US37562A - Improved machine for framing lucifer-match splints for dipping - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. 85 E. B. BEECHER. I

MAKING MATCHES.

37,562 Patented-Peb.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. & E. B. BEEOH'ER.

MAKING MATCHES.

Patented Feb. 3, 1863- 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. A. 86 E. B. BEEOHER,

MAKING MATCHES.

No. 37,562. Patented Feb. 3, 1863.

' .To aZZ'tiuh-om it may-concern.-

Anso's BEECHER'AND nnnunznu n. BEEOHER, or NEW BAYER-CONN.

IMPROVED MACHINE FQR FRAMING LUClFEli-MATCH SPLINTS FOR DlPPlNt Be it known that we, ANSON BEEGHER and EBENEZER B. Bnncmm, of New Haven, New

Haven county, in the State'of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Machine for 1 Framing Lucifer-Match Splints forDipping;

and .we do hereby declare that the following is a full and correct description thereof, reference beingv had to the accompanying drawings,

and to the letters of reference marked thereon; Prior to our" said invention matches havebeen dippcd intwo ways-.-viz., the bundle dip and the frame or clamp dip. In theformercase thefd'ipper takes a bundle of splints,-'tied round with string, and, grasping it with'both hands, causes the ends of the splints,'bya

skillful movement, to expand into so wide acircle that they become detached, and upon being-dipped each will receiveits ownsepa rate portion of the composition. In frame'or .clamp dipping, as practicedbefore our invention, the splints are placed by hand orby machinery between the members of a series'ofclamps, arranged in a frame,.the graspingsurfaces of the clamps being grooved at suitable intervals to separate the splints properly,

- or the splints areset by hand orby machinery in a series of. parallel holes through a board of suitable size for a dippingframe. Endless bands have been used to connect and carry 8 series of clamps fastened thereto instead of being secured'to aframe, as above mentioned.

One of the principal features of our invention consists in a new mode of framing match splints for dipping. For this purpose we use as a binder a long flexible tape or band of cottonwebbing, or other suitable materiahabout the thickness of the splint, but considerably narrower than its length, in combination with a cylinder or drum shorter than the splint,

and adapted to a rotating mandrel or axis, so as to be rotated thereby and readily removedt therefrom when the frame is completed. The cylinder or drum is used as a center or form for the frame of matchsplints, which is made by setting the splints at proper intervals between the coils .of thefiexible binder-band as it is being continuously wound upon the drum by the rotation thereof until a frame of desired size and quantity for dipping is completed, when the end of the binding-tape is secured to .the preceding coil by spin or is Y Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,562 dated February 3, 1863.

fastened to the frame in any secure manner,

and the drum and the frame of'mat'ch-splints thus bound uponit are ready; to be removed from the mandrelfor dipping, the splints being disposed around the drum in a continuous spiral between the-coils of the'binder parallel with each other and with the axis of the drutn, the splints being separated from each other by the thickness of the flexible binder, and by'setti'n'g them the thickness of a splint apartinthe coils each receives its proper proportion of compositionwhen dipped, and can convenientlybe .dried in the frameJQ-This' frameinay be used for splints of the length' or of double: the length jofth'e matches by setting the splints close together in the coil, but lapping them so-that the ends project-ab:

tern'a'tely from each end of the frame; butwe prefer setting the splints at 'a suitable disa tance apart-about,- the thickness of a splint apart- 21s it gives the-flexible binder afbetat'er" grasp of the splints in the successive spiral layers to hold themwhile being set and for dipping. We also preferto' use splints of double the length ofthe matches, both for economy in'making the splint and the saving of time in feeding and setting them in the frames. The two-length splint is dipped at both ends while in the frame, and after being,

dried is cut in two in the middle.

- Our said invention further consists inme'chanisrn for'receiving the splints from a hopper or other suitable presenting device and set tingxthem. at regular distances apart between the coils. of the flexible binder, and also of mechanism for controlling and guiding the 'flexible binding-t-ape while it-is being wound around the splints upon the drum, so as'to hold them tight within its coils untilthe whole frame is completed.

.But to more particularly describe bur in 'vention,we will refer to the accompanying drawings, of whicha Figure 1-is aplan view of machine; Fig.

