Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Fish Hooks.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 27th May, 1893-Accepted, 1st July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Fish Hooks.
We GEORGE THOMAS ENGLISH, of Webheath, near Redditch, Needle Hardener,
and ROBERT SMITH BARTLEET, of the firm of William Bartleet & Sons, of Abbey
Mills, Redditch, Manufacturer, all in the County of Worcester, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of fish hooks, and consists in the
combination and arrangement of mechanism constituting a machine in which various
operations are effected necessary to produce the hook (finished as to shape) from a
pointed piece of wire.
The machine is constructed and the operations carried out somewhat as follows;
although the precise details of the mechanism for each or all of the operations
may be varied without departure from the nature of the invention
Upon a
suitable strong frame or table is carried the various mechanism that is, at the rear
of the machine is provided a horizontal driving shaft running parallel with the
front of the machine. Upon this shaft is carried the driving pulleys, fly wheel,
and various cams &c. necessary to produce the various necessary movements.
Near the front and at the right hand side of the machine is a hopper into which
are placed the pointed wires from which the hooks are to be made. At the bottom
of the hopper is provided a rotating grooved cylinder, worked by means of a ratchet
wheel which latter is again operated from the main shaft by means of a reciprocating
slide or link. Beneath this grooved cylinder is carried two long spirally grooved
cylinders, lying side by side and whose length is sufficient to accommodate the
various subsequent operations that is, they run almost the length of the front of the
machine. These feed cylinders are operated at their one end by means of cog
pinions gearing into a cog wheel which latter is again operated by a ratchet and
The spiral
reciprocating slide or link worked by cam upon the main shaft.
grooves in these cylinders are arranged to be exactly in time with each other, so
that as the wires are carried in the grooves of the hopper cylinder, they fall
into the said two spiral grooves, and by reason of the rotation of the latter they
are carried uniformly along at right angles to the said cylinders. At each inter-
mittent motion of these cylinders, the wire or the partly formed hook, travels
forward from one process to the next; thus in its first movement it is carried from
the hopper to the "bowing" or ring forming operation. Inasmuch as the wires
vary a little in length, it is necessary before the bowing takes place, that the inner
(unpointed) end should be pushed up to a given gauge. This is effected by means
of a fence carried upon a slide, working at right angles to the wire, which pushes
it forward at the right moment. Such fence however has to be made of a
compensating or yielding character, that is, it is made to secondarily slide upon
the main slide. Upon this secondary slide is a spring, whose tendency is to keep
the fence up to a given shoulder, such spring power however being only sufficient
to push the wire forward, but when the wire is long so that the inner end reaches
its stop before the slide has reached the end of its stroke, the spring yields, that is
the main slide continues to the end of its stroke, while the fence is held back by the
pointed wire. Immediately above the inner end of the wire is a vertical reciprocating
part rotating spindle carried upon a suitable bracket and operated by means of a
bevil cog wheel upon the said spindle, gearing into a second bevil wheel, which latter
is operated by a lever or link actuated from the main shaft. Other equivalent
methods of giving motion to the vertical spindle may be substituted. At the
bottom of the vertical spindle is an outstanding peg or coiler. This peg is at such

page_text: a distance from the centre of the spindle to correspond with the exterior diameter
of the bow to be made. Concentric with this spindle and situate in the bed of the
machine, that is, immediately beneath the said spindle, is a vertical sliding peg
which in diameter corresponds to the inside diameter of the bow. Around this peg
the wire is bent to form the bow. At the proper time this sliding peg rises
above the machine bed, then the part rotating peg bends the wire round it, when
the said sliding peg is again withdrawn downwards leaving the wire bowed and free
to move forward by the feed motion to the next process.
It is now carried on to the "barbing" or "bearding" process, and in its passage
thereto and also in its subsequent passage from one process to another, the point
of the wire is made to pass along a glass fence instead of a metallic surface as a
better protection against damaging their points. This fence is for the purpose of
keeping the wires or partly formed hooks in proper line for the next set of tools.
