US1083223A - Helical-spring-hooking machine. - Google Patents

Description

F. H. SLEEPER.

HELICAL SPRING BOOKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 25, 19x2,

9 Patented Dec. 30, {913 3 SHEETS-SHZZBT l.

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" APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1912.

1,088,223. Patented Dec.301913.

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W12 1471655195 E I Inve ni'or I Fra nk H 51626131911 @w gwm y (42% FRANK H. SLEEPER, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

nnLIcnL-sinmenoomne MACHINE.

Application filedN'ovember 25, 1912. Serial No. 733,321.

7 '0 oil whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK. I-I. SLEEPER, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth' of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Helical-Spring-Hooking Machines, of which the following is a specification, accompanied by drawings forming apart of the same.

to The object of my presentinvention is to provide an efficient and simple mechanism for forming the hooks upon so called helical springs, and it has for its objects to simplify the construction, and to increase the accuracy of operation of-this class of machines, particularly that part of the machine which relates to'the feeding mechanism by which a helical wire coil is fed to the. machine in predetermined lengths. These ob ects, among others, I accomplish by'means of the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described, the

novel features being pointed out in the annexed claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan view of a machine embodying my present invention. Fig. 2 is an end View. Fig. 3 is a side view showing the feeding mechanism. Fig. l is an end' view showing the end opposite that shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detailed view showing a portion of the feeding and cutting mechanism for feeding a continuous spiral coil and severing the same to form individual helical springs. Fig. (5 is a plan viewin section of a portion of the feeding from the machine.

mechanism. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a por tion of the adjustable hook forming mecha nism. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the mechanism for ejecting a completed hooked spring Fig. 9 represents a completed helical spring having hooks formed uponits opposite ends. Fig. 10 represents a completed helical spring having hooks formed on its ends by turning the end coils of the spring into the axial plane of the spring.

Similar reference figures refer to similar parts in the different views.

.Referring to the accompanying drawings, ldenotes a table upon which the operative parts of the-machine are mounted, said table being supported upon legs 2. Journaled in bearings upon the table 1 is adriv ing' shaft 3 to" which power is applied *from Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913..

nected with the driving haft 3 miter gears is a cam shaft 4- provlded with a series of cams adapted to operate the mechanism for forming hooks upon the opposite ends-of the helical springs. Connected with the driving shaft 3 by miter gears is a second shaft 5 upon which is mounted means for driving and locking astar wheel 6 carried upon one end of a shaft 7 journaled in bearings 8 and provided at its opposite end with a disk wheel 9. The star wheel 6 and its driving mechanism constitutes the wellknown Geneva stop motion and is therefore not herein shown or described in detail. Its purpose is to impart an intermittent rotary motion to the disk wheel 9. The disk wheel 9 is provided with a series of clamping mechanisms 10, equally spaced on the disk wheel corresponding to the divisions of the star wheel 6, and arranged when the disk wheel 9 is at dest to hold one of the clamping mechanisms 10 in alinement with the feeding mechanism, another of the clamping mechanisms in alinement with the hooking mechanism, and a third clamping mechanism in alinement with the spring ejecting mechanism, the operative parts of the machine being arranged to simultaneously perform the three operations of feed ing a spring fto the disk wheel 9, forming hooks upon opposite ends of a spring previously fed to the disk wheel. and ejecting a completed spring from the disk wheel.

A continuous spiral coil, as represented at 11, Fig. 3, is intermittently fed to the machine a distance equal to the desired length of the helical springs. The feeding mechanism com ntises a pair of gears 12 and 13 between which the coil 11 is passed. The teeth upon the concave faces of the gears 12 and 13 are adapted to engage the spiral coil 11 and by their rotary motion advance the spring a predetermined distance. The

gears 12 and 13 are carried upon spindles 14 and 15 which are geared together at their upper ends by gears 16 and 17. Attached to the gear 16 is a disk 18 carrying on its under side a pawl 19 which engages a ratchet wheel 2-0 turning loosely on the spindle 14-.

and connected with a gear 21 engaged by a rack 29.. The rack 22 is reciprocated in'one direction to feed the coil 11 by means of the swinging arm 23 contacting with a shoulder '24 onthe rack 22. The swinging arm 233s pivoted at on the table 1. Projecting from the lowerend of the arm 23 is an arm 26 carrying a cam roll 27 which is held in contact. with the periphery of a cam 28 by means of a spring 29 connecting the arm 23 with the fixed framework of the machine...

