IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF NUTS AND WASHERS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN ASHTON, of Indiana Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
of America, Carpenter, do hereby declare the nature of any Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF NUTS AND WASHERS,"
be as follows:-
=
The object of this Invention is to construct a machine for rapidly punching from
bars or plates of metal finished nuts or washers.
The mode of forming a nut in accordance with the Invention will first be
described, referring only to those parts of the machine which act upon the metal,
and leaving to a later part of the Specification the description of the mechanism for
operating those parts.
The machine has a die and counter die, the die consisting of an outer fixed
block, a fixed central punch, and an intermediate sliding block which is of the
same shape as the desired nut, is adapted to an opening of like shape in the outer
or said fixed block, and has a central opening for the reception of the said punch.
The counter die consists of a central fixed tube, and an outer block adapted to
slide thereon, the fixed tube having a central opening of the same diameter as the
said punch, and having an external shape similar to that of the said intermediate
sliding block, the outer sliding block of the counter die being similar to the outer
fixed block of the die.
The counter die is fixed, but the die is carried by a frame to which a reciprocating
motion is imparted as described hereinafter, and at the commencement of the
operation the die and counter die are separated so as to permit the insertion of a
bar between them, a guage pin on the outer block of the counter die serving as a stóp
for the bar.
The die then advances, and its fixed punch and outer block act simultaneously
upon the said bar, the punch forming the central opening in the nut, and the outer
block acting on the metal outside of the limits of the desired nut, and forcing the
same over the tube of the counter die, the outer block of which is forced rearwards,
and the sliding block of the die yielding to permit the nut to enter the opening of
the die block.
The die is then retracted, and the outer block of the counter die advances so as
to thrust the bar outward beyond the face of the said fixed tube, and permit it to
be re-adjusted prior to a repetition of the operation.

page_text: As the die reaches the limit of its rearward movement, the said sliding block is
projected so as to eject the nut from the opening of the die block.
In making a washer, a die and counter die of substantially similar character to
those described above are used, the shapes of the various blocks of the die and
counter die being modified to accord with the shape of the washer.
The mechanism for operating these parts is made with a fixed frame which is in
the present instance quadrangular, and has at each end a counter die, one for a nut,
and the other for a washer. Guided on the frame of the machine, is a sliding
frame which has at each end a die, that at one end being constructed for the
formation of a nut, and that at the other end for the formation of a washer, these
dies co-operating with the counter dies, and acting alternately as the said sliding
frame is reciprocated.
The reciprocation of this frame is effected by means of an eccentric on a vertical
driving shaft, the latter being adapted to bearings in the said fixed frame and the
eccentric having a block which is guided in a transverse slot in the sliding frame.
Other means of reciprocating the frame, may, however, be adopted, this forming no
essential part of my Invention.
The projecting ends of the driving shaft may be furnished with pulleys or gear
wheels for receiving power from any adjacent shaft, and the machine may be placed
either horizontally or upon either side or either end.
The parts composing each die are adapted to an opening in a chuck bolted to a
block which is secured to one end of the sliding frame, and the parts composing
each counter die are carried by a chuck bolted to a block which is secured to one
end of the fixed frame.
The said blocks may form part of the said frames if desired, but detachable
blocks are preferred as permitting more ready access to some of the parts of the
machine.
The fixed block of each die has a rear bearing against a block adapted to the
rear end of the opening in the chuck, and interposed between the die block and the
block to which the chuck is bolted, so that an extended bearing of each block is
insured, without the necessity of replacing the said adapted block when the said
fixed die block has to be renewed, the said adapted block not being subjected to
wear.
Washers may be introduced behind the said fixed die blocks to set the same out
as they are reduced in length by grinding, or the entire die may be set out by a steel
plate introduced between the block to which the chuck is bolted and the sliding
frame, or between the said block and its chuck, the counter die being likewise set
out by a plate interposed between the block to which its chuck is bolted, and the
said fixed frame, or between the said block and its chuck.
Each die block has at the inner end a flange, which by contact with a shoulder in
its chuck prevents the withdrawal of the block, and the ejector blocks have similar
flanges for a like purpose, the opening in the die block for the one ejector, and
that in the chuck of the counter die for the other ejector, being of such length.as
to permit the necessary movement of the said ejectors.
Set screws may be employed for securing the die blocks and said fixed tubes in
place in the chucks, if desired.
The stem of each punch passes through the said adapted block, and bears against
the said sliding frame, a shoulder on the stem of the punch preventing the
longitudinal withdrawal of the same from the die.
In the block to which the chuck of the counter die is bolted and in the said fixed
frame are openings forming a continuation of the central opening of the said fixed
tube, and serving to permit the escape of the punchings.
