IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING CENTRAL-FIRE CARTRIDGES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Davidson, of Woolwich, in the County of.
Kent, for the Invention of."IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING
CENTRAL-FIRE CARTRIDGES."
Sealed the 25th February 1868, and dated the 21st December 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Davidson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st.
December 1867..
I, JAMES DAVIDSON, of Woolwich, in the Connty of Kent, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY POR MANUFACTURING
CENTRAL-PIRE CARTRIDGES," to be as follows:-
The chief objects of this Invention are to facilitate the manufacture of
central-fire cartridges, and to avoid the risks and dangers of explosion attendant
on their manufacture. These advantages I attain by the use of a series of
machines the nature and uses of which I will proceed to describe in consecutive
order.
But in order to the better understanding of the Invention it may be well
to illustrate the process of manufacture by reference to a well-known form-
of central-fire cartridge. For this purpose I will take the Boxer cartridge,:
which consists of a cylindrical case made of rolled paper and brass foil for
containing the powder, closed at top by a conical bullet and at bottom by a wad.
and an arrangement of metallic parts which serve to carry the percussion cap ;
and the anvil for exploding it, and provide a means by which the +exploded.

page_text: cartridge may be withdrawn from the gun. The lower end of the cylinder is
inserted in a deep metal cup formed with a central hole to allow of the inser-
tion of the cap chamber in the rear of the cartridge. Outside this cup is
placed a shallow metal cup formed with a corresponding central hole, and a
hollow wad or core is used to close the rear of the cartridge and secure these
parts together. In rear of the cups is placed a stout metal washer, and by the
application of pressure to the cap chamber, which is shaped somewhat like a
thimble, the chamber is converted into a hollow rivet, and the several parts
above mentioned are thereby connected firmly together. At the time the
rivet head is made the closed end of the chamber is pierced to form a passage
for the fire from the exploded cap. The cartridge when thus far made is
charged with powder, which is closed in by the insertion of the conical ball.
The next thing is to drop into the cap chamber an anvil, and upon this is
placed the cap. When the cap is forced down into its place the manufacture
of the cartridge is completed.
I will now describe the means by which the stout metal washer or base
washer is formed. For forming the base washers I arrange in suitable
guides carried by the table of a punching machine two, three, four, or more
sets of dies and counter dies or punches, which are brought into operation
simultaneously upon a strip of rolled metal which is fed up and past the
punches by two pairs of nipping rollers situate one pair on each side of the
machine. Fitted to guides on the table are two horizontal sliding pieces for
carrying and operating the punches and dies. The traverse of these sliding
pieces is effected by means of crank pins through loose crank arms which lie
in recesses or openings made to receive them in the sliding pieces. The
inner ends of these arms fit into steel sockets fixed in the inner ends of the
recesses, and in these sockets they are thus free to oscillate in order to impart
a pushing motion to the gliding pieces, The outer ends of the arms, or the
parts concentric with the crank pips, bear on the outer ends of the recesses
and give the back motion to the sliding pieces. The crank pins are carried
by vertical shafte driven by bevil gear from the main driving shaft. Near
the centre of the table are two vertical projections, one of which is for guiding
the hollow stems that carry the punches for cutting out discs from the sheet
metal fed into the machine; through these punches a hole is bored corre-
sponding with the hole intended to be formed in the base washer. The other
vertical projection receives the fixed dies which are placed on the inner side
between the projections, and are held in their place by a plate which receives
the outer end of the dies, and is screwed to the inner surface of the projection.
Behind each fixed die is placed a bush which acts as a guide for the punch

page_text: which punches the hole in the base washer, and behind this guide bush is
another bush having a shoulder upon it which fits into a corresponding hole
in the projection to receive the thrust of the punch when in operation. The
punches for making the central hole in the discs are fitted to stems keyed
to the other horizontal sliding piece, and they are placed and their advance so
timed as to strike at the centre of the hollow punches used to form the discs
so soon as that operation is effected. Between the vertical projections in
which the stems of the punches slide is a plate through which the larger punch
works freely, and between the plate and the fixed dies the strip of metal out
of which the base washers are punched is fed. As the large punches recede
the plate through which they pass will free them from the strip of pierced
metal. The large hollow punches in their advance pass a short distance
into the fixed dies, and the small punches are then brought in contact
with the washer and the centre hole is punched, the larger punch for this
purpose forming the die. The piece punched out passes through the hollow
socket already described. As the punch which punches the small hole
is withdrawn it carries with it the washer, which is intercepted by the face
of the guide bush already described, and being stripped off falls through
an opening made for this purpose. Over this opening is a sliding rod or
bar working close to the surface of the guide bush for the purpose of pushing
down the newly punched washer should it stick; this rod or bar is actuated by
means of a cam and rock lever and it is brought back by a spiral spring. The
washers formed as above described are now to have their central hole counter-
sunk to fit them to receive the flanged end of the hollow rivet or cap chamber,
and for this purpose they are carried to a machine provided with a rotating
table keyed to a vertical shaft which carries also a rose or dividing wheel for
regulating the amount of motion imparted to the table by a ratchet wheel
and pawl provided for that purpose. In the table is formed a series of
circular holes to receive the washers which are fed thereto by hand, and by
means of this table the washers are severally brought under the action of a
rotary cutter, by which the countersink is formed. This cutter is secured to
a hollow spindle having its bearings in a vertical sliding headstock, which is
operated through a weighted bell crank a bowl on which bears against a cam
on a transverse cam shaft. A second cam on this shaft acts upon a weighted
rock lever below the bed of the machine, and serves to bear upwards a vertical
slide whieh carries a hollow plunger or support for the washer under operation.
Affixed to the bed of the machine and immediately below the table carrying the
washers is a ring, which serves to support the washers and prevent them from
dropping away from the travelling table. The pawl which drives the ratchet

page_text: wheel before mentioned receives its motion from a groove can on the end of
the cam shaft.
After every axial movement the table is locked by a weighted
bell crank operating upon a sliding bolt and causing it to enter a recess in the
periphery of the rose wheel. The fixed ring is pierced with two holes, the one
to allow of the ascent through it of the hollow plunger and the other to permit
of the discharge through it of the countersunk washer. In front of the
vertical headstock is fixed a bridge carrying a steel bush through which the
cutting tool passes. The under side of this bush is brought as near as
possible to the surface of the rotating table, and as each washer is brought
under the centre of the vertical spindle the slide carrying the holding plunger
pushes the washer tight against the steel bush, thus gripping the washer
firmly until the cutting tool has done its work. A plunger attached to the
side of the headstock then pushes the washer out of the hole in the table and
through the fixed ring into the receiving box. For the formation of the deep
cup, the shallow cup, and the cartridge chamber I use machines of similar
construction, the only difference being that each is provided with punches and
dies suitable for special duties; the same description will therefore suffice for
these several machines. The machine first punches out from a strip of metal
two, three, or more dises, according to its capabilities of working, and then
strikes up or forms the disc into a cup at the same stroke of the machine.
The general characteristics of this machine correspond somewhat with that
described for punching the disc for the base washer, but instead of a crank
pin and loose arm for working the hollow panch a cam is used, which rotates
in a recess or opening formed in the sliding piece that carries the hollow
punched socket. The smaller or cupping punch which strikes up the metal and
thrusts the converted disc into the hollow punch (ready for being discharged
at the rear of the hollow punch socket) is carried by a sliding piece which
receives its motion from a crank pin and pushing arm as in the first described
machine. Near the centre of the table which is made of strong cast iron are
two vertical projections. The projection nearest the slide actuated by the
cam forms a fixed guide for the socket to slide through. The other vertical
projection upon the table receives a fixed die corresponding to the hollow
punch already described. One end of a socket is fitted into this die and is
provided with a collar immediately behind the die. The socket extends
behind. this collar and is surrounded by a strong coiled spring. Behind this
spring is a bush screwed into the vertical projection of the table for the
purpose of receiving the pressure of this spiral spring, and it can be adjusted
so as to regulate the amount of pressure. Through this adjustable socket nut
and the socket which is surrounded by thie coiled spring passes the cupping to

page_text: or punch; this punch is attached to the socket held in the horizontal sliding
piece which is actuated by the crank pin or excentric. The strip of metal
from which the cups are formed is placed in position between the punches and
dies. The hollow punch moved by the cam punches out the disc, and in doing
so pushes back the socket which is held up by the spring, thus placing the
punched disc slightly within the die. The cam continues to bold it in the grip
between the punch and socket against the spring until the cupping punch
actuated by the crank pin moves forward and forms its into a cup by forcing
it back into the hollow punch. During this operation the disc is gradually
withdrawn from the grip of the hollow punch and spring socket, and the
metal is thus prevented from crimping or puckering on the upper edge of the
cup. The punch which forms the cup continues its onward course until
the edge of the cup is driven into a wider part of the hollow punch, when it
slightly expands and remains in the socket of the hollow punch until pushed
out at the rear end by the accumulation of cups therein. There is a
guide plate to keep the metal in position, and a stripping plate to draw the
punched strip off the hollow punch, and the mode of feeding in the strip of
metal is similar to that described with respect to the first machine.
The machine above described when fitted with suitable dies will finish the
deep and shallow cups, but in order to give the requisite depth to the cap
chamber it is to be submitted to the well-known process of drawing down.
For this purpose any suitable and approved machinery may be employed...
When the cap chamber is sufficiently drawn the rough edge is to be trimmed off;
this I effect by the use of a machine specially designed for the purpose. The
cap-chambers to be operated upon are fed by hand into a ring of holes in a
circular plate mounted vertically and receiving an intermittent axial motion
from a pawl and ratchet wheel. In front of this plate is a pin or plunger
carried by a sliding block which moves in guides on the face of the table and
receives its reciprocating motion from an excentric on a transverse shaft.
The motion thus g. the sliding block enables the plunger to push out
the
cap chamber the vertical plate in regular succession and place them
in a rotating chuck situate on the opposite side of the plate. When held in
the chuck a cutter carried by a transverse slide advances and trims the
rough edge of the chamber, after which it retires, leaving the chamber to he
discharged from the machine; this is effected by means of a plunger which
passes through the spindle carrying the-chuck, and is advanced at the proper
moment by its being connected with the sliding block that carries the plunger
for forcing the chamber. out of the vertical plate; the return motion of the
one plunger prior to repeating. its action will therefore be contemporaneous
J
:

page_text: The cap
with the advance of the other plunger to act as above described.
chamber thus far prepared is now ready to have its lip turned over to form a
flange (which operation completes the formation of the cap chamber) prior
to its application to the cartridge case. Two, three, or more cap chambers
may be simultaneously flanged by one operation of the machine depending
upon the number of flanging tools and dies employed. The flanging tools are
fixed in a vertical slide which moves in suitable guides, and is actuated by a
crank shaft to which it is connected by a link. Immediately below these
tools dies are provided in the bed of the machine to receive the cap chambers
to be flanged and sustain them under pressure; these dies are entered at
bottom by plungers which serve to push the cap chambers out of the dies;
these plungers are operated by a hinged lever frame which embraces them
below fixed collars, and is connected by a link bar to the slide carrying the
flanging tools; the action therefore of these tools and the plungers will
alternate. A fixed plate pierced with holes is provided to facilitate the
insertion of the cap chamber in the machine; below this plate is situate a
forked plate fitted with spring clips which are intended when brought imme-
diately under the holes in the fixed plate to receive the cap chambers and
present them to the dies; this forked plate is carried by a traversing bar
fitted with a bowl which bears against a face cam keyed to the crank shaft
before mentioned. The bowl of this traversing bar is held up to the cam by
means of a weighted crank lever, and when forced forward by the cam to its
utmost limit the spring clips of the forked plate will be brought to coincide
with the holes in the fixed plate; when in this position the cap chambers
guided by the holes of the fixed plate may be readily inserted in the clips.
The return motion of the traversing bar will bring the cap chambers over the
dies, and the flanging tools in their descent will thrust the chambers into
the dies and form the desired flanges. The ascent of the slide carrying the
flanging tools will bring up the plungers, which entering the dies will
discharge the cap chambers from the dies, and by means of fingers to which a
lateral motion is given they will be swept off into suitable receptacles.
For the closing of the rear of the cartridge case 1 have said that a wad is
used, this is commonly made of a strip of paper rolled up on a spindle to the
required diameter, it is however requisite to compress the wad before apply-
ing it to the case, and for this purpose I have contrived the following
machine A circular table formed with a ring of circular holes to receive
the wads is provided for bringing the wads in succession under the action of a
compressing tool carried by a vertical slide. An intermittent axial motion is
given to the table by a pawl working into the teeth of a ratchet wheel keyed

page_text: to the vertical axle of the table or by a star wheel, as hereafter described, and
the slide is worked by a link rod from a horizontal crank shaft. Below the
circular table and in a line with the compressing tool is a die in which is
fitted a plunger which forms the bottom of the die. This plunger is carried
by a hollow ród or socket, connected to the lower end of which is a cross bar;
this cross bar rests on nuts carried by two vertical rods which slide through
holes in the bed of the machine and are pendent from a cross pin in the upper
part of the vertical slide. The rise and fall of the plunger is dependent
therefore on the rise and fall of the slide. This plunger is made hollow to
receive a fixed pin (carried by a bracket arm), which pin is intended to enter
the central hole in the wad and act as a core during its compression. When
the table has brought a wad under the compressing tool that tool will descend
and force the wad into the fixed die (the plunger being at the time at its
lowest position and leaving the pin exposed to receive the wad). The hip
which the wad receives in the die between the compressing tool and the
plunger will compress it to the required extent. The compressing tool will
then rise out of the die, and its slide will raise the plunger and cause it to
discharge the wad from the die and return it to the hole in the table. The
next motion of the table will carry the wad forward over a hole in the bed of
the machine, down which it will fall to a suitable receptacle. The wad
having been prepared as above described is next to be inserted in its place
in the cartridge case and subjected to pressure, whereby it is converted into
a tight hollow core and enabled to connect together the several parts forming
the cartridge. To this end the several parts above described are properly
assembled and the cartridge is submitted to a compressing machine having a
suitably shaped compressing tool, which will enter the case and compress the
wad without affecting the central cap chamber. This tool is mounted in a
vertical sliding bar fitted in guides and receiving a reciprocating motion
through a link rod from a horizontal crank shaft. The cartridges are fed up
to the compressing tool by a circular table, which receives an intermittent
motion through a star wheel connected to its boss and a pinion actuated from
the main driving shaft. In the periphery of the table vertical half-round
recesses are formed at equal distances apart to receive the cartridges, which
are supplied thereto by hand. A fixed segment guide reaching half-way
round the table or nearly so serves to retain the cartridges in their place. As
the cartridges are severally brought up to the compressing tool a horizontal
slide recessed to correspond with the half-rounds of the table is advanced by
means of a face cam mounted on the crank shaft, and acting upon a bowle
fitted to the rear of the slide. This cam forces the slide into contact with the

page_text: table and prevents the cartridge from "giving" laterally under the pressure
.put by the tool on the wad. While the cartridge is thus held firmly the
compressing tool descends, enters the cartridge, and pressing on the wad
causes it to expand laterally sufficiently to bind the several parts together
and make a tight joint. As soon as the tool has risen clear of the cartridge
a weighted bell-crank lever, which serves to keep the slide in contact with its
..cam, will then come into action and draw back the slide. The cartridge
being thus released may now be removed from the machine and submitted to
the rivetting operation. The machine used for this purpose serves not only
.for rivetting but also for perforating the cap chamber, the first-mentioned
operation being intended to secure the parts together, and the latter to
provide an opening for the escape of the fire of the percussion cap. The
machine is fitted with a vertical reciprocating bar which works in suitable
slides, and carries at its lower end the tools required to rivet and perforate
the cap chambers. The cartridge cases in the state they leave the last-
described machine are supplied to the rivetting machine by hand and
deposited upon hollow vertical studs set in a ring in a horizontal table, to
which an intermittent axial motion is given by means of a star wheel and
pinion. The hollow studs correspond with the slots or divisions in the
periphery of the star wheel, and project sufficiently above the surface of the
table to allow the cartridge cases to be put upon them with the base upwards.
The upper end of these studs are shaped so as to rivet the end of the cap
chamber inside the case upon the paper wad. The vertical reciprocating bar
carries a round steel instrument about the diameter of the outside of the
cartridge case, and has a short projection which fits the cap chamber, and when
brought down by the action of the machine forces the closed end of the cap
chamber into the hollow part formed at the upper end of the socket, and
rivets it upon the paper wad. By the side of the rivetting tool on the vertical
reciprocating bar a needle-like punch or piercing tool is fixed for the purpose
of punching the firing hole in the cap chamber last rivetted. This piercing
tool acts upon the cap chamber after the rivetting has been effected, the next
axial movement of the table bringing the rivetted chamber under the action of
the piercing tool. A guard is placed over the cartridge cases under operation
to prevent the punches from drawing them off the sockets when the punches
are rising. The cartridges as they leave this machine are ready to be charged
with powder and have the bullet inserted. This operation having been
.effected in the ordinary way the cartridge is ready to receive the cap, the
insertion of which in the cap chamber is a somewhat delicate operation. To
effect this with expedition and without, the risk of danger to the operators I

