Year: 1888

page_text: Certain clerical errors in the original Specification having been amended by the
Patentee with the consent of the Comptroller, the printed Specification will now read
as shown below:-
Page 2, line 1, for "plunger 4," read plunger 3.
"
3,
32,
"
"
"sheets 5 and 6," read sheets 5 and 7.
39
4,
"
53,
"sheet 5," read sheet 3.
"
Two printers' errors in the same Specification should be corrected as follows:-
Page 1, line 1, for rue "Daunoie," read rue Daunou.
14
4,
8.
44
"air." read die.

page_text: Process and Machinery for Making Nails for Shoeing Horses and
other Animals.
I, JOSEPH MICHAEL LAUGHLIN residing in Paris, Hôtel Chatham, Rue Daunoic,
Engineer, 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 :-
This invention comprises improvements relating partly directly and partly indirectly
to the process and machine for which I have obtained Letters Patent dated
October 1, 1880, No. 3984.
:
In order that my improvements may be clearly understood, I shall recall
summarily the operations of the first machine: I take a strip of metal 1 having
the section shown in fig. 1, sheet 1, and producing a nail as shown in fig. 1^; I
cause it to undergo the action of the machine, where it is subjected to the following
operations, i. feeding by means of the rolls 2, 2 fig. 2 and 3 sheet 2 bevilling,
fig. 4 and finally punching out a finished nail. The bevilling tools are underneath
the nail plate and the depression is produced by the descent of a block or anvil which
presses the nail plate against the stationary bevilling tools. The cutting operation is
effected by means of punches. In this machine, a tool-holder was made use of, which
contained both the anvils and the punches.
I have since found out that there is an advantage in order to prevent the cutting
tools from breaking in making use of two separate and independant tool-holders or
Plungers, of which one, 3 for the anvils, see fig. 2 and 3, and the other 4, for the punches.
Moreover, I reserve the right of putting the anvils at the place of the stamping-tools
and vice versa.
Having arrived at this improvement, I have been led to find out a means for still
more reducing the waste of the metal out of which the nails are punched and thereby
decreasing the width of the nail plate, by causing the nails to overlap each other to a
greater extent, see fig. 5, 5 and 6, sheet 1. Fig. 5 shows the finished nail produced
from the plate 1 fig. 6. But as this result requires a more extended stamping, it
would have been necessary, in order to obtain the said result, by means of plungers,
to resort to a too great augmentation of power. I have therefore been led to employ
the following mechanism which gives an economy in the waste, a better made nail,
a machine that requires far less power to run, and at much less cost than the
former one.

page_text: I therefore suppress the plunger 4 fig. 2 and 3, sheet 2 which operates the bevilling
tools and replace it by an arrangement comprising one or more levers acting to
depress the nail plate 1. and operated at their upper end by a cam or its mechanical
equivalent.
Fig. 7 sheet 3 is a front elevation and fig. 8 a side elevation of the improved
machine.
The stamping mechanism is shown in detail in fig. 9, 10 and 11, sheet 4 which aro
respectively a front elevation, a side elevation and a top view. The levers 55 are each
pivoted on an axis 6, 6 of a block 7 which is bolted to the bed-plate of the machine;
they are operated by a double cam 8, secured to the driving shaft 9 and held together
by means of a spring 10. The stamping may extend over the whole length of the
nail shank or on part only.
Operation. The nail-plate 1, fed by the rolls 2, 2 is brought under the levers 5, 5
fig. 7, sheet 3 which each carry a steel block or piece to press the nail plate 1 down
upon shank shaping dies, so as to produce the depressions on the under-face of the
nail plate, as shown in fig. 5 and 6, sheet 1. The nail plate 1 then comes under the
punch block 4 which produces the bevils, as shown in fig. 5 and the nails are cut out
simultaneously by means of the punches. The shaping, bevilling and punching are
then carried on simultaneously. By the operations produced as above, a perfectly
shaped nail can be made in a manner much more independant from the section
of the plate than heretofore, and irrespective of any defectively rolled nail-
plate.
The levers 55 which are secured on their pivots, in any well known manner, may
both be fitted on the same axis, instead of having an independant center and they may
be operated by an excentric, a crank and a connecting rod or by any other suitable
mechanical equivalent. I might also make use of but one single lever instead of two,
and accomplish the same work by means of an excentric or a suitable cam.
