US2646087A - Magazine stock reel - Google Patents

Description

.July 21, 1953 A. H. JOBERT MAGAZINE STOCK REEL Filed Oct. 1, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ARTHUR H. JOBERT W4MTMM INVENTOR mmv ATTORNEYSv FIG. 4.

y 1953 A. H. JOBERT 2,646,087

r MAGAZINE STOCK REEL Filed Oct. 1. 1949 5 Sheei-Sheet z IINVENTOR Mk FTUR hf JET H w f' ATTORNEYS July 21, 1953 A. H. JOBERT MAGAZINE STOCK REEL 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledOGt. 1. 1949 INVENTQR ARTHUR H. JOBERT BY TM ATTORNEYS July 21, 1953 A. H. JOBERT MAGAZINE STOCK REEL 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 1, 1949 FIG. 8.

FIG. 9.

2/5 mvz u i' c m' ART/ ll It JOBERT ATTORNEYS July 21, 19.53 A. H. JOBERT MAGAZINE STOCK REEL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR, ARTHUR H- JOBERT nrroR/vzys Filed Oct. 1, 1949 reel of Fig. 1;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Arthur H. Jobert, New Britain, Conn., assignor to The New Britain Machine. Company, New Britain, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application October 1, 1949, Serial No. 119,072

2'7 Claims.

My invention relates to automatic stocking means for bar machines and is in the nature of an improvement over the disclosures in my Patent 2,320,039, issued May 25, 1943, and inmy copending patent application Serial No. 22,655, filed April 22, 1948.

It is an object'of the'invention to provide an improved device of the character indicated.

It is another object to provide an improved automatic magazine for a stock reel to supply a bar machine. 7

It is another object to provide an improved automatic stock-feeding means for a multiplespindle bar machine.

Itis a further object to provide an improved .feed mechanism for a bar-feeding device. 7

It is a specific object to provide an improved magazine and loading mechanism for adapting a'device of the character indicated to the handling of a plurality of sizes of bar stock.

It is another specific object to provide an improvedreel construction for a device of the characterzindicated.

Still another specific object is to provide an automatic stock-bumping mechanism.

It is a general object to meet the above objects with a construction featuring the high-speed handling of materials and yet providing a maximum of safety features, as far as the operator and as far as the machine are concerned.

. Other objects and variousf-urther features of novelty and invention Will be pointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only, a preferred form of the'invention:

Fig. 1 is a partly broken-away and partly sectionalized side elevation of an-automatic stockreel mechanism incorporating features of the invention and shown in application to a bar machine, which may be a multiple-spindle bar machine, the view being taken from the operator's side; 3

Fig. 2 is a left-end view of the automatic stock Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary partly sectionalized view of certain elements in the feed mechanism of the stock reel of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of parts shown in Fig. 3, the view being taken from the left side of the elements shown in Fig. 3, as-in the plane 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in partial section of an automatic device featured in the combination of Fig. 1; Y

(Cl. BIO-126.1)

Fig. 6 is a more or less left-end view of the assembly of Fig. 5, as taken in the plane 6-6 0 Fig. 5; I

Fig. 6a is a fragmentary view in the plane Ga-45a of Fig. 6;

Fig. 11 is afragmentary right-end view of the 7 reel of Fig 10;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional'view in the plane l2-|2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary top view of a part of the reel of Fig. 10, as viewed from l3-l3; and

Fig. 14 is a, sectional view substantially in the plane l4|4 of Fig. 13.

Briefly stated, my invention contemplates an improved automatic stocking means for a bar machine. The mechanism may be adapted to multiple-spindle bar machines and in such event may incorporate a magazine-fed stock reel. My improved construction provides means for readily adjusting various parts of the reel and of the loading mechanism associated therewith, so as to accommodate a variety of sizes (that is, diameters) of stock to be fed. Also, means may be provided to assure that, whatever the size of stock for which appropriate adjustment has been made, such stock may be automatically accom modated and fed with the same relative ease and efficiency. Recognizing the practical fact that standard pieces of bar stock may vary in length over a considerable range, my improved mechanism contemplates acceptance of a variety of stock lengths within given limits of length variation.

My construction further contemplates 'improvements in the feeding mechanism, whereby, if the stock being fed should encounter an obstruction, as when the normal stockfeeding or pusher force is insufiicient to ram the stock through the back end of the feed fingers of the bar machine, then the feeding mechanism will be'automatically reversed (or at least halted) in order to permit a bumping operation.-"- In-the specific form to be described, I have provided an automatic hammer or bumping-out mechanism in the pusher means; in the case of a hydraulically fed mechanism, such hammer may be effective automatically, upon a rise in feed pressure to a given extent above the normal feed pressure. In a preferred form, however, the automatic bumping-out may not be possible without a deliberate manual operation by the operator, as by his pushing an electric button; in this connection, I have further provided improved safety means, whereby the automatic bum-ping mechanism may neverbump a piece of stock hard against the stock stop, even though the operator may negligently have failed to remove his deliberate manual control of the bump- 7 ing operation.

In a preferred adaptation of my improved stock-reel mechanism to a multiple-spindle bar machine, I have provided improved means for automatically initiating a stock-feeding operation at the correct index position of the multiplespindle machine, and if it is desired that stock feeding should not proceed automatically whenever a spindle is ready for a new bar of stock, then my mechanism may provide the desirable feature of setting itself up in correct condition, in readiness for a simple manual operation to start stock feeding. In this connection, various further safety features are provided.

Referring to the drawings, my invention is shown in application to an automatic stock-reel mechanism mounted at the rear of the spindle end of a multiple-spindle bar machine. In Figs. 1 and 3, only the rear frame member of the bar machine is shown, but it will be understood that the bar machine may be of the same general type shown in greater detail in the aboveidentified copending application. The machine 28 may include a plurality of rotatable spindles having hollow collets or chucks to receive bar stock fed internally through therear ends thereof. All spindles may be cradled in a spindle carrier, the rear end of which is fragmentarily shown in Fig. 1, as at 2 I. The principal automatic functions of the bar machine may be governed by a camshaft 22 upon which may be mounted the main feed cam (not shown) and the driving parts of the indexing mechanism for the spindle carrier 2|. The shaft 22 will thus be understood to pro vide a means whereby the spindle carrier 2| may be indexed in synchronism therewith.

The stock-reel and feeding mechanism may be incorporated in a separate assembly comprising a plurality of spaced housing members. In the present case, I have shown a rear frame member 23, a central frame member 24, and a front frame member 25, and it will be understood that, depending upon the required length of the stockreel assembly, the same or'a greater number of housing members may be employed. The various housing or frame members 23-2 3-25 may rest directly upon the floor, and, in order t provide for accurate leveling and alignment with the machine 20,- adjustable pedestal legs, as at 26 for the frame members 24-45, may be employed. The housing members 23-2,425 may be rigidly held in longitudinally spaced relation by suitable clamping to longrons or bars 21,

some or all of which may also project forwardly of the stock-reel mechanism for firm anchorage at the rear of the bar machine 20. A protective sheet or cover 28 may surround the main working parts of the stock-reel mechanism for safety purposes.

