US2665589A - Indexing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.:

I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. J. RUSHER INDEXING MECHANISM Jan. 12, 1954 Filed May 15, 1951 MJC@ Jam 12., 1954 J. J. RusHER 2,665,589

INDEXING MECHANISM 4Filed May 15, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENToR. Ja/7n d. Rus/7er Qua/@9M HTTORNEYS Ja. 12, 1954 J. J. RusHER INDEXING MECHANISM Illu-'III Filed May 15, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IINJ/ AIP RESERVOIR INVENToR. cfa/1n Jz/.Scr BY av-mcv-ma/ HTTURNEYS Patented Jan. 12, 1954 INDEXING MECHANISM John J. Rusher, Royal Oak, Mich., assignor IsoV Champion Spark Plug Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application May 15, 1951, Serial No. 226,370

8 Claims. l

This invention relates to means for imparting predetermined indexing movements to a rotatable object, and has for its primary object the provision of a simple, improved and eicient mechanism of this character.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means employing a plurality of reciprocably movable rack members and coacting pinions, one of which members is successively operated to engage and release its pinion by reciprocatory movements of the other, and when engaged and axially moved is caused to impart a predetermined indexing movement to its pinion.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and from the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention, in which- Fig.- 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a device embodying the invention, with parts broken away, and with the indexing rack-bar in perative relation to its pinion; Fig. 2 is a reduced cross-section on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1, with parts in full; Fig. 3 is a diagram of the mechanism with associated fluid pressure control means, and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with an associated locking means for the indexing table.

Referring to the drawings, I designates a movable indexing member, in the present instance, of round table form that is rotatably movable about a vertical axis. This table has a hub sleeve 2 mounted for free rotation, in the present instance, on a standard 3 mounted on or carried by any suitable support (not shown). A pinion 4 is fixedly carried by the sleeve 2 concentric therewith and beneath the table I, and its teeth are preferably arcuate in form transverse to the pinion.

An indexing rack-bar 5 is mounted at one side of the axis of the pinion 4 transverse thereto and spaced radially from the pinion periphery. A sleeve 6 is mounted for rotary movements on the bar 5 and is held against axial movements thereon, so that the sleeve is caused to have axial reciprocatory movements with the bar. The sleeve at one side of its axis is provided with a longitudinal series of segmental teeth 1 adapted to mesh with the teeth of the pinion 4 and to move into and out of engagement therewith by rotary movements of the sleeve on the bar 5. The teeth 1 extend over approximately a 90 area of the sleeve and at one side of such area the sleeve is provided with a blank or neutral space 8 throughout its length which, when moved into register with the-pinionl 4, vcauses disengagei 55 ment of the rack teeth 'l and pinion 4, so that axial movement of the sleeve will not impart rotation to the pinion.

The rack-bar 5, in its present embodiment, at

one end carries a plunger 9 operating in a cyl- The circumferential length of this tooth set is va cylinder 22. vopposite ends of the vteeth of the pinion 4 greater than and opposes both the tooth set 7 and the space 8. The pinion teeth I6 are in permanent mesh with the teeth of a rack-bar I'I which is mounted, in the present instance, in a guide I8 for reciprocatory movements transverse to the rack sleeve axis and preferably parallel to the axis of the standard 3. The rack-bar Il has a stem I9 projecting from its lower end through a guide 20 and carrying a plunger 2| in Admission of fluid pressure to cylinder is through lines 23 and 24. The cylinder 22, in the present instance, is carried by a frame part 25 and is axially adjustable thereon by the turning of a screw 26.

In the operation of the mechanism, the rackbar Il at the beginning of an indexing cycle is in lowered position, and the rack-bar teeth I on the sleeve 6 are in mesh with the pinion 4 that is connected to and turned with the indexing table. This relation of the parts is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3. A cycle is started by admitting pressure to the lower end of the cylinder 22 to effect a raising of the rack-bar Il and a consequent turning of the sleeve 6 to place the neutral space 8 thereof into register with the and at the same time to 'I laterally out of engagement with such pinion. When this operation has been eiTected, pressure is admitted to the right hand cylinder I2 to force the rack-bar 5 and its sleeve 6 to the left, with the teeth of the rackbar I7 sliding lengthwise of the teeth I6 on the sleeve. This having been done, fluid pressure is admitted to the cylinder 22 through the line 23 which effects a lowering of the rack-bar I 'I and a consequent turning voi" the sleeve 6 to place its teeth 1 into mesh with those of the pinion 4.

