IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CUT NAILS AND TACKS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Taylor, of Aston, near Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Taylor at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th November 1871.
I, WILLIAM TAYLOR, of Aston, near Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CUT NAILS AND
TACKS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to that part of the said machinery which has for
its object the feeding into the machinery of the nail plate or strip and
bringing it in the required position under the action of the cutters.
In the ordinary method of feeding the nail plate or strip into the
machine, whether by hand or by mechanical means, the said plate or

page_text: strip is turned over after each nail or tack has been cut from its end,
that is to say, after the cutting off of a nail or tack the said plate or strip
is made to perform a semi-rotation, the side which was uppermost being
brought undermost; the semi-rotations being in opposite directions so
that the plate has a backward and forward rotatory motion.
My Invention consists of the arrangement or combination of parts
herein-after described of the feeding mechanism of the said machinery,
whereby the requisite turning over or semi-rotation of the nail plate or
strip after the cutting of each nail or tack is effected by an intermittent
rotatory motion in the same direction.
I arrange or combine and work the feeding mechanism substantially
in the following manner:-The nail plate or strip is held by clams in
the feeding tube situated in front of the cutters and is pressed out of the
nose end of the feeding tube by a feeding rod acted upon by a cord and
weight as usual. The nose end of the feeding tube carries a ratchet
wheel. The arm or lever of the nail or tack machine which carries the
moveable cutter or cutting tool also carries a pair of spring arms so
situated that they embrace or are respectively on each side of the said
ratchet wheel. The lower end of each of the said spring arms is made
into a tooth or driver capable of engaging with the teeth of the ratchet
wheel. As the holder of the moveable cutting tool rises, the tooth or
driver of the spring arm on the ascending side of the ratchet wheel
engages with the said wheel and carries it and the feeding tube through
a quarter rotation. As the said tool holder descends the tooth or driver
of the other spring arm on the descending side of the ratchet wheel
engages with the said wheel, and the said wheel and feeding tube are
made to perform another quarter rotation, and the nail plate or strip is
thus turned over. As the moveable cutting tool completes its descend-
ing motion it cuts off between itself and the stationary cutter a nail or
tack blank from the nail plate or strip in the feeding tube, the ratchet
wheel being at that moment unacted upon by the spring arms described.
In order to fix accurately the position of the nail plate or strip on the
stationary cutter I fix a guide plate on the said stationary cutter, the
said guide plate having an opening in it nearly of the figure of two sides
of an equilateral triangle, the surface of the stationary cutter forming
the third side. A spring fixed on the side of the guide plate nearest

page_text: the heading tool crosses the opening in the said guide plate and presses
the nail plate against that side of the said guide plate nearest the heading
tool. By this means that edge of the nail plate from which the head of
a nail or tack is to be made is accurately adjusted and heads of very
uniform size obtained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Taylor in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th May 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
TAYLOR, of Aston, near Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Taylor, Her special licence
that I, the said William Taylor, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Taylor, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CUT NAILS AND TACKS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said William Taylor, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE that I the said William Tavlor, do hereby declare