page_text: cse an arrangement of machinery for fitting the cap in its place. The
machine admits of modification, but in its simplest form it consists of a
circular horizontal table recessed at its periphery to receive the cartridges.
This table is mounted on a stud axle projecting from the bed of the machine,
and it receives an intermittent axial motion from a pinion working into a ring
of internal star wheel teeth cast with the table. Surrounding the table for
nearly the whole of its periphery is a concentric guard which serves to keep
the inserted cartridges in place, but at the part where this guard is wanting
there is an inclined guide for forcing them out of the recesses of the table and
discharging them from the machine. The cartridges are fed into the machine
by a boy standing at one side thereof who drops them into the recesses, the
base washer uppermost, and by this washer they are suspended on the table.
At the end of the machine a second boy stands and drops into the cap
chamber of the inverted cartridges as they come round a small anvil formed
with a shoulder to receive the edge of the percussion cap.
At the opposite
side of the machine to that at which the cartridges are fed in is a third boy
who drops a cap upon the anvil, and the cartridge is then in a state to receive
a
plunger or depressing tool, which forces down the cap to the desired position
in the cap chamber. The depressing tool is carried by a vertical sliding bar
which works in guides, and is operated by a crank pin through the inter-
vention of a rock lever and link rods. As the cartridges are severally brought
in a line with the depressing tool that tool descends and forces down the cap
upon the anvil a certain regulated distance, the percussion being kept clear
of the anvil. All chance of an explosion taking place while the machine is in
proper working order is therefore avoided, but to meet the case of pressure
being put on the cap through negligence or accident sufficient to explode it,
provision is made for the harmless escape of the bullet. In the bed of the
machine immediately below the depressing tool a hole is made, and below this
hole is situate a strong tube, which may lead to any distant or safe receptacle.
On the accidental firing therefore of a cartridge under treatment no injury
can possibly arise to the attendants. When the cap is properly placed in the
cap chamber the cartridge is brought round to an incline, which pushes it out
of the recess in the table into an adjacent shute, whence it falls into a suitable
receptacle. A treadle may be used for giving motion to this machine.
The above-described arrangement admits of modification by the use of two
circular tables or discs placed so that one slightly overlaps the other. In the
modified arrangement the upper table is recessed to receive the cartridges; as
above explained, but the position of the cartridges in the machine is reversed,
the base being downwards. The other disc is provided with holes to receive

page_text: the caps which are fed in by hand, the anvils being dropped in the caps.
The two or discs rotate together and intermittently, and a plunger from
below lifts the caps in succession up into and forces them home in the cap
chambers as the cartridges are severally brought into line with the plunger.
A safety pipe is used in this machine, but instead of being below it is placed
above the table. This machine will require fewer attendants than that first
described, the insertion of the caps in their respective chambers being
automatic.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Davidson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th June 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
DAVIDSON, of Woolwich, in the County of Kent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria; by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant tinto mé,
the said James Davidson, Her special licence, that I, the said James Davidson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Davidson, 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 "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MANU-
FACTURING CENTRAL-FIRE CARTRIDGES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
.I, the said James Davidson, 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 James Davidson, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-

page_text: The chief objects of this Invention are to facilitate the manufacture of
central-fire cartridges, and to avoid the risks and dangers of explosion
attendant on their manufacture. These advantages I attain by the employ-
ment of a series of machines, the nature and uses of which I will describe in
consecutive order.
But to the more perfect understanding of the Invention it may be well
to illustrate the process of manufacture by reference to a well-known form of
central-fire cartridge. For this purpose I will take the Boxer cartridge,
which consists of a cylindrical case made of rolled paper and brass foil for
containing the powder closed at top by a conical bullet and at bottom by a
wad and an arrangement of metallic parts which serve both to carry the
percussion cap and the anvil for exploding it, and provide a means by which
the exploded cartridge may be withdrawn from the gun.
In Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings is a diagram of the Boxer
cartridge in partial section, drawn to an enlarged scale the better to exhibit
the component parts thereof. The cylinder or case for containing the powder
is shewn at 1, 1. The lower end of this cylinder is inserted in a deep metal
cup 2 formed with a central hole to allow of the insertion of the cap chamber 3
in the rear of the cartridge. To strengthen this cup there is placed outside
it a shallow metal cup 4 formed with a corresponding central hole to admit of
the placing of the cap chamber 3 and a hollow wad or core 5 is used to close
the rear of the cartridge and secure these parts together. In rear of the cups
is placed a stout metal washer 6, and by the application of pressure to the cap
chamber 8 which is shaped somewhat like a thimble the chamber is converted
into a hollow rivet and the several parts above mentioned are thereby con-
nected firmly together, as shewn in the diagram. At the time that the rivet
head is made the closed end of the chamber is pierced to form a passage for
the fire from the exploded cap. The cartridge when thus far made is charged
with powder, which is closed in by the insertion of the conical ball 7 in the
open end of the case and its attachment thereto. The next thing is to drop
into the cap chamber an anvil 8, and upon this is placed the percussion cap 9,
or the two may be inserted together. When the cap is forced into its place
in the cap chamber the manufacture of the cartridge is completed.
Having thus briefly pointed out the nature of the manufacture to which my
improvements refer I will proceed to explain, by reference to the accompanying
Drawings, the construction of the machinery which I propose to employ in
facilitating the manufacture of central-fire cartridges.
In Sheet I. of the Drawings the machine for punching the base washer is
shewn in several views. Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 iş

page_text: a plan view; Fig. 3 is an end elevation; and Fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal
section taken in the line of the axis of one of the sets of dies and punches.
This machine it will be seen provides for the punching of but two washers at
a time, but it may when desired be arranged with three, four, or more sets-of
dies and punches to produce a corresponding number of washers simultaneously.
For the formation of each washer one fixed die and two punches are required,
the latter being caused to approach the metal to be punched at opposite sides
thereof and to act upon the metal in rapid succession. The punches are fitted
to horizontal sliding pieces set opposite each other, and they are brought
forward to operate upon a strip of rolled metal fed up and past the punches by
nipping rollers, so that not only is the disc for forming the washer punched out
of the sheet of rolled metal fed to the machine but the centre is struck out
before the release of the disc from the parallel part of the fixed cutting die,
thus insuring the central hole being concentric with the disc. Referring to
the Figures in Sheet I., A, A, is a strong framing of cast iron carrying a heavy
cast-iron table B, B, furnished with two projections B', B³, and bosses to carry
the working parts of the machine. In suitable bearings in the frame A, A, is
mounted the driving shaft C, which is fitted with fast and loose belt pullies
and a fly wheel. On this shaft there are also keyed two bevil- pinions D, D,
which take into bevil wheels E, E¹, keyed respectively on the lower ends of
two short vertical shafts F and F¹, which serve to transmit motion to the
sliding pieces that carry the punches. The shaft F¹ carries at its upper end a
crank pin, to which is fitted loosely one end of an oscillating pusher G. The
end of the pusher which is concentric with the crank pin bears against a steel
bush let into one end of an opening made in the horizontal sliding piece H¹ to
receive the pusher G¹. The other end of the pusher is rounded and bears
against a brass pad let into the opposite end of the opening in the sliding
piece. The rotation therefore of the shaft I will cause the pusher to impart
a traverse motion to the sliding piece H³, and thereby operate the punches
which it carries. In like manner the vertical shaft F is provided with a
crank pin for operating an oscillating pusher G, which works in an opening in
the sliding piece H, for the purpose of traversing it to and fro. This pusher G,
like the pusher G³, rocks in a steel bush fitted in the inner end of the
opening in the sliding piece H, and bears against a brass pad fitted at the
outer end of the opening, so that the rotation of the shaft F will ensure the
traverse of the sliding piece H with its punches. The sliding pieces H, H',
work in suitable slides on the upper side of the cast-iron table B, and at their
inner ends they severally carry a vertical projection h, h'. The projection
on the sliding piece H carries the sockets a, which are fixed with clamping

page_text: nuts to allow of their receiving an endway adjustment; the other end of
these sockets a slides in the vertical projection B¹ on the table B. The
inner end of each socket a is bored out conically (see Fig. 4) for the
purpose of receiving a hollow punch 6, the external diameter of which
corresponds to the diameter of the washer to be made, while its internal
diameter corresponds to the hole to be punched in the washer. The
sliding piece H¹ carries short sockets c (see Fig. 4) which are also made
adjustable eudways by means of clamping nuts. The forward end of each of
these sockets is fitted with a punch holder c', in which is secured a punch d,
the diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of hole intended to be
made in the washer. In the vertical projection B of the table B are fitted
cutting dies e, which are held in place by a plate f secured by screws or
otherwise to the inner side of the projection B. Behind each fixed die and
in contact therewith is placed a bush e¹ which acts as a guide for the punch
holder c', and behind this guide bush is another bush e, having a shoulder
upon it which fits against a corresponding shoulder formed in the projec-
tion B³ to receive the thrust of the punch 6 when in operation. Between the
vertical projections B¹, B³, is a plate I through which the punches b work
freely, and between the plate and the fixed dies e the strip of metal out of
which the base washers are to be punched is fed. The hollow punches 6 as
they advance to the fixed cutting dies will severally punch out a disc of metal
from the strip fed into the machine and thrust it a short distance into the
fixed dies, and as they recede the plate I will free them from the strip of
pierced metal. When the punches 6 have advanced and punched out the discs
they will remain for a time quiescent in their advanced position. The small
punches & will then advance, and coming in contact with their respective discs
while in the parallel part of the dies will punch the centre hole therein, the
punches 6 for this purpose forming dies for resisting the pressure of the
punches d. The centres of the discs as they are punched out are thrust into
the hollow punch b, whence by their accumulation they are discharged into
and through the hollow socket a. As the punches d are withdrawn they will
carry with them the washers which are intercepted by the face of the guide
bush e, and being stripped off the punches they will fall through an opening
made for this purpose between the die e and bush e². Over this opening is a
small vertical opening for the admission of a sliding rod or bar g, which works
close to the surface of the guide bush e, for the purpose of pushing down the
newly punched washer should it stick. This rod or bar g is actuated in the
following manner :-The rods g, g, are carried by a cross bar g¹ affixed to a
vertical guide rol 9. This guide rod extends down through the table B and

page_text: is jointed at its lower end to one extremity of a rock lever K, having for its
fulcrum a pin on the framing A. This rock lever carries a bowle, which bears
upon a face cam formed on the back of the spur wheel E. When by the
rotation of the cam a projection is brought under the bowle the rock lever K
will be caused to draw down the guide rod 93 and bring the rods 9, 9, into
action, but so soon as this projection has passed the bowle a coiled spring
connected to the guide rod and to a fixed point will by its expansion lift the
rods to their quiescent position. The rollers for traversing the metal strip
through the machine to bring it under the action of the punches are shewn at
L, L, L, L; they consist of two pairs of geared nipping rollers driven from
an excentric M on the shaft F; fitted to this excentric is an excentric strap
and arm m, shewn in dots at Fig. 2. This arm is jointed to one extremity of a
crank lever m¹, which is mounted on a fixed fulcrum pin pendent from the
table (see Fig. 2), the other extremity of this crank lever is socketted to a
transverse bar m²; to the opposite ends of this bar m² are jointed two rocking
frames which embrace ratchet wheels l¹ keyed respectively to the lower ends
of the axles of the rollers L' and L. The rocking frames are mounted loosely
on these axles as their fulcrums, and they severally carry a pawle or ratchet P³,
which take into the, teeth of their respective ratchet wheels. It will now be
understood that as the shaft F¹ rotates an intermittent axial motion will be
given to the nipping rollers, and the strip of metal will be fed into and passed
through the machine at the speed required for bringing a fresh surface up
under the action of the advancing punches. N is a hand lever for starting
and stopping the machine; its fulcrum rod is fitted with a brake N¹ for
operating upon the fly wheel, and by means of a sliding rod, which is jointed
to the hand lever, and which carries the strap guide, the shifting of the strap
from the fast to the loose pulley, and the raising of the brake to stop the
machine will be simultaneously effected. The washers formed as above
described are now to have their central hole countersunk to fit them to
receive the flanged end of the hollow rivet or cap chamber. This operation
is effected by the machine shewn in several views in Sheet II. of the
Drawings. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation, partly in section, of the
countersinking machine; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a front
or end elevation; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged diagram, shewing the counter-
sinking tool and the parts for holding the washer when presented to the cutter.
A, A, are standards, which serve to support the bed B of the machine; C, C,
are brackets for carrying the driving shaft C, on which are mounted the fast
and loose belt pulleys D, D. Keyed on the driving shaft is a bevil wheel a,
which takes into a similar wheel a¹ on a vertical shaft E. This shaft works

page_text: through a spur
in the socket or hollow standard E¹ (see the dotted lines in Fig. 1) and carries
at its upper end a strap pulley b for driving the cutting tool, to which the
washers to be countersunk are presented by a circular table to which an inter-
mittent axial motion is given, as will be presently explained. F is a hollow
bracket bolted on the upper side of the bed B, and having slides in front in
which a headstock G is free to move vertically. This headstock is fitted
with bearings to carry a hollow spindle c. To this spindle the cutter d
which is intended to perform the countersinking operation is fitted, and the
spindle and cutter are driven by means of a band which passes from the
pulley 6 on the shaft E to a pulley & keyed on the upper end of the spindle c.
H is a bell-crank lever mounted on a stud in the bracket F, and taking
into a socket in the headstock G. This bell crank carries at its pendent end
a bowle which is held by a weighted cord e in contact with a cam or excentric g.
mounted on the transverse shaft h; the bell crank is therefore caused to
rock, and thereby raise the headstock with its cutting tool by the pressure of
the rotating cam or excentric on the bowle of the bell crank. The cam shaft h
is. mounted in bearings in the bed B, B, and it is driven
wheel (keyed to one end of the shaft) in gear with a pinion on the boss
of the band pulley k, which pulley is mounted loosely on a stud axle Z. The
pulley k is driven by a band from the pulley m-on the end of the driving shaft C.
The cam shaft h carries at its outer end a grooved cam n (see Fig. 2)
which is used to give the intermittent axial motion to the table which
presents the washers to the cutting tool. In the groove of the cam n is a pin
projecting from a rock lever having for its fulcrum a pin carried by a
bracket attached to the table of the machine. The opposite end of the lever
to that connected with the cam is connected by means of a rod o¹ to a pawle
arm o which carries a pawle o³ for actuating a ratchet wheel o'. This ratchet
wheel is keyed on the lower end of a vertical shaft I which is mounted in
suitable bearings on the bed B, and carries at its upper end (which projects
through the bed) the rotary table. The table is composed of a "rose"
dividing wheel I and an annular plate I fitted to the upper side of the rose
wheel. The edge of this table corresponds in thickness or nearly so with
the thickness of the base washer, and it is provided with a ring of holes
which are intended to receive the washers to be operated upon. Below the
rotary table 1 and made fast to the bed B is a flanged ring block K, which
serves to close the holes of the table and keep the washers in place as
they are moved round to the cutting tool. The washers as they are brought.
up to the cutting tool pass under a fixed bar or bridge F¹ cast with or
affixed to the bracket F, and so situate with respect to the thin portion or
or

page_text: periphery of the table as to leave just room enough for its passage between
the bar F and the fixed ring block K: A hole is made through this. bar to
allow of the descent of the cutting tool d through it to act upon the washer
below. This hole is fitted with a hardened steel bush (see Fig. 4) to receive
the upward pressure put on the washers for the purpose of holding them
firmly when under the action of the countersinking tool. p is a sliding bar,
one end of which passes through the ring block K, and is shaped to take into
the divisions of the rose wheel and lock the table after every axial movement;
q is a weighted bell-crank lever, the upper end of which enters a slot in the
sliding bar p and serves to hold it in contact with the rose or locking wheel.
The divisions of the rose wheel correspond in number with the holes in the
annular plate to receive the base washer. A hole is made in the ring block K
to receive a vertical socket L which is intended to hold the washers as they
are respectively brought under it in close contact with the steel bush of the
fixed bar F while they are under the action of the cutting tool. The
socket L is carried by a sliding piece M fitted in guides in a bracket N affixed
to the bed of the machine. In the lower end of this sliding piece is a loop r,
which is held in place by the set screw and adjusted vertically by the nut ³.
O is a lever keyed on a rock shaft P, which shaft is supported by brackets Q
bolted to opposite sides of the bed. One end of this lever takes into a cross
piece which passes through the loop r, and the other end carries a friction
bowle which is brought into contact with the cam R by means of the weight S
pendent from the rock lever O. The cutting tool or drill d is secured and-
made adjustable in its hollow spindle c in the following manner :-The lower
end of the spindle is coned out to receive a split or divided cone d' which
serves to grip the tool, and the exterior of the spindle is screwed to receive a
nut d. An internal shoulder of this nut bears upon a shoulder of the divided
cone d', and thus as the nut is screwed up it will cause the cone to bind
tightly against the tool d and hold it firmly in place. In rear of the tool d
is a rod the upper end of which is borne against by a screw d* tapped in
the hollow spindle c.. In order to adjust the tool to its work the nut d® is
first slackened, and the set screw d' is turned to force down the rod and tool
or to provide for their being raised (as the case may be) and when the adjust-
ment is effected the nut d³ is screwed up tight as before. A lock nut is fitted
to the adjusting screw to retain it in its adjusted position: It will now be
understood that on motion being cominunicated to the driving shaft C and the
washers being fed by the attendant into the holes of the rotating table the
washers will be presented in regular succession to the tool d, which will descend
and countersink the washer and then rise to allow of its removal, the washer

