IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING NAILS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan of Kensington, Middlesex for an
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING NAILS Communi-
cated to him from abroad by Alfred Earl Tenney of Rhode Island' United
States
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th October 1883.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Kensington, Middlesex IMPROVEMENTS IN.
MACHINERY FOR MAKING NAILS communicated to me from abroad by. Alfred
Earl Tenney of Rhode Island United States
This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of machines for
manufacturing nails such as are used for fastening horse shoes and other purposes
in which a series of operations are performed, which are as follows:
A bar of iron rolled to a width nearly equivalent to the length of the nails to
be formed, and provided at opposite edges with projecting ribs to furnish the
additional metal required for the heads of the nails is subjected to the action
of a pair of punches, which at each stroke separate from it a pair of blanks,
approximately the size of the nails, the heads of these blanks being punched,
alternately in opposite directions.
The punched blanks are then conducted to pairs of rollers, engraven on their
faces to the configuration of the nail, and the blanks in passing between the rollers,
subject to strong pressure, are moulded to the required form. Usually, two pairs
of rollers are employed, the first pair squeezing, drawing and approximately
shaping the nails, and the second pair by further drawing and squeezing, bringing
them to the desired form.
Finally the nails pass from the rollers and are presented to finishing punches
which press them through dies so as to cut off protuberances of metal and trim the
nails to their finished shape.
My invention has for its objects to provide a machine for performing these
operations which shall be compact, simple and effective, easily accessible for
inspection or repair and capable of being worked rapidly without requiring skilled
labor. One important feature of my invention is the means whereby the blanks

page_text: are unerringly conducted from each operating part to the next in order and shaped
and finished by pressing the flat sides successively between two sets of rollers.
Another important feature of my invention is that the blanks may be pressed in
directions at right angles to each other, or in other words may be pressed, first in
the direction of their edges, by which they are elongated and tapered at their edges
and afterwards pressed on their flat sides, whereby a symmetrical light and strong
bail may be formed and waste of metal prevented.
The above mentioned objects I attain by the means illustrated in the
accompanying drawings in which—
are unerringly conducted from each operating part to the next in order and shaped
and finished by pressing the flat sides successively between two sets of rollers.
Another important feature of my invention is that the blanks may be pressed in
directions at right angles to each other, or in other words may be pressed, first in
the direction of their edges, by which they are elongated and tapered at their edges
and afterwards pressed on their flat sides, whereby a symmetrical light and strong
hail may be formed and waste of metal prevented.
The above mentioned objects I attain by the means illustrated in the
accompanying drawings in which—
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved machine.
Figure 2 a plan view thereof.
Figure 3 a rear elevation of the machine.
Figures 4 and 5 detached vertical sectional views of portions of the machine,
showing in detail the conduits which lead the nail blanks from the punches to the
first pair of shaping rollers.
Figure 6 represents a transverse section of one of the rollers.
Figure 7 a plan view of the same.
Figures 8 and 9 represent views partly in elevation and partly in section on
vertical planes at right angles to each other, showing the means by which the
blanks are conducted from the punches to the first pair of rollers and from thence
to the second pair of rollers.
Fr
- Figures 10 and 11 represent similar elevation showing the means for presenting
the rolled blanks to the finishing punches.
Figures 12 and 13 represent views partly in elevation and partly in section
showing a modification of the device by means of which the nail blanks are
delivered to the upper and lower rollers.
Figures 14 and 15 represent horizontal sectional views on the lines x x and y y
of figures 12 and 13.
Figure 16 represents a longitudinal section of a modification of the shaping or
finishing rollers, and
Figure 17 represents a transverse sectional view of the two rollers showing the
connecting strap in longitudinal section.
