GB2255733A - Machine for handling blanks. - Google Patents

Abstract

A machine for handling blanks adapted to be formed into clamps, comprises a rotatably mounted polygonal drum (101) open at one end and closed at the other for receiving a supply of flat blanks oriented in the same direction, a gripping mechanism (105) mounted in the drum near a respective corner thereof for gripping an individual blank after the gripping mechanism has passed through its lowest point during rotation of the drum, and a tripping member (138) for releasing the gripping action of the gripping mechanism as it approaches its highest point to release the blank carried along by the gripping member for removal out of the drum. <IMAGE>

Description

MACHINE FOR HANDLING BLANKS The present invention relates to a machine for handling blanks adapted to be formed into clamps.

Open clamp structures of the type, for example, illustrated in my prior U.S. Patent 4,299,012 which include a so-called "Oetiker" ear have found widespread use in various applications. In one of these applications, such types of open clamps are used on the assembly line in the automobile industry to fasten axle boots onto axles. For that purpose, open clamps which are already preformed into substantially circular configuration are placed about the axle boots, are manually closed by engagement of the hooks provided on the inner band portion in apertures in the outer band portion and are thereafter fastened by contraction of the so-called "Oetiker" ear.

It is also known to ship open clamp structures to the user as flat blanks to benefit from the space - and cost-saving advantage which may be high as 18 : 1 compared to the cost of transporting already circularly deformed clamps and to deform the flat blanks into a predetermined shape at the user. My prior U.S. Patents 4,633,698 and 4,425,789 disclose machines for preforming the flat blanks at the user.

The manual operations involved heretofore required four persons at the assembly line before the installation of the clamps on the axle boots was completed. Because of human errors, a fifth person was normally present to control for proper installation of the clamp and a sixth person had to be available to remove improperly installed clamps and correct the deficiencies noticed by the control person by installing another clamp in its place.

-Thus, the prior art method for installing these clamps was relatively labour-intensive. Additionally, the waste was relatively high because the improperly installed clamp structures had to be destroyed in order to rebove the same and thus became useless scrap. Apart from normal human errors, the problems in the prior art method were further compounded by lack of uniformity in the installation of the clamps, not only due to improper application of the pincer-like pneumatic tool closing the socalled "OETIKER" (registered Trade Mark) ear but also by vastly varying actuation of the pneumatic tool, which in turn resulted in closing of the ear at different speeds and with greatly differing forces.However, for metallurgical reasons, an excessively rapid deformation of the ear and/or excessive closing forces may affect the quality of installation of the installed clamp and its holding ability.

Thus, the prior art method as described above, which has been used on the assembly line in the automotive industry, entails numerous problems which not only affect cost, but also quality of the installation of the clamp on the axle boot and therewith the length of life of the axle assembly intended to retain in an absolutely tight manner the lubricant present on the inside of the axle boot.

My prior copending application No. 8802645 filed on February 20, 1987, and entitled "Apparatus and Method for Automatically Installing and Fastening Clamps Onto Objects To Be Fastened" addressed these problems and described an apparatus and method for automatically installing clamps which far-reachingly eliminated the aforementioned shortcomings and drawbacks encountered in the prior art and assured a foolproof installation of the clamp structure, independent of human errors.According to the method and apparatus disclosed in my prior copending application, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference, this is achieved by deformation of a flat blank into a circular shape, closing of the clamp, automatically transferring the closed clamp from a deformation station to a transfer station where the clamp is placed over the axle boot, holding the clamp in proper position on the axle boot by frictional engagement of the previously slightly deformed clamp, and thereafter contracting the ear in the thus-installed clamp to tighten the clamp structure about the axle boot and thus hold the latter tightly on the axle itself.According to my aforementioned copending application, the clamp is so mounted over the axle boot at the transfer station that it will stay in predetermined position while the axle, axle boot and clamp assembly thus-assembled is moved from the transfer station to the fastening station so as to assure that the pneumatic pincer-like tool closes the ear each time in a completely satisfactory manner owing to the relative fixed position between the ear and the pneumatic tool.The circular clamp, picked-up at the deformation station is thereby plastically deformed into slightly non-circular, oval shape and before being placed over the axle boot, is again elastically deformed back into circular shape so that upon release of the gripping fingers, the clamp will seek to return to its slightly non-circular configuration to produce a frictional engagement between the clamp and the axle boot keeping the ear in a predetermined position until it is engaged by the pneumatic pincer-like tool.

However, the apparatus and method according to my aforementioned application still required a person to insert the flat blank into the machine at the deformation station by manually picking up individual flat blanks, as shipped, from boxes that contained several bundles of 100 or more such flat blanks.

Drum-type devices are known in the art for feeding or dispensing various items, such as nails (U.S. Patent 1,132,683), pencils (U.S. Patent 1,853,071), phonograph needles (U.S. Patent 1,412,826) or cores for cop-winding machines (U.S.

Patent 2,843,509). However, none of these prior art devices are suitable for the present invention which involves separating individual, relatively thin elongated and flat clamp blanks from a large supply thereof by positively gripping the blank to be lifted to its release point above the other blanks in the supply which remain at the bottom in the rotating drum as a result of gravity. Furthermore, machines for applying clamps are known in the art, for example, as disclosed in U.S.