,Each of the spider members 29 of the stock reel may be peripherally recessed at uniformly angu larly spaced positions 32, depending upon the number of spindles to be served by the stock reel, and in order to give maximum support to bars of stock within the reel, longitudinally extending generally U-shaped liners 33 may be carried in the various recesses 32. The location of the liners inthe stock reel is preferably such that, when the stock in a particular liner is at the loading station, the center of such stock may rest in alignment with the spindle center to be served thereby.

Since the stock supported in parts of the various liners 33 will be more or less continuously rotating with the spindle in which such stock is held, there will necessarily be wear of the liners, and I have provided a liner construction wherein replacement of the liners or parts thereof may be a relatively simple operation.

Each full length of liners 33 may be longitudinally divided into a plurality of parts, as into parts 33"-33". The first part 33 may span the length between the rear and center reel-spider members 29, and the length 33 may span the length between the center and front spider members 29. Each of the liner parts 3333 may be formed with retaining lugs welded in place on the sides thereof, and such lugs may be so disposed as to engage longitudinal recesses 34 in the spider members 29. In the case of the liner 33, lugs 35 engage the recess 34 in the rear spider frame 29, while lugs 36 engage the rear half of the corresponding recess 34 in the center spider member 29. Assembly may be made in a rearward sliding movement of the liner part 33' relatively to the frame members 29, as by first inserting the lugs 36 in the recess 34 of the center spidermember 29 and by then locating the lugs 35 in the rear spider member 29. A retaining lug 3! on the bottom of liner part 33' may serve to'limit such rearward inserting sliding movement.

After thus assembling the liner part 33' to the reel frame, the forward liner part 33" may be similarly inserted. In the latter case, it will be clear that lugs 38 on liner 33" may slide into the recesses 34 of the middle spider member 29, and that the lugs 39 may engage the recesses 34 of the forward spider member 29. A simple springpressed detent Ml including a short projection 4| may be carried by the forward spider member 29 for coaction with a suitable recess or opening in the bottom of the liner 33" in order to retain the liner parts assembled on the stock reel. It will be appreciated that my arrangement of forward and rear liner halves may provide a simple means for liner replacement; removal and replacement may be accomplished at the loading station, without removing the reel.

As has been indicated generally above, my stock reel is adaptable tostock of a number of different diameters. The liner 33 closely fits the recess 32 so that the side of the liner 33 essentially determines the maximum size of stock accommodated by the reel. For smaller sizes of stock, it is desirable that substantially the same stock-centerat'the spindle-loading station. For such smaller sizes of stock I provide further insertable liner means, as in the case of the liner 42, which may have a forward half 42 and a rear half 42'. g

. In order to maintain correct work-centeringfor a smaller stock size, :as within the insertable liner 42, each ofthe liner parts 42' preferably includes of the insertable liners 42, each liner 42'-42" may include spaced latching means to be resiliently engaged and held in place. In the form shown, such latching means includes a fixed part 7 or lateral projection 45 which may be formed integrally with the spacer lugs 44. The latching projections it. may be insertable in transverse guide slots 41 formed in the walls of the outer liner 3t, and spring-catch members in the form of appropriately bent strips 48 may engage the latch projections 46. In Fig. 14, the latch provjection is shown projecting through a keeper opening in the resilient latching strip 48, for a rigid anchoring of the liner 42' in place. It will .be clear that the described construction makes possible quick insertion at any index station, merely by pushing liners 4242 into liners 33'3'3 until the spring catches 48 engage projections 46. Inorder to remove the insertable liners 42 -42, as when it is necessary to accommodate a diiTerent size of stock, the outward- .ly bent ears 49 of the latch member 48 may be engaged and pried open, as by the fingers or with a screw driver or the like, and one or the other or both of the liners 4242" may be merely lifted out.

It will be appreciated that at all stations exing positions be maintained, so that stock may i be properly aligned with the spindles, particularly cept the loading station, the bars of stock will be rotating with the spindles in which they are held, and the unconsumed lengths of such' stock may project out the back frame 20 of the bar machine and may rotate within liner 33. To

prevent whip of this long end of stock, I provide an antifriction supporting means therefor, and in the form shown free idler rollers are supported by frame members 24-25 in position effectively to close off all downwardly and lat erally open liners 33. If desired, further antifriction supportmay be provided by rollers 5| mounted on a yoke 52, suspended between frame members E i-25 and upon longrons 2i, It will be appreciated that, as long as suitable liners 33 or liner inserts 152 have been inserted in accordance with the diameter of stock to be accommodated by the reel, the rollers 505l may, without replacement or adjustment, provide appropriate antifriction anti-whip support for long, and as yet unconsumed chucked bars.

In the form shown, the magazine for loading the stock reel is effective to drop a new bar of stock into an empty liner 33 whenever the mechanism senses that an empty liner 33 is at the station just preceding the feed-out station, at which stock is fed to the spindle. As disclosed in the aforementioned patent, the magazine for supplyingstock to the stock reel may comprise an open inclined mouth, as defined between means for separating each .bar of stock to befed and for allowing only the separated bar to be dropped into an empty liner 33. .Such means contemplates appropriate support for the piece of stock which must next be dropped into the reel, the support being such that, no matter what the size of stock, one and only one piece ofstock will be fed in any one magazine-loading opera- -tion. My novel supporting means may be applied at each of the frame members 23-2425, and, for the case of frame member 24, is shown to include a pocket for segregating the bar 60 from the bars which are to be dropped later. The bottom of the pocket may be defined by an adjustably positionable bar rest 58 (see Fig. 4) having a cupped end with a slightly upwardly projecting toe portion 59, which toe portion may serve to support or to retain one side of: the bar so next to be dropped out of the magazine.

The bar rest 58may be pivotally supported with respect to the frame, as by means of a bolt 6!, which may be tightened against the frame after the position of the rocker bar rest 58 has been determined. Longitudinally between the rocker bar rest 58 and the frame member E i, I have provided a stop-plate member 62 which may be clamped against the frame member 25, as by bolts 63 and SI, and which may serve to provide a second support for the bar. 60 and to define the left side of the pocket (i. e. left, in the sense of Fig. 4). The stop-plate member 82 may be guided (preferably in the direction of slope of the magazinejaws 5555) by means of slots 64 formed therein. A bolt 65 may be threaded in the stop plate 82 and may pass through a slot 65 in the rocker bar rest 58, in order effectively to link or to coordinate the adjusted movements of plate 62 and of bar rest 58.

It will be appreciated that when the bolts 5l-63- 55 are slackened, a, sliding motion of the stopplate 62 may effectively crank the rocker bar rest 58 and raise or lowerthe toe portion 59 thereof. coincidentally, the front generally upstanding edge Si of the stop plate 62 may be positioned so as to provide a second point of support for the bar of stock which must next'be dropped out of the magazine. The preferred relationship of the pivotal and cranking centers 6l65 of the rocker bar rest 58 and of the too 59 (of the rocker bar rest 58) and-of the front edge 6? (of the stop plate 62) is such that the locus of contact points between the bar 69 which is just to be dropped out of the magazine and the next bar 68 to be dropped out is (more or less regardless of stock diameter) always essentially in the same inclined plane, this plane for actuating rocker or lever means.

with the block 18.

