IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR POLISHING NEEDLES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur James, of Redditch, in the County of
Worcester, Needle Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR POLISHING NEEDLES."
Sealed the 28th October 1868, and dated the 8th May 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur James at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 8th May 1868.
I, ARTHUR JAMES, of Redditch, in the County of Worcester, Needle
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR POLISHING NEEDLES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists, firstly, in constructing and arranging
machinery for polishing needles in the following manner :-A rotating
polisher is mounted so as to make its upper part project through a
slot in a table, the polisher projecting but slightly above the surface
of the table. The needles to be polished are carried by means of a
band or other equivalent means across the polisher in an oblique
direction. By this mode of travelling over the polisher every part of
A

page_text: each needle is in succession exposed to the action of the polisher, the
polishing commencing at one end and finishing at the other end, the
needles at the same time receiving a rotation which exposes every side
to the action of the polisher. By placing the slot and polisher oblique
to the edge of the table, the needles may be made to travel in a direction
parallel with the edge of the table.
My Invention consists, secondly, in constructing and arranging
machinery for polishing needles in the following manner :-I make a
series of small semi-cylindrical grooves in a table, in which grooves the
needles to be polished are placed. A similar table with grooves is
brought down upon the former, and the needles are thus enclosed in
tubular spaces, through which they are pushed backwards and forwards
and thus polished.
My Invention consists, thirdly, in constructing and arranging
machinery for polishing needles in the following manner:-I employ
a polisher of the ordinary kind, and arrange the needles to be polished
on a table under the polisher, the needles being situated in the plane
of the polisher's rotation, that is at right angles to the axis of the
polisher. The needles are carried forward under the rotating polisher,
and after they have been exposed through their whole length to the
action of the polisher the table carrying them is then depressed and
the needles are brought back, and having been turned are again subjected
to the action of the polisher and so on till they have been sufficiently
polished. I employ the ordinary polishing materials with the several
arrangements constituting my Invention.
The acting surfaces of the polishers in the first and last described
arrangements may either be concave or convex or fluted according to
the work to be effected by the said polishers; or the polishers may
be made conical or taper instead of cylindrical as is usual.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-first year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Arthur James, Her special licence that I, the said
Arthur James, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Arthur James, 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 MACHINERY FOR POLISHING
NEEDLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Arthur
James, 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 Arthur James, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists, firstly, in constructing and arranging
machinery for polishing needles in the following manner:-A rotating
polisher is mounted so as to make its upper part project through a
slot in a table, the polisher projecting but slightly above the surface of
the table. The needles to be polished are carried by means of a band
or other equivalent means across the polisher in an oblique direction.
By this mode of travelling over the polisher every part of each
needle is in succession exposed to the action of the polisher, the polishing
commencing at one end and finishing at the other end, the needles
at the same time receiving a rotation which exposes every side to the
action of the polisher. By placing the slot and polisher oblique to
the edge of the table the needles may be made to travel in a direction
parallel with the edge of the table.
My Invention consists, secondly, in constructing and arranging
machinery for polishing needles in the following manner:-I make a

page_text: series of small semi-cylindrical grooves in a table or rubber, in which
A similar table or
grooves the needles to be polished are placed.
rubber with grooves is brought down upon the former, and the needles
are thus enclosed in tubular spaces, through which they are pushed
backwards and forwards and thus polished.
My Invention consists, thirdly, in constructing and arranging
machinery for polishing needles in the following manner:-I employ
a polisher of the ordinary kind, and arrange the needles to be polished
on a table under the polisher, the needles being situated in the plane
of the polisher's rotation, that is, at right angles to the axis of the
polisher. The needles are carried backwards and forwards under the
rotating polisher, or the rotating polisher is carried over the needles
until they have been exposed through their whole length to the
action of the polisher. I employ the ordinary polishing materials
with the several arrangements constituting my Invention.
The acting surfaces of the polishers in the first and last described
arrangements may either be concave or convex or fluted according to
the work to be effected by the said polishers; or the polishers may be
made conical to taper instead of cylindrical as is usual.
Having explained the nature of my Invention I will proceed to
describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner
in which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation, and Figure 2 in plan a
machine for polishing needles constructed according to one part of
my Invention; Figure 3 is an end elevation of the same; and Figure 4
is a cross section of the same taken through the line a, a, Figure 1.
The same letters of reference are employed to indicate the same parts
in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
b, b, is the bed or table of the machine supported on the end plates
or uprights c, c, carried by the bed plate d; e is the rotating polisher
The
or buff situated diagonally across the machine (see Figure 2).
polisher e works in and projects through a slot f made in the table
or bed 6 (see the section, Figure 4). The spindle or shaft e² of the
polisher turns in the moveable bearings g, g, and a rapid rotatory
motion is given to the said polisher by a band working over the
pulley h, the said band taking motion from a prime mover or other
source of power. On the table or bed 6 are steel plates i covered with
leather or other soft material. k is an endless band passing over the
E

