US2897713A - Staking apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 4, 1959 Fild nec. 18'. 195e J. DARlGo STAKING APPARATUS 6 Sheds-heet 1 www INVENTOR. JUL/ U3 Aff/GO' J. DARIGO STAKING APPARATUS Aug. 4, 1959 'Filed Deo. 1a, 1956 M IHWI lll mm TW MM Q M \Mn+ n l 1 ZV/4 V/ 9S Illl" 1| nv Q s Nuvi un w+ mm.-\\ m1 a e s n QQ L 45H1 @on mv\ A -w l n M m\ 7 f? l I l Il UIN limb l Il QQ mw wm QW Nav nov m\ QN E v ...ww m\\ L arm..

Egg-j Aus. 4, 1959 J. Amo 2,897,713

v STAKING APPARATUS Filed nec; is. 195ee sheets-sheet a INVENTOR. A JUL [U5 DA J. DARIGO STAKING APPARATUS Aug. 4, 1,959

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 18, 1956 INVENTOR JU /L/` .OAR/GO Aug. 4, 1959 J. DARIGO STAKING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 18, 1956 INVENTOR. JUL/U5 AR/GO Aug-4,1959 J. DARlGo 2,897,713

STAKING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 18, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. JUL/US .UAH/G0 STAKING APPARATUS Julius Darigo, Wilmington, Del., assignor to Remington Arms Company, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application December 18, 1956, Serial No. 629,090 7 Claims. (Cl. 86--10) matic weapons comprises a metallic cartridge case to which is fixed an explosive projectile or shell. The explosive shell comprises a main body containing an ex- Pillars 12 support a work table 13 above the base plate and provide clearance for the machine elements drive which will later be described. IOn the work table 13, front guide bar 14 and rear guide bar 15 define a trackway for a linked belt of cartridges C. Above the trackway, top guide bars 16 define a passage through which the linked cartridges are intermittently fed into alignment with a plosive and a nose fuse threadably attached thereto. In-

dividual rounds of ammunition are mounted in linked clips to form a belt of cartridges which are fed to the automatic weapon in firing.

Cartridges in linked belts are exposed to severe vibration and shocks during feeding and firing cycles of an automatic weapon, and it is a well-known practice to stake the Y nose fuse of the explosive shell to the body of the shell after the fuse and shell body have been threadedly assembled, to preventseparation. This staking operation is performed prior to assembly of the explosive shell and the cartridge. It has now `been found advantageous to reinforce this staking operation with a further restaking operation after the individual assembled rounds have been mountcdin linked belts.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide mechanism for staking component parts of an assembled cartridge together after a plurality of cartridges are assembled in linked belts.

With the foregoing and still `other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combination and arrangement `of parts, all of which will4 hereinafter be described, and the novel features pointed out in what is claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the present invention:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the Work table.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a` longitudinal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with the machine elements disposed in cartridge transfer position.

Fig.f4 is a transverse sectional View on the line 4.-4 of Fig. 1sl1owing the cartridge transfer mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the disposition of the elements of the mechanism at the beginning of a cartridge transfer operation.

AFig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the position of the mechanism at the end of a transfer operation.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional View on line 7-.7 of Fig. 2, showing the staking mechanism.

Pig. 8 is a schematic view showing the path of motion of a tooth of the transfer mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view showing details of the die block drive means.

General arrangement Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a support frame 10 on which is mounted a base plate 11.

reciprocating die block 17 by transfer means to be described. At the opposite side of the trackway from the die block, a cushion block 18 is provided. Spring loaded plungers 19 in the cushion block engage the base of cartridges aligned with the die block and permit a slight transverse location movement of lthe cartridges when the die block is moved forward to engage the explosive shell body 20 with walls of the die block recesses 21 (Fig. 2). Within each of the recesses of the die block, a staking punch 23 is vertically disposed for reciprocation into the body of the explosive shell at the area of threaded interengagement of the nose fuse 22.- yIn operation, cartridges in linked belts are fed intermittently through the trackway into longitudinal alignment with the die block, the die block is moved forward to engage the explosive shell, and the staking punch is forced into Vthe body of the shell at the area of threaded juncture with the nose fuse, thereby staking the parts together. The linked belt of cartridges is then advanced by the transfer mechanism to dispose two unstaked cartridges in alignment with the die block and the staking operation is repeated. The various elements of the transfer mechanism and staking mechanism In the embodiment shown, the belt of linked cartridges is moved once in each machine cycle to align two unstaked projectiles with the work holders. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the means for imparting the required intermittent movement to the linked cartridges comprises two transfer bars and 101 which are mounted parallel to each other in the spaced slots 102 and 103. Each transfer bar has a plurality of spaced Vertical lingers 104 formed thereon and disposed to enter the spaces between the cartridge carrying links. The spacing between the transfer bars is such that the fingers of bar 100 engage cartridge links near the base of the cartridge, while the fingers of bar 101 engage the 'cartridge links near the cartridge mouth, as the links are moved, thus insuring proper cartridge alignment. The vtransfer bars are linked together and have a common quadrangular motion, moving from an initial position in which they are retracted below the Work table as in Fig. 4, to a raised cartridge link engaging position of Fig, 5, then moving to the right and feeding linked cartridges two intervals, to the Vposition shown in Fig 6, then retracting outer engagement with the links, and finally returning to initial position. The arrowed lines in Fig. 8 denote the quadrangular path of movement of a finger 104 of the transfer bar.

