Improvements in or conneoted with the Manufacture of Matches and in Apparatus or Machinery therefor.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 4th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 7th May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or conneoted with the Manufacture of Matches
and in Apparatus or Machinery therefor.
A communication from abroad by EMILE LAGNEAU, of Lessines, in the Province
of Hainault, and Kingdom of Belgium, Manufacturer.
I, GEORGE CECIL DYMOND, M. Inst. M.E., of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the
County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Matches being articles for which there is a very large demand, it is evident that, the
more the handling is reduced in their manufacture, and the greater the number
which can be produced at one operation, the more rapid will be the production, and,
consequently, the greater the economy in such manufacture.
In order to attain these results, the operations which have hitherto been performed
successively must-be combined as far as possible or unified, and the greatest possible
number of matches be made at one operation. These results are attained by the
improvements forming the object of this invention, which improvements are
essentially characterised by the peculiarity that the cutting of the match sticks and
the formation of them into frames, or placing them in presses, are carried on in the
same machine in a continuous manner, and this in such a way that the matches are
placed side by side, that is to say, without any separation in the frames, which latter
can therefore receive a much greater number, and yet the matches can be dipped
without inconvenience, because their ends are given, for this purpose, a peculiar
chape by means of a preliminary machine, that is to say, the ends are diminished by
pointing or paring so as to be separated one from another at the part where the
chemical paste, which forms the head, is to be applied, and which will be therefore
separated from that of the next match so as not to adhere thereto, although the
remainder of the length of the match sticks are in contact.
The new process for manufacturing matches consists, then, in grooving, in a
preliminary machine, a packet of bands or strips of thin wood of a given length
and number, each strip being then cut into sticks in a second machine which
simultaneously, and in a continuous manner, places them in the presses, and such
process will therefore, in the manufacture of matches, replace all the operations
which, from the cutting of the wood into strips up to the dipping, have hitherto
been all performed separately, so that the matches had to be handled as many
times as there were operations, whilst, in the new process, a single handling, the
placing of the strip on the cutting machine, only is necessary, all the rest being
effected automatically.
In order to allow the following description of the improved apparatus or
machinery and the method of working such to be fully understood, reference is
had to the annexed four sheets of drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 represents a match stick with its end pared or cut in accordance with
this invention.
Figure 2 is a top view of a row of these matches.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the grooving machine.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the same, and
Figure 5 is a plan view showing the cutters in such machine.
Figure 6 is a front elevation of the machine for cutting the pared or trimmed
match sticks and for forming the blocks or frames of such sticks.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of this machine.
Figure 8 is a plan view.

page_text: Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of the same machine, such section being
through the middle of the machine in front of the knives.
Figure 10 is a transverse section of Figure 0.
Figure 11 shows, on a larger scale, and in the different positions it assumes,
the mechanism for producing the descent of the individual layers which go to form
the frames of match sticks.
The machine for paring the sticks is of a very simple description. The
cutter-carrying dovice B is guided by bored sockets on two side columns C C.
Outside these, the rods T T of the eccentrics are jointed to the cutter carrier by
means of fixed blocks t.
The corresponding eccentrics of the rods are keyed on
a common shaft A set in motion by the gearing of a second shaft A' which
carries the driving pulleys and a fly wheel V, the whole being mounted in a
suitable frame. A cross piece T is guided below the cutter carrier by bored
out pieces attached to the colunins C, and is attached on the other hand to the
outter carrier by bolts bb, and, around these latter, helical springs R R are wound
having always a tendency to push such cross piece T away from the cutter
carrier. The cross piece is provided with a rack R', between the teeth of which
the chisels are guided in their descent. Below this rack, a second rack R' is
placed, which coincides with the first, and is fixed on a support of the table of
the framework. The second rack is finished off at its ends by projections e which
limit the size of the planks or strips to be pared, and which are placed for this
purpose between the two racks, the longitudinal position of which is regulated by
two or more vertical anterior guides G.
The cutters are accurately adjusted in a square frame E of the cutter carrier,
and, in order that they may not move from such adjusted position, they have, in
the same horizontal plane, notches into which there fits a fillet or strip n on a
plate P bolted on the square frame E. The whole of these parts is vertically
adjustable in the cutter carrier by double nutted bolts & allowing the slide CT,
in which the square frame E is fitted, to be raised or lowered with precision.
From the foregoing, it will be easily seen how this apparatus or machine works.
The layors or strips of wood L having been placed between the two racks R¹ and R'
and against the guides G, the cutter carrier descends with the cross piece T' and
causes the latter to rest upon the strips L; as it continues to descend, it compresses
the springs R and, consequently, the bundle of strips; the cutting surface of the
chisels then passes into the longitudinal edge of these latter, cutting as many
grooves as there are chisels.
The cutter carrier then rises, withdrawing the chisels; if, however, simultaneously
with this movement, the cross piece T' should also rise, there would remain adhering
to the chisels some layers or strips of wood which would become broken in one way
or another; in order to prevent this objection, the cross piece T¹ is combined with
the springs R R which hold it down on the bundle or packet of strips L until the
chisels are completely withdrawn from the latter, and then only it rises by the
heads of the bolts 6 so as to allow of the packet being removed in order to be
replaced by another.
