AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF CUTTING AND SIMULTANEOUSLY STAMPING MATCHES AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gabriel Pernet-Jouffroy, of Boulevard de Strasbourg, 23,
2
Paris, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF CUTTING
AND SIMULTANEOUSLY STAMPING MATCHES AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Sealed the th January 1878, and dated the 27th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gabriel Pernet-Jouffroy at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th July 1877.
GABRIEL PERNET-JOUFFROY, of Boulevard de Strasbourg, 23, Paris, Manufacturer.
"AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF CUTTING AND SIMULTANEOUSLY STAMPING MATCHES
AND OTHER ARTICLES."
The object of this Invention is to stamp or mark matches simultaneously and
consecutively with the operation by which they are cut, and the Invention essentially
consists in combining with the cutting tools means of impressing or producing on
the matches marks or words which may serve either to register the manufacture or
as means of advertising.
The stamping or marking might be effected by brands embossed in intaglio, or in
relief, but this method which cuts into the match or depresses it too much, would
injure it, and would not produce sufficient distinctness. For these reasons, I prefer
to impress or print in colors, and I effect the impression with a hammer which carries
the stamp or type, or by means of rollers or rolls engraved in relief or in intaglio,
and acting by blows, pressure, or rolling.
My mode or system of stamping the matches can be applied to the existing
machines employed in making matches; but in order the better to carry out the
object, I have designed a special machine for the purpose, that is to say, for simul-
taneously cutting and stamping matches.
My machine cuts the matches in a very regular manner, and they fall regularly
It is constructed as follows:-Upon a table of wood or metal is arranged a cast-iron
frame which carries the different devices for stamping and cutting, as well as the
mechanism for producing the regular advance of the block of wood to be cut,

page_text: L
whether this advance be spiral, circular, or longitudinal. When the advance is
spiral, the block of wood is held between points in a carriage which advances at
intervals on a frame, so as always to present to the cutting blades which work on a
guide frame an equal thickness of wood to be cut. Behind the block of wood is a
roller, which serves both as an impression roller and as a drawing roller; at the
same time that it moves the block it produces an impression on the wood before it
is cut into matches. This roller as an impressing device plays an important part;
it is fitted on a plate movable on the frame, and constantly exerts pressure on the
blocks by means of a rack which is always solicited by a pulley and weight, and by
a pinion which gears with it. This same roller is mounted on a vertical shaft which
is driven by bevel gearing from a horizontal shaft, on which is a ratchet wheel.
This ratchet is put in motion by a rod, as herein-after explained. The block
being moved by the roller turns between the points or pivots which hold it. These
points are on the same vertical shaft as a bevel pinion, which by intermediate
gearing drives a toothed wheel on the end of a screw passing into a nut of the
carriage before named.
Each rotary movement which the block receives under the action of the rod which
works the ratchet wheel consequently produces at the same time an advance towards
the cutting tools of the carriage which supports it, this advance can be regulated as
desired, by adjusting the joint of the rod which works the ratchet wheel.
The mechanism before described causes the block to be cut spirally.
The cutting blades are on a guide frame as before mentioned. I can also arrange
on this frame an impressing roll or an impressing hammer. The knives are actuated
by a connecting rod which is driven by a crank on the main shaft of the machine.
When an impressing roll is used, the connecting rods just mentioned is connected by
a lever or link to a rod which carries the impressing roll; this latter, which is regu-
lated by a ratchet, prints or marks while descending, by means of rows of letters
which pass successively in front of the block of wood plumb with the knives.
When the rod which actuates the knives rises, it pushes away the rod which
carries the roll; the roll thus moves from the block of wood and rises without
touching it. It is at this moment that the block makes a rotary movement.
The main shaft also carries an excentric actuating a rod, which by intermediate
gearing works the ratchet wheel herein-before named.
To produce the stamping or marking by a colored impression, the impressing tools
are supplied with ink either from time to time or continuously by means of pads,
inking rollers, distributing rollers, or similar devices analogous to those used in
printing machines, or by a travelling band saturated with ink and pressed between
the block and the impressing tool, the reliefs of which apply the ink.
The stamps, type, engraved blocks, rollers, rolls, and particularly the roller which
serves at the same time to move the block of wood, in fact the devices which produce
the impression are covered with ink on the parts in relief, and leave on the block of
wood a very distinct impression in color, whether the impression be in one color or
several colors, and whatever be the arrangement of the colors and their chemical
nature.
I can also, with my plan of cutting, spread and paste on the wood to be cut,
strips of paper bearing marks or words which would be formed on each match.
The parts of the machine can be modified or arranged to fulfil special requirements,
particularly for cutting round or other forms of wood splints. The machine can be
made of any necessary size, and to act vertically, borizontally, or obliquely, and the
parts may be arranged to cut in descending or in rising, and on several blocks of
wood at once.
The blocks may be cut circularly or longitudinally in chips or in zones, and the
wood may be fixed while the travelling motion is given to the cutters. The matches
on leaving the knife may be received in a case or sheath, so that instead of their
being allowed to get scattered they all fall to the same point, and can be collected.
This case or sheath is hung or attached to the frame.

