Apparatus for the Manufacture of Metallic Washers.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 23rd May, 1893-Accepted, 24th June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for the Manufacture of Metallic Washers.
ROBERT WILLIAM ANDERSON 93 Mulgrave Street, Liverpool Lancashire,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct an efficient gear or apparatus for
making metallic (or other) washers at one operation, which can be readily attached
to the existing boilermakers punching machine. The gear will also be applicable
if built up as a separate or self contained machine.
In carrying this invention into effect, I make punches & dies of various sizes, to
suit requirements. The punches are made hollow, the outer cutting edge of the
punch corresponds with the diameter of the washer, & the inner cutting edge with
the diameter of the hole in the washer; suitable means is provided in the punch
for discharging or ejecting the blanks cut from the centre of the washer.
The dies are preferably turned from a solid piece of steel, the extreme diameter
& thickness being made uniform, so that the various dies may all fit into a suitable
socket, which can be bolted to the frame of the machine. Each die is bored out
to suit its corresponding punch, & is provided with a second or fixed punch inserted
in the centre of the die, & corresponds with the hole in the centre of the main
punch, & which, when the main punch descends cuts out the centre hole in the
washer & forces the blank piece up into the main punch, from whence it is
ultimately discharged. Each die is provided with an ejector, for discharging the
finished washer, & may consist practically of a washer of its own cutting, to which
is fixed or riveted say 3 steel rods, fitting into corresponding holes and passing
through the body of the die & projecting below it, these rods rest upon a vertical
plunger arranged below the die bed of the machine, & operated by a lever
fulcrumed to the base of the machine, & raised & lowered by means of a rod
(preferably) attached to a convenient part of the vertical punch-carrying slide.
In another arrangement of the 3 steel rods above mentioned, may fix them to the
top end of the vertical plunger by screwing the rods into suitable nuts, which
are made to fit on the top end of the said plunger. To a convenient part of the
machine, preferably the main driving wheel is fixed a stud, which, at the proper
moment strikes a lever attached to the frame of the machine, causing this lever to
The
sweep over the face of the die, & thereby shoot-off the finished washer.
operation of the gear is as follows:-
When the punch is on the upper centre, a sheet of metal is placed on the die, the
punch descends, cutting out a complete washer which is forced into the die by
the descending punch, the centre piece or blank cut from the washer being forced
up into the main punch, from whence it is ultimately discharged. While the punch
is on the ascending stroke, the sheet of metal is removed from off the die, when the
finished washer will be noticed rising up out of the die, being forced up by means
of the 3 steel rods operated by the vertical plunger, when the cut washer has reached
the level or flush of the die, the shoot-off lever comes into operation, discharging
the finished washer. The dic is now ready on the downward stroke to cut another
washer. By means of this gear, anyone having a boilermakers punching machine
can make his own washers at a very small cost, as all thin pieces of iron usually
thrown into the scrap heap can be cut into useful washers.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1892.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for the Manufacture of Metallic Washers.
1, ROBERT WILLIAM ANDERSON, of 93, Mulgrave Street, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, 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 object of this invention is to construct an efficient gear or apparatus for
making metallic washers at one operation, and which can be readily attached to
the existing boilermakers punching machines. The gear will also be applicable if
built up as a separate or self-contained machine.
In carrying this invention into effect, I make punches and dies of various sizes,
to suit requirements. The punches are made hollow, the outer cutting edge of the
punch corresponds with the diameter of the washer, and the inner cutting edge
with the diameter of the hole to be made in the washer. Suitable means are
provided in the punch for discharging or ejecting the blanks cut from the centre.
of the washer.
The dies are preferably turned from a solid piece of steel, the extreme diameter
and thickness being made uniform, so that the various dies may all fit into a
suitable socket which can be bolted to the frame of the machine. Each die is
bored out to suit its corresponding punch, and is provided with a second or fixed
die or punch inserted in the centre of the die, and corresponds with the hole
in the centre of the main punch. This punch, when the main punch descends,
cuts out the centre hole in the washer, and forces the blank piece up into the
main punch from whence it is ultimately discharged.
Each die is provided with an ejector for discharging the finished washer.
