Hitch feed

Claim 2

A hitch feed for advancing workpieces which comprises a pair of transfer blocks and means for advancing and retracting one transfer block relative to the other, each of said transfer blocks comprising a cylindrical lock insert journaled for rotational movement in the transfer block transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the workpiece, a diametric slot formed at one end of the lock insert for loosely receiving a portion of the workpiece therein, said slot having one surface with a tapered recess, and a wedge rod mounted within said diametric slot in said tapered recess such that said rod is adapted to be wedged between the slot recess surface and the surface of the workpiece for tightly gripping and advancing the workpiece by movement of the transfer block in one direction only.

Claim 3

In a hitch feed as claimed in claim 1, each of said transfer blocks having an oblique opening formed therein for communication with the lock insert, the lock insert having an opening extending from its periphery to the tapered recess for alignment with said oblique opening, and biasing means disposed within said aligned openings for abutment with the wedge rod to urge said wedge rod towards the narrow end of the tapered recess.

Claim 4

In a hitch feed as claimed in claim 2, each of said transfer blocks having a longitudinal slot formed on one side substantially in alignment with the lock insert diametric slot for receiving a workpiece therein.

Claim 5

In a hitch feed as claimed in claim 3, said means for advancing and retracting one transfer block relative to the other comprising a pair of spaced support members, a pair of guide rods supported by said support members in spaced, parallel relationship such that one of said guide rods is higher than the other and is spaced laterally therefrom, a pair of slide blocks each having semicylindrical recesses formed one on each side theReof adapted to receive said guide rods therein for longitudinal travel of said slide blocks on said guide rods, means for locking one of said slide blocks to a guide rod, a cam follower formed on one of said slide blocks on the side receiving the upper guide rod for actuation by a cam for movement of one slide block away from the other slide block, means for normally biasing the movable slide block in a direction towards the other slide block, and means for rigidly securing one of said transfer blocks to a slide block for vertical adjustment thereon.

Claim 6

In a hitch feed as claimed in claim 4, said means for normally biasing one said slide block in a direction towards the other slide block comprising a bracket depending from each of the slide blocks, an elongated rod rigidly secured at one end to one bracket and slidably mounted in the other bracket, a detent formed on the other end of the elongated rod, and biasing means adapted to be compressed between one of said brackets and said detent means such that said blocks normally are urged towards each other.

Claim 7

A transfer block for advancing a workpiece comprising a cylindrical lock insert journaled for rotational movement in the transfer block transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the workpiece, a diametric slot formed at one end of the lock insert for loosely receiving a portion of the workpiece therein, said slot having one surface with a tapered recess, and a wedge rod mounted within said diametric slot in said tapered recess such that said rod is adapted to be wedged between the slot recess surface and the surface of the workpiece for tightly gripping and advancing the workpiece by movement of the transfer block in one direction only.

Claim 8

A transfer block for advancing a workpiece comprising a cylindrical lock insert journaled for rotational movement in the transfer block transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the workpiece, a diametric slot formed at one end of the lock insert for loosely receiving a portion of the workpiece therein, said slot having one surface with a tapered recess, and a wedge rod mounted within said diametric slot in said tapered recess such that said rod is adapted to be wedged between the slot recess surface and the surface of the workpiece for tightly gripping and advancing the workpiece by movement of the transfer block in one direction only.

Claim 9

In a transfer block as claimed in claim 6, an oblique opening formed therein for communication with the lock insert, the lock insert having an opening extending from its periphery to the tapered recess for alignment with said oblique opening, and biasing means disposed within said aligned openings for abutment with the wedge rod to urge said wedge rod towards the narrow end of the tapered recess.

Claim 10

In a transfer block as claimed in claim 7, said transfer block having a longitudinal slot formed on one side substantially in alignment with the lock insert diametric slot for receiving a workpiece therein.

Claim 11

A support for transfer blocks comprising a pair of spaced support members, a pair of guide rods supported by said support members in spaced, parallel relationship such that one of said guide rods is higher than the other and is spaced laterally therefrom, a pair of slide blocks each having semicylindrical recesses formed one on each side thereof adapted to receive said guide rods therein for longitudinal travel of said slide blocks on said guide rods, means for locking one of said slide blocks to a guide rod, a cam follower formed on one of said slide blocks on the side receiving the upper guide rod for actuation by a cam for movement of one slide block away from the other slide block, means for normally biasing the movable slide block in a direction towards the other slide block, and means for rigidly securing one of said transfer blocks to a slide block for vertical adjustment thereon.

