IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING WOOD SCREWS.
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING WOOD SCREWS.". A com-
munication from abroad by Thomas James Sloan, of the City and State of
New York, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd June 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING
WOOD SCREWS." A communication from abroad by Thomas James Sloan, of the
City and State of New York, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer.
This Invention relates to the manufacture of the wood screw described in the
Specification of former Letters Patent dated the 31st day of January 1876,
No. 385.
The present Invention comprises certain modifications in the machinery
forming part of the subject matter of the aforesaid Letters Patent, although my
said present Invention inay if desired be used in conjunction with machinery other
than that therein set forth, it being of course expressly understood that in the use
of the modifications constituting my present Invention, such changes in the aforesaid
machinery may be made, as good mechanical judgement may dictate. The present
Invention being designed to provide for the manufacture of the herein-before
indicated variety of wood screws with as much rapidity, convenience, and economy,
as is experienced in the manufacture of the ordinary wood screw. In the hercin-
before indicated variety of wood screw in the manufacture of which my present
Invention is to be used, the nick or groove in the head of the screw instead of
being made of uniform depth throughout is sloped downward from a point at or
near the centre of the head, in order to enable by means of a notched driver a
firmer and more secure hold to be had upon the screw than is possible with the
ordinary wood screw.
My present Invention comprises, first, in an organized machine for nicking wood
screws a nicking saw combined in such relation with the jaws which grip or hold
the screw or screw blank during the nicking operation, and with appropriate
D

page_text: mechanism for giving the just herein-after specified movement to the said saw that
the said nicking saw being first brought opposite the centre of the head of the
screw or screw blank is first moved in one direction to cut one of the sloping sides
of the nick, and then in an opposite direction to cut the other side of the nick,
returning to the first position to perform the same operation on the succeeding screw,
the nicking saw being thus moved bodily alternately in opposite directions, but
having the usual continuous rotatory movement in one direction.
The said Invention further comprises in combination with the holding jaw and
nicking saw of a holder supporting the latter, and having its axial movement
nearly or quite coincident with the centre of the flat or outer end of the head of
the screw or blank, whereby the requisite relation of the saw to the said head
during the operation of nicking the latter is secured.
The said Invention further comprises a novel construction of the aforesaid holder
in two parts adjustable with reference to each other, whereby the saw may be
adjusted to compensate for any change in diameter of the same from wear or other
causes.
The said Invention further comprises a novel combination of an adjustable holder
carrying the nicking saw with the jaw holding the screw or blank during the
operation of nicking, whereby the degree of slope given to the opposite sides of the
nick may be regulated at will.
My Invention also comprises as a further modification in machinery for nicking
wood screws the combination with a fixed blank holder of a nicking tool or cutter
constructed and arranged to cut first the one sloped side of the nick in the head of
the screw, then through or over the central portion of the said nick, and finally the
opposite or remaining sloped side of said nick. In this modification as in those
hercin-before specified as constituting part of my present Invention, the necessity
of rotating the blank holder upon its own axis being by this means avoided, and
with this modification as with those just hercin-before specifically referred to the
requisite sloped nick being provided in the screw with great accuracy and with
great cheanness in the manufacture of the screw.
Figure 1 is a plan, Figure 2 a longitudinal sectional view, and Figure
transverse vertical sectional view of mechanism embracing a portion of my present
Invention.
Figure 4 is a plan, and Figures 5 and 6 are detail views of mechanism embracing
another portion or modification of my said Invention, having reference first to
Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Inasmuch as my Invention may be used in connection with the well known Sloan
screw making machinery suitably modified by the skill of any competent mechanic,
or in connection with any other appropriate machinery, I have not thought it
necessary to represent in detail any but the parts immediately concerned in the
construction and modus operandi of my present Invention. The jaws or holding
devices which hold the screw or screw blank during the operation of nicking are
indicated at A, and are carried upon the shafts B capable of rotation in suitable
bearings in the frame C which is itself supported and capable of turning upon the
shaft D. This shaft D makes a semi-revolution at suitable intervals in order that
while one is receiving the screw or screw blank from the feeding apparatus and
being shaved the screw or screw blank held in the other may be subjected to the
nicking operation.
The means for rotating the frame C with the shafts B and gripping jaws A, and
also the feed mechanism and any other essential adjuncts may be the same as those set
forth in the Specification of my said former Letters Patent, but it will of course be
understood that in lieu of this special arrangement any other suitable system or
arrangement of holding jaws with or without feeding mechanism may be substituted
for that herein indicated, it being only necessary so far as concerns this modification