This may consist of practically a washer like one of its own cutting, to which
is fixed or riveted three rods, fitting in corresponding holes made through the
body of the die, and projecting below it. These rods rest upon a vertical
plunger arranged below the die bed of the machine, and operated upon by a
lever fulcrumed to the base of the machine, and raised and lowered by means of
a rod attached (preferably) to a convenient part of the vertical punch carrying
slide.
In another arrangement of the three steel rods above mentioned, I may fit
them to the vertical plunger by screwing them into suitable nuts which are made
to fit on the top end of the plunger.
To a convenient part of the machine (i.e. an ordinary punching machine or
press), preferably the main driving wheel, is fixed a stud, which, at the proper
moment strikes a lever attached to the frame of the machine causing the lever to.
sweep over the face of the die, and thereby shoot off the finished washer.
The operation of the apparatus or gear is as follows:-When the punch is on
the upper centre, a sheet of metal is placed on the die, the punch descends cutting
out a complete washer, which is forced into the die by the descending punch, the
centre piece or blank cut from the washer being forced up into the main punch
from whence it is ultimately discharged. While the punch' is on the ascending
stroke, the sheet of metal is removed from off the die, when the finished washer
will be rising up out of the die, being forced up by means of the three steel rods
operated by the vertical plunger, and when the cut washer has reached the level or
flush of the top of the die, the discharging lever comes into operation, discharging
the finished washer.
By means of this invention, anyone having a boilermakers punching machine or
other analogous macliiné, can make their own washers at a very small cost, as all
thin pieces of iron, usually thrown into the scrap heap, can be cut into useful
washers.
In the drawings which serve to illustrate my invention, I shew an ordinary

page_text: punching and shearing machine or boilermakers press provided with improvements
according to this invention.
Figure 1 is an end view illustrating the machine or press, and Figure 2 is a side
elevation thereof.
Figure 3 is a cross section and Figure 4 is an outside end view shewing the
washer forming parts, and the operating devices, according to this invention.
;
Referring to the drawings, a is the ordinary moving slide of the punch or press,
working in the upper jaw b. c designates, generally, the punch, which is fixed in
the slide a by the shank thereof, and locking nut c². is the annular cutting
or punching part of the punch and is the chamber above same for receiving
the central cut out portions of the metal from the washer, the chamber having an
inclined back e by which said pieces are thrown forward and discharged from the
tool, said pieces being discharged down the shoot e. The die or lower tool is
supported on and fixed to the part e of the lower jaw of the press. On the part e,
the socket is fixed by bolts or studs f', and in this socket the lower die or outer
part of this die, h, is fitted, resting upon the ledge at the base of same. This
die is annular in form and has fixed centrally within it the die A'. These parts
are held in position by the set studs. The die h¹ forms with the annular part of
the die , an annular recess ³, into which the annular cutting part 3 of the tool c
passes in forming the washer. are pins for discharging the washer and the
annular washer connected with same and fitting or working in the annular recess ³,
by the said pins lifted from below as hereafter described in the act of discharging
the washer. The means of operating the annular discharging pins i, consists of the
plunger or piston working in the part e, and operated through the lever k, and
connecting rod by the slide a, said slide being connected to the connecting rod k¹
by the projecting arm k².
In some cases I may dispense with the ring or washer and use only three or
more pins i.
A guard or stop is provided just above the upper surface of the tool to
prevent the metal from which the washer has been cut, after the washer is cut or
formed, from being lifted up by the part c³ of the tool c.
The automatic removal of the washers from the tools, as they are formed, is
effected by the lever m, which is mounted on a fulcrum at m¹ on the side of the
machine and actuated by the stud or projection n on the large toothed wheel o of
the machine, said projection n in its revolution coming in contact with the part m
of the lever m. The opposite end of the lever m moves over the face of the tool h,
that is through the space between the face of the tool and the underside of the
guard or stop-piece l.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The piece of metal from which the
washers are to be made is placed upon the lower tool or die beneath the guard 1,
and the upper tool or punch e descends by the operation of the machine, its annular
cutting or punching part e passing down through the metal into the annular
recess, cutting or forcing an annular piece of metal (constituting a washer) out
and pressing it into said recess. During this operation the plunger will move
downwards by the descent of the siide a, and will have allowed the annular
discharging device to have fallen or be pressed downwards in the space /³.
