Improvements in Mechanism for Feeding Blanks to Die Presses and other Machines, and for Preventing Delivery of more than One Blank at a Time to the Die.
Year: 1898

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 16th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 22nd Dec., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Feeding Blanks to Die Presses and
other Machines, and for Preventing Delivery of more than One
Blank at a Time to the Die.
°
I, EMIL TYDEN, of Hastings, County of Barry and State of Michigan, United
States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this.
invention to be as follows:-
The purpose of this invention is to provide improved means primarily adapted
for feeding blanks of sheet-metal to die presses and other mechanism by which
such blanks are to be operated upon.
One part of my invention comprises a suitable carrier and pick-up devices
thereon and mechanism for moving the carrier to cause the pick-up devices to
move from a position at which they pick up the blanks to a position at which
they deliver them into a chute or guide-way by which they are conducted to
the die, and detaching devices which are located adjacent to the path of the
pick-up device between the point where it picks up the blanks and the point
where it delivers the same, such detaching devices being adapted to detach
superflous or excessive blanks, so that only one blank shall be carried all the
way to the point of delivery. The carrier may be constructed in the form of a
spider with radial arms mounted and adapted to rotate on a spindle at the center,
and the pick-up devices may consist of terminals of the character of suction
nozzles; and connection from a source of rarefied air, for the purpose of such
suction through such nozzles, may be made through the spindle on which the
carrier is mounted and rotates, a duct or cavity in such spindle being arranged
to register with ducts in the radial arms of the carrier extending to the pick-up
nozzles, the registration being contrived so that at the point at which the pick-up
nozzles successively pass over the source of blanks, the suction may be operative
through the air passage, taking effect at the nozzle to pick up the blank opposed
to its mouth, and to carry it onward with the further movement of the carrier.
The detaching devices may be somewhat similar constructed nozzles arranged at
fixed positions opposite the path of the pick-up nozzle so as to face the opposite
side of the blank or blanks picked up; and these detaching nozzles may be con-
nected with a rarefied air chamber so as to cause them to operate as suction
devices, the air passage leading to the detaching nozzle being provided with
suitable shut-off devices and mechanism for operating it, arranged to
open the passage and cause suction to be operative at the instant
at which the pick-up device arrives opposite the detaching nozzle, so that in
case more than one blank has been picked up by reason of a second or third
adhering to the preceding, the superfluous blanks may be pulled off from those
above and left on the detaching nozzle until dislodged therefrom, which may be
done by a suitable finger on the carrier arm or on the pick-up nozzle. A plurality
of these detaching nozzles being located successively along the path of the pick-up

page_text: nozzle between the point at which it receives the blank and the point of delivery,
opportunity is afforded for successive detachings to occur, so that where several
superfluous blanks have been picked up originally, if the first detaching nozzle fails
to take off all such superfluous blanks, a second and a third detaching nozzle may
complete the work. The movement of the carrier is, desirably, a step-by-step
movement, so that it may halt at the position of receiving the blanks, that is,
opposite the source or reservoir of blanks and also opposite each detaching nozzle
and opposite the delivery tube; and the carrier may have any number of these
radial arms, the angular distance between them being the same as the
angular distance between the source of supply and the first detach-
ing nozzle, which is also the same as at the distance between successive detaching
nozzles or a multiple or aliquot part thereof, so that the step movements of the
carrier correspond to the positions of registration or coincidence of the pick-up
nozzles of the carrier with the several parts with which they are to coöperate,-
viz: the blank reservoir, the detaching nozzles and the delivery tube. The carrier
is preferably made to move bodily toward the supply tube and the detaching
nozzles at each halt in its step-by-step movement; that is, having made the step
and come to rest, it then moves bodily in a direction at right angles to its plane
of travel, approaching the tubes and detaching nozzle. It is desirable, however,
that this approach should be not sufficient to cause the blanks which may be
carried by the pick-up nozzles to be positively pressed between such nozzles and
the detaching nozzles, because such positive pressure will frequently cause the
perfectly smooth blanks,—which may be only slightly held together by adhesion,
due to the presence of perhaps a drop of oil or other liquid between them, to
become firmly held together by the exclusion of all air from between them, thus
making necessary, to separate them, a force equal to fifteen pounds per square
inch, which would be much greater than the force by which the first blank is
held on the pick-up nozzle. I therefore so arrange the parts and so construct
the mechanism that the direct approach of the pick-up nozzles to the detaching
nozzles at the instant of halting terminates while the detaching nozzle is still
a little distance from the lower surface of the lowest blank carried by the pick-up
nozzle, assuming that a limited number,-probably not exceeding three or four,-
will in any event be picked up together. If, in rare instances, a sufficiently large
number would stick together to occupy the entire space allowed between the lowest
position of the end of the pick-up nozzle and the upper end of the detaching nozzle,
the only result would be that in such instances the entire quantity would be
detached and the nozzle would travel empty throughout the rest of its journey.
As the most desirable expedient for admitting the suction through the detaching
nozzles and for cutting off the same, I prefer to make the detaching nozzles in
the form of a sleeve on the terminal of the suction pipe, making the air duct
in such terminal with a diaphragm or blind section, the portion of the duct at
one side of such diaphragm opening laterally in one direction to the surface
while a portion at the other side opens laterally in a different direction, both
such lateral openings terminating at the seat of the sleeve on the pipe, the
sleeve having an interior annular groove, which, at one position which the sleeve
may occupy in its longitudinal movement on the terminal of air pipe will register
with both of the lateral ducts mentioned, and complete the communication
between them around the diaphragm, thus admitting the suction to the nozzle,
while at any other position it will not so register whereby the air communication
will be cut off. I provide a spring tending to hold the nozzle at the position
cutting off the air communication, and arrange abutments on each of the pick-
up nozzles which encounters suitable abutments on the detaching nozzles when
the carrier descends at the halting position, and which, by such encounter, slide
the detaching nozzle on the air pipe terminal far enough to make the annular
groove register with the lateral terminals of the air duct, and thus, for the instant,
make the suction operative at the mouth of the nozzle.
I design to support the entire mechanism above described by means of a

