US2219811A - Rod straightening and handling mechanism for headers - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 29, 1940. J. H. FRIEDMAN I ROD STRAIGHTENING AND HANDLING MECHANISM FOR HEADERS Filed July 19, 19:8 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 III] IN VENTOR.

' ATTORNEYJ Oct. 29, 1940. J. H. FRIEDMAN ROD STRAIGHTENING AND HANDLING MECHANISM FOR HEADERS File y 19, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. John 74. 7rzec/ma Wflz ATTORNEYJ Tag J. H. FRIEDMAN I 2,219,811

ROD STRAIGHTENING ND HANDLING MECHANISM FOR HEADERS I INVENTOR.

Q 0703); 66 Tricia/an N N l ATTORNEYQ J. H. FRIEDMAN Oct. 29, 1940. 2,219,811

' non smuenwznme AND HANDLING MECHANISM FOR HEADERS Filed July 19, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,919,811 ROD STRAIGHTENING AND HANDLING MECHANISM FOR HEADERS John H. Friedman, Tiiiin, Ohio, assignor to The National Machinery Company, Tiiiln, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application July 19, 1938, Serial No. 219,969

26 Claims.

This invention relates to wire or rod straightening and handling apparatus, particularly adapted for use in connection with cold headers and similar machines which utilize coiled lengths of wire or rod stock.

Cold headers and similar machines are commonly provided with feed rolls or other feed mechanism designed to feed thestock into the machine by steps, or as'required by the particular machine, the stock ordinarily being fed from reels or coils containing relatively longlengths. In the case of wire or rod of relatively small diameter or soft material, it is not extremely dimcult for 'a workman to start a new c'oil into the feed mechanism without undue loss of time, but

with wire or rod stock of relatively large diameter it is an extremely diificult and awkward operation, frequently requiring two or more workmen, to straighten a sufficient length of the end of a new coil, since it is usually necessary to straighten by hand a sufficient length of the new coil to reach through the feeding mechanism and into the cut-off so that there will be no danger of the end of the coil. cooking or Jamming in the guide tube between the feed mechanism and the cut-off die.

In the case of machines'working upon relatively large diameter wire or rod stock the operation of starting the end of a new coil and straightening a sufiicient length by hand involves a substantial loss of time and a consequent reduction in the operating efllciency of the machine. In addition, it is customary to wind much shorter lengths of large diameter wire or rod stock into a single coil than in the case of smaller diameter material in order to keep the weight of the single coils within limits permitting readyhandling. As a consequence machines operating upon larger diameter material require the starting of new coils of stock at much more frequent intervals than in the case of smaller material, further reducing the operating efliciency of such machines and increasing the cost of articles made thereon.

The principal object of this invention is-to provide a mechanism to be attached to, or combined with, a cold header, or other machine operating upon wire or rod stock, which will properly start the end of a new coil into the feeding mechanism of such a machine. Other objects are to provide a combined handling mechanism and straightening mechanism for the rod or wire coils; to arrange the stock and feed mechanism so that even large diameter material can be easily and quickly started into the machine by a single workman; to arrange a starting and handling mechanism in combination with a cold header, or other machine requiring a step bystep feed of the stock, so that a new coil can be caused to directly follow the end of the preceding coil into the machine and the; machine can continue to operate with a minimum loss of time from one coil to the next; and to provide means for holding coils of wire and. rod stock so that the loading-of a coil in position to be started into the machine can be performed while the machine is operating upon another coil.

Other objects will appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of this invention.

In the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of this invention:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the end of a cold heading. machine showing my invention applied thereto; m

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1; v

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the carriage for the wire coils; n

Figure 4 is a detailed elevation with parts broken away of .a clutch for driving the feed rolls;

Figure 5 is a perspective of a detail;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the clutch released;

Figure 7 is a section on the line of Figure 4; v

Figure 8 is awiring diagram of the clutch con- Figure 9 is an enlarged side elevation of the rod or wire straightening and handling apparatus; 5

Figure 10 is a partial top plan view thereof;

Figure 11 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a section taken on the line l2'|2 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a section taken on the line I3-l3 of Figure 9;

Figure 14 is a section taken on the line ll-it of Figure 9;

Figure 15 is a section taken on the line 15-45 of Figure 9;

