RATUS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES.”
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ottmar Walch, of Rue du Faubourg St.Martin,
66 IMPROVED APPA-
No. 212, à Paris, Engineer, for the Invention of
RATUS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES.”
RATUS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ottmar Walch at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th February 1872.
I, OTTMAR WALCH, of Rue du Faubourg St. Martin, No. 212, à Paris,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “Im-
PROVED APPARATUS TO BE USED IN IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES," to be as
follows:-
The object of my Invention is a double-action machine actuated by
steam and directed by the hand in order to put matches in the press,
that is to say, in order to separate them one from another, and thus
place them between strips of wood in order that they may be dipped in
the phosphoric pasth without adhering to one another.

page_text: The distinctive feature of my Invention consists in the arrangement
at the lower part of the machine of two stationary receptacles for holding
the matches which are to be put in the press, surmounted by hoppers
or drawers divided into compartments, to which an oscillating movement
is imparted, and which are covered by a table with two series of grooves
or flutings. These grooves have the effect of separating the matches
one from the other at regular distances. The two receptacles are pro-
vided with movable bottoms, which impelled by springs act as pistons
so as to push the matches upward and cause them to lodge within the
grooves of the upper table forming the covers of the receptacles. The
oscillating or to-and-fro motion of the distributing hoppers or slides is
transmitted by a friction gearing provided with a motion pulley, and
this gearing is put sometimes into contact with the commanding plate
of one of the hoppers or slides, and sometimes with the commanding
plate of the other hopper or slide, by the action of an oscillating lever
worked by the person in charge of the machine. According as the
oscillating lever is placed in one or the other of its two resting places
one or the other of the two hoppers is actuated. The movement of the
lever in one direction or the other, in order to change its position, is also
connected with the grooved table which it brings into relation with the
hopper which is in action, and with the upward movement of the two
movable bottoms of the receptacles, which thus rise each time that a
layer of matches is taken by the grooved table and delivered to the
supporting plates. The matches are driven forwards by the bottoms of
the grooves against which they were supported, and are then held in
their respective positions by a brush which holds them suspended until
the moment when the plates being withdrawn they fall by their own
weight upon the upper strip. The supporting plate of the superposed
plates is connected by ratchet gearing and a traction cord with the
movement of the oscillating lever, which causes it to fall in consequence
every time the hopper with which it corresponds begins a fresh action.
The plates are themselves brought at the desired time to the aid of
pushers fixed at a distance upon the grooved table; these pushers are
also in relation with the movement of the table.
T
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page_text: oscillating hoppers or slides divided into compartments covered by a
table having two series of grooves.
2ndly. Fitting movable bottoms or pistons to the receptacles, the
pistons being impelled by springs, in order to push the matches upwards
and cause them to lodge in the grooves, an action facilitated by the
to-and-fro motion of the hoppers.
3rdly. The arrangement of a governing lever which causes the move-
ment of the table, and which by a friction gearing transmits to the
machine a motive force which produces the oscillation or to-and-fro
motion of the distributing hoppers.
And, 4thly. The general combination and arrangement of the machine
which realizes for the first time the mechanical distribution of the platos
and matches.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Ottmar Walch in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th August 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, OTTMAR
WALCH, of Rue du Faubourg St. Martin, No. 212, Paris, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Ottmar Walch, Her special licence
that I, the said Ottmar Walch, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Ottmar Walch, 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 "IMPROVED APPA-
EATUS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Ottmar Walch, my executors or

page_text: administrators, 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 Ottmar Walch, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say :—
The object of my Invention is a double-action machine actuated by
steam and directed by the hand in order to put matches in the press,
that is to say, in order to separate them one from another, and thus
place them between strips of wood in order that they may be dipped in
the phosphoric paste without adhering to one another.
The distinctive feature of my Invention consists in the arrangement
at the lower part of the machine of two stationary receptacles for holding
the matches which are to be put in the press, surmounted by hoppers
or drawers divided into compartments, to which an oscillating movement
is imparted, and which are covered by a table with two series of grooves
or flutings. These grooves have the effect of separating the matches
one from the other at regular distances. The two receptacles are pro-
vided with moveable bottoms, which impelled by springs act as pistons
so as to push the matches upwards and cause them to lodge within the
grooves of the upper table forming the cover of the receptacles. The
oscillating or to-and-fro motion of the distributing hoppers or slides is
transmitted by a friction gearing provided with a motion pulley, and
this gearing is put sometimes into contact with the commanding plate
of one of the hoppers or slides and sometimes with the commanding
plate of the other hopper or slide, by the action of an oscillating lever
worked by the person in charge of the machine. According as this
oscillating lever is placed in one or the other of its two resting places
one or the other of the two hoppers is actuated. The movement of this
lever in one direction or the other, in order to change its position, is also
connected with the grooved table which it brings into relation with the
hopper which is in action, and with the upward movement of the two
movable bottoms of the receptacles, which thus rise each time that a

