Patent GB-395387-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in automatic wire clip forming and closing machines
IPC: B21F33/04
Filed: 1932-01-01
Abstract: 395,387. Making metal fabrics. PASS, H. C., 101, Wheeler Avenue, and CUMMING, W. W., 113, Bedford Road, both in Toronto, Canada. Jan. 1, 1932, No. 82. [Class 83 (iv).] Angular bending; bending- formers; shearing adjuncts.- Wire clips 37 for joining two or more articles such as helical springs for mattresses &c. which may be covered with fabric are automatically formed and closed round the members to be secured by a machine constructed so that there is a dwell between the forming and closing operations during which the members are manually inserted in the clip. Wire is fed through a cutting die 47 by rolls on shafts 78, 79 driven by geneva gear from a shaft 55 on which is mounted a wheel 50 connected by an idler 7 to a gear 6 on a shaft 5. The shaft 5 is connected by a trip clutch to a gear fly wheel i, which is driven continuously by gearing /, g, h from an electric motor e. The upper roll is mounted in slide blocks 71 pressed down by a nut 77 through pins 73 and telescopic members 75, 76 containing rubber washers. The wire passes over a mandrel 34 carried by a member 35 secured to a slide 64, which is reciprocated by a cam 9 on a shaft 10 through a spur gear 8 meshing with the gear 50. Between the member 35 and its guide is a tapered gib 36 adjustable for wear by a slotted quadrant 59. A length of wire is cut off by a cutter 46 mounted in a slide 43 reciprocated by the groove 11b of a cam 11 on the shaft 5. The cutter is connected to its slide by a screw 46a and slot and is adjusted for wear by an eccentric washer 45. The cut-off length is held on the slide by a spring-closed lever 38 carried thereby, which is raised during insertion of the wire by a cam 49 on the shaft 10. The slide 64 then carries the wire under benders which consist of a pair of spring-pressed levers 28, 28a pivoted at 32, 32a on a vertical slide 30 reciprocated by a groove 11a in the cam 11 to bend the wire to U form over the mandrel. A cam 12 then reciprocates a spring-pressed cross bar 19 carried by slides 14, 14a so as through links 21, 21a and roller carrying levers 23, 23a to operate the levers 28, 28a to bend the wire to horse-shoe form. The clip thus formed and retained in the levers 28, 28a is carried down by the slide 30, after withdrawal of the mandrel. The pieces to be connected, which are supported on a vertically adjustable table, are then inserted by hand into the clip, which is finally closed thereon by an adjustable eccentric roller 13a on the cam 12. The machine is suspended over the table by a tube c secured to the ceiling. The clutch consists of an arm q pivoted in a semi-circular groove 5c<1> in the shaft 5 and having a lug pressed by a spring 90 into one of the semi-circular grooves xa<1>, xa<2>, xa<3> in the flywheel. A trip lever l with spring-pressed plunger p is normally pressed by a spring s to disconnect the shaft 5 after one revolution, the plunger acting as a cushion. The clutch is operated by an electromagnet u through a foot-switch. The trip mechanism is carried by a split bracket which carries a leather band brake 92 adjustable by a bolt k. The bracket, in the position shown in Fig. 4, is arranged so that the clutch is disconnected when the lip is flush with the base of the machine, so that the springs &c. may be moved on the table into position without obstruction. When the clutch is re-connected the slide moves down to its lowest position beneath the base and the shape of the cam 11a allows a dwell wherein the parts are inserted in the clip prior to the closing operation. An experienced operator may keep the clutch in action while connecting a series of clips. For an inexperienced operator the bracket is adjusted by means of a slot to the other limit of its adjustment so that the clutch is tripped with the slide in its lowest position, the springs being inserted while the machine is stationary, so that the first action after the clutch is put in is for the levers 23, 23a to close the clip. The shaft 5 carries a handwheel 69 for experimental purposes.