US470149A - And harry semple - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

M. ALTMEYER. FEED MECHANISM FOR NAIL MACHINES. No. 470,149. Patented Mar. 1, 1892.

Q 2: Ill/m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MATTHEWV ALTMEYER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FIFTHS TO J. F. IIEIL, O. T. SCHREIBER, F. FREISMUTH, GEO. l-IEIR, K. J. HOGE, WV. J. WV. COIVDEN, WM. F. STIFEL, A. REYMANN, PETER OASSELL, AND N. B. SCOTT, OF IVHEELING, IVEST VIRGINIA, AND HARRY SEMPLE,

OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO.

FEE D MECHANISM FOR NAIL-MACHINES.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 470,1d9, dated March 1, 1892.

Application filed April 17, 1891. Serial No. 389,349. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, MATTHEW ALTMEYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed Mechanism forNail- Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of said invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it most nearly appertains to make, use, and practice the same.

My invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in the feed mechanism for nail-making machinery, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth in the drawings, described and pointed out in the specification.

IIeretofore in the making of nails the nailplate has always been fed to the machine by boys employed for this purpose, who catch the plate by means of a suitable catch-rod and place the same within the oscillating feedchute, so as to force the end under the cutting-tool. However, it has been found impossible to consume or clip the entire plate, inasmuch as a certain portion thereof, known to the trade as the plate-butt, is held by the catch-rod. Consequently the plate can only be out as far as the end of said rod, thus necessitating the waste of the entire butt, and inasmuch as the same contains suflicient material or metal to form three or four nails from it is obvious that in the course of a days work considerable loss takes place, and in case many machines are employed the combined loss amounts to thousands of' pounds. Further, the oscillating of the plate and feedchute tends to form a ragged cut to the nail, instead of a smooth clean cut. Again, the rapid making of the nails depends largely upon the prompt and careful feeding of the plates into the feed-chute by the boys stationed for this purpose, inasmuch as the dropping of theplateorinaccurate feeding creates delay in the making of the nail, and by reason of the oscillating motion imparted to the chute the plate has a tendency to clog or catch and make imperfect nails. These are of the employment of plate-feed boys, thereby forming an automatic feeder whereby the plates are thrown forward sufficiently far to allow for the requisite nail-cut, and at the same time a clean and perfect cut and at the same time consume the entire plate, thereby preventing loss of nail-plate butts and obviating the expense attendant upon the handling thereof and loss of nails resulting from such waste.

My invention further consists in providing a simpler, more effectual, less expensive, and more durable feeder than any heretofore known to me, and one which shall allow of the more rapid feeding of the nail-plates to the cutting-tool.

For a more comprehensive understanding of myinvention reference must be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the entire specification.

Figure 1 is a side viewpartly broken away showing my feeder applied to the front of an ordinary nail-machine; Fig. 2, atop plan with feed-box and plate-rolls removed; Fig. 3, a front vertical sectional view taken on line 00 m, Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a detail cross-sectional view taken on line 2 z, Fig. 2; and Fig. 5, detail of cam for attachment to the nail-machine and adapted to operate the feed mechanism.

The letter A is used to indicate the ordinary cutting-head of nail-machines, which is provided with the cutting-tool B. The cutting-head is secured to the machine and operated in the usual manner, and consequently need not be specifically set forth in this specification.