The rack 22 is reversed by means of a spring 30 having one end coiled concentrically to the pivot 25 and held by the framework while its opposite or free end bears against a pin 31 held in the rack 22. The reverse movement of the rack 22 is determined by an adjustable stop 32 attached to the rack and arranged to contact with the framework of the machine. The intermittent motion imparted to the ratchet wheel 20 is conveyed through the pawl 19 to the feed wheels 12 and 13 in the proper direction to feed the coil 11, and the reverse motion of the feed wheels is prevented by a friction pawl 33 acting upon the periphery of the disk 18. The spindles 14 and 15 are journaled in clam ) ing blocks 34 and 35 which are drawn toget er by a spring 36' having one end pressing against the lock 34 and its opposite end against a collar 37 held upon a spindle 38 slidable in the block 34 but attached to the block 35. The stop 32 is adjustably attached to the rack 22 to cause the coil 11 to be fed forward at. each intermittent movement of the feeding gears 12 and 13 a distance sufiicient for the desired length of the helical spring. The forward movement of the coil 11 forces it through the clamping mechanism 10 upon the disk wheel 9, said clamping mechanism comprising a fixed jaw 39 and a pivoted jaw 40 held against the fixed jaw by a spring 41. The opening between the jaws is beveled on one side to enable the advancing end of the coil 11 to separate the jaws.

Mounted in a stand 42 is a sliding arbor 43 adapted to loosely fit the bore of the coil 11.. The outer end of the arbor 43 is attached to a block 44 which is pivotally connected by a link 45 with the upper end of the swinging arm 23. During the ad vanced movement of the coil 11 the arbor 43 is inserted within the coil and forms an anvil against which the pressure of a cutter for severing the coil is received.

The cutter 46 adapted to sever one of the coils in the spiral coil 11 and is formed upon the end of a bar 47 adjustably'held by a screw 48 in a slide 49 sliding in ways 50, 50. The slide 49 is actuated to carry the cutter 46 against the coil by means of a lever 51 pivoted at 52 inthe framework of the machine and carrying a cam roll 53 held in contact with the periphery of a cam 54 by means of a spring 55 connecting the lever 51 with a fixed point on the framework. At-, tached to the stand 42 is an angle iron 56 througl'i the end of which the arbor 43 passes, said angle iron serving as a stripper to prevent the helical spring when severed from the coil from becoming displaced as the arbor 43 is withdrawn.

i The feeding mechanism, as above described, having been completed and the helical spring severed from the coil, an intermittent movement is given to the disk wheel 9 and the operation thrice repeated until the first helical spring has been carried to a third station where itis held in position to be operated upon by the hooking mechanism, which may be of any known and suitable form of construction for either shaping a hook at the ends of the spring, in the form shown in Fig. '9, Or for turning up the end coils in the spring to form hooks, as shown in Fig. 10. Comprised in the hooking mechanism, however, I provide means for positioning the helical spring to bring its ends into proper alinement with the hooking mechanism, and to allow for any slight difference in the length of the springs due to a variation in the size of the wire.

The spring positioning mechanism, according to my present invention, is constructed and operated as follows :Upon one side of the disk wheel 9 are the hook forming membcrsfor one end of the spring, comprising a die 57 rigidly held in a slide 58 sliding in fixed ways 59, and actuated by a rocking lever 60 pivoted to the slide 58 and carrying a cam roll 61 held upon the periphery of a cam 62 by a spring 63. The free end of the die 57 is notched as shown at 64, Fig. l, to engage one edge of the end coil. The end coil is then turned up against the end of the die 57 by means of a die 65 held in a rigid position in a slide 66, which slides in ways 67. The slide 66 is actuated by a rocking lever 68 pivotally connected by a link 69 with the slide 66 and carrying a cam roll 70 held against the periphery of a cam 71 by a spring 72. A hook is formed upon the opposite end of the helical spring by a similar notched die 73 and a hook forming die 74. The die 73 is carried by a slide 75 pivotally connected with a link 76 provided with a cam roll 77 held upon the periphery of a cam 78 by a spring 79. The, die 74 is carried by a slide 80 which is provided with a cam roll 81 held in contact with the periphery of a cam 82 by a spring 83, shown in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 7 I have shown the normal position of the dies 73 and 74 as the helical spring is carried by the disk wheel 9 into otally held therein, with the free end of the die 73 held in contact with the end ot-a sliding plate 84 by means of a spiral spring 85. The free end of the die 7 1 is held against an upwardly turned lip 86 on the sliding plate 84, by means of a blade spring 87., Back of the sliding plate 84 is a sliding wedge 88 pivotally attached to a link 89 carrying a cam roll 90 held on the periphery of a cam 91 by means of a spring 92. As soon as the helical spring is brought between the hook forming mechanisms the sliding wedge 88 is advanced from the posi tion shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 1, causing the sliding plate 84 to be moved toward thedisk wheel 9 pushing the die 73 against the end of the helical spring and .forcing the latter against the notched end of the die 57 which has'already beenad- 'ranced by its actuating cam in proper position to serve as a stop for theendwise movement of the helical spring. As the die 73 is pushed laterally into the position shown in Fig. 1 by the movement of the sliding plate 84-, the die 74 is caused to follow the movement of the die 73 by means of a blade spring STwhich holds the die 74 against the upturned lip 86, bringingboth the dies 73 and 74: into position to ooiiperate in forming a hook on the end of the helical. spring. Retraction of the hook forming dies frees the helical spring in time for the next intermittent movement of the disk wheel 9, by which movement the completed spring is carried to its fourth station, shown in Fig. 8,'in which it is held in alinement, with an ejector rod 93 sliding in ways 94 in the framework. The end of the ejector rod 93 is engaged by one of the forked arms 95 of a bell-crank lever 96 pivoted upon a fixed stud 97, and having its opposite arm provided with a pin 98 engaged by a fork 99 on the lower end of a plate 100 attached to the link 69. The recipropating movement of the link 69 rocks the hell crank 96 to re ciprocate the ejector rod 93 at'the proper period to force the finished helical spring 101 out of the disk wheel 9.

