US2333940A - Assembly machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 9, 1943.

N. v. KUEHLMAN 2,333,940

ASSEMBLY MACHINE Filed July 10 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 /Vorman M/fae/r/ma/r N. V. KUEHLMAN ASSEMBLY MACHINE Filed July 10, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvENToR Norman K /fue/man 41%.! 5MM/w A rra fr:

l Nov. 9, 1943.

Nov. 9, 1943.

N. v. KUEHLMAN ASSEMBLY MACHINE Filed July 10 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORYS Nov. 9, 1943. N. v. KUEHLMAN ASSEMBLY MACHINE Filed July 10, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENT OR. /Vorma/ 1./ Meh/maf? A TTR/V 5 Nov. `9, 1943. N v KUEHLMAN 2,333,940

ASSEMBLY MACHINE Filed July 10, 1941 l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 mvENToR. /Vorman l( /fae/l/man Maij@ ful/wa,

Nov. 9, 1943. N. v. KUEHLMAN 2,333,940

ASSEMBLY MACHINE Filed July l0, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

m Norman l( /fue/man Nov. 9, 1943.

N. V. KUEHLMAN ASSEMBLY MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Ju1y 1o, 1941 INVNTOIL /Vor'man K /fue/r/man "W M 31% 7'7'0 E YJ Nov. 9, 1943.

N. V. KUEHLMAN ASSEMBLY MACHINE Filed July 1o, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 f'ff Nov. 9, 1943. N. v. KUEHLMAN ASSEMBLY MACHINE Filed July 10 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 s KQ RNN. a v. N Nhx KNK xxx mh E \E` .WM n N VU 0 LA Fu W N XSNN NN nmvn.

Nov. 9, 1943. N. v. Kul-:HLMAN 2,333,940

ASSEMBLY MACHINE med .my 1o, 1941 1o sheets-sheet 1o INVENTOR. /Vorman {(/fue/man "W www@ Patented Nov. 9, 1943 ASSEMBLY MACHINE Norman Y. Kuehlinan, Milwaukee, Wis., assignerto The National Lock Washer Company,v Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 10, 1941, Serial No.401,8r04 2 claims. t(c1. `zei- 34) This invention relates to a machine for placing washers on bolts or screws and particularly on bolt or screw blanks on which the threads are later rolled or otherwise formed. The particular machine illustrated herein shows one embodiment of the invention vdesigned to assemble lock washers, particularly of the split ring type, on bolts or screws, either before or after the threads are formed on the screw blanks.

For various uses, however,v it is desirable to have a Washer permanently assembled with,A a. bolt or screw with the washer in position to contact with the under side of the bolt head when the bolt is screwed up tight. Thismay beaccomplished by placing the washer ou a bolt blank; locating it adjacent the head and then rolling a thread on the-shank of the blank, care being taken to have the hole inthe washer not much larger than the diameter of the blank, sothat the outside diameter of the rolled thread is larger than the hole in the washer. In this way, the washer is kept in place on the bolt and cannot fall o in transit or handling.

The illustrated machine can be utilized to assemble threaded bolts and washers, il this is desired. To do this, it is only necessary to use a washer having an internal diameter large enough to pass over the threads of the bolt.

The particular assembly machine illustrated and described herein is designed to receive both split ring lock washers and bolt blanks, assemble them, and deliver them so assembled into a suitable removable magazine or quill which is adapted to be placed in a thread-rolling machine where the threads may be rolled on the blank. The present invention is directed to the machine for assembling the lock washers and blanks and does not relate to the thread-rolling machine, which may be of any standard or wellknown type. It is advantageous to keep the assembly machine and the thread-rolling machine separate because one assembly machine can supply a number of thread-rolling machines.

The illustrative mechanism consists essentially of two hoppers or storage chambers, one for the lock washers and one for the bolt blanks. From each hopper, a suitable path leads to an assembly wheel where a washer and a blank meet and the former is placed on the latter. From the assembly wheel, the assembled blank and washer, hereinafter referred to as the assembly. ls delivered to a magazine or quill where a suitable number of the assemblies ready for subsequent use, as, for instance. a supply of blanks for a thread-rolling machine, are stored. When one lll quill is illled on the assembly machine, the mechanism is designed to automatically replace it with an emptyquill.

