US2268824A - Mechanism for cutting and looping springs - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 6, 1942. c. G. HICKS MEGI'IANISM FOR CUTTING AND LOOPING SPRINGS Filed July 25, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 *nl E @fp-mm1 I. f

l Carl 6'. HJ/'OAS f//s Arfofevg/ C. G. HICKS Jan. 6, 19u42.

MECIIANISIVI.4 FOR CUTTING AND LOOPING SPRINGS Filed July 25, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll .6 A- `1 lllllilllllllllll Jf'lllllllllllll /lllllllllllllli n'lllllllllli@ IIIIINIHNNI fa I p0 52 257.95 lllllllllllllllll Psa-med Jan. e, 1942 RSSUED UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE MEcnANTsM Foa CUTTING AND LoorING a sraINes y Carl G. Hicks, Chicago, Ill. Application July 25, 1941, Serial No. 403,934

(Cl. 14o-103) Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for cutting and looping spring elements and has for its principal object the provision of a simple mechanism which is` economical in manufacture and highly eilicient in use.

It is another object of this invention to provide an automatic machine which will operate to coil straight wire into a spring unit, abate such operation while the coil spring is cut into lengths,

`and resume said operation and simultaneously therewith convey the severed length away from the machine.

Another object of my invention is the proends of the spring unit after the cutting operation' to permit the convolution of the spring adjacent the severed ends to be bent out tov provide loop formations at the end of the spring unit.

A further object of the present invention is to provide'a novel means for clamping the severed portion of the spring unit in the movable die member during the cutting and forming operation, so that the severed spring unit will be held during the cutting operation and thereafter' willl be movable with the movable die member for the forming operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a means for releasably holding the clamping means for the severed spring unit out of clamping position until the spring unitto be acted upon is fed into the desired position with respect to the cutting and forming unit and the latter operated for the purpose of severing the spring unit.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of novel means for automatically recoupling the releasable holding means for the spring clamping device with the latter when the cutting and forming unit is withdrawn from operative position back toward normal condition.

Other objects, advantages and novel aspects of my invention will appear more fully as the device is described in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cutting and forming unit showing the several parts therein illustrated in normal position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional .detail view through the cutting and forming unit and is taken substantially along line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional detail view substantially like Fig. 3 but slightly reduced in scale with respect thereto, and illustrating the partsv thereof in cutting and forming position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the nrst step in the cutting operation;

Fig. 6 isa fragmentary perspective view, complementary to Fig. 5,r illustrating the shearing operation;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the forming dies illustrating the gradual steps in the loop forming operation;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a crimping die adapted to cooperate with the forming die of Fig. 7;

Figs. 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e and 9f are illustrative of the principal steps in the cutting and forming operation, showing a spring unit in the various stages from start to finish; and

Fig. l0 is a foreshortened perspective View ofafinished spring showing the two ends thereof looped for use.

The general arrangement is best disclosed in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings, wherein Il) indicates a bed plate or table which forms the substructure of the entire machine. Mounted on the bed plate I0 is a wire coiling unit II having conventional gearing (not shown) adapted to be driven through shaft I2 in turn drivingly connected with a pulley I3 having a belt. drive, I4 operatively trained over a like pulley associated with any suitable drive shaft or source of motion.

The Wire coiling unit II has the usual feed rollers I5 into which straight wire I6 is fed and by which such wire is forced into a coiling die I1 whence there is emitted a finished spring S in a direction at right angles to the line of feed of the wire I6.

A cutting and forming unit generally indicated at I8 is mounted on the table I0 adjacent the wire coiling unit I I. This unit I8 comprises in the main a stationary block I9 from which extends a pair of rails 20 grooved as at 2I to provide a guide for a movable block 22. A stationary frame 23vhaving a pair of vertically disposed leg elements 24 fixed to the table` I0 as'at 25 straddles the rails20 at the line of juncture of the two blocks I9 and 22. Between the legs` 2l there is arranged for slidable movement a carriage 26 which carriage 26 has disposedzthereon,

among other things, a guide element 21 the lower end 28'of which is normally disposed between the abutting ends of the block elements I9 and 22.