To the frame of the machine is swiveled or otherwise secured the arm 0, to which is connected the feed-support I). grooved, so as to receive the bed-plate D, which is provided with the upwardly-extending flanged sides D To the bed-plate is bolted the roll-carrying plate E, which has journaled therein the nail-plate rolls 6, and to said plate is bolted the feed-box E, within which are placed the nail-plates 6, one upon the other, the lower one resting upon the rolls 6, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Within the space existing between the roll and bed plate is secured the movable guide-plate E which is provided with the upwardly extending lug or stop-pin (I, which works through the opening (Z, formed in the operating-plate F. Said plate moves forward and backward within guide-plate E and as the end walls of opening (1' contact with lug or stop (I the guide-plate is carried forward or backward. Upon the guide-plate are secured the cams F by means of bolts f, and thereto are connected the gripperjaws F which are adapted to open or close with the opening or closing of cams F, so as to grip or release the nail-plate e, as hereinafter set forth. To the front of the feed is secured the plate-guide Il, within which the nail-plate is held, after being released from the grippers, by means of the springs 71, bolted thereto. In order to hold the plate firmly within the guide, 1 bolt or otherwise secure to the side wall thereof the guard 7;, preferably composed of an L-shaped plate. The inner end of the operating-plate is formed wedge shape, so that when moved forward it will serve to force open the cams F, thereby closing the grip-jaws upon the nail-plates.

The anvil-bed is indicated by the letter K, and secured thereon is the still die K.

The cutting-tool is made adjustable through the medium of bolts 70.

\Vithin the feed box I place a number of nail-plates, as shown, the ends of which rest against the incline end of the box. The end of the lower or bottom plate bears against the gripping-jaws, so as to be in position to be grasped thereby or fall therebetween innuediately upon the opening thereof.

Motion is derived, when imparted to the feed mechanism, through the medium of the connecting-rod H,which derives motion,when it is operated, from cam H secured upon the operating-shaft of the nail-machine in the or dinary manner. The location and position of the driving-shaft is immaterial, inasmuch as the connecting-rod may be shaped so as to conform thereto that is to say, if it is located below the cutting-head of the machine the connecting-rod may be curved downwardly, so as to bring the operating-cam thereon. The outer end of the connecting-rod works in the elongated slot z'of the guide I, secured to the roll-plate of the feed-box. Thelower portion of said guide arm or plate is somewhat enlarged and is provided with the elongated slot 1', within which the bolt or lugj operates and works. Said lug projects or extends from the operating-handle J, pivoted to the roll- Said support is.

plate or bed of the feed-box, and is provided with a downwardly-extending arm j, which has an elongated opening or slot formed therein, through which projects or works the set-nut j By raising or lowering the outer end of the connecting-shaft within the elongated slot or guide-arm I am enabled to regulate the throw of the feed mechanism, so as to impart an increased or decreased cut to the nail-plate. \Vhen lowered to its full extent, a quick movement of the feed is imparted to the machine while when the connectingrod is thrown upward said movement or motion is decreased. Should it be desired at any time during the working of the feed m echanism or nail-machine to create a cessation of the feed'plates moving toward the cuttinghead for the purpose of repairing machine or otherwise, the same is obtained by unscrewing or loosening screw-nut and allowing the arm J to drop within the elongated opening or slot formed in the guide-arm, thereby throwing out of operation the connecting-rod, but still allowing for perfect working of the machine, with the exception that the feed or travel of the nail-plates is stopped.

The operation of my machine is as follows: Vith the rotation of the drive-shaft of the ordin ary nail-machine the connecting-rod imparts a forward-and-back stroke to the guidearm, within which the outer end of the connecting-rod works, which arm being connected through the medium of the pin j to the operating plate or wedge F the latter is moved forward until contact is made with the lug d, projecting from the guide-plate E and when such contact is made said guide-platc is moved forward in a manner similar to the operating rod or plate, carrying therewith the cams and nail-platesecu red therebetween. .It will thus be observed that with the first movement of the feed mechanism the plate is carried or moved forward a sufficient distance to allow for the regulated cut of the nail, and with the second movement-01, that is, when the the operating-plate contacts with the pin or lug cZ-the entire feed mechanism is moved forward, so as to throw the nail-plate beneath the cutting-tool of the cutting-head. The foregoing operation or movement of the feed mechanism takes place on the upstroke or throw of the cutting-head, while with its down movement, or after it has made the cut of the nail-plate, the operating plate or wedge is thrown backward, carrying therewith the guideplate, and at the same time, by moving from within the frames F, the grip-guides are released from their hold upon the nailplate and carried backward, so as to make a regrasp thereon for the purpose with the next upstroke of the cutting-head of carrying the nail-plate forward sufliciently far to give a perfect cut thereof, and as the operating plate or rod moves from between the operatingcams, which, closing by gravity, opens the grip-jaws, so as to release the nail-plate, which is then held by the guide II until the rear .between and carried forward in a like manner.

