US3863440A

US3863440A - Semi-automatic linking machine

Info

Publication number: US3863440A
Application number: US443805A
Authority: US
Inventors: Morris Kortick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-02-19
Filing date: 1974-02-19
Publication date: 1975-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-04
Also published as: JPS5194181A; DE2451422A1; DE7436178U

Abstract

The device is designed to handle a link for a chandelier or other ornamental article. A vibrating hopper feeds the links on a slanted rail so that they slide down to a feed position. A latch adjacent the bottom end of the rail retains the links in a line on the rail. The machine moves a double guide member, one arm opening the latch and the other arm guiding the bottom link onto a horizontal slide rail in the machine. The guide member is withdrawn, allowing the latch to close and hold the remaining links on the rail. A ram moves the single link forwardly to an operating position. The operator now holds a pair of crystals, one in each hand on each side of the machine, so that the openings in the crystals are positioned between the end lugs on the link. The operator now activates the ram to move forwardly a short distance, sufficient to bend the link to move the U-shaped arms toward each other and to move the lugs into the openings in the crystals to complete the linkage. The ram is then withdrawn and the operation is repeated with the next link.

Description

United States Patent [191 Kortick [451 Feb. 4, 1975 SEMI-AUTOMATIC LINKING MACHINE [76] Inventor: Morris Kortick, 124 Paine Ave., Cranston, R1

22 Filed: Feb. 19, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 443,805

Primary Examiner-C. W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-Gene P. Crosby Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Max Schwartz [57] ABSTRACT The device is designed to handle a link for a chandelier or other ornamental article. A vibrating hopper feeds the links on a slanted rail so that they slide down to a feed position. A latch adjacent the bottom end of the rail retains the links in a line on the rail. The machine moves a double guide member, one arm opening the latch and the other arm guiding the bottom link onto a horizontal slide rail in the machine. The guide member is withdrawn, allowing the latch to close and hold the remaining links on the rail. A ram moves the single link forwardly to an operating position. The operator now holds a pair of crystals, one in each hand on each side of the machine, so that the openings in the crystals are positioned between the end lugs on the link. The operator now activates the ram to move forwardly a short distance, sufficient to bend the link to move the U-shaped arms toward each other and to move the lugs into the openings in the crystals to complete the linkage. The ram is then withdrawn and the operation is repeated with the next link.

l7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB 4W5 3.863.440

SHEET'IUF 3 I 74 :5? l v E i. 86 I l g i i PATENTED EB- 4l975 3.863.440

SHEEI 2 OF 3 SEMI-AUTOMATIC LINKING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Certain ornamental chains are too heavy to be connected with conventional wire links or similar linkage.

Different types of links have been designed to handle the heavier ornaments, but heretofore, such links have required hand operations to assembly. An example is the Patent to Schonbek, No. 3,629,57 l issued Dec. 2l, 197 I. This shows a link used for connecting chandelier crystals, but presenting an assembly problem. Such crystals require a suitable link for handling the comparatively heavy crystals and a suitable machine for eliminating the costly and time consuming hand operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In US. Pat. application Ser. No. 347,233, entitled Link Construction For A Crystal Pendant, now Pat. No. 3,820,20l, a link is illustrated which effectively handles the crystals of a chandelier construction. The link comprises a pair of members integrally joined at the center and initially held in an inverted U-shape position. At each end, each member has an integral lug facing the other member, the lugs being initially spaced. The machine of the present invention feeds these links from a hopper to a horizontal supporting rail. A ram moves the link along the rail to an operating position toward the front of the machine. The operator inserts a crystal with each hand between the lugs at each end of the link. The ram then moves forwardly to bend the link to a more flattened position, the lugs at each end moving toward each other through the crystal opening to link the crystals to each other. A latch mechanism now allows the next link to move to the supporting rail to repeat the operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. I is a perspective view ofa semi-automatic linking machine embodying my present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof with the feed hopper removed;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation thereof;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are longitudinal sections showing the sequence of operation of the machine;

FIG. 7 is a front view, partly section. of the machine in the position shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, showing the initial feed operation as shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the link and crystals as linked by the machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION While the machine of the present invention can be readily modified to handle most connecting links, for purposes of illustration it is shown operating on the linkage shown in FIG. 9. The link 10 comprises a pair of generally rectangular elongated members 12 integrally joined at the center at one edge by the strip 14. At the opposite central edge, each member 12 is provided with a strip portion 16. At each end, each member 12 has an integral lug l8 entending toward the other member. In the first two positions from the left in FIG. 9 the link [0 is open. The chandelier crystals are provided with opposed openings 22 adjacent opposite edges.