page_text: of my present Invention that the screw or screw blank shall have its head presented
in due relation with the nicking saw as herein presently explained; E is the nicking
saw carried upon the upper end of a vertical shaft, which has its bearings in a
vertical sleeve b provided on a slide F, capable of longitudinal adjustment in a
disc G. Upon the lower end of the shaft a is a spur pinion c which gears into a
pinion d, which latter has its bearing in an arm c¹ in the lower end of the shaft a;
the said pinion & gears into the spur wheel e below, and connected with which is
the bevil wheelf; the spur wheel e and bevil wheel are provided with a short
stem or shaft fitting into a sleeve or bearing above, and the bevil wheel ƒ gearing
into a corresponding bevil wheel g on the shaft H. It will be seen that motion
from the shaft H transmitted through the bevil wheels g, f, spur wheel e, pinion ‹,
and spur wheel c, will be communicated to the shaft a of the nicking saw E giving
the requisite rotating movement to the same irrespective of the movement of the
dise Galternately in opposite directions as herein-after explained. The shaft Hit
will be understood receives its own rotatory motion by suitable connections not
necessary to specify here with the driving shaft of the machine. The disc G is
pivoted at to a base plate I in such manner as to be capable of a swinging move-
ment alternately in opposite directions around the pivot h; this pivot / is adjusted
so that its axis (in other words the axis of motion of the swinging disc G) is in a
vertical line intersecting the axial line of the screw or blank when held in the
jaws A, at the flat outer surface of the head of the blank or screw to be nicked.
The nicking saw being carried by the slide F the latter is adjusted to bring the
nicking saw against the just mentioned flat outer surface of the blank or screw to
be nicked when the latter is in position in the jaws A.
It will be understood that (the requisite rotary motion being given to the nicking
saw E) if the nicking saw is turned to the right or to the left, as the case may be, by
the swinging of the disc G around its pivot hit will cut one side of the head in a
sloping direction in the centre of the head down through said side, thereby forming
one half of the sloped nick of the screw. If now the nicking saw by means of the
disc G is swung in the opposite direction it will retrace its path through the part
just cut, and will then cut a similar slope in the opposite side of the screw, a return
movement of the disc G bringing the nicking saw back to its original position after
having thus cut a sloping half nick at each side of the head, or in other words
forming the nick with a double slope as required in the said head. It is this modus
operandi as embraced in a combination of parts substantially as herein set forth that
constitutes the first element of my Invention.
It will be observed that inasmuch as the slide F permits the nicking saw E to be
brought to or against the centre of the head of the screw as herein-before explained
irrespective of the diameter of the saw, it follows that the wear of the saw or the
substitution of one saw for another of different diameter may be compensated by a
simple adjustment of the said slide. It will of course be understood that the axial
line of the saw being at one side of the axial line of the axis of motion of the disc,
and the shaft of the saw projecting downward provides as it were a crank indicated
more particularly at a', from which to a suitably fixed portion of the machine is
extended a spiral spring J which tends to turn the disc in one direction around its
pivot h. From this same crank a¹ if it may so be termed extends a rod m, the
outer end of which is connected with a rock lever n, upon the lower end of which
may be provided a friction roller b¹, bearing against this friction roller b¹, in
other words against the lower edge of the rock lever n is a cam K fixed on a
shaft L, which receives a rotatory movement by suitable connection with the
driving shaft or other rotating portion of the machine; this cam acting against the
lower end of the rock lever n, and through the rod m turns the crank a¹ so turned
in a direction opposite to that in which it is drawn by the spiral spring J, the parts
being made to move by gearing and mechanism of suitable proportions in due time
and relation with each other, the spring J turns the disc G in one direction to cause
the nicking saw E to cut the one half of the double sloped nick as herein-before
explained, which done the cam K operates the disc G to carry the nicking saw in

