Improvements in the Manufacture of Wire Chains, and in Machinery therefor.
Year: 1894

page_text: The decision of the Comptroller-Geperal, of the 6th day of November 1895, allowed,
under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883, an Amendment of this
Specification.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in the Manufacture of Wire Chains, and in Machinery
therefor.
1, FRIEND W VILLIAM SMITH of Lafayette Street, Bridgeport, State of Cop-
necticut United States of America but at present of First Avenue Hotel, Holborn
in the County of Middlesex Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (a communication to me from abroad by The Smith and Egge Manu-
facturing Company of Lafayette Street, Bridgeport, aforesaid, Manufacturers)
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has reference to machines for automatically manufacturing chain
from wire, but particularly relates to the manufacture of such chain composed of
links bent to form a loop and an eye, the extreme ends of the wire being passed
within the loop and then bent outwardly around the aide wires to substantially
encircle.the same.
The main difficulty in machines constructed for the purpose of working wire lies
in the fact, that, as a rule, too much is required of parts at a single operation, it being
true that a single part is usually called upon to perform at least a double function.at
a single operation. This is a very serious mistake, not only because too much work
is thereby thrown upon a single element of the machine, but for the further reason
that the parts thus overworked frequently fail to respond to their requirements, and
the machine is therefore constantly undergoing repairs.
It is the object of my present invention to completely form the links of the chain
by a series of separate bending operations, each one of which latter is performed by
separate bending instrumentalities, whereby greater perfection is attained in the
manufactured article, a larger output insured, and a great amount of expense
saved.
There are seven bending operations performed by my machine in the manufacture
of this chain, and in order that a better understanding of my invention may be
arrived at I have herein shown and described in detail and in succession. these
several operations.
In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may more
fully understand the nature and construction of the same, and may obtain a better
knowledge of the operation of my machine in the performance of the several
bending operations above referred to, I will proceed to a detailed description
thereof reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of
this Specification and in which
Figure 1 is a plan of a machine constructed; in accordance with my improvement.
Figure 2 a front elevation.
Figure 3 a section, at the line a—a of Figure 1.

page_text: Figure 5 a section at the line c-c of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the
arrows d.
Figure 6 a section at the line c-c of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the
arrows e.
Figure 7 a section at the line -f of Figure 1.
Figure 8 a section at the line g-g of Figure 1.
Figure 9 is a sectional elevation similar to Figure 3, on an enlarged scale, but
showing the position of the parts after the first bending operation of the link has
been performed.
Figure 10 is a plan view similar to Figure 1, but showing the position which the
parts assume after the bending operation shown at Figure 9 has been performed and
immediately prior to the second bending operation.
Figure 11 is similar to Figure 9, with the exception that the parts are shown in
their proper position after the second bending operation.
Figures 12, 13 and 14 are sectional elevations, similar to Figure 4 on an enlargel
scale, but showing the positions which the parts assume respectively after the third,
fourth, and fifth hending operations.
Figures 15 and 16 are detail broken plans, on an enlarged scale, similar to
Figure 1, but showing the positions of the parts after the sixth and seventh bending
operations respectively.
Figures 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 are detail perspective elevations, illustrating
the formation of the link gradually by the several bending operations above
referred to.
Similar numbers of reference denote like parts in the several figures of the
drawing.
My improved machine comprises horizontal shafts journalled upon a stationary
bed, and the several bending operations, in the formation of the link, are all
performed in their proper order from cams which are carried by these shafts.
These various cams are cut in such manuer that the intermediate instrumentalities
which perform the several bending operations operate successively and at pre-
determined times to perform their functions.
After a link has been completely formed by the various bending operations, the
wire for a succeeding link is fed through the eyes of this previously bent and
formed link and then cut off preparatory to being bent into the proper shape.
In describing my improved machine I will take up in order the several bending
operations and will thereby follow the link through the machine in its manufacture,
thus giving a clearer idea of my improvement than would be obtained if I
explained the machine as a whole before identifying the manufacture in detail
of the links.
I have therefore separated the parts into groups of bending and forming
instrumentalities, and in my description will especially refer to these groups in
their order as to functions performed in the machine.
1 is the bed of the machine having supported thereon in suitable journals the
shafts 2, 3, which latter are proviled with intermeshing bevel gears 4, 5,
respectively. The shaft 2 I will term the main shaft the power being applied to
the shaft 3 around the pulley 6.
Prior to the description of any of the bending instrumentalities, I will describe
the special construction of power presses which are used by me as auxiliaries in
all of the bending operations, and in this connection I would refer especially to
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9 and 11.