page_text: during the operation being held fast between the steel bush of the fixed
bar F and the socket L. When the pressure of the socket L is removed
from the washer the table 13 is turned to bring a fresh washer under the
action of the tool d and a finished washer is at the same time brought over a
vertical hole in the block K to be discharged. In line with this hole is a
plunger d which is carried by a bracket arm attached to the slide G. The
descent therefore of the slide to bring the tool d into action will cause the
punger d to drive the finished washer down through the block into a
receptacle placed to receive it. For the formation of the deep cup, the
shallow cup, and the cup for conversion into the cap chamber, I use
machines of similar construction, the only difference being that each is pro-
vided with punches and dies suitable for its special duties, the same description.
will therefore suffice for the machines used for these several purposes.
The machine first punches out from a long strip of metal fed thereto two,
three, or more discs simultaneously according to its capabilities of working,
and then strikes up or forms the discs into cups at the same stroke of the
machine. The general characteristics of this machine correspond somewhat
with that described for punching the disc for the base washer, but instead of
a crank pin and loose arm for working the hollow punch a cam is used
which rotates in a recess or opening formed in the sliding piece that carries
the hollow punch socket. The cupping machine shewn in Sheet III. is
fitted with dies and punches for cutting out and shaping the cup which is to
form what I have termed the cap chamber or the receptacle for the per-
cussion cap.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine constructed to form four cap chambers
or cups simultaneously; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is
an end elevation, and Fig. 4 is a partial sectional elevation taken through the
centre of a set of dies and punches. I have said that this machine greatly
resembles that described with reference to Sheet I. I shall therefore for the
like parts referring to
sake of brevity use the same reference letters for the
the foregoing description for such details of description as may be wanting in
the present explanation of the construction and use of those parts.
The main framing A carries the bed B which is furnished with vertical
projecting blocks B1, B2, that form fixed guides for the punches and cupping
tools; opposite these blocks are mounted the sliding pieces H, I, by whose
traversing motions the punches are brought into action and withdrawn from
their work. Motion is communicated to the sliding pieces from the driving
shaft C, which by means of bevil pinions D drives the bevil wheels E, E',

page_text: keyed respectively on the vertical shafts F, F¹, the former of which through
a cam or excentric G works the sliding piece H, and the latter through a
crank pin and a socketted oscillating pusher G¹ works the sliding piece .H'.
Made fast by clamping screws to vertical projections h, h¹, of these sliding
pieces are the hollow sockets a, a, a, a, and c, c, c, c. The sockets a carry
the punches 6 for striking out the discs of metal by the aid of fixed dies 6.
fitted into the block B, and held in place by the plate f, and fitted into the
sockets c, and made fast thereto by their screwed ends are stems c¹ which carry
the small cupping tools or punches d for giving the cup shape to the disc;.
inside the several dies e a socket is fitted. This socket has a collar.
behind the die e and in rear of this collar and surrounding the socket is a
strong helical spring e³, one end of which presses against the collar and the
other against an adjustable socket nut screwed into the cast-iron. pro-
jection B³, the turning of which nut will regulate the pressure of the spring
upon the socket. Passing through the socket and free to move therein is.
the cupping tool d which is screwed into its holder c¹. In order to adjust
the stem or holder the clamping nuts which secure it to the sliding
piece H¹ are turned to the right or the left, and the tool d will thus be
advanced or drawn back relatively to the sliding piece H¹, so that it may
when brought into action indent the disc and form it into a cup of the
requisite depth. The hollow punches 6 work freely through the plate I- which
serves to strip the metal from the punches after the discs to form the cups.
are punched out of them; L is a spool which carries the strip of metal (rolled-
into a coil) for the punches and dies to operate upon. This coil of metal is
slipped into its place by first lifting off the top plate. L' is a guide through
which the strip of metal passes on its way to the punches and dies; and
I T³, are a pair of drag rollers geared together for the purpose of delivering
the inched strip out of the machine; these rollers are mounted in the
headstock O. One of the pairs of bushes in which the rollers rotate is made
to slide, and for pressing these bushes forward a spring is used, its pressure-
being adjusted by the set screw m. The drag rollers have an intermittent
rotary motion given to them by means of the internal cam n (Fig. 2) keyed
on the vertical shaft F'; this cam actuates the bar o through the friction bowle
and stud p, p, carried at one end of the bar o. The opposite end of this
bar o is jointed to one end of the rocking lever 9 mounted on the stud r:fixed
on the under side of the bed or table B. The other end of the lever g actuates
by a radial rack the lever s (Fig. 3), which is provided with a corresponding
radial rack. The lever s is mounted upon the lower end of the-axis of the
g

page_text: roller L, and carries a pawle which takes into the ratchet wheel t keyed on
one end of the axle of the roller L. The brake N¹ for stopping the rotation
of the fly wheel and driving shaft C is operated through a crank handle N
fitted to a spindle which carries a spur pinion in gear with a rack formed on
the belt shifter rod N³, which rod is jointed to an arm on the brake spindle.
It will now be understood that if motion is given to the strap pulleys the
bevil pipions D on the shaft C will drive the wheels on the vertical shafts F
and F, and thereby through the connections before described impart a to-
and-fro motion to the sliding pieces H and H¹; the hollow punches 6 will
then advance and severally punch out a disc of metal and place it in the
die e set opposite thereto, pressing the disc at the same time hard against the
socket within the die, as shewn in the enlarged detached section Fig. 5.
The spring will thus be brought into action, and the disc will by its pressure
be firmly held between the punch 6 and socket e¹. The cupping tool d will
now advance and strike the centre of the disc, and dragging it out of the grip
of the punch and socket, as shewn at Fig. 6, will force it in the shape of a cup
into the central hole in the punch b, as the cupping tool continues in its advance
to act upon the disc while yet it is firmly held as explained the metal will
have no tendency to crimp or pucker at the edge and thus a smooth cup
will be formed. This gripping of the metal is therefore very important and
indeed essential to the production of good work. As the cup is forced onwards
by the cupping tool the outer edge of the cup will reach a recessed part
or enlarged internal diameter of the hollow punch 6, and on the return stroke
of the cupping tool the shoulder formed by the recess will strip the newly
formed cup off the end of the cupping tool. By the accumulation of cups
within the punch 6 the foremost ones will be continually pushed forward and
through the socket a, whence they will be finally discharged into any suitable
receptacle. The machine above described when fitted with suitable dies will
suffice to finish.the deep and shallow cups, but in order to give the requisite
depth to the cup which is to form the cap chamber the cup is to be submitted
to the well-known process of drawing down, which operation may be effected
by any suitable or approved arrangement of machinery.
The eap chamber having been sufficiently drawn, the next operation is to
trim off the rough edge. This I effect by the use of the machine shewn in
Sheet IV.., wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the trimming
machine; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 an end elevation; and
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view.
Mounted upon standards A, A, is the bed B of the machine, which carries

page_text: most of the working parts. C is the driving shaft mounted in suitable.
bearings carried by the standards; keyed upon the shaft C is a strap-pulley D,
which drives by means of a strap a pulley on a hollow spindle a; this spindle
is mounted in suitable bearings in the headstock E, and is intended to carry a
chuck for holding the drawn cup under the action of the trimming tool. This.
tool may either be a rotary cutter mounted on a sliding piece, which will
admit of its being advanced to and withdrawn from its work, or a chisel cutter
may be used, as shewn at Fig. 2. The cups are fed into the machine by
hand, a circular disc pierced with a ring of holes and receiving an inter-
mittent axial motion being used to bring the cups into a line with the chuck,
into which they are thrust by the advance of a stud or plunger, as will be
hereafter described. F is a pulley on the end of the shaft C for driving a
pulley mounted on a stud fixed in the bed, and having a spur pinion on its
boss; this pinion takes into a spur wheel c, keyed on the outer end of a shaft d,
which has its bearing in the bed. On the inner end of this shaft is a. bevil
pinion e, which takes into a bevil wheel f keyed upon a transverse cam shaft g,
from which the motions for rotating the feeding disc and advancing and with-
drawing the trimming tool are derived. h is an excentric also keyed upon
the shaft g and working in the strap of a connecting rod i, which rod is
jointed to a rocking lever j (see Fig. 1); this rocking lever is mounted upon
the bark supported in the bed B. To the upper end of this rocking leverj
äre jointed links 7, which connect it to a sliding piece G moving in suitable
slides upon the bed B; this sliding piece carries a stud m, and the outer end
of this stud is made to fit the drawn cup or cap chamber, so that when it is
advanced to the feed plate or dise it will enter the cup presented to it, and
thrusting it out of the disc transfer it to the chuck provided to receive it. A
rod I attached to this sliding piece G passes through the headstock E, and is
free to slide therein. On the outer end of this rod is fixed the cross piece J,
which carries a plunger fitted into the hollow spindle a. This plunger is for
the purpose of pushing out the drawn cups when they have been trimmed.
On one end of the transverse cam shaft g is keyed the cam n, which actuates
the rock lever o. Jointed to the upper end of this lever o is a connecting
rod p, which is jointed to a rock lever 9; this rock lever is pivotted on a
horizontal shafts mounted in bracket bearings carried by the headstock E.
The rock lever carries a pawle, which takes into a ratchet wheel r keyed upon
the shaft 8. On the outer end of the shaft s is keyed the disc or circular feed
plate t, which is pierced with a ring of holes (see Fig. 3) to receive the cups
to be trimmed, the same being fed in by the attendant. These holes are

page_text: situate near the outer edge of the disc, and correspon in number with the
teeth on the ratchet wheel 1. Behind this feed plate t is a fixed plate t*
mado fast to the table, and fitted with a hole, the axis of which is in a line
with that of the spindle a. This plate serves to support the cup during its
transference from the rotating plate to the chuck. On the opposite end of the
cam shaft g to that which carries the cam n is another cam u, which actuates
a rock lever v having for its fulcrum a stud carried by the bed of the machine.
The upper end of this lever has a slot, into which takes a pin on the end of a
slide H; this slide H carries the cutting tool w, which is held in position in
the usual manner. On the end of the spindle a is mounted a spring chuck x,
which is intended to receive and grip the cups to be trimmed (see the detached
views Figures 5). Motion being given to the driving pulleys. the strap
pulley D drives the hollow spindle a with its chuck x. The pulley F drives
the pulley b, and through the gearing c, e, f, the transverse cam shaft 9 is
rotated. The excentric h of this shaft gives the traverse motion to the sliding
piece G, and causes the stud m at every advance to push one of the cups out
of the disc t into the chuck a; the cutting tool w is then advanced by the
cam u, and coming into contact with the cup in the rotating chuck it will trim
the cup to the proper length, as shewn at Figs. 5. The backward motion of
the sliding piece G will take the plunger which lies inside the hollow spindle a
in the same direction, and thereby cause it to push the trimmed cup out of
the chuck; the cam n then actuates the levers o and g, which through the
pawl and ratchet wheel give an axial motion to the feed plate or disc t, and
thus cause it to bring the next cup opposite the stud mn when the operation
already described will be repeated. The cap chamber thus far prepared is
now ready to have its lip turned over to form a flange (which operation
completes the formation of the cap chamber) prior to its application to the
cartridge case. Two, three, or more cap chambers may be simultaneously
flanged by one operation of the machine, depending upon the number of
flanging tools and dies employed, but the arrangement of machinery shown in
Sheet V., which I will now describe, is arranged for operating upon two cup
chambers simultaneously.
Fig. is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a
front elevation, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine. The details of the
operation are exemplified by the enlarged diagrams of the flanging tools and
dies at Figures 4.
A is the standard which carries the cast-iron frame B for sustaining the
various shafts and other working parts; C, C, is the driving shaft fitted with

page_text: fast-and-loose belt pullies and a fly wheel as usual; keyed also to this shaft
is a pinion D which gears into and drives the spur wheel E keyed on the
crank shaft F. Fitted to the crank pin of this shaft is the connecting rod G
which actuates the vertical sliding bar H, being connected thereto in manner
already described with respect to the machine shewn in Sheet IV. with which
machine this flanging machine has many parts in common. The sliding bar
H carries the tools e, e, by which together with the fixed dies f, f, the flanging
operation is effected. On the cam shaft F is a face cam I which actuates the
sliding bar a through an antifriction bowle carried by the bar; this bowle is
held in contact with the cam by means of a weighted crank lever c. Affixed
to the outer end of the bar a is a forked piece 6 (see Fig. fitted with two
pairs of spring clips for receiving the cap chambers to be flanged and present-
ing them to the fixed dies which lie immediately below the flanging tools.
Over the forked piece b is placed a plate d, having two holes which are respec-
tively immediately over the line of traverse of the spring clips and are
coincident with the openings in the ends of the clips when the clips are at the
end of their inward traverse. These holes in the plate d are intended to
guide the attendant in the insertion of the cap chambers into the spring clips.
Situate immediately below the dies f, f, are vertical plungers 9 working in
suitable guides and carrying each at their upper ends a pin for entering the
dies from below and discharging the cap chambers therefrom when flanged.
On each plunger is a fixed collar, against the under face of which a lever g
hinged to the frame B bears. The levers g* are jointed to a connecting rod h
which is pendent from the vertical sliding bar H, and thus the vertical plungers
are caused to rise and fall with the sliding bar. In the plate of the 'spur
wheel E is a face cam J; this cam actuates the short sliding horizontal bar j,
which is fitted with a friction bowle and is held against the cam by a spiral
spring. This bar carries a stud on its upper side which acts upon a pair of
forked arms k (see Fig. 3) keyed upon vertical rocking shafts 1. On the
lower end of these shafts are two arms m, m, which are bent at their free
ends so as to lie between the prongs of the advancing forked piece b. n is a
guard to protect the fingers of the attendant. Motion being given to the
driving pulley the spur pinion D will drive the wheel E on the cam shaft F,
and by means of the connecting rod G actuate the sliding bar H. The face
cam I actuates the slide bar a, and by its to-and-fro motion carries the cap
chambers (which have been fed through the holes in the plate d) under the
flanging tools h, h. These tools by the downward action of the bar H force
the caps into the dies f, f, the shoulders of the tools then coming into contact

page_text: with the edge of the cap chambers will form the flange thereon, as shewn at
Figures 4. Immediately the flanging tools enter the cap chambers the clip
springs will retire and thus release their hold upon the cap chambers. When
the flanges are formed the bar H will ascend, and raising the end of the hinged
lever g* will lift the plungers g, forcing the flanged cap chambers out of the
dies; the levers m will now suddenly be brought into action by the cam J,
and will push the cap chambers into receptacles provided to receive them. For
the closing of the rear of the cartridge case I have said that a wad is used.
This is commonly made of a strip of paper rolled up on a spindle to the
required diameter. It is however requisite to compress and solidify the wad
before applying it to the case, and for this purpose I have contrived the machine
shewn in Sheet VI. wherein a rotating horizontal table formed with a ring of
circular holes to receive the wads is provided for bringing the wads in succession
under the action of a compressing tool carried by a vertical slide.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a
front elevation, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine; Figures 4 shew the
wad in full size in its uncompressed state, and Figures 5 shew it after it has
been submitted to the action of the machine.
A, A, is the standard supporting the cast-iron frame B which carries the
various working parts; C is a transverse driving shaft on which the fast-and-
loose driving pullies D and fly wheel are mounted. A bevil pinion C! keyed
on the driving shaft C gears into a bevil wheel E keyed on the crank shaft F.
B is a hollow bracket arm, the vertical front face of which is fitted to receive
the slide G of the compressing tool a. The up-and-down motion for the tool
is obtained from the crank shaft F which transmits motion through the con-
necting rod H to the slide G. I is the table intended to receive the paper
wads. It is keyed to an axle I' having its bearing in the frame B. Bolted
to the under side of the table I is a star wheel I into which gears & pinion K
with one tooth mounted on a short spindle K which carries a bevil wheel,
into which gears the bevil pinion of a longitudinal shaft L. This shaft L
turns in bearings in the frame B, and carries at its outer end a spur pinion
which gears into and is driven by a spur wheel F¹ on the crank shaft F.
The radial recesses cut in the periphery of the star wheel I* correspond to
the spaces between the holes with which the table is pierced to receive the
wads to be pressed. Below the table is set an annular bed M which is made
That part of the bed M which lies under the slide G is
mould m; this mould is so formed as to allow of the
entrance from above of the compressing tool a, and the entrance from below
fast to the frame B.
fitted with a die or

