Method and apparatus for impressing identifying characters into metal bar stock

Claim 2

In combination with a bolt cutting machine, apparatus for impressing identifying characters on the end face of advancing bolt blank bar stock as the bar stock is supplied to said cutting machine, comprising a die with selected identification characters thereon, switch means connected to the cutting machine for generating a signal just prior to the time the cutting machine cuts the bar stock into a bolt blank, a housing disposed in fixed relation to said bolt cutting machine, a die positioning member supported by said housing, said die positioning member carrying said die and adapated for pivotal movement to position said die in the axial path of the advancing bar stock and to remove said die from the axial path of the bar stock, a reciprocating drive means having a drive shaft attached thereto, said reciprocating drive means having signal responsive control means connected to said switch means and operating said shaft in response to said signals from said switch means, toggle links being connected to said housing and to said die positioning member, said toggle links being connected to said drive shaft for positioning and locking said member and said die into the axial path of the advancing bar stock upon movement of said reciprocating drive means to a locking position thereof and unlocking and retracting said member to position said die out of the axial path of the bar stock upon movement of said reciprocating drive means to an unlocking position thereof, and said reciprocating drive means receiving said signal from said switch means and in response thereto moving to said unlocking position unlocking said die and repositioning said die out of the axial path of the bar stock to relieve said pressure between the end face of the bar stock and said die after impression of the identifying characters on the end face said movement of said reciprocating drive means to said unlocking position occuring just prior to the bar stock being cut into a blot blank by the cutting machine.

Claim 3

The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said pair of opposed toggle links is driven into locking alignment by the linear movement of said drive shaft of said reciprocating drive means in one direction thereof.

Claim 4

The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said reciprocating drive means comprises a pneumatic cylinder having an operating piston attached to said drive shaft, and said signal responsive control means being valve means responsive to said switch means for directing compressed air to said cylinder to control the reciprocating action of said drive shaft.

Claim 5

The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said reciprocating means comprises a hydraulic cylinder having an operating piston attached to said drive shaft, and said signal responsive control means being valve means responsive to said switch means for directing hydraulic fluid to said cylinder to control the reciprocating action of said drive shaft.

Claim 6

Apparatus for impressing identifying characters on the end face of advancing bolt blank bar stock as the stock is supplied to a cutting machine, comprising a housing fixed to the cutting machine, a die with selected identification characters thereon, a die positioning member carrying said die and adapted for pivotal movement into and out of said housing, said die positioning member movable out of said housing to position said die in the axial path of the advancing bar stock and movable into said housing to remove said die from the axial path of the bar stock, a reciprocating drive means mounted adjacent said housing for operating a drive shaft and having signal responsive control means for controlling operation of said drive means, toggle linkage means attached to said drive shaft and being pivotally connected to said die positioning member for pivoting said member into and out of said housing and locking said member with said die disposed in the path of travel of the advancing bar stock to allow the end face of said advancing bar stock to engage said locked die, said pressure exerted by the bar stock being sufficient to impress said die characters into the end face, shear means for cutting the bar stock into a bolt blank, said shear means having a pair of cutting heads and operating means to impart cutting movement to said cutting heads, switch means provided on said machine and being disposed for engagement with said operating means of said shear means for generating a signal just prior to the time the shear means cuts the bar stock into a bolt blank, said signal responsive control means of said reciprocating drive means being connected to said switch means and cooperating with said toggle linkage means responsive to receiving said signal to unlock said die positioning member and allow the die sufficient pivotal movement thereof to relieve said pressure between the end face of the bar stock and said die after impression of the identifying characters on the end face, but just prior to the bar stock being cut into a bolt blank by the cutting machine, and Said reciprocating drive means further cooperating with said toggle linkage means and said die positioning member to retract said member into said housing for repositioning said die out of the axial path of the bar stock to allow the cut bolt blank to fall free for collection.

