US1483059A - Deflector for plate-feeding mechanisms - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 5 1924.

E. C. POOL DEFLECTOR FOR PLATE FEEDING MECHANISMS Fi l ed De C l 5 l 922 5 SheetS-Shee 1', 1

E. C. POOL DEFLEGTOR FOR PLATE FEEDING MECHANISMS Feb. 5 1924.

Filed Dec. l5, 1,922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 W'zesses:

Feb. 5 1924. 1,483,059

E. c. Pool.

- DEFLECTOR FOR PLATE FEEDIG. MECHANISMS Filed Dec. 15l 1922 5 Sheets-Shea?l 5 Feria. 5 1924.

E.C.POOL

DEFLECTOR FOR PLATE FEEDING MECHANISMS Filed Deo. l5, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Invenior: .f2/75 Cf POOL E. C. POOL DEFLECTOR FOR PLATE FEEDING MECHANISMS Filed Dec. 15. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ryu IIIIIIIII Patented Feb. 5, 1924.

UNITED STATES ELMER C. POOL, 0F NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEELETR .FR PLATE-FEEDING MECHANISMS.

Application led December l5, 19,22. Serial No. 607,122.

To all whom it may cmwern.

Be it known that I, Eterna C. POOL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New Castle, in the county of Lawrence and State Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dellectors for Plate-Feeding Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the manipulation vof metal sheets and plates, and more particularly to the feeding of such sheets or plates, automatically, one at a time, from a pile to a tinning machine, and has for one of its objects the provision of an improved feedin mechanism such as that described in my I nite-d States Patent No. 1,448,711, dated March 13, 1923, having means for positively preventing more than one plate entering the tinning machine.

In automatically feeding metal plates by magnetic feeding devices or otherwise, two or more plates are often carried upward by the feeding device, and when these plates enter the tinning machine they are not properly tinned. and must be. scrapped. `With the present invention, means are provided for preventing more than one plate entering the tinning machine.

Another object of the present invention is to deflect or throw out the plates when a plurality of plates are fed to the tinning machine prior to their entry into the tin bath, thus preventing the scrapping of such plates since they may be again fed singly through the machine.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of my improved feeding mechanism applied to a tinning machine. l,

Figure 2 is a top plan of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail side elevation of the rear portion of the device.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional det-ail of the calipering and switching mechanism.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation on the line V-V of Figure 4.-.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates a tinning pot, in itself an old and approved form. The pot is separated transversely by a vertical wall or partition 2, into compartments B and C. The lower edge of this partition or septum Q. which terminates above the bottom of the tinning pot, and the upper edge of a rib or proj ection 3 on the bottom of the pot defines the width or vertical dimension of a narrow passage or opening D, through which the plates, while submerged in the bath of molten tin, pass from the compartment B 1nto the compartment C of the pot A. The particular pot shown is of a width which permits of two or more plates, side by side, being passed through the tinning pot.

Located immediately above the upper edge of the compartment ,at the plate entering side of the tinning pot, are two sets of feed rollers E and- F, which are arranged to receive the plates from my improved feeding mechanism to be described, and to move them forwardly and downwardly into the tin pot at an angle to the horizontal.

The feed rollers F are at a somewhat lower level than the rollers E, and an adjustable roller G is located on the discharge side of the set F to guide and direct the front end ofthe successive plates forwardly and downwardly and into the molten tin in compartment B, as they emerge from between the rollers F.

Positioned within the compartment B, closely adjacent to the passage D, is a set of pressure rollers I. These pressure rollers feed the plates from compartment B into the compartment C.

Two sets of feed-out rollers J and K are provided in the compartment C of pot A to feed-out the plates and also to squeeze off surplus tin from the plates.

An inclined apron plate 10 is provided at the entrance end of the compartment B of the pot to receive the plates as they are delivered from my improved feeding mechanism. Other guide plates, 12 and 13, are arranged to guide the plates through the rollers F and I, and curved guide plates '14 and 14! form a guide N which directs the forward end of the plates emerging from the set of pressure rollers I upwardly into the bite of the lower set J of the feed-out rollers J and K.

My improved feeding mechanism is adapted to be located directly at the rear of the tinning pot and comprises a double set of parts arranged side by side so as to act on two piles of plates at one time, thereby feeding two plates, side by side, into the tinning machine.

A framework or supporting structure 16 is secured to and extends rearwardly from the tinning pot A and supports'the several parts comprising my feeding mechanism.v

A bosh or receptacle 17 is secured to and eX- angle, so as to slidably support an L-shaped plate retainer 20 which is of sufficient width to hold two piles of plates side by side. The plate retainer 2O is adjustably held in position and adapted to be vertically adjusted by means of a pair of chains 21. one. of which is secured on each end thereof and passed upwardly over suitable sheaves 22 splined on a shaft 23 journaled 1n the bosh and having a ratchet and dog operatmg mechanism 24 on its one end outside of the end wall of the bosh.

