IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING HORSE-SHOE NAILS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING HORSE-SHOE NAILS." A
communication from abroad by Henry Brinsley Sheridan, of Cleveland, Ohio,
United States of America, President of the Sheridan Horse-shoc Nail Company,
of Cleveland aforesaid..
Sealed the 11th October 1878, and dated the 13th May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th May 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFAC-
TURING HORSE-SHOE NAILS." [A communication from abroad by Henry Brinsley
Sheridan, of Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America, President of the Sheridan
Horse-shoe Nail Company, of Cleveland aforesaid.]
The Invention herein described relates to a machine for making horse-shoe nails;
the distinguishing features of the said Invention consist partly in mechanism
whereby the nail rod is fed to the machine, and a device for holding the nail while
it is being formed by the co-operation of a pair of side hammers or dies and a
revolving hammer.
The said Invention also relates to a novel device for operating the side hammers
or dies and other devices whereby the feeding section of the machine is made to
perform its functions in a twofold manner. It also comprises other novel features
as herein-after specified.
In constructing a machine according to this Invention a suitable frame is provided,
in which frame is journalled a shaft carrying a pair of cams, each consisting of a

page_text: ring or collar fitting loosely in an annular groove formed by shoulders on the shaft.
The annular grooves are not at right angles to the axial line of the shaft, but are
oblique in their relation to said axial line."
Immediately under the said shaft is a pair of brackets in each of which is a
horizontal reciprocating slide. In the said slides are secured side haminers or dies.
In the edge of each of the dies is a depression whose contour is that of one side of
the head of a horse-shoe nail; on bringing the two dies or hammers near to each
other these depressions produce the contour of the nail head.
The aforesaid slides are attached to the cams by a ball fitted in socket boxes
making a universal joint. As the shaft revolves the lateral movement of the rings
or cams actuates the slides, giving to them a horizontal reciprocating movement.
Directly below the hammers of the said slides is an anvil. The said anvil is
secured in a block forming the head of a frame supported upon cams by wheels or
rollers attached to the sides of the frame; these cams are secured to a shaft having
its bearings in the sides of the main frame.
The anvil block and frame are attached by an arm to a rectangular vibrating
frame, the ends of which are journalled in the top of the main frame in boxes.
The anvil block and frame are allowed an upward and partially rotative move-
ment by the vibration of the said frame journalled as aforesaid in the boxes.
The upward movement of the anvil is effected by the last-named cams, whereas
its downward movement is the result of gravity and a spring attached thereto by
a rod.
The device for conducting the nail rod to the anvil and dies or hammers consists
of a pair of guides. The said guides are tubes secured to the sides of a rod carrier
pivotted between a stud and the anvil block by means of a pin or rod passing
loosely through the carrier, and upon which the said carrier and its guides or tubes
are partially rotated by means of segmental gearing.
From the carrier to which the guides are attached project studs, to the sides of
which are pivotted clamps. The said clamps are provided with springs so arranged
in relation to the clamps that the free ends of the springs are respectively under
the arms thereof. The resiliency of the springs holds the clamps in the desired
position.
The aforesaid carrier and its appendages are partially rotated by a toothed segment
forming a part of the said carrier. This segment is made to engage another segment
forming the head of a pair of arms pivotted to the side of the main frame. In the
end of each of the arms are rollers which are so arranged in relation to a pair of
cams as to cause the rollers to run upon the faces thereof for operating the aforesaid
arms and segments.
These last-named cams are secured to a shaft revolved by a crown wheel which
gears with a corresponding wheel on the shaft of the cams that operate the anvil.
