US3083751A - Ring coiling and cut-off machine - Google Patents

Description

April 1963 A. TODORAN ET AI.

RING comm; AND CUT-OFF MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1, 1958 HYDRAULIC POWER UNIT SNG

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3 W mm 0 IIIIRIJIiU BY ROGER A. MOTTER ATTORNEYS A ril 2, 1963 A. TODORAN EI'AL RING COILING AND CUT-OFF MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1, 1958 ATTORNEYS ties The present invention, while generally indicated as relating to a ring coiling and cut-off machine, relates more especially to a machine and method for making drop-center wheel rims from preformed stock.

Hitherto, it has been one prevalent practice in the art of making drop-center wheel rims to cut flat pieces of strip stock to predetermined length, to form the same into cylindrical bands, to weld the ends of the bands together, and to form the Welded hands into finished rims by spinning and press operations and final sizing (or expanding) operations.

Another prevalent practice in the rim making art, primarily applicable to bicycle wheel rims and the like that have a relatively large diameter to width ratio (small helix angle), is to wind preformed strip stock as a closely coiled helix, to slit the coiled stock into one-turn helical rings, and to laterally displace and weld together the ends of said one-turn rings. However, as to automobile wheel rims, this practice involves the extra operation of flattening the helical coils before the ends thereof can be welded together. A currently popular size of auto wheel rim is 14" in diameter and the distance across the rim flanges may be 6" or more. Obviously, it is no simple matter to laterally displace the ends of such a helical coil to bring the ends into juxtaposition for welding.

Attempts have been made to roll preformed lengths of strip stock into circular form but considerable difficulty has been encountered in curving the terminal end portions to the final required curvature. Accordingly, it has been found necessary to provide preformed stock of length greater than the circumference of the rim to allow for trimming off of the straight end portions that result from the use of roll sets for bending preformed stock to ring shape.

With the foregoing in mind, it is one principal object of this invention to provide a machine and method by which drop center wheel rims and the like may be accurately and economically made'from preformed straight stock of indefinite length.

It is another object of this invention to provide a complete setup for making wheel rims and the like continuously from a coil of fiat strip stock, said setup including an uncoiler which carries the coil of fiat strip stock; a roll-forming mill which is operative to transform the flat strip stock to cross-section shape corresponding to the radial cross-section of the wheel rim to be made, and a coiling and cut-off machine which is operative to bend the preformed stock to circular ring form and to cut-off the ring from the adjoining unbent length of preformed stock.

It is another object of this invention to provide a setup as aforesaid, which is completely automatic in operation to transform coiled flat strip stock into drop-center wheel rims and the like, that are ready for welding together of the abutting ends thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide a ring coiling and cut-off machine and method which produces flat rings having a uniform radius of curvature from end to end and without scrap loss at either end.

It is another object of this invention to provide a machine of the character indicated which employs a novel atent cut-off mechanism effective to cleanly sever the ring and adjoining unbent preformed stock at the point of tangency.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a ring coiling and cut-off machine and method in which straight preformed stock is pushed longitudinally into and through an open-ended, longitudinally curved die cavity having a radial cross-section conforming with that of the stock and with that of the finished ring.

it is yet another object of this invention to provide a ring coiling and cut-off machine and method in which preformed stock is bent to ring form by pushing it longitudinally into and through an open-ended, longitudinally curved die cavity and in which the ring thus formed is cut from the preformed stock at or near the point of tangency of the curved stock and the straight stock adjacent to the inlet end of the die cavity.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus and method for producing drop-center wheel rims and the like at a rapid rate with fewer pieces of apparatus,

less floor space, and fewer man hours than are required with known methods for producing such rims.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foreging and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this bein indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view showing a preferred setup for producing drop-center wheel rims from a coil of fiat strip stock, an uncoiler being shown at the right, a roll-forming machine being shown at the middle, and a ring ceiling and cut-otf machine being shown at the left;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the ring coiling and cutoff machine herein and of the last roll stand from which the preformed stock is longitudinally pushed into the ring ceiling and cut-off machine;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the ring coiling and cut-off machine, the machine being shown in its normal operating position with the end of the preformed stock being bent to form a ring;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation View similar to FIG. 3, except showing the machine in open position with the cut-off ring stripped from the curved dies;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view taken substantially along the line 55, FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section view taken substantially along the line 6-6, FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view as viewed substantially along the line 77, FIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 is a crosssection view taken substantially along the line 3-8, FIG. 6.

