IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGE COMPRESSORS
Year: 1880

page_text: Commissioners of Patents on the 6th December 1880.
HENRY HEAD, of Tipperary, Ireland, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGE
COMPRESSORS."
This Invention relates to improvements in cartridge compressors, and has for its
object to compress or turn in the edges of a number of cartridges simultaneously,
instead of manipulating a single cartridge at a time as hitherto, thus considerably
facilitating the manufacture of cartridges.
To carry out my Invention I proceed as follows:-Within a suitable metal
frame I place five or any other convenient number of cog wheels side by side, so as
to gear into each other. Motion is imparted to such wheels by means of an
additional cog wheel placed centrally above the same so as to form a spur or
toothed gear. The spindle of such upper cog wheel passes through a socket piece
at the back of the metal frame, and is attached to a crank handle, which upon
being turned actuates the same, and so imparts a backward or forward motion to
the entire system of cog wheels.
The spindles of the lower cog wheels are connected to a horizontal tie bar at the
back of the frame, to which tie bar a slotted plate is attached at either end, so as
to allow of the tie bar being pulled out. When the bar is so pulled out it is held
in position by means of such slotted plates, each of which has a suitable notch or
recess formed in the front end of the slot, which notch or recess, when the bar is
pulled out, fits over a projecting stud or pin placed at either side of the frame, and
so holds the tie bar in position. To prevent such tie bar being pulled out too far
it is furnished at each end with a stout elastic ring of vulcanite or other suitable
material passing over the beforementioned studs or pins, and the ends of the bar
itself, thus allowing of sufficient play for the bar to be pulled out the required
distance at the same time that it retains it in position.
Attached to the front of the frame at the top is a guide stud, on either side of
which is a vertical wire rod, which extending downwards a convenient distance
then branches out in two lateral horizontal arms, the ends of which project beyond
the slotted side plates beforementioned. The upper vertical ends of such wires are
united by means of a brass button, upon depressing which the ends of the lateral
arms of such wire rods are raised, thereby forcing up the slotted plates, and so

page_text: releasing the notches or recesses formed therein from the lateral studs, and allowing
the horizontal bar to fly back to its normal position.
The front of the frame is provided with a series of tubes corresponding
numerically with the lower cog wheels. Each of such tubes is fitted to a suitable
bed plate attached to the front of the frame of the machine, and they are each.
provided at their inner ends with a revolving collar actuated by the spindle of the
corresponding cog wheel, to which a backward or forward motion is imparted by
the beforementioned crank handle. The fore ends of such tubes have a suitable
slot formed therein on their upper surfaces for the purpose of enabling the teeth
attached to the compressor bar, presently mentioned, to run through the tubes and
compress the cartridges.
The forward end of the spindle of each of the lower cog wheels is provided with
a metal button or stud, and projects about midway into each metal tube when the
horizontal back tie bar is in its normal position, but when such bar is drawn
backwards such studs or buttons recede and allow of a cartridge being placed in
each of such tubes.
To permit of such cartridges being then tightly pressed into such tubes in order
to turn in their edges a horizontal bar, hereafter termed the compressor bar, is
provided, fitted in a guide bar working loosely on pivoted arms attached to the
frame of the machine at either end, and having a central handle affixed thereto for
operating the same. Such compressor bar is furnished with suitable teeth or
projections, so arranged that when the compressor bar is raised and held in a
horizontal position with the left hand each such tooth comes immediately opposite
the outer end of each cartridge, thus firmly holding it in position, while the crank
handle being operated with the right hand the edges of the inner end of each
cartridge are thrust into the revolving collar fitted to each tube, and so readily
manipulated and turned in.
When this operation is accomplished the compressor bar is raised, while the
operator depressing the button in connection with the vertical wire rods before-
mentioned actuates their lateral arms, and releases the horizontal back tie bar,
which thus thrusts forward the spindles of the lower cog wheels, and the buttons
thereon, coming in contact with, force out the cartridges from the tubes in which
they have been turned, as already described.
The base of the frame of the machine is provided with convenient clamps or
arms fitted with suitable screws or their equivalents to allow of the machine being
fixed to a bench or elsewhere as desired.
It will be obvious that the capacity of the machine depends upon the number of
the lower cog wheels and turning tubes with which it is fitted.