The layers or strips thus grooved are then placed one by one on the machine for
cutting them into match sticks and for placing them in presses.
This machine is principally characterised by a carriage or table receiving one
grooved strip at a time, advancing parallel to itself, and passing below a series of
knives, the points of which attack the strip of wood in the centre of the grooves
formed in the machine just previously described, for the purpose of cutting out the
match sticks which then remain side by side in a divided layer or strip, on which,
during the stoppage of the table, a gripping bar descends. This gripping bar
carries forward the strip divided into lots of match sticks for the purpose of
conveying them thus directly from the table to a reglet, placed in the same plane
and making part of a block or frame, which is formed in a continuous manner by
the successive descent of the reglets in a suitable guide, the layer or series of
match sticks thus supported on each reglet being fixed by the lower side of the

page_text: reglet immediately above it, and all the reglets being finally pressed together by
any suitable clamping arrangement when the entire height of the guide is filled
with reglets charged with match sticks, the extremities of which project so as to be
ready for the ultimate dipping.
The framework of the machine is composed of two suitable uprights M M united
by suitable cross bars. The upper part of the framework has a table T of cast
iron, in which openings are made for the passage of the carriage and of the other
parts of the mechanism hereinafter described. The table T' carries two columns C'
on which the knife carrier P' is vertically guided, which carrier is adjusted by
means of two regulating screws V' and V1 passing into the cross bar which connects
the two columns C C at their upper ends, and actuated by two wing nuts E' E'
allowing the knife carrier P to be raised, lowered and regulated as may be
desired.
This latter is composed of a metallic bar having a U section, the edges of which
are cut out like a rack, and against which the knives are placed with their backs
between the teeth of the rack R', the back of which latter is inserted into the
posterior half of the iron cross bar P'; the anterior half of which rests on the front
of the knives and holds then in place by suitable pressure screws V.
'
The knives X are blades of steel of equal thickness in their section, except at
their lower extremity where they are made to a bevelled cutting edge as shown
in Figure 10.
In order to properly regulate the whole series of knives, so that their points may
all rest in the same horizontal plane, the parts 1 are slightly relaxed, and the
knives are all allowed to descend on the same plane, (for instance, the table of the
carriage) then the screws V are tightened again.
The distances between the knives being determined by the interstices of the rack,
it will be then sufficient to regulate the general position of the knives in relation
to the table of the carriage in order that they may be exactly adjusted for cutting
into match sticks the strips of grooved wood placed on the said-table in such a way
that each knife comes exactly in the middle of a groove.
The table T is a plate of copper, its rear end being raised, and against which
the ungrooved end of the strip of wood is placed, the grooved end being turned
to the knives, and in front of each of the latter a slot passing from end to end, in a
transverse direction is formed to a certain depth in the table T in such a way that
the knives can only come in contact with the wood of the strip, and pass into such
slot when the table advances or retires on the intermittent back and forward
movement of the carriage Ch on which it is fixed. The carriage is guided in two
slides C in the form of a dovetail, fitted below the table T' and such carriage, as
above mentioned, has an intermittent back and forward movement in such a way
that it stops in its backward movement for a sufficient time to allow the workman
to place a new strip on the table, and, in its forward movement, a sufficient time
to allow the gripping bar to draw the matches forward on to the reglet of the
frame. The intermittent back and forward movement is transmitted to the
carriage C by a cam and counterpoise mechanism actuated by the driving
shaft A' (Figures 6 and 7) which is set in motion by the driving pulley P³ keyed
on its end.
The shaft A³ has two heart shaped cams C C, the perimeter of which engages
two corresponding rollers g g turning loosely in longitudinal eyelets of the lever
rods B' which are fixed at their lower extremities on a shaft A with which they
oscillate under the pressure of the cams C on the rollers g, whilst such lever rods
are hinged at their upper ends to the carriage Ch by means of a connection m.
The shaft A has further two other counterweighted levers L', which serve to
return the carriage in the backward direction and which remain in the position
corresponding to such backward direction as long as the small curve of the cam C
concentric to the shaft, but, immediately such curve becomes eccentric, it pushes
forward the rods B' B', and, with them the carriage, which then remains in such
forward position, as long as the extreme perimeter of the cam has a concentric

page_text: shape, a position it abandons immediately the curve becomes eccentric, returning
to its original position under the action of the counterweight L'.
Thus, whilst the smallest part of the cam touches the rollers g g, the carriage is
at the end of its backward travel and is at rest ready for recoiving a fresh
strip of grooved wood; whilst, when the widest part of the cam is in contact, the
carriage is at rest in its forward travel to allow the gripping bar to push the match.
sticks onto the reglet of the frame.