page_text: suitable bracket arm which may be projected rigidly from the press standard,
and to derive the step-by-step rotary movement of the carrier from the main
shaft of the press by means of suitable cams and pawl-and-ratchet connections.
Another part of my invention consists of devices by which any blanks excessive
in number or thickness, which may be finally delivered to the chute or race-
way leading to the die, may be discarded at some point on their path toward the
die and prevented from reaching the latter. These devices comprise a tester
which may be a plunger or lever, which is advanced against the face of the
blank as it lies halted in the race-way or chute and whose advance will be limited
more or less according to the thickness of the blank or aggregation of blanks
thus encountered. Such tester, whether plunger or lever, or other part adapted
to the purpose, may have connection with a trap-door or switch in the race-way
or chute calculated to cause the trap-door or switch to be opened when the
tester is forced back in, or with reference to, its support by resistance to its
advance caused by its encounter with an excessive blank or aggregation of blanks.
A convénient means of supporting and operating such tester is to attach to the
reciprocating hear of the press a suitable arm for carrying a finger overhanging
the race or chute by which the blanks descend toward the die, and mounting in
the overhanging end, a spring-resisted plunger which, when the head descends,
shall impinge upon the face of the blanks, which may be halted in the chute at
proper position in the path of descent by means of a guide finger also carried by
the same arm projecting from the reciprocating head and of suitable length to
protrude through an aperture in the race at the first part of the descending move-
ment, and thus to stand in position to arrest a blank which may be sliding down
the chute in time to cause such blank to be encountered by the spring-resisted
finger in the further descent of the head. Such spring-resisted finger may carry
at its upper end one contact-piece of a circuit making and breaking device
of an electric circuit in which there may be located an electro-magnet, whose
armature is constructed and arranged to operate the retaining latch of a trap-
door in the chute or race-way which may be arranged to fall open, or be opened
positively, as preferred,-when the latch is withdrawn by the armature of the
magnet when the latter is energized by the closing of the circuit at the spring-
resisted plunger when the latter has encountered an excessive blank or aggrega-
tion of blanks at its descent. The tester may be arranged to be operated as
described, by its encounter with blanks which are excessive either in thickness
or stiffness, or, assuming that the excessive stiffness is due to excessive thickness,
the test may be primarily made with respect to stiffness. and this may be accom-
plished by making at the portion of the race-way or chute over which the blank
halts when it is acted upon by the tester, a recess into which the center of the
blank may be depressed when it is encountered by the tester, so that an excessively
stiff blank or aggregation of blanks, resisting such depression, will operate in the
same manner as an excessively thick blank or aggregation of blanks would operate
it if the recess in the race were not present. The trap-door or switch may be
restored to initial position, after it has been moved to allow the escape of the
excessive blanks which caused it to be opened, by any suitable train arranged
to become operative as soon as the circuit is broken and the latch referred to
as designed to retain the trap-door or switch in closed position may be a latch
in such train so arranged with respect to a wheel or other moving part of the
train that upon being released the train will perform one cycle of its revolution,
opening and closing the gate before it comes to rest in locked position, the time
occupied by such cycle of its movement being sufficient to allow the discarded
blank or blanks to pass through.
A part of my invention relates to the devices for maintaining the supply of
blanks in position such that the top blanks may be picked up by the pick-up
nozzles as they pass in succession, in such manner that the pile of blanks may
be advanced upward as fast as the blanks are carried away from the top of the
pile, so that the top shall always be maintained in the same position ready to

page_text: furnish a blank to the pick-up nozzle, particularly aiming to overcome the
difficulty which is liable to result from the elastic compressibility always found
in any considerable pile of blanks on account of their burs and irregularities,
which tend to prevent them from piling compactly. The devices provided for
this purpose comprise a vertical tube detachably connected to the table on which
the detaching nozzles are mounted and over which the pick-up nozzles move,
such tube protruding through such table at a point under the path of the pick-
up nozzles. Such tubes are designed to be provided in duplicate or any number,
and made interchangeable so that one tube may be filled with blanks while another
is being exhausted, and the substitution may be made as nearly instantaneous as
possible. The tube is supported at the lower end in any suitable foot-piece,
and at the upper end is lodged in a notch or aperture of the table and provided
with a suitable latch to retain it. The tube is longitudinally slotted or split
at opposite sides throughout a considerable portion of its length, the slot ex-
tending to the lower end and nearly to the upper end, and a follower is provided
in the tube having wings or fins which extend out through the slots and afford
exterior means of engaging it. At the upper corner of one of the wings and at
the lower corner of the opposite wing, guide pulleys may be provided bearing
oppositely against the outside of the tube, tending to prevent the cramping of
the former in the latter. Draft may be given to the follower by means of a cable
or cord attached at one end to a lever fulcrumed on the frame of the press and
passing around a guide pulley connected to the follower. Such cable extends
over a guide pulley which is mounted at a convenient position near the top of the
tube and thence downward and around another guide-pulley which may be con-
veniently located at the floor, and thence to a guide pulley at any elevated
position, so that a weight or other stress on the end of the cable operating over
the several guide-pulleys tends to lift the follower in the tube. The lever ful-
crumed on the press frame, to which the first-mentioned end of the cable is attached
has an abutment in the path of a cam on the main shaft, whereby once in each
revolution of said shaft the lever is actuated and caused to pull upon the cable.
A brake lever is provided and arranged to operate on the cord at some con-
venient point, as, where it passes around a fixed guide pulley, and which, when
operative, holds the cord firmly at that point, so that, firstly, the weight or other
stress at the end of the cord is prevented from forcing the follower into the tube:
and so that, secondly, the lever to which the other end of the cable is attached
will operate to lift the follower when said lever is suitably actuated by the cam
mentioned. The brake lever also has an abutment extending in the path of a
cam on the main shaft constructed and arranged to lift the brake lever for a
single instant and drop it again when the pick-up nozzles successively arrive
at their position of rest overhanging the pile of blanks in the tube. The brake-
lever is held normally in position to hold the cord on the pulley by means of a
suitable spring, and any convenient device connected to it may be arranged to
hold it out of cord-holding position when it is desired to move the follower down
into the tube in order to fill the latter, or to take the follower from the tube as
may be done to substitute another tube..
The operation of this device is substantially as follows:-Immediately upon
the completion of any step in the rotary movement of the carrier, and while,
therefore, a pick-up nozzle is overhanging the upper mouth of the supply tube,
the lever to which one end of the cable is attached, as described, is encountered
at the other end by the eccentric portion or upraise of its actuating cam on the
shaft and the lever is actuated in a manner to exert an upward pull on the
cable, the length of which is calculated to be equal to the maximum com-
pressibility or elasticity of the pile of blanks in the tube. Instantly after this
upward movement, the cam which operates the brake-lever comes into action
thereon, and for a single instant lifts the brake-lever and then again drops it,
but in that instance of release, the weight operates through the cord passing
around the several pulleys, to advance the follower any further distance necessary