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to that part of the said machinery which has
for its object the feeding into the machinery of the nail plate or strip,
and bringing it in the required position under the action of the cutters.
In the ordinary method of feeding the nail plate or strip into the
machine, whether by hand or by mechanical means, the said plate or
strip is turned over after each nail or tack has been cut from its end,
that is to say, after the cutting off of a nail or tack the said plate or
strip is made to perform a semi-rotation, the side which was uppermost 1
being brought undermost, the semi-rotations being in opposite directions,
so that the plate has a backward and forward rotatory motion.
My Invention consists of the arrangement or combination of parts
herein-after described, of the feeding mechanism of the said machinery,
whereby the requisite turning over or semi-rotation of the nail plate or 1
strip after the cutting of each nail or tack is effected, by an intermittent
rotatory motion in the same direction.
I arrange, or combine, and work the feeding mechanism, substantially
in the following manner :-The nail plate or strip is held by clams in
the feeding tube situated in front of the cutters, and is pressed out of
the nose end of the feeding tube by a feeding rod acted upon by a cord
and weight as usual. The nose end of the feeding tube carries a ratchet
wheel. The arm or lever of the nail or tack machine, which carries
the moveable cutter or cutting tool, also carries a pair of spring arms
so situated that they embrace or are respectively on each side of the
said ratchet wheel. The lower end of each of the said spring arms is
made into a driver capable of engaging with the teeth of the ratchet
wheel. As the holder of the moveable cutting tool rises, the driver of
the spring arm on the ascending side of the ratchet wheel engages
with the said wheel, and carries it and the feeding tube through a ;
quarter rotation. As the said tool holder descends the driver of the
other spring arm on the descending side of the ratchet wheel engages
with the said wheel, and the said wheel and feeding tube are made to
perform another quarter rotation, and the nail plate or strip is thus
turned over. As the moveable cutting tool completes its descending
motion it cuts off between itself and the stationary cutter a nail or

page_text: tack blank from the nail plate or strip in the feeding tube, the ratchet
wheel being at that moment unacted upon by the spring arms described.
In order to fix accurately the position of the nail plate or strip on
the stationary cutter I fix a guide plate on the said stationary cutter,
the said guide plate having an opening in it nearly of the figure of two
sides of an equilateral triangle, the surface of the stationary cutter
forming the third side. A spring fixed on the side of the guide plate
nearest the heading tool crosses the opening in the said guide plate,
and presses the nail plate against that side of the said guide plate
nearest the heading tool. By this means that edge of the nail plate
from which the head of a nail or tack is to be made is accurately
adjusted, and heads of very uniform size obtained.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to
describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in
which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation a machine for the manufacture
of cut nails or tacks, the feeding mechanism of which is constructed
and arranged according to my Invention. Figures 2 to 10 represent
parts of the machine drawn of the full size; Figures 2 and 3 being
longitudinal sections of the feeding tube, and rod, and ratchet wheel,
on the nose end thereof; Figure 4, a side elevation of the nose end of
the feeding tube; Figure 5 a side elevation of the front end of the
feeding rod detached from the feeding tube; Figure 6 a front elevation
of the spring arms and ratchet wheel (the bearing of the ratchet wheel
and feeding tube being in section); Figure 7, a side elevation (partly
in section) of Figure 6; Figure 8, the same view as Figure 6, with a
part removed; Figure 9, a front elevation of the ratchet wheel and
its bearing; and Figure 10, the ratchet wheel separately.
letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1 to 10.
The same
a is the feeding tube, turning in bearings at a², a³. b is the nail plate
or strip in the said feeding tube a; the said nail plate or strip is held
by the clams c, and the latter are secured to the feeding rod d working
in the feeding tube a. The strip carried by the feeding rod d is
pressed out of the nose end of the tube a by the action of the weighted
cord e, f, on the slide g to which the rod d is affixed.