Figure 16 is a detail section of the cut-off mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated my invention in connection with a cold header indicated by the numeral l0 and embodying a bed frame I I carrying a series of fabricating dies I2, co-operating tools l3 carried upon a reciprocating header slide, a cut-oil mechanism 14 to, sever individual blanks from a continuous length 55 of stock, and a feed mechanism IS. The feed mechanism embodies co-operating feed rolls l6 which grip the wire or rod stock S between them and are given a partial rotation at intervals timed with respect to the operation of the header slide to feed a new length of stock past the shearing mechanism l4.

ence is made for a more complete disclosure of feed roll driving mechanisms which. may be utilized. It will be understood in the case of double stroke machines the feed rolls make one partial revolution for every two reciprocations of the heading slide, thedistance through which the feed rolls turn being adjusted in accordance with the desired length of blank. Such a drive is illustrated. in Patent No. 1,856,027 referred to above. In the case of a single stroke machine in which a blank is cut ofl and delivered to the fabricating die or the first of a series of fabricating dies during each reciprocation of the-heading slide, as illustrated in the aforesaid Clouse application Serial No. 134,057, the feed rolls make one partial revolution for each stroke of the heading slide;

In accordance with the present invention a rod handling and straightening unit indicated generally by the reference numeral I1 is attached to the machine in line with the feed rolls l6. This mechanism, illustrated more in detail in Figures 9 to 15, inclusive, is mouted upon a frame housing 8 which is preferably secured directly to the feed mechanism l5 or otherwise suitably supported in position. Three straightening rolls I9, 20 and 2| are carried upon the frame l8 in a staggered arrangement. The roll IS, in the arrangement illustrated, is supported upon a stub shaft 22 (see Figure 3) positioned below the line of travel of the stock and immediately in advance of the feed rolls IS. The second straightener roll 20 is positioned above the stock S and is journalled on a shaft 23 secured in a vertical slide 24 which is slidably positioneded in a guideway 25 formed in the face of the frame l8. An adjusting screw 26 is secured to the upper face of the slide 24 and is provided with a nut 21 rotatably mountedin a frame cap 28 secured to the frame l8 above theguideway 25. The nut 21 is accessible for manipulation to raise or lower the slide 24 and consequently raise or lower the straightener roll 20. The third straightener roll 2| which also functions as a driving roll is secured to the end of a shaft 23 journalled in bearings 30 and 3| at opposite sides of the frame l8.

In the embodiment illustrated the stock S is arranged to be pulled from the coil in such a manner that its inherent curvature from being coiled tends to cause it to lay in an arc the center of which is below the line of feed. Accordingly the straightener roll 20 is preferably adjusted so that it engages the stock S at a point below the line which would be formed by the upper surface of a straight length of stock resting upon the straightener rolls l3 and 2|, as illustrated in Figure 9. This arrangement of the straightener rolls, as is well known in the art, will .remove the curvaturefrom the stock resulting from its having been coiled so that the stock which enters the feed rolls l6 will be straight.

It will be understood, of course, that the straightener rolls are to be arranged in any position necessary to remove the curvature from the stock,. dependingupon the curvature existing in the stock and the position from which it is fed to the rolls. The arrangement of the straightener rolls I9, 20 and 2|, as illustrated, is preferred in order to enable the coil of stock being fed to be positioned below the straightener unit, as illustrated in Figure 2, for a purpose which will be described in detail later.

A roll 321s secured to the end of a shaft 33 which is journalled at its opposite ends in a carrier 34 pivoted at 35 to the frame 8. The roll '32 is positioned so as to engage the stock S di- .frame cap 28 to exert a downward force upon the carrier 34 so as to clamp the stock S between the rolls 32 and 2|. As shown this mechanism consists of a hydraulic cylinder 31 bolted to the frame cap 28 and receiving a piston 38 having 3. depending pin 39 engaging the upper surface of the carrier 34. When pressure is admitted to the cylinder 31 above the piston 38 the pin 33 forces the carrier 34 downwardly so that the stock S is gripped between the rolls 32 and 2|. A spring 40 may be arranged between the frame l8 and the lower side of the free end of the carrier 34 operating to lift the roll 32 from the stock when the pressure is relieved in the cylinder 31.

