IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBINING OR PUTTING TOGETHER SCREW NUTS AND BOLTS FOR STORAGE OR SALE
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBINING OR PUTTING TOGETHER
SCREW NUTS AND BOLTS FOR STORAGE OR SALE." A communication from
abroad by Charles Dake Rogers, of Providence, Rhode Island, United States
of America
Sealed the 25th April 1879, and dated the 27th February 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th February 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COM-
BINING OR PUTTING TOGETHER SCREW NUTS AND BOLTS FOR STORAGE OR
SALE." A communication from abroad by Charles Dake Rogers, of Providence,
Rhode Island, United States of America.
The purpose of the machine herein-after described is to combine with a bolt
whose shank has been screwed or threaded a nut which has been tapped with a
corresponding thread, such being the manner in which screw bolts are put into the
market for sale.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the said machine with the bolt hopper in
section.
Figure 2 shews an end view of a portion of the same partly in transverse section
on the line x, x.
Figure 3 represents the bolt recipient in vertical section with a bolt in the
same.
Figure 4 shows a top view of bolt recipient and a portion of the nut recipient,
the parts being in position to combine the bolt and nut, and
Figure 5 represents the nut recipient in vertical section with device for seating
the nuts therein. Figures 3, 4, and 5 are drawn to an enlarged scale.
As shown at Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings, two hoppers and two sets of
feeding mechanism are employed, the hoppers being mounted on the frame A of the
said machine. In the hopper B the threaded nuts are placed in mass, and said
hopper is supplied with feeding mechanism and a conveyor b for delivering the nuts.
Price 6d1

page_text: In the hopper C the mass of threaded bolts is placed and said bolts are delivered to
the machine by feeding mechanism and a conveyor c. A specific description of the
feeding mechanism employed respectively to select bolts and nuts from the general
mass and deliver them to the conveyors, so that they can be discharged one at a
time, need not be given, as the same are fully shown in the Drawing, and are not
substantially different from those commonly used in screw-cutting and nut-tapping
machines.
The characteristic features of my improved machine are the employment in com-
bination of recipients for the bolts and nuts respectively, which recipients are so
arranged that at proper times a single-threaded bolt shall have its axis brought into
alignment with the threaded hole of a single nut, suitable mechanism for turning the
Duts a short distance upon the shanks of the bolts when said nuts and bolts are in
the position just specified, and finally, the discharge of the combined bolts and nuts
from the machine.
The devices employed for conveying and holding the nuts being independent of
those used for conveying and holding the bolts, two divisions of the machine are
constituted, therefore a separate detailed description of each will be given before
their action in combination is considered. The first division relates to the recipients
for the threaded nuts, which I have shown in this machine to consist of a series of
spindles, as at D, Figures 2, 4, and 5, arranged to revolve intermittently upon their
own axes in cylindrical casings D¹. These casings and their spindles are mounted
in barrel form in disc heads Ď³, which are sleeved upon the shaft E, the sleeve being
splined to the shaft, and having its hearing in a tubular stud e on the pillow
block E. This shaft E is provided with a star wheel as at E, which at regular
intervals is engaged by a fingerf on the shaft F, continuously driven by a train of
gear wheels, to partially rotate the shaft E for the purpose of bringing the spindles D
successively into position to receive the nuts.
As shewn in Figure 2 the nuts descend from the hopper B through the conveyor b,
whose delivery end is so arranged with reference to the path of revolution of the
spindles D about the shaft E that the axis of the lowest nut in the conveyor is in
alignment with that of a spindle when the latter is in position to receive it, as par-
ticularly shown at Figure 5. For receiving the nuts that end of each spindle
adjacent to the conveyor bis scored the width and thickness of the nuts, and is
furnished with springs as at d, Figures 2 and 5, which serve to retain the said nuts
in place.
The trausfer of the nuts from the conveyor 6 to the spindles is accomplished by
the forward motion of a plunger as at G, which is journalled in a tubular stud pro-
jecting from the conveyor. This plunger carries a pin g, which engages an inclined
slot in a sleeve as at.H mounted upon the same stud, the said sleeve being furnished
with a gear wheel h, which meshes with a segmental gear on an arm & secured to a
rock shaft as at K, Figure 2. This shaft K is provided with an arm k¹, Figure 1,
which is engaged by a continuously revolving cam as at L, mounted on a sleeve,
which is opened to the shaft F, and has its bearing in the pillow block E as shown.
