Patent GB-190012413-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Machines for Making Matches.
Inventor: CRISWELL JAMES ADAMS EKIN
Filed: 1900-07-10
Granted: 1900-10-13
Abstract: 12,413. Criswell, J. A. E. July 10. Cutting-up.-Relates to matchmaking machinery comprising apparatus for cutting veneers into splints, and means for transferring the splints to a special form of carrier. The veneers 12, Fig. 3, are fed along a trough 11 towards a fixed plate 18 by means of a follower or block fitted within the box and forced against the veneers by means of weights ; or the feeding of the veneers may be effected by other means. A plunger 19, with a slotted lower end 42, reciprocates vertically between the plate 18 and the veneers, and pushes the veneers singly towards the cutters 22. The plunger 19 is secured to slides 28 provided with grooves which receive a rod 30 carried by a pair of parallel arms 31 secured to a rocking-shaft 32. A lever 33 is mounted loosely on the shaft 32, and is connected at one end to an eccentric rod 34 and at the opposite end, by a rod 37, to a plunger 38, which works within a barrel 40 supported by the arms 31. A spring 39 is fitted within the barrel and controls the movements of the plunger. The cutters 22 are mounted upon a spindle 23, and act in conjunction with a smooth metal roller 20 with relation to which the cutters may be adjusted by means of screws 26, collars secured to the spindle 23 preventing actual contact between the cutters and the roller 20. The splints, after they have been cut from the veneers, are directed into channels 49<a> formed in a separating device, which is shown in sectional plan in Fig. 8 and comprises series of plates 45, 46 fitted with a box 48. Each channel 49<a> forms an extension of a passage 49 into which the splints pass in alignment. Fingers or extensions 50 project upwards from the plates. From the channels 49<a> the splints are forced into a carrier, which may be of any suitable construction., In the form of carrier shown in Figs. 3, 10, and 11. the apertures 54 for the splints 62 are the spaces between a series of parallel bars 53 fitted within the framing 52 of the carrier, and the splints are held in position by teeth 60 formed on a series of slide bars 55 which pass transversely through the carrier. The bars 55 are held frictionally within the carrier by springs 56. After the splints have been pushed into a row of apertures 54, the corresponding bar 55 is moved longitudinally by means of an inclined block 65, so as to cause the teeth to hold the splints. The lower ends of the splints rest upon the surface 67 of a table 68 secured to the framing and provided with rails 69 along which the carrier travels. In some cases the splints are not forced sufficiently far through the apertures to rest upon the surface 67 ; this defect is remedied by means of a plate 78 mounted to slide upon the box 48 and connected to a spring-controlled rod 82, which slides through an aperture in one end of a bell-crank lever 81. This lever carries a bolt 85 which works in a slot formed in a link 87, connected to the lever 33. A spring or springs 83 serve to raise the plate 78 after each down-stroke. The carrier is driven intermittently by means of pawl-and-ratchet mechanism mounted on a shaft 72, which carries toothed wheels 71 gearing with racks 70 on the carrier. Any suitable mechanism may be employed for actuating the splint-cutting apparatus and the eccentric shaft 36. In a modified form of cutting- apparatus there are two spindles each carrying circular cutters, and in another modification the cutting-apparatus and separating-device are removably fitted within a box which is removable from the machine framing. The plunger 19 may be driven by means of an eccentric or cams ; in this case the arms 31 and levers 33 are fixed to the shaft 32. If desired, splints longer than a match may be cut by means of the rotary cutters, and these long splints may be afterwards cut to length by horizontally-reciprocating knives. Instead of the carrier described above, one made up of sections hinged together and having apertures smaller than the sectional areas of the splints may be employed ; or the apertures in the sections may be fitted with bushes serving to hold the splints.