IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR LAYING OUT MATCHES FROM THE DIPPING FRAMES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent
Solicitors, at Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR LAYING OUT MATCHES
FROM THE DIPPING FRAMES." A communication from Georg Sebold, of
Durlach, in the Empire of Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th October 1880.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at Frankfort
on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR
LAYING OUT MATCHES FROM THE DIPPING FRAMES." [A communication from
Georg Sebold, of Durlach, in the Empire of Germany.]
The Invention communicated to me relates to machines for laying out matches
from the dipping frames.
Hitherto matches have generally been laid out by hand, that is to say, the
workman gathered up one row at a time out of the loosened frame, and placed
them in heaps, from which the boxes were afterwards filled. This manipulation,
even by an experienced workman was but slow, and in all cases unhealthy and
dangerous, owing to the unavoidable friction. Many methods have been tried to
supersede the band process, and two machines for automatically laying out the
matches have been constructed, one of which, invented by Georg Sebold, of Durlach,
in the Empire of Germany, has been many years before the public. The other
machine is known as Beck's laying-out machine; both these machines have the
great disadvantage that they require to be shaken and are consequently dangerous
and unhealthy.
The machine which forms the subject of the present Invention lays out the
matches without shaking, regularly and quickly, and is not liable to get out of
order.
In carrying out this Invention the matches are placed in the dipping frames with
their heads downwards between the divisions of the carriage; after the dipping
frame has been released they fall into square vertical sided holes in the carriage
and rest on their heads on a plate.

page_text: The machine is now put in motion and the carriage drawn forwards by a toothed
bar and a claw which gears intermittently into the former, the plate being
stationary, the first row of matches falls onto a slide which is drawn back suddenly,
and the matches are allowed to fall into a layer-over which at this moment is at its
highest position. The layer-over now makes a quarter turn forwards into a laying
out box. In this position the matches lie flat on the bottom of the box. The
bottom of the box now moves gently back, and the matches sink into the box.
In case any shall remain hanging or sticking to the box, the layer-over is now
drawn back. When all the matches contained in the divisions of the layer-over
are placed in the box, the bottom of the layer-over now returns to its place, and
they both rise to their first position. A bar running the whole length of the box
is now brought down on the matches, and presses them and the box in which they
are placed down to the extent that the level was raised by the last supply of
matches, so that in this manner the top row is always kept at the same level
irrespective of the thickness of the matches. The lower edges of the divisions of
the layer-over come down quite level with the top row of matches, and neither pass
into the same nor interfere with them in any way whatsoever, so that the matches
lie perfectly straight. A second bar is attached to the first bar, which passes against
any matches which may protrude beyond the others and pushes them back level
with the others. In order that the box shall remain in the same position and not
sink down, a ratchet bar is attached to the bottom of the box, gearing into a pinion
attached to a shaft provided with a brake wheel, a brake check, and a counter
weight.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank Wirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th April
1881.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at Frankfort-
on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR
LAYING OUT MATCHES FROM THE DIPPING FRAMES." A communication from
Georg Sebold, of Durlach, in the Empire of Germany.
The Invention communicated to me relates to improvements in machines for
laying out matches from the dipping frames.
Hitherto matches have generally been laid out by hand, that is to say, the
workman gathered up one row at a time out of the loosened frame and placed them
in heaps, from which the boxes were afterwards filled. This operation could only
be effected slowly, even when carried out by. an experienced workınan, and was in
all cases unhealthy and dangerous owing to the unavoidable friction. Many methods
have been tried having for object to supersede the hand process, and two machines
for automatically laying out matches have been constructed, one of which, invented
by Georg Sebold, of Durlach, in the Empire of Germany, has been for many years
before the public; the other machine is known as Beck's laying out machine. Both
these machines, however, have the great disadvantage of requiring to be shaken,
and are consequently dangerous and unhealthy.
The improved machine which forms the subject of the present Invention effects
the laying out of the matches regularly and quickly without shaking them, and is
not liable to get out of order.
The improved machine is represented in the accompanying Drawings, in which
Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents a side elevation of the machine; Figure 2, Sheet 2, a
horizontal section of the same; Figure 3, Sheet 3, a front view of the machine,
partly in section; Figure 4, Sheet 3, a plan of the carriage, partly in section;
Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, Sheet 4, sections through part of the carriage, and the laying
out mechanism in some of the principal positions they take during the operation of
the machine.
In carrying out this Invention the matches a are placed in the dipping frames b,
with their heads downwards between the divisions c of the carriage e; after the
dipping frame has been released the matches fall into the vertical square sided
holes c of the carriage e, their heads resting on the plate d, as shewn in Figures 2,
5, 6, 7, and 8 of the Drawings.
The machine is now put in motion, and the carriage e drawn forward by the
toothed bar or rack g, and pawl or claw f, which gears intermittently into the
rack g; the plate d being stationary the first row of matches falls onto the slide h,
which is drawn back suddenly, and the matches are allowed to fall into the layer
over i, which at this moment is in its highest position, as shewn in Figure 5. The
layer over now makes a quarter turn forward into the laying out box k, Figure 6;
in this position the matches lie flat on the bottom of the box, as represented in
Figure 6. The bottom of the box now moves slowly back and the matches fall
into the box k, Figure 7. In case any matches should remain hanging or sticking
to the box (Figure 7) the layer over i is now drawn back, as shewn in Figure 8,
whereby the matches contained in the divisions of the layer over are placed in the
box k;
the bottom of the layer over now returns to its place, and both rise to their
first position, shewn in Figures 6 and 5. A bar n, running the whole length of the
box k, is now brought down on the matches and presses them (and the box k, in
which they are placed) down to the extent that the level was raised by the last
supply of matches, so that in this manner the top row is always kept at the same
level irrespective of the thickness of the matches. The lower edges of the