page_text: of a counter pressing tool b, the latter of which forms a movable bottom for the
mould. Both tools are made hollow to allow of their working over a core pin c,
on to which the wad is pressed by the descent of the tool a. As the wads are
successively brought-round the tool a will descend and thrusting them out of
the holes in the table will force them into the die m where they will receive
the requisite consolidating pressure, their central hole being preserved by
means of a fixed core pin c. The compression of a wad being effected the
tool a will retire, and the tool 6 will then rise and lift the moulded wad back
into the hole in the table. While the tool b is at the top of its stroke the
table will begin to turn, and the tool retiring so soon as the wad is caught
on the underlying block the forward motion of the table will be continued
until another wad is brought into line for the repetition of the operation.
I have explained that the crank shaft F through the connecting rod H gives
the requisite motions to the tool a, and I will now explain how through the same
crank shaft the tool 6 is brought into action. The slide G carries at its. upper
end a crosshead from which depend two rods N, N. The lower ends of these
rods are screwed to receive adjusting nuts n and they are passed through lugs
formed at the extremities of a cross bar O. Made fast to the centre of this
cross bar by a screw bolt is a hollow rod p which carries at its upper end the
counter tool b. This rod is mounted in an adjustable tubular bearing Q
which is fitted into a pendent bracket projection of the frame B. The tube Q
is screwed at its ends to receive adjusting nuts which admit of its being raised
or lowered in the bracket as required. Upon the hollow rod P a solid
shoulder or flange is formed, which when pressure is being put upon the wad
rests on the top of the tube Q and thus throws the downward pressure upon
the tube, the adjustment of which with respect to the tool a determines the
amount of pressure the wad will receive from the compressing tool. It will
now be understood that when the slide 9 rises (by the rotation of the crank
shaft F) to lift the tool a out of the mould and clear of the table the adjusting
nuts n, n, of the rods N, N, will come in contact with the crosshead O and
carry it upwards, thereby lifting the tool band with it the wad, which will
then be carried forward at the next motion of the table to be discharged into
any convenient receptacle. The core pin c is fitted to a rod d which lies in
the hollow rod P, and an elongated slot is formed in the rod P to allow of a
transverse key e passing through from the rod d and being driven tight into
the fixed bracket B². The compressing tool a is screwed into an adjustable
socket g fitted in the slide G and made fast therein by clamping nuts f, f.
To ensure the return of the tool 6 (after being raised) to its normal position,

page_text: a tension spring made fast to a fixed point may be connected to the cross bar O
so that as the cross bar rises the tension of the spring will increase, and on
the slide G commencing its return stroke the spring will draw down the cross
bar and the tool 6 connected therewith. The wad having been prepared as
above described is next to be inserted in its place in the cartridge case and
subjected to pressure, whereby it is converted into a tight hollow core and
enabled to connect together the several parts composing the cartridge; to
this end the component parts of the cartridge are properly assembled, as shown
in the detached sectional view Fig. 1, Sheet VII., and the cartridge is sub-
mitted to a compressing machine having a suitably shaped compressing too!
which will enter the case and compress the wad without affecting the central
cap chamber.
The compressing machine is shewn' in longitudinal sectional elevation at
Fig. 2, Sheet VII., in end elevation at Fig. 8, and in plan view at Fig. 4. The
standard A carries the frame B, on which the working parts of the machine
are mounted. C is the driving shaft fitted with fast-and-loose band pullies
and a fly wheel; D is a circular rotating table for bringing up the cartridges
into line with the compressing tool. This table is mounted on a stud axle D⭑
made fast to the frame B, and it travels over the flat face of a ring let into the
frame. Made fast to the foot of the pillar of this table is a star wheel D¹ which
is driven by a one tooth pinion E carried by a short axle E* supported by the
frame B; keyed to the lower end of this axle is a bevil wheel E¹, into which
gears a pinion E* on the driving shaft C. This arrangement allows of an inter-
mittent axial motion being communicated to the table D. A spur pinion C³ on
the shaft C gears into and drives a wheel C2 keyed on the horizontal shaft F,
which shaft as in the last-described machine carries a crank pin for operating the
tool slide G by means of the connecting rod H; this rod is coupled to the slide
by a screw bolt I. In the head of the slide is fitted an adjusting screw 9 which
enters a tapped hole in the screw bolt. By turning the screw 9 when the bolt
is slackened the position of the slide with respect to the bolt and therefore
to the throw of the crank may be adjusted to the greatest nicety. This is
important as it serves to regulate the amount of pressure the wad is to receive.
The slide G moves in guides formed for it in the bracket projection B¹ of the
frame; fitted to this slide is the compressing tool a, the form of which is
best shewn in the section Fig. 1; as it is intended to act only on the wad its
face is recessed to allow of its moving down over the cap chamber without
touching it. I have said that the table D is used for bringing the cartridges
under the action of the tool; for this purpose:semicircular recesses are formed

page_text: across its periphery at equal distances apart to receive the cartridges, as shewn
in the plan view Fig. 4. The component parts of the cartridges having been
properly assembled or arranged the cartridges (the parts of which are. still
loose and unconnected) are fed to the machine by hand, and to retain them
in position while being moved round the table is girt by a semicircular
guide D' which is made fast to the frame B; the table also moves over an
annular bed D³ let into the frame B and forming a bottom to the receptacles
for the cartridges; this guide terminates near the compressing tool a, and its
place is taken by a horizontal sliding bar K which slides in a recess made for
it in the frame B. The front end of this bar has formed in it a semicircular
recess which corresponds in form with the recesses made in the periphery of the
table D, and forms with each of them in succession a mould for sustaining the
cartridges when submitted to the action of the compressing tool; at its rear
end this bar K carries a bowle which by means of a weighted bell-crank
lever K³ is kept in contact with a face cam L secured to the spur wheel C³ on
the crank shaft F. By the rotation of the face cam L the sliding bar is
caused to close upon the cartridges, as they are severally presented to 'the
compressing tool, and when the compression of the wad has been effected the
pressure of the cam is withdrawn from the bar and the cartridge is released.
As the notches in the star wheel D¹ are made to correspond with 'the' recesses
in the table it will follow that for every rotation of the singled toothed wheel E
a fresh cartridge will be brought under the action of the compressing tool.
By referring to Fig. 1 it will be clearly seen in what condition the cartridge
is at the time that it is submitted to the machine. This view shews the deep
cup inserted in the shallow cup and the cartridge case (made in the ordinary
manner) inserted in the deep cup. The base washer is applied to the bottom of
the outer cup, and the closed end of the flanged cap chamber is passed through
the central holes in the cups. The compressed wad as it leaves the last-described
machine is then dropped in over the cap chamber, and by further pressure
applied to it while in this position by the compressing tool a it is caused to
expand laterally and thus unite the hitherto loose parts firmly together.
When the compressing operation is effected the 'sliding bar is moved back to
relieve the table of side pressure the table will be free to turn to bring up
another cartridge to be operated upon. The cartridges which have passed
under the action of the compressing tool may be picked up by band and
placed in a suitable receptacle. To enable the table to resist the side pressure
of the sliding bar K without its being thrown upon the stud axle D* the face
of the annular bed D³ is furnished with a rib or flange which takes the side

page_text: strain, and to keep the bed well in place a brass pad b, Fig. 2, is pressed up
to it by a tightening screw c in the line of the thrust.
the
The next operation is to submit the head of the cap chamber to pressure so
as, first, to form it into a rivet head, thereby. making it bind firmly upon
wad; and, secondly, to perforate it to make a vent for the fire from the per-
cussion cap. These two results are obtained by the employment of a machine
very similar in construction to that last described. To prevent therefore the
repetition of needless details I will use the same reference letters as in
Sheet VII. for like parts in this machine, and will describe only in detail the
changes introduced to adapt the machine to the rivetting and piercing of the
cap
chamber.
Fig. 1, Sheet VIII., is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the machine;.
Fig. 2 is an end elevation and Fig. 8 is a plan view; Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged
sectional views shewing two cartridges mounted on hollow anvils and having
been acted upon, the one by a rivetting tool and the other by a piercing tool.
In this machine the slide G carries both these tools, which are shewn at a
and a*, Fig. 2, and which operate simultaneously but upon different cart-
ridges which come each in succession under the operation of the tools. The
table D is in this case fitted with a ring of anvils d, d, d, set up vertically on
the table. These anvils are made hollow to allow of the punch a entering
them when it pierces the cap chamber. A guard M is fixed to the framing B
and placed immediately below the slide G; this guard is pierced with holes
to allow the tools a, a*, to descend through the guard, but if they should on
their ascent lift the cartridges from the anvils it will effectually strip them off
the tools. The cartridges are placed rear uppermost on the anvils by the
attendant, and an intermittent axial motion is given to the table by an arrange-
ment precisely similar to that described with reference to Sheet VII. The
tool a is formed with a shoulder which presses upon the base washer, while
the projecting pin enters the cap chamber and prevents it from bulging in
under the pressure imparted by the shoulder on the cartridge. The effect of
the pressure thus applied will be to make the head widen out and take the
form of a rivet head, and thus the connection of the parts of the cartridge
will no longer depend upon mere adhesion, as was the case when the cartridge
left the last machine. The rivet head being formed, the next motion of the
table will bring the rivet and cartridge under the tool a*, when the chamber
will be pierced, as explained, to form a vent for the percussion fire. The
cartridges as they leave the machine last described are ready to be charged
with powder and have the bullet inserted. This operation having been effected

page_text: in the ordinary way the cartridge is next to receive the percussion cap, the
insertion of which in the cap chamber is a somewhat delicate operation. To
effect this with expedition and without the risk of danger to the operators I
use an arrangement of machinery for fitting the cap in its place.
This machine admits of modification, but I will first describe it in its most
simple form with reference to Sheet IX, where Fig. 1 shews the machine in
front elevation, Fig. 2 in vertical section, taken at right angles to Fig. 1, and
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. In these Figures A, A, is a standard carrying
a bed B, to which is fixed a vertical stud axle C; around this stud axle
revolves a circular table D, which is cast with an internal ring of star wheel
teeth D, and carries at its periphery recesses formed at equal distances apart
and corresponding in number with the teeth of the star wheel. These recesses
are intended to receive the charged cartridges, into which the percussion caps
are to be inserted. Surrounding the table is a fixed circular guard D' for
keeping the cartridges in position; this guard does not extend round the
whole periphery of the table, but at a point below which a discharge shute E
is situate; this guard is cut away to allow of the cartridges being discharged
from the machine. The cartridges are suspended bullet downwards from the
table, the base washer resting upon the face of the table, as shewn in the
detached view Fig. 4. A bridge piece D² connects the two ends of the guard
together; this bridge is so shaped as to allow of the cartridges (as the table
rotates) passing under it, and then when they have passed under it presents
an incline to the edges of the base washers, and thereby serves to thrust them
out of their recesses into the shute E. The operation of inserting the percus-
sion cap in its chamber consists in forcing it down over a loose piece of metal
termed an anvil (see Fig. 5, where 1 is the cap and 2 the anvil), and leaving
it tight in the chamber, and in such a position with respect to the apex of the
anvil that a blow upon the head of the cap will ensure its priming coming in
contact with the anvil and exploding. To effect this adjustment of the cap
with certainty and without risk of firing the cartridge the regulated pressure
of a plunger is employed. This plunger, shewn at a, consists of a screwed pin
which passes through a lug projecting from a vertical slide G, and is made fast
thereto by adjusting nuts. The slide G works in guides on the face of a
bracket bolted to the framing B. Motion is given to the machine by a
treadle H, which through a connecting rod and crank drives the fly wheel
shaft I. A belt from a small pulley on this shaft passing over a larger pulley
on the shaft K drives that shaft from which the motions for rotating the table
and working the plunger are derived. A bevil wheel bon this shaft K (which

page_text: shaft is mounted in bearings pendent from the framing B) gears into a bevil
wheel c on a short vertical shaft d mounted in a socket cast for it on the
under side of the frame B. This shaft d carries a single tooth wheel e, which
gears into the star wheel teeth D* and gives the requisite intermittent rotary
motion to the table. On the end of the shaft K is a crank pin, which is con-
nected by a link f with a rock lever g supported on a pin carried by a bracket
bearing. The inner end of this rock lever g is connected by a link h with the
slide G, and thus a reciprocating vertical motion is given to the slide and its
plunger. The cartridges are fed into the machine by a boy standing at the
back thereof, who drops them into the recesses, the base washer uppermost.
At the end of the machine opposite the plunger a second boy stands and drops
into the cap chamber of the inverted cartridges as they come round a small
anvil formed with shoulders (see Fig. 5) to receive the edge of the percussion
cap at the front of the machine; a third boy, who works the treadle drops a
cap upon the anvil, and the cartridge is then in a state to be acted upon by
the plunger or depressing tool a. As the cartridges are severally brought in a
line with the depressing tool or plunger a, that tool descends and forces down
the cap upon the anvil a certain regulated distance, the percussion being kept
just clear of the anvil. All chance of an explosion taking place while the
machine is in proper working order is therefore avoided, but to meet the case
of pressure being put on the cap through negligence or accident sufficient to
explode it provision is made for the harmless escape of the bullet. In the bed
of the machine immediately below the depressing tool a hole is made, and
below this hole is situate a strong tube I, which may lead to any distant or
safe receptacle. On the accidental firing therefore of a cartridge under treat-
ment taking place no injury can possibly arise to the attendants. When the
cap has been properly placed. in the cap chamber by the plunger that tool will
rise and the cartridge will then be brought round under the bridge piece D³,
and into contact with the incline D³, which will push it out of the recess
in the table into the adjacent, shute E, whence it will fall into a suitable
receptacle.
The above described arrangement admits of modification by the use of two
circular tables or discs placed so that one slightly overlaps the other, the one
being used to bring the cartridges and the other the percussion caps (with
the anvils inserted) in a line with the plunger, when the plunger will transfer
the cap to the cartridge. This arrangement is shewn in Sheet X., where
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the capping machine; Fig. 2 is a vertical section
of the same taken at right angles te Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a plan view. The

page_text: detached section Fig. 4 illustrates on an enlarged scale the operation of
inserting the cap in the cartridge. The standards A, A, carry the bed B
which is cast with. sockets to receive the spindles of the two rotating
tables;
C is a table. mounted on the spindle C¹ and recessed across its
periphery to receive the cartridges to be capped; D is a table mounted
on the spindle D¹ and recessed in its face with a ring of holes to receive
the percussion caps. In the centre of these recesses holes are made through
the table D for the tool which presses the caps into their place to pass up
and lift the caps out of their recesses. This tool is shewn at e; it is fitted
to a vertical slide E which works in guides made fast to the bed of the machine.
A segment shaped opening is made in this slide E to admit a vibrating
driver F which imparts motion to the slide. This driver is fitted to and is
worked by a crank pin projecting from the end of the shaft H¹ which is
carried by suitable bearings. On this shaft is keyed a spur wheel G which
gears into. and is driven by a pinion on the fly wheel shaft H, which shaft
receives motion from a treadle arrangement I. Keyed to the lower end of
the spindle C is a ratchet wheel K into which a pawle carried by a rocking
frame L centred on the spindle C¹ takes for the purpose of giving an inter-
mittent axial motion to the table C. Connected to this rocking frame L by
a link is a slide M which travels in fixed guides and has projecting backwards
from its inner end a pin which carries a bowle. This bowle enters a cam
groove cast in the side of the spur wheel G, and thus the rotation of the spur
wheel will by giving a reciprocating traverse motion to the slide M cause it
(through its connection with the rocking frame L,) to put the pawle in action
upon the ratchet wheel and then to return to repeat the operation. The
table C will thus be caused to bring the cartridges in succession under the
tool e to receive the caps. In order to impart an intermittent axial motion
to the cap table D so that at the proper moment a cap and a cartridge may
come simultaneously into line with the tool e the table C is fitted at its
under side with a spur wheel C³ which gears into spur teeth on the periphery
of the table D and corresponding in number with those of the wheel C
It will now be understood that when these tables are respectively charged
with cartridges and caps, and motion is given to the machine by the treadle I,
the tool E will as the caps and cartridges are in succession brought into line
rise and entering a recess in the table D will lift the cap contained therein out
of the recess and force it up a definite and regulated distance into the cap
chamber of the cartridge, where it will be retained by its adherence to the
sides of the chamber. The tool e will then retire and. the intermittent axial

page_text: motion of the tables will be repeated to bring another cartridge and cap under
the action of the tool e.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention I wish it to be under-
stood that I claim the arrangements of mechanism above described for
facilitating the manufacture of central-fire cartridges.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Davidson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Eleventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
J. DAVIDSON. (L.S.)

