IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING HORSE-SHOE NAILS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES and
Year: 1884

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I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES FOR MAKING HORSE-SHOE NAILS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES 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 machines. for making horse-shoe. nails, and other
articles by passing bar or blanks of metal through pairs of die-grooved rolls
whereby the said blanks are compressed and shaped, the articles being afterward
trimmed pointed and headed by suitable punches and dies.
The said invention consists partly in certain improvements in the devices for
regulating the supply of blanks to the compressing rolls and their passage from
one pair to another pair of the latter; partly in certain improvements in the
devices for trimming heading and finishing the articles; partly in certain improve-
ments in the devices for shipping and unshipping the clutch which governs the
action of the machine and partly on certain subsidiary devices, and certain
improvements in the rolls themselves all substantially as hereinafter set forth and
claimed.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a machine embodying my invention
taken from the corner nearest the clutch-shipping lever and at the front of the
machine where the compressing rolls are located.
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention the
view being taken on the side opposite to the cams which operate the movable
slides in the guide-way.
Figure 3 represents a vertical section on the line x x of Figure 2.
Figure 4 represents a vertical section on the line y y of Figure 2.
Figure 5 represents a detail vertical section through the feed rolls and the
cutting and regulating devices at the top of the guide-way the first section of the
latter being shown uncovered..
Figure 6 represents a detail vertical sectional view of the wheel which receive
the blanks from the compressing rolls in a roughly shaped condition...

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Figure 7 represents a detail vertical section at right angles to that shown in
Figure 6 through said wheel and a part of the feeding plunger and other proximate
devices.
Figure 8 represents a detail side elevation of the die-wheel which receives the
blanks from the former wheel and presents them to the plungers for bevelling
pointing and heading.*
Figure 9 represents a detail view taken from the inner side, of the devices for
bevelling and pointing the blanks and discharging them from the machine the
die-wheel being shown in dotted lines;
Figure 9 represents a detail view of the pointing die and plunger.
Figure 10 represents a vertical longitudinal section through the slide which
carries the heading and clamping dies, the die-wheel and certain proximate
devices, some of the latter being shown in external elevation.
Figure 10° represents a plan view of the said slide and the heading and clamping
dies secured thereto.
Figure 11 represents a detail plan view partly in section of the devices for
regulating the passage of the blanks through the guide-way from one pair of rolls
to another, said view showing also a portion of a pair of rolls and the framework
the guide-way and vertical rock-shaft hereinafter described.
Figure 12 represents a vertical transverse section through a pair of compressing
rolls having a blank between them, the receiving pockets for the head of the
blank being shown larger than said head, to allow the latter to slip down.
Figure 13 represents a vertical longitudinal section of a part of a compressing
roll and the dies countersunk therein (as in Figure 12) showing the studs or pins
whereby said dies are fastened to said roll.
'
Figure 14 represents a detail perspective view of one of the dies, showing the
recesses or sockets in its side for receiving said studs or pins.
Figure 15 represents a detail side elevation of the operative ends of two rolls,
one belonging to an upper pair and the other to the pair next below, one showing
a groove for operating on the edge of a blank, the other a groove for operating on
the side of a blank.
Figure 16 represents a detail view of the feeding plunger, its yielding lever and
the automatic unclutching devices.
Figure 17 represents the blanks in their several stages.
Figure 18 represents a view of the first pair of rolls refusing a second blank
while compressing a blank.
A designates the frame of the machine B the driving. shaft journalled therein
C a driving wheel mounted loosely on said shaft. Da clutch splined on said shaft
and adapted to be thrown into or out of engagement with said wheel. E a lever
which has the usual yoke, and groove connections with said clutch, and E¹ a rod
or bar extending from the lower end of said lever to the lower end of a shipping
lever E adapted to be operated by hand, to throw said clutch in or out of
engagement with said wheel as desired. When thrown out of engagement it of
course does not receive rotation from the wheel and the machine does not operate.
