Improvements in Machinery for Tapping Nuts.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 28th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 7th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Tapping Nuts.
A communication from abroad by FRANK STEEL COOK, of Springfield, Ohio,
United States of America, Mechanic.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an automatic nut tapping machine and consists essentially
of First. A hopper constructed to receive the blanks and to discharge them at a
predetermined rate to the tapping mechanism. Second.-Feeding mechanism
adapted to receive the nuts from the hopper and to deliver them one by one in
proper position on to the end of the tap. Third.-A. revolving head for rotating
the tap and two sets of jaws within the head adapted to grasp the shank of the tap
at two different elevations and means for opening and closing the said jaws
alternately whereby the finished muts that have passed over the tap may be dropped
off the other end of the shank. Fourth.-A. pump arranged to throw a flood of
lubricant upon the parts requiring the same and means for directing the said
lubricant back again to the pump reservoir. Fifth. Means whereby is facilitated
the arrangement of two or more similar automatic tapping mechanisms side by side
in the same machine and operated by the same shaft.
At
The following is a description of the different foregoing divisions in detail. The
hopper consists of a metallic cylinder or shell with preferably a flaring mouth.
Within is an inclined false bottom made rigid with the frame of the machine.
the bottom of this incline the wall of the hopper is slotted for the discharge of the
blanks which pass therefrom into and out from a suitable spout. The shell of the
hopper is caused to reciprocate back and forth about its vertical axis by a pitman
connection with a shaft. Concentric with this shaft is a pulley designed to have a
constant motion and a clutch is so arranged between the shaft and this pulley as to
engage the pulley with the shaft or to disengage the same, the construction being
such that when the pulley is engaged with the shaft the hopper will be reciprocated
as explained and the blanks be fed therefrom through its slotted side as explained,
and when the clutch is disengaged from the pulley, the hopper will remain at rest
and the feed of the blanks be suspended.
The second branch of the invention consists of a chute which receives the blanks
as they are discharged from the hopper and conducts them to the tap. It is
V shaped at its receiving end whereby the blank is prevented from standing erect
and is caused to lie flat against one side of the chute. A little further along the
chute the V shaped bottom is considerably flattened and upright sides are provided
and a little further on the bottom becomes flat and the sides sufficiently contracted
to cause the blank to rest horizontally on its flat face and to pass in this condition
forward to the tap. As the blank leaves the chute there is provided a curved
channel through which it passes and which finally directs it downward in a vertical
direction. At this point it falls upon the end of a horizontal plunger which projects
at right angles to the face of the blank and is actuated by a cam on the drive-shaft.
As this plunger recedes a nut blank drops down in front of it, then as the plunger
again advances a forwardly projecting tongue at its upper edge strikes the nut and
tilts it over on to its face and the plunger forces the blank forward between two
springs one of which presses upon the top of the blank and the other against one

page_text: side of the blank whereby it is properly centred above the tap which stands
vertically beneath it. The position which the blank now occupies is within a
vertical channel and immediately below a vertical plunger which plays within the
said channel and is actuated by a cam on the drive-shaft. This plunger now
descends and forces the blank squarely on to the top of the tap and maintains its
pressure until the tap has fairly engaged the blank. Both the said plungers
above described have a spring interposed between the plunger proper and its
driving cam so that when the blank comes to a bearing between the two springs or
upon the tap as explained the said spring in either case will operate to exert a
continuing pressure without permitting the plungers to come to a rigid bearing.
This is particularly important in the case of the vertical plunger since its spring
serves to maintain a sing pressure against the blank until the tap has properly
engaged it.