The machine feeds the links 10 to an assembly position. The operator holds a pair of crystals 20, one in each hand. and positions them at each end of the link 20 with the openings 22 aligned with the lugs I8. The machine then uses a power ram to bend the link into the position shown to the right in FIG. 9, with the lugs 18 entering the openings 22. The operation is repeated with the crystal at the end to form a chain of crystals.

The above operation is performed by the machine of the present invention. Referring to FIG. I, the machine is mounted on a base 24. The base supports a raised platform 26 on which a conventional vibrating hopper 28 is mounted. The machine is to the right of the hopper. A pair of supporting blocks 30 extend from the front edge of the base rearwardly. An inverted T- shaped support 32 is mounted trasversely across the blocks 30. A feed strip 34 extends from the top of the hopper 28 to the vertical wall of the support 32, and a feed rail 36 is mounted on the top edge of the strip 34 together with a spaced parallel guide 38. The links 10 slide from the hopper 28 along the feed rail 36 and are held in proper alignment by the guide 38.

A supporting strip 40 extends from the machine at right angles to the bottom of the strip 34 forwardly of the base 24, see FIGS. 2 and 3, the front end having a stop member 42. The top edge of the stip 40 forms a feed rail 44 with a central slot and sloping sides, FIGS. 7 and 8, so that the strips 16 of the link 10 can ride in the slot and the ends with the lugs are accommodated on the sloping sides. The links are moved across the top of the rail portion 44 and are held in proper position by a triangular finger member 46 pivotally mounted at 48 adjacent the rear. The rear end of the member 46 rest on a spring 50 to resiliently urge the finger down onto the rail portion 44 and the links 10 thereon.

As can be seen in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the finger member 46 is provided with a cut out portion 52 on its bottom edge opening on the end of the strip 34. A latch member 54 is pivotally mounted adjacent the lower end of the strip 34, FIGS. 7 and 8, with an extended point 56 in the path of the links sliding on the rail 36. A coil spring 58 yielding retains the latch point 56 in holding position, FIG. 7. The feed is provided by the construction to the right of the support strip 40 in FIGS. 2, 7 and 8. A pneumatic cylinder 60 is provided with a piston rod 62 on the front end of which is a block 64 having spaced, integral, horizontal arms. The lower arm 66 slides horizontally through an opening in the strip 40 to contact the lower end of the latch member 54, FIG. 8. The shorter upper arm 68 is adapted to slide through the cut out 52 in the finger member 46.

When the cylinder 60 is activated to move the piston rod 62 and block 64 to the left, the lower arm 66 causes the latch 54 to pivot against the action of the spring 58 and to move the point 56 out of the way of the links 10. The links now slide down until the lowermost link is positioned over the strip 40. At this point the link 10 encounters the end of the upper arm 68 which prevents any further movement of the links. Now, when the member 64'is withdrawn, the latch 54 is pulled into holding position again by the spring 58, FIG. 7, leaving one link 10 on the rail 44.

The link 10 resting on the rail 44 must now be moved forwardly against the stop 42. Mounted to the rear of the strip 40 is another pneumatic cylinder 70 having the operating piston 72 pushing a block 74. Forwardly of the block 74 is the power block 76. A pin 78 extends horizontally from adjacent the bottorn of theblock 74 into the block tiiThe pin 78 has a cut out 80 at the upper edge and a pin 82 extends into the cut out in the block 76. This provides a delay or play between the

blocks

74 and 76 during both forward and rearward movements. A spring 84 at the top edge resiliently separates the blocks to provide a yielding sliding movement.

The front upper portion of the block 76 is provided with a slanted cam edge 86. Mounted on a support 88, FIG. 6, is a pneumatic press cylinder 90 having a vertically operably piston 92 with a slanted bottom cam edge 94 complementary to the cam edge 86 on the block 76. In operation, when the cylinder 70 is activated, the piston rod 72 pushes the

blocks

74 and 76 forwardly. An elongated ram member 96 extends horizontally forwardly from the block 76 to slide along the rail 44 on the strip 40. The ram member 96 engages the link on the rail 44 and pushes it forwardly to the stop member 42, FIG. 6. At this point, the operator inserts the crystals 20, one at each end of the link 10 on each side of the strip 40, with the openings 22 in alignment with the lugs 18. A foot pedal now activates the pneumatic press cylinder 90 to plunge the piston 92 sharply downwardly. The cam edge 94 engages the cam edge 86, FIG. 6, pushing the block 76 forwardly so that the ram member 96 squeezes the bends the link against the stop 42 into the final shape shown to the right in FIG. 9. This movement of the block 76 is done with a lost motion effect, the block 74 remaining stationary, due to the cut out 80 and pin 82.