Any suitable mechanism may be provided to exert pressure upon the piston 38 in the cylinder 31. As shown a motor 4| is connected to drive a pump 42 which has an intake 43 extending into a reservoir 44 of oil or other liquid and an outlet 45 connected to the pump through a. blow-ofi valve 46 which has an adjustable spring loading so as to open the pump to the outlet 45 at any desired pressure. A pipe 41 is connected to the 1 outlet side of the pump 42 in advance of the blow-ofi valve 46 so that liquid under the pressure determined by the setting of the blow-off valve 48 will be pumped into the pipe 41. The pipe 41 opens into the cylinder 31 above the piston 38 and is provided with a return or drain pipe 48 leading to the reservoir 44. A shut-off cook 49 is located in the return pipe 48.

It will be apparent that when the motor 4| is operated liquid under the pressure determined by' the setting of the blow-off valve 48 will be pumped into the pipe 41, and when the cock 49 is open this liquid will return to the reservoir 44 through the return pipe 48. When the cock 49 is closed the pressure determined by the valve 48 will be imposed upon the piston 38 in the cylinder 31 forcing the roll 32 towards the roll 2|. This pressure may be relieved by opening the cock 49, whereupon the roll 32 will be raised away from the roll 2| by the spring 40. If desired an additional spring 50 may be placed under the piston 38 in the cylinder 31 so as to insure a prompt release of the pressure on the roll 32 when the cook 63 is open. It will be understood, of course, that manually operated means, such as a screw or lever, may be used to raise or lower the roll 32 if desired.

A gear 5| is secured to the shaft 29 within the frame housing l8 and a meshing gear 52 is secured to the shaft 33. These gears are located on the shafts 29 and 38 closely adjacent the pivot 35 of the carrier 34 so that the slight pivotal movement of the shaft 33 in the raising or lowering of the roll 32 will not interfere with the proper meshing'of the gears 5| and 52.

The shaft 29 is extended beyond its bearing 3| in the frame l8 and has secured to its projecting end a gear 53. This gear is in mesh with a pinion 54 driven by a stallable motor 55. This mosubstantially uniform torque when starting or when stalled and capable of being stalled for substantial periods of time without excessive heating, such, for example, as a double squirrel cage alternating current motor with a high resistance outer armature winding providing a high starting torque and low starting current.

A guide or deflector is arranged between the rolls I9 and 2| and is preferably in the. form of a roll 56 which is journalled upon a stub shaft 51 secured in the slide 24 and spaced sumciently below the roll 20 so as to be normally out of contact with the stock S passing through the unit.

The feed roll driving mechanism is provided with a clutch which maybe released to interrupt the operation of the feed rolls without stoppingthe machine. One form of such a mechanism is illustrated in Figures 4 to 'I and is disclosed more in detail in the above mentioned ClousePatenf No. 1,856,027. A connecting rod 58 (see Figure 1) which receives a reciprocating motion from the main crankshaft of the machine in any suitable with a sector shaped pocket 62 terminating in an arcuate flange 63. An arm 64 is connected to one member 65 of a one-way clutch and is positioned within the pocket 62. A spring pressed latch 66 is slidably mounted'in this arni 64 and has at its end a shoulder 61 adapted to abut the end 68 of the flange 63. The latch 66 is also formed with an inclined face 63 formed behind shoulder 61 and positioned to be engaged by an abutment 10 on a pivoted rod II. The other member I2 of the one-way clutch is secured to the shaft 6| which carries the lower feed roll |6. Rollers I3 positioned in pockets about the periphery of the member 65 are positioned to drive the clutch member I2 and shaft 6| when the member 65 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 4, and to release the member I2 when the member 65 is rotated ina counterclockwise direction. The arrangement of the parts is such that when the abutment I0 is turned out of the path of the inclined face 69, in the position shown in Figure 4, the shoulder 61 on the latch 66 is permitted to move out past and into engagement with the end 68 of the flange 63 so that the latch '66 and the arm- 64 are held between the end 68 of the flange 63 and the end wall ll of the pocket 62. When the plate 60 isoscillated by the connecting rod 58 the arm 64 and the inner member 65 of the one-way clutch are consequently caused I to oscillate with the plate 60. Oscillation of the drives the shaft 6| and feed rolls l6, which are preferably geared together. The rollers I3 perin a clockwise direction. Thereafter the plate 60 oscillates freely without moving the inner member 65 of the one-way'clutch so long as the abutment 69 remains in engagement with the end of the latch 66. By' this arrangement the 1 feed roll drive is disconnected only after the comtor 55 may be of any suitable type providing a sition upon the machine and is connected to the rod II so that the abutment can be turned into either of the two positions illustrated in Figures 4 and 6. As shown, the hand lever I5 is pivoted at I6 to the bed frame of the header and is connected to a link II which in turn is pivoted to an arm 18 secured to the rod II.