The block I9 is disposed nearest the coiling unit Il and forms an abutment for the movable block 22 which is normally urged toward block I9 by a helical spring means 29. The spring 29 is arranged on a rod 38 one end of which is reduced to seat into a recess formation 3| in block 22, the opposite lend of which rod 38 is disposed for sliding movement in a sleeve 32 formed in an adjustable screw anchor 33. The anchor 33 is threadably supported in a cross beam 34 canied at its ends on a pair of parallelly arranged strut bars 35 extending horizontally from the leg elements 24 adjacent the rails 28. The arrangement is such that the compression force of the helical spring 29 may be varied by adjusting the screw anchor 33 to position the anchor 33 nearer to the block 22, thus increasing the force against the block 22 or to withdraw the screw anchor 33 to relieve the spring pressure on the block 22.

'I'he abutting faces of the two blocks I9 and 22, heretofore referred to, are provided with tooled die units 36 and 31 respectively, for reasons hereinafter to be explained. Each of the blocks I9 and 22 has formed therein a guideway 38 for the passage of the coil spring S produced on the wire coiling unit II, and these guideways 38 are in axial alignment with the spring S as it emerges from the coiling die i1 such that the normal operation of the coiling unit will automatically feed the finished spring S into and through the guideways 38 until the desired length of spring has passed beyond 'the die units 36-31L The ceiling unit I I will be shut off to stop the feeding of the spring S, by and through the medium of a shut-off lever 39 operatively connected with the unit and linked for operation to the main control lever 40 by a rod 4|, such that when, the lever 40, which is normally latched in raised position, is released for downward rotative movement about its pivotal connection at 42 on the frame 23,-the rod 4| will be depressed to operate the normally open shut-oil? 1'ever39 to stop the operation of the wire coiling unit until the lever 40 again resumes normal position.

The main control lever 40 is latched 'in raised I9 is arranged between the jaw 55 and the plate 58 upon a rod 88 which is fixed to and extends upwardly from the jaw and has its lower end flared out as at 6| to provide a seat for the lower end of the spring 59; the upper end of the rod 68 extending through a passage 62 formed in the plate I8 to support the spring and rod in vertical position and to guide the movement of its headed end 63 which carries a pair of locked nuts 64 whereby the headed end 63 is normally but releasably latched in a yoke formation formed in the end of a stud 65 extending vertically from the carriage 26 for movement therewith.

By the foregoingarrangement of parts there is provided a means for clamping spring elements S within the movable block 22. 'I'he clamping jaw 55 is normally out of'clamping relationship with spring elements disposed within block 22 but having an immediate clamping action upon such spring elements when the lever 48 is depressed as aforesaid and the carriage 26 descends to thereby release the yoke 65 from its hold on the spring-urged rod 68 and the clamping jaw connected thereto.

From the disclosure oi? Fig. 2, it is made apparent that the frame 23 is disposed at an angle to the axis of the coil spring S, which angle places the-frame and `its associated parts in a 'plane parallel to the pitch on the coils of the spring S. Asl vhereinbefore stated, the carriage 26 has arranged thereon a. guide element 21 the lower end 28 of which is disposed between the abutting ends of the blocks I9 and 22. Referring to Fig. 5, it will be noted that the guide element 21 isadapted to move up and down with one (left-hand) edge 49 thereof immediately adjacent the spring S as it passes through the guideways 38 and that there extends from such edge 49 a laterally extending and projecting nger 58, the lower end 5| of which is ground to a keen` edge. This 'edge 5| is so disposed as to provide an inverted U-shapd trough U adapted to ride upon the spring S and to provide a shearing edge C at the bight of the trough U. The edge 5| is arranged such that upon descent of the carriage 23 the edge 5| will act as a Wedge to spread the convolutions of the spring S, thus clearing the way for the shearing or cutting edge position by a latch 43 slidably arranged on lever 40 'and normally urged by a spring-operated palm grip 44 toward and into a notch 45 formed on a pair of arms 46 pivotally supported on the frame 23 and lying against rollers 41 on lever 48 to hold the arms 46 in position to receive the latch 43. A link 48' connects the main control lever 48 to the vertically movable carriage 26 such that upon release of the latch 43 from notch 45 the depression of lever 48 will likewise depress the carriage 26. 'I'he movable block 22 has its center portion 53 raised slightly above the uppermost surface of the rails 28, and in this raised portion 53 there is cut a slot 54 clear through to the guideway 38 in block 22. There is disposed in the slot 54 for vertical movement relative thereto a clamping jaw 55, the lower end 56 of which is formed to bear down against the coil spring S passingA through the guideway 38 to hold the spring S in vise-like fashion in the shifting block 22 for reasons hereinafter to become apparent.