Now the piston 92 is raised and the cylinder 70 is reversed to withdraw the

blocks

74 and 76 and ram members 96. The cylinder 60 is again activated and the member 64 moves to feed another link to the rail 44. As the operation is repeated, the operator picks up one of the linked cyrstals to hold on one side of the strip 40 with a fresh crystal on the other side. Thus, crystals are continually added to form a chain. The chains of crystals can then be suitably assembled in a chandelier.

The machine of the present invention thus feeds a link to the assembly machine, moves the link forwardly in a proper attitude for manually holding crystals, then closes the link to lock the crystals to the link. The operation is thus semiautomatic. The machine is readily adaptable to handle any type link and is fairly simple and uncomplicated in construction. Other advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A linking machine comprising a base, a horizontal feed strip mounted front to rear on said base, means for feeding successive links in open position to said feed strip, means for moving each link forwardly on said strip, whereby an operator can hold objects to be linked on each side of said strip in position in the link, and means for bending the link into closed position to lock the objects to the link.

2. A linking machine as in claim 1, wherein a triangular member is mounted edgewise above said strip in pivoted relation to said strip, and a spring mounted at the rear of said member resiliently urging said member against the top of said strip to retain the link on said strip.

3. A linking machine as in claim 1, wherein said bending means includes a pneumatic press vertically mounted over said horizontal feed strip, said press acting on said moving means to force said moving means into bending the link.

4. A linking machine as in claim 1, wherein said means for moving the link forwardly comprises a pneumatic cylinder mounted in alignment behind said strip, a piston extending from said cylinder. a block arrangement mounted on the front end of said piston, and an elongated ram member extending from said block arrangement, said ram being slidable along the top edge of said strip to move a link forwardly on said strip when said cylinder is activated.

5. A linking machine as in claim 4, wherein said block arrangement comprises a pair of blocks in spaced relation, one of said blocks having a horizontal pin extending toward the other of said blocks and the other of said blocks hav'iiigarr'bpeniag for receiving said pin, said pin having a cut out portion at the top edge and said other block having a transverse locking pin extending through said cut out portion to lock said blocks to each other but permit relative movement therebetween along said out out portion in a lost motion effect, and a coil spring between said blocks to resiliently retain said blocks in spaced position.

6. A linking machine as in claim 5, wherein the forward block is provided with a slanted cam edge at the top forward end, a pneumatic press is vertically mounted over said horizontal feed strip, said press having a vertically operably piston, the lower end of said piston having a slanted cam edge complementary to said block cam edge, whereby said piston cam edge will engage said block cam edge to force said block and ram member forwardly to bend the link into closed position.

7. A linking machine as in claim 1, wherein said feeding means comprises a vibrating hopper, a feed strip extending from said hopper top to said horizontal feed strip, and a guide in spaced parallel relation to the top of said hopper feed strip to retain the links of said feed strip.

8. A linking machine as in claim 7, wherein a latch member is pivotally mounted adjacent the bottom end of said hopper feed strip, said latch member having a pointed portion adapted to extend into the path of movement of the links along said hopper feed strip to hold the links, a coil spring mounted on said strip to resiliently retain said latch member in holding position, and means for pivoting said latch against the action of said spring to release successive links from said strip.

9. A linking machine as in claim 8, wherein said latch releasing means comprises a pneumatic cylinder mounted at right angles to said horizontal feed strip, a pistion extending from said cylinder and having a block at its outer end, a pair of spaced horizontal arms extending from said block, the lower of said arms contacting said latch member to pivot said latch member into open position when said cylinder is activated, and the upper arm guiding the lowermost link in position of said horizontal feed strip. 14

10. A linking machine as in claim 1, wherein said strip is provided with a rail top edge shaped to conform to the structure of the link being fed thereon, said strip having a stop element at the front end thereof, said bending means squeezing the link against said stop element.

11. A linking machine as in claim 10, wherein a triangular member is mounted edgewise above said strip is pivoted relation to said strip, amd a spring mounted at the rear of said member resiliently urging said memher against the top of said strip to retain the link on said strip.

12. A linking machine as in claim 10, wherein said means for moving the link forwardly comprises a pneumatic cylinder mounted in alignment behind said strip, a piston extending from said cylinder, :1 block arrangement mounted on the front end of said piston, and an elongated ram member extending from said block arrangement, said ram being slidable along the top edge of said strip to move a link forwardly on said strip when said cylinder is activated.

13. A linking machine as in claim 12, wherein said block arrangement comprises a pair of blocks in spaced relation, one of said blocks having a horizontal pin extending toward the other of said blocks and the other of said blocks having an opening for receiving said pin said pin having a cut out portion at the top edge and said other block having a transverse locking pin extending through said cut out portion to lock said blocks to each other but permit relative movement therebetween along said cut out portion in a lost motion effect, and a coil spring between said blocks to resiliently retain said blocks in spaced position.

