IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE AND TESTING OF THE STRETCHERS AND RIBS OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Warwick and Arthur Boyle, both of
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE
MANUFACTURE AND TESTING OF THE STRETCHERS AND RIBS OF UMBRELLAS AND
PARASOLS."
Sealed the 5th March 1869, and dated the 19th December 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Warwick and
Arthur Boyle at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 19th December 1868.
We, THOMAS WARWICK and ARTHUR BOYLE, both of Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY TO BE
EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE AND TESTING OF THE STRETCHERS AND RIBS OF
UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS," to be as follows: -
Our Invention consists, firstly, of machinery to be used in the
manufacture of the stretchers and ribs of umbrellas and parasols con-
structed essentially in the following manner:
We will first describe the machinery as constructed for making

page_text: stretchers. A vertical rack capable of an intermittent descending
motion carries the pieces of trough-shaped wires from which the
stretchers are to be made. A feeder pushes the said pieces of wire one at a
time from the said rack on to notches on the bed of the machine. A carrier
worked from the principal shaft of the machine rising takes up the wire
and then advances horizontally until the ends of the wire are brought
over the lower dies of two pairs of dies which operate on the two ends of
the wire. The carrier then descending leaves the wire resting by its two
ends on the said lower dies. (The stretcher wire before it is put into
the rack has a small strengthening or filling-up piece of cylindrical wire
placed by hand in each end.) By the descent of the upper dies upon
the lower dies the ends of the stretcher wire are flattened and partially
shaped, the filling-up piece giving the necessary strength to the flattened
end. On the ascent of the upper or moveable dies the carrier again
lifts the stretcher wire from the lower dies on which its ends rest, and
carrying it forward places its ends on the lower dies of a second set of
dies consisting of two pairs. The upper dies of the said second set
descend and cut off and round the ends of the stretcher wire. The
carrier again lifts the partially-shaped stretcher wire and carries it to a
third set of dies consisting of two pairs, on the lower dies of which its ends
are made to rest. The upper dies of the said third set descending pierce
the required holes in the ends of the stretcher wire. The carrier again
coming into operation lifts the pierced stretcher wire from the last-
described dies and removes it from the machine.
The three operations described are simultaneously performed upon three
separate stretcher wires, the carrier at each motion lifting and advancing
simultaneously three stretcher wires.
When the machine is employed for making ribs the dies or working
tools are modified so as to produce the required changes in the wire.
The wires fed into the machine when ribs are to be made have a
strengthening or filling-up piece only put in that end which is to form
the top notch end of the rib. The dies operating on the top notch end
of the wire are the same as those employed to operate on the ends of the
stretcher wire, but the dies operating on the tip end of the rib cut off
the said end and form the depression required to receive the loop at the
said tip end. The moveable dies are operated by two levers worked by
cams on the driving shaft, the return motion being produced by springs.
The tool for shaping the tip end is worked, direct from the driving
shaft.

page_text: Our Invention consists, secondly, of a machine for testing the
stretchers and ribs for umbrellas and parasols constructed in the following
manner: Two pairs of rolls are mounted on horizontal axes, the upper
pair not being immediately over the lower pair, one of the upper rolls
being situated midway over the two lower rolls, the other roll of the
upper pair being on the same level as the first. By passing the
stretchers or ribs between the said rolls they are made to take tempo-
rarily an undulating or wave-like figure, and if they are too hard are
broken, and if too soft take a permanent set, and in either case are
unfit for usc. Those that pass through the machine without injury are
proper to be made up into umbrellas or parasols.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Warwick and Arthur Boyle in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 10th June 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
WARWICK and ARTHUR BOYLE, both of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said Thomas Warwick and Arthur
Boyle, Her special licence that we, the said Thomas Warwick and Arthur
Boyle, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we,
the said Thomas Warwick and Arthur Boyle, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN
THE MANUFACTURE AND TESTING OF THE STRETCHERS AND RIBS OF UMBRELLAS AND
PARASOLS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Thomas
Warwick and Arthur Boyle, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our or their hands and seals, or under
the hand and seal of one of us or them, should particularly describe and

page_text: ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and im-
mediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Thomas Warwick and Arthur
Boyle, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
Our Invention consists, firstly, of machinery to be used in the manu-
facture of the stretchers and ribs of umbrellas and parasols constructed
essentially in the following manner :-
We will first describe the machinery as constructed for making
stretchers. A vertical rack, capable of an intermittent descending
motion, carries the pieces of trough-shaped wires from which the
stretchers are to be made. A feeder pushes the said pieces of wire
one at a time from the said rack on to notehes on the bed of the
machine; or the wires may be fed to the feeder by hand. A carrier
worked from the principal shaft of the machine rising takes up the wire
and then advances horizontally until the ends of the wire are brought
over the lower dies of two pairs of dies which operate on the two ends
of the wire. The carrier then descending leaves the wire resting by
its two ends on the said lower dies. (The stretcher wire before it is put
into the rack has a small strengthening or filling-up piece of cylindrical
wire placed by hand in each end.) By the descent of the upper dies
upon the lower dies the ends of the stretcher wire are flattened and
partially shaped, the filling-up piece giving the necessary strength to the
flattened end. On the ascent of the upper or moveable dies the carrier
again lifts the stretcher wire from the lower dies on which its ends rest
and carrying it forward places its ends on the lower dies of a second set
of dies consisting of two pairs. The upper dies of the said second set
descend and cut off and round the ends of the stretcher wire. The
carrier again lifts the partially shaped stretcher wire and carries it to a
third set of dies consisting of two pairs, on the lower dies of which its
ends are made to rest. The upper dies of the third set descending pierce
the required holes in the ends of the stretcher wire. The carrier again
coming into operation lifts the pierced stretcher wire from the last
described dies and removes it from the machine. The three operations
- described are simultaneously performed upon three separate stretcher

