US1403507A - Machine for reclaiming fastenings - Google Patents

Description

R. H. LAWSON.

. MACHINE FOR RECLAIMING FASTENINGS APPLICATION FILED AUG- 16. 1918.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET L I R. H. LAWSON.

MACHINE FOR RECLAIMING FASTENINGS.

, APPLICATION FILED AUGHG, 1918.

1 103,507. Patented Jan. 17, 1922;

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- w Flgz 84' //V Vf/V 717/7 Mam APPLICATION FILED AUG. I6, 1918- Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

3 SHEEI'SSHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT orifice.

ROBERT E. LAWSON, OE BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON. NEWJERSEY. A CORPORATION--01 NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR RECLAIMING FASTENINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented- Jan, 17, 1922,

Application filed August is, 1919. Serial No. 250,153.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Roman H. Lawson, a citizen. of the United States, residing at Beverlv, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain In provements in Machines for Reclaiming Fastenings, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings. is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines for reclaiming fastenings such, for example, as the metallic fastenings used in the making of shoes. and it has particularly in view the restoration to a condition suitable for use of the tacks which are spilled on the floor in the operation'of lasting shoes and are taken up from the floor together with dirt, trash and the like in the sweepings from the lasting room.

In the lasting of'McKay shoes tacks of two different lengths are used, relatively short tacks being inserted at the shank of the shoe and longer tacks being inserted at the heel seat and toe portions of the shoe where the stock through which the lasting tacks are driven is of greater thick ness than at the shank of the shoe. The operator, commonly, for example, when no lasts first one side of the shoe and then the other at the shank and then, after makinsz he change from shorter to longer fastening-s, lasts the toe in d heel seat, vitln draws the shoe from the lasting machine several times during the lasting operation in order that he may so manipulate the shoe as toprescnt a diiferent point on the shoe in position to receive the tacks insertedby the machine. It is not found practicable to stop the operation of the lasting machine while such changes in the presentation of the shoe to the machine are being inade'and the continued operation of the machine results in a large number of tacks being discharged on the floor about the machine. It is also common for operators to permit the lasting machines to continue in operation while achange is being made from one shoe to another which, of course, adds to the accumulation of the tacks about the machines. In the manufacture of Goodyear weltshoes also, tacks of different lengths are used for lasting the heel seat and the forepart and these tacks tend to collect on the floor of the lasting room. Very large quantities of tacks have heretofore been lost in shoe factories in this and other ways since it has been cheaper to purchase new tacks thanto employ operatives to pick out the spilled tacks from the trash'and' dirt with which they become commingled on the floor and to assort them as to length which is necessary to the end that tacks of a certain them in accordance with a physical characteristic of the fastenings- With a View to putting into eifect the above-mentioned object of the invention the present exemplification of the invention is organized to assort tacks in accordance with their lengths so that tacks of one length may be obtained separate from tacks of a different length.

Asecond feature of the invention resides in the provision of a machine having a plurality of. stations. at which are provided means for operating on tacks, such,.for example, as mechanism for assorting the tacks in accordance with a physical characteristic of the tacks, and means for distributingthe tacks substantially uniformly to. saidstations.

In the illustrated. construction, the means for distributing the tacks uniformly to the various stations comprises a. rotary drum having a series of openings arranged spirally of the circumference of the drum through l ich the tackspass successively to the varioi; stations. 7 l

In accordanceavith another feature of the invention, means operated in a predetermined path of movement is provided for selecting the tacks inaccordancewith their lengths, and the tacks are positioned relatively to the path of movement of the selecting means, by means movable relatively to the ath of movement of the selectin means In the direction of the lengths 0 comprises: members each of which extends in co-operative relation with the assorting stations. i i

. teach, the invention will be herein set fort applican s to operating on last ingtac s, it will be understood that the invehtionj as a whole and certain features thereof areeapahleof use in other applicatibnssiich, forjexampla'as the reclaiming of: other kinds of metallic fastenins, and itjil SitlS O recognized that the mec anical structure here n illustrated and described is ts extensively modified without dep rting' from the principles of the invennon. f

Other objects and features of. the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawings, 1

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine according to the invention with parts. broken away to show portions of the interior of the machine; a

\ Fi 2 is a plan view with parts broken awa better to exhibit the assorting mechanisni ofthe machine;

3 is i1 View in front elevation showing the's ide, the picker, and the assorting mechanism at the right hand side of the machine nrrross section; and r Fig. A: is a cross section of the yielding connection'for operating the tack carrier.

