Improvements in Machines for Making Metal Washers and Nut Blanks.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Making Metal Washers and Nut
Blanks.
1, SAMUEL JOHNSTON SHIMER, of the Town of Milton, in the County of
Northumberland, in the State of Pennsylvania, and United States of America,
Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention has relation to improvements in mechanism for making Metal-
Washers; and the object is to improve and simplify existing mechanisms now used
for that purpose, by utilizing in combination with the punching mechanism a
detachable and removable centering-punch, whereby in connection with a series of
cut or punched washers the center-punch serves the dual purpose of a centering-pin
and a punch, as hereinafter will be fully specified, and especially as the same is
particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.
I attain the purposes of my invention by the means hereinafter described, and
which are fully and clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein :-
Figure 1, is a side view in elevation, of my improvements in connection with a
punching-machine.
Figure 2, is a front view, in elevation, of the same as shown in figure 1.
Figure 3, is a central transverse sectional view of the die-bed, and the supporting-
bed, showing the washers held in the die by the centering-punch, with the cutting-
punch in position above.
Figure 4, is a bottom plan view of the die-bed.
Figure 5, is a top plan view of the supporting-bed.
Figure 6, is a sectional view taken on the line x-x of figures 4 and 5, showing the
parts in operative relation.
Figure 7, is a detail view of the centering-punch and adjustable centering-pin, the
latter being shown with a central channel through which to admit a cooling liquid.
A washer removed from the center-punch is shown in connection with this figure of
the drawings.

page_text: Reference being had to the drawings, A, designates the bed of the machine,
having projected therefrom a standard, 1, constituting the support in which are
mounted the operative mechanism that reciprocates the cutting-punch.
On the front of the standard 1, are formed boxes 2, 3, in which is arranged the
spindle 4, of the cutting-punch.
The operative mechanism consists of a driving-shaft 5, mounted in bearings 6, 7,
on the frame, and carrying a balance-wheel 8, a fast-pulley 9, constituting the driving
pulley, a loose-pulley 10, and small gear-wheel 11, which meshes with the large
gear-wheel 12, mounted on a shaft having its bearings in a sleeve 13, on the top of
the standard. 1.
On the projecting end of the shaft carrying the large gear-wheel is formed an
eccentric having loosely mounted thereon a wedge-cam 14, which operates in the
opening 15, of the punch-spindle, and by means of the handle or lever 16, the punch
may be thrown in and out of motion.
A weighted lever 17, lifts the punch-spindle when the wedge-cam is thrown into the
enlarged side of the opening in the spindle.
The foregoing description is given generally, and without special detail, as the
general construction of the machine shown is well and generally known, and forms
no part of my invention: I have for convenience adapted my improvements to a
mechanism in general use. From this it will be observed that my invention may
be used in connection generally with any reciprocating punch-spindle and a frame
adapted to receive the die-bed or support.
.
Proceeding to describe specifically my improvements in connection with the
drawings, B, designates the stationary or fixed support, having a raised central
portion 18, formed with a central-pit or counter-sink 19, in which is an elastic
cushion 20. On this support B, is mounted a bed-piece 21, having its central
portion cut out, as at 22, to fit over the raised part of the support, and adapted to
rest with its outer parts on the edges or broad flanges of the support, substantially as
shown in figure 3, of the drawings.
On the upper face of the bed-piece 21, are formed guide-pieces 23, which are
chambered out to constitute seats for the elastic cushions or springs 24; the outer
walls of the guide-pieces 23, are made square and smooth to serve as guides for the
die-bed mounted thereon.
The central-portion of the bed-piece is counter-sunk as at 25, to provide clearance
space between the center-punch and the adjustable centering-pin.
In the center of the bed-piece is an aperture 26, in which is adjustably fitted a
pin 27, having a convex upper end to engage in the concave lower end of the center
punch, as indicated in figure 3, of the drawings.