page_text: pulleys l, m, on the shafts 1, 2, the said band being situated parallel
with the sides of the machine. The said endless band may be made
of leather or vulcanized india-rubber or of chain covered with wood,
leather, or other soft material. The pulley shaft turns in bearings
on the bed b, and the pulley shaft turns in bearings in the frame n
situated above the said bed b, the end n of the said frame being jointed
to or capable of turning on the pulley shaft 2. Motion is given to
the endless band k by the driving pulley p, the rotation of which
pulley is transmitted through the worm q on the shaft q and worm
wheel fixed on the end of the pulley shaft 2. Within the endless
travelling band k and carried by the frame n is a pressure bar & for
putting the required pressure on that part of the endless band passing
over the table or bed b, the said bar acting on the upper side of the
band in the manner represented in Figures 1 and 4. Pressure is put
upon the bars by means of the bow spring t, and the adjustment of
the pressure bar against the endless band k is effected by means of
the screw and nut at u. The adjustment of the tension of the endless
band is effected by the bearing plates in which the shaft of the
pulley works, and the adjusting screws to working in the said plates
and the fixed uprights w. The bearing plates are capable of sliding
on the frame n, so that by turning the screws w the said plates and
the pulley may be brought nearer to or further from the fixed
uprights w, and the endless band tightened or slackened to the
required extent. After the band has been adjusted the plates vare
fixed by the screws x.
The polisher or buff e is raised into the required position in the
slot of the table 6 in the following manner:-The bearings g in
which the spindle of the polisher turns are carried at the ends of
levers turning on the uprights 1 fixed on the bed plate d of the
machine. The free ends of the levers are made into eyes, to which
eyes springs or weights are connected for the purpose of raising and
maintaining the polisher in the required position. When it is wished
to gain access to the upper side of the bed or table bit is only necessary
to lift the frame n by its handle 23, when the endless band k, pulley 1,
When the frame n
and pressure bar 8 are raised from the said table.
occupies the position represented in the Drawing it is fixed down by
means of snugs or plates 2 on the rods 3, being made to engage over
The rods 3 are turned
the parts 4 on the plate of the frame n.
by the handles 5; 6, is the hopper in which the needles to be

page_text: polished are placed, and 7 is a plate on which the polished needles are
received.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The working parts having
been adjusted, and a rapid rotatory motion communicated to the
polisher e and a slow motion to the endless band k in the manner
herein-before described, the needles in the hopper 6 are permitted to
fall on to the plate i, and between the said plate and the travelling
endless band k, the said band being pressed into contact with the said
plate by the pressure bar 8. By the motion of the band k and its
pressure upon the needles the said needles are rotated and carried
across the polisher e in a direction parallel with the sides of the table 6,
and every part of cach needle is in succession exposed to the action of
the polisher, the polishing commencing at one end of the rotating
needle and finishing at the other end, as will be understood by an
examination of the plan, Figure 2. After the needles have been
polished they fall on to the plate 7, and from thence to a receptacle
placed to receive them. Instead of arranging the polisher e diagonally
across the machine it may be situated parallel with the sides of the
machine, and the endless band be situated diagonally across the machine
in the position of the polisher represented in the Drawing.
Figure 5 represents in side elevation, Figure 6 in plan, Figure 7 in
end elevation, and Figure 8 in cross section a machine nearly similar
to that just described provided with a taper or conical polisher. In
this arrangement the conical polisher is situated on one side of the
endless band instead of immediately under it, and the needles are only
in part polished at each operation of the machine, the parts left from
the first operation being polished by a second operation. The position
of the polisher e with respect to the endless band k is best seen in the
plan, Figure 6, and section, Figure 8. The position of the mechanism
for adjusting the endless band and the frame for carrying the endless
band and its roller and parts are somewhat different in this arrangement.
.I have marked the parts of this machine with the same letters of
reference as corresponding parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
By an examination of the Drawing it will be seen that those parts
only of the needles which project from the travelling endless band k
are polished by the polisher e, the polishing commencing at the outer
end of each needle and terminating at or about its middle according
to the length of the needles being polished and the angle at which

