Other Blanks.
Year: 1886

page_text: Other Blanks.
I, ROLLIN WHITE of number 36 Rolfe Street, Lowell in the county of
Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, one of the United States of America,
Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to an improved construction of a machine for drawing
cartridge and other blanks in which the cupped disks are fed into the machine
and after passing through the several dies are delivered from the machine drawn
to the required size.
In the accompanying drawings figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved
machine, a part of the die rail being broken away to better show the manner
of securing the journal boxes; figure 2, a top view of the head, the stationary
die plates and side pieces or uprights, on the line xx in figure 1, the uprights
being in cross section; figure 3, a top view on the line y y in figure 1, showing
the carriers and stationary die plates, the uprights only being in cross section;
figure 4, a top view on the line in figure 1, showing the manner of operating
the carrier shafts; figure 5 a sectional elevation on the line uu in figure 4,
showing the manner of securing the journal boxes between the die-rails, the die-
rail and rib being in cross section; figure 6, a top view on the line vv in figure 5,
the die-rails, rib, journal box and shaft being in cross section; figure 7, a top view
of a portion of the step rail, showing the gear and part of the rack by which the
carrier shaft is oscillated and the stops which limit such motion, a part of the plato
which is over the step rail and part of the rack being broken away to better show
the construction and operation; figure 8, a section elevation of a punch socket, the
punch, a part of the die plate and die carrier, each containing a die, a blank being
shown on the punch within the die; figure 9, a sectional elevation of a punch
socket similar to that already shown in figure 8 but somewhat simpler in its
construction, and one die holder containing a die; figure 10, a top view of the
die contained in the carrier shown in figure 9; figure 11, a similar view to figure 10
the only difference being that the metallic ring shown in this figure is a solid ring
while that shown in figure 10 is made in three sections.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings the letter A refers to the frame of the machine,
which consists of two uprights connected at the top by a cross girt, and at the
bottom by the base. The main shaft A¹ is provided with suitable bearings in the
frame, and is rotated by the driving pully A".
The required number of punches P, P₁ P, Ps P4, Ps are secured in the head A
which slides in vertical ways a a a a secured to the frame by bolts al¹ a¹ a¹ a¹ a²
a a a¹, and which has imparted to it a vibratory motion by means of the
excentrics all all secured to the main shaft A' through the excentric straps a³ a³,
excentric rods at a* and wrist pins b b.
In operating the machine there is fed, either by hand or by any well known
feeding device, cupped disks of metal or "cups" between the first punch P and the
die D. As the main shaft revolvs it causes the head A with the punches secured
therein, to descend thereby forcing the cupped disk down through the die D and
into the carrier C. The die contained in the die holder D has a slightly decreasing
taper so that as the disk is forced downward it is reduced in diameter and
elongated.
The carrier C is supported on a carrier shaft S and after the punch P is with-
drawn from the die, by the upward motion of the head caused by the continued
revolution of the main shaft, the carrier is caused to make a partial revolution by
means of the rack H (see figures 4 and 7) which takes into a gear G secured to
the carrier shaft. The racks H H which engage with gears, G, G¹, G, G³, G*
secured to the carrier shafts S, S", S³, S³, S* are adjustably secured to the slide
bar H by means of set screws h h h h passing through longitudinal slots h¹ h¹ h¹ h¹
in the racks so that when the screws are turned down their heads will press upon
the upper surface of the rack and so retain it in its place on the bar. When the
screws hhhhh are loosened the racks may be adjusted longitudinally by means of
the longitudinal screws I I which turn in screw threaded holes in the ears i i on
the bar at the ends of the racks and which thrust against the end of the
rucks.
I prefer to interpose a piece of elastic material i¹¹ or a coil spring, between the
ends of the screws and the ends of the racks so that the rack may have a slight
lateral movement between the screws I I so that it will automatically adjust
itself to the motion of the carriers and any jar likely to be caused by the rapid
movement of the rack back and forth will be absorbed by the elastic material ¹¹
and not communicated to the carriers.
