Improvements in Rolling and Cutting Machines for the Production of Nuts and other Articles from Iron and other Rods.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rolling and Cutting Machines for the Production
of Nuts and other Articles from Iron and other Rods.
I, WILLIAM GWINNETT, of 46, Mander Street, Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the construction and arrangement of tools for the
rapid and economical production of nuts, balls, and other articles from rods or iron,
steel, or other metal or material.
In making a pair of circular or rotary cutters in accordance with my invention I
employ a pair of steel discs having their peripheries cut or formed to the configuration
necessary to give the required shape to the articles to be produced. I form a gap
in each disc and so mount the discs on their respective spindles that the said gaps
shall coincide with each other to forin an aperture for the admission of the rod and
the discharge of the articles cut or shaped from the same. The discs are preferably
of the same diameter and the spindles on which they are mounted are caused to
revolve at a uniform speed; the gaps in each disc are thus caused to coincide with
each other at each revolution.
The peripheral groove in each disc which forms the cutting or working surface, is
of a varying depth and width throughout the circumference, starting from zero
on the one side of the gap, and gradually increasing as it progresses around the. disc
until reaching the opposite side of the gap where it attains its maximum dimensions.
The discs are also of an eccentric or cam like form and the eye of each disc or the
centre of the spindle is in such a position that whilst at the commencement of each
revolution the peripheral extremities are at a sufficient distance apart to receive
the rod to be operated upon, they are caused to meet, or nearly so, on the comple-
tion of the shaping operation for the purpose of cutting the article from the rod.
One end of the rod from which the articles are to be made is inserted through the
gap to a sufficient extent to afford sufficient material to permit of the formation
of the required article by the action of the discs. As the cutting surfaces of the discs
move in opposite directions they seize or bite the rod between them thus causing it
to revolve on its own axis, and when one revolution of the discs has been nearly
completed the gaps are again brought together when the completed article cut or
separated from the rod will be discharged from the machine. The rod is then again
carried forward through the gap and the operation repeated during the next
revolution of the discs.
I preferably provide for the automatic advance of the rod through the required
distance and at the right time, thus ensuring that an article shall be formed at each
revolution of the disc.
I sometimes employ reciprocating instead of circular cutters as hereinbefore
described, causing them to move in opposite directions, and making the cutting
groove of gradually increasing dimensions and causing the edges to gradually

page_text: approach each other on the working stroke, and I make other modifications in th
application of my invention to meet varying services or requirements.
Dated this 9th day of February 1897.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Rolling and Cutting Machines for the Production
of Nuts and other Articles from Iron and other Rods.
I, WILLIAM GWINNETT, of 46 Mander Street, Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to the construction and arrangement of tools for the rapid
and economical production of nuts, balls, and other articles from rods of iron, steel, or
other metal or material.
In making a pair of circular or rotary cutters in accordance with my invention I
employ a pair of steel discs having their peripheries cut or formed to the
configuration necessary to give the required shape to the articles to be produced. I
form a gap in each disc and so mount the discs on their respective spindles that the
said gaps shall coincide with each other to form an aperture for the admission of the
rod and the discharge of the articles cut or shaped from the same.
The discs are
preferably of the same diameter, and as the spindles on which they are mounted are
caused to revolve at a uniform speed the gaps in each disc will coincide with each
other at each revolution.
The peripheral groove in each disc which forms the cutting or working surface, is
of varying depth and width throughout the circumference, starting from zero on the
one side of the gap and gradually increasing as it progresses around the disc until
reaching the opposite side of the gap where it attains its maximum dimensions. The
dises are also of an eccentric or cain like form and the eye of each disc, or the centre
of the spindle, is in such a position that whilst at the commencement of each
revolution the peripheral extremities are at a sufficient distance apart to receive the
rod to be operated upon, they are caused to meet, or nearly so, on the completion of
the shaping operation for the purpose of cutting the article from the rod.
One end of the rod from which the articles are to be made is inserted through the
gap to a sufficient extent to afford sufficient material to permit of the formation of
the required article by the action of the discs. As the cutting surfaces of the discs
move in opposite directions they sieze or bite the rod between them thus causing it
to revolve on its own axis whilst the end actually between the discs is forced into
the deepening grooves until, when one revolution of the discs has been nearly
completed, the discharge gaps are brought together, when the completed article cut
or separated from the rod will drop away from the machine. The end of the rod is
then again pushed forward between the discs and the operation repeated during the
next revolution.
I sometimes provide for the automatic advance of the rod through the required
distance and at the right time, thus ensuring that an article shall be formed at each
revolution of the discs.
I sometimes employ reciprocating instead of circular cutters as hereinbefore
described, causing them to move in opposite directions, and making the cutting
groove of gradually increasing dimensions and causing the edges to gradually
approach each other on the working stroke,

page_text: In the two accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter referred
to.-
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 is an end elevation and Figure 2 a side elevation of a steel
ball making machine fitted with my improved circular forming tools.
Figure 3 on Sheet 2 is an end elevation and Figure 4 a side elevation of the tools
to a larger scale. Figure 5 a section of one of the tools on the line ab (Figure 3)
and Figure 6 a section of the other tool on the line c d (Figure 3).
The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.
The cutters A and B, which are of an eccentric or cam like form, are mounted upon
shafts or spindles of a machine which is preferably belt driven and arranged as
illustrated at Figures 1 and 2. The cutter shafts are so geared with the driving shaft
of the machine as to cause them both to revolve in the same direction, and thus the
adjacent cutting edges or surfaces of the discs will move in opposite directions as
indicated by the arrows at Figure 3. The spindle or shaft carrying the upper disc or
cutter is inserted in bearings which are supported by mill like housings with gearing
as illustrated, for permitting of ready adjustment of the distance between the upper
and lower spindles to suit discs or cutters of varying dimensions for the particular
size of balls to be produced.
Each disc or cutter is gapped, and as the pair are of equal diameters and revolve at
the same rate, such gaps coincide on each revolution to make the opening C
(Figures 3 and 4) for the admission of the rod from which the balls are to be
produced. But the length of the rod that can be inserted on each revolution is
limited to the amount required for the making of one ball, by the flanges a¹ b¹ on
the discs A and B respectively. Each disc has a peripheral cutting groove, which,
starting from zero on the one side of the gap C is of gradually increasing dimensions
until reaching the opposite side of the gap where it attains its maximum dimensions.
The gradually increasing depth of the groove in each disc is shown by dotted lines at
Figures 3 and 4, whilst the difference in the shape of the peripheral cutting edge is
shown in the sectional views at Figures 5 and 6. The working edges of the discs
meet each other and separate the ball from the rod from which it is formed, when the
parts e&f (Fig. 3) coincide; the separated balls are discharged or drop from
the discs through the gapped portion represented by the dotted lines g g' at
Figures 3.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The improved tools for the manufacture of balls and other articles, substantially
as described.
2. The manufacture of nuts, balls, or other articles from rods of iron, steel, or other
material, with a pair of tools having cutting grooves of varying dimensions on cam
like or inclined surfaces, the tools being so arranged and reciprocated or rotated that
the cutting or operating surfaces nove in opposite directions thereby rotating the
bar and forming and separating the ball or other article from the end of the same,
substantially as described.
3. The combination of circular rolling and cutting discs or like tools with a
machine for driving or operating the same substantially as and for the purposes
described.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1897
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham,
Agents for the Applicant.