Suitable means are also provided to disconnect the driving mechanism of the feed rolls when the end of a coil beingfed into the machine is reached. As illustrated, a lever I9 carrying a small roller is pivoted to a bracket 8| on the forward face of the frame I8 in such a position that the small roller 80 may rest upon the stock entering the straightening unit and hold the lever I9 in a raised position. A limit switch 82 is also secured upon the bracket, 8| in position to be engaged by the lever I9 when the latter is not supported by the roller 88 engaging the stock and therefore falls to its lowered position as shown in Figure 14. The switch 82 as illustrated by the diagram in Figure 8 is arranged to close a circuit leading to a solenoid 83 which has a plunger 84 connected by a link 85 to the link II and hand lever I5. Thus when the end of a length'of stock S passes the roller 80 the lever I9 is allowed to drop, closing switch 82 and energizing solenoid 83. The plunger 84 of the solenoid thereupon pulls the-link II and rotates the rod II to swing the abutment I0 into line,

with the inclined face 68 on the latch 66, so that the drive to the feed rolls is'disconnected at the end of the next feed movement.

Obviously any mechanism when an end ,of a coil passes the roller 80.

To start a new coil of stock the roll 32 is raised away from the roll 2| and the leading end of the new coil of stock is placed between the rolls 32 and 2|. The motor 55 is then started, causing the rolls 32 and 2| to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 9, and the cook 43 is closed, the motor 4| having previously been started, so that pressure is exerted upon the top of the piston 38 and the roll 32 forced downwardly to clamp the leading end of the stock S between the rolls 32 and 2|. The rotation of these rolls forces the end of the stock against the guide or deflecting roller 56 so that the end of the stock is raised up and is then advancedinto contact with the straightening roll l9. Continued rotation of the rolls 32 and 2| forces the end of the stock upwardly over the roll I9 so that the stock'is engaged on its lower side by x the rolls I9 and 2| and on its upper side by the is continued until the end of the stock enters between and is gripp d by the feed rolls IS, the header or other machine to which the unit is attached having previously been started in operation. The motor 55 is allowed to remain in operation so that it continues to drive the rolls 32 and 2 I, or to exert a torque on those rolls tending to drive-them, until the end of the stock has been fed between the rolls l5 and into the cutoff mechanism l4 and the normal feeding operation of the machine has begun.

It will be understood that in the normal operation of a header, the stock is fed by the feed mechanism past the cutting edge of a shear or knife into contact with a stock gauge at a time in the cycle of the machine when the shear is in its retracted position ready for its next cutting operation. In connection with the present invention, any suitable type of cut-off may be employed, it only being necessary that some means be provided to prevent feeding of the stock by the torque exerted by the motor 55 y when the shear blade is moving to sever a blank or returning to position to receive the next blank.

It is preferred to accomplish this through the use of the type of shear disclosed in the aforementioned application of William L. Clouse, Serial No. 134,057,'and a fragmentary section of such a shear is illustrated in Figure 16.

As shown in this figure, the shear blade 94 is arranged to be reciprocated vertically across the face of the bed frame II and is provided with an aperture 95 through which the stock is fed and the lower edge of which co-operates with a suitable bush in'the bed frame to sever the stock. A stock gauge 95 is aligned with the opening in the frame through which the stock S is fed, and the aperture 95, in the lowered position of the shear blade 94, also aligns with the incoming stock, so that the end of the stock may be fed through the aperture 95 into contact with the gauge 96. The shear blade 94 is then moved upwardly to sever the projected end of the stock and move the same into alignment with a knockout 91 which ejects the blank from the aperture 95 into suitable transfer fingers. At all times except when the aperture 95 is aligned with the stock the solid portion f the shear blade 94 below the apertureprevents any forward feeding movement of the stock.

