said forward end of the strip on said centerline, and a centralizing device engageable with an intermediate portion oi said strip comprising an osciliatable member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis on said predetermined centerline, a pair of rollers mounted on said oscillatable member diametrically opposite and equi-distant from said axis and spaced apart a distance greater than the width of said strip to receive said strip therebetween, and a spring operatively connected to said oscillatable member for stressing said member for turning movement about said axis to cause the rollers thereon simultaneously to move in opposite directions toward the centerline to engage opposite edges o! said strip and centralixe the intermediate portion of said strip.

6. A centralizing device for strip material comprising a pair of centralizing means in spaced relation to each other and engageable with said strip material at spaced points for centralizing saidstrip on a predetermined centerline, each of said means comprising a member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis on said predetermined centerline, a pair of rollers mounted on said member diametrically opposite and equi-distant from said axis and spaced apart a distance greater than the widthof said strip to receive said strip therebetween, and resilient means stressing said member for turning movement about the axis to cause said rollers simultaneously to move in opposite directions toward the centerline to centralize the strip.

'7. In aV device for centralizing a strip of ma-r terial on a predetermined centerline, a strip supporting member having a cylindrical recess the axis of which is located on said predetermined centerline, a cylindrical member mounted in said recess for rotation about said axis, a pair of rollers mounted on said cylindrical member diametrically opposite and equi-distant from said axis and spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the strip for receiving the strip therev between, and a spring operatively connected to said cylindrical member for urging said member for rotation to cause said rollers simultaneously to move in opposite directions toward the cenreriine for engaging the opposite edges oi' and centralizing the strip.

8. A centralizing mechanism for strip material comprising a pair of centralizing devices in spaced relation to each other longitudinally of said strip and engageable with said strip material for centralizing said strip 'on a predetermined center line, one of said' centraiizing devices comprising a member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis on said predetermined center line, a pair of strip engaging elements mounted on said member diametrically opposite and equi-distant from said axis and spaced apart a distance greater than the width of said strip to receive said strip therebetween, and means for stressing said member for turning movement about said axis to cause said elements simultaneously to move in' opposite directions toward the center line to centralize said strip.

9. In a device for centralizing strip material on a predetermined center line, the combination of `a support for said strip, an oscillatable member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis on/said predetermined center line, a pair of strip engaging elements on said oscillatable member diametrically opposite and spaced equidistant from said axis and spaced apart a distance greater than the width of said strip for receiving 'the strip therebetween, and means for stressing said member for turning movement about said axis to cause said strip engaging elements simultaneously to move in opposite directions toward the center line to engag/d the edges of and centralize the strip.

ALEXANDER M. MACPHEA'I.

No references cited.

Images