Apparatus for raising hooks of semi-finished spring products

The present invention concerns a hook raising apparatus and more particularly, an apparatus for raising hooks of semi-finished spring products which are produced by a spring manufacturing machine.

Conventionally, there have been various disadvantages in the apparatus of this type.

In the first place, since the known apparatus is so arranged that semi-finished springs processed by a spring manufacturing machine are each transferred to a hook raising section by subjecting a horizontal rocking arm having a pair of vertically arranged upper and lower semi-finished spring holding pieces, to a rocking or pivotal movement in a horizontal direction, it has been extremely difficult to correctly discharge the springs completed with raising hooks and held between the holding pieces, only by the mere opening or spacing between the pair of upper and lower holding pieces and, therefore, in order to discharge the processed springs automatically from between the pair of upper and lower holding pieces, a spring discharge unit is required to be separately installed for the purpose.

In the second place, in the conventional apparatus, owing to the fact that no mechanism is provided for controlling the position of the semi-finished spring held between the pair of upper and lower holding pieces, there have been cases where the semi-finished spring is not correctly positioned as preliminarily set with respect to hook raising tools, thus resulting in an increased rate of faulty items produced.

In the third place, since the prior art apparatus are generally arranged to effect the raising of hooks merely by holding the semi-finished springs between the pair of upper and lower holding pieces, there has been such an inconvenience that the pair of upper and lower holding pieces are undesirably spaced by yielding to a force which may be exerted on the semi-finished spring during the processing thereof.

An object of the present invention to provide an improved hook raising apparatus which is capable of automatically discharging finished springs without necessity for installing any particular unit for the purpose and which is also able to effect the hook raising after proper positional control of the semi-finished springs so as to substantially eliminate disadventages inherent in the conventional apparatus of this kind.

According- to the present invention an apparatus for raising hooks of semi-finished spring products is characterized in that it comprises a rocking arm arranged to be pivotally movable between an upper and a lower positions and having a pair of lateral semi-finished spring holding pieces at its forward end portion for transferring the semi-finished springs manufactured by a spring manufacturing machine towards a hook raising section provided above a spring discharge opening formed in a table of the apparatus, a clamping unit for fixedly clamping the semi-finished spring holding pieces which have been tranferred to the hook raising section, a rotational position control member which rotates the semi-finiched spring held between the semi-firished spring holding pieces for positional control thereof and a pair of slide members on which hook raising tools are mounted and which are adapted to advance freely towards or withdraw from the hook raising section as desired.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example with reference to the accompanying draw, in which:-

• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a semi-finished spring product to be processed by an apparatus of the present invention,
• Fig. 2 is a plan, partly broken away, of a hook raising apparatus for semi-finished springs according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention,
• Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line III-III of Fig. 2;
• Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-section view on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3; and
• Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-section on the line V-V of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a semi-finished spring product 1, which has a main body 2, a lower hook 3 formed at the lower portion of the main body 2 and completed for raising, and an upper hook ₄ formed at the upper end of the main body 2 and not subjected to the hook raising processing as yet. It is to be noted that the hook raising apparatus 11 is intended to raise the upper hook 4 of the semi- finished spring 1 and that such semi- finished spring 1 is manufactured by a known spring manufacturing machine 9 partly shown by chain dotted lines in Fig. 2. It should further be noted that Fig. 1 shows only one example of the semi-finished spring 1, and the configurations of the hooks 3 and 4 may be altered in various ways as desired.

Figs. 2 to 5 show the apparatus 11 for raising the hook 4 of the semi-finished spring 1 according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The hook raising apparatus 1,1 includes a table 12 arranged to be movable in a vertical direction, and also, laterally to left and to right in Fig. 2 with respect to a base (not shown) for positional adjustment relative to the spring manufacturing machine 9 so as to be fixed at desired positions in relation to the base.

A rectangular discharge opening 13 is formed at a generally central portion of the table 12, for discharging finished springs therethrough, a chute 14 being arranged below the opening 13 for leading the discharged spring towards the front portion (i.e. the right hand side in Fig. 3) of the apparatus 11. A hook raising section 10 is provided above the spring discharge opening 13.

A shaft 16 is supported by a pair of bearings 15 mounted at the rear portion of the table 12. A rocking arm 17 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 6 for transferring the semi-finished spring 1 produced by the spring manufacturing machine 9 to the hook raising section 10 . A gear 18, is mounted at a base portion of the rocking arm 17, which gear 18 is engaged with a sector gear 19. The sector gear 19 is arranged to be pivotally moved by a known type power transmission machanism including a cam (not shown) rotated by a motor (not shown) which functions as a power source for the entire apparatus 11, and a follower (not shown) to be actuated by the cam, etc. The rocking arm 17 is adapted to be pivoted in a vertical direction, between upper and lower terminal positions by the pivotal movement of the sector gear 19. A semi-finished spring holding member 20, mounted at the free end of the rocking arm 17, has a pair of left and right semi-finished spring holding pieces 21. These holding pieces 21 are each pivotally mounted on the rocking arm 17 through corresponding pins 22, and are integrally formed with sector gear portions 23 which are in mesh with each other so that when either one of the holding pieces 21 is actuated, the other holding piece 21 is actuated in synchronization therewith. A split semi-cylindrical holder'24 extends from the forward end of each of the holding pieces 21 for holding the semi-finished spring 1. The holder 24 has spiral grooves 25 formed in the inner peripheral surfaces thereof for facilitation in holding of the semi-finished spring 1. A spring member 26 is disposed between the left side of the holding piece 21 and the rocking arm 17 so that the holding member 20 is normally closed by the action of this spring member 26. A bracket 27, on which a roller 28 is rotatably mounted is provided at the right side of the holding pieces 21. An arcuate pressure plate 29 is disposed at the right side of the roller 28 for opening the holding member 20 against the force of the spring member 26. The arcuate pressure plate 29 is formed so that it can depress the roller 28, even when the rocking arm 17 is located in any of the positions within its range of movement. The pressure plate 29 is mounted on a sliding plate 31 via two connecting rods 30, the sliding plate 31, being attached on a sliding sleeve 32, in turn slidably fitted in a fixed shaft 33, without any relative rotation with respect to this fixed shaft 33, which is mounted on the table 12 via a pair of brackets 34. The sliding plate 31, is arranged to be moved in the laterally to left or right at a desired time by a known type power transmission mechanism 38 which includes a cam 35, a pivotal piece 36 and a connecting rod 37. It is to be noted that the connecting rod '37 and the sliding plate 31 are connected to each other through a ball joint 39.

A pair of bearings 41, in which a rotary shaft 43 having a rack portion 42 is rotatably fitted for simultaneous lateral movement therein is provided at the front portion of the spring discharge opening 13. A pivotal member 44 is fitted on to the rotary shaft 43 without any relative rotation with respect to this shaft 43, three gears 45, 46 and 47 being mounted on the under face of the pivotal member 44. The gear 45 engages the rack portion 42, the rotation of the gear 45 being transmitted to the gear 47 through the gear 46. The gear 47 is mounted with a disc-shaped rotary position control member 48, which is provided with a depending projection 49 for contacting the hook 4 of the semi-finished spring 1 located below the pivotal member 44 when this latter is brought into a horizontal position. The depending projection 49 is arranged to catch the hook 4 of the semi-finished spring 1 held by the semi-finished spring holding member 20 through rotation of the position control member 48 by a predetermined amount for causing the semi-finished spring 1 to rotate so as to move the hook 4 to the desired position.

The pivotal member 44 is adapted to be rocked at the desired time by a known type power transmission mechanism 53 including a cam 50, a pivotal piece 51 and a connecting rod 52, in which case, the rotary shaft 43 is rotated integrally with the pivotal member 44.

Meanwhile, the rotary shaft 43 having the rack 42 is arranged to be laterally moved by a known type power transmission mechanism 58 including a cam 54, a pivotal piece 55 and a ball joint 57, and by the lateral movement of the rotary shaft 43, the gear 45.. In other words, the rotary position control member 48 is rotated.

It should be noted that the above arrangement may be modified in such a manner that the rotational position control member 48 is mounted on a horizontal rocking member or a horizontal moving bar provided on the table.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, a pair of guide members 59 are fixedly mounted on. the table 12 at the left and right sides of the discharge opening 13, slide members 60 being respectively guided thereby for free lateral movement. A groove 61 is formed in the outer upper surface of each of the slide members 60. In each of the grooves 61, there is fitted a sliding piece 62, which is adapted to slide by a known type power transmission mechanism 65 including a cam 63, a pivotal piece 64, at any desired time, so that each of the slide members 60 is laterally moved through the corresponding slide piece 62. The slide members 60 are each urged in a direction away from the hook raising section 10 by spring members 66. A hook raising tool 67 is attached at the left side of the right hand slide member 60, i.e. on the end portion at the side of the hook raising section 10. Meanwhile, at the right side of the left hand slide member 60 i.e. on the end portion at the side of the hook raising section 10, a tool support 69 is pivotally mounted for upward and downward movement a hook raising tool 70 is attached on the tool support 69 so that the hook 4 is adapted to be raised through co-operation of this hook raising tool 70 and the hook raising tool 67 described earlier, It should be noted here that configurations of the hooks to be raised may be altered by adjusting the functioning of the tools 70 and 67 or abutting positions therebetween through the hook 4. An arm 71 is integrally formed with the tool support 69 and a roller 72 mounted at the free end of the arm 71, is fitted in an inclined groove 74 formed in a vertical wall 73 secured to a guide member 59, the tool support 69 (hook raising tool 70) is pivoted upwardly or downwardly by the movement of the roller 72 within the inclined groove 74, following the displacement of the slide member 60 at the left side. More specifically, as the left slide member 60 advances towards the hook raising section 10, the forward end of the hook raising tool 70 is adapted to be raised.

