IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES. NOEL ATHER NEEDLES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Pinckney Sumner Wardwell, of Gilford, in
the County of Belknap, and State of New Hampshire, United States of
America, Pattern Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES.
NOEL ATHER NEEDLES"
Sealed the 30th July 1867, and dated the 2nd February 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Pinckney Sumner
Wardwell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 2nd February 1867.
I, CHARLES PINCKNEY SUMNER WARDWELL, of Gilford, in the County of
Belknap, and State of New Hampshire, United States of America, Pattern
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINES FOR MAKING MACHINE KNITTING NEEDLES, AND OTHER NEEDLES," to
be as follows:-
The said improvements consist, first, in the employment of a reciprocating
bed or table on which the needle wire rests, and which feeds or draws the said
wire by needle lengths into the machine; the said table acts as a stationary
die in punching the eyes of the needles, and also as a support for the needles
in slabbing or forming the barbs thereof. The said table also serves to
determine the form of the barbs, and acts as a stationary shear blade to
cut off the needles from the wire, and to throw the slabbing cutters out of

page_text: action. The said bed or table feeds or draws the wire into the machine by a
longitudinal reciprocating movement and stationary nippers, or an equivalent
device is provided in combination with the said table to hold the wire from
receding as the table moves backward. A reciprocating wedge or number
of wedges is employed to tighten the wire or wires in or on the bed or table,
and to release the hold alternately, a slotted reciprocating cam lever or other
device being provided to actuate the said wedge or wedges. The said bed or
table may be employed separately as a stationary shearing blade, in combina-
tion with a movable shearing blade to cut off the needles. The bed may be
arranged at an inclination or obliquely to the plane of its motion, so as to shape
the barbs or determine the depth of the slabbing of the same.
The said improvements consist, secondly, in the employment of a sliding
frame or bar, the motions of which are vertical or transverse to those of the
reciprocating bed, and which works the eye punch, operates the movable
shearing blade, brings the revolving cutters into action, and actuates the wire-
clamping wedge or wedges.
The said improvements consists, thirdly, in the employment of a vibratory
frame or carrier, on which the revolving cutter or cutters are mounted, so as
to bring the said cutters into and out of action without changing the direction
of their axis. A trip lever or bar and support are employed in combination
with the said frame for suddenly withdrawing the revolving cutter or cutters
out of action and from contact with the wire as soon as the slabbing is com-
pleted. The wire is fed to the machine by means of a deflector to spring the
said wire downard sufficiently to compensate for the effect of the action of
the eye punch and cutting-off shears. An adjustable pivot block is used for
the cam lever, which gives motion to the reciprocating bed in order to provide
for different lengths of barbs of the needles. An adjustable stop is provided
to vary the extent of the backward movement of the bed, so as to shorten or
lengthen the shanks of the 'needles without readjusting the whole machine,
and a wedge or wedges are employed for adjusting the inclination and height
of the bed which has a rocking position on its seat; the wire is pressed down
and held by a presser spring on the sliding frame or bar, which spring is
arranged in connection with the eye punch and cutting-off shears; this spring
may be employed separately with either the 'said eye punch or cutting-off
shears. A coupling guide is employed to keep the sliding frame or bar and
the bed in the proper relative positions, when the eyes of the needles are
formed. The said sliding frame is operated by double levers and a double
cam, and has a more rapid and less powerful action at first, and finally a slow

page_text: and powerful action in the act of punching the eyes. An india-rubber or
equivalent cushion is employed to prevent the jarring of the carrier when
suddenly raising the cutters. Two or more cutters are arranged to revolve on
and powerful action in the act of punching the eyes. An india-rubber or
equivalent cushion is employed to prevent the jarring of the carrier when
suddenly raising the cutters. Two or more cutters are arranged to revolve on
one arbor so that their teeth shall act at even successive intervals.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Pinckney Sumner Wardwell in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st August 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
PINCKNEY SUMNER: WARDWELL, of Gilford, in the County of Belknap, and
State of New Hampshire, United States of America, Pattern Maker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Charles Pinckney Sumner Wardwell, Her special licence that I, the said
Charles Pinckney Sumner Wardwell, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Charles Pinckney Sumner Wardwell, 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 MACHINES FOR MAKING
MACHINE KNITTING NEEDLES AND OTHER NEEDLES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Charles Pinckney Sumner Wardwell,.
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 Charles Pinckney Sumner Wardwell,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement-

