Improvements relating to the Assembling of Match Splints, and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 21st Sept.,
1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THE CONTINENTAL MATCH COMPANY, a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey,
United States of America, and doing business at No. 26 Cortlandt Street,
New York, in the County and State of New York, United States of America.]
Improvements relating to the Assembling of Match Splints, and to
Apparatus therefor.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
In the manufacture of matches it is necessary to assemble the splints, or sticks,
in such a way that they may be conveniently dipped in the preparation which
forms the heads of the matches, and the object of my invention is to produce
an improved method of accomplishing this purpose, which method is intended to
assemble the splints very rapidly and nicely, and which utilizes pneumatic force
to place the splints in position; also to produce a simple, convenient and efficient
apparatus by means of which my method may be carried into effect.
In carrying out my invention the splints may be either sucked into the gripping
device, in which they are held by exhausting the air from the case containing
the gripping device, or, they may be blown into the said gripping device, or the
two principles may be combined, a suction being exerted on one end of the splints
and the air being blown against the opposite end, thus forming a current of air
which quickly drives or carries the splints into the gripping device. When the
splints are assembled into the gripping device the latter can be handled so that
the ends of the assembled splints may be quickly and nicely dipped.
With these ends in view my invention consists of an apparatus for assembling
match splints, which will be hereinafter described and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar figures of relerence indicate corresponding parts
in all the views.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical longitudinal section, of the apparatus
which I employ in carrying out my improved method.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of the apparatus.
Figure 3 is a broken end view of the assembling apparatus.
Figure 4 is a broken front elevation, partly in section, of a preferred form of
gripping device to hold the assembled splints.
Figure 5 is a broken side elevation, partly in section, of a slightly modified form
of the apparatus which utilizes a continuous current of air for assembling the splints,
the air being exhausted from one end of the assembling case and forced into the
opposite end, and
Figure 6 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a modified form of gripping
device to hold the splints.
In carrying out my method I provide a casing 10 which is open at one end
and is supported on a suitable framework 11, the case having one end tapered,
as shown at 12, and connected by means of a pipe 13, with an exhaust fan 14,
บ

page_text: the pipe being controlled by a suitable damper or valve 15. It is of course
obvious that this casing may be made of any necessary shape or size and
connected with any ordinary exhaust fan, without affecting the principle of the
invention.
Arranged transversely in the casing 10 is a box 16, which is arranged preferably
so that it can be shaken or vibrated, as this facilitates assembling the splints, and
this box is open in front but has its back formed of a screen 17, which prevents
the displacement of the splints but permits the air to pass through the box so as to
assemble the splints in the gripping device to be presently described.
This box is preferably provided with a series of parallel vertical partitions 18,
which are placed near enough together to prevent the splints from turning between
them, and thus the splints when dropped into the box are held in a substantial and
parallel position.
The splints 19 may be fed into the box 16 in any approved way, but this is
preferably done by means of a suitable hopper 20, which is supported above the
casing 10, and which as illustrated forms a part of the box 16.
In carrying out my method the box 16 is preferably vibrated, and this may be
accomplished in any convenient manner, the means illustrated being suitable, and
showing links 21 connecting the bottom of the box 16 with eccentrics 22 on a
shaft 23, which is journaled on the framework 11 of the device, and provided with
a driving pulley 24.
I have also shown means of vibrating the box 16 from the side, and to this end
it is connected by a link 25 with an eccentric 26 on the shaft 27, which is provided
with the driving pulley 27, and is journaled in brackets 28 on one side of the
casing 10, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
When the splints are drawn forward from the box 16 they are caught and held
in the gripping device 29, a preferred form of which is shown in Figure 4. This
gripping device is adapted to extend transversely across the casing 10 opposite the
box 16, and it comprises two outer parallel plates 30, which are provided with
perforations 31 large enough to easily receive the match splints, and are preferably
connected at three edges to form a casing, while between these plates 30 is a third
plate 32 having perforations 33 adapted to register with the perforations 31 of the
plates 30. At one edge of the plate 32 is a cam 34, which is adapted to engage
an opposite curved edge 35 of a plate 30, (see Figure 4) and to enable the cam to
be turned readily it is provided with a wrench head 36.
It will be seen that when the splints are drawn through the perforations 31
and 33, the cam 34 may then be turned so as to draw outward the plate 32, and this
causes the walls of the perforations 33 to bear against the match splints hard
enough to bind them between the plate 32 and the walls of the perforations 31 of
the plate 30, and thus the splints are securely held with sufficient distance between
them to prevent the heads from sticking after the splints are dipped. Any other
suitable fastening device may be used to fix the relative positions of the plates 32
and 30, without departing from the principle of my invention.
To prevent the splints 19 from being drawn too far through the gripping
device 29, an abutment screen 37 is stretched across the casing 10 parallel with the
gripping device 29 and box 16, as shown clearly in Figures 1 and 2.
This screen
does not seriously interfere with the passage of air, but the mash is fine enough to
stop the splints and at the same time to even them so that the protruding ends of
the splints will be level.
To enable the gripping device 29 to be placed easily in and out of the casing,
doors 38 are provided on the sides of the casing, these being hinged at the edges, as
shown at 39, and normally closed by springs 40, although any suitable doors may
be used, and, in fact, the side openings in the casing 10 might be closed by the
edges of the gripping device itself, without the use of doors, and without affecting
the invention.
