IMPROVEMENTS IN CUT NAIL MACHINERY
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Homan Price Fenby, of Leeds, in the County of York,
Mechanical Engineer, and Arthur Greenwood, of the same Place, Mechanical
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CUT NAIL MACHINERY."
Sealed the 16th December 1879, and dated the 20th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Homan Price Fenby and
Arthur Greenwood at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th
June 1879.
"
HOMAN PRICE FENBY, of Leeds, in the County of York, Mechanical Engineer,
and ARTHUR GREENWOOD, of the same Place, Mechanical Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS
IN CUT NAIL MACHINERY."
This Invention relates to improvements on the cut nail machinery for which the
present applicants obtained Letters Patent, dated 16th February 1876, No. 648,
and relates, firstly, to the means employed for feeding the nail plates to the shears,
whereby a continuous supply of metal is maintained; secondly, to means for
heading the nail blanks.
For carrying the nail plates up to the shears we use an endless travelling band,
preferably of leather, which overlies the bottom of the trough or hopper in which
the plates are placed, and passes over tension rollers. The band is driven at a slow
speed by a slipping bell or friction arrangement, to which motion is communicated
by a series of pulleys actuated from the main shaft of the machine, and a friction
roller is provided, the pressure of which helps forward the plate to be cut as it
passes under it on its way to the shears.
This friction roller is kept down by the pressure of a spring, such pressure being
regulated by an excentric. By withdrawing the excentric the roller and its frame
can be raised to permit of the removal of a bad remnant of plate. The trough or
hopper for receiving the nail plates is made with adjustable sides to suit the various
widths of the plates to be cut, and guides, which are intended to prevent the plates
from tilting during the cutting operation, are placed at the end of the trough, and
are to be so arranged that only one plate at a time shall pass under them, each
fresh plate which is taken from the bottom of the pile of plates in the trough
pushing the remnant of the last one up to the shears. These guides may be
Duine S71

page_text: adjusted vertically to suit various thicknesses of nail plates by packings. The
bottom of the trough or hopper between the point where the travelling band passes
down and the bottom shear is formed of a thin steel plate, which projects onto the
shear, and serves to hold up the remnants of the plates.
The trough or hopper with its gear is carried on a hinged framing attached to a
projecting boss on the main framing of the machine, and may be tightened down
in any convenient manner, and is held in an open or closed position by a pin which
drops into one of two holes provided for the purpose.
For more securely holding the trough frame in position when closed against the
main framing an additional pin or catch is provided on the side of the trough
opposite to the hinged joint.
By withdrawing these pins or catches the trough frame may be readily swung on
one side, leaving the cutters or shears exposed to view, and they may thus be
removed with ease when required for repairs.
The shears, grippers, and headers we mount upon an oscillating frame pivotted
to the main framing. The oscillation of this frame permits of the shears cutting off
taper nail blanks without shifting the nail plates for that purpose. This motion is
effected through levers connected together by an adjustable stud by a grooved cam,
which receives its motion from the main shaft, and is driven at half the speed
thereof. The taper of the nail blank is determined by the adjustment of the
fulcrum on which the oscillating frame works.
Motion is communicated to the shears by what we term a "ball eccentric" on the
main shaft, and an universal joint in the top shear frame.
The eccentric upon the main shaft and the universal joint are connected together
by an adjustable connecting rod, which may therefore rock in any direction. The
grippers for holding the nails during the heading operation are worked to and fro by
a toggle joint, one end of the toggle being attached to the upper shear frame, and
the other to the gripper slide,
The heading is effected by a pair of levers, which are pulled downwards by a rod
in connection with a second "ball eccentric" mounted on the main shaft.
A gange for regulating the width of the blank and retaining the same when cut,
and also a finger for holding the blank until the arrival of the grippers, are pro-
vided, and their duties will be well understood by those in the trade.
We would remark that we prefer to form the bottom shear of a long piece of
steel lying across the front of the machine, and cramped down by plates on each
side, which enables us on slackening the cramp plates to present a fresh part of the
shoar for use, thereby effecting a considerable saving in time, which would be other-
wise occupied in re-grinding.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Homan Price Fenby and Arthur Greenwood in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th December 1879.
HOMAN PRICE FENBY, of Leeds, in the County of York, Mechanical Engineer,
and ARTHUR GREENWOOD, of the same Place, Mechanical Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CUT NAIL MACHINERY."
This Invention relates to improvements in the cut nail machinery, for which
the present applicants obtained Letters Patent, dated Sixteenth February, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, No. 648, and also to the introduction to
headed nail machines constructed on the same principle of apparatus for heading
the nail blanks.
