US2461688A - Mass production machine for dieforming sheet metal blanks - Google Patents

Description

A. ILLSCHE MASS PRODUCTION MACHINE FOR DIE FORMING SHEET METAL BLANKS Feb. 15, 1949.

INVENTOR.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 MOTOR Filed March 1, 1946 Feb. 15, 1949. A. ILLSCHE MASS PRODUCTION MACHINE FOR DIE FORMING SHEET METAL BLANKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1, 1946 IN V EN T OR.

A. ILLSCHE DUCT ING SH MASS Feb 15, 1949.

ION MACHINE FOR DIE EET METAL BLANKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 1, 1946 Feb. 15, 1949. sc 2;.46L688 MASS PRODUCTION MACHINE FOR DIE FORMING SHEET METAL BLANKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 1. 1946 I INVENTOR. BY

. Hull; M

fective and imperfect Patented Feb. 15, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MASS PRODUCTION MACHINE FOR DIE- FQRMING SHEET METAL BLANKS Arthur Illsche, Rye, N. Y. Application March 1, 1946, Serial No. 651,130

8 Claims.

' This invention relates generally to mass production machines and more particularly to driving gear for operating multiple spindle/assemblies in such machines.

As it will aid in a clearer understanding of the spindle assembly andits operating gearing if applied to serve a practical purpose, they will be described and illustrated in a machine for die-forming small sheet metal articles but no claim is made herein to either the dies or the articles produced by them, as forming any part of the present invention.

Machines of the same type, as herein described, but which differ in the gearing employed for driving the die-carrying spindles and in other respects, are disclosed in my copending applications, filed of even date herewith In die-forming blanks, I have found screw threads in sheet metal that heavy loss from dedie work'can be avoided by causing the dies to press, draw and spin the metal in each thread-forming operation. Combining these actions eases the strain on the metal blank and enables it to withstand formation by the dies without cracking, wrinkling, collapsing or being otherwise damaged.

The necessity for combining the actions mentioned, becomes at once apparent in threading the conical or frusto-conical portion of small blanks of button sizes, which could not be done by pressing or drawing or spinning alone, owing to the limited area of the metal presented and the small amount of clearance that is available foraction by the dies and as the thread spirals from the base to the apex of the cone, where it terminates in a blunt point, a perfect terminal formation can only be produced by easing the die action as above described on the thinly drawn metal at the apex of the cone.

To obtain the above describeddie action, the dies of each coacting pair. while being rotated in opposite directions, to give them a drawing and spinning action on the blank, arecaused to approach and contactthe blank at different and serially numbered 651,129 and 651,131.

speeds, the male die advancing more-rapidly than the female die, which enables the male die to enter and be utilized as a filler and support for the blank, thus reinforcing it preliminary to the action of the slower moving female die, by which, assisted by the male die, the blank is pressed, drawn and spun over the male'die, to form the thread.

To meet the above mentioned requirements in mass production machines, a suitable number of 2 coacting pairs of die-carrying spindles are assembled preferably in double-line formation for simultaneous operation by reciprocating rack bars, each acting through a train of gearing that engages and drives the pinions of a group of spindles and rotates the same alternately in opposite directions. The gearing that drives the spindles'carrying the male dies, is intermittently rotated at comparatively high speed, by cam action, to give themale dies a rapid advance into the cones of the blanks, then a momentary period of rest and a rapid retraction, following the action of the female dies on the lanks. The gearing. that drives the spindles carrying the female dies, is rotated by eccentric action to give them a'comparatively slow advance and retraction.

The conical blanks to be threaded, are preformed in a stripof ribbon metal drawn from a reel and the stripis given a step by step advance by anautomatie feed, that brings a cone blank in centered relation between each cooperating pair of dies.

Following the threading operation, the strip is run through a punching machine by which the threaded cones are punched out with a marginal flange at the base of the cone for a suitable edge finish or attachment to an ornamental button overlap or the like.

Other features-of the invention not specially mentioned above will be brought to attention in the detail description that follows.

A machine construction suitable for carrying the invention into effect, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but, it will be understood, that no limitations are intended by this showing, other than are imposed by the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a topplan view of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section on the line S S of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the gearing for rotating the die-carrying spindles in groups.

Figs. 4 and 5 are central vertical longitudinal sections of a cooperating pair of die-carry-- Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line SL-S of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 shows a portion of the strip of blanks and Fig. 10 shows one of the blanks after it is die-formed.