On the said shaft is another cam for operating shears arranged on each side of the
aforesaid arm of the anvil block. The shears are actuated by arms, at whose ends
are rollers arranged to run upon the said cam, and as the latter revolves the said
arms are vibrated, thereby vibrating the shears.
provide the said machine with a pair of rotative standards, to the upper ends of
which are secured arms which are partially rotated by a cam secured to the outer
end of the shaft carrying the aforesaid crown wheel. This cam engages arms
secured to the lower ends of the said standards. In the ends of the said arms aro
rollers which run upon the cam which as it revolves operates the last-named arins,
thereby actuating the arms secured to the upper ends of the standards as aforesaid.
The arms that work on the cam are kept in contact with the face of the same by
springs.
The device for feeding the nail rod to the said machine consists of a dog pivotted
to the side of an arın; the upper end of this arm is pivotted to the side of the
clamp. To the lower end of the said arm is secured a foot consisting of a strip of
metal arranged lengthwise in a groove made in the guide carrier directly along

page_text: under the aforesaid guide. Below the lower end of the dog is a projection in range
with and about on a level with the bottom of the said guide. The upper end of
this dog consists of an arın projecting so far upward as to engage the inner side of
the arm of the clamp.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
November 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFAC-
TURING HORSE-SHOE NAILS." A communication from abroad by Henry Brinsley
Sheridan, of Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America, President of the Sheridan
Horse-shoe Nail Company, of Cleveland aforesaid.
The Invention herein described relates to a machine for making horse-shoe nails;
the distinguishing features of the said Invention consist partly in mechanism
whereby a nail rod is fed to the machine, and a device for holding a nail while it is
being formed by the co-operation of a pair of side hammers or dies and a revolving
hammer.
The said Invention also partly consists in a novel device for operating the sido
hammers or dies and other devices whereby the feeding section of the said machine
is made to perform its functions in a twofold manner.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, which I will
now proceed to describe:-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the said machine.
Figure 2 is a plan.
Figure 3 is a side elevation.
Figure 4 is a rear elevation; and Figure 5 is a side elevation partially in section
of the same.
Figures 6 to 16 show portions of the said machine detached.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the Drawings.
In a suitable frame A is journalled a shaft B carrying a pair of cams consisting of
a ring or collar C fitting loosely in an annular groove formed by the shoulders Ď of
the shaft, as shown in Figure 6.
It will be observed that the said annular grooves are not at right angles to the
axial line of the shaft, but are oblique in their relation to this axial line; hence on
revolving the shaft the collars C will have a lateral movement for a purpose herein-
after specified.
.
Immediately under the aforesaid shaft B is a pair of brackets E, Figures 1 and 2,
in each of which is a horizontal reciprocating slide F, shown in Figures 1 and 7.
In the said slides are secured by any suitable means the side hammers or dies G, G³,
Figure 4. In the edge of each of the dies is a depression a whose contour corre-

page_text: sponds with that of one side of the head of a horse-shoe nail; on bringing the two
dies or hammers near to each other these depressions produce the contour of the
nail head, as seen in Figure 7.
The aforesaid slides are attached to the cams C, C, by a ball H, Figures 4 and 5,
fitted in socket boxes a', making a universal joint.
The operation of the slides by the cams is as follows, that is to say-As the shaft
B revolves the lateral movement of the rings or cams C, C, actuates the slides,
giving to them a horizontal reciprocating movement for a purpose herein-after
specified.
Directly below the hammers of the said slides is an anvil I, shewn in Figure +,
and more clearly in Figure 11. The said anvil is secured in a block J forming the
head of a frame K supported upon the cams L, L, by wheels or rollers M, M, attached
to the sides of the frame.
The relation of the rollers to the cams is clearly shown in Figure 4, and in the
same Figure it will be seen that these cams are secured to a shaft N having its
bearings in the sides of the frame A.
The anvil block and frame are attached by an arm 0 to a rectangular vibrating
frame P, the ends of which are journalled in the top of the frame A in the boxes Q.
In thus attaching the anvil and block together with its frame K to the frame P, the
said anvil block and frame are allowed an upward and partially rotative movement
by the vibration of the frame P, journalled as aforesaid in the boxes Q.
