Na
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1887.
Complete Left, 15th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 2nd Sept.,. 1887.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in Wire Nail Machines
of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings
accompanying and forming a part hereof, in which-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is an end elevation
from the right of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is a side view of the oscillating
die-head showing the relative position of the nail dies as also their operation. Figs. 5
and 6 are side and plan views, respectively, of the cutters detached which operate to
separate a section of wire from the continuous piece, and showing their position
relatively to the die-head. Fig. 7 is a detail. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of
the dies in the die head detached. Fig. 9 shows two nails as they appear when formed
and before they drop from the dies.
The object of my invention is the construction of a machine for the manufacture of
nails from coils of wire, and it consists of mechanism constructed and organized as
hereinafter set forth, for feeding the wire from the coil to the cutter; severing from
the continuous wire lengths or sections sufficient for the construction of two nails;
carrying the sections so cut to the point where they are operated upon by the dies; the
die mechanism for compressing the section of wire centrally to form the points of two nails
hammers to operate on the ends of the section and form the heads of the nails; devices
for clearing the nails from the machine, and shipper mechanism by which the driving
power may be speedily and certainly put on or cut off; all co-operating in an organized
machine as hereinafter described.
I will describe my invention using like letters of reference to indicate like parts
throughout the drawings.

page_text: The frame of the machine A is preferably of iron, and of a height to bring the
working parts into a position convenient for the operator. The wire a is fed from
four coils by four sets of feed wheels into four cutters. Two of the coils and two sets
of feed wheels are on each side of the machine, and the feed wheels on one side act
alternately with those on the other, that is, wire from two of the coils on one side of
the machine is being fed into the cutters which receive it, while the wire on the other
side is at rest. Each set of feed rolls is alike and consists of two rolls b, b, of common
construction having grooved peripherics, as shown Fig. 1.
These feed rolls are
operated as follows:
B is the main shaft which carries the fly wheel C and the belt pulley D and which
is journalled in the frame of the machine. The nail dies which form the points of
the nails are actuated by means of toggle mechanism, directly from this main shaft.
On either side of the machine are journalled the secondary shafts E, F, from which
the hammers are actuated by means of their actuating mechanism which is hereinafter
described. The shaft F which is actuated from the main shaft by means of the
bevelled gears c, d is extended beyond one end of the frame A, see Fig. 1 and actuates,
by means of the bevel gears e, f, the shaft G which is journalled in projections on the
frame A. The shaft G carries the cam g, see Fig. 2. The cam g actuates the lever h,
pivoted on a stud i, set in the frame, the lower end of the lever being provided with a
pin which acts in the cam g. The upper end of the lever is slotted as shown,
Fig. 2, the sides of the slot being flanged to receive the grooved block which is
secured in place by the screw 1 set through a cross piece secured on the upper end of
lever, the screw 7 passing through said cross piece and through the block kand
acting not only to secure the block in position but to change its position in the slot for
the purpose of adjusting the throw of the lever. To the block k the arms m, n, are
pivoted; said arms extend in opposite directions and are pivoted at their outer ends
to the cranks o, p. These cranks are set loosely on the shafts H, K which carry the
ratchet wheels g, r, the teeth of which point in opposite directions. The cranks o, P
are provided with pawls, S4, see Figs. 1 and 2, pivoted to the upper ends of the cranks
and held against the ratchet teeth by leaf springs & bolted to the cranks and which
act against the free ends of the pawls, as shown Fig. 2. The movement of the upper
end of lever in one direction throws the pawl on the side toward which it is moving
backward over the teeth of the ratchet wheel, the wheel remaining stationary as the
pawl slips over the teeth. The movement of the lever in the opposite direction
causes the pawl to act on the ratchet teeth and causes a partial revolution of the ratchet
wheel. While this ratchet wheel is revolving the one on the opposite side of the lover
is stationary, the corresponding movements of the parts alternating, thus causing the
wires on one side of the machine to he fed alternately with those on the other side.
The shaft H to which the ratchet wheel is secured is provided with two bevelled
gears, which mesh with hevelled gears secured to the lower ends of the vertical
Shafts I, J, each of which carries a feed roll and a small gear which meshes with
a corresponding small gear on the shaft of the companion feed roll, see Fig. 1. The
shafts of the feed rolls are journalled in projections secured to the frame and the
connecting gears are on one set of the feed rolls, at the upper ends of their shafts,
and on the other set, at the lower ends thereof. The shaft Kat the other side of the
machine drives the two sets of feed rolls on that side in the same manner and by
similar means as does the shaft H, the feed rolls above described, both sides of the
machine being the same in respect to the feeding mechanism although the feed
mechanism on one side alternates in its action with that on the other side. One set
of feed rolls on each side is higher up on the machine than the other set on the same
side, and the highest set on one side is located directly opposite the lowest set on the
other side, as will be clear from Figs. 1 and 3.
The wire after passing the feed rolls passes into a tube or guide-way having a flaring
mouth at the end nearest the feed rolls, as shown at z, Fig. 2, to receive the wire and
is guided through the stationary cutter a', thence across the face of the nail die
between the lugs and under the beak of the gripper c', see Fig. 4, which is, at this
tine, raised slightly so as not to bear on the wire. As soon as the wire has been fed across

page_text: the face of the die it is stopped by a stop pin d', so that the section of wire lying between
the stop pin and the stationary cutter a is just sufficient to form two nails, that is,
enough longer than the die t' to leave sufficient at each end to form the heads of the
nails. While in this position the movable cutter e moves across the face of the
stationary die al and severs the wire.
