Improvements in Rivet-slotting Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: ate of Application, 19th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 20th Dec., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION. -
Improvements in Rivet-slotting Machines.
We, JUDSON LEVATOR THOMSON of 332, Hawley Street, Syracuse, New York,
Inventor, and JACOB JOHN UNBEHEND of 711 McBride Street, Syracuse, New
York, Inventor, both in the United States of America, do hereby declare the nature
of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RIVET SLOTTING MACHINES," and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to an Improved Rivet-slotting Machine, and has for its.
object the production of a simple and effective device, which continuously, accurately
and automatically slots or bifurcates rivets or like articles, and enables them to be
quickly and easily inserted and clinched when in use; and to this end the invention
consists, essentially in a hopper into which the rivets are promiscuously emptied
a conveyor for feeding the rivets from the hopper, a cut-off for feeding the rivets
consecutively, a broach or cutter for bifurcating the rivets, a die for holding the
same during the operation of the cutter, and a discharge for discharging the rivets
from the die into a suitable receptacle adjacent thereto. The invention also consists
in the detail construction and arrangement of the parts, all as hereinafter more
particularly described and pointed out in the claims.
In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing,
forming a part thereof, in which, like letters indicate corresponding parts in all
the views.
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively front and side elevation of our machine illus-
trating the relative construction and arrangement of its various parts.
Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal section, taken on line -, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is an enlarged detached vertical section, taken on line y-y, Figure 1.
Figure 5 is an enlarged elevation of the broach for cutting the rivets, and one of
its carrying collars adapted to be secured to the shaft.
Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical section of the broach and both the carrying
collars taken on line —, Figure 5, further illustrating their detail construction and
arrangement.
Figure 7 is an inverted plan view and Figure 8 an elevation partly in section of
the rivet holding die.
Figure 9 is an enlarged detached view, partly in section of the conveyor, the
receiver, the die, the broach, and the rivet discharge mechanism.
Figures 10 and 11 are enlarged sectional views, taken respectively on lines 10-10
and 11-11, Figure 9.
Figures 12 and 13 are detail sectional views of the rivet receiver, taken in planes
at right angles to each other.
Figure 14 is an enlarged detached sectional view of the conveyor and its
supporting bracket taken on line 14-14, Figure 9, illustrating the gauges secured to
said conveyor..
Figure 15 is an enlarged detached view of the discharge end of the conveyor and
a detached portion of the cut-off.
Figure 16 is a sectional view of the hopper.
Figure 17 is a top plan view of the hopper.
Figure 18 is a top plan view partly in section of the detached frame of the
hopper.
and
Figure 19 is a perspective of one-half of a feeder or agitator within the hopper,
Figure 20 is a sectional view of a frictionally operating ratchet connected to
operate the hopper.

page_text: The frame A of our machine and its supporting legs A' are of suitable size and
form, and support the various parts of the machine, iz.: hopper B, conveyor G,
receiver K, die L, plunger P, fork J, discharge finger N, cutter U, and their con-
nected actuating mechanism.
The hopper B consists of a circular frame 1 having a removable cover 2 and
guideways 3 adjustably mounted on the frame head a².
The interior of the frame 1 is provided with a bottom bearing for the feeding
rivets, and, as best seen in Figures 16, 17 and 18, a portion of this bearing is cut out,
thus forming an arc or annular ring 4, on either side of which is the space or
cut-out 5, and when desired the bottom of this open space is removable from the
rest of the frame 1.
Mounted in the frame 1 is an agitator 6 connected by the lever to the spindle
or bolt 8, which is rotated by an arm loosely mounted on said spindle, and
provided with a ratchet dog 2 which engages a friction ratchet 9 also mounted on
said spindle 8.
The lower face of the agitator 6 is provided with notches or cut-outs 10 of
sufficient size to allow the ready insertion of the heads of the rivets, and projecting
upwardly from these slots or cut-outs 10 are slots or cut-outs 11 of smaller size
adapted to fit the shank of the rivet.
