Machine for operating on blanks

Jan. 8, 1952

2,582,012

A. L. CURRIER

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON BLANKS

Filed April 6, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 1

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Jan. 8, 1952

2,582,012

A. L. CURRIER

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON BLANKS

Filed April 6, -1946

Sheets-Sheet 2

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Jan. 8, 1952

A. L. CURRIER

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON BLANKS

2,582,012

Filed April 6, 1946

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Jan. 8, 1952

2,582,012

A. L. CURRIER

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON BLANKS

Filed April 6, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 4

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Jan. 8, 1952

A. L. CURRIER

2,582,012

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON BLANKS

Filed April 6, 1946

Sheets-Sheet 5

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Jan. 8, 1952 a. _u currier 2,582,012

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON BLANKS

Filed April 6, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 6

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Jan. 8, 1952

2,582,012

A. L. CURRIER

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON BLANKS

Sheets-Sheet 7·

Filed April 6, 1946

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Jan. 8, 1952

A. L. CURRIER 2,582,012

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON BLANKS

Sheets-Sheet 8

Filed April 6, 1946

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Jan. 8, 1952

A. L. CURRIER

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON BLANKS

2,582,012

Filed April 6, 1946

Sheets-Sheet 9

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Jan. 8, 1952

A. L. CURRIER

2,582,012

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON BLANKS

Filed April 6, 1946

Sheets-Sheet 10 io.

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Patented Jan. 8, 1952 2,582,012

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,582,012

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON BLANKS

Arthur L. Currier, New Ipswich, N. H., assignor to Independent Lock· Company, Fitchburg,

Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts

Application April 6, ; 7 Claims.

My present invention is a novel and improved machine designed primarily for grooving key blanks or similar work, and employs a novel method of manufacture.

Heretofore in the manufacture of key blanks 5 of the so-called Yale lock and key type, wherein grooves are formed on opposite sides during the process of manufacturing the same, it has been customary to feed in the blanks by hand with various operations and control of the grooving 10 cutters by manual means, thus limiting the output of the machine to the speed and skill of the operator.

Such blanks have to be cut with great care, being of thin metal; and owing to the extremely 15 slight variations in depth and configuration of the grooves, the keys must be made With great care and accuracy.'

In my present machine, I provide entirely automatic means to operate on one or more 20 blanks, simultaneously cutting the obverse grooves on one blank and the reverse on another blank, with capacity for holding a large number of blanks in a magazine or feeder, automatically taking the bottom blank therefrom; forming the 2 desired grooves in the surfaces of the blanks,, and automatically re-assembling the blanks thus grooved into another magazine for subsequent operations.

Thus my invention provides a machine which 3 will permit a greatly increased speed of production, and with extreme accuracy, eliminating errors or difficulties incident to any manual operations, and thus enabling one operator to attend a considerable number of machines all 3 in production at the same time, and each operating on a plurality of blanks.

An important feature of my present invention, in addition to the automatic and simultaneous operation on a plurality of blanks, is 4 the construction wherein a removable magazine containing a stack of blanks to be grooved on the obverse side is fitted into the feeding end of the machine; and thereupon the blanks are fed to the milling cutters; the grooves formed on the 4 obverse surface; and thereupon automatically restacked in a duplicate removable magazine, which can then be removed and applied upside down to the feeding end alongside the magazine with the uncut blanks, and thus fed to the 5 grooving cutters on the reverse side; and thereafter reassembled in a removable magazine, with the grooving completed on both sides.

The completely grooved blanks are then removed while assembled in the magazine for sub- 5 sequent or coining operations.

A further important feature consists in the construction and arrangement whereby the blank, or blanks, are fed from the feeding end of the machine to and under the milling cutters (j

1946, Serial No. 660,245

1.90—21) x 2 by first forcing and holding the blank, or blanks, ' firmly down upon the worktable; and thereupon clamping the blanks by a side-clamping operation; whereupon the hold-down is released and the continued movement of the worktable car- : -ries the blanks under the milling cutters for the grooving operation. This feature is most important, as it will be realized that the depths of the grooves cut depend upon the accuracy with which the blanks are positioned on the worktable which slides under the cutter. X;

These blanks are thin metal and must be accurately aligned, positioned, and firmly in contact with the top of the worktable to^: thus predetermine the position of the grooves and the depth of the same. The tolerance usually required for such operations, particularly the depth of the grooves which are^J in staggered relationship bn the obverse and reverse sides, and overlapping each other in the interior of the blank, require a tolerance of from approximately two one-thousandths of an inch; while ' the side tolerance for alignment of the grooves must be within at least one one-thousandth of an inch.

The hold-down feature is further important just in advance of the side clamping because of the thinness and narrowness of the blank, and if the blank were not firmly seated on the worktable and held until the side clamps act, the blank might be sprung upwardly or otherwise distorted. Therefore, I arrange this hold-down operation under considerable pressure, which pressure is only released after the side clamps take hold; whereupon the hold-down pressure is removed, the blanks fed forwardly under the milling cutters, the grooving operation completed, the worktable drops from contact with the cutter, and the now-grooved blanks fed still further to be released by the side clamps and automatically assembled in a removable magazine. The magazines both for the feeding and removing are interchangeable, so that blanks stacked in a magazine and ready for removal ₅ are all ready to fee fitted at the feeding end in reverse position for the grooving action on the other side, or removed for the subsequent notching operation.

Former machines left the blanks to tumble 0 down in a box or receptacle and had to then be picked up and assembled into position by hand; but in my machine the blanks are always under positive control and are moved from one magazine into preassembled position in another for 5 the grooving operation.

A further important feature is the construction wherein the length of the grooves is accurately predetermined. In carrying out this feature on a plurality of blanks, the worktable is

Ό mounted on a reciprocating slide, said worktable

2,582,012 and slide being moved to and fro under the milling cutters and from blank-feeding to blankstacking position.

For this purpose I arrange the, worktable to be raised and lowered relatively with the milling j cutters, raising the table during the blank-feed-, ing, clamping, and cutting operations;.and,thereupon quickly lowering the worktable with the blank clamped thereon to end the grooves and, free the handle or coin portion of the key from 1 contact with the cutters. This separation, of the cutters and worktable is maintained when the worktable is moved back to starting position. This is accomplished by a cam underneath the worktable and operated ag the worktable and 1 slide, are reciprocated, holding up. the, worktable, during the grooving , and then; dropping. i,t dur-, mg, the .completion of the feeding and. during the . return of the slide and worktable to blank-receiv-. mg. position. Formerly the cutters were dragged 2 back over, the groove, just cut, thus “chattering” and roughening the bottom of the groove, as well as₀ dulling the cutters; whijein- my, process and in my machine, the cutters and grooved blanks are. vertically aridpositively, separated enabling 2 the ungrooved heads,pi the blanks, to travel past the, cutters.

It is also, a novel feature of my present invention wherein. the_; automatic·, filling,, or stacking of blanks into , the, magazine; receiving them is 3 effected by a vertical· lifting operation,, thus re-. moving the blanks from, the_; top of the worktable; upwardly into the-lowe^ part of-, a, magazine, or magazines.. Thereby all· the dust, millings,. and·, thelike, which/tormerly.-clungTp;the, blanks-.after.· 3 thei milling, operation, are more readily blown away and eliminated, and the speed and efficiency of/hanffiingTs assured.

