Improvements in Machines for Manufacturing Sheet Metal Hinges.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1899-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Manufacturing Sheet Metal Hinges.
A communication from GEORGE EDWARD SMART, of Hartford, State of Con-
necticut, U.S.A, Mechanical Engineer.
I, CHARLES AUBREY DAY, of 321, High Holborn, in the County of London,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to machines for manufacturing sheet metal hinges,
but has reference more particularly to improvements upon the British Patent
No. 7834 granted to Austin Brainard, dated April 1st, 1898.
The general object of this invention is to improve upon certain features of the
machine above referred to, and consists: first, to provide a series of anti-friction
guide-rolls for the strip of metal, thereby rendering the feed more reliable, and
throwing considerably less strain on the actuating mechanism and thereby pro-
longing the life of the machine; second, to provide means for rigidly supporting
the partly formed hinge strip during the broaching operation; third, to pro-
vide means to flatten and straighten the completed hinge, and at the same opera-
tion, to countersink the screw holes in the hinge leaves, whereby the hinge is
screwed to the door and jamb adapting the same for use.
Figure 1, of the drawings represents a plan view of the improvements in their
preferred construction.
Figure 2, represents a sectional end elevation, taken on line 2-2, of Figure 1,
in the direction of the arrows, and showing the arrangement of the friction
rollers.
Figure 3, represents a sectional end view through the supporting dies when
the broaching operation is performed upon the partly formed metal strip, and
taken on the line 3-3, of Figure 1, in the direction of the arrows.
Figure 4, is an enlarged view of that which is represented in Figure 3, also
showing the metal strip in position.
Figures 5, 6, and 7, are respectively front, plan, (looking from beneath to the
top) and end views of the setting or flattening die that carries the countersink-
ing punches for making the countersink in the hinge leaves adapted to receive
the screw heads.
Figure 8 and 9, are respectively front and side views drawn in an enlarged
scale of the detached setting or flattening dies.
The machine above referred to, is built very heavy, and designed to meet all
the requirements that are expected of this class of machines, and it is of the
greatest importance that the smaller details are taken care of to make the
machine a practical success, which I have shown and described in this application,
and are made the subject matter in the claims hereinto appended.
In the organization of parts shown in the drawings, the base 1. the die
blocks 133, with their stripping-plates 136, the die blocks 150 and 156, the cut-

page_text: ting-off die and the block 170, the supporting block 214, the assembling
finger 177, and the gripping finger 256, are in their construction and arrange-
ment identical with the machine shown in the aforesaid Brainard patent, and I
have therefore designated those parts with like figures.
The improvements in their preferred construction will now be described.
The die blocks 133, with their stripping plates 136, having the free space e
between them, are substantially identical in their construction with the die
blocks and stripping plates, as shown in the drawings of the patent above
referred to, but are provided with rollers a, mounted on studs b, in such a manner
that the lower part or hubs of said rollers are fitted into countersunk recesses c,
of the die blocks. It has been found, that after taking all possible care in con-
structing the machine properly, that the stock used for manufacturing hinges
is apt to vary in width, and also that the operation of the various tools upon the
metal strip tends to separate and spread the strip apart. The distortion as well
as the difference in the width of metal strip throws an enormous strain on the
guides for 'the strip and on the feed slide (such as would be employed herein,
for example, as represented in the drawings of the patent above referred to)
when the metal strip is moved ahead.
In practice, it is of the utmost importance to reduce this undue strain on the
guides, and I have therefore shown the anti-friction rollers a, countersunk into
the die block 133, giving them ample bearing downwardly, as the space above
the stripper-plate 136, is all taken up when the plunger and the tools carried
thereby descend.