The gripping bar Ta is a strip of iron of conical section, its nose being covered.
with a strip of indiarubber. This strip is supported at both ends by two curved
branches which are fixed, so that they can be regulated more precisely, between
two nuts, on two side rods L L which are mounted in a peculiar manner. At their
lower extremities, they are jointed to the extremities of two levers L', keyed on a
common shaft A', which latter further carries, at either end, an upwardly curved
lever Le and a correspondingly downwardly curve l'oue L", both carrying rollers g¹ g¹,
actuated by cams CC, the cams C for the upper levers L, and the cams C for
the lower levers Ld. The cams C and C are keyed on the shaft A³, which is
actuated by gearing from the driving shaft. Further, an arm L is made in one
piece with the arm L* and carries also, at its extremity, a roller g' which is actuated.
by the cam C' of the shaft A'.
The working of this apparatus can now be easily understood. When the
carriage Ch is at the rear of the table, the cam C acts on the roller of the lever L
and keeps the gripping bar T raised, and drawn back, as shown on the drawing,
under the weight of the arm Le, the roller g2 of which rests against the concentric
part of the cam C. But when the carriage has reached the front of the table, the
cam C depresses the lever L and thus draws the gripping bar on to the match
sticks, whilst the cam C pushes forward the whole apparatus by resting with its
greatest radius against the roller g and causes the row of match sticks to slide
from the table T³ on to the reglet of the frame. Immediately this is performed,,
the grip bar Tescapes from the action of the cam (, and, lifted by that of the
cam C, returns to its original position by the weight of the lever L, the roller of
which follows the evolutions of the cam C'.
The operations having heen thus clearly described, for cutting and sliding
forward the sticks of the matches on to the reglets of the frame, there will now be
described the method whereby each reglet is placed on the plane of the table 'T'
and remains in this position until the gripping bar Ta shall have caused the layer
of match sticks which it removes from the table to pass on to the reglet, in order,
then, to cause the whole or part of the frame already formed to descend to the
extent of one reglet, so that the same movements may recommence.
For this purpose, a guide Go, composed of two lateral slides connected at their
lower extremities by a cross piece, T, and in which the extremities of the hori
zontal reglets can freely slide, is arranged vertically below the table T of the
macliine in such a way as to form a removable frame in continuation of the two
portions of the slides fixed to the table T, and this guide is suspended by square
catches on suitable brackets C. On the lateral slides of the guide G* the cross
or bottom piece Fa travels, which is intended to support the reglets which are
placed one above the other in the slides of the frame. The extremities of this
bottom piece project beyond the slides and are provided with eyes O, to which
the ends of a cord or chain, passed over the pulleys Pa, are attached, each of which
latter is loose on its pivot, whilst counterweights S are attached at the opposite
extremities of the cords tending to constantly raise the bottom plate Fª with its
load, so that, as a reglet descends into the frame, the bottom piece must drop the
thickness of such reglet in addition to that of the match sticks or of the layer or
strip L.
.
This effect may be easily attained by a mechanism which causes the bottom
plate F to descend, and will raise the counterweight S to the same extent, and
will continue doing so until the bottom piece arrives at its furthest limit,
resting. on the cross bar T', which will then be the time for removing the frame,

page_text: In order to
together the reglets contained therein and the match sticks
which project beyond them and to convey it to the dipping bath.
Before, however, describing the method in which the final operation is performed,
the mechanism serving to introduce the reglets into the frame in the above named
intermittent manner will be described.
For this purpose, a second guide or frame Gb is arranged above the table T' in
such a way that its lateral slides are a vertical prolongation of those of the lower
frame G The frame G is attached to a framework G having four eyelets 0°
which slide on two vertical uprights or columns placed on the table T, and connected
at their upper ends by the crossbar T. At the lower end of the frame G³ there
are placed the stop catches Er for the loaded reglets in the frame.
They are two in number placed at the lower extremity of each slide and are
arranged in such a way as to slide one over the other, backwards and forwards,
that is to say to alternately move forward and draw backward in the slides of the
frame in order to retain there, either all the reglets or all but one which is the
lowest reglet and which thus leaves the frame G and goes to cover the layer of
matches on the upper reglet of the frame G. The alternating movement of theso
stop catches is produced by differently arranged mechanisms, that of the upper
catch being a spring blado R¹, whilst that of the lower catch is an elbow lever with
counterweight CP (Figures 6 and 11).
The spring R' is attached by one end to the upper catch E whilst the other end
drags loosely on the wall of the frame. The circular extremity of the vertical arm
of the bell crank lever C (oscillating on a small bracket of the frame G") rests in
a corresponding notch in the lower catch, whilst the horizontal arm of the lever
carries a counterweight.
The two catches slide in suitable grooves in the bottom plate P' which
constitutes with the ribs forming the bracket, the bottom of each frame slide G".
In order that the retaining catches may produce the to and fro motions above
described there is given to the whole of these parts, the frame Gb with the
framework Go an ascending or descending motion, in which the rear extremities
of the upper catches, which in their normal position are withdrawn from the frame
so that all the reglets rest on the lower catches, pass on to the curve of a fixed
cam C' attached to the table T and thus cause the upper catches to advance under
the bevelled extremities of the second reglet holding back all the following ones,
whilst in the meantime the horizontal arm of the elbow lover CP rests on a pro-
jection of the cam C' causing it to oscillate in order to withdraw the lower catches
which then allow the reglet to descend and to rest on the layer of match sticks on
the preceding reglet: this position is well shown in the plan view of Figure 8.
