Improvements in or relating to Self-acting Feeds and Chucks for Automatic and other Metal-working Machinery.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 12th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1900
Improvements in or relating to Self-acting Feeds and Chucks for
Automatic and other Metal-working Machinery.
I, HARRY WHARTON, of 127, Waverley Road, Small Heath, in the City of
Birmingham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention has relation to self-acting feeds and chucks principally for
use in connection with machines of the "automatic" type for boring, screw-
threading, shaping and performing other analogous turning and finishing opera-
tions upon metal by the aid of a series of different tools or dies mounted in a
rotating and reciprocating turret or carrier and adapted to act in succession
upon the metal blank or piece of work under treatment, which is usually held
in a rotating chuck, although the said invention is in part applicable to ordinary
metal-working machines for performing only a single operation by one tool.
Such automatic machines as are here referred to are now generally employed in
the manufacture of studs, rollers, plain and taper pins, milled and other rivets,
screws, with or without heads, collars or other enlargements, and analogous
articles, which are usually machined from a length of bar metal which is fed
in longitudinally from the end of the machine and through the hollow chuck
by which it is gripped and held whilst being worked by the tools, but in cases
where both ends of a pin have to be wormed or other second operations performed,
then the partly formed and cut off blanks require to be fed or introduced
laterally into the machine and it is to such lateral feeds that one part of my
invention relates.
Thus the first object of my invention is to provide a self-acting feed device
which will automatically set blank lengths or partly finished articles into a
position exactly lignable with the axis of the chuck, and shall also be universally
adjustable to receive and feed articles of varying lengths and diameters, whilst
the second object is to provide the chuck, into which the article is thrust for
a predetermined distance by an advancing gauge stop and there held, with a
means for automatically ejecting the said article when finished.
In carrying out one form of my invention, I mount upon a vertically adjust-
able bracket secured to the mechanically reciprocated cross slide of the machine,
an inclined feed slope, which may be of any desired length whilst its width
is in accordance with the greatest length of article which it is required to
deliver. The said feed slope is disposed in a direction at right angles to the
general length of the machine and is set only a slight inclination, just sufficient
to cause the pins, studs or like articles to roll down it by gravity. The opposite
sides of the slope are provided with parallel and adjustable guides or walls by
which both the height and width of the feed space may be varied according to
the length and diameter of the work to be fed. Thus, the one side wall, which
has a fixed overhanging flange along its top edge, is vertically adjustable upon
the edge of the said slope by a suitable arrangement of pins and slots, and the

page_text: opposite wall is provided with a flange which is adjustable to vary its height
from the feed plate or slope to conform to that of the flange on the first named
side, whilst the said second wall is itself bodily adjustable laterally or inwards
and outwards across the width of the feed plate, which is provided with a series
of guide slots for the purpose.
The height of the inner end of the slope is adjusted, by means of its bracket
or support so as to present and retain the lowest article of the series lying upon
the slope exactly in line with the axis of the chuck, in order to permit of a
gauge stop or like projection carried upon the turret or other reciprocating
tool carrier striking against the said article during its advancing movement and
thrusting it from off the feed slope and for a predetermined distance (governed
by the extent of the said advance) into the chuck by which it is gripped and
held in the usual way, whereupon the cross slide is caused, by the action of
the ordinary cams of the machine, to retire and carry the feed slope clear of the
chuck to admit of the projecting end of the article being screwed or otherwise
operated by the dies or tools in the turret.
This centering of the work is effected by providing the extreme inner end
of the slope with a sharp drop or incline and a pivoted and spring-acting stop
flap, which is arranged to project upwards along the innermost edge and he
normally retained in such position by suitably arranged springs whilst that side
wall which is bodily adjustable vertically, is provided, at the feed end, with a
supplemental guide piece capable of independent longitudinal adjustment so as
to admit of its inner end being brought to bear upon the top of the end of an
article to be fed, in a vertical line with its axis and thus prevent it being raised
off the setting incline at the bottom of the feed slope by the pressure of the
other articles behind it. The other width-adjusting wall has a portion of its
flange cut away at the bottom end to provide a clearance in which is mounted
a swinging arm pivoted to, and adjustable with, the side wall and having the
free end of it curved to lie around the other and opposite end of the article to
be fed and thus provide a third stop for retaining it in its position lignable
with the mouth of the chuck. This stop, which is kept down upon the work
by a suitably disposed spring, has the curved end independently adjustable to
suit different work diameters by hinging it to the body part and providing a
locking pin for securing the one to the other, whilst in order to ensure freedom
from disturbance from its adjusted position, the opposed surfaces which are
drawn together by the said pin may be roughened, serrated or toothed.