page_text: .
the polisher is set with respect to the endless band. The needles thus
partly polished are returned to the hopper 6, and placed therein in
such a position that when again introduced. between the band k and
table those ends or parts which were previously exposed to the action
of the polisher e are now situated under the band, the parts requiring to
be polished projecting from the band. By passing the needles a second
time through the machine they are completely polished. A cylindrical
polisher may be used in place of the conical polisher represented in
this machine.
Figure 9 represents in side elevation (some of the parts being broken
off), Figure 10 in plan, Figure 11 in end elevation, and Figure 12
some of the parts in section, a modification of the machine last
described. In this modification the polisher is situated above the table
instead of below it as in the arrangements previously described; and
instead of putting the pressure on the needles so as to cause them on
the travelling of the endless band to rotate by pressing the endless band
in contact with a fixed table, the needles in this modification are
pressed into contact with the endless band itself by a pressure bar or
The said
plate. a is the endless band passing over the rollers b, c.
endless band a consists of a foundation of metallic links to the outer
sides of which plates of steel covered with leather or other soft material
are so fastened that the said plates are capable of taking the positions
represented in Figure 9 when they are passing around the rollers b, c,
and of lying flat against the links when working between the said
rollers. The shape of the plates of which the outer sides of the endless
band are composed is best seen in the plan, Figure 10. A longitudinal
slot is cut along the table d in which the endless band works (see
the section, Figure 12), and by which the said band is guided. e is
the conical polisher situated above and nearly in contact with the
plate f on the table d, and g is the pressure bar or plate. The said
pressure plate g is jointed at gs to the frame of the machine, and the
required pressure is put on the plate by the spring and screws and nuts
represented. The bearings h in which the shaft of the polisher e is
supported are carried by the pressure bar or plate g, so that by raising
the said pressure plate by the lever or handlé g the said bar or plate
with its adjusting mechanism and the polisher may be raised from the
table d. The pressure plate g is fixed on the table d by the screw and
nut at i. The vertical adjustment of the polisher c on the table d is
effected by the levers pressed down by weights or springs connected

page_text: to their free ends. The inner ends of the levers k turn on centres
carried by uprights fixed to the pressure plate g, and the said levers
are connected by a pin and slot to dovetail slides 7, to the bottom of
which slides the bearings h for the shaft of the polisher are secured
(see Figures 10 and 11). The tension of the endless band is adjusted
by the sliding plate m supporting the pulley b, and by the screw n; the
sliding plate m is fixed by the screw p. Motion is communicated to
the endless band a through the driving pulley q, shaft r, worm 8, and
worm wheel t on the shaft of the pulley c, and a rapid rotatory motion
is communicated to the polisher e by a band passing over the pulley e
u is the hopper in which the needles to be polished are placed, and vis
the plate upon which the polished needles are received. The needles
from the hopper u fall upon the endless band, and are carried by the
motion of the said band under the pressure plate g², the said pressure
plate pressing the needles upon the said band, and causing them to
rotate. As the needles are carried forward between the endless band
and pressure plate those parts of the said needles projecting therefrom
pass between the rotating polisher e and the plate of the table f, and
are thereby polished, the other parts of the needles being polished by
again passing them through the machine, as previously described.
Instead of polishing the needles by the use of the machines, Figures 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, in which one endless band and one conical
polisher are employed, two endless bands and two conical polishers may
be arranged in the said machines so as to polish the needles at one
operation. I effect this by arranging the two endless bands and
polishers in the manner exhibited in the elevation and plan diagrams,
Figures 13 and 14, where the two endless bands are marked a, b, and
the polishers c, d. After the parts of the needles projecting from the
first band a have been polished by the first polisher c the said needles
before they leave the said first endless band a come under the operation
of the second endless band b, by means of which said second band the
said needles are still carried forward, and those parts which were not
exposed to the action of the first polisher c are now exposed to the
action of the second polisher d by which they are polished, and the
polishing thus completed at one operation.
The manner in which a
portion of each of the needles is polished by the first polisher c and the
other portion by the second polisher d, as well as the positions of the
endless bands a, b, with respect to the polishers, will be readily under-
stood by an examination of the diagrams.

