Improvements in connection with Apparatus such as is used for the Measuring and Cutting Off Determinate Lengths of Wire, such as are employed in the Manufacture of Wire Mattresses, and for other purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in connection with Apparatus such as is used for the
Measuring and Cutting Off Determinate Lengths of Wire, such
as are employed in the Manufacture of Wire Mattresses, and for
other purposes.
:
:
We, EDWARD SAMUEL BOND, and GEORGE HENRY COOPER, of The Crown
Works, Booth Street, Handsworth, Birmingham, Engineers and Machinists, do
hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Our invention is an improvement on an invention for which we obtained
Letters Patent No. 1796 of the year 1893, and will be understood by the following
description.
We provide a "swift" to carry the coil of wire which is to be dealt with in the
machine. This "swift" resembles a large reel or bobbin, it is preferably of
conoidal shape with the smaller part downwards, and it rotates, or may rotate,
about an imaginary vertical axial line. We provide the swift with an anti-
frictional bearing formed by a number of balls running between the underside of
the "swift," and a fixed baseplate, a shallow annular groove being formed in each
of these surfaces, for the reception of the balls, or similar bearings.
The wire is in the form of a coil on the lower portion of the "swift," and
normally as it is fed from the "swift" into the other part of the machine it leaves
this coil and passes through a tension adjuster, and a guide above the centre of the
"swift" without causing the "swift" to revolve, but should the wire experience
any difficulty on leaving the coil the "swift" will by the pull on the wire, be
caused to rotate sufficiently to allow the wire to free itself. As the "swift" is thus
normally at rest it cannot give off more wire than the measuring part of the machine
may require, as is often the case in machinery of this kind when the "swift"
is caused to rotate by the pull of the wire as it is drawn off it.
After leaving the "swift" and passing through the tension adjuster, and guides,
the wire passes through a series of rollers, which we term measuring rollers. It is
drawn from the "swift" and through the measuring rollers by the action of a pair
of feed rollers which are geared together and grip the wire between them, and are
cansed to revolve by means of proper pulleys and gearing. The rollers being
adjusted so that they do not slip on the wire, their revolution measures a definite
length of the wire.
After the wire has passed through the feed rollers it is cut off, length by length,
by shears actuated by appropriate mechanism, the wire being cut off sometimes as
straight pieces and sometimes in the form of helical springs. The means by which
the wire is formed into helical springs forms.no. part of our present invention.
The measuring rollers are préferably five in number, and are all geared together,
so as to revolve simultaneously. One of the measuring rollers preferably the
centre one, is secured to and revolves with a shaft which. revolves in fixed bearings,
and each of the other rollers revolves on a pin carried in the end of link, or
constrained in a slot in the framing of the machine, the whole system of links
forming a jointed frame on the well known "lazytongs" principle, 'so that the
measuring rollers, whose centres are at the intersection of the links, may be brought
closer together or further apart, thus adjusting the grip of the wire on them as it
passes through.

page_text: Those axes of the measuring rollers which pass through slots in the machine
framing have their positions adjustable and capable of securement after adjustinent.
As before stated one of the measuring rollers is secured to a shaft which revolves in
fixed bearings, and from that shaft motion is given to those parts of the machine
which determine the length of the pieces of wire to be cut off. For this purpose
we preferably provide a shaft with a friction clutch, which we call the measuring
clutch mounted thereon.. Secured to this shaft is a worm-wheel which is driven by
a worm secured to the measuring roller shaft.
When the measuring clutch is in gear the partial rotation of the measuring clutch
shaft winds up a helical spring and stores energy in it. As soon as the measuring
rollers have passed the predetermined length of wire, and the measuring clutch
shaft has consequently made the predetermined part of a revolution, an adjustable
cam secured on it strikes an arın on a lever from off a supporting pillar. This
allows the measuring clutch to be thrown out of gear by means to be presently
described, and the helical spring is then set free to act and it causes the measuring
clutch shaft to partly rotate the reverse way and the cam on it to assume its primary
position. In a modification of our invention, instead of using the cam to strike the
arm from off the supporting pillar with the consequences above described we obtain
the same results by using a long screw similar to that called a measuring screw in
our Patent No. 1796 of 1893. In this modified arrangement of mechanism.we gear
the measuring screw roller shaft, and when the screw has revolved a sufficient
number of times the travelling nut on it strikes the arm from off the supporting
pillar and enables the measuring clutch to be thrown out of gear.
