Improvements in or connected with the Manufacture of Brooms. and Brushes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 27th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Manufacture of Brooms.
and Brushes.
"
I, JOHN GEORGE HORSEY of 4 Bromley Grove, Shortlands, Kent, Manufac-
turer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a novel method of feeding fibres to a separator by.
which small quantities or tufts can be conveyed to a pusher having a lateral or end.
on motion for placing the tufts within range of a tilting frame from which they, in
successive order, are pushed into a conical ring and from whence they are forced
into the stock of the broom or brush. The following describes the invention
somewhat in detail.
The fibre, sufficient in quantity to form a tuft in the broom or brush having been.
fed into a horizontal trough or holder is forced along and embraced or held about.
two inches from one end in a clutch or collapsable ring. This can be effected:
either by the approach of such clutch or by the tuft being drawn or pushed through
the same, in the latter case, against a flat piece of wood or metal which acts as a
stop and regulates the end nearest to the clutch of the tuft of fibres. In this case
the pusher would, if necessary, be on a spring to allow of different lengths of
fibre. The tuft being thus held firmly is canted to a vertical position by the
motion of the clutch actuated by pinion and quadrant or other well known
mechanical means. Such clutch, is by means of a rod, bar, or arm on either side
hinged to the vertical main plunger, capable of being compressed so as to more
firmly grasp the tuft when descending into the hole in the stock of broom either by
a strong cross spring below or by the insertion between the upper parts of such
bars, rods or arms of a plug to expand them. Before or whilst descending (in
which cases it would descend with it) or when descended as far as the surface of
the broom stock the bottom end of tuft enters a conical shaped ring the larger
diameter of which is at the top and the smaller or bottom diameter slightly less
than that of the hole in the broom stock. The object of this cup like ring is to
compress the fibres at the bottom end of the tuft and thus assist in guiding it into
the hole in the broom stock. The cup like ring may be made in one piece or in
two or more parts and be either rigid or made to expand or to tilt so as to fit
close around the hole in broom stock when held at an angle.
The plunger and clutch holding tuft having descended to the required depth so
as to place the tuft through the ring into the hole in the broom stock then turns or
twirls with or without a down-pressure so as to fan out the fibres at the top. This
may be effected either by cog gear, çam and lever, or lever or any other well
known mechanical method.
"
The tuft having thus completed its descent and by the turn been "fanned out
or spread at the top is released by the clutch to allow of the descent of another
plunger or rod which brings down below it at its end a plug, peg or fastener. This
plug, peg, or fastener is taken from a feeding box situated above, containing a
quantity and so arranged as to release one plug or fastener at a time by means of
springs or by ratchet or by both. The plunger or rod may, in the case of the
plug or peg being of wood have at its lower end a sharp spike to penetrate the top
of the wooden peg and hold it at its first descent until such peg is pressed down.
and controlled between side pieces or springs to ensure its being brought down in
the centre of the tuft in the hole of the broom stock into which by downward
pressure of the plunger, such plug or peg is driven and jammed thus holding the
tuft firmly in the broom stock without the usual cement or mastic.

page_text: All this having been effected the two plungers already described with the clutch
and ring assume their former positions for the next tuft and so on.
Instead of fastening in the tuft with a wooden plug as above mentioned it may
be done by a liquid adhesive substance such as pitch or cement in which case the
feeding of such would have to be performed by a certain portion of the liquid
being conveyed from a holder in the bottom end of the plunger before its descent
or whilst descending down into the centre or around the tuft already in the hole in
the broom stock or by a substance, say lead, cut from a quantity and brought down
in the same manner; thus the holding of the tuft in the broom stock would be
performed either by the adhesion of the liquid in the one case or by the expansion
of the substance pressed by the plunger between or in the centre of the fibres in
the other case..
With a view to ensure the holes in the stock being held exactly in a line with
the centre of the tuft about to enter it and at the proper angle where the holes in
the broom stock are bored at different angles as is sometimes done, a template of
metal or other material may be fastened on the back of the broom stock, such
template to be say inch in thickness and penetrated by holes bored at the different
required positions and angles and forming the pattern of the broom stock to be
bored and made. A projecting pin to fit these holes in the back of the template
is fixed in a line with the centre of the drill or boring bit and by pressing one of
the holes in the template on to such pin down to its base finds the required angle and
position of the hole to be bored in the stock and when the required number of
holes in the stock are thus bored, the template with stock attached is to be placed
in a similar position to the advancing tuft as it was to the drill or bitt that bored
the hole. This is to be effected by a similar fixed pin facing the centre of the
approaching tuft. By this means the holes in the stock must be in a proper
position to receive it.
