Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 17th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 29th May, 1897
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the Firm of A. M. & Wm. Clarks of
53, Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute
of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication.
to me by B. Benedick of The Steam Match Works, Albersweiler, Rheinpfalz,
(Rhenish Palatinate), Germany,) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a machine for dipping matches held in dipping frames,.
into the igniting composition for the purpose of forming the heads of the matches.
This operation has hitherto been carried out either by hand by placing a layer
of igniting composition upon the dipping plate and then dipping from three to five
dipping frames in succession after which a fresh charge of composition becomes.
necessary.
This procedure, in addition to the disadvantage caused by its being troublesome
and taking up so much time, had also the drawback of causing a waste of igniting
composition, because the use of one charge for several dippings, rendered necessary
with a view to rapidity, is the cause that the first matches were dipped deeply and
thereby acquired unnecessarily large heads, whilst only the last dipping was made
with the minimum of immersion and consumption of igniting composition, which
are desirable for all the matches. Further, the cleaning of the plate from matches.
and debris that has fallen upon it after each dipping operation occupies a great.
deal of time and causes waste of ignition composition.
For ignition composition of a thin consistency the dipping frames have been
moved over dipping rollers which, like the inking rollers of printing machines,
apply the composition to the matches. But such dippiug rollers cannot be used
for thick or viscid composition and soon get out of order on account of the rapid:
wear of the rubber rollers.
With both methods of dipping, bent or distorted dipping frames have caused
inconvenience because matches were held fast in the distorted portions of the
frames and did not therefore become dipped into the composition.
This improved machine consists of a dipping plate, troughs, and channels
surrounding the same, a pressing plate arranged above it, charging and cleaning
scrapers or knives, and a dipping frame carrier, said parts operating together in
the following manner :-The charging and cleaning scrapers are moved out of the
trough filled with composition, up an inclined plane on to the dipping plate and
over the latter. The cleaning scraper leads and scrapes away the remains of the
previous charge; the charging scraper spreads a fresh uniform layer of composition.
Over this layer the dipping frame is moved, depressed by the pressing plate, and
left in this position for a moment so as to give the matches time to take up the
composition. The pressing plate rises again and the charging and cleaning scrapers
return in a raised position out of contact with the dipping plate. At the end of
the dipping plate, the composition that has been scraped off falls into a strainer
and thence into a trough from which channels, extend towards the front along both
sides of the plate with a downward inclination. By means of these side channels
the composition that has been scraped off and has been strained, is driven again
forwards to be then again taken up by the charging scraper.

page_text: against stop pins to retain a vertical position and carry the composition along with
them.
The scrapers must be raised away from the plate during the return movement.
For this purpose two wedge pieces are movably arranged on both sides of the
carriage and by striking against a nose at the end of the stroke are caused to move
under pins on the scraper carrying arms so as to raise them and let them fall again
on striking against another nose at the other end of the stroke. The distance apart
of the scrapers is such as to allow them to take up between them the amount of
composition which is necessary for conveying and uniformly spreading the same on
to the dipping plate, the end walls preventing the composition from escaping at the
sides during the movement.
Dated this 16th day of July 1806
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
1, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the Firm of A. M. & Wm. Clark of
53, Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute
of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication
to me by B. Benedick of The Steam Match Works, Albersweiler, Rheinpfalz
(Rhenish Palatinate) Germany,) and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained as follows:-
This invention relates to a machine for dipping matches, held in dipping frames,
into the iguiting composition for the purpose of forming the heads of the matches.
This operation has hitherto been carried out either by hand by placing a layer
of igniting composition upon the dipping plate and then dipping from three to five
dipping frames in succession after which a fresh charge of composition becomes
necessary.
This procedure, in addition to the disadvantage caused by its being troublesome
and taking up so much time, had also the drawback of causing a waste of ignitine
composition because the use of one charge for several dippings, rendered necessar
with a view to rapidity, is the cause that the first matches were dipped deeply and
thereby acquired unnecessarily large heads, whilst only the last dipping was made
with the minimum of immersion and consumption of igniting composition which are
desirable for all the matches. Further the cleaning of the plate from matches and
debris that has fallen upon it after each dipping operation occupies a great deal of
time and causes waste of ignition composition.