Referring now to the drawings, the main frame of the machine, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, consists of a rectangular base plate I, from the longer opposite sides of which front and rear walls 2, 3, rise to provide support for the operating mechanism. The die-carrying spindles .are mounted on the outer side of the front wall 2, along with certain elements of the gearing, by which the spindles are alternately rotated in opposite directions to advance and retract the dies carried by cooperating pairs of the spindles. The main portion of the spindle driving gear is mounted on the inner side of the .rear wall 3 and on the opposite side of the wall,

a source of power is indicated, in the form of a motor 4.

The motor shaft 5 is suitably geared, as indicated at 6, in Fig. 2, to drive the main cross shaft '1 of the machine and power from the motor to the shaft is controlled by a clutch 8, the operating lever of which is indicated at 9, in Figs. 1 and 2.

The cross shaft 1 is mounted in bracketed bearings it], ill, projecting from the inner side of the rear wall and through bevel gearing H, H at opposite ends, is connected to'drive two vertically disposed shafts l 2, l2, in opposite directions. The shafts 52, I2 are mounted in bracketed bearings l3, l3, projecting from the rear wall and have fast thereon eccentrics l4, I4, at their upper ends and cams i5, ill, at their lower ends, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The eccentrics M, M, through gearing hereinafter described, operate to continuously impart alternate rotation in opposite directions, to the upper series of spindles that carry the female dies and the cams l5, [5, as hereinafter described, operate to impart intermittent rotation in opposite directions to the lower series of spindles that carry the male dies. It may be added, as will later on appear, that excepting the difference between the eccentric drive and the cam drive, the'form of gearing through which motion is transmitted from each of them to the die-carrying spindles,

is substantially identical.

Rack bars [8, l6, connected to be reciprocated by the eccentrics M, M, engage gears l1, l1, mounted on stud shafts l 8, l3, carried by brackets l9, l9, projecting from'opposite sides of the front wall 2. The rack bars are held in engagement with the gears by suitable retaining devices 23, 26, free to move about the shafts, to adapt them selves to variations in the angle of the rack bars as they swing under the drive of the eccentrics.

The cams l5, l5, each acting between two rollers 2i, 2i of a slide 22, movable in a guide 23 (see Figs. 2 and 7), operate to intermittently reciprocate the rack bars 24, 24, in opposite directions. The rack bars are pivoted to the slides and engage gears 25, 25, mounted on stud shafts 26, 26, carried by brackets projecting from the front wall 2. Retaining members 21, 21, similar to those above described in reference to the eccentrically driven rack bars, are here employed to serve the same purpose.

Forming a continuation of each eccentric drive through an engaging rack bar 16 and gear IT, as above described, a pinion 28 and gear 23, are mounted on a suitably bracketed stud shaft to rotate together, the pinion 28 meshing with'the gear l l, by which it is driven andthe gear 29 meshing with and driving the pinions 30 of a two-member group of die-carrying spindles, arranged in line formation, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Rotation of the gears 29, 29 in same direction, will cause the spindles of both groups to be simultaneously rotated in the same direction and as these two groups form the upper series of spindles that carry the female dies, the action of the rack bars l6, It, in reciprocating, will first rotate them clockwise, to advance the dies to the blanks and then reverse the rotation, to retract the dies, to enable the strip of blanks to be fed forward for the next operation.

As an exact duplication of the gearing, above described in connection with the eccentric drives,

is employed as continuations of the cam drives, through engaging rack bars and gears, to rotate the two groups of spindles that form the'lower series and carry the male dies, in a direction opposite that of the upper series, the construction and arrangement will beapparent without the aid of a detailed description.

For purposes of illustration, eight die-carrying spindles are shown, arranged in four cooperating pairs but this number may be increased or decreased as will be apparent. As previously stated, the spindles 3i, carrying the female dies 32, are shown forming the upper group and the spindles 33, carrying the male dies 34, as the lower group, an arrangement that may be reversed, if desired.

The spindles, mounted in supporting blocks 35, 36, are assembled in separate clamp frames 35*, 36 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the outer side of the front wall of the machine, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the assemblies being arranged one above the other, suitably spaced apart to provide clearance between them for entrance and passage of a strip of sheet metal 31, as shown in Fig. 8, in which conical or frustroconical blanks 38 have been preformed. Suitable spacing members (not shown) may be employed between the blocks to separate the spindles or group them into closer relation, as may be required, to bring them intocentering register with the blanks on the strip.