It has been found by experiments that rather better results are obtained where

page_text: the gripping device 29 is vibrated in connection with the box 16, and to this end a
dowel connection is made between the two parts, as shown clearly at 41, so that
they will move together in a vertical plane, but the gripping device may be drawn
forward away from the box 16 to enable it to be easily removed from the casing 10,
when the gripping device is filled with splints.
To further facilitate the removal of the gripping device a guide way 29" is
arranged at one side of the casing 10, into which the gripping device may be
pushed.
A convenient means of moving the gripping device 29 back and forth in relation
to the box 16, is shown clearly in Figures 1 and 2, where the gripping device is
coupled at the top and bottom to slide plates 42, which are also connected to the
frame of the screen 37, so that the screen may be moved back in connection with
the gripping device, and these slide plates 42 have pius 43 connecting with the slotted
cams 44 on the vertical shaft 45, which is journaled in the casing 10 and is provided
with a suitable handle 46 by which it may be turned. Thus by turning the cams 4+
in one direction the gripping device 29 and screen 37 are moved forward, while by
turning the cams in the opposite direction the aforesaid parts are moved back to
the first position.
A slide plate 47 is arranged transversely in the casing 10 so as to extend between
the gripping device 29 and the box 16, this slide plate having a handle 48 (see
Figure 3) by which it may be withdrawn. The apparatus works well without this
slide plate, but it is sometimes an advantage, as by gradually drawing the slide
plate out while the air draft is on, it makes an increased pressure opposite a part of
the gripping device so that the splints are rather more certain to be forced into the
said gripping device.
The modification shown in Figure 5 shows means of using both an exhaust and
direct blow for forcing the splints into the gripping device. As here shown the
casing 10 is double ended, one end being connected with the exhaust fau 14, as
already specified, while the outlet of the fan connects by a pipe 13°, which is
controlled by a valve 15, with the opposite end of the casing 10%, and thus when
the exhaust fan or blower is started it sucks the air from one end of the casing and
returns it to the other end, so that a strong current is generated. In this form of
the device I have shown a door 48" on top of the casing 10° to provide for inserting
and removing the gripping device, but it is obvious that very many different
arrangements may be used for providing for this feature, and I have shown two
methods simply to illustrate and emphasize this fact.
It is also obvious that many modifications of the gripping device may be used
without departing from the principle of my invention, as I lay more stress on the
method of forcing the splints into any suitable gripping device than on the precise
apparatus, and therefore I have shown a second form of gripping device in
Figure 6, which may be used, and in which parallel bars 48 are employed, these
being movable towards and away from each other, and they are provided with
recesses 49. One bar 48 of each pair is provided with tapering ends 50, and the
bars are held in a suitable frame 51. Wedges 52 which are carried by bars 53
are adapted to enter between the tapering ends of one bar 48 and the adjacent bar,
aud thus squeeze the bars together so as to hold the match splints between them.
The wedges are secured rigidly to the bars 53, which are movable back and forth
on guide rods 54, which are fastened to the frame 51. I have shown only a
portion of the bars 48 in position in the frame 51, but it will be understood that
in practice the frame is entirely filled with the bars. After the splints are
assembled in the gripping device the latter may be removed from the casing and
the splints may then be dipped in the usual manner.
It will be seen from the foregoing description that the match splints may be
assembled with great rapidity and nicety in a gripping device, and it will be
understood from this description that other light, straight articles may, if desired,
be assembled in the same manner.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. An apparatus for assembling match splints, comprising a receptacle adapted
to hold the splints in mass and in parallel relation, a gripping device opposite the
receptacle and at one end of the splints to hold the individual splints, and means
for forcing an air current through the apparatus to carry the splints endwise into
the gripping device, substantially as described.
2. An apparatus for assembling match splints, comprising a receptacle adapted
to hold the splints in mass and in parallel relation, a gripping device opposite
the receptacle and at one end of the splints to hold the individual splints, means
for forcing an air current through the apparatus to carry the splints end wise into
the gripping device, and means for vibrating the receptacle or gripping device
during the assembling process, substantially as described.
3. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a splint holding receptacle, a
gripping device placed opposite the receptacle and provided with perforations or
recesses to receive the individual splints, a perforated abutment opposite the
gripping device to limit the protrusion of the splints from the gripping device, and
means for forcing an air current through the receptacle and gripping device,
substantially as described.
4. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a splint holding receptacle
having one side open and the other side provided with a perforated wall, a
gripping device opposite the open side of the splint receptacle, the said gripping
device having perforations or recesses to receive the individual splints, a perforated
abutment opposite the gripping device, and means for forcing an air current
through the splint receptacle and gripping device, substantially as described.
5. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a splint holding receptacle
having one side open and the opposite side perforated, a gripping device having
perforations or recesses to receive the individual splints, a perforated abutment
opposite the gripping device, means for vibrating the gripping device and splint
receptacle, and means for forcing an air current through the splint receptacle and
gripping device, substantially as described.
6. The combination with the casing and means for forcing an air current
through it, of the splint holding receptacle having one side open and the opposite
side perforated, the gripping device having recesses or perforations to receive the
individual splints, and mechanism for moving the gripping device in and out in
relation to the splints, substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of Avgust 1805
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.