Improvements in Match-boxing Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 26th June, 1897
Improvements in Match-boxing Machines.
I, FRANS LUNDGREN of Carlsvik, Stockholm in the Kingdom of Sweden,
Mechanical Engineer, 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 a machine by means of which the matches are removed
from the dipping frames or splint holders and divided into quantities suited to the
capacity of the boxes and by which the quantities of matches thus separated are
filled into the drawers of the matchboxes and said drawers finally inserted into
their cases.
The reception of the matches from the dipping frame, and their
introduction into the match magazine, are accomplished by means of a box
fulcrumed on a spindle, hinge or the like, said box, when in its horizontal position,
receiving the matches standing on their ends from the dipping frame placed above
it, and on being swung around through an angle of 90°, so as to raise it up on end
delivers the matches in about horizontal position to the magazine. Further the
machine in question is provided with special devices for arranging the matches
before their insertion into the match-boxes and for removing any matches which
happen to stop in their way to said boxes.
Fig. 1 is a side view of the machine and Fig. 2 a plan of the same.
Fig. 3 shows the open magazine from one side, and Fig. 4 an element composed
of cells by means of which the matches are given their proper position in the box
mentioned above.
Figs. 5 and 6 represent cams;
Fig. 7 shows means for the insertion of the matches into the match boxes,
and
Fig. 8 shows the box in which the cells mentioned above (Fig. 4) are placed.
The first step in the operation of the machine viz.: gathering up the matches
from the dipping frame is best elucidated in Fig. 1.
Fulcrumed on a horizontal
shaft 2 fixed parallel to the magazine 1 there is a box 3 which is composed of the
frame pieces 4 bottom 5 and sides 6, the latter being made of sheet metal, as is
also the bottom 5. The box 3 rests on eccentric discs or cams 7 fixed on the
shaft 8 which is rotated by suitable gearing from the main shaft 9 thus communi-
cating a rapid up and down motion to the box 3.
The dipping frame or splint holder 10 is placed above the box 3 on the stays 11
and 12 projecting somewhat above the latter and of which the inner ones 11 are
mounted on the table of the machine, consequently being fixed, while the outer
ones 12 are secured to the box 3. The dipping frame, accordingly, takes part in
the shaking motion of the box 3. In the box 3 there are loosely placed cells
having no bottoms. These cells are united into sections or elements each extending
across the box and capable of being inserted or taken out independently of the
others. Fig. 4 represents one of said elements 13. When the matches are released
from the dipping frame in the usual manner, they fall into the cells and here
remain standing on the bottom of the box 3. The matches having dropped the
frame 10 is removed and the box brought in a position to rest on the shaft 8 by
means of the braces 14 depending from its outer end. The elements of cells 13
are then taken out of the somewhat inclined box 3 by pulling them carefully

page_text: upwards, parallel to the longitudinal axes of the cells, beginning with the lowest
element. The matches remain in the box 3, settling together, as one element 13
after another is removed, into a pile resting on the lowest side wall 6* of the box.
By releasing the retaining catch 15 the said wall 6× can be pulled out from
the box.
The match magazine 1, which inclines slightly from the box 3 and is open
towards the same has in its back wall at its lower end an opening closed by a
door 16 and is provided with a bottom consisting of two corrugated planes 19, 19
Fig. 3 inclined to each other and sliding with their lower ends on the horizontal
portions of a pair of angle pieces 18 bounding the bottom opening of the magazine.
The upper ends of the inclined planes 19 are supported by pins 28 passing through
said ends and projecting from a rod 21 Fig. 2 which is given a reciprocating motion
by means of the connecting rod 26 and the crank disc 27, the reciprocating motion
being thus communicated to the planes 19 as well. By the corrugations of the
planes 19 the matches are brought into horizontal positions and to lie parallel to
one another. The door 16 Figs. 1 and 2 reciprocates horizontally in its own
plane, thus assisting in keeping the matches assembled. It receives its motion
from the rod 21, which is connected with the door in such a manner that the
latter can be opened thus making the matches accessible. Finally there is placed
on the pile of matches a loose bottom 29 which is provided at the underside with
transverse ribs or plates 30 and has a guide rod 31 at the top.
When the magazine 1 is to be filled, the bottom 29 is removed and the box 3 is
tipped up from its horizontal position to that indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.
The catch 15 being then disengaged and the wall 6x withdrawn the matches in the
box 3 will drop on to the planes 19, 19 or on the matches which may be found
on the latter.
At the outlet 17 the matches are divided by the separators 32, 32 which pass through
the angle pieces 18. Said separators are formed as wedges (Fig. 10) and are
respectively secured to a pair of levers 33, 33 engaging with each other by means of
the gear-segments 34, 34. One of the said levers is oscillated by the lever 35,
which is connected to the former by means of the link 36 and is acted upon by the
cam 37 Figs. 1 and 5. Below the outlet 17 there is a horizontal channel 38 in which
slides a plunger 39. The sides of the channel are in line with the vertical faces of
the angle pieces 38 and may respectively be made in one piece with the latter.
Opposite the outlet 17 there is also a vertical plunger 4) which, on the withdrawal
of the plunger 39, ascends towards the magazine 1 while the pile of matches is
resting on the separators 32, the latter having now advanced towards each other.
The plunger stops at such a distance from the separators that the quantity of
matches contained between the plunger and the separators, when a division is next
effected, will be just sufficient to fill a match box. The plunger 40 then descends,
bringing the matches resting on it directly opposite the plunger 39.
plunger 40 is moved by the cam 51, Figs. 1 and 6, the cam being in contact with a
small roller 40* on the plunger. The cam is provided with small teeth 51*. After
the descent of the plunger said teeth act upon the roller 40%, thus giving to the
plunger a vibrating motion up and down by which the matches are made to settle
closely together. The plunger 39 subsequently pushes the matches on to the
vertical plunger 41 moving between two feathering steel blades or clips 42.
their way to the plunger 41 the matches pass across a loose bottom or trap door 43
the purpose of which will be explained later.
The
On
The drawers of the match boxes, inserted into their cases, are piled on top of
each other in the magazine 44 below which slide two plungers 45, 46, one arranged
horizontally above the other. The upper one 45 of said plungers pushes the case
of the match box against the rounded edge of a superposed holding block 47 the
drawer inserted in the case being brought along with it. The lower plunger, now
advancing, pushes the drawer out of its case, whereupon the blades 42, which are
slightly movable upward and downward, ascend into the drawer. The plunger 41,
then ascending, presses the matches into the drawer in well-known manner, the