page_text: a front
Figures 15, 16, 17, and 18 represent a modification of the last-
described machine, Figure 15 being a plan, Figure 16
elevation, Figure 17 a side elevation partly in longitudinal section,
and Figure 18, a back elevation.
In this machine the needles are carried to the polisher by serrated
disks in the grooves, in which disks the needles are rotated as they are
brought under the operation of the polisher. a is the framing of the
machine; b is a hollow shaft to which the serrated carrying disks c, c,
are affixed. Between the said disks c, c, a wheel or rotator d works,
the said wheel d being carried by a shaft e which passes through the
hollow shaft 6 of the disks c, c, as best seen in the sectional part of
Figure 17. is the polisher having the conical concave figure repre-
sented in the Drawing, the acting concave face of the said polisher
being struck from the centre of the disks c, c. The angle at which the
polisher is set with respect to the carrying disks c, c, is best seen in
the plan, Figure 15. The polisher f is supported and driven in any
of the ways herein-before described. g is the driving shaft for giving
motion to the serrated disks c, c, and inner wheel or rotator d. On the
said shaft are toothed wheels h, i, which respectively gear with the
toothed wheels k, l, on the shafts e, b, of the serrated disks c, c, and
wheel d. By an examination of the toothed wheels i, h, k, l, it will
be seen that the inner wheel or rotator d is driven at double the speed
at which the serrated carrying disks c, c, are driven. Underneath the
disks and wheels c, d, is a curved plate or table m upon which the
needles are supported as they are carried over the polisher f. n is the
hopper containing the needles to be polished, and p is the plate upon
which the polished needles are received.
When the machine is in action the needles in the hopper n are
received in the grooves of the serrated disks c, c, see Figure 16. By the
rotation of the disks the needles are carried on to the curved plate m
upon which they are rotated by the action of the rotating wheel d.
The rotating needles confined in the grooves of the serrated disks c, c,
are carried by the rotation of the said disks slowly over the rotating
polisher by which the greater part of each needle is polished. As
soon as those parts of the disks containing the needles come opposite
the plate p, the polished needles fall from the disks down the said
plate p. The polishing of the needles is completed by passing them
a second time through the machine. The manner in which the

page_text: needles marked m³ in Figures 15 and 17 are carried forward by the
serrated disks c, c, and rotated between the plate m and rotating
wheel d, as well as the positions which the needles take on passing over
the polisher, will be readily seen by referring to the Drawing. The
carrying disks c, c, may be plain instead of serrated, as represented.
When the needles require a preliminary treatment before being
operated upon by the polisher fa grinder of the same construction as the
said polisher may be substituted therefor and the needles operated upon
by the said grinder. In this case I prefer that the carrying disks c, c,
should be without serrations or grooves, the needles being carried
forward between their plain edges and the plate m over the grinder,
the needles at the same time being rotated by the inner wheel d. The
feeding disks and rotator of the machine, Figures 15, 16, 17, and 18,
may be arranged to work horizontally instead of vertically. In this
case I arrange and modify the parts in the manner represented in
vertical section in Figure 15 and plan in Figure 15". 6 is the conical
polisher, the acting face of which is in this arrangement convex; e is
the serrated feeding disk on the top of the shaft e, and f is the
disk for rotating the needles, the said disk being carried on the top of
the hollow shaft f. The disk fis driven at double the speed of the
disk e.
The top edge of the casing d and the bottom of the covering
plate care covered with leather. A portion of the plate c is cut away
to permit the needles from the hopper a to fall into the grooves of the
disk e. By the action of this machine the needles are fed into the
disk e, and are carried by the rotation of the said disk between the top
of the casing d and covering plate c and over the polisher b, the needles
at the same time being rotated by the rotating disk f. An incline
at h is made in the plate c for raising the finished needles from the
grooves of the disk e and removing them from the machine.
Figure 19 represents in plan (partly in horizontal section) a machine
for polishing needles constructed according to another part of my
Invention; Figure 20 is a side elevation, and Figure 21 is a cross
section of the same; Figure 22 illustrates the manner in which two of
the rubbers of the machine are constructed. The same letters of
reference indicate the same parts in Figures 19, 20, 21, and 22. The
said machine consists of a bed plate a on which a scries of headstocks
marked respectively b, c, d, e, slide. The headstock b carries two
serrated plates f, f, which receive the needles to be polished from the
hopper a². The said hopper has a sliding motion given to it, so that