The letter A indicates the frame of the machine which is constructed of metal,
and, preferably, cast in one piece with suitable bearings for the shaft and working
parts. The letter B indicates the main or driving shaft of the machine, which may
be driven by means of any suitable motor, and intermediate gearing, a clutch
pulley C being employed in the present instance. The letter D indicates a shaft
which is provided with a crank E and an eccentric F for working the feed. The
said shaft is also provided with a gear wheel D¹ intermeshing with a gear wheel B¹
on the driving shaft, from which it receives its motion. The letters R¹ and R²
indicate the first pair or shaping rollers and R³ and R* the finishing rollers. These
are mounted on shafts suitably journaled in the frame and are provided with
similar pinions Ro, the pinions on the shaft of the rollers R' and R³ intermeshing
with an intermediate gear wheel D³. The letter I' indicates a slide carrying two
fingers I pivoted at their tops to said slide and hanging in an inclined position, so
that when the slide advances the ends of the fingers engage the upper edge of the
bar I from which the blanks are cut, and clamp it, causing it to advance with the
slide, releasing the bar during the back stroke of the slide, the bar being held
stationary by the punches which have formed the blank and have entered and
passed through said bar. The backward and forward movement of the slide I is
effected by a lever I linked to a spring rod I which has at its end a friction
roller 15 bearing against the cam E, the cam causing the forward stroke of said
feed slide and the spring on the rod I causing its backward stroke. The crank E
operates a slide P³ carrying two punches P which, as they advance pass through
the iron bar I punching and cutting from it a pair of blanks N1 N2 and forcing
them into the dies P' P³, the blank Ñ¹ häving its head downward, and the blank N
having its head upward as clearly shown in figures 4 and 5 of the drawings. The
-

page_text: letter I (figure 2) indicates a spring lever which bears against the face of the
bar I and prevents it from being drawn back from the face of the die when the
punches P are withdrawn. The blanks N' N, as they are forced, successively:
through the dies, enter the respective conduits N N' by which they are conducted
in proper position to be presented to the shaping rollers R' R. As the blank N¹
has its head downwards, an obstruction n' is provided, which engages its point,
so that as it begins to descend, the head will uniformly go first as indicated in
dotted lines in figure 4. The blank N' having its head up, has to be turned to
bring it to proper position to be dropped, and to effect this an obstruction n² is
provided which trips it and causes it to fall head downward as indicated in figure 5
of the drawings. in order to facilitate and accelerate the descent of the blanks
through the conduits, a stream of lubricating fluid such as soap solution may be
directed through the conduits by means of the pipes O leading from suitable supply
tanks or reservoirs. To prevent the conduits from becoming closed by the blanks
wedging themselves therein, the backs of the said conduits are hinged at n³ so that
they will yield when subjected to undue pressure and a bar or weight S is provided,
which is connected to any suitable gearing, by which an alarm may be given, or
the operation of the machine stopped, until the conduits may be relieved.
In some instances the bar I from which the blanks are cut, instead of being
symmetrical on both sides as indicated by figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, is made
with ribs on one side only as shown in figure 8 and in this case as the blanks are
overturned, the prominence on their heads is on the side opposite to the desired
position, and in order to turn the blank N2 so as to correspond to the blank N¹ a
portion of the conduit below the point N' is constructed with a helical twist N³
which has the effect of turning each blank as it descends half way around as
indicated in figure 8 of the drawings. At the lower opening of each conduit in the
space between the two rollers R R there is secured a light spring S¹ which
supports the blank until the proper moment comes for its entering between the
rollers. At this time a cam projection v' on the roller R' moves a bent spring
lever which has à alot v engaging a pin on a striker v³.
As the arm moves downward it thrusts the lower end of the striker through
a slot in the back of the conduit, and then causes it to descend on the point of
the blank N*, so as to push the blank down past the opening S' and rapidly into
the space between the rollers. The pair of blanks having passed through between
the first pair of rollers R' R' and being squeezed drawn and partly shaped thereby,
enter the lower conduits N° by which they are conveyed to the lower pair of
rollers R³ R, the arrest and feeding of the successive blanks being effected by
means of a projection a, operating the bent spring lever at which has a slot a³
engaging a pin a³ on the arm at to thrust the end of the striker as through a slot
in the back of the conduit, the said striker being withdrawn through the medium
of the spring as, these devices being arranged to operate in a manner similar to
the arresting and releasing devices operating in connection with the rollers R¹
and R as above described.