move the set of teeth One manner of automatic control for the two rack-bars and is shown diagrammatioally in Fig. 3. In this gure a pump 3D operates to force fluid from a reservoir :3:| and back .to it through a pressure line 32 and valso A from Asaid line through a branch line 33 back to the reservoir. A valve 34 in the line 3 2 Eis operable to control the directing of pressure therefrom rst through the line 24 to raise the rack-bar i1 and to bleed the opposite end of the cylinder to Vthe reservoir through ztheline 3, and then, .at .a predetermined .point in :an indexing -cycle, lto direct fluid pressure through 1the line 2'3 fto :the yupper end of v.the cylinder :to lower :said-rack- .bar and at .the sometime permitting lreturn ,of pressure :to the reservoir 4from the opposite 4end .of @he Lcylinder through the line 14. A `second valve 35 is disposed .in the branch `line .33 vand is operable to control the alternate admission -of Afluid Apressure to the cylinders i9 Yand |2 .at Vinedeterniined points ,in a ,cycle lthrough the re.- spective lines |.3 and J4. whereby .the rack-bar -5 'is Erst moved to :the left whenthe sleeve is in :neutral :position and. .thenat a -predetermined point acycle-is movedtotthe right .toeffect :thoindoxing action. The valves :3.1i and;:35 .are each da typehavingrockablecoreswhich, when :alternately rocked, connect oneforzthe other of the f cylinder ends with the .respective .pressure vlines '32 and 3.3,..and at the same :time connect the opposite ends of the `cylinders with fthe reservoir 3l f or v-lvleeoli-ne Ihe-valve 341,is normally in sposition tocon- Aneet the pressure ,side `of `:the line 32 with the line -23 and to connecttheiline 24 wthithe res.- `ervoir side of the iin e g3, 2. This causes z-the `rack.- ;bar to normally stand its lowered zposition, was sho-Wn. .-Liikewlsethevalve i5 isilormallyin .position to connect the:p1es s urefside of theline `33 V.with ithe kcylinder I0 and fthe reservoir 4.side thereof vlith the .cylinder .12, thus tendine to hold the rack-bar 5 to the right end of its stroke, .as shown. During -eah cycle, a cam shaft 411 has one ,complete revolution imparted thereto by a mot-.0124 i .-andthisshaithasoam projections :42 and 43 Lextending Qrcumferentially :thereof and adapted `to respectively coact fvv-ith fthe valves 34 and 3 5 duringpredeterminedportions of -asingle rotation of the -shaftgtomovethem to'positions in which the cylinder lines .Mend i4 will be connected -with 'the pressure sideof theline I3 2, whilethe` lines 23 and 3 :willthen be connected with the reservoir. j ltgisthusapparent .that the rack-bar e l1 :is .raised .tofrook illegaals sleeve ..6 :to neutral 5 relation yto the :pinion 4 and to retain vit .in such position while vthe rack-bar .5 bengimovedvto `the left. Also,ftlriat While I`therack-bar `5 ,is infsuchleft positienfthe l2 ivillrelease the va-lva,permittinggtheggraok- .1.7 t0 be ,returned toits; normal lowered Ipositiomaudzthatafter this the oem 4.3 releasesfthe .valve 3.5 .permitting -t-t0-retur1n t0 nor-.mol rpofsition; and to-,oause thepresurefn; line; t3 :to benome active and return Athe fr oli-.har to right .to effect, aninclexineaotion. 1

In Fig. 4 is shown a means that is automatically operable to lock the table l in indexing position during each rest period thereof, thus insuring that the table has turned a predetermined extent at each indexing operation, or effecting a stopping of the machine if such extent of movement is not obtained. This means is also operable to lock the table againstmovement during a rest period. To accomplish 1this, -the plunger 2| in the cylinder 22 has its stem or rod, here marked 50, shortened and provided without the ,upper end of the cylinder with a cross-bar 5|, to one end of which is attached the stem |911 of vthe track-bar I while to the other end thereof iis attached a ,loch-pin 52. The rack-bar stem and lock-'pin are vdisposed with their longitudinal taxes parallel 1to that of the plunger stem or rod 5|). The table has a socket $3 for each station or .work-holding part thereof disposed adjacent thereto and, in the present instance, near the labe:1i m, and the lock-pin 5 2, when raised after an indexing movement, is intended to enter a registering socket and lock the vtable `against movement duringa rest period and until released by a lowering of the lpin. AIf .the table :has not received a proper ,indexing movement vthe lockpin when raised will not enter asocket vand op- '.elaloilof the machine Will be stopped.

I Wish it understood that lmy invention is not .limited to any specific construction, arrangement or form of the parts, as it is capable of numerousmodications and changes without departing iromthespirit of the claims.