page_text: My first improvement consists in the employment of a reciprocating bed or
table on which the needle wire rests, and which performs the several functions,
first, of feeding or drawing the wire by needle lengths into the machine;
second, as a stationary die in punching the eyes of the needles; third, as.a
support for the needles in slabbing or forming the barbs thereof; fourth, as a
guide to determine the form of the barbs; fifth, as a stationary shear blade
to cut off the needles from the wire; sixth, mediately to throw the slabbing
cutters out of action. And singly the employment of the bed or table on
which the needle wire rests to feed or draw the wire into the machine by a
longitudinal reciprocating movement thereof, and the combination therewith
of stationary nippers, or the equivalent thereof to hold the wire from receding
as the bed moves backward. Also the employment of a reciprocating wedge.
or wedges to tighten the wire or wires in or on the bed, and to release the
hold alternately, and the combination therewith of a slotted or equivalent
reciprocating cam lever for actuating the wedge or wedges. Also separately
the use of the bed as a stationary shear blade in combination with a movable
shear blade to cut off the needles. Also separately the arranging of the bed
at an inclination or obliquely to the plane of its motion, so as to shape the
barbs or determine the depth of the slabbing thereof.
My second general improvement consists in the employment of a sliding
frame or bar, the motions of which are vertical or transverse to those of the
reciprocating bed, and the functions of which are, first, to work the eye
punch; second, to operate the movable cutting-off shear blade; third, to
bring the revolving cutters into action; fourth, mediately to actuate the wire
clamping wedge or wedges, and specifically by means thereof the performance
of either two of the above functions.
"
My next improvement is a vibratory frame or carrier on which to mount
the revolving cutter or cutters, so as to bring the cutters into and out of
action without changing the direction of the axis thereof; and in combination
therewith the employment of a trip lever or bar and support for suddenly
withdrawing the revolving cutter or cutters from action and from contact with
the wire as soon as the slabbing is completed.
My Invention further consists in certain specific devices as adjuncts to the
leading and more essential features of the machine.
First, in feeding the wire to the machine I employ a deflector to spring the
wire downward sufficiently to compensate for the effect of the action of the eye
punch and cutting-off shears tending to bend the wire.
Second, I use an adjustable pivot block for the cam lever, which gives

page_text: motion to the reciprocating bed in order to provide for different lengths of
barbs of the needles.
Third, I use an adjustable stop to vary the extent of the backward movo-
ment of the bed, so as to shorten or lengthen the shanks of the needles.
without readjusting the whole machine..
Fourth, I employ a wedge or wedges for adjusting the inclination and
height of the bed which has a rocking position on its seat.
Fifth, I employ a presser spring on the sliding frame or bar in connection
with the eye punch and cutting-off shears, for the purpose of pressing down
upon and securely holding the wire on the bed from before the shear blade
and eye punch act till after they are raised again from the wire, and this I
may employ separately with either the eye punch or cutting-off shears.
Sixth, I make use of a coupling guide to keep the sliding frame or bar and
the bed in the proper relative positions when the eyes of the needles are.
formed.
Seventh, I employ double levers and a double cam for giving movement to.
the sliding frame or bar, so as to give a more rapid and less powerful action
to the same at first, and finally a slow and powerful action in the act of
punching the eye.
Eighth, the combination with and application to the vibratory revolving.
cutter carrier of a wedge or its equivalent to regulate the depth of cut.
And, ninth, I use an india-rubber or equivalent cushion to prevent the
jarring of the carrier when suddenly raising the cutters.
Tenth, I arrange two or more cutters revolving on one arbor, so that their
teeth shall act at even successive intervals.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine ;
Fig. 2, a front elevation thereof; Fig. 3, a plan of one end or half thereof;
Fig. 4, a front view of the eye punches showing the method of mounting and.
adjusting them; Fig. 5, a front view of the cutting-off dies or shear blades,
showing the method of mounting and adjusting them; Fig. 6, a vertical section.
from front to back through one of the cutting-off dies and the spring presser,
showing their relative arrangement; Fig. 7, a top view of the adjustable bed
piece and of the needle beds thereon; Fig. 8, a view of the wedge device for
clamping and holding the needle wires on the bed; Fig. 9, a view showing a
'modification of the mode of clamping the wires; Fig. 10, a side view of one
of the needle beds or blocks; Fig. 11, a side elevation of the swinging frame.
or carrier on which the revolving cutters are mounted, and of the mechanism
connected therewith for raising the cutters away from the needles when the