Theniachine may be said to comprise generally 1 a plurality of assorting stations 2 having means associated therewith for as sorting the tacks in accordance with their lengths and means for separating foreign material such as dirt, trash and the like from thetacks and distributing them to the assorting stations.

The devices for separating the tacks from foreign material anddistributing them to as assorting stations comprise a rotary cylindrical magazine 4having a screened or otherwise reticulated periphery of a mesh small enough to retainthe tacks in the magazine but through which fine dust may ass into a receptacle 6 supported on a she f 8 formed as a part of a bracket 10 extending fr'omihe machine frame and providing a bearing 19 in which a hollow boss 14 projecting centrally from one side of the magazihei'is journaled. Ablower (not shown) is connected to the boss 14 for producing a flow of air-through the interior of the magaziiie lin order to remove from the magazineanylight trash which may be intermingled with the tacks. The magazine 4 is formed with flanges or fins 16 extending radially inwards from its periphery and operating upon rotation being imparted to the magazine to elevate the contents of the magazine and deliver them upon a chute 18. The tacks are introduced into'the magazine t through a hopper 20 which together with.

the magazine l. constitutes a source of tack supply for the machine as a whole.

The tacks which, having the fine dust separated therefrom by the screened periphery of the magazine -11: and the light trash removed by pneumatic means through the hollow boss 14, may still have coininingled therewith relatively large and heavy pieces of foreign material, are delivered irom'the chute 18 into the end of a rotary drum 22 more of the openings 24% is passing through the lower part of the path of movement of the drum beneath the line oftacks in their advance from the inlet or. receiving end of the drum toward its outlet or dehvery end.

hen, in the continued rotation of the drum. the openings 24 adjacent to thereceiving end of the drum have passed from beneath theline of tacks in the drum, a solid or imperforate part of the drum is presented to the tacks near its inlet end in consequence of which they are prevented from passing from the drum until inrtheir advance movement toward the outlet end of the drum they arrive in alignment with other openings 24 which, by reason of the spiral arrangement of the openings in the drum, pass through the lower portion ofthe path of movement of the drum beneath the line. of tacks in the drum at a later period of its rotation than did the openings nearer the receiving end of the drum. The size and arrangement of the openings 24:, the speed of rotation of the drum, and the delivery of tacks to the chute'lS by the flanges 1.6 of the magazine 4 may be so regulated as .to cause a substantially equal number of tacks to be delivered from the openings 24 of the drum at all points of the drum from its receiving to its delivery end. As shown, the drum 22 is provided with a single row only of openings 24larranged at a relatively high pitch about the periphery of the drum, each of the openings preferably having substantially one half or more of its extent dis posed on thefside'of a'plane at right angles to th axis of the drum 22 and passing through the adjacent end of a contiguous opening opposite from said contiguous opening. Referring to Fig. 1, the line A indicates a plane transverse to the axis of the drum 22 and passing through the end of the opening 126 adjacent to the opening 127, and the line it represents a similar plane passing through the end of the opening 1% adjacent to the opening 12-6. 'lhe larger portion of the opening 12? is disposed on the side of the plane A. opposite from the opening 126, and, correspondingly. larger portion of the opening 126 lies the side of the plane B opposite from the opening 1%. By reason of the provision of single row only of openings 2 arranged as hereinhetore described, the taclzs are prevented from escaping too rapidly from the drums 1 he drain 22 connected at its ends to disks and 28 journaled in the main frame of the machine. The disks are extended radially beyond the periphery of the rotary drum or distributor 22 and are provided with inwardly projecting flanges 30 and 352 to which is connected for rotationwvith the drum a screen as enclosing the drum. The primary function 01? the screen 34 is to remove from the tacks Which pass therethrough any foreign material Whic may not have been separated therefrom in the magazine at in order that the tacks when delivered to the assorting stations shall be free from foreign material which might intert'ere with the proper :t'unctioning of the assorting mechanism or occasion breakage of some of the parts oi? the machine. It may be noted. however. that the rotary drum 252 will separate from the tack any object so large as not to pass through the comparatively small openings 24, and it is further to be noted that the screen 3% supplements tie action of the drum in insuring a unitorm distrihution of the fasteni to the assorting stations The foreign material vered from the machine by a chute 36 to which it passes through the open delivery ends of the drum 22 and scr and by which is conseparated from the tacks is del.

veyed to a receptacle 37.