In carrying out our Invention we still adhere to the principle of the oscillating
shears described in the Specification of our former Patent, but we have modified
the construction of the cutting machine to enable us to use large substantial shears
of the usual trade type. We also adapt to our improved nail cutting machine a
novel construction of apparatus for feeding the nail plates to the shears, whereby a
continuous supply of metal is maintained.
We also adapt the new feed apparatus to a headed nail machine having oscil-
lating shears, such shears being worked from a "ball excentric" on the main
shaft. The headers of this machine are of a novel construction, and they are
carried together with the shears and grippers by an oscillating frame.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1, Sheet I., is a side elevation of our
improved nail cutting machine; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the top
cutter lever removed; Figures 3 and 4 are detached views in longitudinal section
and cross section respectively of our improved feed apparatus for feeding the plates
up to the shears to be cut; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the bottom cutter and side
cutters for forming the heads on the sprigs.
The machine consists of a main frame A, which carries the bearings for the main
shaft B, and also the feed mechanism for feeding the plates to the shears, and an
oscillating frame C on which the cutting shears are mounted.
The frame C turns on a pivot b which is adjustably attached to a slotted bracket
arm b' made fast to the oscillating frame C. The pin b takes into a sleeve a, which
is adjustably connected to a slotted bracket arm a¹, cast on or otherwise rigidly
secured to the main frame A.
By shifting the bearing points of the pin b on the slotted brackets a¹ and b' in
one direction or the other, the taper to be given to the sprigs or brads may be
increased or diminished as desired.
The frame C is provided with a tail piece, which extends rearwards under the
main shaft B, and has a longitudinal groove made in its under side to receive a
die c.
This die c is carried by a stud which works in a slot formed in a secondary
lever or arm c¹, pivotted at c² to the main frame A, and provided with a clamping
nut for fixing it in position. This secondary lever engages with and is actuated
by a grooved cam c³ (see Fig. 2), mounted on the main shaft B.
By changing the position of the die stud c in the slot of the lever c¹ the amount
of oscillation of the frame C can be regulated as required, and thus the depth of
the bead of the sprig or brad can be fixed with facility. Upon the oscillating
frame C is pivotted the frame D, to the front of which the top cutter or upper blade
of the shears d is bolted. The frame d carries at its rear end a runner or bowl e,
which rests upon the cam E mounted on the main shaft B, and by the action of
this cam the frame D receives a rocking motion on its pivot for bringing the top
cutter into action. The return motion of the frame D and the pressure of the bowl
on the cam is caused by a coiled spring e', one end of which is connected by a

page_text: spring arm e, secured to the frame D, the other end being attached to the main
frame A. The bottom cutter dis bolted or otherwise secured to the front of the
oscillating frame C.
This
The width of the sprig or brad is fixed by the position of a gauge f, which is
pivotted at f¹ to the rocking frame D and hangs in rear of the top cutter d.
gauge is secured in the desired position by means of an adjusting screw f. (see
Fig. 3).
The feed apparatus consists of an endless travelling band g, preferably of leather,
which overlies the bottom of a trough h, wherein the plates to be cut are placed.
This band passes over tension rollers i, i, suitably mounted at opposite ends of the
trough h, and it is driven by a slipping belt ; passing round a pulley k on the axle
of one of the tension rollers (or other suitable friction arrangement) to which motion
is communicated by a pulley ¹ actuated by a belt k² from the main shaft B of the
machine.
The speed at which the feeding band is driven should be somewhat faster than
the speed at which the plates are cut up by the shears, the slipping of the belt j
allowing a dwell during which the sprig is cut off.
A friction roller is provided to press upon the plate to be cut as it passes under
it on its way to the shears. This friction roller is mounted on an axle carried by
swing bearings m, and it is kept down by the pressure of a spring n, such pressure
being regulated by an excentric o. By withdrawing the excentric the spring can
be depressed and the roller and its frame can be raised to a vertical position to
permit of the removal of a bad remnant of plate.
The trough or hopper h for receiving the nail plates is made with adjustable
sides to suit the various widths of plates to be cut, and guides p, p, which are
intended to prevent the plates from tilting during the cutting operation, are placed
at the delivery end of the trough, and so arranged to ensure that only one plate
at a time shall pass out of the trough. The several plates as they are advanced
are taken from the bottom of the pile, and serve to push the remnant of the last
one up to the shears. The guides p, p, may be adjusted vertically to suit various
thicknesses of nail plates by the insertion of packing between their turned-over
ends and the sides of the trough. The bottom of the trough between the point
where the travelling band passes down and the bottom cutter is formed of a thin
steel plate q, which projects on to the cutter and serves to hold up the remnants of
the plates to the shears.
The trough with its gear is carried on a framing F which is pivotted to pro-
jecting boss F¹ on the main framing A of the machine, and it is tightened down in
any convenient manner, and is held in or out of place by a pin which drops into
one of two holes r,, provided for the purpose.
