IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL CHAINS FROM SHEET METAL
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Lancelott, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Jeweller, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL CHAINS FROM SHEET METAL."
Sealed the 6th February 1863, and dated the 11th August 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Lancelott at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th
August 1862.
I, JAMES LANCELOTT, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Jeweller,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL CHAINS FROM SHEET METAL," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to improved machinery for the formation of ornamental
chains in which differently formed blanks are used. In forming a chain I use
two cutting punches placed in line with each other, their faces being opposite,
one punch having perforations in it which form the cutting bed of the
other. A die or cutting bed is situated between the punches, its perforation
corresponding in form with the outer or perforated punch. These punches and
die cut and perforate a blank, which I call No. 1; a carrier advances, receives
the blank, and transports it over a forming bed. A punch and cutting bed is

page_text: situated in line with the forming bed, and above the carrier; this punch and
cutting die cut out blank No. 2, having arms corresponding with the perforations
in blank No. 1 (if desirable, a plate of solder may be placed above the metal
from which blank No. 2) is to be cut ;) the same punch presses blank No. 2
on to blank No. 1, and passes both of them through the carrier into the
forming bed; the punch then rises a small rod placed horizontally beneath, the
carrier advances over both blanks. The operations above mentioned are repeated,
and a second blank No. 1 and blank No. 2 are deposited into the forming bed,
the aperture in which decreases in diameter at a certain depth, thereby causing
the perforations of the first formed blank No. 1 to clip over the arms of the
second formed blank No. 2, the interposition of the before-mentioned horizontal
rod aiding the operation, and also preventing the chain wedging in the forming
bed; the horizontal rod then retires, and rises for the next operation. I propose
in some cases to form the decreased diameter of the forming bed wholly or
partially of moving pieces or swages. The metal from which blank No. 2 is
cut is in some instances first bent, and a groove corresponding to the bend of the
metal is formed in the surface, and crosses the perforation of the cutting die,
the result is that when the punch (which is flat, or nearly so,) cuts the blank
it causes it to curve in the opposite direction to the bend of the metal from
which it is struck, and consequently to project beyond and from the punch, so
as readily to enter the perforations of blank No. 1. The size and form of the
tools may vary without departing from the Invention. The machine is
provided with ordinary feed rollers, and the movements of the various parts
are produced by.ordinary mechanical devices.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Lancelott in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th February 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
'LANCELOTT, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Jeweller, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Lancelott, Her special, licence that I, the said. James Lancelott,

page_text: my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Lancelott, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL CHAINS FROM SHEET METAL," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Lancelott, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Lancelott, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheets of Drawing,
forming part of this my Specification, and to the figures and letters of reference
placed thereon, similar letters denoting similar parts in each of the Figures
respectively.
The object of my Invention is to substitute machine for hand labor in tho
manufacture from sheet metal of ornamental chains in which differently
formed blanks are used, each link of such chain being composed of an outside
blank (herein-after designated blank No. 1), and of an inside blank (herein-after
designated blank No. 2). The outside blank has perforations, the number of
which may vary with the pattern, and in forming a chain these perforated.
portions of the blank must be bent upwards so as to form a cup, another
similar blank must then be placed above it with its perforations in line with
those of the blank beneath. An inside blank having as many projecting
arms as there are perforations in the outer blank must then be placed in the
topmost outside blank in suchwise that its arms pass through the lower part
of the perforations of this topmost outside blank, and the upper part of the per-
forations of the blank immediately beneath, the top of which must then be slightly..