The construction of the rollers is indicated in detail in figures 6 and 7, and 16
and 17 of the drawings. Each roller is provided on opposite sides with steel dies
which are clamped between the faces M and M', the face M¹ being loose or so
constructed as to spring slightly when pressure is brought to bear upon it, by
means of a screw nut so as to clamp the dies. From both of the faces M M¹ project
fillets or lugs which are adapted to enter recesses in the sides of the dies and
prevent them from shifting lengthwise. In order to adjust the dies radially and
rapidly, wedge shape keys are provided with oversetting flanges and set screws
by which they may be adjusted.
In the modification shown in figures 16 and 17 of the drawings, the shaping and
finishing rollers are formed with the usual recesses for the dies and the face M' is
sawed partly through in an oblique direction as indicated by the letter C so as to
permit the edges to spring against one of the dies to bind the two when the said
face is pressed against. The shaft of each roller is provided with a screw threaded

page_text: extension I, which has fitted upon it a collar e which bears against the face M¹;
the collar being hollowed out at its center so as to leave an annulus f which presses
against the rim of the said face M¹. The said collar is provided with a central
elongation g against which bears a screw nut secured to the end of the screw
threaded extension by means of which the collar may be tightened against the
said face M¹ in order to clamp the dies as before mentioned.
In order to prevent the dies from springing apart a metallic strap is secured
over the elongated portion of the collars, a semicircular metallic bearing block
being interposed between the ends of the strap and the collars. A wedge shaped
key is inserted in a key seat at one end of the bearing strap behind the bearing in
order to tighten the strap upon the collars to securely fasten the parts in place
From the rollers R R the nails which have been previously shaped and which
are left with fins or burrs near their ends, descend through the conduits to be
subsequently subjected to the action of the finishing punches Q. These punches
are secured to a slide Q¹ which is operated by an arm Q' on a rock shaft Q³,
another arm Q of which is linked to the eccentric E' on the shaft D. At the
When the said levers
bottom of the conduits N' are located two side levers t.
occupy the position indicated by the dotted lines in figure 11 their upper ends in
that position project into the conduits so that the descending nails are stopped by
them :
The levers t are linked to arms on a rocking spindle t¹ on an arm t* which
is linked to a spring trigger t³. As the punch slide Qadvances it meets a tappet
rod on a lever and as the tappet rod is pushed forward the upper end of the
lever raises the trigger t. This movement communicated to the levers t causes
them to fold inwards and while their upper ends are withdrawn letting the nails
which they supported drop, their lower ends which are shaped to the configuration
of the nail beads come close up to the middle partition of the conduits and receive
the nail heads on them.
The punches
still advancing force the nails through the dies T whence they
pass away by an inclined chute T¹.
In the modifications shown in figures 12 and 13 the conduits n³ and no are
provided with rotating sections n' and n³ which are provided with intermeshing
gear wheels nº 10, one of said gear wheels intermeshing with a reciprocating rack
bar n which is operated by the working mechanism of the machine to give
said sections a partial rotation in the direction of the arrows fig. 12. The
rotary sections of the respective conduits are so arranged that the upper ones
will turn the nail blanks so as to present their edges to the upper rollers, and
the lower ones will again turn them so as to present their flat sides to the lower
dies, or vice versa, thus providing for shaping the blanks and finishing the same
in such manner as to prevent waste of metal and form a symmetrical, light and
strong nail, in which the metal will be more conveniently and uniformily distributed
and arranged, than the nails constructed by the ordinary methods.
In the modification represented in figure 15, is shown certain means whereby
when
the nails may be turned for pressing at the edges and flat sides, or vice versa,
both are in similar positions. In this case an oscillating segment 12 is employed
which is mounted on a rock shaft n18 which is operated by means of a reciprocating
rod n provided with an oblong opening n¹s through which a pin n¹e passes by
which motion is transmitted to the segment to drive the cog-wheels back and forth
as indicated by the arrows.
The rack bar, as indicated in Figures 13 and 14 is provided with an arm n
having projections setting into the conduits and adapted to work into and out of
the same.