A pair of vertically disposed studs 51 have support on and extend upwardly from the block 53 and bridging'the upper ends of these studs 51 is a plate 58 having its central portion directly above the movable Jaw 55. A compression spring C which coacts with the lower rim R of th'e guideway 38 on the die 31 on the movable block 22 (Fig. 6) to effect a shearing action on the wire element I6', thus severing the sanfe at such shearing point and leaving a'free spring unit 52 to the right of thev frame 23 within the movable block 22, any shavings or lings by reason oi the cutting operation falling straight down Vthrough an opening in the bed plate I8; it being noted that during this shearing operation such free end of the coil spring S isheld by the clamping jaw 55 within the block 22. I

Immediately above the plane of the cutting edge C in vertical alignment with the guide element 21 is a cam formation 61 whichvis movable with the guide 21 and carriage 26 for engagement with a beveled edge 68 on the die 31 carried by the movable block 22. As seen in Fig. 3, the downward movement of this cam 61 will urge the block 22 and all parts carried thereby to the right including the spring unit 52 now severed from the main unit S, thereby spreading the several ends of these now individual units preparatory to the forming'loperation now to be exblocks I9 and 22 respectively are set back from the line of abutting relation with the guide element 21, just adjacent the edge 49 thereof so as to provide a path ofmovement for a pair of forming dies 69 and 10. Each of these forming dies 69 and 10 is flxed upon the vertically movable carriage 26 for movement therewith and are so disposed as to move in the path provided between the setbacks provided in the dies 36--31. These dies 69and 18 are alikev in structure inasmuch as each of them is provided with a series of forming cams facing in the direction of the severed ends of the spring units S and 52. In this regard, reference is made to Fig. 'I wherein die 16 is shown as having a leading edge 1| adapted to bear against the side wall of the spring 52 to keep the latter. in abutting relation with the inner side wall o f the guideway 38. A forming edge 12 extends slightly beyond the edge 1I and has its lowermost edge 13 wedge-shaped so as to pivot the two outside convolutions L in a direction away from the main body (S or 52) of the spring members acted upon (see Fig. 9d).

A second forming edge 14, having its lower edge 15 on an acute angle, is adapted to further swing the already pivoted end convolution L into the position shown in Fig. 9e.

The nal forming operation by the die 69 or 10 is adapted to be performed concurrently with a crimping or bending operation -by cam elements 1980 which are associated with the cams 69--18 respectively. This nal operation will best be understood in the light of Figs. '1 and 8 taken together, wherein the cam 18 is substantially in its plane of horizontal alignment with the cam 80 (and 19), which cam is formed on that side 8l of the cam block 61 facing the sheared ends of the several springs S and 52.

The cam 18 (also 69) has a forming edge 16, in addition to those already mentioned, which forming edge 16 has an arcuated lower edge 11 with a sweeping rise to an extreme extending edge 18 thereof. The arrangement is such that the crimping cam 88 engages the loop L atits point of connection with the main body of the spring 52 and simultaneously therewith the forming edge 16 of the forming die 10 engages the extending loop L approximately at its mid portion (Fig.9f). As the extreme edges 18 and 80- of the two coacting cams come into engagement with the loop L, a positive bend or crimp will be effected in the wire element connection between the loop L and the spring 52.

