IMPROVEMENTS IN NAILS OR SPIKES AND IN NAIL MAKING MACHINERY
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Watkins of the Office for Patonts 5 High
Street Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford Consulting Engineer for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN NAILS OR SPIKES AND IN NAIL MAKING
MACHINERY" Communicated to him from abroad by William Taylor of
Pittsburg in the County of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania United
States of America
•
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Watkins at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th November 1882.
STEPHEN WATKINS, of the office for Patents, 5, High Street, Wolverhampton in
the County of Stafford, Consulting Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN NAILS OR
SPIKES AND IN NAIL MAKING MACHINERY. [Communicated to him from abroad
by William Taylor of Pittsburg in the County of Allegheny and State of
Pennsylvania United States of America
This invention relates firstly to improvements in nails or spikes, and secondly
to improvements in that class of machines used for the manufacture of nails from
wire.
I will first describe my improvements in nails or spikes.
The object of this part of the invention is to produce a nail or spike possessing
great strength and stiffness proportioned to its weight and that will drive easily
and hold tenaciously without impairing the fibre of the wood. The head of this
nail or spike may be of any desirable thickness and convenient diameter,
and centrally arranged in axial line with its shank. However the shape or size of
the head is immaterial provided it answers the purpose for which it is intended.
The shank may be of any length and size adapted to such uses as nails, spikes,
bolts and pins are put to in fastening together articles of wood or other material.
The point should be long, tapering and round so that whilst being driven into
wood it will easily displace its fibre and enter without much resistance. And to
increase or improve the holding quality of the spike or nail, that part of the shank
immediately above the taper of its point, and extending some distance towards
the head, should be roughened. This nail or spike I prefer to make of steel, and
give the head any desirable shape or form, but in order to accomplish the object

page_text: 1
desired and thereby produce a superior nai! I make the body or shank three
cornered or triangular in transverse section, which shape gives a maximum degree
of strength and stiffness proportioned to its weight. The three corners of the
shank are parallel with each other from the head to the commencement of the
taper at the point and are of uniform structure between those parts. The point is
round, smooth and tapering constituting a regular sharp cone somewhat greater
in length than a cross section of any part of the nail below its head. That part
of the shank above the taper of its point, and extending therefrom about one third
of its length towards the head, is provided with a series of parallel nicks arranged
transversely or diagonally of its axis, or otherwise given a roughened surface. The
intervening portion of the shank, or that part existing between the head and nicks
being left perfectly plain. This construction of nail enables it to be readily and
accurately driven into the hardest wood, making a hole no larger than it can
completely fill, and when driven the shape of the shank is such as will permit the
fibre of the wood to lie closely against it, whilst the nicked or roughened surface
near the point increases its holding and retaining property. As nails and spikes
are generally used for fastening two or more pieces of wood together by passing
entirely through one piece into the other there is no necessity for having the nail
roughened except at that part entering the secondary piece of wood. I am aware
that nails having a series of nicks in the shank are not new, but heretofore in such
cases the nicks were located on the shank immediately underneath the head and
extending but a short distance therefrom such nicks being incidentally made by
roughing the gripping dies to assist in holding the blank during the heading
process, and such nicks instead of being beneficial to the nail are injurious as
they tend to weaken its shank at a part requiring the greatest strength. Whereas
my improved nail is designedly nicked or roughened at a part remote from the
head, not weakening the shank, assisting very materially in giving it a retentive
hold in the wood. I am also aware that nails and spikes having a triangular
shank have been in use for a long time and are not new. I am also aware
that nails having a round conical point have heretofore been used and of itself
comprises nothing new. Therefore I lay no claim to any such devices when
separately considered.
The improvements in that class of nail making machinery used for the
manufacture of nails from wire are described as follows:-
I construct a strong cast iron frame and mount the same upon suitable legs and
also provide it with such bearings and guide ways as may be requisite for the
reception and proper support of the moving parts. Across, and near one end of
this frame is arranged the main driving shaft on one of the projecting ends of
which are placed, side by side, a loose and fast pulley by means of which power
may be communicated to the shaft through the instrumentality of an endless
belt, after the manner usual in such cases, and to steady the revolutions of the
shaft and operations of the machine, a balance fly wheel is keyed on the shaft
beside the afore mentioned pullies. Located on the extreme opposite end of this
shaft and rigidly secured thereto is a thick circular disc having entirely across its
axial line and face a deep dovetailed groove in which is fitted a movable block bearing
a projecting wrist pin which is made adjustable along the groove by means of a screw
so connected to the disc and operating in the block as that the wrist pin may be
set eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main shaft and
thereby give the wrist a crank like movement, the stroke of which may be varied
and regulated to suit the requirements of the case. This wrist pin carries one
end of a horizontally arranged connecting rod the other end of which is in like
manner pivoted to a vibrating arm affixed to a rock shaft across the front
of the machine, which latter is supported by suitable bearings or hangers.