A f ur ther, -f eatur eis the safety -device which will· automatically stop the machine if a blank is-miss-. _{ing, or, if a blank is jammed, or if particles lodge in the mcctianisin. which would distort or deface the blanks or otherwise disalign, or injure the grooving operation. For this purpose, I, provide in connection with the hold-down a lever, posi- 4 tioned: to actuate a. micro-switch whicli will disconnect 'the, power and,,stop the_;machine. in case of any difficulty, or in case,/the· blanks ,run_;out-.in one stack. This is -of great.importance, as.it enr ables an operator, to handle, a. number of. ma- 5 chines, .and, eyenaf, one run§ nut of /blanks /beforebeing refilled, .or, if some difficulty arises.as above noted/ the machine will.stop,·until correctivebttehtion is received..,

A. still- further- very important; feature consists, 5 in the. arrangement and construction of .the .adjusting de vices.lt will be appreciated .that the.., relative adjustment between thework table, slide,. and themilling.'cutters,/both laterally,; vertically,, and iongitudinally:, is important., c

These adjustments are made for an entire run of blanks; and particuiarly the adjustipents of . the feeding, hold-down, side clamps, and _;,blapk_T,. ejecting, devices to pre-stack the same in the magazine are necessarily njade, for great ac- 0 curacy in the worktable and slide., . It. is .also essential to provide a lateral adjustment of the entire slide, and worktable relatively, with, the;, cutters,. , For. this purpose Ϊ mount the, reciprp,-, eating slide on a pivoted knee, having a pivotal 7 support at one end. with, thrusting, and tightening screws, or equivalent means,., to adjust, the entire knee, and,.hence, the slide and worktable laterally, as. well as vertical adjusting, means at, the opposite end of the knee to raise or lower the 7 same; thus simultaneously positioning the worktable with its previously adjusted operating mechanism into desired relative cooperative position with the milling cutters.

These adjustments give lateral and vertical adjustments of the knee and, hence, of the slide and worktable carried by it, are easily accessible and; hence, readily made; and locking means to hold the same in adjusted position are quickly effected, while the adjustments on the worktable are not. disturbed..

A further feature, consists in the arrangement and facility for sharpening the milling cutters and for preserving these milling cutters against wear. It will be appreciated that the cutters rotate , at, high, speed and, heretofore, in,the, hap-dr operated , or. semir-automatic key-grooving, mar chines, the,cutters were required.to, be regroupd,. approximately after every one hundred gross, grooving operations; in order to. continue, accuracy in the depth and width of cut, and, each., cutter, had to. be remo.ved.in order to. be,.'re.-, sharpened.

In. my present construction, wherein the worktable is dropped from the level of the groove-cut.ting operation and held in such dropped position, out, of contact, with, the, cutters, during the reciprocation of the slide and worktable, when returned to feeding position, all. dragging on the cutters is thus prevented. In, my, present marchine. the. milling cutters, will· operate,smoothly and, accurately on upwards ofone thousandgross without requiring regrinding and,, hence,, stopping of. the. machinef or regrjnding, and thus de,- laying, production.

Also, I have construct.edbpd.arranged the, cut,-ters.and assemb.led parts so that,they, may, be reground while. held, in, position, on. the. spindle, of? the, machine,, thus, still, further saying, delay, in, ,, regrinding, the cutters..

A special novel feature,consists·, iii.my. arranger ment, and operation, of. the .means ..f or removing, the blank after, the. grooving, operation and forcing it into a magazine, thus assembling the blanks ₅ andfillingthemagazine,to,its.capacity:during,the continued and. uninterrupted, operation, of, the machine·, For this purpose, I,,provide, a pluralityof lifting pins sliding thru, corresponding, re-cesses in the worktable, underneath the seat ₍₎ holding each.blank. After the.blank is fed thru, ' the , grooving cutters, and,· is, clear of the same, , the blanks are then in position under vertically positioned magazines to receive the same; whereupon the side clamps . are released, and,levers are.; operated to vertically, lift the blank at a plurality ^! of points.into .themagazinebeing filled, .the blank moving, upwardly, past- latches released for the.,. purpose, and, lifting,,, the, previously assembled blanks, in,the magazine; .tbus-filling;the-same-from· ₍₎ the bottom upwardly.

As, soQh;,as/the,blaiik,is thus engaged by the. magazine,,,ther lifting, pins,,are retracted and the . slide, and . worktable, are, moved quickly, back to.· pick, up a succeeding,, blank from-, the- feeding,.

magazines, and the operation, is repeated.

While any, suitable po wer-actuating means-may· be applied, I. prefer, to.,,utilize compressed-air: under suitable,: pressure, to.actuate the various; mechanisms ..which, are, supported; on,-the- knee, 0 employing for, this purpose a standard tyge. of,airpiston. I find that as Presspre,. of, forty.; to .fifty.-; pounds is sufficient- for/· quick- actuation of the various, moving parts necessary for the efficient speed of , actuation of. the-.machirie; mechanism,, &gt; Thus J provide, an air-coptrolled,piston operating;.

in both directions for moving the slide carrying the worktable in its reciprocating movement, controlling said movement by contact of a bearing on the table against a rotating cam.

Similar air-actuated pistons are provided for forcing the hold-down in position and raising the same, for actuating the side clamps and releasing the same; for actuating the blank-lifting devices for filling a stack after grooving, and for air blasting to remove the millings, cuttings, and filings, dust, etc. from the worktable to insure a smooth resting or bedding of the blank so that the hold-down will force it firmly on its seat on the worktable.

For driving the cutters and cam shaft which are on fixed parts of the frame independent of the knee, I prefer to utilize an electric motor, one-half horsepower being sufficient.

The control of air supply to actuate the various air pistons both in forward and retracted positions is controlled by a rotating cam shaft, having a series of cams appropriately formed and operating the air supply in timed relation with the various mechanisms above briefly outlined, and as will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

In addition to my novel machine and construction, I have devised and wish to claim herein the novel process of cutting and grooving blanks or equivalent operations in automatic combination with magazine-feeding and magazine-filling. As far as I am informed, the process of automatically taking one or more blanks successively from supplying magazines, moving them into operative relationship with cutting instrumentalities, and thereafter removing the blanks from cutting operation, and automatically filling a magazine by the orderly assembly in prearranged position of the blanks thus operated on, being at all times under control of positive machine actuations, is a novel and improved process, and I wish to claim the same herein.

Also the process of filling a magazine by vertical movement of successive novel blanks in prearranged position and relationship, thereby preparing the blanks in a magazine in assembled position for subsequent machine operations is a novel and improved process and I wish to claim the same herein.

Furthermore, positively separating the work and cutters by relatively vertical movement, such as dropping the worktable at a predetermined point in the cutting operation, is believed to be novel and is herein claimed.

Also the automatic feeding and grooving of a plurality of blanks, simultaneously cutting the grooves on the obverse side and the reverse side of an adjoining blank, and re-assembling same in a magazine, is a new and novel process, and I wish to claim the same herein.

Also automatically stopping the machine if the supply of blanks in a magazine is exhausted, or if a blank fails to feed, or is distorted, or is out of place on the worktable is new and novel.

While I have herein illustrated my improved process and machine construction for grooving key blanks, it will be appreciated that other and various types of work can be performed and that various novel features and constructions are broadly new and of wide application.