The mechanism for operating the movable cutters is as follows:-On the secondary
shaft E a cam wheel L is secured, see Figs. 3, 5 & 6. A lever M set on the shaft f
is actuated by the cam L. A link having a right and left hand adjusting screw in
it, is pivoted at o' to an arm n' fast on the shaft and is pivoted at its other end to
a lever N which carries the movable cutter e'. The lever Ñ is mounted on a shaft h',
see Fig. 5, journalled in the frame and to which it is firmly secured by a set screw i¹.
The lever N is of the form shown, Figs. 5 & 6, the movable cutter e being mounted
on an arm of the lever in a recess or slot made to receive it and being adjustable by
means of the adjusting screw j. The other or short arm of the lever is toothed at /¹
forming a segment of a gear which meshes with a corresponding segment which is
mounted loosely by means of a sleeve on the spindle P of the oscillating die head.
The segment extends above the spindle P and has thereon another toothed segment
which in turn meshes with a corresponding segment on the arm m², of the bent lever R
which carries one of the upper movable cutters e. The bent lever R is secured by a
set screw to a short shaft journalied in a projection of the frame. The mechanism
just described operates the cutters on one side of the machine and a similar mechanism
actuated from the same shaft by means of the arm and the adjustable link s¹, see
Figs. 5 and 6, operates the cutters on the other side of the oscillating die head which
correspond exactly with those above described but which operate alternately with
them, that is, their movements are exactly the reverse at a given time, and this reverse
movement is obtained from the same shaft by securing the lever arm in a different
relative position on the shaft from the position of the lever arm as will be clear
from an examination of Figs. 5 and 6.
After the section of wire has been severed by the cutters it lies between the guides
or lugs and directly on the face of the die which is mounted in the oscillating die
head. The head then moves so as to bring the die tand the section of wire, in line
with the laterally reciprocating die mounted in the sliding head S, see Fig. 4. At
this point the head S moves toward the oscillating die head, bringing the nail dies
together and forming in the centre of the section of wire the points of two nails, the
dies and being, when brought together, of a shape to give the desired tapering
points to the nails. For the purpose of holding the section of wire in place on the
die between the lugs while the oscillating head is moving into the position in
which the nail is formed, a gripping or clamping device el is provided. This device is
in the form of a lever, pivoted centrally at in a recess in the oscillating head. It is
of the shape, shown Figs. 4 and 7, and is forked, the ends of the fork being bent
over the face of the oscillating head and projecting over the section of wire so as to
bear thereon and thus hold the wire firmly. The rear, or free end, of the gripper
lever c¹ is forced upward or outward by a spring-impelled bolt a², set in a recess in the
head as shown, Fig. 4. The bolt a² acts to keep the forked ends of the lever in
contact with the wire. When, however, the head is in position to receive the wire
from the feed rolls it is desirable that the forked end of the grippers e¹ be away from
the face of the die t¹ sufficiently to allow the wire to pass readily into position on the
die. To this end I have provided the screw bolt 6 set in a projection T of the frame
in a position to come in contact with the rear end of the gripper lever, thus raising
its forked end when the head is in position to receive the wire from the feed rolls.
The laterally sliding heads S which carry the dies are reciprocated by toggle
arms U, see Figs. 1 and 3, of common construction, the heads S sliding in grooved
slots in the top of the frame. The toggles U are operated by means of connecting
rods V provided with right and left hand adjusting screws, the lower ends of the rods
being pivoted at either end of the large lever W which is fulcrumed at A' between the
sides of the frame. The end of the lever W shown in dotted lines at the right of
Fig. 1 is slotted as there shown at B' to receive a crank or eccentric secured on the

page_text: main shaft B. During a revolution of the shaft B the eccentric moves around
the interior of the slot, thus oscillating the lever W. A portion of the lower side of
the slot is downwardly curved or dished as shown at e², Fig. 1, so that as the eccentric
on the shaft reaches that point in its revolution the lever W will remain stationary.
This stop in the movement of the lever occurs when the sliding die-head S is at the
forward end of its throw and has forced its die against the wire and formed the point
of the nail, and the purpose is to thus hold the wire securely between the dies for an
instant while the hammers or headers are forming the heads of the nails. In order
that the sliding heads S should approach the oscillating die-head at the same time,
the toggles on one side of the machine throw above the centre, see the right of Fig. 1
while, on the other side of the machine they throw below the centre. This reversing
of the toggles is necessary so that the reverse movements of the ends of the lever W
will produce the same movement, simultaneously, in the nail dies.
The oscillating die head D2 is of the form shown, Figs. 4 and 7, and is provided
with a trunnion or spindle P which projects on either side of it and by which it is
mounted on the frame of the machine. This trunnion or shaft P is provided at one
end, see Fig. 3, with a crank P³ which carries an eccentric pin which travels in a
cam in the periphery of the wheel E² which is mounted on the shaft F2 set in
bearings on projections G2 of the frame. The revolution of the cam wheel E2 rocks
the trunnion P and causes the die head D² to oscillate. The shaft F3 is driven by
means of the gears, the gear g being fast on the secondary shaft F. As it is
necessary that the die head D² should move with a great degree of accuracy in order
that the nail dies should meet with exactness and thus form a symmetrical nail, and as
the can might wear slightly after use, I have provided a locking device by which,
while the nail dies are forming the nail, the oscillating head D2 is locked in position.
