Improvements in Box Nailing Machines.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 5th Oct., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Box Nailing Machines.
We ALFRED BRIDGMAN of 307 Amhurst Road Stoke Newington, London, Box
Maker, and RICHARD JAMES HODGES of 112 Oshaldeston Road Stoke Newington,
London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention has for its object "Improvements in Box Nailing Machines" and is
specially applicable to machines driving the nails into the wood in a horizontal direc-
tion and relates, firstly -To a series of separate moveable nail boxes which enable the
nails to be driven at different or varying distances apart; secondly to certain
eccentric or cam mechanisms for adjusting the said nail boxes, altering the elevation
or inclination thereof, and locking same in position with great rapidity, together with
certain other modifications and improvements hereinafter described.
In order that this invention may be more readily understood we annex hereto one
sheet of Drawings which forms part of this specification and illustrates our
improvements as embodied in a power machine.
Referring to the Drawings.
Figure 1. is a front elevation of the upper part of the machine shown partly in
section.
Fig. 2. is a side elevation shown in section through one of the nail boxes.
Fig. 3. is a plan of the machine showing the position of the several parts to which
this invention relates, together with the platform holding the work.
Fig. 4. is a front view of one of the nail boxes &c., drawn to a larger scale.
Fig. 5. is a sectional elevation of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6. is a plan of the same.
Similar letters of reference are shown in corresponding parts wherever they occur.
(a.) (a.) in Fig. 1. represents a shaft running through and supported by the
framing of the machine (6.), upon this shaft (which is provided with a handle (c.) at
one end)
are keyed or otherwise fixed two eccentrics (d. d.); on the small end of this
shaft is screwed a nut and washer (d), the adjustment of which prevents the said
shaft from turning round too freely.
Resting upon the said eccentrics on shaft (a.) (a.) is a bracket or saddle (e.) which is
D

page_text: formed with a grooved or forked base, fitting that portion of the shaft between the
said eccentrics by which it is held in position, but allowed to rise or fall according to the
position of the eccentrics (d.) (d.); the upper side of this bracket or saddle forms a table
(f) on the top of which is a groove (g.) running along it near its front edge (see Figs. 2
and 3) resting upon this table are a series of nail boxes (h.) having projections on
their undersides which fit into the groove (g.) in the said table, by which they are
prevented from shifting backwards or forwards, but at the same time allowing them
to slide along from right to left (see Fig. 1.) as required, according to the position or
distance apart the nails are desired to be driven.
The nail boxes (.) are grooved with deep V grooves in which the nails lie ready
to be driven into the wood; fixed on the top of, or made solid with each nail box is
a hollow cap (i) the back end of which extends backwards and upwards and forms a
neck or tube into which the ends of the nail conducting tubes (k.) enter; in the top
of the said cap is bored a hole into which is inserted a short plunger (l.); between the
bottom of the hole and the plunger is inserted a spiral spring or suitable flexible
substance (m.) the utility of which is hereinafter explained.
Pressing on the top of the short plungers (1.) is an eccentric locking shaft (n.) which
passes through and is held at each end by the sides of the bracket or saddle (e.); the
end of the shaft which extends through and beyond the side of the said bracket or
saddle is provided with a handle (o.), the raising or lowering of which turns the said
locking shaft, causing the eccentric portion of such shaft between the sides of the
bracket or saddle to press on the tops of the short plungers as above stated, thereby
locking or unlocking the nail boxes in position; the object of having the spiral springs
or suitable flexible substance inserted between the plungers (1.) and the caps on the
nail boxes is to compensate for any bending that may occur in the said locking shaft,
and ensure the locking of both the end and intermediate nail boxes simultaneously.