Claim 7

Apparatus for impressing identifying characters on the end face of advancing bolt blank bar stock as the stock is supplied to a cutting machine, comprising a housing fixed to the cutting machine, a die with selected identification characters thereon, a die positioning member carrying said die and adapted for pivotal movement into and out of said housing, said die positioning member movable out of said housing to position said die in the axial path of the advancing bar stock and movable into said housing to remove said die from the axial path of the bar stock, a reciprocating drive means mounted adjacent said housing for operating a drive shaft and having signal responsive control means for controlling operation of said drive means, toggle linkage means attached to said drive shaft and being pivotally connected to said die positioning member for pivoting said member into and out of said housing and locking said member with said die disposed in the path of travel of the advancing bar stock to allow the end face of said advancing bar stock to engage said locked die, said pressure exerted by the bar stock being sufficient to impress said die characters into the end face, shear means for cutting the bar stock into a bolt blank, said shear means having a pair of cutting heads and operating means to impart cutting movement to said cutting heads, switch means provided on said machine and being disposed for engagement with said operating means of said shear means for generating a signal just prior to the time the shear means cuts the bar stock into a bolt blank, said signal responsive control means of said reciprocating drive means being connected to said switch means and cooperating with said toggle linkage means responsive to receiving said signal to unlock said die positioning member and allow the die sufficient pivotal movement thereof to relieve said pressure between the end face of the bar stock and said die after impression of the identifying characters on the end face, but just prior to the bar stock being cut into a bolt blank by the cutting machine, and Said reciprocating drive means further cooperating with said toggle linkage means and said die positioning member to retract said member into said housing for repositioning said die out of the axial path of the bar stock to allow the cut bolt blank to fall free for collection.

Claim 8

The apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein said reciprocating drive means comprises a pneumatic cylinder having an operating piston attached to said drive shaft, and valve means responsive to said switch means for directing compressed air to said cylinder to control the reciprocating action of said drive shaft.

Claim 9

The apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein said reciprocating drive means comprises a hydraulic cylinder having an operating piston attached to said drive shaft, and valve means reponsive to said switch means for directing hydraulic fluid to said cylinder to control the reciprocating action of said drive shaft.

Claim 10

The apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein said toggle linkage means comprises a pair of opposed toggle links disposed within said housing one end of each of which is connected to said drive shaft, the other end of one of said links connected to said die positioning member and the other end of the other of said links being connected to said housing, said pair of opposed toggle links being driven into locking alignment by the linear movement of said drive shaft in one direction thereof.

Claim 11

Apparatus for impressing identifying characters on the end face of advancing bolt blank bar stock as the bar stock is supplied to a cutting machine, comprising a housing fixed to the cutting machine, a die with selected identification characters thereon, a die positioning member carrying said die and adapted for pivotal movement into and out of said housing, said die positioning member movable out of said housing to position said die in the axial path of the advancing bar stock and movable into said housing to emove said die from the axial path of the bar stock, a reciprocating drive means mounted adjacent said housing for operating a drive shaft and having signal responsive control means for controlling operation of said drive means, toggle linkage means attached to said drive shaft and being pivotally connected to said die positioning member for pivoting said member into and out of said housing and locking said member with said die disposed in the path of travel of the advancing bar stock to allow the end face of said advancing bar stock to engage said locked die, said pressure exerted by the bar stock being sufficient to impress said die characters into the end face, shear means for cutting the bar stock into a bolt blank, said shear means having a pair of cutting heads and operating means to impart cutting movement to said cutting heads, switch means provided on said machine and being disposed for engagment with said operating means of said shear means for generating a signal just prior to the time the shear means cuts the bar stock into a bolt blank, said signal responsive control means of said reciprocating drive means being connected to said switch means and cooperating with said toggle linkage means responsive to receiving said signal to unlock said die positioning member and allow the die sufficient pivotal movement thereof to relieve said pressure between the end face of the bar stock and said die after impression of the identifying characters on the end face, but just prior to the bar stock being cut into a bolt blank by the cutting machine, said reciprocating drive means further cooperating with said toggle linkage means and said die positioning member to retract said member into said housing for repositioning said die out of the axial path of the bar stock to allow the cut bolt blank to fall free for collection, adjusting means attached to said housing for axially adjusting the postion of said die positioning member in its extended and locked position to accommodate bolt blanks of differenT lengths, said adjusting means having a pair of spaced parallel tubular members upon which said housing is slidably mounted, screw means extending between said parallel tubular members and engaging said housing for adjusting the position of said housing along said parallel tubular members, and support means supporting the ends of said parallel tubular members and said screw means.