The illustrative Ymachine ls equipped with suitable control devices lto .furnish-a :smooth and even tlo'w ot both blanks and washers at .a predetermined speed )to theaassemblywheeL .=It is also equipped'with devices for rejecting imperfectly disposed or aligned blanks or washers so that, whenthel washers and blanks reach the assembly wheel, they not only arrive at tlieproper time and ln the proper quantity, but' also in proper pdsitiont be quickly and eilicientlyassembled together. suitable 'automatic controls are vprovidedjnot'A only for i'egulavtingthel speed of delivery of 'both' the-washers and; blanks-'but also for stopping themach'inein' case'v'a foreign -part or foreign matter finds its-waill therein, or', if for any other reasonf, the machine is not functioning as it is designed todo. f f Y Fig. 1 is a perspective viewf'ofthewasher and blank assembly machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view'of part of the paths o i the washers and blanks to the assembly wheel.

Fig. 3 is a section through t3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. Vi. is a sectio'nthrough 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section through 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a-side elevationoi the assembly wheel and adjacent parts of the machine.

Fig. 'l is a perspective view of the aligning mechanism for the lock washers.

Fig. 8 is asection'through 8'8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a section through y9--9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a plan viewf of the conveying trough and track leading fron'i the under side` of the blank hopper.

Fig. 11 is a rsideelevation of the trough and track shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a section through l3-I3 of Fig. ll.

Fig. 14 is a section throng Ill-i4 of Fig. 1l.

Fig. 15 is a. section through IS-.IS of Fig. 11.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view'of the rejection mechanism in the blank track.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the assembly wheel with the upper. arcuate guide removed.

Fig. 18 is a planview of thelquill support. l

Fig. 19 is a side elevation showing the locking gate at one end of the quill.

Fig. 20 ls a right section taken through 20-20 of Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is an end view of what is shown in Fig. 19.

Fig. 22 is a section through 22-22 of Fig. 18.

Fig. 23 is a section through 23-23 of Fig. 18.

tioned washer slides down along the chute into the washer magazine 36, which may be described as the lower part of the chute 23 immediately above the assembly wheel 3.

A light steel spring ringer 31 (Fig. 7) holds the washers flat on the bottom of the washer chute while the washers are passing between the belt and the spring 34. A similar spring 38 holds down the washers as they pass out from between belt 30 and spring 34 and keeps them in position as they move dowwn toward the magazine.

If, by chance, one of the washers does not assume the position shown in Fig. 5 in relation to the washer chute and the edge 35 of the strip 25, but becomes tilted up in some manner, this would means that it would be higher than in the position shown in Fig. 5 and the clearing wheel 39 would then strike it, throwing it through a suitable opening 40 and into the discharge chute 2i, from which it will drop into the receptacle 22. At 4l is shown a suitable stop or semi-enclosure to guide the discarded washers to the opening 4il. The Washer chute or track 23 is tilted downwardly to the left as one looks in the direction of travel of the washers or downwardly to the right as seen in the opposite direction (see Fig. 9), and this serves to prevent washers which are properly aligned from falling through the opening 40.

Wheel 39 is part of a shaft 42 mounted in bearings 43 and 44' and driven by belt 45 which operates on pulleys 46 and 41. Pulley 46 is mounted on a shaft 48, to the lower end of which is keyed another pulley 49 belted to a motor 50 (Fig. 2) by belt 5l. Shaft 48 has mounted thereon a chain sprocket 52 over which runs a roller chain 53 connected to a pair of sprockets 54 and 54' (Figs. 6 and 8). Sprocket 54' is keyed to the shaft which supports pulley 32, and sprocket 54 is keyed to the shaft which supports pulley 33. In this manner, motor 5l) drives the clearing wheel 33 and also the belt 30.

After a washer passes under the clearing wheel without, interference therefrom, as shown in Fig. 9, it goes into the washer reservoir 36, which is a chute similar to chute 23, but with two strips of metal running along the top, as shown in Fig. 5 at 56 and 51. As will be seen in this gure, the strips 56 and 51 project over the path of the washers and serve to hold the washers in place as they move toward the assembly wheel.

While it is desirable, it is not essential that all of a series of split-ring washers shall have their ends against the edge 35. Therefore, in practice, it is found convenient to raise clearing wheel 39 and strips 56 and 61 above the positions where they permit the passage of those washers only whose severed ends actually contact edge 35 to a higher position so that washers which are not fully in the desirable position can nevertheless pass into the washer magazine and to the assembly wheel 3.

