IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR NICKING AND DRESSING THE HEADS OF SCREW BLANKS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Douglas Fox, of Spring Gardens, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR NICKING AND DRESSING THE HEADS OF SCREW BLANKS."-
A communication from abroad by John Howard, residing at Now
York, in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Douglas Fox
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 29th April 1868.
I, CHARLES DOUGLAS Fox, of Spring Gardens, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
" IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR NICKING AND DRESSING THE HEADS OF
SCREW BLANKS," a communication to me from abroad by John Howard,
resident at New York, in the United States of America, to be as
follows:-

page_text: applicable to that class of machines for making screws which combine a
nicker and a shaver in one.
The general parts of the machinery other than those for accomplishing
the objects of the Invention are common to many other machines.
The Invention herein described consists in the means employed for
causing the spindle in the jaws of which the screw blank is griped to
be alternately rotated and brought to a state of rest, to comply
with the necessary conditions under which such screw blank must be
shaved, nicked, and reshaved.
In other machines for performing the operations of shaving and
nicking the head of a screw blank two driving pulleys are commonly
used, one of which is connected with the spindle to rotate it and also to
put into action the mechanism for shaving the head of the blank, while
the other is connected with and operates the mechanism for cutting the
nick in such head, the driving belt being shifted from one pulley to
the other when the changes are to be made.
One of the chicf objections which has been expressed against such
combined machines is that the proper relative operation of these two
sets of mechanism to each other cannot be relied on with certainty,
inasmuch as the same is dependent upon the question whether the belt
shifts promptly and without slippage from one pulley to the other. The
machinery is supported on a bed and the usual standards and supports,
and a main shaft operated by a band and driving pulley gives motion to
the various parts of the machine. The spindle is mounted in suitable
bearings, and so far as the means are concerned for griping the blank
is not unlike the spindles in common use in other machines. It is,
however, peculiar in this that it is connected with the shaft driven by
the pulley by means of a spring latch, so that at the proper times, when
the two are united, the spindle will turn with the shaft, but when the
two are unlatched the spindle will be left at rest, the axes of the spindle
and shaft being coincident. The toothed wheel which communicates
motion to the principal cam shaft governing the unlatching of the spindle,
the opening and closing of the griping jaws, and the bringing up of the
nicking saw to the head of the blank, and which also drives the shaft
upon which the nicking saw is mounted in this instance is provided with
a sleeve to which the hub of the pulley is secured. The end of this
sleeve is made with a ratchet face or is provided with equivalent notches
to receive the latch, which is connected with the spindle. The rear end

page_text: of the spindle also enters the hub of the pulley, but fits so loosely as to
creato no friction between its surface and the inner surface of the hub.
The rear end of the spindle is provided with a transverse slot in which is
fitted a moveable latch, the slot being of sufficient depth to allow such
latch to be entirely sheathed in the spindle when the spring which tends
to force it outward is compressed. So long as the spring is permitted to
act the latch will be engaged with a notch or notches in the end of the
sleeve, and the spindle will partake of its motion, but when the latch is
pushed into the slot so far that its face does not protrude beyond the end
of the spindle, all connection between the spindle and the parts in
motion will be broken and the spindle will rest in its bearings. The
axis of the shaft is made hollow and is fitted with a rod. The forward
end of this rod is connected with the latch in any convenient way, so
that by the application of pressure to the rear end of it which protrudes
beyond the shaft the latch will be forced further into the slot, and the
connection between the spindle and the driving power be broken.
The precise arrangements of the parts as here described is not essential.
Various ways may be employed for performing the same result, but so
long as they involve the use of a moveable latch or its equivalent, they
will be within the principle which characterizes this Invention.
The connection between the spindle and its moving power is broken
by the following means:-The shaft on which the various cams are
mounted for effecting the different changes of movement is so timed that
it will revolve once for every thirty-two revolutions of the driving gear,
and it carries a wheel which has a projecting piece on its side. There is
also attached to the sides of the standard a fulcrum to which is pivoted
a lever, the face of which near its upper extremity bears against the end
of a rod, and its lower end is hinged to the shaft which is fitted to slide
endwise in bearings made in the standards of the frame. The shafts
carries a projecting arm or stud against the surface of which a projection
on the cam wheel acts in the course of the revolution of the latter, and
causes thereby the lever to perform its functions as above described. So
long as the face of the stud continues in contact with the projecting
surface on the cam wheel the spindle will be at rest, but so soon as the
same in the course of the revolution of the shaft is moved away from the
stud pin the spring will act to re-establish the connection between the
spindle and the driving power.
It will thus be seen that while the operation of shaving the head of

