IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING MATCHES
Year: 1886

page_text: We, GEORGE EASTMAN NORRIS, of 118 North-Third Street in the City of Troy,
County of Rensselaer, State of New York and United States of North America,
machinist; and WILLIAM ELIJAH HAGAN, of 219 River Street in the City County
State and Country before named, Solicitor, dó hereby declare the nature of our
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING MATCHES" and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the
following statement :—
L
Our invention relates to a mechanism for handling and applying to match-splints
the ignition composition by which they are lighted when used; and the mechanism
for accomplishing this result we show and describe as applied to the apparatus for
making match splints made the subject of Letters Patent granted to us May 23rd,
1885, and numbered 6343.
1
Accompaning this statement to form a part of it are four plates of drawings
containing eight figures illustrating our invention and the mechanism with which
it connects, the same designation of parts by letter reference being used in all of
them.
: =
i
Of these illustrations Figure 1, is a perspective of a match-splint producing.
machine; shown with its delivery end, and the side which is opposite to that at
which power is applied turned towards the sight, and with our improvement
illustrated as connected therewith; the mechanism on which the match carrying
belts operate being shown; as broken apart, and illustrated in two detached
portions.
.
Figure 2, is a perspective of the same; mechanism that is shown at figure 1, but
with the delivery end and that side of the machine at which power, is applied
turned towards the sight; the machine proper being illustrated, as detached or
broken away from the belt carrying part of the apparatus. Figure 3, is a rear end
elevation of the machine. Figure 4, is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the
line X, X', of figure 3. Figure 5, is a perspective of the splint producing rollers,
and the stripping, fingers which, remove the splints, from the latter; illustrating
also a guide passage formed between the fingers for conveying, the splints away

page_text: from the said rollers. Figure 6, is a perspective of the mechanism for placing the
splints coming from the stripping fingers between two belts by which the splints
are carried forward to be brought under the operation of the dipping mechanism.
Figure 7, shows a detached part of the mechanism for placing the splints between
two conveying belts; this illustration being a modification of that shown at
figure 6. Figure 8, is a section through the dipping tank, and wheel, with the belts
and the matches between them shown in an exagarated proportion as to size.
The several parts thus illustrated are designated by letter reference, and the
function of the parts is described as follows. The letters R², R³, designate two
cutting and pressing rollers, having their bearings in the frame F. The circum-
ferential face of each of these rollers is made with the grooves G³, that are parallel
to the axies of the rollers, and which grooves are made with sharp cutting edges.
The letters S³, S³, designate the cutting and pressing roller shafts, and
W2, W³, gear-wheels arranged thereon as indicated at figure 3. These gear-wheels
are of the same size, they mesh into each other, and move with the same speed so
as to bring the cutting edges between the grooves thereon to contact as the rollers
turn. The letter P, indicates a feed platform along over which the veneer of wood
to be cut and pressed into splints by the rollers passes. The letters d³, d², designate
grooves arranged circumferentially in the face, of these rollers, they being placed
vertically coincident in both rollers. The letters f", f³; designate fingers arranged
to enter said grooves d³, and to strip the splints from off the rollers; all of which
parts thus illustrated are also shown and described in our older Patent alluded to,
and to which wo make no claim 'herein excepting where an improved construction
and arrangement of the said fingers is used to form a guide-way, and where we
employ these older factors in combination with new elements as will be subsequently
described.
To operate the cutting and pressing rollers any well known system of geared or
belted connection may be used; as herein shown at figure 4, power is applied by a
belt to to the driving pulley P, that turns, on the shaft S. To the side of the
pulley P, is secured a pinion p², which meshes into the gear-wheel W4, on the
shaft 8, the latter actuating the gear-wheel Ws, on its opposite end, which latter
meshes into the gear-wheel W8, having a pinion p³, and the latter into the gear-
wheel W, on the lower cutting roller shaft S³, which actuates the gear-wheel W³,
that meshes into the gear-wheel W³, on the upper cutting roller shaft.
The letter U, designates a passage-way that is formed between the fingers f?)ƒ³,
through which passage-way the splints are moved by the expelling force of the
rollers R2, R3, after being stripped therefrom by the action of the said fingers. The
letter N, designates a guide-way which at its rear end connects with the outer
termination of the passage U, made between the fingers f³, f³. This guide-way N,
has a concave upper surface u², and the letter I, indicates a roller adapted to be
turned within said concave at a sufficient distance therefrom to allow the passage
of the splints therein while between said concave, the roller. I, and the cord
belts 6, 62, running thereon. These cord belts are arranged to run in grooves g³, g³,
in the circumferential face of the roller I, as shown in detached detail at figure 6,
and at figures 1, and 2, in connection with the other parts.
:
This roller I, receives power from the gear-wheel W7, on one end of its shaft S³,
outside of the frame; and the gear-wheel W7, receives power from a series of gear-
wheel's connecting with the gear-wheel W, the latter being actuated as before
described. This roller I, is made to turn with its circumferential surface moving
faster than that of the rollers R2; and R³; to separate and arrange apart from each
other the splints coming in a continuous stream from said rollers; the roller I,
and the cord belts 6; 62 running thereon cooperating to produce this separation of
the splints while passing along over the concave u³, of the guide plate N.
The
The letter O, indicates a pulley, having a shaft n¹, with its bearings in a
bracket 6, on which roller the lower stretch of the cord belts 6, 62, moves.
letter J, indicates a pulley arranged on the shaft ; which pulley receives motion
from the gear-wheel V, on the outer end of its shaft this gear-wheel Y², meshes