The upward movement of the anvil and its adjuncts is effected by the cams L, L,
whereas the downward movement of the same is the result of gravity and the spring
R attached thereto by a rod S, Figure 5.
The device for conducting the nail rod to the anvil and dies or hammers consists
of a pair of guides T, T¹, Figures 1, 2, and 11. Said guides are tubes secured to the
sides of a rod carrier U, pivotted between the stud P and the said anvil block by
means of a pin or rod passing loosely through the carrier t, and upon which the
said carrier and its guides or tubes T, T', are partially rotated by means of segmental
gearing for a purpose herein-after stated.
"
The relative position of the two guides to each other is such as to place them
quartering" upon the carrier; hence when the guide T" is above the carrier, as
shown in Figures 5 and 11, the guide T will be down on one side or "quartering" on
the carrier, as shown in Figures 2 and 11.
From the carrier U to which the guides are attached project studs A¹, A', Figures
1 and 8, to the sides of which are pivotted the clamps B', B¹.
It will be observed that the distance from the axial line of the pivot to the point
b, Figure 2, of the clamp is longer than that between the said pivot to the side e.
The object of this arrangement will presently be shown. The said clamps are
retained in the position shown in the Drawings by springs C', so arranged in relation 4
to the clamps that the free ends of the springs are respectively under the arms h
thercof.
The resiliency of the springs holds the clamps in the position shown. The afore-
said carrier U and its appendages are partially rotated by a toothed segment E
forming a part of the said carrier, as seen in Figures 2 and 8. This toothed segment 4
is made to engage or gear with another toothed segment F', forming the head of a
pair of arms G pivotted to the side of the main frame A. In the end of each of
the arms are rollers H so arranged in relation to a pair of cams 1', Figures 5 and
8, as to cause the rollers to run upon the faces thereof for operating the aforesaid
arms and segments.
5
The aforesaid cams I¹ are secured to a shaft J' revolved by a crown wheel K'
thereon, and which gears with a corresponding wheel L' on the said shaft N. The
relation of the wheels to cach other and their engagement are shown in Figures 4
and 5. And on the shaft J carrying the cams I¹ is a cam M¹ for operating the
shears W, W, arranged respectively on each side of the arm O' as follows, that is to 5
say From each of the shafts N' projects an arm having secured thereto the afore-
said shears. These shears are actuated by arins O¹ of the shaft, at the ends of which

page_text: arms are rollers P' arranged to run upon the cam M', and as the latter revolves the
said arms are vibrated, thereby vibrating the shears. As above specified, a sheavo
is arranged on each side of the shaft O. The said shears, arms, and cam, are shown
in Figure 12.
Qand form a pair of rotative standards, to the upper ends of which are secured
arms R, R. The said arms are partially rotated by a cam S¹ secured to the outer
end of the shaft J¹ carrying the crown wheel K'. This cam engages the arms T",
T, secured to the lower ends of the standards Q¹; in the ends of the said arms are
rollers U which run upon the cam S¹, as shown in Figure 2. It will be obvious
that the said cam as it revolves operates the arms T", T, thereby actuating the
arins R, R¹, as aforesaid; the said arms T, T, are kept in contact with the face
of the cam by springs V₁ arranged in relation thereto as shown.
The operation of the above-described machine is as follows:-The relative positions
of the several parts of the machine in respect to each other, as shown in Figures 1
and 2, are those occupied by them when a nail is in process of being made. It will
be seen that the guide T" is above the guide carrier and that the guide T is down
on one side thereof. The dotted line m indicates a nail rod passed through the guide
T, and from which a nail is being formed by the co-operation of the dies or side
hammers G, GI
For convenience of explanation let it be supposed that the operations on a nail
are completed and that another nail is to be made. For this purpose a nail rod is
inserted in the guide T while it is at the side of the carrier; the said rod is pushed
so far through the guide as to bring its end under the slides of the side hammer or
die C, the proper distance being determined by a gauge. A rod thus inserted in
the guide is indicated by the lines n, Figure 2. At the moment the hammers cease
to act upon the nail in the guide T¹ the anvil I, which at this time is elevated, is
now suddenly lowered from the dies or hammers by the timely movement of the
cams L, L, whereon the frame K of the anvil is supported as above described.