page_text: slabbing is completed, and for bringing and holding the cutters again down in
position; Fig. 12, a Diagram of parts corresponding to those in Fig. 11,
showing a modification of the mechanism for throwing the cutters out of and
into position for slabbing the needles; Fig. 13, a Diagram also of corresponding
parts showing another modification of the mechanism for moving the cutters
into and out of slabbing position; Fig. 14, a view full size, showing
another method of throwing the cutters out of and into position for slabbing
the needles; Figs. 15 and 16, Diagrams on a smaller scale representing
different modifications thereof. Like letters designate corresponding parts in
the first 13 Figures, but a different lettering is given to the parts shown in
the last three Figures.
In the Drawings I have represented only one side of the machine with all
the parts complete; thus in Fig. 2 only the right-hand side is shown fully,
while the left-hand side shows only the framework; but the mechanism on that
side is only a duplicate of that on the other side which shows an arrangement
of parts for making four needles at a time. By duplicating this mechanism
eight.needles can be made at once with one set of driving parts; any greater
or smaller. number of needles may be made at one time as desired. Let B
represent a pulley to which the motive power is communicated; upon its shaft
6 a small cog wheel a gears into a cog wheel C several times larger, so that the
motions communicated to the shaft c thereof may be as many times slower
than the motion of the driving shaft b. Upon the shaft c are two cams D and
E, the former of which communicates the vertical reciprocating movement to
the eye punches 2, 2, and cutting-off shear blades p, p, and the latter of which
communicates the horizontal reciprocating movement to the table H. In
communicating the proper motions to the eye punches and cutting-off shear
blades by the cam D, the said punches and blades are suitably mounted in a
block or head O on a vertical bar I, which may move up and down in a groove
or ways 3 (Fig. 1). To this sliding bar a connecting rod J is pivoted at i and
its lower end is pivoted at j to a cam lever Q which is itself pivoted at one
end (as at 4) to or to projections of another cam lever G that is pivoted at g
to the frame of the machine. The cam D acts directly on the movable end
of the lever G, and produces the ordinary movements of the sliding bar I and
head O. The cam is adjusted on its shaft c by a set screw as shown, so as to
properly time the motions of the punches, shear blades, and other parts
moved thereby. The auxiliary lever is moved by a friction roller d on
the cam D separately from the lever G, and has a more powerful leverage
to draw down the bar I, as well as diminish friction by the use of the

page_text: said friction roller. The use of this auxiliary lever is to act at the moment of
punching the eyes of the needles, which requires a comparatively powerful.
action. The cam D draws the sliding bar and head downward only, and the
return motion is effected by a counterweight t on a lever T, the opposite end
of which bears upward against a pin or stud 6 (Fig. 1) on the sliding bar I.
For communicating the horizontal forward motion to the reciprocating table
H from the cam E, a cam lever F is pivoted at k to a projection of the frame..
The lower end or point f of this lever is curved toward the cam substantially
as shown in Fig. 1, so that neither the cam D nor its friction roller d can
interfere with the motious of the lever, and so that it can more readily adapt
itself to the irregular form of its own cam E. The upper end of the lever F
is connected with the table H by a connecting rod h which is pivoted to the
table at 7, and has an adjustable connection with the lever at 8 (Fig. 1.) The
fulcrum pivot k of the lever is adjustable up and down in a slot 9. of the frame
by a set screwz, so that the extent of movement given to the table may be
varied at pleasure. The return movement of the table is effected by a counter-
weight on a lever 5 projecting from the lever F. In feeding the wires along..
it is necessary that they should be alternately clamped to the table H or bed..
piece N thereon, and then set free for the return movement of the table. I
have an improved mechanisin for this purpose by which I clamp or tighten any
number at once by the simple movement of a wedge Y, as shown particularly
in Fig. 8. This wedge fits and slides under a wedge-shaped block 10, sub-
stantially as shown. The wires are held between the block 10, and a fixed
bar 11 situated over and parallel with the block; as the wedge is driven in
under the block 10, the block is raised uniformly at both ends, and clamps the
wires securely between it and the bar 11, and as the wedge is drawn outward.
the block descends and leaves the wires free. The wedge Y is moved in and.
out by means of a lever L which is pivoted at 12 to the side of the table Ḥ
and moves therewith. Its upper end is pivoted by adjustable cone points y, y
to the shank of the wedge, and its lower end is provided with a cam slot
(Fig. 2), in which moves a transverse rod m secured to the vertical recipro-
cating bar I. This rod is long enough to allow the lever L to traverse it in
its entire horizontal motion with the table H, and as the sliding bar I
up and down it actuates the lever L so as to produce the motions of the wedge,
Y as required.
moves
In Fig. 9 is shown a modification of the wedge clamp above described.
The same letters and figures of reference indicate. parts of corresponding,
functions to those of the wedge device; the vibrating lever L presses a block Y.
:

page_text: toward a stationary bar 11, and clamps the wire between their surfaces, and
another hook-shaped block Y¹ may be connected with the lever L below its
fulcrum 12, and clamp another wire against the bar 11. When only one
or two wires are worked together this arrangement may be preferable to
the wedge device; but the latter is applicable to any number of wires arranged
side by side; the stationary holder 1 to hold the wires fixed while the table
récedes has swing plates 13, which when brought down into nearly a vertical
position press on the wires and hold them from returning, but when the wires
are drawn forward the hold is released, and the plates swing upward and
rest freely on the wires; a spring 14 may be used to keep the swinging
plates close upon the wires. Each needle wire rests on a needle block or
bed n grooved longitudinally from end to end, as seen most clearly in Fig. 7,
and the wires may be held in the grooves by light springs 17 (Fig. 1) pressing
down thereon; the blocks or beds n, n, are secured in the top of a bed
block N, which itself is mounted on the reciprocating table H; the front
half or portion of each bed n is cut down somewhat as seen in Fig. 10, so
as to make the needle groove therein shallower, and allow the slabbing
cutters to cut without touching the bed. The rear part of the block has its
groove deep enough to securely and accurately hold the wire therein, and
prevent displacement when the eye punch comes down on the wire. As the eye
requires to be very accurately made neither to the right nor left of the center of
the wire the greatest accuracy of construction and surest guards against side
displacement are necessary; in order that neither the bed block N nor the
table H may cause side displacement, I secure a firm guide or guides 16 on
the top of said bed block, and cause it to move accurately and closely in a
notch or groove in the punch block O above, and thus secure the proper
relative positions of the blocks very perfectly. The eye punches 2, 2, are
firmly secured in the block O, and are brought upon the wires at the proper
time by the descent of the sliding bar I; they are adjusted downward by
set screws o, o, as particularly seen in Fig. 4. At the same time that the
punches descend the cutting-off shear blades or dies p, p, are brought down,
and cut the completed needles from the wires by shearing in contact with
the front ends of the beds n, n, which thus act
connection therewith; the table H does not move while the punching and
When the shear cutters and punches
as stationary blades in
cutting-off movements are going on.
descend it is necessary that the wires should be surely in their grooves. I
employ spring presses r, r; located just behind the shear cutters p, p, or
between them; and the punches 2, 2, and so arranged as to reach the wires a

page_text: little before the shear cutters do, as indicated in Fig. 6. Then when the
cutters rise again these pressers hold the wires down till the cutters are
raised from contact therewith, so that the cutters cannot lift the wires by
rubbing against their ends. And this in a great measure prevents the
bending or springing of the needles, by the action of the punches or by the
cutters lifting the ends thereof. The pressers are forced down by springs 18
acting on the shanks 19 (Fig. 6) working in the block P, which is attached to
the head block of the sliding bar I; the shear cutters p, p, are adjusted
downward by set screws q, q.
:
In order to fully provide against the springing and setting of the needles
from a straight form by the action of the punches in forming the eyes, I
use deflectors 15 (Figs. 1 and 3) situated behind the stationary holder 1,
to which they may be secured. By the blue lines in Fig. 1 it will be seen
that these deflectors tend to spring the wires downward somewhat, and by
adjusting the deflectors up or down, the amount of deflection may be made
to exactly compensate for any springing or bending, which the eye punches
may give, so that they will leave the finished needles straight. The wires are
straightened before being fed into the machine. The form of the barbs in
slabbing is determined by setting the bed block N obliquely or inclined to
the table, so that the bed grooves, and wires shall lie in positions slightly
inclined to the direction of the motions given thereto in moving the table.
forward. To enable this bed block to be inclined its lower surface slopes
away a little from the center to each end, or is a little convex or rounding
as seen in Fig. 1. Thus it can be inclined or rocked a little endwise; its
inclination is adjusted by a set screw w, Figs. 1 and 2, so as to shape the
barb just as required; the cutters 8, 3, are raised somewhat so as to cease to
cut the wires as soon as the barbs are slabbed, by raising that end of the
swinging frame S in which their arbor is mounted. This frame swings
vertically or up and down around a pivot 20, and at the other end 21 is the
mechanism by which I accomplish this raising of the cutters, when at the
proper time the reciprocating table brings forward an adjustable inclined
block Z. A projection 22 of the main .frame supports a guide rod or bolt 32
which extends upward through the end of the swinging frame; on this guide
bolt above the swinging frame is a coiled spring x held down and adjusted
in force by a nut which is screwed upon the bolt; this spring holds the end of
the swinging frame down in place at all times, and when the tripping stud 23
is slipped from its support 34, forces the frame down far enough to lift the
cutters mounted on the other end of the swinging frame out of action. The