14. A linking machine as in claim 11, wherein said feeding means comprises a vibrating hopper, a feed strip extending from said hopper top to said horizontal feed strip, and a guide in spaced parallel relation to the top of said hopper feed strip to retain the links on said feed strip.

15. A linking machine as in claim 14, wherein a latch member is pivotally mounted adjacent the bottom end of said hopper feed strip, said latch member having a pointed portion adapted to extend into the path of movement of the links along said hopper feed strip to hold the links, a coil spring mounted on said strip to resiliently retain said latch member in holding position, and means for pivoting said latch against the action of said spring to release successive links from said strip.

16. A linking machine as in claim l5. wherein said latch releasing means comprises a pneumatic cylinder mounted at right angles to said horizontal feed strip, a piston extending from said cylinder and having a block at its outer end, a pair of spaced horizontal arms extending from said block, the lower of said arms contacting said latch member to pivot said latch member into open position when said cylinder is activated, and the upper arm guiding the lowermost link is position on said horizontal feed strip.

17. A linking machine as in claim 16, wherein said means for moving the link forwardly comprises a pneumatic cylinder mounted in alignment behind said strip, a piston extending from said cylinder, a block arrangement mounted on the front end of said piston, and an elongated ram member extending from said block arrangement, said ram member being slidable along the top edge of said strip to move the link forwardly on said strip when said cylinder is activated.

Claims

4. A linking machine as in claim 1, wherein said means for moving the link forwardly comprises a pneumatic cylinder mounted in alignment behind said strip, a piston extending from said cylinder, a block arrangement mounted on thE front end of said piston, and an elongated ram member extending from said block arrangement, said ram being slidable along the top edge of said strip to move a link forwardly on said strip when said cylinder is activated.

5. A linking machine as in claim 4, wherin said block arrangement comprises a pair of blocks in spaced relation, one of said blocks having a horizontal pin extending toward the other of said blocks and the other of said blocks having an opening for receiving said pin, said pin having a cut out portion at the top edge and said other block having a transverse locking pin extending through said cut out portion to lock said blocks to each other but permit relative movement therebetween along said cut out portion in a ''lost motion'' effect, and a coil spring between said blocks to resiliently retain said blocks in spaced position.

6. A linking machine as in claim 5, wherein the forward block is provided with a slanted cam edge at the top forward end, a pneumatic press is vertically mounted over said horizontal feed strip, said press having a vertically operable piston, the lower end of said piston having a slanted cam edge complementary to said block cam edge, whereby said piston cam edge will engage said block cam edge to force said block and ram member forwardly to bend the link into closed position.

9. A linking machine as in claim 8, wherein said latch releasing means comprises a pneumatic cylinder mounted at right angles to said horizontal feed strip, a pistion extending from said cylinder and having a block at its outer end, a pair of spaced horizontal arms extending from said block, the lower of said arms contacting said latch member to pivot said latch member into open position when said cylinder is activated, and the upper arm guiding the lowermost link in position of said horizontal feed strip.

11. A linking machine as in claim 10, wherein a triangular member is mounted edgewise above said strip is pivoted relation to said strip, amd a spring mounted at the rear of said member resiliently urging said member against the top of said strip to retain the link on said strip.

12. A linking machine as in claim 10, wherein said means for moving the link forwardly comprises a pneumatic cylinder mounted in alignment behind said strip, a piston extending from said cylinder, a block arrangement mounted on the front end of said piston, and an elongated ram member extending from said block arrangement, said ram being slidable along the top edge of said strip to move a link forwardly on said strip when said cylinder is activated.

13. A linking machine as in claim 12, wherein said block arrangement comprises a pair of blocks in spaced relation, one of said blocks having a horizontal pin extending toward the other of said blocks and the other of said blocks having an opening for receiving said pin, said pin having a cut out portion at the top edge and said other block having a tranSverse locking pin extending through said cut out portion to lock said blocks to each other but permit relative movement therebetween along said cut out portion in a ''lost motion'' effect, and a coil spring between said blocks to resiliently retain said blocks in spaced position.

16. A linking machine as in claim 15, wherein said latch releasing means comprises a pneumatic cylinder mounted at right angles to said horizontal feed strip, a piston extending from said cylinder and having a block at its outer end, a pair of spaced horizontal arms extending from said block, the lower of said arms contacting said latch member to pivot said latch member into open position when said cylinder is activated, and the upper arm guiding the lowermost link is position on said horizontal feed strip.