page_text: to bring the topmost blank up against the pick-up nozzle.
As the shaft con-
tinues to revolve, the cam which first acted on the lever to pull up the cable and
lift the follower, and thereby the pile of blanks, runs past the abutment of said
lever and the lever returns to its original position, allowing the follower to
descend in the tube as much as it was originally lifted by that lever, but this,
it will be observed, leaves the top of the pile higher than it was before the lever
performed the lifting action by whatever distance the pile was lifted by the
weight while the brake was off. The withdrawal or retreat of the follower takes
the compression off the pile and withdraws the top of the pile from the blank or
blanks retained by the nozzle, so that such blanks may be carried away freely
by the nozzle in its next step movement.
•
Dated 09-11
1000
Improvements in Mechanism for Feeding Blanks to Die Presses and
other Machines, and for Preventing Delivery of more than One
Blank at a Time to the Die.
I, EMIL TYDEN, of the City of Hastings, County of Barry and State of Michigan,
in the United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, 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:
-
The purpose of this invention is to provide improved means primarily adapted
for feeding blanks of sheet metal to die presses and other mechanism by which
such blanks are to be operated upon.
In the drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a right-hand side elevation of a die-press and my improved mechanism
associated therewith.
Fig. 2 is a left-hand side elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the same, portions of the press being broken away, and details
of the ordinary press mechanism being omitted.
Fig. 4 is a section through the feeding mechanism at the line 4-4 on Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a plan of the rotating spider or carrier, the same being broken away
at the central portion and shown in section at a horizontal plane cutting through
the suction ducts.
Fig. 6 is a detail section through one of the carrier nozzles and one of the
detaching nozzles, showing the two nozzles in opposition at the position for
detaching the surplus blank which has been picked up by the carrier nozzle.
Fig. 7 is a detail section of the carrier nozzle and upper portion of the blank
reservoir or supply tube at the relative position of those parts which is occupied
at the instant of picking up the blank.
Fig. 8 is a detail section of the portion of the delivery tube at the receiving end.
Fig. 9 is a section of the cam-wheel at the line 9-9 on Fig. 3.
Fig. 10 is a section of the same at the line 10-10 on Fig. 3.
Fig. 11 is a section of the same at the line 11-11 on Fig. 3.
Fig. 12 is a detail section at the line 12-12 on Fig. 3.
Fig. 1 is a transverse section at the line 13-13 on Fig. 2.

page_text: Fig. 14 is a detail side elevation of a press provided with my improvements,
showing a supplemental device for discarding a plurality of blanks or an extra
thick blank to prevent their reaching the die, the pneumatic pick-up and other
mechanism being omitted from the view as if stripped from the machine.
Fig. 15 is a section at the line 15-15 on Fig. 14.
A is the cast rame of a die-press of familiar form, having the bed in inclined
position to facilitate the delivery of blanks thereto and therefrom. A is the
main shaft; A2, the fly-wheel; A3, the reciprocating head, and A+ represents
the die in position on the bed. This press is of familiar form and action.
B is a heavy cast bracket, which is constructed and arranged to support the
principal portion of the mechanism of my improved carrier. This bracket is
formed with a foot-piece B1 adapted to be bolted fast to the side of the frame A
of the press, and from this foot-piece it is offset away from the fore-and-aft center
of the press, and extends up forwardly, terminating at the upper forward end in
a horizontal, substantially circular table B2, which is about in the horizontal
plane of the main shaft of the press. This arrangement leaves the press sub-
stantially clear and unobstructed at the front so that access to the die is practically
unimpeded, and all adjustments and manipulations which it may from time to
time be desirable to make in the punch and die can be made without displacing
At the centre of the
or disturbing any of the parts of the feeding mechanism.
table there is journaled vertically the shaft or spindle G of the spider C, whose
arms CC etc., extending horizontally, terminate in the pick-up nozzles C² C²,
etc., which overhang the marginal portion of the table. A lug B³ projecting
from the bracket B, below the center of the table, furnishes a second bearing for
the spindle G, which has one bearing in the table proper at the point where it
penetrates said table, and between the two bearings, there is made fast to the
spindle a collar D, having gudgeons I¹ I adapting it to be taken hold of by
a forked lever hereinafter described, for lifting and depressing the spindle longi-
tudinally. The spindle is tubular, being bored from the lower end to a point near
the upper end, said upper end being closed, and to its lower end there is connected
by means of an elbow el a flexible tube E', which extends to the main suction
pipe hereinafter described. Between the lug B³ and the elbow e¹, a spring G³
is coiled about the spindle, reacting against the end of the elbow and the lower
side of the lug with a tendency to hold the spindle downward to the limit per-
mitted by the play of the collar 1 above the lug B³. Each arm C¹ of the spider
is tubular, the tubular aperture leading to the downwardly open cavity c² of
the nozzle C. The tubular cavity g of the Spindle G at the upper end opens to
the surface throughout about half the circumference of the spindle, the opening g',
being in the plane of the tubular apertures of the arms C, the inner ends of which
therefore, register with said opening throughout half the rotation of the spider,
as hereinafter described.
Fis the blank reservoir or supply-tube. It is detachably connected to the
table protruding up through the same at a point under the path of the pick-up
nozzles, and preferably at the outer side of the table, as illustrated, H is the
delivery tube, which is similarly protruded through the table and secured at a
point diametrically opposite the supply, and in front of and above the level
of the stamping die. Between the supply tube and the delivery tube, under
the path of the carrier nozzles, over the forward part of the table B2, there are
mounted in said table a plurality of detaching nozzles J J J corresponding to
the number of spider arms C¹ and pick-up nozzles thereon, which are found on
the spider between the two which are diametrically opposite, so that, as illus-
trated, three such detaching nozzles are provided, adapted to register with or to
he overhung all at the same time by the pick-up nozzles of the spider. The
detaching nozzles are connected at their lower ends by flexible tubes E2 E² E²
with the main suction tube E, which extends to a suitable exhaust pump for the
purpose of maintaining suction through the system. The detaching nozzles are
arranged to operate as slide-valves in the bosses 62 62 on the table B², through