When this latter operation, that is to say the return of the lower catches, takes
place, the bottom plates P of the frame G³ rest on the table T* in such a way that
by reason of the inclination or slope between the catches and the reglet this latter
descends on to that reglet which is already charged with its load of match sticks,
sliding down without any shock capable of deranging the layer of match sticks.
In this position the upper surface of the réglet is on a level with the table T³ of
the carriage C and is in the position where the gripping bar T causes a fresh lot
of matches to slide on to this reglet which then descends with the others into the
frame G for a distance equal to its height through the action of the ratchet
mechanism of the shaft A. Then the framework together with the frame G³ rises
allowing the retaining catches E to return to their normal position by the action
of the counterweight and of the spring R' which expands and causes the upper
catches to return thus allowing the reglet which they were holding up to descend,
and which then in its turn rests on the lower catches again brought forward under
the action of the counterweight, in order to be deposited like the preceding one
and so on until the lower frame is filled.
The ascending and descending movement of the upper frame G
means of two cams C keyed like C5 and C6 on the shaft A³.
rollers turning in a lever Lone extremity of which is pivoted
in
is effected by
They act on
a bracket of

page_text: .
the framework whilst the other is hinged to the end of a connecting rod B' which
is attached to a rod T¹ fixed to the framework Ge by a double screw nut and which
is guided below in the eyelets of the framework whilst above it is guided by the
cross bar T. By the descending motion of the upper frame the reglets are also
forced into the lower frame, the two cams ³ having a hollow for this purposo in
which the rollers of two levers drop at the moment when the bolts and catches of
the upper frame have deposited a reglet on the match sticks, which are to be
enframed. As soon as the rollers fall into the said hollows the upper frame, which
was at rest, begins to descend to the extent of the thickness of one reglet plus that
of the layer of match sticks and exerts a pressure on the reglets in the fixed part
of the frame, from which the Intter causes two bolts, similar to the catches above
described, which are fitted on the same extremities of the fixed part of the lower
frame, to recede, causing all those in the renovable frame with the bottom F* to
descend, this action continuing to be repeated until the frame is full
Thus as may be seen the upper frame may be fed as required with reglets in
such a way that there is always one to be passed on to the lower frame. When
the latter has received its full load and has reached the end of its course, the
portion of the reglets contained in the sections of the fixed slides above the
removable frame, are held back by the bolts at their extremities and those in
the removable frame by the lower catches of the two lateral slides which form
the frame which is withdrawn after the bottom piece Fa is removed. A suitable
crossbar is placed on the last reglet of the frame which is in its turn fixed by
wedges passed into the upper ends of the slides of the frame, the matches being
thus compressed and conveyed to be dipped in the ordinary manner.
In order to form a new frame a fresh frame is suspended beneath the sections
of the fixed slide, on which frame the bottom piece F is placed which, rising under
the action of the counterweight, places itself in a position for recommencing the
above described process and for forming a fresh frame or press.
The number of match sticks contained in such a frame is very considerable, for,
supposing for instance that each row contains 50 match sticks and that there are
80 reglets composing a press, the latter will contain 4000 match sticks, and it is
evident that it only depends on the dimensions of the machine to compose presses
containing two or three times the number of sticks, thus accelerating the
manufacture in a like proportion.
Dated this 25th day of August 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Manufacture of Matches
and in Apparatus or Machinery therefor.
A communication from abroad by EMILE LAGNEAU, of Lessines, in the Province
of Hainault, and Kingdom of Belgium, Manufacturer.
I, GEORGE CEOIL DYMOND, M. Inst. M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street Manchester
both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, 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 :-
Matches being articles for which there is a very large demand, it is evident that,
the more the handling is reduced in their manufacture, and the greater the number
which can be produced at one operation, the more rapid will be the production, and,
consequently, the greater the economy in such manufacture.
In order to attain these results, the operations which have hitherto been performed

page_text: - are
successively must be combined as far as possible or unified, and the greatest possible
number of matches be made at one operation. These results are attained by the
improvements forming the object of this invention, which improvements
essentially characterised by the peculiarity that the cutting of the match sticks
and the formation of them into frames, or placing them in presses, are carried on
in the same machine in a continuous manner, and this in such a way that the
matches are placed side by side, that is to say, without any separation in the frames,
which latter can therefore receive a much greater number, and yet the matches cau
be dipped without inconvenience, because their ends are given, for this purpose, a
peculiar shape by means of a preliminary machine, that is to say, the ends are
diminished by pointing or paring so as to be separated one from another at the
part where the chemical paste, which forms the head, is to be applied, and which
will be therefore separated from that of the next match so as not to adhere thereto,
although the remainder of the length of the match sticks are in contact.
