Patent GB-189916379-A (GB)
Title: Improved Machine for Making Baskets or Receptacles for Grain, Vegetables, and like Products.
Inventor: SMITH ANDREW
Filed: 1899-08-11
Granted: 1900-08-11
Abstract: 16,379. Smith, A. Aug. 11. Stapling and like wirestitching.-Relates to a machine for making baskets for grain, vegetables, &c., of the kind shown in Fig. 25, in which a number of stats, clamped together in the middle, are bent round a suitably - shaped form 107 by a reciprocating crate or former 170, and united by wire staples to two or more rings 106, 108, 109. The parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 1. The base 27 forms one or more chambers for compressed air, which can be supplied as required to a cylinder, the piston of which is connected with a driving- clutch, a cylinder 168 for operating the reciprocating "crate" 170, and to a third cylinder 162 for operating a sliding carriage 160, on which are mounted the form 107, and the crate 170, with its operating cylinder &c. The several valves are operated by handles 50, 165, 173. In the upper part of the apparatus are two sets of stapling- mechanism operated simultaneously by the shaft 54, which is connected by a rod 152 and ratchet mechanism with the shaft 140 carrying the form 107, so that, after a staple has been inserted into each of the rings 108, 109, the basket and form 107 are partially rotated in order to bring the slats and rings into a suitable position for inserting another pair of staples. The form 107 is prevented from rotating during the stapling operation by a spring brake within the form. The inner ring 106 is placed upon the form 107 before the staves of the basket are bent upon the form. but the strips forming the rings 108, 109 are supplied through a spring holder shown in Figs. 20 and 21. Two plates 110, 117, of which one has a rib 114 along one edge, are clamped together by screws 123, the strip passing between the plates being forced against the rib by a spring plate 119 having slots to accommodate the screws 123. When starting, the strips are fed through the holders until they abut against a stop or bar extending across the form 107, when, by means of treadle mechanism, the stop is moved away and the points of the holders are moved so that they hold the strip in position until the staples are inserted. In the stapling mechanism, a cushioned plunger 68 slides in a suitable holder. The lower part 72 of the plunger is suspended from the upper part 68, and carries the die 73 for bending the wire 76 round the transversely-reciprocating former 78, one edge of the die having cutting edges for simultaneously severing the required length of wire to form the staple. The part 72 is caused to move with the plunger 68 during the first part of its descent, by means of a lever 91, which is hinged to the upper part of the plunger, and has a heel engaging with the upper edge of the part 72. When the staple has been formed, the part 72 is released by a roller 93 on the lever 91 engaging with a cam-groove in the holder, and the further descent of the plunger 68 first causes the withdrawal of the staple former 78, through engagement of the rod 83 with a spring lever system, to which the former 78 is attached, and, finally, by means of the staple driver, forces the staple through the rings and slats of the basket, on the inside of which the prongs are clenched by engaging in grooves in the metal form 107.