Mounted on the rear edge of the supporting framework 16 at each end and center thereof is a bracket 25 supporting a shaft 26, having four arms 27 loosely mounted thereon for pivotal movement.

The arms 27 have a plurality of cylindrical magentic plate lifters Y journaled and supported in their lower ends, and the center arms have their upper ends counterweighted by adjustable counterweights 29 mounted on a projecting arm 30. A locking lever 31 is pivoted on vthe arms 27, having the counterweights adjacent their upper ends, and such lever is provided with a notch 32 to engage over the projecting tongue 33 on the frame 16 so as to hold the magnetic plate lifters Y out of their plate engaging position when dseired.

The magnetic plate lifters Y each comprises a permanent magnetic member 34 mounted within a pair of hollow cylindrical casings 35 which have their inner ends spaced apart and joined by a non-magnetic hollow cylindrical tubular member 36. Stub shafts 37 are threaded into the outer ends of the casings 35 and support the whole structure in suitable bearings formed in the lower ends of the arms 27.

The hollow cylindrical casing members 35 are formed from soft iron or other material which will readily convey the circuit. or attracting forces from the permanent magnet 34, thus forming unlike poles through which a circuit will be completed when they contact with a plate.

The outer surface or periphery of the members 35 is fiuted, forming a series of knife edge ribs or projections 39. It will thus be seen that each of the ribs or pro jections 39 will successively engage a plate as the magnet is rotated, and that projections on the alined casings will form op- `posite or unlike pole contacts, and that such projections will contact with the face of the outermost plate of the pile in the retainer 20. The effect of the knife edge contacts will be to concentrate the forces of the magnet in the immediate plate and prevent the spreading of the forces through and into the next adjoining plates.

Suitable cross-beams 40-40 are arranged from one end of the frame support 16 to the other immediately above the upper edge of the bosh and carry suitable curved guide strips 41-42 arranged to form an upwardly and inwardly inclined passageway to guide the plates being conveyed.

A second pair of cross-beams 43-43 are arranged forward and above the cross-beams 40 and carry other guide strips 44-45 forming a second passage-way adapted to receive the plates from the passage-way between the strips 41 42 and direct them forwardly and upwardly between suitable pinch rollers 46 and 47 of any well-known construction.

The lower one of the pair of pinch rollers E is driven by a suitable source of power and carries a sprocket 48 on each end. Pinch roller 46 also carries a sprocket 48 on each end in line with the sprocket 48, and a third sprocket 48b is mounted on each end of the shaft 26 in line with the sprockets 48 and 48a. A link chain 49 is trained about the sprockets 48, 482148", thus driving the pinch rollers E, pinch rollers 46 and 47, and shaft 26 at the same speed. lt will be undei-stood that if found desirable in practice, one set of drive sprockets may be used on the one side of the machine.

A pair of sprockets 5() of somewhat smaller diameter than the sprockets 48, 48a, 48"` are mounted on the ends of the shaft 26, and a sprocket 51, of greater diameter than sprockets 50, is mounted on the end of the outside stub shafts 37 of each magnetic conveyer, and a link chain 52 is trained over the sprockets 50 and 51 to constantly drive the conveyer members, which will neces sarily revolve 4at a lesser speed than the pinch rollers E and pinch rollers 46, 47, due to the difference in size of the sprockets 50 and 51.

Magnetic separators X are mounted above each of the magnetic plate lfters Y and comprise a rectangular casing member 63 hingedly or pivotally supported on the crossbeam 40. The casings 63 contain a permanent magnet 64 and are provided with blade or knife edge poles 65 which extend into the path of the lifted plates and contact with the rear faces thereof. The magnet 64 is of less strength than the magnets of the plate lifter Y, and, therefore, will not materially retard the movement of the plates, yet it is of sufficient strength that if two plates should stick or in some manner be lifted together, it will retard the movement of the second plate, and thus separate them.

