Year: 1888

page_text: 1 THOMAS HARRISON HEBERLING, of 1017 South College Street Springfield, in the
County of Sangamon and State of Illinois, United States of America, Pattern Maker,
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 relates to an improvement in fence machines; and it consists in
certain peculiarities of the construction and arrangement of the same, whereby the
entire operation of feeding the picket, pressing it up to position, twisting the wire,
withdrawing the twisting mechanism, and reeling up the completed fence is auto-
matically performed by the machine, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully
described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.
In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention pertains to make
and use the same I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation,
referring to the accompanying drawings, in which-
Fig. 1, is a top plan view of the machine complete for use. Fig. 2, is a side
elevation of the same. Fig. 3. is a transverse vertical section of the machine, looking
rearward and taken just in front of the feed-table. Fig. 4, is a similar section looking
towards the front of the machine from the same point. Fig. 5, is an enlarged side
view of one portion of the machine, showing the devices for actuating the take up reel.
Fig. 6, is an enlarged detail plan view of the twisting mechanism in a locked position,
and Fig. 7. a similar view unlocked. Fig. 8, is a detail view of the gear that drives
this mechanism. Fig. 9, is a detail plan view of the feeding pawls of the take up
reel. Fig. 10, is a cross section of the frame on which these pawls are carried.
Figs. 11, and 12, are detail views of the twisters and their guide loops in two positions.
Fig. 13, is a side view, Fig. 14, a plan view, and Fig. 15, a longitudinal section, of
the endless driving chain or cogged belt. Fig. 16, is a detail view of the adjustable
journal boxes. Fig. 17, is a detail view of the bobbin winder and its shifting pinion.
Fig. 18, is part side elevation of the machine showing an alternative method of feeding
the fence when completed from the twisting devices. Fig. 19, is a part plan
10

page_text: .
A represents the main frame of this machine, which is constructed of any desired
and suitable size and shape, and is at one side provided with a receiving-table, A', for
the pickets to be used, the forward portion of this table being inclined in order that the
pickets, when laid thereon, may slide freely down to the feeding devices located at
the foot of this incline, as will be presently explained. The table is also provided with
a spring-arm, a, which lies over it, as in Figs. 1, and 2, and prevents the pickets from
getting out of place, as well as causing them to approach the feed in a single layer,
from which only a single one is fed forward at one time.
Just forward of the feeding incline is journaled the main driving shaft a', on
which is an ordinary driving pulley connected with any suitable motor or power, as
required, by a belt, in the usual manner. On the forward end of this short driving
shaft is a spindle, a², for holding the spools or bobbins on which the wire is wound for
use, and on the rear end of the shaft is a sprocket-wheel, a³, connected with the feed
rolls by a chain belt, a, for driving them, as seen in Fig. 4. This driving belt passes
over or around a guide pulley or idler, as, upon a hinged arm, a, pivoted on the
main frame, and which, when in the position seen in Fig. 4, retains sufficient tension
upon the belt to cause it to properly perform its duty; but when this arm is turned
aside on its pivot, the belt or chain is left slack, and may then be readily thrown off
the sprocket wheel a³ and the feed rolls allowed to rest while the main shaft is being
used for winding the bobbins.
On the main shaft is also a toothed pinion, b, which is arranged to slide upon the
shaft in any of the well known ways known to mechanics, and which meshes with a
gear, b, upon a shaft, 62, journaled in the main frame beside the driving shaft, and
provided with a sprocket or similar wheel, 63, around which passes an endless chain, B,
formed of a series of bars of suitable width hinged together; and it will be noticed
that some of the links composing this chain are plain, while others are formed with cogs
or teeth, thus forming a mutilated chain gearing, which is utilized to drive the
twisting and forming mechanism as will be presently understood. While the
pinion is, as stated, made to shift in any desirable way, we have herein shown it as
provided with a grooved hub, n, with which is engaged a shifting lever' n¹, pivoted
on the main frame, as in Fig. 17. This mutilated chain gear is passed over a second
wheel, 63, near the other side of the machine, and between these wheels it is supported
and prevented from sagging away from its work by means of bars or plates, 6º,
as shown.
On the main frame, in line with the lower end of the inclined feeding table,"
is journaled a pair of feed rolls B₁, connected by a driving belt, 67, so that one
is driven from and in unison with the other, and one of said rolls is also provided with
a sprocket driven by. the chain belt a, as already explained. The faces of these rolls
are roughened, as shown, in order that they may readily seize and carry forward, the
pickets, and each is also provided with a light flange on one side to prevent the
picket from swerving from its true course. This is fully represented in Figs. 4,
6, and 7. Above each roughened feed roll is placed a spring-pressed roll, B2, having
a free play vertically in its supporting bracket; and it will be at once seen that when
the picket is fed in it is seized between the plain and roughened rolls, and carried
forward to proper position, and is not in any way injured by the operation, while the
feed is positive and accurate.
