IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE-SHOE MACHINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Harvey Klapp Flagler and Theodore Stafford Very, both
of the State of Massachusetts, of the United States of America, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE-SHOE MACHINES." A communication
from Hazen Jay Batchelder, residing at Fitchburg, of the State aforesaid.
Sealed the 1st September 1876, and dated the 12th July 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Harvey Klapp Flagler and
Theodore Stafford Very at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
12th July 1876.
HARVEY KLAPP FLAGLER and THEODORE STAFFORD VERY, both of the State of
Massachusetts, of the United States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE-SHOE
MACHINES." A communication from Hazen Jay Batchelder, residing at Fitchburg,
of the State aforesaid.
Our Invention has relation to machinery for making horse-shoes, and consists in
a novel construction and combination of devices, herein-after described, viz., of
mechanism for cutting off the shoe blank and reducing the ends to constituto the
heel parts of the shoe; mechanism for bending the blank around the "
"former";
mechanism for seating, creasing the blank, and punching the nail holes therein, and
mechanism for discharging the shoes from the machine.
In the accompanying Drawings-
Figure 1 denotes a plan or top view; and Figure 2 a side elevation of a horse-
shoe machine constructed in accordance with our Invention.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal central and vertical section of the same.
Figure 4 is another longitudinal section, taken on line x, x, of Figure 1, the same
showing the mechanism for operating the movable cutter or shear.
Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the blank elevating mechanism to be
herin-after described.
Figure 6 is a front end view of the machine.
Figure 7 is a transverse and vertical section taken on line 2, 2, of Figure 1.
Figure 8 is an under side view of the creaser carrier showing the combined
creasers and semi nail punches and hemmers, the latter being shown in dotted
lines; and Figure 9 is a top view of the same.

page_text: Figure 10 a top view of the block carrying the lower set of nail hole punches.
Figure 11 is a top view of the anvil and seating plate.
Figure 12 is a top view of the sliding "former."
Figure 13 is a top view of the movable shear or cutter; and Figure 14 a similar
view of the stationary cutter.
Figure 15 is a vertical and transverse section of the anvil, the
seater; and Figure 16 is a longitudinal section of the same.
former," and
Figure 17 is a side elevation; and Figure 18 a top view of one of the creasers.
In the Drawing, A denotes the table or bed for supporting the main operating
parts. B is a cross head, so affixed to the table as to be capable of sliding longi-
tudinally thereof. C, C', are two jaws or levers, which are pivoted at their rear
ends to the cross-head, each of these levers having a friction wheel a disposed on
its outer end. D is the die or "former,". around which the shoe blank is bent.
b, b', are adjustable guide rollers, respectively arranged against the outer vertical
faces of the levers C, C, the latter being so shaped as to cause them when impelled
forward and impinging against the guide rollers to bend the shoe blank in conformity
with and around the "former" D, such former (a top view of which is given
in Figure 12) consisting of a flat slotted bar having its inner end of a shape corres-
ponding to that to be given to the shoe. E, E, are two springs extending from the
cross head, their free ends bearing against the inner faces of the levers and serving
to maintain the latter in contact with the guide rollers before-mentioned. F is a
pitman, which connects the cross head B with the wrist a of a driving shaft G,
which is arranged and supported in standards as at the rear end of the machine,
such shaft carrying on its opposite end a drum or pulley P, to which rotary motion
may be imparted from any suitable motor, such motion causing reciprocating move-
ments to the cross head, and consequently to the bending jaws C, C. The "former”
Dis mounted upon an anvil or block H, which is disposed within a recess in the
bed A, such anvil having a series of vertical holes into which a series of semi-
punches &¹, 8, extend, the latter being inserted within a block I disposed within
the bed and below the "former carrier or anvil D, the same being as shown in
Figures 3 and 5. This anvil is so applied to the bed as to be movable vertically
therein, and thereby allow the punches s', 8', etc.; to project through the anvil the
desired distance; when the latter is depressed a series of springs 62, 6, etc., (three
of such being shown in Figure 5) disposed between the anvil and the punch
carrying block I serving to restore the anvil to its normal position or
flush with the top surface of the bed A. The "former" D is made by preference
bevelling around its entire edge, such bevel extending from the lower face upward,
the object of such formation being to widen the shoe on its lower or inner surface.