As a means for supporting the binge knuckles, during the broaching operation
described in the aforesaid Brainard patent,. I have provided the supporting
blocks 156, with die blocks f and g, adapted to receive the partially formed
knuckles of the metal strip 13, as clearly shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4. The
die blocks f and g, are grooved on their lower sides as at h, serving as a strip-
ping plate and are provided with horns and k, and recesses M. The die
block is, in its preferred construction, provided with three horns, i, and two
recesses, whereas the die block g, has two horus k, and three recesses m; the
horns of the one therefore, corresponding in number with the recesses of the
other, and being directly opposite. The horns of the die blocks have their ends
rounded to conform to the partially formed knuckles of the hinge leaves.
The gate 175 is carried by the main reciprocating plunger of the machine and
said gate carries the double ended cutting off tool 175". In the gate are also
mounted the setting tools 178, 179 and 180, provided with a recess 181, fitting
the treble knuckled leaf, and whereby the three knuckles are pinched upon the
pintle as the upper pressgate descends. In the preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the construction is substantially identical with the patent
above referred to, but each of the setting tools 178, 179, and 180, are provided
with the two symmetrically disposed screw-hole countersinking punches and o,
fitting loosely in their respective sockets of larger size than the punches of the
setting tools, but held in position by the set screws p, engaging in grooves of the
punches. The sockets in the setting dies are made larger than the punches for
the reason that, should a slight difference occur in the feeding of the metal strip,
the holes previously punched will not come in line with the punches and o
which will yield and centralize themselves, as the set screws p, are not expected
to be tight with the punches, merely acting to retain them in their sockets when
the setting tools move upwardly. The lower projecting ends of the punches are
tapered corresponding to the heads of the wood screws whereby the hinge leaves
are fastened to the doors and jambs adapting them for use. The ends of the
setting tools 178, 179, and 180, are provided with ledges r and s, being beveled
on their inner sides which fit the hinge leaves, thus, when the setting tool 178,
179 and 180 descend, the beveled edges and s, centralize the hinge; the
punches n and o, are forced into the leaves, and the straight. surfaces t, flatten
the now completed hinge on the supporting block 214.

page_text: The operation of the machine is apparent from the foregoing description taken
in connection with the aforesaid Brainard patent.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of die blocks having
a free space between them, of cutting dies and stripping plates mounted on said
die blocks, and of a plurality of rollers on each side of said free space forming
two series of oppositely disposed guiding rollers, the same being located to the
rear of the inner edges of said stripping plates and having hubs which project
into the die blocks, substantially as described.
2. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of the oppositely dis-
posed die-blocks 133, having a free space between them, the cutting dies 134,
and the stripping plates 136, mounted on the die blocks, the oppositely disposed
rollers a resting upon the die-blocks and provided with integral hubs mounted
within the die blocks, said rollers projecting through the stripping plates.
3. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of the supporting
blocks 156, of the undercut die blocks f and g mounted on the supporting
blocks, the die blocks being provided with grooves to receive the metal strip,
and with horns and recesses in substantially such positions, that the recesses of
the one are oppositely disposed the horns of the other, the horns having their
inner faces rounded, stripping plates 136 having undercut inner edges and anti-
friction rollers to the rear of said inner edges and projecting into said strip-
ping plates, said rollers bearing in the blocks supporting said stripping plates.
4. In a hinge machine, the combination of the supporting block 214, the
gate 175, setting tools 178, 179, and 180, oppositely disposed countersink
punches and o, mounted in the setting tools, and means whereby the punches
may yield laterally but not vertically and means to prevent accidental dislodge-
ment of said punches.
5. In a hinge machine, the combination of the supporting block 214, the
gate 175, setting tools 178, 179, and 180, oppositely disposed countersink
punches and o, mounted in sockets of the setting tools, the sockets of larger
diameter than the diameter of the punches to admit of lateral play and means
for retaining the punches in their sockets.
6. In a hinge machine, the combination of the supporting block 214, the
gate 175, setting tools 178, 179 and 180 and having a free space between them,
and o
the recesses 181, in said tools and the oppositely disposed punches 1.
mounted in the setting tools, the punches having the outer ends beveled to corre-
spond with the bevel of wood screws and means whereby the punches may yield
laterally but not longitudinally during the operation thereof.
L
001
T. 1900
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.