The bracket or saddle (e.) is held vertical or inclined forward or backward as
required, by means of the eccentric pin (p.) which is held at one end by the upper
portion of the said bracket or saddle, and is shown on the left hand side of Fig. 1;
the eccentric portion or body of said pin passes through a vertical slot in the side
of the machine framing at (.) which allows the pin to rise or fall as the bracket or
saddle is raised or lowered by the eccentrics (d.) (d.) on the shaft (a.) (a.); outside
the framing the eccentric pin (p.) is provided with a handle (s.) by which the same
is operated the pin is prevented from turning too freely by the adjustment of the
nut and washer (p¹).
;
Projecting backward from the bracket or saddle (e.) are two horizontal guides (t.t.)
in which slide the blocks (t¹ t¹); these blocks support and hold in position the nail
driver bar (u.); this bar receives its motion from two eccentrics or cams on the main
driving shaft (w.) by means of two short rods (w) the small ends of which work on
the driver bar (a.) and the other ends form the eccentric straps; or are attached to
a rocking bar or levers in machines worked by foot.
The nail drivers (c.) are formed with strong hook ends (c) which fit on the
.driver bar (u.) by which they are driven forward and drawn back and are V shaped
on their under sides which correspond with the V grooves in the nail boxes (h.);
near the front ends on top of the nail drivers are notches (2) which form cams for
operating the shutters hereinafter described.
The nails which descend rapidly down the tubes (k.) are prevented from shooting
through the nail boxes, otherwise than at the proper time by small shutters (y.) the
bottoms of which are V shaped and rest in the grooves at the front ends of the nail
boxes; to the top of each of these shutters are fixed, or made solid therewith, two thin
straps (yy) which extend backward one on each side of the nail box caps (i.) to the
rear of the nail boxes, where they are bent down below the nail drivers, and have their
ends attached to pins (2) which work freely in the ends of the projections (y³),
which extend backward from the rear of the nail boxes, below the nail drivers (c.);
above the nail drivers and between each pair of straps (y) is placed a roller ('),
supported by the pin (y), which passes through both straps (y), and are rivetted or
.otherwise fixed thereto.

page_text: It will be seen that before the nail drivers commence their forward stroke the fronts
of the nail boxes are closed by the said shutters (y.) and the rollers (y) are at rest in
in the notches (2) in the nail drivers; as the nail drivers advance forward they come
into contact with the rollers (y), which are lifted together with the shutters (y.) and
are retained in that position by the roller (y) during the passage forward and back-
ward of said nail drivers, until they again reach the said notches when they fall and
again close the front ends of said nail boxes, during which closed period nails are
fed down the tubes (k.), into the nail boxes ready for the next stroke of the machine,
either by hand or by suitable nail feeding mechanisms.
To remove the nail boxes, shutters and nail drivers, the handle (o.) is lifted up
and forward, thereby turning and raising the eccentric locking shaft (n.), and
releasing the said nail boxes, which are then lifted sufficiently to clear the projections
on the bottom thereof from the groove (g.) in the table (f) they are then pushed
backwards on to the nail drivers which can then be lifted together with the nail
boxes &c. entirely clear from the machine, or replaced by reversing the operation.
In Figs. 2 and 3 are shown two pieces of wood A and B in position ready to be
nailed together, the horizontal piece B resting upon the work platform in front of the
machine.
In working a machine constructed as hereinbefore described and illustrated, very
great advantage and saving of time is derived by being able to alter the distance
between, remove, or replace, with great rapidity the nail boxes and nail drivers,
together with the speedy ajustment of the nail driving apparatus, by means of the
eccentric mechanisms above described.
Dated this Sixteenth day of Danaihan 1007

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Box Nailing Machines.
We, ALFRED BRIDGMAN of 307 Amhurst Road, Stoke Newington London, Box
Maker, and RICHARD JAMES HODGES of 112 Osbaldeston Road Stoke Newington,
London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object "Improvements in Box Nailing Machines" and is
specially applicable to machines driving the nails into the wood in an horizontal direction
and relates, firstly-To a series of separate moveable nail boxes which enable the
nails to be driven at different or varying distances apart. Secondly to certain
eccentric or cam mechanisms for adjusting the said nail boxes, altering the elevation
or inclination thereof, and locking same in position with great rapidity, together with
certain other modifications and improvements hereinafter described.
