Patent GB-190011095-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Machines for Making Matches.
Inventor: CRISWELL JAMES ADAMS EKIN
Filed: 1900-06-19
Granted: 1900-08-11
Abstract: 11,095. Criswell, J. A. E. June 19. Cutting-up. - A machine for making matches, comprising splintcutting apparatus and a carrier for supporting the splints during the dipping operations, is shown in front elevation in Fig. 2, a cross-section of the cutter-head being shown in Fig. 4. The splints may be cut from blocks of wood 12, which are fed along two converging troughs 11 by pairs of feed-rolls 13 intermittently rotated by means of toothed gearing 15, 16, a ratchet-wheel 21, and a pawl 23 connected to an eccentric rod 24. Each trough 11 is provided with a cover-plate 12<a> A rotary cutter-head, comprising a main or body portion 29 and a clamping-plate 30, carries a series of cutters 31, of any suitable form. The cutters have pins 32 engaging with apertures in the cutterhead, and acting in conjunction with each cutter is a slide 33 having projections 34, which enter cam grooves in bars 36 fitted within longitudinal recesses in the cutter-head. The two parts of the cutter-head are secured together by means of bolts 37, and the main part 29 carries studs or necks mounted in bearings which are reciprocated vertically within guides forming parts of the machine framing, by means of connecting-rods 41. Cams 43 on the upper ends of the rods 41 serve to move the bars 36 longitudinally when the cutterhead is rotated. The rotation of the cutter-head may be effected by various means. In the arrangement shown, the head is rotated through an angle of 180‹, during each up-stroke of the head, by means of toothed discs 46 carrying spring-pressed pawls which engage with teeth formed on discs secured to the cutter-head shaft; the discs 46 gear with stationary racks 48. The cutter-head is locked in position by means of sliding bolts entering recesses in the discs, which are fixed to the cutter-head shaft and are mentioned above ; the bolts are normally forced downwards against the discs by springs, and are released during each up-stroke of the cutter-heads by means of levers which strike the ends of arms pivoted to the machine framing. During each down-stroke of the cutter-head a row of splints is usually cut from each block 12, and the head is next rotated through an angle of 180‹, so as to carry the splints away from the blocks 12 and invert them as shown in Fig. 4 ready for insertion into the carrier 61. Simultaneously the corresponding bar 36 is moved to cover the cutter-holes and serve as abutments for the splints during the insertion operation. This carrier may be of any suitable form, and may comprise a series of plates 63 connected together and provided with series of apertures 64 for receiving the splints. A funnel-shaped pipe 62 is connected to an exhaust fan. The carrier may be operated by any suitable mechanism, but may be provided with teeth meshing with toothed wheels 67 on a transverse shaft 66 carrying a ratchetwheel 68 driven by means of a pawl 70 pivoted to arms 69, which are actuated by an eccentric rod 71. After the splints have been carried through the machine and have been paraffined and dipped in the usual way, they are brought by the carrier beneath a series of plungers 86 projecting from a vertically-reciprocating crosshead 84, which is actuated by eccentrics 85 on the main shaft 26. During the ejecting operations, the carrier is supported by flanges 82, projecting from a guide-plate 81. The pawl 23 is normally held in gear with the ratchet-wheel 21 by one end of a lever 79, which is pivoted to the framing ; the opposite end of this lever is periodically raised, so as to disengage the pawl, by a pin 78 projecting from a toothed wheel 76, which is driven by a wheel 75 on the shaft 66. By these means, the feed of the wooden blocks 12 is stopped, while the carrier travels through the distances between its sections.