Jis a lever which is pivotted to a standard K extending up from the table, such
lever extending longitudinally over the bed and having a head block L formed on or
rigidly secured to its front end; to this head is connected the creaser carrier M, on
whose lower face are the dies c, c, for creasing and punching or forming the larger ends
of the nail holes, these combined creasing and punching dies are of a segmental shape.
The edge of cach creaser has a series of punches d, d, etc. disposed in a plane some-
what below that of the creasing edge, the same being for the purpose of making the
upper portion of the nail holes deeper than the crease itself. These creasers are not
rigidly fixed to their carries, but are placed in grooves formed therein, having a
corresponding curvature but of a somewhat greater width. Each of these creasers
at their ends is formed with a lip, against which the ends of a curved spring rest,
such springs being confined near their middles by bolts extending through the
creaser carrier, as shown in Figure 8. By this arrangement the springs not only
serve to hold the creasers in their carriers but allow the creasers to move laterally
with the blank, as the latter may be expanded while being shaped and seated. M
is an intermediate block or plate which is arranged between the carrier Al and the
head block L, a rod L' extending up through the carrier M, plate M', and block L,
such rod being provided with a nut at its upper end, between which and the

page_text: exterior of the head block a coiled spring is arranged, the hole through the intermediate
plate M and the head block being slightly larger than the shank of the rod or
bolt L', in order to allow the creaser carrier to maintain its parallelism with the anvil
under the curvelinear movement of the head stock L. e, e, e, etc. are a series of set
screws which extend down through the head-block and impinge against the plate M',
the same being for the purpose of regulating the depression of the combined creasing
and punching dies, as may be desirable in accordance with the thickness of the
shoe blank; g,, are two friction rollers, which are disposed in grooves made in the
top surface of, the creaser carrier, and extending transversely thereof, such rollers
having flat springs arranged in such grooves, as shown in Figure 9. The object of
the rollers g, g, is to allow the creasers to maintain a fixed parallel position witlı
the shoe during the formation of the creases, while the head block is moved back to
conform to the arc of the circle in which the head block moves, the object of the
springs being to restore the creaser again to its normal position when the creasers
are again elevated. The mechanism for imparting the downward movements to
the combined creasing and punching dies consists of a cam c² arranged on the
driving shaft, and another cam d formed on the outer end of the lever J, the
gravitating force of the longer arm of the lever serving to elevate the creasers after
they have been depressed by the cams, the object of this combination or arrange |
ment of cams being to impart an instantaneous downward movement to the creasers
and their adjuncts, so as to cause them to remain in contact with the heated iron
the minimum length of time. Near the front end of the table or bed and extending
transversely across the same and below the top surface of the bed we form a rec-
tangular groove or channel c', of a depth and width sufficient to admit the rod or
bar of iron or metal of which the horse-shoes are to be made, the object of this
arrangement of the channel below the plane of the bed being to allow the bar of
iron to be introduced into the machine at any time without interfering with the
movements of the machine, and thereby expedite the operation of forming the
shoes. Within this channel is disposed a bar e capable of being moved vertically,
such bar being supported on pins f, f, which extend down and rest upon a bar g¹
supported on one end of a lever h, which extends longitudinally of the bed and is
pivotted thereto as shown in Figure 5. g is an adjustable gauge disposed near the
outer end of the channel c¹, the object of such being to determine the length to cut
the blank the mechanism for raising the bar e (whose top surface, when in its
normal position, is on the same plane with the bottom of the channel and also with
the stationary part of the cutter) is a pin o disposed on a collar or wheel affixed to
the driving shaft acting against the cammed end of the said lever, the same being
as shown in Figure 5, the operation of this lever being so timed with respect to the
cutting off mechanism as to raise the blank to the top of the table after it has been
severed and present it to the action of the bending levers, the gravitating force of
the longer arm of the lever serving to restore the bar e to its normal or first
position.