Having arrived at the barbing tools, a pressure slide or grip is made to seize or
hold the pointed end firmly, while the barbing knife or tool which is suitably
carried, upon an inclined slide (towards the rear of the machine) is moved forward
by a cam action from the main shaft, and cuts the barb or beard. It is now further
carried forward to the bending tools &c. A sliding gauge now adjusts the exact
position of the point of the wire ready for the bending operation. This gauge is
carried upon a slide working lengthwise of the pin, and is so arranged that it
moves clear out of the way at the time the bending is taking place. At the end
of the feed cylinders is provided an intermittent part rotating spindle operated from
the main shaft. Upon the inner end of this spindle is made the "bend," (or
"former") around which the hook is bent. Also at the side of the bend, and upon
the rotating spindle is a bending peg or catch between which and the said "bend"
the hook wire is fed into, so that when the part rotating spindle is moved, the peg
or catch catches under the barb and carries the wire round the "bend" and thus
forms the hook. The shank of the hook now stands out towards the front of the
machine, and whilst there, a kerbing tool carried upon a slide, which moves parallel
to the front of the machine or thereabouts, comes in contact with the said shank
and bends or "kerbs" it to a given angle with the hook portion. Carried upon
this same slide or in conjunction-therewith is an extracting hook or puller off,
which in its forward motion passes over the bent hook portion upon the "bend
but in its return motion after the hook is kerbed, catches the said hook and removes
it from the bend and flicks it clear of the tools ready for the reception of the
next wire.
"
The various tools and moving parts are made adjustable where possible for
the variation in sizes of the hooks, and for obtaining perfect action of the said
tools.
Although the various processes, may be worked together as a whole, still in some
cases we may use separately the combination of the mechanism constituting one or
more of such processes.
Dated this 27th day of August 1892.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicants' Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Fish Hooks.
We GEORGE THOMAS ENGLISH, of Webheath, near Redditch, Needle
Hardener, and ROBERT SMITH BARTLEET of the firm of William Bartleet &
Sons, of Abbey Mills, Redditch, Manufacturer, all in the County of Worcester,
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 manufacture of fish hooks, and consists in the

page_text: combination and arrangement of mechanism constituting a machine in which
various operations are effected necessary to produce the hook (finished as to shape)
from a pointed piece of wire.
The machine is constructed and the operations carried out as hereinafter
explained although the precise details of the mechanism for each or all of the
operations may be varied without departing from the nature of the invention.
In order to explain more clearly this our invention and the manner in which it
is to be performed, we have hereunto appended illustrative drawings to which
reference is made in this our description, in which :-
:-
Fig. 1, is a general plan view of the machine embracing this our invention.
Fig. 2, is a detached side view of the hopper arrangement and its mechanism.
Fig. 3, is a front view of the said hopper mechanism.
Fig. 4, is a detailed view of the hopper cylinder.
Fig. 4, is a cross sectional part view of the hopper &c.
Fig. 5, is a detailed view of the combined twin spirally grooved feed cylinders.
Fig. 6, is a detached view of the adjustable fence, and of the bow bending
mechanism.
Fig. 7, is a front view of the adjustable fence and the bow bending
mechanism.
Fig. 7, is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the bow bending mechanism.
Fig. 8, is a detached side view of the barbing mechanism.
Fig. 9, is a front view of the barbing mechanism.
Figs. 10, 11 & 12, are detached views in elevation of the hook bending
mechanism.
Fig. 13, shows in detail the bending operation of the hook around the "former."
Fig. 14, is a detailed view showing the kerbing operation.
Fig. 144, is a detailed front view, of the kerb grip and the puller off.
Figs. 15, 16, 17, 18 & 19, show the fish hook in its various stages of manufacture
under this our invention.
Throughout the several views similar reference numbers refer to the same thing
or part.
