Improvements in Machines for Making Wire Paper Clips.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1899-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making Wire Paper Clips.
I, ROBERT BOLTON RANSFORD, of 41, Waldegrave Road, Upper Norwood, in
the County of Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion (which has been communicated to me from abroad by Joseph Wood Cush-
man, of 240, West 23rd Street, New York City, United States of America,)
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
The invention comprises certain improved organizations of apparatus for
automatically manufacturing wire clips for binding or securing papers in lieu
of pins and of the general shape and character illustrated in Figure 8 of the
accompanying drawings. The details of construction are fully illustrated and
hereinafter set forth in detail.
In the accompanying drawings-
Figure 1 is a plan view;
Figure 2 a vertical section therethrough on the line 2-2;
Figure 3 a section on the line 3-3, of Figure 1;
Figure 4 a section on the line 4-4, of Figure 1;
Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 detail views of the winders or benders and of a clip
at different stages of the operation;
Figure 9 a partial detail sectional view on the line 9-9, of Figure 1;
The wire, X, is fed in the direction of the arrow from any suitable straight-
ener not shown, located at the right of the bed plate, 10. It passes from a
feeding apparatus through a cut off barrel, 11. Along one side or edge of the
bed plate is arranged the main shaft, 12, equipped with driving pulleys, 13, 13,
and various cams hereinafter referred to for operating parts of the mechanism.
A bevelled gear, 14, on one end thereof engages a corresponding gear, 15, on
the end of the shaft, 16, mounted in bearings at one side of the bed plate and
also having cams hereinafter referred to for operating parts of the mechanism.
The feeding mechanism may consist of a way or track, 17, secured on the
bed plate and upon which a slide, 18, is mounted. As indicated in Figure. 1
and shown in detail in Figure 3, this slide has about midway of its length a
vertical hollow boss, 19, the opening therein extending through the slide where
it is enlarged as indicated. A screw bolt, 20, having an enlarged or disk head
located in the enlarged opening in the slide works in the threaded bore of the
boss and acts upon a washer, 21, of leather or other suitable material bearing
upon the way or track, 17. A spiral spring may be interposed between the
enlarged end of the bolt and the washer. The slide while therefore capable of
endwise movement on its track, has frictional contact therewith which may be
adjusted by means of the bolt, 20. A secondary slide, 22, Figures 1 and 3, is
mounted to move endwise in guides or ways, 23, forming parts of the main
slide, 18, or attached thereto by bolts as shown. The secondary slide has a
rack engaged by a segmental rack, 24, carried by a short vertical shaft, 25,
having therefore a pinion, 26, operated by a sliding rack, 27, which derives
motion as clearly illustrated from the grooved cam wheel, 28, on the main
shaft, 12. The wire passes through gripping jaws, 29, on the main slide, 18.
one of which jaws is movable and is controlled by a pivoted dog, 30, mounted
on the main slide and the outer end of which lies in a recess or notch in the
secondary slide, 22. In the position shown in the drawings the wire, X, is
being fed to the left. The operation of the feed devices is as follows:

page_text: When the segmental rack, 24, rocks in the direction of the arrow, the
secondary slide, 22, is carried to the left, thus acting upon the dog, 30, and
causing the gripping jaws, 29, to clamp the wire. During this movement of
the secondary slide the main slide, 18, remains stationary and the frictional
connection between it and the track upon which it runs is to insure its
remaining stationary. The continued stress upon the secondary slide tending
to carry it to the left, now, however, causes the main slide to accompany it
and the jaws carry the wire forward a definite distance into the cut off barrel, 11.
As the cam wheel, 28, causes the retrograde movement of the parts the effect
is to move the secondary slide to the right thus opening the gripping jaws, 29,
and when the end of the slide abuts against the adjustable screw stop, 18', on
the main slide the two move together to the right to such distance as has been
determined to feed the proper length of wire to the machine.