On that part of this rock shaft midway between its hangers is another
vibrating arm, the movable upper end of which is jointed to the bottom of a
sliding carriage for the purpose of imparting to it a rectilinear and recipro-
cating movement in a direction at right angles to the axis of the rock shaft. The

page_text: length of stroke back and forth of this sliding carriage is regulated entirely by the
eccentricity given the wrist pin carried by the disc on the end of the main shaft,
so that on the adjustment of this wrist depends the length of wire fed into the
machine at each forward movement of its slide as will be presently understood.
Secured to the top of this slide, so as to move with it, is a stout steel faced block
provided with a pair of elevated ears between which is pivoted, near the corner
of its angle an L-shaped iron jaw carrying in the forward end of its thick hori-
zontal part a single chisel-edged steel tooth. Corresponding to the shape and
located a short distance back of the vertical extension of the iron jaw is a standard
rising from the slide and through the upper end of both is passed a stout pin, one
end of which is screw threaded and provided with a small hand wheel. Between
the vertical extension of the iron jaw and the standard a spring is coiled around
the pin, and this spring may be compressed more or less by turning the hand wheel,
thus causing the tooth to bite downwardly toward the steel face of the block with
considerable force of a yielding character. Attached to the main frame, just back
of the slide aforesaid, is a stationary upright in the upper end of which is a
removable but fixed eye piece having its axis in a line corresponding to the space
existing between the tooth in the iron jaw aforesaid and the steel faced block
beneath. This eye should be of a size adapted to serve as a guide and director for
the wire on its way to the nail forming devices. After passing through this eye,
the wire is continued onward through a suitable hole in the standard aforesaid, and
over the face of the steel block and beneath the tooth in the iron jaw, and from
thence between two small spurred wheels which are free to revolve in a vertical
plane and are made adjustable with respect to each other, and so shaped as to form
slight burs on the wire it its passage between them. And as the standard
supporting these wheels is bolted to the slide and moves witli it, the wheels only
rotate during the retroaction of the slide and remain inactive at other times. On
revolving the main shaft the movement of its projecting wrist will, by means of its
connecting rod, impart a vibratory action to that arm on the nearest end of the
rock shaft, and thus bring about a similar movement of its secondary arm pivoted
to the underside of the sliding carriage, aforesaid, causing it to travel to and from
the machine at each revolution, the distance of such travel being regulated by the
position the wrist may occupy to the centre or axial line of the main shaft as
hereinbefore stated. Now if one end of a coil of wire be passed through the
guiding eye of the upright post and extended onward over the steel faced block so
as to be under the chisel edged tooth in the iron jaw, and continued between the
spurred wheels in advance thereof, the slide in its movement towards the machine
will cause the tooth to bite down on the wire with sufficient force to hold it whilst
the slide feeds it forward the proper length for forming a nail. And such is the
construction and operation of parts as that when the slide moves backward the
tooth will release its hold on the wire and slip freely over it preparatory to taking
another bite thereon a distance from the first, and by this means the wire is spaced
off and fed into the machine with unerring precision at each reciprocation of the
slide. As the end of the wire is thus intermittently carried along it eventually
reaches, and is caused to enter, a suitable hole in the back of a quadrangular die-
box which is rigidly affixed to the top of the inain frame a short distance in front
of the above described feeding-in device, and in this box the wire on its advance
is first gripped, held and headed during the return movement of the slide, and then
released preparatory to its readvance, which is to the extent required for a nail,
then pointed, cut off and knocked free from its parent wire that the same
operations may be performed on succeeding portions of the wire. For the purpose
of properly performing these several functions, the die-box I provided with four
transverse passage ways leading into its centre, so as to cross the line of travel
given the wire. Two of these, or those nearest the feeding-in device, contain the
gripping dies which cousist of steel bars having their inner ends or faces slightly
nicked and hardened, whereby they will more securely and positively hold the
wire and prevent its slipping back whilst undergoing the heading process. The

page_text: outer end of one of these gripping dies abuts against an opposing set screw tapped
into and through a fixed block adjacent to that side of the die-box whereby that
die may be adjusted to its proper position with relation to the wire, and this die
is intended to remain stationary when set. Its counterpart or opposite gripping
die is similar in construction to the one just described, but instead of having
a fixed and rigid position in the box, it has given to it a movement to and fro in
the direction of its length, being forced away from the fixed or opposite gripping
die by means of a spring coiled around its outer extension that terminates and abuts