The bar H has a reciprocating motion imparted to it by means of a pro-
jection H³, the outer end of which enters into the groove of the cam J which is
secured to the shaft J. The shaft J¹ is provided with a gear J" which engages
with a gear A³ on the main shaft whereby it is driven; the relation of the gears A³
and J to each other is such that there are two revolutions of the main shaft to
make one full revolution of the cam shaft J and the form of the groove in the cam
such that every time the head moves upward, and the punches are fully withdrawn
from the carriers, the rack is moved to the right or left and causes the carriers
to make a partial revolution.
Below the gears on the carrier shafts are collars c c¹ (see figure. 7) rigidly
secured to each of the carrier shafts, said collars being provided with pro-
jections c which strike against the swing stops K K. The swing stops K K are
provided with holes about one third the distance from their inner end through which
passes a screw threaded bolt K¹ which enters a screw threaded hole in the step
rail. The stops K K are provided with screws K¹ K³ having check uuts k k at or
near their outer ends. As the rack moves to the left it causes the carrier shaft,
carrying with it the collar c and the carrier, to move from right to left and as the
projection c³ strikes against the inner end of the swing stop K it throws the long
arm to the right until the end of the bolt K" strikes against the rib B'. The
carrier is now held in position and prevented from moving in one direction by the
projection c³ of the collar c striking against the swing stop, and in the other
direction by the rack H pressing against the teeth of the gear,

page_text: I prefer to provide the stops with springs ¹ k¹ which act as cushions to the stops
and prevent any jar as the stops are thrown rapidly to and fro.
st
As the slide bar moves to the right it causes the carriers C to make about half a
revolution carrying the end which was under the die plate D and which received
the cupped disk as above described, over the die opening in the die plate D¹. As
the main shaft revolvs it again causes the head to descend and drive another
cup" through the die plate D and into the end of the carrier C from which the
cup just referred to was just driven, at the same time the cup in the other end of
the carrier, which cup has now become a "blank," is driven out of the carrier
through the stationary die of the die plate D', and into the die in the carrier C¹,
being thereby further reduced in diameter and elongated; the diameter of the die
openings diminishing gradually from the top to the bottom of the series.
The revolving of the cam J now causes the rack to move to the left and the
shafts of the carrier C¹, being provided with a gear and stop like the carrier C
already described, makes a half revolution thereby bringing the blank over the
die plate D while the empty die of the carrier C is brought under the die in the
die plate D' ready to receive the blank from the carrier O.
By refering to figures 1 and 3 it will be seen that the stationary die plates and
the carriers are arranged in steps one below the other, there being only about the
thickness of a carrier between two of the stationary die plates, and as the carriers
are constructed with a die in each end, at every descent of the head a new disk is
forced through the die plate D and into the carrier C and at each descent after all.
the carriers contain a blank, a blank is driven out of one end of every carrier and
at the same time another blank is received into the other end; the blank driven
out of the last carrier C being received into any convenient receptacle.
It will be seen that all of the carriers are provided with gears which take into
the rack securred to the sliding bar H so that they are moved as the carriers CC
above described. Each of which may have a separate rack independant of the
others as the rack H which engages with the gear G on the shaft S of the
carrier C; but if the gears are properly cut and properly adjusted the movement
of the rack on the sliding bar together with the manner of limiting the motion of
the carriers by means of the swing stops will be sufficient.
The lower ends of the carrier shafts fit into boxes L secured in the step rail A
and below these boxes are bolts L provided with check nuts I which turn in
screw threaded holes in the step rail. By means of these bolts the carriers may be
adjusted vertically to bring them to the proper position between their respective
stationary die plates.
The journal boxes E of the carrier shafts, see figures 1, 5, and 6, are inserted in
holes some what larger than the body of said boxes, in the cross pieces a³ of the
die rails A and there are three or more screws e e e e turning in screw threaded
holes in the cross pieces and die rails radially to the axes of the shafts, so that the
boxes may be moved about to bring the carriers in the required position so that
the dies contained therein will line with the die openings of the stationary die
plate next,above and below it. I prefer to provide all such screws with check
nuts as shown so that they will not be likely to be loosened by any jar of the
machine.