The rod or bar E has a notch e in its side. This notch is adapted to receive a
dog or detent F which is forced into the same by a spring whenever said rod is
moved so as to throw the clutch into engagement with the wheel; and said dog
then effectually lock the two latter parts together.
To release said rod or bar E¹ from said spring-pressed dog, I make use of a
vertical rock-shaft G having arms 9 g¹ The former arm has a connecting-rod G¹
attached to it, the other end of this rod being connected to a lever G³ so that
when the latter is moved on its fulcrum it will give, partial rotation to said
rock-shaft.
The arm g¹ is arranged to come into contact with the inner side of dog F and
force the latter outward when said shaft is in one direction thus removing it from
the notch e
When it is desired to stop the machine, the lever G³ is first operated to remove

page_text: dog F as stated from its engagement with bar or rod E' The clutch D is then
moved away from wheel C.
This may be done by the shipping-lever as before stated, but I prefer to make
the unshipping of the clutch automatic. This is accomplished by means of a
retracting spring D operating on lever E A pinion b on shaft B gears with and
drives two gear, wheels b' 62 arranged on opposite sides of said pinion and mounted
on shaft b b which are journalled in frame A and turn with said wheels
respectively. The shaft b of gear wheel 63 carries a pinion 65 which gears
with two wheels 66 and 67 which are mounted on shafts that have no further
function. The upper wheel 6 gears with and drives two of the pinions c of the
compressing-rolls hereinafter described.
The lower wheel b7 in like manner meshes with and drives two more of said
pinions cand a pinion c¹ which turns a shaft carrying a bevel wheel C₁ the
purpose of which will be hereinafter described. The remainder of the pinions c
of the compressing-rolls are operated through the medium of those already
referred to.
The uppermost one of these pinions c gears with and drives a pinion h on a
shaft H which carries a drum H having a cam-groove H¹ in its periphery for a
purpose hereinafter explained.
The said pinion h gears with and drives a pinion i on one of the feed rolls I the
other feed roll being driven by the intermeshing of cog teeth i i formed on said
rolls or attached as pinions thereto.
The same method is adapted with every pair of rolls in the machine, one roll
being driven by gearing and in its turn driving its fellow roll by cog teeth. All
of the rolls are journalled at their front bearings in détachable blocks J held in
place in the frame by screws J'.
The operative parts of said rolls protrude through the front of the frame in
pairs arranged one above another: Instead of continuing the rolls through to
their rear bearings, they may terminate at or in their front bearings, and they
may be mounted on shafts or formed therewith. For greater strength, however,
it is best to make the shaft as thick as the roll in each instance, and the
construction is then in effect that of a roll extended through the front wall A¹ and
the rear wall A2 of the fram A as shown. Of course each pair of rolls may be
made in sections coupled in accordance with the well known method shown in one
of my former patents, or by any other suitable means. The gearing above
described may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of my
invention.
K designate three straightening rolls, arranged, as if at the corners of a triangle,
at the top of front wall A' They receive and straighten the bar or wire of metal
as it is drawn from a coil represented in Figure 5 that is the wire is drawn
through them by the action of feed-rolls I aforesaid which are located under said
straightening rolls. Each of these feed-rolls is grooved peripherally, but the
bottom of each groove of each feed roll is removed at two opposite parts of its
circumference, so as to leave two opposite working faces ³ ³ These close on the
wire or bar with a yielding pressure as hereinafter explained but without
compressing it, though tightly enough to feed it downward as the feed rolls turn
toward each other. There being two working faces in each groove, the act of
feeding takes place twice during each rotation of said rolls.
For cutting the metal in proper lengths such as shown in Figure 17 first blank
beginning at the left I employ a fixed blade and reciprocating plunger or cutting
blade The former is held within a casing L attached to the front wall A¹ of
frame A and the plunger plays in and out horizontally through said casing. There
is a vertical central passage through said casing, and the outer part L' of the
latter is made detachable to allow inspection, cleaning, and repair of the interior
and the devices contained therein. The blade though fixed with relation to the
plunger when the latter is in operation, is made adjustable to take up wear, by
means of an adjusting screw L³ which works through the end of said casing. The

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plunger is operated by a pendant lever or arm M and a rétractive spring m The
former has a transverse screw m' passed through it and arranged to bear against
the outer end of said plunger. Of course this screw is adjustable to take up wear.