Thus when the motor 55 is exerting a driving torque upon the stock through the rolls 32 and 2! the stock may move only when the aperture 95 is in alignment with the stock, and at all other times feeding is prevented by the engagement of the end ofthe stock with the shear blade 94. The torque of the motor 55 is proportioned with respect to the pressure exerted upon the roll 32 'so that the rolls 32 and 2! do not slip when the motor is on and feeding movement is prevented,

but instead the motor 55simply stalls and continues to exert a feeding pressure until the aperture 95 is again aligned with the stock.

After the stock has reached the cut-off mechanism and the header has begun to operate in the normal way upon the stock, the switch controlling the motor 55 is thrown off and the stock is then driven solely by the operation of the feed rolls ii. The pressure may be maintained in, or released from, the cylinder 31, as desiredI and in either event the rolls 32 and 2| and their driving mechanism are normally turned idly by the stock when the same is fed.

When the trailing end of a coil of stock being fed intothe machine passes the roller 90. the lever 19 drops and closes the switch 92- energizing the solenoid 93 and swinging the abutment I0 into position to disconnect the drive to the feed rolls at the end of the next feeding movement. Ordinarily the feeding of the next length moves the trailing end of the coil past the rolls 32 and 2|, but it extremely short lengths are beingfed the operator continues the feed by moving the hand lever 15 until the trailing end of the stock is out of the way, it being only necessary that the trailing end of the stock does not pass the feed rolls IS. The pressure is then released from the cylinder 31 to raise the roll 32. The leading end of a new coil is positioned between the rolls 2| and 32, pressure is admitted to the cylinder 31 and the motor 55 again started in operation. The pressure in the cylinder 31 forces the roll 32 downwardly so as to grip the end of the new coil between the rolls and 2| and the motor 55 drives this end past the guide roll 55 and over the straightener roll l9, or until the leading end of the new coil engages the trailing end of the coil which has just been put through the machine. When the ends of the two coils abut, the motor 55 again stalls between sue cessive feeding movements of the stock while the rolls 32 and 2| continue to exert a driving force upon the new length of stock. The feed roll clutch is thereupon reconnected by the hand lever 15 (the switch 82 being held open by the new coil of stock) so that the feed rolls Hi again operate to feed lengths of stock into the machine in proper timing. The motor -55 is allowed to continue to intermittently operate and stall until the leading end of the new coil of stock bein started is properly gripped between the feed rolls l6, whereupon the ,motor 55 is again disconnected. In this way the leading end of the new coil of stock abutting against the trailing end of the old coil forces the remainder of the old coil which lies between the feed roll l5 and the shearing mechanism l4 into the machine in the desired lengths, and the only waste stock are the portions less than one blank in length cut off from the trailing end of the old coil and the leading end of the new coil.

A carriage 85 is preferably provided to hold two coils of stock, and is arranged to be shifted'transversely of the machine so as to bring either coil into alignment with the feed. In the embodiment shown the carriage is mounted upon wheels 81 riding upon rails 88 disposed in a pit 89 below and partially in advance of the handling and straightener unit II. This carriage is preferably divided into two compartments as by three spaced frames 99 and is provided with rollers 9| forming the bottom of each compartment upon which a coil of stock may rest. Rollers 92 are carried by the three frames 99 to engage the inside of the coil of stock so that the pull of the feed will not dislodge the coils from thecarriage.

Preferably, as shown, the coil supporting compartments of the carriage 85 are' open from the top so that coils of stock may be lowered into them by a crane and the rollers 9| are positioned substantially on the level of the floor 93 so that coils may be rolled along the floor and into the compartments of the carriage 85 from the forward end thereof. In operation a coil is positioned in one compartment of the carriage and the carriage is shifted laterally to bring the free end of that coil into alignment with the rolls 32 and 2| and this free end is then started into the machine in the manner described above. While this coil is being fed into the machine, a fresh coil may be lowered or rolled into position in the other compartment of the carriage 88. When the stock in the first coil has been used up, the carriage is simply shifted laterally to bring the other coil into alignment with the rolls 32 and 2|, and the second coil is then started into the machine so that its forward end abuts against and follows the rearward end of the old coil as described above. While this coil is being fed another coil is then lowered into the first compartment of the carriage and thus the machine operates substan-' out the necessity of straightening any part of the stock by hand. Thus a single workman may easily take the free end of the coil and lift it into position so that it rests upon the roll 2| after which the roll 32 is lowered to clamp the free end and the stock is then handled entirely by the motor 55 and the feed rolls l6.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail, it will be understood that .many variations and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a feed mechanism operating to feed coiled wire or rod stock intermittently into a fabricating machine, a set of straightener rolls arranged to engage the stock in advance of said feed mechanism and staggered to bend the stock passing therethrough and remove the coil curvature therefrom, a driving roll arranged opposite the forward one of said straightening rolls arranged to clamp the stock between said driving roll and said forward straightening roll, and means to drive said driving roll to draw stock containing the coil curvature directly from the coil and feed the leading end thereof through said straightening rolls and into said feed mechanism.