Claim 12

A support for transfer blocks comprising a pair of spaced support members, a pair of guide rods supported by said support members in spaced, parallel relationship such that one of said guide rods is higher than the other and is spaced laterally therefrom, a pair of slide blocks each having semicylindrical recesses formed one on each side thereof adapted to receive said guide rods therein for longitudinal travel of said slide blocks on said guide rods, means for locking one of said slide blocks to a guide rod, a cam follower formed on one of said slide blocks on the side receiving the upper guide rod for actuation by a cam for movement of one slide block away from the other slide block, means for normally biasing the movable slide block in a direction towards the other slide block, and means for rigidly securing one of said transfer blocks to a slide block for vertical adjustment thereon.

Claim 13

In a support as claimed in claim 9, said means for normally biasing one slide block in a direction towards the other slide block comprising a bracket depending from each of the slide blocks, an elongated rod rigidly secured at one end to one bracket and slidably mounted in the other bracket, a detent formed on the other end of the elongated rod, and biasing means adapted to be compressed between one of said brackets and said detent means such that said blocks normally are urged towards each other, and means for rigidly securing one of said transfer blocks to a slide block for vertical adjustment thereon.

Claim 14

In a hitch feed as claimed in claim 2, a release mechanism operatively connected to each transfer block comprising means for pivotally connecting the release mechanism to the transfer block, a flange formed on the release mechanism for engaging a surface of the transfer block for limiting pivotal movement of the release mechanism in one direction, and a projection formed on the release mechanism adapted to extend into the slot formed in the lock insert for engagement with the wedge rod such that pivotal movement of the release mechanism in the opposite direction releases engagement of the wedge rod with the workpiece.

Claim 15

In a transfer block as claimed in claim 6, a release mechanism operatively connected to said transfer block comprising means for pivotally connecting the release mechanism to the transfer block, a flange formed on the release mechanism for engaging a surface of the transfer block for limiting pivotal movement of the release mechanism in one direction, and a projection formed on the release mechanism adapted to extend into the slot formed in the lock insert for engagement with the wedge rod such that pivotal movement of the release mechanism in the opposite direction releases engagement of the wedge rod with the workpiece.

Claim 16

In a release mechanism as claimed in claim 12, a detent formed on the release mechanism for engaging a surface of the transfer block to maintain the wedge rod out of engagement with the workpiece.

Claim 17

In a release mechanism as claimed in claim 12, a detent formed on the release mechanism for engaging a surface of the transfer block to maintain the wedge rod out of engagement with the workpiece, said means for pivotally connecting the release mechanism to a transfer block adapted to permit lateral movement of the said release mechanism for disengagement of the detent from the block surface.

Claim 18

A release mechanism operatively connected to a transfer block having a wedge rod biased into engagement with a workpiece comprising means for pivotally connecting the release mechanism to the transfer block, a flange formed on the release mechanism for engaging a surface of the transfer block for limiting pivotal movement of the release mechanism in one direction, and a projection formed on the release mechanism adapted to engage the wedge rod such that pivotal movement of the release mechanism in the opposite direction releases engagement of the wedge rod with the workpiece.

Claim 19

A release mechanism operatively connected to a transfer block having a wedge rod biased into engagement with a workpiece comprising means for pivotally connecting the release mechanism to the transfer block, a flange formed on the release mechanism for engaging a surface of the transfer block for limiting pivotal movement of the release mechanism in one direction, and a projection formed on the release mechanism adapted to engage the wedge rod such that pivotal movement of the release mechanism in the opposite direction releases engagement of the wedge rod with the workpiece.

Claim 20

In a release mechanism as claimed in claim 15, a detent formed on the release mechanism for engaging a surface of the transfer block to maintain the wedge rod out of engagement with the workpiece.

Claim 21

In a release mechanism as claimed in claim 15, a detent formed on the release mechanism for engaging a surface of the transfer block to maintain the wedge rod out of engagement with the workpiece, said means for pivotally connecting the release mechanism to a transfer block adapted to permit lateral movement of the said release mechanism for disengagement of the detent from the block surface.