Year: 1887

page_text: I, FREDERICK LACHNER of No. 132 South Eighteenth Street, Pittsburgh, in the
County of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, and United States of America, Machinist,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to
he performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
The invention herein relates to certain improvements in machines for forming
hexagonal nut blanks, the operations of said machines consist in severing heated bars
or rods into certain lengths or sections and in simultaneously compressing such
lengths or sections longitudinally, thereby causing it to assume a hexagonal shape or
contour, and punching a hole longitudinally through the blank, these compressing
and punching operations being effected while the blank is held in a suitable die box
or matrix, said blank being caused to expand or spread laterally to fill the die, by the
conjoint action of the perforating and compressing punch and die. In this class of
machines, as heretofore constructed, it is extremely difficult to obtain such accuracy
of movement of the parts as to effect a complete filling of the die box or matrix, the
result of such incomplete filling being a blank having walls of uneven thickness
Another difficulty
surrounding the longitudinal hole or opening therethrough.
encountered in these machines has been the clogging up of the hollow die, with the
material removed from the center of the blank, and also the incorrect adjustment of
the severed section in front of the die or matrix preparatory to its being forced
therein. The object of my invention is to so construct a machine as to obviate the
difficulties above referred to, thereby ensuring the formation of true, regular nut
blanks, and to this end my invention consists in the construction and combination of
parts substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.
Figure 1, is a top plan view of my improved nut blank forming machine.
Fig. 2, is a central vertical section of the same on line -, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is a transverse section in the line y-y, Fig. 1.
Figs. 4 & 5, are horizontal sections of the parts of the machine directly operative in
the blank, showing the beginning and end of the blank forming operations.
Fig. 6, is a detail view of the cutter in an enlarged scale.
Fig. 7, is a detail view of the die and its stripping piston.

page_text: At one end of the frame 1, is journalled the power shaft 2, on which is secured the
pinion 3, adapted to intermesh with the gear wheel 4, secured to the countershaft 5,
mounted in suitable bearings 6, upon the bed 1. On the shaft 5, between the
bearings 6, is secured the cam 7, over which is placed the yoke 8, said yoke being
extended at its front and rear ends, which are provided with laterally extended
wings 9, adapted to slide in bearings formed on the inner surfaces of the side bars of
the frame 1. In the front end of the yoke 8, is secured the hollow die 10, adapted to
fit snugly within the matrix formed in the block 11. This block 11, is secured in any
suitable manner within the block 12, said block 12, extending transversely across the
frame 1, and preferably formed integral therewith as shown. On the side bars of the
frame in front of the block 12, are formed the guide ways 13, on which is mounted
the sliding head 14, having secured therein the hollow die 15. In the end of the
frame is secured, by the set screw 16, the punch 17, which projects rearward through
the sliding head and the hollow die 15, into the matrix in the block 11, its front end
being just within the matrix as clearly shown in Figs. 4 & 5. The free end of the
pinch is made of uniform diameter for a portion of its length as shown and fits
closely within the hollow die 15, which serves to support and steady the punch during
the operation of the machine as will be more fully hereinafter stated.
The block 11, in which the nut forming matrix is cut, is extended laterally as
shown in Figs. 3, 4, & 5, and in such extension is formed a transverse hole or
opening 18, through which is fed the bar or rod a, from which the nut blanks are cut,
corresponding perforations being formed in the sliding head 14, and the end of the
frame, as shown, the rod being fed by hand or any suitable feeding mechanism from
the front of the machine. In the bracket 19, formed on or secured to the frame 1, in
line with the block 12, are formed suitable guide ways 20, on which is mounted the
reciprocating block 21, having the cutter 22, secured therein, said cutter being
provided with the prongs 23, adapted to pass above and below the portion or section b,
of the bar to be severed. The rear end of the block 21, is provided with the vertical
arms 24, through the ends of which are passed the rods 25, and on the outer ends of
the rods is mounted the cross bar 26; the ends of the rods are threaded as shown and
on the threaded portions are screwed the nuts 27 & 28, by means of which the cross
bar 26, can be adjusted to and from the arms 24, to take up wear on the cam or arms.
In the yoke thus formed, is located the cam 29, mounted on the shaft 30, having on
its rear end the bevelled pinion 31, intermeshing with the corresponding pinion
secured on the end of the shaft 5. The cam 29, is so constructed as to move the
cutter 22, not only across the feed opening in the block 11, but also to move it until
the severed section b, supported by the prongs 23, lies in front of and in line with the
nut forming matrix. In the front end of the yoke 8, is formed the vertical slot 32,
communicating with the horizontal opening in which the hollow die 10, is secured
through the vertical slot 32, passes the bar 33, secured at its ends to the cross
bars 34, attached at their ends to the side bars of the frame. To the bar 33, is
secured one end of the delivery piston 35, fitting within the die 10, and being so
constructed that its front end will project slightly beyond the front end of the die,
when the latter is at the rear limit of its motion.
3
On the front end of the yoke 8, are formed the lugs 36, through which are passed
the rods 37, the front ends of said rods passing loosely through the sliding head 14;
these rods are adapted to cause the sliding head to move with the yoke during its
rear-ward movement and to permit said yoke to move independent thereof during its
forward stroke. The length of section to be severed from the bar a, is regulated by
the stop 38, secured to the block 12, in line with the feed opening in the box.
The operation of the machine is as follows, the bar a, having been properly heated
is fed through the feed opening 18, in the block 11, until itabuts against the stop 38,
the cutter 22, is then moved forward by the cam 29, severing a section b, from the
bar and carrying the same in front of the matrix, and the die 15, which during this
part of the operation lies within the matrix. The die 10, is now moved forward
against the section b, held in the cutter, the onward movement of the die forces the
section into the matrix, the die 15, being free to move back. As the section of the