Referring to the Drawings left with our provisional specification and also the
Drawings attached hereto,
Figure 1. is a front elevation of the upper part of the machine shown partly in
section.
Fig. 2. is a side elevation in section through one of the nail boxes.
Fig. 3. is a plan of the machine showing the position of the several parts to
which this invention relates, together with the platform holding the work.
Fig. 4. is a front view of one of the nail boxes &c. drawn to a larger scale.
Fig. 5. is a sectional elevation of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6. is a plan of the same.
Fig. 7. is a front view of a nail box with internal shutter &c., Fig. 8. is a
sectional elevation, and Fig. 9. a plan of the same.
Similar letters of reference are shown in corresponding parts wherever they
occur.
a. a. in Fig. 1. represents a shaft running through and supported by the framing of
the machine b, upon this shaft (which is provided with a handle c at one end) are
keyed or otherwise fixed two eccentrics d. d; on the small end of this shaft is screwed
a nut and washer d', the adjustment of which prevents the said shaft from turning
round too freely.
Resting upon the said eccentrics on shaft a, a, is a bracket or saddle e, which is
formed with a grooved or forked base, fitting that portion of the shaft between the
said eccentrics by which it is held in position, but allowed to rise or fall according to
the position of the eccentrics d, d; the upper side of this bracket or saddle forms a
table f, on the top of which is a groove g, running along it near its front or back edge
(see Figs. 2 and 3); resting upon this table are a series of nail boxes h. having
projections on their under sides which fix into the groove g in the said table, by which
they are prevented from shifting backwards or forwards, but at the same time
allowing them to slide along from right to left (see Fig. 1.) as required, according to
the position or distance apart the nails are desired to be driven.

page_text: The nail boxes h are grooved with deep V grooves in which the nails he ready to be
driven into the wood; fixed on the top of or made solid with each nail box is a hollow
cap is the back end of which extends backwards and upward and forins a neck or
tube into which the ends of the nail conducting tubes enter in the top of the said
cap is bored a hole into which is inserted a short plunger, ; between the bottom of
the hole and the plunger is inserted a spiral spring or suitable flexible substance, m,
the utility of which is hereinafter explained.
which
Pressing on the top of the short plungers 1, is an eccentric locking shaft. n,
passes through and is held at each end by the sides of the bracket or saddle e; the
end of the shaft which extends through and beyond the sides of the said bracket or
saddle is provided with a handle, o, the raising or lowering of which turns the said
locking shaft causing the eccentric portion of such shaft between the sides of the
bracket or saddle to press on the tops of the short plungers as above stated, thereby
locking or unlocking the nail boxes in position; the object of having the spiral spring
or suitable flexible substance inserted between the plungers, and the cap on the nail
boxes, is to compensate for any bending that may occur in the said locking shaft, and
ensure the locking of both the end and intermediate nail boxes simultaneously.
The bracket or saddle e, is held vertical or inclined forward or backward as required,
by means of the eccentric pin p, which is held at one end by the upper portion of the
said bracket or saddle, and is shown on the left hand side of Fig. 1; the eccentric
portion or body of said pin passes through a vertical slot in the side of the machine
framing at r, which allows the pin to rise or fall as the bracket or saddle is raised or
lowered by the eccentrics d. d. on the shaft a, a; outside the framing the eccentric pin p
is provided with a handles by which the same is operated, the pin is prevented from
turning too freely by the adjustment of the nut and washer p².
Projecting backward from the bracket or saddle e are two horizontal guides t, t, in
which slide the blocks t¹, t¹; these blocks support and hold in position the nail driver
bar, u; this bar receives its motion from two eccentrics or cams on the main driving
shaft, w by means of two short rods we', the small ends of which work on the driver
bar, u, and the other ends form the eccentric straps; or are attached to a rocking bar
or levers in machines worked by foot.