As the agitator 6 is rotated the rivets constantly feed by gravity shank uppermost
into the slots or cut-outs 10 and 11 in which they are carried to a suitable discharge
way 12 of the frame 1 when they feed shank uppermost into the conveyor G,
presently described.
Since the rivets are inserted promiscuously into the hopper only a small portion
are in the desired position to enter the slots 10 and 11, but, as the frame 1 and the
agitator 6 are revoluble at an angle, the rivets caught by the agitator but not forced
directly into the slots 10 and 11 in position for the desired discharge, drop backwards
by gravity out of said slot, whereupon they are again engaged by the agitator.
Morcover should any of the rivets be borne upwards beyond the discharge 12
without passing thereinto they are, when rotated around the annular arc 4, forced
on either side thereof into the cut-outs 5, and then fall to the lowest part of the
hopper.
The rivets, which remain in the notches 10 and 11 after their upward elevation
are discharged by a stop 13, Figure 18, which forces them into the cavity b³ extending
upwardly at the outside of said notches.
The agitator is slightly actuated by every movement of the lever I and its con-
nection 7, and thus constantly feeds the rivets to the conveyor G. However, should
any rivet become caught in the agitator all liability of breakage to the mechanism
is obviated by means of the ratchet 9. As shown in Figure 20, this ratchet consists
of a ring 14 having a central opening 15 and annular shoulders 16 formed on the
top and bottom faces thereof.
Mounted upon the annular shoulders 16 are disks 17, which, by means of screws 18
are drawn towards each other and clamped against the shoulders 16 of the ratchet 9.
The spindle 8 to which is secured the agitator actuating connection 7 is firmly
secured to these disks 17, and the clamping screws 18 clamp said disks against the
adjacent shoulders of the ratchet 9 only sufficiently tight to insure constant rotation
of these disks with said gear and a consequent rotation of the agitator 6. However,
should a rivet become caught in said hopper the gear 9, although actuated, as
usual by the dog 2, slips around the disks 17 without rotating the same and
operating the agitator 6, thus obviating any liability of breakage or strain to the
parts.
The rivets are conducted from the hopper B to the receiver K by the conveyor G
from the end g¹ of which they feed into the receiver in the position illustrated in
Figure 12 where they are supported by yielding or spring actuated shoulders K¹
projecting therein. Guided through the receiver K is the plunger rod P¹ adjustably
mounted on the plunger P, and secured thereto by the set screw p. Provided on a
bracket a mounted upon the main frame A is the head a' through which reciprocates

page_text: the plunger P provided with a slot p¹ for receiving the rounded end E' of a lever or
walking beam E having its pivotal pins el secured thereto and journaled in the
bracket a.
The opposite rounded extremity E2 of this lever is mounted in a
like slot in a plunger F reciprocating in a guide-way a³ also secured to said
bracket a.
The lower end F¹ of the sliding rod F is provided with a roller f¹, which by
means of a spring e² suitably connected to the pivoted lever E is constantly engaged
with a cam mounted upon the shaft F³ to which motion is conveyed by suitable
gearing connected to the driving pulley F actuated by any desirable mechanism.
When the shaft F³ is rotated, the cam tooth F of the cam F2 contacts with the
roller f, thus forcing the sliding rod F upwards, depressing the extremity E' of the
lever E, and forcing the plunger rod P¹ through the receiver upon the rivet
previously inserted by the conveyor (.
To insert the rivets one by one at the desired time into the receiver K a cut-off G¹
is interposed in the conveyor as illustrated in Figure 15.
As seen in Figure 15 the conveyor feeding slot g is offset on either side of the
cut-off G and lugs G2 are interposed in the conveyor G in a slot G³ provided
therein. The cut-off G is actuated by a rod H supported in a standard / secured
upon the main frame A.
Upon said sliding rod H are shoulders 2 and 3 between which is the spring
rod i supported in the pivoted lever I secured by a set screw i¹ to the pivot e' of the
lever E.
