IMPROVEMENTS IN CONNECTING THE ENDS OF METAL BANDS FOR SECURING BALES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Briggs, of the City of Manchester,
Tarpauling Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CONNECTING THE ENDS OF METAL BANDS FOR SECURING BALES, AND IN
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 16th March 1869, and dated the 29th September 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Briggs at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th September 1868.
I, THOMAS BRIGGS, of the City of Manchester, Tarpauling Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN CONNECTING THE ENDS OF METAL BANDS FOR SECURING BALES, AND
IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
In performing this Invention I make two or more longitudinal slits
at each end of the band; these slits are made by a punch and die, which
not only cut the slits required but bend the two outer portions of the
band into a convex form while the centre portion or portions is or are
bent concave, or vice versa. When the band has been put round a bale
the convex and concave portions fit each other, leaving a transverse slot

page_text: open, through which a key or cotter is driven. When the pressure on
the bale is removed the expansion of the bale tightens the bands against
the key, and the friction of the connecting ends gives additional strength
to the coupling. On driving out the cotters the bands can be removed
from the bale and used over again. By this means the trouble and
expense of rivetting and the weakening of the band by punching out
holes are avoided.
Another of my improved modes of connecting the ends of metal
bands is performed in the following manner:-In each end of the band
one or more slots are punched; these slots are larger at one end than the
other. When the bands are on the bale the ends of the bands overlap,
and the larger ends of the slots are brought over each other; a stud is
then introduced in each slot, and the centre portion of the stud is
flattened to the size of the narrow portion of the slots. When the studs
are in their places, and the pressure on the bale is released, the spring of
the bale binds the ends of the slots against the stud or studs, thus
securing the ends of the band. The studs are made with a head larger
than the larger end of the slots to prevent the stud passing through
further than is required. The slits and bends or slots in the ends of the
bands may be made in a stationary punch and die actuated by steam or
other power, or by a portable screw or lever apparatus actuated by hand
in case the slits and bends or slots have to be made when the bands are
on the bale.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Briggs in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 25th March 1869.
I TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
BRIGGS, of the City of Manchester, Tarpauling Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Briggs, Her special
license that I, the said Thomas Briggs, my executors, administrators, and

page_text: assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Briggs, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CONNECTING THE ENDS OF METAL BANDS FOR SECURING BALES, AND IN APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Thomas Briggs, 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 Thomas Briggs, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):
My Invention consists in connecting the ends of metal bands by
punching at each end thereof two or more longitudinal slits with corre-
sponding projections and recesses; these projections and recesses fit each
other, leaving a transverse slot open between them, through which a key
or cotter is driven, thereby connecting the ends of the bands.
Another of my improvements in connecting the ends of metal bands
consists in punching one or more slots in the ends of the band; these
slots are larger at one end than the other; a stud with flat heads is
introduced in each slot to connect the ends of the band.
My Invention also consists in certain improved apparatus for punching
and bending the ends of the metal bands above referred to.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into operation, I will proceed to describe the accompanying two
Sheets of Drawings, reference being had to the figures and letters marked
thereon.
On Sheet 1 Figure 1 is a plan of one end of the metal band, and
Figure 2 is an edge view of the same; Figure 3 is a plan of the other
end of the band; and Figure 4 is an edge view of the same.