2, a. longitudinal section; Figs. 3 and 4 oppo site side elevations; Fig.5, a detached view of.'

modification of arrangement of guide roller for tape. 1 Y

Letter a represents the frame of the ma chine; a, a bed-plate, to which the legs of the frame are fastened; a", a base on which the machine stands. 0n the main driyinggshaft e arse,

bearings, is surrounded by a sleeved, attached to the vibratable frame 01, which swings thereon as its axis irrespective of the rotation of the shaft. The splint-frame mandrel c rotates in along pipe-bearing, e, attached to the end" of the frame d, that hangs over the mechanism, for setting the splints. Upon this mandrel is placed the drum or cylinder f, upon which the splints are iramed, it being slipped on the mandrel at the end thereof, and held so as to rotate with it and be readily removed by friction or by a spline or by making the drum-hole and mandrel souare, or'in any other suitable manner,

In order to compensate for the increasing size of the frame, and to maintain a constant tension on the binding-tape, which is held in the grasp of a feeding mechanism, by which it is regularly paid out to the frame-drnm,'ihe frame-drum mandrel is driven by a rapidly-revolving friction-surface or slip-band, e driven by the pulley c on the counter-shaft-c,theband running and slipping on the mandrel-pulley 0 its tension being regulated by the adjustable tightening-pulley e; We have found this slipband sufiicient for the purpose, but anyadiustable diction-connection between the frame drum and its motive power will answer. The frame-drum should be about three inches in diameter, and for two-length splints about three inches wide. The binding-tape g-which we prefer of cotton webbing about the thicknessof the splints and about two and a half inches wide, such as used for driving-reins is attached at one end to the framedrum by winding a coil around the same or in any suiteble manner. The other end of the tape is' placed in a coil upon the horizontal pin g on the yibratable frame 6, from which as it uncoils it passes down under the guide-pin g and through the slotted'guidc g into the grasp of a holding and feeding mechanism consisting of an endless-band, h, which is mounted on drums k W, and a weighted pressure-roller, :76, which serves to tighten the endless band, and at the same time to graspthe binding'tape for the purpose of holding and feeding the same'betwecn its peripheryand the top suriace of the endless band.- The binding'tape passes from the holding and feeding mechanism npwardto and partially around a guideroller, g "and from thence onto the frame- (lrum, which, with. its accumulating coil of splints,rests on the guide roller The guideroller turns loose on the shaft 11 between the two notched setting-wheels i fiwhich are fast to said shaft '5, and constructed andarrnnged,

as shown in the drawings, with oppositematched notches, the thickness of a splint apart, to take the splints one by one fromthe count-wheels at a point above the bindingtape s it passes over the guide-rollers g", and,

as they revel ve, carry in the splinfsrhgnlarly between the binding-tape, going onto the frame and the preceding coil, the splints being lifted out et the notchesoi' the settingwheels by the bindingtape as it passes onto the frame. The splint-setting wheels are rctated by acog-wheel, 'i", on the end of the shaft 13, which gears into and is driven by a cogwheel, j, on the shaft j,v which aotuatesthc holding and feeding mechanism of the bindertape, so that the setting-wheels and feed mech= anism move together simultaneously. The driving-drum h, which moves the endless belt h, is fast to the shaft j, and the loose drum h runs on a bearing in the middle of the tie rod h", which is fast at both ends to the sides of the machine-frame. The pressure-roller h? runs loose on a fixed hearing or axis, h fast to the swinging frame h", which swings on bearings h h on the rods h at each side of the loose drum h and is connected with a heavy weight, h, by links h h.

To preventthe feeding and setting mechanism, when disconnected from the other part of the machine whereby it is driven, from being moved by the pull of the binder-tape, sulficient friction is applied to the surface of a pulley, j, fast to the shaft j, by means of a strap, j fastened at one end to the tie-rod'lf, and passing partly around the pulley'j is held against the surface thereof by a weight, j, attached to the pendentend of the strap. The inertia and friction of the feeding and setting mechanism will of itself-oppose the pull of the friction-driver of the frame-drum on the flexible binding-tape, and therefore such additional friction asis necessaryto apply by the strap to l overcome thet'riction driver of the drum-mandrel doesnot materially interfere with moving the feeding and setting mechanism when thrown in gear by the clutch with the count wheels and receiving-cylinder. For this purpose of holding the binder-tape ina stationary position by the feeding mechanism when the same is not moved regularly for the purpose of paying outihe binding-tape, we prefer the friction-drag, as above described, to a positive locking device, acting in conjunction with the self-acting clutch, by which the feeding and setting mechanism is connected with and receives motion from the count wheel shaft, because it permits the movement of the feeding ahd setting mechanism, byhand, for the purpose of adjustment, when necessary, by means of the crank on the shai'tj; but it is evident that any'device which will keep the feeding and setting mechanism stationary when disconnected with its motive power will enable it to perform the function of over-- coming the pull of the frictioudriver of the frame-drum on the flexible binder, and therefore not only to keep up a proper tension on the flexible binder to hold the frame e of splints together, but also, by maintaining it in a stationary position, will preserve the negular distense between the splints in the coils of the frame, which would not be the' case were the frame suffered to continue to turn unsupplied with splints or at the rate it would be moved by the pull of the frame-drum mandrel on the binding tape. c