The new process for manufacturing matches consists, then, in grooving, in a
preliminary machine, a packet of bands or strips of thin wood of a given length
and number, each strip being then cut into sticks in a second machine which simul-
taneously, and in a continuous manner, places them in the presses, and such process
will therefore, in the manufacture of matches, replace all the operations which,
from the cutting of the wood into strips up to the dipping, have hitherto been all
performed separately, so that the matches had to be handled as many times as there
were operations, whilst, in the new process, a single handling, the placing of the
strip on the cutting machine, only is necessary, all the rest being effected anto-
matically..
In order to allow the following description of the improved apparatus or
machinery and the method of working such to be fully understood, reference is
had to the four sheets of drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification, in
which :-
Figure 1 represents a match stick with its end pared or cut in accordance with
this invention.
Figure 2 is a top view of a row of these matches.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the grooving machine partially in section for
illustration purposes.
Figure 4 is a side elevation also partially in section of the same, and
Figure 5 is a plan view showing the cutters in such machine.
Figure 6 is a front elevation of the machine for cutting the pared or trimmed
match sticks and for forming the blocks or frames of such sticks.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of this machine.
Figure 8 is a plan view.
Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of the same machine, such section being through
the middle of the machine in front of the knives.
Figure 10 is a transverse section of Figure 9.
Figure 11 shows, on a larger scale, and in the different positions it assumes, the
mechanism for producing the descent of the individual layers which go to form the
frames of match sticks.
The machine for paring the sticks is of a very simple description. The cutter-
carrying device B is guided by bored sockets on two side columns C C. Outside
these, the rods T T of the eccentrics are jointed to the cutter carrier by means of
fixed blocks t. The corresponding eccentrics of the rods are keyed on a common
shaft A set in motion by the gearing of a second shaft A¹ which carries the driving
pulleys and a fly wheel V, the whole being mounted in a suitable frame. A. cross
piece T¹ is guided below the cutter carrier by bored out pieces attached to the
columns C, and is attached on the other hand to the cutter carrier by bolts b b, and,
around these latter, helical springs R R are wound having always a tendency to
push such cross piece T' away from the cutter carrier. The cross piece is provided
with a rack R', between the teeth of which the chisels are guided in their descent.
Below this rack, a second rack R is placed, which coincides with the first, and is

page_text: fixed on a table support of the framework. The second rack is finished off at its
ends by projections e which limit the size of the planks or strips to be pared, and
which are placed for this purpose between the two racks, the longitudinal position
of which is regulated by two or more vertical anterior guides G.
The cutters are accurately adjusted in a square frame E of the cutter carrier,
and, in order that they may not move from such adjusted position, they have, in
the same horizontal plane, notches into which there fits a fillet or strip n on a
plate P bolted on the square frame E. The whole of these parts is vertically
adjustable in the cutter carrier by double nutted bolts allowing the slido C¹, in
which the square frame E is fitted, to be raised or lowered with precision.
From the foregoing, it will be easily seen how this apparatus or machine works.
The layers or strips of wood L having been placed between the two racks R¹
and R and against the guides G, the cutter carrier descends with the cross
piece T and causes the latter to rest upon the strips L; as it continues to descend,
it compresses the springs R and, consequently, the bundle of strips; the cutting
surface of the chisels then passes into the longitudinal edge of these latter, cutting
out as many grooves as there are chisels.
The cutter carrier then rises, withdrawing the chisels; if, however, simul-
taneously with this movement, the cross piece T' should also rise, there would
remain adhering to the chisels some layers or strips of wood which would become
broken in one way or another; in order to prevent this objection, the cross
piece T is combined with the springs R R which hold it down on the bundle
or packet of strips L until the chisels are completely withdrawn from the latter,
and then only it rises by the heads of the bolts so as to allow of the packet
being removed in order to be replaced by another.
The layer or strips thus grooved are then placed one by one on the machine for
cutting them into match sticks and for placing them in presses.
This machine is principally characterised by a carriage or table receiving one
grooved strip at a time, advancing parallel to itself, and passing below a series
of knives, the points of which attack the strip of wood in the centre of the
grooves formed in the machine just previously described, for the purpose of
cutting out the match sticks which then remain side by side in a divided layer
or strip, on which, during the stoppage of the table, a gripping bar descends.
This gripping bar carries forward the strip divided into lots of match sticks for
the purpose of conveying them thus directly from the table to a reglet, placed in
the same plane as and making part of a block or frame, which is formed in a
çontinuous manner by the successive descent of the reglets in a suitable guide, the
layer or series of match sticks thus supported on each reglet being fixed by the
lower side of the reglet immediately above it, and all the reglets being finally
pressed together by any suitable clamping arrangement when the entire height of
the guide is filled with reglets charged with match sticks, the extremities of which
project so as to be ready for the ultimate dipping.