It will be apparent'that the foregoing description of structure and operation pertaining to the forming cam 10 and the crimping cam 80 is equally applicable to the forming cam 69 and crimping cam 19 (Figs 9d, 9e, and 91") and that in the forming and crimping operation the sheared ends of each of the spring units S and 52 are looped as explained. By reason of this simultaneous looping operation, the leading end I6' at the, point of of the spring unit S 1s prepared first and thek trailing end of such unit S, after it has been severed into an individual spring unit 52, is su-b-` sequently formed to provide'a like loop, thus leaving a completed spring 52 (as shown in Fig. l0) clamped within the block 22.

of the block 22 having shifted to the right, as seen in Fig. 4, the spring and rod assembly 59-60 l 26 and its associated parts. It will be noted that by reason of the clamping jaw 55 is out of vertical alignment with the latching yoke 65 and that the stud 66 and yoke 65 will ascend with the carriage 26 beyond the horizontal plane of the headed end 63 on the rod 68 before there is a positive coupling. For this reason there is provided a novel coupling means whichwill operate automatically during the return movement of the main control lever 48. f

The coupling means, best illustrated in Fig. 1, is generally indicated at 62 and comprises 'a swinging support in the form of a lever 83 pivotally arranged as at 84 on a laterally `extending stud 85 in turn carried by the frame 23 to provide a xed pivot. TheA opposite end of the lever 83 is pivotally connected as at 86 to the lower end of a linkl 81, the upper end of which link has pivotal connection as at 86 to one end of a stud 89 which is attached to and carried by the lever 40 at a point spaced from its fulcrum 42 so that the stud 89 will be movable with the lever 48 to impart a swinging motion to the swinging support or lever 83. The main coupling tool is arranged on the swinging support 83 midway of its ends by suspending a vertically disposed base plate 98 frornthe lever 83, the plate 98 having a loose pin connection 9| with such lever 83'. The lower end 92 of plate, 98 is provided with a trunnion wherein there isy arranged on a horizontal axis 93 an upwardly extending coupling finger 94 having a forked upper end 95 bent outwardly in a direction away from the plate 90. This nger 94 is normally held in parallelism with respect to the plate 90 by providing the nger 94 with a.

headed pin 96 carried by the finger 94 and extending through an opening or slot 91 formed in the plate 90, there being a headed portion 98 on this pin 96 and a spring 99 arranged between the head 98 and the plate 90.

When the carriage 26 is lowered as hereinbefore explained, the coupling means is vlikewise lowered a proportionate amount 'and assumes a position relative to the rod `60 of the spring clamping means as is shown in Fig. 4. As the lever 40 is raised to return the same to normal position as seen in Fig. 1, the forked finger -94 will be raised simultaneously therewith so that the fork 95 will engage beneath the nut elements 64 on the headed end 63 of the rod 68itbeing clearly shown that such engagement will take place before the cam 61 releases the block 22 for return movement. Upon subsequent ascension of the carriage 26 the cam 61 will gradually release the base for movement toward the left by its spring 29, such continued ascension at the same time causing the finger 94 to impart a lifting action on the headed rod 60, thereby raising the jaw 55 out of engagement with the spring unit 52 to releasel the latter for continued4 movement through the guideway 38.

' As the block 22 moves to the left, the finger 94 is free to swing in av counterclockwise direction about the axis 93 and by reason thereof the finger 94 will continuev to raise the headed end63 of the rod 60 `concurrently with the ascension of the yoke 65. The lower end of the' yoke formation 65 is provided with a cam surface4 |00 against which the yoke fingers 95 will bear so that as the lever 40, carriage 28, andv coupling unit reach their extreme uppermost position, the yoke 95 will b e cammed back'y toward the plate 98.

j When the fork 95 has been sufficiently cammed away from the yoke 65, the latter will become positioned under the head nuts 64 and when the tension or frictional bearing between the fork ss and the head nuts s4 is relieved the springen will snap the finger 94 back to vertical condition.