Upon a suitable strong frame or table 1, is carried the various mechanism, that
is, at the rear of the machine is provided a horizontal driving shaft 2, running
parallel with the front of the machine. Upon. this shaft is carried the driving
pulleys 3 & 4, fly, wheel 5, and various cams &c. hereinafter referred to, necessary
to produce the various movements. Near the front end, at the right hand side of
the machine is a hopper 6, into which are placed the pointed wires 7, (see Fig. 15)
from which the hooks are to be made. At the bottom of the hopper is provided
a rotating grooved cylinder 8, worked by means of a ratchet wheel 9, which latter
is again operated from the main shaft 2, by means of the reciprocating lever 10,
fulcrumed at 11, which again operates the lever 12, and pawl 13. Thus the wires
find their way into the grooves 14, and are thereby carried round to the underside
of the cylinder 8. Beneath this grooved cylinder 8, is carried two long spirally
grooved feed cylinders 15 & 16, lying side by side and whose length is sufficient to
accommodate the various subsequent operations, that is, they run almost the length
of the front of the machine. These feed cylinders are operated at their one end
by means of cog pinions 17 & 18 gearing into a cog wheel 19, which latter is again
operated by a ratchet 20, pawl 21, crank arm 22, and reciprocating slide or link 23,
worked by cam 24, upon the main shaft 2. The spiral grooves 25, in the
cylinders 15 & 16 are arranged to be exactly in time with each other, so that as
the wires 7, are carried round in the grooves 14, of the hopper cylinder 8, they
pass down the guide formed by the plates 6, 6, and fall into the said two spiral
grooves as seen in Figs. 4 & 5, and by reason of the combined rotation of the
latter they are carried uniformly along at right angles to the said cylinders,
between such cylinders and the plate 72, which latter keep the wires in the grooves
as they travel along; but is capable of yielding a little to accommodate varying
thicknesses of wire. At each intermittent motion of these cylinders, the wire or

page_text: "
the partly formed hook, travels forward from: one process to the next; thus in its
first movement it is carried from the hopper 6, to the "bowing or ring forming
operation. Inasmuch as the wires vary a little in length, it is necessary before the
bowing takes place, that the inner (unpointed) end should be pushed up to a given
gauge. This is effected by means of a fence 26, carried upon a slide 27, which
pushes the-wire 7° (see Fig. 6) forward at the right moment. Such fence however
has to be made of a compensating or yielding character, that is, it is made to
secondarily slide upon the slide 27. Upon this secondary slide 28 is a spring 29,
whose tendency is to keep the fence 26, up to a given shoulder 30, such spring
power however being only about sufficient to push the wire forward, but when the
wire is longer than others, so that the inner unpointed end reaches the stop 30",
before the slide 27, has reached the end of its stroke, the spring 29 yields, that is,
the main slide 27, continues to the end of its stroke, while the fence is held back
by the pointed wire. Immediately above the inner end of the wire is a vertical
part rotating spindle 31 to which is imparted a backward and forward motion.
This spindle 31, is carried upon a suitable bracket 32, and operated by means of a
bevil cog wheel 33, upon the said spindle gearing into a second bevil wheel 34,
which latter is operated by a lever 35 & link 36, actuated from the main shaft 2,
by means of cam 37. Other equivalent methods of giving motion to. the vertical
spindle may be substituted. At the bottom of the vertical spindle is an adjustable
outstanding peg or coiler 38. This peg is at such a distance from the centre of the
spindle 31, to correspond with or accommodate the extérior diameter of the
bow 39 (see Fig. 16) to be made. Concentric with this spindle 31, and situate in
the bed of the machine, that is, immediately beneath the said spindle, is a vertical
sliding peg 40, which in diameter corresponds to the inside diameter of the bow 39.
Around this peg 40, the wire is bent to form the bow 39. This peg 40, is operated
by the lever 41, which in its turn is actuated by the cam 42, and is held in its
lowest position when permissible by the spring 43. Upon the bed 84, is placed
the slide 85, having the nose 86, by which the wire 7, (see Fig. 7A) is pushed
forward a little as seen in dotted lines, preparatory to the bow bending. This
slide 85, is operated by the lever 87, which in its turn is actuated by the cam 88.
At the proper time, the sliding peg 40, rises above the machine bed, then the
nose 86, advances, then the part rotating peg 38, bends the wire round it, the said
peg 40, when the latter is again withdrawn downwards, leaving the wire bowed and
free to move forward by the feed motion to the next process. When the bow.
bending has thus taken place, the slide 85, although drawn to the left, would
apparently prevent the sliding of the wire forward to the next operation, but
the tendency of the grooved cylinders 15 and 16, is to bring it nearer to the front
of the machine, hence it immediately brings it thus forward until its point rests
against the fence 44, when the bow is clear of the slide 85, and may then move
on to the next operation.