A further means for preventing the feed` y such size that their dat sides `will extend past the guide strips and into the path ofthe lifted plates. As the plates are guided between the strips 44 and 45, they will bear against the upper strips 44 due to the; div-'py rection of their travel, and in this position they will strike the fingers 68 and causethes shaft and fingers yto rotateone-third of a revolution, thereby presen-ting one of' .the

other faces of the fingers against the plate. If a second plate is overlapped onfthefirst in such a manner thatV its forward edge 1s disposed to the rearv of the forward edge ofr the first plate, it will strike the fingers and e be held, since the fingers cannot again rotatey kuntil the first plate has passed clear `:from

under the fingers. Another feature and function of :these fingers is that they will causevan even feed of the plates from both of the magnetic vfeed rollers Y, since if on-e roller feeds a platein advance of the other, the first to reach or strike the fingers 68 will rotate them the one.- third turn, and then lock them against rotation until it has passed from thereunder, and the plate that is in the rear will be held'until the fingers are again freed when another plate will be presented by the other magnetic feed roller to followthe'one just clearing the fingers, thus causing the newly presented plate, and the held plate to pass together to the rollers' 46-47.

A still further means for preventing the feeding of double sheets to the tinning pot is located forward of the fingers G8 and this means acts as a trap so that if more than one. plate passes therethrough they will be trapped and thrown out so they may be salvaged and again fed through the machine.-

This mechanism, which is in the form of,

a calipering mechanism, comprises a pair of supporting angle members 54-542 The lower member 54 is provided with a pad 55 forming the bottom caliper-ing surface. The

upper member 54n has an inverted U-shaped supporting bracket member 5G secured to its upper face which serves to form a supporting bearmg for a cahpering bolt 57.

An inverted Ushaped supporting memberk 60 is screw threaded on the lower end of the bolt 57 and locked in position by a nut 57a. A spring` 58 is mounted around the bolt 5T and has one end bearing against the nut 5T and its other end bearing against the under face of the bracket. member 56. The spring 58 serves to yieldably hold the bolt 57 and member 60 in their lowermostposition. The

lowermost position of the bolt 5T may be ad-` justed by an adjusting nut 59 which is mounted on the finely threaded upper portion of the bolt 57, which projects through the bracket 56. Thenut 59 bears against the upper face of the bracket 56 and when V.screwed down on the bolt 57 will raise the bolt and whenjscre'wediup on the boltwill allow the `bolt to dro therebyfvarying the space between the pa' 55 and the calipering mechanismlcarried' by 'thebolty A suitable handle 59lrk is `securedto .the nut 59 so that it may be readily turned.`

` `A pair of sheet,v uiles thek outer` sidefa'cesfofr` the vmember (S0-to guide the plates from"^the rolls 46-4T between the calipering mechanism. i

.A1- Vsubstantially VV-shaped plate -guide switch member-"8T has its oney leg secured to a kcross men'iber so that'its closed end `or nose 8Ta projects toward 'and intoclose proximity tothe calipering members and its other legfforms a sheet deflectingpo'rtion.

.A calipering camp (il is mounted on a' pin 88 mounted in the member 60. The camfl provided with" an extended lever or trap portion 6l which extends ,over and normally Arests upon thel upper `leg of -the guideS?.

The lowenfacefof' the'lever 6l adjacent the cam portion 61' is projected downwardly to form ak guide lip 61b which normally projects slightly below thenose portion 87a of the plate guide 87.

A pair of'jpinchrollers 89-90 are provided forwardof the plate guide. which' are adapted to receive' the plates defiectedby the guide and feed them onto a platform or inoperation th'e' boltfllj'is adjusted vertically until the. camlfis spaced sufficiently above .the padlfto permitv a single plate to pass therebetween. During the normal operation of the machine" the plates are yfed singly into thetinning; pot. lf, however,

for any reason two. or,y more platesr should `stick and be fied .between the ycam (Si and pad 55 the cam Glwill be forced upward and rocked slightly/'Kupon' the pin 8S, and the two `or more platesfwhich will lengage thefle'ver portion Gll ofthefcalm:w-ilkha've sufficient resiliency to lift rthecarnglever G1 to a point above the nose' Si'vnfof4 the plate guide '87,

therebyT permitting:theplates to bedefiected above the guide Si' and into the bite of the pinch rollers ,Sile-90, which will feed'them j onto the platform 9i., `When onlj7 a single plate is fed between the pad 55 and-cambi, the cam remains' stationaryv vandthe plate is guided downwardlyv` bythe guide lip 61.* until it strikestlie lower leg of thejguide 87. The weight of the ylever portion Glof the cam 6l is such thatafsingle plate will not disturb it. i ,A j

it will be,r of vcours j, understood that 'the above caliper-ingandftrapping mechanism is duplicated for cach firming pot.v ,'fhatis, cach set- .of feedingmcchanism has its own 60 aresecured to l ealipering and trapping mechanism. There-i As the plate lifters Y arerotated to feed 'y the plates from the pile or pack, it becomesv necessary to renew the pack from time lto time and in order to do ,so without interfering with the operation of the machine, l

have provided a pack shifting or handling mechanism which comprises fa pairof U- shaped yoke members having their side arms pivotally mounted as at 71 to the lower ends of levers 72, which have theirl other ends keyed or otherwise ,securedv to operating shafts 73 which have their outer ends journaled in rack' plates74 and their inner ends journaled in a lsim'gle'bracket 75 which bracket is secured to the forward wall of the bosh 17 by bolts 76 or the like.