A booster block 39, doweled to the lower block assembly, as indicated at 40, in Fig. 8, is provided with a shelf-like extension 4| and together they serve as a support for the strip of blanks. In addition to being bored for the passage of the spindles, parallel slots 42, 42 are formed in the booster block to receive guides 43, of blanks is steadied as it is advanced to the dies by an automatic feed, driven by a shaft, indicated at 44, and as it is of conventional form, need not be further described. l

The spindles 3| and 33, of the upper and lower series, are of identical construction and each consists of a tubular body 45, reduced as indicated at 46 and shouldered at ,to receive the pinion 30, by which, through the-gearing above described, the spindle is given alternate rotation in opposite directions. The pinion is secured to the spindle by being clamped against the shoulder 41, by a main nut 48 and an added clamp nut .49, threaded on the spindle, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The advance and retraction of the dies is effected by a screw feed provided by threading each spindle its supporting block, as indicated at 50, in Fig. 8, the pitch of the thread being such that as the spindles are given a predetermined number of turns, first, in one direction, then in, the other,

the required movement will be imparted to them 43, by which the strip by the screw feed to bring the vdiesintoand out of cooperating relation with the blanks.

The end of 5! of the spindle to which the die is attached, is reduced, as indicated at 52 and shouldered, at 53 to provide a seat for the die block, which is socketed to conform to .theseat and secured thereon by a long bolt 54, that extends throughthe tubular bodyof the spindle and is threaded into the block as indicated at 55., To remove a die for inspection or renewal, it will only be necessary, as will be seen, to unscrew'the bolt, which leaves the spindleotherwise intact.

To form perfect screw threads in small metal blanks of button sizes, very, fine adjustments of the dies are requiredand in order that they may be made without removing or disengaging the spindle drivin 'gearing,itwo.zsuch adjustments are provided, one to advance or retard the reversal of the stroke of any one or more of the eccentrics or cams, with relation to the movement of either group of dies and the other to advance or retract any one or more of the dies individually, that may be under-acting or over-acting, in the formation of the screw threads.

' The first mentioned adjustment is best shown in Fig. 1, in which either of the, rack bars [6, It may be shifted lengthwise,- a limited distance, in either direction, by means of the screw bolts 56, 56, without moving the eccentrics or the cams. These bolts. acting on the block 51, movable in a guide slot58, in the rack barfmay be turnedto shift the bar lengthwise relative to the stud 59, that projects through the block and connects the bar to the eccentric or to the cam slide. In thus shifting one of the rack bars l6, for example, the gearing connecting it to a group of the spindles, will be given proportionate movement, causing the dies of that group to move up or down, depending upon the direction in which the rack bar is shifted.

For individual adjustment of any one or more ofthe dies, it is only necessary to run the clamp nut 49, and the main nut 48, back a few turns on the spindle to reduce the clamp pressure that holds the pinion fast thereon and as the pinion is held against turning by being engaged by the gear 29 of the driving train, the spindle, thus freed, may be rotated in either direction by hand or the aid of a suitable tool and the screw feed acting, will raise or lower the die as required. After the die is adjusted and the nuts 48 and 49 are tightened up, the spindle will be ready for use.

As the operation and many advantages of the machine will be apparent from the foregoing, it will not be necessary to further describe the same.

I claim:

1. In a mass production machine, a plurality of rotatable spindles cooperating in pairs and assem-- bled for group operation, each spindle being provided with a pinion by which it is driven, gearing for each group of spindles including a reciprocating rack bar and a gear driven thereby engaging the pinions of the spindles of the group with which it is associated to simultaneously rotate the spindles, the direction of rotation alternating with the back and forth movement of the rack bar, the aforesaid gearing being adapted to rotate the spindles of each pair in opposite directions and at different speeds, and screw feeding means responsive to rotation of the spindles for advancing the spindles of each pair towards each other and being automatically reversed to retract the spindles after each operation.

2. A mass production machine as defined in claim 1, in which the spindles cooperating in 6 pairs are assembled in groupsseparately driven but all operated simultaneously from a single source of power.

3. In a mass production machine, a plurality of rotatable spindles cooperating in pairs and assembled for group operation, each spindle being provided with a pinion by which it is driven, gearing including rack bars reciprocating in opposite directions and a gear driven by each rack bar engaging the pinions of one of each pair of spindles of a group for-simultaneously rotating the same, the direction of rotation alternating with the back and forth movement of the rack bars, groupadjusting means for the spindles by shifting the rack associated with a group lengthwisewhile the rackbar is in gear, and screw feeding means actuated by rotation of the spindles for advancing the spindles of each pair towards each other, the screw feed acting upon reversal of rotation of the spindles to retract the same after each operation.