Mounted upon the bed is an upright 7 having guide ways 8 within which a gate
is capable of sliding freely, and secured beneath this bed by bolts or otherwise is a
hanger 10ª provided with guides 10 within which a gate 11 is capable of a free
sliding movement. These two guide ways 8, 10, are in the same vertical plane,
and the gates can be carried toward or away from each other for the purpose
of co-operating in the manner presently to be explained. The upper gate 9
carries bending tools 12, 13, by which the first bending operation is performed,

page_text: the tool 13 being formed with a cutting edge a Figure 9 at its side which
co-operates with a stationary block 14 through which the wire is fed to cut off
the wire into predetermined lengths.
Carried also by this upper gate are the bending tools 15 Figures 4 and 6 which
perform the fourth bending operation, and anvils 16 Figures 3, 4, 9, 12 which
support the wire during the fifth bending operation.
The lower gate carries studs 17 Figures 3, 4, 9 around which the ends of the
wire are bent, these studs acting as supports for the wire during the entire formation
of the link with the exception of the sixth and seventh bending operations. Also
carried by the lower gate is the mandrel 18 around which the wire blanks are bent
into U-shape and then finally formed.
Jourualled within the upright 7 is a short rock shaft 19 Figures 3, 4 having
tightly secured on its inner end a disc 20 which latter is provided with a crank
stud 21 which extends loosely through a block 22 capable of a free sliding movement
within a slot 23 in the gate 9.
It will be readily understood that when this shaft 19 is rocked back and forth
the gate 9 will be elevated and lowered, the slot 23 providing for the sliding of the
block 22 during the swinging movements of the stud 21.
Journalled within the hanger 10ª Figs. 3 and 4 is a rock shaft 24 having secured
at its inner end a dise 25 provided with a crank stud 26 which projects loosely
within a block 27, the latter being capable of a free sliding movement within a
slot 28 in the lower gate 11, these arrangements and connections between the rock
shafts 19, 24, and gates 9, 11, being substantially the same, the object in both
instances being merely to reciprocate the gates in a vertical plane during the
rocking movements of the shafts.
In the instance of the upper gate 9 the slot is deflected in order to allow for a
greater throw of this gate; the movement of the lower gate being considerably less
the slot is simply horizontally disposed.
These shafts 19, 24, are rocked by substantially similar means which latter I
will now describe.
29 is a crank secured on the rear end of the shaft 19, and 30 is a lever pivoted
at its lower end at 31 to the frame of the machine. its upper end being connected
to said crank by means of a link 32, so that it will be readily understood that any
rocking movements of the lever 30 will be communicated to the crank 29.
B Fig. 3 is a cam mounted on the shaft 2 and having in its side a peculiarly
It is
shaped groove 33 within which extends a roller 34 journalied on the lever 30.
not deemed necessary to enter into any detail description as to the lay-out and general
outline of this groove in the cam B, since it is considered sufficient merely to state
that said groove is such that, as the cam revolves, an intermittent and variable
movement will be imparted to the lever 30 for the purpose of causing the upper
gate to operate in the proper time for the performance of its functions.
Secured on the rear end of the shaft 24 is a crank 35, Figure 5, and pivoted
to this crank is a lever 36 whose free end is forked and extends around the
shaft 2, said lever being provided with a roller 37 which extends within a suitably
shaped and outlined groove 38 in the cam C mounted on the shaft 2, so that it
will be readily understood that as this cam revolves a reciprocatory rocking
movement will be imparted to the crauk 35 for the purpose of elevating and
lowering the gate 11.
For reasons similar to those above stated with respect to the cam B it is not
deemed necessary to describe in detail the general outline of the groove 38 in the
cam C, and the same is true of the operative contours of all the cams hereinafter
to be mentioned, it being considered sufficient for the purposes of this description
to assume that the cams are properly cut to effect the various operations required
in the proper times.
39 Figures 1, 3, 6, 9 is a lead block capable of sliding in horizontally disposed
'ways on the bed 1 and provided with vertical guide ways within which a bar 40 is
capable of sliding freely. Journalled within the back of this block 39 is a rock

page_text: shaft 41 (see Figure 6) which is operatively connected at its front end to the
bar 40 in precisely the same manner as in the instance of the shafts 19, 24 and
gates 9, 11, and it is therefore not deemed necessary to repeat this description.
Secured to the rear end of this shaft 41 is á crank 42, and it will be readily under-
stood that by the reciprocation of this crank the bár 40 is lowered or elevated as
the case may be. The wire 43, as it is fed into the machine to the bending
devices, is supported upon the base of this block 39, and it will therefore be
clear that when the bar 40 is depressed it will clamp the wire firmly against the
base of the block.
43 Fig. 3 is a lever pivoted at 44 to the frame of the machine, and to the
upper end of this lever the crank 42 Fig. 6 is connected by means of a link 45.