page_text: The application of my Invention is not limited to matches only; it can be
applied to the manufacture of wooden tooth-picks, wood for pencils, shavings, or
strips of wood for match boxes, and to any wooden articles capable of being cut and
stamped simultaneously.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Gabriel Pernet-Jouffroy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
January 1878.
GABRIEL PERNET-JOUFFROY, of Boulevard de Strasbourg, 23, Paris, Manufacturer.
AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF CUTTING AND SIMULTANEOUSLY STAMPING MATCHES
AND OTHER ARTICLES."
The object of this Invention is to stamp or mark matches simultaneously or con-
secutively with the operation by which they are cut, and the Invention essentially
consists in combining with the cutting tools means of impressing or producing on
the matches before or after being cut, or while being cut, marks or words which may
serve either to register the manufacture or as means of advertising or otherwise.
The stamping or marking might be effected by brands embossed in intaglio or in
relief, but this method, which cuts into the match or depresses it too much, would
injure it, and would not produce sufficient distinctness. For these reasons I prefer
to impress or print in colors, and I effect the impression with a stamp which carries
the mark or type, or by means of rollers or rolls engraved in relief or in intaglio, and
acting by blows, pressure, or rolling.
My mode or system of stamping the matches can be applied to the existing
machines employed in making matches; but in order the better to carry out the
object I have designed a special machine for the purpose, that is to say, for simul-
taneously cutting and stamping matches.
DESCRIPTION.
There is a roller or roll engraved on its periphery with signs, figures, letters, or
words, and itself serving to draw the block of wood from which the blades cut off
the matches, following a spiral displacement of the said block. This drawing roller
impresses the wood before it is cut; it is therefore important for the cut to be made
exactly in the middle of the vertical space which separates two successive inscrip-
tions. With whatever care the machine may be constructed it is impossible that
the cut can be mathematically between the impressed lines. For this reason the
attendant should shift the blade carrier in one direction or the other, so that the
cut produces matches stamped exactly in their middle. In short there should be
absolute concordance between the impression and the cut, which are produced by
independent devices separated from each other. This is an indispensable condition
if the stamped matches are to come. into general use, and it is this condition which
I produce by the addition to the blade carrier of a regulating apparatus which the
attendant can easily work as required, and while the machine is in operation.
My machine for cutting and stamping matches is represented in the annexed
Drawings.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation; Figure 2, an end view; Figure 3, a transverse
section; and Figure 4, a plan,

page_text: The machine is composed of a fixed frame B, supporting at one end the vertical
frame B¹, on which the blade carrier works. On the table of the frame B a carriage C
can move, which carriage carries the turning block of wood. As this block is cut and
its diameter diminishes, it ought to gradually and regularly approach the cutting
tools. On this movable frame C, and opposite the said tools, is the impressing
cylinder; it turns in the support D, necessarily movable on the frame C, as it must
always be in contact with the block Z, and therefore approach its centre in propor-
tion to its being cut. These different movements are effected in the following
manner The driving shaft O carries a crank plate E, which by the rod F actuates
the lever G furnished with two pauls b for causing the ratchet wheel c to advance
by degrees; this latter is connected to the shaft o by a key, but the shaft can slide
in the boss of the wheel c; it carries a pinion d, which gears with a pinion f of the
shaft of the roller a. This shaft can receive one or more superposed rollers for
impressing one or more superposed blocks of wood Z. The roller shaft is held at its
lower end in a socket, and at its upper end by a pressure screw g. The superposed
rollers a are each provided with one or more drawing or driving discs, and each has
an inscription, and they may either be all alike, or have varying inscriptions, according
to the purpose required; for example, for registering the manufacture, or for a trade
mark, for advertising, &c.
For varied inscriptions I can especially employ instead of rollers engraved by
hand, mechanically, or cast, type rollers constituting by their combination a printing
forme. The dimensions of the rollers and of the characters thereon can be varied,
according to the size of the matches or articles cut.
The inking of the rollers is effected automatically by means of a set of rollers and
of an endless band, taking the ink from a special reservoir arranged on the carriage
C. This arrangement is shewn separately in Figure 5; it is repeated as many times
as there are impressing rollers, and can be divided into as many colors as the inscrip-
tions comprise.
The drawing discs of the rollers can at the same time be blades sawing or cutting
the match in the case in which the wood is presented in the block, and not in
washers or discs previously cut and superposed. The drawing discs can also be
utilized for impressing. The relation of the gearing of the wheels d and f, and the
dimensions of the teeth of the wheel care calculated so that the displacement of one
tooth of the wheel c causes the block Z to advance a distance equal to the thickness
of a match. For six ordinary matches the angular advance of the wheel c is about
20 degrees. In order to vary this angular displacement at will the rod F is jointed
to the lever G by a movable cap h; on the other hand, the position of the pin of
the crank plate Ĕ can be varied, so that there is a double way of adjusting. The
angular displacement given to the wheel c is transmitted to the rollers a, which by
their drawing or impelling discs cause the blocks of wood to turn while impressing
or stamping them. The rotation of the block of wood causes its proper advance;
for this purpose the pointed disc I is fitted to a vertical shaft, on which a pinion j is
keyed, gearing with a pinion j', the shaft of which carries pinions k gearing with the
wheels. The pinions and wheels are of different diameters, which allows of
varying at will the speed of advance of the nut of the carriage on the screw l, with
the object of making matches of variable thicknesses. The blocks of wood are held
at their upper part by a pointed disc m, centred beforehand, held by the socket of a
beam H (Figure 3), which is jointed at one end and secured at the other by an
excentric handle. The upper and lower pointed discs can vary in size to suit the
diameter of the block or washers of wood, these discs fixing the minimum diameter
of the final core or centre.
The impressing roller may be made to act independently of its use as a driver,
and also at any point of the circumference of the wood.
I will now proceed to describe the driving of the cutting tools :-These tools.
comprise a set of vertical blades or knives p, arranged according to a mean radius
of the block Z, and another p¹, also vertical, at a direction tangential to the block
or at right angles to the first. I thus cut at each motion of the blade carrier a row