THE RIM-FORMING SETUP AS A WHOLE (FlGS. 1 and 2) Basically, the setup as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes an uncoiler l on which a coil C of flat stri stock S is rotatably mounted. The flat strip stock S is unwound from the coil C and passes through a guide 2 and thence through a roll-forming mill 3 which may comprise a series of roll stands 4 each equipped with power-drive-n roll sets 5 to progressively transform the stock S from list form to final desired cross-section shape. The number of roll stands 4 required depends, of course, on the intricacy of the cross-section shape to which the stock S is to be rolled and in the case of stock to be used in making drop-center whee-l rims, as herein, it has been found that a line of about twelve roll stands 4 is adaquate to form (see FIG. 6) the longitudinally extending rib 6 which, in the finished wheel rim, constitutes the dropcenter well and to form the rim flanges 7 against which the tire beads are adapted to be seated. From the last roll stand 4 the formed stock S is pushed longitudinally into the ring coiling and cut-off machine 8.

Insofar as the uncoiler 1, guide 2, and roll-forming mill 3 are concerned, these components do not form any part of this invention except that power for longitudinally pushing the formed stock S into and through the dies of the machine 8 is derived from the roll forming mill 3.

RING COILING AND CUT-OFF MACHINE (FIGS. 3 to 8) (a) The Base and Die Blocks The ring coiling and cut-01f machine 8 is built on an open front box-like base 9 including upstanding end Walls 10 and 11, an upstanding rear wall 12, and a top wall 14.

The end wall 11 has welded thereto a bracket 15 to which a die holder 16 is pivotally mounted on pin 17. Adjustably seated in the die holder 16 is the die shoe r block 18 which is formed with an arcuate die face 19 which is of radial cross-section conforming with the crosssection of the preformed strip S. In this case, the die block 18 is the male die and fits in between the rim flanges 7 and in the well or tunnel 6 of the preformed stock S.

'In FIG. 3 the die block 18 and its holder 16 are shown in operating position with one end of the arcuate die face 19 tangent to the longitudinal path of travel of the preformed stock S. The holder 16 is locked in this position by means of the toggle linkage 20 of which the top and bottom links are pivotally mounted respectively to the die holder 16 by the pin 21 and to a bracket 23 on the base 9 by the pin 24. The die holder -16 is swung down to the FIG. 4 open position as by means of the hydraulic cylinder 25 having its piston rod 26 linked to the knee joint 27 of the toggle linkage 20, the cylinder 25 being mounted on trunnions 28 on the end wall 10 of the base 9. When the cylinder 25 is extended, as shown in FIG. 3, the toggle linkage 20 is in locked position thereby immovably securing the die holder 16 and the die block 18 in operating position. When the cylinder 25 is actuated to move the piston therein toward the left, the toggle linkage 20 is collapsed to swing the die holder 16 and die block 18 in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 17 to the position shown in FIG. 4.

Opposite the die block 18 is the female die block or shoe 30 which is formed with an arcuate die face 31 concentric With the arcuate die face 19 and arranged to embrace the rim flanges 7 and well 6 of the preformed stock S. As best shown in FIG. 3, the complementary opposed arcuate die faces 19 and 31 of the respective die blocks 18 and 30 define therebetween an arcuate die cavity which is open at both ends and which has a cross-section the same as the cross-section of the preformed stock S. The die faces 19 and 3-1 have a radius of curvature which is the same as the radius of curvature of the finished wheel rim which is to be formed by the machine.