Further improvements, features, novel combinations, advantages, and constructions will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved machine

2,682,012 for carrying out the novel processes of key-grooving or the like;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view looking from 5 the right of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view looking from the left of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal view on an enlarged scale , and partly in cross-section showing the 10 worktable at the beginning of the blank-feeding action;

Fig. 6 is a corresponding longitudinal view partly in cross-section illustrating the worktable at the completion of the blank-feeding operation 15 and during the lifting of the grooved blank into the receiving magazine;

Fig. 7 is a view partly in cross-section on- the line 7—7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a view partly in cross-section on the 20 line 8—8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a plan view with the magazines, cutters, and hold-down devices removed, on the line 9—9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detailed view of the 25 automatic stopping device;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lever-actuating stopping device;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view partly in cross-section on the line 12—12 of Fig. 13, and

Fig. 13 is a side view of the bottom portion of the blank magazine key-holding devices.

Fig. 14 is a detailed view of the vertical adjusting device to raise and lower one end of the knee.

Figs. 15 and 16 are detailed, plan, and end 35 views, respectively, of the box to which the feeding magazine is fitted.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the present embodiment of my machine is constructed and arranged to operate upon a pair of blanks 40 simultaneously, grooving the obverse of one blank while grooving the reverse of an adjacent blank. It is within the scope of the invention, however, to have a larger plurality of blanks simultaneously operated upon, if desired, by simply widening 45 the worktable and blank-holding and grooving elements.

I prefer to arrange the machine as a complete self-contained unit having a suitable base I on which are fixed several vertically extending 50 standards to support the operating mechanism and, preferably, an electric motor in a convenient position to operate the cutters, and actuate a cam shaft which controls valves to a plurality of compressed air-actuated pistons. Other power 55 means can be utilized, if desired, but I prefer to employ compressed air to move the worktable, the hold-down, the clamping and unclamping actions, and the blank-lifting and magazine filling operations. Compressed air is desirable, also, 66 for clearing or blowing the millings after the cutting operations, thus cleaning the worktable, the side clamps, and the blanks for further movement or position for lifting the blanks into the receiving magazine. I find that a pressure of 65 approximately forty pounds is sufficient for these various operations, both for blowing the millings, filings, etc. and for actuating the pistons to perform the detailed operations to be hereafter described. Π greater speed is desired, an air pres76 sure of fifty to sixty pounds per square inch may be used.

Referring to the drawings, a suitable base !

of appropriate size supports a plurality of vertically extending standards by which the several machine elements are carried. As previously explained;, am adjustable? knee; which, cafriesitheo blank-feeding and operating devices; is⁷ in the* form of an inverted ;U· and.: extends? lengthwise of the machine.

Viewing Fig. 2, this knee: I Oris supported at its. 5 left.end on avpivot or trunnion 12, mounted·in a pair of vertically extending supports 2—2 bolted to -the- base· 1-. Each: support is .shown: as Pt'ovided with a split’· circular head 5, having- ears;

6—6 which are clamped- about· the trunnion ί2 jo by a headed holt 6. The end portion of the knee,· also viewing Fig. 2 :atr the left·, is·provided v.'ith a split extension to be clamped about the trunnion 12:-between The-, supports 2-^-2; being-rsimilarlyrprovided-. with extending ears 8-—8 united by, 15 a headed bolt 9, with a head bearing on one ear and .the, shank.-Threaded into-a correspondingly tapped recess in the other.

To adjust'the’knee-lQ’laterally.on the supporting trunnion 12,1 provide thrusting.-and:.tighten- ₂₀ ing: screws; each-having a turning-head,'16—16, with⁷. each_: shank, ! I~ being,- threaded · thru-- open- ings in the support 2—2 (see Fig. 8) · and; bearing·against adjacent side-portions .13 of· the knee ... Thus the entire knee and the- portions of ₂₅the-·machine carried thereby·:may be·adjusted laterally on the trunnion 12 by loosening- the headed bolt 9 and-thereupon manipulating the adjusting screws-1 1 ·by rotating the head 16--16.

To raise or lowerthe-opposite· end .of- the knee from that· engaging the -pivotal, trunnion, ί2, I provider .vertically'adjusting- screw·· 1 5 threaded thru the- hub I formed on the cross-piece of the inverted. U-shaped·, frame member 3· bolted to the base I, see Fig,, 2.. The upper end of the- _3gadjusting screw 15 is concave; as shown at, 18, (Figi 2)- to bear against a-. correspondingly· convex- face on the -recessed block 19, which block, is secured to a portion 20. of· the-knee,-viz,,, at.-the. free end of the-knee·opposite its, pivotal .bearing ., ₀ by the knee , 10,- and .said .rack,,rod is.-in ,mesh.

' with a.pinion.keyed:,on.a.portion.53.of the. shaft 48, said pinion being indicated at, 69,· Fig,. 4..

The lower portion, of, the -rod 68, passes . freely thru bearings.•62.and-63,attached-.to a,bracket,64,. secured to the. lower x;art of the knee i ih.as-best, shown, in Figs. 2 and.4., Compressed air. under, control of a cam on. a cam. shaft. to.be described,· restricts· the travel of the..slide,40,and,.hence, the.. rotation of the shaft 48 and gear 46, moving the...

10.

on the trunnion 12 .This block 1 «his hollowed or recessed to receive the head 22 of a screw-21, which screw·· has its shank extending thru the· adjusting screw 15. The head-22'is· formed with a convex-surface- 25.· _4;to bear upon the bottom portion of the recessed· block 19.- The adjusting screw 15-is Turned by a head 23, and a nut 24 tightened on the end of the T-headed screw· 2 ί locks -these, parts· in adjustedposition while permitting the free end of thekneeto be raised and-lowered without binding. Thus;during trie: raising· and lowering? of-This end of the knee to/adjustThe· same 'for height,, the-nut· 24·· is backed- off-and-the head- 23-rotated,· the curved bearing faces- 18: and 25⁷serving to rock the’ knee-on its pivot without binding the. adjusting screw ί 5 or the T-head locking the screw 2.1,

To further· brace, and particularly· to-lock-· the·knee in any position to; which’it has , been adjusted, I provide.· a pair- of lugs’ 35·—3ttteaoh-pn-,, a · depending portion- or-part of⁷ the - inverted · U · of the knee, said·lugs being between the pivotal· trunnion 12'and the adjusting screw· 15;

Each lug 38-has: a convex face :3 ! (see Fig.· 2) which.will slidingly engage a concave surface on· 35 one· of a-pair of spaced heads: 32, said.· heads, being formed·· on. a: brace 35 extending. from-· a.· bracket 36, which is attached by. bolts 37 to the:· side of· an; upstanding frame· member 40· A·, headed .bolt 33'extends thru a slot in each head: 70 32 of the brace and is tapped into its· adjacentlug 38. Thus, to adjust the⁷ knee for height, the bolts 33—33 areloosened, the nut 24:is:backedoff; and the raising or lowering of the knee· is effected by proper rotation, of the vertically adjusting- 75 are adapted to be removably fitted in a magazine screw 15. Thereupon,; the* nut 2.4c isutightened: and each bolt 33 Jis similarly tightened; locking the knee rigidly; into -.the position to . whlch'itchase been vertically: adjusted;;

The upper surface of the knee; I Oeis; formed ;to receiveThe.slide.49,.. the .knee· 1 0-being .provided · with: a longitudinal groove in which a dovetailed:, rib ! 11 on the slide. 40/ will fit,, a: usual shimuor; gib . 42::: being· fitted therein :, (see Fig·,. 7). This? slide;49;:carries. the worktable ·50;· which worktable· is pivoted? toa the· receiving end;of The.slide, .viz;; at the rightrviewing Figs. 5 and e^.byca pivotal shaft; 44’ this shaft extending thru a pair,- of upstanding portions 45 on the slide 40i'/and'said.pivot.also extending:thru an adjacent ponion of the-worktable 58; whereby the . worktable : 50; will·· be carried back and forth on the· slide 40, while permitting its· opposite end face, at.·. the? left· viewed in Figs. 5 and 6. to be raised, and lowered relatively with the. slide 40 during said· reciproca- tions by the action of a cam, whicht will be/explained later:

The slide 4ft is reciprocated to and fro lengthwise on the knee iO .by/.a^pinion.Aftiengagingga:· rack ·47; , see-Figs. 5; 6&gt; and 8; secured underneath, the slide, said pinion being mounted on a shaft. 48 and pinned · thereto, ,-by_f a · pin .55-, passingr-thru the shaft, and. a collar. 49 being formed on one side of the pinion 46.- This-shaft 48,_frotates,in.

bearings: .51 in the knee-10·, and: said.-shaft .has.-·one end-53 ’extended with ,an.•enlargedidiameter,thus- forming a shoulder 54,· the shaft·. 48 thus being, held against , endwise-movement between the collar 49.and.the shoulder· 54«,

To rotate the, shaft 48 and, hence, to; reciprocate the-slide 40 to and fro on the top of the knee· ί 0, · I. provide a- vertically, extending· rack rod- eftactuated by·, a piston within an air., cylinder 61 '· attached /to a frame 65· and,bearings,66 .carried.

5Q slide and carrying,the.worktable.to and fro. The reciprocating,,movement.of the slide 4tLisi.ac.tu-. atettby.the air.cylinder.61 against the restraining, action of a cam-70-.mounted.in a .pair of/standards 71, see Fig. 2, and bearii^AgainstJkn&gt;lli721on..a.. lever. 73,. pivoted at. 74. adjacent, the· base.-1,. and having, a-.top. Iinkl6.pivo.ted at.77/to the end.of the lever 73, and having, an adjustable-connection.

with a block. 79/attached... to.-the. end of the/ slide 40..

Thus, the actuation, of the ,piston..and the^air cylinder. 61.· is. regulated and/controlled/by.The restraining..action of the .cam. 70, said. cam. being, keyed.to a cam.shaf.t. 88 .and turning..therewith·.

The extent of travel.-of . the. slide 40 ,and, hence,-, of. the. worktable, 50. is..sufficient- to. receive· and pick the lowermost, blank- .from a stack of. blanks 81 in a, vertically· positioned, and· .removable, .pair of- magazines-82,- 82 at the- receiving end,· orThe. right viewed in Figs. 5 and .6·; thereupon,carrying, said lowermost blank to the . left;·., viewing , said·.⁷figures; under a hold-down, past the cutters; .and into alignment with The receiving, pair of magazines84—84 (see Fig, 8).

Each of these two holders or magazines 843—84 holder or shell, two of said shells 85—85 being side by side at the feeding end, and two holders 86—86, see Figs. 5 and 6, at the delivery end. These magazines may be sliding# fitted into the respective shells and readily removed and interchangeable. At the feeding end, viz., the right viewing Figs. 5 and 6, the lower portion of the shell 85 has a vertically extending plate 8T spaced slightly from the blank-supporting portion on the worktable to provide a gate 88, the plate 87 being of greater thickness than the upper part of the shell, so that the bottom rim of the magazine 82 will rest thereon, see Figs. 5 and 6. Thus, the stack of blanks 81 contained within the magazine 82, when the latter is slid and fitted into position on the feeding magazine shell 85, will rest on the plate 87 and permit the blanks therein to drop downwardly onto the worktable. All the blanks drop during the feeding, and later - raise onto the top of the rail 92, being thus positioned when the table drops to prevent the next blank from moving out.

When the worktable is retracted to the exj treme right or feeding position, the lowermost blank in the stack 8t will drop downwardly to be engaged by a blank-engaging rib 90 (Figs. 1, 5,. and 6); and thereupon when the slide and worktable start the feeding travel to the left, viewing Figs. 5 and 6, the bottommost blank 9! from the stack will be fed thru the opening 88, Fig. 5. Secured on top of the worktable 50 are a pair of rails 92—92, 93—93, each having bevelled surfaces 94—94 which abut against the blank-engaging rib 90. These rails are spaced in line with each of the key blanks 91, which are fed from the bottom of the stack 81 in each of the shells 82 at the feeding end.

During the continued travel of the slide and worktable to the left, these bevelled faces 94 will pick up the remaining bottommost blank in the stack and raise the entire stack in its magazine 82, so that these blanks ride on top of the pair of rails 92 and 93 when the table drops. When the worktable is retracted to feeding position, the stack will be lowered along the bevelled faces 94 and at the extreme movement to the right, the rib 91 being moved to the right of each shell 85 and, thus, the rib 90 will pick up and engage the then bottommost blank, which will drop with the stack and be fed to the left in the next reciprocating movement of the slide and worktable. Each of the blanks 91 when dropped on the bed plate 95 will abut against side plates 89 fixed on the bed plate 95, and said plates 89 will be of slightly less thickness than that of the blanks 91. Corners 99—99 will· hold the second key from feeding from the stack, see Fig. 9.

Each of the blanks 91 when fed clear of the feeding magazines 82 is engaged by a hold-down, t and then by side clamps, being braced firmly on the bed-plate to receive the blank and thence the continued line of travel to the left, feeds the blank under the cutters for the length of groove x for which the machine is set; whereupon the worktable is dropped downwardly and the continued feeding of the blanks past the cutters prevent the cutters from engaging the head of each blank, leaving the same free of grooves for subsequent ornamenting or coining operations.

This feeding movement to the left is continued until each blank now grooved is in alignment with its receiving magazine 84; whereupon the blank is lifted from its bed plate on the worktable and moved upward# into the receiving magazine.

Each blaiik, when taken from its feeding maga2,682,012 zine 82 is arranged to rest upon the bed plate 95 which is held by countersunk screws into a cross-piece 96 fitted into the top of the worktable 50. Bed plates of varying thicknesses can thus be readily and interchangeably fitted in the crosspiece 96.

In order to lift the blank 91 from the bed plate 95 on which it rests and to force same upwardly in the receiving magazine 84 after the grooving operation, I provide a plurality, for example, three lifting rods, in position to lift each blank from the plate 95 on which it rests. These rods 99 extend vertically thru reamed openings in the adjacent portion of the worktable 50, the crosspiece 96, and the bed plate 95 on which each blank rests during the grooving operation, and are attached at their lower ends to a block 100.

Each of these rods is threaded into the block, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and, as indicated in Fig. 5, is normally flush with the bottom of the bed plate, Fig. 6, illustrating the rods in raised position when lifting the blank 91 into the receiving magazine 84, where it is held by appropriate automatic latching devices to be described.

The block 100 is fitted within a longitudinal groove in each slot 40, each block 100 being itself slotted to receive a forked end · 0! of a lever 102, which lever is mounted on a stud f 03, said stud being attached to a lug ^! 04 depending from the worktable 59. The forked end 10 ί of this lever engages a pin 105 extending across the slot in the block 100. The opposite end of the lever 106 extends outside the slot in the worktable and is pivotally attached at 107 to the lower end of a barrel 108, said barrel having an internal thread to engage the external thread 109 on the stem of a piston operating within the compressed air cylinder 110, said cylinder being mounted on a bracket ί 12 attached to the end of the worktable.

Normally the piston in the cylinder 110 is in raised position, thus holding the arm (06 upwardly and depressing the forked end of the arm ? 02 on this rocking lever so as to hold the rods 99 in lowered position relatively with the bed plate 95 and, preferably, flush therewith or slightly depressed below the surface.