A coiled spiral spring is connected to the measuring screw and energy is stored
in it by the revolution of the screw.
When the arm is struck from off' the supporting pillar, this coiled spring is set
free and it causes the measuring screw quickly to revolve in the reverse direction,
thereby running back the travelling nut and restoring the parts to their primary
position.
In either form of our invention the measuring clutch is thrown out of gear
by means of a spring acting through a lever and a weigh shaft. We attach
by suitable adjustable connections to one of the shorter arms of this lever a carrier
hinged to the framing of the machine, this carrier carries the upper feed roller
before mentioned and when the arm is on the supporting pillar the upper feed roller
is pressed against the wire by means of a spring which we call the feed roller spring.
In this position as the feed rollers revolve the wire is drawn by them through the
machine.
When however as before described the measuring clutch is thrown out of gear
the lever acting simultaneously raises the upper feed roller, and stops the motion of
the wire.
The weigh shaft which controls the movement of the measuring clutch, also
controls another friction clutch, which we call the cut-off clutch. When the
measuring clutch is in gear, the cut off clutch is out of gear and vice versa.
On the shaft carrying the cut off clutch we secure three cams and their action is
as follows: —
The first can cuts off the wire by actuating a shear blade. The shear blade then
moves back clear of the wire, and the second cam acts against the spring on the
lever, and brings the upper feed roll down on to the wire for a moment and then
allows it to return to its former position clear of the wire. This momentary contact
draws the wire for a short distance through the feed rolls, and thus gives the
attendant time to place his work ready to receive the next length of wire before the
feed rolls close together again to pass it. The third cam comes into action after
the second cam has done its work, and its function is to give an angular motion to
the weigh shaft until the arm again rests on the top of the supporting pillar.
The cut off clutch is thus drawn out of gear, and the measuring clutch is thrown
into gear.

page_text: I he machine continues to work as above described, that is alternately measuring
and cutting off wire until stopped by drawing out a clutch affixed to one of the
feed roller shafts, preferably the lower one, this forming the main shaft of the
machine.
.
And in order that this our said invention may be more thoroughly understood,
we will now proceed to describe the same, with the aid of the accompanying sheets
of drawings.
1
The same letters of reference denote the same parts in every figure in which
they occur.
Fig. 1 (Sheet 1) is a side elevation of the whole machine showing the wire as it
passes from the "swift" through the rolls, according to our invention.
Fig. 2 (Sheet 1) is a part plan of the "swift."
Fig. 3 (Sheet 1) is a side view of the tension adjuster and guide for the wire.
Fig: 4 (Sheet 2) is a plan of the machine without the "swift."
Fig. 5 (Sheet 3) is a back elevation of those parts of the machine shown in
Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 (Sheet 4) is a section on line A B Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 (Sheet 5) is a sectional side view of a modification of part of the machine
with a measuring screw, forming part of it.
Fig. 8 (Sheet 5) is a sectional front view of the same.
Fig. 9 (Sheet 5) is a plan of the same.
All the figures are drawn to the same scale except Figures 1, 2, 3 which are drawn
to a smaller scale than the others.
a, Sheet 1, is the "swift" on the lower part of which the wire b, lies in an
annular coil . a' is the fixed base plate, on the upper surface of which is an
annular groove, wherein are placed a number of balls of steel or other hard
metal a a. The lower plate a³ of the revolving swift rotates or may rotate on
these balls. The wire b, is led upwards from the coil 6' in the direction shown by
the arrow, it passes a ring at at the upper part of the "swift." This ring a is a
part of the "swift" and rotates or remains at rest with it. For certain kinds of
wire we also provide a light wheel as which may rotate on a fixed vertical axis a
and the wire touches the circumference of this wheel on leaving the "swift." All
the upper parts of the "swift" are removeable, and are removed when it is
desired to put a fresh coil of wire on the "swift" in the place of the one that
has been used up.
