Machines for Impressing Ornamental Designs or Forms upon Metallic Tubing.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1891-Accepted, 11th July, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Machines for Impressing Ornamental Designs or Forms upon
Metallic Tubing.
I, JOHN BURKHARDT, of 31 East 17th Street, New York, in the County of
New York, and State of New York, United States of America, Machinist, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the body of the machine.
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 represents an enlarged vertical section of the die-plates and their
immediate connections as arranged in the machine.
Figure 4 represents a transverse section of the die-plates and one of the grooved
disks between which they work, and are guided, and exhibits in section the inter-
mediate studs and bolts which serve to form the frame which holds the die-plates.
Figure 5 represents a side view of two of the die-plates detached, and the cone
which serves to open the die-plates after each compression of the press.
Figure 6 represents a perspective view of the die-plate actuator detached, and
Figure 7 represents a transverse section of the guide plates of the serrated
feeding bar.
My invention relates to certain new features in automatic machines for impressing
ornaments on metallic tubes, and consists in the combination of mechanism for
automatically feeding a tube intermittently to the action of die-plates, and in the
means of communicating positive motion to automatically operating mechanism
at regular intervals to open the die-plates, and in certain auxiliary devices as
hereinafter more fully set forth.
In the accompanying drawings A denotes the main frame of the machine,
supported on table A³ and legs A². The crank shaft B is journaled in said main
frame and is provided with a gear wheel or pulley C. The jointed adjustable
pitman C connects the crank shaft B to the plunger D, and the latter is guided in
grooved ways E secured to the inner sides of frame A.
The actuator G is secured to the flange F¹ of the plunger D by the adjustable
screw bolts F.
The die-plates H are arranged to form a circle standing vertically between their
grooved guiding disks I, I, which are held in proper relation to each other
by means of the upright studs J and screw rods H, the distance between the
disks I, I, being just sufficient to allow the die-plates to work freely toward and
from the centre. The die-plates are formed of uniform size and shape and their
outer edges are acted upon as inclined planes by the actuator G (they increase in
width from their upper to their lower ends as represented in Figure 5). The inner
working edges of the die-plates shown are scolloped to form corresponding
impressions upon a tube on which they will act. A variety of designs may be
formed upon tubing by the use of die-plates having different configurations on their
working edges, and series of such variously formed die-plates may from time to time
be substituted for each other, to produce different designs.
The grooved disks I, I, (which have a central opening), studs J and screw
rods H form the die-plate frame, seated upon the annular plate K, having a
base Kresting upon table A³. A portion of the inner lower edges of the several
die-plates are formed with outwardly inclined planes at N, corresponding with the
shape of the cone L, which serves to open or spread them after each compressive
action, which forces them together around the tube. The cone L is attached to

page_text: the hollow shaft or holder L', and it in turn connects pivotally with lever L2, and
the latter extends outwardly towards one of the legs A, and is pivotted at a.
Between the pivots a and a of, the lever L, the actuating rod a² is pivotted to it
and extends upward and is pivotted to the tilting arm a³, and the latter is pivotally
secured to the fixed arm a screwed to the table A. As a part of arm a³ the
standard M projects and is provided at its upper end with a tumbler N¹ pivotted
thereto, and this tumbler normally rests against a stop N³, being held by the
spring N³. The roller M¹ works on a pivot that connects it to the rear of the
plunger D, and when the plunger D descends roller M' tilts the tumbler N¹ in
passing it, but the spring N³ returns it to its normal position, and when plunger D
rises roller M strikes tumbler N¹ in passing and lifts tilting arm a³, rod a², and the
inner end of lever L2, which is pivotted to the hollow cone holder L', and forces the
annular cone at its top against the inclined inner edges N of the die-plates, and
opens the series of die-plates to allow the tube being wrought upon to be fed
upwardly as hereinafter explained. The end of lever L2 is formed as a loop,
through which hollow cone holder L' passes and to which it is pivotted, as before
stated.