The dies contained in the stationary die plates and carriers are arranged
substantially as shown in figures 8, 10 and 11.
The die of the die plate D is composed of two superimposed plates & d' each
being provided with a shoulder, the one on the upper side and the other on the
lower side, the shoulder of the plate d' resting on a rib on the inner side of the die
chamber of the die holder D and a plate du secured in a depression in the holder
by means of screws ³ ³ resting on the shoulder of the plate d, retains the plates
within the die chamber..
The die chamber is somewhat larger than the plates d d' of the die and a band
of elastic material, such as felt or rubber, d is placed about the plates and this
band is surrounded by a metallic ring d against which thrusts three screws d³ de

page_text: by means of which the plate may be moved about to bring them as nearly as
possibly in the line with the dies in the carriers next above and below.
The opening in the plates & d' is made somewhat flaring or trumpet shaped so
that as the blank is driven downwards by the punch it will enter the die more
readly than as if the die were the same size throughout its length and after the
blank has entered a slight distance the flexible band d' will allow the plates to
move slightly laterally so as to adjust themselves to the required position so the
line of its axis will line with the axis of the blank about to pass through.
The die of the carrier C is composed of one plate provided with shoulders and
secured in the carrier in a manner similar to that already described and the die
chamber is also somewhat larger than the die.
There is a band of flexible material
surrounding the die about which is a metallic band c, against which thrust
three or more screws c c. By means of these screws the die in the carrier may
be very finely adjusted to bring it to the line required to have it line with the
dies in the stationary die plates between which it oscillates, and the mouth being
some what trumpet shaped will allow the blank to enter and the flexible band
allow sufficient lateral motion to permit it to come into line with the die openings
of the dies in the stationary die plates above and below it. In figure 10 the
ring c, which surrounds the flexible band, instead of being solid as that just
described is made in three sections, against each section of which thrust screws
turning radially to the axis of the dic. By this means the screws may be turned
up so hard against the ring as to decrease the elasticity of the flexible band c³
thereby limiting and adjusting the automatic movement of the die.
When the blank is driven downward through the plates of the die the upper end
of the blank tends to spread outward after it clears the lower side of the plate d¹
and this spreading is permitted by the form of the die c so that as the punch is
withdrawn the upper end of the blank presses against the lower side of the plate d'
and is thereby stripped from the punch.
ر
The punches P, P1, P1, P³, P₁, P³ are secured in sockets P which are externally
screw threaded and provided with nuts and check nuts n n n n turning above.
and below the socket rail of the head B, the holes in the socket rails being made
somewhat larger than the sockets and having three or more screws 11 11 11, see
figures 1 and 2, turning in screw threaded holes radially to the axis of the sockets.
By means of these screws n¹¹ n11 n¹ the socket may be moved about to bring it
to the line required with its corresponding die, when the nuts and check nuts may
be tightened above and below the head thereby securing the socket firmly in its
place.
The punch sockets are so constructed as to allow the punches to automatically
adjust themselves to their respective dies. The punch socket shown in figure 8 is
provided with an internally screw threaded opening in its lower end, into which is
screwed a hollow plug F provided with a hemispherical cavity at its upper end
which receives a ball F¹ and the socket above the plug F is chambered out to
receive the upper part of said ball. The ball F1 has a downwardly decreasing
tapering central opening within which fits a conical plug Fu the lower end of
which may receive the upper end of the punch or the punch may be provided with
an enlarged conical head to fit the opening in the ball. Above the conical plug
or head, within a chamber somewhat larger than the upper end of said plug is
a block F3 which is adapted to slide in said chamber and is provided with a pro-
jecting tit f said tit being surrounded by a spiral spring f¹ which is compressed
between the upper side of the block and the lower end of the screw F' turning in
a screw threaded hole in the punch socket and which is provided with a check
nut f¹¹.