Thus as the forward extremity E' of the lever E is rocked downwards the
plunger rod P¹ descends through the receiver K, the lever I secured to the pivot e¹
is also rocked; the spring rod i contacts with the rear shoulder ³, blocking the
discharge of the rivets into the receiver, and registering the slot G₁ between
the shoulders G2 of the cut-off with the slot in the upper part of the conveyor G to
allow the entrance of a rivet between said shoulders. When after the passage of the
cam tooth F the end E2 of the lever E is forced downwards by the spring e²,
the lever I is again rocked, and the rod i contacts with the forward shoulder h²
secured upon the rod H, thus blocking the further feeding of the rivets into the
cut-off, and registering the rivet now in the slot G4 with the slot y of the discharge
end of the conveyor. The rivet.then slides down this slot, and is thereby con-
ducted into the receiver immediately upon the withdrawal of the plunger. There-
fore when the plunger rod is discharging a rivet from the receiver, the rivets in the
upper part of the conveyor are blocked from entrance into said receiver, and
immediately upon the withdrawal of the plunger, the cut-off is actuated to feed a
single rivet down the discharge end g of the conveyor G, thus automatically
feeding the rivets consecutively to the receiver K previous to every operation of
the plunger.
Directly beneath the discharge 1 of the receiver K is the holder or die L
secured to the frame A by the plates L', and provided with an aperture 7 into which
the rivet is inserted by the plunger rod P, which, during the operation of the cutter
in bifurcating-the-rivet.shank rests upon the rivet and securely holds the same in
position, as shown by dotted lines at Figure 10.
In order to readily discharge the rivet from the die L, discharge mechanism
presently described is provided, and as shown in Figure 9, the discharge end k¹ of
the receiver is normally considerably above the die L to permit the operation of
the discharge mechanism. The receiver K is provided with a lateral arm K'
movably mounted upon a rod K³ secured in shoulders K* provided upon a supporting
bracket K secured to the bracket a.
When inserted into the receiver K, the rivet is supported by the spring shoulders K',
and when the plunger rod P' is forced downwards by its actuating mechanism, as
previously described, the spring shoulders K' are separated and the rivet is driven
down until its head strikes the shoulders or jaws in the discharge end k¹ of the
receiver, whereupon the receiver is forced downwards upon its guide-rod K³ against
the action of the spring K for approximating the rivet to the die L. After the

page_text: receiver has reached the limit of its motion, the separate halves 13 of the receiver
formed by a vertical slot or slit extending upwardly from the discharge k¹ are
further separated to permit the passage of the rivet head and the plunger rod P.
Directly beneath the die L is the cutter U, which bifurcates the shank of the
rivet while held in the die by the plunger rod P¹, as shown in Figure 10. The
cutter U consists of a broach U interposed between two like collars U2 mounted
on the shaft 3, and secured thereto by means of the nut W impinging said collars
against a shoulder upon said shaft, and shown in dotted lines in Figure 6.
The broach U is secured to these collars U2 by dowel pins u, and is preferably
cam shaped or eccentrical to said collars U2 being formed with the cutting
extremities of its teeth out of alignment with each other and disposed in planes one
above the other, whereby the cut is gradually deepened until of sufficient depth.
By this peculiar form of cutter the rivet is cut easily without much strain upon itself
or the broach.
On each side of the cutter U is mounted a cutter V movable in a slot U³
provided preferably in the centre of said broach. The cutter V on the outside of
the broach U bevels the outer face of the bifurcated extremities of the rivet shank,
and is secured to the broach by means of set screws » passing through the collars U²
and bearing upon said cutter.
In order to allow the broach U₁ and cutter V to
operate upon the rivet, the bottom face of the die is grooved at 11 and 12, as
illustrated in Figures 7 and 8.
Mounted upon the frame A. are brackets T secured to said frame by bolts t, or
other suitable means, and carrying wire brushes t', the forward ends of which are in
the path of the rotating cutter, and serve to clean the same before a rivet is cut.
To further insure the ready operation of the cutters we secure beneath the same a
can or other receptacle c containing oil through which the cutters are revolved.
This oil receptacle is held in the desired position by means of a suitable bracket c'
bolted or secured to the main frame.