After a proper length of the wire has in this manner been passed through
the cut off barrel it lies in proper relation to the winder, A, winder, B, and
former, C, as plainly indicated in the detail view, Figure 5. At this time the
lever, 31, is actuated by its cam on the main shaft to pinch or bind the wire
in the cut off barrel. At the same time the endwise movable bar, 33, Figures 1
and 4, is advanced by its cam, 34, so that its end, 36, pinches the wire against
the side of the former, C. The wire is thus held in proper relation and con-
tact with the bending devices. At this time the cut off bar, 37, is moved
endwise by its cam, 38, and the cutter, 39, severs the wire at the left hand end
of the cut off barrel; and the feeding devices have returned to their initial
position ready to feed the next length of wire.
The winders, A and B, and the former, C, are mounted in a block, y, on the
bed plate, their arrangement and construction being as follows:
They stand in a line parallel with the feed of the wire, the winder, A, being
next to the cut off barrel. The top of the block is provided with a steel face
plate, D, above which is arranged the corresponding plate, F, there being a
small horizontal space between them in which the bending of the wire occurs.
The winder, A, consists of a cylindrical portion having its bearing in the block.
The upper face of this cylindrical portion is flush with the plate, 1), and from
it rises a central pin, a, having a bearing in an aperture in the upper plate, F,
and a winding or bending projection, a, of the same height as
the space
between the two plates and located at one side of the cylindrical body of the
winder and having a convex curved face on the side next the pin, a.
A gear
wheel, a, is applied to the shaft or cylindrical portion of the winder by a
groove or feather connection which permits of the winder being lowered or
raised. The winder, B, is similarly constructed with the bending or winding
projection, 61, corresponding with the one, a¹. The central pin, b, however, is
mounted in a boss in the top plate, F, so as to be capable of vertical movement
and has its lower end seated in a central aperture in the cylindrical part or
shaft of the winder. This winder is also provided with a gear wheel b², con-
nected with it by a groove and feather connection such as to permit of the
winder being lowered and raised. The former, C, is similarly mounted in the
block, Y, so as to be capable of being lowered and raised but is merely pro-
vided with a central pin, c, one side of which is grooved or cut away as shown
in Figure 5 and which has a bearing in an aperture in the upper plate, F.
The former, C, is formed at its lower end with an annular groove, c¹, in which
lies the end, C¹³, Figures 1 and 4, of an arm projecting from a rock shaft, C.
When the arm, C", is in the normal elevated position it holds the former up in
its normal elevated position, but when the arm, C¹, is depressed it carries the
former down until the end or face of the pin, c, is flush with or below the upper
face of the plate D. The lower end of the cylindrical part of the winder, A,
is formed with an annular groove, a³, in which lies one end, a', of a projection
extending from an arm, G. The lower end of the cylindrical part of the
winder, B, is similarly formed with an annular groove, 63, which, however, is

page_text: of considerably greater width than the corresponding annular groove of the
winder, A. A second projection, 6, from the arm or lever, G, extends into the
groove, b³. The two projections, a and b, from the arm, G, are in the same
horizontal plane and the upper walls of the annular grooves, a and b, coincide
or are in the same horizontal plane. Consequently when the arm or lever, G,
is in its normal raised position the two winders, A, B, are held in their normal
elevated position, as shown in Figure 2. When, however, the arm, G, is moved
downward the first effect is to draw down the winder, A, until the end of its
pin, a, is flush with or below the face of the plate, D. A subsequent further
downward movement of the lever, G, will similarly draw down the winder, B,
until the end of the projection, 61, thereon is flush with or below the face of
the plate, D.
The operation having reached the stage already described and the length of
wire which has been severed lying between the plates, D, F, and in the relation
to the winders and former shown in Figure 5, the endwise movable arm, 40,
formed with a rack on its end engaging the pinion, a³, of the winder, A,
is advanced by its cam, 41, and the winder is rotated into the position shown
in Figure 6, forming or bending the wire as also there shown. The arm, G,
which projects from the rock shaft, G¹, is now partially moved downward by
the action of the cam, 42, causing the movement of the rock shaft as plainly
illustrated. The effect is to withdraw the winder, A, from operative position.