Patent 2,837,949. However, these prior art machines require manual operating stage necessitating the presence of operating personnel.

The present invention has as its primary object to eliminate the aforementioned shortcomings and drawbacks and to assure a completely automatic installation of the clamp structure which eliminates the need for any person directly involved in the operations.

The present application is divided out of British patent application 8903798.0. The invention according to British patent application 8903798.0 provides a method and apparatus which automatically separates at a separating station individual clamps from a number of similarly oriented blanks as received by the customer, which may involve as many as several hundred such blanks, delivering the separated blanks to a feeding station, feeding the individual blanks from the feeding station to a deformation station where the blank is deformed into a clamp shape slightly larger than the diameter of the object over which it is to be installed, transferring the thus-deformed clamp from the deformation station to a transfer station where the clamp is placed over the axle boot and thereafter fastening the thus-installed clamp to tighten the same about the axle boot and thus hold the latter tightly on the axle itself.

According to the present invention there is provided a machine for handling blanks adapted to be formed into clamps, comprising a rotatably mounted polygonal drum means open at one end and closed at the other for receiving a supply of flat blanks oriented in the same direction, gripping means mounted in said drum means near a respective corner thereof for gripping an individual blank after the gripping means has passed through its lowest point during rotation of the drum means, tripping means for releasing the gripping action of said gripping means as it approaches its highest point to release the blank carried along by said gripping means for removal out of said drum means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, for purposes of illustration only, one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and wherein:: Figure 1 is an elevational view of the separator device and feeding device in accordance with the present invention, taken in the direction of the feed of the flat separated blanks; Figure 2 is an elevational view of the separator device in accordance with the present invention, taken in the axial direction and from the open end thereof; Figure 3 is an exploded view, illustrating the gripping mechanism of the separator device in accordance with the present invention, on an enlarged scale; Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view, through the separator device in accordance with the present invention, illustrating the gripping mechanism in its open position; Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view through the separator device, similar to Figure 4, but illustrating the gripping mechanism in the gripping position;; Figure 6 is a partial perspective view, illustrating the tripping mechanism to open the gripping mechanism at a predetermined point of rotation of the separator device; Figure 7 is a perspective view from the left rear of the feeding device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 8 is a somewhat schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the feeding device in its retracted position; Figure 9 is a somewhat schematic cross-sectional view, similar to Figure 8, illustrating the feeding device in its extended position; Figure 10 is a somewhat schematic view illustrating the scale-like ejection mechanism to detect the presence of more than one blank in the feeding position and for ejecting the same; Figure 11 is a somewhat schematic view, taken along line Xl-Xl of Figure 8;; Figure 12 is a somewhat schematic cross-sectional view, taken along line XII-XII of Figure 8; Figure 13 is a somewhat schematic cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII of Figure 9; Figure 14 is a somewhat schematic side elevational view, similar to Figure 9, and illustrating the position of the parts of the feed device when the blank is in a position 1800 from the desired position; Figure 15 is an elevational view on the reservoir and deformation station, taken along line XV-XV of Figure 16; Figure 16 is a side elevational view illustrating the reservoir and transfer mechanism to transfer the lowest blank in the reservoir to the deformation station; Figure 17 is an elevational view illustrating, on an enlarged scale, the gripping mechanism in the transfer mechanism;; Figure 18 is a perspective view showing the parts of the gripping mechanism of Figure 17 on a still further enlarged scale; Figure 19 is a perspective view of the type of clamp which can be used with the machine in accordance with the present invention; Figure 20 is a somewhat schematic top plan view on the deformation station, transfer station and fastening station of the machine in accordance with the present invention, illustrating the parts just after the clamp has been installed over an axle; Figure 21 is a somewhat schematic front elevational view of the deformation station of the machine according to the present invention; Figure 22 is a partial side elevational view, on an enlarged scale, taken in the direction of arrows XXII of Figure 21;; Figure 23 is a side elevational view of the machine in accordance with the present invention, illustrating the parts thereof at the deformation station and taken along line XXIII-XXIII of Figure 21; Figure 24 is a somewhat schematic partial elevational view showing the position of the parts just before the ear reaches the noon position during deformation; Figure 25 is a somewhat schematic partial elevational view, illustrating the position of the parts in the course of the deformation operation when the ear has reached the noon position and just prior to rivet-like closing of the clamp; Figure 26 is a partial perspective view showing the locking action after completion of the deformation of the clamp;; Figure 27 is a top plan view on the machine, similar to Figure 20, illustrating the position of the various parts after the axle together with axle boot and clamp mounted over the same have been moved to the fastening station and the transfer mechanism is again in alignment with the deformation station; Figure 28 is a partial, somewhat schematic cross-sectional view, illustrating the parts at the deformation station after completion of the deformation operation and just prior to pick-up of the deformed clamp by the transfer mechanism; Figure 29 schematically illustrates the plastic deformation of the circular clamp into non-circular configuration in the course of the transfer from the deformation station to the transfer station;; Figure 30 is a somewhat schematic view illustrating the elastic deformation of the clamp into its substantially circular shape just prior to being mounted over the axle boot; Figure 31 illustrates the position of the clamp on the axle boot after release by the pick-up finger members, the oval shape of the clamp being illustrated in an exaggerated manner; Figure 32 is a somewhat schematic elevational view illustrating the parts of the machine with the transfer mechanism aligned with the next axle boot and showing the clamp held by the gripping fingers; Figure 33 is a schematic view illustrating the position of the parts at the fastening station just prior to the application of the pneumatic pincer-like tool; and Figure 34 is a somewhat schematic view illustrating the position of the parts after the ear has been plastically deformed to tighten the clamp onto the axle boot with a predetermined force.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the various views to designate like parts, and more particularly to Figure 19, this figure illustrates a clamp of the type with which the machine of the present invention can be used. The clamp of Figure 19, generally designated by reference numeral 10, consists of a flat clamping band 11 with a so-called "Oetiker" ear 12 which may include one or several reinforcing grooves 13 in the web portion of the ear. To assure a substantially gap-free and stepless transition in the circumferential direction from the inner band portion to the ring-like configuration of the clamp structure, the inner band portion lla is provided at its free end with a tongue-like extension 14 which is adapted to engage in an aperture or complementary recess constituted by a bent-out embossment 15 provided in the outer band portion llb, as more fully disclosed in my prior U.S. Patent No. 4,299,012.