Fig. 12 and 13, sheet 4 show my improved punch. Fig. 12 is a front elevation and
fig. 13 a section thereof on the line d d. The characteristic feature of the said punch
is that it is composed of several parts, in order to prevent breaking and to offer every
possible facility for sharpening or repairing, especially when used for punching french
nails, so called diamond heads." This punch, as shown, is made of two parts 11, 12
which are faced and held together in a tool-holder.
に
Having now broadly described the main feature of the improved machine, with
regard to fig. 7, 8, sheet 3, 9, 10 and 11 sheet 4, I shall now proceed to describe its
details, in order that its construction and operation may be properly understood, see
fig. 14 to 18 sheets 5, 6 and 7 inclusive, which are on twice as large a scale as fig. 9,
10 and 11, sheet 4.
Fig. 14 sheet 5 is a front elevation corresponding to fig. 7 and 9 sheets 3 and 4
with the top part broken off.
"
Fig. 15, sheet 5 a right-hand side view of fig. 14.
Fig. 16, sheet 6 a left-hand side-view of fig. 14.
Fig. 17, sheet 7 a plan of fig. 14 and,
:
Fig. 18 sheet 6 a similar elevation to fig. 14, except that it is a section through the
line e e fig. 17.
I have also shown in detail, on a larger scale, the punch-block of fig. 7, sheet 3,
in two views, of which fig. 19, sheet 7 is an underside view and fig. 20, sheet 7 an
elevation.
In this improved machine, the operation is somewhat modified: the shaping of the
shank of the nail, excluding the bevil, is made, as hereinbefore described, by means
of the levers 5, 5 carrying steel pieces or blocks 13, 13 fig. 15 sheet and 16 sheet 6
which press the nail plate 1 down upon shaping tools 14, 14, fig. 14 17 and 18
sheets 5, 6 and 7 and thus produce the depressions at the underface of the nail plate,
whilst the depressions corresponding to the bevil only, are made by means of bevelling
tools 15, 15 which are held in the same block 4 with the punches 16, 16, fig. 19
sheet 7, and produce depressions at the top, while the nail plate 1 bears upon steel
pieces or blocks 17, 17 fig. 17, sheet 7.

page_text: A nail-plate, having depressions on both sides, as described, is shown in fig. 21, 22
and 22 sheet 1.
18, 18, are the dies for the punches 16, 16; the same are tightened in one direction
against the blocks or pieces 17, 17 and shaping dies 14, 14 by means of screws 19, 19
and a plate 20. In the other direction, the dies 18, 18 and blocks 17, 17 are rendered
adjustable by means of two screws 21, 21 bearing partly against the dies and partly
against the block holders. The shaping dies 14, 14 are adjustable horizontally by.
means of screws 22, 22, 22, 22 whilst they are adjustable vertically by means of
wedges 23, 23 having screwed stems 24, 24 and nuts 25, 25 guided by a bracket 26
bolted to the block 7.
The nail plate 1 entering the machine in the direction of the arrow, fig. 17, sheet 7,
held down by the covering plates 27* and is guided by means of guiding pieces 27,27
adjusted by means of screws 28, 28.
The blocks 17, 17 together with the dies 18, 18 and their adjusting screws, can be
shifted, as a whole, upon the block 7, by means of two slides 29, 29 connected by a
bolted cross-piece 30 and operated by a screw 31 and hand-wheel 32 bearing in a
bracket 33, and then set by means of screws 36, 36.
Referring back to the punch block 4, fig. 19 and 20 sheet 7, it may be added that
the tools 15, 15 which stamp the bevil on the plate, for the point of the nail, are held
in any suitable manner. As to the punches 16, 16, made of two or more parts, as
previously described, they are held by check pieces, as usual, and by means of steel
pieces 34, 34 let into the block 4. The adjustment of the bevilling tools is
accomplished by wedges similar to those 23, in fig. 15, 16, 17 and 18 sheets 5, 6 and 7.
In this block 4 is added a guiding spring finger 35 for detaching the waste of the
nail-plate from the punches, after they have passed through the same, as in the known
machine.