against a sliding bar having a like movement within a suitable guide way. The
end of this sliding bar most remote from the die is beveled in such a manner, or
given such form as to constitute a leaning or incline plane that is acted upon by the
tapering face of a wedge shaped piece arranged in a reverse position, and securely
attached, so as to be adjustable, on the approximate end of a long lever that is bent
angularly to bring its fulcrum over the top of the main frame, where it is supported
and so pivoted, near its middle, between strong standards, that each end may vibrate
with an up and down motion. The end of this lever farthest from the die-box is
provided with an anti-friction roller that rests upon a single-throw cam arranged
on the main shaft which at proper times causes the forward end of this lever to be
depressed to the extent of enabling its wedge shaped piece to operate upon the
beveled end of the sliding bar and push in the active gripping die towards its
fixed counterpart, whereby the wire fed in between them may be caught and
tightly held by a vice like grasp. A vertically moving spring under the front
portion of this lever keeps the anti-friction roller at its opposite end down upon
the cam and prevents jarring the parts. Within the die-box and on the same
horizontal plane, but separated from the grippers a distance equalling the length of
wire necessary for the formation of a head on a nail, are located the pointing tools
that move laterally and outwardly together each by an independent spring and are
forced inwardly at the same instant each by its approximate lever acting by a
wedge on an incline plane at the end of its respective push bar, these several
movements being effected by a pair of long levers provided with anti-friction rollers
actuated by suitable cams on the main shaft. In short substantially the same
devices are made use of for giving motion to these pointing and cutting off tools,
that are used for the active gripping die, so that the description of one will answer
for all, with this exception, that the cam operating the lever of the gripper is so
shaped as that its pressure on the wire shall be maintained during a half revolution
of the main shaft whereas, the cams operating the pointing and cutting off tools
are so contrived as to impart to them a very quick inward push and speedy
liberation.
The chief mechanism for forming the heads on the nails comprises a straight and
strong iron bar arranged horizontally and axially on a line corresponding to the
path of the ingoing wire, and is made to work with a sliding movement in and
through substantial bearings at or near the middle and rear end of the main frame.
The inner end of this bar is provided with a steel die of such form as will give
proper shape to the nail heads, and its other end is made fast to the centre of a
stout circular plate from which four separate and parallel rods extend. Their free
ends passing loosely through holes in another and similar plate having at its centre
a projecting screw connected to it by a swivel. This screw is tapped through a
cross head held in proper position by means of two extending rods or arms.
Around each of the four parallel rods above referred to is wound a spiral spring
and the object of the swivelled screw is to adjust the tension of these springs, and
to facilitate such adjustment a hand wheel is attached to its projecting end, and to
prevent the screw from unduly turning, a jam nut is used. The mechanical ram or
header is moved back endwise so as to compress the powerful springs around the
four separate and parallel rods to which it is attached, at a comparatively slow
rate of speed, by the toe of a revolving cam on the main shaft acting against a log
on the underside of the heading bar, and when the bar has been moved back as
far as this cam can effect it there it is held for a time by a dog bolt shot upward,

page_text: by means of a suitable spring, through the frame into a corresponding shaped hole
in the lower face of the heading bar thereby retaining the header temporarily in
that position. The dog bolt is provided with a projecting arm, the end of which is
acted upon by such a shaped cam on the main shaft as will pull the dog down
and release the heading bar until it has been thrown forward by the action of its
powerful springs and the completion of its return stroke, when the dog will be
ready to act in like manner on each separate stroke of the header.
It is very necessary that the tools used in cutting off the wire and giving form
to the point of the nails, should be accurately made, and provided with sharp cutting
edges of angular form, which may be accomplished by beveling the operative ends
of the tools, and otherwise so constructing them as that the points of the nails will
be cut and compressed into shape. These pointing tools should be so adjusted with
respect to the work they have to perform as to approach each other as near as
may be without actual contact, otherwise their sharp edges would soon be destroyed.
This want of actual contact in the tools leaves the extreme point of the nail adhering
to the freshly cut end of the wire by a very thin tenure, and to break this connection
and free the nail, an angular lever is used having its fulcrum neurly on a line with
the pointing levers, and otherwise so arranged as that one of its ends shall be kept
up by a spring and occupy a position directly over the pathway of the newly made
nail, and its other end over the main shaft so as to be acted on by a suitable cam
which will at the proper moment depress the angular end of the lever and knock
the finished nail free from the wire.