In the passage of the wire from one process to another, the point of the wire is
made to pass along a glass fence 44, instead of a metallic surface, as a better
protection against damaging their points. This fence is therefore at right angles
to the wire and is for the purpose of keeping the wires or partly formed hooks in
proper line for the next set of tools. It is now carried forward to the barbing
tools, where a grip 45, is made to seize or hold the pointed end firmly, while the
barbing knife or tool 46, which is suitably carried upon an inclined slide 47,
(towards the rear of the machine) is moved forward by a cam 48, from the main
shaft, and cuts the barb or beard. The inclination of the slide 47, is variably
adjusted by the moveable supports 47", and 47%, and screws 47°, and 474, as shown
in Fig. 8. The grip 45, is operated by the combination of levers 49 & 50, link 5),
slide 52, and cam 53. The length of cut by the knife 46, is adjustable by means
of the roller holder 79, being passed on to the plain turned part 80, of the slide 47,
in front of the screw nut 81, which works upon the screwthreaded portion 82, of
the said slide 47. The thrust force from the cam 48, is borne by the nut 81, and
the holder, 79, is secured to the part 80, by the pin 83, It is now further carried

page_text: 21
forward to the bending or hook forming tools &c. A sliding gauge 54, now adjusts
the exact position of the point of the wire ready for the bending operation. This
gauge is carried-upon a slide 55, which is operated by the cam 36. The said
gange works lengthwise of the pin, and is so arranged that it moves clear out of
the way at the time the bending is taking place. In Fig. 12 it is shown in this
out of the way position. At the end of the feed cylinders 15 & 16, is provided
an intermittent part rotating spindle 57, operated from the main shaft, by means
of the pinion 58, segmental geared lever 59, and slide 60, and cam 61. At the
inner end of this spindle the hook is bent. A former 62, is carried upon a
bracket 63, and is of the required shape according to the hook to be made.
upon the rotating spindle 57, is a bending peg 63, which as the wire is advanced
from the barbing operation, lies down between the cylinders 15 & 16, as shown in
dotted lines in Figs. 1 & 13; hence the said wire passes on and rests above it.
While in this position the vertical grip 64 (see Figs. 11 & 13) is made to rise and
hold the wire firmly against the underside of the former while the bending peg 63,
is carried round to effect the said bending and thus forms the hook as shown. This
grip 64, is carried upon the lever 65, fulcrumed at 66, and operated by means of
the link 67, which latter is jointed to the slide 68, which is worked by the cam 69,
upon the wheel 70.
Also
The shank of the hook now stands out towards the front of the machine, and
whilst there, a kerbing tool 71, carried from the slide 78, (by means of the arm 73)
which moves parallel to the front of the machine or thereabouts, comes in contact
with the said shank and "kerbs" it to a given angle as seen in Fig. 14. Simul-
taneously with the advance of the kerbing tool and similarly carried upon the
arm 73, is the gripper 74, which now moves forward and firmly holds the hook
between itself and the "former" 62, while the said kerbing takes place. The
slide 78, is operated by lever 75, which is actuated by cam 76, upon the wheel 70.
Carried upon this same slide 78, or in conjunction therewith is the extracting hook
or puller off 77, which in its forward motion by reason of its springy character,
passes over the bent hook which now lies upon the "former," but in its return
motion after the hook is kerbed, catches the said hook and removes it from the
"former" and flicks it clear of the tools ready for the reception of the next wire.
The various tools and moving parts are made adjustable where possible for the
variation in sizes of the hooks, and for obtaining perfect action of the said tools.
Although the various processes, may be worked together as a whole, still in some
cases we may use separately the combination of the mechanism constituting one or
more of such processes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The employment of twin horizontal parallel feeding screws whose screw
threads coincide with each other for traversing the pointed wires constructed and
arranged as herein described and illustrated.
2. The combination with the twin feeding screws 15 & 16 of the hopper 6,
having the grooved barrel 8, constructed and operating conjointly as herein
described and illustrated.
3. The combination of the parts herein described and illustrated constituting the
eye bending mechanism, that is to say the combination with the feed screws 15
& 16 and plate 72, of the vertical spindle 31, adjustable peg 38, sliding central
peg 40, operated and operating as herein described and illustrated.
4. The compensating adjustinent for the wires consisting of the combination
with the main slide 27, of the secondary slide 28, carrying the fence 26, and
controlled by the spring 29, and the stop piece 30°, as herein described and
shown.
5. The combination of the mechanism for the barbing process, that is to say the

page_text: combination with the barbing tool 46, slide 47, of the grip 45, with its operating
mechanism as described and illustrated.
6. The combination with the barbing knife slide 47, of the variably adjusting
supports 47 and 47b, and screws 47° and 474, substantially as described and shown.
7. The combination of the mechanism for bending the wire into the hook shape,
that is to say, the combination with the former 62, of the grip 64, reciprocating
spindle 57, peg 63, gange 54, and their accessory parts, as described and
illustrated.
8. The combination of the mechanism for kerbing and ejecting the bent hook,
that is to say, the combination with the former 62, of the grip 74, kerbing tool 71,
hook 77, and their accessory parts as described and illustrated.
9. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting this our
improved machine for the manufacture of fish hooks as herein described and shown
upon the drawings.
-
Dated this 26th day of May 1893
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicants' Agent.