A collar m² is provided with two horns 3 at opposite points of its periphery and
fastened on shaft H2 herein before mentioned. It will give by its horns ³ two
forward motions of plunger during each ro'ation of shaft H². The retracting
spring m is shown attached to a hook, which is rigid with said plunger and
protrudes through a horizontal slot in casing L but this method. of attachment is
not indispensable. The wire passes down through passage 12 between said plunger
and the blade and each forward motion of the plunger severs a length by cutting
into said wire or rod and forcing the wire or bar against the sharp edge of
said blade and dislodges said severed piece from the supporting finger below
described.
There is always some danger that too great a length of metal will pass down
between the rolls I so that the blank or any given blank will he too long to be
properly acted on by the compressing rolls. To prevent this I. employ an
approximately horizontal finger N which is pivotted at one end to the face of the.
front wall A¹ and extends at the other end into a slot o in the side of the
uppermost section of the guide-way hereinafter .described. This finger rests
upon a stop-screw n which works up through a block n' and serves to adjust the
inclination of said finger. The lower end of the metal rod or wire to be operated
on rests upon this finger. When said finger is at its lowest position, it allows the
maximum length of metal for a blank to descend below the cutting blade.
'
In proportion as it is inclined upward this length is.lessened. The function of
this finger is to enter the channel or passage O¹ at the side thereof and hold the
rod, bar, or wire sufficiently to prevent it from slipping down between the working
faces or ³ of the feed rolls I which have a yielding grasp upon it owing to the
pressure of a spring Z³ against the movable front bearing block of one of said feed
rolls.
After the severed length of metal has been dislodged from its rest on said finger
as stated, it falls into channel O by the action of gravity.
The lengths of wire or bar metal cut off as before described constitute the
blanks which are to be operated upon by the compressing-rolls 11 These are
provided with peripheral die-grooves 12 corresponding to the general shape of the
article to be produced, and arranged so that their heads first turn together and
then the remainder of the grooves. The die-grooves 12 of the several pairs of said
rolls decrease in width and depth and increase in length as the pairs of rolls
succeed one another going downward. That is the die-grooves of the uppermost
pair of rolls are broader and deeper than those of the pair next below it, but also
shorter; and a similar difference exists between the second pair and the third, and
60 on. A guide-way O before referred to conducts the metal blanks from the
cutting devices above described to the first pair of compression-rolls and thereafter
to each successive pair of the latter. The guide-way is divided into sections,
one section being between each pair of the rolls. There is also a final section which
conducts the blanks then having the form of the second blank illustrated in
Figure 17 from the lowest pair of compression rolls to other devices hereinafter
described, whereby the blanks are finally shaped and completed. The passage O'
through said guideway is spiral or twisted so as to present alternately the sides
and the edges of the blanks to the action of the compressing rolls. Each section
of said guide-way consists of an inner part o¹ which is permanently attached to
wall A¹ of the frame, and an outer part o2 which is fitted to said inner part by
studs and recesses and removably secured thereto by a catch or turn-button o³
The removal of this outer piece or cap allows the interior of the passage to be
inspected and any blanks removed or set straight which may have clogged it; also
the removal of any foreign matters which may have intruded; or any necessary
cleansing or repairs.
.