This link is pivoted at one end to the crank 42, the other end of the link being
pivoted to the lever 43ª within an elongated slot 46 in the latter for the obvious
purpose of allowing said lever to swing froin its pivotal point without any binding
at the point of its connection with the link 45. 47 Figure 3 is a rock shaft
journalled in the frame of the machine beneath the bed and having secured thereon
the crank 48, and 49 is a link whose ends are pivoted to said crank and to the
lever 43, whereby any movement from the rock shaft 47 will be communicated to
said lever.
Referring particularly to Figure 8, 50 is a crank sécured on the said shaft 47
and carrying at its extremity, a roller 51 which projects within the groove 52 in
the cam A, the revolution of the latter causing said crank to be reciprocated so as
to rock the shaft 47.
When the shaft 47 is rocked in such manner as to throw the lever 43ª inward
the bar 40 Figure 3 will be bound firmly against the wire, and the continued
movement of such lever, after the wire is thus clamped, will cause the block 39 to
be moved. inwardly along the ways in the bed, thereby carrying the wire bodily with
it. The inward sliding movement of this block is of course governed by the cam
groove 52 in the cam A Figure 8, and the latter is such that said block will be
carried inward to the extent sufficient to always feed a predetermined length of
wire within the field of operation of the bending devices.
When this cam A causes
the lever 43 to be thrown backward the crank 42 Figure 6 will thereby be
operated to elevate the bar 40, Figure 3, so that the block 39 may move backward
without carrying the wire with it. The extent of this backward movement of the
block 39 is of course such that when the lever 43ª is again operated to cause the
bar 40 to grip the wire only enough of the letter will be fed forward to enable a
link to be formed, so that it will be clear that the operation of this feeding device
is intermittent, and that a predetermined length of wire is fed at each inward
movement of the block 39. I will now describe the means whereby the first
bending operation in the manufacture of a wire link by my machine is
performed.
By the action of the block 39 Figure 3 the wire is fed between the two
gates 9, 11, the parts being in the position as shown at Figure 3; the block now
recedes and the camis B, C, operate to cause the upper and lower gates to be
moved toward each other, whereby the supporting studs 17 and the mandrel 18 are
elevated to their proper positions with respect to the wire, while the bending
tools 12, 13, will be carried downward against the wire to sever the same and
subsequently force the ends of the wire blank thus severed downwardly around the
studs 17, thus completing the first bending operation, as clearly shown at Figure 9.
The gate 9 is now elevated prior to the next opération of the bending devices.
Referring particularly to Figures 1,7, 10 and 11, I will now eriter into a description
of the instrumentalities and the operation thereof for the purpose of effecting the
second bending operation.
Journalled in boxes presently to be described are shafts 53, 54, having tightly
mounted thereon intermeshing spur pinions 55, 56, whereby said shafts may
revolve simultaneously but in opposite directions. Also secured on the shaft 53 is
au elongated pinion 57 which meshes with a rack bar 58 capable of sliding freely

page_text: within suitable boxes 59 secured to the bed 1, the rear extremity of this rack bar
is provided with a roller 60 which projects within a groove 61 in the cam D
Figure 7 mounted on the shaft 2, the nature of this groove being such that when
the cam is revolved the rack bar will be thrown forward and backward whereby
reciprocatory rotary movements will be imparted to the shafts 53, 54.
The boxes within which the shafts 53, 54, are journalled comprise upward
projections 62, 63, from a slide 64 Figure 4 capable of a free movement within
suitable ways in the bed, this sliding movement and consequent carrying of the
shafts 53, 54, bodily to and fro causing no disarrangement of parts nor in any
way affecting the communication of the proper movements to these shafts, owing to
the fact that the pinion 57 is elongated and is therefore always in engagement with
the rack bar 58.
These shafts 53, 54, are hollow and have extending therethrough clamp
rods 65, 66, which latter are capable of sliding freely therein and are secured at
their rear ends to an angle block 67 which latter is adapted to slide freely on
suitable ways in the slide 64, as will be clearly seen by reference to Figures 4 and 8.
It will thus be seen that the shafts 53, 54, and the clamp rods 65, 66, are capable
of independent sliding movements.
Bolted to the block 67 is a lever 68 provided with a roller 69 which projects
within a groove 70 in the cam E which latter is mounted on the shaft 3, the tail
end of this lever extending beneath said shaft for the purpose of steadying the
lever. Secured to the slide 64 is a similar lever 71 which is likewise provided
with a roller which projects within a groove in the cam El mounted on the shaft 3,
this last mentioned roller and groove being shown in dotted lines at Figure 1.
The revolution of the cams E E', will cause the slides 64, 67 and the parts
carried thereby to be moved forward and backward, the action of these cams being
of course independent of each other.
Secured on the front ends of the shafts 53, 54, are heads 72, 73, and projecting
eccentrically from the front faces of these heads and at the outer portions thereof
are the tools 74, 75, which perform the second and third bending operations.