The hollow plug F has a central vertical opening somewhat larger than the body
of the punch and is provided with three or more screws f³ ƒ³ turning radially to
the axis of the punch.
It will be seen that in operation, as the punch enters the die opening the
resistance offered by the blank in the die will tend to counteract the force exerted

page_text: by the spring f¹ and raise the conical plug or enlarged head F" from its seat in the
ball F; the punch is then at liberty to move laterally to adjust itself to the line
of the die openings of the dies below it. The resistance necessary to raise the conical
plug being regulated by compressing the spring f¹ more or less between the screw F³
and the block F". The ball F allows the punch to turn as if pivoted at that point
and thus aids in the automatic adjustment. The radial screws f³ are used to bring
the end of the punch over the opening of the die below but should not be turned
up against the punch with sufficient force to prevent the free vertical movement
thereof.
The socket shown in figure 9 is on the same principle as that already described,
but dispensing with the ball allows of a more simple construction.
The lower end of the socket has a central chamber o having an upwardly
decreasing taper above which is a punch seat o¹ having an upwardly increasing
taper. The punch P¹ has an enlarged conical head p on the upper end of the punch
is inserted in a conical plug above which is a block O adapted to move in the
chamber o¹ which is made somewhat larger than the upper end of the plug or
head p.
A spiral spring 0¹ encircles a projecting tit on the block O and is compressed
between the block and the lower end of a screw O" which turns in a screw threaded
hole in the punch socket. The lower end of the punch socket is provided with
three screws o³ 03 03 which turn is screw threaded holes radially to the axis of the
punch. In operation the action of the punch is similar to that already described.
The die shown in this figure is merely a dummy die represented merely to show
the relation of the punch to the die.
By referring to figures 2 and 3 it will be seen that the dies are arranged in
zig zag lines which arrangement superior to any other as it permits the dies in
any carrier to be brought into the required line with the die contained in the die
plate next above or below or in the next carrier without altering the position
of all the dies either above or below the one adjusted. For instance if the
die contained in the die plate D did not line with the dies contained in the
carrier Ca rod could be thrust through the carrier C, through the die in the
stationary die plate D' and into one of the dies in the carrier C¹ thus securing that
end of the carrier so it shall not be moved out of line with those dies. The die
contained in the other end of the carrier C' may now be moved through an arc of a
circle having its center at the die contained in the other end of the carrier by
turning the screws e e e e which thrust against the journal box of the carrier C'.
If this motion should not be sufficient one end of the carrier Cu may be secured by
thrusting a rod through the carrier, through the die in the die plate D³ and into
one of the dies in the carrier C³ thus retaining the carrier C in line therewith, and
the carrier C moved through the arc of a circle by moving the journal box, within
which its shaft turns, by means of the screws e e e e. When the dies of the two
carriers are thus brought into the required line the die in the stationary die plate D¹¹
may be brought into line there with by means of the screws which thrust against it
radially to its axis.
In like manner any two carriers may be adjusted to each other and the die
between them without altering the position of the other carriers of the series, an
operation which would be impossible were they arranged in a straight line.
It will be understood that though only one carrier die or punch socket has been
described that all of the series are similar to the one described and operate in
substantially the same manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The combination and arrangement of a series of dies and a series of punches
arranged in zig zag lines whereby any punch and its corresponding die can be
adjusted independantly of the other punches and dies of such series, the dies of

page_text: such series being contained in stationary die plates and moveable carriers said
carriers being adapted to move to and fro between the dies contained in the
stationary die holders by means substantially as herebefore described for the
purpose of conveying the blanks from die to die of such series all substantially as
described.
2. In an automatic machine for drawing blanks, the combination of a series of
punches and a series of dies, a series of carriers for the purpose of conveying the
blanks from die to die, said carriers being supported on shafts provided with gears,
a rack engaging with said gears secured to a sliding bar having a reciprocating
motion, said bar, said rack being so secured to said bar that it may be moved to
adjust it to the required motion of the carriers, substantially as shown and
described.