During this dropping of the anvil the guide carrier is rotated so far as to bring
the guide T to the upper side of the carrier, the position previously occupied by the
guide T' directly in line with the dies. The lowering of the said anvil allows the
passing up of the nail rod under the die G¹ to a position between the said dies and
over the anvil, and at the same time allows the nail already formed to pass from
between the dies and under the die G down to one side of the carrier to be cut
from the rod m as herein-after described. By the time the nail rod n comes between
the dies or hammers the anvil is again elevated by the timely movement of the
cams L, L, to a proper position under them, and the end of the nail rod will now
rest between the dies.
The shaft B bearing the cams C, C, during its relative movement brings the
revolving hammer c pivotted in the cheeks d, projecting from the face of the shaft
down upon the end of the rod lying upon the anvil between the dies, thereby
flattening down the end and drawing it out more or less. The moment the revolving
hanmer leaves the rod; the two dies G, G³, move forward simultaneously by the
co-operation of the cams C, C, above described, thereby hammering or compressing
the sides of the rod flattened by the revolving hammer c. During this operation
of the side hammers or dies upon the rod the shaft B makes one revolution, bringing
the hammer C again to the front; at this instant the side dies or hammers open by
the co-operation of the said cams C, C, which allow the revolving hammer c to
pass again between them, thereby rolling down the compressed end of the rod and
drawing the same lengthwise upon the anvil into proper shape and thicknes for a
nail, that is to say, so much of the rod is drawn or extended as lies between the
said dies. The rod is held and kept from being drawn entirely along by the
revolving hammer by the clamp B', which in consequence of its cam-like shape
binds the rod between the end 6 thereof and the side of the guide carrier or head
to which the clamp is pivotted.
The operation of the revolving hammer c upon the rod is repeated several times
alternately with the operation of the side hammers or dies, whose movements are

page_text: repeated a corresponding number of times upon the rod or nail now partially formed
or completed so far as the dies and hammers are concerned. At this stage in the
process of forming the nail the guide carrier and clamps are partially rotated by one
of the cams I', I, and segments F¹, F¹, above described, thereby returning the
guide T and its rod to its former position down on the side of the carrier. To effect
this return of the rod or nail now formed on the end thereof by the hammers the
anvil is at this instant lowered by the movement of the aforesaid cams L, L. The
guide as it returns to its side position brings the rod to the shear W, whereby the
nail formed thereon is cut off directly behind its head. The shear is actuated at
the proper time by the cam M² and one of the cams O¹, which in the organization
of the machine are so arranged as to act promptly at the proper moment for this
purpose. On the return of the guide to its side position the clamp B" is made to
release the rod by means of the arm R", while at the instant the clamp is at its
side position, as shown in Figure 2, said arm is forced against the lip of the clamp,
thereby forcing the end b from its contact with the rod, so that the rod may be fed
forward to the machine to be again submitted to the action of the hammers, as
above described. This timely service of the arm R" is effected by the cam S¹
acting upon the arm T¹ of the rotative standard Q', herein-before described. The
rod thus dismembered of the nail formed by the hammers on the end of it, and
relieved from the grip of the clamp, is pushed forward again under the slide of the
hammer G¹, and is carried up thereunder to the anvil, which for that purpose is at
the proper moment suddenly lowerod to allow it to pass up, as above described.
The device for feeding forward the rod to the machine will herein-after be described.
It will be observed that this machine is a double one; that is to say, the one
half is a duplicate of the other in so far as the operative elements are concerned;
hence the operation of the second half of the machine is substantially a repetition
of that of the first half.
