US2580795A - Work feeding and positioning mechanism - Google Patents

Description

2 Sl-IEETS,SI-!EET 1 RM m km w INVENTOR. Eden II Kitchell WQM ATTORNEYS Jan. 1, 1952 E. T. KITCHELL WORK FEEDING AND POSITIONING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 14, 1947 Jan. 1, 1952 v 1', K 7 2,580,795

WORK FEEDING AND POSITIONING MECHANISM FiIed Feb. 14, 1947 2' SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTORQ Eden T. Kite/1 ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 1, 1952 WORK FEEDING AND POSITIONING MECHANISM Eden T. Kitchell, Dallas, Tex., assignor to J. E. Bush, Da'llas,Tex.

Application February 14, 1947, Serial N 0. 728,575

'2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in work feeding and positioning mechanisms.

One object of the invention is to provide .an improved mechanism for continually feeding work insequence and .maintaining the same in a fixed position during a-desired operation :so as to reduce manual handling of the work "to a minimum and thereby simplify and speed the performance of said-operation.

Animportantobject of the invention is to pro vide an improved Work feeding and positioning mechanism adapted to intermittently feed 'work to a machine for a desired operation, the feeding being suspended during such operation and being resumed at will upon the completion of said=operation.

Aparticular object of the invention is to provide 'an improved mechanism, of the character described, having a conveyor for feeding work to a machine with-means overlying and co-acting with the conveyor for maintaining work in engagement therewith tofacilitate feeding of the work and to hold the same stationary during the-operation of "the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism, of the character described, wherein the conveyor is adapted to actuated intermittently for alternately feeding and maintaining work stationary to permit sei ii automatic manipulation of the work in performing a desired operation.

A' construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the'following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is-a side elevational view of a work feeding and positioning mechanism, constructed in accordance with the invention, and shown .associated with a riveting machine,

.Fig. 21s a plan view of the mechanism and a portion of the machine,

Fig. 3 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l, and

' Fig. 5 Ba vertical, sectional view, taken on the i 7 line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

In the drawings, the numeral it designates a support-or table having the usual uprights or tables were adapted to be employed .incon- Junction with a machine, such as an automatic riveting machine 15, for supporting work as it is fed to and from the machine .(Figs. 1 and .2). The later isofconventicnal construotionand includes a pedestal It upon which is mounted are ciprocating ram or plunger ll adapted to coact with an anvil block is projecting laterally from the pedestal beneath the plunger. Coactin-g dies i9 and 2.6 are mounted on the plunger all and anvil block 1-8, respectively, and suitablexrivets (not shown) are fed to the lower die 28 by a curved track 21. As is most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the anvil block 1-8 is fastened-by suitable bolts 22 to the adjacent 'end'bars-rt-g of the tables which preferably are disposed in a'linement on either side of the machine it.

Work, such as metallic louvers L and end brackets 3 (Figs. 1 and 3) is adapted to besupportedby the tables to facilitate riveting of the same by the machine 25. A pluralityof louvers 'L are adapted to be riveted to each bracket B which extends longitudinally of the tables, while said louvers depend substantially vertically therefrom. For feeding the work to the machine, an endless chain conveyor 23 extends longitudinally of the right-hand table Ii! adjacent its forward margin or side rail 22 and passes over end sprockets 2d and 25 which are supported by rotatable shafts 26 and 2?, respectively. Idler sprockets carried by shafts are disposed intermediate the end sprockets 2d and 25 for supporting the upper flight of the conveyor chain The shafts 29 extend transversely of he table below the side rails and are journaled in yokes or .U-shaped brackets which are welded, or otherwise secured, to and depend from said rails in spaced relation. A longitudinal angle bar or rails! is secured to the underside of the forward side rail and projects forwardly thereof between the sprockets .24 and 25 to provide a guide for the upper flight of theendles chain (Figs. 1, 3 and 4). The flanges of the guide rail 31 are directed forwardly and upwardly and the chain rides upon the upwardly-directed flange. Cutout portionsror recesses 32 are formed in the latter for accommodating the idler sprockets 2t. .A

suitable chain guard 33 for the lower flight of the endless chain is carried by the forward legs of the brackets 35].

Similar yo'kes or brackets 34 and .35 support the shafts "2.5 and 2?, respectively, of the end sprockets 24 and 25. In order topermit tightening of the chain 23, the bracket 34 isadiustably mounted by being suspended from a frame :36 whichis slidably supported upon and between the side rails of" the table. Suitable bolts 31 extend throughelongated openings orslots 3.8 formedxin the frame 3'55'andare-screw-threaded into thesside rails for fastening said :frame and its bracket "in adjusted positions. The frame has :a transverse angle bar 39 at its inner end for supporting suitable screws 40 which bear against one of the cross bars l4 of the table for varyin the position of said frame. Manifestly, tightening of the chain may be accomplished by inward rotation of the screws 40 so as to slide the frame outwardly toward the end of the table, while retracting of said screws permits inward movement of said frame so as to loosen said chain. Suitable strapsconnect the end bar 39 of the frame to the lower portion of the bracket 34.