This device consists of an eccentric block or crank H², see Fig. 4, secured on the
shaft I² mounted in the frame and provided at either end with the curved
arms, see Figs. 2 and 3, secured thereto. The arms are provided at their ends
with friction rolls which act against the peripheries of the cams J2 mounted on the
shaft F. The revolution of the cams J2 rocks the shaft, one cam acting to move it in
one direction and the other in the opposite direction. The crank on the end of the
die-head shaft or spindle P, is provided with forked projections K2, see Fig. 4, which,
as the crank is at either extreme of its throw, are alternately in line with a lightly
tapering slot in the end of the crank H. When one of the projections K² is in
line with the slot the crank H² is, by the rocking of its shaft, moved toward the
projection which is received in the slot thus holding the spindle P and die head
stationary and acting as an additional safe guard to the eccentric pin d², which, at
this time, is lying in the straight portion of the cam path e. When the parts are in
this position the nail dies t¹ mounted in the oscillating bead D² are accurately in line
with the corresponding dies u¹ in the laterally sliding heads S.
As before stated the operation of heading the nails is performed while they are
firmly secured by the nail dies. The heading mechanism is constructed as follows:
As there are two nails formed at each end of the reciprocating head D2 at each move-
ment of the dies it is necessary to employ four hammers for heading the nails, and
these hammers are alike in construction and operation. The hammer which comes
directly in contact with the wire consists of a bolt 2 which plays in a hole in the
frame A, sec Fig. 3. These hammers are driven against the wire by the forked
levers L pivoted on studs M² one forked lever being on either side of the machine.
In the upper ends of each lever are set the bolts m² which are adjustable by means
of the screws n², see Fig. 3. The bolts m² are arranged to strike the projecting
ends of the hammers 12, and, at each movement of the lever L2, drive the hammers
against the wire. The projecting ends of the hammers are notched, as shown at o³,
to receive the end of a small arm or projecting piece p³, see Fig. 2, fast to the upper
ends of the lever L2 and which act to withdraw the hammers so that they may be
ready for the next blow. The lower ends of the lever L² are slotted lengthwise as
shown at N2, Fig. 2, and these slots receive eccentrics or crank pins q³ set on the ends
of each of the secondary shafts E, F. Each revolution of the secondary shafts

page_text: reciprocates the lever L² and heads four nails. The sides of the slots N° may be
faced with strips or pieces to prevent wear as shown Fig. 2.
To insure the nails, when formed, leaving the dies 1 provide clearing fingers s², see
Fig. 4, which are pivoted to the frame at and are held against the face of the dies
by means of the springs ². These fingers act in grooves, Figs. 7 and 8, and lie
close beside the gripper lever e¹, as shown. When the nail is being formed two of
these fingers lie underneath it and the subsequent movement of the oscillating head
forces the nail up the incline of the finger clear of the gripper and out of the die
and it drops clear of the machine and into a receptacle underneath which may he
provided to receive it.
For the purpose of stopping and starting my machine I have invented an improved
shipper device, shown Figs. 1 and 3, which consists of a slide rod P2 arranged to slide
in bearings on the frame. This rod is provided with an operating handle R², secured
thereto at its lower end, and at its upper end, passing through a slot S3 on the side of
the top of the frame. One end of the rod, shown at the right of Fig. 3, is provided
with a toothed rack T3 which operates a toothed segment, fast to the rod a. The
inner end of rod ³ is screw threaded and works in a threaded socket a', fast to the
frame, see Fig. 2. The other end of rod a³ is reversely screw-threaded and carries
the threaded sleeve 3 to which is pivoted one end of the lever c³. This lever is
fulcrumed at 3 on a projection of the frame, and the other end is forked, as shown
Fig. 3, to receive the pine set on the collar on the main shaft. The movement
of the collar fon its shaft towards the fly wheel C forces the belt pulley Dagainst.
the fly wheel and causes the friction device of usual construction to operate and cause
the fly wheel and pulley to revolve together, thus driving the shaft and operating the
machine. The rod as being provided, at one end, with a right hand screw and, at the
other, with a left hand screw the movement of slide rod P is doubled in the move-
ment of the lever e³ and a slight effort of the operator is all that is required to stop
or start the machine.
The line on the oscillating die head, see figs. 4 and 7, indicates a groove or
recess 3, fig. 7, which is formed at each side of each face of the head to enable the
head to receive a shorter set of nail dies should it be desirable to use the machine in
the manufacture of nails of smaller size. If the head was not thus grooved the width
of its face would interfere with the heading of nails made in dies of less length.
The dies, shown fig. 4, are mounted in slots or recesses in the faces of the
oscillating die head. For the purpose of adjusting these dies forward or backward
the blocks a are placed in the slots underneath the dies. The rear face of the block að
is inclined and rests against the correspondingly inclined bottom of the die slot or
recess. The block a is not as wide as the slot and the movement of the block from
one side of the slot to the other pushes the die outward or allows it to recede. The
blocks are moved by the bolts set in the die head, see Fig. 4, by screwing in the
bolts do the dies t' are pushed forward and the opposite movement of the bolts allows
the dies to be set backward. This arrangement enables the dies to be conveniently
and easily adjusted.
It will be noticed that the upper part of the frame A which projects above the
trunnion or spindle P is bolted to the body of the frame and acts as a cap for the
trunnion or spindle in its bearings. This construction renders it a comparatively
simple matter to remove the die head, as by taking out two bolts on either side of the
machine, this upper portion of the frame may, be lifted off and the die head lifted out
and removed and its replacement may be effected with equal facility.
