Improvements in and relating to Hoop Making Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Hoop Making Machines.
We, JAMES PLEUKHARP and WILLIAM KELSEY LIGGETT, citizens of the
United States of America, residing respectively at No. 80 West Third Avenue,
and No. 178 East Town Street, both in the City of Columbus, County of Franklin,
and State of Ohio, one of the United States of America, Manufacturers, 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 :-
This invention relates to machines for making hoops which are formed from hoop
iron that is cut the required length, bent in circular form, and having the ends
overlap and secured together by rivets.
The purpose of the present invention is to devise a machine for punching and
riveting the overlapping ends of the hoop iron automatically, and in which the
jaws and die plates carrying the punching, riveting and wire feeding mechanism
will be relatively fixed as regards any longitudinal movement thereof, and which
will tilt on their pivotal support only to open and close said jaws on the over-
lapping ends of the hoop iron.
A further purpose of the invention is to provide simple and efficient mechanism
for moving the former around which the hoop iron is bent, so as to carry the over-
lapping ends of the hoop iron between the die plates of the jaws at the proper time
and in proper position to be operated upon by the punching mechanism, receive the
rivets, and upset the ends of the rivets, thereby completing the operation of riveting
the overlapping ends of the hoop iron.
A still further purpose of the invention is to improve this class of machinery and
provide a machine which will be comparatively simple in construction, efficient, and
perform the work in a rapid and satisfactory manner, and which will be durable,
easily manipulated, and in which the parts are readily accessible for purposes of
repair and cleaning.
The improvement consists of the combination with a pair of jaws carrying the
punching, wire-feeding and riveting devices, of a former to receive the hoop iron,
forming the hoop, and mechanism for moving said former to carry the overlapping
ends of the hoop iron between said jaws, whereby said overlapping ends are succes-
sively punched, receive the rivets, and have the ends of the rivets upset.
The improvement also consists in the combination with the jaws carrying the
punching, riveting, and rivet feeding mechanism, of a slide to cut the rivets from a
wire and clamp said rivets until thrust into the openings in the overlapping ends of
the hoop iron.
The improvement further consists of the special instrumentalities for operating
the former, separating the parts or sections composing said former, and returning
the same to a normal position after being actuated; the provisions for adjusting the
wire feeding rollers to cause them to grip the wires with a greater or less degree of
tension; the lubricating attachment for oiling the punching device; the receptacle
for receiving the cuttings; and the instrumentalities for starting and stopping the
machine and for actuating the jaws, and the wire feeding mechanism, which will be
hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and which are shown in the accom-
panying drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hoop forming machine embodying our invention.
Figure 2 is a front view of the said machine.
Figure 3 is a view from the rear side of the machine, having a portion of the
large gear wheel broken away to show the relative disposition of the ring, the pawl
for locking the drive pulley to the drive shaft, and the trip which has one end in

page_text: engagement with said ring and the other end constructed to engage with said pawl
to release the drive pulley to permit it to revolve freely on the drive shaft, and
showing the drive pulley and the inner portion of the sleeve which carries said
pulley in section.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of the machine looking to the right, showing the
jaws and the former in central longitudinal section.
Figure 5 is a detail view of the wire feeding mechanism on a larger scale, showing
a portion of the lever which carries the feed pawl in section to illustrate the relative
disposition therewith of said feed pawl and its actuating spring.
Figure 6 is a detail plan view of the wire feeding mechanism, showing the devices
for relatively adjusting the feed roller.
Figure 7 is a detached view of the drive pulley, looking at that side which is
provided with the shoulders with which the pawl engages to lock the drive pulley
and drive wheel together.
The frame of the machine, which is preferably of metal, is composed of two
similar side pieces A, which are connected and braced by suitable cross bars. The
shaft B, journaled near its ends in bearings provided on the side pieces A, has a
pulley mounted and adapted to rotate freely thereon, and is provided at one end
with pinion D, the sleeve d of which extends to and abuts against the hub of the
pulley C. This pinion D and sleeve d are keyed on the said shaft B so as to
revolve therewith. A. lateral extension d' projecting from the sleeve is recessed
to receive an elbow-shaped pawl E, which is pivotally connected with the said
extension d' at the elbow. The horizontal member e of the pawl E projects away
from the pulley C and the vertical member e¹ occupies a pendent position and is
adapted to be pressed towards the pulley C by a spring d² which is fitted in a recess
in the said extension d'. The side of the pulley C facing the pawl E, has two cam
faces on the inner periphery of the band, and two shoulders C² at points
diametrically opposite each other. Obviously, when the member el is projected
within the plane of the pulley C, it will be engaged by one or the other of the
shoulders C2 and lock the pulley C and shaft B so that they will revolve together.