It will be noted that upon the return movement of the carriage 26, the laterally extending finger 50 will again engage the springA S. In order not to distort the completed or looped end L of thel remaining spring unit S, there is formed in the stationary block I9 a flared opening I |0 (Fig. 5) and the nger 50 is provided with an obliquely disposed top surface |II. When the carriage 26 is raised as aforesaid, the surface |I| of the projection 50 will bear against the nished end of the spring S and the latter will be flexed into the flared portion I I of the guideway 38, thereby permitting a by-pass for the finger 50. When the finger 50 has resumed its normally raised position, the spring S will by its own resiliency return into axial alignment with the main hody thereof. 'I'he lever 40 will by that time have reached its fully raised position where it will again be latched by bolt 43 and notch 45, and by the same token the rod 4| will have been lifted to raise the shut-off lever 39 on the wire coiling unit Il, whereupon the wire I6 will again be drawn through the feeding rollers I 5 and another section of coil spring S emitted from the ceiling die Il. Such additional length of spring S will be fed into the guideways 38 in the blocks I9 and 22 as hereinbefore explained, the completed unit 52 having Apreviously been drawn to the right, beyond the block 21 into a conveyor tray |0| positioned on the cross beam 34. 'I'he tray I 0| is adapted to receive and guide completed springs toward a pair of extracting rollers |02 and |03, the uppermost one |02 of which is drivingly connected to a shaft |04 journaled in bearing blocks |05. The shaft |04 is connected by bevel gears |06 to a drive shaft |01 having power connection through belt and pulley |06 with the main drive shaft I2. Spring units 52 extracted through the rollers I 02|03 are fed into an inclined chute |09 for conveyance into a suitable receptacle (not shown). The vrollers |02|03 are provided with a tensioner adjustment (Fig. l) for setting the pulling action of 'the rollers. By this arrangement completed springs have their free end extended into the rollers I02-I03 which slippingly ride over such free end until clamping jaw 55 is released, whereupon the rollers I02|03 eect a withdrawal of the spring .'52.v

While I have illustrated and described the'prefen-ed form of construction for carrying my in vention into eilfect,` this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims. y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new'vand desire to protect by Letters Patent is: Y

l. In a device of the class described, a fixed bed and a movable bed, means normally urging the movable bed toward the xed bed, said two bed means providing a path of movement for a spring unit to be acted upon, a movable carriage arranged above said two beds and havinga shear portion thereof disposed between said beds for shearing said spring unit into separate body portions, cam means on said carriage for moving said movable bed away from said xed bed for separating the severed ends of said sheared spring, means on said carriage flexing the two last convolutions of said severed ends in a direction away from'the body portion of the respective spring, a complementary means for crimping said last two convolutions at right angle to the body of the spring, and means for moving said carriage with respect to the two bed means for the purpose aforesaid.-

2. In a device of the class described, a ilxed bed and a movable bed, means -normally urging the movable bed toward Vthe fixed bed, said two bed means providing a pathof movement for a spring unit to be acted upon, a movable carriage arranged above said two beds and having a shear portion thereof disposed between said beds for shearing said spring unit into separate body portions, cam means on said carriage for moving said movable bed away from said fixed bed for separating the severed ends of said sheared spring, means on said movable bed for clampingly engaging said spring unit when the movable bed is shifted as aforesaid, means on said carriage flexing the two last convolutions of said severed ends in a direction away from the body portion of the respective spring, a complementary means for crimping said last two convolutions at right angle to the body of the spring, and means for moving said carriage with respect to the two bed` means for the purpose aforesaid.

3. In a device of the class described, a fixed bed and a movable bed, means normally urging the movablel bed toward the fixed bed, said two bed means providing a path of movement for a spring unit to be acted upon, means for feeding a spring unitV along said path of movement, a movable carriage arranged above said two beds and having a shear portion thereof disposed between said beds for shearing said spring unit into separate body portions, cam means on said carriage for moving said movable bed away from said fixed bed for separating the severed ends of said sheared spring, means on said carriage nexing the two last convolutions of said severed ends in adirection away from the body portion of the respective spring, a complementary means for crimping said la-st two convolutions at right angle to the body of the spring, and means for moving' said carriage with respect to the two bed means for the purpose aforesaid, and for automatically stopping said means for feeding the spring unit along said aforementioned path of movement during `the shearing and forming operation.