page_text: The rotatory motion given to the feeding tube a in the manner herein-
after described, is transmitted to the rod d and nail plate by means of
the key on the said rod d engaging in the longitudinal opening i in
the feeding tube a. k is the lever of the machine carrying the holder
of the moveable cutter 7, and m is the stationary cutter on the bed of
the machine. On the nose end of the feeding tube a is a ratchet wheel n
fixed to the said tube by the set screw n² (see Figures 2 and 3). p, q, are
the pair of spring arms, by the action of which upon the ratchet wheel n,
an intermittent motion through half a rotation is communicated to the
feeding tube a and the nail plate b, turned over at the proper times.
The construction of these spring arms will be best understood by
referring to the full sized views, Figures 6, 7, and 8. The said spring
arms p, q, are situated respectively on each side of the ratchet wheel n
and are carried by the bracket o fixed on the cutting tool lever k of the
machine (see Figure 1). The spring arms p, q, are pressed together and
preserved in contact with the ratchet wheel n by the elastic band or
spring bearing upon the coils of hemp around the said arms. The
lower end of each spring arm p, q, is made into a driver, that is to say,
the arm p is provided with two teeth p³, p³, which engage at the proper
times with the teeth of the ratchet wheel n, and the arm q is similarly
provided with teeth 92, 93, which engage at the proper times with the
teeth of the said ratchet wheel. The toothed drivers p³, p³, q³, q³, alter-
nately act upon the ratchet wheel n and communicate an intermittent
motion through half a circle in the same direction to the feeding tube a,
rod d, and nail plate b, in the following manner:-The ratchet wheel n
rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 6, the toothed
driver q, q, being situated on the ascending side and the toothed
driver p², p³, on the descending side of the said ratchet wheel. In the
said Figure 6 the parts are represented in the positions which they
respectively occupy after the nail plate or strip 6 has been turned over
on the stationary cutter m, and the feeding mechanism has come to rest
preparatory to the cutting off of a nail or tack blank from the end of
the nail plate or strip. The parts being in this position the descent of
the cutting tool / effects the cutting off of a nail or tack blank between
itself and the stationary cutter m. As the lever k carrying the cutting
tooldescends the spring arms p, q, also descend, and after the blank
has been cut from the strip the driving teeth p³, p³, of the arm p engages

page_text: in succession with two of the teeth of the ratchet wheel n on its descend-
ing side, and thereby give a quarter rotation to it, the driving
teeth q, q, of the arm 9 slipping over the teeth of the ratchet wheel on
its ascending side. By an examination of Figure 6 it will be seen that
during the first portion of the stroke of the arm p the ratchet wheel n
is unacted upon, and it is at this moment that the moveable cutter is
cutting a nail or tack blank from the strip. As the cutting tool lever k
rises the driving teeth q³, q², of the spring arm q engage with two of the
teeth of the ratchet wheel n on its ascending side, and thereby give
another quarter rotation to the ratchet wheel, the driving teeth p³, p³, of
the arm p slipping over the teeth of the ratchet wheel on its descending
side. The feeding tube a and nail plate or strip bare thus made to
perform a semi-rotation, and the nail plate or strip is turned over for the
cutting of another blank from its end. In this way the nail plate or
strip is turned over after the cutting of each nail by a continuous
rotatory motion in the same direction, the said plate or strip being
brought to rest at each semi-rotation.
In order to preserve the ratchet wheel n and parts connected with it
stationary during the descent of the moveable cutter 1, and when the
toothed drivers are ungeared from the ratchet wheel, and also to prevent
its return motion, a strong spring is made to press upon the said ratchet
wheel. This spring is represented in Figure 9 and is marked 8. As the
ratchet wheel rotates the said spring 8 slips over its teeth.
The spring arms p, q, are secured to the bracket o, and their height
and position on the said bracket adjusted in the following manner: —
On the said bracket o is an upright t to which a cross plate u is secured
by the screw pin u² passing through a vertical slot w in the said
upright t. This plate u is furnished with openings to receive the upper
ends of the arms p, q, the said arms being fixed in their places by the
covering plate x fixed by the screw nut y taking on to the end of the
screw u². In Figure 8 the covering plate x is removed. By means of
the screw nut 2 and slot 3 in the bracket o the position of the spring
arms p, q, on the said bracket may be adjusted, and by means of the
screw nut 1 and vertical slot w in the upright t the height of the said
arms may be adjusted.
T
fond the autuma and of the nail plate on strin in the clams