closed inwards the better to secure the arms of the top inside blank within
its perforations, see Figures 33 and 84, Sheet 2, of the accompanying Drawing,
where the topmost (outside) blank is shewn open to receive the next inside
blank, whilst the undermost outside. blank is shewn with its perforations closed
over the ends of the arms of the inside blank, which are then soldered to the

page_text: top (c) of the perforations, and the chain is completely formed. During the
formation of the chain a horizontal bar must be introduced into the open
space between the bottom of the outside blanks, in order to keep them tho
requisito distanco apart. I cut the blanks and perform all the above operations,
excepting the actual soldering, (but sometimes charging the chain with solder
during its formation,) by the machinery or apparatus illustrated in the accom-
panying Sheets of Drawings, which I will now proceed to describe.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a plan of the machine; Figure 2, Sheet 2, is a side'
view taken on the right hand of the machine; Figure 3, Sheet 8, side view'
taken on the left of the machine; Figure 4, Sheet 3, front sectional view taken
through the line a, a, Figure 1; Figuro 5, Sheet 1, detached view of part of
Figure 1; Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9 (Sheets 1 and 3), detached working parts;.
Figure 10, Sheet 2, shews tube n detached. All the above Figures are drawn.
to working size. Figure 11, Shoet 2, is a view of die N taken through the
line a, a, Figure 12 (Sheet 2), which is a view of the face of die N; Figure 13,
Sheet 2, is a sectional view of working part of the piercing punch P taken.
in line a, a, Figure 12; Figure 14, Sheet 2, is a sectional view of working:
part of punch P taken at the line b, b, Figure 12; Figure 15, Sheet 2, is a
view of part of the carrier, shewing the carrying dic; Figure 16, Sheet 2,
sectional view of the carrier taken at a, a, Figure 15; Figure 17, Sheet 2,
view of the face of the bolster of die M; Figure 18, Sheet 2, is a sectional
view of the cutting die taken at a, a, Figure 19 (Sheet 2), which shews the.
face of the cutting punch of blank No. 2; Figure 20 (Sheet 2) is an edgo
view of the metal to be used for blank No. 2; Figure 21 (Sheet 2), sectional
view of the working part of the punch W taken at a, a, Figure 19, and also of
the blank No. 2 when cut; Figure 22 (Sheet 2), top view of die a*, being part
of forming bed; Figure 23 (Sheet 2) is a sectional view of Figure 22 through
the line a, a, shewing the rod f* between the links of a partially formed chain.
Figures 11 to 28 inclusive are drawn to an enlarged scale.
A, Figure 1, is a solid hed or plate, the edges or sides of which are indicated
by A, Figures 3 and 4, and a tail-piece by a, Figures 1 and 3; a vertical side-
piece or framing B (Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4) is screwed against the side at b, and
on to the top of the table through stud b' (Figures 1 and 3, and partly in dotted
lines at Figure 4). The right side of framing B is shewn, Figure 2, partly in
dotted lines, and in the forward part of the vertical plate is formed the opening,
colored red in the Drawing (see Figures 2 and 3). The sockets C, C, project
I from the plate B, of which they form part, and are connected by a stud c, also
forming part of plate B. These sockets contain the fulcrum of levers D, E,

page_text: retained by the pins F, F, F', also forming the fulcrum pin of lever G (see
Figures 1, 3, and 4). The ends of levers D, E, have reels d, d², which
take into grooves in the cams of corresponding numbers. These levers D, E,
work slides H, I, having pins g, which take into slots in said levers (see
Figures 2 and 4). The slides H, I, work in guides J, J, formed partly of
the solid plate B, their centres being coincident. Between tho slides H, I, is
placed horizontally the bolster K, screwed to the studs or projections L,
forming part of the solid frame. In the bolster K is seated the cutting bed M
(shewn detached, Figure 17, and in section, Figure 4), in which is cut out the
outline of blank No. 1 by the co-operation of die N (shewn detached in
section at Figure 11, and face, Figure 12), situated on the slide H, and held
by the clamps on the piece or tube 0 (shewn detached in plan and section,
Figure 10). The die N also forms a cutting bed for the piercing punch P,
which passes into perforations formed in it. The piece O (see Figure 10) is
a tube through which the scrap from the piercing falls, having clamps pro-
jecting from the upper portion, and screw-threaded at its lower end; it passes
through slide (see Figure 4), and when drawn down by the nut Q (Figures
2 and 4) the clamps bind upon the flange of the die N, and hold it in position.