Through openings in the said adapted block of the nut-forming die, pass pins
which bear at the front ends upon the said intermediate sliding or ejector block of
the die, and at the rear ends upon a bar which is free to slide in a slot in the block
to which the chuck of the die is bolted, and is guided upon the stem of the punch.

page_text: The opposite ends of this said bar project above and below the sliding frame, so
that as said frame reaches the limit of its inward movement, said projecting ends of
the bar will strike wedges on the fixed frame, and thus effect the outward movement
of the said ejector block in the die, the wedges being adjustable so that any desired
extent of movement may be imparted to the ejector block.
In the case of the washer die a special ejector block may be dispensed with, the
said pins themselves forming the ejector, and being operated in the manner above
described.
The sliding or ejector block of the counter die is acted upon by similar pins
guided in the flanged end of the said fixed tube, the outer ends of said pins hearing
upon the forked upper end of a lever which is hung to a rod guided longitudinally
in bearings in the fixed frame, this rod having a collar bearing against the said
forked lever and the lower end of said lever bearing against a cross bar of the said
fixed frame.
The said guided rod or rods project from a yoke which is acted upon by a cam on
the driving shaft so as to cause the alternate vibration of the forked levers, and the
alternate operation of the sliding or ejector blocks of the counter discs.
The said guided rods are adjustable longitudinally in respect to the yoke, so that
the amount of lost motion of each rod before its collar strikes the said forked lever
may be varied, and the throw of the said lever thus regulated, or the same result
may be effected by adjusting the collar, and levers pivoted to the said cross bars and
acted upon by the said guided rods may be used if desired.
To bearings on one side of the fixed frame are hung rock shafts having arms the
ends of which are furnished with brushes or wipers. These arms are acted upon by
cams on the sliding frame, and are caused to vibrate as said frame is reciprocated,
the arms being of such length that the brushes or wipers are carried past the faces
of the dies and counter dies on each vibration of the arms. The brush or wiper
may be saturated with oil at suitable intervals so as to provide for the automatic
lubrication of the dies and counter dies after each operation of the same.
When the machine is arranged on end, or vertically instead of horizontally, the
wiper performs the additional function of removing the nut or washer, the latter on
being ejected from the die falling on the wiper which has been moved to a position
beneath the die. The nut or washer is then carried off by the wiper as it swings
backs, and is removed therefrom by a suitable striker, so as to fall into a convenient
receptacle.
Various means of vibrating tlie said arms may be adopted, but the said cams are
preferred as the simplest.
When a yielding gauge pin is desired, it may be arranged to slide in a recess in
the inner edge of the outer sliding block of the counter die, this gauge pin having
a guided stem and being acted on by a spring so that it will yield when subjected
to the pressure of the die, but will resume its original position on the retraction of
said die
On each side of the said fixed frame is a tubular projection for the reception of
a stay bolt which may be inserted in the case of the breaking of the frame, this
bolt serving to brace the frame longitudinally, and to maintain the parts in line
both laterally and vertically. More than one of such tubular projections may be
formed on each side of the frame if desired.
Dated thin int
TI 100
DAY, DAVIES, & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: "
J, JOHN ASHTON, of Indiana Avenue Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
of America, Carpenter do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF NUTS AND WASHERS
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 a machine for rapidly punching from
bars or plates of metal finished nuts or washers.
On the accompanying drawings, Fig; 1 represents a longitudinal section of the
improved nut and washer machine; Fig; 2. a sectional plan on the line 1-2,
Fig; 1. Fig; 3 a sectional plan on the line 3-4, Fig; 1. Fig; 4 a transverse
section on the line 5-6 Fig; 1. Figs; 5, 6, and, 7, enlarged diagrams illustrating
the operation of the machine, and Fig; 8, a view of a die with yielding gauge
pin forming part of the invention.
The mode of forming a nut in accordance with the Invention will first be
described, referring only to those parts of the machine (shown in Figs; 5, 6, and, 7.)
which act upon the metal, and leaving to a later part of the specification the
description of the mechanism for operating these parts.
The machine has a die, A, and counter die, B, the die, A, consisting of an
outer fixed block, w', a fixed central punch, w, and an intermediate sliding
block, w², which is of the same shape as the desired nut, is adapted to an opening
of like shape in the outer block, w', and has a central opening for the reception of
the punch, w.
The counter die, B, consists of a central fixed tube, x, and an outer block, x',
adapted to slide thereon, the fixed tube having a central opening of the same
diameter as the punch, w, and having an external shape similar to that of the
sliding block, w², the outer sliding block, a¹, of the counter die being similar to the
outer fixed block, w¹, of the die.