The operation of my machine is as follows:
Wire from four reels mounted in any convenient manner, two on either side of
the machine, and arranged to allow the wire to pay off as required, is fed into the
cutters by means of the grooved feed rolls. At one extreme of the oscillation of the
die head the feed rolls, on one side of the machine, operate, and, at the other extreme,
those on the other side of the machine operate. The wire is fed forward until its end extends
across the dies when the cutter-arms move the movable cutters and sever the section
of wire lying across the nail die. The head then begins its movement when the

page_text: grippers seize the section of wire on the die and hold it securely during the move-
ment of the head which brings the die into position to form the nail. While the
nail is being formed by the pressure of the dies the other dies on the head are
receiving the wire from the feed rolls on the other side of the machine. Thus, at
every complete oscillation of the head eight nails are formed. Simultaneously with
the action of the nail dies in forming the points of the nails the hammers are forming
the heads. As soon as the dies and hammers have withdrawn the head begins its
return movement and the clearers free the formed nails from the dies and allow them
to drop under the machine.
I am aware that machines have been constructed with a die-head arranged to rotate
intermittently. Such a construction is shown in Letters Patent of the United States
to Parkhurst & Lovell No. 345, 534 dated July 18th 1886. Such a machine has
proved objectionable in operation because when the machine is operated at anything
but a very slow speed the stopping of the die-head causes a pounding action which
very speedily wears the parts and throws the dies out of position, thus wholly spoiling
the nails or rendering them practically valueless by forming the points off of the
centro of the wire. In such a machine also, only one size of nail can be formed at
a time, and a large number of expensive dies must be provided for each size of nail.
Certain movements of the Parkhurst & Lovell machine have also proved objectionable
in practice, particularly the movement of the laterally reciprocating heads which
carry half of the nail dies and which approach the rotary die-head from opposite sides.
These laterally moving heads do not approach the rotary head simultaneously but
alternately, so that the pressure exerted to point the nails is sustained by the bearings
of the rotary head.
In my improved machine the intermittent movement of the head is accomplished
without a pounding action and without more than ordinary wear and tear of the
machine. I have shown and described a locking device which may be used, if
desired, to insure the perfect registering of the nail dies but, in practice, such a device
has not been deemed necessary since the dies are only liable to get out of position by
the wear of the mechanism and this wear, when it occurs, can be readily faken up at
the point where it takes place. By the use of the reciprocating die-head the dies at
one end of the head may be used on one kind of nail, and those on the other end of
the head on a different kind of nail, thus necessitating but two dies for one kind of
nail. The laterally reciprocating heads which carry the nail dies U¹, are adapted to
approach the head simultaneously, as hereinbefore described, and thus their movements
balance each other and the shaft of the die head is relieved from strain.
Dated this 5th day of July 1887
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: the nail dies as also their operation.
Figures 5 and 6 are side and plan views respectively, of the cutters detached which
operate to separate a section of wire from the continuous piece, and shewing their
position relatively to the die head.
Figure 7 is a detail.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the dies in the die head detached.
Figure 9 shews two nails as they appear when formed and before they drop from
the dies.
The object of my invention is the construction of a machine for the manufacture of
nails from coils of wire, and it consists of mechanism constructed and organized as
hereinafter set forth, for feeding the wire from the coil to the cutter; severing from
the continuous wire lengths or sections sufficient for the construction of two nails;
carrying the sections so cut to the point where they are operated upon by the dies;
the die mechanism for compressing the section of wire centrally to form the points of
two nails; hammers to operate on the ends of the section and form the heads of the
nails ; devices for clearing the nails from the machine, and shipper mechanism by
which the driving power may be speedily and certainly put on or cut off; all
co-operating in an organized machine as hereinafter described.
I will describe my invention with reference to the drawings left with my
provisional specification using like letters of reference to indicate like parts
throughout the said drawings.
The frame of the machine A is preferably of iron, and of a height to bring the
working parts into a position convenient for the operator. The wire a is fed from
four coils by four sets of feed wheels into four cutters. Two of the coils and two sets
of feed wheels are on each side of the machine, and the feed wheels on one side act
alternately with those on the other, that is, wire from two of the coils on one side of
the machine is being fed into the cutters which receive it, while the wire on the other
side is at rest. Each set of feed rolls is alike and consists of two rolls b, b, of common

page_text: construction having grooved peripheries as shewn Figure 1. These feed rolls are
operated as follows;
B is the main shaft which carries the fly wheel C and the belt pulley D and which
is journalled in the frame of the machine. The nail dies which form the points of the
nails are actuated by means of toggle mechanism, directly from this main shaft.
On either side of the machine are journalled the secondary shafts E, F, from which
the hammers are actuated by means of their actuating mechanism which is hereinafter
described. The shaft F which is actuated from the main shaft by means of the
bevelled gears c, d is extended beyond one end of the frame A, see Figure 1, and
actuates by means of the bevel gears e, f, the shaft G which is journalled in
projections on the frame A. The shaft G carries the cam see Figure 2. The
cam g actuates the lever h pivotted on a stud i, set in the frame, the lower end
of the lever being provided with a pin which acts in the cam g. The upper
end of the lever is slotted as shown, Figure 2, the sides of the slot being
flanged to receive the grooved block which is secured in place by the screw?