With the parts of the machine 8 in the position shown in FIG. 3, the preformed stock S as it emerges from the last roll stand 4 will-be pushed longitudinally into the inlet end of the arcuate die cavity defined between the concentric die faces 19 and 31 of the die blocks 18 and 30. As the stock S is pushed longitudinally through the die cavity it will be bent to a radius corresponding with the radius of the die faces 19 and 31 and the free end will travel in a circular loop that approaches the inlet end of the die cavity. The free end of the loop after it emerges from the die cavity is guided by the rollers 32, 33, and 34 of which the last-mentioned roller 34 constitutes a pusher roll as hereinafter explained. I

(b) The Die Block Indexing Mechanism The die block 30 is keyed to the front end of shaft 35 that is rotatably supported in a boss 36 of rear wall 12 of the base 9 about the axis of the die faces 19 and 31 for indexing of the die block 30 to three positions, viz., the operating position shown in FIG. 3, the rim cut-off position shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 3, and the rim unload position shown in FIG. 4.

There is a rotary fluid motor 37 and an indexing mechanism 38 operatively associated with the rear end of the shaft 35. The shaft 35 and die block 30 are held in the FIG. 3 operating position, as by means of a plunger 39 which is releasably engaged in a notch 40 formed in a collar 41 keyed on the shaft 35 by the hydraulic cylinder 42. When it is desired to release the shaft 35 and die block 30 for rotary indexing movement, the cylinder 42 is actuated to retract the plunger 39 toward the left as viewed in FIG. 8 whereupon the shaft 35 and die block 30 may be rotated clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3 (counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 8), until the plunger 43 actuated by the cylinder 44 pops into another notch 45 of the collar 41 to lock the shaft at its thus newly indexed position. When both plungers 39 and 43 are withdrawn from the respective notches 40 and 45, the rotary fluid motor 37 may be energized to rotate the shaft 35 and die block 30 to the position shown in FIG. 4 whereat stop lug 46 on shaft 35 contacts stop pad 47.

(c) The Cut- Ofi Mechanism As best shown in FIG. 3, the die block 30 carries a cut-off blade 50 which cooperates with a movable cutoff blade 51 to shear the preformed stock S after the end portion thereof has been formed into a ring. The movable cut-off blade 51 is carries by a slide block 52 which is vertically slidable in a guideway 53 formed in the die holder '16 and has a cutting edge 54 which moves in a path normal to the point of tangency of the curved stock and the adjoining unbent stock. Movement of the block 52 and blade 51 vertically is effected as by means of the hydraulic cylinder 56 and toggle linkage 57, of which one link 58 is pivotally connected to the block 52 by means of the pin 59 and of which the other link 60 is pivotally connected on a bracket 61 of the base 9 by pin 62, the knee joint 63 being pivotally secured at the end of the piston rod 64 of said hydraulic cylinder 56. In turn, the cylinder 56 is pivotally mounted by pin 65 to a bracket 67 extending inwardly from the adjacent end wall 11.

It now can be seen that when the shaft 35 and die block 30 have been turned to bring the right-hand cutting edge 68 of the blade 50 in alignment with the left-hand cutting edge 54 of the movable blade 51, movement of the piston rod 64 toward the right as viewed in FIG. 3 will, through the toggle linkage 57, cause the blade 51 of block 52. to move vertically upward to overlap the blade 50' to shear the stock S at the point of tangency between the straight length of stock S and the adjoining curved portions thereof.

The turning or indexing of the die block 30 from operating position to ring cut-off position as aforesaid is done by the free end of the curved loop. As the free end of the curved stock 5 approaches the side of the die block 30 carrying the cut-off blade 50, it actuates a limit switch 70 which, in turn, as to be explained in detail, causes the plunger 39 to be retracted from the notch 40. The shaft 35 and die block 30 are thus freed for clockwise movement by the free end of the loop of stock as it moves in contact with the right-hand side face of the blade 50. At the same time, the cylinder '44 has been actuated to tend to force the plunger 43 inwardly whereupon, as soon as the other notch 45 is aligned with the plunger 43, the shaft 35 and die block 30 Will be locked in the indexed cut-off position in which the right-hand side 68 of the blade 50 is in alignment with the left-hand side 54 of the movable blade 51.

The turning of the shaft 35 and the die block 30 by the free end of the curved stock S to cutting position actuates another limit switch 71 which does two things, viz.,

(1) Deenergizes the roll-forming machine 3 whereby the lineal movement of the preformed stock S stops, and

(2) Actuates the cylinder 56 to move the piston rod 64 toward the right to. move the cutter blade 51 upwardly through the straightening of the toggle linkage 57 to shear the curve portion of the stock from the straight portion at the point of tangency.