Upon a cross shaft J³ secured in suitable bearings J2 on the main frame is an
arm J carrying at its forward extremity a fork J lying normally on either side of
the rib 13 formed by the cut-out 14 on the top face of the die L. When the rivet is
forced into the die L by the action of the plunger rod P and the receiver K, the
head of the rivet rests upon shoulders j on either side of the opening j' of said fork.
After the broach has bifurcated the rivet, a cam M secured upon the shaft F³
contacts with a pivoted lever M' secured to the shaft J by the set screw m forcing
upwards the free extremity of said lever M' rocking the shaft J³, and elevating the
fork J secured on the free extremity of the pivoted lever J, thus carrying the rivet
upwards and out of engagement with the die by reason of the engagement of the
rivet head with the shoulders j of the fork, as illustrated in Figure 11 of the
drawings.
A discharge finger N is normally, held above the fork J with a depending pro-
jection N held over the opening 11 of the fork and just back of the rivet head.
This finger is secured at one extremity to a sliding barn arranged transversely of
the frame A at right angles to the shaft F³. This sliding rod n is guided in ways n'
secured to the main frame A. A spring o secured at one extremity to the sliding
bar n, and at its opposite extremity to a post o rigidly secured to the table, retains
this bar in its normal position with the depending projection N¹ of the discharge
finger N just back of the rivet head.
Secured to the sliding barn is a bar r, which projects at right angles therefrom
in a line parallel with the shaft F3, and is pivoted to the frame A at 12. Provided
upon the swinging bar is the face r, which is engaged by a cam S secured to the
shaft F3. The cam S is so timed in relation to the cam M that after, as previously
described, the said cam M has elevated the rivet clear of the die, the cam S
contacts with the face of the rod r rocking the same on the pivot ², and forcing
the sliding rod n against the action of its spring o. The depending projection N
of the discharge finger N is of slightly less width than the width of the opening j
in the fork J, and when as previously described the said fork is elevated, said

page_text: depending projection N₁ is forced into the opening j¹ by the elevation of the fork J,
and when the discharge finger is actuated by the cam S, it will be seen that this
projection N has a bearing against the rivet just back of the same, and readily
discharges it into any suitable receptacle Y adjacent to said finger.
After the elevation of the discharge fork by the incline M² of the cam M the
fork J is held up during the operation of the discharge finger N by means of a
concentric face M³ starting from the highest point of the incline M². This
concentric face M³ is only of sufficient length to retain the fork in its elevated
position during the discharge of the finger N, and after such discharge, passes by
the pivoted lever r, and the fork is retracted to its normal position by means of a
spring secured to a pin 3 provided on its actuating shaft.js.
The rivet discharge end of the discharge finger N is considerably removed from
the opposite end of said finger, which is secured to the sliding rod n, and we
so relatively arrange said discharge finger with the fork J that when elevating the
rivet for the purpose of discharging the same the fork slightly elevates the discharge
finger N, which is of spring metal, thus slightly tensioning the same, and further
insuring the positive discharge of the rivets from said fork. After the discharge of
the rivet the discharge finger is immediately retracted by the spring o, whereupon
the parts are in the desired position for the insertion of another rivet by means
of the plunger rod PI and the receiver K.
:
Provided on the main frame A is a hub n2 having a screw n³ mounted therein
and in alignment with the sliding rod n, allowing the movement of the sliding rod n
to be adjustable by means of said screw or bolt n³, in which position the said screw
is retained by a jam nut nt.
Should a rivet of an undue length be fed to the die there would be great liability
of strain and breakage to the machine.
Upon the bracket K³ we provide the plate w having arms w¹ w² projecting laterally
therefrom on either side of the conveyor G. Pivoted to the arm w is the lever wo
projecting over the slot g of the conveyor G with its inner edge sufficiently removed
from said slot to allow the passage of rivets of the desired size and prevent the
passage of those of greater length. On the opposite arm w² of the plate is hinged
rod or bar normally swung out as illustrated in Figure 14, but which when it is
desired to stop the feeding of the rivets is swung into the position illustrated by
dotted lines in said figure and effectually stops the feeding of the rivets until the
withdrawal of said arm.
a
Upon reference to the drawing and the foregoing description it will be readily
understood that the feeder consists of the hopper B, the conveyor G, the receiver K
and the plunger P, that the holder consists of the die L and the discharge of the
finger N.