To prevent the blanks feeding too fast from the hopper into the chute the
following arrangement is provided. The chute is suspended intermediate of its ends
by a stirrup, the upper end of which engages the short extremity of a lever and at
the other end of the lever beyond the fulcrum is an adjustable weight. This lever
is suitably connected with the clutch whereby the loose pulley may be engaged
with or disengaged from the hopper agitating shaft. The lower end of the chute
maintains its position but when a given mumber of blanks (which is determined by
the position of the adjustable weight) have been fed into the upper end of the chute
the chute will tilt downward around its lower end as a centre and thus drawing
down upon a stirrup will tilt the weighted lever and disengage the clutch connection
between the drive-pulley and hopper agitating shaft. This immediately stops the
motion of the hopper and feed of blanks therefrom. As soon as the supply in the
chute has been partially exhausted the weighted lever will again descend will lift
the chute again into position and will re-engage the clutch causing the hopper to
feed its blanks.
The third part of the invention consists of a vertical head for holding the tap.
This head projects downward and at its lower end is by a bevel-geared connection
engaged with the drive-shaft so as to be constantly rotated in one direction. The
shank of the tap is provided with flats at two points beneath the tap. One set of
jaws engage the shank at the upper flats and another set of jaws engage the shank
at the lower flats. Encircling this head is a collar held by a yoke at the end of a
lever which latter through its connection with a cam on the drive-shaft causes the
collar to move alternately up and down. This collar through the medium of this
motion operates alternately to open and close the upper and lower sets of jaws so
that after a certain number of nuts have run down over the tap and fallen on to the
upper set of jaws these jaws will open and permit the nuts to fall down on to the
lower set of jaws. The upper jaws will then close upon the shank of the tap and
after they have closed the lower set of jaws will open permitting the finished nuts
to drop off from the lower end of the shank of the tap from whence they are
directed by a suitable spout into a receptacle to be borne from the machine.
The fourth part of my invention consists essentially of channels arranged at
suitable points to gather the oil that is used for lubrication and direct the same into
a receptacle beneath and a pump arranged to draw this supply of oil from the said
receptacle and to force the same in a flood through suitably located pipes on to those
parts of the apparatus requiring lubrication, such for instance the plungers and the
tap. This pump is preferably geared with the driving shaft.
The fifth part of the invention consists essentially of a transverse shaft engaged
by worm gears or otherwise with the driving shaft. Upon this transverse shaft is
located the cam for actuating the horizontal and vertical plungers and the cam for
actuating the collar which surrounds the shank of the tap. For a single tap
machine these cams may be fixed to the said transverse shaft but for a gang
machine or a machine designed to run several taps. These cams can be connected
with a collar loosely journalled on the shaft and adapted to be thrown into or out of
gear with the shaft by means of a shifting clutch which may be actuated at will by

page_text: a hand lever. In this way the same transverse shaft may operate a gang of taps
and each tap be made independent of the others, i.e., may be thrown into or out of
action at will.
A hook or stop is provided on the frame of the machine to engage the horizontal
plunger and prevent it from receding and so preventing the nuts from dropping
down in front of it. Through this means the feed of nuts to the tap may be
temporarily suspended to allow of the removal of a tap or for any other reason."
The hopper is also preferably provided with cam-shaped inclines on its lower
edge which ride upon stationary rollers so that as the hopper is rotated it will rise
and fall and so agitate the nut blanks and ensure their feeding.
Dated this 13th day of June 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Tapping Nuts.
A communication from abroad by FRANK STEEL COOK, of Springfield, in the State
of Ohio, United States of America.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil 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 invention consists essentially in a hopper for the reception of the blanks to
be tapped, adapted to feed them as the hopper is agitated, a trough for conveying
them thence forward in consecutive order, a horizontal plunger for feeding them
successively into a channel above the tap, a vertical spring cushioned plunger for
forcing them successively downward on to the tap and holding them till the tap
engages the same, a continuously revolving tap engaged by jaws at two points on
its length, one set adapted to be opened to permit the nuts to pass by, then closed,
and the other jaws adapted to be opened to permit the nuts to pass off from the tap;
and finally, automatic mechanism adapted to stop the vibration or feed of the
hopper whenever the weight of blanks in the feed trough shall exceed a
predetermined limit, and re-establish the feed when the excess shall have been
wasted from the trough.