It will be at once seen by reference to the drawings that the flanges on these rolls
are small, and while effecting this object of guiding the picket in a direct line, while
it is being fed in, yet do not offer any obstruction to its being pushed aside into the
wire at a subsequent stage, as when pressure is brought to bear on the picket. In
such case the spring-rolls B2 give in their boxes sufficiently to allow of the small
flanges being drawn up and the picket pushed under them, while the roll at once
drops back to place.
a
On the lower forward end of the inclined table is arranged in suitable guides
sliding arm C, Figs. 1 and 3, formed with a projection on its rear end to engage
the lowermost picket and push it forward till seized by the feed-rolls. To this arm
is jointed an elbow lever, c, pivoted on the main frame and connected by a link, c¹,

page_text: with a second elbow-lever, c, which 19 in turn connected by a second ink, c
with a lever, c. The endless mutilated chain gear is provided on one side with
a projecting pin, c, as in Fig. 7, and in the movement of this chain gear the
pin strikes the lever c', and by the intermediate system moves the sliding arm
forward, and after the pin has passed around the sprocket-wheel it again engages
the lever and causes the reverse motion of the slide to the normal position seen
in Fig. 3, thus accomplishing the automatic feed of the pickets at the proper
intervals during the operation of the machine.
In the forward part of the main frame are journaled a series of horizontal
shafts, D, D, of any desired number; but in the present instance five are represented.
On each shaft is carried pair of reels or bobbins, D¹, these being one upon each
side of the shaft on a common spindle, and each pair is provided with a U-shaped
tension spring, D³, formed with two bearing points, dd, on each end and clamped
against the bobbins by thumb nuts d', on the ends of the spindle, as in
Fig. 1. Each shaft is provided with a toothed gear, d³, the series of gears inter-
meshing, and thereby moving in unison, as shown. Upon their rear ends the
shafts are provided with tubular sections D³, (more clearly seen in Figs. 6 and 7,)
and are journalled in suitable boxes on the main frame. The extreme rear end of
each hollow shaft is provided with a pair of hollow prongs or twisters, d³, and it will
be seen that the wire contained upon the bobbins is led forward through the hollow
portions, and thus protected from contact with the journal-boxes, and pass out through
the hollow twisting prongs.
In rear of and beneath these prongs is placed a bar or frame, E, arranged to slide
forward and backward in the main frame to and from the twisting prongs,
and on
this sliding frame is formed a series of wire guides, E¹, clearly shown in Figs. 11
and 12. These guides are formed with openings e for the passage of the twisting
prongs when the guides are slid up towards them, and a slot, e', is provided, connecting
the two openings, which guides tlie wires and holds them from spreading out of place
upon the picket when the twisting begins.
By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the sliding bar or frame E is
secured by a series of arms, e, to a rock shaft, e³, journaled in the frame below the
slide, and is thereby prevented from any tendency to twist and bind in its movements.
This sliding frame is connected to a convenient portion of the main frame by means
of a pair of link-arms, E³, which are clearly shown in Fig. 6. These links are pivoted
upon the slide and the main frame, as indicated, and are also pivoted together at their
adjacent ends, thereby forming a toggle-connection, and when the slide is drawn
forward to permit the feeding of the picket, as in Fig. 6, the toggle is broken. When
the lath or picket has been fed, however, to the proper distance, the links are
straightened out to push back the frame to the position seen in Fig. 7. This
movement causes the guide-loops E¹ to press the picket out from between the feeding-
rolls and carries it back tightly into the bight of the already twisted wires, and holds
it there till the next movement of the twisting prongs secures it by twisting the wire
in front, thus tightly clamping each picket and preventing any possibility of its
slipping out of place. To effect the sliding movement of this frame, the rock-shaft e
is provided, as in Fig. 5, with a projecting arm, e, which is on its end provided with
a hook, e, which is engaged by the pin co on the chain gear, and the arm thus lifted
is caused to rock the shaft and slide back the frame E. To return this frame,
which is locked when pressed back, by the toggle links, a rod, c³, is connected to the
joint of these links, and is extended across the machine and secured to the rock-lever c¹,
and when the pin c engages this lever to feed the picket to the rolls it at the same
time breaks the toggle and draws forward the sliding frame to receive the picket, as
will be evident.