Q e'rally transverse of the direction of adjustable movement of plate 62) positioning of the toe 59 of rocker bar rest 58, is shown in phantom outline in Fig. 4, for the accommodation of stock 60 of smaller diameter.

In order to promote the effectiveness of my means for dropping a bar of stock Gil from the magazine and into the stock reel, I employ a spring-urged cam plunger having a normal forward position (as shown) andheld therein barstock 59 with an ever-increasing downwardly directed ejecting force, as will be clear.

"The operation of the plunger 69 for dropping the bar 50 out of the magazine and into the .reel may be essentially the same as that described in the above mentioned patent. Such mechanism may include a rocker lever 13 pivoted .as at is in the frame member is and having a cranked slide-block pivotal connection, as at T5, The lever means may include two arms fly-75%, both of which are shown clamped to a rocker shaft H. The cranked end of arm l6" may carry a block 18 to be actuated in the event that a vacant or empty liner 3% is presented at the magazine dropout station. 1

Normally, there is stock in all positions, and actuation of plunger 69 is only required when a reel position becomes empty. The plunger 69 may be driven from the main camshaft 22 of the bar machine, so as to be possibly actuable between each indexing operation of the bar ma.- chine; I have shown crank or eccentric means 86 mounted on the main camshaft 22 to establish this relation with the main camshaft 22. The crank or eccentric 80 may drive an actuating rod 8| having normally a. lost-motion relation To determine limits of such lost motion, I have provided spaced collars ,82,83 on the rod 85, and the spacing between collars 82-83 is greater than the effective thick ness of the block ":8 to the extent of the lost motion. The block 13 may also carry a transversely rockable lever block 8d, pivoted at 85; the effective width of the lever block M, at least in the vicinity of the rod 8 5, preferably corresponds to just less than the lost motion of rod 8| in block 18. The lever block 8d may be notched,

.as at 86, so that when cranked clockwise (with respect to the position shown in Fig. 3) the notch 86 may receive or hug the rod 8!, and the main body of the lever block 8% may serve substantially to eliminate the described lost motion. When positioned to eliminate the lost motion, it will be clear that a cranking operation of the eccentric 80 may operate the cranks and levers 53-16 and may force the projection and a retraction of plunger 89 in order to drop the next bar of stock 60 out of the magazine and into an empty liner 33.

In order that the bar 6% may drop only when an empty stock liner 33 is in the magazine-loading position, I provide means responsive to a condition representing an empty liner, such means being effective to produce a clockwise cranking of the lever block 3 3 and therefore to make possible a feeding operation of the plunger 69. Such means may include an arm or finger member 88 pivoted to the frame 25, as at 94, and including a downwardly depending portion 90.

' The member 88 may normally rest *upon a bar of stock 9|, if such bar 9! should be in a liner 33 at the magazine-loading station, and it will be seen that the arcuate lower surface of member 88-96 ma serve to keep member 88-98 in a raised position continuously (including during indexing) so long as the liner 33 is not empty. A tie-rod 92 may effectively connect the finger 83 with the lever block 84. It will be appreciated that, if, upon an indexing operation, an empty i liner 33 should be presented at the magazineloading station (as will occur when the liner Q3 of Fig. 4 is advanced into the magazine-loading station, with the next indexing operation), then the finger 83 will be allowed to drop, and the lever block 3 1 will be cranked into a position effectively blocking off lost motion of rod 8| with respect to lever 26''. Therefore, when the finger 88 has dropped, the rod 8! may produce a useful actuation of the plunger E59 so as to drop the next bar of stock 5t into the pocket of empty liner 93,

as will be clear.

It frequently happens that bars of standard diameter may not be of uniform length and that variations in stock length may account for virtua'lly the-entire longitudinal spacing between the stock-reel frame or housing and the rear frame member 20 of the bar machine. It will be appreciated that, whether the piece of stock is relatively short or relatively long, it is desirable not to drop a new bar of stock out of the magazine until the remaining chucked bar has been consumed to a point where it is safe to drop in a new bar. To provide for the eventuality of non-uniform lengths of stock, I employ duplicate longitudinally spaced means responsive to the presence of a bar at the stock-feeding station; in the present form such means involves twin finger members 8'3, as shown in Fig. 3. Both finger members 88 may be mounted on a common rocker shaft 94, and one of the finger members 83 may be positioned relatively closely to the front frame member 25 of the stock-reel housing, while the other finger member 88 may be located close to the rear frame 2d of the machine being fed. As shown by the phantom outlines of bars of stock in Fig. 1, I prefer that all bars loaded into the magazine shall be of a length to project over the left hand finger member 88 (in the sense of Fig. 3) and in no event to project beyond the right-hand finger member 88. It will be appreciated that as a piece .of stock is consumed in the multiple-spindle machine, the right-hand finger memberwill continue to guard against the feeding of a new bar into the stock reel for a particular reel pocket or liner, until the stock has been consumed to a point where it is safe to drop into the liner a piece of stock of the maximum expected length.

In addition to the various described safety features associated with my magazine loading mechanism, I have provided a further safety device to assure against machine operation, and in particular to assure against any indexing operaframe member, such as the member 24, and I prefer to locate another similar probe-finger Having dropped'bars of stockjsuch as the bar nections.

circuit will be more fully ex- 60, from the magazine into such of the stock' A liners 33 as may have been empty or vacant, my machine must then wait until the last usable length of otherwise consumed stock has been finished at a particular working station. Having consumed the last usable length, the remaining piece is useless and must be discarded, and automatic means may be employed to condition the machine spindle to receive a new length of stock from the stock-reel mechanism. In accordance with the disclosure in the above identified copending application, such means may employ mechanism responsive to the loss of grip of the feed fingers (not shown) on the consumed stock; it will be appreciated that, when this event occurs, a rack I02 may be raised so as to rotate an arm I33 about a rocker shaft I04 in order to release a trip-latch mechanism for temporarily disabling the drive to the main camshaft 22 of the machine. The trip latch may comprise a pawl member I05 resiliently urged by a spring I93 into seated relation with one of two steps ID'II08 on a latching member I39.

It will be appreciated that, when the rack mem' ber I92 is raised, as when the last usable piece of stock has been consumed and when thefeed fingers are unable to feed the stock any further, the latch member I 05 may be dislodged from its latch relation with the step I31, and the latch member I09 may be moved by spring *means H3 (to be more fully'described) into an unlatched seated relationwith the step I08. When unlatched, said mechanism (which is to be more fully described) may stop the main camshaft" 22 with the exhausted spindle in the loading station and with thhe collet or chuck thereof open and, therefore, conditioned for removal of the useless butt and for reception of a newly fed bar.

At the feed-out station, my stock-reel mech' anism employs pusher means which may include an ofiset head or arm I II mounted upon a longitudinally movable drawbar II2. Various means for advancing and for otherwise controlling the position of the drawbar II2 may be employed, but in the form shown I use a hydraulic feed.