This arrangement of stops thus provides three points of contact against the
work, which is positively held in the proper position for being thrust trans-
versely off the setting incline and passed directly into the jaws of the chuck
by the advancing gauge stop, whilst when the feed slope is made to retire by
the movement imparted to the cross slide from the machine cams, the stop flap
and curved arm wipe over and come outwards of the gauge stop and are then auto-
matically returned by their springs to the stop positions for setting the next
article ready for feeding.
The chuck itself is of a spring or other construction adapted to automatically
grip the work after the latter ha been forced into it for the desired distance
by the gauge stop or the like. whilst in order to automatically eject the
finished work when the grip of the chuck is relieved, I provide within the
harrel or equivalent part of the said chuck, a longitudinally-working and suit-
ably guided plunger or bolt, disposed lignable with the entrance to the chuck
and having encircling it, a strong coiled spring arranged between a collar
formed around it and a suitable abutment on the inside of the relatively fixed
barrel.
When the article to be machined is fhrust into the chuck, its inner end
strikes against the plunger and forces it inwards against its spring, which is
thereby compressed and rendered active and is maintained in this condition so
Jong as the work is gripped by the chuck, but immediately the tooling opera-

page_text: tions have been completed, and the chuck is automatically opened by the action
of the cams and levers of the machine in the ordinary sequence of movements,
then the re-action of the spring impels the ejecting plunger forwards and the
finished article is thereby thrown out of the chuck.
By arranging the work feed with the slope set at only a slight inclination
as described and automatically with drawing its inner end clear of the turret
after the advance of the gauge stop, I am enabled in some cases, to provide
the turret or tool carrier with two sets of similar tools, with corresponding
double actuation cams on the barrel or drum, which is a desideratum in per-
forming some second or third operations in which only one die is required, such
as in the production of engineers studs and like articles having screw threads
at both ends. Thus, in producing the second thread, the articles, after having
the first thread formed in an ordinary end feed or other machine, are placed
in my improved feed and delivered to and gripped by the chuck, and then after
the retirement of the gauge stop, the turret rotates to bring round the screwing
die which advances, makes the thread and retires and the article is complete.
so that the only tools required are the gauge stop and the screwing die, and as
the turrets of such automatic machines as herein described usually have pro-
vision for five tools, my invention admits of duplicate sets of such tools being
employed without any liability of them being fouled by the feed slope.
Improvements in or relating to Self-acting Feeds and Chucks for
Automatic and other Metal-working Machinery.
I, HARRY WHARTON, of 127, Waverley Road, Small Heath, in the City of
Birmingham, 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: –
-
This invention has relation to self-acting feeds and chucks principally for
use in connection with machines of the automatic" type for boring, screw-
threading, shaping and performing other analogous turning and finishing opera-
tions upon metal by the aid of a series of different tools or dies mounted in a
rotating and reciprocating turret or carrier and adapted to act in succession
upon the metal blank or piece of work under treatment, which is usually held
in a rotating chuck, although the said invention is in part applicable to ordinary
metal-working machines for performing only a single operation by one tool.
Such automatic machines as are here referred to are now generally employed in
the manufacture of studs, rollers, plain and taper pins, milled and other rivets.
screws, with or without heads, collars or other enlargements, and analogous
articles, which are usually machined from a length of bar metal which is fed
in longitudinally from the end of the machine and through the hollow chuck
by which it is gripped and held whilst being worked by the tools, but in cases
where both ends of a pin have to be wormed or other second operations performed.
then the partly formed and cut off blanks require to be fed or introduced
laterally into the machine and it is to such lateral feeds that one part of my
invention relates.