These tools are secured in any suitable manner to the heads which carry them and
they are notched as seen in Fig. 10, the notched portions having as their sole
function the performance of the third bending operation.
The upper gate 9 having been elevated after the first bending operation as above
set forth, the rotation of the canis E, E', will cause the clamping rods 65, 66, to be
carried forward against the studs 17 so as to hold the partially formed blank
securely, while at the same time the tools 74, 75, will be carried beyond the ends
of the wire blank, all of which will be readily understood by reference to Figure 10,
wherein the several parts are shown in their proper relative positions immediately
prior to the second bending operation. The timing of the groove 61 in the cam D
Figure 7 is such that the rack bar 58 will now be thrown forward thus causing the
heads 72, 73 Figures 1, 10, 11 to be revolved in opposite directions and forcing the
tools 74, 75, owing to the eccentricity of their arrangement, against the ends of
the wire blank and curling said ends around the studs to initially form the eyes of
the link, as clearly shown at Figures 11 and 18, the extremities of the wire being
now in the same plane with the eyes. The action of this cam D is such that the
reciprocation of the heads 72, 73, extends only throughout a half revolution of the
shafts 53, 54, the arc through which the bending tools are thus carried being
clearly denoted at Figure 11.
In order to perform the third bending operation the cams E El now operate to
throw the heads 72, 73, forward thus forcing the bending tools 74, 75, at the bases
of their notched portions, against the extremities of the wire so as to bend them
across the straight portion of the wire, or, in other words, to a position at right
angles to the plane of the eyes, as clearly shown at Figures 12 and 19, it will thus
be understood that these bending tools 74, 75, will, when carried in the arc of a
circle curl the ends of the wire around the studs to form the eyes, and when
projected forward will force said ends across the bases of the eyes at right angles

page_text: thereto. The clamping rods 65, 66, will be held by the cams EE against the
studs to keep the wire in position throughout the performance of the second and
third bending operations, and the cam D will cause no movement of the rack bar 58
during the third bending operation so that at that time the bending tools 74, 75, will
have no rotation. The cams E F, now operate to withdraw the heads 72, 73, as
well as the camping rods 65, 66.
By this time the cam B will operate to lower the gate 9 and the bending tools 15
arried thereby will be forced against the projecting ends of the wire (see
Figure 12) and will bend said ends still further around the body of the wire and in
a plane at right angles to that assumed by these ends after the third bending
operation thus completing the fourth bending operation, as will be clear by
reference to Figures 13 and 20.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that up to the time of
completing the fourth bending operation the ends of the wire will have been bent
three fourths of the distance around the body of the wire at the bases of the eyes,
and the bending operation next to be described gives the final bend to the ends of
the wire so that said ends will entirely encircle the body of the wire.
76, Figures 1, 5, 6 is a slide capable of free movement within suitable ways in
the bed, movement being imparted to this slide by a lever 77 pivoted at 78 to the
bed, the rear end of said lever carrying a roller 79 which projects within a groove 80
in the circumference of the cam C, while the forward end of this lever is pivoted
to a shoe 81 the latter capable of a free movement in suitable guideways in said
slide. As the lever 77 is horizontally reciprocated by the cam C a forward and
backward sliding movement will thereby be given to the slide 76 for the purpose
presently explained.
Guided within suitable ways in the main slide 76 is a sliding block 82 to the
flour of which at the forward end are bolted the tools 83, 84 Figure 3 for per-
forming the fifth bending operation. The sliding block 82 Figure 1, has its
movements entirely independent of the main slide 76, and movements are imparted
to said block by means of a lever 85 pivoted at 86 to the bed of the machine, the
rear end of this lever carrying a roller 87 which projects within a groove 88 in the
cam B, the forward end of this lever being pivoted to a shoe 89 which has a free
movement within suitable ways in said block.
In performing the fifth beuding operation the gate 9 is caused to dwell through-
out this operation effected by the action of the cam B, so that the anvils depending
from said gate will stand in front of the studs 17 and remain in that position
throughout said operation. The cam B now operates to throw the block 82 inward
thereby forcing the bending tools 83, 84, against the ends of the wire so as to
finally curl said ends to complet ly encircle the body of the wire at the bases of
the eyes, as clearly shown at Figures 14 and 21. The extremities of these bending
tools which perform this operation are of course formed so as to adapt themselves
to the contour of the finally curled extremities of the wire, and the presence of the
anvils 16 affords a firm backing for the operation of these tools.
It now becomes necessary to bend the blank into U shape, in order that the
finally formed and completed eye may be brought side by side in coincidence and
the loop of the link formed.
The sixth bending operation relates to the bending of the blank into Ū shape,
and 1 will now describe the means whereby this is accomplished.