Tho working portion of the piercing punch P is formed as shewn in section,
Figures 13 and 14, being taken through a, a, Figure 12, and shewing the
pins p, p, and Figure 14 through the lino b, b, Figure 12, shewing the form
of the punch, which narrows immediately above the pins to permit its
entering the carrier R (Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and detached Figures 15
and 16), in the manner herein-after explained. In the upper portion of
slide I is placed a screw i, the end of which bears upon the punch P, and
adjusts it (see Figure 4). The bolster K has a cap k fitted on it with a
perforation to permit the entrance of die N, the said cap holding the metal in
position, the metal (shewn in red lines, Figure 2,) passes through a slot formed
in the stud c to the feed rollers S, said rollers being placed immediately behind
the stud c, and the frame of said rollers screwed on to the socket C; one of
these rollers is shewn detached at Figure 8. T is a connecting bar, jointed on
to the ratchet arm which moves the ratchett by means of a pall in the ordi-
nary manner. The bar Tis attached to the lever D by a screw, which works
in an adjustable slot formed in bar T.(see Figure 2).
I will now describe those parts of the machine which occupy the left-hand
side of the plate B (see Figure 3). C' indicates a socket projecting from the
plate in a similar manner to the socket C, Figure 2. This socket contains the
fulcrum of lever G ou pin F, as before mentioned; this lever has a reel d³ taking

page_text: into a groove in the face of cam No. 3. This lever G works the slide U, having
a pin taking into a slot in said lever. The slide u works in guides V formed
in part of the solid plate B; in this slide is fixed the dio W, the face of which
is shewn, Figure 19. On the plate A and in front of the machine is placed a
block (see Figures 1, 3, and 4). In this block is situated the carrier R,
having a bar r, which arrests the forward movement of the carrier by striking
the stop (as shewn in the Drawing), and also arrests its backward movement
by coming in contact with the stop-piece. Projections on the carrier
receive an adjustable bar y, carried by a lever Y, worked by means of the
reel and cam No. 4, having a fulcrum pin F" in the tail-piece a of the
bed A (see Figures 1, 3, and 4). The carrier R has a perforation at its
working end of the shape of the outside blank which it is to receive; this
perforation does not extend of its full size through the whole thickness of the
carrier, but decreases in diameter when near the top surface of said carrier as
shewn, Figure 16, which is a sectional view of Figure 15 through the line a, a;
'said perforation is slotted through as shewn, Figure 15. On block X and
above the carrier R is placed a cutting die. (Figure and in section
Figure 4). This die cuts out blank No. 2, and has a perforation of the form
of the blank to be cut (see Figure 19), and in line with the cutting die W.
Figure 20 is an edge view of the metal from whieh I cut blank No. 2, and
I use the metal in this form in order that the link when cut may project from
the punch as shewn, Figure 21, which illustrates the effect produced when
cut; Figure 18 is a section of the die x at a, a, Figure 5, shewing the shape
of a groove formed in its face to correspond with the bend of the metal, said
groove passing across the perforation a, which is of the form of the blank to
be cut. The cutting edges of the perforation at the ends of the blank are
made at a very acute angle, so as to permit the metal forming the blank to
free itself during the cutting, while the extreme width of the perforation at
the points marked by stars (**) are formed parallel so as to control the direc-
tion of the blank in its descent through die x. A cap " is placed over die a,
said cap being perforated to allow the die W (Figure 4) to pass through it;
the centre of said cap has a V-shaped projection in line over the groove
formed in die x for keeping the metal in form as the punch is withdrawn from
said metal. The metal of which this blank is cut is fed by the rollers placed
on the bed A behind stud b', which has a slot 6" cut in it to allow the metal
to pass through. In the block X and beneath the carrier R (see Figure 6,
which shews the forming bed, the die a* being removed) is a block X', fitted
into an obliquo slot shewn by the dotted lines, Figure 5, and in section at

page_text: Figure 4. In the face of block X' is fitted the circular die a* (shewn sepa-
rately at Figures 22 and 23), having a perforation the size of the full formed
chain, which perforation enlarges towards the surface until it assumes the form
of blank No. 1 as cut, and being also slotted as shewn to admit the passage
of the horizontal bar f* and a portion of the slide d* in and through it.