This cam acts to rock the shaft K, thereby advancing the plunger G to seat the nuts
successively in the spindles, and retracting the said plunger that it may act upon a
succeeding nut.
The second division of my machine relates to the recipient for the threaded bolts
which, as shewn in Figures 1, 3, and 4, consists of the discs M, M², M, mounted
upon a shaft as at N, the said discs being separated from each other by washers n, n³,
and clamped in position upon said shaft by a nut acting upon washers as at n².
The bolts are delivered from the hopper C to this roulette recipient by the con-
veyor c, whose delivery end is arranged immediately above the discs M, M', M².
For the purpose of receiving and carrying the bolts into alignment with the nuts to
be placed upon them the periphery of each of the discs M, M³, is respectively pro-
vided with a series of transverse grooves m, m³, the number and spacing of the
grooves in each disc corresponding with that of the spindles D in their barrel.
When these discs are in position to receive a bolt from the stack in the conveyor c;

page_text: one of the grooves in each disc will be found directly under the conveyor, so that
the lowest bolt in the stack will pass into said grooves, when it will rest with its
head between the disc M³, M³, and its shank supported in a horizontal position by
the discs M, M', and an arm ¹ secured to the conveyor, as shewn in Figures 1 and 3,
the bolt will then be in position to be carried into alignment with a nut.
Having shown how a single nut and bolt are deposited in their respective
recipients, it will be understood that a similar disposition is made of all the nuts
and bolts, therefore I will now proceed to describe how the said nuts and bolts are
brought into axial alignment to be combined.
The shaft N upon which the discs composing the bolt recipient are mounted
carries a gear wheel as at O, which meshes with a gear wheel as at P upon the
barrel shaft E, the said gear wheels being of the same diameter. When the finger f
on the shaft F engages the star wheel E on the shaft E and partially revolves the
barrel containing the spindles D, it likewise revolves the roulette bolt recipient
through an equal arc of a circle, but in an opposite direction. The nut in the
spindle D passes behind a plate as at Q, Figures 2 and 5, which serves to ensure the
retention of the said nut by the spindle, while the bolt carried by the discs M, M²,
passes under a guard plate R, Figures 2 and 4, the said plate acting to prevent the
bolt from falling out of the grooves m, m². During this movement of the bolt the
discharge of the bolts remaining in the stack in the conveyor c is prevented by
the periphery of the discs M, M¹, until the bolt has taken up its new location, at
which time the respective recipients are in position to receive a second bolt and nut,
which are supplied as above described.
Another revolution of the shaft F produces a second engagement of the finger f
and star wheel E², which again partially revolves the barrel and bolt recipient and
brings the axes of the nut and bolt into alignment, the nut passing from behind
the plate Q. It will thus be seen that the recipients are intermittently revolved in
the same time and have the same periods of rest.
For the purpose of preventing the bolt from turning while the nut is being placed
upon it the guard plate R is provided with a hinged arm R', Figures 1, 2, and 4,
upon which a spring S is made to act by a star wheel, as at 8, secured to the shaft E.
During the latter part of the partial revolution of this shaft a tooth of the star
wheels engages the spring S and causes the arm R¹ to clamp the bolt and hold it
until the nut has been turned the required distance thereon.
The axis of the hole in the nut having been brought into coincidence with that
of the bolt as above described the nut is placed upon the bolt in the following
manner: The rear end of each spindle D is supplied with a ratchet face d, and the
said spindles are retained in a rearward position by springs as at d², which bear
upon the rear disc head D2 and act upon a squared portion d upon each spindle.
A shaft as at T, capable of longitudinal movement in sleeved bearings T' mounted
in the pillow block E' and T2 in the frame of the machine, as shown in Figure 1,
has its forward end provided with a ratchet-faced head t. This shaft is continuously
driven by a gear wheel t' on the sleeve T3, which sleeve is splined to the shaft, and
it is so placed with reference to the roulette nut recipient that when the longitudinal
axis of a spindle D is coincident with that of a bolt the longitudinal axis of said
shaft will be in alignment with that of said spindle.