page_text: A
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Davidson, at, the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st
December 1867.
I, JAMES DAVIDSON, of Woolwich, in the County of Kent, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING
CENTRAL-FIRE CARTRIDGES," to be as follows:-
The chief objects of this Invention are to facilitate: the manufacture of
central-fire cartridges, and to avoid the risks and dangers of explosion attendant
on their manufacture. These advantages I attain by the use of a series of
machines the nature andinses of which I will proceed to describe in consecutive
order.
But in order to the better understanding of the Invention it may be well
to illustrate the process of manufacture by reference to a well-known form
of central fire cartridge. For this purpose I will take the Boxer cartridge;
which consists of a cylindrical case made of.-rolled paper and brass, foil for
containing the powder, closed at top by a conical büllet andiat bottom by a wadi
aldian arrangement of metallic parts which serve to carry the percussion.cop
at the anvil for exploding. it, and provide a means by which: the exploded

page_text: inserted
be withd
the
from the gun.. The lower end of the cylinder is
eep
metal cup formed with a central hole to allow of the inser-
tion of the cap chambers: the rear of the cartridge. Outside this cup
placed a shallow metal cupiformen with a corresponding central holand a
hollow wad or core is used to close the rear of the cartridge and secre these 5
parts together. In rear of the cups is placed a stout metal washer, and by
application of pressure to the cap chamber, which is shaped somewhat like
thimble, the chamber is converted into a hollow rivet, and the several parts
above mentioned are thereby connected firmly together. At the time the
rivet head is made the closed end of the chamber is pierced to form a passage
for the fire from the exploded cap. The cartridge when thus far made is
charged with powder, which is closed in by the insertion of the conical ball.
The next thing is to drop into the cap chamber an anvil, and upon this is
placed the cap. When the cap is forced down into its place the manufacture
of the cartridge is completed.
I will now describe the means by which the stout metal washer or base
washer is formed. For forming the base washers I arrange in suitable
guides carried by the table of a punching machine two, three, four, or moro
sets of dies and counter dies or punches, which are brought into operation
simultaneously upon a strip of rolled metal which is fed up and past the
punches by two pairs of nipping rollers situate one pair on each side of the
machine. Fitted to guides on the table are two horizontal sliding pieces for
carrying and operating the punches and dies. The traverse of these sliding
pieces is effected by means of crank pins through loose crank arms which lie
in recesses or openings made to receive them in the sliding pieces. The
inner ends of these arms fit into steel sockets fixed in the inner ends of the
recesses, and in these sockets they are thus free to oscillate in order to impart
à pusbing motion to the sliding pieces. The outer ends of the arms, or the
parts concentric with the crank pins, bear on the outer ends of the recesses
and give the back motion to the sliding pieces. The crank pins are carried
by vertical shafts driven by bevil gear from. the main driving shaft. Near
the centre of the table are two vertical projections, one of which is for guiding
the hollow stems that carry the punches for cutting out discs from the sheet
metal fed into the machine; through these punches a hole is bored corre
sponding with. the hole intended to be formed in the base washer. The other.
vertical projection receives the fixed dies which are placed on the inner side
between the projections, and are held in their place by a plate which receives
the outer end of the dies, and is screwed to the inner surface of the projection.
Behind each fixed die is placed a bush which acts as a guide for the punch,

page_text: which punches the hole in the base washer, and behind this guide bush' is
another bush having a shoulder upon it which fits into a corresponding Hole
in the projection to receive the thrust of the punch when in operation. The
punches for making the central hole in the discs are fitted to stems keyeḍ
to the other horizontal sliding piece, and they are placed and their advance so
timed as to strike at the centre of the hollow punches used to form the discs
so soon as that operation is effected. Between the vertical projections: in
which the stems of the punches slide is a plate through which the larger punch
forks freely, and between the plate and the fixed dies the strip of metal out
high the base washers are punched is fed. As the large punches recede
the plate through which they pass will free the... from the strip of pierced.
metal. The large hollow punches in their advance pass a short distance
into the fixed dies, and the small punches are then brought in contact
with the washer and the centre hole is punched, the larger punch for this
purpose forming the die. The piece punched out passes through the hollow
socket already described. As the punch which punches the small hole
is withdrawn it carries with it the washer, which is intercepted by the faces
of the guide bush already described, and being stripped off falls through
an opening made for this purpose. Over this opening is a sliding rod or
bar working close to the surface of the guide bush for the purpose of pushing
down the newly punched washer should it stick; this rod or bar is actuated by
means of a cam and rock lever and it is brought back by a spiral spring. The
washers formed as above described are now to have their central hole counter-
sunk to fit them to receive the flanged end of the hollow rivet or cap chamber,
and for this purpose they are carried to a machine provided with a rotating
table keyed to a vertical shaft which carries also a rose or dividing wheel for
regulating the amount of motion imparted to the table by a ratchet wheel
and pawl: provided for that purpose. In the table is formed a series of
citcutar holes to receive the washers which are fed thereto by hand, and by
means of this table the washers are severally brought under the action of a
rotary cutter, by which the countersink is formed. This cutter is secured to
a hollow spindle having its bearings in a vertical sliding headstock, which is
operated through a weighted bell crank a bowl on which bears against a eäm
on a transverse cam shaft. A second cam on this shaft-acts upon a weighted
rock lever below the bed of the machine, and serves to bear upwards a vertical
slide which carries a hollow plunger or support for the washer under operation.
Affixed to the bed of the machine and immediately below the table carrying the
washers is a ring, which serves to support the washers and prevent them from
dropping away from the travelling table. The pawl which drives the ratchet

page_text: wheel before mentioned receives its motion from a groove cam on the end of
the cam shaft. After every axial movement the table is locked by a weighted
bell crank operating upon a sliding bolt and causing it to enter a recess in the
periphery of the rose wheel. The fixed ring is pierced with two holes, the one
to allow. of the ascent through it of the hollow plunger and the other to permit
of the discharge through it of the countersunk washer. In front of the
vertical headstock is fixed a bridge carrying a steel bush through which the
¡cutting tool passes. The under side of this bush is brought as near as
possible to the surface of the rotating table, and as each washer is brought
under the centre of the vertical spindle the slide carrying the holding plung
pushes the washer tight against the steel bush, thus gripping the washer
firmly until the cutting tool has done its work: A plunger attached to the
se of the headstock then pushes the washer out of the hole in the table and
through the fixed ring into the receiving box. For the formation of the deep
cup the shallow cup, and the cartridge chamber I use machines of similar
construction, the only difference being that each is provided with panches and
dies suitable for special duties; the same description will therefore suffice for
these several machines. The machine first punches out from a strip of metal
two, three, or more discs, according to its capabilities of working, and then
strikes up or forms the disc into a cup at the same stroke of, the machine.
The general characteristics of this machine correspond somewhat with that
described for punching the disc for the base washer, but instead of a crank
pin and loose arm for working the hollow. punch a cam is used, which rotates
in a recess or opening formed in the sliding piece that carries the hollow
punched socket. The smaller or cupping punch which strikes up the metal and
thrusts the converted disc into the hollow punch (ready for being discharged
at the rear of the hollow punch. socket) is carried by a sliding piece which
receives its motion from. a crank pin and pushing arm as in the first described
machine. Near the centre of the table which is made of strong cast iron are
two vertical projections. The projection nearest the slide actuated by the
can forms a fixed guide for the socket, to slide through. The other vertical
projection upon the table receives a fixed die corresponding to the hollow
punch already described. One end of a socket is fitted into this die and is
provided with a collar immediately behind the die. The socket extends
behind this collar, and is surrounded by a strong coiled spring. Behind this
spring is a bush screwed into the vertical projection of the table for the
purpose of receiving the pressure of this spiral spring, and it can be adjusted
so as to regulate the amount of pressure. Through this adjustable socket nut
and the socket which is surrounded by the coiled spring passes the cupping tool

page_text: or punch; this punch is attached to the socket held in the horizontal sliding-
piece which is actuated by the crank pin or excentric. The strip of metal
from which the cups are formed is placed in position between the punches and
dies. The hollow punch moved by the cam panches out the disc, and in doing.
so pushes back the socket which is held up by the spring, thus placing the
punched disc slightly within the die. The cam continues to hold it in the grip
between the punch and socket against the spring until the cupping punch
actuated by the crank pin moves forward and forms its into a cup by forcing
it back into the hollow punch. During this operation the disc is gradually
withdrawn from the grip of the hollow punch and spring socket, and the
metal is thus prevented from crimping or puckering on the upper edge of the
cup. The punch which forms the cup continues its onward course until.
the edge of the cup is driven into a wider part of the hollow punch, when it
slightly expands and remains in the socket of the hollow punch until pushed.
out at the rear end by the accumulation of cups therein. There is a
guide plate to keep the metal in position, and a stripping plate to draw the
punched strip off the hollow punch, and the mode of feeding in the strip of.
metal is similar to that described with respect to the first machine.
The machine above described when fitted with suitable dies will finish the
deep and shallow cups, but in order to give the requisite depth to the cap.
chamber it is to be submitted to the well-known process of drawing down.
For this purpose any suitable and approved machinery may be employed.:
When the cap chamber is sufficiently drawn the rough edge is to be trimmed off;
this I effect by the use of a machine specially designed for the purpose. The
cap chambers' to be operated upon are fed hand into a ring of holes in a
circular plate mounted vertically and receiving an intermittent axial motion
from a pawl and ratchet wheel. In front of this plate is a pin or plunger
carried by a sliding block which moves in guides on the face of the table and
receives its reciprocating motion from an excentric on a transverse shaft.
The motion thus given to the sliding block enables the plunger to push out
the cap chambers from the vertical plate in regular succession and place them.
in a rotating chuck situate on the opposite side of the plate. When held in
the chuck a cutter carried by a transverse slide advances and trims, the:
rough edge of the chamber, after which it retires, leaving the chamber to be
discharged from the machine; this is effected by means of a plunger which:
passes through the spindle carrying the chuck, and is advanced. at the proper.
moment by its-being connected with the sliding block that carries the plunger
for forcing the chamber out of the vertical plate; the return motion of the
one plunger prior to repeating its action will therefore be contemporaneous

page_text: with the advance of the other plunger to act as above described. The cap
chamber thus far prepared is now ready to have its lip turned over to form a
flange (which operation completes the formation of the cap chamber) prior
to its application to the cartridge case. Two, three, or more cap chambers
may be simultaneously flanged by one operation of the machine depending
upon the number of flanging tools and dies employed. The flanging tools are
fixed in a vertical slide which moves in suitable guides, and is actuated by a
crank shaft to which it is connected by a link. Immediately below these
tools dies are provided in the bed of the machine to receive the cap chambers
to be flanged and sustain them under pressure; these dies are entered at
bottom by plungers which serve to push the cap chambers out of the dies;
these plungers are operated by a hinged lever frame which embraces them
below fixed collars, and is connected by a link bar to the slide carrying the
flanging tools; the action therefore of these tools and the plungers will
alternate. A fixed plate pierced with holes is provided to facilitate the
insertion of the cap chamber in the machine; below this plate is situate a
forked plate fitted with spring clips which are intended when brought imme-
diately under the holes in the fixed plate to receive the cap chambers and
present them to the dies; this forked plate is carried by a traversing bar
fitted with a bowl which bears against a face cam keyed to the crank shaft
before mentioned. The bowl of this traversing bar is held up to the cam by
means of a weighted crank lever, and when forced forward by the cam to its
utmost limit the spring clips of the forked plate will be brought to coincide
with the holes in the fixed plate; when in this position the cap chambers
guided by the holes of the fixed plate may be readily inserted in the clips.
The return motion of the traversing bar will bring the cap chambers over the
dies, and the flanging tools in their descent will thrust the chambers into
the dies and form the desired flanges. The ascent of the slide carrying the
flanging tools will bring up the plungers, which entering the dies will
discharge the cap chambers from the dies, and by means of fingers to which a
lateral motion is given they will be swept off into suitable receptacles.
For the closing of the rear of the cartridge case I have said that a wad is
used, this is commonly made of a strip of paper rolled up on a spindle to the
required diameter, it is however requisite to compress the wad before apply-
ing it to the case, and for this purpose I have contrived the following
machine: A circular table formed with a ring of circular holes to receive
the wads is provided for bringing the wads in succession under the action of a
compressing tool carried by a vertical slide. An intermittent axial motion is
given to the table by a pawl working into the teeth of a ratchet wheel keyed

page_text: ;
to the vertical axle of the table or by a star wheel, as hereafter described, and
the slide is worked by a link rod from a horizontal crank shaft. Below the
circular table and in a line with the compressing tool is a die in which is
fitted a plunger which forms the bottom of the die. This plunger is carried
by a hollow rod or socket, connected to the lower end of which is a cross bar
this cross bar rests on nuts carried by two vertical rods which slide through
holes in the bed of the machine and are pendent from a cross pin in the upper
part of the vertical slide. The rise and fall of the plunger is dependent
therefore on the rise and fall of the slide. This plunger is made hollow to
receive a fixed pin (carried by a bracket arm), which pin is intended to enter
the central hole in the wad and act as a core during its compression. When
the table has brought a wad under the compressing tool that tool will descend
and force the wad into the fixed die (the plunger being at the time at its
lowest position and leaving the pin exposed to receive the wad). The nip
which the wad receives in the die between the compressing tool and the
plunger will compress it to the required extent. The compressing tool will
then rise out of the die, and its slide will raise the plunger and cause it to
discharge the wad from the die and return it to the hole in the table. The
next motion of the table will carry the wad forward over a hole in the bed of
the machine, down which it will fall to a suitable receptacle. The wad
having been prepared as above described is next to be inserted in its place
in the cartridge case and subjected to pressure, whereby it is converted into
a tight hollow core and enabled to connect together the several parts forming
the cartridge. To this end the several parts above described are properly
assembled and the cartridge is submitted to a compressing machine having a
suitably shaped compressing tool, which will enter the case and compress the
wad without affecting the central cap chamber. This tool is mounted in a
vertical sliding bar fitted in guides and receiving a reciprocating motion
through a link rod from a horizontal crank shaft. The cartridges are fed up
to the compressing tool by a circular table, which receives an intermittent
motion through a star wheel connected to its boss and a pinion actuated from
the main driving shaft. In the periphery of the table vertical half-round
recesses are formed at equal distances apart to receive the cartridges, which
are supplied thereto by hand. A fixed segment guide reaching half-way
round the table or nearly so serves to retain the cartridges in their place. As
the cartridges are severally brought up to the compressing tool-a horizontal
slide recessed to correspond with the half-rounds of the table is advanced by
means of a face cam mounted on the crank shaft, and acting upon a bowle
fitted to the rear of the slide. This cam forces the slide into contact with the

page_text: table and prevents the cartridge from "giving" laterally under the pressure
put by the tool on the wad. While the cartridge is thus held firmly the
compressing tool descends, enters the cartridge, and pressing on the wad
causes it to expand laterally sufficiently to bind the several parts together
and make a tight joint. As soon as the tool has risen clear of the cartridge
a weighted bell-crank lever, which serves to keep the slide in contact with its
cam, will then come into action and draw back the slide. The cartridge
being thus released may now be removed from the machine and submitted to
the rivetting operation. The machine used for this purpose serves not only
for rivetting but also for perforating the cap chamber, the first-mentioned
operation being intended to secure the parts together, and the latter to
provide an opening for the escape of the fire of the percussion cap. The
machine is fitted with a vertical reciprocating bar which works in suitable
slides, and carries at its lower end the tools required to rivet and perforate
the cap chambers. The cartridge cases in the state they leave the last-
described machine are supplied to the rivetting machine by hand and
deposited upon hollow vertical studs set in a ring in a horizontal table, to
which an intermittent axial motion is given by means of a star wheel and
pinion. The hollow studs correspond with the slots or divisions in the
periphery of the star wheel, and project sufficiently above the surface of the
table to allow the cartridge cases to be put upon them with the base upwards.
The upper end of these studs are shaped so as to rivet the end of the cap
chamber inside the case upon the paper wad. The vertical reciprocating bar
carries a round steel instrument about the diameter of the outside of the
cartridge case, and has a short projection which fits the cap chamber, and when
brought down by the action of the machine forces the closed end of the cap
chamber into the hollow part formed at the upper end of the socket, and
rivets it upon the paper wad. By the side of the rivetting tool on the vertical
reciprocating bar a needle-like punch or piercing tool is fixed for the purpose
of punching the firing hole in the cap chamber last rivetted. This piercing
tool acts upon the cap chamber after the rivetting has been effected, the next
axial; movement of the table bringing the rivetted chamber under the action of
the piercing tool. A guard is placed over the cartridge cases under operation
to prevent the punches from drawing them off the sockets when the punches
are rising. The cartridges as they leave this machine are ready to be charged
with powder and have the bullet inserted. This operation having been
effected in the ordinary way the cartridge is ready to receive the cap, the
insertion of which in the cap chamber is a somewhat delicate operation. To
effect this with expedition and without the risk of danger to the operators I