The operation of our machine is as follows: The rivets are forced into the
conveyor by the hopper; the cut-off feeds a single rivet down the discharge end of
the conveyor into the receiver; the plunger forces the rivet through the receiver
into the die; the cutter bifurcates the rivet shank; the fork elevates the rivet ont
of engagement with the die, and the discharge finger discharges the rivet from the
fork into a suitable receptacle adjacent to said fork. It will be understood that
considerable change may be made in the relative construction and arrangement of
the various parts of our machine, and that other constructions may be used for
feeding the rivets to the die, and for discharging the same therefrom, hence we do
not limit ourselves to the precise form and construction of the different parts of our
"Improved Rivet-slotting Machine."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim-is-
1-In a rivet slotting machine, the combination of a holder or die for holding
the rivet, a cutter for slotting the rivet, said cutter being provided with cutting

page_text: teeth having their cutting extremities projecting one beyond the other, whereby the
slot is gradually deepened, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2-In a rivet slotting machine, the combination of a holder or die for holding
the rivet, and a cutter for slotting the rivet, said cutter being provided with
inclining teeth having their cutting extremities projecting one beyond the other,
whereby the slot is gradually deepened, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
3-In a rivet slotting machine, the combination of a holder for holding the
rivets, a feeder for feeding the rivets consecutively to the holder, a cutter for
slotting the rivet, and cutting teeth provided upon said cutter and having their
cutting extremities projecting one beyond the other, whereby the rivet is slotted
gradually, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4-In a rivet slotting machine, the combination of a holder for holding the
rivets, a feeder for feeding the rivets consecutively to the holder, a cutter for
bifurcating the rivet shank, and a discharge normally above the holder and
movable therefrom for discharging the rivet, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
5 In a rivet slotting machine, the combination of a holder or die for holding the
rivet, a plunger for feeding the rivet to said die, a cutter for slotting the rivet, and
a discharge for discharging the slotted rivet, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
6 In a rivet slotting machine, the combination of a receiver for the rivets, a
conveyor for feeding the rivets to the receiver, a cut-off for admitting but one rivet
at a time, a die for holding the rivets, and a cutter for slotting the rivets, said
cutter having teeth formed with their cutting extremities projecting one beyond
the other, whereby the rivet is slotted gradually, substantially as set forth.
7-In a rivet slotting machine, the combination with a conveyor for feeding the
rivets, a receiver for receiving the rivets, a cut-off for admitting but one rivet at a
time to the receiver, a reciprocating plunger, a cutter for slotting the rivets, and
cutting teeth provided upon said cutter and formed with their cutting extremities
projecting one above the other, whereby the rivet is slotted gradually, substantially
as described.
8-The combination in a rivet slotting machine, of a receiver for the rivets, a
conveyor for conducting the rivets to the receiver, a cut-off for feeding the rivets
at regular intervals, a plunger reciprocating through said receiver, a holder for
holding the rivets, and a cutter for slotting the rivets, said cutter having cutting
teeth formed with their cutting extremities projecting one above the other, whereby
the rivet is slotted gradually, substantially as described.
9—In a rivet slotting machine, the combination of a reciprocating plunger, a
receiver for the rivets, said receiver having a movement in line with the plunger,
a holder for holding the rivets, and a broach for slotting the same, substantially as
specified.
10 In a rivet slotting machine, the combination of a die for holding the rivets,
a receiver for the rivets having a movement towards and away from the die, a
discharge for discharging the rivets from the receiver into the die, and a cutter for
slotting the rivets, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
11 The combination with a feeder for feeding the rivets, a holder for holding
the rivets, and a pivoted cutter having a series of cutting teeth arranged with their
cutting extremities projecting one beyond the other, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
12- In a rivet slotting machine, the combination of a cutter for slotting the rivets,
a holder for holding the rivets, and a feeder for feeding the rivets to the holder;
with a fork for engaging the rivet after the operation of the cutter and disengaging
the same from said holder, and a discharge finger for removing the rivet from said
fork, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
13 The combination of a holder or die for holding the rivets, a feeder for feeding

page_text: the rivets to the die, a cutter having the cutting extremities of its teeth projecting
one beyond the other for bifurcating the rivets, and cutters on either side of the
former cutter for beveling the edge of the bifurcated shank, substantially as
described.
