CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN OR UPON THE MACHINERY FOR MAKING NAILS AND SPIKES OF VARIOUS FORMS AND DIMEN- SIONS, AND ALSO WIRE AND SCREWS OF IRON, COPPER, BRASS, OR ANY OTHER SUITABLE METAL
Year: 1818

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CHURCH, of Turner Street, Commercial Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by Flis
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Seventh day of May, in the
fifty-eighth year of His reigu, give and grant unto me, the said William
Church, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, His special licence, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said William Church, my exors, adñiors,
and assigns, during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN OR UPON
THE MACHINERY FOR MAKING NAILS AND SPIKES OF VARIOUS FORMS AND DIMEN-
SIONS, AND ALSO WIRE AND SCREWS OF IRON, COPPER, BRASS, OR ANY OTHER
SUITABLE METAL;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso
that if.I, the said William Church, shall not particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, by an instrument in writing in writing under my hand and seal,
and cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent, that then the said Letters Patent, and all liberties and advan-
tages whatsoever thereby granted, shall utterly cease, determine, and become

page_text: void, as in and by the same, relation being thereunto had, will more fully and
at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with, the said proviso, I, the said
William Church, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereunto annexed, and the following
description thereof, that is to say:
First, by a peculiar adaptation and use, of two or more pairs of rollers
disposed at right angles to each other. These rollers are arranged to act upon
the rod which is to be converted into nails, spikes, wire, or screws, and com-
municate to it the required form by corresponding indentations on their
surfaces, each pair pressing or shaping alternately the two opposite sides of the
rod, so as, in the case of wire, to reduce the rod throughout its length to the
form of the wire required to be made, and in-that of nails, spikes, or screws,
to form of the whole a continued string thereof, with their head and point ends
respectively contiguous.
Secondly, by the use of certain machinery, hereafter described, for sepa-
rating such nails, spikes, or screws, after passing the last pair of rollers, and
directing or guiding the same, if to be heated, into a heading. wheel,, hereafter
described.
149 *:
Thirdly, in adapting a heading wheel for receiving the nails, spikes, and
screws, in succession,, as they are separated after being discharged from the
roller, conveying them by its rotative motion to the point at which they are.to.
receive the operation of the heading punch, and holding them firmly during
that operation.
Fourthly, in, the application of certain jointed bars for giving motion to the
heading punch..
'
The rollers I generally use for making nails, spikes, and, screws are some-
what similar to those used in the common hand rolling mill. Those best
adapted to tenpenny nails are about one inch and a half between the bearings,
and about four inches and a half in diameter. The indentations before men-
tioned as communicating to the nails, &c. their requisite form, need not be
such as to form a groove, except in the case of screws, and also in the case of
wire, but are conveniently arranged to extend through the whole length of the.
roller, by which means they admit of being formed by filing the. surface;
parallel to its axis. They are disposed around the circumference of the rollers:
in such manner as precisely to occupy the whole of the circle without any
intervention of space, and the number of each corresponds.to that.of..the nails
proposed to be effected at each revolution. This may be conveniently arranged

page_text: at six for the first pair of rollers, four for the second, and; three for the third,
and so forth. These indentations, it should be, observed, are not limited to the
exact length of the nails to be made, being on the first pair of rollers some-
thing shorter to allow for the elongation of the rod by the pressure of the
succeeding rollers, and on the others longer, as is shewn by a smaller number
of them filling the circumference of equal rollers. . This excess of length in
the second and third pairs is necessary to secure the coincidence of the cor-
responding part of the indentation with the head of the incomplete nail pass-
ing between them by a process described hereafter. As there will always be a
difference of velocity between that part of the rod which has passed the rollers
and that part which has not entered, owing to the elongation of the rod which
takes place. during the operation, there arises a necessity of either encreasing
the relative velocity of the next succeeding pair of rollers, or of admitting a
variation in their distance proportionate to such elongation. Both these means
are adopted. For one pair of rollers only being stationary, which may be the
first, the other two are constructed to slide freely in the framework of the
machine so as to render their distance asunder at all times proportionate to
the length of the intervening rod. The rollers are, also adapted to vary in their
respective velocities, each succeeding pair moving faster than that which is
before it. This also answers the further purpose of ensuring the due appli-
cation of each part of the circumference of the succeeding roller to the corre-
sponding part of the half manufactured rod about to enter; that is to say, to
cause every succeeding impression to fall accurately in coincidence with those-
previously made upon the other. opposite sides of the rod. This effect is pro
duced in the following manner :-Each succeeding pair of rollers has a velo-
city exceeding that of the rod, and its contact therewith is intermittent, inas-
much as it is only necessary to press upon that part of the nail rod which is
intended to taper from the point of the nail.. Thus, while they are in contact,
the variation in their respective velocities finds its compensation in the sliding
effect above mentioned; and while they are not in contact, the roller, by pass-
ing the rod, causes the shoulder corresponding to the head of the nail to
overtake the shoulder on the rod, and thence to preserve towards each other
a corresponding velocity. To facilitate the sliding process above mentioned,
and that it may not depend solely upon the weak agency of the rod only,
which might bind in the operation, also produce the necessary adjustment
while it is not in contact, projections or cams are introduced on the axis of the
rollers, which, be encountering stationary pieces at proper intervals, promote the
operation of the rod. Each pair of rollers is set in a small frame or carriage..
consisting of two oblong octagonal bands. adapted to receive their bearings-