An elbow-shaped trip F pivotally supported at the elbow has its horizontal
arm approximately parallel with shaft B and its vertical arm in a plane
parallel with the pulley C. The rear edge of the arm is provided with a
cam which is eccentric to and extends about one-third way around the shaft B
and is disposed so as to engage with the horizontal member e and disengage
the vertical member e¹ from the pulley C. The lower end of the arm is
attached to a hand lever X which is pivoted to the frame of the machine and
extends forward so as to be within convenient reach of the operator. By means
of this lever, the trip F is made to turn on its pivot, the lower end of the
vertical arm swinging outward, releasing the pawl E; see the dotted lines in
Figure 3. The trip may be returned to a normal position by gravity, but
to insure its quick and positive action a spring is provided and located
between the horizontal arm and the frame.
The shaft K parallel with the shaft B and journaled on the said side pieces A,
is provided on one end with a gear wheel L which is constructed to mesh with
the pinion D and which has a rim on its inner side to extend within the path
of the free end of the arm f. This rim has a depressed portion which receives
the end of the said arm when the trip is in a normal position, i.e., when the
machine is out of gear. During the time that the machine is in gear the arm f
travels upon the rim and holds the cam f2 out of the path of the member e
of pawl E. On this shaft is mounted a series of cams, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, for
actuating the jaws which carry the punching and riveting mechanism, and for
operating the wire feeding devices.
These jaws M and N are mounted on a cross bar O and have anti-friction rollers m
and n at their rear ends to travel on the respective cams 2 and 6, and 3 and 5.
These anti-friction rollers are mounted in boxes which are let into the said jaws, and
which are adjusted by means of set screws m¹. The rear end of the lower jaw N

page_text: is held against the cains 3 and 5 by means of a spring P². The weight of the rear
portion of the jaw M is sufficient to hold it in engagement with the cams and 6.
The wire feeding mechanism composed of grooved rollers Q and R, is carried by
the lower jaw N. These rollers are suitably mounted in the said jaw and have cog
gearing intermediate of their ends by means of which the said rollers are
positively rotated together. The journal of one of the rollers is extended and a
ratchet wheel S secured thereto and a lever T mounted so as to turn loosely
thereon. The lever T is provided at its lower end with a pawl t fitting into a
socket provided therein and adapted to be engaged by a springs by which it is
kept in contact with the ratchet wheel S. The rod T¹ depending from the end of
the lever T connects with the front end of a lever T2, the rear end of which is
constructed to engage with the cam 1 and be operated thereby. This lever T' is
pivotally supported intermediate of its ends on a side A of the frame of the machine,
and is provided at its inner end with an anti-friction roller to travel on the cam 1,
and is held against said cam by a spring t. The grooves in the rollers Q, and R
are roughened to engage the wire and the front roller is journaled in sliding
boxes q adjusted by the set screws g² by which the grip on the wire may be altered
or adjusted.
The former U, and V, each being semicircular in outline, are located on the front
side of the machine, and are placed to form a complete circle when together.
These formers are mounted on vertical guide rods W, and are connected together
by toggle levers u and u', the lever u being connected with the treadle by the rod u².