The hydraulic feed mechanism is shown to include a cylinder II3 which may extend longitudinally from the rear frame member 23 to and through the central frame member 24. A piston II i maybe propelled within the cylinder IE3, and a'stem or piston rod II 5 extends through a suitable gland or packing relation with a crosshead III. The drawbar II2 may also be fastened to the crosshead II'I, and,

for alignment stability, I prefer that the crosshead shall include a for}; orotherwise suitably formed guide portion H3 to be guided, as by a guide bar IE9. Exhaust fluid from the stem end of the cylinder II3 may be returned to the hydraulic supply system 'via a longitudinally'extending pipe I29, and I have employed a cylinder- I I 6 into driving reel frame member 25 may include a largeenough opening I23 to permit the crosshead to pass thr0ug h, so that the full movement ofthe crosshead Ill (and therefore of the pusher I II) may be substantially half the length of stockreel mechanism, plus substantially the space between the stock-reel frame member 25 and the rear frame 2o of the multiple-spindle machine. For a proper guided support of the pusher I II and of the drawbar H2, I may employ another guide member I25 which may more or less resemble the crosshead III. The member I25 may be keyed to the draw-bar, as at the boss portion I23 thereof, and the boss portion I27 may have a sliding fit over the outer surface of the cylinder H3. For stability, aguide fork I28 may ride the outer surface of the hydraulic return pipe I23. seen that I prefer that the guide member. I25

be mounted on the drawbar II2 as close as pos pusher. The valve I33 may be electrically actuated by a solenoid I34, and for purposes of description it will be understood that in the down position of the solenoid I34' (as shown in Figs. 1, 2,-and 9), the valve I33 passes pressurized fluid through its outlet port I35 and via pipe I36 to the rear end of the cylinder I I3, for a stocka feeding displacement of the pusher III. At the same time, valve I33 establishes an exhaust flow connection from the return pipe I29 via line I3! to the sump. When the solenoid I 34 is energized, the reverse connections obtain, and pressurized fluid will be understood to be fed via pipes I37 and I20 to the stem end of the cylinder I13, While exhaust fluid is driven off the rear end of the cylinder for a return to the-sump by way of line I36. The valve means I33 will be understood to incorporate safety means in the form of a pressure-relief valve to spill pressurized fluid to the sump, should the pressure exceed a given safe limit; in the form shown, adjustment of the safety-relief pressure may be made at I33.

As indicated generally above, I have provided means whereby the forward stroke of the pusher III may be interrupted and, if necessary, reversed, should sustained abnormal resistance to pushing be encountered' Such means may be viewed as a mechanism for quickly accomplishing-the desired feeding function, or in certain cases it may be viewed as a further safety feature. It will be understood that the force normally required to push a bar may be only that necessary to overcome friction of the bar in its liner. Of course, burrs may cause transiently greater friction so that there may be some fluc-' tuation in the force required to push a bar from ing the new stock into the rear end of the feed Referring to Fig. 1, it will be fingers (not shown) of the machine 20, theremaybe a momentarily greater demand for feeding" pressures. My improved mechanism will effectively ignore such transients .in the feeding force or pressure, but should the stock become jammed hard against the feed fingers, or for that matter jammed hard in any other position, my mechanism will automatically stop the feed and,.in the form shown, effect a reversal, that is, a retraction of the pusher III.

My safety or reversing mechanism may be pressure-operated and utilize pressures developed at the rear or feeding end of the cylinder II3. In utilizing such pressures, I have made a connection to the feed chamber of the valve I33, as by means .of a line I40 (see Figs. 1 and 5), and this line may extend along the framework of the stock-reel mechanism and to the safety mechanism which hasbeen built into the triplatch I05-I'09 mounted on the inside of the rear-frame member 26 of the bar machine. The safety mechanism is shown in detail in Figs. 5, 6, and '1, and it will be seen to provide essentially a dashpot-governed resetting of the latch mechanism I05--I09.

Latch-resetting may be effected by swinging a toggle from a position in which the spring IIO resiliently holds an-unlatched-positionto aposition in which the same spring IIO resiliently holds alatched relation. The toggle elements may include an arm I4! to be actuated from the position shown in Fig. '1 to the position shown in Fig. 6. The arm I4! may carry a pin I42 to be engaged for actuation, and at the upper end the arm I4I may carry a pivoted boss I43 forming part of thetoggle mechanism and receiving compressional abutment ofthe spring H0. The other part of the togglemay comprise another arm I44, mounted on the same stud or pin I45 as the arm I4I. The arm I44 may carry a pivoted boss member I46, and a guide pin for the spring IIO may be sup-ported in the boss I46 for guided reciprocation in the boss I43. The toggle arm I44 may be formed as a part of the latch member I98, but in the form shown these are separate members which are dogged, as at I41. It will be appreciated that when actuated into the latched position shown in Fig. 5, the

spring III) may hold the toggle arm-7 MI in a leftward or counterclockwise position while urging the toggled arm I44 to the right or in a clockwise position. When actuated to the right as shown in Fig. '1, the arm I4! may hold spring [I 50 as to position the toggled arm I44 in the left or counterclockwise position, or at ,leastin a position in which latch member I09 is urged against the latching pawl I05.

The dash-pot action for shifting the described toggle mechanism from an unlatched position to a latched position (in which latched position the spring IIO resiliently cooks the. latch mechanism for a succeeding latch-tripping operation) may include a cylinder member or bored block I49, which is shown mounted on a bracket I59 on the rear frame 20. The cylinder I49 may be single-acting so as to apply feed pressures over the head of a piston II; piston I5I may have a stem or rod I52 passing out the tail end of cylinder I49 through a suitable guide bushing I53. The stem I52 may carry a pair of spaced collars I54 in actuating relation with the pin I42 on arm I4I. Since the cylinder I49 is singleacting, I prefer to employ a return means for piston I5I, and in theform shown a compression spring I55 between bushing I53 and piston ISI .may serve this purpose. Thepressure required to shift the toggle mechanism from the unlatched position of Fig. 1 to the latched position of Fig. 5may be adjustably controlled by suitable positioning of the threaded bushing I53 in the tail end of cylinder I49, as will be clear. In order to introduce dash-pot action to the movement of piston I5I, I have shown an adjustable throttle or orifice member I55 mounted at the head of cylinder I49 and connected to the feed-pressure line I49. It will be clear that the sluggishness of responseof piston I5I to feed-pressure transients maybe governed by a manual throttle adjustment at To complete the tie-in between the abovedescribed safety mechanism and certain elements of the machine of the above-mentioned copending application, it should be noted that the described latch mechanism is in controlling relation with two electric switches I59--I59, which may be mounted on an upstanding bracket I60 on the rear frame 29 of the machine. As described in said application, the switch I58 may be of the normally-closed variety and in controlling relationwith the relay ISI for the main motor I52 (see Fig. 9) of the multiple-spindle machine; the switch !59 may be of the normally-open variety and in controlling relation with the relay I55 governing operation of a solenoid I54 which (when deenergized) may eiiect a disengagement of the main feed clutch for the camshaft 22.