The several parts of this machine having been properly adjusted its operation is
as follows:-A coil of wire, of any predetermined size and transverse shape, is to
have one end thereof thrust through the eye or guide in the stationery vertical post
aforesaid and through a hole on a line therewith in the movable standard and over the
face of the steel block beneath the chisel edged tooth in the iron jaw and continued
onward between the spurred wheels and roughened faces of the gripping dies till
its end arrives in the immediate vicinity of the pointing tools. Now when the
gripping dies are open, such is the relative combination of parts constituting this
machine, as that the heading ram will be held back, until a rotary movement of the
main shaft causes the grippers to close upon the wire, during which the feeding-in
device will retreat to obtain an additional bite upon the wire at a distance from
the first bite equalling the length required to form a perfect nail. At this instant
the heading rain will be released and shot forward, by its powerful springs, against
that portion of wire extending beyond the grippers, towards the pointing tools, with
sufficient force to form thereon a suitable head. As the heading ram returns to its
former position, the grippers open and the feeding-in device brings forward the wire,
whereupon the pointing tools advance and point the headed nail which on their
withdrawal is left supported solely by its extreme point, to be immediately knocked
off by the action of the angular lever, and as these several movements of the machine
follow each other with great rapidity and regularity, the wire is fed in, headed,
pointed and knocked off in the form of finished nails with remarkable speed.
The features of novelty which constitute this invention are.
First As a new article of manufacture a headed nail or spike having a shank
of triangular form provided with a series of transverse or diagonal nicks and a
round, tapering and conical point.
Second: A headed nail or spike having a shank of triangular form provided
with a series of transverse or diagonal nicks, notches or indentations on one or all
of its sides at or near its point.
Third A headed nail or spike having a shank of triangular form terminating
n a conical point and nicked, notched or roughened from the taper of its point
bout one third of its length upward toward the head, the other portion of the
hank being plain.
Fourth A headed and pointed nail or spike the shank of which from
he head to the taper of its point is of uniform diameter, and provided with a

page_text: nicked or roughened surface at or near the point for the purpose hereinbefore set
forth.
Fifth In a machine for making nails, a heading ram that has a comparatively
slow backward movement, in combination with extended rods at the rear end
thereof, around each of which is coiled a powerful spring that when compressed by
the backward movement of the ram are held in that position by a suitable dog or
clutch, and when liberated or set free, by the withdrawal of the dog, will shoot the
ram end foremost against so much of the wire as is protruded beyond the face of
the gripping dies and form a head thereon.
Sixth-In a nail making machine that includes a heading ram moving end-wise
with extended rods at the rear thereof, around each of which is coiled a strong
spring to shoot the ram against wire held by a pair of gripping dies, in combination
with a screw supported at the farthest extremity of the rods, and made to operate
in conjunction with a circular plate sliding over the rods for the purpose of regulating
the tension of the said springs, as hereinbefore set forth.
Seventh-In a machine for making nails, the combination of a guide for the
nail wire with a rectilinear reciprocating slide carrying a steel faced block, above
which is pivoted an iron jaw provided with a chisel edged steel tooth, so arranged
in the jaw, and made to operate in conjunction with the block, as to bite into and
hold the wire whilst being carried forward by the slide, and release it on its
backward movement.
Eighth In a nail making machine, the herein described gripping device
consisting of a cam on the main shaft in combination with a lever, or its mechanical
equivalent, provided with an incline nose so working in juxtaposition with a similar
incline on the push bar of the gripping die, as to force said die tightly against the
wire and hold it whilst being headed.
Ninth In a nail making machine, the herein described devices for operating
the pointing and cutting off tools, each device consisting of a cam on the main shaft,
in combination with a lever, or its mechanical equivalent, provided with an incline
nose working in juxtaposition with a similar incline on its respective push bar, as
to force said pointing and cutting off tools toward each other, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Stephen Watkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th March
1883.
STEPHEN WATKINS of the Office for Patents, 5, High Street, Wolverhampton in
6 the County of Stafford, Consulting Engineer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN NAILS OR'
SPIKES AND IN NAIL MAKING MACHINERY being a communication to me from
abroad by William Taylor of Pittsburg in the County of Allegheny and state of
Pennsylvania United States of America,
This invention relates firstly to improvements in nails or spikes, and, secondly,
O to improvements in that class of machines used for the manufacture of nails from
wire.
I will first describe my improvements in nails or spikes.
Figure 14 represents a front elevation of my improved nail or spike
a cross section of the shank of the nail or spike on the line a a.
transverse section of its tapering point on the line b b.