The plates as moved within the feed-box slide upon the rolls 6.

In order to keep the machine fed, itis only necessary that the feed-box be continually supplied with plates. Any number may be placed in the box. Consequently one boy is.

enabled to feed about ten or twelve machines. As the first plate leaves the jaws entirely it is held by means of the springs contained in the guide, and the forward end of the, next plate abuts against the rear end thereof and serves with its movement to force the first plate forward. It will thus be seen that no material is wasted in the cutting and that the feed is perfectly automatic. It will also be noticed that I obtain two positive movements, first the movement of the operatingplate in order to open the cams and close the grip-jaws upon the plate, and, secondly, the forward movement of the guide-plate.

I am aware that minor changes may be made in the arrangement of parts and details of construction herein shown and described without necessitating or creating a departure from the nature and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure protection in by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a nail-machine feeder, the combination of a frame, laterally-working grippers to engage the nail-plate, cam-arms pivoted to extended ends of said grippers, and a longitudinally moving operating wedge plate adapted to act upon the cam-surfaces and operate the grippers, substantially as setforth.

2. I11 a nail-machine feeder, the combination of a frame, an L-shaped nail-plate, guide secured thereto, and a supplemental plate or guard secured to the side of the nail-plate guide, with a space between the bottom of the latter and the lower edge of the supplemental plate or guard, formingapassage for the nailplate, substantially as set forth.

3. In a nail-machine feeder, the combination, with the operating-plate, of the guide plate, lug, or pin secured thereto, cams adapted to be operated by the movement of the operating-plate, nail-plate grippers opened or closed by the movement of the cams, and

I mechanism for imparting motion to the operating plate andguide, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a nail-machine feeder, the combination of a frame, an L-shaped nail-plate guide secured thereto, provided with a passage for the nail-plates, and springs secured to the nail-plate guide, their free ends being adapted to bear laterally against the nail-plates, substantially as set forth.

5. In an automatic nail-feeder for nail-machines, the combination of-an operating-plate, grippers operated by the movement of said plate, a guide-arm pivoted to the frame of the machine and provided with elongated slots at opposite extremities, a pin passing through the slot at the lower extremity and engaging the operating-plate, and an actuated connecting-rod having one end adjustably secured within the upper slot of the guide-arm, substantially as set forth.

6. In an automatic nail-feeder, the combination of an operating-plate, grippers operated by the movement of said plate, a guidearm pivoted to the frame of the machine, provided with an elongated slot at its upper end and having its lower end enlarged, and provided also with an elongated slot, an operating-handle provided with an inwardlyextending pin passing through the slot of the guide-arm and engaging the operatingplate, and also provided with a depending slotted extension, a set-nut working through said extension, and an actuated connectingrod having one en d adjustably secured within the upper slot of the guide-arm, substantially as set forth.

7. In an automatic nail-feeder, the combination of a grooved feed-support provided with laterally-extending flanges, a roll-carrying plate secured to the flanges of the bedplate, a feed-box secured to the roll-carrying plate, a grooved guide-plate within the bedplate, provided with an upwardly-extending lug, an operating-plate within the guide-plate, provided with an opening for the reception of the lug of the guide-plate, gripper-jaws operated'by the movement of the operatingplate, and mechanism for imparting motion to the operating-plate, substantially as set forth.

8. In a nail-machine feeder, the combination, with the operating-plate, of guide-plate operated thereby, operating-cams secured thereto, grip-jaws operated by the movement of the cams, and mechanism for imparting motion to the operating-plate, so as to open and close the grip-jaws and feed the nail-plate to the cutter, as and forthe purpose set forth. In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MATTHEW ALTMEYER. Witnesses:

LEE D. CRAIG, THos. B. TAYLOR.

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