As explained, the switch I58 .will normally be P .closed so as-to permit continued running of the main motor I62 of the bar machine. To stop the machine a manual switch I may be opened, or, for coordination with certain other operations, a'manual-control handle I 69 (see Fig. 1) may be shifted, .as described more fully in the said copending application. The handle I65 may beaccessible on the outside of the rear frame member 20 of the machine, and a cranking thereofwill be understood to actuate a crank I91 and a rocking lever IE8. The lever IfiB may be in actuating relation with a rod I69 to be transversely shifted when it is necessary to open the switch I58. The rod I99 may be guided in a fixed block or boss I10 (see Fig. 5), and at its inner end the rod I-69may carry an oiiset arm I1I, with an adjustable pin I12 in actuating alignment with the button of switch I58. As also described in said application, the rod I59 may be in alignment with an arm I13 which may be formed as apart of the latching member I09 so that, upon an actuation of the hand crank I66, not only may the connections to the main motor I62 be broken, but the latch mechanism I95I09 may be reset. I have shown an adjustable lock bolt or pin 14 on the arm I13 in alignment with the rod I59, so that a desired relation of latch resetting may be coordinated with operation of switch I58.

The arm I13 may also carry an adjustable pin or bolt I15 in alignment with the button of the normally-open switch I59 (see Figs. 6 and 9), and the relation of parts is preferably such that. when the latch member I09 is set (with the pawl I05 seated against the step I01), the latch member I09 is held in a position depressing the button I11 of the normally-open switch I59, thus closing the circuit governed by switch I59 as long as the latch mechanism is in the set position. When the latch i tripped, as when a feed finger .drops off the end of a substantially consumed piece of stock, the latch member I09 isresiliently shifted away from switch button I11 by toggle spring H0, so as to permit opening of the circuit governed by switch I59.

As described in the said patent application, automatic declutching of the main camshaft 22 results upon a deenergizing of the solenoid I64 (1. e. when the latch mechanism III'I09 has been tripped). Such declutching may be effected by a mechanism which may'generate only lost motions as long as the solenoid IIi I remains gized, the elements I18I19 are uselessly related to each other, and for each rotation of the main shaft 22, the cam followerlilil will go through.

an idle undulation. Member I19, however, also has a projection I85 serving as a pivotal support for a rocking latch member I85, connected to the armature of solenoid I64 and resiliently urged by spring I86 for-latching relation with a projection I81 on the member I18. The relation of parts 7 is such that, when solenoid I64 is energized, the

latch members I85I81 are positively held away from possible latching engagement. When solenoid I64 is deenergized, as When the'feed fingers have detected complete useful consumption of a. bar of stock, latching engagement is effective .at-I85--I81 and, upon the next rise of follower I80 or, cam I8I, the members I18I19 may effectively form a rigid bell-crank member so as to shift the rod I83 and thus to disconnect or to declutch the drive to the main cam-shaft 22.

In accordance witha further feature of the invention, I have provided a self-cocking hammer'or bumper which may be included as a part 'of the pusher means IIIso as to providestrong bumping-out hammer blows against the end of a piece of stock-I99 which may have become fouled in the feed fingers or elsewhere, prior to completion of the feed up to-the stock stop I90. Referring to Fig. 8, suchhammer means may be incorporated as a feature on the endof the drawspring I99 may be driven against a heel portion in Fig. 8a) into a bar H2 and may utilize a first or head member III and a second or sleeve member I9I movable relatively to each other and to. the drawbar IIZ. One axial limit of freedom to the head member III may be determined by a stop collar I92 on the drawbar II 2; the sleeve I9I maybe limited in the same axial direction by abutment with a reduced shoulder I93 on the drawbar H2, and

such abutment may be preloaded as by a strong compression spring I94, for which adjustment is provided atthe nut I95 on the end of the.

drawbar II2.- In order to locate thesleeve I9I',

a bushing I96 may be carried at the tail end of. r the drawbar Hz for a guided sliding the bore of the sleeve I9 I.

fit Within In the position of parts shown in Fig. 8, a

latch-key member I91 on one of the members III-I9I is poised to maintain an axial separation of these members after a small relative displacement of one of saidmembers with respect to the other. In the form shown, the latch key I91 is pivoted as at I 93on the sleeve I9I, and

spring means I99 serves to hold the latch key I91 poised to intercept movement of the pusher 14 member III toward the sleeve member I9I. The

209 of the latch member I91, and the hee1'200 may be slidably guided along a keyway or other suitable recess 20I in the drawbar H2. The rear end of the recess 20I is preferably gradually sloped, as at 202, in order to provide a camming surface for a purpose which will be pointed'out.

A longitudinal pin member 203 slidably carried by the head member III may be resiliently urged by a compression spring 204 for abutment with the sleeve member I9I'. 'The pin 203 thus the drawbar I I2, with spring means urging pusher I I I to a position in pushing alignment with a bar of stock. The swiveling may take place about the drawbar I I2; and, by forming the projecting end of pin 203 with a suitable nose at 205 to cooperate with a cam-shaped recessed shoulder 296 on the sleeve I 9! it will be clear that the head member I I I may always be resiliently urged from a misaligned offset position (as illustrated barfI89 to 'be fed.

In operation, the preloaded compression of the spring I94 is preferably adjusted so as normally to have no give, that is, to permit no displacement of sleeve I9I relatively to the pusher bar IIZ as long as normal feed forces are required. If, however, there is an obstruction encountered, the resistance of the obstruction will be transmitted to the sleeve I 9| by way of the head member Ill and the key latch I91. With continued application of increasing feed pressure, the pusher bar H2 will be drawn in ('i. e., within sleeve I 9|) so as to compress the spring I94. During such compression, the heel 200 of the key latch I91 will slide along the bottom of 'the recess 29L and, by the time the heel129El reaches the cam surface 292, the abutment surface 291 of the head member II I will have been displaced beyond the sleeveretaining shoulder I93. Upon further compression of the spring I94, the heel 200 will be cammed by the surface 202 so as to remove the latch key from abutment with the surface 291 of the head member III. When thus unlatched, it will be clear that the sleeve I9I will be free to respond to the stored energy of the compression spring I94 and that it may be driven with a strong force in a hammering blow at the abutment surface 201 of the head member III.

As a further feature of my hammer construction, it will be noted that, should a pushed bar strike the stock-stop so hard as to rebound, the

spring I94 may absorb the rebound and gently and positively urge the stock forward to a position of final rest in abutment with the stock stop,

the hammer of Fig. -8 shall be in excess of the position of alignment with the pressure required to set-01f the safety reversing mechanismof Fig.5. Such adjustment may be made'by increasing the preload on' spring ted or by decreasing the preload on spring I55, as will be clear. As an ultimate safety device, in the event of unforseeable malfunctioning, the reliefvalve means I33 may be set to operate at a pressureinexcess of that required to operate hammer II I, as will be clear. In order for the hammet to deliver its blows, I have provided manually-operated meansi'n the form of a switch 228 having a push button ZII normally urged outwardly as by a spring 2I2, so that operation of switch 21!! must be deliberate. The connection and function of switch 2H3 will be more clearly understood from the following description of a cycle of operation of my machine.