set through a cross piece secured on the upper end of lever h, the screw
passing through said cross piece and through the block and acting not only to
secure the block in position but to change its position in the slot for the purpose
of adjusting the throw of the lever. To the block the arms m, n are pivotted;
said arms extend in opposite directions and are pivotted at their outer ends to the
cranks o, p. These cranks are set loosely on the shafts H, K, which carry the
ratchet wheels, the teeth of which point in opposite directions. The cranks o, p
are provided with pawls, S, see Figures 1 and 2, pivotted to the upper ends of
the cranks and held against the ratchet teeth by leaf springs holted to the cranks
and which act against the free ends of the pawls, as shewn Figure 2. The movement
of the upper end of the lever in one direction throws the pawl on the side
toward which it is moving backward over the teeth of the ratchet wheel remaining
stationary as the pawl slips over the teeth. The movement of the lever in the
opposite direction causes the pawl to act on the ratchet teeth and causes a partial
revolution of the ratchet wheel. While this ratchet wheel is revolving the one on
the opposite side of the lever is stationary, the corresponding movements of the parts
alternating, thus causing the wires on one side of the machine to be fed alternately
with those on the other side. The shaft H to which the ratchet wheel is secured
is provided with two, bevelled gears u, v, which mesh with bevelled gears secured to
the lower ends of the vertical shafts I, J, each of which carries a feed roll and a
small gear which meshes with a corresponding small gear on the shaft of the
companion feed roll see Figure 1, the shafts of the feed rolls are journalled in
projections secured to the frame, and the connecting gears y are on one set of the
feed rolls at the upper ends of their shafts and on the other set at the lower ends
thereof. The shaft K at the other side of the machine drives the two sets of feed
rolls on that side in the same manner and by similar means as does the shaft H, the
feed rolls above described, both sides of the machine being the same in respect to the
feeding mechanism although the feed mechanism on one side alternates in its action
with that on the other side. One set of feed rolls on each side is higher up on the
machine than the other the other set on the same side and the highest set on one side
is located directly opposite the lowest set on the other side, as will be clear from
Figures 1 and 3.
The wire after passing the feed rolls passes into a tube or guide way having a
flaring mouth at the end nearest the feed rolls, as shown at Figure 2, to receive the
wire and is guided through the stationary cutter a', thence across the face of the nail
die between the lugs and under the beak of the gripper c¹ see Figure 4, which is
at this time raised slightly so as not to bear on the wire. As soon as the wire has
been fed across the face of the die it is stopped by a stop pin d¹ so that the section of
wire lying between the stop pin and the stationary cutter a' is just sufficient to form
two nails, that is enough longer than the die t' to leave sufficient at each end to form
the heads of the nails. While in this position the movable cutter e noves across the
face of the stationary die a¹ and severs the wire.

page_text: The mechanism for operating the movable cutters is as follows:—On the secondary
shaft E a cam wheel L is secured see figures 35, & 6. A lever M set on the shaft f
is actuated by the cam L. A link g' having a right and left hand adjusting screw in
it, is pivoted at o' to an arm a fast on the shaft and is pivotted at its other end to
a lever N which carries the movable cutter el. The lever N is mounted on a shaft /',
see Figure 5, journalled in the frame and to which it is firmly secured by a set screw i¹.
The lever N is of the form shewn, Figures 5 and 6, the movable cutter e being
mounted on an arm of the lever in a recess or slot made to receive it and being
adjustable by means of the adjusting screw j. The other or short arm of the lever is
toothed at forming a segment of a gear which meshes with a corresponding segment!¹
which is mounted loosely by means of a sleeve on the spindle P of the oscillating die
head. The segment extends above the spindle P and has thereon another toothed
segment which in turn meshes with a corresponding segment on the arm m' of the
bent lever R which carries one of the upper movable cutters e¹. The bent lever R is
secured by a set screw pl to a short shaft journalled in a projection of the frame.
The mechanism just described operates the cutters on one side of the machine and a
similar mechanism actuated from the same shaft by means of the arm and the
adjustable links see Figures 5 and 6, operates the cutters on the other side of the
oscillating die head which correspond exactly with those above described but which
operate alternately with them, that is their movements are exactly the reverse at a
given time and this reverse movement is obtained from the same shaft" by securing
the lever arm in a different relative position on the shaft from the position of the
lever armas will be clear from an examination of Figures 5 and 6.
After the section of wire has been severed by the cutters it lies between the guides
or lugs and directly on the face of the die which is mounted in the oscillating die
head. The head then moves so as to bring the diet and the section of wire, in line
with the laterally reciprocating die mounted in the sliding head S, see Figure 4.
At this point the head S moves toward the oscillating die head, bringing the nail dies
together and forming in the centre of the section of wire the points of two nails, the
dies and being when brought together, of a shape to give the desired tapering
points to the nails. For the purpose of holding the section of wire in place on the
die between the lugs while the oscillating head is moving into the position in
which the nail is formed, a gripping or clamping device e is provided. This
device is in the form of a lever, pivotted centrally at in a recess in the oscillating
head. It is of the shape shewn, Figures 4 and 7 and is forked, the ends of the fork
being bent over the face of the oscillating head and projecting over the section of
wire so as to bear thereon and thus hold the wire firmly. The rear or free end of
the gripper lover el is forced upward or outward by a spring-impelled bolt a², set in
a recess in the head, as shewn Figure 1. The holt a acts to keep the forked ends
of the lever in contact with the wire. When however, the head is in the position to
receive the wire from the feed rolls it is desirable that the forked end of the grippers
he away from the face of the die sufficiently to allow the wire to pass readily into
position on the die. To this end I have provided the screw bolt set in a
projection T of the frame in a position to come in contact with the rear end of the
gripper lever, thus raising its forked end when the head is in position to receive the
wire from the feed rolls.
The laterally sliding heads S which carry the dies are reciprocated by toggle
arms U see Figures 1 and 3, of common construction, the heads S sliding in grooved
slots in the top of the frame. The toggles U are operated by means of connecting
rods V provided with right and left hand adjusting screws, the lower ends of the rods
being pivotted at either end of the large lever W which is fulcrummed at A' between
the sides of the frame. The end of the lever W shewn in dotted lines at the right of
Figure 1 is slotted as there shewn at B₁ to receive a crank or excentric secured on the
main shaft B. During a revolution of the shaft B the excentric moves around the
interior of the slot, thus oscillating the lever W. A portion of the lower side of
the slot is downwardly curved or dished as shewn at e² Figure 1, so that as the
excentric on the shaft reaches that point in its revolution the lever W will remain
"
B

page_text: stationary. This stop in the movement of the lever occurs when the sliding die-head S
is at the forward end of its throw and has forced its die against the wire and formed
the point of the nail, and the purpose is to thus hold the wire securely between the
dies for an instant while the baminers or headers are forming the heads of the nails.
