Machines for the manufacture of spring assemblies

Claim 2

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base and a plurality of springs disposed on and extending in spaced parallelism from the base comprising a spring coiler, an assembly location, securing means at said location for securing the springs to the base, and feeding means extending from said coiler to the assembly location for feeding the successive springs from the coiler directly to said assembly location, said feeding means comprising tube mans having a first portion disposed proximate said spring coiler, a second portion in spaced proximity to said assembly location and having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the surface of the base, and an entryway between said first and said second portions, and in which said securing means comprises a tool selectively movable along its own longitudinal axis from a position exterior to said tube means through said entryway and into said second portion of said tube means, with said longitudinal axis of said tool being essentially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said second portion.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 further including control means for actuating said spring coiler only when said tool is withdrawn from said entryway and for actuating said tool for movement along its longitudinal axis after said feed means has transferred a spring past said entryway towards said second portion.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 in which said tool comprises a portion insertable within each successive coil spring and a shoulder portion for selectively compressing said spring into forceable engagement with the surface of the base at said assembly location.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 in which the spring has an end turn, in which the base has a protuberance at the location of each of the springs and in which said tool further includes means for distorting said protuberance into locking engagement with the end turn of the spring.

Claim 6

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base and a spring extending substantially perpendicularly to the base and having an end-turn portion secured thereto comprising spring coiler means for forming a complete separate coil spring having an end turn portion, a member having an aperture therein accepting the completed spring, means on said machine for transferring the complete spring from said spring coiler means into the aperture in said member, a tool, means for moving the spring and said tool relative to one another for moving the spring from the aperture in said member and disposing the spring on and in surrounding relationship to a portion of said tool, means for moving the base and said tool with the spring thereon relative to one another for moving the spring into engagement with the base, and means including said tool for securing the end turn portion of the spring to the base.

Claim 7

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base and a spring extending substantially perpendicularly to the base and having an end-turn portion secured thereto comprising spring coiler means for forming a complete separate coil spring having an end turn portion, a member having an aperture therein accepting the completed spring, means on said machine for transferring the complete spring from said spring coiler means into the aperture in said member, a tool, means for moving the spring and said tool relative to one another for moving the spring from the aperture in said member and disposing the spring on and in surrounding relationship to a portion of said tool, means for moving the base and said tool with the spring thereon relative to one another for moving the spring into engagement with the base, and means including said tool for securing the end turn portion of the spring to the base.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 5 in which the spring as formed by said coiler has a leading end turn portion and a trailing end turn portion.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6 in which the end turn portion of the spring which is secured to the base is the leading end turn portion.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 5 in which said end turn portion is flat and closed.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 5 further including means for holding and positioning the base.

Claim 12

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base having an aperture therein surrounded by a projecting protuberance having a generally cylindrical wall portion and a spring extending substantially perpendicularly to the base and having an end-turn portion secured thereto comprising spring coiler means for forming a complete separate coil spring having an end turn portion, a member having an aperture therein accepting the completed spring, means on said machine for transferring the complete spring from said spring coiler means into the aperture in said member, a tool, means for moving the spring and said tool relative to one another for moving the spring from the aperture in said member and disposing the spring on and in surrounding relationship to a portion of said tool, means for moving the base and said tool with the spring thereon relative to one another for moving the spring into engagement with the base with the end turn portion thereof in surrounding relation to the wall portion of the protuberance, and means including said tool for deforming a portion of the wall portion of the protuberance into securing relationship with at least a portion of the end turn portion of the spring for securing the end turn portion of the spring to the base.

Claim 13

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base having an aperture therein surrounded by a projecting protuberance having a generally cylindrical wall portion and a spring extending substantially perpendicularly to the base and having an end-turn portion secured thereto comprising spring coiler means for forming a complete separate coil spring having an end turn portion, a member having an aperture therein accepting the completed spring, means on said machine for transferring the complete spring from said spring coiler means into the aperture in said member, a tool, means for moving the spring and said tool relative to one another for moving the spring from the aperture in said member and disposing the spring on and in surrounding relationship to a portion of said tool, means for moving the base and said tool with the spring thereon relative to one another for moving the spring into engagement with the base with the end turn portion thereof in surrounding relation to the wall portion of the protuberance, and means including said tool for deforming a portion of the wall portion of the protuberance into securing relationship with at least a portion of the end turn portion of the spring for securing the end turn portion of the spring to the base.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 10 further including means for holding and positioning the base and having a guide bushing therein aligned with the aperture in the base and accepting a portion of the tool.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 11 in which the base further has an indentation surrounding the aperture in the base on the opposite side thereof from the protuberance, and in which said guide bushing has a surface engaging and substantially conforming to the shape of the indentation in the base.

Claim 16

ThE combination of claim 10 in which said tool has a portion which engages a portion of the spring for compressing and straightening and centering the spring relative to the base.