(d) Unloading of Cut-O19 Ring At the conclusion of the ring cut-off operation, the link 58 actuates limit switch 72 to reverse the cylinder 56 to collapse the toggle linkage 57 and thereby to draw the cut-off blade 51 downwardly. The actuation of limit switch 72 also actuates cylinder 25 to collapse toggle linkage 20 and thereby swing the die holder 16 and die block 18 in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 17 to strip the die block '18 from the cut-off ring. The actuation of said limit switch 72 also releases plunger 43 from notch 45 and actuates rotary fluid motor 37 to turn the shaft 35 and die block 38 to the position shown in FIG. 4, such turning being arrested by engagement of stop lug 46 with stop pad 47.

The roller 34 previously referred to is mounted on a carrier 73 equipped with guide bars 74 that are slidable in hushed eyes 75 on bracket 15, the carrier 73 being reciprocated between the FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 positions by cylinder 76. In the FIG. 3 position, the roller 34 constitutes a guide roller along with rollers 32 and 33 and when the roller 34 is shifted to the FIG. 4 position it constitutes a pusher roll to laterally shift the cut-off ring clear of the free end of the straight preformed stock S and to strip the cut-01f ring from the die block 30. The limit switch 72 also controls actuation of cylinder 76.

With the wheel rim thus laterally shifted, the carrier 73 actuates a limit switch 78 to extend the hydraulic cylinder 79 which has its piston rod 80 guided in a bracket 81 at the-top of the base '9 and linked to a horizontally slidable shaft 82-which carries a downwardly extending arm 83 provided with a bearing 8410 support the free end of the shaft 35 on which the die block 30 is mounted. The arm 83 has an ejector finger 85 which draws the wheel rim axially toward the open front of the machine base 9 for dropping clear of the die blocks '18 and 30.

Thereafter, the cylinder 79 is actuated to bring the arm 83 back so that its bearing 84 supports the free end of the shaft 35 and so that the ejector finger-85 is to the rear of the next wheel rim to be formed; the pusher roll 34 is retracted to the FIG. 3 position; the shaft 35 and die block 30 are turned counterclockwise to the FIG. 3 position by rotary fluid motor 37; and the cylinder 25 is actuated to move the piston rod 26 toward the right to lock up the toggle linkage 20 thereby bringing the die holder !16 and die block 18 to operating position. The roll forming machine 3 may be actuated an instant before the shifting of die block 18 to push the free end of the preformed stock S into the die cavity entrance to form the next rim. These operations are initiated by the tripping of the limit switch 77 when the unloader shaft 82 has moved forward to the dot-dash line position shown in FIG. 6.

the forming mill 3, with the movable shear blade 51 in down position, with the pusher roll 34 extended, as in FIG. 4 and with'the ejector finger 85- in its forward unload position the sequence of operations is as follows:

(1) The forming mill 3 energized by limit switch 77 starts to advance the preformed stock S.

(2) After a time delay of say, 0.2 see. the bottom die block 18 is moved up to the FIG. 3 operating position through the action of the cylinder 25 and toggle linkage 20. Such upward swinging of the bottom die block 18 (after retraction of arm 83 to support shaft 35) forces the leading end of the formed stock S into a radius between the mating top and bottom die blocks 30 and 18. The pusher roll 34 is retracted through the action of the strip stock while serving as a ring guide together with cylinder 76 to clear the oncoming free end] of the curved the guide rolls 32 and 33.

(3) As the straight preformed stock S is pushed longitudinally from the last roll stand 4, the free end thereof advances through the open-ended curved die cavity defined between the arcuate die faces 19 and 31 of the die blocks 18 and 30 and emerges therefrom in accurately curved form.

(4) The free end of the curved stock, as it approaches the top die block 30, engages the limit switch 70 which switch, in turn, through cylinder 42 causes a retraction of the plunger 39 from notch 48 to allow the approaching free end of the ring to turn the die block 30 until the side 68 of the blade 50 is in vertical cut-off position, at which position the die block 30 is indexed by the plunger 43 popping into the notch 45 of the shaft 35.