Next the endwise movable rod, 43, formed with a rack near its end which
engages the pinion, 2, of the winder, B, is moved forward by its cam, 44, on
the shaft, 16, and the winder, B, is rotated into the position shown in Figure 7,
bending the wire into the shape there shown, after which a further downward
movement of the arm, G, occurs and the shaft of the winder, B, with the pro-
jection, , thereon is drawn down, the pin, b, however, remaining in position.
It is now desirable to impart at the point marked in Figure 7, a permanent
set to the wire, and this may be accomplished in the following manner:
Two bending and forming jaws, 45, 46, are pivoted on a slide, 47, so as to
be capable of movement toward and from the former, C. On the shoulder of
the jaw, 45, adjacent to its pivot is an adjustable screw bolt or projection, 45,
which stands opposite the end of the headed pin, 48, sliding in a recess in a
boss, 42, on the block, Y, with its inner end working in the space between the
two plates, D, F, opposite the pin, b, of the winder. B, and normally retracted
by its coiled spring, 49. While the parts are in the position shown in Figure 7,
a small swell or lump on the side of the cam, 50, throws the outer end of the
jaw, 45, slightly to the right. The pin, b, of winder, B, is withdrawn upwardly
by a lever, 52, pivoted on the side of the block. Y, and operated by its cam, 53,
on the shaft, 16. The projection or bolt, 47, thereon strikes against the end of
the rod, 48, and forces it inwardly until it pinches the wire between its end
and the winder, B, thus giving a permanent set to that side of the bend of the
wire around the pin. The slide, 47, is now advanced by its cam, 54, and the
jaws, 45, 40, passing on each side of the former, C, bend the wire into form
shown in Figure 8, the end of the clamping rod, 36, still pinching the wire
firmly against the former. The formation of the clip having now been com-
pleted, the arm, C₁, engaging the annular groove in the lower end of the for-
mer, C, is thrown downwardly by the actuation of the rock-shaft, C2, by the
56, on the shaft, 16. When the forward movement of the jaws is com-
pleted their rear ends are thrown outwardly by their respective cams, 50 and 55,
and a permanent set is given to the wire at the point marked ¹¹, Figure 8,
and the completed clip may now be withdrawn from the machine as follows:
cam,
In the final formation of the clip its end, 2, will be swung outwardly or to
the rear, as in Figure 8, and will pass under the end of and engage with a
hook, 57, on a slide, 58. When the former, C, is withdrawn as described the
slide, 58, is retracted and the completed clip being drawn from between the
plates, D, F, will fall through the aperture, 59, in the bed plate into a suitable

page_text: receptacle. The slide, 58, may be actuated at the proper time by a pivoted
arm, 60, deriving its motion from a cam projection, 61, on the same cam
wheel, 56, that operates the rock-shaft, C³.
Suitable springs are applied to the various parts of the machine to control
their proper operation. These are shown in the drawings but since their
behaviour is obvious they have not been specifically referred to.
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. The combination of the winder, A, having the central pin, a, and projec-
tion, a', the winder, B, having a central pin, b, and projection, b', the ior-
mer, C, mechanism for partially rotating the winder, A, to form the initial
bend in the clip and then withdrawing it, mechanism for then partially rotating
the projection, b', of the winder, B, to form the second bend in the clip and
then withdrawing it and the pin, b, and means for then completing the bending
of the clip about the former.
2. The combination of the winder, A, having the central pin, a, and projec-
tion, a', the winder, B, having a central pin, b, and projection, 6, the for-
mer, C, means for pinching the wire against the former, C, during the bending
of the clip, mechanism for partially rotating the winder, A, to form the initial
bend in the clip and then withdrawing it, mechanism for then partially rotating
the projection, b', of the winder, B, to form the second bend in the clip and
then withdrawing it and the pin, b, and means for then completing the bending
of the clip about the former.
3. The combination of the parallel surfaces or plates in the space between
which the wire is bent, an endwise movable winder, A, having the centrally
projecting pin and wire bending projection normally extending across said
space, mechanism for partially rotating the winder to form the initial bend of
the clip and then withdrawing it, a second endwise movable winder having a
central pin and a wire bending projection also normally extending across said
space, mechanism for partially rotating the bending projection of the second
winder to form the second bend in the clip and then withdrawing it, means for
then imparting a set to this latter bend in the clip while the pin of the second
winder is still in position, mechanism for then withdrawing said pin, mechanism
for then completing the bending of the clip around the former, and means for
then withdrawing the former to permit the ejection of the completed clip.