page_text: the screw blank is to be performed the spindle will be revolved, but that
when the saw is called into action to cut the nick the spindle will be
at rest, but will recommend its rotation so soon as the saw is withdrawn
and the cutter approaches to re-shave the head, and this will be done
while the driving pulley is revolving continuously.
It is obvious that the arrangement here described for operating the
latch through the rod may be greatly varied, and that the same result
can be produced by combining the rod with any portion of the machine
which has a motion at the time when the connection is desired to be
broken, as for instance, with the rocker shaft which carries the shaving
tool, or with the moving carriage which carries the nicking saw, and so
arranged by a suitable system of connecting levers that as the cutter
retreats or as the saw advances the rod will be contemporaneously
moved in the proper direction to effect the disconnection.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Douglas Fox in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th October 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
DOUGLAS Fox, of Spring Gardens, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Charles Douglas Fox, Her special
licence that I, the said Charles Douglas Fox, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Douglas Fox,
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 NICKING AND DRESSING THE HEADS OF
SCREW BLANKS," a communication to me from abroad by John Howard,
_resident at New York, in the United States of America, upon the con-

page_text: dition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Douglas Fox, 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 im-
mediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Douglas Fox, do hereby
declare the nature of the said 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 relates to certain improvements in machinery for
nicking and dressing or shaving the heads of screw blanks, and is
applicable to that class of machines for making screws which combine a
nicker and a shaver in one.
The general parts of the machinery other than those for effecting the
objects of the Invention are common to many other machines.
The Invention herein described consists in the means employed for
causing the spindle in the jaws of which the screw blank is griped to be
alternately rotated and brought to a state of rest to comply with the
necessary conditions under which such screw blank must be shaved,
nicked, and reshaved.
In other machines for performing the operations of shaving and
nicking the head of a screw blank two driving pullies are commonly
used, one of which is connected with the spindle to rotate it and also
to put into action the mechanism for shaving the head of the blank,
while the other is connected with and operates the mechanism for
cutting the nick in such head, the driving belt being shifted from one
pulley to the other when the changes are to be made.
One of the chief objections which has been expressed against such
combined machines is that the proper relative operation of these two
sets of mechanism to each other cannot be relied on with certainty,
inasmuch as the same is dependent upon the question whether the
belt shifts promptly and without slippage from one pulley to the other.
The machinery is supported on a bed and the usual standards and
supports, and a main. shaft operated by a band and driving pulley gives
motion to the various parts of the machine. The spindle is mounted