14—The combination of a holder for holding the rivet shank, a cutter for cutting
the rivets, an adjustable plunger for inserting the rivet to said holder, and a
discharge for discharging the rivet after the operation of the cutter, substantially
as specified.
15-The combination of a die having a rib for holding the rivet and a fork at
one side of said rib; with a cutter for slotting the rivet, and a discharge for
discharging the rivet from said fork, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
16-In a rivet slotting machine, the combination of a die for holding the rivet,
a recess in the upper face of the die, a discharge movably mounted in said recess
for removing the rivet from the die, a recess in the lower face of the die, and a cutter
having teeth movable in said lower recess, substantially as described.
17 The combination in a hopper, of the frame 1, the discharge 12, a
feeder 6 set at an angle to a perpendicular, and cut-outs in the feeder 6 for
receiving the rivets; with the arc 4 in the upper part of the path of the feeder,
cut-outs 5 in the frame on either side of said are 4, and a stop 13, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
18-The combination in a hopper of the frame 1 set at an angle to a
perpendicular, and the discharge 12 in said frame; with a sleeve revolving
over a bearing face in the frame, cut-outs in the lower face of said sleeve for
receiving the rivets, cut-outs 5 in the upper part of the frame 1 on either side
of the feeder path, a cut-out b also in the upper part of said frame, and extending
on the outside of the rivet receiving slots in the feeder, and a stop 13, substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth.
19 In a rivet slotting machine, the combination of the hopper 1, a discharge in said
hopper, a rotating sleeve within the hopper for feeding the rivets to said discharge;
with actuating mechanism for rotating the feeding sleeve, and a friction clutch
interposed in said actuating mechanism, whereby the friction is overcome and the
feeder is not rotated when a rivet is caught therein, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
20-The combination with the frame 1 and a discharge therein, a rotary sleeve
within the frame for feeding and discharging the rivets of a shaft or rod 8
connected to said feeding sleeve, a collar 17 firmly secured to said rod 8, a
ratchet 9 secured by friction to said collar, and means, substantially as described,
for rotating the ratchet, thus rotating the feeder, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
21-In a rivet slotting machine, the combination of a hopper for feeding the rivets,
a conveyor having a longitudinal slot for feeding the rivets, a second longitudinal
slot provided at the extremity of said conveyor and arranged out of alignment withi
the adjacent extremity of the former slot, and a cut-off for feeding the rivets from
one slot to the other, substantially as set forth.
22-In a rivet slotting machine, the combination of a hopper for feeding the rivets,
a conveyor having a longitudinal slot for feeding the rivets, a second longitudinal
slot provided at the extremity of said conveyor and arranged out of alignment with
the adjacent extremity of the former slot, and a cut-off provided with a pair of
openings alternately registering with said slots for receiving and feeding the
rivets, and a stop for limiting the movement of said cut-off, substantially as
described.
23-In a rivet slotting machine, the combination of a hopper for feeding the
rivets, a conveyor having a longitudinal slot for feeding the rivets, a second
longitudinal slot provided at the extremity of said conveyor and arranged out of
alignment with the adjacent extremity of the former slot, a cut-off for feeding the

page_text: rivets from one slot to the other, and a rivet inserting plunger connected to said
cut-off whereby both are operated simultaneously, substantially as specified.
24 The hercin described pocket, the same being composed of separable jaws,
cut-outs in the wall of said jaws, and holders projecting through said cut-outs for
supporting the rivet, substantially as described.
25-The herein described rivet receiver, the same consisting of separable halves
having jaws at their opposite extremity, means, substantially as described, for
reciprocating said receiver, and holders K having their inner extremities movable
above the jaws on said separable halves, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 90th day of Luna 1900
JUDSON LEVATOR THOMSON.
JACOB JOHN UNBEHEND.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.