page_text: These carriages slide in grooves in the framework; that, however, adapted to
the stationary pair being furnished with a set screw by which it is fixed.
Friction rollers are interposed to facilitate the sliding. The rollers are geered
together by cog wheels fixed upon their axis by any ordinary means. The
distance between each pair of rollers is arbitrary; a convenient distance
from center to center may be twice and one third the length of the nail
intended to be made. The rod in its process of conversion into nails is guided
to that part of the first rollers intended for its reception, and also to the corre-
sponding part of each successive pair, by the introduction of a small tube (or,
more properly, a series of small tubes), which commences in front of the
machine and continues its rectilinear course at intervals between each pair of
rollers. The rollers receive their revolving motion at the velocities respectively
required by any of the ordinary modes, such as wheels with pinions or perpetual
screws, although the latter is found best applicable. In continuation of the
axis of one roller of each pair is a shaft fifteen or twenty inches long, carrying
the wheel by which its motion is communicated. This wheel may be at
a distance of nine or ten inches, or more or less, as may be convenient,
from the roller, so as to admit the interposition of one or two universal
joints in order to allow of the sliding side motion of the rollers without
altering the direction of their axis. The heading wheel, which, from the
nature of its purposes, is only applicable to such of the articles of manu-
facture as require heads, and which is consequently omitted in the case of
wire and of that description of nails usually called brads, consists of a
cast iron or other metallic cylinder, about eight inches or more in length,
whose axis is parallel to the second pair of rollers, and intersecting a linė
passing through the centre of the conducting tube. The bearings of this
wheel are about twenty-six inches asunder, leaving about four inches of shaft
on one side the cylinder and fourteen on the other. This wheel has four per-
forations at a distance of about an inch from the end next the longest portion
of its axis, and extending from its circumference to its centre, disposed at
equal distances, into which the nails are admitted in succession as they proceed
from the conductory tube, and conveyed to the heading punch hereafter
described. The rotation of this wheel is intermittent, performing each revo-
lution in four distinct and equal motions, and allowing sufficient pause between
them to allow the entry of each successive nail into its destined hole, which
is so arranged as to stop immediately opposite the end of the conducting tube
before mentioned, forming with it, as it were, a continuation. A spring which
is attached to the framing enters through the axis of the wheel perforated for
its reception, and reaches as far as the nail holes, so as to. answer the purpose

page_text: of pushing the nail out when finished. This spring receives its motion at
regular intervals by means of oblique projections in the cavity of the axis in
which it is placed. On the face of the cylinder, in a direction parallel to its
axis and equidistant from each other, are four grooves, of an inch in depth and
an equal breadth, situated immediately over the perforatiory above mentioned,
and extending to within about half an inch of each of its end. In such of these
grooves is fitted a pair of dies, one of which (that next the longer portion of
shaft above mentioned) is stationary, and forms to the extent of its depth one
side of the perforation above mentioned; the other, which forms the other side,
in like manner) is moveable, and receives its motion from a bar which occupies
the remainder of the groove abutting and attaching each of its ends respec-
tively against the end of the groove and the die. This bar is jointed in the
middle, so as to be convertible from a rectilinear to an angular state, by which
means, the distance between its ends being contracted, the die is put in motion.
The joint is pressed out of the groove by a spring, which consequently gives
to it a constant angular tendency, and is forced back to the groove by a
friction roller acting against the surface of the cylinder which it encounters
in the course of its revolution. This roller is so situated as to perform its
action precisely at the time of the nail undergoing the operation of the heading
punch hereafter described; and it operates by compressing the dies together
to support the nail which is between them laterally, while the punch acts upon
its head longitudinally. The intermitting motion of the heading wheel may
be produced by various ordinary means; that which I prefer to use is by
alternately locking and unlocking it, with a contiguous wheel on the same
axis revolving uniformly. This is effected in the following manner:-On a
convenient part of the surface of the heading, which is a groove containing
two bars disposed longitudinally, connected together by a lever jointed
to the middle of each, and having its fulcrum in the centre. By this lever,
any motion given to one of the bars communicates to the other an equal.
motion in the opposite direction. These bars somewhat exceed in length the
cylinder on which they are placed, so that upon one end being pushed flush
with one end of the cylinder the other is caused to project from the opposite
end; and they are so attached to the lever that the projecting end of one bar
shall coincide with the flush end of the other, thereby presenting one flush
and one projecting end at each end of the cylinder. Now, on the uniformly
revolving wheel is a projection in form of an inclined plane, so disposed as to
encounter the projecting end of the bar in the course of its revolution and
press it into a flush state; and immediately following this inclined plane is a
projection which I call a stud, which encounters the other bar, caused to