page_text: use an arrangement of machinery for fitting the cap in its place. The
machine admits of modification, but in its simplest form it consists of a
circular horizontal table recessed at its periphery to receive the cartridges.
This table is mounted on a stud axle projecting from the bed of the machine,
and it receives an intermittent axial motion from a pinion working into a ring
of internal star wheel teeth cast with the table. Surrounding the table for
nearly the whole of its periphery is a concentric guard which serves to keep
the inserted cartridges in place, but at the part where this guard is wanting
there is an inclined guide for forcing them out of the recesses of the table and
discharging them from the machine. The cartridges are fed into the machine
by a boy standing at one side thereof who drops them into the recesses, the
base washer uppermost, and by this washer they are suspended on the table.
At the end of the machine a second boy stands and drops into the cap
chamber of the inverted cartridges as they come round a small anvil formed
with a shoulder to receive the edge of the percussion cap. At the opposite
side of the machine to that at which the cartridges are fed in is a third boy
who drops a cap upon the anvil, and the cartridge is then in a state to receive
a plunger or depressing tool, which forces down the cap to the desired position
in the cap chamber. The depressing tool is carried by a vertical sliding bar
which works in guides, and is operated by a crank pin through the inter-
vention of a rock lever and link rods. As the cartridges are severally brought
in a line with the depressing tool that tool descends and forces down the cap
upon the anvil a certain regulated distance, the percussion being kept clear
of the anvil. All chance of an explosion taking place while the machine is in
proper working order is therefore avoided, but to meet the case of pressure
being put on the cap through negligence or accident sufficient to explode it,
provision is made for the harmless escape of the bullet. In the bed of the
machine immediately below the depressing tool a hole is made, and below this
hole is situate a strong tube, which may lead to any distant or safe receptacle.
On the accidental firing therefore of a cartridge under treatment no injury
can possibly arise to the attendants. When the cap is properly placed in the
cap chamber the cartridge is brought round to an incline, which pushes it out
of the recess in the table into an adjacent shute, whence it falls into a suitable
receptacle. A treadle may be used for giving motion to this machine.
The above-described arrangement admits of modification by the use of two
circular tables or discs placed so that one slightly overlaps the other. In the
modified arrangement the upper table is recessed to receive the cartridges, as
above explained, but the position of the cartridges in the machine is reversed,
the base being downwards. The other disc is provided with holes to receive

page_text: the caps which are fed in by hand, the anvils being dropped in the caps.
The two or discs rotate together and intermittently, and a plunger from
below lifts the caps in succession up into and forces them home in the cap
chambers as the cartridges are severally brought into line with the plunger.
A safety pipe is used in this machine, but instead of being below it is placed
above the table. This machine will require fewer attendants than that first
described, the insertion of the caps in their respective chambers being
automatic.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Davidson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th June 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
DAVIDSON, of Woolwich, in the County of Kent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Davidson, Her.special licence, that I, the said James Davidson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Davidson, 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 "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MANU-
FACTURING CENTRAL-FIRE CARTRIDGES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said James Davidson, 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 James Davidson, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-

page_text: The chief objects of this Invention are to facilitate the manufacture of
central-fire cartridges, and to avoid the risks and dangers of explosion
attendant on their manufacture. These advantages. I attain by the employ-
ment of a series of machines, the nature and uses of which I will describe in.
consecutive order.
But to the more perfect understanding of the Invention it may be well
to illustrate the process of manufacture by reference to a well-known form of
central-fire cartridge. For this purpose I will take the Boxer cartridge,,
which consists of a cylindrical case made of rolled paper and brass foil for
containing the powder closed at top by a conical bullet and at bottom by a.
wad and an arrangement of metallic parts which serve both to carry the
percussion cap and the anvil for exploding it, and provide a means by which
the exploded cartridge may be withdrawn from the gun.
In Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings is a diagram of the Boxer
cartridge in partial section, drawn to an enlarged scale the better to exhibit
the component parts. thereof. The cylinder or case for containing the powder
is shewn at 1, 1. The lower end of this cylinder is inserted in a deep metal
cup 2 formed with a central hole to allow of the insertion of the cap chamber 8
in the rear of the cartridge. To strengthen this cup there is placed outside.
it a shallow metal cup 4 formed with a corresponding central hole to admit of
the placing of the cap chamber 3 and a hollow wad or core 5 is used to close
the rear of the cartridge aud secure these parts together. In rear of the cups
is placed a stout metal washer 6, and by the application of pressure to the cap
chamber 8 which is shaped somewhat like a thimble the chamber is converted
into a hollow rivet and the several parts above mentioned are thereby con-
nected firmly, together, as shewn in the diagram. At the time that the rivet
head is made the closed end of the chamber is pierced to form a passage for
the fire from the exploded cap.. The cartridge when thus far made is charged
with powder, which is closed in by the insertion of the conical ball 7 in the
open end of the case and its attachment thereto. The next thing is to drop
into the cap chamber an anvil 8, and upon this is placed the percussion cap 9,
or the two may be inserted together. When the cap is forced into its place
in the cap chamber the manufacture of the cartridge is completed.
Having thus briefly pointed out the nature of the manufacture to which my
improvements refer I will proceed to explain, by reference to the accompanying
Drawings, the construction of the machinery which I propose to employ in
facilitating the manufacture of central-fire cartridges.
In Sheet I. of the Drawings the machine for punching the base washer is
shewn in several views. Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is

page_text: a plan view; Fig. 3 is an end elevation; and Fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal
section taken in the line of the axis of one of the sets of dies and punches.
This machine it will be seen provides for the punching of but two washers at
a time, but it may when desired be arranged with three, four, or more sets of
dies and punches to produce a corresponding number of washers simultaneously.
For the formation of each washer one fixed die and two punches are required,
the latter being caused to approach the metal to be punched at opposite sides
thereof and to act upon the metal in rapid succession. The punches are fitted
to horizontal sliding pieces set opposite each other, and they are brought
forward to operate upon a strip of rolled metal fed up and past the punches by
nipping rollers, so that not only is the disc for forming the washer punched out
of the sheet of rolled metal fed to the machine but the centre is struck out
before the release of the disc from the parallel part of the fixed cutting die,
thus insuring the central hole being concentric with the disc. Referring to
the Figures in Sheet I., A, A, is a strong framing of cast iron carrying a heavy
cast-iron table B, B, furnished with two projections B1, B2, and bosses to carry-
the working parts of the machine. In suitable bearings in the frame A, A, is
mounted the driving shaft C, which is fitted with fast and loose belt pullies
and a fly wheel. On this shaft there are also keyed two bevil pinions D, D,
which take into bevil wheels E, E, keyed respectively on the lower ends of
two short vertical shafts F and F1, which serve to transmit motion to the
sliding pieces that carry the punches. The shaft F¹ carries at its upper end a
crank pin, to which is fitted loosely one end of an oscillating pusher G¹. The
end of the pusher which is concentric with the crank pin bears against a steel
bush let into one end of an opening made in the horizontal sliding piece H¹ to
receive the pusher G. The other end of the pusher is rounded and bears
against a brass pad let into the opposite end of the opening in the sliding
piece. The rotation therefore of the shaft F will cause the pusher to impart
à traverse motion to the sliding piece H¹, and thereby operate the punches
which it carries. In like manner the vertical shaft F is provided with a
crank pin for operating an oscillating pusher G, which works in an opening in
the sliding piece H, for the purpose of traversing it to and fro. This pusher G,'
like the pusher G, rocks in a steel bush fitted in the inner end of the
opening in the sliding piece H, and bears against a brass pad fitted at the
outer end of the opening, so that the rotation of the shaft F will ensure the
traverse of the sliding piece H with its punches. The sliding pieces H, H¹,
work in suitable slides on the upper side of the cast-iron table B, and at their
inner ends they severally carry a vertical projection h, h. The projection
on the sliding piece H carries the sockets a, which are fixed with clamping

page_text: b
nuts to allow of their receiving an endway adjustment; the other end of
these sockets a slides in the vertical projection B₁ on the table B. The
inner end of each socket a is bored out conically (see Fig. 4) for the
purpose of receiving a hollow punch 6, the external diameter of which
corresponds to the diameter of the washer to be made, while its internal
diameter corresponds to the hole to be punched in the washer.. The
sliding piece H¹ carries short sockets c (see Fig. 4) which are also made
adjustable eudways by means of clamping nuts. The forward end of each of
these sockets is fitted with a punch holder c', in which is secured a punch d,
the diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of hole intended to be
made in the washer. In the vertical projection B of the table B are fitteḍ
cutting dies e, which are held in place by a plate f secured by screws or
otherwise to the inner side of the projection B². Behind each fixed die e and
in contact therewith is placed a bush e¹ which acts as a guide for the punch
holder c', and behind this guide bush is another bush e', having a shoulder
upon it which fits against a corresponding shoulder formed in the projec-
tion B' to receive the thrust of the punch 6 when in operation. Between the
vertical projections B¹, B³, is a plate I through which the punches b work
freely, and between the plate and the fixed dies e the strip of metal out of
which the base washers are to be punched is fed. The hollow punches 6 as
they advance to the fixed cutting dies will severally punch out a disc of metal
from the strip fed into the machine and thrust it a short distance into the
fixed dies, and as they recede the plate. I will free them from the strip of
pierced metal. When the punches 6 have advanced and punched out the discs
they will remain for a time quiescent in their advanced position. The small
punches d will then advance, and coming in contact with their respective discs
while in the parallel part of the dies will punch the centre hole therein, the
punches 6 for this purpose forming dies for resisting the pressure of the
punches d. The centres of the discs as they are punched out are thrust into
the hollow punch b, whence by their accumulation they are discharged into
and through the hollow socket a. As the punches d are withdrawn they will
carry with them the washers which are intercepted by the face of the guide
bush e', and being stripped off the punches they will fall through an opening
made for this purpose between the die e and bush e. Over this opening is a
small vertical opening for the admission of a sliding rod or bar 9, which works
close to, the surface of the guide bush e', for the purpose of pushing down the
newly punched washer should it stick. This rod or bar 9 is actuated in the
following manner :-The rods 9, 9, are carried by a cross bar g¹ affixed to a
vertical guide rol 9. This guide rod extends down through the table B and

page_text: is jointed at its lower end to one extremity of a rock lever K, having for its
fulcrum a pin on the framing A. This rock lever carries a bowle, which bears
upon a face cam formed on the back of the spur wheel E. When by the
rotation of the cam a projection is brought under the bowle the-rock lever K
will be caused to draw down the guide rod 9 and bring the rods 9, 9, into
action, but so soon as this projection has passed the bowle a coiled spring
connected to the guide rod and to a fixed point will by its expansion lift- the
rods to their quiescent position. The rollers for traversing the metal strip
through the machine to bring it under the action of the punches are shewn at
L, L, L, L'; they consist of two pairs of geared nipping rollers driven from
an excentric M on the shaft F; fitted to this excentric is an excentric strap
and arm m, shewn in dots at Fig. 2. This arm is jointed to one extremity of a
crank lever m¹, which is mounted on a fixed fulcrum pin pendent from the
table (see Fig. 2), the other extremity of this crank lever is socketted to a
transverse bar m³; to the opposite ends of this bar m² are jointed two rocking
frames which embrace ratchet wheels l¹ keyed respectively to the lower ends
of the axles of the rollers L' and L³. The rocking frames are mounted loosely
on thèse axles as their fulcrums, and they severally carry a pawle or ratchet P³,
which take into the teeth of their respective ratchet wheels. It will now be
understood that as the shaft F1 rotates an intermittent axial motion will be
given to the nipping rollers, and the strip of metal will be fed into and passed
through the machine at the speed required for bringing a fresh surface up
under the action of the advancing punches. N is a hand lever for starting
and stopping the machine; its fulcrum rod is fitted with a brake N' for
operating upon the fly wheel, and by means of a sliding rod, which is jointed
to the hand lever, and which carries the strap guide, the shifting of the strap
from the fast to the loose pulley, and the raising of the brake to stop the
machine will be simultaneously effected. The washers formed as above
'described are now to have their central hole countersunk to fit them to
receive the flanged end of the hollow rivet or cap chamber. This operation
is effected by the machine shewn in several views in Sheet II. of the
Drawings. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation, partly in section, of the
countersinking machine; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 8 is â front
ör end elevation; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged diagram, shewing the counter-
sinking tool and the parts for holding the washer when presented to the cutter.
A, A, are standards, which serve to support the bed B of the machine; C, C¹³,
are brackets for carrying the driving shaft C, on which are mounted the fast
and loose belt pulleys D, D. Keyed on the driving shaft is a bevil wheel a,
which takes into a similar wheel a¹ on a vertical shaft E. This shaft works

page_text: in the socket or hollow standard E¹ (see the dotted lines in Fig. 1) and carries
at its upper end a strap pulley 6 for driving the cutting tool, to which the
washers. to be countersunk are presented by a circular table to which an inter-
mittent axial motion is given, as will be presently explained. F is a hollow
bracket bolted on the upper side of the bed B, and having slides in front in
which a headstock G is free to move vertically. This headstock is fitted
with bearings to carry a hollow spindle c. To this spindle the cutter d
which is intended to perform the countersinking operation is fitted, and the
spindle and cutter are driven by means of a band which passes from. the
pulley 6 on the shaft. E to a pulley c¹ keyed on the upper end of the spindle c.
H is a bell-crank lever mounted on a stud in the bracket F, and taking
into a socket in the headstock G. This bell crank carries at its pendent end.
a bowle which is held by a weighted cord e in contact with a cam or excentric g
mounted on the transverse shaft h; the bell crank is therefore caused to
rock, and thereby raise the headstock with its cutting tool by the pressure of
the rotating cam or excentric on the bowle of the bell crank. The cam shaft h
is mounted in bearings in the bed B, B, and it is driven through a spur
wheel (keyed to one end of the shaft) in gear with a pinion on the boss
of the band pulley k, which pulley is mounted loosely ou a stud axle l. The
pulley k is driven by a band from the pulley m on the end of the driving shaft C.
The cam shaft. h carries at its outer end a grooved cam n (see Fig. 2)
which is used to. give the intermittent axial motion to the table which
presents the washers to the cutting tool. In the groove of the cam n is a pin
projecting from a rock lever o. having for its fulcrum a pin carried by a
bracket attached to the table of the machine. The opposite end of the lever
to that connected with the cam is connected by means of a rod o' to a pawle
arm o* which carries a pawle o³ for actuating a ratchet wheel o*. This ratchet
wheel is keyed on the lower end of a vertical shaft I which is mounted..in
suitable bearings on the bed B, and carries at its upper end (which projects
through the bed) the rotary table. The table is composed of a "rose" or
dividing wheel I' and an annular plate I' fitted to the upper side of the rose
wheel. The edge of this table corresponds in thickness or nearly so with
the thickness of the base washer, and it is provided. with a ring of holes
which are intended to receive the washers to be operated upon. Below the
rotary table 1' and made fast to the bed B is a flanged ring block.K, which
serves to close the holes of the table and keep the washers in place as
they are moved round to the cutting tool. The washers as they are brought
up to the cutting tool pass under a fixed bar or bridge F¹ cast with
affixed to the bracket F, and so situate with respect to the thin portion or
.or

page_text: periphery of the table às to leave just room enough for its passage between
the bar F¹ and the fixed ring block K. A hole is made through this bar to
allow of the descent of the cutting tool d through it to act upon the washer
below. This hole is fitted with a hardened steel bush (see Fig. 4) to receive
the upward pressure put on the washers for the purpose of holding them
firmly when under the action of the countersinking tool. p is a sliding bar,
one end of which passes through the ring block K, and is shaped to take into
the divisions of the rose wheel and lock the table after every axial movement';
q is a weighted bell-crank lever, the upper end of which enters a slot in the
sliding bar p and serves to hold it in contact with the rose or locking wheel.
The divisions of the rose wheel correspond in number with the holes in the
annular plate to receive the base washer. A hole is made in the ring block K
to receive a vertical socket L which is intended to hold the washers as they
are respectively brought under it in close contact with the steel bush of the
fixed bar F while they are under the action of the cutting tool." The
socket 'L' is carried by a sliding piece fitted in guides in a bracket N affixed
to the bed of the machine. In the lower end of this sliding piece is a loop r,
which is held in place by the set screw and adjusted vertically by the nut :
O is a lever keyed on a rock shaft P, which shaft is supported by brackets Q
bolted to opposite sides of the bed. One end of this lever takes into à cross
piece which passes through the loop r, and the other end carries a friction
bowle which is brought into contact with the cam by means of the weight S
pendent from the rock lever O. The cutting tool or drill á is secured and
made adjustable in its hollow spindle c in the following manner :-The lower
end of the spindle is coned out to receive a split or divided "cone d¹ which
serves to grip the tool, and the exterior of the spindle is screwed to receive a
nut dº.
An internal shoulder of this nut bears upon a shoulder of the divided
cone d¹, and thus as the nut is screwed up it will cause the cone to bind
tightly against the tool d and hold it firmly in place.. I rear of the tool d
is'a rod d³ the upper end of which is borne against by a screw d* tapped in
the hollow spindle c. In order to adjust the tool to its work the nut d' is
first slackened; and the set screw d is turned to force down the rod and tool
or to provide for their being raised (as the case may be) and when the adjust-
ment is effected the nut dis screwed up tight as before. A lock nut is fitted
to the adjusting screw to retain it in its adjusted position. It will now be
understood that on motion being communicated to the driving shaft C and the
whshers being fed by the attendant into the holes of the rotating table the
washers will be presented in regular succession to the tool d, which will descend
and countersink the washer and then rise to allow of its removal, the washer