Immediately below the lowest section of guide-way O is a wheel P having two

page_text: passages P through it at right angles to each other. These passages are
successively presented under the guide-way O and receive the blanks as the latter
descend from the rolls in a roughly formed condition. To ensure accuracy in
their presentation to said wheel, the lowest section of said guide-way is constructed
with a straight vertical passage, which forms a continuation of the spiral or
twisted passage O₁ The blank in approximately the form of a horseshoe-nail
then drops directly downward head foremost into the upper end of the passage P¹
which is presented as stated. Said wheel P is mounted on a shaft P2 which carries
a bevel gear-wheel p² meshing with a similar bevel gear-wheel q³ on a shaft Q
carrying a fast collar or drum Q'. In the periphery of this collar or drum are four
equi-distant notches q³ and beside them are four equi-distant teeth q' having
inclined faces in the direction of rotation and radial or square faces in the opposite
direction. A loose collar Q2 on shaft Q carries a radial arm Q³ to which the
driving-dog Q is hung. A retracting spring q is attached at one end to said arm
and at the other to said dog, and holds the latter in contact with the teeth 9* the
said dog alternately riding over the inclined faces of a tooth q' in a backward
direction till it drops behind the square rear faces of said tooth and then advancing
in engagement therewith until it has turned said tooth and the shafts Q and P2
and wheel P one fourth of a rotation. The motion of dog Q for feeding as
aforesaid is communicated through a connecting rod or pitman Q5 which is attached
loosely at one end to said arm Q³ and at the other end to a crank-pin on gear-
wheel b' before mentioned, which is mounted on the shaft 6s that carries the
cam-wheels for actuating the heading and pointing plunger Q and Q7 designate
respectively two retaining pawls which are pivotted at their rear ends side by side
to the rear wall A2 of frame A and provided with teeth q 97 arranged to drop side
by side into each of the notches q³ as the latter are successively presented. The
tooth q of pawl Q7 is inclined on its rear face, so that this pawl will be
automatically raised by the collar or drum Q' as the shaft Q turns forward, but
will prevent the backward turning of said shaft. The tooth q of the other
retaining pawl Q6 is square at each face and locks the shaft Q so that the latter
cannot tura forward until this pawl is raised. Arm Q³ is provided with a
horizontally extending rigid pin Q3 which is adapted and arranged to engage the
extended outer end of pawl Q and lift the same so as to raise the tooth q out of
the notch q³ just as the feeding dog reaches the end of its backward movement
and drops behind the tooth on which it is to operate. A retracting spring
draws pawl Q down so as to force its tooth q into each notch q³ as the latter is
presented.
The order of operation is for the feeding dog to ride backward over the inclined
face of a tooth q₁ on collar or drum Q¹ Then said dog drops behind said tooth
and the pin Q8 on arm Q³ lifts pawl Q6 so as to raise tooth q° out of notch q³ The
feeding dog then advances, the collar Q¹ automatically lifts the pawl Q7 out of
notch q³ and the shaft Q transmits it rotary motion to the shaft P2 and wheel P.
This motion continues until a quarter of a circle has been traversed. The feeding
dog then ceases to feed and moves backward, leaving the wheel P temporarily
stationary with the blank (received as before described) held horizontally point
foremost. The object of said wheel P is to change the position of the blank in
this manner in order that it may be conveniently delivered to the devices for
bevelling, pointing and heading.
This delivery is effected by means of a longitudinally reciprocating horizontal
plunger R which is operated by a vertical lever R' of the first kind through a
connecting link R². The upper end of said lever is provided with a lateral stud
which enters cam-groove H in drum H above described. This groove turns
outwardly at two different points h' h¹ as shown in Figures 1 and 2 the remainder
of the groove being in the curve of a true circle. These outward bendings will
give two forward motions of the plunger to each rotation of drum H. The said
plunger is made very slender at its forward end so that it may enter the
passage P1 of wheel P which contains the nail-blank before referred to, ani force

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the latter out point foremost at the other end of said passage. The lever R¹ is
made in two pieces which are pivotted together at the lower end of the upper piece
and the middle of the lower piece. The upper end of the lower piece is provided
on its inner face with a rounded shoulder which fits into a corresponding recess in
the proximate face of the upper piece. The elasticity of the metal holds
them together ordinarily as one piece, but allows them to separate at this point
when the plunger meets with an obstruction. The upper end of the lower section
or piece of lever R¹ is then forced against lever G2 by. the strain exerted by.cam-
grooved drum H on lever R¹ and the rock-shaft or bar G and arm g' are moved
thereby so as to free bar E¹ from dog F and the clutch is unshipped by spring D¹.