During the time the nut recipient barrel is being partially revolved the shaft T
is maintained in a rearward position by a projecting face on the continuously
revolving cam L, the said face acting upon a lever U which has its fulcrum in an
arm attached to the pillow block E¹. The upper end of the arm U is forked and
pivotted to the sleeve T¹ in which the forward portion of the shaft T is mounted,
the said sleeve being retained in proper longitudinal position on said shaft by the
engagement of its ends with the ratchet faced head t and a collar secured to the
shaft.
Acting upon the lower end of the lever U and in opposition to the cam face
is a spring pin u which when the face ceases to act to retain the shaft T in its
rearward position causes a forward movement of said shaft and brings its head t

page_text: into clutch with the ratchet face upon the spindle, and advances the nut.
contained therein to the bite of the thread upon the bolt.
The spindle and shaft being in clutch the former is revolved and the nut is
turned upon the bolt the desired distance, which distance is governed by the
contour of the face of the cam L.
When the nut has been properly placed upon the bolt the face on the cam L
withdraws the shaft T from engagement with the spindle while the spring pin u
retracts the spindle. The respective rouletto recipients now partially revolve by
the action of the finger f on the shaft F to discharge the combined bolt and nut
which pass from under the guard plate R and drop into a receptacle placed to
receive them, the clamping force of the hinged arm R³ upon the bolt having been
annulled by the revolution of the star wheel 8.
Having described the bolt and nut recipients and the mechanism for and
operation of placing the nuts upon the bolts it now only remains to describe other
parts which act to ensure the proper operation of the machine and to rofer to the
feature of adjustment to provide for bolts of different lengths.
As herein-before stated the shape of the receiving end of each spindle D is such as
to admit of a nut being placed therein and held against turning on its own axis
while being placed on a bolt. Now as a nut in the conveyor b occupies a definite
position in such conveyor, that is, with one of its sides on the bottom of the conveyor,
it is necessary that the sides of the cavity in the receiving end of a spindle shall
occupy a certain position relative to the nut, in order that the said nut shall be
inserted in it. To ensure this that portion d³ upon the rear end of each spindle has
its four sides slightly concaved to engage with a disc as at V placed upon the
tubular stude on the pillow block E, as shown in Figure 5. A portion of this disc
as at vis cut away to allow the spindles to revolve while the nuts are being put on,
and the said disc is also provided with a book as at w, forming part of its periphery
which when the barrel partially revolves, engages one of the corners on the
portions d³ and turns the spindles, so that one of the concave sides of d³ will engage
the periphery of the disc V and the spindles be held during the remainder of the
revolution of the barrel in position to receive the nuts from the conveyor.
In case the springs d² fail to retract the spindles after the nuts have been placed
upon the bolts, the side of the disc V is made cam shape as at W, Figure 5, to
engage the rear of the ratchet heads and retract the spindle by a positive
motion.
When it is considered that nuts whose holes are not of the right size, or which
have not been tapped may gain admittance to the spindles D, it will be seen that
some arrangement is necessary to remove such nuts from the spindles, in order that
the machine may do its maximum work. For this purpose each spindle is provided
with a plunger as at d kept in a rearward position by a spring, the forward end of
the plunger when in such position being directly in the rear of and adjacent to the
nut, while its rear end projects beyond the ratchet head d¹, as shown at Figure 5.
During the revolution of the barrel and before each spindle reaches a position to
receive a nut from the conveyor b, the rear ends of the plungers d successively
engages a stationary cam Y, Figure 5, and are forced forward and clear the spindles
of any nuts remaining in them, and then retreat to their proper position after
passing the cam, so that the spindle may receive the nuts from the conveyor.
As bolts of the same diameter are made of a different length it is desirable that
the machine should be so constructed that nuts may be placed upon the different
classes by one and the same machine. For this purpose the discs M, M², composing
the roulette bolt recipient are made relatively adjustable, so that by placing a
washer of the requisite thickness between the discs M³, M', the required accommoda-
tion for the heads can be obtained and by varying the washers between the discs
M, M³, the bolt will be properly supported.