Having described the mechanism for framing and setting the splints, we will now proceed to describe the mechan-ism by which the splints are taken'into the machine and' placed infthe setting-wheels. It eonsists of'a receivi in g-cylinder, grooved regularly across the face with inclined or hooked grooves, each of suitable size to pickup splints'presented by'a hopper or other suitable presenting device,

. and carry them forward as the cylinder rotates, and a pair .of inclined tooth-wheels, which lap over the ends of the receiving cyl inder, and by means oftheir oppositeinclined teeth lift the match-splints, one at'a time, by their projectingends out of the grooves-pt the' receiving-cylinder and carry them-forward to and place .them -in' the notches of the setting-wheels. We call these wheels count-wheels,?-becausei there is mechanism covered-with card-teeth inclined backward-4s placed ov'eiith'e' receiving cylinder, as close to it as possible, and-rapidly rotated in the direction of the arrow, for the purpose of sweepingmatch-splintsfrom the surface of the cylinder that are not taken into the groovesof the same. There are also curved-guides placed over tbereceivingcyiinder and count-wheels and running up in front of the'setting-wheels,

-lor the purpose or keeping the splints in the grooves and notches of these devices.

Letter in is the receiving-cylinder, mounted on the shaft-k k the-grooves for the splints. The hopper l, which is of suitable width for the splints, is wider than the receiving-wheel,

the excess of width being equally apportioned at both ends of the recciving-cylimler, so that the splints, wh en taken into the grooves of the receivinfi ieylinder, project equally from both ends of the some, in order thatthe countwheels 'may lift them by their projecting ends and transfer them to the setting-wheels.

The wire brush is marked a the guides n n.

Letters 0C1}: represent the count-wheels,

which are meunted-on a shaft, 0, and overlap the endsof the rece ving-cylinder, as shown.

The face of eachwheel has a groove, 0, cut in it aroundltsentire circumference, andisalso divided into opposite-matched inclined teeth, arranged as shown with 1 reference to the grooves of the receiving-wheel so as to lift the splints, one at a time, from the grooves of the receiving-cylinder by the projecting ends of the splints as the inclined teeth sweep by the ends of the grooves, the speed of countingwheels Jeing duly proportioned to that of the receiving-cylinder, so that each groove of the latter, as it comes to-thc proper place, will be served by a'pair of the inclined teeth [0n the counting-wheels. A pair of stationary cams,

p jo fast at one end 'to the tie-rod p, come up close to the sides of the setting-wheels, and extend forward 'witha curve into the grooves of the counting-wheels. These cams assist in the transfer of the splints from the countwheels to the-setting-wheels bylifting them from the count-v heels at the point of transfer.

Motion-is communicated to themechanism above described from the ifly-wheel'b on-the main'shatt by a round band, 1), running onto a grooved nest-pulley, b fast to the wire- 'brush shaft'm, and which, by a groove of larger diameter, drives a cross-band, b which "turns a groovedpulley, If, fast to the shaft q,' whieh rotatesein hearings on the under side of the frame of the machine. On this shaft q is a pinion, g, which gears ,with a carrier .cog-ivhe'el, g "running. on a stud-pin at the side of the frame, and carrying with itthe pinion qffl'whieh isfast to thecog-wheel q,

and drives asccond carrier cog-wheel, q, with pinion q'i fast thereto. The pinion .q gears with the cogswheel g fast'to thejreceivingwheel shaft,aud also. gears with the cog wheel q'fl fast toythegcountingsvheel shafto; The wheels on the receiving-cylinder and countwheel shafts, being both driven by the same pinion-,9, must be proportioned to each other as the numbeIL-of opposite pairs of teeth in" the connt-wheels is to-thenumber of splintgrooves in thereceiving-cylinder. a