Claim 17

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base and a spring extending substantially perpendicularly to the base and having an end-turn portion secured thereto comprising spring coiler means for forming a complete separate coil spring having an end turn portion, a member having an aperture therein accepting the completed spring, means on said machine for transferring the complete spring from said spring coiler means into the aperture in said member while maintaining the spring free of tangling lateral engagement with any other spring from the time of the coiling thereof by said spring coiler means to the positioning of the spring in the aperture in said member, a tool, means for moving the spring and said tool relative to one another for moving the spring from the aperture in said member and disposing the spring on and in surrounding relationship to a portion of said tool, means for moving the base and said tool with the spring thereon relative to one another for moving the spring into engagement with the base, and means including said tool for securing the end turn portion of the spring to the base.

Claim 18

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base and a spring extending substantially perpendicularly to the base and having an end-turn portion secured thereto comprising spring coiler means for forming a complete separate coil spring having an end turn portion, a member having an aperture therein accepting the completed spring, means on said machine for transferring the complete spring from said spring coiler means into the aperture in said member while maintaining the spring free of tangling lateral engagement with any other spring from the time of the coiling thereof by said spring coiler means to the positioning of the spring in the aperture in said member, a tool, means for moving the spring and said tool relative to one another for moving the spring from the aperture in said member and disposing the spring on and in surrounding relationship to a portion of said tool, means for moving the base and said tool with the spring thereon relative to one another for moving the spring into engagement with the base, and means including said tool for securing the end turn portion of the spring to the base.

Claim 19

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base and a spring extending substantially perpendicularly to the base and having an end-turn portion secured thereto comprising spring coiler means for forming a complete separate coil spring having an end turn portion, a member having an aperture therein accepting the completed spring, means on said machine for transferring the complete spring from said spring coiler means into the aperture in said member, means for selectively holding said spring in the aperture in said member, a tool, means for moving the spring and said tool relative to one another for moving the spring from the aperture in said member and disposing the spring on and in surrounding relationship to a portion of said tool and for releasing the spring from the aperture in said member, means for moving the base and said tool with the spring thereon relative to one another for moving the spring into engagement with the base, and means including said tool for securing the end turn portion of the spring to the base.

Claim 20

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base and a spring extending substantially perpendicularly to the base and having an end-turn portion secured thereto comprising spring coiler means for forming a complete separate coil spring having an end turn portion, a member having an aperture therein accepting the completed spring, means on said machine for transferring the complete spring from said spring coiler means into the aperture in said member, means for selectively holding said spring in the aperture in said member, a tool, means for moving the spring and said tool relative to one another for moving the spring from the aperture in said member and disposing the spring on and in surrounding relationship to a portion of said tool and for releasing the spring from the aperture in said member, means for moving the base and said tool with the spring thereon relative to one another for moving the spring into engagement with the base, and means including said tool for securing the end turn portion of the spring to the base.

Claim 21

The combination of claim 15 in which said means for releasing said spring from the aperture in said member includes a portion of said tool.

Claim 22

The combination of claim 16 in which a portion of the tool is larger than the internal diameter of the spring and forcibly engages the spring.

Claim 23

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base and a spring extending substantially perpendicularly to the base and having an end-turn portion secured thereto comprising spring coiler means for forming a complete separate coil spring having an end turn portion, a member having an aperture therein accepting the completed spring, tubing means between the spring output of said spring coiler means and said member for transferring the complete spring from said spring coiler means into the aperture in said member, a tool, means for moving the spring and said tool relative to one another for moving the spring from the aperture in said member and disposing the spring on and in surrounding relationship to a portion of said tool, means for moving the base and said tool with the spring thereon relative to one another for moving the spring into engagement with the base, and means including said tool for securing the end turn portion of the spring to the base.

Claim 24

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base and a spring extending substantially perpendicularly to the base and having an end-turn portion secured thereto comprising spring coiler means for forming a complete separate coil spring having an end turn portion, a member having an aperture therein accepting the completed spring, tubing means between the spring output of said spring coiler means and said member for transferring the complete spring from said spring coiler means into the aperture in said member, a tool, means for moving the spring and said tool relative to one another for moving the spring from the aperture in said member and disposing the spring on and in surrounding relationship to a portion of said tool, means for moving the base and said tool with the spring thereon relative to one another for moving the spring into engagement with the base, and means including said tool for securing the end turn portion of the spring to the base.

Claim 25

The combination of claim 18 further including means for moving the completed spring from the output of said spring coiler means.

Claim 26

The combination of claim 18 in which said last-mentioned means includes means for producing a jet of air.

Claim 27

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base and a spring extending substantially perpendicularly to the base and having an end-turn pOrtion secured thereto comprising a member having an aperture therein accepting a completed spring, a tool, means for moving the spring and said tool relative to one another for moving the spring from the aperture in said member and disposing the spring on and in surrounding relationship to a portion of said tool, means for moving the base and said tool with the spring thereon relative to one another for moving the spring into engagement with the base, and means including said tool for securing the end turn portion of the spring to the base.

