IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY USED FOR REMOVING MATCHES FROM THE PERFORATIONS OF PERFORATED METAL PLATES IN WHICH THE MATCH SPLINTS HAVE BEEN HELD WHILST BEING DIPPED
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Theodore Henry Bryant, of Glencairn, Surbiton Hill, in
the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
USED FOR REMOVING MATCHES FROM THE PERFORATIONS OF PERFORATED
METAL PLATES IN WHICH THE MATCH SPLINTS HAVE BEEN HELD WHILST
BEING DIPPED." A communication from abroad by McClintock Young, of
Frederick, Maryland, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Theodore Henry Bryant at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th September 1878.
THEODORE HENRY BRYANT, of Glencairn, Surbiton Hill, in the County of Surrey.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY USED FOR REMOVING MATCHES FROM THE PER-
FORATIONS OF PERFORATED METAL PLATES IN WHICH THE MATCH SPLINTS HAVE
BEEN HELD WHILST BEING DIPPED." [A communication from abroad by M-Clintock
Young, of Frederick, Maryland, United States of America.]
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery used for removing
matches from the perforations of perforated metal plates in which the match splints
have been held whilst being dipped.
In the Specification of a Patent, No. 1317, in the year 1875, was described an
arrangement of machinery for cutting match splints and sticking their ends into
holes in moveable plates, the object of sticking one end of the splints into holes in
plates being to facilitate the dipping of a great number of splints simultaneously
into the igniting compositions.
For the purpose of expelling the match splints from the perforated plates after
the match splints have been dipped, I employ a number of punches corresponding
to the perforations in each plate. The several punches project forward from the
face of a block which can be moved to and fro horizontally, by links passing to
cranks or eccentrics on an axis to which a partial turn can be given by a lever arm,
1

page_text: The several punches pass through perforations in a stationary guide plate to keep
them steady in their action.
The block carrying the punches extends at its ends beyond the series of punches,
and these ends work to and fro in guides in two frames which are secured at a
distance apart from one another. The plate holding the finished matches is slid
into grooves in top and bottom bars which pass across from one frame to the other,
and when the plate is arrested by a stop, the holes in the plate are opposite the
several punches, spring stops then close in behind the end of the plate, and retain it
in its correct position. The matches held in the perforations in the plate project
from the opposite side of the plate to that which is towards the punches. Thin
metal bars are then by the movement of a lever arm or otherwise, slid upwards at
intervals between the matches; one edge of these bars comes close up to the plate
holding the matches; the opposite edge comes against fixed top and bottom bars
which pass across from one side frame to the other. When the punches are caused
to advance by turning the lever handle before mentioned, they enter the holes in
the perforated plate, and expel the matches from the perforations, the thin metal
bars before mentioned serve as abutments for the plate to rest against, and prevent
its yielding as the punches advance.
The matches as they are expelled from the perforated plate, drop down in the
space between the two side frames, and are received into a box below, which can be
removed from time to time as it becomes filled, and another substituted in its
place.
•
When the matches have been expelled from one perforated plate as above
described, the plate is withdrawn from the machine, and another plate holding
another set of matches is put in its place and the operation repeated. Thus, the
operation of collecting the finished matches into suitable receptacles is very rapidly
effected, and large plates holding a great number of matches can readily be used.
2.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Theodore Henry Bryant in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th March 1879.
"
THEODORE HENRY BRYANT, of Glencairn; Surbiton Hill, in the County of Surrey.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY USED FOR REMOVING MATCHES FROM THE PER-
FORATIONS OF PERFORATED METAL PLATES IN WHICH THE MATCH SPLINTS HAVE
BEEN HELD WHILST BEING DIPPED." A communication from abroad by McClintock
Young, of Frederick, Maryland, United States of America.
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery used for removing
matches from the perforations of perforated metal plates in which the match splints
have been held whilst being dipped.
In the Specification of a Patent, No. 1317, in the year 1875, was described an
arrangement of machinery for cutting match splints and sticking their ends into
holes in moveable plates, the object of sticking one end of the splints into holes in
plates being to facilitate the dipping of a great number of splints simultaneously
into the igniting compositions.
For the purpose of expelling the match splints from the perforated plates after
the match splints have deen dipped, I employ a number of punches corresponding to
the perforations in each plate. The several punches project forward from the face
of a block which can be moved to and fro horizontally by links passing to cranks
or eccentrics on an axis to which a partial turn can be given by a lever arm.
several punches pass through perforations in a stationary guide plate to keep them.
steady in their action.