Prior to this sixth bending operation the cam B operates to both cause the
withdrawal of the tools 83, 84, and also to elevate the gate 9 so that the parts
carried thereby will be raised to their uppermost position and out of the way of the
means which employ for bending the blank into U shape.
Secured to the forward extremity of the slide 76 is the tool 90 Figures, 4, 12,
13, 14, 15, 16 which performs the sixth bending operation, said tool at its
forward extremity having a horizontally disposed recess 91 within which the body of
the link is received and bent around the mandrel 18, and being cut away at the
bottom portion as shown at 92 for the double purpose of accommodating the

page_text: mandrel and for permitting the passage of the interlooped chain links as fast as
they are formed and completed.
After the tools 83, 84, have accomplished their function, the cam B acts fo
withdraw these tools, whereupon the cam C causes the slide 76 to be thrown
inwardly thereby forcing the tool 90 against the body portion of the wire blank,
and removing the latter from the studs 17 and ben ling it around the mandrel 13,
as shown at Figures 15 and 22.
It will of course be understood that the lower gate 11 will, during this last
described operation, be sustained in elevated position by the action of the cam C
in connection with the lever 36 as hereinbefore set forth, in order that the
mandrel 18 may be in proper position to co-operate with the tool 90 in performing
this sixth bending operation.
The seventh bending operation relates to the shaping of the loop and bringing
of the coincident and parallel eyes close together and the formation of a short
bend in the link at the bases of the eyes so that the curle ends of the wire may be
more completely interlocked with the body of the link and the wires forming the
eyes caused to stand substantially parallel with each other.
This seventh bending operation is controlled from two cams F, F1, Figures 1, 2
mounted on the shaft 3, said cams having grooves 93, 94, within which project
rollers 95, 96, carried on the outer ends of horizontally dispose levers 97, 93
pivoted respectively at 99, 100, to the bed 1. 101, 102, are slides capable of moving
freely within suitable ways in boxes 103, 104, secured to the bed 1, and 105, 106 are
the tools which perform the seventh bending operation, which tools are secured
within the slides 101, 102, so as to be carried by the latter. These tools project
toward each other beyond the slides and have in their opposed faces suitably shaped
recesses 107, 108, as shown at Figure 16, so that when these tools are forced
against the eyes of the link, said recesses will conform to the general shape of
said eyes.
The inner ends of the levers 97, 98, are loosely connected with the slides 101,.
102, as shown in dotted lines at Figure 1, so that it will be readily understood
that when said levers are caused to swing on their pivotal points by the action of
the cams F, F¹, the slides 101, 102, will be reciprocated toward and away from
each other.
The several parts of the machine being in the position as shown at Figure 15,
with the partially formed link within the tool 90 and around the mandrel 18, the
cams F, F, act to throw the bending tools 105, 106, inward toward each other and
against the eyes of the link thus forcing them firmly together and bringing the
loop snugly around the mandrel to finally complete the formation of the link, as
shown at Figures 16. and 23.
The link is now completely formed by the above described seven bending
operations, and the bending tools 105, 106, are now withdrawn by the actions of
the cams F, F, and the cam Coperates to lower the gate 11 and withdraw the
mandrel from the loop of the finished link, thus leaving the latter held by friction
within the bending recess in the tool 90.
The operation of the cam C now retracts this tool 90 with the link carried
therein until the eyes of the link are in alignment with the wire to be fed for a
succeeding link, as shown at Figure 4, and the wire feeding instrumentalities then
operate to feed the wire through the eyes of the previously bent link for the
purpose of forming a succeeding link, said cam causing the tool 90 to dwell in this
position until said feeding has been accomplished.
This cam C now causes the tool 90 to be completely withdrawn from the finished
link, the latter being of course held by the blank for a succeeding link, and the
finished link now drops by gravity into the well 109 Figures 12, 13, 14, through
which the chain, as fast as it is made, passes to any suitable receptacle.
This dwell referred to of the tool 90 extends throughout the period of time occupied
in feeding the wire for a succeeding link, in cutting off such wire, and in performing
thereon the first bending operation.

page_text: Referring particularly to Figures 17 to 23 inclusive, these seven bending
operations will be readily comprehended, and it will be observed that the sixth
bending operation is so performed as to bring the ends of the wire within the loo"
with the extreme portions of the said ends curled completely around the side wires
of the loop at the bases of the eyes. In order that this link may be clearly
identified as to the portions thereof which have heretofore been mentioned I will
designate the eyes as 110, the loop as 111, the curled ends as 112, and the short
bends in the side wires of the loop and at the bases of the eyes as 113. These
short bends 113 constitute a very good feature of the link since they afford a recess
within which the curled ends may be disposed so that the eyes can be brought flat
together.and substantially parallel with each other, and for the further reason that
they afford additional security and prevent the pulling out of the curled ends when
the chain is subjected to great tensile strain.