page_text: extent to which the end 21 of the swinging frame descends when tripped
is limited and adjusted by an elastic block or cushion. 26. on the guide bolt 32,
moved up and down by a nut 45 underneath; the tripping stud 23 is secured
in a pivot block 24 which turns freely in the swinging frame, so that the
stud may be free to slip off from the supporting plate 34. The stud is
adjustable up and down in the pivot block so as to adjust the position of the
cutters to the wire when slabbing; the supporting plate 34 is also adjusted
forward and back in its socket 46 so as to allow the tripping stud to drop off
more quickly or more tardily, and it is held in place by a set screw 28; the
socket 46 is also adjustable up and down by a wedge 27 driven under it more
or less by a screw 29. In the pivot block 24 of the tripping stud is also
secured a trip rod V, so located that when the inclined block Z is brought
forward by the reciprocating table it strikes said trip rod, turns the pivot block 24
and throws the tripping stud 23 off from its supporting plate 34, when the end
21 of the swinging frame is immediately forced down by the spring a to the
stop 26, thereby raising the cutters at the other end out of action; then at
the proper time when the sliding head O descends with the eye punches and
cutting-off shear blades it brings down an adjustable stop u (Figs. 1, 2, and 3,)
upon the cutter end of the swinging frame till the cutters are again brought
into position for action, at which time a coiled spring v drawing sidewise on
the trip rod V throws the tripping stud 23 again upon its support 34 ready for
a renewal of the process of the mechanisın.
In Fig. 12 this tripping mechanism is shown somewhat modified, instead
of supporting a tripping stud 23 upon a supporting plate 34 to be pushed off
at the proper time as above described, the tripping stud is jointed at 35 to
another supporting rod 36, which is itself pivoted to an adjustable support 37,
thus forming a sort of toggle joint arrangement which cannot bend backward
but can forward; it is held straightened by a spring o, and when the inclined
block Z strikes the trip rod V, the toggle is bent thereby against the force of the
spring and lowers that end of the swinging frame; as the inclined block Z
again recedes the toggle is straightened by the spring v, and the swinging
frame is again brought back into place.
In Fig. 13 there is shown another modification of this mechanism. Ilere
the supporting stud 28 rests by a point 30 at its lower end on an adjustable
screw or block 31; this block is mounted on a sliding bar or carriage 38
suitably moved forward by the inclined block Z pushing forward the trip rod V ;
this movement carries the lower end of the supporting stud out of vertical line.
with its pivot 24, and consequently allows that end of the swinging frame