Figure 15
Figure 16 a
The object of this part of the invention is to produce a nail or spike possessing
great strength and stiffness proportioned to its weight and that will drive easily
and hold tenaciously without impairing the fibre of the wood. The head of this
nail or spike may be of any desirable thickness and convenient diameter, and
centrally arranged in axial line with its shank. However the shape or size of the
head is immaterial provided it answers the purpose for which it is intended. The
shank may be of any length and size adapted to such uses as nails, spikes, bolts
and pins, are put to in fastening together articles of wood or other material. The
point should be long, tapering and round, so that whilst being driven into wood
it will easily displace its fibre and enter without much resistance, and to increase
or improve the holding quality of the spike or nail, that part of the shank
immediately above the taper of its point, and extending some distance towards the
head should be roughened. This nail or spike I prefer to make of steel, and give
the head c any desirable shape or form; but in order to accomplish the object
desired and thereby produce a superior nail I make the body or shank d three
cornered or triangular in transverse section, which shape gives a maximum degree
of strength and stiffness proportioned to its weight. The three corners of the shank
are parallel with each other from the head c to the commencement of the taper at
the point e and are of uniform structure between those parts. The point e is
round, smooth and tapering constituting a regular sharp cone somewhat greater in
length than a cross section of any part of the nail below its head. That part of
the shank d above the taper of its point, and extending therefrom about one third
of its length toward the head, is provided with a series of parallel nicks farranged
transversely or diagonally to its axis, or otherwise given a roughened surface, the
intervening portion of the shank, or that part existing between the head and nicks
being left perfectly plain. This construction of nail enables it to be readily and
accurately driven into the hardest wood, making a hole no larger than it can
completely fill, and when driven the shape of the shank is such as will permit the
fibre of the wood to be closely against it, whilst the nicked or roughened surface
near the point increases its holding and retaining property. As nails and spikes
are generally used for fastening two or more pieces of wood together by passing
entirely through one piece into the other, there is no necessity for having the nail
roughened except at that part entering the secondary piece of wood. I am aware
that nails having a series of nicks in the shank are not new, but heretofore in such
cases the nicks were located on the shank immediately underneath the head and
extending but a short distance therefrom, such nicks being incidentally made by
roughing the gripping dies to assist in holding the blank during the heading
rocess, and such nicks instead of being beneficial to the nail are injurious as they

page_text: tend to weaken its shank at a part requiring the greatest strength. Whereas my
improved nail is designedly nicked or roughened at a part remote from the head
not weakening the shank, assisting very materially in giving it a retentive hold
in the wood. I am also aware that nails and spikes having a triangular shank
I am also aware that nails
have been in use for a long time and are not new.
having a round conical point have heretofore been used, and of itself comprises
nothing new. Therefore I lay no claim to any such devices when separately
considered.
The improvements in that class of nail making machinery used for the manu-
facture of nails from wire are described as follows:
:-
Figure 1 represents an elevation of one side of my improved machine the balance
wheel of which is removed and a corresponding portion of its shaft broken away.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the front of the machine. Figure 3 represents a
longitudinal vertical section of the nail heading device. Figure 4 a side elevation
of the feeding-in device shewing more particularly its spurred wheels and the
relation they bear to a wire passing between them. Figure 5 a front view of the
spurred wheels shewing their mode of support. Figure 6 is a plan of the machine
with a portion of the frame broken away. Figure 7 is an elevation of one side
of one of the levers for actuating the gripping dies also shewing the lifting spring,
and cam on the main shaft for vibrating this lever, and a portion of the bed or
frame of the machine. Figure 8 a front end view of this same lever shewing its
beveled contact with one of the push bars supported in its bearing on a portion of
the main frame. Figure 9 is a rear view of the die box shewing the gripping dies
therein. Figure 10 is a side elevation of such die box. Figures 11 and 12 are
views of one of the gripping and cutting tools detached from the die box. Figure 13
is a face view of one of the heads or circular plates between which the header
springs are confined. Figure 14 is a top view of the springs and their frame by
means of which the header receives its forward or active strokes.
As this invention comprises an intermittent wire-feeding device, grippers for
holding the wire during the heading process, a header that is driven against the
end of the infed wire by the sudden release of powerful springs, pointing and
cutting-off devices, together with suitable cams, levers, wheels, springs and such
other hereinafter described appliances and appendages as are necessary to work in
perfect unison when supported upon a proper frame, it is essential that such frame
should be substantially built to enable it to withstand the vibratory shocks incident
to such contrivances. To this end I construct a strong cast iron frame A and
mount the same upon suitable legs B, and also provide it with such bearings and
guide ways as may be requisite for the reception and proper support of the
moving parts. Across, and near one end of this frame A is arranged the main
driving shaft C, on one of the projecting ends of which are placed, side by side, a
loose and fast pulley D E, by means of which power may be communicated to the
shaft through the instrumentality of an endless belt, after the manner usual in
such cases, and to steady the revolutions of the shaft and operations of the
machine a balance fly wheel F is keyed on the shaft beside the afore-mentioned
pullies. Located on the extreme opposite end of this shaft, and rigidly secured
thereto, is a thick circular disc G having entirely across its axial line and face a
deep dovetailed groove H in which is fitted a movable block bearing a projecting
wrist-pin I, which is made adjustable along the groove by means of a screw J so
connected to the disc and operating in the block as that the wrist-pin may be set
eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main shaft C and thereby
give the wrist a crank-like movement, the stroke of which may be varied and
regulated to suit the requirements of the case. This wrist-pin J carries one end of
a horizontally arranged connecting rod K, the other end of which is in like
manner pivoted to a vibrating arm L affixed to a rock-shaft M across the front of
On
the machine, which latter is supported by suitable bearings or hangers N N.