I claim,

1. In a machine of'the class described, a feeding mechanism comprising a pair of gears adapted to engage the coils of a helical spring, means for supporting a continuous helical spring in aline ncnt with said gears, and means for imparting an inter-mil tent rotary motion to said gears.

2.111 a machine of the class described, a feeding mechanism comprising a pair of gears provided withfteeth adapted to engage the individual coils of a helicalspring, means fUPlInPflYl/ll'lg an intermittent rotary motion to said gears, and means for dclermining. the amplitude of their movement.

In a machine of the class described, a. feeding mechanism comprising pair of gears provided with teeth adapted to simultaneously engage the individual coils of a helical spriiig on opposite sides of the spring, means for imparting an intermittent rotary motion simultaneously to said gears, and means fordcternnnmg the extent of each intermittent u.ovement.

i. In a machine of the class described, means for feeding a continuous helical spring a prcdctcrmincd distance, means tor inscrting an arbor into the advanced end of the s n'ingby a moveinhnhin a direction op positc the movement ofthe spring. a reciprocating cutter coiipcrating with the arbor to sever one of the coils of the spring, means for actuating said cutter, and means for withdrawing the arbor by a reverse move-- ment from the severed spring.

5. In a machine of the class described, a feeding mechanism for feeding a continuous helical spring comprising a pair of gears provided with teeth adapted to engage the individual coils of the spring on opposite sides, means for imparting an intermittent rotary motion to said gears, and yielding means for pressing said gears against opposite sides of the spring.

6. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable disk wheel, clamping mechanism carried by said wheel, means for feeding the end of a continuous helical spring into said clamping mechanism transversely to said disk wheel, means for severing the contin uous spring to form individual springs, means for imparting an intermittent rotary motion to said disk wheel, ,and means for locking said disk Wheel duringits period of rest. 1 I

7. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable disk wheel, clamping mechanism carried by said wheel, means for feeding individual springs into said clamping mechanismtransversely to said disk wheel, means for imparting an intermittent rotary motion to said disk wheel, and means for moving each the springs lengthwise in clamping mpchanisms into a predetermined position ta bring its ends into alinement with hook forming mechanisms. -z

8. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable disk wheel provided with for holding a helical spring transversely to said wheel, means for pushing the spring lengthwise in said disk wheel to bring its ends in alinement with hoolr forming mechanisms on opposite sides of said disk wheel, and means for forming books on opposite ends-of the spring.

9. rotatable disk wheel provided with means for holding a helical spring transversely to said wheel with its ends projecting therefrom, means for impartin an intermittent rotary motion to said disk wheel, means for locking said wheel during its periodof rest,

means In a machine of the class described, a

a 'pair of sliding hook forming dies on one side of said disk wheel, means for actuating said dies in stationary Ways to form a hook on one end of thespring, a second pair of sliding hook forming dies on the opposite side of said disk wheel, means for imparting a lateral. movement to said second dies against the end of the spring, and means for actuating said second pair of dies to form a hook on the opposite end of the spring.

10. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable disk wheel provided with clamping, mechanisms for holding helical springs transversely to said wheel, means for feeding springs into said clamping mechanisms, 15 means for imparting an intermittent rotary motion to said disk wheel, means for locking said disk wheel durin its period of rest, means for forming hoo on the ends of the spring, and means for ejecting the spring 20 from its clamping mechanisms.

FRANK H. SLEEPER.

Witnesses N ELLIE WHALEN, RUFUS B. FOWLER.

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