The mechanism next to be described is that for cutting off the blanks and reducing
the ends or portions to constitute the heel parts of the shoc. m³ is a plate carrying the
stationary shear or cutter m², the said plate being arranged in a plane and level with
the bottom of the channel c', and being adjustable transversely of the bed. This plate
is formed with a shoulder arranged at right angles to the channel c (such constituting
the cutter m2), m³ is a plate carrying the movable shear m', which is affixed to the
head or front end n' of the bar K', which reciprocates through guides or projec-
tions p, p, extending from the standard K, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4, such cutter
plate being affixed to the head n² by set screws n³, n³, passing through elongated
slots formed transversely in the head, as shown in Figure 1, and also through slots
made transversely of the cutter as shown in Figure 13, thus permitting the cutter
to have a compound adjustment, viz., toward or away from the stationary cutter,
and longitudinally with respect to the same. Each of the cutter plates is formed
with two opposite inclined faces, the outer inclines o, o, flaring inward, and the
inner ones outward. The object of such formation being to compress each end

page_text: of the blank, as will be hereafter explained. f is a space or groove formed in
the front end of the table and at a right angle to the bar receiving groove c¹ before
mentioned, the object of such space being to allow the movable. shear free recipro-
cation in a plane below the top surface of the table, and on a level with the
stationary cutter. The mechanism for reciprocating the movable shear or cutter
consisting of the cam h¹ disposed on the driving shaft acting against a shoulder
i arranged at the rear end of the bar K, and a spring or equivalent affixed to the
front end of the bar K¹, and an arm projecting from the frame, as shown in Figures
1, 2, 3, and 4, a stud or pin p2 by coming in contact with the projection p serving
to arrest the backward movement of the cutter when it has reached its normal
position.
"
The mechanism for discharging the shoe from the machine after having been
formed and punched will next be described. Affixed to the outer end of the
former" is a bent rod or lever 2 which extends down underneath and longitu-
dinally of the table and is supported in guides 2 through which it slides, such
rod extending underneath the cross head B, and having near its outer end a shoulder
d, the said cross head having a stud or projection extending down from its
lower surface, such stud, when the cross head is drawn back, coming in contact
with the shoulder on the lever will retract the "former" with the shoe until it
reaches the opening o' in the bed of the machine, when the dogs s' on the lever J
impinging on the top of the shoe will force it off the "former" and into the said
opening, the curved end of the lever coming under the dog or tripper arranged
on the frame, as shown in Figure 3, when the further rearward movement of the
"former" is arrested, the tractile power of the spring coiled around the rod,
between its vertical arm and the guide h², will restore the "former" to its normal
or proper position to again bend another blank. In order to prevent the "former"
from being moved backward or out of position while the bending jaws are forming
the heel portions of the shoe, we pivot a two-armed lever c to the front of the
machine, as shown in Figure 5, the longer or heavier arm resting upon the lower
arm of the "former" and taking into a notch de formed therein while the bend
levers are bending the blank, but when the bending levers shall have passed slightly
beyond the ends of the shoe such levers impinge against the upright arm of the
lever and throw the locking arm out of engagement with the "former," so as to
permit the same to be drawn back when the "former" is next moved backward.
It will be evident that in order to cut off blanks of different lengths both
the gauge gand the cutters or cutter plates must be adjusted at a like distance
from the "former."
In the formation of shoes requiring to be "seated" or concaved we employ a
detachable seating plate s², a top view of which is given in Figure 11, this plate
being attached to the anvil by screws, as shown in such Figure, this plate is made
slightly convex on its upper surface, so as to impart the desired concave to the
shoe, the downward action of the creaser carrier serving as a swage to press the
shoe down upon the seating plate and give the desired concave shape thereto.
In forming shoes which have no creases but have the nail holes countersunk we
employ hemmers m³, m³, as shown in Figure 8 in dotted lines, the dies to form the
nail holes being made plain or without any creasing edges.