In describing the various operations of the bending instrumentalities no mention
has been made of any peculiar shape of the various cams or cam surfaces, but the
active and passive conditions of parts operatively connected with such cams or cam
surfaces have been assumed rather than explained in detail, since the cutting of a
cam so as to produce reciprocatory movements or dwells in certain parts is a very
simple matter well, understood and does not require description.
It will thus be seen that I employ in my machine eight cams for the purpose of
feeding the wire and for forming the link, and that the several bending operations
are performed by these cams at different times, so that each bending operation is
separate and complete in itself.
The operation of my improvement as constructed and working in accordance
with the description: heretofore given is as follows:
Presupposing a link to have been completed and to have been held within the
tool 90 in its partially retracted position with the eyes of the finished link directly
in line with the feed of the wire, as shown at Figure 4, the cam A. now operates to
rock the shaft 47 Figure 3 whereby the crank 42 Figure 6 is operated to clamp
the wire, and throw the slide 39 inward thereby projecting the wire through the
.eyes. of said link and in, position: between the gates 9 and 11. The cam A. then acts
to release the wire and to withdraw the slide 39.
The cams B, C next cause the gates 9, 11, to approach each other, the lower
gate being projected upward only to that point at which the studs 17 carried by
said gate afford supports for the wire, while the upper gate descends to sever the
wire blank and to bind the latter around said stud throughout an angle of 90°, as
shown at Figures 9 and 17.
The cam B now operates to elevate the gate 9.so that the parts carried thereby
will not stand in the way of the next operation.
The cams E, E¹, now cause the clamping rods 65, 66, to be thrown against the
studs to confine the wire as against displacement, and also to bring into proper
position the bending tools 74, 75, whereupon said tools are operated by means of
the cam D and tooth rack 58 to bend the ends of the wire completely around to
form the circular eyes, as shown at Figures 11 and 18.
These bending tools being notched, as previously set forth, are given an end
thrust by means of the cam E' whereby the ends of the wire are bent out of the
vertical plane of the eyes and at right angles thereof across the bases of the latter,
as shown at Figures 12 and 19.
The cams E, E now operate to retract the clamping rods and tools 74, 75 and
the gate 9 is then depressed by the action of the cam B thereby bringing the
bending tools 15 down against the projecting ends of the wire to bend the Tatter
still further around the body of the blank, as shown at Figures 13 and 20.
The cam B now operates to elevate the gate 9 and to hold the latter in a position
with the anvils 16 immediately in front of the studs so as to confine the blank at
the eyes thereof, and said cam, by reason of its operative connection with the
tools 83, 84, operates to force said tools against the projecting ends of the wire to
finally and completely curl them around the body of the blank, as shewn at

page_text: Figures 14 and 21. The operations of the cam B which control the movements
of the gate 9 and the movements of the tools 83, 84, are independently acting
surfaces, so that it will be readily understood that during the bending oper
caused by one portion of this cam there will be no movement of the gate 9 which
is controlled by the other portion of said cam.
The cam B next operates to elevate the gate 9 to its uppermost position and also
to withdraw the tools 83, 84, and immediately following the cam C causes the
tool 90 to be forced against the body of the link thereby bending the same around
the mandrel which latter is held in position by the gate 11, as shown at Figures 15
and 22.
The cams FF, next operate to throw the tools, 115, 106, against the completed
eyes of the link thus bringing them together and finally shaping the entire link,
as shewn at Figures 16 and 23.
The tools 105, 106, are then withdrawn by the cams F, F₁, and the gate 11,
which has during all these operations remained stationary in elevated position, is
now depressed by the action of the cani C, thus withdrawing the mandrel from
the loop of the finished link and leaving the latter contained within the tool 90
which previously operated to bend the blank around said mandrel.
The cam C in its operations now causes this tool 90 to be drawn back carrying
with it the finished link until the eyes of the latter are directly in line of the line
of feed of the wire, as shown at Figure 4, whereupon said link will remain in this
position until the wire for a new link has been fed through the eyes of the
previously bent and formed link and until said wire has been cut off and the first
bending operation performed thereon by the joint action of the upper and lower
gates 9, 11, as before set forth. This cam C then operates to finally withdraw
the tool 90, and the previously completely finished link being now interlooped with
the succeeding and partially formed link, the completed link will withdraw from
said tool and will remain suspended within the well through which the chain when
completed passes.
A great many of the mechanisms herein shewn and described may be changed,
or other mechanisms, well known to any ordinary mechanic, may be substituted
without departing from the spirit of my invention.