page_text: into a wheel V³, and the latter into a pinión on the same shaft as the wheel Wº;
the pinion of the latter receiving power from the main driving pulley, by means of
the wheel W10. The peripheral surface of the pulley J, moves at the same speed
as the surface of the roller I. The letters L, designate a series of pulleys arranged
in the frame F³. The letter B, designates an endless belt adapted to run on the
pulley J, in the direction indicated by arrows, and B³, another endless belt that is
adapted to run on the pulley O, between the cord-belts 62, or to run on the roller I,
without the belts 6', as indicated by the dotted line d³, of figure 4, and in either
instance to afterwards run down on the pulley J, outside of the belt B³.
The belts B2, and B³, after thus coming together on the pulley J, run from the
latter over and under the pulleys L¹, and L, from one to the other, until they reach
the return pulley L³, when they separate; the belt B³, therefrom passing up over
the pulleys C, and C³, to return down to the pulley O, or roller I; and the belt B³,
passing down over the pulley C³, to return to the pulley J, to again under-run the
belt B³, as before.
The splints coming from the concave N, are carried along over the top of the
belt B by the cord-belts when used, or by the belt B³, when run upon the roller I;
and in either instance are thus caught between the contact surfaces of the two
belts B, and B³, and closely held thereby, and carried along over the pulley J.
The letter T, designates a dipping tank that is provided with a steam jacket k,
having a steam intake pipe p, and a drip cock c. This tank is slotted at its inner
side as indicated at nt. The letter D, indicates a dipping wheel that is made with
a peripheral groove m, arranged to turn on the shaft e, and to project through the
slot n; and t, indicates a scraper arranged on the side of the tank and adapted to
engage with the perimeter of the dipping wheel at each side of the groove. This
dipping tank is constructed to contain ignition composition kept in a proper con-
dition for application by steam admitted to the jacket at the bottom of it. The
letter de, designates a bevelled pinion arranged on the dipping wheel shaft e, outside
of the tank, and d7, a bevelled pinion on the shaft of the wheel J, by which the
dipping wheel D, is rotated. When the dipping wheel D, is thus rotated in the
composition contained in the tank T, the scraper t, removes all of the composition
from the perimeter of the wheel, excepting that contained in the groove m.
The periperal surface of the pulley J, moves at the same speed as that of the
dipping roller D; and as the splints are held firmly between the belts B, and B³,
and while the latter are in a vertical position, moving downwardly from off the
pulley J, to pass under the front pulley L³, of the series of drying pulleys, the ends
of each of the splints enters the groove in the dipping wheel D, (where passing
through the slot in the tank) and is tipped with ignition composition.
If desired. the drying pulleys L, may be omitted, and the belts B', and B³, made
to separate at the bottom of the pulley L, with the belt B³, returned to the roller I,
as indicated by the dotted line d, of figure 4, and the belt B, with the splints
resting on the upper surface of its progressive stretch, with the latter moving over and
along the surface of a heated drying table until the return pulley L*, is reached as
indicated by the dotted lino d7, when the matches may be transferred to another
belt from the belt B³, by the intervention of an additional pulley and short belt,
with the belt B³, returned to the pulley J, as indicated by the dotted d³. When
the matches are so transferred from the belt B2, to another belt it is done for the
purpose of increasing the distance of their traverse to facilitate their drying, and a
series of belts may be used for this purpose.
The arranged function of the endless belts B', and B³, being to grasp the splints,
and to convey them as thus held where they will be operated upon by the dipping
wheel, we do not limit our invention of these applied factors as we construct and
arrange them, to their combination with any particular drying mechanism; for the
function of the belts and dipping mechanism would be the same without regard to
the drying mechanism.
.
While we have shown the small cord belts 63, as used on the roller I, and pulley O,
in connection with the belt B³: if desired the pulley O. and cord belts b. may be
07