page_text: issue forth by the agency of the lever, and by that means to cause it to partake
of its motion. This motion continues until the projecting end of the bar on the
opposite end of the heading wheel encounters a similar inclined plane on a
stationary wheel, which, by a repetition of the process of the first-mentioned
wheel, reverses the relative position of the bars and restores them to their
former position, admitting the first wheel to continue its rotation indepen-
dently until the reappearance of its inclined plane at the ends of the bars causes
a repetition of the same effect. The inclined planes on the fixed: wheel are
four in number and equidistant, so as to stop the cylinder. at the arrival of
each successive nail under the. heading punch. These latter inclined planes
are followed by their projecting studs in the same manner as those on the
other wheel, so as to preserve the cylinder stationary, so as to fix the wheel
steadily during. its stationary period. The bars, it should be explained, are
not disposed on the surface of the cylinder in a manner equidistant from its
axis, but are placed one outside the other, so as that their ends describe
different but contiguous circles; and the inclined planes and studs being
respectively situated in each of these two circles, according as it may be
intended to act, produces each its own effect independent of the other, and
without the danger of meeting with that end of the bar on which it is not.
intended to act. It may be further observed, that the distance at which the
two bars are necessarily placed to admit the intervention of the lever need not
prevail through their whole length, but they may be conveniently bent to
approach each other at their ends, even so as to be in contact. A small por-
tion of that end of the conducting tube next to the heading wheel is move
able. To its interior, which is enlarged to admit of them, are attached a páir
of nippers, pointing in the direction in which the rod moves, and so adapted.
as to act upon the nail rod in the manner that a click acts upon a rotchet,
whereby the heads are permitted to pass through it in the direction of their:
progress, but prevented from being drawn back by the closing of the nippers on
the point of the succeeding nail. This portion of the tube receives its motion
by means of an eccentric projection on the uniformly revolving wheel. before>
mentioned, on the axis of the heading wheel, which operates to give it with its
nippers, at proper intervals, a velocity exceeding that of the nail rod, thereby:
causing it to overtake the head which has passed through it) and, as it cannot
recede, to pull it asunder from the point of the following nail and deposit it 3
in the heading wheel. Or this part of the process, as it relates to the:
detaching of the nails from each other, may be performed by the intervention.
of shears, so adapted by. any ordinary means as to partake of: the motion of
the rod during the time of their action opposite and in a right line with the

page_text: conducting. tube; but on the other side of the heading wheel, is placed the
heading punch, wherewith the heads are stamped of the form desired. This
punch slides in a groove in the framework adapted for its reception, and
receives its motion from the action of a jointed bar which presses upon it
longitudinally in the manner before described as appertaining to the sliding
dies on the heading wheel, with this difference, however, that no spring is intro-
duced, but that the whole motion is produced by a rod communicating with
an eccentric wheel on the longest portion of the shaft of the heading wheel.
This rod, instead of communicating immediately with the jointed bar before
mentioned, is attached to the centre of another similar jointed bar disposed at
right angles to the first-mentioned jointed bar and communicating its action
to it.
The several parts composing this machine having been this particularly
described, it is only necessary to add that they are disposed in a frame adapted
to receive them, and are put in motion by any of the means applicable to
machinery. As to the mode of using the machine, it is only necessary to
recapitulate that the nail rod, being at a proper heat introduced through the
first portion of the conducting tube till it reaches the first pair of rollers,
receives their action, and successively that of the other parts of the machine,
until the nails, spikes, or screws fall from the heading wheel completely formed;
but in the case of screws, however, the thread remains to be added by any of
the ordinary means.
Now know ye furthermore, that my improvements on the machinery for
niaking cut nails of all descriptions, including those commonly called brads,
are as follows:-
On a small revolving cylinder are adapted two cutters opposite each other,
disposed with their edges nearly parallel to the axis, but each making with it
an angle corresponding to the tapering of the proposed nail or brad, the angle
of the one being in the reverse direction to that of the other, so as to cut the
head and point ends of the nails or brads alternately from the opposite edges.
of the plate. On the base of an inverted frustum of a cone is placed
the plate submitted to manufacture, so as to present its end to the operation
of the cutters, which plate is secured down by a piece of metal, having a
groove corresponding to its with and thickness. That part of the base of the
cone next the cutters lias a part of its circumference cut off, so as to present
a line corresponding to the edge of the said cutters, which line is to operate as
a counteracting cutter by supporting the lower surface of the plate against
the stroke of the revolving cutter on its upper one; but it is so fashioned at
each end as to accommodate itself to the form of the proposed 'head of the
.