When a washer reaches the right or lowermost end of chute 3S (Figs. l. and 2.), it rests immediately under a pair of spaced spring fingers, shown at 58 and 59 (Fig. 1'1). These press lightly upon the trailing half of the washer and hold it in place when it is picked up by a bolt blank B on the periphery of assembly wheel 3, as described hereinafter.

Bolt blank hopper to assembly wheel Near the bottom of bolt blank hopper 2 are suitable batlies (not shown) to prevent the full weight of the blanks from being imposed upon the apparatus underneath the opening in the lowermost part of the hopper. Under this opening is positioned a. blank vibrating feeder 60 mounted upon a vibrator 6i of the same general character as vibrators 6 and I6. Feeder 60 is positioned close enough to the bottom of the hopper 2 to prevent uncontrolled 4discharge of blanks. Blank ow control is obtained by adjusting the activity of the vibrator 6I.

Feeder 60, as seen in Fig. l, is open at the right end which is positioned above a blankaligning trough 62 (Figs 10-15). The upper end of trough 62 has wide V-shaped sides 63 and 64 which taper down and separate at the bottom thereof to form a, track made up of two parallel vertically disposed rails or surfaces 65 and 66 (Figs. 12-14).

Members 65 and 66 are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the shank of the bolt blank B by means of spacing members B1 held in place by suitable bolts 68. When the blank drops from vibrator 60 into the trough 62, the V-shaped cross section thereof, as shown vin Fig. 12, serves to line up the blanks, and, as they pass downwardly and move from the trough, as shown in Fig. l2, onto that part of the blank path which is shown in Fig. 13, the blanks will arrange themselves so as to besupported on their heads between the rails 65 and 66 land then travel downwardly by gravity along these rails. The open space between the rails allows dirt and other foreign matter, such as nails, wire, and chips, to fall out of the track.

As the blanks move down along the track to a position represented by the section of Fig. l5, they approach a blank selector 13 (Figs. l0, 1l, and l5) which is designed to discard any blanks which -are not properly aligned. The operable portion 10' of this selector extends out over the tracks-65 and 66 and has a sloping face arranged at an angle of about 45 to the path of travel of the blanks and is so spaced in relation to the top of the tracks that the head of a blank disposed in proper position will pass under the selector, but a blank Which is not properly aligned or disposed in relation to the tracks will strike the selector and be pushed on through the gap 1I in track 65. In order to prevent properly aligned blanks from dropping through the openings 1l, the tracks are tilted in a clockwise direction as viewed in the direction of the path of travel of the blanks and as shown in Fig. l5, so that, as a' properly aligned blank passes under the selector 10 and across the gap 1I, it is suiliciently supported by track 66 alone, because the shank of the blank can rest against the inside wall of track 66. Discarded blanks will drop down into chute 12 (Fig. 16), from which they can be discharged into a suitable receptacle.

After the blank has passed the gap 1I in the track 65, it passes under a. top rail 13 and continues to travel along the path indicated in Fig. l on the tracks 65 and 66, down to the assembly wheel (Figs. 1, 6, and 1'1. That portion of the tracks 65 and 66 which extends upwardly from the assembly wheel 3 for a short distance may be considered the blank reservoir.

Assembly wheel Assembly wheel 3 is mounted on a shaft 60 (Figs. 25, 26) carried in suitable bearings 8| and 32. A worm wheel 83 keyed to shaft 3D is adapted to be driven by a worm 84 mounted on a shaft 86 supported in bearings 86 and 31. Shaft 85 -carries a handwheel 88 atone end thereof and adjacent thereto a .pulley 88 over whichY runs: a heitv 9.01 rwhlchis connected Yto a pulley 9|fonY the drive shalt, of. electric motor 92.

A friction clutch member Fto transmit power between wormwheel. 83 and shaft 80, together with a handwheel on the hub ot disk 3, has been used and maybe of someaid in freeing jams;

which might occur in the assembling mechanisrn.