page_text: omitted and the belt B³, passed around the roller I, as shown at figure 7, and by
the dotted line ds, of figure 4, when the pulleys L, are used in connection with the
traverse of said belt Bs.
.
A dipping tank and a roller that is provided with a peripheral groove has been
previously, patented by us in the United States, and we make no claim to it herein
apart from the improved method we show in constructing the tank with a side slot
through which the periphery of the dipping wheel projects, so as to adapt the wheel
to deposite ignition composition upon the downwardly passing ends of the splints
held adjacently thereto between the moving belts.
In our former Letters Patent No, 6343, of 1885 before alluded to where the
splints were taken from the cutting and pressing rollers by the action of the fingers,
the splints were impelled along through a horizontal trough, after. being stripped
from the rollers by the fingers; our improvement described herein enables us to
dispense with the trough, and to form a guide-way. U, between the fingers.
In the use of our invention where sulphur or paraphine is applied to the splints
bofore they are dipped in the ignition composition, the veneers of wood from which
the splints are made before being fed between the cutting and pressing rollers are
previously upon one of their edges dipped in melted sulphur or paraphine.
We are also aware that two belts arranged to pass over pulleys, and inter-
mediately contain match splints, have been used for thus conveying matches to a
dipping apparatus, and we disclaim the same when considered apart from the means
which we use to put the splints within the.grasp of the belts, and the peculiar
construction of dipping mechanism which we employ to adapt the latter to the
movement of the splint carrying belts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
First. The combination with the splint cutting and pressing rollers R³, and R³,
made and arranged to operate substantially as described; of the fingers f³, f³, made
with the intermediate guide passage U, to receive and convey away the splints,
substantially in the manner shown and described.
Second. The combination with the guide-way U, adapted to receive and deliver
match splints; of the guide-way N, made with the concave surface u³, arranged at
the discharge end of the guide-passage U; the roller I, and the endless belt B²,
said parts being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
Third. The combination with the guide-way U, adapted to receive and deliver
match splints; of the guide-way N, made with the concave surface u², arranged at
the discharge end of said guide-passage. U; the roller I, adapted to be rotated
within said concave, substantially as described; the roller O; the belts b³, b³,
adapted to run on said rollers I, and O; and the endless belt B, adapted to run on
said roller O, between the belts b³, and on a return pulley, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
Fourth. The combination of the endless belts B2, and B³, arranged to receive and
convey match splints substantially as described; the dipping tank T, made with the
side slot n', and the dipping wheel D, arranged to be rotated in said tank relatively
to the downward movement of said belts, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination with the tank T, of the side slot n*, and the dipping
wheel, D, adapted to be rotated in said tank substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the tank T, of the side slot n; the dipping wheel D,
made with the peripheral groove m, and adapted to be rotated in said tank; and
the scraper t, arranged with reference to the grooved perimeter of said wheel, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Seventh. In a mechanism for dipping match splints, the combination of 'two
endless, belts provided with pulleys that bring them together one above the other
53

page_text: to grasp and hold the splints; a dipping tank made with a side slot; and a dipping
wheel within the tank, with the latter rotated therein so as to project through the
side alot in the tank and to come in contact with the adjacent ends of each of the
splints as moved by the belts, and return pulleys to separate said belts, and to
release the matches, substantially as shown and described.
Eighth. The combination with the guide-way U, adapted to receive and deliver
match splints, of the guide-way N, made with the concave surface u³; the roller I,
adapted to be rotated within said concave as described; the pulley J, and the
endless belts B2, and B, adapted to run on said pulleys I and J, and on return
pulleys, as shown and described.
GEORGE EASTMAN NORRIS.
WILLIAM ELIJAH HAGAN.