page_text: which said nozzles are inserted. The construction which accomplishes this result
is seen in Fig. 6. The nozzle is a cylindrical spindle, being larger at the upper
part and reduced in diameter at the lower part, forming a shoulder j'. The
table B is bored at the boss b to admit the nozzle from the upper side, the
lower portion of the bore corresponding in diameter to the reduced lower portion
of the nozzle-body, and the upper portion being counter-bored to the diameter
of the larger upper portion of the nozzle, and between the shoulder j' of the nozzle
and the shoulder 6 formed by the counterbore in the table, there is interposed
a spring J, which is coiled about the nozzle and reacts between the shoulders
with a tendency to hold the nozzle thrust upward to the limit permitted by a
stop-nut J, which is screwed onto the lower portion of the nozzle below the
boss 62. The nozzle is bored from opposite ends, the bores 10 and 20 stopping
short of each other, and from the surface, at the plane of the intervening dia-
phragm, oblique ducts are bored, the former to reach the upper end of
the bore and the other to reach the lower end of the bore 20. An annular
groove is formed in the seat of the reduced portion of the nozzle at such
position that at the lower limit of the longitudinal movement of the nozzle in
said seat, the ducts 1 and 2 register with said groove, which thereby constitutes
a communicating passage between the upper and lower ends of the nozzle, while
at the upper limit of said longitudinal movement, the ends of the duct are
out of communication with the annular groove, and are closed, and communica-
tion between the two ends of the nozzle is thereby cut off. Preferably, a brass
thimble 120 is set into the table 132 to constitute the seat for the spindle, and the
shoulder and groove described are thus formed in such brass thimble, which,
however, I have treated in the above description as a part of the table.
The upper protruding end of each of the detaching nozzles carries a cross-
bar K, from whose opposite ends pins K' K' project upward in position to be
encountered by the spider arm as it descends, so that such descent of the spider
arm will depress the nozzle against the tension of the spring, and at the limit of
such depression, admit the suction to the upper end of the nozzle, as described.
The general plan of operation of my improved feeding mechanism is that the
spider arm carrying the pick-up nozzles' on its several arms, rotates with a step-
by-step movement, halting between the steps with one nozzle overhanging the
receiving tube, the opposite nozzle overhanging the delivery tube, and the inter-
mediate nozzles at the forward side overhanging the detaching nozzles, all of said
nozzles being in communication with the central suction duct in the spindle G,
and subject to the suction from the time they reach the supply tube until they
pass the delivery tube, but being cut off from the suction while passing from the
delivery to the supply tube. At each halt of the spider it is depressed, bringing
the pick-up nozzles downward toward the receiving tube, delivery tube and detach-
ing nozzle respectively. The nozzle which overhangs the receiving tube at this
movement picks up the blank from the upper end of the pile in the receiving
tube, and the nozzles which overhang the detaching nozzles advance toward the
latter, affording opportunity for any surplus blanks to be detached. The descent
of the spider occurs instantly upon the completion of the step movement, which
brings the nozzles into the position described, and the mouth of each nozzle
is thereby closed by the blank picked up from the receiving tube almost instantly
after the suction becomes operative through it, and the nozzle remains thus closed
until the blank is finally taken off at the delivery tube by devices hereinafter
described, as the nozzle starts away from the latter just after each halt, and the
suction is cut off from the nozzle at this point, the cut-off being complete by
the time the blank is detached; so that no appreciable waste of air occurs at
either end of the path through which the blanks are thus carried. The detaching
nozzles are cut off, as described, from the suction, except when they are depressed,
and such depression continues only long enough to permit the suction to operate
upon the lower surface of the lowest blank carried by any overhanging nozzle,
so as to detach it if it be a surplus blank. The detaching nozzles are thus closed

page_text: and waste no air during the rotary movement of the spider before and after
the spider arm in the descending movement encounters the pins K¹ K¹.
I will now describe the mechanism for imparting to the spider the movements
above indicated, and also the mechanism for controlling the feed of the blanks.
About the shaft of the spindle G, at the upper side of the table, there is journaled
a ratchet wheel L, from whose upper surface two studs L¹ L' extend upward into
apertures in the hub of the spider, so that the rotation of the ratchet-wheel
will rotate ne spider, the aperture being of sufficient depth to permit the
vertical reciprocation of the spider without disengagement of the pins therefrom.
The ratchet wheel is retained on the table by guards bolted to the table and
overhanging the edge of the ratchet wheel. On the top of the table, retained
between suitable guides, there is a bar M, which engages an arm M', which
is pivoted about the spindle G, and carries a spring-feed-pawl m³, adapted to
engage the ratchet wheel to rotate it as the bar is reciprocated, and at any con-
venient position about the circumference of the ratchet-wheel, there is mounted
on the table a detent or locking pawl M² to prevent reverse rotation of the
ratchet wheel. The bar M extends rearward and projects beyond the rear edge
of the table, and is pivotally connected to a pitman link M³, which is connected
to a crank-pin +, secured to the cam-wheel P on the shaft A¹. For convenience
of adjustment, to regulate the throw of the pitman and the feed stroke of the
pawl m', the crank-pin M is adjustable in a transverse slot p across the face of
the cam-wheel P. The slide-bar M carries a rigid stop-arm M5, which projects
from the upper side and extends off sideward and terminates in a forwardly
projecting finger m³, which is in position to be encountered by each of the
spider arms in turn, and thereby to arrest the rotary motion of the spider at the
exact limit of the forward,-which is the feeding,-stroke of the bar M, and thus
prevent an over-feed. The cam-wheel P comprises virtually three cams which
perform three important movements about to be described. Each section of the
transverse portion or belt of the cam-wheel, which, in effect, constitutes an inde-
pendent cam, will be referred to as a cam, and denoted by an independent
letter. The cam 1", whose outline is seen in Fig. 11 operates upon the roll or
other abutment Q at the rear end of the lever arm Q, which is fulcrumed at q
on the bracket B, and at the forward end is forked, its fork arms engaging the
gudgeons D on the collar D, whereby this lever causes the vertical movement of
the spider. It will be noticed that the spider is normally, both by gravity
and by the action of the spring G³, at the lowest position, and the cam P therefore
operates through the medium of the lever Q to lift the spider, permitting it to
descend and remain at the lower position only during the lesser portion of
the rotation of the cam, which corresponds to the depressed or cut-away por-
tion P10, the spider being therefore upheld during nearly three-quarters of the
entire revolution of the shaft A', the position of the crank-pin M with respect
to this depressed or cut-away portion of the cam is such as to cause the descending
movement to occur at the halt of the spider in its step-by-step rotary movement
produced by the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism which is operated by the crank-
pin.
The tube is designed to be provided in duplicate, or in any number, inter-
changeable, in order to avoid loss of time in filling, one tube being filled while
another is being exhausted, and the substitution being made as nearly instan-
taneous as possible. This tube is supported at the lower end in any suitable
foot-piece, as F, and the upper end is lodged in a notch or aperture of the table
provided for it, as described, being secured in position by the latch f, as seen
in Figs. 2 and 3, the latch being pivoted at one end and secured by a pin f
at the other end. The tube is slotted at opposite sides, or split at f f from the
lower end to a point near the upper end, and a follower F is provided, having a
cylindrical portion 20 fitted to the interior of the tube, and the feathers or
wings FF adapted to extend out through the slots f f of the tube. At the
upper corner of one of the feathers F, and at the lower corner of the