that part of this rock-shaft M midway between its hangers N is another vibrating
arm O, the movable upper end of which is jointed to the bottom of a sliding

page_text: carriage P for the purpose of imparting to it a rectilinear and reciprocating move-
ment in a direction at right angles to the axis of the rock shaft. The length of
stroke, back and forth of this sliding carriage P is regulated entirely by the
eccentricity given the wrist-pin carried by the disc G on the end of the main shaft,
so that on the adjustment of this wrist depends the length of wire fed into the
machine at each forward movement of its slide, as will be presently understood.
Secured to the top of this slide P, so as to move with it, is a stout steel-faced
block provided with a pair of elevated ears R between which is pivoted, near
the corner of its angle, an L-shaped iron jaw S carrying in the forward end of its
thick horizontal part a single chisel-edged steel tooth a. Corresponding to the
shape and located a short distance back of the vertical extension 6 of the iron jaw
is a standard e rising from the slide P, and through the upper end of both the
parts b and c is passed a stout pin d, one end of which is screw-threaded and
provided with a small hand wheel c. Between the vertical extension b of the iron
jaw and the standard c, a spring f is coiled around the pin, and this spring may
be compressed more or less by turning the hand wheel e, thus causing the tooth to
bite downwardly toward the steel face of the block with considerable force of a
yielding character. Attached to the main frame A, just back of the slide P,
aforesaid, is a stationery upright V, in the upper end of which is a removable but
fixed eye piece 9 having its axis in a line corresponding to the space existing
between the tooth in the iron jaw S, aforesaid, and the steel-faced block beneath.
This eye g should be of a size adapted to serve as a guide and director for the
wire on its way to the nail-forming devices. After passing through this eye the
wire is continued onward through a suitable hole h in the standard c, aforesaid,
and over the face of the steel block Q and beneath the tool in the iron jaw S, and
from thence between two small spurred wheels ii which are free to revolve in a
vertical plane, and are made adjustable with respect to each other, and so shaped
as to forin slight burs on the wire in its passage between them. As the standard
supporting these wheels is bolted to the slide P, and moves with it, the wheels
only rotate during the retroaction of the slide and remain inactive at other times.
Ŏn revolving the main shaft C, the movement of its projecting wrist I will by
means of its connecting rod K, impart a vibratory action to the arm L on the
nearest end of the rock shaft M, and thus bring about a similar movement of its
secondary arm O pivoted to the underside of the sliding carriage, aforesaid, causing
the sliding-carriage to travel to and from the machine at each revolution, the
distance of such travel being regulated by the position the wrist I may occupy to
the centre or axial line of the main shaft C, as hereinbefore stated. Now if one
end of a coil of wir. assed through the guiding eye g of the upright post V,
and extended onward over the steel-faced block, so as to be under the chisel-edged
tooth in the iron jaw S, and continued between the spurred wheels ii in advance
thereof, the slide, in its movement towards the machine, will cause the tooth a to
bite down on the wire with sufficient force to hold it whilst the slide P feeds it
forward the proper length for forming a nail, and such is the construction and
operation of parts as that when the slide P moves backward the tooth will release
its hold on the wire and slip freely over it preparatory to taking another bite
thereon a distance from the first, and by this means the wire is spaced off and fed
into the machine with unerring precision at each reciprocation of the slide. As the
end of the wire is thus intermittently carried along it eventually reaches and is
caused to enter, a suitable hole in the back of a quadrangular die-box W, which is
rigidly affixed to the top of the main frame A a short distance in front of the
above-described feeding-in device, and in this box W, the wire, on its advance, is
first gripped, held and headed during the return movement of the slide P, and then
released preparotory to its readvance, which is to the extent required for a nail,
then pointed, cut off and knocked free from its parent wire that the same operations
may be performed on succeeding portions of the wire.