4. In a device of the class described, a fixed bed anda movable bed, means normally urging the movable bed toward the fixed bed, said two bed means providing a path of movement for a spring unit to be acted upon, means for'feeding a spring unit along said path of movement, a movable carriage arranged above said two beds and having a shear portion thereof disposed between said beds for shearing said spring uni-I; into separate body portions, cam means on said car-` riage for moving said movable bed away from said xed bed for separating the severed ends of said sheared spring, means on said carriage flexing the two last convolutions of said severed ends in a. direction away from the body portion of the respective spring, a complementary means for crimping said last two convolutions at right angle to the bcdy of the spring, means for moving said carriage with respect to the two bed means for the purpose aforesaid and for automatically stop.- ping said means for feeding the spring unit along said aforementioned path of movement during the shearing and forming operation, and automatic means for drawing the severed portion of said spring unit vaway from said movable bed when the latter is permitted to return to normal position.

5. In a device for cutting and forming looped ends on springs, a stationary die, a movable die, means normally urging the latter toward the former, said dies providing a path of movement for a spring to be acted upon, means forcutting said spring into two pieces and for forminga loop at the severed ends of the respective pieces, said means comprising a carriage arranged for vertical movement, a shear on said carriage and having a portion thereof disposed between said dies and including a cam means for effecting movement of said movable die, a flexing cam on said carriage and adapted to flex the last two convoluted loops of the aforementioned severed ends of the spring at right angles to the direction of twist of the spring, and a complementary bending cam element adapted to engage said two convoluted loops in the region of their point of connection with the main body of the spring to crimp said point of connection thereby/to maintain said loops at right angles to the spring as aforesaid, and means for effecting movement of the carriage for the purpose aforesaid.

6. In a device of the class described including a xed guideway and a movable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding a spring unit along said fixed and movable guideways, together with cutting and forming 1 means arranged for vertical movement between said fixed and movable guideways and adapted to descend for the purpose of severing said spring unit into desired lengths and to form loops on the severed ends of said spring, the combination of means on said movable guideway for gripping said length of spring unit to hold the latter during the forming operation aforesaid, said means including a guide formation in said movable guideway, a movable jaw arranged to reciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from the spring unit in said movable guideway, and means connecting said movable jaw with said cutting and forming means for movement therewith.

'7. In a device of the class described including a fixed guideway and a movable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding a spring unit along said fixed and movable guideways, together with cutting and forming means arranged for vertical movement between said xed and movableguideways and adapted to descend for the purpose of severing said spring unit into desired lengths and to form loops on the severed ends of said spring, the combination of means on said movable guideway for gripping said length'` of spring unit to hold the latter during the forming operation aforesaid, said means including a guide formation in said movable guideway, a movable jaw arranged to reciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from the spring unit in said movable guideway, means normally urging said movable jaw toward said spring unii-I to clamp the latter in vise-like action in said guideway, means on said cutting and forming means for releasably holding said movable jaw out of said normal position and adapted to release the movable jaw when the cutting and forming means is operated as aforesaid, and means for recoupling said movable jaw with said cutting and forming means when the latter ascends toward normal position.

8. In a device of the class described including a fixed guideway and a movable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding a spring unit along said fixed and movable guideways, together with cutting and forming means arranged for vertical movement between said fixed and movable guideways and adapted to descend for the purposel of severing said spring unit into ydesired lengths and to form loops on the severed ends of said spring lengths, the combination of means on said movable guideway for gripping said length of spring unit to hold the latter during the cutting and forming operation aforesaid, said means including a guide formation on said movable guideway, a movable jaw arranged to reciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from the spring unit, means on sa'id cutting and forming means for releasably holding said movable jaw in raised position and for releasing said movable jaw when the cutting and forming means is operated'as aforesaid.

9. In a device of the class described including a fixed guideway and a movable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding a spring'unit along said fixed and movable guideways, together with cutting and forming means arranged for vertical movement between said fixed and movable guideways and adapted to descend for the purpose of severing said spring` toward and away fromthe spring unit, means on said cutting and forming means for releasably holding said movable jaw in raised position and for releasing said movable jaw when the cutting and forming means is operated as aforesaid, and coupling means operatively connected to said cutting and forming means and adapted to couple said movable jaw with said cutting and forming means when the latter is returned to a nory mal position.