In order that the sliding heads S should approach the oscillating die-head at the same
time, the toggles on one side of the machine throw above the centre see the right of
Figure 1 while on the other side of the machine they throw below the centre. This
reversing of the toggle is necessary so that the reverse movements of the ends of the
lever. W will produce the same movement, simultaneously, in the nail die.
The oscillating die head D2 is of the form shewn. Figures 4 and 7, and is provided
with a trunnion or spindle P which projects on either side of it and by which it is
mounted on the frame of the machine. This trunnion or shaft P is provided at one
end, see Figure 3 with a crank P5 which carries an excentric pin which travels in a
cam in the periphery of the wheel E which is mounted on the shaft F2 set in bearings
on projections G2 of the frame. The revolution of the can wheel E rocks the
trunnion P and causes the die head D² to oscillate. The shaft F2 is driven by means
of the gears the gear g³ being fast on the secondary shaft F. As it is necessary
that the die head D² should move with a great degree of accuracy in order that the
nail dies should meet with exactness and thus form a symmetrical nail, and as the
cam e might wear slightly after use, I have provided a locking device by which, while
the nail dies are forming the nail, the oscillating head D2 is locked in position. This
device consists of an excentric block or crank H², see Figure 4, secured on a shaft I²
mounted in the frame and provided at either end with the curved arms see
Figures 2 and 3, secured thereto. The arms are provided at their ends with
friction rolls which act against the peripheries of the cams mounted on the
shaft F. The revolution of the cams J2 rocks the shaft one cam acting to move it in
one direction and the other in the opposite direction. The crank on the end of the
die-head shaft or spindle P, is provided with forked projections K see Figure 4 which
as the crank is at either extreme of its throw are alternately in line with a lightly
tapering slot in the end of the crank H. When one of the projections K² is in line
with the slot the crank H2 is by the rocking of its shaft moved toward the projection
which is received in the slot thus holding the spindle P and die head stationary and
acting as an additional safe guard to the excentric pin which at this time, lying
in the straight portion of the cam path 2. When the parts are in this position the nail
diest mounted in the oscillating head D are accurately in line with the corresponding
dies in the laterally sliding heads S.
As before stated the operation of heading the nails is performed while they are
firmly secured by the nail dies. The heading mechanism is constructed as follows:
As there are two nails formed at each end of the reciprocating head D² at each
movement of the dies it is necessary to employ four hammers for heading the nails,
and these hammers are alike in construction and operation. The hammer which comes
directly in contact with the wire consists of a bolt 12 which plays in a hole in the
frame A, see Figure 3. These hammers are driven against the wire by the forked
levers L² pivoted on studs M one forked lever being on either side of the machine.
In the upper ends of each lever are set the bolts 2 which are adjustable by means of
the screws n² see Figure 3. The bolts m² are arranged to strike the projecting ends
of the hammers and at each movement of the lever L², drive the hammers against
the wire, the projecting ends of the hammers are notched as shewn at o² to receive
the end of a small arm or projecting piece p² see Figure 2, fast to the upper ends of the
lever L² and which act to withdraw the hammers so that they may be ready for the
next blow. The lower ends of the lever L are slotted lengthwise as shown at N2.
Figure 2, and these slots receive excentrics or crank pins set on the ends of each of
the secondary shafts E F. Each revolution of the secondary shaft reciprocates the
lever L and heads four nails. The sides of the slots N may be faced with strips or
pieces to prevent wear, as shewn Figure 2.
To ensure the nails when formed, leaving the dies I provide clearing fingers 2 see
Figure 4, which are pivotted to the frame at t² and are held against the face of the

page_text: dies by means of the springs. These fingers act in grooves 2 Figures 7 and 8 and
lie close beside the gripper lever a' as shown. When the nail is being formed two of
these fingers lie underneath it and the subsequent movement of the oscillating head
forces the nail up the incline of the finger clear of the gripper el and out of the die,
and it drops clear of the machine and into a receptacle underneath which may bo
provided to receive it.
For the purpose of stopping and starting my machine I have invented an improved
shipper device, shown Figures 1 and 3 which consists of a slide rod I arranged to
slide in bearings on the frame. This rod is provided with an operating handle R
secured thereto at its lower end, and at its upper end, passing through a slot S³ on the
side of the top of the frame. One end of the rod, shewn at the right of Figure 3 is
provided with a toothed rack T3 which operates a toothed segmentu, fast to the rod a³.
The inner end of rod a³ is screw threaded and works in a threaded socket a fast to
the frame see Figure 2. The other end of rod a³ is reversely screw-threaded and
carries the threaded sleeve 3 to which is pivotted one end of the lever e³. This lever
is fulerummed at 3 on a projection of the frame and the other end is forked, as shewn
Figure 3, to receive the pin set on the collar on the main shaft. The movement
of the collar 3 on its shaft towards the fly wheel C forces the belt pulley D against
the fly-wheel and causes the friction device of usual construction to operate and cause
the fly wheel and pulley to revolve together, thus driving the shaft and operating the
machine. The rod a³ being provided, at one end, with a right hand screw and, at the
other, with a left hand screw the movement of slide rod P2 is doubled in the movement
of the lever and a slight effort of the operator is all that is required to stop or start.
the machine.