For the purpose of properly performing these several functions, the die box W is
provided with four transverse passage-ways figure 10 leading into its centre, so

page_text: .
as to cross the line of travel given the wire. Two of these, or those nearest the
feeding-in device, contain the gripping dies m m¹ which consist of steel bars
having their inner ends or faces slightly nicked and hardened, whereby they will
more securely and positively hold the wire and prevent its slipping back whilst
undergoing the heading process. The outer end of one of these gripping dies abuts
against an opposing set screw n, tapped into and through a fixed block p, adjacent
to that side of the die-box W, whereby that die may be adjusted to its proper
position with relation to the wire, and this die is intended to remain stationery
when set. Its counterpart or opposite gripping die m' is similar in construction to
the one just described, but instead of having a fixed and rigid position in the box,
it has given to it a movement to-and-fro in the direction of its length, being forced
away from the fixed or opposite gripping die by means of a spring q coiled around
its outer extension r that terminates and abuts against a sliding bar t having a
like movement within a suitable guide-way u. The end of this sliding-bar most
remote from the die is beveled in such a manner, or given such form, as to
constitute a leaning or incline plane v₁ that is acted upon by the tapering face of a
wedge-shaped piece " arranged in a reverse position and securely attached, so as
to be adjustable, on the approximate end of a long lever X that is bent angularly
to bring its fulcrum over the top of the main frame, where it is supported and so
pivoted, near its middle, between strong standards, that each end may vibrate with
an up-and-down motion. The end Y of this lever X farthest from the die box W
is provided with an anti-friction roller Z that rests upon a single-throw-cam,
arranged on the main shaft C, which at proper times, causes the forward end of
this lever to be depressed to the extent of enabling its wedge-shaped piece v to
operate upon the bevelled end of the sliding bar and push in the active
gripping die m² toward its fixed counterpart, whereby the wire fed in between
them may be caught and tightly held by a vice-like grip. A vertically-moving
spring O under the front portion of this lever X keeps the anti-friction roller at
its opposite end down upon the cam, and prevents jarring of the parts.
Within the die-box W, and on the same horizontal plane, but separated from the
grippers a distance equalling the length of wire necessary for the formation of a
head on a nail, are located the pointing tools that move laterally and outwardly
together, each by an independent spring shewn in figure 9, and are forced inwardly
at the same instant, each by its approximate lever acting by a wedge t¹ on an
incline plane at the end of its respective push bar 1, these several movements
being effected by a pair of long levers X¹ provided with anti-friction rollers pl
actuated by suitable cams on the main shaft C. In short, substantially the same
devices are made use of for giving motion to these pointing and cutting-off tools,
that are used for the active gripping die, so that the description of one will answer
for all, with this exception, that the cam operating the lever ✗ of the gripper is so
shaped as that its pressure on the wire shall be maintained during a half revolution
of the main shaft Ĉ, whereas the cams operating the pointing and cutting-off tools
are so contrived as to impart to them a very quick inward push and speedy
liberation.
The chief mechanism for forming the beads on the nails, comprises, a straight
and strong iron bar A¹ arranged horizontally and axially on a line corresponding
to the path of the ingoing wire, and made to work with a sliding movement in
and through substantial bearings B₁ B" at or near the middle and rear end of the
main frame. The inner end of this bar A¹ is provided with a steel die, of such
form as will give proper shape to the nail heads, and its other end is made fast to
the centre of a stout circular plate c¹, from which four separate and parallel
rods a' a' extend, their free ends passing loosely through holes in another and
similar plate 6' having at its centre a projecting screw d' connected to it by a
swivel. This screw dis tapped through a cross-head f₁ held in proper position by
means of two extending rods or arms k. Around each of the four parallel rods,
above referred to, is wound a spiral spring H', and the object of the swivelled
screw is to adjust the tension of these springs, and to facilitate such adjustment

page_text: a hand wheel I¹ is attached to its projecting end, and, to prevent the screw from
unduly turning, a jam nut s' is used. The mechanical ram or header A¹ is moved
back end wise so as to compress the powerful springs H₁ around the four separate
and parallel rods a', to which it is attached, at a comparatively slow rate of speed,
by the toe of a revolving cam a², on the main shaft, acting against a lug b³ on
the underside of the heading bar, and when the bar has been moved back as far as
this cam can effect it, there it is held for a time by a dog bolt N', shot upwards by
ineans of a suitable spring N2, through the frame into a corresponding shaped hole
in the lower face of the heading bar A¹, thereby retaining the header temporarily
in that position. This dog bolt is provided with a projecting arm M², the end of
which is acted upon by such a shaped cam L', on the main shaft, as will pull the
dog N' down and release the heading bar A' until it has been thrown forward by
the action of its powerful springs H' and the completion of its return stroke,
when the dog will be ready to act in like manner on each repeated stroke of the
header.