page_text: as it passes over the serrated plates f, f, a needle is deposited in each
of the grooves or depressions in the said serrated plates. The head-
stocks c, d, and e each carry a holder marked respectively c², d², e³,
for holding the needles while they are being polished, as herein-after
explained. Each of the said holders consists of two jointed plates, the
opposed edges of which are pressed together by a spring or springs,
(see the section of the holder e², Figure 20). On the bed a of the
machine are three fixed rollers or rubbing tables marked respectively
g, h, i.
Each of the said rubbers consists of a box made, by preference,
of malleable iron or brass, the side plates of the said box being perforated
and countersunk so that the needles may pass easily through them.
The said box is filled or packed with strips of leather dressed with
polishing powder or paste. Each piece of leather is provided with a
semi-cylindrical opening, so that when two of the said pieces are placed
face to face a tubular space is left. In this way a series of tubular
spaces is made in the rubber in which the needles are completely
enclosed during the polishing process. The pieces of leather of which
the boxes of the rubbers g, h, i, are filled are placed at different angles
in each of the said rubbers.
The manner in which the rubbers are made is represented in the
separate view, Figure 22, and in the cross section, Figure 21. In the
rubber box g the pieces of leather are placed vertically, in the rubber
box h they are placed horizontally (see the two examples in Figure 22),
and in the rubber box i they are placed in an inclined position (see
Figure 21). By this means the junctions of the pieces of leather at the
tubular spaces in the several rubbers are not in the same line, every
part of the needles passing through the rubbers are thereby operated
upon by the said rubbers. The sliding headstock 6 to which the
serrated plates fare affixed is worked from the crank shaft k by the
cranks, l, and connecting rods m, m, and the sliding headstock c
carrying the holder c is worked from the same shaft by the cranks n, n,
and connecting rods p, p. The sliding headstock d is worked from the
opposite crank shaft g by the cranks r and connecting rods 8, 8, and
the sliding headstock e is worked from the said shaft q by the cranks t
and connecting rods u. The crank shafts k and q are driven in any
convenient way.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The needles fed into the
serrated plates from the hopper a² are by the sliding of the headstock b
partly pushed through the tubular spaces of the fixed rubber g, the said

page_text: needles being also gripped or held by the holder carried by the second
headstock c. The headstock 6 having completed its advance stroke the
headstock c then advances, and by its motion draws the needles held by
the holder c² from the serrated plates f, and through the said fixed rubber
g, and pushes them through the rubber h into the holder d of the third
headstock d. While the headstock c is making its advance motion the
headstock 6 retires to its first position where its serrated plates are again
fed with other needles from the hopper a³. As soon as the headstock c
has entirely withdrawn the needles from the rubber 9 and has pushed
the said needles through the rubber hand into the holder d it also
retires to the position represented ready to draw the needles fed to its
holder through the rubber g as before explained. The needles passed
into the rubber h and held by the holder &are by the motion of the
headstock d drawn through the rubber h and passed into the rubber i
and holdere of the headstock e, and by motion of the said head-
stock e the needles are finally drawn through the rubber i and thereby
polished, the polished needles being removed from the holder e² by hand
or by mechanical means. The headstocks d, e, make their return strokes
at the times proper to receive the incoming needles from the holder c.
Instead of pushing and drawing the needles through a succession of
rubbers as described and represented in the Drawing, nearly the same
effect may be produced (the needles in this case not being polished at
those parts by which they are held), by giving the needles a reciprocating
motion and causing them to be passed backwards and forwards through
tubular spaces or on flat surfaces in one or more rubbers of the kind used
in the machine last described.
Figure 23 represents in front elevation; Figure 24 in plan, and
Figure 25 in end elevation a machine for polishing needles constructed
according to another part of my Invention; Figure 26 is a longitudinal
section of a portion of the same taken through the lines a, a. Figure 24
and Figure 27 is a transverse section of a portion of the same. The
same letters of reference are employed to indicate the same parts in
Figures 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27.
In this machine the needles to be polished are supported upon a fixed
table while a rotating polisher having a reciprocating motion passes
over them from end to end. 6 is the table or bed of the machine
covered on its upper side with leather, the said table being supported
upon the frame c; d, is the rotating polisher, the spindle of which is