page_text: opposite feather, there are secured guide-pulleys FF, which bear oppositely
against the outside of the tube with the purpose of preventing the cramping of
the follower or of the cylindrical portion thereof in the tube, such cramping being
liable to occur in the manner in which draft is applied thereto, which is by means
of a cable passing over the pulley 14, mounted in a pulley-block f, which is
attached to the lug I, which extends from the lower end of one of the wings F21.
The cable F3 is attached at one end to a lever R, which is fulcrumed at r on the
bracket B. It extends from said lever down around the pulley F, as described;
thence up over a grooved pulley F5 and around pulley F6, mounted in a pulley-
block f, which is secured to the floor, and thence up around the guide-pulley F
journaled in a hanger 7 at the ceiling, and at the end it carries a weight Fa
which thus operates with a tendency to pull upward the follower F. To prevent
the action of this weight in forcing upward the follower and the pile of blanks
except at a certain stage in the action, as hereinafter described, I provide a
brake-lever S, fulcrumed at s on the lug 1340, which extends from the plate B*, said
brake-lever being arranged with one end in the form of a shoe S2, overhanging
the sheave pulley F, and bearing upon the cable as it runs over said pulley,
the other end of the lever being provided with a link S', which extends through
the web B5 of the bracket B, and has a stop-collar $10, and a spring S* coiled
about it reacting between the stop-collar and the web, and holding the shoe
down onto the cable with sufficient force to hold it at that point. The cam
wheel P comprises a cam P2 which is circular, except as to an upraise or tooth P20
which encounters an abutment roll S3 on the lever S, once in each revolution of
the shaft, and for an instant during which it is passing, said roll releases the
cable from the brake-shoe. The lever R, at the end opposite that at which the
cable is attached, has a roll or abutment R¹ in the plane of the cam P³, and
this cam has the eccentric or operating portion P30 adapted to encounter the roll R',
and force that end of the lever downward, lifting the opposite end of the lever,
and drawing upward on the end of the cable attached thereto.
The cams which control the rising and falling movement of the spider and
pick-up nozzles and the movement of the levers R and S for lifting the follower F2,
and for setting and releasing the brake-shoe S2, are so arranged with respect to
the abutments upon which they respectively operate in actuating the respective
levers, and with respect to the crank and pitman which causes the step-by-step
rotary movement of the spider, as to produce the several movements in the
order and with the effect which will now be described.
In any pile of blanks, such as are contained in the supply tube, owing to slight
irregularities which will always be present to some extent, and owing to the burs
or fins which are liable to be present on the edges, there will be found a con-
siderable degree of elastic compressibility, a pile of four or five feet in height,
such as is here illustrated, being easily compressed from two to four inches.
Immediately upon the completion of a step in the rotary movement of the
spider, and while, therefore, a pick-up nozzle is overhanging the upper mouth
of the supply-tube, the eccentric portion P30 of the cam P collides with the
abutment of the lever R, and actuates that lever, causing it to pull upward on
the end of the cable attached to it, and lift the follower F, causing it to lift the
pile of blanks in the tube upward a distance which is calculated to be equal to
the greatest reduction in the height of the pile which will ever be caused by
the compressing action of the weight F8, operating as hereinafter explained
to force the pile upward against the nozzle mouth. Immediately, the tooth P20
of the cam P2 collides with the abutment of the lever S, and releases the restraint
of the brake-shoe on the cable F for a single instant, but during that instant,
the weight F8, operating through the cable, lifts the follower and pile of blanks
thereon until the topmost blank of the pile is pressed against the mouth of the
nozzle, (which is at that stage, in order to bring the detaching nozzles into action
as hereinafter described, let down to the limit of the vertical movement of the
carrier and held by the resistance of the spring G³) thus compressing the pile to

page_text: such degree as can be effected by the weight, which should not be sufficient to
compress the spring G³ to materially lift the carrier. The brake-shoe having
resumed its grip on the cable, the abutment of the lever R runs off the eccentric
portion P30 on the cam 13, and lets the follower and the pile of blanks thereon
descend in the tube, the descent being a little more than the amount of com-
pression caused by the weight, and being sufficient therefore, to withdraw the
pile, leaving the blank or blanks which are held by suction on the nozzle free
from contact with the withdrawn pile, and free therefore, to be carried away
with the nozzle in its next rotary step movement.
When the supply tube is to be removed and another one substituted, the most
convenient method is to unlatch the tube at the upper end, and then lift it
clear of the follower F2. The follower will then be introduced into the bottom of
the tube to be substituted, which contains a new supply of blanks. Assuming
that the change is made because of the exhaustion of the blanks in the tube which
is to be removed, the follower will be nearly at the top of the tube to be removed,
and in order to perform its work in a full tube, it must be drawn down to the
bottom, and for this purpose it is necessary to release the brake-shoe S2. In
order to do this conveniently, I provide a latch $5, pivoted to the link S¹ below
the web B. This latch normally hangs as shown in Fig. 2, in position such that
it does not interfere with the action of the ring S4, but upon being turned in
position in line with the link, its end stopping squarely against the under face
of the web it retracts the shoe lever, and releases the cable and holds the shoe out
of action.
If more than one blank is picked up by the nozzle passing the supply tube,
as will frequently be the case, owing to the adhesion of the blanks to one another,
or engagement of their bars, it is the purpose of the detaching nozzles to take
off all the blanks below the first one, and for this purpose, at each halt the
spider is depressed or allowed to descend so that the blanks carried by the pick-
up nozzles may be brought into close proximity to the upwardly open mouth of
the detaching nozzles, and exposed to suction which operates through said nozzles
where they are opened, and the opening of the nozzles being effected in the
manner already described, by the collision of the spider arms with the pins pro-
jecting up from the cross-head K on the detaching nozzles, the lowest blank, is
there is more than one, will be taken off by the detaching nozzle, the adhesion
between the two blanks being invariably overcome by the suction upon the lower
surface of the lower blank. I find it desirable not to cause the pick-up and
detaching nozzles to approach each other so closely as to positively press the
lowest blank upon the detaching nozzle, because when the adhesion between the
blanks is caused by oil or other liquid which may be between them, such positive
pressure is liable to produce an almost perfect vacuum, between the two blanks,
and so to cause the adhesion or apparent adhesion of the blanks to each other
to be very much greater than the suction which can be exerted through the nozzle
upon the lower blank, and this would, of course prevent the detaching of the
lower blank. I therefore make the length of the pins K' such as to cause the
detaching nozzle to be depressed and open to admit suction without bringing the
blank carried by the pick-up nozzle into contact with the detaching nozzle,
and without producing, therefore, any pressure between the blanks, if more than
one is carried by the pick-up nozzle. Several surplus blanks may sometimes be
picked up and the first detaching nozzle encountered and in that case, the first
detaching nozzle might separate only the lowest of the surplus blanks, leaving
still other of the surplus blanks adhering to the first one on the pick-up nozzle,
and for this reason I provide the second and third detaching nozzles, so that
the remaining surplus blanks may be removed before the delivery tube is reached.
In practice, I have never found occasion for more than two of these detaching
nozzles, but any number might be provided, according to the supposed or actual
exigencies of the case, as learned by experience in the use of any particular
sort of blanks. In order to prevent positive pressure of the blanks when the