It is very necessary that the tools used in cutting off the wire and giving form
to the point of the nails, should be accurately. made, and provided with sharp
cutting edges of angular form, which may be accomplished by bevelling the
operative ends of the tools, and otherwise so constructing them as that the points
of the nails will be cut and compressed into shape. These pointing tools should
be so adjusted with respect to the work they have to perform, as to approach each
other as near as may be without actual contact, otherwise their sharp edges would
soon be destroyed. This want of actual contact in the tools leaves the extreme
point of the nail adhering to the freshly cut end of the wire by a very thin tenure,
and to break this connection and free the nail, an angular lever K is used, having
its fulcrum nearly on a line with the pointing levers, and otherwise so arranged as
that one of its ends shall be kept up by a spring T and occupy a position directly
over the pathway of the newly made nail, and its other end over the main
shaft so as to be acted on by a suitable cam which will at the proper moment
depress the angular end of the lever and knock the finished nail free from
the wire.
The several parts of this machine having been properly adjusted, its operation is
as follows: A coil of wire, of any predetermined size and transverse shape, is to
have one end thereof thrust through the eye or guide in the stationery vertical
post V, aforesaid, and through a hole on a line therewith in the movable standard c,
and over the face of the steel block beneath the chisel edged tooth a in the iron
jaw S, and continued onward between the spurred wheels ii and roughened faces
of the gripping dies, till its end arrives in the immediate vicinity of the pointing
tools. Now when the gripping dies are open, such is the relative combination of
parts constituting this machine, as that the heading ram will be held back, until a
rotary movement of the main shaft causes the grippers to close upon the wire,
during which the feeding-in device will retreat to obtain an additional bite upon
the wire at a distance from the first bite equalling the length required to form
a perfect nail. At this instant the heading ram will be released and shot forward,
by its powerfull springs, against that portion of wire extending beyond the
grippers, toward the pointing tools, with sufficient force to form thereon a suitable
head. As the heading ram returns to its former position the grippers open and
the feeding-in device brings forward the wire, whereupon the pointing tools
advance and point the headed nail, which on their withdrawal is left supported
solely by its extreme point, to be immediately knocked off by the action of the
angular lever, and as these several movements of the machine follow each other
with great rapidity and regularity, the wire is fed in, beaded, pointed, and knocked
off in the form of finished nails with remarkable speed.
The main shaft C of the machine runs preferably about 300 revolutions per
minute.
Having now set forth the nature of the invention of "Improvements in nails or
spikes and in nail making machinery" as communicated to me by my correspondent

page_text: abroad, and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be
understood that under the above in-part-recited Letters Patent I claim :-
First: As a new article of manufacture, a headed nail or spike having a shank
of triangular form provided with a series of transverse or diagonal nicks, and a
round, tapering and conical point.
Second: A headed nail or spike having a shank of triangular form provided
with a series of transverse or diagonal nicks, notches, or indentations on one or all
of its sides at or near its point.
Third: A headed nail or spike having a shank of triangular form terminating
in a conical point and nicked notched or roughened from the taper of its point
about one third of its length upward toward the head, the other portion of the
shank being plain.
Fourth A headed and pointed nail or spike, the shank of which, from
the head to the taper of the point, is of uniform diameter, and provided with a
nicked or roughened surface at or near the point, for the purposes herein before
set forth.
Fifth In a machine for making nails, a heading ram that has a comparatively
slow backward movement, in combination with the extended rods at the rear end
thereof, around each of which is coiled a powerful spring that when compressed by
the backward movement of the ram such springs are held in that position by a
suitable dog or clutch and when liberated or set free, by the withdrawal of the
dog, will shoot the ram end foremost against so much of the wire as is protruded
beyond the face of the gripping dies and form a head thereon.
Sixth-In a nail making machine that includes a heading ram moving endwise
with extended rods at the rear thereof, around each of which is coiled a strong
spring to shoot the ram against wire held by a pair of gripping dies, in
combination a screw supported at the farthest extremity of the rods and made to
operate in conjunction with a circular plate sliding over the rods for the purpose
of regulating the tension of said springs, as herein before set forth.
Seventh In a machine for making nails, the combination of a guide for the
nail wire with a rectilinear reciprocating slide carrying a steel faced block, above
which is pivoted an iron jaw provided with a chisel-edged steel tooth, so arranged
in the jaw and made to operate in conjunction with the block, as to bite into and
hold the wire whilst being carried forward by the slide, and release it on its
backward movement.
Eighth In a nail making machine, the herein described gripping device,
consisting of a cam on the main shaft in combination with a lever, or its
mechanical equivalent, provided with an incline nose so working in juxtaposition
with a similar incline on the push-bar of the gripping die as to force said die
tightly against the wire and hold it whilst being headed.
Ninth In a nail making machine the herein described devices for operating
the pointing and cutting off tools each device consisting of a cam on the main
shaft in combination with a lever, or its mechanical equivalent, provided with an
incline nose working in juxtaposition with a similar incline on its respective
push-bar as to force said pointing and cutting off tools toward each other,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Watkins, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty-fourth day of March in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.