page_text: As
The band which
supported in bearings in the vertical dovetail slides e.
drives the polisher d is provided with the ordinary tension spring to keep
the band tight during the travel of the polisher. The dovetail slides e
arc carried in the rectangular frame f, to which a reciprocating horizontal
motion is communicated. The longitudinal bars of the frame f work
in eyes or guides g on the tops of the four uprights fixed on the base
plate of the machine. The reciprocating motion of the frame f of the
rotating polisher d is effected by a crank i on the shaft k through the
connecting rod 1, jointed at to the said frame f. Rotatory motion is
The
given to the shaft k by a band passing over the driving pulley m.
needles to be polished are fed to the table so that they are situated at
right angles to the axis of the polisher d but parallel with its reciprocating
motion in the following manner:-At the bottom of the hopper n is a
shaft p, carrying three serrated disks q, q, between the teeth of which
the needles from the hopper n are deposited as the said disks come
under the opening in the said hopper, as seen in Figure 25. As the
disks q rotate the needles are carried forward, the said needles being
prevented from falling from the said disks by the covering plate r.
the feed disks approach the highest point of their rotation the needles
are lifted out of the teeth of the said disks by the spring plate 8, and
are deposited on the table b, and between the polisher d. The feed
disks q, q, have an intermittent motion communicated to them so as to
feed at intervals the required number of needles to the table 6 in the
following manner:-The axis p of the feed disks q has upon its end a
worm wheel t, which gears with a worm u on the end shaft v. The
rotatory motion of the shaft k is made to communicate an intermittent
motion to the worm shaft v by the following arrangement of parts:-A
bevil wheel zo on the crank shaft k gives motion by the bevil wheel x to
the side shaft y. On the end of the shaft y is a cam 2 which at each
rotation of the said shaft lifts the strap 3 and pall 4 on the bottom of
the said strap; the pall 4 is thereby caused at each motion of the
strap 3 to drive forward the ratchet wheel 5 on the end of the shaft v,
and thus to give an intermittent motion to the said shaft, and through
the worm u and worm wheel t to the feed disks q, q. By the motion.
which is communicated to the polisher it is made to pass over the needles
from end to end or in the direction of their length, the said needles
being partly rotated from time to time so as to expose every side of the
needles to the action of the rotating and reciprocating polisher. The

page_text: rotation of the needles on the table b is effected by a sliding pressure
bar 6 crossing the said needles. The sliding motion of the bar 6 is
effected in the manner which will be best understood by reference to the
separate view Figure 27. The said pressure bar 6 has a slot 7 at one
end in which an eccentric 8 on the shaft y works, by which eccentric
the required sliding motion is given to the said bar. At the other end
of the said bar 6 is an inclined slot 10, in which a fixed pin 11 works.
When the frame and polisher d are about making their advancing
motion a sliding motion is given to the bar 6 by the eccentric 8. By
this sliding motion the pin 11 occupies the highest end of the slot 10,
and the bar is thereby made to descend and press upon the needles.
This pressure combined with the horizontal motion of the bar causes the
needles to be rotated on the table b. When the polisher d makes its
return stroke the bar 6 is moved in the opposite direction by the
eccentric 8, and the said bar is lifted from the needles by the pin 11,
and slot 10.
In order to prevent the polisher d as it moves across the table
removing the needles therefrom the said needles are held down in the
following way:-Over the table 6 is a suspended frame 62, to the under
side of which holding plates 12, 12, nearly as long as the table are
jointed (see the section Figure 26). The bottom of each holder presses
upon the needles and holds them upon the table. As the polisher d
makes its reciprocating motion one or other of the said holders 12, 12,
is lifted so as to allow the polisher to proceed to the end of its stroke,
the other holder remaining stationary and holding down the needles.
Instead of making the polisher move across the needles as herein last
described, nearly the same effect may be produced by making the
rotating polisher incapable of a sliding motion and causing the needles
to be carried over or under the said polisher.
This arrangement of my Invention is illustrated in Figures 28, 29,
and 30 of the Drawings, Figure 28 being a front elevation of the
machine, Figure 29 a plan, and Figure 30 an end elevation.
a is the polisher supported in any of the ways herein-before described,
the said polisher being capable only of a rotatory motion.
b is a sliding
bed or table carrying the pulleys c, d, endless band e, and parts con-
nected with it, also the hopper f and the steel plate y covered with
leather upon which the needles to be polished are fed. The said