page_text: spider descends, even if there should be several blanks adhering together on
the pick-up nozzle, and at the same time to afford the second and subsequent
detaching nozzle as well as the first, the best possible conditions for detaching
the surplus blanks, I construct the pins K' on the first detaching nozzle a little
longer than those on the second, and those on the second a little longer than
those on the third, so that the space allowed between the pick-up nozzle and
the first detaching nozzle shall be sufficient to accommodate the maximum number
of blanks which, in experience, is found liable to be picked up,--say, for example,
four, without bringing the lowest one into contact with the detaching nozzle,
and without, therefore, producing any pressure between the blanks. The second
nozzle may have its pins arranged to allow for three blanks, and the third for
two blanks. This will usually, according to my experience, leave the first detach-
ing nozzle close enough to the overhanging blank, even if there is only one
surplus blank, to enable it to exert pull enough on it to detach it. It is, of
course, necessary that any blank left on the detaching nozzle, shall be taken off
therefrom immediately, so that the nozzle will open in order to operate upon the
next blanks presented above it, and I therefore provide each of the pick-up
nozzles with clearing fingers W W, attached at the forward side in the direction
of rotary movement, so as to reach and pass by each detaching nozzle in advance
of the pick-up nozzle to which they are attached. These fingers project down at
both sides of the detaching nozzle, being separated far enough to permit them
to pass by the nozzle without colliding, but being near enough together to engage
the overhanging edges of any blank which may be resting upon the nozzle, and
thereby to push the blank off. The blank carried by the pick-up nozzle to the
delivery tube is stripped from the pick-up nozzle in a similar manner by means of
stripping fingers H22, which project upward from the delivery tube at the farther
side, in such position that they arrest the blank by engaging its edges which pro-
ject beyond the nozzle, holding it in position directly over the tube, while the
nozzle moves onward in the next step movement of the spider. The suction is
cut off, as nearly as may be calculated, at the same instant that the mouth of
the nozzle is uncovered by the detention of the blank, as described, so that no
considerable waste of air occurs at this stage. The movement of the spider and
the cut-off of the suction and the detaching and releasing of the blank at the
delivery tube, are timed with respect to the movement of the press, so as to allow
the blank time to fall and reach the die in advance of the operating movement of
the punch toward the die. In the principal views, the mechanism is timed so
that the blank is detached and dropped into the delivery tube at the commence-
ment of the up-stroke of the reciprocating head of the press, but the parts may
be otherwise timed.
In order that the blanks may descend properly through the delivery tube, and
slide edgewise over the die, I provide in the upper part of the tube, near the
receiving mouth, a trip wire H, extending across the tube near one side, which
is encountered by one side of the blank as it falls, causing it to tilt from its
horizontal position to vertical position, so that it will travel edgewise to the
remainder of the tube.
In practice it will rarely occur that more than two blanks will adhere together,
and by providing for the removal of three surplus blanks, thus taking into account
the possibility of four adhering originally, it is rendered practically certain that
there will not remain more than one on the nozzle by the time it reaches the
delivery tube. As a further precaution, however, or as an alternative or sub-
stitutionary device for discarding a plurality of blanks, or an extra thick blank,
there may be provided a device which is shown in Fig. 14. consisting of a trap
in the passage or channel leading to the die which is arranged to be opened
whenever an extra thick blank, or two or more blanks together, pass over it.
When this expedient is employed, the chute or passageway H to the die is
preferably inclined somewhat less steeply than as illustrated in the principal
figures, and most conveniently its incline for this purpose is that of the dic-bed,

page_text: as seen in Fig. 14. The structure which I employ, as seen in this figure, com-
prises a trap-door in the bottom of the chute dropped by swinging on its
hinge, so that a blank sliding down the chute would pass out through the door
if it were opened instead of passing on to the die. To the reciprocating head A
of the press there is secured a finger T, which, at the bottom is just sufficiently
above the face of the chute to allow a blank to pass under it. This finger over-
hangs the lower edge of the trap-door h, and when the head descends it is thrust
through a notch in the edge of the door, and it thus serves as a stop to arrest
the blanks as they descend the chute, letting them pass toward the die only at
the instant that the head is at the highest point. The trap-door is made with
an opening or depression h² (Fig. 15) smaller than the blanks which are to be
fed through the chute, so that such blanks cannot pass through or into the de-
pression, and in such position that the blank lying on the door and lodged edgewise
against the finger lies above the depression or opening, so that by virtue of its
elasticity, it may be depressed slightly into the depression or opening. The
reciprocating head of the press carries also a finger T, which encounters the
blank which lies on the trap-door when the head descends. This finger can yield
back from such encounter, but is held protruded by a spring T2, which is stiff
enough to cause the finger to depress the blank at the center when it encounters
it, unless the stiffness of the blank exceeds a predetermined limit for which the
spring is tensioned, the tension being adjustable by means of a nut T, which
forms the stop for one end of the spring. This finger T', when pushed back,
closes an electric circuit t, in which an electro-magnet operates a latch, which,
as illustrated, is a rigid terminal 150 of the armature and by which the trap-
door is secured in closed position when the armature is away from the magnet
poles, but which is withdrawn from locking position when the armature
approaches the magnet, that is to say, when the circuit is closed and the
magnet is energized. The tension of the spring T2 being adjusted so that
one blank alone of the sort which are being fed to the die is not stiff enough
to force back the finger, but, on the contrary, will yield by springing into
the aperture, no effect is produced if only one blank lies in place on the trap-
door. If, however, two blanks or an extra thick blank, lie on the trap-door,
the resistance outward thereby to the finger will cause it to be forced back
when the head descends thus closing the circuit, energizing the magnet and un-
locking the trap-door, which is thereupon opened by the rotation of the train
which comprises the wheels T and T7, said train being actuated by any suitable
motor, as by the weight T8. The wheel T7 has a crank-pin #, from which a
link t70 extends to the trap-door, and the means of latching the trap-door is a
pin on one of the wheels in position to be stopped by the latch when the door
is shut. The releasing of the train which is effected instantaneously upon the
closing of the circuit causes the door to be withdrawn or opened and the blank
to escape, and the circuit being thereby broken, the return of the armature to
original position carries the latch into position to arrest the train when it has
run far enough to shut the door. The parts are thus all left in original position
ready for the next blank. While in the for mof its action, this device directly tests
the stiffness of the blank, it practically tests the thickness, because the increased
resistance due to the increased stiffness is due to the extra thick blank or the
plurality of blanks; and in lieu of a device of the nature illustrated, it will be
obvious to any mechanic what modification will be necessary to operate the
device directly by the excessive thickness of the blank or blanks exposed to
the tester. It will also be obvious that other than electrical means may be
employed to effect the releasing of the door, and that other means besides an
independently actuated train may be employed to return the door to closed position.
I do not limit myself, therefore, strictly to the testing device depending upon the
stiffness of the blanks, nor to the electrically operated device for unlocking the
door, nor to the independent train for restoring the door to closed position. On