The tacks as thev fall troni the drnniQZ conducted to the asserting stations 2 by non to he described. in do means comprises oppositely incl 1 slides rmed to present alternating rid 39 and channels ll) l). the latte being slotted greater tha the diameter of tire less than the d' a re tacks but i i tack heaos so that the teens as they tall from the drum on the slides group themselves the channels 410 supportcd by their heads in the Walls of the is clearly appears from the dr ..i

R the slides 38 are a n k of an inverted V the apex of i a positioned in the vertical plane of the axis of the drum There is thus prov'ded "W0 strnction to that at the right and the as-' sorting mechanism and other parts onone side of the machine are similar to those on the other side. *Consequcntly, a description of the parts on one side oi the machine will sntiice for both.

To counteract the tendency of the tacks to group themselves in the channels 40 ot' e slides 38 with their heads riding on each other and to arrange the tacks properly in the channels, I provide a picker 42 opertivcly associated with each of the channels it) and acting to engage the head or other portion of any tack which by reason of riding on the head of a preceding tack or for other reason is elevated to greater extent from the slot ot the channel than are the tacks which are properly located in the channel. The pickers e32 are mounted in collars from one end to the other ot the machine and each is arranged to yield rela 'ively to its collar 4:3 by means of a spring so interposed between an enlarged portion oi? the picker 4 and the bottom of the recess in the collar iv iich receives the picker. The frame of the machine is curved outwardly at 8 to provide a space in which the picker may be operated. "he channels ll) of the slides 38 constitute ra'ce'ii 'ays irhicli convey the tacks downwardly from the drum 22 toward the assorting stations V "lh. tac s pass down the channels -10 to the means may be caused to remove the tack'carrier different iined by their lengths, means i tor effecting change in therelaof the tack carrier and the path Such oi selecting means.

the invi -tion herein illust chosen to 001 attract the selectin the form of a her extended ely of the 'i'lir'ection of movement of a the channels 4:0 and parallel to -r 50and provided with un ually pro'ecting selecting portions 62 and respectively with selecting locaions5-l and 56 and to move the carrier 50 o to carry the notch 52 from a receiving the eliecte'd but in the location in aligmnent with the channel l0 of the raceway to selecting locations 54 and 56 to present the tack suspended by its head from the notch in operative relation to the selecting means.

The selecting bar is o erated in a fixed path transversely of the direction of movement of the tack carrier by rotation of the shaft 51 by which it is carried. The path of movement of the selecting means manifestly is nearer the tack carrier 50 in the direct-ion of the lengths of the tacks dependent from the tack carrier at the selecting location 56 which is aligned with the longer projection 64 of the bar 60 than at the ecting location 54 which is aligned with the shorter projection 62 of the bar 60. When, therefore, the tack carrier 50 'is moved so as to carry the notch 52 from selecting location 54 to the selecting location 56, the notch 52 which positions the tack relatively to the selecting bar 60 is caused to approach the path of movement of the selecting bar in the direction of the length of the tack. The projection 62 of the selecting baris spaced from the upper surface of the tack carrier 50 at the selecting location 54 by a distance less than the length of the longer tacks but greater than the length ofthe shorter tacks, the operation of the tack carrier 50 and the bar 60 being so timed that the bar is moved by the carrier in the direction indicated by the arrow (Fig. 3), that is, from the open. side of the notch 52 toward its closed side at the time when the notch 52 arrives at the selecting location 54. From the foregoing it will be understood thatif the tack in the notch 52 of the carrier 50 is a long one, its point will be en aged by the rojection 62 of the bar 60 and it will be pus ed from the carrier. If, however, the tack is a short one it will not be engaged the projection 62 of the bar but will be conveyed b the carrier to the selecting location 56 whi e the shaft 51 is completing arevolution into position to be engaged by the projection 64: of the ,bar 60 when it is again moved past the tack carrier 50, the projection 64 of the bar being 5 aced from the carrier50 by a distance less tlian the length of the shortest tacks being operated .upon and operating to remove from the tackcarrier any tacks which are not discharged therefrom at the selecting location 54. The. bar 60 is formed with an extreme depression 63 in the vertical plane of the channel 40 whichinsures that the tacks in the raceway. will'not be struck by the selecting bar in its movement. I

Both the tack carrier 50 and the tack selecting bar 60 are preferably and as herein illustrated extended transversely of the channels 40 fromend to end ofthe machine and. both of such members are operatively related to all of the channels. Each of said members may be said to comprise a plurality of like colligate sections one of which is associated with each of the assorting stations 2. The bar 60 is thus formed with alternating longer and shorter projections 62 and 64. As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the tack carrier is slidably mounted on a brace 65 projecting laterally from the machine frame, and the notches 52 are formed in an angular portion 66 of the carrier extending upwardly in the plane of the raceways.