Having described the construction of our improved machine, its operation is as
follows: If we suppose the parts to be in position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2,
the bar of metal to form the shoe having been duly heated, is to be run in the
channel c¹ until its front end impinges against the shoulder of the stationary cutter ;
the revolution of the driving shaft will cause the opposite incline or shoulder of the
movable cutter plate to be brought into impingement with the bar, and thus
compress the end thereof to the desired extent. This having been effected, the bar
is moved forward into the channel c¹ until it abuts against the gauge g², so adjusted
as to give the required length to the blank to be cut. By the continued rotation of
the driving shaft the movable shear or cutter will be drawn horizontally toward the
stationary cutter, and by their combined action the bar will be severed from edge

page_text: <5
to edge, the inner inclines or shoulders of the stationary and movable cutters serving
to reduce the ends of the severed blank, while the outer inclines serve to reduce the
adjacent end of the bar for the next blank. After the blank has been thus cut off
and reduced the movable portion of the bottom of the channel c¹ is next elevated
by the action of the pin o on the tail of the lever so as to be flush with the top of
the bed, carrying the severed blank with it, and presenting it to the action of the
bending levers C, C₁, (the movements of which are duly timed with respect to the
mechanism for raising the bar c¹), which move forward the blank and bend it around
the former" D; this having been effected the further advance of the bending
levers causes them to be spread apart and allow the creaser carriers to be brought
into operation, a further rotation of the driving shaft forces down the front end of
the lever J, bringing into action the creasi ng seating, and punching mechanisms,
which will crease the shoe, "seat" it, and punch the nail holes, the operation of the
two cams c and d serving to give an instantaneous downward movement to the
combined creasing and punching dies, the springs under the "former
" carrier
serving to raise the latter with the shoe from contact with the lower set of punches,
while the gravitating force of the longer arm of the lever J will raise the creaser
and its adjuncts from the shoe, the action of the bending levers being so.timed as to
be next retracted will bring the stud of the cross head into contact with the
shoulder on the rod d, which will retract the "former" D and bring the shoe over
the discharge opening o' in the bed, the top surface of the shoe coming in contact
with two spring dogs 8, 8, disposed on the under surface of the lever J, will crowd
the shoe from the "former," which will fall through the opening o', the retracting
rod being tripped by the dog d the retractile power of the "former" spring will
restore the "former" to its normal position, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Having described the construction and operation of our machine, what we claim
is as follows:-
1. The above described horse-shoe machine having the organization and operation
substantially as shown and described.
2. In a machine for making horse-shoes the recess c¹ in the bed of the machine
extended in both directions from the cutter along and through which to feed the
bar to the cutter, and thence to the bending levers, but at a lower level, and the
device for elevating the blank out of the recess into the plane of the bending levers,
all operating substantially as described.
3. The combination with the recess c¹, formed in the bed of the machine as
described, of the movable cutter or shear arranged to reciprocate in a groove or
space formed in the bed of the machine at a right angle to the recess c¹, so as to
enable the cutters to sever the blank bar from edge to edge, and the device for
raising the blank after severance out of the recess c¹ and into the plane of the
bending levers, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination of the anvil H (carrying the "former" D and provided with
holes 8, s,) and the punch block I, provided with punches a, a, etc., with the creasing
and punching dies, c, c, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a horse-shoe machine the cam c, arranged on the driving shaft in combination
with the cam d¹, disposed on the lever J, for imparting instantaneous action, through
the medium of said lever, to the creasing and punching mechanisins, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In a horse-shoe machine the reciprocating or sliding "former " D, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
7. The shear plates (carrying the shears), formed and operating substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
8. In a horse-shine machine, substantially as described, the creaser carrier M,
loosely pivotted to the block L and intermediate block M', and provided with friction
rollers, g, as and for the purpose set forth.
9. The combination of the creaser carrier with the intermediate block and set
screws for raising and lowering the creasing mechanism, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.

page_text: 10. The combination of the seating plate 83 with the anvil and the sliding
former" D, the creaser carrier M, and its creasers, substantially as shown and
described.
11. The expanding creasers formed and applied to the carrier, substantially as
shown and described.
12. The combination with the sliding "former" D of mechanism for discharging
the shoe from the machine, substantially as set forth.
13. The combination with the punching mechanism of the adjustable hemmers,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Harvey Klapp Flagler and Theodore Stafford
Very, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this 21st day of June, 1876.
(L.S.)
HARVEY KLAPP FLAGLER.
THEODORE STAFFORD VERY. (L.S.)