page_text: the contrary, I deem any device which is operated by virtue of the excessive
thickness or excessive stiffness of the blank or blanks on their way to the die,
and which is automatically restored to normal position after such action and
before the next blank in order of operation reaches the testing device, is within
the scope of this part of my invention. When this discarding device is employed,
the delivering device is preferably so timed as to drop the blank into the chute
substantially at the commencement of the down-stroke of the press.
Having now particularly ascertained and described the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a press-feeding mechanism, a carrier having a pick-up device adapted
to detachably hold the blanks by action from one surface thereof, a
source of blanks and means for moving the carrier from such source
to delivering position, in combination with a detaching nozzle adapted to act
upon the blank at the opposite side from the pick-up device located adjacent
to the path of movement of the pick-up device from the source to the delivery;
whereby a superfluous blank may be detached from the blank primarily held by
the pick-up before the latter reaches the delivering position.
2. In a press-feeding mechanism, a carrier having the pick-up device adapted
to hold the blanks detachably by acting upon one surface thereof; a source of
blanks, and means for moving the carrier from such source to delivering position,
in combination with a plurality of detaching devices adapted to act upon the
blank at the surface opposite that at which the pick-up acts, located successively
adjacent to the path of movement of the pick-up from the source to delivering
position, whereby a plurality of surplus blanks may be detached one by one,
from the blank primarily held by the pick-up before the latter reaches delivering
position.
3. In a press-feeding mechanism, a carrier having a pick-up device operating
by suction adapted to hold the blank by acting at one surface thereof, a source
of blanks, and means for moving the carrier from such source to delivering
position, in combination with the detaching device similar to that of the pick-up,
adapted to act upon the blanks at the side opposite that at which the pick-up acts,
but with less force than the latter, such detaching device being located adjacent
to the path of movement of the pick-up between the source and the delivering
position.
4. In a press-feeding mechanism, a carrier having a pick-up device adapted
to hold blanks detachably by acting upon one surface thereof; a source of blanks
and mechanism for giving the carrier step-by-step movement from such source
to position for delivering the blanks to the press, in combination with a detaching
device adapted to act upon the blanks at the surface opposite that at which they
are acted upon by the pick-up, located adjacent to the path of movement of
the pick-up between the source and the delivering position, and at the limit of
one step of movement along said path; mechanism for communicating such step
movement from the press adapted to cause one step of such movement for each
cycle of the movement of the press.
5. In a press-feeding mechanism, a carrier having a pick-up device adapted
to detachably hold the blanks by action upon one surface thereof: a source of
blanks, and means for moving the carrier from such source to delivering position,
in combination with a detaching device adapted to act upon the blank at the
opposite side from the pick-up device, located adjacent to the path of the pick-up
device from the source to the delivery, and mechanism for causing the pick-up
device and the detaching device to approach each other at the point in the path
of travel of the former at which said devices stand opposed to each other.
6. In a press-feeding mecanism, a carrier having a plurality of pick-up devices
adapted to hold the blanks detachably by acting upon one surface thereof; a
source of blanks and mechanism for giving the carrier step-by-step movement

page_text: from such source to the position for delivering the blanks to the press, each
step being equal to the distance between consecutive pick-up devices of such
carrier, and being performed synchronously with the action of the press; a
detaching device fixed in position adjacent to the path of movement of the pick-
up devices of the carrier between the source and the delivery, opposed to the
blank-holding end of the carrier and adapted to act on the blanks at the opposite
side from the pick-up device, and mechanism actuated by the press synchronously
with the step-by-step movement of the carrier to reciprocate the carrier in a
plane at right angles to its carrying movement to cause the pick-up devices to
advance the detaching device as they successively reach a position opposite the
same and before they reach delivery position.
7. In a mechanism for feeding blanks, in combination with a receptacle for
the blanks constructed and arranged to contain them in a pile or continuous
rank, a carrier having a pick-up device adapted to face the discharge mouth of
the receptacle to check the pile and to receive the blanks therefrom; mechanism
which operates the carrier to cause the pick-up device to approach and depart
from such position to receive and carry away the blanks; devices constructed
and arranged to yieldingly advance the blanks by pressure at the rear or bottom
of the pile; and mechanism for positively withdrawing said devices to permit
the pile of blanks to recede, said mechanism being timed to cause both the advance
and withdrawal to occur while the pick-up device stands facing the delivery
mouth.
con-
8. In a mechanism for feeding blanks, in combination with a receptacle for
the blanks adapted to contain them in a pile or rank; a carrier having a pick-up
device adapted to face the discharge mouth of the pile and to receive blanks
therefrom; mechanism for operating the carrier to cause the pick-up device
to approach and depart from blank-receiving position; devices
structed and arranged to advance the pile of blanks positively to a limited
extent, and other devices constructed and arranged to advance the pile yieldingly
until checked; and mechanism for withdrawing said devices to permit the pile
to recede, said yielding and advance movements and said withdrawing movement
being timed to occur while the pick-up devices stand in position to check the
advance movement.
9. In a mechanism for feeding blanks to die-presses and other machines, in
combination with a supply-tube, the carrier having a blank-holding device con-
structed and arranged to face the end of the supply tube to receive the blanks
therefrom; mechanism for operating the carrier to cause the blank-holding
device to approach and depart from such position to receive and carry away the
blanks; a follower in the supply tube, and devices constructed and arranged
to advance the follower positively, and other devices adapted to advance it with
yielding pressure in the tube to feed the blanks to the delivery end thereof;
devices for restraining such yielding pressure of the follower on the blanks, con-
structed and arranged to both intermit such restraint after the positive advance
is performed and reapply the same, within the time that the blank-holding device
faces the delivery mouth of the supply tube; and mechanism constructed and
arranged to afterward, and before the departure of the blank-holding device,
release the follower from the positively advancing devices to permit the blanks
to recede in the tube.
10. In a mechanism for feeding blanks to die-presses or other machines, in
combination with a supply tube for the blanks, the carrier having a blank-
holding device. and mechanism for operating it to cause it to move to a position
facing the delivery mouth of the tube, and to move away from such position; a
follower F in the supply tube: a cable connected to the follower, and suitable
means for applying stress to the cable to cause it to advance the follower in
the tube; a brake constructed and arranged to restrain the draft of the cable on
the follower mechanism constructed and arranged to positively advance the
follower, and cams which respectively operate such mechanism and the brake,