Directly beneath the die a* are situated two slides *, which are worked by
the cam c, this cam having notches which press upon the ends of the bars or
slides 6*, and also working by a notch on its outline a slide d* (see Figure 6).
A spring bearing on the end of slide d* presses it against the cam c*.
Through the slide d* passes the vertical slide f*, its upper portion forming
the horizontal bar which interposes between the links of the chain as shown in
section, Figure 23. A slight spring 9* presses upon the bottom of the slide f*
to raise it when required. The cam c* works round a hub in the block X,
and in the centre of the hub is a perforation (as shewn, Figures 6 and 7,)
to permit the passage of the chain; h* is an adjustable screw for placing
block X' in block X. The arm of cam c*, passing through the block X, enters
a slot (shewn in dotted lines) in the adjustable driving bar (see Figures 1
and 5), which has an arm j* passing through a stud k jointed into lover Y',
which has a fulcrum pin in the tail-piece a. The lever Y¹ is fastened to
lever Y by a pin passing through both levers as shown, Figure 3. Tho
machine is set in motion by means of the crank A' turning the shaft B',
which rests on a bearing in the vertical plate B and on a bearing screwed
on to the bed A (see Figures 1, 3, and 4), a fly wheel B" being fixed
on the end of the shaft to give steadiness to the motion. The action of tho
machine is as follows:-I take a strip of flat metal, pass it over the face of
die K through cap k, and through the slot in stud c into the feed rollers S. I
also take a strip of metal bent as at Figure 20, and place it over die and
under cap ", through the slot 6" in the stud 6', and into the feed rollers Z.
Further, I place within the die a* and clamps or slides 6* a short piece of chain
with the horizontal barf* above it, as hereafter explained. I then turn the crank,
which causes cam No. 1 to act on lever E, give motion to the slide E, make
the die N rise and pass through the metal into the perforation of die K, and
thus cut out a blank, No. 1, while cam No. 2 aeting on lever D sets in
motion the slide I, causing the die P to descend and enter the perforations in
die N, and so pierce the blank cut by die K, which is of the form shewn,
Figure 12; die N then descends and die P rises simultaneously. Cam No. 4,
working lever Y and adjustable bar y, advances the carrier R as the die P
rises, the die entering the carrier before the bottom or thicker part of the die

page_text: has attained its level, the perforation in the carrier. R spanning the punch P,
which still rising leaves the blank which it has hitherto carried on the
pins p, p, in the perforation of the carrier, the shoulder in the upper part of
the perforation preventing the passage of the die with the blank. The carrier
then retreats, and brings the blank No. 1 directly under the die in line
with its perforation, and in line with the central perforation through the
block X. Cam No..3 acts on lever G, which moves the .slide U, and sets in
motion the die W, which, descending through the perforation in die a, cuts
out a blank No. 2, the ends of said blank (projecting from the punch as shewn
at Figure 21) enter the perforations in blank No. 2, which is in the carrier R,
and the die or punch W continuing its descent presses the two blanks
through the carrier into the die a*, pressing down beneath the blanks' the
sliding barf. This operation bends the perforated parts of blank No. 1
slightly upwards and inwards, and in the meantime the sliding bar f* has
pressed the undermost blank No. 1 into the decreased diameter of die a*, and
so closed its perforations over the ends of the arms of blank No. 2, just
formed; the position of the bar in the chain when this operation is