page_text: In each of these ends two longitudinal slits a, a, are punched, and
these slits are made by a punch and die of suitable shape, which not only
cut the slits required, but bend the outer portions of the band into a
convex form, while the inner portion is bent concave, the projections and
recesses so formed fitting into each other, leaving a transverse opening
or slot between them. In Figures 2 and 4 it will be seen that this slot
is circular, but it may be of any other suitable form. When the band
has been put round a bale the convex and concave portions fit into each
other, as shewn in the plan, Figure 5, and edge view, Figure 6, and the
key or cotter b is driven in to fill up the transverse slot. It is evident
that the metal band must be put on when the bale is in the press, as in
securing bales by rivets or other fastenings, and that when the pressure
on the bale is removed the expansion of the bale tightens the ends of
the band against the key or cotter, thereby forming a secure connection.
The friction of the convex and concave parts gives additional strength to
the coupling. On driving out the key or cotter 6 the ends of the band
are disconnected, and the band can be removed from the bale and used
over again. By this arrangement the trouble and expense of rivetting
and the weakening of the band by punching out holes are avoided. I
wish to remark here that the number of slits a may be varied, and, if
preferred, two or more sets of projections and recesses may be used, and
a key or cotter inserted in each.
Figures 7 and 8 are plans, and Figures 9 and 10 are end views of the
two ends of another metal band, which are connected according to
another of my improved modes. In each end are punched the two slots c, c;
these slots are larger at one end than at the other to admit the smaller
head of the double-headed studs d, d, which are shewn in their places in
Figures 8 and 10, and detached in Figure 11. The larger heads of the
studs are rather larger than the larger ends of the slots c, c, and the
centre portion of the studs is flattened to the size of the narrow portion
of the slots. When the ends of the band are to be connected the loose
studs are placed in the slots at one end of the band, with the smaller
heads of the studs projecting from the bale. The pressure on the bale
must be sufficient to allow the larger ends of the slots in the overlapping
end of the band to be passed over the smaller heads of the studs
projecting from the other end of the band, and as soon as the pressure on
the bale is released the spring of the bale binds the narrow ends of the
slots against the studs, thereby securing the ends of the band together,

page_text: as shewn in Figures 12 and 13. In the Drawing I have shewn the
connection as being formed by two studs, but in some cases a single stud
may be sufficient, and in others it may be found requisite to have more
than two; the shape of the studs and slots may also be varied. The slits
and projections and recesses and the slots in the ends of the bands may
be made in a punching machine, actuated by steam or other power, or
by a portable screw or lever apparatus actuated by hand in case they are
required to be made when the band is on the bale.
On Sheet 2 Figure 14 is an elevation, and Figure 15 a plan of my
improved stationary apparatus for punching the slots in the ends of the
bands. The apparatus consists of a strong frame or standard e supporting
the lower die f and the spindle g of the punch h; the die and punch
are provided with recesses and projections corresponding to the shape of
the ends of the bands shewn in Sheet I., and the spindle g is raised and
lowered by an eccentric actuated by steam or other power, as in ordinary
punches. Near the punch is the bench i, on which the metal bands are
laid when they are being punched, and between the end of the bench i
and the punch is the regulating block j, the object of which is to guide
the end of the metal band to the centre of the dies or punches, so that
the holes punched may be at equal distances from the edges of the band.
The surface of the block j is provided with two bevelled grooves, as
shewn in Figure 16, and a similar bevelled projection is formed on the
under side of each slide 1; these slides are connected to the end plate
by screws passing through slots, as shewn in Figure 17. The screw 13
passes through the plate 2, and is screwed into the block j, and by
turning this screw round in one direction or the other the slides are
moved endwise along the block, and the bevelled projections fitting in
the bevelled recesses cause the slides to be brought closer together or
moved further apart, thereby adapting the distance between the slides to
the width of the metal band.
In punching the slots as shewn in Figure 7 the operation is as
follows: The plain bands are laid on the bench and the attendant
slides one end of each band over the block j and over the lower
die funtil the end of the band comes against the stop pin h¹ projecting
through the punch h, which in descending stamps the slots c, and
rounds off the end of the band. As soon as the required number of
bands have been thus operated upon at one end the stop pin ¹ is
removed and the gauge is fixed to the bench, the position of the

page_text: gauge being varied according to the length of the band to be punched.
The other ends of the bands are now ready to be punched, and the
attendant after turning all the bands round brings the unpunched end of
each band between the dies f and h, and the punched end is brought
against the stop or gauge before the punch / descends, consequently
the slots are all precisely the same distance apart. It is evident that
when the bands are released and taken off the bale they may be used
over again.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described the
manner of performing the same, I declare that I claim,―
First. The improved mode of connecting the ends of metal bands by a
key or cotter passing transversely through a slot left between the inter-
secting portions of the metal band, as shewn and described in reference
to Figures 1 to 6.
Secondly. The improved mode of connecting the ends of metal bands
by a loose stud or studs passing through slots in both ends of the band,
as shewn and described in reference to Figures 7 to 13.
And lastly. The improved apparatus for punching metal bands, and
particularly the regulating block j for guiding the band to the centre of
the dies, as shewn and described in reference to Figures 14 to 17.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Briggs, have hereto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of March, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-nine.