But the mechanical means before described for taking the tuft in the first.
instance from the horizontal trough or holder must when such template is used, not
be moved from the horizontal to a vertical position as before described but without-
in anyway altering the principle be retained in its horizontal position and the
already described plunger clutch and ring must also work in a horizontal position
but in exactly the same manner as already described (although in this case the
plunger and clutch may be raised or lowered or moved laterally to clear the trough
or holder immediately after taking the tuft) so as to force the tuft into the hole in
the stock the face of which is held by the back template on its pin in the proper.
position to receive it. The object of this is that the person working the machine
and who holds the template in front of her or him with the stock attached, and its
face towards the tuft may better see to move the template from hole to hole and
thus more quickly and properly catch on the pin before the tuft reaches the hole in
the stock into which it enters.
...
T
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said J. G. Horsey.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Manufacture of Brooms
and Brushes.
I, JOHN GEORGE HORSEY, of 4 Bromley Grove, Shortlands, Kent, Manu-
facturer, 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 mechanism by which tufts of piassava (bass) or other.
stiff or comparatively stiff fibres such as bristles or hair, suitable for brooms or

page_text: "
brushes can have their ends inserted into the holes of a
"stock or "back," and
while there be fixed by the insertion of a peg or plug so as to retain the tufts
permanently therein.
To carry my invention into practice, I first arrange the fibre or hair in a hopper,
to which a jogging motion is given, so that by gravitation, they arrive in parallel
order in horizontal receptacle in which fixed quantities become separated by a
circular travelling comb, said comb being part of a cylindrical casing from which
such fixed quantities in succession can be forced by a pusher having an end on
motion to a distance within range of a pair of nippers arranged on a compound
motion appliance, first, for withdrawing the quantity or tuft completely from the
cylindrical casing, and secondly, to tilt the tuft into a vertical position over a
conical ring which may be in one or in two parts to be taken hold of by a second
pair of nipping jaws or clutch arranged directly over the hole of the broom or
brush "stock into which the tuft has to be placed, the nipping jaws are then
caused to descend and the lower end of the tuft is guided by the ring into the hole;
the nipping jaws now have a sudden rotation given to them to fan out the upper
ends of the fibre by centrifugal action for the passage of a plug or peg, which is
then by other cams or their equivalents on the same cross shaft forcibly pushed
downwards into the centre of the tuft and the hole in the "stock" or "back."
Each peg or plug is temporarily held to the plunger by springs and the broom
"stock
"back
or
is temporarily fixed on a pedestal by an attendant, a stud
entering a hole of a template which is fitted loosely on it, said template corre-
sponding in shape to that of the face of the "stock or "back" and of the holes
therein, whether at an angle or otherwise for a splayed or a straight broom
or brush.
"
The annexed drawings show my invention.
Figure 1, transverse sectional elevation of the hopper in which the fibres are
first placed for agitation to assume a free parallel and unentangled condition to be
tufted by a comb forming the lower part of the hopper.
Figure 2, part front elevation of the same and showing the slots in the cylindrical
portion for oscillatory comb teeth to move in.
Figure 3, elevation of the nippers which withdraw the tuft from the comb
cylinder and the appliance by which the tilting of the tuft is effected.
Figure 4, plan view thereof.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the frame with the operating appliances partly in
section by which the tuft is manipulated and fixed in a broom or brush "stock."
Figure 6, a corresponding front elevation.
Figure 7, a plan, and
Figure 8, a detached plan view of the gear by which the fanning out of the top
ends of tufts can be effected.
Figures 9 and 10 enlarged detached views of appliances for feeding tufts into
broom or brush stocks.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a is the hopper pivoted at b to rock under the
action of the rod c, from an overhead shaft driven from the main shaft. The lower
end d of the hopper a is of cylindrical shape with notches at intervals for the comb
teeth e, e, to move round in by the action of the rod falso operated from the over-
head shaft, for separating tuft quantities of fibre or hair and for pocketing such
tuft in the cylindrical receiver d. g is a pusher in the casing d for forcing the
collected quantity or tuft of fibre sufficiently out of the casing for the nippers h, h,
to take hold of at a desired distance from the, end, the nippers h, h, having been
opened out and presented to the tuft by the movement of the rod i.
The pusher g may be operated from any convenient part of the apparatus.
It will be seen by Figure 3, that one nipper is affixed on the rod i and the other
on the sleeve j but they are connected by the link k, so that the end on movement
of the one on the rod causes the other to cant on its joint pin 7 to open when the
rodi is forced outwards by the levers m and rod n also operated from the overhead
shaft, the closing of the nippers being effected by a reverse motion of the levers m

page_text: 3
and rod n.