Claim 12

Apparatus for impressing identifying characters on the end face of advancing bolt blank bar stock as the bar stock is supplied to a cutting machine, comprising a housing fixed to the cutting machine, a die with selected identification characters thereon, a die positioning member carrying said die and adapted for pivotal movement into and out of said housing, said die positioning member movable out of said housing to position said die in the axial path of the advancing bar stock and movable into said housing to emove said die from the axial path of the bar stock, a reciprocating drive means mounted adjacent said housing for operating a drive shaft and having signal responsive control means for controlling operation of said drive means, toggle linkage means attached to said drive shaft and being pivotally connected to said die positioning member for pivoting said member into and out of said housing and locking said member with said die disposed in the path of travel of the advancing bar stock to allow the end face of said advancing bar stock to engage said locked die, said pressure exerted by the bar stock being sufficient to impress said die characters into the end face, shear means for cutting the bar stock into a bolt blank, said shear means having a pair of cutting heads and operating means to impart cutting movement to said cutting heads, switch means provided on said machine and being disposed for engagment with said operating means of said shear means for generating a signal just prior to the time the shear means cuts the bar stock into a bolt blank, said signal responsive control means of said reciprocating drive means being connected to said switch means and cooperating with said toggle linkage means responsive to receiving said signal to unlock said die positioning member and allow the die sufficient pivotal movement thereof to relieve said pressure between the end face of the bar stock and said die after impression of the identifying characters on the end face, but just prior to the bar stock being cut into a bolt blank by the cutting machine, said reciprocating drive means further cooperating with said toggle linkage means and said die positioning member to retract said member into said housing for repositioning said die out of the axial path of the bar stock to allow the cut bolt blank to fall free for collection, adjusting means attached to said housing for axially adjusting the postion of said die positioning member in its extended and locked position to accommodate bolt blanks of differenT lengths, said adjusting means having a pair of spaced parallel tubular members upon which said housing is slidably mounted, screw means extending between said parallel tubular members and engaging said housing for adjusting the position of said housing along said parallel tubular members, and support means supporting the ends of said parallel tubular members and said screw means.

Claim 13

Apparatus for impressing identifying characters on the end face of advancing bolt blank bar stock as the bar stock is supplied to a cutting machine, comprising a housing fixed to the cutting machine, a die with selected identification characters thereon, a die positioning member carrying said die and adapted for pivotal movement into and out of said housing, said die positioning member movable out of said housing to position said die in the axial path of the advancing bar stock and movable into said housing to remove said die from the axial path of the bar stock, a linear fluid motor mounted adjacent said housing and having a drive shaft driven thereby, a pair of opposed toggle links disposed within said housing one end of each of which is connected to said drive shaft, the other end of one of said links connected to said die positioning member and the other end of the other of said links connected to said housing, said links acting to cause pivotal movement of said die positioning member in response to linear movement of said drive shaft, said pair of opposed toggle links being driven into locking alignment by linear movement of said drive shaft in one direction thereof for locking said die positioning member in the path of travel of the advancing bar stock to allow the end face of said advancing bar stock to engage said locked die, said pressure exerted by the bar stock being sufficient to impress said die characters into the end face, and switch means being disposed for engagement with a movable part of said cutting machine and being automatically actuated by the cutting machine for generating a signal just prior to the time the cutting machine cuts the bar stock into a bolt blank, said reciprocating drive means having a signal responsive control means connected to said switch means and upon receiving said signal and causing said reciprocating drive means to drive said drive shaft in one linear direction thereof to unlock aid toggle links and retract said die positioning member into said housing after impression of the identifying characrers on the end face said retraction of said toggle links occurring just prior to the bar stock being cut into a bolt blank by the cutting machine.

Claim 14

Apparatus for impressing identifying characters on the end face of advancing bolt blank bar stock as the bar stock is supplied to a cutting machine, comprising a housing fixed to the cutting machine, a die with selected identification characters thereon, a die positioning member carrying said die and adapted for pivotal movement into and out of said housing, said die positioning member movable out of said housing to position said die in the axial path of the advancing bar stock and movable into said housing to remove said die from the axial path of the bar stock, a linear fluid motor mounted adjacent said housing and having a drive shaft driven thereby, a pair of opposed toggle links disposed within said housing one end of each of which is connected to said drive shaft, the other end of one of said links connected to said die positioning member and the other end of the other of said links connected to said housing, said links acting to cause pivotal movement of said die positioning member in response to linear movement of said drive shaft, said pair of opposed toggle links being driven into locking alignment by linear movement of said drive shaft in one direction thereof for locking said die positioning member in the path of travel of the advancing bar stock to allow the end face of said advancing bar stock to engage said locked die, said pressure exerted by the bar stock being sufficient to impress said die characters into the end face, and switch means being disposed for engagement with a movable part of said cutting machine and being automatically actuated by the cutting machine for generating a signal just prior to the time the cutting machine cuts the bar stock into a bolt blank, said reciprocating drive means having a signal responsive control means connected to said switch means and upon receiving said signal and causing said reciprocating drive means to drive said drive shaft in one linear direction thereof to unlock aid toggle links and retract said die positioning member into said housing after impression of the identifying characrers on the end face said retraction of said toggle links occurring just prior to the bar stock being cut into a bolt blank by the cutting machine.