page_text: bar is being pushed into the matrix it is forced over the punch 17, the front end of
the punch lying as above stated in the matrix, and being gradually uncovered as the
die 15, is forced back. It will be observed in this connection, that the punch is left
unsupported by the die 15, only as it enters the section b, there is no liability of any
lateral displacement of the punch, thereby ensuring a true perforation of the section b.
The die 15, continues to move back until the punch 17, has been forced through the
section, the motion of the die 15, is then stopped by the abutment 39, against which
the sliding head 14, strikes. This abutment consists of a series of washers placed
around the punch 17, between the sliding head 14, and the end of the frame. After
the motion of the die 15, has been arrested as above stated, the die 10, continues its
forward movement sufficiently far to effect the amount of end compression necessary
to complete the expansion of the section b, into the matrix, commenced by the
punching operation. As the punch passes centrally through the section b, and as the
pressure is equal on all parts of the ends of the section, it follows that the section will
be caused to expand equally in all directions and completely fill the matrix.
After the compression has been completed as above stated, the die 10, is withdrawn
from the matrix, and during its rearward movement, the sliding head 14, is drawn in
the same direction by the rods 38, thereby causing the die 15, to move through the
matrix and force out the completed blank. The rods 37, however, are of such a
length that the die 10, has a movement equal to the amount of compression effected,
before the rods 37, will engage the sliding head, hence the die 10, will be free of the
blank before the latter emerges from the matrix. As the die 10, is drawn back, it
slides over the delivery piston 35, which will punch out the metal forced into the die
by the punch 17, during its operation as above stated. As this metal is removed
from the dic, at each revolution of the machine there is no liability of clogging the
die as frequently happens, where the metal is forced through the die by successive
operations, i.e. the metal removed from one blank being forced through and out of
the die by the metal removed from successive blanks.
It has been ascertained by experience that in the class of machines where the punch
reciprocates to effect the perforation of the blank, the punch is liable to bend and
consequently produce an angular opening through the blank, but by supporting the
punch laterally and causing the blank to move over the punch, a true perforation of
the blank is obtained.
It has heretofore been customary in this class of machines to operate the cutters by
a lever actuated by a grooved cam on the power shaft, but in such a construction the
moving parts are rapidly worn away and twisted out of line, the consequence of such
wear and distortion being an improper presentation of the section b, to the matrix,
i.e. the section b, is not carried sufficiently far to be truly pushed into the matrix.
But by applying power to the cutter or its carrier directly in line with the inotion of
said cutter or carrier, an equal and uniform movement of the cutter is obtained,
without liability to twisting the parts out of line, and with a minimum of wear.
In place of using a matrix adapted to form hexagonal blanks, it may be constructed
to form blanks of any desired shape, the contour of dies being correspondingly
changed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :
1. In a nut machine, the combination of a matrix a stationary punch having its
operative end located within the die box or matrix and reciprocating die for forcing
the blank into the matrix over the punch, substantially as set forth.
2. In a nut machine, the combination of a die box or matrix, a stationary punch
having its operative end located within the die box or matrix, a die adapted to slide
back and forth in the die box over the stationary punch, and a reciprocating die for
forcing the blank into the die box and over the punch, substantially as set forth.
3. In a nut machine, the combination of a die box or matrix, a stationary punch
having its operative end located within the die box, a die adapted to slide back and
forth in the die box over the stationary punch and an abutment for arresting the

page_text: motion of said die, and a reciprocating die adapted to force the blank into the die box
or matrix over the punch, and against the other mandrel, substantially as set forth.
4. In a nut machine, the combination of a hollow reciprocating die 10, and a
stationary delivery piston located within the mandrel, substantially as set forth.
5. In a nut machine, the combination of a cutter adapted to sever the section or
blank and transfer it to position in front of the nut forming matrix, and a rotating
cam located in line with the motion of the cutter, and adapted to reciprocate the same,
substantially as set forth.
6. In a nut machine, the combination of the yoke 8, carrying the die 10, the die
box or matrix, the movable die 15, and the sliding head 14, the head 14, being so
connected to the yoke 8, as to move therewith during the rearward movement of the
yoke, and to be independent thereof during the forward movement of the yoke,
substantially as set forth.
7. In a nut machine, the combination of the yoke S, carrying the die 10, the die
box or matrix, the movable die 15, the latter being operated in one direction by the
yoke in its movements, substantially as set forth.
8. In a nut machine, the combination of the yoke 8, vertically slotted as described
and carrying the hollow die 10, the bar 33, passing through said slot and secured to
the frame of the machine, and the delivery piston 35, secured to the bar 33, substan-
tially as set forth.
FREDERICK LACHNER.
Carpmael & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.