The lower former V is adjustably connected with a cross head 7 which is mounted
on the guide rods W and to which the toggle levers u are connected. The former V
is vertically adjusted with reference to the cross head 7 by means of the set screws u³
which pass through a rear extension of the former V and screw into the said cross
head 7. Obviously, by adjusting the former V, the machine can be adapted to
different sizes of hoop. The springs w mounted on the lower portion of the guide
rod W and supported on collars w¹ serve to return the former V to a normal
position after being actuated. Jaws 8 are provided above the upper former U to
This
act in opposition thereto to grip the overlapping ends of the hoop iron.
upper former U is cut away to permit the free working of the lower jaw N and
admit of the wire feeding mechanism being so disposed that the wire receiving
space between the rollers Q and R will come directly below the wire opening in the
said jaw N, as shown most clearly in Figure 4. The vertical rods W are hinged
at W at their lower ends to the frame of the machine, allowing in and out, or
backward and forward movement or oscillation of the hoop forming and carrying
mechanism. The vertical guide rods W are also provided with an arm Y extending
backward and upward, and furnished with an extension y adapted to engage the
grooved cam Z of the wheel L. This grooved cam Z is constructed with three
concentric arcs of different radii, by the engagement with which of the extension y
on the arm Y the in and out, or backward and forward movement of the hoop
forming and carrying device is secured.
Located between and supported by the jaws M and N are the die plates P and P¹.
The die plate P is provided with punches 9, the openings 10, of the width of the
wire and elongated in a plane at right angles to the frout of the machine or the
shaft K to the depressions 11. The die plate P₁ is provided with openings 12
directly opposite the punches 9 to receive the cuttings, openings 13 opposite the
elongated openings 10 to receive the wire 14, and depressions 15 corresponding
with the depressions 11 in the plate P, to give the proper shape to the heads of
the rivets.
The slide H, moving in bearings in the jaw N, is provided at its forward end
with a hardened steel plate or shearing tool hand at its farther end with an
adjustable plate h' adapted to engage the cam 4 by which the said slide is
actuated. The plate is kept in contact with the cam 4 by means of the
spring. A receptacle 16 is provided in the lower jaw N to receive the cuttings
from the punching tools. An oiler 17 is also provided in the upper jaw M,

page_text: with an opening to convey the oil to the punches and keep them constantly
lubricated.
The treadle J is held and returned to a normal position after being operated,
by the spring J' which is interposed between a lower cross bar of the frame
and a depending projection of the said treadle. The set screws ; are provided
to regulate the tension of this spring, as shown most clearly in Figure 3.
The hoop iron, previously cut to approximately the required length, is placed
around the formers and its ends lapped, the overlapping ends being placed
between the former U and the jaws 8, the operator presses down on the
treadle J which through rod 2 and the toggle levers u and u¹ separates the
formers and at the same time lifts them sufficiently to clamp the overlapping
ends of the hoop between the upper former and the jaws. The springs w carrying
the weight of the formers act as a yielding resistance. When the treadle is
depressed the upper former will be elevated until the hoop is clamped between it
and the jaws 8, a continued downward pressure on the treadle forces the lower
former down against the tension of the springs w. By this construction provision
is had to permit the overlapping ends of the hoop to slip during the separation
of the formers U and V, and yet hold them with sufficient tension during the
operation of punching and riveting. The hoop thus formed the size desired, and
securely held in position in the machine is ready to be operated upon by the
punching and riveting mechanism. The operator now moves the lever X releasing
the pawl E and permitting the same to lock the pulley C and the shaft B together,
thereby starting the machine. The arm f¹ is held out of the path of the pawl E
by the arm riding on the rim l.
The lower jaw then comes up first with the die against the work, and immediately
after the upper jaw comes down with the punches, making the holes in the hoop.
Then both jaws open simultaneously, at which time the wire 14 is fed through the
suitable holes in the lower jaw, the required length for a rivet. The hoop holding
mechanism then moves backward under the action of the arm Y and cam Z. At
the same time the slide H moves forward under the action of the cam 4, shearing
off the wire and clamping it securely between a shoulder p on the die P¹ and the end of
the slide H directly beneath the holes in the hoop. The jaws again coming together
under the action of the operating cams (2, 3, 5, 6) force the rivets up through the
holes in the hoop, where they are retained by friction. The jaws again re-open,
leaving the rivets in the hoop, the slide H moving backwards releasing them from
die P The hoop holding mechanism now moves forward under the action of
arm Y, cam Z, until the rivets stand directly opposite the recesses 11 and 15 in the
die plates. The jaws then close, bringing the recesses 11 and 15 of the die
plates P and P, respectively, upon the ends of the rivets, making a round head.