page_text: braid or nail to be cut, according to the angle at which the revolving cutters
(by a process hereafter described) alternately meet it. This cutter is not of
a piece with the rest of the cone, but consists of a piece of steel introduced
in a mortice for its reception, so as to be removed at pleasure for the purposes
of sharpening or renewal, which piece rests upon an adjusting screw passing
upwards through the seat of the cone. The cone is ground into its seat
(which is of the same piece of metal to which the cutting cylinder roller is
attached) in the manner of a water cock. From it issues an arm commu-
nicating with an eccentric on the axis of the cutting cylinder, by which means
is communicated to a small oscillatory motion. By this action the cutting edge
undergoes a change in its position, such as to communicate it to the angle of
each succeeding revolving cutter. The plate to be operated receives its pro-
gressive advance by passing through a pair of rollers geored together, on the
axis of one of which is a tooth wheel communicating with a pinion on the
spindle of the cutting cylinder. This pinion has only two teeth, which are
formed of two opposite pins, such as occur in the old-fashion trundle. By
this means a slight pause takes place in its action twice in the period of a
revolution, which pause affects the progressive motion of the plate, and is so
adjusted in point of time as to occur precisely at the time of the cutter's
action. The cutting cylinder has a mortice quite through it, so as to admit
the introduction of nuts to the screws, which fasten down the gutters. The
machine may be put into action by a rigour on the axis of the cutting cylinder,
to which also may be adapted a fly wheel, or by any other means applicable
to machinery. As to the mode of using the machine, it is only necessary
to say that the plate of the requisite width and thickness being presented to
the feeding rollers, above described, is by their action carried to the cutters, by
which it is cut into nails or brads of the desired form. Drawings of the
whole are hereunto annexed, and explanatory references to the same are here-
under written, and may be referred to for such minutes as do not admit of
explanation without them.

page_text: Fig. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, A, A, A, A, is the framing; B, B, B, B, B, the rollers
which act upon the rod C subjected to manufacture; a, a, a, a, the indenta-
tions corresponding to the shape of the nail; b, b, b, b, the projections or
cams; and c, c, the corresponding stationary pieces, which encounter them ;
d, d, d, d, the carriages of the rollers, whicli slide in grooves backed with
friction rollers c, e, e, e; f, f, cog wheels, by which the rollers are geered
together; 9, 9, 9, 9, the conducting tube or tubes for guiding the rod in its
course; D, D, D, D, endless screws for communicating motion to the whole
by corresponding wheels E, E, E, E; F, F, F, F, universal joints, to com-
pensate for the deviation from the right line of the axis of the roller in the
process of sliding; G, G, the heading wheel; h, h, h, h, it perforations, nto
which the nail is received; and i, i, the spring for discharging it after being
headed; k, k, k, k, projections giving motion to the spring; 1, 1, 1, 1, the
grooves, in which are placed m, m, the stationary, and n, n, the moveable dies.
The latter being attached to the jointed bars o, o, which are acted upon by
the roller p and a counteracting spring not shewn; %, the two bars
which lock alternately with the revolving wheel r and the fixed ones, by
means of the inclined projections and studs not shewn in the Drawing, so as
to render the heading wheel which contains them alternately in a state of
motion and rest, according as they communicate with the one or the other;
t, t, the nippers to detach the nails from each other as they issue from the last
pair of rollers; u, u, a bar carrying them and receiving its motion from the
eccentric projection ; H, the heading punch, sliding in the groove w, w, and
acted upon by the jointed bars a, a, and y, y, which are put in motion by the
eccentric wheel K and connecting rod I; z, z, adjusting screws.
Fig. 3, 9, and 10, which represent the machine for making cut nails and
brads: A is the revolving cylinder containing the cutters B; C, the conic
frustum, on which the plate submitted to manufacture is placed and secured
down by a piece D, which rests on the conic frustum C, and is grooved on the
lower surface to admit the plate E, the steel cutter fitting into a mortice in C,
and removeable at pleasure, for sharpening, &c.; F, the seat for the reception
of C, which is ground into it; H, h, the arm for communicating the ocillatory
motion to C, whereby its position is accommodated to the angle of the edge of
cach succeeding cutter on the revolving cylinder; I, the eccentric, by which
the arm is set in motion, and J, J, the connecting rod; K, K, the rollers gecred
together by wheels L, L, and giving progress to the plate; M, the tooth whcel,
which communicates with the pinion on the axis of the cutting cylinder A;
N, the mortice, for the introduction of nuts to the screws which secure the

page_text: Inrolld the Sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighteen.