US2355833A - Assembling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. l5, 1944. E. BERTALAN 2,355,833

ASSEMBLING APPARATUS WMZ@ H TTOBNEY Aug. l5, 1944. E. BERTALAN 2,355,833

ASSEMBLING APPARATUS Filed June 18, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 RNE Y Patented Aug. 15, 1944 'UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,355,833 Assmmnmc APPARATUS Edward Bertalan, Glen Arm, Md., assignor to Western Electric Company.' Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application Julie 18, 1943, Serial No. 491,286

7l Umm.

This invention relates to assemblyingapparatus and more particularly to apparatus for assembling insulator discs on a core for use in making concentric conductor cables.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and practicable apparatus for efficiently assembling discs on a core.

Inaccordance with the above object, one embodiment of the invention, as applied to the assembling of radially slit or slotted insulator discs on a central conductor of coaxial cable units, comprises a reciprocably mounted slide, a pair of plungers carried by and reclprocable vtransversely of the movement of the slide and displaced laterally of each other longitudinally of and at opposite sides of a continuously advancing conductor for simultaneously receiving from supplies slotted discs with the open ends ofthe slots aligned with the conductor and pressing them thereonto in spaced relation, and means for advancing the conductor, reciprocating the slide, and operating the plungers simultaneously in timed relation to cause'the plungers to receive discs from the supplies and assemble them on theA conductor in predetermined uniform spaced relation in a continuous advance of the conductor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of an apparatus forfassembling slotted insulator discs on a central conductor of coaxial cable units, embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, on a reduced scale, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and, in addition, illustrating means for operating the reciprocatory' slide, continuously advancing the conductor through the apparatus and means for vapplying a tubular conductor over the insulator discs as the conductor and discs assembled thereon advance from the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1 showing the plungers for applying the slotted discs to the conductor in their retracted positions;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. l showing the disc supplying means;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view of Fig. l showing the plungers in their actuatedpositions after withdrawing discs from the supply` means and applying them in spaced relation on thecentral conductor;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged perspective' view of a plunger actuator;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the plungers; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a short length of central conductor with slotted discs assembled thereon by means-of the apparatus of this invention and showing an outer tubular conductor surrounding the discs.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a main supporting base of the apparatus is fragmentarily indicated at I5 and attached to its upper face are two spaced bars I6, upon the upper faces of which, at opposite ends, are vertically journalled guide rolls I1. Mounted on the bars I6 and engaging at their opposite longitudinal edges the rolls I1 is a slide plate I8 which, in the operation of the apparatus, is continuously reciprocated by a rotating cam disc I9 provided with a heart shaped cam track 20 (Fig. 3), in which rides a cam follower 2I carried on a link 22 operatively connected to the slide plate .and guided rectilinearly in a guide member 23 xed to the base I5. The cam disc I9 is journalled at 24 on the base I5 and is driven by a sprocket and chain, indicated at 25, from a driving source (not shown).

Continuously advanced longitudinally above the slide plate I8 in the direction of the arrow (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) from a supply (not shown) is a central conductor 25 for a coaxial cable unit on which are assembled, in predetermined uniformly spaced relation, by means to be presently described, radially slotted insulator discs 21, the discs serving to hold an outer tubular conductor 28 spaced an equal distance from the conductor 26 throughout the length of the cable. The discs 21 are provided with slots 29, having restricted portions 30 of such dimensions that, when pressed onto the conductor 26, they snap into position and grip the same so firmly that they are not easily displaced in subsequent handling operations. As shown in Fig. 9, alternate discs 21 are arranged with their slots 29 diametrically opposite one another so that the tubular conductor 28 will withstand the usual flexing and bending of the cable, to which it may be subjected, without distortion or breakdown. The tubular conductor 28 may be formed and applied around the insulator discs 2'I during the continuous advance of the conductor 26 and the application of the discs thereto by a forming die, fragmentarily indicated in general at 3 I, the conductor, discs and tubular conductor comprising the cable assemblage being advanced at a predetermined rate of speed by a capstan 32 and taken up by suitable means (not shown). A more de tailed disclosure and description of the die 3| and takeup means is not believed necessary since it forms no part of the present invention and is not necessary to a complete understanding thereof.

Mounted upon the slide plate I8 adjacent its left end and opposite longitudinal edges thereof, by means of inverted U-shaped guide members 33, are a pair of laterally displaced plungers 36 and 31, which are reciprocable transversely of and during the movement of the reciprocable slide plate, by means to be presently described, to simultaneously withdraw slotted discs 21 from aligned supply means 38 and 39 arranged upon the slide plate I8 adjacent each side of the longitudinally advancing conductor 26 and press them onto the conductor. By providing laterally displaced plungers, two discs 21 may be assembled simultaneously in predetermined spaced relation on the conductor 26 for each actuation of the plungers.

The disc supply means 38 and 39 comprise an arcuate shaped plate 40 fixed to a supporting member 43 of similar shape, which is xed to a raised portion 44 on the slide plate I8. Free outer ends of the plate 40 are circular in cross-section, as indicated at 45, to freely t into the inner similar shaped ends of the slots 29 of the discs 21. Thus, the supplies of discs 21 threaded onto the circular-like ends 45 of the plate 40 are supported in predetermined diametrically opposed aligned relation to each other with the open ends of their slots facing inwardly toward opposite sides of and in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the advancing conductor 28, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The discs 21 progressively move downwardly on the plate 40 from an initial horizontal to a vertical position, as each disc is removed therefrom, the end vertical discs moving into aligned pockets y46 of the plungers 36 and 31 when the plungers are retracted from their advanced positions, shown in Fig. 6, to inoperative or normal positions, shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Slots 48 formed in the inner ends of the plungers 36 and 31 permit the entrance of the conductor 26 when the plungers are advanced to carry the pocketed discs and assemble them onto the conductor. A Weight 50 (Fig. 2) is mounted on the upper discs 21 of the supply means 38 and 39 to facilitate their downward movement. Aligned slots are formed in the plate 40, supporting member 43 and portion 44 of the slide plate I8 to permit the passage of the conductor 26 and laterally support it between the oppositely arranged supplies of discs, the bottom wall of the slot in the slide plate portion 44 serving to support and align the conductor as it approaches the plungers 36 and 31. The plate 40 is so shaped at its lower inner end that it terminates close to the left side faces of the plungers 36 and 31 having the pockets 46 therein. Thus the discs are positively supported and guided right up to such plunger faces and against which faces they abut and slide on during movements of the plungers when advancing to assemblel the pocketed discs onto the conductor (Fig. 6).

It will also be noted that the right face 0f the inner end of the plunger 36 extends close to the left face of the inner end of the plunger 31 and overlaps therewith when the plungers are advanced to press the discs 21 carried in the plunger pockets 46 onto the conductor 26. Thus, the length of the conductor 26 entered vin the slots 48 of the plungers 8.8 and 31 is laterally supported against the inner end walls thereof adjacent the point at which the disc 21, pocketed in the plunger 31, is pressed onto the conductor. Similarly, the length of the conductor 26 adjacent the point at which the disc 21, pocketed in the plunger 36,- is pressed onto the conductor is laterally supported against the upper wall of the slot 5| in the disc supply means plate 40 (Fig. 6) or as viewed in Fig. 5, the right wall thereof.

To cause the plungers 36 and 31 to simultaneously reciprocate transversely of and during the reciprocation of the slide plate I8 for the purpose of pressing in opposite directions a pair of discs 21 onto the continuously advancing conductor 26 in predetermined uniform spaced relation, the following mechanism is provided.

Since the actuating mechanism for each of the plungers 36 and 31 is similar in construction and operation, but reversed in certain respects due to the plungers being arranged for movement towards each other from opposite sides of the conducton, the following description applies to both plungers although specifically directed to the -plunger 31. Horizontally pivoted at 52 between spaced lugs 53 of a bracket 54 xed to the base l5 is an actuating member 55 having an inclined vertical end cam face 56 terminating at its inner end in a shouldered side face 51, the cam face 56 lying in the path of a cam follower or pin 58 carried by and projecting from the bottom face' of the plunger 31. The plunger is normally maintained in a retracted or outer position, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, by a tension spring 59 attached at opposite ends by means of pins 68 and 6| to the plunger and the fixed guide member 33, respectively. A compression spring 62 entered in opposed depressions in the bracket 54 and the actuating member 55 normally tends to rock the latter member clockwise about its pivot 52 to its operative position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which position its right end is abutting the upper face of the bracket and its upper face is in the plane of the upper faces of the bracket lugs 53. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, it will be noted that the upper faces of the lugs 53 and the upper face of the right end of the actuating member 55 are arranged below the bottom face of the plunger pin 58 and also that the left end of the plunger is inclined upwardly and is provided with an inclined horizontal upper cam face 63,

' which rises from the plane of the upper face of the right end thereof to its left end upper face. The purpose of these details of the plunger, which are also shown in Fig. 7, will be made apparent in the description of operation to follow.

In the operation of the apparatus, it will be assumed that the cam track 20 on the cam disc I9 and the cam faces 56 and 63 on the plungers 36 and 31 have all been formed to provide the desired movements to the plungers during each rotation of the cam disc I9 and that the latter is being rotated in timed relation to the rate of advance of the conductor 26 by means of the capstan 32 to time correctly the periodic movements to be effected thereby. During each complete rotation of the cam disc I9 starting with the parts in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the slide plate |8 will be advanced rst to the right in timed relation to the advance of the conductor 26 and the displaced plungers 36 and 31 carried by the plate will be simultaneously moved inwardly from opposite sides of the conductor, as the plunger pins 58 ride upon the cam faces 56 lof the i'lxed actuating members 55.

The msuiator discs -21 nested vin the plunger pockets 46 with the open ends of Atheir. slots 28 aligned with and facing opposite sides'. of the conductor4 28 at the termination ofthe inward movements of the plungers 36 and 31 are thus simultaneously advanced to land pressed onto the conductor' (Fig. 6). lImmediately upon the discs 21 being assembled upon the conductor 26. the plunger pins 58 ride off the cam vfaces 56, along and off the side faces 51 of the 'actuating members 55, whereupon the tension springs 58 act to draw the plungers outwardly, the pins 58 moving freely across the upper faces of the actuating members.v This outward movement of the vplungers is limited bythe pin's 50 engaging the vertical inner faces ofthe guide members 33, as shown in Fig. 1. At this point in kthe operating cycle of the apparatus, the slide plate I8,-

which has been moving tothe right, as viewed Y in Figs. 1 and 2, is quickly moved tothe left by the continuously rotating cam disc I 9. During this latter movement of the plate I8, the plunger receiving and then assembling discs oir-the core at spaced intervals, a cam follower on said.re

ciprocating disc ,receiving and assembling means,

cam means on said base member for engaging .said follower and positively actuating said disc receiving and assembling means in one direction' as said follower is moved past said cam in' one direction by said reciprocating member to assemble discs on the core, and elastic 4means'move rable with said reciprocating member effective during movements thereof in the reverse direction for moving said disc. receiving and assembling means in to'disc receiving position.

'3. Anapparatus for assemblng discs on a corel comprising a reciprocable member,'means for j -longitudinally guiding anadvancing core parallel pins 58r`ide onto the-inclined cam faces 63 and Y I'his completes oneoperating cycle of the cam disc I9 and the plungers 36 and 3,1, during which two insulator discs .21, with their slots 28 facing in opposite directions, were simultaneously assembled on the continuously advancing conductor 28 in predetermined uniform spaced relation and successive pairs of discs are so assembled on the conductor for each .cycle of operation.

It will be understood that the embodiment herein described is merely illustrative of the invention and one application thereof and that modifications can be made and it is capable of other applications.