The wire having passed the top of the swift at 62, passes upwards as at 6³ and
through a tension adjuster c. The position of this tension adjuster c, is over the
centre of the coil of wire on the "swift" a, and the wire having passed it is led
in a vertical direction as at 64, over the guide pulley d.
The guide pulley d and the tension adjuster c, are carried by a support d¹
springing from the base plate a' of the "swift as shewn in Fig. 2.
"
The wire having passed the guide pulley d, is led downward obliquely towards
that part of the machine where it is subsequently dealt with as shown at 6,
it then passes under another guide pulley e, and through the measuring
rollersƒƒƒ³ ƒ alternately over and under as shewn in Fig. 1, and more
clearly in Fig. 6.
The measuring rollers are grooved on their edges to prevent the wire from
slipping off sideways. They are geared together by spur wheels, affixed to or
forming part of the rollers themselves as shewn in Figs. 4, 5, 8 and 9; co that
if one measuring roller revolves all the others revolve at the same speed, all the
lower rollers revolve in the same direction, and the upper ones in the contrary
direction. The roller f³ is secured to a shaft g, which revolves in fixed bearings g¹².
The upper rollers frevolve on studs carried by the upper ends of links the
lower ends of which embrace the shaft g. The lower rollers f¹ and fs are carried
by studs ff adjustable in slots in the framing h, of the machine. These
studs are also connected to the studs carrying the upper rollers by links f
Thus the whole system of measuring rollers ƒ¹‚ƒ³, ƒ³,,, with their studs, links
'3

page_text: and appurtenances form a kind of "lazytongs," the rollers being mounted at the
intersection of the links. The degree of closeness of the rollers and their consequent
grip on the wire passing through them depends upon the positions of the studs f
carrying the rollers f₁ and fo: These studs are secured in the slots by nuts in a
well known manner.
As the wire is drawn through the machine the measuring rollers must revolve
with a definite motion owing to their being set to have a grip on the wire.
The shaft g, of the measuring roller f³, has secured to it a worm g³ (Figs. 4, 5
and 6). This worm gears into a worm wheel i, which rotates or may rotate loosely on a
shaft which is carried in bearings 1, 2, on the framing of the machine. The
vorm wheel i has a friction cone forming part of it. On the shaft i¹ is a friction
clutch which we call the measuring clutch, this clutch may move end wise on the
shaft but it is compelled to revolve with it by means of a feather on the shaft or
other well known device.
On the shaft which we call the measuring shaft, is a helical spring and when
the measuring clutch is in gear, and the shaft has a partial rotative movement,
the spring is being "wound up" and energy is being stored in it.
The measuring cam is secured to the measuring shaft . j is an arm which
holds the measuring clutch in gear, while it rests on a supporting pillar j. k is a
weigh shaft to which are secured a short lever k¹ which carries the arm, and also
a lever 2, which is connected by a rod k³ to another lever which is secured to a
short weigh shaft which also carries the fork 18 which actuates the measuring
clutch.
A lever l, of a T form the fulcrum of which is at on the framing of the
machine. To the end of the long arm of this lever is attached a spring, tending
to draw, it downwards, is another arm of the T lever and to the end of the arm *
is attached a connecting rod , which is at its other end attached to a lever k
which is secured to the weigh shaft k.
A third arm of the T lever is land to this we attach a vertical rod 1. The length
of this rod has a slight adjustment by means of a screw and nut at 18. m is a carrier
hinged to the framing of the machine at m'. The outer end m² of this carrier rests
on the top of the vertical rod 7 by means of which it may be raised against its own
weight and the adjustable pressure of a spring m³. n is the upper feed roller,
and n the lower feed roller, (these rollers are geared together by spur wheels n²
and n, but the upper roller can have a slight vertical movement). The upper
feed roller bearings are formed in the carrier m. The lower feed roller n' is
secured to a shaft o, which is the main driving shaft of the machine, and which
rotates in bearings 3, and 4 in the framing. Secured to this shaft are the
flywheel o' and the band pulley o2 by which the machine is driven. This pulley is
provided with a clutch o actuated by a fork of, weigh shaft os and handle . We
may use fast and loose pulleys for starting and stopping the machine, but we prefer
the method described and illustrated.