. As best shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the mechanism for two transfer bars are mounted onopposite sidesv of an' apex of lever block 109 by the pivot pin 116. Like legs 115 are similarly mounted on opposite sides of lever block by the pivot pin 117.

Motion is imparted to the described linkage by means n kof a crank 118cm the machine mainshaft 120 which is Each of the transfer connected to a lever arm 119 formed on lever block 109. As the crank 118 is rotated by the mainshaft, the lever arm 119 is raised and lowered by the vertical component of crank travel, oscillating the lever blocks about their fulcrum pins; and at the same time the entire linkage is shifted back and forward in a substantially horiL zontalplane by the horizontal component of crank travel. The combined oscillatory and shifting lateral movements impressed on the lever blocks causes the pivot pins 116 and 117 to describe a quadrangular pathof motion which is imparted to the transfer bars. The fingers 104 of the transfer bars engaged between the links of the cartridge belt as the transfer bars rise, and as the transfer bar moves transversely to the right, the fingers 104 shift the linked cartridges, thereby aligning two unstaked cartridges with the die block in each cycle of operation.

Staking mechanism When the above described mechanism has transferred two cartridges into alignment with the die block, a staking operation is initiated.

Die block 17 is supported for reciprocation transverse to the trackway in an opening in work table 13 by means of ways 24 shown in Fig. l. Paired rods 25 fastened to the rear of the die block extend through the trunnion block 26. Compression springs 27 are mounted on each rod and bear between the trunnion block 26 and stop nuts 28 fixed on the end of the rods, biasing the die block to the rear, away from the trackway. A stop pin 29 adjustably mounted in the trunnion block engages the die block and limits rearward travel of the die block. As

shown in Figs. 2 and 9, on the underside of the die block.

a cam roller 30 is mounted by means of the axle pin 31, in the path of a cam 32 mounted on a portion of the periphery of wheel 33, fixed to the mainshaft. The cam 32, as shown in Fig. 9, extends above the periphery of wheel 33 and has a curvedactuating surface. It will be noted that the limitation on rearward movement of the die block imposed by stop pin 29 disposes the cam roller in position for engagement by the surface of carn 32. The cam 32 engages the roller during a portion of each revolution, forcing the die block forward towards the trackway, and into engagement with the cartridges to be staked.

As best seen in Figs. 2, 4 and 7, the front face of the die block 17 has formedtherein two conical recesses 21 which are adapted to engage the nose sections of adjacent shells in the linked belt when the die block is in forward position. These conical recesses provide peripheral support for the nose fuse and tapered forward section of the shell body during the staking operation.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 7, s-taking punches 23 are mounted in bores in the die block for reciprocation into each conical recess. Compression springs 34 are provided to normally retain the punches in a retracted posi tion wherein a headed portion of the punch is exposed below the base of the die block. A screw 35 mounted in the front face of `the die block extends into each punch bore and cooperates with a notched section 36 of the punch to reciprocably retain the punch in the bore.

Actuation of the punches in the staking operation is accomplished by a reciprocating hammer unit mounted below the punches and driven by a crank on the mainshaft. As shown in Figs. 2 and 7, a crank 37 formed on the mainshaft 120 rotatably carries a rectangular hammer block 38 having tWo punch striking faces 39. The hammer block is disposed in the axial plane of the punches when the die block is in its forward, shell-engaging position. Anangularly disposed extension 40 mounted on-the hammer block carries a rotatable bearing 41 which rides in a bifurcated bearing slide 42 formed on the intermediate mainshaft support 43. It will be seen that the hammer block is thus positioned and guided by the bearing 41 which reciprocates vertically in the bearing slide 42 as the mainshaft rotates. The crank 37 extends in the same radial plane of the mainshaft as is the cam 32 on drive wheel 33, and therefore, the crank 37 reaches its uppermost point in revolution at the same time that die block 17 is moved to its forward shell engaging position. The punches of the die block are thus struck by the striking faces 39 of the hammer block only when the nose fuse and forward portion of the shell body are adequately supported by the conical recesses 21.