Assembly wheel* l3 comprises a disk 94, from thai poripln'eryof. which project a number of lugs el (Figa. 6). Thefwheel- 3 is surrounded by a doublel track 901 made up of two hat plates 9T and SBMFig.. 17). spaced apart a little more than the diameter of shank of a blank B. The assembly wheel 3 movesina clockwise direction as seenin the figures. Plates 9| and 98 are creseer.'1tshaped-` in .side elevation, their inner sides. being thearc of; a circle struck 4from the center of wheel 3 `and their outer sides being curved so `that ther greatest radial width of the plateis adjacent-the enel of the washer reservoir, this` width .being selected so that, as Vthe head of the-blazrle rests-on the periphery of wheel the. other .end oftherblank will project only slightly above plates. 91., 90- at thewasher reservoirend. The wheel and'trackare so designed that when a lugsengaeesthehead of a blank at the end of theY blankreservoir, they blank is pushedliprwanzllv, the head of .the yblank pass'- ing between the lower: edges of plates 9| and Si and the periphery .of wheel!! and theshank passing betweentherlsides of plates 91 and S8. Thus' the blank will beV supported radially to wheel 3 and. carried aroundiwith it.

Consequently, asl the! upper end of the shank is. moved past the lowermost washer in the washer reservoin'the blankend will move into the: openingl of the washer and carry it out of the reservoir,;as willbe best understood from Figs. 6 and 17.

Just after. the blank engagesthe lowermcst washer and lifts it out of the Washer reservoir, the ond of the blank comes up. under a spring finger which holds the washer in place on the blank. As theblank is about to pass from under the spring finger |00, it passes under the outside assembly track Il, which is also.v made up of two spaced aaplates spacedrfar enough apart to. permit the shankorxthe blank to pass therebetween. Track |01 is curved as shown in Fig. 6, to follow the outside curvature of the crescent-shaped plates 91,. $8-, to form an outside track eccentric to the track followed by the head or. the blank. This outside track holds the washer in place on the or the blank and, as the wheel 3 rotates theblank. forces it downwardly on the shank of the. blank. until. when the assembly is discharged from the lower part of the Wheel 3, the washer is positioned adjacent the head of the blank, as seen. in Fig. 6.4

As the assembled -blank and Washer leave the assemblyY wheel, they fall onto a discharge track |021 formedas :a continuation' of the tracks around which the blank and the washer are moved by wheel 3. Track |02 is made up of a pair of rails |03 and |04, very much like the rails 65 and 66. As an assembly A, made up of a blank and washer, travels downwardly by gravity along track |02 between the-rails |03 and |04, it reaches a gap |05=in the rail |03 (Figs. 6 and 17) Opposite-the gap .|05 is a plate |06 disposed at right angles to tracks |||3ancl iii-1 and with an edge. |01 which is arranged-parallel to `track |04 andso spaced therefrom as to engage the side of l upward movement oi gate thezhead of a blankB upon which a. lockwasher hascbeen. properly assembled as said; blankand lock washer slide along track |04. Plate |06 is raised far enough above .the'top offtraek |04 so that, ifa blank withoutany washer passes down along. the discharge track.` |02; it will -pass Yunder the. edge |01 of. thezplate. |06 and, when it reaches the gap .lllssuch blank will have no support on onelsidelthereof. and will fall out through the gap |05 :to be discarded. .If, on the other hand, a blank has a washerunderneath the head thereof, the: head will be raised.- suiiiciently so that plate |06 Vwill engage the side of. the head. and, in cooperation with `track 04, fwillsupport the assemblyV until it.' has passed bcyondthe gap |05. In

order to facilitate ther dischargeof blanks having nolwashers thereon through gap 105,' a at spring |05f aidsin .pushing Atheassrmblies out through gap |05. A curved plate |08' offers' a slanting surface to a blank without a washer as it drops i rom the discharge track, to facilitate the disposal thereof through gap |05.` A top rail |08 holdsf andguides the assemblies as they slide down the [discharge track.

From the discharge track |02, the assemblies slide down into quills or magazines 4.

Quill a In the illustrative arrangement, the quills or magazines |09 into which the assemblies are discharged comprise. apair. of parallel angles which form tracks .as shown at ||0 and (Fig.,20). Theseare secured by 4suitable screws ||3 to a base I0 extending the length of the quill. A top guide l I5, supported on suitable Aimkes H6, fastened to'and Ispaced along. the'base H, is preferably adjustable vertically., by means of bolts H5', in relation to. the top of the tracks ||0 and to. allow for different thicknesses of blank heads and fwashers.