page_text: supporting plates. The matches are driven forwards by the bottoms of
the grooves against which they were supported, and are then held in
their respective positions by a brush which holds them suspended until
the moment when the plates being withdrawn they fall by their own
weight upon the upper strip. The supporting plate of the superposed
plates is connected by ratchet gearing and a traction cord with the
movement of the oscillating lever, which carries it to fall in consequence
every time the hopper with which it corresponds begins a fresh action.
The plates are themselves brought at the desired time to the aid of
pushers fixed at a distance upon the grooved table; these pushers are
also in relation with the movement of the table.
The general construction and the action of my improved machine
will be readily understood on reference to the annexed Drawings.
Figure 1 is a transverse view of the machine, Figure 2 is a side view,
and Figure 3 is a front view; Figure 4 shows separately on a larger
scale the action of the grooved table and the pushers which regulate
the distribution of the plates; Figures 5, 6, and 7 are views in detail,
showing the taking of the matches in the grooved table and their main-
tenance there by the brush.
The table A for the distribution of the matches is constructed with
two series of grooves or flutings a, a, and it forms the cover for the
receptacles B, B, which situated in the lower frame of the machine are
surmounted by two drawers C, C. These drawers, which resemble hoppers
turned upside down, are divided into a certain number of compartments
by little partitions c, c; they both receive an oscillating tremulous
movement which facilitates the lodgement of the matches in the grooves
against which they are pushed by the pressure of the two movable
rectangular bottoms or pistons D, D, which are always impelled upwards
by springs d, d. Above the double-grooved table A the frame carries two
conductors F, F, upon which the plates intended to separate the series of
matches are piled one above another in the stands G, G, placed at each
side of the machine. These plates in proportion as they arrive at the
base of the conductors F, F, are pushed into the frames or stands G by
the pushers H firmly attached to the table A. This table carries at its
side the two racks I, I, to which a to-and-fro movement is commu-
nicated by the toothed wheels J, J, which are keyed upon the shaft f

page_text: actuated by the oscillating lever K worked by the hand. This lever K
also serves to command the oscillating tremulous motion of one or the
other of the two drawers or hoppers C, C. For this purpose they are
respectively united by the rods b, b, to the excentrics L, L, which each
carry a friction plate P. These excentrics turn freely upon the shaft O,
whose movement can only be imparted to them by the double-plate
friction sleeve Q, which is fixed by a sliding key upon the shaft O put
in rotation by the pulley M. The gearing sleeve Q allows either one of
the excentrics or cams L, L, to be put in motion, and consequently
either one of the corresponding drawers O, C; it is for this purpose
moved at the desired moment by a roller r fixed at the end of a large
lever R which oscillates through the action of gudgeon s playing in a slot S¹
made in the said lever. The gudgeons is fixed excentrically upon a
disc in one piece with a toothed wheel u which receives a partial rotation
from the wheel J. Upon the surface of the table A and towards its
middle are fixed two little abutments m, m, which in the transverse
movement of the table under the action of the lever K, and of the
wheel J, with the rack I cause the oscillation of a small lever n upon
the axis of a ratchet wheel n¹ which acts through the intermediation of
a catch n. The ratchet wheel in turning draws with it the sleeve t,
which by means of the traction cord x allows the frames or stands G, G,
for the plates to descend at equal intervals. The movable bottoms or
pistons D, D, rise again at the same time through the pressure of the
springs d, d. When it is desired to make these pistons descend, it is
only necessary to turn by means of a winch the ratchet wheel d', d',
which roll the cords d", d", upon the little rollers d¹¹¹, dill

page_text: 2ndly. Fitting movable bottoms or pistons to the receptacles, the
pistons being impelled by springs in order to push the matches upwards
and cause them to lodge in the grooves, an action facilitated by the
to-and-fro motion of the hoppers.
3rdly. The arrangement of a governing lever, which causes the
movement of the table, and which by a friction gearing transmits to
the machine a motive force which produces the tremulous or oscillating
motion of the distributing hoppers.
And, 4thly. The general combination and arrangement of the machine,
which realizes for the first time the mechanical distribution of the plates
and matches.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ottmar Walch, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of August, One thousand
OTTMAR WALCH. (L.S.)
Witness,
J. ARMENGAUD, fils,
Civil Engineer,
Paris, 23, Boulevard of Strasbourg.