C, C, designate two belt-pulleys mounted in bearings on standards projected
from the bed of the machine, and on these pulleys are arranged parallel belts 28, 29,
the upper line of which is substantially on a line with the upper face of the bed-
piece, and are arranged with a space between their inner edges to travel clear of the
center-punch, which moves up and down in the space between them. These belts
constitute the means for carrying the washers from under the punch as they are
dropped therefrom. A belt-keeper 30, is arranged on the edge of the bed-piece,
under which the belts travel, and by which they are kept steady and prevented
from throwing the washers off before they reach the place of delivery.
To keep the belts separated and parallel, grooves or ways 31 may be formed in the
bed-piece. Motion may be communicated to the belt mechanism by extending one
of the shafts of the pulleys as at 32; and fixing a pulley 33, on the extension, by
which a belt may be arranged and placed on a suitable pulley on the line shaft of
the shop or gearing may be substituted for the belt, and pulley and by suitable
gearing connected with the driving-shaft of the punch-mechanism. These
nections are not shown because in the first instance they are apparent, and in the
latter they are of such common construction as to be at once suggested. D, designates
the die-bed. This consists of a substantial metal-plate forined with downward
projecting guide flanges or pieces 34, the inner faces of which register with and set
con-

page_text: against the outer side-faces of the cushion seats on the bed-piece. The center of
the die-bed is thickened or re-inforced as at 35, and the side faces of the part adjacent
to the cushion-seats of the bed-piece bear against the inner sides of the latter. Thus
the die-bed is furnished with guiding-means in its relation to the bed-piece. In
the center of the die-bed is the die-seat 36, which is stepped as shown to provide a
secure seat for the die. In this die-seat is arranged the die E, having an exterior to
fit the seat prepared for it.
The die may be secured in its position by means of a setting-bolt 37, let through the
die-bed as shown.
The aperture in the die E, corresponds to the exterior dimensions of the washer
or nut to be cut, and is vertical for the greater part of its way through the metal as
at 38, with the lower part flared or of greater diameter as at 39, in order that when
a washer is forced down the bore to the flared section or part it will be freely and
promptly discharged.
F, designates the center-punch; this consists of a metal pin of the size of the
center hole of the washer.
It has a plain upper or cutting-end, and at the lower end is tapered off as at 40, to
leave the washers fall off when thoy reach that position in the die-chamber. The lower
face-end of the center-punch is counter-sunk as at 41, which strikes down on the
centering-pin in the bed-piece, and at every stroke or movement eventuates in
centering that end of the center-punch.
G, designates the moving-punch which consists of a steel implement made to fit the
washer-hole in the tie-bed, and provided with a central bore adapted to take the upper
end of the center-punch and leads to an opening 42 in the punch-stock, through which
the center clippings from the washers eventually find escape.
H, designates a number of washers cut and in progress through the machine, and in
their movements and relation to the parts sustaining the center-punch in vertical
position.
It will be perceived from the foregoing description of the parts, and their functional
relations, that the center punch is held in place in true central relation by the washers
that are punched. Each washer as it is made is pushed down into the die over the
center-punch, so that the next washer cut occupies the space above or on top of the
mass of washers which fill the die, and thus the center-punch is held centered by the
washers, and this center maintained and tested by the upper end of the center-punch
entering the hole in the moving punch, and by the lower end of the pin setting at each
stroke on the head of the center-pin in the bed-piece.
The operation is as follows:-Two washers or nuts of the size desired, and according
to the capacity of the die and punch, are punched by hand, or prepared by a lathe,
and these are forced over the center-punch; one being arranged at the lower part and
the other at the upper part thereof.
The center-punch with these arranged washers on it, is then adjusted in the die in
proper position. These arranged washers hold the center-punch in the die in position
for operation.
The machine is now ready for punching washers from a bar or plate, and by its
stroke cuts and punches a washer from the plate or bar, and forces the severed washer
down over the center-punch in the die, so that a space is left for the next washer to
be cut; the successive washers are then punched from the bar fed to the machine and
forced down over the center-punch, which is neld true to the center by the washers;
as soon as the die is full of washers, one is discharged for every one cut, the discharged
washer falling on the carrying-belt, which carries it to the place of delivery.