a
We will now describe the cutting off mechanism. On the shaft o, we secure a
worm of which gears into a worm wheel p below it. This worn p runs loose on
the shaft and is provided with a friction clutch p' (called the cut-off clutch) which
is actuated through a fork p², weigh shaft p³, lever p, and connecting rod p³, by
lever k, secured to the weigh shaft k.
When the measuring clutch is in gear, the cut-off clutch pl is out of gear and
is the shaft carrying the cut-off clutch p' and to this shaft are secured
vice versa.
three cams.
.
The cam cuts off the wire at the proper time by pressing one arm r, of a
bell crank lever, the fulcrum of which is at. The other end of this bell crank
lever is formed with a shear-blade 3, inserted and secured to it. 4 is the
fixed shear blade secured to the framing of the machine. The cam q² presses
against one end of a lever 3 (Figs. 4 and 5) having its fulcrum at q. The
other end of this lever q lifts the long arm of the T lever against the action of

page_text: the spring and allows the upper feed roller n, in the carrier m to come down
momentarily on to the wire at b.
The third cam g' on the shaft lifts at the proper time, the lever 46 which gives
an angular motion to the weigh shaft k, and replaces the arm j, on the supporting
pillar j.
We will now describe that modification of our invention wherein we use a
measuring screw and travelling carriage instead of the measuring cam . This
modification is shown by Figs. 7, 8 and 9 on Sheet 5. s is the measuring screw
which is geared to the measuring roller shaft g, by means of screw wheels s'
and $2. 3 is the travelling nut, which when it has been advanced a sufficient
distance by the revolutions of the screw s, strikes the armj off the supporting
pillar by means of the adjustable pieces which has a conical end which
passing by the side of the arm; pushes it off the pillar.
A coiled spring t is connected to the measuring screws (this spring is not shewn
in detail as it is precisely like that shown in our Patent No. 1796 of 1893). This
modification is substantially the combination of the measuring screw, and the
adjustable travelling nut and the coiled spring described in our Patent No. 1796
of 1893, to the present machine with its measuring rollers and clutches.
We will now describe the action of a machine constructed according to our
invention, and in so doing we will refer to Figs. 7, 8 and 9 on Sheet 5, as those
only illustrate the use of a nut on a screw called the measuring screw to push the
arm from off the supporting pillar j', this action being performed in the usual
form of the machine by the measuring cam is, all the other parts being the same
in the modified and the unmodified machines.
We will suppose the band running on the driving pulley o², and the clutch o³ in
gear and a coil of wire on the "swift" a, and the wire bled from it through
the tension adjuster c, the guide pulleys d and e, and through the measuring
rollers f,f,f³, ff, which have been adjusted to get such a grip on the wire as
to prevent any slip of the measuring rollers which are geared together and which
drive the shaft 9. The wire passes on in the direction of the arrows and between
the feed rollers n, and n' which revolve constantly while the machine is in motion
and in the direction shewn by the arrows (we are now describing the action of the
machine while passing wire through the feed rollers). The worm g³ causes the
worm wheel i, to rotate but not to the extent of a full revolution. The measuring
clutch is in gear and causes the shaft to rotate with the worm wheel; this
causes the helical spring to be wound up and to store energy; all this time the
cutting off clutch is out of gear, the clutches 3 and p being so connected
through the weigh shaft k, as already described that when either is in gear the
other is out of gear.
The action as just described continues until a determined length of wire has
been passed through the measuring rollers f,f,ƒ³, ff, by the action of the
feed rollers and n', these feed rollers being during this time forced together by
the feed roller spring m³ so as to grip the wire between them.