The blank when thrust by said plunger out of wheel P enters one of four dies t
which are located at equal distances in the periphery of a large wheel T carried by
shaft Qaforesaid and of course having the same step by step motion as. wheel P
As these wheels P and T are in vertical planes at right angles to each other, the
nail blank enters wheel T from the inner side and protrudes through the outer side
thereof, it being prevented from passing entirely through by its head, which will
not enter the recess in said die. The next quarter rotation of said wheel T brings
the point of the blank immediately above a fixed bevelling anvil T¹ having an
inclined raised rib or die t¹ on its top arranged transversely. This anvil. is of
hardened steel set into a recess in the top of a raised block or casting a² forming
part of a supplemental frame A³ secured to the bed A* of the main frame A.
U designates a bevelling plunger, which de-cends vertically upon the imperfect
point of the blank as it rests upon the bevelling die t¹ and presses it into the
bevelled shape shown in the third blank of figure 17 This plunger is guided in
a vertical frame A6 secured to front wall A¹ of main frame A.
Toggle-arms U guided in frane A operate this plunger, and they are alternately
bent and straightened by the action of a bell-crank lever U2 which is loosely
connected at its outer end to a wrist-pin u on the side of a vertically reciprocating
slide-bar U³ The vertical motion of this slide-bar is given by a cam-grooved
wheel S¹ carried by shaft 63 aforesaid, the grooves of said wheel receiving a wrist-
pin on said slide-bar and bending inward at one part of its circumference said
shaft band wheel S¹ making two rotations for each rotation of the rolls so as to
actuate said bevelling plunger twice during each rotation of said wheel.
The next quarter rotation of said wheel T carries the blank around so that its
point is within a channel A7 formed in the inner face of supplemental frame A³
During this passage of the nail-blank from the bevelling anvil and punch to the
channel aforesaid, it is prevented from falling out of die by a curved plate which
extends around wheel T except at the bottom and a small-place at the top where
it is attached to frame A6 It is also attached at the bottom to bed A* of frame A.
T2 designates a lever of the first kind arranged horizontally and pivoted on a stud
attached to frame As One end of this lever is loosely connected to a stud or wrist-
pin on the side of slide-bar Us the other end of said lever being similarly connected
to a pitman U which operates toggle-levers U whereby a pointing plunger U6 is
reciprocated in the channel A This plunger forces the point of the blank arainst
a V-shaped stationary die U7 held within the frame A³ This plunger is provided
with a V-shaped groove as shown in Figure 9* and the cutting edges or blades of
said die and said plunger trim the point so as to remove all surplus metal and give
it a perfect shape, as illustrated in fourth form of blank shown in Figure. 17.
The next rotation of wheel T carries the blank around to the lowest point of its
revolution Here it is held between diet aforesaid and a clamping die V. which is
brought against it from below, while a heading die V₁ having a r. cess corresponding
to the proper shape of a horseshoe-nail head, is forced against the head of said
blank. These three dies V V₁ and t by their pressure on said blank complete the
head and the general shape thereof. The dies V V₁ are carried by a longitudinally
reciprocating slide V2 which is operated by a toggle V both said toggle and said
slide being in a guideway of the bed A This toggle is worked by a slide bar V
which is guided in blocks attached to the frame A and raised and lowered by a

page_text: wheel S³ on shaft 63 This wheel has in its inner face a cam-groove corresponding
in shape to the groove 8 of wheel S. Thus at each rotation of said wheel S³ the
slide V2 is twice reciprocated and the heading dies are caused to act on two blanks.
This slide is prevented by a guide-black v from leaving the bed A but said block
allows the rear end of said slide to rise with toggle V³ and vertical slide-bar V*
This upward motion of the rear end of slide V² of course throws down the forward
end of said slide, said slide fulcruming against an antifriction roller attached to
the under side of guide-block and this downward motion removes die V from
the blank simultaneously with the lateral removal of die V' therefrom.