It will be noted that the shell transfer mechanism, the shell holding die block and the staking punches are all synchronized in operation by the common driving means, the mainshaft 120, which maybe driven in rotation by an electric motor 44 through drive chain 45, and sprocket 46 fixed to the mainshaft.

A single cycle of the machine will be described. In Fig. 2 a staking operation has just been completed. Continued rotation of the mainshaft will cause the camming surface 32 of wheel 33 to move out of contact with the cam roller 30 and die block 17 will be retracted by the springs 27. At the same time, hammer block 38 is retracted from its raised impact position by crank 37, and the transfer drive crank 118 will cause the quadrangular linkage to oscillate and raise the transfer bars into engagement between the linked cartridges C. This disposition of the machine elements is shown in Fig. 5, at of counterclockwise revolution of the mainshaft. Continued revolution of the mainshaft will cause the transfer bars to shift the cartridges on the trackway to the position shown in Fig. 6 wherein two unstaked cartridges are aligned with the die block recesses. Late in the cycle of revolution, camming surface 32 on wheel 33 engagesthe cam roller 30 on the die block, forcing the die block forward so that the explosive shells are nested in the conical recesses 21. When the shells are located in the conical recesses 21 and near the end of Yone cycle of revolution, the striking faces 39 of the hammer block 38 engage the punches and force, them upward, thereby staking the shells in the area of the threaded juncture of the nose fuse and the shell body. The machine elements are again in the position shown in Fig. 2, and continued revolutions of the mainshaft will cause a repetition of the cycle.

It will readily seem, from the foregoing description of construction, that an extremely rugged and effective production staking machine is provided.

Although one preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that many variations and modifications are possible in light of the above teaching. Therefore, it is intended that no limitation be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Apparatus for staking assembled ammunition mounted in belts comprising in combination a belted ammunition trackway having a work station; a die block at saidv work station reciprocable transversely to said trackway and having therein recesses disposed to axially engage and peripherally support individual rounds lof ammunition at one extent of die block reciproeation, staking punches in said die block mountedfor reciprocation ina common plane transverse to said recesses, each of said punches being disposed to enter one of said recesses for staking engagement with a round of' ammunition supported therein, means for intermittently transferring rounds of ammunition to said work station including a toothed transfer bar disposed longitudinally of said trackway and qu-adralateral linkage supporting said transfer bar for intermittent translation along said trackway in engagement with said ammunition; and a common drive shaft actuating saidtransfer means, said die block, and said staking punches in synchronism.

2. Apparatus according to claim l, in which said quadnalateral linkage comprises two support arms pivotally mounted on said trackway, a lever block mounted r at the end of each support arm, a link pivotally connecting said lever blocks, and a drive arm on one of said lever blocks, .said transfer bar being mounted adjacent its ends on like apexes of said lever blocks, said drive arm engaging a crank on said common drive shaft.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising said die block mounted for reciprocation transverse of said trackway from a retracted position in which said trackway is unobstructed, to an advanced position in which a portion of each of said rounds of ammunition at said Work station is nested in one of said recesses, and cam means operatively connected to said drive shaft for moving said die block.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, comprising cam means operatively connected to said drive shaft for advancing said die block, and resilient means urging said die block to retracted position.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, comprising staking punches disposed in said die block and having a striking surface exposed exteriorly of said die block, and a. crank hammer operatively connected to said drive shaft and disposed to strike said exposed surface when said die block is in advanced position.

6. Apparatus for staking assembled ammunition mounted in belts comprising a longitudinal trackway for belted ammunition; means for transferring ammunition along said trackway including a transfer bar longitudinally aligned with said trackway and mounted for movement into engagement with ammunition on said track- Way, drive teeth on said transfer bar disposed for entry between rounds of said ammunition; quadralateral linkage supporting said transfer bar and imparting a substantially quadrangular path of motion to said transfer bar; staking support means comprising a die block reciprocable transversely to said trackway and having therein recesses disposed to axially engage and support individual rounds of ammunition at one extent of die block reciprocation; staking punches reciprocably mounted in said die block, each disposed for entry transversely into a diierent one of said recesses; a common drive shaft, and means on said drive shaft actuating said linkage, said die block, and said staking punches in synchronism.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said actuating means comprises a crank engaged with said linkage, a cam wheel for driving said die block to said one extent of reciprocation, and a crank having a hammer thereon disposed to engage said staking punches in said one extent of die block reciprocation.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,965,868 Vickers July 10, 1934 2,485,954 Burrell Oct. 25, 1949 2,542,988 Bureau Feb. 27, 1951 2,643,403 MacBlane et al. June 30, 1953

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