I wish it distinctly to be understood that I do not limit myself to the details of
construction, as the same have only been given for the better comprehension of the
machine, its arrangement and operation, for without departing from the principle
herein set forth, I might change the position of the steel pieces 13, 13 and shaping
dies 14, 14, by placing the steel pieces 13, 13 at the place of the dies 14, 14 and fixing
the latter to the levers 5, 5, fig. 15 and 17, sheets 5 and 6. I might likewise
exchange the position of the bevilling tools 15, 15, fig. 19, sheet 7 and steel pieces 17, 17
fig. 17, sheet 7.
Although I have shown and referred exclusively to French horse-shoe nails, so called
"diamond heads," it is evident that the English or any other class of nails for shoeing
purposes, involving the same principle of manufacture may be made..
Furthermore, in order to still more reduce the waste and to able to make any shaped
nail required, I may subject the nail, after it has undergone the hereinbefore described
operations, to the action of a special machine.
This shank and head shaping machine is shown in front elevation in fig. 23, sheet 8,
in plan in fig. 24 and in section on the line ff fig. 23 in fig. 25.
The nail-blank having a finished point and bevel and before it is treated by this
machine, is shown in fig. 26, 27, 28, sheet 2 and is produced from the nail plate 1
shown in fig. 21 and 22, sheet 1. Fig. 29, 30 and 31, sheet 2 show the entirely
finished nail.
Broadly speaking, the machine comprises a disk containing dies for holding and
finishing the nails to be operated upon; the disk is secured on an axis which receives
an intermittend rotary motion, so as to bring the nail head held in one of the dies
into different successive positions where it is squeezed, headed and then thrown out
automatically.
A rotary disk 37 carrying a set of dies, say ten in number, is fed, by hand or by
machinery, with the nails baving an unfinished head, as shown in fig. 26, 27 and 28,
sheet 2. A first nail 38 is placed in the dies 39 after which the disk effects a partial
rotation, by means of a ratchet wheel 40 on the shaft 41, a pawl 42, a rod 43, a
spring 44, a roller 45 and a cam or excentric 46 secured to the driving shaft 47. The

page_text: nail 38 is then brought into a first position 38 ready to be operated upon, the disk 37
next effects another partial rotation, during which the nail passes under a guide 48
which sets it in proper position to be operated on. The disk next effects another
movement and brings the nail under the action of compressing dies, which squeeze the
same and give it nearly the proper shape. The disk next effects another movement
and brings the nail opposite a percussion tool 49, which completes the unfinished
portion of the head and also gives a finish to the shank and neck, while it slides
through the air.
Finally, the disk is turned until the finished nail is liberated by the dies 39 and
thrown out.
The nail, in being thrown out from the dies, is pushed by a piston 50 and spring 51
and in case it should hold fast in the dies, in consequence of the foregoing operations
and not obey the tendency of the spring 51, it strikes against a spring stop 52, pivoted
at 53, fig. 23", sheet S, and is thus detached.
The compressing dies 54, 54 are capable of sliding in suitable guides secured to
arins 55, 55; they are operated by two levers 56, 56 fulcrummed at 57, 57 and driven
from a cam 58 on the main shaft 47. The dies 54, 54 are connected to the levers 56, 56
by means of spiral springs 59, 59 or any other equivalent; the levers themselves are
held against the cam 58 by a spring 60 or by any other equivalent.
The two halves composing the nail-holding dies 39 are hold firmly against each other
while the nail is being acted upon by the heading tool 49, by means of a wedgo 61
which is pressed in by means of a lever 62 pivotted at 63 and operated by a cam 64 on
the driving shaft 47. A spring 65 keeps the end of the lever 62 constantly in contact
with its cam 64. The wedge 61 is caused to be drawn out, at the required moment
for the finished nail to be thrown out, by means of a stationary piece 65, fig. 25,
sheet S, secured onto the frame of the machine.
The heading tool 49 is held adjustably in a block 66 by means of any suitable
devices;
the block 66 is at the end of a bar 67 carrying a spring 68 and a roller 69
and operated from the cam 58.
The strain exerted by the heading tool 49 against the dies in the disk 37 is received
by a stationary piece 70, which is adjustable in an upright 71 by means of a wedge 72
and screw 73. The lateral strain against the disk 37 exerted by the lever 62 is like-
wise taken up by a similar device, partly shown by fig. 24, sheet 8.