completed is shewn at Figure 23, the links being drawn in red: . When
the punch W rises free from the carrier, this latter advances to its former
position spanning the punch P, in the meanwhile dies N and P have met in
die M and cut out another blank No. 1, which being left in the perforation
of the carrier (by the dio P in rising through it) is brought beneath the
die x, as was the first cut blank No..1, and the horizontal bar f* has
withdrawn from the chain in block X¹ and risen into the carrier R beneath
this last cut blank No. 1, and over the chain in block X', this last move-
ment having been effected as follows:-As the carrier advances, the
adjustable rod is moved forward by the lever Y' in connection, by pin 1*,
with lever Y, operated upon by cam No. 4. This bar turns the cam c*
into the position shewn, Figure 6, the notch on the outline of the cam
driving back slide d* and consequently withdrawing the horizontal bar f* from
between the links of the chain, when free from which it is immediately raised
by the action of spring 9*, and as the carrier is now forward it touches its
under surface, but as the carrier retreats to the position just shewn the
adjustable bar is also drawn back, turning the cam c* in block X' so that
the notch comes in line with the slide d*, which is pressed into the notch
by the action of spring e*, said slide thereby carrying the horizontal bar f*
over the chain and immediately under the blank No. 1 in carrier R, into
the perforation of which the horizontal bar now rises, there being a recess k¹

page_text: (Figures 15 and 16, in dotted lines, Figure 15,) formed in the carrier to receive
it, and it will now be in the position in block X', indicated by the dotted lines,
Figure 7. The die W now descends, cutting a second blank No. 2, pressing
it on to blank No. 1 as before, and passing both blanks through the carrier;
and, together with the horizontal bar f*, into the decreased diameter of the
die a, so closing the perforations of blank. No. 1 over the arms of blank
No. 2 as in the case of the previous link. In the section, Figure 23, I shew
that the upper blank No. 1 is but slightly bent so that it may readily admit
the arms of the blank No. 2 within its perforations, while, the under blank
No. 1 is shewn bent over the arms of the second blank No. 2, and I effect
this by making the die a* with a decreased diameter (see Figures 22 and 23);
that is to say, the top of the die is recessed of an-outline corresponding with
the outline of blank No. 1, the central perforation being the size of the full
form of the chain, and said outline gradually tapering downwards, as shewn at
Figure 23, until it reaches the central perforation. When the cam c*
drives out the horizontal bar f* from the chain, it forces the slides or
clamps 6*, *, inwards, and their pressure upon the chain causes the arms of
the inside blank to pass slightly further within the perforations of the outside
blank, the inner ends of the slides 6*, *, being formed to correspond with the
form' of the chain.
-
-
The above-operations are repeated continuously, and any desired length of
chain is formed, the feeding apparatus acting as follows:-The lever D,
working the adjustable bar T, moves the ratchett by the ratchet arm and
pall (Figure 2); and gives motion to the rollers S (Figures 1 and 2)... The
top roller of S also forms one of the rollers Z, for which purpose it passes
through the vertical plate B (shewn in dotted lines at Figure 1); it is shewn
detached at Figure 8, in order that it may be understood. that both feed
rollers work simultaneously in every other respect; their action is similar to
that of ordinary feed rollers, they act and draw the metal through as soon
as die N has descended through the cap k.