The framework of the machine is composed of two suitable uprights M M united
by suitable cross bars. The upper part of the framework has a table T' of cast
iron, in which openings are made for the passage of the carriage and of the other
parts of the mechanism hereinafter described. The table T carries two columns C⁹
on which the knife carrier P is vertically guided, which carrier is adjusted by
means of two regulating screws V and VI passing into the cross bar which
connects the two columns C C at their upper ends, and actuated by two wing
nuts EE allowing the knife carrier P2 to be raised, lowered and regulated as
may be desired.
This latter is composed of a metallic bar having a U section, the edges of which
are cut out like a rack, and against which the knives are placed with their backs
between the teeth of the rack R', the back of which latter is inserted into the
posterior half of the iron cross bar P; the anterior half of which rests on the
front of the knives and holds them in place by suitable pressure screws V³.
The knives X are blades of steel of equal thickness in their section, except at

page_text: their lower extremity where they are måde to a bevelled cutting edge as shown in
Figure 10.
In order to properly regulate the whole series of knives, so that their points may
all rest in the same horizontal plane, the parts 1 are slightly relaxed, and the
knives are all allowed to descend on the same plane, (for instance, the table of the
carriage) then the screws V are tightened again.
The distances between the knives being determined by the interstices of the rack,
it will be then sufficient to regulate the general position of the knives in relation
to the table of the carriage in order that they may be exactly adjusted for cutting
into match sticks the strips of grooved wood placed on the said table in such a way
that each knife comes exactly in the middle of a groove.
The table T¹ is a plate of copper, its rear end being raised, and against which
the ungrooved end of the strip of wood is placed, the grooved end being turned to
the knives, and in front of each of the latter a slot passing from end to end, in a
transverse direction is formed to a certain depth in the table T3 in such a way that
the kuives can only come in contact with the wood of the strip, and pass into such
slot when the table advances or retires on the intermittent back and forward'
movement of the carriage Ch on which it is fixed. The carriage is guided in two
slides C in the form of a dovetail, fitted below the table T and such carriage, as
above mentioned, has an intermittent back and forward movement in such a way
that it stops in its backward movement for a sufficient time to allow the workman
to place a new strip on the table, and, in its forward movement, a sufficient
time to allow the gripping bar to draw the matches forward on to the reglet of
the frame. The intermittent back and forward movement is transmitted to the
carriage C by a cam and counterpoise mechanism actuated by the driving
shaft A (Figures 6 and 7) which is set in motion by the driving pulley P³ keyed
on its end.
The shaft A has two heart shaped cams C4 C4, the perimeter of which engages
two corresponding rollers g g turning loosely in longitudinal eyelets of the lever
rods B' which are fixed at their lower extremities on a shaft A with which they
oscillate under the pressure of the cams C on the rollers-g, whilst such lever rods
are hinged at their upper ends to the carriage Ch by means of a connection m.
The shaft A' has further two other counterweighted levers L', which serve to return
the carriage in the backward direction and which remain in the position corre-
sponding to such backward direction as long as the small curve of the cam C* is
concentric to the shaft, but, immediately such curve becomes eccentric, it pushes
forward the rods B' B', and, with them, the carriage, which then remains in such
forward position, as long as the extreme perimeter of the cam has a concentric
shape, a position it abandons immediately the curve:becomes eccentric, returning to
its original position under the action of the counterweight L'.
Thus, whilst the smallest part of the cam touches the rollers 9 9,
the carriage is
at the end of its backward travel and is at rest ready for receiving a fresh strip of
grooved wood, whilst, when the widest part of the cam is in contact, the carriage
is at rest in its forward travel to allow the gripping bar to push the match sticks
onto the reglet of the frame.
At
The gripping bar T is a strip of iron of conical section, its nose being covered
with a strip of indiarubber. This strip is supported at both ends by two curved
branches which are fixed, so that they can be regulated more precisely, between
two nuts, on two side rods L L which are mounted in a peculiar manner.
their lower extremities, they are jointed to the extremities of two levers L', keyed
on a common shaft A5, which latter further carries, at either end, an upwardly
curved lever L and a correspondingly downwardly curved one L, both carrying
rollers gg, actuated by cams CC, the cams for the upper levers L°, and the
cams C for the lower levers L. The cams C and C are keyed on the shaft A³,
which is actuated by gearing from the driving shaft. Further, an arm L is made
in one piece with the arm Land carries also, at its oxtremity, a roller g³ which is
actuated by the cam C' of the shaft A³.

page_text: The working of this apparatus can now be casily understood. When the
carriage ( is at the rear of the table, the cam.C' acts on the roller.of the lever L
and keeps the gripping, bar To raised, and drawn, back, as shown on the drawing,
under the weight of the arm. Le, the roller g of which rests, against the, concentric
part of the cam C'. But when the carriage has, reacheds the front, of the table,
the cam C depresses the lever L and thus draws the gripping bar, on to the match
sticks, whilst the cam. C' pushes forward the whole apparatus by resting,with its
greatest radius against the roller and causes the row of match sticks to slide
from the, table, Ton to the reglet of the frame. Immediately this is performed,
the grip bar T escapes from the action, of the,,cam C, and, lifted by that, of the
cam C, returns to its original position by the weight of the lever Le, the roller, of
which follows the evolutions of the cam C.