page_text: the opposite direction until the opposite side of the double sloped nick is formed in
the head of the blank or screw, which done the action of the cam permits the spring
to give the return movement to the parts so that the nicking saw is brought back
to its original position at the centre of the head of the blank or screw, thereby
automatically performing the operation of making the requisite sloped nick in the
head of said screw or blank.
It will be understood that although I have herein-before set forth that in the
operation of the Invention the axis of motion of the disc G is to be coincident with
the axis of the blank or screw to be nicked at the flat outer surface of the head
thereof, such forming a screw in which the nick will slope almost exactly from the
centre of the head, yet I do not limit myself to this specific construction, arrange-
ment, or mode of operation, as it is just in some cases to depart from this, for example
by moving the disc G outward, so that this axis of motion shall intersect the axis
of the screw or blank at a slight distance from the head thereof, the nick will be
sloped in opposite directions in the same manner as before, but with a wider space
of metal between the two ends of the nick than when the parts are arranged as
herein previously so fully set forth. On the other hand if the disc G is moved
inward, so that the axis of motion of the said disc would intersect the axis of the
screw or blank at a point within the bead, then the two sloping sides of the nick
will intersect each other at the centre of the head, thereby forming a depression at
.the centre of the head below the flat surface thereof, although less than the depth
of the other portions of the double sloped nick. It will be seen from this that the
shape and proportions of the nick may be very materially modified by the just
herein explained adjustment of the disc G; to provide for this adjustment tho
supporting plate I is made longitudinally adjustable upon the frame of the machine,
this being most conveniently done as indicated in Figures 1 and 2 by means of sot
screws working through slots provided in the ends of the supporting plate I
in such manner that by loosening the screws the plate may be moved longitudinally
to the requisite degree, and by tightening the screws ? the said plate will be fixed
firmly in position.
Having reference now to Figures 4, 5, and 6, it is to be understood that in so
much as relates to the mechanism represented by the said Figures 4, 5, and 6, and
Figures 1, 2, and 3, except in the particulars herein particularly specified the
machine in its general construction and operation may be identical with that
described in ny said former Letters Patent, to which for description reference may
be made. It being also understood however that I do not limit my present Invention
to its connection with machinery constructed as shewn in the Specification of said
Letters Patent, but also employ it in connection with nicking machinery of any
suitable construction, or having a modus operandi in anywise capable of use in
connection with my said Invention. It is also to be further understood in this
modification of my present Invention as with that illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3,
the blank holder or blank holding spindle instead of having a half revolution
around its own axis at each cut of the nicking tool, to enable the nick to be made
one half from each side of the screw head is fixed or stationary during the nicking
operation, and the devices employed in the machine shown in my aforesaid Letters
Patent of to give an axial intermittent rotation to the blank holding spindle
during the nicking operation must for the purposes of my present Invention be
eliminated.
In that portion of my present Invention represented in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the
arrangement and operation of the cutter or nicking tool is changed from that
represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the parts being constructed and constituted for
operation as follows:-The cutter E is carried on the end of a shaft A, which rotates
in bearings provided in the upper or free ends of swinging standards B, the lower
ends of which latter are pivoted as shewn at 1 to sliding blocks E capable of a
vertical movement in upright guides D. The shaft A of the cutter or nicking
_tool E is rotated from the gear L" by a system of gears L and K shewn in detail
in Figures 5 and 6. From the shaft A² extends downward a rod F, which rests

page_text: upon the inner extremity of a lever G, a spring bu holding the lever in contact
with the end of the rod, although any other suitable means of connecting the rod to
the said lever may be adopted; the outer arm of this lever rests against a cam Fl³
on a shaft F, which may be the driving shaft of the machine, or which may be
a shaft driven at suitable speed from any of the other rotating parts of the
apparatus.
It will be observed that this shaft I rotating the cam H2 will operate the
lever G³, lift and depress the shaft A² as the shaft H2 revolves. Extending down-
ward from one or both of the slides E2 is a rod M², which bears against the inner
arm or end of a lever N2. The outer arm of the lever N bears against a cam R²
upon the shaft I².
It will be observed that the rotation of the shaft 12 by rotating the cam R³ will
give a vertical movement up and down to the slides E, to which are pivoted the
lower or inner extremities of the swinging standard B. In the operation of this
modification of my Invention represented as just set forth in Figures 4, 5, and 6,
the blank being held in the jaws of the holding spindle in the same manner as
herein-before explained with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, the rotation of the
cam Hacting upon the lever G² and rod F lifts and throws backward or outward
the nicking saw from the holding jaws, thereby bringing it into an elevated position
clear of the head of the blank or screw to be nicked. This done the combined
rotation of the shaft I causes the one projecting portion e¹ll of the cam R to act
through the lever N and rod M to lift the sliding blocks E, and consequently the
lower ends of the swinging standards B. This tilts the nicking saw E forward or
inward, so that it cuts the one half of the sloping portion of the nick in one side of
the head of the blank or screw. This done the continued rotation of the aforesaid shaft
by reason of the peculiar and suitable shape of the cam Re permits the sliding blocks
to descend, thereby bringing the saw back; simultaneously with this movement the
cain H permits a slight dropping of the upper or free end of the swinging standards,
in other words of the nicking saw itself, whereupon the second projecting portion clll
of the cam R again lifts the sliding blocks, again throwing the nicking saw inward
against the lower side of the head of the blank or screw, thereby cutting the
opposite or remaining half of the sloping nick in said head. It will be seen from
this description that in forming the same nick to the screw the nicking saw travels
from one side of the head across the same to the opposite side, the movement of the
said nicking saw being so controlled as to give the requisite sloping contour to the
nick formed in the head of the blank or screw.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The nicking saw combined with the jaws which hold the screw during the
nicking operation, and with appropriate mechanism for giving movement to the
nicking saw in the operation of nicking the head of the screw or blank, as above
specified and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The holder carrying the nicking saw in combination with the holding
jaws, and having its axial movement nearly or quite coincident with the centre of
the head of the screw or blank to be nicked, as above specified and for the purpose
set forth.
Third. The holder comprising the two parts adjustable with reference to each
other in combination with the nicking saw carried by the said holder, and the
jaws holding the screw or blank during the operation of nicking, as above specified
and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The combination of the holder made adjustable as described, and carrying
the nicking saw with the jaws, which gripe or retain the screw during the nicking
operation, as above specified and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. In a machine for making slope nicked screws the combination with a blank
holder fixed to rotate on its own axis of a nicking tool or cutter, constructed and

page_text: arranged to cut the sloped nick of the head of the blank or screw directly across
from one side to the other without axially turning the blank as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
HY. JA. NOONE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
WM. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.