Pivotally mounted on one end of each quill or magazine is a pivoting gate made in the form of a yoke straddling the top guide H5. and pivoted thereto on bolt H8. A pin ||8- limits the A pin H8' proiectsoutwardly from theside of gate H1, and its function will be described hereafter. When a quill is in position on the quill holder, the open end willbe near the end of the discharge track |02 and the closed end,. carrying gate |I`|, near the opposite end` thereof.

When a quill is removed from the assembly machine, the gate Hl will be held by gravity in the closed position shown in Fig. 19 and will prevent the assemblies. from sliding out from that end of the quill.

A quill` shifter and. support is shown in Figs. 18, 23, and 24 and comprises a long, channeledshape frameworkl |20. upon which a pair of quills are designed: to rest side by side. The leftend of this framework, as viewed in Fig. 18, is equipped with a stop |2|, against which the gate end oi the quills may be placed. The quill support is pivoted on pin |22 carried by a xecl arm |21. O11 framework |20. above pin |22 is a cross arm S23-with three lugs |24, |25, and |26 thereon, between which a pair ot quills may be placed. The right. end vofV the quilll support, as seenV in Fig. 18, is equippedl with a similar cross arm |28' with lugs |29. |30. and |3|, between which the right end of the pair of quills may rest. A pair of ears |32 and |33 on arm' |2-0-are adapted to slide onus suitable track |34 and give support to this endof the quill carrier |20.

In operation, the quill support is designed `to carry two quills resting thereonfon arms Inland between the lugs arranged on these arms. When the machine is first put in operation, one of the empty quills is positioned in alignment with the discharge track |02 and, when this quill is filled, the quill support automatically shifts the empty quill over in alignment with the track |02 and the full quill may then be removed and replaced with 'an empty one. When the second quill is filled, the quill support is designed to shift back so that the empty quill which replaced theiirst full quill will then be in alignment with the track |02. This movement of the quill support is accomplished by means of a double solenoid |35, the plunger of which, shown at |35, is connected by a suitable rod |31 to the under side of quill support |20 (Figs. 18 and 23). Solenoid |35 is of the double type so that it can move the quill support first in one direction and then in the other direction.

During the actual movement of the quill support, it is necessary to stop the flow of assembled blanks and lock washers momentarily. Without stopping the assembly wheel, this is done by means of a finger |33 (Fig. 22) which is mounted on a pivot arm |39 so as to be superimposed above the track |02 and, when depressed, moved down to tracks |03 and |04. The right end of pivoted member |39 is loaded by a coil spring |40 tending to pull this end of the member |39 downwardly, as seen in the ligure, and thus raise the finger |38 which is attached to the opposite end of member |39. An arm |40 is designed to engage the under side of arm |39 and lir'nit its downward movement on the spring side thereof. A solenoid |4| is connected by a suitable rod |42 to member |39 between finger |33 and the pivot point |43. The operation of this solenoid will be described in detail under the subject of controls." It will be sufficient to say at this point that immediately before the solenoid |35 is energized to move the quill support either in one direction or the other, the solenoid |4| is energized and moves the stop finger downwardly to the track |02 and momentarily arrests the gravity flow of assemblies. As soon as the quill support has moved and the empty quill has taken its position at the end of track |02, the solenoid |4| is de-energlzed and spring |40 moves finger |38 upwardly and thus the assemblies are released to flow down into the empty quill.

Controls It is desirable to control the flow of blanks and washers so that the same number of each will be delivered to the assembly wheel in a given time and, in case of accident, it is desirable to stop the machine automatically. When a quill is filled with assemblies, it should be moved away from the discharge track and replaced with an empty quill. The illustrative machine is designed to perform all these functions automatically. Various control devices may be used for this purpose and the preferred form will now be described.

As the washers move down through the washer reservoir which extends from the clearing wheel 39 to the assembly wheel 3, they pass under a pivoted light spring finger |44 (Figs. l, 2, and 6l. Finger |44 is connected to a. mercury switch |45 so that, upon a very slight movement of the finger |44, switch |45 is tilted from the closed to the open position or vice versa. When there is a washer under the end of linger |44, it is lifted sufficiently to maintain the mercury switch |45 in a closed position, but when there is no: washer under this finger. it falls enough to tip the mersupplyof blanks will drop cury switch and open the circuit therethrough. Switch |45 is connected in series with the assembly driving motor 92, a similar blank feeder switch |52, and blank feeder 6| so that, when there is no washer under the spring finger |44, the circuit through the motor 92, switch |52, and blank feeder 6| is opened. In ordinary running, absence of washers is usually momentary and consequently the motor only slows down for a short interval.

