Apparatus for contouring a honeycomb core

Claim 2

A honeycomb core billet contouring machine comprising: means for positioning a honeycomb core billet in the path of movement of a plurality of spaced prongs, means for causing said prongs to enter an aligned row of cells and radially expand the cells for a distance less than their full depth, said prongs being tapered over a substantial part of their inserted portion, and means for incrementing said billet along a path at right angles to the plane of said prongs to bring the next alternate row of cells into prong receiving position.

Claim 3

The machine as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: means responsive to the removal of said prongs from said row of cells for automatically effecting incrementing of said billet.

Claim 4

The machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of spaced prongs are carried by a reciprocating ram, and said means for effecting said incremental feed comprise a drive roller mounted for rotation about its axis and in peripheral contact with said billet, a ratchet wheel operatively coupled to said drive roller, and a pawl member, said incremental feed means being responsive to removal of said prongs from said honeycomb cell for incrementing said wheel.

Claim 5

A machine as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a drive roller in contact with said billet, an idler roller on the side of said billet opposite said drive roller, means for biasing one of said rollers in contact with said honeycomb billet, and means responsive to penetration of said prongs within said honeycomb core cells for releasing said biased roller to allow relaxation of the non-deformed portion of said honeycomb to insure subsequent alignment of the next succeeding alternate row of honeycomb core cells with said deforming prongs subsequent to incrementing of the billet.

Claim 6

The machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein said reciprocating ram carries a first cam, and said machine further includes means for supporting an L-shaped cam follower in the path of movement of said first cam, and an arm pivotably coupled to said L-shaped cam follower and to said biased roller for effecting movement of said roller away from said billet when said ram moves toward bottom stroke position and said cam strikes said cam follower.

Claim 7

The machine as claimed in claim 3 further comprising: an idler roller on the side of said billet opposite said drive roller, means for biasing said drive roller in contact with said honeycomb billet, and means responsive to penetration of said prongs within said honeycomb core cells for releasing said biased drive roller to allow relaxation of the non-deformed portion of said honeycomb to insure subsequent alignment of the next succeeding alternate row of honeycomb core cells with said deforming prongs subsequent to remoVal of said prongs and incrementing of the billet.

Claim 8

The machine as claimed in claim 6 wherein said reciprocating ram carries a first cam and said machine further includes means for supporting an L-shaped cam follower in the path of movement of said first cam, and an arm pivotably coupled to said L-shaped cam follower and to said biased drive roller for effecting movement of said roller away from said billet when said ram moves toward bottom stroke position and said cam strikes said cam follower.

Claim 9

The machine as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a hold down bar extending transversely across the top of said billet and adjacent to the path of said reciprocating prongs, biasing means tending to move said hold down bar away from said billet, and means responsive to movement of said ram toward the bottom of its stroke for locking said hold down bar rigidly against the top of said billet against said biasing means.

Claim 10

The machine as claimed in claim 8 wherein said ram includes at least one hold down cam rigidly coupled thereto having a vertical intermediate portion and an inclined terminal portion, and said machine further includes a pivotable L-shaped cam follower for each cam, said cam follower having a cam surface contacting said hold down bar whereby during initial descent of said ram, said inclined portion of said hold down cam causes said cam follower to variably increase the compressive force acting on said hold down bar while, during the final descent of said ram, the bar is maintained in relatively fixed position due to contact between said cam follower and the vertical intermediate portion of said hold down cam.

Claim 11

The machine as claimed in claim 9 wherein a pair of side plates have vertically elongated slots for adjustably positioning one of said rollers to allow honeycomb billet material of various thicknesses to be inserted between said rollers, and said machine further comprises a sector shaped plate positioned on each side plate and means for pivotably coupling each hold down bar cam follower to a respective adjustable sector plate for facilitating force application and removal of said hold down bar on said billet material for billets of various thicknesses.

Claim 12

The machine as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a deflectable spring metal plate underlying said reciprocating prongs to facilitate concave curving of said billet toward said prongs.

Claim 13

A machine for contouring honeycomb core billet comprising: a. a row of prongs spaced to register with the cells in each alternate row of the honeycomb billet; b. reciprocating means for inserting and withdrawing said prongs into and from the cells; c. said prongs having, along at least a portion of their length, a cross section such that when said prongs are inserted into the cells they deform the walls of the cells for a distance less than the full depth of the cells; d. means for incrementally advancing the billet past said row of prongs to align successive alternate rows of cells with said row of prongs on successive down strokes of said prongs, said means including means for gripping said billet; and e. means for repetitively releasing said gripping means while said prongs are inserted in the cells to permit adjustment of the relative alignment of the billet with said row of prongs.

Claim 14

A machine for contouring honeycomb core billet comprising: a. a row of prongs spaced to register with the cells in each alternate row of the honeycomb billet; b. reciprocating means for inserting and withdrawing said prongs into and from the cells; c. said prongs having, along at least a portion of their length, a cross section such that when said prongs are inserted into the cells they deform the walls of the cells for a distance less than the full depth of the cells; d. means for incrementally advancing the billet past said row of prongs to align successive alternate rows of cells with said row of prongs on successive down strokes of said prongs, said means including means for gripping said billet; and e. means for repetitively releasing said gripping means while said prongs are inserted in the cells to permit adjustment of the relative alignment of the billet with said row of prongs.

Claim 15

The machine of claim 12 further including means for intermittently clamping the billet against upward motion when said prongs are being withdrawn.

Claim 16

The machine of claim 12 in which said prongs are of tapered configuration.