Upon completing the line of travel of the worktable to the left and with the blanks in alignment with the receiving magazines 84, air is then supplied to the cylinder HO and the piston moved downwardly, thus depressing the arm 106 of said lever, raising the arm 102 and moving the rods upwardly, lifting the grooved blank from the bed plate into the receiving magazine, as shown at Fig. 6. Each succeeding blank thus forces the entire stack of blanks 81 in the receiving magazine 84 upwardly by successive movements and rocking of this lever until the magazine is full. This rocking action and lifting of the blank is a speedy operation just at the time the worktable stops in its feeding movement to the left; whereupon the rods 99 are withdrawn and the slide and worktable retract their movement, traveling to the right to secure additional blanks.

In order to engage and hold these blanks 91 as they are lifted upwardly into position, I provide an automatic latching means, as best shown in Figs. 12 and 13. The shell 86 to hold the receiving magazine 84 is provided on its lowermost mouth or opening with a pair of sliding latches 115 adjacent the head of the blank 91 to be lifted therein, and a similar pair of latches

3ft6 to’engage/aridholdThe'Shank part, of the i blank. The inner, edges .of each of these latches are bevelled, as-shown at 117, so that as the blank ’is lifted upwardly/on its: ejecting pins .98, it will .- strike Theifoevelledffaces 1I l and: force· the latches 115 and 116 outwardly.

/•Springs (18 and f(9 secured on the outside Of the shell 86 engage, respectively, the heads /Of The’sliding latches I t5 and 1(6 and after The (blank sis forced upwardly beyond the bevelled faces in the bottom portion of each latch, the springs force The latches inwardly. The top of s.eachTatch is preferably formed with a latch 4 20 •which will'engage^and hold the bottom portion j of the©lanki9f adjacent thereto after the blank 'has been forced upwardly into the stack 84. Adjusting rings'121 may ’befitted between the heads of these sliding latches (15, if desired, to pro/vide an adjustment for spacing the latch openiing'Tor/blanks of different sizes.

During the time of travel of the worktable 'from blank-receiving to blank-ejecting position, each’blank ^:-9l is firmly pressed down upon its bed plate' 95 after the blank has been moved - thru The-opening 88 ’ and clear -Of its feeding magazine. For This purpose I provide a tiolddown 130 ’vertically 'movable into ’and out of (holding’or-clamping position by a cylinder 131 /This hold-down 4 30 has a flat bottom surface 432 adapted to press a pair of adjacent blanks firmly; arid' under-considerable pressure upon the bed plate 95'supportingThem. This hold-down Ts effected during a dwell in the travel of the wvorktable’under the control of the cam 70, and during this hold-down action side clamping means to engage the sides of the blank are actuated. Thereupon the hold-down is released and the travel of the worktable to carry the blanks under The cutters is continued until the length Of The-grooving operation is· completed at a pre- : determined point on the blank; whereupon the worktable is dropped to free the blank from fur- Ther grooving, and thetravel-continued to aligning position -with the receiving magazine, as previously explained.

’This 'hold-down construction includes the ’block TSO formed with a semi-circular recess 133 in its upper surface, and a central circular portion 134 having a bored opening to receive a’pin 435, securing The block 4'32 To the upper j portion 134 ’also formed with a semi-circular bearing surface to fit the inner curve 433 on the hold-down block 430 itself. Thus the block ISO is adapted to rock on the pin (35, and-as the bottom surface (32 spans a pair of blanks being ; 'fed,’if-one of the blanks is missing, or if the blanks are not firmly ’Seated on the bed plate, the block (30 will rock and alever (40 attached to The’ block will act to operate - a microswitch /(4 (-and instantly stop The mechanism,; see Fig. ( TO, by cutting off the power to the motor.

The’lever s(40 is -of considerable length and, Therefore, ’twill: magnify cany /rocking action Of The/block; (30. ; At/the top of The: lever MOffipro-vide a U-shaped member 442 secured to The &lt; • end-iof the lever ’ 140’ by a/headed/bolt 143 tapped into a corresponding recess in The .U-member i(42. This member has a curved bearing. surface; 144 : adapted To engage a concave recess in ra/plate:.(:45; attached to/aspivoted lever (46, which 5 lever is mounted; on a: pivot (47.: and is normally •impelled by a/spring; (4.8-toward/the/bearing 444 on the 'U-shaped member. Thus, if The lower /surface/of The . hold-down is -, not firmly and evenly seated, the tap: leverwill move the hearing 5

312

444 out of its normal contact with the plate (45 against the . tension of the spring 148 and will operate’the micro-switch 4 41 by moving lit /inwardly ..against a projecting portion (49 on The .5 end; of the Jever J 46 /opposite to its pivot. Thus .the slightest rocking: Of the/hold-down will/actu:ate the-micro-switch 44( and stop the machine.

In order to raise and lower the worktable 56 on its pivotal stud 44connecting it with-the :slide IO 40 and during its line of Travel both in-feeding and-retracting, I provide a cam :(58 (see Fig. 7) 'formed with extending‘axles 45(: and f 152, ?and witlra cam surface’(53:adaptedTo foearragainst a hardened steel: block (54 -attached To the under15 neath portion Of the- worktable-and substantially in position-'directly .under The be.d-plate holding the blanks to iift.the: worktable·.as :it’.is retracted to the feeding- end immediately after .the keyholding seat has passed The position/in· vertical JO /alignment: with the/cutters. The. cam holds ..the worktable in raised/position , during the forward or grooving operation, .moving To The left, ./and .until the length of groove inThe key-blanks’ has been cut; and thereupon the cam is rocked To 15 quickly drop the worktable and free The head of each blank from action, by the cutters.

The dropping of the worktable is cushioned by a pair of compression springs (55, 155 with the ends resting on the slide and worktable respec&gt;0 tively, see Figs. 5 and 6, cushioning this lowering and? dropping action. Thus/the cam I 50 is/supported on a hardened steel block 4 58 fitted in a groove in the slide.^!40,‘the block (58 having. a circular recess in its upper surface into which the (5 semi-circular portion of the cam (50 is seated and adapted to rotate. A screw (59, see Fig. 7, holds the block ; (58; in position. On the axle portion (51 of the cam (50⁷ is secured the latching and operating means for turning the cam in 10 predetermined relation to the line of travel to lift the worktable during the retraction to feed: ing position and holding it up during the grooving operation and to lower it immediately thereafter.

For this purpose I provide a bearing block 460 15 to take the thrust of cocking the lever (65, said block fitted around the portion 151 with its inner surface in contact with the side walls of the worktable 50, said axle portion as well as the opposite portion ( 52 extending thru enlarged re10 cesses: 1’61, 161 so as to be free of contact therewith, the central cam portion being held in longitudinal position by washers 162 at each end, saidwashers spanning the openings (6(, as clearTy shown in Fig. 7. This cam (50 is constructed ,5 and arranged to be rocked by the traveling action: of the slide and worktable and spring 184.