A thick washer or nut cut on the sanic machine need not be forced down on the
center-punch its full thickness, but the stroke of the punch should be low enough to
move the center-punch in its matrix for abont one-eighth of an inch, so as to take the
next cut freely. To cut heavier nuts the machine must have a longer stroke than for
lighter and thinner washers, and the die-bed must follow the stroke back accordingly
to give room between the beds to let the nuts out..

page_text: The machine may be constructed with two or more punches, and center-punches,
and thus more than one washer cut at a single stroke of the machine.
Washers cut by my improved mechanism are entirely free from feather edges, the
metal being compressed in the course of the washers progress through the die, being
discharged with clean edges and smooth faces.
In Figure 7, of the drawings the centering-punch is shown as having a central bore
and the centering-pin having a central channel to convey a cooling liquid.
This construction is adapted to make hot washers and servos to keep the die and
punch cool; when cold washers are made the centering-punch is made solid as shown
in figure 3, of the drawings.
So far as I am aware washer-punching machines as heretofore designed and con-
structed cut the washers into a die which is provided with a means operating as a
counter force to push the cut-washers out of the die from the mouth or entrance to the
die at which they were cut; this back discharge defaces and feather-edges the cut-
washer, and injures the cutting-edge of the die; by discharging the washers in the
direction of the cut they are made smooth and finished, and the cutting-edge of the
die preserved unimpaired much longer than by a reverse discharge. The series or
pile of washers as they are packed in the die are held therein by the strong frictional
contact sufficiently rigid to permit the next one to be cut without the interposition of,
and absolute necessity, of the centering-pin below, which is interposed for convenience,
and to give additional security to the certainty of the centering-punch being centered
when the operation of cutting is being initiated; since aftor the die is filled with the
washers the centering-punch is held true to the center by the impacted washers in the
die, and so maintained and supported as to be in operative relation to the moving-
punch and effectually perform the purposes intended.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. The combination of the punch, the die, the center-punch, and the centering-
pin, substantially as described.
2. The combination of the punch, the spring supported die-hed, the die, the center-
punch, and the centering-pin, substantially as described.
3. The combination of the bed-piece, with seats to receive springs, and the walls of
which seats constituto guiding surfaces for the die-bed, and provided with an adjust-
able centering-pin, elastic cushions arranged in said seats, the die-bed having guide
flanges to engage the sides of the seats, on the bed-piece, a die arranged in the die-bed,
the center-punch, and the punch, substantially as described.
4. The combination with the punch, the die, and the centering-pin, having a convex
upper end, of the center-punch formed with a tapering lower end, and concave bottom,
substantially as described, and for the purpose stated.
5. The combination with the punch, of the die formed with a flaring lower portion,
the center-punch having a tapering lower end, and the centering-pin, substantially as
described.
6. The combination with the punch, the die, and the center-punch, of the carrying-
belts arranged to receive and carry the discharged washers from the die, substantially
as described.
7. The combination with the bed-piece, formed with belt channels in its upper face,
and the die, of the carrying-belts arranged to travel in the channels of the bed-piece,
and receive the discharged washers from the die, substantially as described.
8. In combination a die filled with washers, a center-punch held in cutting-position
by the impacted washers in the die, and a movable punch to cut and push the washers
through the die and off the center-punch in the direction of the cutting-stroke of the
moving-punch substantially as described.
9. A moving or cutting-punch in combination with a die filled with washers, and a
center-punch supported by the washers in the die, whereby the descent of every

page_text: washer cut by the punch discharges a washer at the opposite end of the die, sub-
stantially as specified.
10. In combination with the spring-supported die-bed and die arranged therein, of
a center-punch held in the die by the washers impacted therein, and a reciprocating
punch to cut the washers and press them through the die at the opposite end from
their entrance thereto, substantially as specified.
11. The combination with the die-bed, center-punch arranged therein, and sup-
ported by a series of cut-washers in the die, of the center-punch pin formed with a
central bore, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.
•
12. The combination with the die-bed, of a center-punch formed with a central bore
extending partially through it, and the centering punch-pin formed with a center bore
substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.
1
11000
SAMUEL JOHNSTON SHIMER.
By Jensen & Son,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.