page_text: during the operation being held fast between the steel bush of the fixed
bar F and the socket L. When the pressure of the socket L is removed:
from the washer the table 1 is turned to bring a fresh washer under the
action of the tool d and a finished washer is at the same time brought over. a
vertical hole in the block K to be discharged. In line with this hole is a
plunger d which is carried by a bracket arm attached to the slide G. The
descent therefore of the slide to bring the tool d into action will cause the
plunger d to drive the finished washer down through the block into a
receptacle placed to receive it. For the formation of the deep cup, the
shallow cup, and the cup for conversion into the cap chamber, I use.
machines of similar construction, the only difference being that each is pro-
vided with punches and dies suitable for its special duties, the same description.
will therefore suffice for the machines used for these several purposes..
The machine first punches out from a long strip of metal fed thereto two,
three, or more discs simultaneously according to its capabilities of working,
and then strikes up or forms the discs into cups at the same stroke of the
machine. The general characteristics of this machine correspond somewhat
with that described for panching the disc for the base washer, but instead of
a crank pin and loose arm for working the hollow punch a cam is used.
which rotates in a recess or opening formed in the sliding piece that carries
the hollow punch socket. The cupping machine shewn in Sheet III. is.
fitted with dies and punches for cutting out and shaping the cup which is to
form what I have termed the cap chamber or the receptacle for the per-.
cussion cap.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine constructed to form four cap chambers
or cups simultaneously; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is
an end elevation, and Fig. 4 is a partial sectional elevation taken through the
centre of a set of dies and punches. I have said that this machine greatly.
resembles that described with reference to Sheet I. I shall therefore for the
sake of brevity use the same reference letters for the like parts referring to.
the foregoing description for such details of description as may be wanting-in.
the present explanation of the construction and use of those parts.
The main framing A carries the bed B which is furnished with vertical
projecting blocks B', B³, that form fixed guides for the punches and cupping
tools; opposite these blocks are mounted the sliding pieces H, H, by whose
traversing motions the punches are brought into action and withdrawn from
their work. Motion is communicated to the sliding pieces from the driving
shaft C, which by means of bevil pinions D drives the bevil wheels E, E',

page_text: keyed respectively on the vertical shafts F, F, the former of which through
a cam or excentric G works the sliding piece H, and the latter through a
crank pin and a socketted oscillating pusher G works the sliding piece :H¹.
Made fast by clamping screws to vertical projections h, h¹, of these sliding
pieces are the hollow sockets a, a, a, a, and c, c, c, c. The sockets a carry
the punches 6 for striking out the discs of metal by the aid of fixed dies e
fitted into the block B, and held in place by the plate f, and fitted into the
sockets c, and made fast thereto by their screwed ends are stems c¹ which carry
the small cupping tools or punches d for giving the cup shape to the disc;
inside the several dies a socket el is fitted. This socket has a collar
behind the die 6 and in rear of this collar and surrounding the socket is a
strong helical spring e³, one end of which presses against the collar and the
other against an adjustable socket nut screwed into the cast-iron pro-
jection B, the turning of which nut will regulate the pressure of the spring
upon the socket. Passing through the socket and free to move therein is
the cupping tool d which is screwed into its holder c¹. In order to adjust
the stem or holder c¹ the clamping nuts which secure it to the sliding
piece Hare turned to the right or the left, and the tool d will thus be
advanced or drawn back relatively to the sliding piece H¹, so that it may
when brought into action indent the disc and form it into a cup of the
requisite depth. The hollow punches 6 work freely through the plate I which
serves to strip the metal from the punches after the discs to form the cups
are punched out of them; L is a spool which carries the strip of metal (rolled
into a coil) for the punches and dies to operate upon. This coil of metal is
slipped into its place by first lifting off the top plate. L' is a guide through
which the strip of metal passes on its way to the punches and dies; and
L, L, are a pair of drag rollers geared together for the purpose of delivering
the punched strip out of the machine; these rollers are mounted in the
headstock O. One of the pairs of bushes in which the rollers rotate is made
to slide, and for pressing these bushes forward a spring is used, its pressure
being adjusted by the set screw m. The drag rollers have an intermittent
rotary motion given to them by means of the internal cam n (Fig. 2) keyed
on the vertical shaft I'; this cam actuates the bar o through the friction bowle
and stud p, p, carried at one end of the bar o. The opposite end of this
bar o is jointed to one end of the rocking lever 9 mounted on the stud fixed
g
on the under side of the bed or table B. The other end of the lever g actuates
by a radial rack the levers (Fig. 3), which is provided with a corresponding
radial rack. The lever s is mounted upon the lower end of the axis of the

page_text: roller L³, and carries a pawle which takes into the ratchet wheel t keyed on
one end of the axle of the roller L. The brake N₁ for stopping the rotation
of the fly wheel and driving shaft C is operated through a crank handle N°
fitted to a spindle which carries a spur pinion in gear with a rack formed on
the belt shifter rod N³, which rod is jointed to an arm on the brake spindle.
It will now be understood that if motion is given to the strap pulleys the
bevil pinions D on the shaft C will drive the wheels on the vertical shafts F
and F, and thereby through the connections before described impart a to-
and-fro motion to the sliding pieces H and H¹; the hollow punches 6 will
then advance and severally punch out a disc of metal and place it in the
die è set opposite thereto, pressing the disc at the same time hard against the
socket e¹ within the die, as shewn in the enlarged detached section Fig. 5.
The spring e will thus be brought into action, and the disc will by its pressure
be firmly held between the punch 6 and socket e¹. The cupping tool d will
now advance and strike the centre of the disc, and dragging it out of the grip
of the punch and socket, as shewn at Fig. 6, will force it in the shape of a cup
into the central hole in the punch 6, as the cupping tool continues in its advance
to act upon the disc while yet it is firmly held as explained the metal will
have no tendency to crimp or pucker at the edge and thus a smooth cup
will be formed. This gripping of the metal is therefore very important and
indeed essential to the production of good work. As the cup is forced onwards
by the cupping tool the outer edge of the cup will reach a recessed part
or enlarged internal diameter of the hollow punch 6, and on the return stroke
of the cupping tool the shoulder formed by the recess will strip the newly
formed cup off the end of the cupping tool. By the accumulation of cups
within the punch 6 the foremost ones will be continually pushed forward and
through the socket. a, whence they will be finally discharged into
any suitable
receptacle. The machine above described when fitted with suitable dies will
suffice to finish the deep and shallow cups, but in order to give the requisite
depth to the cup which is to form the cap chamber the cup is to be submitted
to the well-known process of drawing down, which operation may be effected
by any suitable or approved arrangement of machinery.
The cap chamber having been sufficiently drawn, the next operation is to
trim off the rough edge. This I effect by the use of the machine shewn in
Sheet IV., wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the trimming
machine; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 8 an end elevation; and
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view.
Mounted upon standards A, A, is the bed B of the machine, which carries

page_text: most of the working parts. C is the driving shaft mounted in suitable
bearings carried by the standards; keyed upon the shaft C is a strap pulley D,
which drives by means of a strap a pulley on a hollow spindle a; this spindle
is mounted in suitable bearings in the headstock E, and is intended to carry a
chuck for holding the drawn cup under the action of the trimming tool. This
tool may either be a rotary cutter mounted on a sliding piece, which will
admit of its being advanced to and withdrawn from its work, or a chisel cutter
may be used, as shewn at Fig. 2. The cups are fed into the machine by
band, a circular disc pierced with a ring of holes and receiving an inter-
mittent axial motion being used to bring the cups into a line with the chuck,
into which they are thrust by the advance of a stud or plunger, as will be
hereafter described. F is a pulley on the end of the shaft C for driving a
pulley 6 mounted on a stud fixed in the bed, and having a spur pinion on its
boss; this pinion takes into a spur wheel c, keyed on the outer end of a shaft d,
which has its bearing in the bed. On the inner end of this shaft is a bevil
pinion e, which takes into a bevil wheelf keyed upon a transverse cam shaft g,
from which the motions for rotating the feeding disc and advancing and with-
drawing the trimming tool are derived. h is an excentric also keyed upon
the shaft g and working in the strap of a connecting rod i, which rod is
jointed to a rocking lever (see Fig. 1); this rocking lever is mounted upon
the bark supported in the bed B. To the upper end of this rocking leverj
are jointed links 7, which connect it to a sliding piece G moving in suitable
slides upon the bed B; this sliding piece carries a stud m, and the outer end
of this stud is made to fit the drawn cup or cap chamber, so that when it is
advanced to the feed plate or disc it will enter the cup presented to it, and
thrusting it out of the disc transfer it to the chuck provided to receive it. A
rod I attached to this sliding piece G passes through the headstock E, and is
free to slide therein. On the outer end of this rod is fixed the cross piece J,
which carries a plunger fitted into the hollow spindle a. This plunger is for
the purpose of pushing out the drawn cups when they have been trimmed.
On one end of the transverse cam shaft 9 is keyed the cam n, which actuates
the rock lever o. Jointed to the upper end of this lever o is a connecting
rod p, which is jointed to a rock lever 9; this rock lever is pivotted on a
horizontal shafts mounted in bracket bearings carried by the headstock E.
The rock lever carries a pawle, which takes into a ratchet wheel r keyed upon
the shaft s. On the outer end of the shaft s is keyed the disc or circular feed
plate t, which is pierced with a ring of holes (see Fig. 3) to receive the cups
to be trimmed, the same being fed in by the attendant. These holes are

page_text: g
situate near the outer edge of the disc, and correspond in number with the
teeth on the ratchet wheel r. Behind this feed plate t is a fixed plate t
made fast to the table, and fitted with a hole, the axis of which is in a line
with that of the spindle a. This plate serves to support the cup during its
transference from the rotating plate to the chuck. On the opposite end of the
cam shaft g to that which carries the cam n is another cam u, which actuates
a rock lever v having for its fulcrum a stud carried by the bed of the machine.
The upper end of this lever has a slot, into which takes a pin on the end of a
slide H; this slide H carries the cutting tool w, which is held in position in
the usual manner. On the end of the spindle a is mounted a spring chuck a,
which is intended to receive and grip the cups to be trimmed (see the detached
views Figures 5). Motion being given to the driving pulleys the strap
pulley D drives the hollow spindle a with its chuck x. The pulley F drives
the pulley b, and through the gearing c, e, f, the transverse cam shaft 9 is
rotated. The excentric h of this shaft gives the traverse motion to the sliding
pieco G, and causes the stud m at every advance to push one of the cups out
of the disc t into the chuck a; the cutting tool w is then advanced by the
cam u, and coming into contact with the cup in the rotating chuck it will trim
the cup to the proper length, as shewn at Figs. 5. The backward motion of
the sliding piece G will take the plunger which lies inside the hollow spindle a
in the same direction, and thereby cause it to push the trimmed cup out of
the chuck; the cam n then actuates the levers o and 9, which through the
pawl and ratchet wheel give an axial motion to the feed plate or disc t, and
thus cause it to bring the next cup opposite the stud m when the operation
already described will be repeated. The cap chamber thus far prepared is
now ready to have its lip turned over to form a flange (which operation
completes the formation of the cap chamber) prior to its application to the
cartridge case. Two, three, or more cap chambers may be simultaneously
flanged by one operation of the machine, depending upon the number of
flanging tools and dies employed, but the arrangement of machinery shewn in
Sheet V., which I will now describe, is arranged for operating upon two cup
chambers simultaneously.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a
front elevation, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine. The details of the
operation are exemplified by the enlarged diagrams of the flanging tools and
dies at Figures 4.
A is the standard which carries the cast-iron frame B for sustaining. the
various shafts and other working parts; C, C, is the driving shaft fitted with

page_text: fast-and-loose belt pullies and a fly wheel as usual; keyed also to this shaft
is a pinion D which gears into and drives the spur wheel E keyed on the
crank shaft F. Fitted to the crank pin of this shaft is the connecting rod G
which actuates the vertical sliding bar H, being connected thereto in manner
already described with respect to the machine shewn in Sheet IV. with which
machine this flanging machinė has many parts in common. The sliding bar
H carries the tools e, e, by which together with the fixed dies f, f, the flanging
opération is effected. On the cam shaft F is a face cam I which actuates the
sliding bar a through an antifriction bowle carried by the bar; this bowle is
Affixed
held in contact with the cam by means of a weighted crank lever c.
to the outer end of the bar a is a forked piece 6 (see Fig. 3) fitted with two
pairs of spring clips for receiving the cap chambers to be flanged and present-
ing them to the fixed dies which lie immediately below the flanging tools.
Over the forked piece b is placed a plate d, having two holes which are respec-
tively immediately over the line of traverse of the spring clips and are
coincident with the openings in the ends of the clips when the clips are at the
end of their inward traverse. These holes in the plate d are intended to
guide the attendant in the insertion of the cap chambers into the spring clips.
Situate immediately below the dies f, f, are vertical plungers 9 working in
suitable guides and carrying each at their upper ends a pin for entering the
dies f from below and discharging the cap chambers therefrom when flanged.
On each plunger is a fixed collar, against the under face of which a lever g*
hinged to the frame B bears. The levers g* are jointed to a connecting rod h
which is pendent from the vertical sliding bar H, and thus the vertical plungers
are caused to rise and fall with the sliding bar. In the plate of the-spúr
wheel E is a face cam J; this cam actuates the short sliding horizontal bar j
which is fitted with a friction bowle and is held against the cam by a spiral
spring. This bar carries a stud on its upper side which acts upon a pair of
forked armsk (see Fig. 8) keyed upon vertical rocking shafts .. On the
lower end of these shafts are two arms m, m, which are bent at their free
ends so as to lie between the prongs of the advancing forked piece b. n is a
guard to protect the fingers of the attendant. Motion being given to the
driving pulley the spur pinion D will drive the wheel E on the cam shaft F
and by means of the connecting rod G actuate the sliding bar H. The face
cam I actuates the slide bar a, and by its to-and-fro motion carries the cap
chambers (which have been fed through the holes in the plate d) under the
flanging tools h, h. These tools by the downward action of the bar H force
the caps into the dies f,f, the shoulders of the tools then coming into contac

page_text: with the edge of the cap chambers will form the flange thereon, as shown at
Figures 4. Immediately the flanging tools enter the cap chambers the clip
springs will retire and thus release their hold upon the cap chambers. When
the flanges are formed the bar H will ascend, and raising the end of the hinged
lever will lift the plungers g, forcing the flanged cap chambers out of the
dies; the levers m will now suddenly be brought into action by the cam J,
and will push the cap chambers into receptacles provided to receive them. For
the closing of the rear of the cartridge case I have said that a wad is used.
This is commonly made of a strip of paper rolled up on a spindle to the
required diameter. It is however requisite to compress and solidify the wad
before applying it to the case, and for this purpose I have contrived the machine
shewn in Sheet VI. wherein a rotating horizontal table formed with a ring of
circular holes to receive the wads is provided for bringing the wads in succession
under the action of a compressing tool carried by a vertical slide.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a
front elevation, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine; Figures 4 shew the
wad in full size in its uncompressed state, and Figures 5 shew it after it has
been submitted to the action of the machine.
A, A, is the standard supporting the cast-iron frame B which carries the
various working parts; C is a transverse driving shaft on which the fast-and-
loose driving pullies D and fly wheel are mounted. A bevil pinion C¹ keyed
on the driving shaft C gears into a bevil wheel E keyed on the crank shaft F.
B is a hollow bracket arm, the vertical front face of which is fitted to receive
the slide G of the compressing tool a. The up-and-down motion for the tool
is obtained from the crank shaft F which transmits motion through the con-
necting rod H to the slide G. I is the table intended to receive the paper
wads. It is keyed to an axle I' having its bearing in the frame B. Bolted
to the under side of the table I is a star wheel Is into which gears & pinion K
with one tooth mounted on a short spindle K¹ which carries a bevil wheel,
into which gears the bevil pinion of a longitudinal shaft L. This shaft L
turns in bearings in the frame B, and carries at its outer end a spur pinion
which gears into and is driven by a spur wheel F¹ on the crank shaft F.
The radial recesses cut in the periphery of the star wheel Iº correspond to
the spaces between the holes with which the table is pierced to receive the
wads to be pressed. Below the table is set an annular bed M which is made
That part of the bed M which lies under the slide G is
mould m; this mould is so formed as to allow of the
entrance from above of the compressing tool a, and the entrance from below
fast to the frame B.
fitted with a die or