It will be clearly seen that by separating the several bending operations so that
they are performed successively and at different times, the work of the machine is
greatly simplified, there can be uo excessive strain upon the parts, the machine
can be readily repaired, and interchangeable parts may be provided, so that in
fact the output of the machine, its strength, and its actual running time the year
around, are all far above the average output, strength and running time which has
heretofore characterized machines of this description.
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. The herein described improvement in the art of making wire chain
automatically, which consists in successively threading the wire blanks through
the eyes of previously formed links, bending the extremities of said blanks to form
the eyes and curling said extremities around the bodies of the blanks at the bases
of the eyes by a succession of separate bending operations, bending the blanks at
the middle portions to form the loops and to bring the eyes into coincidence and
parallelism, and finally compressing said eyes closely together and completely
shaping the links, substantially as set forth.
2. The improvement in the art of manufacturing wire chain automatically,
which consists in forming the links by a series of successive and separate bending
operations so that in the completed links the extremities of the wire forming the
eyes will be passed inside the loop and thence curled outwardly around the side
wires of the latter, substantially as set forth.
3. The improvement in the art of manufacturing wire chain automatically,

page_text: which consists in threading the blanks. through the eyes of previously completed
links, and by a series of successive and separate operations bending the extremities
of the blanks to form the eyes, curling said extremities completely around the
blanks at the bases of said eyes, bending said blanks with the eyes thus completed
into U-shape so that said extremities will lead from the eyes within the loop and
thence completely around the side wires of the latter, and finally shaping the links
and forming a locking bend at the bases of the eyes, substantially as set forth.
4. The improvement in the art of making wire chain automatically, which
consists in feeding the blanks through the eyes of previously formed links, bending
the extremities of said blanks to partially form the eyes, bending said extremities
to completely form the eyes, then disposing of said extremities by curling them
around the blanks at the bases of the eyes that is to say by three bending operations
all of which operate through the same ares, bending the blanks thus formed
into U-shape with the extremities of the blanks leading from the eyes inside
the loops thus formed and finally completely shaping the links, substantially as
set forth.
5. In a machine for automatically making wire chain, the combination of means
for feeding-the-wire, a series of separate bending tools, and instrumentalitities for
effecting the operations-of-said-tools in succession, substantially-as-set-forth.
65. In a machine for automatically making wire chain, the combination of means
for feeding the wire, means for cutting off the same into predetermined lengths to
form. the blanks for the links, means for forming the eyes at the ends of said
blanks and for disposing the extremities of the wire completely around the blanks
at the bases of the eyes, instrumentalities for bending the blanks into U-shape, and
mechanism for finally shaping the links, substantially as set forth.
7.-In-a-machine-for-automatically-making-wire-chain,-the-combination of the
several rotatory cams, the several bending instrumentalities, and operative
connections-between suid-cams-and-instrumentalities whereby the latter are caused
to perform-their-functions-successively-and-at-different-times, substantially-as-set
forth.
6. In a machine for automatically making wire chain, the combination of
mechanism for feeding the wire and cutting the same into blanks of predetermined
length, devices carried by reciprocatory press gates for initially bending the
extremities of said blanks, rotatory devices for bending said extremities to form
completed eyes, means for completely curling the said extremities around the
bodies of the blanks and at the bases of said eyes, means for bending said blanks
into U-shape with the wires forming the eyes extending inside of the loops and
thence completely around the side wires of the latter, and instrumentalities for finally
shaping the loops and for forming short bends at the bases of the eyes whereby
the latter may be brought close together in parallelism, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination of the rotary cams B, C, the press gate 9 carrying the
bending devices 12, 13 and 15, and anvils 16, the gate il carrying the mandrel
and bending studs 17, and connections between said cams and gates whereby the
latter are operated, substantially as set forth.
10. 8. In a machine for automatically making wire chain, the combination of the
upper and lower press gates 9 and 11 supported.. by the bed of the machine and
capable of vertical (reciprocation toward and away from each other, means carried
by the upper gate 9 for cutting off the wire, bending, devices 12, 13 carried by
said gate and co-operating with bending studs 17 carried by the lower gate i
for imparting the initial bends to the wire blank, beuding tools 74, 75 carried
upon rotatory and sliding shafts and eccentric thereto, means for carrying these
tools across the ends of the partially bent blank and for revolving said tools
whereby eyes are formed at the ends of the blank, means for subsequently forcing
said tools forward against the extremities of the wire whereby the latter is bent
at right angles to the eyes and across the bases thereof, means too's 15 carried by
the upper press gate 9 for bending said extremities at right angles to the position
last mentioned, apvils 16 carried by the upper press gate, bending tools 83, 81

page_text: capable of sliding, means for forcing said tools against the extremities of the wire
and for finally bending the same completely around the blank, the mandrel 18
carried by the lower press gate and means the tool 90 for bending the blank into
U-shape around said mandrel, and instrumentalities for finally shaping the link,
substantially as set forth.