The operations having been thus clearly described for cutting, and sliding forward
the sticks of the matches on to the reglets of the frame, there will now be described
the method whereby each reglet is placed on the plane of the table T³ and remains.
in this position until, the gripping bar T shall have caused the layer, of match!
sticks which it removes from the table to pass on to the reglet, in. order, then, to
cause the whole or part of the frame already formed to descend to the extent of one :
reglet, so that the same movements may recommence..
For this purpose, a guide: G, composed of two lateral slides connected at their
lower extremities by a cross piece, T, and in which the extremities of.the.
horizontal reglets can freely slide, is arranged vertically below the table T" of
the machine in such a way, as to form a removable frame in continuation of the two
portions of, the slides fixed to, the table T, and this, guide is suspended by square,
catches on suitable brackets, C. On the lateral slides, of the guide G the cross.or.
bottom piece F* travels, which is intended to support the reglets which are placed.
one above the other in the slides. of the frame. The extremities of this..bottom
piece project, beyond the slides and are provided with eyes O, to which the .enda of
acord or chain, passed over the pulleys, Pa, are attached, each of which latter.
is loose on its pirot, whilst counterweights S are attached. at the opposite
extremities, of the cords tending, to constantly raise the bottom plate,F, with its,
load, so that, as a reglet, descends into the frame, the bottom piece must drop the
thickness, of such reglet in addition to that, of the match sticks (or., of the layer,
or strip, L...
This effect may be easily attained by a mechanism which causes, the bottom
plate Fato descend, and will raise the counterweight S to the same extent, and
will continue doing so, until the bottom,piece F arrives at its furthest, limit, resting,
on the cross bar T, which will then be the time for removing the frame, in order, to
press together the reglets contained therein and the match sticks which project.
beyond them and to convey it to the dipping, bath..
Before, however, describing the method in which the final operation is performed,
the mechanism serving to introduce the reglets into the frame in the above named
intermittent manner will be described...
For this purpose, a second guide or frame G is arranged, above the table.T' in
such a way, that its lateral slides are a vertical,prolongation of those of, the, lower
frame. G. The frame G is attached to a framework Ghaving four eyelets.0°
which slide on two. vertical, uprights, or columns placed on the table. T', and,
connected at, their upper ends, by the crossbar, T At the lower end of the
frame Gthere are placed, the, stop catches. E'; for the loaded. reglets, in the
frame...
1
↓
H
They are two in number placed, at the lower extremity, of each slide and are
arranged in such a way as to slide one over the other, backwards.and forwards,
that is to say, to alternately move forward, and draw backward in, the, slides of the
frame, in order, to, retain there,. either, all the reglets, or all but one which is the
lowest reglet.and, which thus leaves the frame Gb, and goes, to cover: the layer. of
matches on the upper reglet of the frame G: The alternating movement of these
stop catches is produced by differently arranged mechanisms, that of the upper
"

page_text: catch being a spring blade K', whilst that of the lower catch is an elbow. lever with
counterweight CP (Figures 6 and 11).
The spring R¹ is attached by one end to the upper catch E whilst the other end
draga loosely on the wall of the frame. The circular extremity of the vertical arm
of the bell crank lever CP (oscillating on a small bracket of the frame G³) rests in
a corresponding notch in the lower catch, whilst the horizontal arm of the lever
carries a counterweight.
The two catches slide in suitable grooves in the bottom plate Pt which constitutes
with the ribs forming the bracket, the bottom of each frame slide G³:
In order that the retaining catches may produce the two and fro motions above
described there is given to the whole of these parts, the frame G with the
framework G an ascending or descending motion, in which the rear extremities of
the upper catches, which in their normal position are withdrawn from the frame so
that all the reglets rest on the lower catches, pass on to the curve ofra fixed
cam C' attached to the table T and thus cause the upper catches to advance under
the bevelled extremities of the second reglet holding back all the following ones,
whilst in the meantime the horizontal arm of the elbow lever CP rests on a
projection of the cam C' causing it to oscillate in order to withdraw the lower
catches which then allow the reglet to descend and to rest on the layer of match
sticks on the preceding reglot: this position is well shown in the plan view
of-Figure 8.
When this latter operation, that is to say the return of the lower catches, takes
place, the bottom plates P' of the frame G³ rest on the table T' in such a way that
by reason of the inclination or slope between the catches and the reglet' this latter
descends onto that reglet which is already charged with its load of match sticks,
sliding down without any shock capable of deranging the layer of match sticks.