Claim 28

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base and a spring extending substantially perpendicularly to the base and having an end-turn pOrtion secured thereto comprising a member having an aperture therein accepting a completed spring, a tool, means for moving the spring and said tool relative to one another for moving the spring from the aperture in said member and disposing the spring on and in surrounding relationship to a portion of said tool, means for moving the base and said tool with the spring thereon relative to one another for moving the spring into engagement with the base, and means including said tool for securing the end turn portion of the spring to the base.

Claim 29

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base and a spring extending substantially perpendicularly to the base and having an end-turn portion secured thereto comprising a member having an aperture therein accepting a completed spring, means for selectively holding said spring in the aperture in said member, a tool, means for moving the spring and said tool relative to one another for moving the spring from the aperture in said member and disposing the spring on and in surrounding relationship to a portion of said tool and for releasing the spring from the aperture in said member, means for moving the base and said tool with the spring thereon relative to one another for moving the spring into engagement with the base, and means including said tool for securing the end turn portion of the spring to the base.

Claim 30

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base and a spring extending substantially perpendicularly to the base and having an end-turn portion secured thereto comprising a member having an aperture therein accepting a completed spring, means for selectively holding said spring in the aperture in said member, a tool, means for moving the spring and said tool relative to one another for moving the spring from the aperture in said member and disposing the spring on and in surrounding relationship to a portion of said tool and for releasing the spring from the aperture in said member, means for moving the base and said tool with the spring thereon relative to one another for moving the spring into engagement with the base, and means including said tool for securing the end turn portion of the spring to the base.

Claim 31

The combination of claim 22 in which said means for releasing said spring from the aperture in said member includes a portion of said tool.

Claim 32

The combination of claim 23 in which a portion of the tool is larger than the internal diameter of the spring and forcibly engages the spring.

Claim 33

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base having an aperture therein surrounded by a projecting protuberance having a generally cylindrical wall portion and a spring extending substantially perpendicularly to the base and having an end-turn portion secured thereto comprising a member having an aperture therein accepting a completed spring, a tool, means for moving the spring and said tool relative to one another for moving the spring from the aperture in said member and disposing the spring on and in surrounding relationship to a portion of said tool, means for moving the base and said tool with the spring thereon relative to one another for moving the spring into engagement with the base with the end turn portion thereof in surrounding relation to the wall portion of the protuberance, and means including said tool for deforming a portion of the wall portion of the protuberance into securing relationship with at least a portion of the end turn portion of the spring for securing the end turn portion of the spring to the base.

Claim 34

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base having an aperture therein surrounded by a projecting protuberance having a generally cylindrical wall portion and a spring extending substantially perpendicularly to the base and having an end-turn portion secured thereto comprising a member having an aperture therein accepting a completed spring, a tool, means for moving the spring and said tool relative to one another for moving the spring from the aperture in said member and disposing the spring on and in surrounding relationship to a portion of said tool, means for moving the base and said tool with the spring thereon relative to one another for moving the spring into engagement with the base with the end turn portion thereof in surrounding relation to the wall portion of the protuberance, and means including said tool for deforming a portion of the wall portion of the protuberance into securing relationship with at least a portion of the end turn portion of the spring for securing the end turn portion of the spring to the base.

Claim 35

The combination of claim 25 further including means for holding and positioning the base and having a guide bushing therein aligned with the aperture in the base and accepting a portion of the tool.

Claim 36

The combination of claim 26 in which the base further has an indentation surrounding the aperture in the base on the opposite side thereof from the protuberance, and in which said guide bushing has a surface engaging and substantially conforming to the shape of the indentation in the base.

Claim 37

The combination of claim 25 in which said tool has a portion which engages a portion of the spring for compressing and straightening and centering the spring relative to the base.

Claim 38

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base and a plurality of springs secured on and extending in spaced parallelism from the base comprising spring coiler means for automatically forming complete separate coil springs, an assembling apparatus for securing the coil springs and automatically securing the springs on the base, and control means controlled by said assembling apparatus for controlling the operation of said spring coiler means.

Claim 39

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base and a plurality of springs secured on and extending in spaced parallelism from the base comprising spring coiler means for automatically forming complete separate coil springs, an assembling apparatus for securing the coil springs and automatically securing the springs on the base, and control means controlled by said assembling apparatus for controlling the operation of said spring coiler means.

Claim 40

The combination of claim 29 in which said control means controls the starting and stopping of the automatic operation of the spring coiler mEans for controlling the rate of supply of the springs.

Claim 41

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base and a plurality of springs secured on and extending in spaced parallelism from the base comprising spring coiler means for automatically forming complete separate coil springs, an assembling apparatus for securing the coil springs and automatically securing the springs on the base, and control means controlled by said spring coiler for controlling the operation of said assembling apparatus.

Claim 42

A machine for manufacturing a spring assembly having a base and a plurality of springs secured on and extending in spaced parallelism from the base comprising spring coiler means for automatically forming complete separate coil springs, an assembling apparatus for securing the coil springs and automatically securing the springs on the base, and control means controlled by said spring coiler for controlling the operation of said assembling apparatus.

Claim 43

The combination of claim 31 in which said control means controls the starting and stopping of the automatic operation of said assembling apparatus.