Eachof the operating shafts 73 extends beyond the rack plates 74-which are bolted to and extend upwardly from the end walls of the bosh 17.

A suitable operating lever 78 is secured to the outer end of each of the shafts 73 and is provided with a hand grip 79 for the operator to grasp.

The side arms of the U-shaped yoke members 70 normally rest` upon and ride across the shoulders or vbearing bosses 27, on .the

vlower ends of arms 27, in which the stub shafts 37 of plate litters 'Y are journaled.

It Awill be readily apparent that when the operator grasps the lever 78 and rocks it in a forward direction vit will so rotate the shaft as to move the yoke` 7() rearwardly. As the yoke is moved rearwardly the operator will either grasp the yoke itself and manually lift it upwardly to clear the pack of `plates being,r fed into the machine and then let it drop behind said pack, or he mill grasp the flexible cable or chain 7 7 which has its one'end secured to thc one side bar of the yoke and its other cnd secured to the shaft QG,A and thus litt the yoke. t i' In order to lhold the yoke in various adjustable positions, a spring ypressed pawl 8() having operating handle or drop 81 is mounted on the lever 78 and is adapted to be engaged \in the upper serrated or toothed edge 81 of rack plate 74. f

lVhen the operator desires to renew the pack of plates he will move the yoke for thatlpack rearwardly and lift it over the pack as described above. He will then move or rock the lever 78 rearwardly so as ioL move the yoke forwardly, which will pull the remaining plates of the pack with it, and when the pack has been moved forward to the desired position, he will release the pawl 80 land lock the yoke in position. He may then renew the pack by adding plates to the rear of the original pack. When struction of magnetic plate lift will cause the magnetic forces to be concentrated on a single plateof the pile and will lift it through the guide passages to the pinch rollers 46;-47, which will in turn feed it to the pinch rollers E of the. tinning pot.

The operations of the three separate mechanisms for preventing more than one plate being carried to the tinning pot, have also been fully described above, and will not begone into again, although these mechanisms are important features and are distinct improvements over any. devices hereto- Vr'fore known, the calipering trip and trapping vmechanism being particularly novel and forming the subject matter ot the following claims.

It will be readily understood that while I have described my'invcntion is combination with a tinning pot` it is not limited to such use, but may be used wherever it is desired to feed single plates, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to such a combination.

I claim 1. In an automatic plate feeding mechanism, a pair of calipering members, means for feeding plates from a. pack, guide means on one of said calipering members for guiding said plates downwardly when only single plates pass between said calipering mem.- bers, a second plate guide adapted to receive the plates from said {irst named guide 4when said tirst named guide is in its normal position. said first named guide being raised to form a gap between said first and second named guides when more than one plate passes between said calipering members, so that said plurality of plates will be fed over said second guide.

In an automatic plate feeding mechanism, a pair of caliper-ing members, means for feeding plates from a pack, one of said members being vertically movable relative to the other` means for yieldingly forcing said member toward the other of said calipering members, and means for adjusting said vertically movable member so as to vary the distance between said calipering members` guide means on said verticallyl movable member for guiding said plates downwardly when only single plates pass between said oalipering members, a second plate guide adapted to receive the plates from said first named guide when said first named guide is in its normal position, said first named guide being raised to form aL gap between said first and second named guides when more than one plate passes between said calipering members, so that the plurality of plates will pass over saidv second named guide.

3. In an automatic plate feeding mechanism, a pair of calipering members, means for feeding plates from a pack. the lower of` said calipering members being rigid and the upper of said members being vertically movable relative to said lower member, said upper member having a. cam shaped plate contacting portion and being adapted to be rotated abouta fixed horizontal axis, a counterweighting lever on said cam shaped member, said cam shaped member being adapted to be rocked about its fixed axis by the friction of two or more plates passing between the caliperin'g` members, means for yieldably forcing said upper member toward said 25 ly when only single plates pass between said calipering members, a second plate guide adapted to receive the plates from said first named guide when only single plates pass between said calipering members, and said first named guide eing adapted to be moved upwardly to a position above said second named guide when said upper calipering member is rocked by two or more plates passing between said calipering members, thereby forming a gap between said guide members through which said pluralities of plates are adapted to pass.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

\ EIMER C. POOL.

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