' Operation Let it be assumed that the bar machine and that the stock reel have been operating fully automatically and that, for one reason or an other, a piece of stock in one position on the spindle carrier 2i has been consumed to a point at which the back end of such piece has just passed into the back end of the multiple-spindle machine 29. When such piece of stock is indexed around to the magazine-loading station, it will (then, and for the first time) be unable to raise the forward trip finger 88; as a result, at an appropriate instant during the regular cycle of main camshaft 22, the crank or eccentric 8t be eifective to project the magazine-discharge plunger 69, so as to drop the next bar of stock 59 into an empty liner. 33. If the stock 653 should fall into the liner 33 properly, then both switches 99-99 will be operated in the same direction, and the circuits of normally-open limit switch 55% and of the clutch throw-out solenoid ltd will be retained in normal operating condition (i. c. with switch I59 held closed, and with solenoid IE energized). If there should be an accident in which one end of the stock 68 failed to seat in the liner 33 while the other end became so seated, then the circuit through switches 39-9-9 would not be completed, and the solenoid I64 would be deenergized so as to throw out the main feed clutch, thus preventing a damaging index of the machine.

At the station which has just been loaded from the magazine, the short length of the stock will continue to be consumed with every piece of work that is turned out, and the time will come when there is no longer a piece of usable stock. At such time, and when the unusable piece is in the stock feed-out position (chucking station), the feed finger of the multiple-spindle machine will fail to grip the end of the stock, and the latch mechanism I05I09 will be tripped so as to open switch I59, thus deenergizing solenoid Iii i and throwing out the main feed clutch when the collet is in the open position.

If the useless piece of stock remaining in the spindle should be of a length which could not be dropped out when a new bar of stock is pushed into the spindle, then the spindles may be declutched or stopped, as by opening the manual switch I65 in order to permit safe removal of the useless butt. The main motor I62 may then again be started upon closure of switch IE5, and the hydraulic feed mechanism of the stock reel may also be started.

In the form shown, the hydraulic-feed mecha nism is started upon pushing the button 2II of switch 2H3, so as to complete a circuit to the relay 2I3 for the pump motor I3I. It will be tripped when the feed slipped off i t of the useless butt, and that, therefore, the I59 is in its normally-open position wh pump motor iEI is started. Since switch L open, solenoid Isl; for the reversing valve deenergized, and the valve its is positioned so as to direct pressure fluid to the stock-feeding end of the hydraulic cylinder H3. The hammer or head member I I i of the pusher may then engage the end of the new bar of stock 6 3, and. as long as no unusual obstruction is encountered, the spring I96 of the hammer-preioad mechanism will not be further compressed during the feed stroke.

It will be noted that, once the pusher means III has commenced its feeding stroke, a normally-closed switch 2M may serve to hold the pump-motor relay 2 I3 energized. The switch 2M isshown to include a roller to engage a sloping cam surface. 2H2 and a ledge 2IE, formed as a part of or carried with the guide member I25. As long as the pusher means i I I was fully retracted, so was the guide member I25, and the switch 2H1 remained actuated so as to present an open circuit. However, upon a certain initial feeding displacement of the pus-her means, the guide member I23 will run out from underneath the roller of switch 2H3 so as to provide a means for holding-in the circuit for the pump-motor relay 2 i3. The operators finger may then be removed from the button it I, and the feeding of stock may continue.

Now if the forward end of the stock should meet an unusual obstruction, as may be the case when striking the feed fingers, the feed pressure will mount while the pusher head I i stands still. With mounting pressure the drawbar 5 i2 will be advanced against the increasing compressional force of spring I94. As long as this increased pressure is a steady rather than a transient increase, the safety piston I5I will be displaced until a point is reached at which the safetytoggle means is tripped from the position shown 'in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 5. It will be recalled that such tripping of the toggle occurs preferably prior to any hammer operation of the pusher means III.

Upon tripping the toggle into the position shown in Fig. 5, the latch means Ii]5i%l9 will have been reset, and, at the same time, the normally-open switch I 59 will have been actuated so as to close the circuit to the reversing solenoid I34. Fluid under pressure will then be delivered to the forward or stem end of the hydraulic cylinder IIS, and the hammer and drawbar IIII I2 will begin to retract away from length of stock which was being fed.

Now, if the operator wishes, he may bump-out the stock through the feed fingers in the normal manner, a by applying a sledge hammer or the like to a sufficiently long rod inserted in the liner 33 and against the obstructed piece of stock 9913; the insertion may be made upon nudging the hammer I I i to an oifset position, by swinging the same about the drawbar I I I. On the other hand, eifortless bumping-out may be accomplished merely by again pushing the switch button 2I I. Upon such depression, the left-hand contact of switch 2H] are opened, and the circuit which energized reversing solenoid :35 is interrupted, so as to position valve I33 once more for feeding.

It will be noted that, after reversal upon encountering an obstruction, continuous feed is only possible as long as the button ZIfi is mainl7 taineddepressed :by a deliberate manual operation (since the circuit to solenoid l34 has been closed through switch 459, by. toggle action). Pressing the button 2 ll effectively overrides any automatic operation of the reversing mechanism, and, when the feed pressureha risensufficiently, the automatichammer of the pusher means Hi If the first hammer blow proves insufiicient to bump the stock throughthe feed fingers, then the operator need only take his fingers off the button 2 H in order to reverse or withdraw the hammer and pusher for a resetting of the same. When the hammer has reset itself, the button 2 may be depressed again, and the described firing cycle repeated as often as necessary: Once the stock has entered the feed fingers, it may usually be pushed in a single operation as far asthe stock stop; but continued depression of the button 2H will be necessary for forward feed, once the machine has gone into the described reverse operation.

Now, ordinarily a skilled operator should be able to judge when to take his finger off the button 22I in order to avoid runningthe hammer .of the pusher means Ill against the stock stop I98. However, in accordance with another feature of theinvention I incorporate a safety feature in the stock stop to avoid any possible'hammering of the stock stop. lhis safety feature may involve means including a slida ble probe member 22!) positioned in the abutment end of the stock stop I99 and preferably slightly projected 1; In a stock-feeding mechanism of the charbeyond the abutment surface so as to be poised to intercept the stock barl89 just before or as.

the latter strikes the stock stop. A small displacement of probe 220 may be effective to close a normally-open switch 22! connected in series with the relay I53. Operation of the relay 63 (when the stock I89 hits the stock stop). will be understood to energize solenoid HM and, therefore, immediately to commence withdrawal of the feed mechanism. Thi event will ordinarily sufficiently remind the operator that he should take his finger off the switch button 2| I but it will be appreciated that, even'if he should keep the button 2!! depressed, the newly fed bariwill continue to hold switch 22! actuated, so that withdrawaljof the pusher means may nevertheless proceed. Withdrawal of the pusher H may continue as long as the motor [3! continues to operate; and it will be appreciated that, when the roller of the normally-closed switch 2M is actuated, the guide member 125 is substantially fully retracted and the pump motor is shut off, thus stopping the hydraulic operation, with the pusher means placed in readiness for feeding out the next bar of stock which may be called for.