(5) At this indexed cut-off position of the die block 30, it actuates the limit switch '71 to deenergize the forming mill 3 and to actuate the cylinder 56 .to move the block 52 and the blade 51 carried thereby vertically upward and across the vertical face 68 of the cutting blade 58 to cleanly sever the ring from the formed stock S at the point of tangency between the ring and the adjoining straight stock.

(6) When the movable blade 51 reaches the top of its stroke, the link 58 actuates the limit switch 72 which reverses the cylinder 56 to cause the blade 51 to move down. The actuation of said limit switch 72 also reverses the cylinder 25 to collapse the toggle linkage 28 and thereby move the bottom die block 18 downwardly to strip the same from severed ring.

(7) The actuation of the switch 72 also causes the top die block 30 to rotate through the action of the rotary fluid motor 37 in a direction away from the forming mill 3, to the position shown in FIG. 4, and the cylinder 76 is actuated to cause the pusher roll 34 to shift the severed ring toward the left to thus strip it from the top die block 30.

(8) After a predetermined time delay, say, 0.1 sec., the cylinder 79 is actuated to move the ejector finger axially outward with respect to the die blocks 18 and 30 to allow the severed ring to drop clear of the machine ready for performance of the butt-weldingoperation to form a completed drop center wheel rim.

(9) When the ejector shaft 82 has reached its forward position it actuates the limit switch 77 which, through rotary fluid motor 37, indexes the die block 30 to its starting position, the plunger 39 being advanced by cylinder 42 to pop into the notch 40 to lock the shaft 35 and die block 30 in operating position.

The foregoing operations are then repeated to form the next wheel rim.

' It is to be understood that there will be associated with the several hydraulic cylinders 25, 42, 44, 56, 76,and 79 and rotary fluid motor 37 suitable solenoid operated four-way valves (not shown) to control the direction of actuation thereof in response to the tripping of the several limit switches 70, 71, 72, 77, and 78. As evident from the preceding description of the operation of the ring coiling and cut-off machine 8 the limit switches may have "multiple contacts to operate one or more of the valves at the same time or, if preferred, the limit switches may be arranged to energize relay coils to move contactors that open and close the circuits through the valve solenoids. Insofar as the time delay periods are concerned these may be in the form of dashpots in the switches or 7 separate timing devices connected either in the electrical circuit or in the hydraulic circuit.

From the foregoing description of the construction operation of a preferred form of the ring coiling and cutoff machine 8, it is clear that rings such as wheel rims, may be rapidly and accurately formed without scrap loss, or without the spinning or press-forming operations heretofore performed in the manufacture of drop-center wheel rims, or without flattening operations as required when preformed stock is hclically coiled, or without requiring trimming or cropping of unbent ends as results from ordinary ring rolling operations wherein straight strip stock is passed between a series of staggered rollers.

With respect to the rapidity and the economy of manufacture, it is to be noted that the present apparatus is simple in comparison wi h p e s a p nn n l n s n r quires less floor space with fewer operating personnel. Specifically, the number of personnel may be cut down to about one-third with the present method and apparatus to achieve a specified rate of production of wheel rims.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention 1. In a machine for making wheel rims and the like from elongated stock having a tranverse cross-section cor.- responding with the radial cross-section of the rim to be made, the combination of die blocks formed with opposed acruate faces defining therebetween an open-ended die cavity of rim cross-section into one end of which and through which the free end of such elongated stock is adapted to be pushed lengthwise to bend the stock to curved form conforming with the radius of curvature of said opposed face, and stock severing means operated by the free end of the loop of curved stock as it approaches said one end of said cavity to sever the stock at the point of tangency of the curved portion with the adjoining portion in advance of said cavity.

2. The machine of claim 1 including means operative relatively to move said die blocks away from one an.- other to facilitate insertion of the leading end of the stock into said cavity and toward one another to define said cavity and to curve the leading end of the stock thus inserted into said one end of said cavity.