During the time the rod n in the guide T was being operated upon by the
hammers the guide T¹ was down on the side of the guide carrier, as shown in
Figure 8, in which position it is supplied with a nail rod, indicated by the dotted
line m, Figure 2. The said rod is griped by the clamp B¹ as was the rod n by the
clamp B, and for the same purpose.
As above stated the moment the hammers have performed their operation upon
the rod the anvil descends from the dies or hammers to allow the nail to leave
the dies and be carried down under them to the side of the guide carrier to be cut
from the rod, and the rod is again fed forward. During this operation on the rod n
the rod m is carried up by the rotative movement of the guide carrier, thereby
bringing the end of the said rod m between the side hammers. At this moment
the anvil is elevated by the aforesaid cams, and the rod lies therein and receives tho
action of the revolving hammer c, brought into timely action by the revolution of
the shaft B.
The action of the hammer c is followed by the closing-in action of the side
hammer or dies G, G¹, again followed in turn by that of the revolving hammer c,
and so on, as herein-before described in respect to the rod n. The operation of the
hammers being completed on the rod m the anvil descends and the guide carrier
revolves, thereby carrying the rod m down to the shear W' arranged on the side of
the guide carrier.
The nail is cut from the rod m, and at the same instant the clamp B' is made to
release the rod as herein-before described in respect of the clamp B". During this
operation on the rod m the rod n is again being acted upon by the hammers, and
then the guide carrier rotates, carrying the rod to the shear, from which the uail is
cut, at the same time the rod m is again in position for the operation of the ham-
iners, and so on alternately; thus while one nail rod is being operated upon by the
hammers the other is being cut from the nail and fed forward into the machine in
an uninterrupted continuous manner without loss of time in the co-operative move-
ments of the machine.
The device for feeding the nail rod to the machine comprises a dog c", Figure 2,

page_text: also shown detached in Figure 14. The said dog is pivotted to the side of an arm d¹.
The upper end of this arm d' is pivotted to the side of the clamp B¹. To the lower
end of the said arm is secured a foot consisting of a strip of metal e¹ arranged length-
wise in a groove ƒ made in the guide carrier directly along under the aforesaid
guide, as shown in Figure 15. Below the lower end of the dog is a projection g in
range with and about level with the bottom of tho said guide. The upper end of
this dog consists of an arm i projecting so far upward as to engage the inner side
of the arm h of the clamp, as shown in Figures 13 and 15.
The operation of the said feeding device is as follows:-During the operation of
the machine the moment the arm R¹ is forced against the arm h of the clamp to
release the rod held thereby, the rotative movement of the clamp causes the arm d¹
to move forward, taking with it the rod at this instant released from the clamp B¹.
The rod is carried forward, when no longer held by the said clamp, by the dog,
which while the rod is hold by the clamp is also held between the dog and the pro-
jection g, that is to say, the free end of the said dog is in close contact with the rod
at the time it is being griped by the clamp, and at which time the rod is clamped
between the dog and the aforesaid projection g. The hold that the said dog has
upon the rod continues when the rod is released from the clamp, hence it will be
obvious that the dog as it is moved forward by the arm d, to which it is attached,
must carry forward the rod with it. The position of the dog at this time in its
relation to the rod is shown in Figure 11.
When the rod has been carried forward by the dog, and the projection g far
enough into the machine for a nail, the dog is caused to release its hold upon it by
the arm h of the clamp, which at the proper instant during the moving forward of
the rod impinges upon the arm i of the dog, pushing it back, and consequently the
lower end of the dog is thrown upward and forward, and therefore away from its
contact with the rod. The position of the dog and clamp at this time is as shown
in Figure 14. The rod thus fed forward into the machine is again seized by the
clamp B, which at this instant closes upon the rod, clamping it and preventing its
being pulled forward by the revolving hammer above described. This action of the
clamp is due to the receding of the arm R³ from its contact with the arm h of the
clamp, which allows the clamp to resume its clamping position, as shown in Figures
11 and 15 by the resiliency of the spring C¹.