The heading and shank shaping machine described with reference to figures 23, 24
and 25, sheet 8 is shown as comprising dies for squeezing the head of the nail only:
but it is evident that the squeezing dies can be maile to extend also to any required
part of the shank.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :
First. A nail plate for the manufacture of nails for shoeing horses and other
animals, on one or on both faces of which plate are produced indentations corresponding
to the shank and bevil of the nail, substantially as described with reference to
fig. 5, 5 and 6, sheet 1 of the drawings.
Second: The hereinbefore described process of manufacturing nails for shoeing
horses or other animals, consisting in employing a nail-plate substantially as shown in
fig. 21 and 22 sheet 1, in producing depressions either on one or both faces, sub-
stantially as set forth in claim one, in cutting out the nails with the shank finished or
partly finished, and finally subjecting the unfinished nail, as shown in fig. 26, 27 and 28,
sheet 2, to the action of compressing, heading and shaping dies, substantially as
described.
Third. In a machine for manufacturing nails for shoeing horses or other animals, a
spotting and shaping mechanism composed of one or more levers 5, 5, fig. 7, 8,
sheet 5; 9, 10, 11, sheet 4, 14, 15 sheet 516, sheet 6, 17 sheet 7, and 18 sheet 6,
having a separate or a common fulcrum 6, 6 and carrying at their lower ends, steel
blocks 13, 13, the said levers being operated by à cam 8, or by any other equivalent
mechanical means.

page_text: Fourth. In a machine for manufacturing nails for shoeing horses or other animals,
a block 7, fig. 7, 8 sheet 3; 9, 10, 11, sheet 4; 14, 15, sheet 5; 16 sheet 6, 17 sheet 7
and 18 sheet 6, comprising the following instrumentalities:
a) dies 18, adjustable lengthways and crossways according to the position of the
nail plate 1.
b) adjustable steel pieces 17, 17 and
c) adjustable shank shaping tools 14, 14 all in combination with a punch-block 4
fig. 19 and 20 sheet 7 carrying the punches 16, 16 and bevelling tools 15, 15,
substantially as described.
Fifth. A machine for manufacturing nails for shoeing horses or other animals,
comprising the following main parts:
a) a device for feeding the nail plate into the machine.
b) a shank shaping device composed of tools 14, 14 and bevelling tools 15, 15.
c) adjustable steel pieces 13, 13 and 17, 17.
d) a movable punch holding block 4, and
e) adjustable dies 18, 18 for the punches.
Sixth. A punch for the manufacture of so called "diamond head" horse-nails or any
other similar shaped nails, composed of two or more parts 11, 12 fig. 12 and 13, the
said punch operating together with corresponding dies 18, 18 fig. 17, shect 7.
Seventh. A machine for manufacturing nails for shoeing horses or other animals,
comprising, besides the feeding and other necessary devices, two or more plungers", 4,
for carrying the shaping and bevilling tools and the punches, the said plungers being
operated from a common shaft or from two distinct shafts, the shaping and bevilling
being also effected from underneath, if desired.
Eighth. A nail in which the major part of the slank towards the point end with or
without a bevil is completely finished, leaving the remaining portion of the shank,
together with the head, in a rough state, to be finished subsequently, see fig. 26, 27
and 28 sheet 2.
Ninth. The hereinbefore described process for manufacturing nails for shoeing
horses and other animals, consisting in employing a nail plate or strip rolled to the
section required, in producing on the said plate or strip depressions corresponding
to the shanks of the nails, with or without a bevil, in punching out the nails, from
the said plate or strip, and in subjecting the unfinished nails, thus obtained to the
action of dies which give the requisite shape to the remaining unfinished portion of
the nail.
Tenth. A machine for finishing nails for shoeing horses or other animals comprising
the following main instrumentalities.
a) a rotary disk 37 containing a set of dies 39 for holding and finishing the
nails.
6) a device for intermittingly rotating the disk 37, the said device being
composed of a pawl 40, ratchet-wheel 42, rod 43, spring 44, roller 45 and
cam 46 secured to the driving shaft 47.
c) squeezing dies 54, 54 operated by levers 56, 56 and a cam 58 secured on the
driving shaft 47.
d) a heading tool 49 held in a block 66 operated from the cam 58 on the driving
shaft 47 by a rod 67, a spring 68 and a roller 69.
e) a device for pressing together the two halves of the nail holding and finishing
dies 39, the said device being composed of a lever 62 pivotted at 63 and
operated from the driving shaft 47 by a cam 64.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1888.
J. M. LAUGHLIN.
Per Brandon & Son,
Agents.