It will be seen that I have described an ingeniou automatic stock-reel and stock-feeding mechanism. My mechanism may be readily adapted to existing automatic machines, and automatic coordination of my mechanism with operation of the automatic machine may be achieved. My mechanism may be readily adapted to accommodate a range of stock diameters and lengths, with a minimum of down time. My mechanism incorporates safety measures so as to assure maximum useful-life of the equipment as well as protection for the operator.

While I have described my invention in detail for the preferred form shown, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow. I

1 claim:

stock in alignment with a spindle into which the bar is to be fed, pusher means including a double-acting hydraulic cylinder having a feed end and a drawback end, reversing-valve means for connecting said feedend with a source of fluid pressure for a feeding stroke and for connecting said drawback end to the source of fluid pressure for a drawback stroke, and pressureresponsive means connected to said feed end and responsive to a rise in feed pressure above a given value for reversing the position of said valve, whereby upon encountering an abnormal resistance during a feeding stroke, said pusher means may be automatically retracted, and manually operable means for said reversing-valve means and connected to permit a manually selected reapplication of fluid pressure to the feed end of said cylinder at any time during the drawback stroke of said cylinder.

2. In a stock-feeding mechanism of the Ch&lacter indicated, means for supporting a bar stock in alignment with a spindle into'which the bar is to be fed, pusher means including a hydraulic cylinder and valvemeans for controlling the supply of pressure fluid to the respective ends of said cylinder, automatic pressure-responsive reversing means in communication with the feed end of said cylinder andeffective to reverse said valve means upona given rise in feed pressure above a given value, the connection between said pressure-responsive means and the feed end of saidhydraulic cylinder including a restrictive orifice, whereby there may be a delayed action of said pressure-responsive means so that normal transient fluctuations in pusher-feed pressure need notcause feed reversal, but whereby said pressure-responsive meansmay be actuated in response to more sustained pressures in excess of said given rise. I

3. Ina stock-feeding mechanism, means for supporting a bar of stock in alignment with a spindleinto whichthe bar is to be fed, doubleaoting hydraulic. pusher means for feeding the bar aand including reversing-valve means for reversibly moving said pusher means, pressure-responsive means responsive to a rise in feed pressure above a given value and connected reversibly to position said valve means, and a hammer for said pusher, said hammer including means to be charged as the feed pressure rises above normal feed pressure, and tripping means effective to release the charged hammer upon attainment of a feed pressure in excess of the pressure atvrhich saidvalve is reversibly positioned by said pressure-responsive means. I

I 4. In a stock-feeding mechanism of the character indicated, means for supporting a bar of stock in alignment with a spindle into which the bar is to be fed, pusher means for feeding the bar and including a hydraulic cylinder "and valve means for controlling the supply of pressure fluid to the feed end of said'hydraulicfcyl inder, pressure-responsive means 'infcomm'uni cation with the feed end of said cylinder and effective upon a rise in feed pressure above a given normal feed pressure to actuate said valve so as to cut off the suppl of feed pressure to said cylinder, said pusher means including ham mer means with energy-storing means, to be charged as and when the feed pressure rises above the normal feed pressure, tripping means effective to release said energy-storing means upon a rise in feed pressure in excessof the rise 19 required for pressure-responsive actuation of said valve, and manual means for repositioning said valve, whereby said hammer may not be operated automatically but must be operated only by deliberate manual actuation of said manually operated means.

5. As an article of manufacture, drawbar means for a stock-feeding mechanism of the character indicated and including a feed bar with a hammer at one end, said hammer including a head member to abut a bar of stock to be pushed, a second member movable relatively to said head member,spring means between said second member and said feed bar, spacer means holding said members apart during feed-bar-actuated loading of said spring means, and means effective to release said spacer means upon a given relative displacement of said members.

6. A hammer according to claim 5, in which said members include cooperating abutments determining a limit of relative motion with respect to each other, and in which said spring means is preloaded in a direction urging said members against said abutments;

'7. A hammer according to claim 6, in which adjustable means are provided for adjustably preloading said spring means.

8. As an article of manufacture, drawbar means for a stock-feeding mechanism of the character indicated and including a feed bar with a hammer at one end, said hammer including'a head member to abut a bar of stock-to be pushed, a second member movable relatively to said head member, spring means between said second member and said feed bar, spacer means holding said members apart during feed-bar-actuated loading of said spring means, and means effective to release said spacer means upon a given loading of said spring means.

9. As an article of manufacture, drawbar means for use in a stock-feeding mechanism of the character indicated, and including an elongated feed bar to be driven by a feed mechanism and with a hammer at one end, said hammer including, a head member held against axial movement in one direction with respect to said bar and including a stock-thrust head offset from the axis of said bar feedingly to abut a piece of stock to be longitudinally fed, a second member movably carried by said bar, spring means preloaded between said bar and said second member, movable abutment means longitudinally spacing said second member from said head member, and means effective upon a relative displacement of said bar and of said second memher to move said abutment means so that it no longer longitudinally spaces said members, whereby upon such removal. of said abutment means the energy stored in said spring during the given movement may be released and delivered as a hammer blow to said thrust head.

10. In a stock-feeding mechanism of the character indicated, means for supporting a bar of stock in alignment with a spindle of a bar machine to be fed thereby, stock-stopping means on the bar machine, fluid-pressure-operated feeding means for feeding a bar of stock to said stock stop, reversing means for said feeding means and including means responsive to an excessive fluid pressure for reversing the feed for a retracting stroke, and means responsive to stock reaching said stock stop for automatically rendering said reversing means effective.

11. A machine according to claim 10, in which said feed mechanism includes means requiring a continued deliberate manual operation in oring a deliberate continued manual operation and effective to override said reversing means to produce a further pushing of the stock only upon said delibrate manual operation.

13. A mechanism according to claim 12, in which further reversing means for said pusher means is effective at a desired limit of feed for the stock, and in which said further reversing means may automatically override said deliberate manual control.

14. In a stock-feeding mechanism of the character indicated, means for supporting a bar of stock in alignment with a spindle into which the bar is to be fed, pusher means for feeding the bar, manual-control means for initiating a feeding operation of said pusher means, safety means effective upon encountering an abnormal resistance to stock pushing for stopping a forward feed of said pusher means, said manual-control means further including means overriding said safety means to produce a further feed of said pusher means upon sustained deliberate manual action thereof, whereby a single manual operation may not only start stock-feeding but may also effectively insist upon stock feeding.

15. In a stock-feeding mechanism of the character indicated, means for supporting a bar of stock in alignment with a spindle into which the bar is to be fed, pusher means including manualcontrol means for initiating a feeding operation of said pusher means, said manual-control means being normally infiective to initiate a feeding stroke of said pusher means, and means responsive to a substantial run-out of stock in the spindle for conditioning said manual means for effective operation, whereby a new bar of stock may only be fed into the spindle upon a substantial run-out of stock.