The line on the oscillating die-head, see Figures 4 and 7 indicates a groove or
recess Figure 7, which is formed at each side of each face of the head to enable the
head to receive a shorter set of nail dies should it be desirable to use the machine in
the manufacture of nails of smaller size. If the head was not thus grooved the width
of its face would interfere with the heading of nails made in dies of less length.
The dies shewn Figure 4, are mounted in slots or recesses in the face of the
oscillating die head. For the purpose of adjusting these dies forward or backward the
blocks are placed in the slots underneath the dies. The rear face of the block að is
inclined and rests against the correspondingly inclined bottom of the die slot or recess.
The block a is not as wide as the slot and the movement of the block from one side of
the slot to the other pushes the die ' outward or allows it to recede. The blocks a³
are moved by the bolts d set in the die head, see Figure 4, by screwing in the bolts d
the dies are pushed forward and the opposite movement of the bolts allows the dies
to be set backward. This arrangement enables the dies to be conveniently and easily
adjusted.
It will be noticed that the upper part of the frame A which projects above the
trunnion or spindle P is bolted to the body of the frame and acts as a cap for the
trunnion or spindle in its bearings. This construction renders it a comparatively
simple matter to remove the die head, as by taking out two bolts on either side of the
machine this upper portion of the frame may be lifted off and the die head lifted out
and removed and its replacement may be effected with equal facility.
The operation of my machine is as follows;
Wire from four reels mounted in any convenient manner, two on either side of the
machine, and arranged to allow the wire to pay off as required, is fed into the cutters
by means of the ground feed rolls. At one extreme of the oscillation of the die head
the feed rolls, on one side of the machine, operate, and, at the other extreme, those on
the other side of the machine operate. The wire is fed forward until its end extends
across the dies when the cutter arms move the movable cutters and sever the section
of wire lying across the nail die. The head then begins its movements when the
grippers seize the section of wire on the die and hold it securely during the movement
of the head which brings the die into position to form the nail. While the nail is
being formed by the pressure of the dies the other dies on the head are receiving the
wire from the feed rolls on the other side of the machine. Thus at every complete

page_text: oscillation of the bead eight nails are formed. Simultaneously with the action of the
nail dies in forming the points of the nails the hammers are forming the heads. As
soon as the dies and hammers have withdrawn the head begins its return movement
and the clearers free the formed nails from the dies and allow them to drop under the
machine.
I am aware that machines have been constructed with a die head arranged to rotate
intermittently. Such construction is shown in Letters Patent of the United States to
Parkhurst & Lovell No. 345, 534 dated July 13th 1886. Such a machine has proved
objectionable in operation because when the machine is operated at anything but at a
very low speed the stopping of the die-head causes a pounding action which very
speedily wears the parts and throws the dies out of position, thus wholly spoiling the
nails or
rendering them practically valueless by forming the points off of the centre of
the wire. In such a machine also only one size of nail can be formed at a time, and a
large number of expensive dies must be provided for each size of nail. Certain
movements of the Parkhurst & Lovell machine have also proved objectionable in
practice particularly the movement of the laterally reciprocating beads which carry
half of the nail dies and which approach the rotary die head from opposite sides.
These laterally moving heads do not approach the rotary head simultaneously but
alternately, so that the pressure exerted to point the nails is sustained by the hearings
of the rotary head.
In my improved machine the intermittent movement of the heads is accomplished
without a pounding action and without more than ordinary wear and tear of the
machine. I have shown and described a locking device which may be used, if
desired, to insure the perfect registering of the nail dies but, in practice, such a
device has not been deemed necessary since the dies are only liable to get out of
position by the wear of the mechanism and this wear, when it occurs, can be readily
taken up at the point where it takes place. By the use of the reciprocating die-head
the dies at one end of the head may be used on one kind of nail and those on the
other end of the head on a different kind of nail, thus necessitating but two dies for
one kind of nail. The laterally reciprocating heads which carry the nail dies U¹ are
adapted to approach the head simultaneously, as herein before described, and thus
their movements balance each other and the shaft of the die head is relieved from
strain.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a wire nail machine, the combination of an oscillating die-head having nail
lies at ', at each end thereof, mechanism for oscillating said head with periods of
rest between the movements, suitable wire feeding and cutting mechanism and nail
dies at operating at right angles, or substantially so, to the axis of the die-head;
whereby, when the die-head is at rest one set of dies at each end thereof may receive
the wire while another set is in operative position to form the nail, substantially as
set forth.
2. A wire nail machine provided with an oscillating head, as D, actuating
mechanism for imparting to said head a reciprocating movement and sliding heads
as S mounted on both sides of said oscillating head and in operation simultaneously
approaching and receding from the same, for the purposes and substantially as
set forth.
3. In a wire nail machine an oscillating head, as D2 provided with nail dies, as t¹,
at each end thereof actuating mechanism for imparting to said head a reciprocating
movement, sliding heads, as S, mounted in line with each other on opposite sides of
said oscillating head and provided with nail dies, as u', and actuating mechanism for
operating the sliding heads, S whereby said dies are caused to approach the
oscillating head simultaneously twice during one oscillation thereof, substantially as
shown and described.
4. In a wire nail machine having an oscillating head, as D³, actuating mechanism

page_text: for imparting to said head a reciprocating movement and feeding mechanism which
acts alternately on opposite sides of the machine to fill the dies with wire, the
combination with said devices of stationary and movable cutters, as a', e', the stationary
cutters being in line with the dies in the head when said dies are in position to receive
the wire and the movable cutters being mounted on arms, as N, R, which operate to
move the cutters e' across the cutters a and to simultaneously sever the wire which is
fed into the dies from one side of the machine, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with the oscillating head and its spindle or shaft of the cutter
arms N, R, provided with toothed segments the toothed segment journalled on the
spindle or shaft of the die head; shaft and its operating lever and cam, and the
arm and connecting link g substantially as shown and described.