page_text: blades 42 preventing the matches from being brought against the edges of the sides
of the drawers. The plunger 45 now advancing further, pushes the case over the
filled drawer, while the matches are still being held up in the latter by the
plunger 41, the blades 42, on the other hand, having been withdrawn from the drawer.
Another plunger 48 sliding at right angles to the plungers 45, 46 then removes the
filled box from the machine through the channel 49.
The sliding bottom or trap door 43 is withdrawn by the bell-crank 50, acted upon
by the cam 51 after each feeding movement of the plunger 39 in order that any
match or matches, which happen to stop on said bottom, may drop out of the way
of the next lot of matches.
The cam 51, which also acts upon the plunger 40, is serrated at a portion of its
circumference so as to move the plunger 40 rapidly up and down, when the latter
is in its upper position, thus causing the matches to settle together on top of it.
The plunger 41 is acted upon by the grooved cam 53 Figs. 1 and 7 and the
blades 42 which are fixed to the arms 53 connected to the sliding bar 54 are
operated by means of the cam 56 acting upon the said sliding bar. The plungers 45
and 46 obtain their motion from the cam drums 57 and 58 respectively, and the
plunger 39 from the cam drum 59. The cam 37, which acts upon the separators 32
also has a serrated surface at a portion of its circumference, for the purpose of
giving a kind of vibrating motion to the separators, as they advance towards each
other, enabling them to penetrate the matches more readily.
In order to furnish a larger bearing surface for the plunger 45 against the case
of the match box, said plunger may be given an n-shaped cross section and made
to surround the plunger 46 on three sides, as shewn in Fig. 9. The plunger 45
will then bear against the two short sides and one of the long sides of the end of
the case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A match boxing machine characterized by the arrangement of a tipping
box (3) of approximately the same size as the dipping-frame or splint holder, in
which box are loosely placed removable cells by means of which it receives the
matches directly from the dipping frame (10) placed above it, said box (3) being
fulcrumed ou a shaft or the like and adapted, on being swung up on edge after
the cells have been removed, to be inserted into the comparatively high match
magazine (1) for the purpose of enabling of the introduction of the contents of
one or more dipping frames at once into the match magazine.
2. In combination with the arrangement mentioned in Claim 1 stays (11, 12) on
which the dipping frame (10), filled with matches, is placed above the box (3)
while the latter is occupying a horizontal or nearly horizontal position some of
said stays (12) being attached to the box (3) so as to cause the aforesaid frame (10)
to shake when the box (3) is agitated for the purpose of causing the matches to
drop from the frame into the box (3).
3. In the arrangement mentioned in Claim 1, the arrangement that the cells are
combined into elements or sections (13) extending across the width of the box (3)
and adapted to be picked up from the latter one by one for the purpose of allowing
the matches to settle together gradually in the inclined box (3.) as one element or
section (13.) after another is picked up out of the same.
4. In match-boxing machines having thin separators for dividing off quantities
of matches suitable to the capacity of each match box, the arrangement that said
separators vibrate in their own plane, while they are being advanced between the
matches for the purpose of enabling the aforesaid separators to penetrate the pile
of matches more readily.
5. In combination with match-boxing machines an opening in the rear wall of
the match magazine at its lower end, said opening being closed by a door (16)
arranged to be slid back and forth in its own plane, for the purpose of making the

page_text: matches easily accessible and at the same time causing them to settle closely
together by the motion of said door.
•
6. In match-boxing machines having a vertical plunger (40) arranged below the
match magazine and adapted, on the separation of the required quantity of matches
(Claim 4), to descend so as to bring the matches resting upon it into line with a
conveying channel (38.) the arrangement that the said plunger vibrates in the
direction of its axis for the purpose of causing the matches to settle closely
together on the plunger.
7. In match-boxing machines having a plunger (41.) advancing between two
feathering blades or clips (42, 42), for pressing the matches into the drawer of the
match box, while the latter is held by the blades inserted into it the arrangement
that said blades are fixed on a sliding-bar (54.) which is movable parallel to the
plunger (41) and adapted to insert the blades the drawer of the match box and
after the introduction of the matches into the box, to recede so as to leave the
drawer of the match box free to have the case pushed over it.
8. In combination with match-boxing machines provided with the arrangement
mentioned in Claim 1, a loose bottom or trap door (43.) in the channel (38) in
which the matches are transported from the match magazine to the plunger (41)
which carries them into the match box, said bottom or trap door being arranged to
open, after the matches have been fed forward, for the purpose of allowing any
match or matches left behind to drop out of the way.
9. The combination with match-boxing machines provided with the arrangement
mentioned in Claim 1., of two horizontal and adjacent plungers (45, 46.) one of
them (45) adapted to slide the case of the match box, together with the drawer
inserted into it, underneath a superposed holder (47) while the other (46) is
arranged to subsequently push the drawer out of its case the latter, after the
filling of the box, being again pushed back over the drawer by the first mentioned
plunger (45).
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