There is a continuous vertical opening in the centre of the machine, through.
which a tube to be acted upon by the die-plates will freely pass as it is fed upward
by the mechanism which will now be described.
An arm secured to the plunger D projects out in front, having a hole through
which rod O' freely works-this rod is provided with an adjusting screw nut 0²,
and extends down and is pivotted to lever Q3, which, in turn, is pivotted to a fixed
arm O. The lever O³ is provided with a spring pawl S, which engages in the
serrations formed in feeding bar S¹, the latter being retained in a vertical position
by means of the angular guide P, (shown in Figure 7), secured to the table at P,
and is also shown in transverse section in Figure 7. The angular guide of the
feeding bar S extends down below the bottom of the machine and is provided with
a correspondingly formed sliding angular bar P, to which the serrated feeding
bar S is attached by the screws P³. The sliding bar P2 is held in its relation to
the fixed guiding bar P by clamps Z. The inner end of the fixed arm O has a
set screw Q, which may be adjusted under the inner end of lever 03 to regulate the
extent of the vertical movement of the latter, and thereby determine the extent of
each intermittent feed motion. This provision is made to enable the use of feeding
bars with serrations at greater or less distances apart for the purpose of admitting
of the substitution of die-plates having longer or shorter undulations, or
depressions that is to say, having projections or depressions at greater or less
distances apart.
When the pawl S is released from its engagement with the feed bar S¹,
after having elevated it as indicated, the spring bolt T, attached to fixed arm 0,
will catch into one of the serrations of feed bar S¹ and prevent it from
descending.
The arm T is bolted to the sliding angular bar P2 and partakes of its motions,
and its inner end extends to the centre of the opening, through which a tube to be
acted upon is passed, and is mounted with a split hollow tube holder T secured
within the seat T3 fastened to said arm T¹. The rod U located within the split
tube holder T2 is provided with the eccentric lever U at its lower end, and its
upper end terminates with an inverted cone U2. The tube to be acted upon may
be inserted from either above or below the machine and its lower end will come
down around the upper end of the split tube holder T2, when by the movement of
the eccentric lever U, the cone U will be forced down into the upper end of the
split tube holder and cause it to spread and impinge against the inner surface of the
tube V, and hold it while being fed upward.
The annular plate K, on which the die-plate frame rests is provided with
a continuous inclined flange X corresponding on its inner face with the inclined
outer surface X of the die-plate actuator G, and when the plunger D descends
causing the actuator G to force the series of die-plates inwardly, to form an

page_text: impression upon the tube, inserted at their centre in the machine to receive its
action, the lower bevelled edge X' of the actuator will pass down within the
inclined flange X and assure accuracy of the operation.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that the inner scolloped or indented
edges of the die-plate H will form a complete ring or circle when forced inwardly
to the full extent of their action, around a tube, so as to act upon its entire
perimeter, occupying for the time being the opening through their centre-also that
sets or series of die-plates having different designs or shapes, formed on their
working inner edges, may be used in the machine, and that the feeding mechanism
may be adjusted to accomodate the use of such die-plates whether their undulations
or projections (as seen at Y, Z, at Figure 5) are at greater or less distances
apart.
To impress figures or designs upon metallic tubes the latter will be inserted
through the opening in the centre of the machine, and be supported at the end of
the split tube holder T2 by means of the inverted cone U, which is actuated by
the eccentric lever U', as above indicated. The vertical movements of the
plunger D carrying arm O will cause its descent without acting upon the feeding
mechanism, because rod O' will freely pass through the hole in end of said arm 0,
but rod O and arm 0³ will descend until the inner end of arm 0³ will rest upon
set screw Q, and the spring pawl S during the descent of arm 0³ will engage in
the next lower tooth or serration of the feed bar S, and when the plunger ascends
arm will act upon mit 0%, and elevate rod 0, and it will elevate lever (0)³
causing pawl S to engage in the toothed feed bar S¹ and raise it to the extent of
the distance from one tooth to the next, and when pawl S is released the spring
bolt T attached to fixed arm 0, to work in a grooved way, will catch into the
toothed bar S and retain it from descending until the next upward movement is
produced by the action of the feed mechanism. The angular bar P2, to which the
toothed bar S¹ is secured carries the arm T which extends inwardly directly under
the tube holder T, and supports it; and at each upward movement of the feeding
mechanism, just described, the tube holder T2, and the tube V which it holds, as
specified, will necessarily be carried up to the same extent that the toothed bar S¹
ascends at each operation and this will elevate the tube a distance equal to the.