Having described my invention, what --I claim Vas new, and Adesire to secure by United States .Letters Patent is:

f1,- Inan.indesiaemechanism en indexing pinion, a longitudinally reciprooable rack-bar, ,a member carried'bysaid bar for movement therewith and-for transverse shifting movements re1- ,ative thereto, said member having one set :of

.ita-ok teeth for meshing engagement with .said ,-pinionandasecond .set of rack teeth transverse to theiirst set, a second rack-bar in mesh with said second set -ofrack-har teeth, Y and means o perable -to reciprocate said-second rack-bar in predeterminedtimedroletion tothe strokes of said first rack-bar to move said rst teeth out of meshing' register with said pinion Whn the rlirsi'f Aradii-barisin one position oaf-its movement and into register with the pinion when said first rackparis in another position of its movement. 2. Ain an indexing Amecha-nism, an indexing pinlion, a -reeiprocably lrnovahle `rank-bar, a sleeve mounted on the rack-har orreciprocatory movementsl therewith andi or rotary movements thereon, said sleeve having a v set of teeth meshing with said pinion to impart predetermined indexing movements thereto When-the .bar is moved in one directionand being movable to disengage the pinion by vrotary movement of ythe sleeve,

means connected to said sleeve and operable to .rotate-the sleeve to alternately engage and disengage saidsleeveteeth and pinion, means operable toimpart reciprocatory movements tofsaid rackbar, and meansroperable vat predetermined positions of reciprocatory movement of said rackhar -to alternately move the sleeve to move its -teeth into andoutof registering relation to the pinion,

3. In an indexingmechanism, an indexing pin- .ion,I a-ijack-bar longitudinally movable transverse tothe inionaxis, a member carried by said rackbarfor movements therewith and for-, transverse Shiitinefmovemets rslativathrto. said-.member having a set of rack teeth adapted to mesh with the pinion when the member is in one position of its transverse movement and to disengage the pinion when the member is in another position of such movement, a second set of teeth on said member transverse to said rst set, a second rackbar in engagement with said second set of teeth and reciprooably movable to rotate the member' on its rack-bar to alternately engage and release the rst set of teeth With respect to the pinion, and fluid pressure means operable to impart predetermined reciprocatory movements to said rst rack-bar and predetermined movements to said second rack-bar whereby said member is shifted into driving engagement with the pinion when in one position of movement of the iirst rackbar and is released therefrom when in another position of such movement.

4. In an indexing mechanism, an indexing pin-- ion, a reciprocably movable rack-bar having a set of rack teeth rotatably shiftable transverse to the bar movement into and out of driving mesh with (the pinion, means operable to impart stroke movement to said rack-bar first in one direction and then another, means to rotate said rack teeth into and out of meshing relation to the pinion alternately with said strokes, and means operable with said second means to lock said pinion against movement during predetermined movements of said last-mentioned means.

5. In an indexing mechanism, an indexing pinion, a longitudinally reoiprocable rack-bar, a member carried by said bar for movement therewith and for rotary transverse shifting movements relative thereto, said member having one set of rack teeth for meshing engagement with said pinion and a second set of rack teeth transverse to the iirst set, a second rack-bar in mesh with said second set'of rack teeth, means operable to reciprocate said second rack-bar in predetermined timed relation to the strokes of said rst rack-bar to move said rst teeth out of meshing register with said pinion when the iirst rack-bar is in one position of its movement and into register with the pinion when said iirst rackbar is in another position of its movement, and means operable with said second rack-bar to lock said pinion against movement during predetermined movements of said last-mentioned means.

5. In an indexing mechanism, a rotatable iny dexing table, an indexing pinion connected to said table for imparting rotation from one to the other, a longitudinally reciprocable rack-bar, a member carried by said bar for movement therewith and for transverse shifting movements relative thereto, said member having one set of rack teeth for meshing engagement with said pinion and a second set of rack teeth transverse to the first set, a second rack-bar in engagement With said second set of rack teeth, means operable to reciprocate said second rack-bar in predetermined timed relation to the strokes of said rst rack-bar to move said rst teeth out of meshing register with said pinion when the first rack-bar is in one position of its movement and into register with the pinion when said first rack-bar is in another position of its movement, said table having a series of sockets therein corresponding in number to indexing positions thereof and a lock-pin movable with said second rack-bar and operable to interengage a registering socket on the table to lock the table against movement during a rest period thereof.

7. In an indexing mechanism, an indexing pinion, a longitudinally reciprocatory and transversely rotatable rack member having a set of rack teeth thereon shiftable transversely into and out oi meshing register with said pinion, means mounting the rack member for said movements, means operable to alternately move said rack member longitudinally iirst in one direction and then in an opposite direction a predetermined extent, means operable to rotate said rack member out of engaging register with the pinion at the beginning of one stroke and into engaging register therewith at the beginning of the next stroke, and means operable in timed relation to said last means to prevent turning of said pinion when disengaged from the rack member.

8. In an indexing mechanism, an indexing pinion, an indexing member movable by said pinion, a reciprocably movable rack bar, a rack tooth member carried by said bar for movement therewith and for rotary transverse shifting movements relative thereto into and out of register with the pinion, means operable to impart stroke movements to said rack bar rst in one direction and then another, means to rotate said tooth member out of pinion meshing position at one end of the rack'bar stroke and into meshing position at the other end of the stroke, and means operable in synchronized relation to said last means to lock said indexing member against movement when the tooth member is out of mesh with the pinion.

JOHTN J. RUSHER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,291,382 Duglin July 28, 1942 2,334,684 Zappia Nov. 16, 1943 2,359,420 Herzog Oct. 3, 1944 2,494,706 Happel Jan. 17, 1950

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