page_text: divisions of the layer over come down quite level with the top row of matches,
and neither pass into the same nor interfere with them in any way whatsoever so
that the matches lie perfectly straight. A second bar o is attached to the first
bar n, which comes against any matches which may protrude beyond the others, as
shewn in Figures 7 and 8, and pushes them back level with the others, as shewn in
Figures 2 and 5. In order that the box k shall remain in the same position and
not descend a ratchet toothed bar or rack p is attached to the bottom of the boxk,
gearing into the pinion on the shaft q, provided with the brake wheel 8, brake
check t, and counter weight u.
In order that the machine may be used for laying-out matches of different
lengths the bottom v of the layer over i is movable, being provided with a screw
bolt a fitting into a slot w. In order that the frame v forming the bottom can be
slid along it is provided with slits, into which the divisions of the layer over fit.
The layer over is represented in the Drawing adapted for the longest matches.
The parts of the machine described receive their motion as follows:-
D is a crank shaft driven by the belt wheel C, and belt B, from the crank
handle A. In place of the crank handle a belt or tooth wheel may be employed,
and the apparatus worked by any other suitable power. The crank E of the shaft is
attached to the pivot y of the lever G by the connecting rod F, the lever G,
situated on the shaft H, thus receives a swinging motion as soon as the shaft D
begins to rotate, the layer over i which is rigidly attached to the lever G thus
receives a quarter turn, as herein before described. As soon as the layer over i
arrives in the position represented in Figure 6, the crank E draws away the
lever G, and with it the slide of the layer over i as shewn in Figure 7. At the
ends of the lever arın G are situated the guide rolls J and K, which run in the
guides L and M, and thus guide the lever arm. On the pivot O are placed
the knee levers P, which are pressed down by the rolls k as soon as these arrive at
the end of the guides. The shaft H which is firmly attached to one end of the
knee lever P is thus drawn back as soon as the other end of the said lever P is
pressed down.
The lever P is held in its position by the flat spring 7, and is
prevented from lying too far over by the projecting nose 8 and stop 9. The layer
over i is drawn back along with the shaft H, as shewn in Figure 8. On the
shaft H are situated the tooth segments R, gearing into the toothed segments S, by
which means the bars and o are drawn back, as herein before described.
On the shaft D is situated the eccentric T, from which the arm V, pivoted at U,
receives a swinging motion. At the upper end of this arm is situated the pawl f,
by which in connection with the ratchet barg the carriage e is drawn intermittently
forward.
On the shaft D is also placed the disc W, against which the lever Z, pivoted
at Y, and provided with the friction wheel X is placed. To the other end of the
arm Z is attached the connecting bar 1, which in its turn is connected by the two
pivots 2 to the slide . This slide is pushed back by two springs situated in the
frame 3 the moment the nose of the disc W, passes the friction wheel X ; during
the remainder of the time the disc W, working against the arm Z, compresses the
springs and holds the slide h up against the bottom plate d.
The lever 5, Figure 4, and eccentric hold the dipping frame until the two
catch pins are withdrawn.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention communicated to me, and the
best means with which I am acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I wish it
to be understood that what is claimed and intended to be protected by the herein
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. A match laying out machine provided with a carriage e with vertical
sided divisions or spaces, as herein before described.
Secondly.. A match laying out machine provided with carriage e resting flat on
the sole plate d, above which it moves, as herein before described.
Thirdly. In a match laying out machine the arrangement whereby the matches
are moved in quantities upon a moveable plate, which is at the proper moment

page_text: withdrawn, and the matches allowed to fall vertically into the receiver below, as
herein before described.
Fourthly. The carriage e on wheels in combination with the ratchet bar g, pawl f,
lever V, and eccentric T, in such a manner that at each rotation of the shaft the
carriage is moved one division forward, as herein before described.
Fifthly. The layer out i, operated in such a manner that in turning on its axis it
lays out into the receiving box the matches which have fallen into it from the
carriage, as hereinbefore described.
Sixthly. The layer out i provided with cross divisions and the slide 7, which is
withdrawn at the proper moment to allow the matches to fall into the receiving
box, as hereinbefore described.
Seventhly. The layer over i provided with moveable bottom v, to allow of its
receiving long and short matches, as herein before described.
Eighthly. In a match laying out machine a layer over constructed in such a
manner that it is partially withdrawn in order that any matches which remain
hanging to the layer over can fall off, as herein before described.
Ninthly. A layer over provided with divisions which extend across the same in
such a manner that when it is laid over the matches come down to the top row of
matches lying in the receiving box, thus preventing any matches lying across or
becoming unevenly placed, as hereinbefore described.
Tenthly. The cross bar n, which presses the receiving box down just as much as
the contents have been raised by the matches placed in the said box by the layer
over, irrespective of the number, thus keeping the top layer always at the same
height, as hereinbefore described.
Eleventhly. In a laying out machine the bar O by which the matches are
pushed back evenly with the remainder on the receiving box, as herein before
described.
Twelfthly. The layer over i in combination with the shaft E, lever arm G, and
guide rolls J and K, as hereinbefore described.
Thirteenthly. In combination with a laying out machine the receiving box k,
toothed bar p, pinion g, brake disc s, and brake block t, together with the weight u,
all substantially as described and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Wirth, have hereto set my hand and
seal, this second day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
מחז- ו ---
HTHRE
FRANK WIRTH. (L.S.)