Figure 1 illustrates a general view of the apparatus in section and elevation, and
Figure 2 a section at right angles with the hopper removed.
The frame A supports a shaft B and drive pulley B'. A bevel gear B² engages
a bevel B³, which rotates the tool chuck C. The details of this part of the
mechanism are illustrated in Figures 14 to 19. A revolving sleeve C has a
groove C wherein fits a yoke C³ connected with a pivoted lever which is actuated
by a cam D³, which engages a cam roller on the lever. This causes the sleeve
to rise and fall at stated intervals.
I is the tap engaged at two points on its length by jaws k and k', which may be
arranged at right angles with each other, as shown in Figure 15, or in the same
plane, as shown in Figure 19. Suitable lugs on the sleeve cause the upper jaws to
open as the sleeve moves downward, and permits the tapped nuts resting upon them
to drop down on to the other jaws. As the sleeve returns, the upper jaws are first
closed upon the shank of the tap; then the lower jaws are caused to open and the
nuts drop off from the lower end completely tapped into any suitable receptacle.
The impinging portions of the collar which actuate the jaws may be in the nature
of screws which can be adjusted to compensate for wear, or the screws correspond-
ing with one set of jaws may be loosened to facilitate removal or insertion of a tap.
The jaws are pivoted at k³, and have a heel on which the screws
operate to

page_text: open the jaws. This mechanism admits of considerable variation; thus, as shown in
Figures 20 and 21, the chuck may be divided, one set of jaws on one part operated by
one collar, and the other set of jaws on the other part operated by an independent
collar or, as shown in Figures 22 and 23, the two may be provided with but one
set of jaws, while a spring m may serve to hold the tap as the jaws open to drop off
the tapped nuts; or, as shown in Figure 24, the upper set of jaws may be above the
tapping teeth, and the other set below; or, both sets might be above the tapping
teeth, as shown in Figure 25 and in either case the blank might be engaged and
held with spring pressure against the tapping threads by any suitable means, as,
for instance, the plunger I might be continued around through and 15 to a
point o, the part 1 being pivoted to 13 and actuated by a projection of on a moving
part of the machinery, working in a slot o in the said arm. In the forms last
described, the jaws would open and close for each nut blank as the same is fed
downward. Where the chuck is divided, as before explained, there may be
provided a suitable support B7 for the revolving chuck, and a suitable gear 1 to
drive the same in unison with the other portion of the chuck.
Figures 3 to 8 show the hopper actuating mechanism. E is a support for the
hopper E. E is an inclined hottom, supporting the blanks. This is made rigid
with the bed Es. a is an orifice at its lower edge, through which the blanks are
fed into the trough F. E' is a cam wheel with a path in which engages a lug
from the rack-bar ², the rack of which engages cogs 7 on the hopper case E',
so that as the cam revolves the hopper is rotated back and forth through a short
distance. This causes the nuts to feed out regularly through the orifice a into the
trough, and that the orifice may maintain the same relative position with the
inclined bottom, inclines c' are provided on the bed at its base, causing the hopper
to correspondingly rise and fall as it is rotated. This also facilitates the feed.
The blanks passing into the trough are first dropped into a portion V shaped
in cross section, as shown in Figure 6, compelling cach blank to rest on its edge;
it is then gradually flattened down as it proceeds forward; as shown in Figures 7
and 8, until they lie on their flat faces. In this way they are fed forward into the
channel in front of the horizontal plunger Figure 9. The details of this
part of the mechanism are shown in Figures 9, 9, 9, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13.
The horizontal plunger has a tongue j, and as the plunger moves forward, the
nut blank is tilted over a projection on to its face, and is thus forced forward into
the vertical channel H2 beneath the vertical plunger 1. It is here held snugly in
place by a spring 23 until the plunger descends and forces it against the top
of the tap.