Another finger-operated mercury switch is arranged on the blank feed track at |50. This is operated by means of a spring finger |5| which rests lightly upon the blank heads passing thereunder. When there is a blank head under this spring linger |5| and therefore it is raised, the mercury switch is in the off" position; that is, the switch is open. This switch controls increased activity of the blank feeder vibrating mechanism 6|. Normally, this vibrator is manually adjusted from the control panel to permit a rate of flow of blanks slightly lower than the rate at which the assembly wheel demands them. Consequently, the number of blanks in the reservoir will 'drop and at times there will be no blank under the finger |5| so that it falls, closing mercury switch |50. This completes a circuit which causes an increased supply of current to flow to the blank feeder 6| and therefore an increased into the blank aligning chute. This extra supply of blanks again raises the nger |5| and opens the circuit through switch |50, thus cutting off the increased supply of current to the vibrator 6|, permitting it to function in accordance with the normal manual control adjustment.

It has been found nearly impossible to adjust the flow of blanks and washers so that exactly the same number are fed to the assembly wheel. Therefore the manual adjustment of the machine is such that fewer blanks than washers are fed to the wheel, but the difference is taken care of by this automatic feed which produces an additional number of blanks sufficient to maintain the assembly wheel supplied with a supply of blanks equal to the supply of washers.

Lower down on the blank reservoir is positioned mercury switch |52 controlled by a spring finger |53 which also rests on the heads of the blanks passing along the blank reservoir. This switch is very much like switch |45 because it is maintained in a closed position as long as the finger |53 is raised by the blank heads, but when the supply of blanks drops to the point where the spring finger |53 falls, then switch |52 is opened. It is in circuit with motor 92 and therefore will stop the assembly wheel 3.

Quill control mechanism The mechanism for controlling the shifting oi the quills is shown in Figs. 25 and 26 and includes cams operate'd from shaft 80 on which the assembly wheel 3 is mounted. At that end of shaft 80 which is opposite to the end upon which assembly wheel 3 is mounted, a pinion |55 meshes with gear |55 on shaft |51. Shaft |51 is mounted in suitable bearings |58 and |59 and carries a worm |50 designed to mesh with a worm wheel |6| which is on a transverse shaft |52 which operates in bearings |53 and |64. On this shaft |52 are mounted four cams |55, |56, |58, and |50 de# signed to close spring-loaded electric switches |10, Ill, and |12.4 The last two cams are mounted apart on disk |61.

The electrical connection of switches |10, ITI,

and |12 will be descnbed in detail with the 'circuit diagram (Fig. 27). .It is isulicient to say here 'that the gear ratio `between shaftvi) and shaft |62 is such that-il9 assemblies are permitted to slideinto an empty quill and then. through the medium of the timing-mechanism just described, solenoid 1|85-ls energized so as to shift the quill support to takethe filled quill out of alignment with the discharged -track `|112 and bring an empty quill into alignment '-therewith. The stop finger |38 isdepressed shortly' before and during the shifting operation by solenoid |4| and subsequently released. This is accomplished by the abovedescribed timing mechanism.

Frame The Ivarious elements of the machine which have been described are assembled and arranged upon a suitable framework which comprises essentially a flat top |15 supported upon four legs |16; 111.118, and'HQ, which can be conveniently mede of angle iron'as shown. The vibrators 6 and 6| are mounted on the fiat top |15 and the hoppers and 2 are supported on angle iron legs resting thereon. Two of such flegs fcrfhopper are shown at |88 and 18|, and-two such legs for supporing hopper 2.are shown at |82 and 183. A projecting horizontal channel |84 serves to support the assembly wheel and the various parts leading Athereto and connected therewith. This channel is supported on legs |'|iil and |11 and projects therefrom as acantilever beam.

Flat table l|875 is designed toreceive thereon a suitable ,panel board Vfor mounting' the' selector switches and controls. This board is not shown because it forms no part of the present invention and, although it may be conveniently mounted on table |85, it may also be mounted any place else on the machine or any place near the machine.