In this position the upper surface of the reglet is on a level with the table.T' of
the carriage C and is in the position where the gripping bar T causes a fresh lot
of matches to slide on to this reglet which then descends with the others into the
frame G for a distance equal to its height through the action of the ratchet
mechanism of the shaft A. Then the framework together with the frame G
rises, allowing the retaining catches Er to return to their normal position by the
action of the counter weight and of the spring R' which expands and causes the
upper catches to return, thus allowing the reglet which they were holding up to
descend, and which then in its turn rests on the lower catches again brought
forward under the action of the counter weight, in order to be deposited like the
preceding one and so on until the lower frame is filled.
effected by
The ascending and descending movement of the upper frame G
means of two cams C keyed like C and C on the shaft A³. They act on
rollers turning in a lever L' one extremity of which is pivoted in a bracket of
the framework whilst the other is hinged to the end of a connecting rod B₁ which
is attached. to a rod T¹ fixed to the frainework Go by a double screw nut and which
is guided below in the eyelets of the framework whilst above it is guided by the
cross bar T. By the descending motion of the upper frame the reglets are also
forced into the lower frame, the two cams g³ having a hollow for this purpose in
which the rollers of two levers drop at the moment when the bolts and catches of
the upper frame have deposited a reglet on the match sticks, which are to be
enframed. As soon as the rollers fall into the said hollows, the upper frame, which
was at rest, begins to descend to the extent of the thickness of one reglet plus that
of the layer of match sticks and exerts a pressure on the reglets in the fixed part
of the frame, from which the latter causes two bolts, similar to the catches above
described, which are fitted on the same extremities of the fixed part of the lower
frame, to recede, causing all those in the removable frame with the bottom F* to
descend, this action continuing to be repeated until the frame is full.
Thus, as may be seen the upper frame may be fed as required with reglets in
such a way that there is always one to be passed on to the lower frame. When
'the latter has received its full load..and has reached the end of its course, the

page_text: portion of the règlets contained in the sections of the fixed slides above the
removable frame, are held back by the bolts at their extremities and those in
the removable frame by the lower catches of the two lateral slides which form
the frame which is withdrawn after the bottom piece F is removed. A suitable
crossbar is placed on the last reglet of the frame which is in its turn fixed by
wedges passed into the upper ends of the slides of the frame, the matches being thus
compressed and conveyed to be dipped in the ordinary manner.
In order to form a new frame, a fresh frame is suspended beneath the sections of
the fixed slide, on which frame the bottom piece F is placed which, rising under
the action of the counterweight, places itself in a position for recommencing the
above described process and for forming a fresh frame or press.
The number of match sticks contained in such a frame is very considerable for,
supposing for instance that each row contains 50 match sticks and that there are
80 reglets composing a press, the latter will contain 4000 match sticks, and it is
evident that it only depends on the dimensions of the machine to compose presses
containing two or three times the number of sticks, thus accelerating the manu-
facture in a like proportion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, 1 declare that what I claim is-
1. The improvements in or connected with the manufacture of matches, for the
purpose of producing, in a continuous manner, so called presses of match sticks
hereinbefore set forth, which consist in the employment of apparatus on to the
table of which the strips of wood (notched along one side) are placed and which is
capable of forwarding them beneath cutters for dividing the strips into sticks, such
apparatus then automatically bringing the divided strips on to a so called reglet
and covering them by a succeeding reglet, the apparatus being capable of carrying
on such aforesaid operations in a successive and continuous manner, substantially as
herein before described.
2. The improvements connected with the manufacture of matches, which consists
in cutting, substantially as hereinbefore described, or otherwise forming, the sticks
to be dipped, with diminished ends, so that the sticks can be dipped in bundles
without the composition causing them to adhere and so that the heads formed by
the composition remain independent, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. In the manufacture of match sticks with diminished ends, grooving the strips
of wood, which are to be ultimately divided into sticks, by stainping by means of
chisels passing down the superposed edges of a packet of strips, substantially as
hereinbefore described and shown with reference to Figures 1 to 5.
4. The improved machine substantially as hereinbefore described and shown
with reference to Figures 3 to 5, aud which consists, more particularly, in the
combination of a cutter carrier (B) with a cross spring piece (T' R) for holding
compressed the packet of strips until the cutting edges are completely with-
drawn therefrom, these parts being arranged and operated in a suitable frame-
work.
5. In the manufacture of matches, for the purpose of producing, in a continuous
manner, so called presses of match sticks hereinbefore set forth, a machine consisting
of one or more of the following elements :-
(a) A table (T) being intermittently moved to and fro on a carriage (C²) by
any suitabe actuating device (such as C B L'), in combination with a
series of adjustable cutters (X) the edges of which pass into slots of the
table dividing the strips of wood L during the forward movement of the
table.
(b) In combination with a table (T³), a gripping bar (T*) being a bar coated
with a covering by which the match sticks are slid from off the table T³ on
to a so called reglet and which bar is moved forwardly by any suitable

page_text: (c) The arrangement of a base plate (F) tending constantly to rise under the
action of counterweights (S) but being depressed by the upper frame Go
after the delivery of each reglet by this upper frame which is provided
therefor with alternately projecting and retiring spurs (E) operated by.
springs (R), levers (C) and fixed points (C') and descending with the
frame Go by means of suitable mechanism such as C8 B'T'.
6. The general arrangement and construction of machine shown in Figures 6
o.11, the several parts of which act or operate substantially as and for the purposes
ereinbefore set forth.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.