For4 example, it is not necessary that the' plungers 36 and 31 be actuated simultaneously to apply the insulating discs -upon the conductor. The apparatus will operate satisfactorily when the plungers are operated at different times during the forward motion of the slide plate I8, provided the plungers are properly spaced. to cause to. the movement-of and spaced from'said member, recessed disc carrying means ,arranged in predetermined spaced relation longitudinally of and at opposite' sides-.of the core carried by and movable transversely of the movement of said member for applying discs carried in the recesses thereof to the core, means for supplying' discs to the recesses of said carrying means, cam .fol-

lowerson said `disc carrying and applying means',

cam means arranged for positively engaging'said cam followers as' the cam followers are moved past said cam means by said reciprocable'mem n ber, said engagements' actuating'said disc carrythem to operate in such time relationship to each other that the insulating discs are assembled on the conductor at uniformly spaced intervals. f

What is claimed is: l. An apparatus for assembling discs on a core comprising means for advancing 'a core, a base member, reciprocating means movable thereon parallel to the core, means movable on and with respect to said reciprocating means for receiving' and then assembling .discs on the core at spaced.

intervals, a cam follower on said movable `disc receiving and assembling means, and cam means on said base member for positively engaging said cam follower as the cam follower is moved past said cam means by saidv reciprocating means, said engagement actuating said disc receiving and assembling means in one direction to assemble the discs on the core.

2. An apparatus for assembling discs on a core comprising means foradvancing a core, aA base member, a reciprocating member movable thereon parallel tothe core, means reciprocating transversely of and on said reciprocating memben for ing core. 5. An apparatus for assembling radially slotted ing and applying means inv one direction to as'- semble discs on thejcore, and means for advanc-v ing the core1 simultaneously reciprocating said member and operating said disc carrying 'and applying means in timed relation toreceive discs from said supplying means and apply. them in predetermined spaced relation to the advancing core. Y

4. An apparatus for assembling radially slotted discs on va core comprising a reciprocable'slde,

means for longitudinally guiding an advancing core parallel tothe movement. of and spaced from said slide, a reciprocable4 plungerjcarried by and movable transversely of and during move- .ment of said slidejsaid" plunger having a disc andconductorrecei'ving recess aligned with the "advancing vconductor for applying a disc carried therein to the conductor in the movement o f the plunger in one direction, means for supplying a disc with the open end of itsslot facing the conductor to said recess in the movement of the plunger in an-opposite direction, a cam follower on said plunger,.cam means arranged forpositively engaging said cam follower as the cam follower is movedp'ast said cam means by said slide, said engagement actuatingV said plunger in one direction to assemble discs on'the core, and means for advancing vthe core and reciprocating` said slide' and plunger in timed relationv to receive discs fromsaid supplying means and apply them in predetermined spaced relation to the advancdiscs on a conductor comprising a base member,

a. slide reciprocably mounted on said base member, means for'longitudinally. guiding, and advancing a conductorparallel to the movementof f and spaced from said slide, a plunger .reciprocably mounted on said slide for movement transversely of and during movement thereof, said )plunger having a disc and conductor receiving recess aligned with the advancing conductor for applying a disc carried therein to the conductorA Y in the movement' of the plunger in one direction,

means for supplying a disc with the open end of its slot aligned with the conductor to said recess in the movement of the plunger in an opposite direction, and means including separate cam members mounted on said base, one being operatively connected to said slide for reciprocating the same and the other to said plunger, for co operatively reciprocating said slide and plunger in timed relation to receive discs from said supply- Aing means and apply them in predetermined ductor, a plurality of spaced plungers movable transversely on said carriage for forcing notched insulating discs on the conductor at spaced intervals, means for supplying such discs to the plungers, camfollowers on said plungers, and cam means on said base member for positively engaging said cam followers as the vcam followers are moved past said cam means by said carriage l for actuating said plungers in timed relation during movement of the carriage.

7. An apparatus for applying notched insulating discs upon a continuous conductor, comprlsing a base member, a carriage slidably mounted on the base member, means for continuously advancing a conductor at a predetermined rate above the carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage in a. path parallel to the axis of the conductor, a pair of spaced plungers slidably mounted on the carriage on opposite sides of the conductor for forcing insulating discs upon thel conductor at spaced intervals, a pair of disc supply means carried by the carriage for feeding notched discs to the plungers with the notches therein facing the conductor, cam followers on said plungers, and cam means on the base member arranged in oil'set relation in the path of and positively engaging the cam followers at opposite sides of the base member as the cam followers are moved past said cam means by saidv carriage,A 'said engagements actuating said plungers toward the conductor in timed relation from opposite directions, whereby the insulating discs are applied to the conductor at uniformly spaced intervals with the notches of, alternate discs facing in opposite directions.

EDWARD BERTALAN.

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