page_text: to descend as much as required. When the sliding bar 38 reaches the extent
of its forward movement a notch 39 in its lower side hooks around a tooth or
projection 40 on a spring 41, and releases the hold of the catch, and then a-
counterweight 42 drawing on a cord over a friction pulley 43 returns the.
sliding. bar to its former position, and all parts are as before. The wedge 27
simply adjusts the height of the block 31, and moves with the sliding bar 38;
it is the moving of the stud 23 into an inclined position which depresses that
end of the swinging frame.
In the device shown in Fig. 14 I employ a similar swinging frame B, as
described above; it swings or vibrates up and down around a fixed pivot C,
which projects from a flanch portion A of the frame of the machine, said flanch
piece being attached and adjusted to the frame by set screws a, a.
D repre-
sents the arbor of the burr cutters mounted in one end of the swinging frame,
and at the other end of the frame is arranged the device for controlling the
movements of the frame as desired. Near the end 6 of the swinging frame a.
guide bolt L projects upward through said frame, its lower end being pivoted.
or otherwise suitably secured at c to the flanch A of the main frame; on this.
guide bolt L above the swinging frame is a coiled spring 1, which keeps that.
end of the frame pressed downward with a force regulated by a nut m, screwed
down on the bolt. Below the swinging frame there is on the bolt an elastic
stop d, which limits the extent to which that end of the swinging frame can
descend, and is adjustable up and down by a nut e. The end 6 of the
swinging frame is held upward in position to bring the cutters at the other end
downward into position for action by a set screw G resting on a bar K, which
is itself mounted on a right-angled or knee-shaped lever H, I, the arm H thereof.
projecting downward, and the arm I projecting horizontally or nearly so; this.
lever is pivoted at h a little nearer the fulcrum pivot C of the swinging frame
than the notch or point f, where the lower end or point 7 of the set screw G.
rests on the bar K. The said set screw passes through a pivot block E, which
turns in the swinging frame, and allows the set screw to move or turn sidewise
to any extent. The set screw is turned to adjust the height of that end of the
swinging frame, and consequently the depth to which the cutters slab the
needles. A set screw k in the outer end of the bar K, also adjusts the height
of the said bar above the arm I of the right-angled lever. This lever is the
means by which the movements of the swinging frame or bar are controlled.
By the side of its vertical arm H is a sliding bar J, held in position by bands j,j,
or their equivalent, and jointed at its upper end to the bar K; its lower end
is sustained by a projection or shoulder on the side of a spring N, which is

page_text: attached to the lover arm H; the said arm is held in a vertical position by a
weight P drawing a cord v around a pulley u upon a hook or staple t of the
lever or an equivalent device, the lever arm thus being held bearing against
a stop y on the flanch A of the main frame. As shown in the Drawings, the
parts are in position for holding the cutters down in place for slabbing. As
soon as the slabbing has proceeded far enough a screw stop S on a projection
of the reciprocating table Q of the machine strikes the lever arm H, and
pushes it along till the spring N strikes an adjustable stop M on the frame
flanch A; this bends the spring N back, and disengages the sliding bar J from
the shoulder thereon, thus allowing the said bar, and consequently the
supporting bar K and the end 6 of the swinging frame B to drop far enough
to raise the cutters away from contact with the advancing needles. Then as
the reciprocating bed recedes the lever arm II is again brought back into
vertical position by the weight P, and as the vertically sliding head descends
as described above, it depresses the cutter end of the swinging frame, and
consequently raises the other end b, and a spring lifts the sliding bar J,
which is again sustained by the shoulder r on the spring N; thus all parts
are brought back to their former position, and remain thus till the next
forward movement of the reciprocating table repeats the operation of letting
the cutters out of action. The stop S is not only adjustable forward and back
so as to regulate the time of action, but also up and down by a set screw w on
the projection R, so as to vary the extent of its action.
In the modification Fig. 15 the same principle is applied, and the parts are
the same except the elastic stop on the guide bolt L, the supporting and
dropping slide bars K and J sustaining spring N and stop M. Instead of
these parts the lever H by its swing motion sufficiently depresses the set
screw G, and consequently the end b of the swinging frame B, to raise the
cutters out of action. The lower end of the lever then catches behind a
notch on a spring T, and is thus held till at the proper time a set screw or
stop Z on a projection W of the vertically sliding bar of the machine strikes
the spring T, and depresses it sufficiently to release the lever H, which is
immediately drawn back into vertical position by the weight P, and all parts
are in position as before. By this device not only are the cutters thrown out
of action, but the form of the barb may be determined thereby, instead of by
means of an inclined bed as described above. For this purpose all that is
necessary is to have a second set screw or stop S¹ on the projection R below
the set screw S, so arranged as to strike the lever H first, and by being near
its lower end act more gradually on it to produce the taper form of the barb.