page_text: of several matches of practically square and regular section, and it will be under-
stood that by this means the curve according to which the block of wood is cut is
not strictly a spiral curve, it is rather according to a regular spiral polygon with a
very large number of sides that the block is cut.
The cut matches are lifted by the blade carrier which places them in a shoot y,
from which they fall loose into a suitable box or holder.
The regulating mechanism, the necessity for which I have already explained, is
arranged as follows:-The blade carrier q, the form of which is analogous to a large
cross head, carries a frames, forming a slide; a key t, which can be raised or
lowered, shifts the frames horizontally, which frame is constantly pushed by the
spring r. The blade carrier is fixed in the horizontal direction by means of a
bolt u, and in the vertical direction by a screw u¹, with broken thread, whose nut
is formed in the frame s, and which is actuated by a simple quarter turn and allows
of promptly changing the blade carrier in case of need. The key t engages by a
dovetail in a corresponding mortise of the carrier q; it is terminated at top and
bottom by a swelled part. As long as the cutting is produced nominally in the
movements of the blade carrier, the two ends of the key are at an equal distance
from two corresponding surfaces of a regulator, but without meeting them. This
regulator consists of a threaded rod v engaged in a fixed nut w, terminated by two
horizontal surfaces between which the key t can abut; it is worked by a handle
fixed to the threaded rod. If a deviation takes place between the regular normal
planes of cutting and the planes of the blades, that is to say, if the cut is not made
strictly in the middle of two consecutive impressions or stamps the attendant works
the regulator so as to raise or lower it slowly, the key which is graduated follows
the movement and consequently from the displacement of the frame s, which results
therefrom, the regular cutting between the impressions is re-established.
My machine will naturally vary, according to the requirements of the cutting,
the nature of the wood, and other causes. Thus various ways of cutting may be
used; for instance, a blade, cutting the wood as for veneering, or an endless saw,
cutting the wood into strips capable of being simultaneously or consecutively
divided into matches by blades or saws. This mode of cutting involves a turning,
or more strictly speaking, a sort of unwinding of the wood according to a spiral
movement, and the unwound cut wood can be taken hold of and drawn between
impressing rollers, the matches can thus be stamped on several faces and be better
held and directed in the dipping operations, &c.
As I have already stated, the object of my Invention is to stamp the matches
simultaneously or consecutively with the operation which cuts them; the stamping
may be effected by brands or marks embossed in intaglio or in relief, but preferably
by printing in one or several colors with any suitable compositions, and this by means
of a stamp carrying the device, or by type, or by engraved rollers acting by blow,
pressure, or rolling; or the stamping or impression may be produced by rollers,
pads, or brushes and stencil plates.
The application of my Invention is not limited to matches only, it can be applied
to tooth picks, spills, wood for pencils, shavings, or strips of wood for match boxes,
and to any articles of wood or other material capable of being cut and stamped
simultaneously.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, the mode and machinery, or the
system, substantially as herein-before described and represented in the annexed
Drawings, for cutting and stamping matches and other articles, the characteristic
features of the said mode and machinery being,
(1.) That the cutting and stamping are effected in the same machine, the
stamping being in intaglio, or in relief, or in one or several colors, and produced by
stamps, type, rollers, stencils, inked bands, or otherwise, which devices act before,
during, or after the cutting, and by blow, pressure, rolling, brushing, or rubbing,
the preference being given to engraved or type rollers, arranged on the same shaft,

page_text: and either drawing or driving the blocks of wood, or simply pressed and rolling
against them.
(2.) The mode of cutting the block of wood in a spiral manner.
(3.) The movement of the cutting tools and of the impression rollers.
And (4.) The arrangement for regulating the cutting tools, all substantially as 5
described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gabriel Pernet-Jouffroy, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
G. PERNET-JOUFFROY. (L.S.) 1