The counter die, B, is fixed, but the die, A, is carried by a frame to which a
reciprocating motion is imparted as described hereinafter, and at the commencement
of the operation the die and counter die are separated so as to permit the insertion of
a bar, y, between them, as shown in Fig; 5, a gauge pin, t, on the block, x¹, of the
counter die serving as a stop for the bar.
The die, A, then advances, and its fixed punch, w, and outer block, w¹, act
simultaneously upon the bar, y, the punch forming the central opening in the nut,
and the outer block acting on the metal outside of the limits of the desired nut, and
forcing the same over the tube, x, of the counterdie, B, the outer block, x', which
is forced rearwards, and the sliding block, w, of the die, A, yielding to permit the
nut to enter the opening of the die block, w¹, (see Fig; 6.)
The die is then retracted, and the outer block, ¹, of the counterdie advances so
as to thrust the bar, y, outwards beyond the face of the tube, x, (Fig. 7.) and
permit it to be readjusted prior to a repetition of the operation.
As the die, A, reaches the limit of its rearward movement, the sliding block, w²,
is projected so as to eject the nut from the opening of the die block, w³, as shown
in Fig; 7.
In making a washer, a die and counter die of substantially similar character to
those described above are used, the shapes of the various blocks of the die and
counter die being modified to accord with the shapes of the washer.
The mechanism for operating these parts is illustrated in Figs, 1, 2, 3, and, 4, and
is made with a fixed frame, D, which is in the present instance quadrangular, and

page_text: has at each end a counter die, B, one for a nut and the other for a washer.
Guided on the frame, D, is a sliding frame, F, which has at each end a die, A, that
at one end being constructed for the formation of a nut, and that at the other end
for the formation of a washer, theso dies co-operating with the counter-dies, B, and
acting alternately as the frame, F, is reciprocated.
The reciprocation of the frame F, is effected by means of an eccentric G, on a
vertical driving shaft, G¹, the latter being adapted to bearings in the frame, D, and
the eccentric having a block, G³, which is guided in a transverse slot, G³, in the
frame, F. Other means of reciprocating the frame may however, be adopted, this
forming no essential part of the present Invention.
The projecting ends of the driving shaft, G', may be furnished with pulleys or
gear wheels for receiving power from any adjacent shaft, and the machine may be
placed either horizontally as shown, or upon either side, or either end.
The parts composing each die, A, are adapted to an opening in a chuck, H, bolted
to a block, I, which is secured to one end of the sliding frame, F, and the parts
composing each counter die are carried by a chuck, J, bolted to a block, K, which
is secured to one end of the fixed frame, D.
The blocks, I, and, 'K, may respectively form part of the frames, F, and, D, if
desired, but detachable blocks are preferred as permitting of more ready access to
some of the parts of the machine.
The fixed block, w³, of each die, A, has a rear bearing against a block, a,
adapted to the rear end of the opening in the chuck, and interposed between the
die block, w, and the block, I, so that an extended bearing of each block, w¹, is
insured, without the necessity of replacing the block, a, when the fixed die
block, w¹, has to be renewed, the block, a, not being subjected to wear.
Washers may be introduced behind the blocks, w, to set the same out as they
are reduced in length by grinding, or the entire die may be set out by a steel plate
introduced between the block, I, and frame, F, or between the block, I, and its
chuck, H, the counter die being likewise set out by a plate interposed between the
block, K, and frame, D, or between the block, K, and its chuck, J.
Each die block, w1, has at the inner end a flange which by contact with a
shoulder in its chuck, H, prevents the withdrawal of the block, and the ejector
blocks, w, and, x', have similar flanges for a like purpose, the opening in the die
block, wl, for the ejector, w³, and that in the chuck J, for the other ejector, x²,
being of such length as to permit the necessary movement of the said ejectors.
Set screws may be employed for securing the die blocks, w¹, and tubes, x, in place
in the chucks, if desired.
The stem, w³, of each punch, w, passes through the block, a, and bears against
the frame, F, a shoulder on the stem of the punch preventing the longitudinal
withdrawal of the same from the die.
In the blocks, K, and frame, D, are openings, x, each forming a continuation
of the central opening of the tube, x, and serving to permit the escape of the
punchings.
Through openings in the block, a, of the nut forming die, A, pass pins, b, which
bear at the front ends upon the block, w³, and at the rear ends upon a bar, L,
which is free to slide in a slot, L', in the block, I, and is guided upon the stein, w³,
of the punch, w.
