MACHINE. The machine here illustrated is designed to tap auto matically square or hexagonal nuts. Immediately under the hopper, which is intended to receive the blank nuts, is an openingthrongh which theblanks fall into a trough, which conveys them to the feeding mechanism. This part of the machine is so adjusted that the blanks are discharged with sufficient rapidity to supply the screw-thread ing mechanism, and at the same time to prevent more than the needed quantity being discharged. Provision is made for automatically stopping or starting the mechanism agitating the hopper, and thus starting or stopping the flow of blanks, whenever the Dumber of blanks in the conduit is increased or diminished from the given quantity. The number of blanks in the conduit sufficient to stop or start the agitating mechanism may be varied as desired. The conduit is placed at such an angle that the blanks pass through it to the feeding mechanism by gravity, and it is made of such shape, that the blanks, as they fall in it and pass downward to the feeding mechanism, are gradually turned so as to fall on one of their flat sides. The lower portion of the trough is curved, as shown in the vertical sectional elevation, Fig. 2, to a vertical position, and :joins the feed case at right angles. This feed case contains a T-shaped or three-way chamber, the main portion of which stands horizontally and at right angles to the end of the conduit. The cross portion of the T-shaped chamber stands vertical, and is pro vided in its upper arm with a spring plunger of the size and shape of the blank to be tapped, the lower arm being formed in cross section to corespond with the blank to be tapped, and adapted to receive the upper end of the tap, I, supported at its lower end by the chuck, C. Immediately back of the point where the conduit joins the chamber is a plunger adapted to feed the nut forward. The actuating mechanism is operated by rod, II., the movement of which is controlled by the cam groove, D2, placed on the wheel, D, which is operated through the worm on the shaft, B. The blanks from the conduit fall in a vertical position into the chamber, As the plunger advances, each blank is carried forward until the lower edge strikes against a projection formed on the bottom of the chamber. The blank is thus turned, and a further motion of the plunger carries it forward to a point immediately above the tap.
and just below the spring plunger. Provision is made to insure that the blank will come to the proper place over the tap, and for holding it at the proper point to be fed under the tap by the spring plunger. At the proper time, the full force of the spring plunger is
exerted against the blank, which is held upon the tap until it is formally engaged. The chuck, C, which carries the tap, is hollow throughout its length, and is secured in a beveled gear, the hub of which turns in a suitable bearing in the main frame. This gear is driven by another gear, as shown in Fig. 2.
The tap is supported in a vertical position, with the screw-threaded portion upward, the lower part or shank being of such a size as to permit the nut to drop off when released by the chuck mechanism. The tap is revolved by the chuck, and means are provided for auto matically disengaging the tap at one point when it is engaged at another, thereby permitting the finished nuts to drop by their weight from one end of the tap without any intermission in the motion of the machine, and without changing the longitudinal position of the tap. The main portion of the chuck, shown in vertical section in Fig. o, consists of a sleeve pro vided at different points in its length with two pairs of jaws, which are adapted to embrace the tap at different points, and are placed preferably at right angles to each other, although they may be supported in the same vertical plane, as shown in Fig. 4. The jaws, k Az, are each pivoted in a slotted opening in the sleeve, and are provided at the bottom with.a cam projection. Surrounding the supporting sleeve is an outer collar provided in its periphery with a groove, and with adjustable projections provided to hear against the outer surfaces of the jaws. This collar is adapted to revolve with the sleeve, and is also capable of longitudi nal movement on the sleeve. As it is moved longitudinally in either direction, its projec tions come against the cam projections on the respective jaws, causing them to separate, thus releasing the tap, the projections being so placed on the collar that when one pair of jaws is being opened, the other pair is closed tightly against the tap. Supposing the upper pair of jaws to be closed on the shank of the tap. for a time sufficient to tap a sufficient number of nuts, then the lower pair of jaws are closed on the shank, and the other pair opened. thereby permitting the tapped nuts to fall on the shank, and to rest between the two pairs of jaws. The upper jaws then become clamped on the shank, and the lower jaws opened, when the finished nuts are permitted to fall freely.
Oil Cup : see Lubricators. Oil Engine : see Engines, Gas.
Opener : see Cotton-spinning Machines.
Open-hearth Furnace : see Steel, Manufacture of.