:
The die V¹ is held to said slide by a clamping plate W through which a screw w
passes into said slide This die sets within a recess v¹ at the forward end of a raised
part of said slide and upon lateral shoulders v2 which leave a space between them
and below said block. The clamping-die V is held between a block V5 and die V
said block being forced against said clamping die by a screw Ve A wedge V is
interposed between the bottom of die V. and the material of the slide and may be
forced further inward for tightening said die, the space between shoulders v
allowing this motion of said wedge A screw V7 is the means used for forcing in
said wedge Like screw V6 it works through the end of the slide. The latter is
recessed to allow the counter-sinking of die V and block V5 and the insertion of
said wedge. For the purpose of lessening friction, said slide is provided on its
bottom with a smooth plates of hard steel and this is in contact with an anti-
friction roller which is journalled in a frame or, block vs that is vertically
adjustable in bed plate A by means of a screw v.
After the operation of the heading and finishing dies already described, the
wheel T begins another quarter révolution. This motion brings the slightly
projecting head of the nail against a fixed clearer 25 which forces it out of the
die It then drops through an opening in the bed-plate A+.
To prevent the nail-blanks from crowding one another so as to clog the passage 01
in guideway OI employ a set of slides X which play in and out in said passage or
channel above each pair of compressing respectively, the upper pair above being
excepted. Each of these slides is operated by one of a series of levers X¹ pivoted
on one of a series of brackets X2 which are attached to a plate or wall X³ that is
secured to or forms part of the frame of the machine. A shaft X arranged
vertically within said frame has its bearings in said brackets and carries a series of
horizontal wheels or discs X³ one for each lever X. The upper face of each wheel
is provided with a can-groove x which receives a stud on the under side of the
outer end of its appropriate lever X¹ These grooves are so arranged that they
will operate to force each slide into the channel 0¹ immediately after the pair of
rolis just below. have received a nail-blank from the said channel or passage 01
The shaft X carries a bevel pinion which meshes with bevel pinion C¹ before
mentioned, whereby said shaft is turned.
To guard against accidents, each lever X¹ consists of two pieces held together by
a stiff spring which will yield when the slide X attached to said lever encounters
any considerable resistance (such as would be afforded by a blank) in entering
guideway O.
Of course the blanks follow one another closely and the various operations
herein before described all go on together though applied to different blanks. Thus
one nail is discharged from the machine, while another is headed a third pointed,
a fourth bevelled, several others passed through the compressing rolls, and a bar for
another cut off above said rolls The operation of the various parts of the machine
has been unavoidably so fully described in describing these parts themselves that
very little further explanation seems necessary. Each pair of rolls as shown in
Figures 15 12 13 14 and 15 is constructed with two die grooves which register
respectively with those in the companion roll making the pair. One of the pairs
of grooves thus formed in each pair of rolls is intended to act on the sides of the
blanks and the other pair to act on the edges thereof.

page_text: The spiral or twisted passage O' presents each blank to the successive pairs of
compressing rolls with the sides and the edges of said blank in position to be acted
on, alternately. This ensures the equal compression of all parts of the blank.
The blanks as the drop from the cutting blades to the rolls are held back by the
person running the machine until several blanks are accumulated in said guide-
way above the first pair of compressing rolls, the object of this accumulation being
that their combined weight may cause them to feed better through said compressing
rolls. This accumulation is needed above the first pair of compressing-rolls and
there only, because the blanks as they are cut from the rod or wire are flat and
oily and therefore tend to stick to the inside of the guide-way. Of course the flat
blanks thus accumulated above the first pair of compressing-rolls tend to follow
one another into the die grooves of said rolls. To prevent this, I employ the
following shape or construction for said die-grooves as illustrated in Figure 18.
Each die-groove of said first pair of compressing-rolls bas its rear end made to
gradually shallow from the point Z³ where compression ends to the rear end of
the groove. The inclined part Z thus formed does not compress or shape the
blank but merely serves to expel a second blank which crowds after the first, so
as to ensure that only one blank will be grasped by the said rolls at a time. The
inclined parts Z5 of the die-grooves, closing together expel a blank which endeavors
to follow the one then undergoing compression by said rolls as illustrated in
Figure 18 The part of the groove which does the compressing is marked with
slight transverse flutings and lettered 27.