A plate 67 pivoted to the frame of the machine at 68 overlies the channels 40 at their delivery ends and serves to prevent any of the tacks from being thrown upwardly from the channels 40 or the notches 52 either by engagement of the selecting bar 60 therewith or otherwise.

Preferably, the long tacks removed from the tack carrier 50 at the selecting locations 54; are collected in a common receptacle which should manifestly be separate from that in which are collected the shorter tacks removed from the carrier at selecting locations 56. To this end the tacks as they are discharged from the presenting means are caused to fall into hoppers 70 which'are alternately formed with floors 72 arranged to direct the tacks into a receptacle Tel and with floors 76 constructed to direct the tacks into a receptacle 78 constructed as a part of or located adjacent to the receptacle 74.

The operating means for the machine is as follows. Carried by the shaft 51 on the right hand side of the machine (Fig. 1) are tightand loose pulleys designated together by the reference numeral 82, and endless bolts 84: and 86 are provided for transmit ting the movement of the shaft 51 to the rotary drum 22' and the magazine l respectively. ()n the opposite end of the shaft 51 is mounted a gear 88 meshing with a gear 90 on a stud shaft 92 suitably journaled in the machine frame, and loosely carried by the stud shaft 92 is a cam disk 9% in the periphery of which is formed a cam slot in which engages a follower extending downwardly from the tack carrier 50 whereby the car-- rim is operated from a position in which the notches 52 are aligned with the channels 40 to' and from the selecting locations 56. Movement of the stud shaft 92 is transmitted to 'a corresponding stud shaft 95 on. the opposite side of the machine (Fig. 3) by an endless belt 96 which passes over pulleys on the respective studshafts. The shafts 44: on which the pickers are mounted are operated by endless belts 97 passing over pulleys carried by the shafts 441- and the stud shaft-s .92 and 95, respectively. Preferably, and as shown, a yielding connection 1s provided between the stud shaft 92 andthe tack carrier '50, said connection comprising a spring pressed plunger 98 mounted in the cam disk 94: and

struction is interposed to the movement of the tack -arrier the cam disk Set is permitted to more relatively to the stud shaft .92 and thus prevent breakage of the parts.

Maniiestly. the bar 60 may be formed with a number of selecting, portions variously spaced from the tack carrier 50 corresponding to the number of classifications of the tacks which it is desired to make. Thus, if it were desired to assort tacks in more than two groups, the selecting portions or projections 62 and Set of the bar 50 would be replaced by a greater number of selecting portions and the tack carrier would he moved to carry its notch 52 from the receivinn location to all the selecting locations.

Having: described the invention. what I claim as new and desire to secure by Lettcrs Patent of the United States is:

1. A. machine of the class described having a plurality of assorted stations. a source of fastening supply. mechanism associated with each ofsaid stations for assorting fastenings in accordance with a physical characlcristic of the Fastening-s, a perforated drum for distributing the fastenings from said source or" liasteningsupply to said assortingr stations, and means tor turning said drum about its axis' 2. A. machine of the class described having; a plurality oi? asserting stations, a source of fastening supply. mechanism associated with each of said stations for assorting fastenings in accordance with a physical characteristic of, the fastenings. a drum constructed to receive tastenings at one of its ends from said source of fastenill supply and having openings arranged spirally of its periphery for distributing the tastcnings substantially uniformly to said asserting? stations.

3. In a machine of the class described, means for separating tastenings from forcign material, such as trash, dirt and the like, and means for assorting the tastenings in accordance with the length of the fastening's.

l. A. machine oi the class described havin a plurality oi asserting stations. means for separating: tastenings from foreign material such as trash, dirt, and the like. means associated with each of said stations for assorting the iastenings in accordance with a physical characteristic of. the fastenings, and means associated with the separating means tor distributing the fastenings substantially uniformly to the assorting means.