As is most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the sprocket 25 has the rear or inner end portion of its shaft 21 terminating short of the rear leg of the bracket 35 and journaled in a substantially upright arm 42 secured to and projecting upwardly from the lower portion of said bracket. The rear extremity of the shaft is polygonal or angular in cross-section to provide wrench faces 43 for engagement by a ratchet lever 44 which is held in engagement therewith by a suitable screw 45. The ratchet lever 44 is of conventional construction and is adapted to rotate the shaft 21 and its sprocket in a clockwise direction (Fig. when swung in such direction so as to advance the upper flight of the chain conveyor 23 toward the machine l5; however, the lever is freely rotatable relative to the shaft in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 5) whereby no rotation is imparted to said shaft when said lever is swung in such direction.

An elongated link 46 pivotally connects the ratchet lever to one end of a lever 4'! which is pivotally supported by a suitable clevis bracket 48 (Fig. 4). The pivoted lever 41 extends forwardly beneath the table and has a foot pedal 49 pivotally fastened to its forward end. An open-' ing 50 is formed in one of the planks of the usual platform 5| for guiding the foot pedal 49, said platform extending longitudinally of the table and immediately forwardly thereof and of the machine for supportin one or more operators. By depressing the foot pedal, the lever 41 is. pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 4) so as to force the link 46 upwardly and thereby swing the ratchet lever in the same direction. In this manner, the shaft 21 and sprocket 25 are rotated in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 1) to advance the chain conveyor 23 toward the machine l5. It is pointed out that the ratchet lever and other elements are arranged so as to impart a predetermined travel to the conveyor upon each actuation of said lever for positioning the work in the desired relation to the dies [9 and of the machine I5. Ordinarily, the weight of the link is suificient to return the elements to their inoperative position shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5.

For maintaining the work in engagement with the endless chain, hold-down members 52 are pivotally mounted on the table and each member includes an angular, overhanging guard rail or bar 53 overlying and in longitudinal alinement with the upper flight of said chain. A plurality of transverse arms or straps 54 connect each bar 53 'to a longitudinal shaft 55 which has its ends journaled in suitable collars 56 carried by the intermediate portions of the cross bars l4. Thus, eachmember 53 is pivotally supported above the table and is adapted to be swung downwardly relative thereto so as to dispose its bar 53 into overlying relation to the chain conveyor. Downward movement of the member is limited by stop lugs 51 carried by and projecting upwardly from the forward side rail l2 for engagement with the straps54 (Figs. 3 and 4). In order to maintain the louvers L and end bracketsB in fixed relation during their advancement by the conveyor, the bar 53 of each member preferably has its flanges directed forwardly and downwardly in overlying and overhanging relation to the upper flight of said conveyor. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the left-hand table that receives the finished work from the machine is provided with one or more hold-down members 52 and, if desired, may be of a construction identical to the right-hand table and include a similar conveyor (not shown).

From the foregoing, it is believed to be readily apparent that work, such as the louvers L and end brackets B, may be held in a fixed position while fed semi-automatically to the machine l5 by the chain conveyor 23. The individual pivotal mounting of the hold-down members 52 permits upward swinging of the same for positioning of work upon the conveyor. As soon as the first end bracket passes beyond the right hand member, a second bracket and louvers may be placed upon the conveyor upon upward swinging of said right-hand member. The hold-down member of the left-hand table assists in maintaining the work against movement during operation of the machine and is particularly effective when said Work passes from beneath the left-hand, hold-down member of the right-hand table.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A work feeding and positioning mechanism including, a support, an endless conveyor carried by the support, hold-down means pivotally connected to said support and having an angular member overlying and extending longitudinally of the conveyor for holding angular work in engagement with said conveyor, the hold-down means and its angular member being pivotal in a vertical arc transversely of said conveyor to permit positioning of the work, and drive means for said conveyor.

2. A work feeding and positioning mechanism including, a support, an endless chain conveyor carried by the support, a hold-down member having an angle bar overlying and extending longitudinally of the conveyor for holding angular work in engagement with said conveyor, the hold down member being pivotally connected to said support for swinging movement in an arc transverse and about a horizontal axis parallel to said conveyor to permit positioning of the work, and drive means for intermittently actuating said conveyor.

EDEN T. KITCHELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,275,988 Juengst Aug. 13, 1918 1,536,252 Walstrom May 5, 1925 1,591,422 Haas July 6, 1926 1,715,141 Mathieson May 28, 1929 1,941,829 Dorman Jan. 2, 1934 2,259,168 Lamprecht Oct. 14. 1941

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