page_text: Finally, the stop S strikes the lever, and operating more rapidly on it throws
the cutters out of action, as before described.
In the other modification, Fig. 16, the whole mechanism is simplified,
though its action is not so perfect and efficient as by the above-described plans.
The right-angled lever H, I, pivots on the same fulcrum C as the swinging
frame B and turns therewith, but its horizontal arın I is adjusted in relation
to the end b by a set screw O so as to adjust the position of the cutters. The
guide bolt or rod L pivoted to the arm I is situated between the adjusting
screw O and the fulcrum pivot C. A spring adjusted by a nut m keeps the
swinging frame pressed upon the arın I of the lever; the lever is operated
and held in the same manner as described in the modification, Fig. 15, as
in this case the lever H swings with the swinging frame, the cutter end of
which may be considered as the short arm, and the arm H the long arm of
one lever, it is evident that the motion of the arm H may raise and lower the
cutters as desired. The teeth of the several cutters 8, 8, are all so arranged
in relation to each other that they cut in succession at equal intervals; this
equalizes the action of the cutters; they run more steadily and do not
"sputter
as they would if any two should cut together.
What I claim as my Invention is the employment of a reciprocating bed or
table on which the needle wire rests, and which performs the several func-
tions; first, of feeding or drawing the wire by needle lengths into the machine;
second, of a stationary die in punching the eyes of the needles; third, of a
support for the needles in slabbing them or forming the barbs thereof; fourth
of a guide to determine the form of the barbs; fifth of a stationary shear
blade to cut the needles from the wire; sixth, mediately of throwing the
stabbing eutters out of action. And singly the employment of the bed or
table on which the needle wire rests to feed or draw the wire into the machine
by a longitudinal reciprocating movement thereof, and the combination
therewith of stationary nippers or the equivalent thereof to hold the wire from
receding as the bed moves backward; also the employment of a reciprocating
wedge or wedges to tighten the wire or wires in or on the bed, and to release
the hold thereon alternately, and the combination therewith of a slotted or
equivalent reciprocating cam lever for actuating the wedge or wedges; also
separately the use of the bed as a stationary shear blade in combination
with a movable, shear blade to cut off the needles; also separately the
arrangement of the bed at an inclination, or obliquely to the plane of its
motion so as to shape the barbs or determine the depth of the slabbing
thereof.

page_text: I also claim the employment of a, sliding frame or bar, the motions of which
are vertical or transverse to those of the reciprocating bed, and the functions
of which are, first, to work the eye punch or punches; second, to operate the
movable cutting-off shear blade; third, to bring the revolving cutters into
action; fourth, mediately to actuate the wire-clamping wedge or wedges, and
specifically by means thereof the performance of either two of the above
functions together.
I also claim a vibratory frame or carrier on which to mount the revolving
cutter or cutters, so as to bring the cutters into and out of action without
changing the direction of the axis thereof; also in combination therewith the
employment of a trip lever or bar, and a support for suddenly withdrawing the
revolving cutter or cutters from action and from contact with the wire as soon
as the slabbing is completed; and specifically the several devices or modifi-
cations of mechanism for withdrawing the cutters from action, as represented
in Figs. 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16, and as herein specified.
I also claim the following specific devices or respectively the equivalents
thereof.
First, in feeding the wire to the machine, the employment of a deflector to
spring the wire downward sufficiently to compensate for the effect of the
action of the eye punch and cutting-off shears tending to bend the wire.
Second, an adjustable pivot block for the cam lever, which gives motion to
the reciprocating bed in order to provide for different lengths of needles.
Third, an adjustable stop to vary the extent of the backward movement of the
bed, so as to shorten or lengthen the shanks of the needles without re-adjusting
the whole machine..
Fourth, a wedge or wedges for adjusting the inclination and height of the
reciprocating bed.
Fifth, a presser spring on the vertical sliding frame or bar in connection
with the eye punch and cutting-off shear blade, for the purpose of pressing
down upon and securely holding the wire on the bed from before the eye
punch and shear blade act, till after they are raised again from the wire; or,
the employment of this spring separately with either the eye punch or shear
blade.
Sixth, the use of a coupling guide to keep the vertical sliding frame or bar
and the reciprocating bed in proper relative positions when the eyes of the
needles are forming.
Seventh, the employment of double levers and a double cam for giving
movement to the sliding frame or bar, in such a manner as to furnish a more;

page_text: rapid and less powerful action to the same at first, and, finally, a slow and
powerful action during the act of punching the eyes of the needles.
Eighth, the combination with and application to the vibratory revolving
cutter carrier of a wedge or its equivalent to regulate the depth of cut.
Ninth, the use of an india-rubber or equivalent. cushion to prevent the
jarring of the carrier when suddenly raising the cutters.
Tenth, the arrangement of two or more cutters revolving on one arbor, so
that their teeth shall act at even successive intervals.
CHARLES PINCKNEY SUMNER WARDWELL. (L.S.)