It is here held by the tension of the spring 12 until the tap firmly
engages it.
In the meantime, the plunger has receded and permitted another
blank to drop in front of it; the plunger Prises, and the next blank is fed
forward as before. D2 is a cam which actuates the two plungers. The con-
necting rod has a roller in the cam path which has shoulders and 12 to
regulate properly the throw of the plungers. The horizontal plunger has a lug f
entering the slot in the lever 2, which is pivoted at and engages the
connecting rod at while the lever His pivoted at and engaged at h³
with the connecting rod h, there being a slot 2 at this point; its purpose is that
when the rod rises, the plunger will be forced down by the spring I, which
will exert its tension on the nut, permitting the rod to continue its upward
movement without bringing the plunger I to a solid bearing on the nut blank.
The manner of regulating the feed of blanks will now be described, as illustrated
in Figures 1, 3, 3 and 4 of the drawings.
G is a loose pulley. When engaged with the cam wheel E, it agitates the
hopper; but when disengaged therefrom, the cam wheel rests and the hopper
stands still. e is a pawl on the face of the cam wheel, and represents a
projecting lug from the adjacent loose pulley. e² is an arm from the said pawl,
which projects out beyond the periphery of the cam wheel.
A spring e holds
the pawl normally, so that the lug e on the loose pulley will engage it, causing
the cam to rotate with the loose pulley and agitate the hopper. The feed

page_text: trough F is pivoted loosely at d. A spring d³, on a rod which passes through the
lugs d and has a head at one end and a nut d³ at the other, serves to hold the
trough up in its normal position. If, however, more than a given weight of the
blanks should be fed into the trough, the trough will tilt downward about d, and a
lever e engaged with the trough, as shown in Figure 1, will have its free end
tilted upward, and a lug ex, Figure 4, upon it will, as the cam wheel revolves,
engage the arme of the pawl e', tripping the same so that the lug e' on the loose
pulley will pass freely back of the pawl. The cam wheel will then instantly come
to a rest in the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 4. This stops the
hopper from feeding until the blanks have sufficiently wasted to permit the trough
again to rise by the action of the spring d³. This operates to release the pawl, the
cam wheel is caught up by the loose pulley, and the feed from the hopper
is resumed. Instead of the spring , it is manifest that an adjustable weight
might be employed on the free end of the lever at e in Figure 1, and a pitman
might be employed instead of the rack bar 6. So also the lever in Figure 9
might be simply a bell crank lever pivoted at a higher point, with its depending
arm operating directly to throw the horizontal plunger, instead of employing the
slotted arm as shown. So also, a spout L, illustrated by dotted lines, may be
adjusted to direct the finished nuts into a receptacle L', permitting the oil to drip
into a basin L2, and a pump L³ may draw the oil or lubricant therefrom and
force it through conduits L' and L³ on to the operative parts of the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, 1 declare that what I claim is :-
1. A nut tapping machine having in combination a feed hopper for the blanks, a
counterbalanced feed conduit adapted to receive the blanks one by one from said
hopper and to convey them all in the same position towards the tap, and means
whereby an excess of blanks over a given amount in the conduit will tilt the same
and automatically check the feed of blanks from the hopper, substantially as
described.
2. In a nut tapping machine, a continuously revolving upright chuck or pair
of chucks having two sets of jaws for gripping the tap at two points in its length,
in combination with mechanism adapted to open and close said sets of jaws
successively, whereby the nuts are permitted to drop from one set on to the other and
then off the end of the tap without the necessity of bringing the tap to a standstill,
substantially as described.
3. The means whereby a nut blank is carried forward in its proper position
over the tap and is held in contact therewith by spring pressure until engaged with
the tap, substantially as described.
4. The combination, with the continuously operating tap, as described, of the
delivery spout, the oil pan, pump and oil conduits, substantially as described.
Dated this 27th day of October 1890
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.