Additionally, the inner band portion Ila is provided with one or more cold-deformed hooks 16 as well as with a guide hook 17 which may be a combined guide and support hook extending in the longitudinal direction as shown.

For reasons of economy, the clamp illustrated in Figure 19 is shipped as a flat blank from the manufacturer to the customer who will deform the flat blank into circular shape and thereafter install the same over the object to be fastened, for example, at the assembly line. The flat blanks are thereby shipped in bundles of 100 or more so that, after removing the wire holding together the bundle, it is necessary to separate individual blanks from the number of blanks in a bundle and feed the same individually for deformation and subsequent installation on the object to be fastened.

The machine in accordance with the present invention includes at a separating station a separating device generally designated by reference numeral 100, at a feeding station a feeding device generally designated by reference numeral 200, at a deformation station a deformation machine generally designated by reference numeral 40, -and a transfer mechanism generally designated by reference numeral 51 for transferring the closed clamp from the deformation machine to an axle boot where the clamp is tightened after being mounted over the axle boot. A reservoir generally designated by reference numeral 300 may be provided intermediate the feeding device and the deformation machine.For the sake of simplicity, only those parts necessary for an understanding of the present invention will be described in detail hereinafter, while those parts such as frame parts, the mounting of various parts on the frame and the like are not described and/or shown in detail.

The separator device generally designated by reference numeral 100 includes a drum 101 open at one end and rotated about its axis in the counterclockwise direction (Figure 2) by a motor 102 (Figure 1) drivingly connected with the drum 101, for example, by a sprocket chain 103. The drum 101 is rotatably mounted on the frame as shown in Figure 1 with the motor also fixedly mounted thereon.

In the illustrated embodiment, the drum 101 is of square configuration with two diagonally oppositely disposed, gravity-operated gripping mechanisms generally designated by reference numeral 105 (Figure 2). Each gripping mechanism 105 consists of a base member 106 (Figure 3), an auxiliary base member 107 accommodating therebetween a guide member 108 received for longitudinal movement in the milled-out recess 109 and spring-loaded by springs 110 into its normally upper position (Figure 4).The inclined surface 111 on the guide member 108 is flush with the inclined surface 112 on base member 106 and with the inclined surface 113 on auxiliary base member 107 when the parts are in their normal position (Figure 4) in which the gripping mechanism 105 is open to receive a flat blank in the thus-formed blank-receiving slot 128 which is so designed and dimensioned as to normally accommodate only one blank. The actuating member 114 is pivotally supported on the pin 115 provided on the base member 106.The actuating arm 116, in turn, is pivotally supported on base member 106 by a bolt or screw 117 having a bearing surface 117'. pin 118 on the actuating arm 116 engages in elongated aperture 11 provided in actuating member 114 so that clockwise pivot movement of the actuating arm 116 causes the actuating member 114 to pivot counterclockwise whereby its rear pawl-like portion 120 depresses the guide member 108 by engagement with the latter's surface 121 as shown in Figure 5 in which the gripping mechanism 105 is in its normal position as shown in Figure 4 and the blank-receiving slot is opened.By contrast, when the gripping mechanism 105 is gravity-actuated, i.e., when in the position of the right gripping mechanism as shown in Figure 2, any blank which had previously entered into the blank-receiving slot 128 is held clampingly fast between the clamping surface 116a at the end of the actuating arm 116 (Figure 3) and the surface 113 of the auxiliary base member 107, as illustrated in Figure 5.