Electric circuits Looking at Fig. ZLlines |90 and Si connect with a. source-of power such as the `commonly usedy 11G-volt alternatingfcurrent. connected to line |99 and earriescurrent to an adjustable rheostat |53 which is connected in series by meansof wireisii to the aligning` belt andclezring wheel drive motor 5,9. A hand switch ,|95 is designed to 4:nain: or break the circuit through-motor 5t.

A double throw hand switch |96 controls the current .passing `through the main lines |90 and 19| to the other partsfoi the electrical system of the assembly machine. 'The main line connes tions from power lines lili)` and liliare shown at i90 and lili'. From4 these lines the various pieces of electric equipment receive their current.

The blank feeder E is designed to be vibrated by the vibratorl 6| which `is connected through a lectier |91, an adjustable resistance |89, and a hand switch 189 to power line mil. The other side of the vibrator is connected to power line |81 through wire 2F80 and switch |135.

Washer vibrator is actuated by vibrator 6 connected on one side to powerline |96' through rectifier 20|, adjustable resistance 2v2, and hand switch 203, and on the other side to power line 59|"through wire-20L The washer feeder 9 is agitated by vibrator 1B which is connected to power line |90 through rectier 2M, adjustable resistance 226 and hand 4switch' 201, and on the other side to power line IBI' through Wire 203.

Mercury switch H-ls connected in series with Wire- |82 is s resistance 269 (approximately `the resistance of 1| 98)A :and both *the Switch |50 and resistance 209 areconnectediinparailelwith resistance |98 through lines 2|0 and 2| I. As4 pointed out heretofore-switch #Sil` is designed to remain open when there is a 4blank under its spring finger |5|, but when Athe supply of blanksfails so low that there areno'blanks under this switch, the finger i5 will drop, the -switch `will close, and additional current wili'pass (to vibrator-6|, agitating the blank feeder 'iiil'morerapldly and thus feeding more blanks. Mereuryswitch |52 is connected in series thrcughwvire' 242 with assembly motor-92 and this 4in turn is connected to rheostat 2H by line 2|6. Thefother side of rheostat 2|l is connected to :power line through hand switch 2 3 by meansofwires 2li! and 2H. The other side of switch |52 .is connected by wire 2 i5 tomercury switch |45 and vibrator 6|. One side of switch H515 connected to power line |5i bylwire 21'6.

Normally, with a` sufficient suppivof-washers under'swibchli'd-this switchrcmainsciosed and likewise switchl52 remains closed'when there are blanks: thereunder. .When both of these are clos'edrmotor 92 is connected into the circuit; and operates. thon the otherhanm the supply of mshersfallsso-'low -that there are none unider switch! fifrthen i assembly motor w92 and mank feeder El: will be `rlis sm1nectecil from "the source of pow-er. Opening of 'switch |52 will disconnect mntorszinn/ly.

' Fig; shnws `the electric circuit diagram for the-quill shifting mechanism.'4 The power lines are ashownat 22ni'and'22I. 'These maybe' connected intoithe power lines '|90 and |Si, asshown 1x1-Fig.- 2'7. 'A hand'switch' 222 serves to connect andidisoonnect .the electrical 'part of the -quill shlftingmechanism with or from the source of power. Shaft |f62 'is geared to assembly Wheel 3 through -s'ultable reduction gears, as shown 'in Figff. 'Y'Phe shaft carries-cams |55, I'BG.' |68, and TISS. 1 Cam |65 operateselectric yswitch |70. Canilfitloperates-switch 11|, and cams |68 and |69 alternately operate switch |72 upon rotation of shaft |62. Switch |12 is connected in series by-vvirev 223with Solenoid MI and to the power iinenil by wire 224. "The other side of solenoid |41l is connected by wire 225 to power line 22|. It'w'ill'thus be seen that solenoid 14| is activated when switch |12 is closed and this is aoco-Inl plished by cams |68 and .159, twice in each revolution of shaft |62.

Shaft 162 is so geared to assembly wheel 3 that; enough blank assemblies are permitted to move past the stop finger |38 to'll one quill and then switch |12 is closed and solenoid 14| pulls down thefngeri'l' to arrest` the flow of assembly blanks from'the discharge track of the machine into thequlll.

