Patent GB-1481936-A (GB)
Title: Machine for placing open-throated elements on rods
IPC: B23P19/04
Filed: 1975-09-10
Abstract: 1481936 Attaching beads to rods MATTEL INC 10 Sept 1975 [24 Feb 1975] 37225/75 Heading A3H A machine for placing a plurality of openthroated elements e.g. C-shaped beads 12, on a rod 14 by passing the open-throat portion of each element past the rod transversely to its major axis A-A, comprises first and second stations each including means for holding the element with its throat unobstructed, means for supporting the rod adjacent the openthroat portion of the element, and means for moving the holding means toward the supported rod to pass the open-throat portion of the held element past the rod. The machine also includes a resilient pawl between the stations moving the rod from the first to the second station, and a ramp in the path of travel of the upper end of the rod to move one element away from the upper end of the rod during travel of the rod to the second station. Holding means comprises a shoe 24 having an open-fronted, open-topped pocket 26 therein for reception of the element 12 with its open-throat portion facing the open front of the pocket. The elements are fed from a hopper 62 to a chute by agitation, the chute opening vertically above the pocket 26 in the shoe 24. A rib 68 is provided in the chute to ensure correct orientation of the element 12. The shoe is reciprocated towards and away from the rod support means by means of a rotating cam 56, the shoes being spring biassed into engagement with the cam. The rod support means comprises upper and lower L-shaped tracks 42, 48 and upper and lower pawls 136, 138 which press the ends of the rod 14 against the vertical limbs of the L-shaped tracks. In operation the rods 14 are loaded into a magazine 72 which has a plunger 324 spring biassing the rods towards the front of the machine. The first rod 14 is held in an upright position by the L-shaped tracks and end 148 of pawl 138. The pawls are mounted on a frame 54 including a pusher member 134, the frame being reciprocable from left to right as seen in Figure 2 by a rotating cam 74. The elements 12 are loaded into the hopper 62 and a first element is located in the pocket 26 of each station 84. 86, 88 of the machine of this embodiment. The crank 262 is rotated to rotate the cam 74 to move the pawl frame 54 to the right whereby pusher member 134 engages the first rod 14 in the magazine and moves it to the first station 84. At the same time, the shaft 110 is rotated whereby the cam 56 pushes the shoe 24 of the first station in the direction of the rod support to thereby press the first element on to the first rod 14. The rod is held in an upright position at the first station by upper and lower pawls 140 similar to pawls 136. 138. Continued rotation of the crank 262 causes the pawl frame 54 to move to the left for the process to be repeated, with the end 150 of the pawl 138 engaging the first rod and element at station 84. The next movement of the frame 54 to the right pushes the first rod and element to a second station 86 for the reception of a second element 12 and supplies a fresh rod to the first station. A similar arrangement of hopper, chute, shoe and cams is provided for each station. In the preferred embodiment, the machine is moulded from plastics material and comprises three stations, each supplying two elements simultaneously to two parallel rods 14, the rods being connected at their ends by C-shaped elements 80, 82 (Fig. 16) for coupling to similar assemblies 76 of rods and elements 12.