It will be seen that the clamp confines the rod to the guide carrier, whereas tho
dog confines the rod to the projection g, and therefore it must move forward with
the dog and the arm to which the projection is secured when released from the
clamp.
It will be obvious that by this device the nail rods are fod to the machine auto-
matically at regular and proper times during its operation, hence requiring no
special care further than to furnish the necessary rods as fast as they may be
worked up.
The upward movement of the anvil herein-before described is so timed that it
does not attain its highest elevation at the moment the first blow of the revolving
hammer is given, but continues to rise after several blows are given. This move-
ment of the said anvil relatively to the blow of the hammer prevents too great
thickness of metal being presented to the first strokes of the hammer, therefore the
iron suffers no undue strain, and is not weakened in the process of hammering. The
side hammers are secured in the slides by set screws, whereby they may be adjusted
in the slide for any needful purpose. The outer ends of the said slides are supported
by the springs Y, to which they are attached, as shown. In the ends of each of the
said guides is a spring n¹. The said springs prevent too close hugging of the anvil
by the nails while it is being operated upon by the side dies or hammer. The said
spring lifts the nail slightly above the face of the anvil, so that it may be fully
within the embrace of the dies or hammers, hence no fin is left on the nail.
The driving wheel J" is so attached to the shaft as to be adjustable thereon. The
device whereby the wheel is secured thereto is as follows, that is to say:-To the
shaft is keyed a collar or hub m², Figure 16, on the boss n¹¹ of which is fitted so as

page_text: to be movable thereon the wheel J", secured by bolts 2 passing through the flange
of the hub m¹, and through the hub of the wheel, as shown in Figures 3 and 16.
In order that the wheel may be turned on the shaft the bolt holes in the hub of
the said wheel are slotted, as seen at t, Figure 3. The object of having the wheel
thus adjustable is to so vary its relation to the shaft B that the revolving hammer c
may strike the nail at the proper moment in the general movement of the machine
when the said anvil is so elevated as to be within reach of the revolving hammer.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The cams, consisting of the rings, arranged in annular grooves having an
oblique relation to the axial line of the shaft B, as and for the purpose specified.
Second. The cams, in combination with the slides for operating the same in the
manner and for the purpose set forth.
Third. The attachment of the cams to the slides by a universal joint, consisting
of the ball projecting from the rings or cams and a corresponding socket consisting
of the adjustable sections, as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The vibrating frame bearing the anvil, arranged in relation to the dies
or side hammers and cams, as and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. The combination of the cutters or shoars attached to the vibrating anvil
frame by the shafts, the arms and the cams, all arranged to co-operate with the snid
vibrating frame, as and for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. The rotative or reciprocating rod carrier journalled or pivotted between
the stud of the frame P and the anvil block, and so arranged in relation to the said
anvil and the revolving hammers as to be in right line therewith, and at right
angles to the reciprocating side haminers, as and for the purpose set forth.
Seventh. In coinbination with the rod carrier the guides and springs n¹, the
clamp constructed as described, and the spring C₁, as and for the purposes specified.
Eighth. The arms R¹ arranged in relation to and in combination with the clamps
B¹, in the manner described and for the purpose specified.
Ninth. In combination with the arms R¹, the cam, the arms T", T, the springs,
and the rotative standards, as and for the purpose specified.
Tenth. In combination with the rod carrier, the gear wheel, the arms, "and the
cains for operating the said carrier, in the manner and for the purpose specified.
Eleventh. The feeding device, consisting of the arm, the foot, the projection or
shoulder, and the dog, in combination with the clamp B¹, as and for the purpose set
forth.
Twelfth. The cams and revolving hammer arranged in relation to the recipro-
cating dies and anvil, to co-operate in combination therewith, in the manner and
for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hercunto set my
band and seal, this Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)