` Switch |11, which is designed to be closed by cam' |66, is connected in series by wire 226 with coil g of double solenoid |35. The other side ofthisjcolts connected to the power line 220 by wire'zl. When cam |66 closes switch I 1|, coil lilalsactivated and moves the qulllsupport 4from sone side to theother. .Coll |351), which forms theouter side .of..thedouble solenoid |35. is connected Vinsserles.with switch |10 4'through 4wre2`2 .andftbe other! sident the coll is connetted. .to the power line. 22| through entrey 228. The otherislde lof switch .i 101s connected to. power linelsbyl wlre.23|l. Inmig- A28 switch |12 is shown @inserisco that coll JIborsolenoid v.|35 is activated.

Quill adapter for thread rolling machine Figs. 29, 30, and 31 show quill adapter 235 bolted to a thread-rolling machine 238 by means of bolts 231.

A full quill |09 is shown inserted in the quill adapter 235 so that the track H0 of the quill is lined up with track 238 of the thread-rolling machine. The quill adapter consists of two angularly disposed members 239 and 249 joined together and braced by means of support 244. Member 239 has a channel 242 (Fig. 30) on the upper surface thereof.

Projecting over the edges of this channel are strips 243 and 244 attached to member 239 by bolts 24B. The channel and strips form a guideway adapted to receive quill |09. Secured to the upper side of strip 244 is a right angle arm 245. This may be held in place by bolt 24E,

Secured to the top of member 245 and projecting at right angles therefrom is a spring nger 241 which is designed to engage pin H8 of the quill gate Ill, so as to cause said gate to open by pivoting about bolt I IB when the quill |09 is forced downwardly into the quill adapter 235. Pin H9 on the guard H5 will limit the upward movement of the gate lll. When the gate I I1 is moved upwardly as seen in Fig. 29, the blank assemblies are free to flow by gravity from the quill |09 onto the track 23B of the threadrolling machine.

In operating the assembly machine in conjunction with a number of thread-rolling machines, it has been found convenient for the operator of the assembly machine to remove the full quills and hang them on a convenient rack where they can be readily obtained by the operator of the thread-rolling machines. When a quill is hanging on a rack, the open end will be upward and the gate Ill will be closed. When the threadrolling machine operator wishes to insert another quill, it is only necessary for him to remove the empty one from the quill adapter and insert a new one, gate foremost, therein. As the quill is pressed down into its inal resting place in the adapter, the spring 241 opens the gate II'I and the assemblies flow into the thread-rolling machine. In this manner, the cycle of operation may continue, with the operator of the assembly machine filling the empty quills and placing them on a suitable rack or other receptacle for the use of the operator of a. thread-rolling machine and the latter in turn returning the empty quills to the operator of the assembly machine.

It is contemplated that where the word "blank is used in the claims, it shall include headed,

threaded elements, such as bolts and screws, and where the words non-circular washers" are used it is intended to include all types of washers except the plain annular type.

While I have shown the invention as embodied in a speclc form, it is to be understood that various changes in details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as dened by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an assembly machine of the class described, a `:vheel having a wide peripheral edge against which the heads of bolts are adapted to abut, a circular member surrounding said wheel and spaced from the edge thereof sufficiently to admit the heads of bolts as they are located between said edge and said member, spaced projections on the periphery of said wheel, said projections spaced considerably more than the diameter of a bolt blank head apart around the periphery of said wheel, means for guiding the headed blank into the path of said projections With the shank of the blank extending away from the center of the wheel, said projections adapted to engage the heads of bolts and carry them with the movement of the wheel, means for holding a washer at an angle to the path of travel of the outer end of the blank as it is moved by one of said projections and positioned across the path of said outer end.

2. In an assembly machine of the character described, an assembly wheel, projecting lugs spaced apart around the periphery of said wheel, spaced tracks surrounding said assembly wheel, inner edges on said tracks spaced from the periphery of said wheel only a sufficient distance to permit bolt blank heads to travel between said edges of the tracks and the periphery of the Wheel while holding said blanks in a, substantially radial position in relation to the center of said wheel, outside edges to said tracks formed in the shape of an arc so that one end thereof is further from the center of the assembly wheel by about the length of a bolt blank than the other end is, outside tracks cooperating with the last-mentioned tracks and last-mentioned edges thereof to form a space therebetween suilicient to accommodate a washer and permit it to move therebetween when mounted on the shank of a bolt blank and because of the arcuate shape of the space between the two last-mentioned tracks to cause said washer to move from the unheaded toward the headed end of the blank as the blank is rotated on the periphery of the assembly wheel.

NORMAN V. KUEHLMAN.

Images