3. In an automatic machine for drawing blanks, the combination of a series of
punches and a series of dies, carriers for conveying blanks from die to die of such
series, said carriers being supported on shafts having a longitudinal adjustment
substantially as shown and described.
4. In an automatic machine for drawing blanks, the combination of a series of
dies and a series of punches, carriers adapted to convey blanks from die to die of
such series, said carriers being supported on shafts provided with projections
adapted to strike against one end of the swing stops, said swing stops being
provided with an adjustable stop substantially as described as and for the purpose
specified.
5. In an automatic machine for drawing blanks, the combination of a series of
punches and a series of dies, carriers adapted to convey the blanks from die to die
of such series, said dies being contained in die chambers somewhat larger than said
dies and some elastic material interposed between the walls of the die chamber and
said dies, substantially as and for the purpose described.
6. In an automatic machine for drawing blanks, the combination of a series of
punches and a series of dies, carriers adapted to convey blanks from die to die of
such series said dies being contained in die chambers some what larger than said
dies and some elastic material placed about said die, a metallic ring surrounding
said elastic material and three or more screws thrusting against said ring as and
for the purpose specified.
7. In an automatic machine for drawing blanks, the combination of a series of
punches and a series of dies, carriers adapted to convey blanks from die to die of
auch series, said punches being secured in punch sockets having a chamber provided
with a contracted punch seat, a punch provided with a shank generally smaller
than the mouth of said chamber but having an enlargement near its end and
adapted to reach into said chamber beyond said seat and to be retained in said
holder by said seat and said enlargement, a spring pressing said enlargement into
Baid seat substantially as shown and described.
8. In an automatic machine for drawing blanks, the combination of a series of
punches and a series of dies, carriers adapted to convey blanks from die to die
of such series, such punches being secured in punch sockets said punch sockets
having a spherical chamber in which is inserted a ball having a central conical
opening, said punch having an enlarged conical; head adapted to fit said conical
opening and to be retained therein by said conical head, substantially as shown
and described.
9. The combination of an oscillating carrier shaft provided with projections
which strike against swing arms and adjustable stop, substantially as described.
10. The combination of a die composed of two or more superimposed plates,
contained in two or more die holders, one or more of said die holders having a die
chamber larger than the plate of said die contained in said chamber and an elastic
packing interposed between said die and said chamber, substantially as shown and
described.
11. The combination of a die, a die holder having a die chamber larger than
gaid die, an elastic packing surrounding said die, a metallic ring surrounding said

page_text: packing and two or more screws thrusting against said ring, as and for the purpose
specified.
12. The combination and arrangement of a series of dies and a series of punches
in zig-zag lines, whereby the punch and its corresponding die may be adjusted
independently of the other dies and punches of the series, and carriers adapted
to convey blanks from die to die of such series, substantially as shown and
described.
13. The combination of a series of stationary die plates containing dies, said
dies being arranged in zig-zag lines, and carriers having one or more perforations
for the purpose of conveying the partially drawn blanks from one stationary die
to another, as and for the purpose specified.
14. The combination of an intermittently moving journal box adjustable laterally,
substantially as shown and described.
15. The combination of a punch socket having a chamber provided with a con-
tracted punch seat, and a punch provided with a shank generally smaller than the
mouth of said chamber but having an enlargement near its end and adapted to
reach into said chamber beyond said seat and to be retained in said holder by said
seat and said enlargement, as and for the purpose specified.
16. The combination of a punch holder having in its lower end a chamber, said
chamber being provided with an internal screw thread, a cylindrical plug, having
an external screw thread to engage with the threads of said chamber and having a
central vertical opening and in the top a hemispherical opening and ball having
a central conical opening, a conical plug, adapted to fill said opening and having
a central orifice to receive the upper end of a punch and a punch, substantially as
shown and described.