4. In a mass production machine, a plurality of rotatable spindles cooperating in pairs and assembled for group operation, each spindle being provided with a pinion by which it is driven, gearing in-cluding'reciprocating rack bars anda gear driven by each rack bar engagingthe pinions of one of each pair of spindles of a group, the said rack bars being geared to impart simultaneous rotation through said gears to'the several roups of spindles, certain j of said rack bars being reciprocated 'by eccentric action and others by cam action to impart requisite rotation to the spindles with which they are associated, the aforesaid gearing operating to rotate the spindles of each pair in opposite directions, group adjustment means for the spindles operating to reposition the rack bar associated with a group while it is in gear, and screw feeding means actuated by the gearing for advancing the spindles of each pair towards each other, the aforesaid gearing acting at the end of each operation to reverse the screw feed and thereby retract the spindles.

5. In a mass production machine, a plurality of rotatable spindles cooperating in pairs, the

' spindles of each pair being positioned one above the other and adapted to be rotated in opposite directions, gearing including power-driven gears meshing with pinions on the spindles and alternately rotated in opposite directions, each of said gears engaging the pinions of a group of spindles to rotate them simultaneously, the gears associated with groups of the upper spindles being rotated with periodic reversal in the direction of rotation by a continuously driven element and the gears associated with groups of the lower spindles being intermittently rotated with periodic reversals and screw feeding mean-s actuated by the gearing for advancing the spindles of each pair towards each other, the aforesaid gearing automatically reversing the screw feed to retract the spindles at the end of each operation.

6. In a mass production machine, a plurality of rotatable spindles cooperating in pairs, the spindles of each pair being axially aligned one above the other and adapted to be rotated in opposite directions, gearing including powerdriven rack bars and gears rotated by the rack bars and meshing with pinions on the spindles, each of said gears engaging the pinions of a group of spindles to rotate them simultaneously, the gears associated with groups of the upper spindles [being driven with periodic reversals by eccentric action at relatively low speeds and the gears associated with groups of the lower spindles being intermittently driven with periodic re- .versals by camaction-at relatively high spe'e'd,"

and-screw feeding means actuatedbyrotati-on of the spindles for advancing the spindles of each pair towards each other, the reversal of rotationof the spindles causing the Screw feed to retract the spindles; r

.7. In a mass production machine, a plurality of rotatable spindles cooperating in pairs, the spindles'of each pair being positioned one above the other and axially. aligned, gearing including power-driven rack bars andgears rotated by the rack bars and meshingxwith pinions on the spindles, each of said gears engaging the pinions of a group of spindles and-cooperating collectively to rotate the 'upper and lower spindles of the several groups simultaneously but in opposite directions and at'difieren't speeds, the gears associated with groups of the upper and lower spindles being intermittently driven, and screw feeding means actuated by the gearing for advancing the spindles of each pair towards each other, the aforesaid gearing operating to periodically reverse the rotation of the spindles and thereby cause the screw feed to retract them after each operation.

8. In a massproduction machine, aplurality of spindles cooperating in pairs and assembled for group operation, the spindles of each pair being axially aligned and positioned one above the other forming upper and lower groups'of spindles, adapted to be rotated in fopposite di rections, means for imparting'alternating rotation in opposite directions to each of-the upper I groups of spindles and means for'similarly ac tuating each of the lower-groups of spindles; the aforesaid means including for each group a power-driven gear-directly engaging pinions on the spindles of the group with'which it is asso-' ciated for simultaneously rotatirigth spindles, and screw feeding means responsive to rotation of the spindles for'advancing the'spindles towards each other, the screw feed being automatically reversed to retract and separate the spindles after each operation. v I ARTHUR ILLSCHE;

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

-UNITED STATES PATENT Number Name I q I 121,435 Stone "Nov. 28, i871 403,199 Langlands 'May 14, 1889 1,352,840 Shanta $ept."14,' 192 0 1,696,453 Reid V Dec. 25, 1928 2,019,493 Hothersall ,NOV."5, 1935 2,340,472 Illsche Feb.'1',1944

2,349,240 Aimen 4 May 23, 1944 2,353,349 Merolle July 11,}94?

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