Thus the first object of my invention is to provide a self-acting feed device

page_text: which will automatically set blank lengths or partly finished articles into a
position exactly lignable with the axis of the chuck, and shall also be universally
adjustable to receive and feed articles of varying lengths and diameters, whilst
the second object is to provide the chuck, into which the article is thrust for
a predetermined distance by an advancing gauge stop and there held, with a
means for automatically ejecting the said article when finished.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents an elevation of my feed
attachment applied to an automatic machine for making screwed engineer's
studs or the like, showing the same in its normal position.
Figure 2 is another elevation showing the attachment tipped up or tilted to
ensure the positive feeding of the articles or blanks to be machined.
Figure 3 shows a cross section of the said feed attachment or hopper, upon
an enlarged scale.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in Figures 1, 2
and 3.
In carrying out this form of my invention I joint or pivotally connect to a
vertically adjustable bracket b, secured to the mechanically reciprocated cross
slide c, of the machine the inclined feed attachment a, which may be of any
desired length whilst its greatest width is in accordance with the greatest
length of article which it is required to deliver. The said attachment is disposed
in a direction at right angles to the general length of the machine and, on
making its retiring movement with the cross slide, is tipped upon its joint b',
and made to partake of a slight inclination, just sufficient to cause the pins,
studs or like articles, or the blanks from which such articles are to be formed.
to roll down it by gravity. The opposite sides of the attachment are provided
with parallel and adjustable guides or walls a², a³, by which both the height
and width of the feed space may be varied according to the length and diameter
of the work to be fed. Thus, the one side wall a', which has a fixed overhanging
flange a³, along its top edge, is vertically adjustable upon the edge at of the
bottom by an arrangement of locking and guide pins d, carried by the said
bottom taking through verticle slots d in the side plate, and the opposite
wall a, is provided with an inwardly overhanging flange a³, which is adjustable
to vary its height from the feed plate or slope to conform to that of the fixed
flange on the first named side, whilst the said second wall is itself hodily adjust-
able laterally or inwards and outwards across the width of the said bottom or
feed plate, which is provided with a series of pins and guide slots for the
purpose.
The height of the inner end of the feed plate is determined and set by means
of its bracket or support being made in two vertically adjustable parts 3, 4,
locked together by a set pin 6, thus providing a means whereby the innermost
article of the series lying upon the feed plate is presented exactly in line with
the axis of the chuck, in order to permit of a gauge stop or like projection
carried upon the turret or other reciprocating tool carrier (which is shown
diagramatically in Figures 1 and 2 and marked e) striking against the said
article during its advancing movement and thrusting it from off the feed plate
and for a predetermined distance (governed by the extent of the said advance)
into the chuck by which it is gripped and held in the usual way, whereupon the
cross slide is caused, by the action of the ordinary cams of the machine, to
retire and carry the feed plate clear of the chuck to admit of the projecting end
of the article being screwed or otherwise operated by the dies or tools in the
turret and by this retiring movement an inclined plane f, secured to the under-
side of the plate is made to wipe over a roller g, carried by a fixed bracket g¹.
arranged within its path, thereby tipping the feed attachment as represented
in Figure 2 and ensuring the feeding forward into its centred position, by
gravity, of the next article or blank carried within the attachment.
This centering of the work is effected by providing the extreme inner end of
the feed plate with a sharp drop or incline and a pivoted and spring-acting

page_text: stop flap, which is arranged to project upwards along the innermost edge a7,
and be normally retained in such position by suitably arranged springs, whilst
the side wall a, which is bodily adjustable vertically, is provided, at the feed
end, with a supplemental guide or stop piece, capable of independent longi-
tudinal adjustnient so as to admit of its inner end j, being brought to bear upon
the top of the end of an article k, to be fed, in a vertical line with its axis and
thus prevent it being raised off the setting incline at the bottom of the feed
plate by the pressure of the other articles behind it. The other width-adjusting
wall, carries a second position arm m, fixed to, and adjustable with, the side
wall a, and having the free end m, of it curved to lie around the other and
opposite end of the article to be fed and thus provide a third stop for retaining
it in its position lignable with the mouth of the chuck. This stop, may have the
curved end independently adjustable to suit different work diameters by hinging
it to the body part and providing a locking pin for securing the one to the
other, whilst in order to ensure freedom from disturbance from its adjusted
position, the opposed surfaces which are drawn together by the said pin may
be roughened, serrated or toothed.