1
Each die-groove of the compressing-rolls has a pocket at the head end which is
deeper than the rest of the groove so as to receive the head of the blank without
compressing it, and larger than the head of the blank in order that said head may
freely slip to the bottom of said pocket by its own gravity. This prevents any part
of the said head from being in position to be compressed and thereby forming fins
which would afterward clog the machine: Such accidents may easily happen when
the pocket or receptacle for the head is no larger than said head, for the latter may
stick without quite reaching its proper position. The die-grooves may be made in
the solid bodies of the rolls, but I prefer, as a rule to make them in dies Z Z¹
which are countersunk in the periphery of each roll and attached thereto by pins
and sockets or recesses. As shown in Figure 12 each die-groove is partly in die Z
and partly in die Z¹ the line of meeting of said die being at the point where
compression begins or at some point between this point and the forward end of the
pocket, the term forward being used with relation to the direction of rotation
When thus, constructed, the dies do not expose their joints to the strain of metal
which would be compressed against the edges of said, joints and tend to enter the
latter. The rock-shaft G is of such width that it may be engaged and turned by a
shoulder Y on the inner spring pressed part y of any one of the levers X¹ thereby
freeing detent F from bar E Each lever X¹ has one of these shoulders;
consequently whenever any slide X encounters a blank, the spring D' is allowed to
move clutch D away from driving wheel C and thereby stop the machine.'
Of course instead of the fixed blade 7 and the movable cutting blade ¹ a fixed
block or stop may be used with a movable cutting blade, or a fixed blade may be
used with a movable plunger which does not cut; but the two cutting blades
acting together as shown and described are more satisfactory.
It is not indispensable to have the feed rolls cut away at opposite points or at any
points of their grooves, as the feed rolls are adapted to yield as stated. They would
if left with continuous bearing faces, simply feed the wire or rod of metal against
the adjustable finger, and then, yielding, turn against the sides of said wire or rod
without feeding it further, until the wire or rod is dislodged from said finger
aforesaid.
Of course many other parts of my mechanism are susceptible of considerable
modification without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.
Having now particularly. described and ascertained the nature of my said

page_text: invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First: As an improvement in the art of manufacturing horseshoe-nails, the
particular adaptation herein described of the nail-blank and dies to one another
for the purpose of enabling the latter to expel a second blank, which consist in
providing blanks of such size as to fill the die-grooves approximately to a point
where it is desired that compression shall end on the first blank, said die-grooves
being provided with an inclined extension from such point acting to reject the
second blank substantially as described.
Second: In a machine for making horse shoe nails, a set of rolls for compressing
the blanks, each of these rolls having dies set into its periphery or fastened thereon,
these dies having die-grooves in their faces, the line of junction or contact of the
dies passing through the point in the groove where the pressure or pinch begins
or at any point between it and the large end of the pocket which receives the head
of the blank,
Third: A pair of compressing rolls provided with die-grooves having at their
large ends pockets which are deeper than the remaining parts of said grooves and
larger than the heads of the blanks.
Fourth-In a machine for making horseshoe nails, a clutch för engaging the
driving wheel and thereby turning the driving-shaft, in combination with a device
for disengaging said clutch from said wheel, a dog or detent which normally
prevents this disengagement and devices which automatically remove said dog or
detent when the blanks become clogged in the guideway.
Fifth-In combination with a series of compressing die-grooved rolls and a
guideway which conducts the blanks to and from each pair of said rolls, a series
of slides working into and out of said guide-way between each pair of said rolls,
and a series of cams and levers actuating said slides, each one of these levers being
made in two sections, which are adapted to yield on encountering a blank or other
obstacle substantially as set forth.
Sixth-In combination with a series of compressing die-grooved rolls and a
guideway which conducts the blanks to and from each pair of said rolls, a series
of slides working into and out of said guideway between each pair of said rolls,
a series of sectional yielding levers for operating said slides, and devices which
permit the automatic unshipping of the clutch which drives the machine when
a shaft or bar forming part of said devices is engaged by a shoulder on any one
of said levers in the act of yielding as aforesaid.