A V-shaped guide trough 130 with a flat bottom extends into the drum in proper position to receive the separated blank as the drum approaches the 12 o'clock position. A conveyor 131 (Figure 1) driven by motor 132 carries the released individual blanks to the feeding station. To assure proper release of the blank from the gripping action of the gripping mechanism, the separator device further includes a tripping mechanism generally designated by reference numeral 135 (Figure 6), which includes a pivot member 136 pivotally supported on an end face of the support member 137 fixed at the drum 101 and adapted to engage during counterclockwise rotation of the drum 101 with the fixed tripping member 138, thereby causing clockwise rotation of the pivot member 136, as viewed in Figure 6 and thereby pivoting of the arm 116 in the counterclockwise direction (Figure 5) to open the gripping mechanism 105 and release the blank which, up to that point, had been held fast, into the trough 130.

The guide member 108 includes a relatively long nose portion 122 provided with a beveled entrance guide surface 123 so as to guide the individual blanks into the gripping mechanism. A set screw 124 permits adjustment of the extent of opening of the gripping mechanism. Holes 126 in auxiliary base member 107 and holes 127 in auxiliary base member 106 which are mutually aligned, serve for fastening the gripping mechanism 105 on the drum 101. The open blank-receiving slot 128 is shown in Figure 4. Guide blocks 139 secured to the drum ahead of the gripping mechanisms 105 which are also provided with bevelled surfaces, are intended to assist in guiding an individual blank into the blank-receiving slot 128 of a respective gripping mechanism 105. In operation, as the drum rotates counterclockwise in Figure 2, the blanks 11 which are located at the bottom of the drum 101 in Figure 2, will move toward the gripping mechanism 105 as viewed in Figure 2, whereby an individual blank will enter into the blank-receiving slot 128 appropriately dimensioned to permit free entry of a blank, but normally to preclude entry of other blanks once a blank has entered. At the same time as the right gripping mechanism 105 moves toward the 12 o'clock position, the tripping mechanism 135 is actuated as the pivot member 136 engages with the tripping member 138 to release the clamp carried by this gripping mechanism onto the upper conveyor par 131 in the trough 130.

After the drum has rotated through more than 900, the left gripping member in Figure 2 will approach the position previously held by the right gripping member in Figure 2 so that the gravity-operated actuating arm 116 becomes effective to close the gripping mechanism 105 and thereby carry the blank gripped thereby until it is released onto the conveyor 131. It can thus be seen that the separator device 100 is simple in construction with the opening and closing of the gripping mechanism effected by gravity actuation. Notwithstanding its simplicity, however, the separator device 100 according to the present invention has proved highly reliable in operation. As a precautionary measure, a small triangular anti-wedging member 140 (Figure 2) may be provided which prevents that any blanks become stuck by wedging action in the corners.For the sake of convenience, the anti-wedging member 140 is shown in Figure 2, 0 displaced by 90 from its actual position in the drum, i.e., in a respective corner containing a gripping mechanism. The anti-wedging member 140 is thereby fastened at the bottom of the drum in the respective corner while the gripping mechanism 105 is located more or less in the center area of the drum as viewed in the axial direction thereof.

The drum 101 may be manually filled as needed, by an operator attending several machines. However, the drum may also be refilled automatically from a central reservoir to which several machines are connected. The refilling can be readily automated, for example, by the use of a counter counting the number of blanks separated in the separator device or installed on the assembly line and by the use of conventional electronic controls in connection with appropriate feed devices. Moreover, the contents of the trough 130 may also be automatically returned to the drum 101 by any known means.

The blanks separated by the separator device 100 are carried by the conveyor 131 to be delivered to the feeding station where the blank arrives in its feeding position on the transverse support member 204 in a space delimited between the forward stop plate 211 and the rear stop plate 216. The movable feed assembly generally designated by reference numeral 205 includes longitudinal feed arms 206 pivotally supported on transverse member 207 which carries in its center an upright member 208 supporting the longitudinally extending actuating arm 209 having a bevelled engaging surface 209' which is adapted to engage in slot 210 of the stop plate 211 to raise the same from the position shown in Figure 8 into the position shown in Figure 9 as the movable feed assembly 205 is extended by pneumatic cylinder 202 whose piston rod 203 is connected with the transverse member 212, itself connected with the transverse member 207 by the central plate-like base member 213 guided for reciprocating movement on the fixed support 214 by the dovetail guide arrangement 215 (Figures 1 and 7). Thus, the parts 212, 213, 207, 208, 209 and 206 partake in the reciprocating motions, with the feed arms 206 additionally able to pivot about its pivotal connection at the transverse member 207, as will be described more fully hereinafter To enable pivotal movement, the transverse member 212 is provided with guide slots in its outer areas which permit the pivotal movement of the arms 206. The forward part of the feed arms 206, which engage with the blank are provided with a step 217 along the forward free edge, with a V-shaped notch 218 provided in the lower vertical end face thereof.A fixed support member 219 carries the forward stop plate 211 which, to enable relative movement between these two parts, is provided with pins engaging in elongated openings of the support member 219 (Figure 13). The transverse member 204 is adjoined in the direction of the feed movement of the blanks by a spring-loaded support member 221 forming the lower surface of the inlet to the guide path generally designated by reference numeral 220 in which the blank during its feed movement is frictionally guided to the reservoir station, to be described more fully hereinafter.