For ignition composition of a thin consistency the dipping frames have been
moved over dipping rollers which, like the inking rollers of printing machines,
apply the composition to the matches. But such dipping rollers cannot be used
for thick or viscid con position and soon get out of order on account of the rapid
wear of the rubber rollers.
With both methods of dipping, bent or distorted dipping frames have caused
inconvenience because matches were held fast in the distorted portions of the frames
and did not therefore become dipped into the composition.
This improved machine consists of a dipping plate, troughs and channels
surrounding the same, a pressing plate arranged above it, charging and cleaning
scrapers or knives, and a dipping frame carrier, said parts operating together in
the following manner :-The charging and cleaning scrapers are moved out of the
trough filled with composition, up an inclined plane on to the dipping plate and

page_text: over the dipping table C so that the leading scraper N scrapes by its lower edge-
the surface of the dipping table whilst the rear scraper M rests on, the lower ens
of the gauge screws m² so that its lower edge is supported a short distance off the
surface of the dipping table C to an extent equal to the thickness of..the layer of
composition to be charged on to the plate, the depth of which is regulated by the
adjustment of the gauge screws.
By this means a fresh layer of composition of exactly the proper depth is charge
upon the plate for each dipping operation without fail, and the great risk of fire.
from the drying up of the residual composition is obviated.
The dipping frame having been brought under the pressing plate F the latter-
now descends and presses the ends of the matches into the composition on the
dipping table, the rubber facing of the pressing plate compensating for the slight.
differences of length of the various matches. This pressure is sufficient to straighten.
or rectify any distortion of the frames which frequently occurs and occasions great.
inconvenience in working by hand, so that all the matches are evenly dipped.
The composition that is scraped away falls into the strainer Q, passes through it.
into the rear trough D, and flows back through the lateral channels D to the
front trough D. This return flow is accelerated by means of propelling pallets S
which are pivoted at s to the carriage so as to swing up and slide over the
composition during the forward movement whilst during the return novement they
are compelled by striking against stop pins s to retain a vertical position and!
carry the composition along with them."
The scrapers M N must be raised from the dipping plate C during the return,
movement. For this purpose two wedge pieces are movably arranged on both
sides of the carriage O and by striking against a nose 16 at the end of the stroke
are caused to move under pins on the scraper-carrying arms L so as to raise
them and let them fall again on striking against another nose at the other end of
the stroke. The distance apart of the scrapers M N is such as to allow them to.
take up between them the amount of composition which is necessary for conveying.
and uniformly spreading the same on to the dipping plate, the end walls m m.
preventing the composition from escaping at the sides during the movement.
The machine may be made double acting by making both the troughs serve as
charging troughs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven--
tion and in what nauner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A match dipping machine essentially comprising a dipping table, a charging.
trough or troughs leading up to the dipping table by an incline, a charging scraper
pivotally connected to a sliding carriage so as to be capable of dipping into the
charging trough or troughs and moving over the dipping table for the purpose of
charging the table before each dipping operation, dipping frame carriers yieldingly-
mounted on the sliding carriage and adapted to be brought by the motion of the.
sliding carriage beneath a pressing plate and over the dipping table on which the
matches in the dipping frames are pressed by the descent of the pressing plate, all.
substantially as specified.
2. In the herein described machine as specified in Claim 1, the combination with.
the charging scraper of a cleaning scraper adapted to move over the dipping table
in advance of the charging scraper and to remove the composition left from the.
preceding dipping operation substantially as described.
3. In the herein described machine as specified in Claim 1, the combination with
the charging trough and dipping table of a strainer matching with the dipping table.
to receive the scrapings, intercept debris, and permit the return of the dipping.
composition to the charging trough as described.
4. In the herein described machine, the combined cleaning and charging scrapers
rigidly connected together so as to enclose a bottomless trough and pivoting about.
their point of support as and for the purpose specified.