Figures 24 to 31 (Sheets 2 and 8) inclusive, shew a modification of
apparatus. which I prefer in my machine when forming a chain from the
blanks shewn, Figuro 32, the pattern of such chain being shewn by the
elevation Figure 38, (Sheet 2,) and top plan view, Figure 34, (Sheet- 2 ;)
I also prefer using this modification in forming a chain from blanks baving a
greater number of arms and perforations than those shewn, Figure 32. This
modification consists in cutting the blanks No. 1 and No. 2 from the same
strip of metal; for this purpose I. form the die A, (Figure 24.) with two

page_text: perforations, one (No. 1) being of the form of the outline of blank No. 1, and
the other No. 2 of the outline of blank No. 2; over this die I screw a cap (3);
to conduct the metal (shewn in red), and in the male die B*, which corresponds
with die A*, I form perforations (as shewn, Figure 32) in which puneh C*
works. In the machine, die A is placed in the bolster K, die B" in the slide H,
and the punch C* in the slide I. These dies punch and perforate both blanks
in the same manner as the single blank No. 1 was punched in the machine as
first described. It will be seen at Figure 32 that both blanks are perforated,
the pieces or scrap from these perforations fall through die B* by the channels,
shown in the section Figure 24, into the tube O. Both blanks are left in the
carrier R when the punch C* rises through it (the blanks are colored red),
and it will be seen that the blank formed in the perforation No. 2, which is
No. 2 blank, is slightly bent, this being effected by making the face of that
portion of die B* marked No. 4 convexed or rounded (as shewn, Figure 24).
I modify the carrier R as follows:-I make it with a perforation (5) corre-
sponding with the outline of blank No. 1, and with a shoulder for retaining
the blank No. 1, as originally described; but in this case the shoulder of the
perforation is near the under and not the upper surface of the carrier, as in
the original arrangement. A slide D* is fitted on the carrier R, of which its
guides form part (see Figures 29 and 30). This slide has a perforation (6)
corresponding in outline to the inside blank (No. 4, Figure 32); this per-
foration is slotted to admit the pin (7) of the punch C*, (as shewn, Figure 81)..
The rear end of the slide D* rises above the carrier R, (as shewn, Figures 24
and 25,) and a spiral spring attached to said end and to a pin in carrier R
(see Figure 24) holds the slide back in position. A plate (8) is fitted over
the slide D* in the carrier R, this plate having a slot (shewn, Figure 29) to
admit the pin (7) of punch C*. It will be understood that blank No. 1 in
the perforation (5) of carrier R (Figure 24) is retained when the punch C*
rises in the same manner as in the original arrangement, the inside blank
No. 2 being retained in the perforation (6) by means of the plate (8), which
forms the shoulder to retain it. The carrier R is slotted. beyond the per-
foration (5) to admit the pin (7) of the punch C* as the carrier advances to
the position shewn, Figure 24, while the punch C* is carrying the blanks
Nos. 1 and 2 through the perforations (1) and (2) of the die A*. Figure 25
shews the blanks transported over the forming bed X'. The slide D* being
moved forward under the plate (8) brings the perforation (6), and conse-
quently the blank No. 2, above and immediately in line with the perforation (5)
in the carrier R, the aims of the blank No. 2 being directly above the per-

page_text: forations in blank No. 1. This slide D* is operated by the end (9) striking
a stop (shewn in red, Figure 1), which is an extension of stop r. It will be
understood that the die x of the first arrangement is here dispensed with, but
the punch or die situated in slide U is retained, its working end being of the
same shape as the blank No. 2, excepting that the arms are somewhat shorter.
I also modify the forming block X' as follows:-I place in the block a
plate or die (10) differing from the plate a* of the first-described arrange-
ment in having its perforation larger in proportion to the blank. Beneath 'this
plate I place slides corresponding in number to the perforations in blank
No. 1, and under these slides the spring clamp (11), shewn detached
Figure 26, in front and edge view,) the object of which is to grasp the chain
slightly to prevent it falling out of the forming bed during its formation. This
piece, which is screwed on to the forming bed or block ✗, (see dotted lines,
Figure 27,) may in some cases be dispensed with, it being understood that
the cam c* is in the position shewn, Figure 27, the notches or working surface
being in a position to permit the slides or rectangular bars (12) to fall back
from the chain.