It will be noticed that one of the tubular shafts D³ is provided with a gear, f,
located just over the endless chain gear, as in Figs. 6, 7, 8, which gear drives all the
reel shafts through the intermeshing series of gears thereon, previously described.
The web of this gear fis formed with a series of holes or recesses, f, and upon the
main frame, adjacent to the gear, is pivoted a pair of lever-latches, F, the points f² cf

page_text: which are bent around the rim of the wheel and engage its recesses, as shown. The
rear ends or heels of these locking latches are formed with inclines f³, and between
them is a slide, G, having a head g, on each end.
This slide is suitably guided in any manner desired, but herein represented as
formed with a slot working over a pin or stud on the plate over which it moves.
This slide is actuated by an angle-lever G³, (shown in dotted lines in Figs. 6, and 7),
one end of which is connected to the slide and the other left free. The endless gear
belt is provided with two projecting inclines, g', g³, which engage this lever, one of
them shifting it in one direction and the other reversing it.
It will be understood from this description that when shifted in the position of Fig. 6,
the headed slide closes the latches and firmly locks the whole twisting mechanism
from any movement while the picket is fed, and pushed into place, but that at this
point the slide is shifted, as in Fig. 7, at once opening the latches to release the gear,
which is at the same time engaged by the toothed portion of the driving chain belt,
and the operation of twisting the wires takes place.
The line of fence completed is from the twisting devices carried back, supported by
one or more rollers, and attached to the drum or reel H, on which it is wound up as
fast as made. This drum is journaled at the rear end of the machine in suitable
bearings, and is on each end provided with a ratchet-wheel, H', for winding it up,
and a stop-pawl, h, is hinged upon some adjacent part of the frame to engage the
ratchets and retain the fence as it is reeled in. (See Fig. 5.)
On each end of the reel shaft is journaled an arm, H2, on each of which is pivoted
one or more feeding pawls, ', also engaging the ratchet wheels to feed them and their
reel drum forward. The arms H2 are connected across the reel by a bar, H³, which is
upon each end provided with boxes 2, sliding upon the arms, and to these boxes are
secured the pitmen, A, connecting them with suitable arms, e, upon the rock shaft e
This is more clearly seen in Figs. 5. 9. 10, and it will be once understood that as this
rock shaft moves in the operation of securing the picket in the twisted wires it at the
same time reels up the portion of fence just formed, and draws it rearward just enough
to permit the operation upon a fresh picket. At the same time the roll of the fence
wound upon the drum increases in diameter and push the cross-bar H³ out upon the
pawl arms, and of course the pitman connections to the sliding boxes are correspond-
ingly drawn away from the reel-centre. This has the effect of not only increasing the
leverage and power of the pitmen, but by gradually changing their point of connection
to the pawl-arms gives a smaller stroke and diminishes the feed of the reel in exact
proportion to the size of the fence-roll upon it, and retains the same strain upon the
fence under operation.
An alternative method of feeding the fence when made is shown in Figs. 18 and 19;
where Pindicates a roller suitably journalled in the frame work, and having upon its
surface pegs or pins p, which, as the roller revolves catch in the pickets and carry the
fence forward. A ratchet wheel P¹ is suitably fastened upon the roller stock, which
also carries a swing arm p' having a depending pawl p².. A connecting link P
connects the swing-arm p with the lever e' upon the rocking bar e². When the
rocking bar e reciprocates, a rotary motion is imparted to the ratchet wheel P' and
the roller P.
The frame-work A is constructed with an inclined plane Q, down which the fence
slides. By this arrangement any length of fence may be cut off for use without
arresting the motion of the machine.
In operation the pickets to be used are spread in a single layer upon the inclined
table, and, the machine being started, the pin c on the gear belt B engages the rock
lever ct, and at the same time unlocks and draws back the sliding frame E and carries
forward the feeding slide with one picket till it is seized and fed in by the rolls to its
proper position. As soon as the picket has been carried far enough, the pin engages
the hooked arm on the rock shaft and throws back the sliding frame, pushing the
picket sidewise from between the feeding rolls and forcing it into the bight of the
twister wires, where it is held, and the sliding frame locked by the jointed links, as
before described. At the same time the cam projection g¹ upon the belt B shifts the

page_text: headed slide G and unlocks the gear f, which is at once engaged by the teeth upon
the belt B, and the twisters are revolved to twist the wires and confine the picket in
place. As soon as the requisite number of twists have been given to the wire the
toothed portion of the belt has passed the gear f, and the latter is locked by the second
can projection, g, on the belt. While the pin again engages the rock-lever the
sliding table is retracted, the reel fed forward to take up the formed fence, and a new
picket fed in and the operation repeated, the fence thus made being in one piece of
any desired length, only limited by the quantity of wire upon the bobbins and the size
of the roll into which it is practicable to form it.