As best shown in Fig. 5, a clamping unit 75 for fixing the pair of holders 24 located at the hook raising section 10, is provided on a frame member 76 surrounding the discharge opening 13. The clamping unit 75 is provided with a pair of clamping pieces 78 pivotally mounted via shafts 77, at the front and rear portions of the frame member 76 and the respective clamping pieces 78 are integrally formed with sector gears 79 which are in mesh with each other, so that these clamping pieces 78 are actuated in synchronization with each other. A connecting rod 80 is connected, to either one of these clamping pieces 78, and by operating the connecting rod 80 by a cam (not shown), the clamping pieces 78 may be opened or closed at desired periods.

It should be noted here that although not particularly shown in the foregoing embodiment, the pivotal pieces 36, 51, 55 and 64 are urged by spring members in such directions that the cam followers for the pivotal pieces 36, 51, 55 and 64 of the power transmission mechanisms ₃₈, ₅₃, 58 and 65 contact the cams 35, 50, 54 and 63, and that the power transmission mechanisms 38, 53, 58 and 65, may be replaced by hydraulic cylinders and the like arranged to actuate predetermined members.

Operations of the hook raising apparatus 11 described will now be be explained .

In the first place, in order to sequentially effect the desired functions as described below, the configurations of the cams 35, 50, 54 and 63 and other cams (not particularly shown) are adjusted, with simultaneous adjustments of mounting positior.s thereof with respect to the corresponding cam shafts. It is to be noted that the respective cams are adapted to rotate in synchronization with each other by means of one electric motor (not shown).

Thereafter, the position of the table 12 in the vertical and horizontal directions is adjusted so that the semi-finished spring 1 cut out from the spring manufacturing machine 9 can be held between the pair of semi-finished spring holding pieces 21 (holders 24) of the rocking arm 17 in the upright or erected state.

After the preparation described above, when the spring manufacturing machine 9 and hook raising apparatus 11 are operated in synchronization with each other, the following functions are effected. More specifically, before the semi-finished spring 1 manufactured by the spring manufacturing machine 9 is cut out therefrom, the rocking arm in the course of erection is caused to stand perfectly upright so as to apply the holders 24 with the pair of holding pieces opened on to the semi-finished spring 1.

Subsequently, when the holders 24 are closed to hold the semi-finished spring 1 therebetween, the spring manufacturing machine 9 cuts off the semi-finished spring 1, and thus, the rocking arm 17 is pivoted into the horizontal position so as to transfer the semi-finished spring 1 to the hook raising section 10. It is to be noted here that in the above case, the pair of clamping pieces 78 of the clamping unit 75 are opened, with the pivotal member 44 being also in the opened state.

Thereafter, the pivotal member 44 is moved above the holder 24 with the subsequent rotation of the rotational position control member 48 and thus the hook 4 is caught by the depending projection 49 so as to position the hook 4 at the upper portion of the hook raising tool 70 at the left side. It is needless to say that the rotational direction of the rotational position control member 48 may be freely adjusted as desired by adjusting the configuration of the cam 54, according to the direction of the hook 4 of the semi-finished spring 1 held by the holder 24.

In the next step, the pivotal member 44 is opened (i.e. pivoted upwardly), while the rotational position control member 48 is rotated in the reverse direction back to the original position in preparation for the subsequent functioning. Simultaneously with the above function, the pair of clamping pieces 78 of the clamping unit 75 are closed so as to rigidly hold the holder 24 therebetween. Then, the slide members 60 at the left and right sides project towards the hook raising section 10 for raising the hook 4 up to a position at which the spring back of the hook 4 thus raised is taken into account. Afterraising the hook 4, the slide members 60 at the left and right sides are caused to retract,and then, the pair of clamping pieces 78 and the holder 24 are opened and therefore the finished spring is led on to the chute 14 through the discharge opening 13 so as to be dropped into a box or container (not shown) provided at the outside of the apparatus 11 by rolling over the chute 14. The rocking arm 17 from which the finished spring is thus discharged, is again caused to be erected.

As is clear from the foregoing description, according to the hook raising apparatus of the present invention, the hook raising operation for semi-finished spring products may be effected in an extremely efficient manner, since the finished springs processed for the hook raising can be automatically discharged by the lateral holding of the semi-finished springs instead of the vertical holding thereof in the conventional arrangements, while the hook raising may be carried out after subjecting the semi-finished springs to proper positional control.