page_text: to the cutters, and also to hold the nail plate very steadily, especially
when feeding thin plates, I make the nose end of the feeding tube a
elastic and capable of opening at the proper time to permit of the
passage through it of the feeding rod, so as to enable the feeding rod to
approach nearer to the cutters. A feeding tube of this construction is
represented in Figures 2 and 3. The front or nose end of the feeding
tube is open, the said open end being covered by the curved elastic
plates 4, 4, situated on either side the feeding tube. The said elastic
plates 4, 4, are secured in their places by the ratchet wheel n and are
pressed together by the band 5. As the strip or plate 6 is fed through 1
the elastic nose of the feeding tube it is steadied by the pressure of the
spring plates 4, 4, and when the nail plate has been nearly used up the
enlarged end of the nail rod d forces open the spring or elastic nose 4, 4,
of the feeding tube, as illustrated in Figure 3, and the nail plate is thus
carried nearer to the cutters and the extreme end utilized.
Figure 11 represents in front elevation drawn of the full size;
Figure 12 a part of Figure 11; and Figure 13 a plan of a portion of
a nail or tack machine with which are combined my improvements for
fixing accurately the position of the nail plate or strip on the stationary
cutter of the machine. 7 is the bed of the machine; is the moveable
cutter; and 6 is the nail plate or strip fed against the stop 8. On the
stationary cutter m a guide plate 10 is fixed in the manner herein-after
described. This guide plate 10 is shown separately in section and edge
view in Figure 14. In the said guide plate 10 is an opening 11, the said
opening having nearly the figure of two sides of an equilateral triangle, a
the surface of the stationary cutter m forming the third side, as seen in
Figures 11 and 12. Crossing the opening 11 in the guide plate 10 is a
presser 12 carried and pressed down by the strong spring 13, the said
presser bearing upon and pressing the nail plate or strip 6 against that
side marked 14 of the guide plate 10 nearest the heading tool. The a
opening 11 is of a size just sufficient to permit of the rotation within it
of the nail plate b. The said nail plate 6 is thereby kept to its position
on the stationary cutter m, and by the action of the presser 12 that
edge of the nail plate from which the head of a nail or tack is to be
made is brought to the same position after each semi-rotation of the a
nail plate, and heads of very uniform size are thereby obtained. In
Figure 11 the nail plate bis represented turned over on the cutter m,

page_text: and in Figure 12 in the act of being turned over. The manner in which
the presser 12 bears upon the nail plate while it is being turned over
and after it has been turned over will be understood by referring to
Figures 11 and 12. The guide plate 10 is fixed to the angular bar 15
secured to the bed of the machine. This bar 15 is capable of adjustment
on the bed of the machine so as to accurately adjust the position of
the guide plate 10 on the stationary cutter m by means of the set
screws 16, 17. The set screw 16 bears against the snug 18 on the bed,
and the screw 17 passes through a slot 19 in the bar 15. By means of
the screw 16 the lateral position of the guide plate 10 is adjusted on the
stationary cutter m, and by means of the slot 19 and screw 17 its
longitudinal position is adjusted on the said cutter.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do
not limit myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated,
as the same may be varied without departing from the nature of my
Invention; but I claim as my Invention of improvements in machinery
for the manufacture of cut nails and tacks,-
Firstly. The construction and arrangement of the mechanism herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10
of the accompanying Drawings for turning over or giving a semi-rotation
to the nail plate or strip, that is to say, effecting the said turning over or
semi-rotation of the nail plate or strip by means of a pair of spring arms
worked by the lever carrying the moveable cutting tool, the said spring
arms being made to engage with and give an intermittent rotatory
motion or motions through half a circle in the same direction to a
ratchet wheel on the nose end of the feeding tube, the several parts of
the said turning over mechanism being constructed, arranged, and
worked substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly. The construction and arrangement of parts herein-before
described and illustrated in Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14 of the accom-
panying Drawings for fixing accurately the position of the nail plate or
strip on the stationary cutter of the machine, that is to say, by means of
a guide plate on the stationary cutter, through an opening in which
guide plate the nail plate or strip passes, the said guide plate being used

page_text: in combination with a spring presser made to press upon the nail plate
or strip, for the purpose and substantially- as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Taylor, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
HENRY SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
WILLIAM TAYLOR. (L.S.)