The normal position of the blank 11 on the transverse member 204 in the feed mechanism is with the ear facing down (Figures 11 and 12). However, it may happen that the blank lands on the transverse member 204 with the ear facing up. A pin 222 (Figures 11 and 14) carried by the fixed support member 223 engages the upwardly turned ear as the arms 206 seek to move the blank in the feed direction, thereby causing the blank to be turned over into the correct position as shown in Figure 14. To prevent jamming, the member 221 is spring-loaded so as to be able to yield in the downward direction, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 14.

The present invention also provides a mechanism which rejects the presence of more than one blank on the transverse member 204. It may happen, though rarely, that two blanks tlave become stuck together as delivered from the manufacturer and as subsequently transferred by the separator device 100 to the feeding device 200. For that reason, the transverse member 204 is carried by a bracket 225 itself mounted on pivot shaft 226 A balance arm 227 (Figures 7 and 10) carries an adjustable weight 228. The assembly constituted by the parts 204, 225, 226, 227 and 228 forms a highly sensitive scale, which pivots in a trap-door-like fashion to eject the two blanks 11 into a bin or reservoir 229 (Figure 10) when more than one blank is present in the feed position on the transverse member 204.A sensor 230 (Figures 7 and 8) cooperating with the part 231 thereby detects the presence of a blank and actuates with delay the pneumatic cylinder 202 to feed the blank. Therefor, in the absence of a blank, the pneumatic cylinder will not be actuated at all until a blank is again detected by the sensor 230.

In operation, as the pneumatic cylinder 202 is actuated to advance the movable feed assembly 205 in the feed direction, i.e., toward the left in Figure 8, the bevelled surface 209' of the actuating member 209 will engage in slot 210 and cause, by camming action, to lift the stop plate 211 from its position shown in Figure 8 into the position shown in Figure 9 to permit the blank 11 to be displaced in the feed direction by engagement of the V-shaped notches 218 with the blank 11 to positively feed the blank into the guide path 220 where it Is frictionally guided to the reservoir station. This assumes that the ear on the blank Is in its normal position, i e Its ear faces downwardly.If, however, the blank is in a position on the transverse member 204 with the ear facing upwardly, then in the course of the feed movement, the ear will engage the pin 222 and continued movement of the feed arms 206 toward the left, as viewed in Figure 14, will cause the feed arms 206 to pivot slightly in the counterclockwise direction about their pivotal connection with the transverse member 207 while at the same time causing the support member 221 to be displaced downwardly against the force of the springs 224 in order to permit the blank to be turned through 1800 into correct position with the ear facing downwardly.

If two blanks are present on the transverse member 204, the weight thereof will cause the scale-like ejection mechanism to operate (Figure 14) to eject the two blanks into the reservoir or bin 229 from which the blanks can be either manually or automatically fed back to the separator device 100. Springs 235 (Figures 8 and 11) prevent the return of any blank in a direction opposite to the feed direction.

The guide path 220 which at its end nearest the feeding device 200 has an inclination opposite to that of the inclination of the separator device 100, is gradually brought into horizontal position before it reaches the curved portion 232 (Figure 16) leading into the reservoir station R. The frictional engagement also terminates prior to reaching the bend 232 so that the blanks can fall freely into the vertical reservoir generally designated by reference numeral 300, once they approach the bend 232.The reservoir 300 includes an upper sensor 301 which detects when the reservoir is full to de-energize the motor 102 of the separator device which, like the feeding device 200,, operates at a cyclic rate greater than that of the remainder of the machine so that more blanks are separated and fed into the reservoir 300 when the separator device 100 and the feeding device 200 operate, than would be required on the assembly line. The lower sensor 302 detects the condition of the reservoir when the latter nears empty condition so as to re-activate the separator device and feed mechanism to refill the reservoir 300.

Two control pins (not shown) are provided on the left side of the reservoir, as -viewed in Figure 16, to control the flow of the blanks into the pick-up position. Normally, the upper pin holds the lowest blank by friction. When the pick-up mechanism is in position and a signal is received from the assembly line, the upper pin is retracted and the lower pin is extended so as to permit the lowest blank to drop into position to be grabbed by the pick-up mechanism. As the pick-up mechanism is about to pick-up the lowest blank, the upper pin is again moved out and the lower pin is retracted so as to hold the blanks in the reservoir for the next cycle of operation.

As the parts used for controlling the orderly movement of the blanks in the reservoir and the controls therefor involve commercially available parts, a detailed showing thereof is dispensed with herein for the sake of simplicity.