page_text: of a counter pressing tool b, the latter of which forms a movable bottom for the
mould. Both tools are made hollow to allow of their working over a core pin c,
on to which the wad is pressed by the descent of the tool a. As the wads are
successively brought round the tool a will descend and thrusting them out of
the holes in the table will force them into the die m where they will receive
the requisite consolidating pressure, their central hole being preserved by
means of a fixed core pin c. The compression of a wad being effected the
tool a will retire, and the tool 6 will then rise and lift the moulded wad back
into the hole in the table. While the tool b is at the top of its stroke the
table will begin to turn, and the tool retiring so soon as the wad is caught
on the underlying block the forward motion of the table will be continued
until another wad is brought into line for the repetition of the operation.
I have explained that the crank shaft F through the connecting rod H gives
the requisite motions to the tool a, and I will now explain how through the same
crank shaft the tool b is brought into action. The slide G carries at its upper
end a crosshead from which depend two rods N, N. The lower ends of these
rods are screwed to receive adjusting nuts n and they are passed through lugs
formed at the extremities of a cross bar O. Made fast to the centre of this
cross bar by a screw bolt is a hollow rod p which carries at its upper end the
counter tool b. This rod is mounted in an adjustable tubular bearing Q
which is fitted into a pendent bracket projection of the frame B. The tube Q
is screwed at its ends to receive adjusting nuts which admit of its being raised
or lowered in the bracket as required. Upon the hollow rod P a solid
shoulder or flange is formed, which when pressure is being put upon the wad
rests on the top of the tube Q and thus throws the downward pressure upon
the tube, the adjustment of which with respect to the tool a determines the
amount of pressure the wad will receive from the compressing tool. It will
now be understood that when the slide grises (by the rotation of the crank
shaft F) to lift the tool a out of the mould and clear of the table the adjusting
nuts n, n, of the rods N, N, will come in contact with the crosshead O and
carry it upwards, thereby lifting the tool 6 and with it the wad, which will
then be carried forward at the next motion of the table to be discharged into
any convenient receptacle. The core pin c is fitted to a rod d which lies in
the hollow rod P, and an elongated slot is formed in the rod P to allow of a
transverse key e passing through from the rod d and being driven tight into
the fixed bracket B. The compressing tool a is screwed into an adjustable
socket g fitted in the slide G and made fast therein by clamping nuts f, f.
To ensure the return of the tool 6 (after being raised) to its normal position,

page_text: a tension spring made fast to a fixed point may be connected to the cross bar O
so that as the cross bar rises- the tension of the spring will increase, and on
the slide G commencing its return stroke the spring will draw down the cross
bar and the tool 6 connected therewith. The wad having been prepared as
above described is next to be inserted in its place in the cartridge case and
subjected to pressure, whereby it is converted into a tight hollow core and
enabled to connect together the several parts composing the cartridge; to
this end the component parts of the cartridge are properly assembled, as shewn
in the detached sectional view Fig. 1, Sheet VII., and the cartridge is sub-
mitted to a compressing machine having a suitably shaped compressing too!
which will enter the case and compress the wad without affecting the central
cap chamber.
The compressing machine is shewn in longitudinal sectional elevation at
Fig. 2, Sheet VII., in end elevation at Fig. 3, and in plan view at Fig. 4. The
standard A carries the frame B, on which the working parts of the machine
are mounted. C is the driving shaft fitted with fast-and-loose band pullies
and a fly wheel; D is a circular rotating table for bringing up the cartridges
into line with the compressing tool. This table is mounted on a stud axle D*
made fast to the frame B, and it travels over the flat face of a ring let into the
frame. Made fast to the foot of the pillar of this table is a star wheel D¹ which
is driven by a one tooth pinion E carried by a short axle E* supported by the
frame B; keyed to the lower end of this axle is a bevil wheel E¹, into which
gears a pinion E' on the driving shaft C. This arrangement allows of an inter-
mittent axial motion being communicated to the table D. A spur pinion C¹ on
the shaft C gears into and drives a wheel C³ keyed on the horizontal shaft F,
which shaft as in the last-described machine carries a crank pin for operating the
tool slide G by means of the connecting rod H; this rod is coupled to the slide
by a screw bolt I. In the head of the slide is fitted an adjusting screw g which
enters a tapped hole in the screw bolt. By turning the screw 9 when the bolt
is slackened the position of the slide with respect to the bolt and therefore
to the throw of the crank may be adjusted to the greatest nicety. This is
important as it serves to regulate the amount of pressure the wad is to receive.
The slide G moves in guides formed for it in the bracket projection B¹ of the
frame; fitted to this slide is the compressing tool a, the form of which is
best shewn in the section Fig. 1; as it is intended to act only on the wad its
face is recessed to allow of its moving down over the cap chamber without
touching it.
I have said that the table D is used for bringing the cartridges
under the action of the tool; for this purpose semicircular recesses are formed

page_text: across its periphery at equal distances apart to receive the cartridges, as shewn
in the plan view Fig. 4. The component parts of the cartridges having been
properly assembled or. arranged the cartridges (the parts of which are still
loose and unconnected.) are fed to the machine by hand, and to retain them
in position while being moved round the table is girt by a semicircular
guide D which is made fast to the frame B; the table also moves over an
annular bed D³ let into the frame B and forming a bottom to the receptacles
for the cartridges; this guide terminates near the compressing tool a, and its
place is taken by a horizontal sliding bar K which slides in a recess made for
it in the frame B. The front end of this bar has formed in it a semicircular
recess which corresponds in form with the recesses made in the periphery of the
table D, and forms with each of them in succession a mould for sustaining the
cartridges when submitted to the action of the compressing tool; at its-rear
end this bar K carries a bowle which by means of a weighted bell-crank
lever K¹ is kept in contact with a face cam L secured to the spur wheel Con
the crank shaft F. By the rotation of the face cam L the sliding. bar.is
caused to. close upon the cartridges as they are severally presented to the
compressing tool, and when the compression of the wad has been effected the
pressure of the cam is withdrawn from the bar and the cartridge is released.
As the notches in the star wheel D₁ are made to correspond with the recesses
in the table it will follow that for every rotation of the singled toothed wheel E
a fresh cartridge will be brought under the action of the compressing tool.
By referring to Fig. 1 it will be clearly seen in what condition the cartridge
is at the time that it is submitted to the machine. This view shews the deep
cup inserted in the shallow cup and the cartridge case (made in the ordinary
manner) inserted in the deep cup. The base washer is applied to the bottom of
the outer cup, and the closed end of the flanged cap chamber is passed through
the central holes in the cups. The compressed wad as it leaves the last-described
machine is then dropped in over the cap chamber, and by further pressure
applied to it while in this position by the compressing tool a it is caused to
expand laterally and thus unite the hitherto loose parts firmly together.
When the compressing operation is effected the sliding bar is moved back to
relieve the table of side pressure the table will be free to turn to bring up
another cartridge to be operated upon. The cartridges which have passed
under the action of the compressing tool may be picked up by hand and
placed in a suitable receptacle. To enable the table to resist the side pressure
of the sliding bar K without its being thrown upon the stud axle D❤ the face
of the annular. bed Ds is furnished with a rib or flange which takes the side

page_text: strain, and to keep the bed well in place a brass pad-6, Fig. 2, is pressed up
to it by a tightening screw c in the line of the thrust.
The next operation is to submit the head of the cap chamber to pressure so
as, first, to form it into a rivet. head, thereby making it bind firmly upon the
wad; and, secondly, to perforate it to make a vent for the fire from the per-
cussion cap. These two results are obtained. by the employment of a machine
very similar in construction to that last described. To prevent therefore the
repetition of needless details I will use the same reference letters as in
Sheet VII. for like parts in this machine, and will describe only in detail the
changes introduced to adapt the machine to the rivetting and piercing of the
cap chamber.
Fig. 1, Sheet VIII., is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the machine;
Fig. 2 is an end elevation and Fig. 3 is a plan view; Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged
sectional views shewing two cartridges mounted on hollow anvils and having
been acted upon, the one by a rivetting tool and the other by a piercing tool.
In this machine the slide G carries both these tools, which are shewn at a
and a*, Fig. 2, and which operate simultaneously but upon different cart-
ridges which come each in succession under the operation of, the tools. The
table D is in this case fitted with a ring of anvils d, d, d, set up vertically on
the table.. These anvils are made hollow to allow of the punch a* entering
them when it pierces the cap chamber. A guard M is fixed to the framing B
and placed immediately below the slide G; this guard is pierced with holes
to allow the tools a, a, to descend through the guard, but if they should on
their ascent lift the cartridges from the anvils it will effectually strip them off
the tools. The cartridges are placed rear uppermost on the anvils by the
attendant, and an intermittent axial motion is given to the table. by an arrange-
ment precisely similar to that described with reference to Sheet VII. The
tool a is formed with a shoulder which presses upon the base washer, while
the projecting pin enters the cap chamber and prevents it from bulging in
under the pressure imparted by the shoulder on the cartridge. The effect of
the pressure thus applied will be to make the head widen out and take the
form of a rivet head, and thus the connection of the parts of the cartridge
will no longer depend upon mere adhesion, as was the case when the cartridge
left the last machine. The rivet head being formed, the next motion of the
table will bring the rivet and cartridge under the tool a*, when the chamber
will be pierced, as explained, to form a vent for the percussion fire. The
cartridges as they leave the machine last described are ready to be charged
with powder and have the bullet inserted. This operation having been effected

page_text: in the ordinary way the cartridge is next to receive the percussion cap, the
insertion of which in the cap chamber is a somewhat delicate operation. To
effect this with expedition and without the risk of danger to the operators I
use an arrangement of machinery for fitting the cap in its place.
This machine admits of modification, but I will first describe it in its most
simple form with reference to Sheet IX, where Fig. 1 shews the machine in
front elevation, Fig. 2 in vertical section, taken at right angles to Fig. 1, and
Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same. In these Figures A, A, is a standard carrying
a bed B, to which is fixed a vertical stud axle C; around this stud axle
revolves a circular table D, which is cast with an internal ring of star wheel
teeth D, and carries at its periphery recesses formed at equal distances apart
and corresponding in number with the teeth of the star wheel. These recesses
are intended to receive the charged cartridges, into which the percussion caps
are to be inserted. Surrounding the table is a fixed circular guard D' for
keeping the cartridges in position; this guard does not extend round the
whole periphery of the table, but at a point below which a discharge shute E
is situate; this guard is cut away to allow of the cartridges being discharged
from the machine. The cartridges are suspended bullet downwards from the
table, the base washer resting upon the face of the table, as shewn in the
detached view Fig. 4. A bridge piece D³ connects the two ends of the guard
together; this bridge is so shaped as to allow of the cartridges (as the table
rotates) passing under it, and then when they have passed under it presents
an incline to the edges of the base washers, and thereby serves to thrust them
out of their recesses into the shute E. The operation of inserting the percus-
sion cap in its chamber consists in forcing it down over a loose piece of metal
termed an anvil (see Fig. 5, where 1 is the cap and 2 the anvil), and leaving
it tight in the chamber, and in such a position with respect to the apex of the
anvil that a blow upon the head of the cap will ensure its priming coming in
contact with the anvil and exploding. To effect this adjustment of the cap
with certainty and without risk of firing the cartridge the regulated pressure
of a plunger is employed. This plunger, shewn at a, consists of a screwed pin
which passes through a lug projecting from a vertical slide G, and is made fast
thereto by adjusting nuts. The slide G works in guides on the face of a
bracket F bolted to the framing B. Motion is given to the machine by a
treadle H, which through a connecting rod and crank drives the fly wheel
shaft I. A belt from a small pulley on this shaft passing over a larger pulley
on the shaft K drives that shaft from which the motions for rotating the table
and working the plunger are derived. A bevil wheel b on this shaft K (which

page_text: shaft is mounted in bearings pendent from the framing B) gears into a bevil
wheel c on a short vertical shaft d mounted in a socket cast for it on the
under side of the frame B. This shaft d carries a single tooth wheel e, which
gears into the star wheel teeth D* and gives the requisite intermittent rotary
motion to the table. On the end of the shaft K is a crank pin, which is con-
nected by a link f with a rock lever g supported on a pin carried by a bracket
bearing. The inner end of this rock lever g is connected by a link h with the
slide G, and thus a reciprocating vertical motion is given to the slide and its
plunger. The cartridges are fed into the machine by a boy standing at the
back thereof, who drops them into the recesses, the base washer uppermost.
At the end of the machine opposite the plunger à second boy stands and drops
into the cap chamber of the inverted cartridges as they come round a small
anvil formed with shoulders (see Fig. 5) to receive the edge of the percussion
cap at the front of the machine; a third boy, who works the treadle drops a
cap upon the anvil, and the cartridge is then in a state to be acted upon by
the plunger or depressing tool a. As the cartridges are severally brought in a
line with the depressing tool or plunger a, that tool descends and forces down
the cap upon the anvil a certain regulated distance, the percussion being kept
just clear of the anvil. All chance of an explosion taking place while the
machine is in proper working order is therefore avoided, but to meet the case
of pressure being put on the cap through negligence or accident sufficient to
explode it provision is made for the harmless escape of the bullet. In the bed
of the machine immediately below the depressing tool a hole is made, and
below this hole is situate a strong tube L, which may lead to any distant or
safe receptacle. On the accidental firing therefore of a cartridge under treat-
ment taking place no injury can possibly arise to the attendants. When the
cap has been properly placed in the cap chamber by the plunger that tool will
rise and the cartridge will then be brought round under the bridge piece D³,
and into contact with the incline D, which will push it out of the recess
in the table into the adjacent shute E, whence it will fall into a suble
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receptacle.
The above described arrangement admits of modification by the use of two
circular tables or discs placed so that one slightly overlaps the other, the one
being used to bring the cartridges and the other the percussion caps (with
the anvils inserted) in a line with the plunger, when the plunger will transfer
the cap to the cartridge. This arrangement is shewn in Sheet X., where
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the capping machine; Fig. 2 is a vertical section
of the same taken at right angles to Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a plan view. The

page_text: detached section Fig. 4 illustrates on an enlarged scale the operation of
inserting the cap in the cartridge. The standards A, A, carry the bed B
which is cast: with sockets to receive the spindles of the two rotating
tables; C is a table mounted on the spindle C¹ and recessed across its
periphery to receive the cartridges to be capped; D is a table mounted
on the spindle D¹ and. recessed in its face with a ring of holes to receive
the percussion caps.
In the centre of these recesses holes are made through
the table D for the tool which presses the caps into their place to pass up
and lift the caps out of their recesses. This tool is shewn at e; it is fitted
to a vertical slide E which works in guides made fast to the bed of the machine.
A segment shaped opening is made in this slide E to admit a vibrating
driver F which imparts motion to the slide. This driver is fitted to and is
worked by a crank pin projecting from the end of the shaft H' which is
carried by suitable bearings. On this shaft is keyed a spur wheel G which
gears into and is driven by a pinion on the fly wheel shaft H, which shaft
receives motion from a treadle arrangement I. Keyed to the lower end of
the spindle is a ratchet wheel K into which a pawle carried by a rocking
frame L centred on the spindle C¹ takes for the purpose of giving an inter-
mittent axial motion to the table C. Connected to this rocking frame L by
a link is a slide M which travels in fixed guides and has projecting backwards
from its inner end a pin which carries a bowle. This bowle enters a cam
groove cast in the side of the spur wheel G, and thus the rotation of the spur
wheel will by giving a reciprocating traverse motion to the slide M cause it
(through its connection with the rocking frame L,) to put the pawle in action
upon the ratchet wheel and then to return to repeat the operation. The
table C will thus be caused to bring the cartridges in succession under the
tool e to receive the caps. In order to impart an intermittent axial motion
to the cap table D so that at the proper moment a cap and a cartridge may
come simultaneously into line with the tool the table C is fitted at-its
under side with a spur wheel C2 which gears into spur teeth on the periphery
of the table D and corresponding in number with those of the wheel C.
It will now be understood that when these tables are respectively charged
with cartridges and caps, and motion is given to the machine by the treadle I,
the tool E will as the caps and cartridges are in succession brought into line
rise and entering a recess in the table D will lift the cap contained therein out
of the recess and force it up a definite and regulated distance into the cap
chamber of the cartridge, where it will be retained by its adherence to the
sides of the chamber. The tool e will then retire and the intermittent axial

page_text: motion of the tables will be repeated to bring another cartridge and cap under:
the action of the tool e.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention I wish it to be under-
stood that I claim the arrangements of mechanism above described for
facilitating the manufacture of central-fire cartridges.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Davidson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Eleventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
J. DAVIDSON. (L.s.)