Upon the return or the slide a, the part of the punch or tool c moves off and
away from the lower die or tool, and this is followed by the lifting of the
device, through the plunger being lifted by the gear connecting it with the
slide and acting on the ends of the rods i. By this action, the washer will be
partly discharged, that is lifted out of the recess ³, and resting upon the face of the
device i When it has reached the level of the face of the die or tool or slightly
above it, the projection n of the wheel o comes in contact with the part m² of the
lever m, and moves the opposite end of the lever across the face of the die 4, and
as the washer lies in the path of the lever m, it is swept off the face of the device i,
and the machine, onto the floor, or into a suitable receptacle. The return action
of the lever m is effected by a spring or weight.

page_text: The centre portion of the metal cut out of the metal by the tool ', is forced into
the hollow central part c' of the tool c, when the part 3 enters the annular
recess ³; and as these cut out centre portions accumulate in the part e', they are
pressed out into the chamber c, and coming in contact with the inclined back c³
thereof, are pressed forward thereby, and fall out of the chamber down the shoot c
away from the machine.
The aperture in the part e in which the plunger moves and slides, is that
through which the punched out portions of a plate fall in the act of punching holes
in said plate by the machine.
It will now be seen how by taking off the punch and lower die of an existing (or
any ordinary form of) punching machine or boiler makers press, such machine may
be used for making washers by substituting the parts e, f, and 1, and devices or
parts connected with them.
The invention herein described, as stated, is applicable to other forms of
punching or shearing machines, or presses than the one shewn in the drawings as
for instance it is applicable to the "Lever type of press. In this case the lever
or arm m by which the washers are knocked off would be operated conveniently by
a cam or like device, mounted say on the main shaft of the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
'
1. The herein described improvement connected with apparatus for making
metallic washers, consisting of an annular punch or tool adapted to be readily.
connected with and disconnected from the moving slide or analogous part of an
ordinary or known suitable form or type of punching and shearing mechanism
or boiler makers press, and a fixed die or tool with an annular recess in same
corresponding with the cutting part of the punch, and with a socket adapted to be
readily connected with and disconnected from the lower part of the machine.
2. The herein described improvement in apparatus for the manufacture of
metallic washers, consisting of an annular punch and a fixed die or tool having an
annular recess therein, into which the washer is pressed when made, and a device
in connection with same by which the washer is removed out of said recess upwards
automatically by this machine.
3. The herein described improvement in apparatus for the manufacture of metallic
washers, consisting of an annular punch with a chamber therein into which the
central cut out portions produced by the fixed die in making the washers are forced
in the act of punching, and from which they are discharged at one side or part,
substantially as described.
4. The herein described improvement, in apparatus for the manufacture of
metallic washers, consisting of means for discharging the washers from the annular
recess into which they are forced in punching, by rods such as i or rods and rings
or washers, which are raised automatically after each punching action from below
by a reciprocating device, such as the plunger; or equivalent device, suitably
operated.
5. The herein described improvement in apparatus for the manufacture of
metallic washers, consisting of means for removing the washers from the machine
as they are made, by a wiper device, which passes over the face of the lower die or
tool, and sweeps or knocks off the washer, which is previously raised above the
surface of the tool prior to such action.
6. In a metallic washer making machine or apparatus, the washer discharging
device herein described, consisting of the lever m adapted to move in a horizontal
plane, one end of which passes over the face of the lower die or tool and is
automatically actuated by a moving part of or on said machine.
7. The meaus arranged and operating substantially as herein set forth with
reference to the drawings, of actuating a washer discharging device of a washer
making machine having vertical movement, and disposed in the lower tool or die.

page_text: 8. The tools adapted to be applied to an existing or ordinary form of punching
machine or press or the like, constructed particularly as set forth with reference to
the drawings.
9. The particular combination and arrangement of parts and mode of operation
of the washer forming tools, and washer discharging means, set forth with reference
to the drawings.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.