page_text: in suitable bearings, and so far as the means are concerned for griping
the blank is not unlike the spindles in common use in other machines.
It is, however, peculiar in this, that it is connected with the shaft
driven by the pulley by means of a spring latch, so that at the
proper
times when the two are united the spindle will turn with the shaft,
but when the two are unlatched the spindle will be left at rest, the
axes of the spindle and shaft being coincident. The toothed wheel
which communicates motion to the principal cam shaft governing the
unlatching of the spindle, the opening and closing of the griping jaws,
and the bringing up of the nicking saw to the head of the blank, and
which also drives the shaft upon which the nicking saw is mounted
in this instance is provided with a sleeve to which the hub of the pulley
is secured. The end of this sleeve is made with a ratchet face or is
provided with equivalent notches to receive the latch which is connected
with the spindle. The rear end of the spindle also enters the hub of
the pulley, but fits so loosely as to create no friction between its surface
and the inner surface of the hub. The rear end of the spindle is
provided with a transverse slot in which is fitted a moveable latch,
the slot being of sufficient depth to allow such latch to be entirely
sheathed in the spindle when the spring which tends to force it outward
is compressed. So long as the spring is permitted to act the latch will
be engaged with a notch or notches in the end of the sleeve and the
spindle will partake of its motion, but when the latch is pushed into
the slot so far that its face does not protrude beyond the end of the
spindle all connection between the spindle and the parts in motion will
be broken, and the spindle will rest in its bearings. The axis of the
shaft is made hollow and is fitted with a rod. The forward end of this
rod is connected with the latch in any convenient way, so that by the
application of pressure to the rear end of it which protrudes beyond
the shaft the latch will be forced further into the slot and the connection
between the spindle and the driving power be broken.
The precise arrangement of the parts as here described is not essential.
Various ways may be employed for performing the same results, but
so long as they involve the use of a moveable latch or its equivalent
they will be within the principle which characterizes this Invention.
The connection between the spindle and its moving power is broken
by the following means:-The shaft on which the various cams are
mounted for effecting the different changes of movement is so timed

page_text: that it will revolve once for every thirty-two revolutions of the driving
gear, and it carries a wheel which has a projecting piece on its side.
There is also attached to the sides of the standard a fulcrum, to which
is pivoted a lever, the face of which near its upper extremity bears
against the end of a rod, and its lower end is hinged to the shaft, which
is fitted to slide endwise in bearings made in the standards of the frame.
The shaft carries a projecting arm or stud, against the surface of which
a projection on the cam wheel acts in the course of the revolution of
the latter, and causes thereby the lever to perform its functions as above
described. So long as the face of the stud continues in contact with
the projecting surface on the cam wheel the spindle will be at rest,
but so soon as the same in the course of the revolution of the shaft is
moved away from the stud pin the spring will act to re-establish
the connection between the spindle and the driving power.
It will thus be seen that while the operation of shaving the head
of the screw blank is to be performed the spindle will be revolved,
but that when the saw is called into action to cut the nick the spindle
will be at rest, but will recommence its rotation so soon as the saw
is withdrawn and the cutter approaches to reshave the head, and this
will be done while the driving pulley is revolving continuously.
It is obvious that the arrangement here described for operating the
latch through the rod may be greatly varied, and that the same result
can be produced by combining the rod with any portion of the machine
which has a motion at the time when the connection is desired to be
broken, as for instance, with the rocker shaft which carries the shaving
tool, or with the moving carriage which carries the nicking saw, and
so arranged by a suitable system of connecting levers that as the cutter
retreats or as the saw advances the rod will be contemporaneously moved
in the proper direction to effect the disconnection.
In order that the said Invention may be completely understood I
annex the accompanying Drawings and description of the same.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine for shaving, nicking, and
reshaving the heads of screw blanks; Fig. 2 is an end elevation; Fig. 3
is a plan; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section particularly shewing the
improvements to which this Invention relates; Figs. 5 and 6 are details
of the same.
A is the bed which gives support to the various parts of the machine.
Motion is given to the nulley P in the direction of the amow by means