'I will now describe the operation of forming a chain, my machine being
furnished with the modification of apparatus I have just described. A piece
of chain being placed in the forming bed (as shewn, Figure 25) and the
blanks No. 1 and No. 2 being in the position shewn in red, Figure 25, the
punch (13) in slide U descends through the carrier, forcing the inside blank
No. 2 on to the outside blank No. 1, (the arms of No. 2 entering the per-
forations of No. 1,) pressing both blanks into die (10), and so feeding down
the chain the required distance, the arms of the topmost inside blank being
within the perforations of both uppermost outside blanks, the topmost of
which is bent slightly in passing into the perforation of die (10), which is of
a size to bend up the outside blank so that it will readily receive the inside
blank, but not grasp it, as in the first arrangement. While the punch
remains down the cam (6) is moved round to the position shewn, Figures 5
and 6, of the first arrangement; this presses in the slides (12), (Figures 25 and
27,) and so forming a decreased diameter in the forming bed X closes in the
uppermost but one of the outside blanks over the topmost insido blank; the
chain will then be in the position in block X', shown at Figure 25. The
punch (13), which has remained stationary in the forming bed during the
action of the decreased diameter, then rises, the carrier again advances into its
first position, and these operations are continuously repeated as long as the
crank is turned and the feed rollers are supplied with metal.
As the time of

page_text: moving the slides (12) differs from that of the first. arrangement, I take out
the pin (Figure 3). of levers Y and Y', and screw to lever Y¹ the bent
piece (14), Figure 9,) furnished with a reel (15) which takes into the groove
in the side of 'the cam No. 4 (Figure 9), and brings the lever. Y' into the
position shown in red, Figure 1, and consequently moving the adjustable bar i*
with it (as shewn in red) and thereby the cam c*. In this modification, as
shown, the horizontal bar is dispensed with, but it may be used if. preferred.
I also use the decreased diameter described in the modification (that is to say,
composed of swages) with the first-described method of forming the inside
blank; and I sometimes use a flat cutting bed in place of the grooved bed x,
in which case the metal used will be flat, and the die W (the face of which
will be slightly concave) be provided with an ordinary discharging rod,
working through said die W and slide U, to be worked by a lever with a
fulcrum mounted on the socket C', and worked by a blade placed on the cam
No. 3, said rod descending simultaneously with the punch W, and the same
distance into the forming bed, where it remains stationary a little while as the
punch W rises, so as to allow the decreased diameter of the forming bed to
operate. The manner in which I charge the chain with solder during its
formation.in the machine is as follows:-I screw a small plate with a slot of
the width of the plate or strip of solder on each edge of the cap (3) on the
cutting die A*, the slot of which cap is wide enough to admit metal to form
both blanks. This metal passes under the slots in small plate, before men-
tioned, whilst the plate of solder passes through the slots which are placed in
line with the perforation (2) of die A*, so guiding the solder over that portion
of the metal from which the inside blanks are to be cut, and passing with
them to the feed rollers; thus the inside blank when cut will be composed
of two thicknesses of metal, one of which will be solder, and this solder when
the blanks are linked will lie between the arms of the inside blank and the
top edge of the perforations of the outside blank, to which I then solder the
arms in the usual manner. When I use a flat cutting bed and discharging
rod in die W, as above described, the solder when placed over the metal
-needs no extra guide.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and means by which
I
carry
it into practical effect, I desire it to be understood that I not confine
myself to the precise details herein set forth and illustrated in the annexed
Sheets of Drawing, as such may be modified without departure from my
Invention; but what I claim as novel and of my Invention is,-
Firstly, holding the outside blank in position to receive the arms of the

page_text: inside blank in its perforations by means of a die in the carrier, essentially as
described.
Secondly, passing the arms of the inside blanks through the perforations of
the outside blanks by the use of a punch or plunger, or its equivalent.
Thirdly, the horizontal bar to aid to conduct the blanks into the forming
bed, and keep them the required distance apart during their formation into
chain.
Fourthly, securing the arms of the inside blanks within the perforations of
the outside blanks by the use of a decreased diameter in the forming bed,
operating substantially as described.
Fifthly, charging the chain with solder during its formation in the machine,
substantially as described. .
In witness whereof, I, the said James Lancelott, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
JAMES LANCELOTT. (L.S.)