In a machine of the class described, means for separating fastenings from foreign material such as trash, dirt, and the.

like comprising pneumatic means for separati g the light trash from the fastenings l screening means for separating the heavier dirt and the like from the fastening-s and means for assorting the fastenings in llClIfOl'illZlCB with the length of the fastenlllQ'S.

(5. In a, machine of the class described, means ior operating on fastenings, a chute for conducting iastenings to the operatingmeans. means for supplying iastenings to said chute comprising a cylindrical magazine h aving a reticulated periphery through which tine dust may pass and provided with members constructed. to elevate the material in the magazine to facilitate thedischarge of the material from the magazine upon said chute. and pneumatic means for withdrawinglight trash from the magazine.

7. In a machine of the class described, a screen. a drum for delivering'material to said screen constructed to distribute the material substantially uniformly from one end of the screen to the other, and means for turningthe drum about its axis.

8. In a machine of the class described, a cylindrical screen, a drum enclosed by said screen and connected thereto for rotation thereirith and having a single row of openings arranged spirally of its periphery with substantially one half or more of each opening disposed on the side oi 'a plane at right angles to the axis of the drum and passing; through the adjacent end or a contiguous opening; opposite from said contiguous opening so as to distribute material substantially uniformly from end to end of the screen, and means for rotating the drum and screen. V

9. In a DllQlllllGOi. the class described, a frame. a cylindrical screen. disks journaled in said frame and connected to the ends of said screen. a drum connected at its ends to said disks interiorly of said screen for rotation with said screen. and having openings arranged in a single row spirally of its periphery with substantially one half or more ofcach opening disposed on the side of a plane at right angles to the axis of the drum and passing through the adjacent end ot a contiguous opening opposite from said contiguous opening so as to distribute material substantially uniformly from end to end of the screen. r

10. A machine of the class described having a plurality of asserting stations and means intermediate between said assorting stations for distributing fastenings substantially uniformly to said asserting stations.

llv A machine of the class described having asserting stations arranged oneach side of the machine, inclined guides extendincg1 upwardly from said assorting stations an meeting in the form of an inverted V and operating, to conduct fastenings to said assortin stations, a perforated drum ariflnged above the guides with its axis substantially in the vertical plane of the apex of the guides and operable to distribute fass tenings substantially uniformly to said the vertical plane of the apex of the guides,

, and having openings arranged spirally of its periphery for distributing fastenings substantially uniformly to sald guides, and

. means for turning said drum about its axis.

13. In a machine of the class described, fastening positioning means, selecting means spaced from the positioning means in the direction of the lengths ofthe fastenings when positioned by the positioning means,

means for operating said selecting means to remove the fastenings from the positioning means, and means'for effecting a change in; the spacing of the path of movement of the selecting means and the positioning means in the direction of the lengths of the fastenings that the selecting means is caused to remove fastenings of unequal lengths from the positioning means at different times in the cycle of operations of the machine so as tos'eparate such fastenings from each other.

14. In a machine of the class described, powerioperated fastenmg selecting means. means for presenting headed fastenings to i said selecting means with their heads spaced from the path of movement of the selecting meansin the direction of the lengths of thii' tastenings by a predetermined distance less than thelength of the longest fastenings Ttobe operated upon so that such fastenings are (engaged by the selecting means and removed from the presenting means, and means for effecting a closer approach. of the path of movement of the selecting means and the presenting means in the direction of the lengths of the fastenings so that shorter fastenings are engaged by the select ing means and discharged from the presentingmeans.

15,. In a :machine of the class described,

fastening positioning means, means for movmg the positioningmeans, fastening selecting means,and means for operating portions of the selecting means in paths spaced at unequal distances from the path'of movement of the positioningmeans so that one portion of the Selecting means operates to remove fastenlngs of one length from the positionthe length of the fastening.

, of said selecting loca I tenings of one length from the carrier, and

16. In a machineof the class described, fastening positioning means, means for mov- 111g the positioning means a member spaced atunequal distances from the path of movement of the positioning means in the direction of the lengths of the fastenings for selecting fastenings from [the positioning means in accordance with their lengths, and means for operating said member transversely of the path of movement of the po sitioningmeans.

17. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, means at the delivery end of the raceway constructed to receive aheaded fastening from the raceway and to support it by its head, means for moving said fastening supporting means in a direction transverse to the path of movement of the fastenings in. the raceway, a selector for removing a fastening from the supporting means at a point determined by its length, and means for operating said selector in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the fastening supporting means. i

178. In a machine of the class described, a

raceway, a member at the delivery end of the raceway formed with a notch shaped to re- (-civea headed fastening from the raceway, means for moving said member transversely of the raceway with the fastening supported by its head in'sa'id notch, and a selector havinn portions spaced at unequal distances from the path ofmovcment of said member in the direction of the length of the fastening, and means for operating the selector to remove the fastening from said member at a point in the'path' of movement of said memberdetermined by the length of the fastening. 7

1,9. In a machine of the class described, a positioning member having a notch formed to receive a headed fastening and to support it by its head,'.mc ans for moving said posi tioning member, a selectorhaving portions spaced from the path of movement of said msitionin -member in the direction of the length of the fastening by unequal distances, and mcansfor operating said'selector in a direction from the open side to'thev closed side of the notch to remove the fastening from said. notch at a point in the path of movement of said member determined by 20. In a machine of theclass described. a carrier, means'for reciprocating said carrier from a fastening receiving location toward and from a plurality of selecting locations, means for delivering fastenings to the carrier atthe receivinglocation, means at one ions for removing fa smeans at another of said selecting locations for renn'iving fastenings of another length from the carrier.

21. In a machine of the class described. a plurality of fastening guides arrz-inged in substantially parallel relation and adapted for operation on headed fastenings having elongated shanks, and means extending transversely of said guides and constructed to suspend the fastenings by their heads and assert them in accordance with a physical characteristic thereof.

A machine the class described having fastening asserting stations a notched member extending in co-operative relation with plurality of said stations for receiving the fast-enings and suspending them by their heads, and means for sorting the fastenings while so suspended.

23. A machine of the class described having fasteninp assorting stations, and coopcrating assortinp; members each extending past and in (to-operative relation with a plurality of said stations for asserting fastenings in accordance with a physical characteristic. of ti e fastenings.

2-1:. A machine of the class described havingfastening asserting stations and means for asserting fastenings in accordance with a physical characteristic of the fastenings comprising a rotary tack selecting member composed of a plurality of like sections arranged each in operative relative to an asserting station.

25. A machine of the class described having fastening assorting stations, means for delivering fastenings to said stations, fastening selecting means extending in operative relation with a plurality of said asserting stations, means associated with each of said assorting stations for presenting fastenings to said selecting means, and means for etfecting a successively closer approach of the presenting means and the selecting means in the direction of the lengths of the fastenings so that the selecting means operates to remove first longer and then shorter fastenings from the presenting means.

26. A machine of the class described har ing fastening assorting stations, fastening selecting means extending in operative relation with a plurality of said asserting stations, means co-operating with a plurality of said assorting stations for presenting fastenings to said selecting means, means for operating the selecting means to remove fastenings from the presenting means. and means for effecting change in the relative spacing of the presenting means and the path of movement of the selecting means in the direction of the lengths of the fastenings so that the selecting means operates to remove the fastenings from the presenting means in accordance with their lengths.

27. In a machine of the class described, a

formed'to receive a single fastening from itsing connection for moving said member transversely of the guides, and means coacting with said member to remove the fastenings from the member at points dependent upon a physical characteristic of the fastenings.

29. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of raceways, a member extending across thedelivery ends of the raceways and provided with notches adapted to be aligned with the slots of the raeeways and each formed to receive a single: fastening from a raceway, a bar extending transversely of the respective guide,'means comprising a yieldraceways below said member and havingalternating shorter and longer projections, and means for moving said member longitudinally of said bar to align the fastenings successively with the shorter and longer projections of said bar. I

80. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of raceways, a carrier extending across the delivery ends of-the raceways and provided with notches adapted to be aligned with the slots of the raceways and each formed to receive a single fastening from a raceway, a bar extending transverselyof the raceways below said member and having alternating shorter and longer projections, means for-moving said member longitudinally of said bar-to align the tacks successively with the shorter and longer projections of the bar, and means for moving said bar in a direction transverse to the movement of said member to remove from said member firstfastenings which project toward said bar sufiiciently to be engaged by the shorter projection of-the bar in its movement and then to remove shorter fastenings from said bar by the engagement of 1,

across the delivery ends of the raceways and" provided with notches adapted to be aligned with the slots of the'raceways and each formed to receive a single fastening from one of the raceways, abar extending trans versely of the raceways in a substantially parallel relation with said carrier and havmg alternating shorter and longer pro ections. means formoving said carrier transversely of the raceways to convey i'astenings supported by their heads from the carrier first to points in alignment with shorter projections of the bar and then to points in alignment with longer projections of the bar, and means for operating said bar in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of said carrier and from the open side to the closed side oi": said notches to remove from the carrier first the tastenings of a length to be engaged by the shorter projcw tions of the bar and then to remove Shorter fastenings from said carrier by the engagement of the longer fastenings iroin said carrier by the engagement of the longer projections of the bar therewith.