page_text: timed with respect to the carrier's movement to cause the follower to be positively
lifted, and immediately thereafter to cause the brake to be applied and then
released and next to allow the follower to recede; all said movements being per-
formed during the time that the blank-holding device faces the end of the
tube.
11. In a mechanism for feeding blanks to die-presses and other machines,
in combination with a supply tube for the blanks and a carrier having blank-
holding devices and mechanism for operating it to bring such blank-holding
devices opposite the delivery mouth of the tube and cause them to depart from
such position; the follower 12 in the supply tube; the lever R and the cam which
actuates it; a cable connected to said lever and looped about a guide on the
follower; and suitable means for applying stress to the cable to cause it to exert
draft on the follower to advance it in the tube; a brake constructed and arranged
to restrain such draft upon the follower; and a cam which is adapted to actuate
the brake to release such restraint, said cams being timed with respect to the
movement of the carrier to cause the lever to be operated to positively advance
the follower while the brake is operative on the cable, and immediately after-
ward release the brake, and then reapply the same, and then release the lever
and allow the follower to recede; all said actions of the cams being performed
while the blank-holding device faces the delivery mouth of the tube.
12. In a press-feeding mechanism, in combination with a supply tube and a
carrier having a blank-holding device adapted to face the delivery mouth of the
tube to receive and carry away blanks therefrom; a follower F in the supply-
tube; a cable connected thereto and running over suitable guides; a weight
supported by the cable to force the follower yieldingly along the tube to feed
the blanks to the delivery end; brake mechanism adapted to operate upon the
cable to restrain its draft upon the follower; a lever R suitably connected with
the follower to advance the same in the tube; cams which operate upon said lever
to lift the follower, and immediately after to release the brake while the blank-
holding device faces the end of the tube, and afterward to apply the brake and
permit the lever to be retracted and allow the follower to recede before the
departure of said device from the tube.
13. In a press-feeding mechanism, a receptacle for the blanks to be fed con-
sisting of a tube F, split or rifted at opposite sides; a follower adapted to move
in said tube, and having wings protruding through the rifts; guides on the wings
adapted to bear against the outer surface of the tube at opposite sides thereof
and at points longitudinally separated thereon, and draft devices connected to
the follower substantially in the plane of the rift at the side of the tube at which
the foremost of said outer guides is located.
14. In a press-feeding mechanism, in combination with the tube F having
the opposite rifts f2f2; the follower F2 within the tube having the wings F21
F2 extending through the rifts; the rollers F22 F2 mounted on the wings respec-
tively at opposite ends, and adapted to bear upon the tube at opposite sides, and
draft devices connected to the follower in the plane of the wings at the side at
which the foremost of the rollers F22 is located.
15. In a feeding mechanism for a press or other machine, a carrier having a
pick-up device constructed and arranged to detachably hold the blanks by action
upon one surface thereof; a source of blanks and means for moving the carrier
from such source to delivering position, in combination with a detaching device
adapted to act upon the blank at the opposite side thereof from the pick-up device
and located adjacent to the path of the latter between the source and delivery:
mechanism for causing the pick-up device and the detaching device to approach
at the point in the path of travel of the former at which the said devices stand
opposite each other, said pick-up and detaching devices and the mechanism for
causing them to approach being constructed and arranged to terminate such
approach before the blanks are positively pressed between the pick-up and
detaching devices.

page_text: 16. In a press-feeding mechanism, a carrier having a pick-up device adapted
to detachably hold the blanks by action upon one surface thereof; a source of
blanks and mechanism for moving the carrier from such source to delivering
position, in combination with a suction nozzle located adjacent to the path of
the pick-up device between the source and delivery, and at the opposite side of
the blank from the pick-up device; mechanism for causing the pick-up device
and the suction nozzle to approach at the point in the path of
travel of the former at which said devices stand opposite to each
other; devices associated with the suction nozzle for cutting off and
admitting the suction thereto, and mechanism for operating said suction
admitting and cut-off devices constructed and arranged to admit the suction
while the pick-up nozzle is approaching the detaching nozzle, and before the
blanks are positively grasped between the two, whereby the suction nozzle is
adapted to cause the suction to operate upon the blank to detach the same before
contact of the blank with the suction nozzle occurs.
17. In a press-feeding mechanism, in combination with a carrier having a
pick-up device adapted to detachably hold the blanks by action upon one surface
thereof; a source of blanks and means for moving the carrier from said source
to delivering position; a suction nozzle adapted to operate as a detaching device
located adjacent to the path of the pick-up device between the source
and the delivery and at the opposite side of the blanks from the pick-
up device, such suction nozzle comprising a spindle; a bearing in
which such spindle has sliding movement; the spindle having a longi-
tudinal passage leading from the nozzle mouth toward the opposite
end, and another longitudinal passage leading from said opposite direc-
tion toward the first passage, but stopping short thereof; and lateral ports from
the proximate ends of said longitudinal passage to the bearing surface, the spindle
bearing having a recess adapted at one position within the range of the longitu-
dinal sliding movement of the spindle to register with both said ports, and at
other position to be out of registration therewith, whereby they are closed; suitable
means for holding the nozzle yieldingly at the latter position and devices for
moving it longitudinally to the former position constructed and arranged to so
move it when the pick-up device is opposite the suction nozzle mouth.
18. In combination with a press, a support along which blanks advance on
the way to the die; a trap in such support; a tester to which the blank is exposed
while it is passing along the support; and suitable mechanism connected with
the tester and with the trap to cause the latter to be opened when the former
encounters an excessive blank or blanks; and suitable means for closing the
trap after the passage of the excessive blank or blanks therethrough.
19. In combination with a press, a support along which the blanks advance
on the way to the die; a trap in such support; a tester to which the blank is
exposed while it is passing along the support; an electric circuit having a circuit
breaker connected with the tester and adapted to be operated to close the circuit
when the tester encounters an excessive blank or blanks; an unlocking device
for the trap which is operated when the circuit is closed.
20. In combination with a press, a support along which the blanks advance
on the way to the die; a trap on such support; a tester to which the blanks are
exposed while passing along the support, an electric circuit having
a circuit
breaker connected with the tester and adapted to be operated to close the circuit
when the tester encounters excessive blank or blanks, and means for opening and
closing the trap set in operation by the closing of the circuit.
21. In combination with a press, a support along which the blanks advance
on the way to the die, a trap in such support; an electro-magnet, and a circuit
in which it is energized; a latch for the trap which is actuated by the armature
of the magnet; a finger carried by the reciprocating head of the press and adapted,
upon the descent of the latter, to encounter the blanks; and a circuit-breaker

page_text: actuated by said finger constructed and arranged to close the circuit when the
descent of the finger is resisted beyond a predetermined extent by the blank.
22. In combination with a press, a support along which the blanks descend to
the die; a trap in such support; a finger carried by the reciprocating head of
the press constructed and arranged to obstruct the path of the blanks when the
head descends, and thereby to arrest the blanks on said support; a yielding
finger carried by the reciprocating head, adapted upon the descent of the latter
and after the first-mentioned finger has obstructed the path, to encounter the
blank or blanks arrested by said finger; a circuit-breaker actuated by
said yielding finger to close the circuit when the descent of such
finger is resisted beyond a predetermined extent by the blank; an
electro-magnet and a circuit in which it is energized, and a latch
for the trap which is actuated by the armature of the magnet to release
the trap when the circuit is closed."
23. In combination with a press, a support along which the blanks advance
to the die; a trap in such support having a depressed or apertured center; an
electro-magnet and a circuit in which it is energized; a latch for the trap which
is actuated by the armature of the magnet; a yielding finger carried by the
reciprocating head of the press adapted upon the descent of the latter to encounter
the blank on the trap above the depression or aperture of the latter, and a circuit-
breaker actuated by said finger to close the circuit when the descent of the finger
is resisted beyond a predetermined extent by the blank.
Too way of beptember
OGOT
EMIL TYDEN,
By Herbert Haddan & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London.
Agents to Applicant,