Seventh-In combination with the driving wheel driving-shaft and the clutch
for connecting and disconnecting them, the shipping-levers and notched connecting
rod or bar for operating said clutch, the retracting spring for unshipping the same,
the spring-pressed dog which engages with said notch to lock said clutch against
the action of said unshipping spring, and a lever and a shaft and arm operated by
said lever for removing said dog from said notch substantially as set forth.
Eighth. In combination with the feeding rolls and compressing rolls and
interposed cutting blade and sliding plunger, a pendant arm carrying a piece
arranged to be forced against the outer end of said plunger and a shaft carrying
two horns or cams which act on said pendant arm substantially as set forth.
Ninth. The combination of a pair of feed rolls with a set of compressing devices
a cutting blade or blades and an adjustable finger which supports the end of the
wire or bar and regulates the length of the blanks substantially as setforth.
Tenth. A circular plate or wheel provided with cross passages having four
equidistant openings in its periphery, in combination with compressing rolls and a
guideway discharging into said passages as they successively assume a vertical
position and devices which give said wheel a step by step motion of one fourth of a
circle at each step for the purposes setforth.
Eleventh. A rotary wheel and devices for giving it a step by step motion of
one fourth of a circle at each step said devices consisting of a ratchet or notched

page_text: collar on a shaft whereby said wheel is rotated, driving and retaining pawls and
the necessary operating and freeing devices in combination with devices for
beveling pointing and heading the blanks carried by said wheel as they respectively
reach the points where said devices are respectively located.
Twelfth. A wheel rotating with a step by step motion and adapted to carry the
blanks with their ends protruding as stated in combination with a beveling anvil
and punch or plunger which bevel the end of the blanks: substantially as setforth
and a notched and toothed collar on the shaft of said wheel a loose collar carrying a
driving dog means for alternately advancing and withdrawing this dog to rotate
the former collar step by step and two retaining pawls and means for automatically
freeing the same as stated.
Thirteenth. A wheel rotating with a step by step motion and adapted to carry
the blanks with their ends protruding as stated in combination with a stationary
blade and a plunger whereby the surplus metal is trimmed from the point after the
latter has been bevelled as set forth and the notched and toothed collar, driving
dog, retaining pawls and actuating and freeing devices substantially as described.
Fourteenth. A wheel provided with heading dies arranged transversely to the
periphery of the wheel which receive the blanks of metal and carry then round in
a step by step motion in combination with a heading die and a clamping die which
are carried against said blanks substantially as set forth.
Fifteenth. A wheel provided with heading dies which receives the blanks of
metal, in combination with a slide carrying a heading die and a clamping die and
devices which give to said slide a compound lengthwise and upward and downward
motion in order that the same slide may apply to and remove from the blank both
the vertically operating clamping die and the horizontally operating heading die as
described.
Sixteenth. In combination with a vertical wheel arranged to receive the blanks
from the guideway, rotating with a step by step motion and provided with passages,
extending through it as stated and a second wheel arranged horizontally and having
corresponding rotation, a plunger and operating devices whereby said plunger is
caused to pass through said passages as they are successively presented and force
the blanks therefrom into the dies or receptacles of the horizontal wheel for the
purpose set forth.
Seventeenth. A feeding plunger which operates on the blanks after they have
left the compressing rolls, in combination with unclutching mechanism for stopping
the machine a detent which prevents the operation of said unclutching mechanism
and a device connected to said feeding plunger which removes said detent when
said plunger meets with an obstruction substantially as setforth.
Eighteenth. A feeding plunger and its operating lever, the latter being in two
normally rigid sections which are adapted to yield and separate at the upper end of
the lower section when said plunger meets with resistance, in combination with a.
clutch and its unshipping spring and devices for allowing said spring to operate, the
latter devices being operated by the engagement of lower section of said lever
therewith when its upper end separates from the upper section substantially as
setfortli.
Dated thin and
1004