Patent GB-528405-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in a method of and apparatus for positioning elongated blanks for presentation to a blank working machine
IPC: D04B23/10
Filed: 1939-05-05
Abstract: 528,405. Delivering blanks from hoppers. TEXTILE MACHINE WORKS. May 5, 1939, No. 13531. Convention date, July 29, 1938. [Class 78 (i)] [Also in Group XXII] An elongated blank, such as a knitting- machine needle, having a holding surface, e.g. a notch, is positioned by placing it so that said surface is adjacent an engaging member, rotating this member about the axis of the blank until it engages said surface and rotates the blank into a pre-determined angular position, and transferring said blank to a delivery position in pre-determined relation to said angular position. Blanks 91, Fig. 12, in a hopper 65 pass under an adjustable gate 90, when spring-pressed fingers 95 are withdrawn by a cam 102, and rest on a shelf 64 being drawn towards guides 71, 72 and a notched drum 60 by a permanent or electro-magnet 68, preferably energized by alternating current. The drum is rotated step-by-step by a ratchet 75 and pawl 74 adjustable by screws 81a and reciprocated by a cam 84. When a blank in a notch in the drum comes to rest in axial alignment with a head 25, Fig. 21, and holder 55, the head is advanced by a cam through adjustable linkwork 14, 22, Fig. 2, to receive the pointed end of the blank and, when this engages a stop 43, Fig. 8, push it into the holder groove 55a and under a spring finger 57. The head is then rotated, by a quadrant 47, adjustable linkwork, and a cam, through 450 degrees, a spring-pressed finger 37 engaging the notch in the blank, whatever its position, and thus positioning it with the notch down. The head is then withdrawn by a spring 8a leaving the blank in the holder 55 which is moved through 180 degrees about'its pivot 56, Fig. 21, by a cam, linkwork, a rack 130, pinion 138, and springs 135, 144, the extreme positions being accurately determined by adjustable stops 145, 146. The blank is received in grooves in blocks 149, 150 of a press 58 for bending the beards and butts of the needle and a member 59 is advanced by a cam and linkwork to engage the grooved face of the blank now uppermost. The spring finger 57 which is loosely mounted on a vertical pin 177 is then pushed aside by a cam-operated rod 171a to release the blank and held aside by a latch while the holder 55 is moved back into its original position. The blank is positioned axially by a plunger 209 and flattened by jaws 152, the beard is formed and the butt is bent, all by known means. In a modification, the holder 55 instead of the head 25, is moved axially of the blank. Blanks are fed singly to a guide 421, Fig. 32, formed on the face of a slide 333 which carries the holder 55 and a fixed guide 422 terminating in a shelf 423 in line with the axis of the head 25. The slide 333 is then moved towards the head forcing one end of the blank into it and receiving the other end under a spring-pressed finger 337. The head is then rotated to position the blank angularly, the holder is moved back with the positioned blank and the latter released, by positively raising the finger 337, so that it can be worked. If desired, each blank may have a number of holding surfaces uniformly spaced around it.