-For this purpose a cocking lever 4 65 is secured to the:portion 15! of the cam (50 by a set screw 1(6'6, the lower portion of the lever (65 having :0 an offset extension 167 which is in line to strike against a plate 169 when the slide and worktable are being retracted to the feeding position, to· the right viewing· Figs. 2, 5, and 6. This partially rotates the cam 4 50 and raises-the workδ table,The:lever (65 being held in this position by a/trigger 170, with.its lower arm (75,: mounted on a-pivot (73 on the worktable, said trigger hav- ing.- a notch 171 in the. arm 170 to engage a corresponding-notch in the hub portion of the cock0 ing lever-165 surrounding the portion 151 on the cam. Thus the trigger (70—175 holds the cam in raised/position and holds the lever (65 during the further retraction of the slide beyond this point and until, on the feeding movement of δ the . slide to the .left, the lower portion (15 of

2,582,012 the trigger strikes against pin 179 projecting from a depending arm (78.

This occurs when the lever (65 has passed the top of the plate (69 and also when the grooving cutters have completed their grooving action on the blanks. The parts 178 and (80 combine to cause the part (78 to trip when they engage the adjustable trip block (76 secured in desired and adjusted position in the side of the knee, see Fig. 2.

Thus, during the feeding action of the worktable, moving to the left and carrying the blanks to be grooved by the cutters, the worktable will be held in raised position as it carries the blanks under the cutters and until the depending portion (80 strikes the trip block (76; whereupon the trigger (70—(75 is depressed, releasing the latch (7( from holding the cam in raised position and permitting the table to drop, at this point the arm 167 being beyond the block f’68. The booster spring (77 and the coiled spring 184 accelerate the rotation of the cam (59 and, thus, further insures the dropping of the worktable at the proper moment during the travel of the same to free the head end of the blanks from the action of the... 25 grooving cutters.

On the return to feeding action, the block ! 68 acts to lift the lever 165, turn the cam and raise the table which is thus held in uppermost position until released on the feeding line of travel, 30 as above noted.

Both the blocks (68 and (76 are adjustably secured to the sides of the knee 10 by headed bolts passing thru slotted openings in the block and being threaded into correspondingly tapped. 35 recesses in the adjacent part of the knee, thus permitting adjustment of these tripping blocks (68 and (76 to act in timed relation, thereby providing for different lengths of grooves.

The lever 165 with its depending offset portion :40 (67 being moved past the plate (69, is free to be depressed when the trigger (70—175 is released from its engagement by disengaging the notch (7(. The cam (50 is turned in reverse direction to drop the worktable by the combined action of. a spring (84 attached at (85 to a stud on the worktable and at the other end to a depending lug 186, having a hub 187 encircling the portion (52 and secured thereto by a set screw (88.

In addition to this spring 184, provided on the_{; 50}back of the machine (see Fig. 7) is a “booster’’ spring in a cylinder (76 attached to the side of the worktable adjacent the latch (65, as shown in Fig. 2, and at an angle so that a springpressed plunger 177 will engage the latch 165;. and when this latch is released by the trigger (70—(75 and has passed the length of the plate 169, as explained, the internal spring surrounding the plunger i 91, in combination with the tension of the spring (84, will move the cam ISOj-eo downwardly and thus drop the table during its continued travel to the left.

The trigger 170—(75 is moved upwardly by a spring 174 to engage the notched end (7( and hold the same when the lever (65 is raised by . 65 striking the plate (69 on the reverse movement of the slide to feeding position. A bevelled surface (68 on the end of the plate (69 constitutes a cocking block against which the lower extension (67 strikes, and thereby raises the lever and 70 turns the cam, thus lifting the table, as previously explained, during travel of the worktable to feeding position.

The action of the hold-down 130 on the blanks has been above briefly explained, and while the 75 tion by a wing nut 2(5-binding a clamp 2(6, thus .45 blanks are thus firmly pressed against the bedplate 95 on which they rest, and before the holddown is released by the upward movement of the piston in the air cylinder 131, I provide side clamping devices to engage and hold each blank against the fixed ribs or plates 89 after the holddown is raised and during the continuous travel of the blanks under the cutters and until in position for being lifted into the receiving magazines.

The bed plate 95 has attached thereto fixed inner ribs or plates 89 against which sliding outer plates (94 press each blank. I provide a pair of clamping arms (99, 190 positioned horizontally adjacent the top of the worktable and pivoted therein at (9(, said arms being extended (see Fig. 9) at f 92, and each having a threaded screw (S3 carrying the adjacent sliding plate 194 to engage the side of the adjacent blank when the arms are moved on the pivots into blank-clamping position. These sliding plates are of less thickness than the blanks, see Fig. 7.

This movement is effected by a pair of connecting links (95—(95 pivoted at the opposite end of the arms, as shown at (96, (98 (Fig. 9), said links being pivoted at ! 97 to a horizontally movable block i 98 adjustably connected by a threaded portion i 99 of the piston of the air cylinder 209. Thus when air is admitted to the cylinder 209 to move the rod (99 to the right, viewing Figs. 1 and 9, the clamping arms are rocked on their pivots (91 to engage the blanks 91, which have been firmly pressed downwardly into the recesses in the bed-plate to receive same by the hold-down (30.

This clamping action is held by the air cylinder 200 until the completion of the travel of the worktable; whereupon the valve controlling said air cylinder is reversed and the piston moved in the opposite direction to release the blanks while the lifting pins are actuated to lift each blank up into the receiving magazine 84 at the moment that the travel of the slide and worktable to the left stops and before the return travel to the right commences.

. The cylinder 200 is secured on a bracket 28( (see Fig. 2) carried by the worktable. I provide an adjustable stop to limit the clamping closing action of the lever bearing and members 193 on the blanks so as to prevent too much clamping power to be exerted on these blanks, as they are narrow, and might spring upwardly where an excessive amount of side-clamping power is exerted thereon.

For this purpose I provide a threaded rod 205 fitted into a correspondingly tapped recess in an extension 206 on the end of the worktable 50, providing thereon a thumb nut 207 to rotate this threaded screw and thus give the adjustment desired. A locking nut 208 holds the adjusting screw 205 in position. I also utilize the extension 2 OS in which to seat one end of the springs 155 (see Fig. 5) to cushion the worktable 50 which drops by its own weight when released by the lowering action of the cam ! 50. These springs (55 are also, preferably, encircling rods 2(0, which rods are guides for the springs and each is secured in the top of the extension 206 on the worktable, and have the lowermost end 2(2 lifted from contact with the slide 40 during the raising action of the worktable.

While the magazines 82 and 84 will be held by - sliding the same into the magazine shells 85 and 86, respectively, I prefer to clamp these in posi-8,888,012 “floating” -on Top -of The -pins rand, -hence, The guiding action of the swinging-arms :-2-2-0-is im;-portant to -insure The blanks -being lifted into ; position, where They are caught by The -spring ciamps, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

-For - this purpose, the right-hand ends of -the •f orked -arms 2 22: are . grooved or concave to correspond roughly -with the curve of the head of The blank, as indicated in dotted lines at :3(6, Fig. 6; while the opposite or left-hand members, -viewing Fig. δ are notched to correspond with The opposite end of the blank, as indicated in dotted ’lines at 3(7, thus affording an aligning and guiding action during the blank-lifting

IS firmly locking: the shell and magazine together, -a:Wing: nut/2K5Turning the,-screw ;217, having its opposite end tapped into the adjacent portion

- of theshell 85,seeFigs.Srend'6.

-. Also, .-in addition to «the -latches (I 5 and i i 6, as -previously-describedrend best; shown: in-Fig. -12, -to «hold;the blanks ;in: raised position, rl-may and preferably do have a pair of pivoted arms 220, 220 (Fig. 5) having fingers; at the lower-portion of each arm 222 to guide the opposite ends of ιθ -each-bIankas!itis:IiftedintoThe;receivingrmaga.reineo84,'-each.’finger having a -bevelled -face .221 -grooved to fit-the end- of the -key and to guide t-he ·, ’blank.laterally and longitudinally, said·guiding sgrooves-being indicated in dotted lines, Fig.-6, at 15 coperation.