Since the position of the disc D2 is not varied for different lengths of bolts it will
be seen that the bolt hopper and conveyor must occupy a fixed place upon the
machine. It is therefore necessary that the devices operating to deliver and receive

page_text: the nuts and turn them upon the bolts be longitudinally adjustable relative to the
bolt recipient: For this purpose the position of the hopper B, the conveyor b, nuť
récipient barrel.D', D³, cam L, shaft T and other parts, are so secured to the pillow
block E¹ that their position relative to the bolt recipient is made dependent upon
the location of said block which is adjustably mounted on the frame of the machine,
and secured in any desired position by the hand screws Z. Thus the adjustment
of the parts for different longths of bolts is easily effected.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that by the roulette con-
struction, employed a succession of bolts and nuts are brought into alignment, and
combined, and that the operation of delivering the bolts and nuts to their respective
recipients takes place at the same time, thus allowing the machine to quickly
completo its work.
While I prefer greatly to make use of a multiple holder for the nuts and bolts it.
is obvious that, a single holder for a nut and a single holder for a bolt may be
employed instead of the revolving multiple holders shown and described, without
changing substantially in other respects the principle of the said machine. Any
machine for the purpose having two hoppers, devices for conveying the nuts and
bolts to respective recipients, whether of the roulette description or stationary, and
mechanism for bringing the axes of said bolts and nuts into alignment, so that the
latter may be screwed upon the former by mechanism forming a part of the machine
would be within my Invention. In the present machine the bolts are stationary
while the nuts are screwed on, but it is obvious that the bolts could be made to
revolve and be screwed into the nuts while the latter are stationary.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. In a machine for placing nuts upon their bolts the combination of the
following instrumentalities or organisms, that is to say-Two separate hoppers for
the bolts and nuts, two separate recipients, the one for the bolts and the other for
the nuts, mechanism for delivering the bolts and the nuts, one at a time, to their
respective recipients, mechanism for bringing the holders for the bolts and nuts into
coincidence, and mechanism for causing the bolts and nuts to be combined or put
together as above described.
Second. In combination with mechanism for delivering nuts one at a time, an
intermittently revolving recipient for the same consisting of a spindle or a series of
spindles mounted in tubular casings, each spindle being capable of being revolved
at stated times upon its own axis, and formed with a pair of stationary jaws and a
pair of spring holders at the end nearest the delivering mechanism, for receiving and
holding the nuts as above described.
Third. The combination with the tubular case or holder in which the same is
mounted of a spindle for receiving and holding a nut, such spindle being arranged
to have a longitudinal movement within its holder at stated times for projecting
the nut against the end of the bolt upon which it is to be screwed as abovo
described.
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Fourth. The combination with the spindle or series of spindles for holding the
nuts of a revolving clutch faced shaft adapted to lock with a corresponding clutch
upon the head of each spindle, and arranged at stated times to engage with the
head of each spindle as the series of spindles (if there be more than one) is inter-
mittently revolved, whereby the spindle carrying the nut in its jaws is projected
longitudinally to bring the nut against the end of the bolt upon which it is to be
screwed and at the same time rotated as above described.
Fifth. The combination with the tubular case or holder in which the same is
mounted, of a spindle for receiving and holding a nut and a spring adapted to
retract the spindle when the latter is relieved from the endwise pressure of the
clutch faced turning shaft which causes the spindles to be projected and revolved
as above described.
Sixth. The combination with an intermittently revolving recipient for receiving

page_text: and holding nuts, of mechanism for conveying and discharging the nuts one by one,
and a punch or plunger having an intermittent longitudinal movement for forcing
the nuts in succession into the receiving and holding jaws of the nut holder as
above described.
Seventh. The combination of a spindle for receiving and holding a nut and having
an intermittent rotary movement around a fixed axis, a clearer rod or device and an
inclined plane or equivalent device for operating such clearer whereby if a nut
should stick in the holder it will be discharged before a second nut is introduced, as
above described.
Eighth. In combination with mechanism for delivering screw bolts one at a time
to an intermittently revolving recipient for the same, a spring clamp operated by
means of a revolving star wheel or equivalent device for applying pressure to the
side of the bolt to prevent its turning in the holder while the nut is being screwed
upon the bolt, as above described.
Ninth. The combination of an intermittently revolving recipient for receiving
and holding nuts, with an intermittently revolving recipient for receiving and
holding bolts, the said recipients being so arranged that at each interval of rest of
the two respectively, the axes of one of the holders for the nuts, and one of the
holders for the bolts will coincide in the same straight line as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
W BORT LAKE 10.