distance between the indentations Y, formed on the working edges of the die-
plates H; and immediately before each operation of giving one feed action to the
tube the plunger D, which carries roller M, will in its ascent cause said roller to
act on tumbler N, and move hinged arm a³ upward sufficiently through its
connection to force cone L into the inclined opening at the bottom of the die-plates,
and open them sufficiently to allow the tube to be fed upward, as explained. The
arrangement of the plunger D, and its connections, is such as not to interfere with
the passage of a tube of greater length than the height of the machine, up
through the continuous passage which extends centrally through the circle of
die-plates.
It should be observed that the angular guide P, and the support P2, which
travels with the serrated feeding bar S', to which it is attached, are shown more
clearly in transverse section Figure 7.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. In a machine for impressing ornainental designs upon metallic tubes, a set
or series of tapering die-plates arranged to form a circle, supported in vertical
position and guided by grooved disks, in combination with a die-plate actuator,
for closing the die-plates, having its interior formed to correspond with the
tapering exterior form of the set of die-plates, and a cone shaped die-plate opener,
as described.
2nd. In a machine for forming ornamental impressions on the perimeters of tubes,
the automatic tube feeding mechanism substantially comprising the combination of

page_text: the plunger D, arm 0, rod 0¹, pivotted lever O³, spring pawl S, arm 0, spring
catch-bolt T, serrated feeding bar S, working in guides, arm T', split tube
holder T, inverted cone U, rod U, and eccentric U', as described.
3rd. In a machine organized as described the automatic die-plate opening
mechanism substantially comprising plunger D, provided with roller M', tilting-
arm a³, provided with standard M, furnished with spring-tumbler N', connecting
rod a², pivotted lever L, supporting tube L', and cone L, which acts upon the
inclined edges N of die-plates H, as described.
4th. In a machine for impressing ornamental figures on tubes a series of scolloped
or indented die-plates, arranged to form a circle, and supported and guided between
annular grooved disks; and a die-plate actuator for closing the dies around a tube,
in combination with a cone shaped die-plate opener, actuated by the movements of
a plunger of a press, as specified.
5th. In a machine for impressing designs on metallic tubes the plunger D, in
combination with the actuator G, the set of die-plates H. grooved disks I, I,
flanged annular plate K, having a base K', the table A³, substantially as
described.
6th. In the machine substantially as described the combination of the tube
holdag mechanism, comprising the split cylindrical tube holder T2, the rod U,
shaped spreader U, and eccentric lever U¹, as specified.
7th. In the machine for impressing designs on metallic tubes, the plunger D,
arm O, rod O', lever 0³, serrated feeding bar S, arm T', tube holder T, cone
shaped spreader U, and their intermediate connections for feeding a tube through
the machine, in combination with the roller M³, tilting arm a³, connecting rod a²,
pivotted lever L², cone shaped die-plate opener L, and their intermediate connec-
tions for opening the die-plates, substantially as specified.
Sth. In a machine for forming ornamental designs on the perimeters of tubes,
the carrying and guiding mechanism for feeding the tube intermittently to the
action of the die-plates, comprising the combination of the serrated feed bar S, the
angular sliding bar P2, to which the latter is secured, the fixed angular guide bar P,
secured to the table, and the guiding loops Z', attached to the fixed angular bar. P
as described.
"
Dated this 20th day of May 1891
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.