US2181358A - Feeding finger - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 28, 1939. .1 v. ANSLINGER FEEDING FINGER E Filed April 29, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR z/l/sr/n/ l. /4/vsu/v6/ A TTORNE Y0 Nov. 28, 1939; 4. v4 ANSLINGER FEEDING FINGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29, 1938 Patented Nov. 28, 1939 ourrsojsTATES OFFICE My invention relates to feeding fingers for automatic screw machines.

It is the object of my invention to provide an apparatus for and a method .of feeding small steel, brass and other wires that are easily damaged. a

It is an object to provide a feeding finger which will not scar the wire 'Heretofore if the wire stock was fed when the collet opened there was a slipping action of the feeding finger when the stock stop met the wire. The general practice has been to feed the wire stock out a little too far and have the stock stop pushed back to the exact position just before the collet closes.

The second type of scarring took place when the feeding finger was pulled back down the stock after the collet was closed. The friction of the feeding finger was on the stock at all times, although the feeding finger rotated with the stock. Nevertheless it still scarred the wire by slipping.

It is the object of this invention to provide a feeding finger that rotates with the arc in the center less than that of the stock. I provide for a clamping action. I provide means whereby when the stock moves within the feeding finger, the rolls will rotate and not scar the stock.

It is an object to provide a feeding finger which will push the rod stock forward at the time when the collet is open. Thereafter the collet closes, clamping or holding the rod.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the feeding finger of this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof looking at the face of the feeding rollers.

Figure 3 is an elevation at right angles to Figure 2, looking at the ends of the feeding rollers.

Figure 4 is a section through the feeding mech anism of an automatic screw machine showing the feeding finger where it has just advanced The forward end of the finger has its interior chamber 4 reduced into a narrow sleeve 5 in the end of which there are the jaws 6 and I, in which are mounted the axles 8 for carrying the guide pulleys 9. This finger is split on either side by this narrowslot III and thebroad slot II. The

two rolls 9 have flanges So that abut one another so as toform a space I 2 between them for receiving the stock wire I3. As this wire is round and the space between the rolls 9 is less than a full round to receive the wire, a clamping action results due'to the spring fingers 4a and 4b of the body Iiof thefeeding finger. v

In operation, the parts perform as follows. The feeding finger, whenit reciprocates with refer- 1o ence to the wire I3, rolls on the wire without scarring it. At'the time therod or wire I3 is pushed forward in the collet H, the collet is open. This allows the feeding finger I to push the rod stock I3 forward. Then the collet closes 15 and clamps or holds the rod. The collet I1 is supplied in the usual manner so that it springs open when the clamping sleeve I8 releases it as shownin Figure 5. This sleeve is forced forwardly by the lever I9 actuated by the cam 20 through the sleeve 2| which engages with the rear ends of the chuck levers 22'that are fulcrumed at 23. The ends of these chuck levers at 24 engage with the rear end of the clamping sleeve I8. This sleeve is pushed backwardly by the expansion of the'collet IT, as shown in Figure 5.

With the feeding finger of this invention, it will be noted that the rolls 9 will roll on the stock I3 without injury when the sleeve 3 is with- 0 drawn by the lever I4 and its cam follower. I5 operating in the cam I6.

It will thus be observed that the rod stock I3 is first fed forward by the feeding finger I and its rolls 9. At this time, the collet I! is open. .Upon

the accomplishment of the feeding operation, the collet I1 is closed by the clamping sleeve I8 so as to hold the rod stock I3, and thereafter the. clamping finger is withdrawn and the rolls 9 .will roll upon the stock without injuring it or scarring it.

It will be understood that a variety of differ!- ent types of automatic feeds may be employed and that shown in Figures 4 and 5 is merely a typical form. The invention does not lie in the particular type of automatic feeding mechanism, but only in the combinationof the basic elements thereof with the novel feeding finger. The invention also lies in the novel construction of the finger itself. q 50 It will be understood that the yielding nature of the spring finger ends 44 and 4b of the feeding finger will tend to clamp the rolls 9 upon the stock I 3. As explained, when there is no stock in position, the space I2 is less than the'full diameter of a piece of rod stock l3, so that when the stock is inserted between the rolls 9, the spring fingers 4a and 417 will be spread apart and the rolls 9 will tightly engage through the grooves between the flanges 9a the stock l3.

This clamping engagement is sufiicient to feed the stock forwardly when the collet H is open, but not sufficient to prevent the withdrawal of the feeding finger with the rolls 9 in rolling engagement with the stock 53 when the stock l3 is clamped by the collet H. In this way, the feeding is automatic and the stock is alternately gripped by the rolls 9 without scarring it.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as may be necessary to adapt it tovarying conditions and uses.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. As a new article of manufacture for use as a feeding finger in automatic screw machines, a feeding finger comprising a base portion and spring arm portions adapted to be moved towards one another, rollers in the ends of said arms partially extending across the space between said arms and adapted to receive a stock rod within and between them, said finger being hollow for the reception of said rod, the spring arm portions of said finger resiliently pressing said rollers towards each other in such manner as to grip said stock rod.

2. In combination, in a feeding finger, a cylindrical body partially split into two spring fingers normally spaced apart from one another to permit stock to pass freely through said feeding finger, axles fixedly mounted in the ends of' said spring fingers, freely mounted groove rollers centrally mounted on said axles and extending partially through the space between said split ends of the feeding finger whereby said spring fingers resilientlypress said rollers towards each other in such manner that said rollers can either roll upon the stock or clamp it.

3. In combination, a feeding finger comprising a hollow body having a face portion of spaced spring finger portions, said finger portions having their ends recessed, axles fixedly mounted in said ends and traversing said recesses, groove rollers centrally mounted on said axles and extending partially across the space between said spring finger portions, said finger portions resiliently pressing said rollers towards each other in such manner as to grip rod stock passing between them.

JUSTIN v. ANSLINGER.

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