It cis-important ;to keep a-considerable , number .«-suchas Ten or twelve blanks, in the box 87 cooperating with the receiving magazine 84.

These constitute - a weight so that when a blanks91 : is .lifted an the pins :99 into alignment with the stack of blanks 81, -the-weight of The accumulated blanks; in the 'box serve to steady Theaameand prevent the blank-being lifted from 'getting.disaligned :or crosswise. As the spins - 99 25 are snapped up quickly -because of' the speed: of operation, such a blank, without The steadying action of the weight Of the -superimposed ten or Twelve^; blanks therein, would Tend To snap «up and possibly be wedged; in disaligned position.

&gt; ’Referring to Figs. 15 and 16,1 have illustrated in detail the box 87 in alignmeribwithThe.feeding magazine 82, wherein I fit a ’filler piece 320 •appropriate in width and depth to approximately ’fit the length and width of the shank portion i of the particular blanks being operated on. This filler piece is readily removable for different sizes of blanks and made of wood, and is preferably of the same height as the depth of the box 87. The underneath portion of the box'87 is grooved, • as shown at'32t and 322, the’latter grooves also extending thru the wooden filler piece 320 to permit The rails 82 To pass thru and underneathThe box as The worktable is moved to the left, carrying a blank being operated upon, the rails’lifting the-remaining blariks'8l in the feeding stack^f:82, as previously explained, to keep the bottom blank from feeding forwardly until the next retraction of the worktable to feeding position.

The milling cutters to form the grooves are single or arranged in pairs, where two grooves in the blank are to be formed, and are mounted on a shaft 230, each pair of cutters being designated, respectively, as “2 3( arid 232, see Figs. 7 and‘9. The pair of cutters 231 are positioned to form the grooves on the obverse side and the cutters 232 form the grooves on the reverse side when the blanks are put thru-the second time. This’shaft'230 is mounted in bearings 233 supported on top of the frame member 39 and, ’hence,; are'rigidly positioned with the-shaft;230 extending over the movable sslide and worktable to rotate The cutter.’shaft'230.

Any suitable source of ’power can be utilized

316 -and :3 ( 7, -so That the ‘raising of each blank swill «spread The rermsf 228 -apart as The blank is .lifted -above -the-same,-similar to the manner «in -which’itespreadsThe spring -plungers --1.15.rend K6. These clamping arms 220 are pivoted on ₂o right-angled extensions 223 of each, arm to pivot pins 224 inretreceiving-shell'-86, The .extensions 223 being united at their inner ends-by a-forked member 225 on one arm, and an engaging balllike round end 226 on The-other arm. Thus the two pivoted arms 2 20-are spread apartrend spring backwardly into position underneath the blank as it is moved up, thus positively -guiding The same in alignment -with the receiving magazine 84.

These pivoted-arms 220 are forked at the top and bottom portions and are solid intermediate the same, to receive a Tension spring : and adjustable stopnut, as-shown in Fig. 6, these details being omitted from Figs. 2 and 5. -While -these 35 arms .220 would -work by -gravity as the blanks are pushed up by the same, I-prefer to utilize a ’spring and adjustable stop which permits higher -speed-in the lifting of the blanks ?91 into the-receiving magazine, and which can be on-one :or botharms220.

For this purpose, the central part of the arm 220 is perforated, as-shown in dotted lines «at 310, Fig. 6, said perforation- being of greater-diameter than the stem of a bolt 3 U .-which«passes therethru, thus allowing for swinging- action of The arms 220. The bolt-311 has its inner end Threaded and tapped into correspondingly threaded recessesintoThe shell-86,rend the head of the bolt 3(2 is enlarged to bear regainst a conical ₅θ - spring 314 encircling the- stem- 3 f ( of the bolt and being seated between the head and-the lever220.

:In: order to afford a stop for the swinging action of the levers 220, I arrange an adjustable stop 3(5,-being threaded thru the solid part of the arm:220 adjacent the bolt 3t i and having its inner end abutting against The side of The shell 86. Thus, rotation of the stop member :315 and adjustment of the tension of the spring 3 M gives a predetermined and limited quick-acting swing-_;fing movement of the arms 220.

A lock nut 316 may be provided to hold the stop member 3(5 in adjusted position. One-such -spring and «stop nut will insure the uniform action of both .arms 220, although it: is, of course, 05 but, preferably, -I -provideren electric motor 236 -inEorder tanrake -the apparatusren.entirely self«eontained'junit. -This motor :is mounted ret :one side-of The «machine, :see.'Figs. 1,-:3,rand- 4, -.being held in a support or strap 237 mounted on a sup.45 feasible to put a corresponding spring and stop member on:the opposite:arm220. The lower portion 222 of each of these arms is forked, providing a spread to cooperate with ; a -pair of _______________________________________________________ blanks being fed into'the .receiving end,as -shown ;70 «porting member-238,: having its : lower portion in Fig. 8, and each end: is formed to .constitute :a guiding element for ’the blanks res .they are pushed upwardly by The pin::99: into the receiving magazine receptacle.

During this transfer, the blanksrere lifted and .75

-formed with hubs 239 ’ to fit over rend -be cariried by-a’ stud’:240i fitted intorthe frame 39. The motor 236 is provided with a reduction gear, «suitably/ enclosed, .· as -indicated in’-2 41 ,rend the-shaft wextending tfrom The .reduction -gear -driving a

<img file="US2582012A_D0015.tif" />

2,582,012 pulley 242, which pulley has one or more belts 243 uniting the pulley 244-secured to the cutter shaft 230. The arrangement of mounting the motor 236 on the brace 238, positioning same at an angle relatively with the supporting stud 249, permits me to utilize this arrangement to tighten and loosen the driving belts 243, the weight of the motor constituting the tensioning and tightening means for said belts.

Thus the cutter shaft 230 is driven directly and continuously by the motor 236 and the cutters are in constant rotation until and unless the machine is stopped by the action of the safety lever 14 0 on the hold-down 130, as previously explained or by disconnecting the power.

The cutter shaft 230 is extended to-carry a pulley 250 around which a belt 251 is led to a pulley 252 (see Figs, ί, 3, and 4)-mounted on a stud 253, extending from the frame 33, said pulley 252 being formed on a hub and carrying a gear 255, which is in mesh with an idler 256 turning a pinion 257 rotating the cam shaft 80, thru engagement with the gear 258, said shaft being mounted in bearings 260, 260, see Fig. 3, supported by the frame.

To this cam shaft is keyed the restraining cam 70 regulating the travel of the worktable under the actuation of the air cylinder 6i and rack and gear pinions, as already explained, and also carries cams 262, 263, 264, and 265 which actuate the air valves for the various air cylinders in timed relation through the engagement, respectively, of levers 272, 273, 274 and 275. The cam and levers 262 and 272 regulate the air control to the various aif cylinders. Thus the cam 262 operates the lever 272 to actuate the air valve 276 to the hold-down cylinder 13 ί through a pair of conduits 277. The cam 263 and lever 272 actuate the air valve 280 through the conduits 28 ί to the cylinder 61; the cam 264 and lever 274 actuate the air valve 284 and through the conduits 285 to the cylinder 110 which rocks the lever (06 and raises the lifting pins.

The cam 265 and connecting lever 275 actuate the air valve 288 thru conduits 289 to operate the air blast to clear out the millings and clean the bed plate to receive the next set of blanks.