It will be particularly observed that every part of the operation is automatically
performed without any attention on the part of the operator, and the parts of the
machine are properly timed in their operation, so that the fence is all alike, and the
position and retention of each picket are perfect and in exact correspondence with
every other one in a given line of fence.
It will be evident that the fence so made is not necessarily restricted to the single
length of picket or number of wire strands herein shown.
In Fig. 16, we have shown the journal boxes in which the gear belt wheels aro
carried, and which consist of a plate, o, secured upon the main frame, and having on
one end a lug, o¹, through which is a set-screw o". Upon this plate is a second one, m,
carry the shaft, and formed with slots m', through which are passed screws m², to
secure it to the under plate. It will be seen that the upper plate is forced out by the
screw o² and secured by its set-screw m² to tighten the gear belt.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :
1. In a fence machine, the combination, with an inclined table for the pickets, of a
spring-arm lying just above the same, beneath which the pickets are passed in a single
layer, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a fence machine, the combination, with an endless gear belt, the twisting
devices, and an intermediate connection between the belt and twisters for imparting
motion from one to the other, of a main shaft provided with a sliding pinion, a shifting
lever for moving this pinion on the shaft, a gear interposed between said pinion and
the endless gear belt, and a bobbin spindle on the main shaft, whereby the main shaft
is disconnected from the gear belt while winding the bobbins, substantially as, and for
the purpose set forth.
3. In a fence machine, the combination, with a main driving gear for the wire twisting
mechanism, and a locking-dog pivoted upon the frame and engaging the same, of the
endless gear belt for driving the gear, provided with cam projections for operating
the lock, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a fence machine, the combination, with a main gear for driving the twisters,
formed with holes or recesses in its body, and a pair of locking-dogs pivoted on the
adjacent frame and formed with two inclines, of a double headed slide lying between
the dogs and acting on said inclines to shift them, an angle lever connected to said
slide, and an endless chain belt partially toothed and provided with two cam projections
to actuate the lever, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a fence machine, a series of twisting shafts geared together to rotate in unison
in reverse directions, and each provided with two wire spools or bobbins, in combination
with a U-shaped tension spring formed with two elevations on each arm to bear upon
the spools, and an adjusting nut upon the spindle bearing against said spring, sub-
stantially as, and for the purpose set forth.
6. In a fence machine, the combination, with a reciprocating frame for forcing the
picket into position, of a pair of links pivoted together and to the reciprocating and
main frames, whereby, when the former is forced back the links form a toggle and
lock the frame in place, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a fence machine, the combination, with a reciprocating frame for forcing the

page_text: picket into position for securing, of a pair of links pivoted together and to the recipro-
cating and main frames for locking the former, a rod connected to. the joint of said
links, and a pin or stud upon the main driving gear-belt for actuating this rod to break
the lock at the proper time, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.
8. In a fence machine, the combination, with a take up reel for the completed fence,
provided at each end with a ratchet-wheel, and a movable arm provided with the
feeding pawls, of a transverse bar between the pawl-arms and sliding vertically upon
the same, and the actuating pitmen connected to the sliding cross bar, whereby the
pitman connection is forced away from the reel-centre as the fence is wound up, sub-
stantially as, and for the purpose set forth.
9. In a fence machine, the combination, with an inclined receiving table for the
pickets, provided with a sliding feeding arm upon a guide on its lower edge, and a
series of levers connecting this slide with a rock-lever on the main frame, of an endless
chain, or gear belt for driving the twisting mechanism, provided on one edge with a
pin or projection to engage and actuate said rock lever, substantially as, and for the
purposes set forth.
10. In a fence machine, the combination, with the twisting mechanism, of 'an
endless driving belt for the same moving always in the same direction, and formed of
a series of jointed links, a portion of which are plain and a portion formed with rack
teeth, whereby the belt, though constantly moving, imparts an intermittent motion to
the engaged mechanism, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.
11. In a fence machine, the combination, with a reciprocating frame for forcing the
pickets into position, and a rock shaft connected with this frame and provided with a
projecting hooked arm, of the twisting mechanism and its endless gear driving belt
provided with a pin or stud for engaging the hooked arm and operating the sliding
frame, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.
12. The combination with a fence, making machine, of the alternative form of
feeding mechanism consisting of a roller having pegs upon its surface and said roller
having the ratchet and pawl device, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 20th of October 1888.
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.