To assure that the blank is always bent slightly convexly to facilitate pick-up thereof by the pick-up mechanism generally designated by reference numeral 305, a center push-pin is provided which is energized shortly before the grippers of the pick-up mechanism pick-up the blank and which is de-energized again shortly after the grippers have picked up the blank. A pneumatic cylinder 306 is operatively connected with a cam (not shown) in the box 307 to actuate the two control pins controlling the orderly movement of the blanks in the reservoir. Two such control boxes 307 are provided near the outer ends of the blank, in a location similar to the parts forming the guide path shown in Figure 12, with another box separately -actuated in between these boxes 307 located within the center area of the blank and containing the push-pin and its actuating mechanism.The pick-up mechanism 305 picks up the blanks in proper position in the reservoir and after rotation through about 900 places the same into position for further processing at the deformation station. Two pick-up mechanisms 305 are provided (Figure 15), each of which includes a pair of cooperating gripping members 310 (Figures 17 and 18) which can be extended and retracted by actuation with the use of a pneumatic actuating device 311 (Figure 16). The exposed edges of the gripping members 310 which cooperate are so shaped as to provide cooperating undercut surfaces forming jaws capable of securely gripping a blank, as illustrated in Figure 17 in dash and dotted lines.The gripping members are spring-loaded into a retracted position by springs 312 and are guided in slanting guide slots 313a and 313b as well as guide slots 314a and 314b provided in the two complementary housing parts 315 and 316 which accommodate therebetween the gripping members 310. In Figure 18, the housing part 316 is shown rotated through 900 although in actuality, it extends parallel to the housing part 315. An actuating member 317 is thereby connected with the pneumatic actuating device 311 to cause extension of the 'gripping members 310 which at the same time causes closing of the jaws 310' thereof by engagement of the slanted raised portions 318a, 318b (not shown) and 319a, 319b in slots 313a, 314a and 313b and 314b.

The pick-up mechanism 305 further includes a pneumatic cylinder 320 whose piston rod 321 is operatively connected with the bracket 322 so as to cause rotation of the pick-up arm mechanism and, more particularly, of the support members 323 carrying the gripping mechanisms 309.

In operation, the lowest blank is permitted to descend in the reservoir station into position where it can be picked up by the gripping mechanism 309 of the pick-up mechanism 305.

The blank is grabbed by the gripping members 310 by actuation of the latter into the extended position by activation of pneumatic device 311. Thereafter, the cylinder 320 is activated to rotate the thus picked-up blank through 900 to be deposited at the deformation station. The descent of the blanks is thereby controlled by two control pins spaced apart the width of a blank which frictionally engage the blanks and operate in the manner described above.

The deformation station generally designated by reference numeral 40 (Figures 20, 21, 23, 27, 28) which includes a first smaller roller member 41 and a second larger roller member 42 which are adapted to rotate about their respective axes of rotation and are so spaced as to cause feed of the flat blank 10 when it is inserted into the deformation station D by the pick-up mechanism 305 and triggers a proximity switch (not shown) of conventional construction as will be described more fully hereinafter. The smaller roller member 41 includes a pair of approximately L-shaped clamping members 43 which, when actuated, are adapted to move first radially outwardly over the inserted clamping band 11 and thereafter toward one another with their clamping legs so as to hold the flat blank onto the outer surface of the roller member 41 (Figure 22).The larger roller member 42 includes a first notch 44 of a shape to permit the clamping members to close over the clamping band at the beginning of the clamping operation and a second notch 44' of a shape complementary to the ear 12 and so spaced along its circumference as to accommodate the ear when it arrives in the noon position of the clamp after a complete rotation of the roller member 41. The larger roller member 42 includes a locking member 45 so positioned and arranged with its camming surface or a slot 45' (Figure 25) as to cause engagement with the projecting end of the combined guide and support hook 17 in order to provide a positive locking action to hold the clamp closed.

The transfer mechanism TM generally designated by reference numeral 51 (Figure 32) includes a pick-up mechanism 55 having four finger-like, approximately L-shaped gripping fingers 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d arranged in two mutually opposite pairs in the noon, 3:00 o'clock, 6:00 o'clock and 9:00 o'clock positions relative to the deformed clamp. The gripping finger 56a in the noon position which is intended to engage the outer clamp surface within the area of the ear 12 is thereby provided with a recess complementary to the shape of the ear so as to accommodate the same therein. The finger members 56a-56d are pivotally supported on the pick-up mechanism 55 by conventional means so as to permit selective closing and opening of the gripping fingers to pick-up a clamp and release the same again.

Additionally, the control for the closing and opening of the finger-like members is thereby made in such a manner that they can be actuated selectively in a pair 56a, 56c and 56b, 56d to perform the plastic deformation and elastic deformation as will be described more fully hereinafter.

The pick-up mechanism 55 is rotatably supported about an axis 54 (Figure 32) on a relatively fixed support structure 57, the rotation being imparted by conventional means schematically indicated in Figure 32 by motor 58 which may be drivingly connected by gears or the like with the pick-up mechanism 55.

Two support rods 58 serve as guidance for the reciprocating movement of the pick-up mechanism 55 during reciprocating movement in the horizontal direction, as controlled, for example, by the pneumatic cylinder 59 (Figure 32). The support rods 58 are supported in the U-shaped frame member 57' itself rotatably mounted on the support structure 57 for rotation about the axis 54.

The fastening station generally designated by reference numeral 60 (Figure 33) includes a pneumatic pincer-like tool 61 having pivotally mounted jaws 62 (Figures 33 and 34) for plastically deforming the ear 12 to tighten the axle boot 70 onto the axle structure 71 as it is moved along the assembly line 72 (Figures 20 and 33). The pneumatic tool 61 includes a control box 63 (Figure 33) to adjust the speed with which the jaws 62 close and the maximum force with which the clamp is tightened. Additionally, the cycle rate can also be adjusted.