3. The machine of claim 1 wherein a stock pusher pushes the stock longitudinally into said cavity, and where.- in said stock pusher is de-energized responsive to the free end of the loop of stock reaching said one end of said cavity wherein said stock severing means is effective to sever the stock.

.4. The machine of claim 1 wherein said die blocks are mounted for relative separating movement, and wherein an ejector axially moves the severed rim from between the separated die blocks.

5. The machine of claim 1 wherein one die block is mounted for movement radially away from the other die 1 991; to strip said one die block from the severed ring, wherein said other die block is mounted for rotation about the axis of said opposed arcuate die faces to a position such that its arcuate face is circumferentially ofifset with respect to the arcuate face of said one die block, and wherein means are provid d to laterally shift the severed ring to radially strip it from said other die block and to clear the freeend of the adipining stock,

6. The machine of claim 5 wherein ejector means are effective to axially shift the severed ring from between said die blocks when in radially separated and circumferentially offset positions as aforesaid.

7. In a machine for making wheel rims and the like from elongated stock, the combination of complemental radially nested die blocks having opposed .conccntri arcuate faces that define an open-ended curved cavity .of transverse cross-section conforming with that of the *rim to be made, means for pushing the leading end of elongated stock of that cross-section into one end of said cavity and therethrough to bend the stock to uniform curvature conforming with that of said cavity, stock cutolf means disposed adjacent to such one end of said cavity and including a fixed blade on one die block and a radially movable blade, means supporting said one die block for rotary indexing movement about the axis of said arcuate faces from a position whereat said fixed blade is circumferentially ahead of said movable blade to a position whereat said blades have radially aligned surfaces that are perpendicular to the point of tangency of the curved stock and adjoining stock, said one die block being arranged to be so indexed by the free end of the loop of curved sto k as i omes a o d o form a l i cle rim, and means f r ac ua ing s i st k cu -0 m an responsive to such indexing movement of said one die block to shift said movable blade so as to radially overlap said fixed blade and thus sever the rim from the adjoining stock.

8. The machine of claim 7 wherein the other die block is mounted for radial outward movement with respect to said one die block to strip said other die block from the severed rim, and wherein said one die block is arranged for further rotary indexing movement for permitting radial stripping of the severed rim therefrom and for permitting movement of the severed rim in a direction to .clear the leading end of the adjoining stock from which the rim was severed.

9, The machine of claim 8 including a movable rim ejector effective to displace axially the freed rim from between said die blocks.

10. The machine of claim 9 wherein said rim ejector when moved to displace axially to rim is operative to reinitiate operation of said means for pushing the stock, of moving said other die block for radial inward movement, and of returning said one die block to its original position at which said fixed blade is circumferentially ahead of said movable blade.

11. The machine of claim 10 wherein toggle linkages are provided for achieving locking of said other block in fixed operating position with respect to said one die block and for achieving a great mechanical advantage in the stock cutting movement of said movable blade.

12. The machine of claim 11 wherein said toggle linkages are actuated by uid motors operatively connected to the knee joints of said toggle linkages.

l3. In combination, an uncoiler from which flat strip stock is unwound from a coil; a forming mill including a series of roll stands through which the stock is passed longitudinally and progressively formed to a cross-section shape conforming generally with the radial cross-section of a drop-center wheel rim and the like; and a coiling and cut-off machine provided with an open ended arcuate die cavity that has a transverse cross-section generally the same as that of the stock as it emerges from the last roll stand, the formed stock being pushed by the forming mill into one end of said cavity to form a full circle rim and being cut-off at the point of tangency of the curved stock and the adjoining stock immediately in advance of said cavity; and means operative to interrupt the operation of said forming mill during the cut-off operation,

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein means are provided to radially separate the opposed faces of said cavity to permit radially stripping of the cut-off rim therefrom and subsequent axial removal from therebetween.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein ejector means are provided to axially displace the cut-otf rim and o ein t a op ra o f s i min m p io to br i o t e ppo d a e w rd ach ot e e y t e ead n nd of h for St k i P h d in between such faces and bent to curved form as said faces are moved toward each other.

