Improvements in Machinery for the Continuous Manufacture of Wooden Matches.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1897--Accepted, 19th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for the Continuous Manufacture of
Wooden Matches.
We, FRANÇOIS ALPHONSE DEBIZE, of 67, Quai d'Orsay, Paris, in the Republic of
France, and LOUIS FIRMIN CHASSEIGNE, of the same address, Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has for its object improvements in machinery for the continuous
manufacture of wooden matches and in particular for introducing the match splints
into a press.
This machine possesses great advantages both in point of view of speed in
placing the matches in the press and in point of view of the support of the
matches as well as for their transport during the several operations of manufacture.
The three parts characteristic of our invention are:-
A. The presses.
B. The separation of the match splints and their introduction into the presses.
C. The transport of the presses.
We will successively describe each of the three parts with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which :-
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show in plan and in section the general view and the details
of one of the presses.
Figures 5 and 6 a sectional plan and a vertical section showing the general
arrangement of the machine.
Each of the presses A of which Figure 1 shows a plan, Figure 2 a section on the
line 2-2 of Figure 1, Figures 3 and 4 detail sections, is composed of two similarly
perforated plates a a¹ the holes in which perfectly correspond and which are
immoveably united by two end pieces a² a³ and a crossbar a*. These end pieces and
this cross bar are traversed by a series of fluted cylinders as as as placed between the
two plates and which slightly project beyond these end pieces.
These cylinders whose ends are conical, carry flutings as as a equal in number to
the holes pierced on a same line in the plates; spiral springs a7 as placed upon the
fluted cylinders bear one side against collars a a¹0 and the other side against one of
the end pieces or against the cross bar.
Longitudinal displacement of the cylinders is limited by pins all a¹².
Studs a, a, a15, a18, fixed upon the end pieces are for the purpose of transporting
the presses by means of apparatus which will be further described.
To introduce the match splints into the presses we bring by a longitudinal
displacement of the fluted cylinders the hollows of the flutings as of these cylinders
opposite the perforations in the plates.
After introduction of the match splints, the fluted cylinders as are displaced
longitudinally in the reverse direction and by that means alone the matches are
pressed and held safely in the press.
To empty these presses the fluted cylinders are acted upon in the same direction
as for the introduction of the splints,

page_text: This operation is therefore carred out very easily and allows the matches to be very
rapidly packed in boxes.
The general view of this machine is shown in Figure 5 which is a partial horizontal
section on the line 5-5 of Figure 6.
Figure 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.
The part B of this machine causes the separation of the match splints and their
introduction into the presses A. It is composed of :-
1-two fixed grids b¹ b².
2-four pushers 63 64 65 and another which does not appear.
3-two moveable grooved blocks 67 68.
4-propelling rollers 69 610.
.
5-a fixed partition with grooves 611.
The inatch splints placed in hoppers above the fixed grids b¹ 62 are shaken by
these hoppers and enter by series into-the spaces in these grids.
The pushers 63 64 65 60 push each series of splints into the grooves in the moveable
blocks 67 68. As soon as blocks 67 68 are charged with splints they are brought into
the vertical position indicated in dots in Figure 6, in this movement they take
with them the splints which also assume a vertical position and enter between
the fixed partition 6" and the rollers 60 and 610. These rollers to which a rapid
movement of rotation is given take the splints and cause them to enter into the holes
in the press A placed below.
A table 612 limits the descent of the splints through the holes in the plates of the
press. The tables 613 and 61 serve to support the several parts just described and
guide the match splints during their passage from the grids 6' 62 onto the
blocks 67 68.
The spaces in the grids, the grooves in the moveable blocks, the grooves in the
fixed partition as well as the holes in the press correspond.
The third part of this invention serves to effect the transport of the presses and to
keep them at rest during the introduction of the splints; it is composed of :-
1 Two moveable notched rails c¹ c² partially shown in Figures 5 and 6. These
two rails are carried at each end by two eccentrics c³ c keyed upon the same shaft
which communicates to them a continuous rotary movement.
2-Two fixed notched rails c c.
The two moveable rails c¹ c² have for their object to slightly raise and to cause
the presses to intermittently advance through the machine in such a manner that
these presses successively present each double row of holes below the splints
brought forward by the part B. The fixed rails c5 co serve to support the presses
by means of studs a¹³, a¹¹, a15, a¹0, and keep them at rest during the introduction
of the splints.
The notches formed both in the fixed moveable rails and in which the studs a13,
a, a, alo, of the presses are placed assure to the presses a predetermined position
during their time of travel as well as during their period of rest.
It may be remarked that this machine may be employed alone or may enter
into the composition of a machine for the continous manufacture of wooden
matches.
In the latter case the presses A will succeed each other at regular intervals;
after being charged with splints by the press filling machine as has just been
described, they will transport the splints to the various other machines, after being
freed from the finished matches they will take a fresh charge of splints from the
press filling machine.
It may be remarked that although plates pierced with oval holes is shown they
may be given any suitable shape.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A press to receive match splints, keep them in position, take them out from

page_text: the filling machine and to transport them to the various apparatus employed in
their manufacture consisting in two similar perforated plates the holes in which
accord immoveably connected by two end pieces and a cross bar traversed by a
series of fluted cylinders longitudinal displacement of which in one direction allows
the introduction of the match splints and the displacement in the other direction
operates to hold the splints in position in the presses.
2. An arrangement to effect the separation of the match splints and their intro-
duction into the presses consisting of fixed grids, pushers, moveable tipping blocks
with grooves, propelling rollers, and a fixed grooved partition.
3. A method of transport by which the presses are caused to travel through the
press filling machine and other apparatus employed in the manufacture consisting of
two stationary notched rails on which the presses rest whilst being charged and two
moveable rails controlled by eccentrics which effect the transport of the presses.
The whole substantially as above described and represented in the drawings
annexed.
Dated thin 0th day of Dreamber 1907