4. The combination of the parallel surfaces or plates in the space between
which the wire is bent, an endwise movable winder, A, having the centrally
projecting pin and wire bending projection normally extending across said
space, mechanism for partially rotating the winder to form the initial bend of
the clip and then withdrawing it, a second endwise movable winder having a
central pin and a wire bending projection also normally extending across said
space, mechanism for partially rotating the bending projection of the second
winder to form the second bend in the clip and then withdrawing it, means for
then imparting a set to this latter bend in the clip while the pin of the second
winder is still in position, mechanism for then withdrawing said pin, mechanism
for then completing the bending of the clip around the former, means for
imparting a set to the bend of the wire around the former on each side, and
means for then withdrawing the former to permit the ejection of the com-
pleted clip.
5. The combination with the two winders for forming the initial and second
bend of the clip and their operating mechanisms, of the former and the jaws
or benders, 45, 46, having mechanism for advancing them to form the final
bend of the clip and for causing their ends operating upon the wire to approach
each other to impart a set to both sides of the bend in the wire formed by them.
6. The combination of the former, C, a rod or bar for pinching a straight

page_text: length of wire adjacent to one of its ends against the former, a winder adjacent
to the opposite end of the wire for bending over that end of the wire parallel
with its length, a second winder intermediate the first one and the former to
again bend the wire to bring the portion bent thereby parallel with the remain-
ing unbent portion of the wire, and mechanism for then bending the wire
around the former to bring all of its straight portions parallel with each other.
7. The combination of a winder for bending one end of a straight length of
wire to bring it parallel with its length, a second winder forming a second
bend of the wire to bring the part bent over thereby also parallel with its
length, a former and means for folding or bending around the former the bent
portion of the wire lying to one side thereof and the remaining straight or
unbent portion lying to the other side thereof to bring all straight portions of
the wire parallel with each other.
8. The combination of a winder for bending one end of a straight length of
wire to bring it parallel with its length, a second winder forming a second
bend of the wire to bring the part bent over thereby also parallel with its
length, a former, means for folding or bending around the former the bent
portion of the wire lying to one side thereof and the remaining straight or
unbent portion lying to the other side thereof to bring all straight portions of
the wire parallel with each other, means for imparting a set to the second bend
of the wire, and means for imparting a set to both sides of the final bend of
the wire around the former.
9. In a wire bending machine for making a clip of the character herein
described the combination of mechanism for feeding a given length of wire,
means for severing it, means for holding the straight severed length of wire in
position, mechanism for bending one end of the wire to bring the bent over
portion parallel with its length, mechanism for again bending the wire at or
about midway of its length to again bring the bent over portions parallel with
its length, and mechanism for again bending the wire at a point intermediate
its remaining end and the first bend formed therein, to bring all straight por-
tions of the wire parallel with each other and thereby complete the bending of
the clip.
10. In a wire bending machine for making a clip of the character herein
described the combination of mechanism for feeding a given length of wire,
means for severing it. means for holding the straight severed length of wire in
position, mechanism for bending one end of the wire to bring the bent over
portion parallel with its length, mechanism for again bending the wire at or
about midway of its length to again bring the bent over portions parallel with
its leneth, mechanism for again hending the wire at a point intermediate its
remaining end and the first bend formed therein, to bring all straight portions
of the wire parallel with each other and thereby complete the bending of the
clin, means for imparting a set to the second bend of the wire and means for
imparting a set to both sides of the final bend in the wire.
11. The combination of the block, y. separated plates. D, F. a rotatable end-
wise movable winder, A. having the central nin. a, and hending proiection. ¹.
a second endwise movable rotatable winder having the bending projection. .
and an independently endwise movable central in. b. the endwise movable
former, C, having a central pin and mechanism for actuating the parts in the
described sequence, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
12. The machine for making wire paper clips, substantially as herein shown
and described.