11. In a machine for automatically making wire chain, the combination of means
for feeding the wire and for cutting the same into blanks of predetermined length;
means for-bending the extremities of the blanks to form eyes, instrumentalities-for
successively and separately-bending the extremities of the blanks around the
bodies of the latter at the bases of the eyes, means for bending the blanks
into U-shape with the wires forming the eyes extending within the loops this
formed, and devices for finally shaping the loops and foreing the eyes close togeth
in parallelism, substantially as set forth.
12. 9. The combination of means for feeding the wire, the upper press gate 9
carrying the tools 12, 13 for performing the first bending operation and means, for
cutting off the wire, the lower press gate 11 carrying the mandrel 18 and the
bending studs 17, and means for operating said gates, whereby the first bending
operation is performed, substantially as set forth.
13. 10. The combination of the instrumentalities for performing the first
bending operation with the rotatory sliding shafts 53, 54, the sliding rods 65, 66
within said shafts and independently operated the notched bending tools 74, 75.
carried eccentrically by rotatory said shafts eapable of a sliding movement, and
means for moving said shafts forward and means for subsequently revolving them
whereby said tools are operated to perform the second bending operation, substau-
tially as set forth.
14. 11. The combination of means for performing the first bending operation,
the notched bending tools 74, 75 carried by rotatory shafts 53, 54 capable of a
sliding movement, means for revolving said shafts after they have been partially
projected whereby the second bending operation is performed, and means for still
farther projecting the said shafts after the second bending operation whereby said
tools are caused to perform the third bending operation, substantially as set
forth.
12. The combination of means for feeding the wire, the upper press gate 9
carrying the tools 12, 13 for performing the first bending operation and means for
cutting off the wire, the lower press gate 11 carrying the mandrel 18 and the
bending studs 17, meaus for operating said gates whereby the first bending
operation is performed, the notched bending tools 74, 75 carried by rotatory and
sliding shafts whereby the second and third bending operations are performed, and
the bending tools 15 carried by the upper press gate whereby the fourth bending
operation is performed, substantially as set forth.
46 13. The combination of the lorer press gute 11 with mandrel 18 and stud 17,
the upper press gate 9 with tools 12, 13 and 15 for performing the first and fourth
bending operations and the means for performing the first, second, and third and
fourth bending operations, with the anvil 16 defending from the upper press gate 9
means for operating the latter to bring the uncils in front of the studs after the fourth
hending operation and the reciprocatory slides 83, 84 for performing the fifth
bending operation, substantially as set forth.
17-In-a-machine-for-automatically making wire chain, the combination-of-means
for feeding-and-eutting off the wire into blanks and means for forming the eyes on
the-ends-of-cuid blanks and for curling the extremities of the wire-around-said
blanks at the bases of cuid eyes, with-instrumentalities for bending said-blanks to
form-loops-and-means-for-finally shaping said loops-and-for-bringing-the-eyes-elose
together in parallelism, substantially as set forth.
18. The-herein-deceribed-improvement in the art of making wire chain
automatically, which consists in first-feeding-the-wire and cutting the same inte
Fredetermined-lengths-and-forming-eyes-on-the-extremities of said blanks, and

page_text: subsequently bending the blanks into U-shape and completely finishing the links,
substantially as set forth.
10. 14. The herein described improvement in the art of automatically making
chain from wire blanks, which consists in first curling the extremities of said blanks
to form eyes and curling said extremities completely around the blanks at the bases
of the eyes, and subsequently bending the blanks into U-shape and finally shaping
and forming the links, substantially as set forth.
20. The herein described improvement in the art of automatically-making chain
from wire blanks of predetermined length, which consists in first bending the
extremities of said blanks to form eyes and curling said extremities completely
around said blanks at the bases of said eyes, and subsequently bending suid blanks
into U-shape to form the loops with said eyes in parallelism, and finally shaping
the loops and compressing said eyes together and forming a short locking bend in
the side wires of the loops and at the bases of said eyes within which-bend-the
surled extremities are disposed so that said eyes will be parallel, substantially as
set forth.
215. In a machine for automatically making chain from blanks of wire, the
combination of instrumentalities for forming the eyes and bending the blanks
into U-shape to form the loops of the links, with means for forming short locking
bends in the side wires of the loops of the completed links at the bases of the eyes,
substantially as set forth.
22. 16. The herein described improvement in the art of making chains from
blanks of wire, which consists in first completely forming the eyes and disposing of
the extremities of the wire and subsequently bending the blanks and completely
forming and shaping the links, substantially as set forth.
23. 17. The construction of wire chain making machine described and shewn.
Dated the 10th day of November 1894.
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane London W.C. Patent Agents.