The various controlling cams and operating levers are all standard and of usual construction, each lever having an appropriate bearing, roll, or piece to engage the cam. The quick-acting cam which operates the air control for the cylinder I i 0, for example, serves to instantaneously rock the lever to eject the completed blanks and move them into the receiving magazines, being in the form of a quick-acting wiper type cam and follower, for example.

The air valves are operated to successively admit air under pressure from forty to fifty-five pounds, depending on the speed of operation desired, admitting the air supply in the air cylinders on one side of the internal piston; and thereupon the valve shuts this supply off and opens the supply for the other side of the piston, simultaneously opening the first conduit to permit the pressure to exit therefrom. These air cylinders are O’f standard construction and operate on each side of an internal piston in the usual manner of a steam engine.

A clutch 300 is controlled by an overload microswitch motor cut-out 301 energized thru wires

302 to a source of power which acts to disconnect the power to the motor 236 in case of an overload on the clutch 300. The receiving magazines

82—82 are fitted in their respective shells at the feeding end of the machine and clamped by turning the wing nuts 215; whereupon the slide 40, if not in the extreme right or feeding position, is moved to the same by the operation of the air _B cylinder 61, turning the gear 46 and; hence, moving the slide 40.

/With the slide 40 and. worktable 50 in the extreme right hand end of their travel, the lowermost blank 9 i of the stack 81 in each of the maga₁₀ zines at the feeding end of the machine will drop down onto the bed plate 95, which is at starting position underneath the same, the back end of each blank being engaged by the strip 90 and thereupon fed thru the opening 88, and the worktable 80 being in raised position at this time. As the worktable: moves to the left, the bevelled faces,94 on the rails 92 lift the remaining blank in the stack 81 so that they will not be displaced nor jam in the opening 88, and the table is moved 2Q under the impulse of the air cylinder 61 but in timed relation because of the restraining action of the cam 70.

Thus, when the worktable and the blanks 91 are fed clear of the opening 88, the travel of the ₂₅ worktable will cease momentarily while the holddown is actuated by the cylinder 131. Thereupon, the side clamps are actuated by the cylinder 200, moving the clamping arms laterally and the plates 194 carried by each move under the ₃₀ hold-down and clamp the blanks against the inner rigid ribs 89. These clamping plates 194 are pivoted to the arms at 193 so that they provide a self-seating action against the key blanks. Thereupon, the hold-down is raised and the table ₃₅ continues its travel, viz. passing under the cutters 231 and 232. If one blank is displaced or missing, or in distorted shape, or not properly Seated, the hold-down will rock the lever 140 and stop the machine by the action of the micro-switch 141, as illustrated in detail in Fig. 10.

Continued travel of the worktable completes the grooving action; whereupon the trigger 170 releases the cam 150 by rocking the lever 165 under the influence of the spring 84 and the booster spring in the cylinder spring 176, thus lowering ⁰ the worktable, dropping it on its pivot 44 secured to the slide 40, and continuing the travel until the blanks are under the receiving magazines 84. Thereupon, the side clamps are released by the ₅₀ retraction of the piston and air cylinder 200, and the air cylinder 110 acts to raise the pins under the grooved blank and into the receiving cylinders; whereupon the pins are dropped by the reverse movement of the piston in the cylinder 110 55 and the travel of the worktable is retracted by the reverse action of the piston in the cylinder 61, turning the gear 46 in the opposite direction for this purpose.

During the first line of travel, the worktable' 60 is still in lowered or depressed position but When past the line of cutters, the extension 167 on the arm 165 raises the cam 150 and, hence, the table, the table being held in raised position by the latching of the trigger 170 into the notch 171 65 until released. This operation is continued until all the blanks are transferred from the feeding magazines 82 to the receiving magazines 84.

Thereupon the receiving magazines can be removed and the magazine holding the blanks70 with the groove on one side only is inverted and positioned in the feeding magazine shell fOr grooving on the reverse side, while a new magazine is fitted for the first grooving operation on the obverse side. The machine operation is thus 75 entirely automatic and because of-the quantity of - blanks- in each magazine, one operator can attend to a considerable number, and the capacity and speed of output is- thus greatly increased......

• When it is desirable or necessary to adjust the worktable, either when blanks of different thicknesses are to be-operated upon or where the grooves to be formed by the cutters 231 and 232 are-to be changed¹ with relation to the length of the-blanks; the¹ adjustments of the knee 10 can be-quickly and easily. effected, each automatically and simultaneously produces the adjustment desired in the worktable and, hence, both laterally and vertically relatively with the cutters.

For this purpose, the bolts 33 on each side of the-kneo 10 are loosened and the nut 24 backed off slightly from the vertical adjusting screw 15. Thereupon, thedightening' Screws 16 are-manipulated* to- ad just theknee laterally on the trunnion 12, and the - vertical adj ustment * is- effected-? by the manipulation? of the- head- 23 on the nut ? 15· The grooved surface 31, 18, and 25 permit-this adjustment with? full- bearing contact on the abutting parts and- without binding-.

Thereupon the bolts 33 and nut 24 are tightened, thus locking- the knee in the newly adjusted position. These adjustments on the knee and the slide and worktable¹ carried-byut are-in- accessible-positions, as above explained, and-hence are more likely to be made ’oy the? operator and without loss of time.- No additional adjustments are necessary to-be ’made to-the machine when shifting blanks either- for thickness, length, or width, the- side clamping- plates- 194 attached to- the clamping- arms? being automatically ? adjusted¹ - to the blanks as they- effect a self-seating upon the same against¹ the fixed inner ribs ? 83, a slight adjustment of the stop 205 being made to limit the power exerted? by the*-side clamps on the blanks.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a completely automatic machine and- -instrumentalities capable of high-speed of output, universal adjustability for blanks -of varying -sizes- and -thickness, and with a varying actuating-? mechanism effected in? timed- relation, , together- with an efficient and instantly- acting stop mechanism should a-blank be? missing?· distorted,- or hot properly seated-on the- bed--blade’prior?to the operation of the- cutters. Also; by- having the- worktable drop and thus vertically separate the cutters and the blanks after the length ofgroove- desired has been formed in each- blank, the? groovedblanks are carried beyond-the cutters? and are positively stacked in? the receivings magazine? in assembled: alignment for removal and for subsequent operations.

By having the cutters instantly free of contact with the blanks, the grooves formed thereby are more smooth and more accurate than any prior machines where, the blanks had to be dragged backwardly after the grooving action and the cutters would chatter over the grooves, which latter action also tended to dull the cutters, necessitating constant sharpening.

In my present apparatus I am enabled to affix a sharpening element and resharpen the- cutters: when needed when still on their shaft 230, thus further effecting a great saving of time and permitting the machine to be in more constant operation.

Also, my improvement in this art, wherein a plurality of articles from one magazine are fed thru operating instrumentalities and then automatically stacked into another magazine, prefer20 ably interchangeable with the first, is believed to be new and is claimed broadly herein.

Furthermore, the method of operating on. a plurality of blanks or partly finished articles 5 wherein they are fed to a worktable, hold-down pressure applied thereon, and thereupon sideclamping devices actuated which hold the articles until carried by the operating' instrumentalities, either with or without a: dropping of: the work₁₀ table at a predetermined point, is. believed, to. be new and- is claimed herein. As far as¹1 am. informed, my method of vertically lifting articles· after a machine operation thereon, restacking the articles, into areceivingmagazine or 15 the like, is novel and I wish to claim the? same herein broadly.