Nut transfer mechanism in machine for making nuts and similar articles

Claim 1

IN A MACHINE FOR MAKING NUTS AND OTHER METAL ARTICLES INCLUDING A FRAME PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF SPACED DIE MATRICES LOCATED WITH THEIR FACES IN A SINGLE SURFACE, A TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING WORKPIECES FROM ONE MATRIX TO THE NEXT, SAID TRANSFER MECHANISM INCLUDING A BRIDGE SUPPORT PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE FRAME, A CARRIER SLIDE MOUNTED ON THE BRIDGE SUPPORT AND A PLURALITY OF TRANSFER FINGERS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE CARRIER SLIDE AND EXTENDING RESPECTIVELY TO A POSITION OPPOSITE THE DIE MATRICES FOR RECEIVING WORKPIECES THEREFROM, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CARRIER SLIDE TO AND FRO AND FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY ROTATING SAID FINGERS THROUGH 180* IN A FORWARD AND BACKWARD DIRECTION, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID PIVOTED BRIDGE SUPPORT ON ITS PIVOT AXIS AGAINST THE ACTION OF A SPRING FOR PERIODICALLY SWINGING SAID FINGERS AWAY FROM THE FACES OF SAID DIE MATRICES DURING THE ROTATION OF SAID FINGERS, THE IMPROVEMENT IN WHICH THE SPRING FOR BIASING SAID BRIDGE SUPPORT COMPRISES A TORSION BAR UNDER TENSION LOCATED ALONG THE PIVOT AXIS OF THE BRIDGE SUPPORT, MEANS NON-ROTATABLY CONNECTING THE END PORTIONS OF THE TORSION BAR RESPECTIVELY WITH A PART OF THE BRIDGE SUPPORT AND WITH RESPECT TO THE FRAME OF THE MACHINE, ONE OF SAID CONNECTING MEANS INCLUDING A READILY ENGAGEABLE AND DISENGAGEABLE COUPLING MEANS.