The nail drivers (a) are formed with strong hook ends, ¹, which fit on the driver
bar, u, by which they are driven forward and drawn back and are V shaped on their
under sides which correspond with the V grooves in the nail boxes ; near the front
ends on top of the nail drivers, are notches which formn cams for operating the
shutters hereinafter described.
The nails which descend rapidly down the tubes, k, are prevented from shooting
through the nail boxes, otherwise than at the proper time by small shutters, y, the
bottoms of which are V shaped and rest in the grooves in the front ends of the nail
boxes; to the top of each of these shutters are fixed, or made solid therewith two
thin straps y', y', which extend backward one on each side of the nail box caps i to
the rear of the nail boxes where they are bent down below the nail drivers, and have
their ends attached to pins y², which work freely in the ends of the projections y³, which
extend backward from the rear of the nail boxes below the nail drivers ; above
the nail drivers and between each pair of straps y', is placed a roller y, supported by
the pin yo, which passes through both straps y, and are rivetted or otherwise fixed
thereto.
It will be seen that before the nail drivers commence their forward stroke the fronts
of the nail boxes are closed by the said shutters y and the rollers y', are at rest in the
notches in the nail drivers; as the nail drivers advance forward they come into
contact with the rollers y, which are lifted together with the shutters y and are
retained in that position by the roller y, during the passage forward and backward of said
nail drivers, until they again reach the said notches when they fall and again close
the front ends of said nail boxes, during which closed period nails are fed down the
tubes k, into the nail boxes ready for the next stroke of the machine, either by hand
or by suitable nail feeding mechanisms.
To remove the nail boxes, shutters and nail drivers, the handle
0, is lifted up and

page_text: forward thereby turning and raising the eccentric locking shaft n, and releasing the
said nail boxes, which are then lifted sufficiently to clear the projections on the bottom
thereof from the groove g, in the table f; they are then pushed backwards on to the
nail drivers which can then be lifted together with the nail boxes &c. entirely clear
from the machine, or replaced by reversing the operation.
Figures 7. 8 and 9. show a nail box constructed of two thin side plates h, between
which are rivetted the cap i and grooved base h²; above which is pivotted (at 2) the
drop shutter y the front end of which is V shaped and fits the grooved base h¹;
through the back of the shutter (just above the pivot h¹) is an aperture through
which the nails pass into the nail box, the shutter is raised by the nail driver, as shown
in dotted lines.
In Figs. 2 and 3, are shown two pieces of wood A and B in position ready to be
nailed together, the horizontal piece B resting upon the work platform in front of the
machine.
In working a machine constructed as herein before described and illustrated, very
great advantage and saving of time is derived by being able to alter the distance between,
remove, or replace with great rapidity the nail boxes and nail drivers, together with
the speedy adjustment of the nail driving apparatus by means of the eccentric
mechanisms above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In an horizontal Box Nailing Machine, the eccentric shaft a, a, supported by the
framing of the machine, for the purpose of holding in position, raising, or lowering
(by means of a suitable handle) the bracket or saddle e.
2. The bracket or saddle e, formed with a table f together with the eccentric locking
shaft n,
handle 0, and groove g, for holding and locking the nail boxes in position, as
described.
3. The horizontal guides t, t, formed with (or attached to) the bracket or saddle e, for
the purpose of supporting and guiding the nail driver bar u.
4. The eccentric pin p attached to the bracket or saddle e together with the vertical
slot in the side framing, for the purpose of canting said bracket or saddle forward or
backward as required.
5. The hook ends al to the nail drivers for the purpose of allowing said drivers to
be lifted off the driver har u, rapidly.
6. The nail boxes and shutters, as described and illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.
7. The nail boxes having internal shutters and constructed as described and shown
in Figs. 7, 8 and 9.
8. The arrangement and combination of moveable nail boxes and shutters, nail
drivers having hook ends, bracket or saddle, together with the eccentric mechanisms
for the purpose of rapidly adjusting the parts &c. as above claimed.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1888.
ALFRED BRIDGMAN.
RICHARD JAMES HODGES.