Figure 17 is a schematic diagram showing an electronic circuit which may be contained in the control box 63.

A pneumatic cylinder 64 (Figure 33) thereby displaces the pneumatic tool assembly 61, 63 and its support 65 in the vertical direction so as to place the jaws 62 accurately over the ear to be deformed. A conventional sensor (not shown) thereby initiates displacement of the pneumatic tool at the right time in relation to the cyclic operation of the machine.

Of course, if necessary, appropriate means may also be provided to move the tool, in addition to being moved in the vertical direction, in a horizontal plane, if this should prove necessary.

OPERATION The operation of the machine in accordance with the present invention is as follows.

The separator device and feeding device operate as described in detail above. Assuming that no blank has been deposited as yet by the pick-up mechanism 305 in the deformation station, the upper roller member 42 is spaced from the lower roller member 41 as shown in Figures 21 and 23. As soon as a flat blank is fed into the deformation station D, a sensor (not shown) of conventional construction will start the cycle of operation. At that time, the clamping members 43 are still in their retracted position, and the pick-up mechanism 55 faces and is in alignment with the deformation station 40.

Initially, the roller member 42 is rotated a slight amount in the clockwise direction as it approaches the roller member 41 so that its notch 44 is in position at the correct time to permit the clamping members to move over the clamping band as shown in dash-and-dotted lines. As the roller member 41 rotates in the clockwise direction and the roller member 42 in the counterclockwise direction, the flat blank is fed into the machine. The clamping members 43 when actuated, hold the leading edge of the clamping band onto the outer surface of the roller member 41 so as to deform the clamping band as the feed movement continues by rotation of the roller members 41 and 42.The arrangement is thereby made in such a manner that the clamping members 43 engage the clamping band at a point where the full width of the clamping band starts at its leading edge, i.e., behind the tongue-like extension so that the tongue-like extension remains substantially in its original shape, e.g., rectilinear o slightly bent until it engages with the outer band portion llb as the roller member 41 continues to rotate.

This offers the advantage that the tongue-like extension is deformed only as it engages in the recess 15 in the outer band portion llb so that there is sufficient elasticity in the tongue-like extension to assure secure engagement thereof in the recess 15.

The diameter of the parts and location of the second notch 44' are so arranged that the notch 44' will be in a position to receive the ear 12 after the roller member 41 has completed a full revolution. The further rotation of the roller members 41 and 42 causes the locking member 45 to engage with the combined guide and support hook 17 to positively lock the clamp in its closed condition by rivet-like action. This takes place with the ear 12 rotated beyond the noon position so that after completion of the locking action, the roller members 41 and 42 are rotated back through more than 3600 to their earlier position in which the ear 12 is in the noon position. The roller member 42 will thereafter be withdrawn from engagement with the clamp so that the latter can slightly expand due to its elasticity and can thus be withdrawn from the deformation station.To this end, the pick-up mechanism 55 had been moved toward the deformation station so that the finger members 56a-56d are now in position to engage the outer surface of the deformed clamp as schematically indicated in Figure 28 where the arrows indicate the pivot movement of these finger members to engage with the deformed clamp. Next, the pick-up mechanism 55 will be retracted, is thereafter rotated until aligned with the transfer station 50 whereupon the pick-up mechanism 55 is again displaced toward the transfer station in such a manner that the clamp is now over the axle boot, ready to be released by disengagement of the finger members 56a-56d.

As it is important that the ear 12 always remains in a predetermined position as the axle assembly moves from the transfer station 50 to the fastening station 60, the present invention also performs two further operations in the course of the transfer of the clamp from the deformation station 40 to the transfer station 50. More particularly, the clamp is plastically deformed into a slightly oval configuration by applying a deformation force to the clamp by way nf the tinges members 56a and 56c, schematically illustrated in Figure 29 by the arrow where the non-circular configuration of the clamp is shown in an exaggerated manner.Figure 30 illustrates how the clamp structure is again deformed into substantially circular shape though only elastically by the application of a force thereto by the finger members 56b and 56d, schematically indicated in Figure 30 by the arrows. The clamp is then held in frictional engagement with the axle boot 70 as a result of its tendency to return to the non-circular configuration after being released by the finger members 56a-56d as shown again in an exaggerated manner in Figure 31.

The thus-assembled axle boot and clamp structure is then moved from the transfer station 50 to the fastening station 60 where the pincer-like tool 61 is lowered so that the jaws 62 can engage with the ear 12, held in fixed position relative to the axle boot 70 and thereby assuring every time a completely accurate contraction of the ear and therewith completely satisfactory installation of the clamp structure.

After the clamp is released by the finger members 56a-56d, the pick-up mechanism 55 is again moved away from the transfer station 50, thereafter rotated and aligned with the deformation station in a position ready to pick up the next deformed clamp (Figure 27) after the next cycle of operation.