The sleeve is encircled by a collar p by which and the connecting
rod 9 the appliances are moved bodily to completely withdraw the tuft from the
cylinder d.
The rod 7 by an over-head cam is forced along in the bearing q' and this by the
.collar
p moves the nippers h, h, with the tuft bodily along to withdraw the remainder
of the tuft from the casing d, the tuft being then close to the jaws y, u, of the
feeding mechanism which jaws are open. The rod i slides upon the bar i. The
lever by the rod s is now operated by a cam on the overhead shaft and the sleeve j
with the nipper is turned or tilted to put the nipped end of the tuft in the opening
'between the jaws u, u. While the nippers are in position the lever m and rod i
again act to open the nippers simultaneously with the closing of the jaws u, u, which
take the tuft. The rod q, collar paud nippers , h, now return to their first
position ready for a repeat operation. These jaws u, u, and the guide ring N are
shown on an enlarged scale at Figures 9 and 10. The jaw legs have springs t, t
to keep the cone ring N down in its normal position, the cone ended ring N rests
upon the brush "stock
over the hole, so that when the jaws descend as hereafter
described, it guides the compressed end of the tuft into said hole.
33
Referring to Figures 5, 6 and 7, A is the frame: B cross shaft mounted thereon
and driven by hand, or by power. C, C, are cams for operating levers D, D, loosely
mounted on a supplementary shaft E, said levers being connected by links or
rods F, F, to a piston G which works up and down for a short distance only in a
barrel within the front frame. The piston has a neck I of cone shape and the
lower end J of the barrel H has fitted within it a plate K provided with a couple
of openings in which by pins L, L, the arms M, M, of the tuft nipping jaws,u, u,
are free to more under the direction of the piston cone I to open and to close the
jaws u, u and the ring N as the piston G moves down and up, said piston G being
guided by the rods P, P, of the barrel H. The plate has a toothed quadrant
attached and this gears with a second quadrant R mounted on a vertical spindle S
supported by the frame A. The quadrant R is keyed to move up and down the
spindle by its attachment to the projection T of the barrel H, and said spindle and
gear are rotatable from the crank U and lever V from the cam W which is also on
the transverse shaft B.
The piston G and the barrel H have independent motion during part of the
stroke under the direction of the cams C, C, and together for another part of the
stroke by the two cams moving as one. X is the plunger or peg placer, the rod of
.which under the direction of the cam C", moves up and down within the piston G
and cone I, the lower end of the plunger being provided with spring lips, into
which the pegs in succession can be placed by hand.
a' is a pedestal within and from which a rest or horn 6 can be projected by a
screw .c to suit the height or thickness of a broom stock", which broom
"stock
is first affixed in or to a template el perforated to correspond to the holes
in the broom "stock" and for centralizing each hole with the vertical axis of the
tuft feeder and of the pegging plunger.
By this invention, I can use short lengths of bass or other fibre, or material, and
fix their ends,in, a broom or a brush "stock".of any shape by a peg forced into the
centre of each tuft without the necessity of tying or of using pitch, wire, or other
fastening.
I am aware that pegs have been used for the purpose of fixing tufts in broom
and brush "stocks" or "backs," also that short lengths of fibres have been fixed in
broom "stocks," therefore I make no claim to the broad principle of making
brooms and brushes by the employment of pegs and short lengths of fibre there-
with but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this 'inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
do claim is:-
-
The machine shown on the annexed drawings in which hu
come or their

page_text: equivalents, a tuft of fibre can be gathered, separated, gripped, carried to, and the
end lodged into a hole of a broom or a brush "stock and a peg be conveyed,
inserted and forced home in the same hole for fixing the tuft in place, as and by the
means or appliances set forth, and as described.
2. In or to a broom and brush making machine, the construction and arrange-
ment of appliances and the method of operating them substantially as set forth by
which material in fibre form can be shook for setting themselves horizontally'
parallel, be separated to constitute a tuft, be partially pushed out en masse, be
gripped, conveyed, completely removed, and tilted into a vertical position, as
described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the annexed drawings.
3. In or connected with broom or brush making machinery, the construction and
arrangement of the nipping jaws as receiver of tuft and cone ring as guide for tuft
to hole of "stock" as shown at Figures 9, 10 of the drawings, and acting in the
manner described for fanning out the top of fibres.
4. Combining in one machine, the appliances for 1, supplying a tuft nipped at
one end to holes in a broom or brush "stock," 2, for fanning said tuft out at the
other end while the nipped end is in the hole, and 3, for supplying a peg and forcing
it into the middle of the tuft, all three actions being in proper sequence from and
under the direction of cams, or their equivalents, as described, and substantially as
shown by the annexed drawings.
T
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said John George Horsey.