2. In combination with a feed mechanism operating to feed coiled wire or rod stock intermittently into a fabricating machine, a set of straightener rolls arranged in advance of the feed mechanism and staggered to bend the stock passing therethrough and remove the coil curvature therefrom, a driving roll arranged opposite the forward straightener roll, means to move said driving roll toward said forward straightening roll to clamp stock therebetween or away from said straightening roll out of engagement with the stock and means to rotate said driving roll so as to draw stock containing the coil curvature directly from a coil and feed the same through the straightener rolls and into said feed mechanism.

3. In combination with a feed mechanism operating to feed stock intermittently into a fabricating machine, a supporting frame carrying a set of straightener rolls arranged in advance of away from said forward straightening roll to clamp or release stock therebetween and means to rotate said driving roll and said forward straightener roll to feed stock through said straightener rolls and into said feed mechanism.

4. In combination with a feed mechanism operating to feed stock intermittently into a fabricating machine and against a stock gauge, 'a set of straightener rolls arranged to engage the stock in advance of said' feed mechanism, a driving roll arranged opposite the forward one of said straightening rolls arranged to clamp the stock between said driving roll and said forward straightening roll, and a stallable electric motor to drive said driving roll to feed the end of a length of stock through said straightening rolls and. said feed mechanism and against the stock gauge in said fabricating machine, said driving roll and said forward straightening roll clamping the stock therebetween with suflicient force to prevent slippage of said rolls on the stock and to stall said motor when the stock contacts the stock gauge.

5. In combination with a feed mechanism operating to feed stock intermittently into a fabricating machine and against a stock gauge, a set of straightener rolls arranged in advance of the feed mechanism, a driving roll arranged opposite the forward straightener roll, means to move said driving roll toward said forward straightening roll to clamp stock therebetween or away from said straightening roll out of engagement with the stock and a stallable motor to rotate said driving roll so as to feed stock clamped between the'same and said forward straightening r011 through the straightener rolls and said feed mech-' anism and against the stock gauge in said fab- 1 feed the same past said cut-01f mechanism, andmeans resisting the force of the motor and preventing feeding movement of said stock while said cut-off mechanism is moving.

7. In a cold header having a bed frame and a reciprocating header slide carrying co-operating dies, said bed frame having an opening for-the reception of a length of stock, the combination of means for exerting a continuous force on a length of stock tending to feed the same through said opening, a stock gauge in said header aligned with said opening, and a shear blade having a cutting edge arranged on one side of said opening in the retracted position of said shear blade, permitting the stock to be fed past the same and into contact with said stock gauge, said shear blade being moved in timed relation to thereciprocation of said header slide to move said cutting edge across said opening and sever blanks from said stock, and said shear blade being arranged to cover said opening and prevent feeding movement of the stock except in its retracted position.

8. In combination with a feed mechanism operating to feedstock intermittently to a fabricating machine, a Supporting frame carrying a straightening device engaging the stock in advance of the feed mechanism, a carrier pivoted to said frame, a pair of driving rolls arranged to engage the stock in advance of the straightening device, one of said driving rolls being mounted on a shaft Journalled in said frame, theother of said driving rolls being mounted on a shaft journalled in said carrier, means to pivot said carrier tomove said last mentioned roll toward and away from the other to clamp or release the stock and means to rotate said shafts.

9. A straightener and starting unit for wire and rod stock comprising a supporting frame, a set of straightener rolls carried by said frame arranged to engage the stock from opposite sides and at spaced points along the length thereof, a carrier pivoted to saidframe, a driving roll mounted ona shaft journalled in said carrier and arranged opposite the forward straightener roll, means to force said carrier about its pivot to move said driving roll toward said forward straightening roll to clamp stock therebetween, means to swing said carrier to move said driving roll away from said straightening roll out of engagement with the stock and means to drive said shaft.