The jaws again re-open and the hoop holding mechanism returns to point of
starting under the action of arm Y and cam Z. The arm ƒ of trip F drops into
recess I', and the machine is automatically stopped, the completed hoop being reinoved.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :—
1. In a hoop forming machine, the combination with jaws provided with the
punching and riveting mechanism, of a former to receive the hoop iron, and
mechanism for moving said former to carry the overlapping ends of the hoop iron
between the jaws to be successively operated upon by the punching and the riveting
mechanism, substantially as set forth.
2. In a hoop forming machine, the combination with jaws carrying the punching,
riveting, and rivet feeding inechanism, of a former adapted to receive the hoop
iron, and mechanism for moving said former to carry the overlapping ends of the
hoop iron between said jaws to be successively punched, receive the rivets, and
have the ends of the rivets upset, substantially as set forth.
3. In a hoop forming machine, the combination with the jaws carrying the
punching and riveting mechanism, and a wheel, as L, having a cam Z having

page_text: portions at different radii, of a former having an arm projecting therefrom, and
having a portion of said arm engaging with the cam Z, whereby said former is
moved backward and forward to carry the hoop iron between said jaws to be
successively operated upon by the punching and riveting mechanism, substantially
as set forth.
4. In a hoop forming machine, the combination with the jaws carrying the
punching and riveting mechanism and a wheel L having a groove cam Z having
portions at different radii, of a pivoted former to receive the hoop iron having an
arm projected therefrom and provided with a portion to engage with said grooved
cam, whereby said former is rocked on its pivotal support, substantially as described
for the purpose set forth.
5. In a hoop forming machine, the combination with the jaws carrying the
punching and riveting mechanism, and the wire feeding mechanism, of a slide
constructed to sever portions from the wire to form the rivet, and mechanism for
actuating the said slide and the wire feeding mechanism, substantially as set forth.
6. In a hoop forming machine, the combination with the jaw M having elongated
opening 10, and the jaw N having an opening to permit of the passage of the rivet
forming wire and having shoulder p; of a slide constructed to sever portions from
said wire to form the rivet and clamp said rivet between said shoulder P and the
end of the slide, substantially as set forth.
7. In a hoop forming machine, the combination with the jaws provided with the
punching and riveting mechanism, and an actuating cam; of a slide for cutting the
rivets provided with an adjustable end piece to ride upon said cam, substantially as
set forth.
8. In a hoop forming machine, the combination with the jaws carrying the.
punching and riveting mechanism a shaft provided with cams for actuating said
jaws and the wire feeding mechanism, and a wheel L mounted on said shaft and
having a rim which is provided with a depressed portion l'; of a drive shaft, a
drive pulley loosely mounted on said drive shaft, a pawl E carried by said drive
shaft and adapted to engage with said drive pulley, a trip adapted to have one end
to travel on the rim and having its other portion provided with a cam f2, and a
lever under the control of the operator to move said trip and project the cam
portion within the path of a portion of the pawl E, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
9. In a hoop forming machine, the combination with the jaws carrying the
punching and riveting mechanism, feed rollers Q and R, and a shaft provided with
a series of independent cams for actuating said jaws and the feed rollers, of a
ratchet wheel S on the journal of one of said rollers, lever T loosely mounted on
the journal and provided in one end with a socket, a spring actuated pawl
located in the said socket to engage with said ratchet wheel, lever T2 pivoted
between its ends, one end being constructed to engage with one of said cams,
and having the other end connected with the lever T, and a spring t for
maintaining the free end of the lever T2 in engagement with the actuating cam,
substantially as set forth.
10. In a hoop forming machine, the combination with the jaws carrying the
punching and riveting mechanism; of wire feeding rollers located in one of said
jaws, adjustable bearings for one of said rollers, and set screws for adjusting said
bearings to vary the distance between said rollers, substantially as set forth.
11. In a hoop forming machine, the combination of the jaws M and N carrying
the punching mechanism, the jaw N having receptacle 16 projected forwardly
therefrom and communicating with the opening through which the cuttings escape,
to receive the said cuttings, and the lubricant, and a lubricator to automatically
supply oil to the punching mechanism, substantially as described.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.