page_text: of a belt passing around the same and from which all the various move-
ments of the machine are derived. D is the spindle mounted in suitable
bearings B, B', and so far as the means are concerned for griping the
blank is not unlike the spindles in common use in other machines.
It is, however, peculiar in this, that it is connected with the shaft D'
driven by the pulley P (Figs. 1 and 4) by means of a spring latch,
so that at the proper times when the two are united the spindle D will
turn with the shaft D', but when the two are unlatched the spindle
will be left at rest. The arrangement is shewn more clearly in Fig. 4,
where it will be seen that the axes of the spindle D and the shaft D'
are coincident. The toothed wheel O (Figs. 1, 2, 3) which communicates
motion in a way herein-after to be referred to to the principal cam shaft
governing the unlatching of the spindle, the opening and closing of
the griping jaws, and the bringing up of the nicking saw to the head
of the blank, and which also drives the shaft H upon which the nicking
saw is mounted in this instance is provided with a sleeve O' (Fig. 4),
to which the hub of the pulley P is secured. The end of this sleeve
is made with a ratchet face or is provided with equivalent notches to
receive the latch which is connected with the spindle D.
The rear
end of the spindle also enters the hub of the pulley, but fits so loosely
as to create no friction between its surface and the inner surface of
the hub. The rear end of the spindle D is provided with a transverse
slot 9,
in which is fitted a moveable latch e, the slot being of sufficient
depth to allow such latch to be entirely sheathed in the spindle when
the spring which tends to force it outward is compressed. So long
as the spring f is permitted to act the latch e will be engaged with
a notch or notches in the end of the sleeve, and the spindle will partake
of its motion; but when the latch is pushed into the slot g so far
that its face does not protrude beyond the end of the spindle all
connection between the spindle and the parts in motion will be broken,
and the spindle will rest in its bearings. In order to break this con-
nection at the proper time in the operation of the machine the following
devices and combinations are in this instance employed:-The axis
of the shaft D' is made hollow and is fitted with a rod 6 (Fig. 4). The
forward end of this rod is connected with the latch e in any convenient
way, so that by the application of pressure to the rear end of it which
protrudes beyond the shaft D' (as shewn in Fig. 1) the latch will be forced
further into the slot g and the connection between the spindle and the
driving power be broken.

page_text: In the organized machine, as herein described, the connection between
the spindle D and its moving power is broken by the following means:-
In Fig. 1, z is the shaft upon which the various cams for effecting the
different changes of movement are mounted. This shaft is so timed
that it will revolve once for every thirty-two revolutions of the driving
gear O, and it carries a wheel 2 which has a projecting piece / on its side.
There is also attached to the side of the standard B a fulcrum, to which
is pivoted the lever m, the face of which near its upper extremity bears
against the end of the rod b, and its lower end is hinged to the shaft i,
which is fitted to slide endwise in bearings made in the standards B¹
and B of the frame. The shaft i carrics a projecting arm or stud j,
against the surface of which the projection on the cam wheel / acts
in the course of the revolution of the latter, and causes thereby the
lever m to perform its functions as above described. So long as the
face of the stud i continues in contact with the projecting surface of h
the spindle D will be at rest, but as soon as the same in the course
of the revolution of the shaft z is moved away from the stud pin the
spring will act to re-establish the connection between the spindle
and the driving power. It will thus be seen that while the operation
of shaving the head of the screw blank is to be performed the spindle D
will be revolved, but that when the saw is called into action to cut
the nick the spindle will be at rest, but will recommence its rotation
so soon as the saw is withdrawn and the cutter approaches to reshave
the head, and this will be done while the driving pulley is revolving
continuously.
It is obvious that the arrangement here shewn for operating the
latch e through the rod b may be greatly varied, and that the same
result can be produced by combining the rod 6 with any portion of
the machine which has a motion at the time when the connection is
desired to be broken, as for instance, with the rocker shaft which carries
the shaving tool, or with the moving carriage which carries the nicking
and so arranged by a suitable system of connecting levers that
as the cutter retreats or as the saw advances the rod 6 will be con-
temporaneously moved in the proper direction to effect the discon-
nection.
saw,
The arrangement described is, however, considered to be the best and
simplest for the purpose.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I claim and desire to

page_text: be secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent, the uniting
the spindle D with its driving power by means of the moveable latch
connection e or its equivalent arranged and operating substantially as
described for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Douglas Fox, have hereunto 5
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of October, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
CHARLES DOUGLAS FOX. (L.S.)
Witness,
ALEX. C. M. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.