10. In combination with a pair of feed rollsfor feeding stockto a fabricating machine, driving means for said feed rolls operated by said ,machine and intermittently rotating said feed rolls in a direction to feed stock into said machine, a straightener in advance of said feed rolls, a pair of driving rolls in advance of said straightener arranged to engage the end of a length of stock and feed the same through said straightener and into said feed rolls, and means positioned in advance of said driving rolls engaging the length of stock and operable when the trailing end of a length of stock passes the same to disconnect said driving means for said feed rolls.

11. In combination with a feed mechanism for intermittently feeding stock, a carriage having a pair of compartments, each arranged to receive a coil of stock in position to be fed into said feed mechanism, said carriage being mounted for movement transverse to the direction of feed of said stock whereby said compartments may be alternately aligned with said feed mechanism.

12. In'combination with a feed mechanism for' intermittently feeding stock, a carriage having a pair of compartments each arranged to receive a coil of stock in position to be fed into said feed mechanism, the bottoms and backs of said compartments being formed by rollers, said carriage being mounted for movement transverse to the direction of feed of said stock whereby said compartments may be alternately aligned with said on the opposite side and bend the same out of the line determined by the peripheries of said first two rolls, and a driving roll arranged to engage the stock directly opposite the one of said first three rolls at the entrance end of said straightener mechanism and to press the stock against said one roll with driving engagement.

15. A straightening and starting mechanism for wire or rod stock comprising three straightener rolls, two of said rolls being spaced apart-and engaging the stock on one side, the third roll being arranged between said first two rolls to engage the stock on the opposite side and bend the same out of the line determined by the peripheries of said first two rolls and a driving roll arranged to engage the stock on said opposite side directly opposite the one of said first two rolls at the entrance end of the straightener, and driving means for rotating said oppositely disposed rolls at the entrance end of the straightener.

16. A straightening mechanism for wire or rod stock comprising a pair of spaced rolls arranged to engage stock on one side, another roll positioned between said pair of rolls and arranged to engage the stock on the opposite side and bend the same out of the line determined by the peripheries of said pair of rolls, means at the entrance end of said straightener for feeding stock into said straightener rolls, and a guide arranged between said pair of spaced rolls to engage the incoming end of a length of stock on said one side and guide the same into engagement with the periphery of one of said pair of rolls at a point between the center of said roll and the line of travel of said stock.

17. A straightening mechanism for wire or rod stock comprising a pair. of spaced rolls arranged to engage stock on one side, another roll positioned between said pair of rolls and arranged to engage the stock on the opposite side and bend the same out of the line determined by the peripheries of saidpair of rolls, means at the entrance end of said straightener for feeding stock into said straightener rolls, and a guide roll arranged between said pair of spaced rolls to env gage the incoming end of a length of stock on said one side and guide the same into engagement with the periphery of one of said pair of mile at a point between the center of said roll and the line of travel of said stock.

18. A straightening and starting mechanism for coiled wire or rod stock including a pair of rolls arranged to grip the stock 'therebetween and disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the coil of stock, one of said rolls being on the concave side and the other on the convex side of the curvature of said stock resulting from the coiling thereof, another roll positioned on the concave side of said stock and spaced from said pair of rolls, a roll positioned on the convex side of said stock between said two spaced rolls on the concave side and arranged to bend the stock out of the line determined by the peripheries of said two rolls on the concave side, guiding means between said two rolls on the concave side of the stock arranged to guide the leading end of a coil of stock'on to the second of said two rolls and means to rotate said pair of rolls to start the leading end of a coil of stock through the remainder of said rolls.