16. In a stock-feeding mechanism of the character indicated, means for supporting a bar of stock in alignment with a spindle to be fed, magazine loading means for automatically supplying a new bar of stock to said first-mentioned means when the bar in said first-mentioned means has been sufficiently fed into the spindle, said magzine loading means including'a plurality of longitudinally spaced supports, each support including two interconnected relatively movable longitudinally proximate transversely spaced supporting 'means'to engage beneath and'on opposite sides of a piece of stock, automatic dropping means including means laterally positioned and generally transversely movable to engage one side of the stock to be dropped and to push the same off said supports, one of said supports including adjustable means, whereby, for a number'of stock diameters, said supports may so support bars of stock with relation to said automatic dropping means that the positive dropping of one and only one bar with each operation of said automatic dropping means may be assured.

needed, said magazine each said pocket including of the bar on both fed, magazine loading means for periodically first-mentioned means as loading means including a plurality of longitudinally spaced rests for a bar to be dropped into said first-mentioned supplying bars to said means, each said bar rest including andadjustably fixed support to be positioned beneath and ,toone side of the bar of stock to be dropped, .said bar rest further including automatically movable means engaging and supporting the bar beneath and to theother sideof thesame, said automatically movable. means including an arm pivoted to said frame and connected to be cranked upon an adjusted movement of said adjustable support, said adjustable support being adjustable generally transversely of the direction of movement of said automatically movable means, whereby upon adjustment of saidadjustable support in accordance with the stock diameter to be accommodated said automatically movable means mayengage only the bottom bar of stockin said magazine for dropping the same out of said magazine and into said first-mentioned means, moreor less regardless of the diameter of the stock. Y

l8. In a machine of thecharacter indicated, means for supporting a bar of stock in alignment with a spindle to be fed, magazine loading means for periodically loading a new bar of stock into said first-mentioned means as needed, said magazine loading means including a plurality of. longitudinally spaced bar drop-out pockets to receive and hold the bar of stock which is next to be dropped into said first-mentioned means, finger means at the top and to one side thereof and determining one limit of an admission opening to said pocket, barrest means beneath the bar to be dropped and including separate supports engaging the bottom sides, one of said supports including a generally upstanding edge defining the other side of said pocket and adjustable effectively to open and close said pocket, the other of said supports being adjustable generally transversely of the direction of adjustment of said first support, and means linking said supports, whereby, upon the adjustment of one of said supports, the other is automatically adjusted, whereby for a range of stock diameters the admission opening may be appropriately limited between said finger means and said generally upstanding edge, and whereby the center of the stock may be appropriately positioned for dropping out of said pocket and into said first-mentioned means.

19. A machine according to claim 18, in which said first support is a slidable plate slidable generally transversely of the opening of said pocket, and in which said second support is an arm pivoted to the frame of said machine with a toe extending beneath the bar to engage the same on the side remote from the pivotal support, and with cranking means tied to said plate.

20. In a stock-feeding mechanism of the character indicated, means for supporting a bar of stock in alignment with a spindle to be fed, magazine loading means for periodically dropping a bar into said first-mentioned means as needed, said magazine loading means including a plurality of longitudinally spaced supports for a bar to be dropped into said first-mentioned means, each of said supports including a bar'rest berotation of the bars in neath the bar to be dropped, a generally trans versely movable drop-out plunger to dislodge, the bar from the bar rest in order to drop the same out of said magazine, and a resiliently opposed plunger on the side of the bar opposite said dropout plunger and including a downwardly sloping cam surface facing said bar rest, said bar rest including means adjustable generally transversely of the direction of movement of said plunger, whereby for any particular one of a range of permissible stock diameters the clearance between said bar rest and said resiliently opposed plunger may be adjusted to be less than the stock diameter, whereby upon a dropping-out operation the bar to be dropped out may be forced resilient plunger, so that the cam surface thereof may effectively spring-urg the bar downward- I ly into said first-mentioned means.

21. In a stock-reel mechanism of the character indicated, a frame including a plurality of longitudinally spaced supports, a reel rotatably supported within said supports and including longitudinally aligned circumferential recesses for the accommodation of bars ofstock, said reel to be connected for indexing with the indexing of a multiple-spindle bar machine into discrete indexing positions, and freely rotatable antifr.iction means carried by said supports of said frame at index stations for stock insaid reel and projecting to engage the bars of stock in said recesses, whereby at least for the stock supported in the lower recesses of said reel there may be a substantial reduction of the friction opposing such recesses. Y 1

22. In a stock reel of th character indicated, a plurality of longitudinally spaced spider frame members with circumferentially spaced, longitudinally aligned recesses for the accommodation of bars of stock, replaceable liner means extending between the aligned recesses of said spider frame members and serving to provide substantially continuous longitudinal pockets for including a manual control, reversing means for reversing the motion of said mechanism, automatically resettable control means for said reversing means, and manually operable means for advancing said mechanism, said last defined means being effective after said control means has been automatically reset, whereby upon initial automatic reversal there may be a subsequent manually controlled advance of said mechanism. 24'. In a stock-feeding mechanism of the character indicated, means for suporting bar stock in alignment with a spindle to be fed, pressureoperated pusher means for feeding the stock to said spindle, pressure-operated hammer means effective at a pressure greater than a normal feeding pressure for hammering a piece of stock that may encounter an abnormal feeding resistance, and safety-relief means operable at a pressure in excess of the pressure required to operate said hammer means.

25. In a stock-feeding mechanism of the char- 23 and including retractable feeding-finger means including a part alignedwith the spindle axis for feeding the bar, hydraulic-pressure supply means for said pusher means, said pusher means including self-charging hammer means set to be charged upon a rise in feed pressure above a normal feed pressure, said hammer means including tripping means eifective to release said hammer means upon a rise in feed pressure to a given level above the normal feed pressure.

26. In a stock reel of the character indicated, a plurality of longitudinally spaced spider frame members with circumferentially spaced, longitudinally aligned recesses for the accommodation of bars of stock, and replaceable liner means extending between'the aligned recesses of said spider frame members and serving to provide substantially continuouslongitudinal pockets for accommodation of the bars of stock, liner inserts in said replaceable liner means and of smaller included cross-section than that of said replaceable liner means, whereby stock of smaller diameter may be accommodated in said liner inserts, and means substantially uniformly spacing the sides and bottom of said liner inserts from the sides and bottom of said replaceable liner means, whereby the centers of stock of appropriate diameter accommodated in said replaceable liner means or in said liner inserts may be supported in alignment with the spindle centers of the multiple-spindle bar machine to which said reel may be adapted.

27. In a stock-feeding mechanism of the character indicated, feeding means for advancing a length of stock into a bar machine or the like,

said means including an electric motor to be started for each feeding operation, manual means for starting said motor, control means coordinated with said manual means for connecting the output of said motor to operate said feeding means, means responsive to a loaded condition of the bar machine and in controlling relation with said control means but independent of said manual means, said responsive means rendering said control means ineffective to operate said feeding means as long as a usable length of stock is in thebar machine, said responsive means being effective to condition said manual means for operation upon substantial consumption of a piece of stock in the bar machine, whereby actuation of said manual means will be ineilective to produce a feed of stock unless and until there is no longer a usable length of stock in the bar machine, and hold-in means effective upon an initial feeding displacement of said stock-feeding means to maintain closed the circuit to said electric motor, whereby, once started, stock-feeding may proceed without manual operation.

ARTHUR H. JOBERT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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