32. A machine of the class described, having a plurality of assorting stations. means associated with each of said stations for discharging fastenings at different polnts in accordance with their lengths, and means for collecting fastenings oi" one length discharged from the various stations separately from fastenings of a difli'er'ent length.

33. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of raceways, a carrier extending across the delii 'ery ends of the racevvays and provided with notches adapted to be aligned with the slots of the raceways and each formed to receive a single fastening from oneof the raceways, a bar extending transversely of the raceways in" substantially parallel relation with said carrier and having alternating shorter and longer projections,

means for moving said carrier transversely of the raceway 'to convey fastenings supported by their heads from the carrier first to a point in alignmentwith shorter projections of the bar and then to a point in alignment with longer projections of the bar, means for operating said bar in a. direction transverse to thedirection of movement of said carrier and from the open side to the closed-side of said notches" to remove from the carrier first the fastenings of a length to be engaged by the shorterv projections of the bar and then to remove shorter fastenings from: said carrier by the engagement of longer projections of the bar therewith, and means for collectingthe fastenings removed from the carrier by the shorter projections of thebarseparately from those removed by the longer projections of the 'bar.

34. In amachine of the class described, a plnralitvof raceways, mechanism for supplying tastenings to the raceways, and a. rotary member associated. with the raceways for asserting the fasteningsin accordance with their lengths.

35. In a machine of theclass described, to-

tary means for selecting fastenings accord ing to their lengths, means for operating the selecting means, and means separate from the selecting means for moving the fasten ing's long1tudinally of: the selecting means for operation thereon by the selecting means.

:36. In a machine of the class described, rotary means for selecting; fastenings accord ing to their lengths, means for operating the selecting means. means for supporting fastenings in position for operation thereon by the selecting means, and means for moving the supporting means longtindinally of the selecting means in timed relation thereto.

37. In a machine of the class described, means for selecting fastenings according to their lengths, means for operating the selecting: means, means for receiving and supporting fastenings, and means for reciprocating the supporting means to convey fastenings from fastening receiving position into position for operation thereon by the selecting means an d to return the supporting means to fastening receiving position.

38. In a machine of the class described, rotary means for selecting fastenings according to their lengths and means for supporting the iiastenings in position foroperation thereon by the selecting means.

39. In a machine of the class described, rotary means for selecting fastenings according to their lengths. means for supporting the fastenings in position for operation thereon by the selecting means, and means for reciprocating the supporting means.

10. In amachine of the class described, a selector having portions of difierent degrees of projection, and means for presenting a fastening first in the plane of movement 01: a portion of theselector having one degree of projection and then in the plane of movement of a portion of the selector having a difi erent degree of projection.

4-1. In. a machineof the class described, a member provided with a notch to receive a headed fastening, means for removing a fastoning from Said notch, a hopper disposed beneath said member, and means for preventing upward movement of the fastening when removed from said notch thereby to insure the proper discharge of the fastening: into said hopper.

42. Ina machine of the class described. mechanism formed. to provide a plurality'of spaced notches to receive fastenings, hoppers disposed beneath said notches, means for re moving fastenings from said notches, and a member for preventing upward movement of the 'fastenings when removed from said notches thereby to insure the proper discharge of the fastenings into said hopper.

13. In a machineo'f the class described,

mechanism for receiving and supporting a plurality of fastening's' in spaced relat on to each other, movable means for pushing fastemngs of one lengthfrom sald'mechanism and delivering theminto one receptacle, and

means for delivering the remainder of the and delivering them into one receptacle, and fastenings into another receptacle. means for delivering fastenings of another 44. In a machine of the class described, length from said mechanism into another re- 10 mechanism for receiving and supporting a ceptacle. 5 plurality of fastenings in spaced relation to In testimony whereof I have signed my each other, movable means for pushing fasname to this specification. tenings of one length from said mechanism ROBERT H. LAWSON.

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