10. In a device of the class described including a fixed guideway and a movable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding a spring unit along said xed and movable guideways, together with cutting and forming means arranged for vertical movement between said fixed and movable guideways and adapted to descend for the purpose of severing said spring unit into desired lengths and to form loops von the severed ends of said spring lengths, the combination of means on said movable guideway for gripping said length of spring unit Vto hold the latter during the cutting and forming operation aforesaid, said means including a guide formation on said movable guideway, clamping means arranged to reciprocate in said guide formation.`

Y means arranged for vertical movement between said xed and movable guideways and adapted to descend for the purpose of severing said spring unit into desired lengths and to form loops on the severed' ends of said spring lengths, the combination of means on said movable guideway for gripping said length of spring unit to hold the latter during lthe cutting and forming operation aforesaid, said means including a guide formation on said movable guideway, clamping means arranged to reciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from the spring unit, means onl ing a spring unit along said fixed and movable guideways, together with cutting and forming means arranged for vertical movement between said fixed and movable guideways and adapted to descend for the purpose of severing said spring unit into desired lengths and to form loops on the severed ends of said spring lengths, the combination of means on said movable guideway for gripping said length of spring unit to hold the latter during the cutting and forming operation aforesaid, said means including a guide formation on said movable guideway, a movable jaw arranged to reciprocatein said guideformation toward and away from the spring unit, means on saidcutting and forming means for releasably holding said movable jaw in raised position and for releasing said movable jaw when the cutting and forming means is operated as aforesaid, and coupling means Aoperatively connected to said cutting and forming means and adapted to couple said gripping means with said cutting and forming means when the latter is returned to a normal position. y

13. In a device of the class described including a xed guideway and a movable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding a spring unit along said fixed and movable guideways, together with cutting and forming' means arranged for vertical movement between said fixed and movable guideways and adapted to descend for the purpose of severing said spring latter during the cutting andforming operation aforesaid,I said means including a guide formation on said movable guideway, a` movable jaw arranged to reciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from the spring unit, means on said cutting and forming means for releasably,

holding said movable jaw in raised position and` for releasing said movable jaw when the cutting and forming means is operated as aforesaid, coupling means operatively connected to said cutting and forming means and adapted to couple said movable jaw lwith said cutting and forming means when the latter is returned to a normal position, and means frictlonally engaging said severed spring unit for withdrawing the same from said movable guideway.

14. In a device of the class described including a fixed guideway and a movable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding a spring unit along said fixed and movable guideways, together Awith cutting and forming means arranged for vertical movement between said iixed and movable guideways and adapted to descend for the purpose of severing said spring unit into desired lengths and to form loops on the severed ends of said spring lengths, the combination of means on said movable guideway for gripping said length of spring unit to hold the latter during the cutting and forming operation aforesaid, said means including a guideformation on said movable guideway, clamping means arranged to reciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from the spring unit, means on said cutting and forming means for releasably holding said clamping means in raised position and vfor releasing said clamping means when the cutting and forming means is operated as aforesaid, and means frictionally engaging said severed i spring unit for withdrawing the same from said movable guideway.

15. In a device or the class described 1nc1uding a fixed guideway and a movable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding a spring unit along said fixed and movable guideways, together with cutting and forming means arranged for vertical movement between said fixed and movable guideways and adapted to Adescend for the purpose of severing said spring unit into desired lengths and to form loops on the severed ends of said spring lengths, the combination of means on said movable guideway for gripping said length of spring unit to hold the latter during the cutting and forming operation aforesaid, said means including a guide formation on said movable guideway, a movable jaw arranged to reciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from the spring unit, means on said cutting and forming means for releasably holding said movable jaw in raised position and for releasing said movable jaw when the cutting and forming kmeans is operated as aforesaid, coupling means operatively connected tosaid cutting and forming means and adapted to couple said gripping means with said cutting and form- 'ing means whenv the latter is returned to a normal position, and means frictionally engaging said severed spring unit for withdrawing the same from said movable guideway.

CARL G. HICKS.

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