page_text: sliding table works in dovetails on the bed h of the machine (see
Figure 28). Motion is given to the sliding table 6 by means of the
connecting rod i and crank k, the said crank being keyed to the driving
shaft . The motion of the endless band e is obtained from the
reciprocating motion of the sliding table b in the following way :-To.
the said sliding table ba link m is connected, which link gives motion.
to the vibrating arm n carrying the pall or ratchet p, the said pall or.
ratchet gearing with a ratchet wheel on the shaft r. The shaft :
carries a worm 8 which gears with a worm wheel t on the pulley shaft d².
By this arrangement an intermittent rotary motion is given to the
pulley shaft d³, and the endless band e is thereby made to move and
carry the needles forward on the plate g after every alternate stroke of
the sliding table b. The pressure is put on the needles so as to cause
them to rotate when the endless band moves by a pressure bar of the
kind herein-before described. The shaft d² of the pulley d slides on the
motion of the table through the worm wheel t and its hollow bearings
(see the end clevation, Figure 30). The shaft c² of the pulley c turns in
the bearing plate u carried by the frame v. The adjustment of the
endless band is effected by sliding the plate u by the screw w. The
frame v turns on a centre at v³, so that the said frame and the pulley c
and band d may be lifted from the sliding table b. By the action of
this machine the needles held and rotated between the intermittent
travelling band e and the plate g are carried backwards and forwards
over the polisher a, and the greater part of each needle is therchy
polished. The polishing is completed by passing the needles a second
time through the machine.
.
Although my Invention is principally applicable to the polishing of
needles after they have been subjected to the ordinary scouring or
brightening process, yet by substituting for the rotating polishers in the
several machines herein-before described rotating grinders the needles
may be polished by the machines direct from the annealing process
instead of after the intermediate scouring or brightening process, that
is, the rotating grinders may wholly polish the needles or they may
partly polish them, the polishing being completed by the use of
polishers of the kinds described and represented.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that
I do not limit myself to the precise details herein described and
:

page_text: illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my Invention, but I claim as
my Invention of improvements in machinery for polishing needles,-
Firstly. The combination in a machine for polishing needles of an
endless band or carrier (and parts connected with the said carrier) with
a rotating polisher (or grinder), or the combination of two endless bands
or carriers and two rotating polishers (or grinders), for the purpose and
substantially as herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 1
to 14, both inclusive, of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The combination in a machine for polishing needles of
an endless band or carrier or endless bands or carriers with a conical
polisher (or grinder) or conical polishers (or grinders), substantially as
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 5 to 12, both inclusive,
of the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. The construction and general arrangement or combination
of the parts of the machines for polishing needles herein-before described
and illustrated in Figures 1 to 14, both inclusive, of the accompanying
Drawings.
Fourthly. The combination in a machine for polishing needles of a
rotating polisher (or grinder) carrying a disk or disks and rotator and
parts connected therewith, herein-before described and illustrated in
Figures 15, 16, 17, and 18, and Figure 15 and Figure 15B of the
accompanying Drawings.
Fifthly. The combination in a machine for polishing needles of a
series of fixed rubbers or tables having tubular spaces and a series of
reciprocating holders constructed and operating substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 19, 20, 21, and 22 of the
accompanying Drawings; also polishing needles by enclosing them in
tubular spaces in fixed rubbers or tables, and giving the said needles a
reciprocating motion so as to push them backwards and forwards through
the said spaces or on flat surfaces in the rubbers or tables, as herein-
before described.
Sixthly. The arrangement or combination of the parts of the machine
for polishing needles herein-before described and illustrated in
Figures 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 of the accompanying Drawings; also
the arrangement of parts described and represented for feeding the
needles to the polishing table.

page_text: Lastly. The arrangement or combination of the parts of the machine
for polishing needles herein-before described and illustrated in
Figures 28, 29, and 30 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur James, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
HENRY SKERRETT,.
Clerk to George Shaw,.
Birmingham.
ARTHUR JAMES. (L.S.)