Themechanism for setting the splintsineing geared to themechanism for holding and feeding the binding-tape, as hereinbefore described, both aredriven from the count-wheel shaft 0, as follows, :vi-zv: Upon one end of the shaft o which czi-r'rie's the count-wheels is a clutch-wheel, r,=-l oose upon said shaft and fast to a. cog-wheel,=r,'behind it, which is also loose uponsaid shaft. The cog-wheel 7 gears into the cog-wheel j, which drives the feeding and .setting mechanism. An arm, r", fast to the shaft o,'carries a lever-pawl, s, actuated by a spring, 8, so as to take into the inclined teeth. 8 of the clutch-wheel and connect it with the shaft 0.. The'number of teeth in the clutch-\v-l|eel is the-same as in either one of the count-wheels, and the cog-wheel attached to the clutch-wheel is proportioned to the cogwheel which it drives as 'the number of teeth in the .counting-wheelsis to the'number of notches in the setting-wheels; The clutch is operated to stop the feeding and setting mechanism when the conntwheels fail to brin g a splint at the proper time to the settingon a fulcrum-pin in the stotted end of the horizontal stud-pin t, and is operated by a toggle, u, one member of which is jointed to thelever .t, and, the other is confined by a fulcrum-pin to the side frame ot' the machine. A bent connecting-rod, u, joins the toggle to &an upright vibrating lever, ad, which vibrates on the fulcrum-pin u at the bottom of the frame. A. crooked arm, n, with a hook, f, at one end, and jointed at thelother end to the vibrating lever 14, is suspended horizontally by a link, u depending from an arm or lever, u", framed with a lever, is, both moving freely on bearingsbn the tie-rod c the end of the power arm of the lever u being shaped so as to enter and lie in the groove around the count-wheel 0', as shown, so th'atif -a splint be not present in that notch of the countingwheel below the'end of thelever the lever drops in the groove, and thereby lowers the hooked arm so that the hook u catches on a pin, v projecting from clever, e, which is constantly moved back and forth upon itsfulcrum pin 1;

by a crank-Ir, on the end of the shaftq. A

connecting-link, a, joins the crank to said lever. Theshaftqmakesas manyrevolutionsfor each revolution of the count-wheels as'there are pairs of splint-carrying notches ,on the count-wheels. Therefore whenever the hooked arm is let down, in consequence of the ab sconce of a splint in one of the pairs of notches of the count-wheel, which, as the same revolves, approachesthe setting wheels, the vibratory lever 'v' catches the hook with its pin, and through the intermediate system of lovers above described lifts the pawl from the notch in the clutchwheel where it happens to lie, and from each succeeding notch or tooth in the clutch-wheel, so long as the count-wheel notches do not bring splints to the settingwheels, thus stopping the splint-frame and itsv setting mechanism until the, count-wheels bring forward a splint, when, the hook arm being lifted out of thetrack of the pin on the vibrating lever v by the action of the splint against the lower side of the lever'u, the pawl, released from the lever. t, is thrown into the notch on the clutch contiguous to it, and sets the frame and setting mechanism in motion. The hopper t is pivoted in front upon a seat upon the tie-rod u", to which it is confined, so

as to vibrate freely by the screw-pin w, and is also supported behind, near the top, by being jointed to a long springy rod, at, fast at the lower end to the tie-rod 90!. A shaking motion is'given to the hopper by the bell-crank 3 connected a link, 3 with the lever 17, and playing between the pins 3 projecting from the bottom of the hopper.

In place of the hopper, any known device by which the splints can be presented horizon tally to the grooves of the receiving-cylinder may be substituted. 7

- A modification of the arrangement of guideroller and setting-wheels is shown in the drawings, detached, at Fig. 5. In this modification the binding-tape is aidedin lifting out the splints from the notches in the setting-wheels by the eccentric position of the guide-roller, which turns on an eccentric bearing, z, sun rounding the settiug-wheelshaft, but not confined to it, being held in astationary position by the arm 2', which is fast to the tie-rod p.

Acrank, b, is placed on the main shaft b'for the purpose of moving the machine by hand when adjusting the drum and hinder.

We claim- 1. The employment of a flexible binding tape or band, in combination with a drum adapted to be rotated by a mandreland removed therefrom, substantially as described, as a means of forming a spiral frame of match splints for dipping, substantially as hereinbefore set forth. I

2. In combination with aframe-drum moved by friction, the endless band and pressureroller, or equivalent feeding mechanism, for the purpose'ot' holding and paying out the flexible binding tape to the frame. substantially as described.

3. In combination with the frame-drum, binder, setting and feeding mechanism, the

frictiolrdrag, or its equivalent, for the purpose of stopping the frame when the feeding and setting mechanism is discs anected from its motive power. t v

4. Thereceiving-cylinder, grccved across its periphery with grooves suitable to take in and hold only a single match-splint each, substantially as described.

5. The wire brush, or its equivalent, in comv bination with the receiving-cylinder, substantially as described.

6. In combination with the setting-wheels and receiving cylinder, the count-wheels, substantially as described.

7. The setting-wheels, in combination with the frame-drum and binding-tape, substantially asdescribed, and substantially for the purpose of setting the splints in the coils of the bindingtape, as set forth.

8. In combination with the feeding and setting mechanism, the clutch and system of 1cvers, or their equivalents, whereby the frame is stopped when splints are not supplied at the proper time and set in action again by the splint itself, substantially as described.

- ANSON BEECHER.

EBENEZER B. BEEGHER. Witnesses:

J osnrn F. BENTON, MERIT B. Soo'r'r.

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