19. In combination with a feed mechanism operating to feed wire or rod stock to a fabricating machine, a set of rolls arranged in advance of the feed mechanism in the line of feed thereof, a support for a coil of wire or rod stock arranged in advance of said set of rolls, said set of rolls including a pair of driven rolls arranged to engage stock on opposite sides, said pair of rolls being positioned with their axes substantially parallel to each other and to the axis of a coilof stock arranged on said support and defining-a plane substantially perpendicular to the stock at the point of engagement therewith, said pair of rolls being arranged to receive directly from a coil arranged on said support the free end of such coil having the coil curvature, said set of rolls including other rolls arranged between said pair of rolls and said feed mechanism and positioned with respect to each other and to the coil of stock to bend the stock passing therethrough and remove the coil curvature therefrom, each of said other rolls being so positioned that the leading end of a length of stock containing the coil curvature drawn from a coil positioned on said support by rotation of said pair of rolls will engage each' successive roll on the stock-engaging side of the axis thereof without other guidance and will enter said feed mechanism with the coil curvature substantially removed therefrom.

20. A straightening and starting mechanism for coiled wire or rod stock comprising, in combinasubstantially perpendicular to the stock at the.

point of engagement therewith, said pair of driving rolls being arranged to receive directly from a coil positioned on said support the free end of such coil having the coil curvature therein, said straightener including a plurality of rolls positioned with respect to each other and to the coil of stock to bend the stock passing therethrough and remove the coil curvature therefrom, each of the rolls on said straightener being so positioned that the leading end of a' length of stock containing the coil curvature drawn from a coil positioned on said support by rotation of said. pair.

of driving rolls will engage eachsuccessive coil in the straightener on the stock engaging side of the axis thereof without other guidance and will leave said straightener with the coil curvature substantially removed therefrom.

21. In a fabricating machine having a cut-off mechanism moving to out 01f successive blanks from the end of a length of stock, the combination of a feed mechanism intermittently driven to feed lengths of stock past said cut-off mechanism, a. set of straightener rolls to engage the stock in advance of the feed mechanism, a pair of driving rolls to engage the stock in advance of the straightener rolls, and a stallable electric motor constantly exerting a torque to rotate the driving rolls to feed the leading end of a length of stock through the straightener rolls and feed mechanism and past said cut-off mechanism, and means resisting the force of said motor and preventing feeding movement of said stock while said cut-off mechanism is moving.

22. In a fabricating machine, a feed mechanism operating to feed stock intermittently into the machine, means in said machine engaging the end of a length of stock fed therein and alternately permitting and preventingfeeding movement of said stock, a pair of driving rolls adapted to engage the stock in advance of said feed mech-' anism, and a stallable motor arranged to be energized to continuously exert a torque tending to drive said rolls to advance the leading end of a length of stock through said feed mechanism and into the machine, said rolls engaging the stock with suiiicient force to prevent slippage thereof on the stock and to stall said motor when feeding movement of said stock is prevented.

' 23. A straightening mechanism for wire or rod stock comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of straightening rolls journalled on said frame and arranged to engage stock on opposite sides to bend and straighten the same, a carrier pivoted to said frame, a driving roll journalled on said carrier, means to swing said carrier about its pivot to move said driving roll toward one of said .straightening rolls and engage the stock directly opposite the same and means for rotating said driving roll to move stock through said straightening rolls.

24. A straightening mechanism for wire or rod stock including a supporting frame, a plurality of straightening rolls journalled on said frame and arranged to engage stock on opposite sides to bend and straighten the same, one of said rolls being fixed to a shaft journalled in said frame, a carrier pivoted to said frame, a driving roll fixed to a shaft journalled in said carrier, means for moving said carrier to bring said driving roll into engagement with stock directly opposite said last mentioned straightener roll, intermeshing gears on said two shafts and means for rotating said shafts to move stock through said straightening rolls.

25. A straightening mechanism for wire or rod stock comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of straightening rolls journalled on said frame and arranged to engage stock on opposite sides to bend and straighten the same, a carrier pivoted to said frame, a driving roll journalled on said carrier, said driving roll being arranged to be moved into engagement with stock directly opposite one of said straightening rolls to.clamp the stock therebetween, spring means for urging said carrier in a direction to move said driving roll away from said last mentioned straightening roll, and means for applying a predetermined to bend and straighten the same, a' carrier pivoted to said frame, a driving roll journalled on said carrier, said driving roll being arranged to be moved into engagement with stock directly opposite one of said straightening rolls to clamp the stock therebetween, spring means for urging said carrier in a direction to move said driving roll away from said last mentioned straightening roll; and fluid pressure means for applying a predetermined force to said carrier to press said driving roll intoengagement with the stock.

JOHN H. FRIEDMAN.

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