'16. In apparatus for forming rings from continuous lengths of elongated stock including means for advancing such stock longitudinally and a die disposed to receive such stock and form it in a circle as such stock is thus advanced; cut-oil means operative to cut oft" a ring thus formed from the leading end portion of such stock, said cut-01f means being located closely adjacent the entrance end of said die and severing such stock substantially normal thereto.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, including ejection means operative to eject such severed ring from said die.

18. The apparatus of claim 16', wherein said die comprises two cooperating opposed arcuate die members, means operative intermittently to move said die members relatively further apart, and ejection means thereupon operative to eject such severed ring laterally from between said die members.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said die comprises two cooperating opposed arcuate die members, means operative intermittently to move said die members relatively further apart, means operative to shift such severed ring in the direction of travel of the uncircularized stock, and ejection means thereupon operative to eject such severed ring laterally from between said die members.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said die comprises two cooperating opposed arcuate die members, means operative intermittently to move said die members relatively further apart, and said cut-off means comprises one blade mounted on one of said die members and a second blade mounted for reciprocation relative thereto.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said die comprises two cooperating opposed arcuate die members, means operative intermittently to move said die members relatively further apart, said stock advancing means being operative to advance the leading end of the cut off uncircularized stock a short distance between said die members prior to return of said die members into stock circularizing relationship, and means operative thus to return said die members to such relationship to press the leading end portion of the stock to curved form.

22. In apparatus for forming rings from continuous lengths of elongated stock including means for advancing such stock longitudinally and a die disposed to receive such stock and form it in a circle as thus advanced; cut-01f means operative to cut oil a ring thus formed from the leading end portion of such stock, said cut-off means being located at the entrance end of said die, said die comprising two cooperating opposed arcuate die members, means operative intermittently to move said die members relatively apart and ejection means thereupon operative to eject such severed ring laterally from between said die members.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 including means operative to shift such severed ring in the direction of travel of the uncircularized stock.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said cut-off means comprises one blade mounted on one said die member and a second blade mounted for reciprocation relative thereto in a plane passing through the center of such coiled stock.

25. In apparatus for forming rings from continuous lengths of elongated stock including means for advancing such stock longitudinally; a die comprising two cooperating opposed arcuate die members disposed to receive such stock and form it in a circle as such stock is thus advanced, cut-ofi means operative to sever a ring thus formed from the leading end portion of such stock, and means operative to move said die members apart axially to clear such ring from said die members, and means axially to eject such ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 682,070 Hart Sept. 3, 1901 778,472 Beyer Dec. 27, 1904 1,437,628 Wulff Dec. 5, 1922 1,698,083 Booth Ian. 8, 1929 1,719,250 Walstrom July 2, 1929 1,762,556 Marshall June 10, 1930 1,835,589 Bond Dec. 8, 1931 2,214,025 Larson Sept. 10, 1940 2,353,925 Pattison July 18, 1944 2,393,804 Nigro Jan. 29, 1946 2,675,849 Greenshields et a1. Apr. 20, 1954 2,698,642 Melina Jan. 4, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 637,809 Great Britain May 24, 1950

Claims (1)

1. IN A MACHINE FOR MAKING WHEEL RIMS AND THE LIKE FROM ELONGATED STOCK HAVING A TRANVERSE CROSS-SECTION CORRESPONDING WITH THE RADIAL CROSS-SECTION OF THE RIM TO BE MADE, THE COMBINATION OF DIE BLOCKS FORMED WITH OPPOSED ARCUATE FACES DEFINING THEREBETWEEN AN OPEN-ENDED DIE CAVITY OF RIM CROSS-SECTION INTO ONE END OF WHICH AND THROUGH WHICH THE FREE END OF SUCH ELONGATED STOCK IS ADAPTED TO BE PUSHED LENGTHWISE TO BEND THE STOCK TO CURVED FORM CONFORMING WITH THE RADIUS OF CURVATURE OF SAID OPPOSED FACE, AND STOCK SEVERING MEANS OPERATED BY THE FREE END OF THE LOOP OF CURVED STOCK AS IT APPROACHES SAID ONE END OF SAID CAVITY TO SEVER THE STOCK AT THE POINT OF TANGENCY OF THE CURVED PORTION WITH THE ADJOINING PORTION IN ADVANCE OF SAID CAVITY.

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