The opposite ends of the bar, L, project above and below the sliding frame, F, so
that as this frame reaches the limit of its inward movement, the projecting ends of
the bar, L, will strike wedges, d, on the fixed frame, D, and thus effect the outward
movement of the ejector block, w2, in the die, the wedges, d, being adjustable so
that any desired extent of movement may be imparted to the ejector block.
In the case of the washer die a special ejector block may be dispensed with, the
pins, b, themselves forming the ejector as shown, and being operated in the
manner above described.
The sliding block, x1, of the counter die is acted upon by similar pins, f, guided
in the flanged edge of the tube, x, the outer ends of the pins, f, bearing upon the

page_text: forked upper end of a lever, M, which is hung on a rod, g, guided longitudinally in
bearings in the fixed frame, D, this rod having a collar, i, bearing against the
lever, M, and the lower end of the lever bearing against a cross bar, h, of the
frame, D, as shown in Fig; 1.
The rods, g, project from a yoke, N, which is acted upon by a cam, k, on the
driving shaft, G¹, (see Fig. 3.) so as to cause the alternate vibration of the levers, M,
and the alternate operation of the sliding or ejector blocks, x¹, of the counter
dies, B.
The rods, g, are adjustable longitudinally in respect to the yoke, so that the
amount of lost motion of each rod before its collar, i, strikes the lever, M, may be
varied and the throw of the lever thus regulated, or the same result may be
effected by adjusting the collar, i, and levers pivotted to the bars h, and acted upon
by the rods, g, may be used if desired.
-
To bearings on one side of the fixed frame, D, are hung rock shafts, m, having
arms, n, the ends of which are furnished with brushes or wipers, p, These arms
are acted upon by cams, P, on the sliding frame, F, and are caused to vibrate as the
frame is reciprocated, the arms being of such length that the brushes or wipers are
carried past the faces of the dies and counter dies on each vibration of the arms.
The brush or wiper may be saturated with oil at suitable intervals so as to provide
for the automatic lubrication of the dies and counter dies after each operation of
the same.
When the machine is arranged on end or vertically instead of horizontally as
shown, the wiper, p, performs the additional function of removing the nut or
washer, the latter on being ejected from the die falling on the wiper which has
been moved to a position beneath the die. The nut or washer is then carried off
by the wiper as it swings back, and is removed therefrom by a suitable striker, so
as to fall into a convenient receptacle.
Various means of vibrating the arms, n, may be adopted, but the cams, P, are
preferred as the simplest.
When a yielding gauge pin, t, is desired in lieu of the gauge pin shown in
Figs, 5, 6, and, 7, such pin may be arranged to slide in a recess in the inner edge of
the outer sliding block, x, of the counter die, B, as shown in Fig, 8, this gauge pin
having a guided stem and being acted upon by a spring, t¹, so that it will yield
when subjected to the pressure of the die, A, but will resume its original position
on the retraction of such die.
On each side of the frame, D, is a tubular projection, W, for the reception of a
stay bolt which may be inserted in the case of the breaking of the frame, this bolt
serving to brace the frame longitudinally and to maintain the parts in line both
laterally and vertically. More than one of such tubular projections may be formed
on each side of the frame if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and objects
of my said Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare
that what I claim is
1. The general construction of the die, A, of the machine, substantially as
herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. The general construction of the counter die, B, of the machine, substantially
as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. The die, A, comprising the outer fixed die block, w', central fixed punch, w,
intermediate ejector, and base block, a, the whole confined to the movable frame, F,
by a chuck, H, as herein before described.
4. The die, A, comprising the chuck, H, outer fixed block, w¹, block, a,
intermediate ejector, and centre punch, w, having a shoulder bearing against the
block, a, as herein before set forth.
5. The counter die, B, comprising the fixed central tube, x, and outer sliding
block, x¹, both confined to the frame by a chuck, J, as herein before set forth.

page_text: 6. The combination of the counter die having a sliding block, x¹, the ejector
pins, f, the lever, M, the yoke N, and the adjustable rods, g, whereby the movement
of the yoke is transmitted to the levers, as herein before set forth.
7. The combination in a counter die of the central fixed portion x, and the outer
sliding block, x', having a projecting gauge pin, t, as hereinbefore set forth.
8. The combination of the central fixed portion, x, of the counter die, the outer
sliding block, l, and the gauge pin, t, free to slide in an opening in said block, x¹,
and acted upon by a spring, t', as herein before set forth.
9. The combination of the die and counter die, with the pivotted arm, n, carrying
a wiper p, and with means for vibrating the arm as the die is reciprocated as
hereinbefore set forth.
10. The combination of the die and counter die, the pivotted arm n, carrying a
wiper p. and the reciprocating frame, F, having a cam, P, acting on said arm, n, as
herein before set forth.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.