This arrangement of stops thus provides three points of contact against the
work, which is positively held in the proper position for being thrust trans-
versely off the setting incline and passed directly into the jaws of the chuck,
by the advancing gauge stop on the turret.
The chuck itself is of a spring or other construction adapted to automatically
grip the work after the latter has been forced into it for the desired distance
by the gauge stop or the like, whilst in order to automatically eject the
finished work when the grip of the chuck is relieved, I provide within the
barrel or equivalent part (represented in elevation in Figure 4) of the said chuck,
a longitudinally-working and suitably guided plunger or bolt a disposed lignable
with the entrance to the chuck and having encircling it, a strong coiled spring n¹,
arranged between a collar ², formed around the bolt and a suitable abutment o¹,
on the inside of the relatively fixed barrel o.
When the article to be machined is thrust into the chuck, its inner end
strikes against the plunger and forces it inwards against its spring, which is
thereby compressed and rendered active and is maintained in this condition
so long as the work is gripped by the chuck, but immediately the tooling
operations have been completed, and the chuck is automatically opened by the
action of the cams and levers of the machine in the ordinary sequence of move-
ments, then the re-action of the spring impels the ejecting plunger forwards
and the finished article is thereby thrown out of the chuck.
By the employment of a tilting feed attachment arranged and operating as
described and automatically withdrawing its inner end clear of the turret after
the advance and retirement of the gauge stop, I am enabled in some cases, to
provide the turret or tool carrier with two sets of similar tools, with corrc-
sponding double actuation cams on the barrel or drum, which is a desideratum
in performing some second or third operations in which only one die is required,
such as in the production of engineers studs and like articles having screw
threads at both ends. Thus, in producing the second thread, the articles, after
having the first thread formed in an ordinary end feed or other machine are
placed in my improved feed attachment and delivered to and gripped by the
chuck, and then after the retirement of the gauge stop, the turret rotates to
bring round the screwing die which advances, makes the thread and retires and
the article is complete, so that the only tools required are the gauge stop and
the screwing die, and as the turrets of such automatic machines as herein
described usually have provision for five tools, my invention admits of duplicate
sets of such tools being employed without any liability of them being fouled by
the feed attachment. Thus the tools are arranged in a succession of holes around
the turret, as seen for instance in Figures 1 and 2, where the hole 1 may be
fitted with the gauge stop and 2 with the screwing die of the first series 3 may

page_text: be vacant, whilst 4 and 5 may be respectively fitted with the gauge stop and
die of the second series.
Instead of the adjustable feed attachment or hopper being pivoted so as to
admit of it being tilted or inclined whilst making its rearward or retiring
movement, it may be fixed in a permanent inclined or sloping position, the
inclination being such that the work is always rolled or fed to the delivery
end by gravity. Further instead of the attachment being adjustably mounted
upon a cross-slide working in a horizontal plane, it may be carried upon a slide
which rises and falls or traverses in a vertical or oblique plane.
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:-
First: A gravity feed attachment or hopper for automatic and other
machinery, having adjustable sides and adjustable position or centering stops,
the whole being adjustably mounted upon a slide of the machine substantially
as and for the purposes herein described and also as set forth in the accom-
panying drawing.
Secondly-gravity feed attachment or hopper for automatic and other
machinery, having adjustable sides and position or centreing stops and pivoted
to an adjustable mounting carried on a slide of the machine, in combination
with a tilting incline or its equivalent on the attachment adapted to wipe over
a fixed bracket or other impingement arranged in its path, substantially as
and for the purposes herein testiibed; and also as set forth in the accompanying
drawing.
Thirdly: In automatic chucks, the employment of a work-ejector consisting
of a spring bolt located in the interior of the chuck and in line with the
entrance to the jaws thereof, and adapted to be forced back and made active
by the compression of its spring or the impingement against it of an article
fed into and gripped by the said jaws, so that when the grip of the jaws is
relieved, the said article is automatically thrown out, substantially as herein
described and also as set forth in the accompanying drawing.
HARRY WHARTON.
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.