As the actuating and drive mechanisms as well as the controls therefor to cause the various movements of the parts of the machine of the present invention, to the extent not shown herein, are known as such, utilizing commercially available and known arrangements, a detailed description thereof is dispensed with herein for the sake of clarity.

Though on the assembly line the axle and axle boot are normally brought into position at the transfer station, are held thereat for a predetermined time, for example, six seconds to permit installation of the clamp and are thereafter moved together with the clamp to the fastening station where the assembly of axle boot and clamp are now held for six seconds to permit contraction of the clamp ear, the present invention is not limited to an intermittently operable assembly line, but can also be used with a continuously moving assembly line by providing appropriate movements of the various parts at the speed of the assembly line. For example, the pick-up mechanism as also the tool may move at a speed and in a direction of the movement of the assembly line to permit installation of the clamp on a continuously movable assembly line.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to a clamp provided with an ear, but may also be used, for example, with an earless clamp of the type disclosed in my prior U.S.

Patent 4,492,004. All that is necessary is to predesign the roller member 42 to accommodate the various projecting parts and to redesign the pneumatic tool 60 to provide proper closing action of the clamp.

According to the present invention, further simplification of the machine is possible by eliminating the fastening station and combining the same with the transfer station. This can be done by holding the clamp by the fingers 56a-56d in position on the axle boot while the pincer-like tool is brought into engagement with the ear to be contracted so as to tighten the clamp on the axle boot. All that is necessary is to relocate the fingers 56a-56d by displacing the same through about 450 as shown in dash and dot lines in Figure 30.

Furthermore, it is also possible to modify the machine by stamping the blank as it is in position at the deformation station prior to the beginning of a deformation cycle. This simplifies the control for the stamping operation and its movements.

Additionally, the separator device 100 need not be in the form of a square drum but may be of some other polygonal shape. Furthermore, the number of gripping mechanisms can be varied, for example, with one gripping mechanism in each corner of the drum.

Finally, it is also possible to eliminate an extended guide path by arranging the feed mechanism substantially horizontally and locating the end of it close to the bend 232 so that the clamps are positively fed already at the feed station in a horizontal position.

Thus, while I have shown and described only one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known to those skilled in the art, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. A machine for handling blanks adapted to be formed into clamps, comprising a rotatably mounted polygonal drum means open at one end and closed at the other for receiving a supply of flat blanks oriented in the same direction, gripping means mounted in said drum means near a respective corner thereof for gripping an individual blank after the gripping means has passed through its lowest point during rotation of the drum means, tripping means for releasing the gripping action of said gripping means as it approaches its highest point to release the blank carried along by said gripping means for removal out of said drum means.

2. A machine according to Claim 1, further comprising conveyor means for transporting the released blank to a feed device for feeding individual separated flat blanks.

3. A machine according to Claim 1, wherein said gripping means effectively form jaws which provide a normally open blank-receiving slot, and gravity-operated means are provided for closing said blank-receiving slot and thereby holding fast a blank received therein as the gripping means is being raised during rotation of the drum means.

4. A machine according to Claim 3, wherein said gripping means includes an actuating arm pivotally mounted on a relatively fixed part of the gripping means and provided with a clamping surface, an actuating member pivotally mounted on said relatively fixed part and pivotally connected with said actuating arm so as to pivot in a direction opposite to that of the actuating arm when actuated by the latter, said blank-receiving slot in its open condition being formed by a guide surface of said actuating member on one side and at least in part by the relatively fixed part on the opposite side, and said blankreceiving slot being closed to provide a clamping action by pivot movement of the actuating arm and therewith also of the actuating member so as to move the guide surface of said actuating member away from the relatively fixed part and bring the clamping surface of said actuating arm into its clamping position.

5. A machine according to Claim 4, wherein said relatively fixed part is provided with a recess open in the direction of the blank-receiving slot for slidably receiving therein a spring-loaded guide member having a nose portion, and wherein said actuating member is in operative engagement with said guide member to displace the latter against spring action when said actuating member is pivoted by said actuating arm.

6. A machine according to Claim 5, wherein said gravity-operated means includes a weight on said actuating arm.

7. A machine according to any of Claims 1 to 6, in which individual separated flat blanks are adapted to be fed in proper position for further processing, the machine further comprising relatively fixed support means, a moveable feed assembly reciprocably guided on said fixed support means, said movable feed assembly including longitudinally and transversely extending members fixed interconnected into said feed assembly and two longitudinally extending feed arms pivotally connected with said feed assembly so as to move in unison therewith during reciprocating movement while enabling pivotal movement relative thereto, the free ends of said feed arms being operable to engage with a flat blank in its feed position, a plate-like stop member delimiting the feed position and normally precluding movement of the blank in the feed direction, said feed assembly being provided with release means for lifting the stop member during movement of the feed assembly in the feed direction, and further means for automatically turning the blank around by the feed movement of the feed assembly when the blank is in an inverted position.

8. A machine according to Claim 7, wherein said release means includes a longitudinally extending member on said feed assembly which engages with its bevelled front surface in a complementary slot in the stop member to lift the latter.

9. A machine according to Claim 8, further comprising gravity-actuated scale-like means for determining the presence of more than one blank in the feed position and for ejecting the same.