.
The
The block carrying the punches extends at its ends beyond the series of punches,
and these ends work to and fro in guides in two frames which are secured at a
distance apart from one another. The plate holding the finished matches is slid.
into grooves in top and bottom bars which pass across from one frame to the other,
and when the plate is arrested by a stop, the holes in the plate are opposite the
several punches; spring stops then close in behind the end of the plate and retain it.
in its correct position. The matches held in the perforations in the plate project.
from the opposite side of the plate to that which is towards the punches. Thin.
metal bars are then by the movement of a lever arm or otherwise slid upwards at
intervals between the matches; one edge of these bars comes close up to the plate:
holding the matches; the opposite edge comes against fixed top and bottom bars:
which pass across from one side frame to the other. When the punches are caused.
to advance by turning the lever handle before mentioned, they enter the holes in
the perforated plate, and expel the matches from the perforations; the thin metal!
bars before mentioned serve as abutments for the plate to rest against, and prevent
its yielding as the punches advance.
The matches, as they are expelled from the perforated plate, drop down in the
space between the two side frames, and are received into a box below which can be*
removed from time to time as it becomes filled, and another substituted in its.
place.
When the matches have been expelled from one porforated plate as above
described, the plate is withdrawn from the machine, and another plate holding
another set of matches is put in its place, and the operation repeated. Thus, the
operation of collecting the finished matches into suitable receptacles is very rapidly
effected; and large plates holding a great number of matches can readily be used.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention, I will proceed to describe
more fully the manner of performing the same,-
Figure 1 of the Drawings hereunto annexed shows a front view; Figure 2, an end
view; and Figure 3, a plan of a machine constructed as above described.
A is the framing of the machine; B is a sliding block carrying a number of
punches C, C; D, D, are eccentrics on a shaft E for moving the block B to and fro.

page_text: The shaft may have a partial turn given to it by a long lever arm projecting from
it, or may be turned by other means whenever the block B is to be moved; F is a
stationary guide plate through perforations in which the several punches pass; G is
one of the plates holding the finished matches; it is slid into grooves in top and
bottom cross bars A, A, forming part of the frame, and is so brought into position
in front of the set of punches. As the plate is slid forwards along the grooves from
the end X of the machine towards the end Y, see Figure 1, it moves freely past a
stop H, until its forward end comes against a stop I. The stop H is then by a
spring caused to turn in behind the rear end of the plate, and prevent it from
moving back. When the plate is thus held, the several holes in the plate G will
be opposite to the ends of the several punches.
As it requires a pressure of some pounds to remove one of the splints or matches
from a hole in the plate G, and as a great number of splints or matches, are carried
by one plate, the force applied to simultaneously expell all the matches from a
plate is necessarily, considerable. To support the plate G against the action of the
punches, thin metal bars K, K, are used which may be at any desired distance
apart, and can be raised or lowered by turning the weighted lever L, and be held
in their raised or lowered position by the weight. M, M, arc stops which limit the
movement of the lever.
Whilst the plate G is being slipped into position to bring it in front of the
punches, the bars K are in their lowest position. After the plate G has been
brought in front of the punches, the bars K are raised, one edge of each bar comes
against the plate G, and the other at the top and bottom of the bar comes against
parts of the frame of the machine which form abutments, and prevent the bars
from being forced back; the plate G is thus well supported, and cannot be bent by
the action of the punches.
After the plate G has thus been secured in place, the block carrying the punches
is caused to advance, and the matches or splints are expelled from the holes in the
plate, and are received into a-box-at tray N; shown-by-dotted-lines in Figure 2.
When the matches have been expelled from the plate, and the block carrying the
punches again drawn back, and the bars K lowered, another plate carrying a fresh
quantity of matches can be slid forward to bring it in front of the punches; after
that, the empty, plate has been slidden forward out of its way. To allow, the plate
to be thus moved forward, the stop I must first be turned aside. The stops I and
Hare made to turn on pins 0,0; they are provided with lever handles P by which
they can be moved by hand, they are also each acted on by a spring Q which tends
always to bring the stop into position for retaining one of the plates in front of the
punches.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of performing.
the same,
I would have it understood that I claim,-
First. The combination of machinery for removing matches from holes in per-*
forated metal plates, substantially as herein-before described:
"
:
Second. The combined use of the block carrying a number of punches for
removing matches from holes in perforated metal plates, with the moveable bars K
for supporting such plate during the time the matches are being forced out by the
punches.
In witness, whereof, I, the said Theodore Henry Bryant, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.