The shaft has then arrived at such a position that the cam on it strikes the
arm from off the supporting pillar. The measuring clutch is now thrown
out of gear by the action of the spring which effects the purpose by its down-
ward pull on the end of the lever 1, this causes the end to act through the
link, lever 1, weigh shaft k, lever ², connecting rod k³, lever iº, weigh shaft i
and fork on the clutch i³.
Immediately the coiled spring acts and (the clutch being out of gear) the
spring turns the shaft back to its primary position ready to start measuring the
next length of wire when the measuring clutch shall next be put in gear.
The same action of the spring 13 conveyed through the lever to the end 16
raises the rod and lifts. the end of the carrier m² thus slightly raising the upper
feed roller n.
This releases the grip of the feed rollers on the wire b, and at once
stops the motion of the wire.
The same action of the spring 13 on the weigh shaft k, and thence through the

page_text: lever connecting rod p³, lever p¹ weigh shaft p³ and the fork p² puts the cut-off
clutch p in gear with the worm wheel p, which is all the time being caused to
have a rotative motion by the worm 07 on the constantly running main shaft o.
The cut-off clutch pl being secured to the shaft 7 gives now a rotative motion to
the cams gg2 and 9 on that shaft.
:
The cam acting through the bell crank lever r, cuts off the measured length
of wire at as soon as the cam g' has allowed the bell crank lever r, to fall back
into its original position the cam q² presses on the end of the lever q. The other
end of this lever lifts the long arm 2 of the T lever against the pull of the
spring and thus momentarily depresses the end and allows the feed roller
spring m³ to press the upper feed roller n on to the wire thus gripping it and
bringing a short length of the wire past the cutting blade for the attendant's
convenience in handling.
The cam acting a little later lifts the lever which gives an angular motion
to the weigh shaft k, and replaces the arm j on the supporting pillar j. The same
motion of the weigh-shaft k, puts the cutting off clutch pl out of gear and puts
>the measuring clutch into gear. The mechanism is then in the same position as
.at first.
In the drawings Figs. 4 and 6, the wire is shewn leaving the machine at as a
helix, but the tool for forming the helix is not shewn as it forms no part of our
present invention, which refers only to the "swift," to the straightening, measuring,
and cutting off the required lengths of wire, the said mechanism to be employed
in any process of manufacture where wire is required to be measured and cut off
in defined lengths.
We would observe in conclusion that we do not limit ourselves to the precise
details, or to the exact form and configuration of parts as shewn on the drawings,
but we may modify or transpose parts without departing essentially from the
principle of our said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
In "Improvements in connection with apparatus such as is used for the
measuring and cutting off of determinate lengths of wire, such as are employed
in the manufacture of wire mattresses, and for other purposes."
1st. The combination and arrangement, with the "swift" a, the fixed baseplate a¹
with annular groove, bearings a² a lower plate a³, ring a', light wheel a', tension
adjuster c, guide pulley d, support d', with parts operating substantially for the
purposes herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
+2
3
2nd. The combination and arrangement for measuring. The rollers f',ƒ³,ƒ³,
ff, and links f, f, and f*, 8, one of which actuates the measuring cam³,
or measuring screws and travelling nuts which are adjustable to vary the length
of wire, with parts operating substantially for the purposes herein before described
.and illustrated by the drawings.
3rd. The combination and arrangement of lever 1, for lifting the top feed roll n,
with parts operating substantially for the purposes herein before described and
illustrated by the drawings.
4th. The combination and arrangement of cam on shaft 2 for cutting off
wire, with parts operating substantially for the purposes herein before described
and illustrated by the drawings.
5th. The combination and arrangement of cam 72 on shaft g, with lever q³
acting on the lever 1, for momentary feed, with parts operating substantially for
the purposes herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
6th. The combination and arrangement of cam 9, on shaft
for throwing
clutch in action, weigh shaft k, for replacing on the pillar j', with parts
operating substantially for the purposes herein before described and iliustrated by
the drawings.

page_text: 7th. The general construction, combination and arrangement of the several and
respective parts together forming our invention, substantially as hereinbefore
described in the foregoing Specification and illustrated by the accompanying sheet
of drawings.
A
5
THOS. KENDRICK,
3, Cherry Street, Birmingham, Agent.