6. The combination with the nail dies mounted in the moving die head of the
gripper lever a pivoted to said head and having one end projecting over the face of
the die in position to hear on the section of wire thereon and the other projecting
rearwardly and actuated in one direction by contact with a fixed point, as the bolt
and in the other by the spring-impelled bolt a whereby, during the movement of the
head, the nail wire is held securely in position on the die, substantially as set forth.
7. In a wire nail machine having an oscillating die-head provided with nail dies
ast and actuating mechanism for reciprocating said head, the combination therewith
of the spring actuated clearers s², two of said clearers being pivoted to the stationary
frame at each end of the oscillating die-bead and their free ends being received in
slots in the face of the die-head and dies whereby a wire blank passes under the
clearer in being carried from the point where the die receives the wire blank to the
point where the nail is formed and is engaged by the clearer and removed from the die
during its return movement, substantially as shown and described.
8. In a wire nail machine the combination with suitable feed mechanism of the
oscillating die-head D2 and its actuating mechanism, the dies t¹ provided with
projections between which the wire is received, the gripping levers el pivoted to
the head D2 and actuated in one direction by a spring and, in the other by contact
with a stationary point on the frame, substantially as shown and described.
9. In a wire nail machine the combination with suitable feed mechanism of the
oscillating die-head D2 and its actuating mechanism, the dies provided with
projections between which the wire is received, the gripping levers el pivoted to
the head D and actuated, in one direction, by a spring, and, in the other, by contact
with a stationary point on the frame, and the clearers &², substantially as shown and
described.
10. In a wire mail machine the combination of an oscillating die-head provided
with dies, as t, and suitable feed mechanism with the gripping devices e' mounted in,
and moving with, tho said die-head substantially as described.
11. The combination with the dic-head D2 of the die ' mounted in a slot or recess
in said head, said recess having an inclined bottom, an inclined or bevelled block a of
less width than the recess and on which the die trests and means for shifting the
block a in the recess whereby the die may be adjusted substantially as shown and
described.
12. In a wire nail machine having an oscillating die-head carrying at both ends
duplicate members, as t¹, of the nail forming mechanism which receive the wire at
one point and transfer it to another where it is formed into nails by the co-action of
the other member, as u¹ of said nail forming mechanism; a locking crank H²
mounted on a rocker shaft and provided at its outer end with a slot which receives an
arm fast on the shaft of said oscillating head, whereby the head is locked and
maintained in a fixed position while the nails are being formed, substantially as
shown and described.
13. In a wire nail machine having an oscillating die head the combination with
said head and its shaft or spindle of a fixed arm, as K2, on said shaft, a locking
eccentric or crank as H2 having a slot which engages with said arm a rocker shaft on
which said crank is mounted, the arms h³ fast to said rocker shaft and their operating

page_text: cams whereby the said shaft and its crank are positively actuated to lock the oscillating
head for the purposes and substantially as set forth.
14. In a wire nail machine the combination with the die head and its supporting
shaft said head having dies on opposite sides of said shaft, of the sliding heads, as S,
located on opposite sides of said die-head and provided with co-operating dies and
actuating mechanism, substantially as described, for moving said sliding heads
simultaneously, towards the die-head between them, whereby the shaft of the die-head
is relieved from strain substantially as set forth.
15. In a wire nail machine the hammers actuated simultaneously to head the
nails, the levers L2 and arms p² secured to said levers, whereby the hammers are
retracted after being driven substantially as shown and described.
16. In a wire nail machine having alternate feed mechanism the shafts H, K, which
actuate the feed-rolls, each provided with a ratchet wheel operated intermittently and
alternately by a ratchet and pawl mechanism connected with a cam-actuated lever,
ash, by pivoted links, as m, n, said lever being fulcrumed between said shafts H, K,
whereby the movement of the lever in one direction actuates one shaft and its reverse
movement actuates the other shaft for the purposes and substantially as set forth.
17. The cam actuated lever h, the block k, and its adjusting screw, the connecting
arms m, n, and the duplicate pawl and ratchet mechanism, whereby by the adjustment
of the block the throw of the pawl cranks may be varied, substantially as shown and
described.
18. The combination with the lever h and its actuating cam of the adjusting block k
and its adjusting screw, the arms m, n, having their proximate ends pivoted to said
block and their opposite end to the pawl cranks o, p, on either side of said lever h, the
shafts H, K, and their pawl and ratchet mechanism and the feed rolls and their
actuating shafts geared to said shafts E, K, substantially as shown and described.
19. In a wire nail machine having an oscillating die head and suitable mechanism
for imparting thereto a reciprocating movement, the shaft or spindle of said die bead
mounted in bearings on top of the main frame combined with a detachable upper
frame which carries all the mechanism above said die-head whereby the removal of
said die-head may be effected without removing any other operative part of the
machine from its frame work substantially as set forth.
20. The combination with the main shaft having fast and loose wheels as C, D, and
a sliding collar as 3 of a shipper lever c³ pivoted to a threaded sleeve 3, an actuating
rod, a, provided at one end with a right hand screw and at the other with a left hand
screw and a rack and pinion, said rack being attached to a slide rod, as P2, provided
with an operating handle as R2, whereby by a slight movement of the handle R² the
machine may be stopped or started substantially as set forth.
A. 15th day of July 1887
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.