Patent GB-878667-A (GB)
Title: Separable fastener forming machine
Inventor: PERRELLA GUIDO
IPC: B21D53/50
Filed: 1959-12-24
Abstract: 878,667. Making sliding clasp fasteners. CLIX FASTENER CORPORATION. Dec. 24, 1959, No. 43870/59. Class 83 (2). A machine for forming sliding clasp fasteners comprises wire feeding and tape feeding shafts, a removably mounted die block carrying a plurality of dies, a removably mounted ram guide block in which is mounted a vertically reciprocable ram having a number of dies for mating with said first-mentioned dies and a driving shaft with eccentrics adapted to impart an operational stroke to the ram against the action of a return spring and to actuate the wire and tape feeding means through pawl and ratchet mechanism. The machine described is adapted to form two series of fastener elements and to attach them to two tapes simultaneously. Each of two flat wires 8 passes between guide members 5, 6, Fig. 3, to a feeding device comprising a knurled section 13 of a shaft 10, Fig. 4, and a resiliently mounted roller 14 and thence to a removable die assembly. This comprises a block 26 removably mounted on a seat plate 17a on the machine frame 17 by reciprocable studs 25 and formed with rearwardly extending wire receiving passages 28 leading to recesses 29 in the block. In the bottom of each recess is a fixed die 30 with a protuberance 31 and aligned therewith is a vertically reciprocable die 32 with a top surface 33 slightly higher than that of the die 30. Each die 32 also has forwardly projecting arms 35 engaging a fixed die 36 which has a protuberance 39. Pairs of opposed cutters 37 extend into notches 38 in the dies 32. Each die 30 is adjustable by means of a rod 139, rod 140 and screw 141 and is held in position by a spring 144. Each die 32 is held in position by a bar 146 with a forked end 147 engaging in recesses in the die and held in either of two positions by a spring detent. A reciprocable movement of die 32 is allowed by a push-rod 51 resting on an adjustable coil spring 52. A die or punch supporting block 43 is removably mounted on the frame by a pair of hooked arms 44 engaging studs 45 and has guideways 136 for a vertically reciprocable die or ram member 46 carrying dies 47 adapted to mate with dies 30 and dies 48 with pronged ends adapted to exert pressure on dies 32. Grooves 49 in dies 48 receive fixed guides 50 in block 26. After a downward stroke, member 46 is returned by a spring 56 and a pin 54 mounted in the machine frame. Block 26 and member 46 have aligned tape receiving grooves 40 and 131. As each wire 8 passes through a recess 29 in a block 26, downward movements of the member 46 act through dies 30 and 47 to form projections 58, Fig. 14, cutters 37 form edge cuts 59 on movement of die 32 and subsequently arms 60 are formed by the arms 35 of die 32. The formed element is then positioned with projection 58 over protuberance 39 and with arms 60 astride the corded edge of the tape. On the next down stroke of the member 46,. arms 35 and die 36 co-operate to sever the element and later the arms 60 are clinched about the tape by jaws 61 slidable in the block 26 and movable against springs by cams 65 carried by the members 46. The tapes pass through grooves 68, Fig. 4, with spring-pressed sides 102 and then through the grooves 40 and 131 and are fed by knurled sections 69 of a driven shaft 70. Each tape is pressed into contact with the shaft by a pivoted bar 73 which is set by a screw 79 and is tensioned by a spring 76. Tension may be released by turning a ring 78 so that a flat 78b thereon engages the spring. The machine is driven by a belt 87 whose pulley 86 is fixed to a shaft 80 having eccentrics 82 engaged by a sleeve 83 which imparts a downward stroke to the member 46 at each rotation. Another eccentric 88 on the shaft carries a pawl 89 which drives a ratchet-wheel 90 on the tape feeding shaft 70. The wirefeeding shaft is driven by a ratchet-wheel 93 operated by a pawl 92 carried by a sleeve 91 surrounding an eccentric 88a on shaft 80. Means is provided for forming gaps between the series of fastener elements on the tape, such means comprising a second sleeve 94 surrounding the eccentric 88a and carrying a pawl 95, Fig. 3, which engages teeth 98 in an endless metal band 97, Fig. 15, looped over a drum 96 on the shaft 10 and held in contact with the drum by an arcuate pressure pad 109 pressed on the drum by a spring 112. As the band is revolved by the pawl, a laterally extending section 100 moves over the ratchet-wheel 93, thereby interrupting the wire feed. Various lengths of fastener can be produced by using different bands. In a modified gapping device, the pawl 95 actuates a ratchet-wheel 160, Fig. 17, on the shaft 10, which ratchet has projecting teeth 161 engaging holes 163 in a band or loop 162. When a tape comes to an end, the bar 73 rocks slightly on to the feed shaft 70 and a headed rod 117 at the other end of the bar actuates a micro-switch to stop the machine. Reverse rotation of or backlash in the shaft 80 is prevented by a brake device. Compressed air is supplied to cooling passages within the frame and also to the recesses 29 to remove metal chips formed during the shaping of the elements.