For more securely holding the trough frame in position when closed against the
main framing A, an additional pin or catch is provided on the side of the trough
frame opposite to the hinged joint.
By withdrawing this pin or catch, the trough frame may be readily swung on
one side leaving the cutters or shears d, d', exposed to view, and they may thus be
removed with ease when required for repairs. Motion is communicated to the main
shaft B from any prime mover in any suitable manner.
In Sheet II. of the accompanying Drawings we have shewn a machine for cutting
blanks for headed nails, and provided with apparatus for heading the blanks when
cut.
In this Sheet Fig 6 is a sectional elevation of the machine, Fig 7 is a plan view
of the same with top cutter frame removed, and Fig 8 is a cross section of the
heading apparatus. Upon the main frame A is mounted the oscillating frame or
casting B to which the frame C carrying the top cutter is pivotted.
The frame B is held down on the frame A by the overhanging lips a, a, under
which however it is free to oscillate. The frame A is slotted to receive a stud b
which is provided with a clamping nut, whereby it may be firmly secured at any
point in the slot.

page_text: . . This stud carries at its upper end a die c which takes into a groove in the
underside of the frame B and forms the fulcrum on which this frame oscillates.
The oscillation of the frame B is effected by means of the first and secondary levers
d, d, which receive motion from a cam e mounted on one end of an axle supported
in bearing on the main frame, and driven by a bevil wheel f at the other end in
gear with a bevil pinion f' on the main shaft D of the machine. This cam is
driven at half the speed of the main shaft, so that the shears may be worked once at
each side of the machine to one revolution of the cam.
The levers d, d', are pivotted to the main frame and are slotted at their ends to
receive a pair of dies carried by a stud g, which is provided with a clamping-nut to
permit of its adjustment in the slots to determine the amount of metal required to
make the head on the nail, while the taper of the nail blank is fixed by the
position of the die c on which the frame B oscillates. The lever d is connected to
the front of the frame B by a link h, or in any other suitable manner.
i
Rocking motion is communicated to the top cutter frame by what we term a
"ball excentric" E on the main shaft D. This excentric is connected by a strap
with an adjustable connecting rod j, on the head of which is formed a ball that fits
into a socket k on the frame C and forms therewith an universal joint. We thus
provide a simple and efficient means for working the top cutter irrespective of the
amount of oscillation which is given to the frame C, as the connecting rod j is free
to rock in any direction.
The grippers for holding the nail blanks against an anvil during the heading
operation are worked to and fro by a toggle joint l', one end of which is connected
with the frame C and the other end to the gripper slide m. A spring or equivalent
device is provided to force back the gripper slide when the grippers are not in
action, and a finger n released by a cam n¹ on the main shaft is provided for
holding the nail blank until the arrival of the grippers. In rear of the top cutter
is a guage o provided with an adjusting screw o' for regulating the width of the
blank.
The heading of the nails is effected alternately by one of two horizontal hammers
or headers p p placed one on either side of the anvil l. Each header is connected
to the upper arm of a lever q pivotted to the oscillating frame B, the other arm of
cach lever being connected by a connecting rod and strap with a ball excentric
S on the main shaft D. It will thus be seen that as the levers q, q, are drawn
down by the action of the excentric the headers will be driven forward and each
header will in turn strike up a head on the end of the nail presented to it, the other
header pressing against the opposite side of the anvil and acting as a stay. The
nail being thus completed the headers, grippers, and the finger n will be drawn
back and the nail will drop down into a suitable receptacle.
We would here remark that we prefer to form the bottom cutter of a long piece
of steel placed across the front of the machine and cramped down by plates on
either side, which will enable us on slackening the cramp plates to present a fresh
part of the cutter for use, thereby effecting a considerable saving in time which
would be otherwise occupied in grinding.
Having now described the nature of our Invention of "Improvements in Cut Nail
Machinery," and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, we wish it
to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent we claim,-
First. The arrangement and construction of cut nail machine as shewn and
described with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 5 of the Drawings.
Second. The use of a travelling endless belt or band in combination with a trough
in which the plates to be cut are placed, such trough having adjustable sides and
top guides as herein shewn and described, whereby a continuous supply of fresh
plates to the shears is maintained.
Third. Mounting the adjustable trough and its accessories on a frame which is
pivotted to the main frame, as and for the purpose herein described.
Fourth. The arrangement for actuating the top blade of the shears of cut nail
machines as described in Sheet II, of the Drawings,

page_text: Fifth. The mode herein described of working the headers in combination with
the oscillating shears as described and shewn in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Homan Price Fenby and Arthur Greenwood,
have hereunto set our bands and seals, the Nineteenth day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.