.
These projections are for the purpose of supporting the blanks while they are
rotated. "When the section is rotated to bring the blanks to the proper position
the projections are withdrawn permitting the nails to drop
In order to reduce the mechanism, instead of rotating the conduits as before
mentioned, the conduits may be helically twisted so as to turn the blanks axially
in their descent

page_text: In this case the twists will be made right and left, and will be between the
punching dies and the punching rollers.
The lower twists will be between the first and second set of rollers, and serve to
turn the blank axially and bring them into position to be rolled upon the flat side,
by the second pair of rollers
It is evident however, that other means may be employed for the supporting of
the blanks while being turned, without departing from the spirit of my invention,
and hence I do not intend to limit myself to the precise construction described
Having thus fully described the invention what I claim and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is :-
1 The method herein described of forming nails, the same consisting in
punching blanks from a bar of iron with the heads alternately in opposite
directions and then turning one set of blanks so as to direct them head downwards
to the shaping and finishing rollers, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2 The method, substantially as described of forming nails, the same consisting
in cutting the blanks from a bar of metal, then turning the blanks by suitable
mechanism so as to present their edges to a set of shaping rollers, then turning the
blanks again so as to present their flat sides to a second set of rollers whereby
they are finally shaped, substantially as and for the purposes specified
3rd The method herein described of manufacturing nails by punching blanks
from a bar of iron, and afterwards pressing, squeezing and shaping the same in
directions at right angles to each other, substantially as and for the purposes
specified
4th The method herein described of forming nails, the same consisting in
punching a series of blanks with heads alternately in opposite directions, then
turning one set so as to direct the whole, heads downward to a pair of shaping
rolls, then directing the blanks to a pair of finishing rollers, and finally removing
the protuberances of metal from the blank to form the finished nail substantially
as and for the purposes specified
5th In a machine for manufacturing nails, the combination with the dies and
punches and their operating mechanism, the conduits provided with obstructions
whereby both set of blanks are directed head downwards into the conduits in order
to be properly presented to the shaping rollers, substantially as specified
6th In a machine for manufacturing nails, the combination with the dies, the
punches and their operating mechanism of the conduits having yielding backs
adapted to operate a suitable alarm or to stop the machine in the event of the
crowding of the blanks substantially as specified
7th In a machine for the manufacture of nails, the combination with the dies and
the punches of the reciprocating bar having obliquely hung pivoted fingers and the
mechanism for operating the bar whereby the bar from which the nails are formed
is fed forward step by step to be subjected to the action of the punches substantially
as specified
8th The combination in a nail machine with the conduits and the shaping and
finishing rollers of the levers operated by a projection on one of the rollers, and a
suitable spring to hold the blanks to the action of the rollers as they enter between
them, substantially as specified
9th The combination in a nail machine of the lower conduit having a sliding
section and a spring for holding and returning it to a normal position, and suitable
mechanism whereby an alarm may be given or the machine stopped in case the
blanks wedge in the conduit, substantially as specified
10th The combination in a nail machine of the conduits and rollers and the
springs whereby the blanks are momentarily arrested, substantially as and for the
purposes specified
11th The combination in a nail machine of the lower conduits the sides lever
and their operating levers and trigger and the finishing punch and tappets, whereby
the side levers are operated to hold the blanks to be operated upon by the
finishing punches, substantially as specified

page_text: 12th In a nail machine the shaping and finishing rollers having faces for confining
the dies, one of said faces having saw cuts as described and provided with a screw
threaded extension, having a collar and screw nut whereby the dies may be clamped
substantially as specified.
13th In a nail machine the shaping and finishing rollers provided with clamping
faces, and a screw threaded extension and nut whereby the dies are clamped
together, substantially as specified.
14th In a nail machine the shaping and finishing rollers having faces for
confining the dies, one of said faces having saw cuts as described and a screw
extension provided with a collar having an elongated section, and the connecting
strap and screw nut whereby the parts are secured together, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Herbert John Haddan have hereunto set my
hand and seal this 8th day of October A.D. 1883.