page_text: wires, the carrier at each motion lifting and advancing simultaneously
three stretcher wires.
When the machine is employed for making ribs the dies or working
tools are modified so as to produce the required changes in the wire..
The wires fed into the machine when ribs are to be made have a.
strengthening or filling-up piece only put in that end which is to form
the top notch end of the rib. The dies operating on the top notchi end of
the wire are the same as those employed to operate on the ends of the
stretcher wire, but the dies operating on the tip end of the rib cut off
the said end and form the depression to receive the loop at the said tip
end. The moveable dies are operated by two levers worked by cams on
the driving shaft, the return motion being produced by springs. The
tool for shaping the tip end is worked direct from the driving shaft.
Our Invention consists, secondly, of a machine for testing the
stretchers and ribs for umbrellas and parasols constructed in the
following manner-Two pairs of rolls are mounted on horizontal
axes, the upper pair not being immediately over the lower pair, one
of the upper rolls being situated midway over the two lower rolls,
the other roll of the upper pair being on the same level as the first.
By passing the stretchers or ribs between the said rolls they are made
.o take temporarily an undulating or wave-like figure, and if they are
too hard are broken, and if too soft take a permanent set, and in either
case are unfit for use. Those that pass through the machine without
injury are proper to be made up into umbrellas or parasols.
Having explained the nature of our Invention, we will proceed to
describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in
which the same is to be performed :-
Figure 1 represents in plan, and Figure 2 in front elevation a machine
constructed according to our Invention to be used in the manufacture of.
stretchers; Figure 3 is a transverse section of the same taken through
the line a, a, Figure 1; and Figure 4 is the same with the carrier
removed; Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 represent of the full size the
several sets of dies or tools used in the machine to operate upon one
end of the stretcher wires, a duplication of the said several sets of dies.
or tools being used to operate upon the other end of the stretcher wires;.
Figures 11 and 12 represent of the full size one-half of the carrier of the
machine, the said carrier being shown in connection with the upper and
lower dies.

page_text: Figure 13 represents in plan and side elevation one of the pieces of
trough-shaped stretcher wire, the ends of which are to be successively
operated upon by the machine, the ends of the said stretcher wire having
strengthening or filling-up pieces of cylindrical wire marked
in them by hand..
placed
Figures 14, 15, and 16 represent the stretcher wire after its ends have
been successively operated upon by the machine in the manner herein-
after explained. The same letters and figures of reference are used to
indicate the same parts in the several Figures of the Drawing.
c, c, are the beds of the machine, on each of which the lower dies of
three sets of dies or tools are fixed, and over the said lower dies the
upper or moveable dies or tools work. Each side of the machine is fur-
nished with three sets of dies or tools of the same construction to operate
simultaneously upon the two ends of the stretcher wires fed into the
machine. The lower dies on each side of the machine are marked
respectively d, e, f, and their moveable upper dies or tools are marked
respectively d, e, f. Between the beds c, c, supporting the lower dies,
the carrier herein-after described works. The stretcher wires, Figure 13,
are one at a time fed by hand or by the intermittent rack herein-before
described, or by any other convenient mechanism into the feeder trough
or bar g. This feeder trough or bar is represented in section in Figures 3
and 4, and of the full size in Figures 5 and 6. h is a feeder or slide
carrying a pusher or feeding rod h³ working in the trough or bar g, to
which feeder ha reciprocating motion is given. Its advance motion is
effected by the operation of the crank i situated on the end of the main
shaft k, to which crank the said feeder or slide is connected by the cord
passing over the pulleys m, m. The return motion of the feeder or
slide his effected by the india-rubber spring n and cord p. By the
advance of the feeder h the stretcher wire placed in the trough g is
pushed by the rod 2 against a stop h³ (see Figure 6), so as to bring the
ends of the said stretcher wire marked in a line with the lower
The stretcher wire h' thus
dies d, e, f, on each side of the machine.
fed into the machine is carried in succession to the lower dies d, d, e, e,
and f, f, for both its ends to be operated upon by the pairs of dies d, d²,
e, e, and f, f, at each side of the machine, and the said stretcher wire
removed from the machine by means of a carrier, consisting essentially
of two plates q, q, working on the inner vertical sides of the beds c, c.
On the upper edge of each of the said plates q, q, four notches marked

page_text: respectively q, q, q', q, are made, as best seen in Figure 11. The said
carrier q, q, has the following motions communicated to it for the
purpose of carrying forward the stretcher wires:-When the carrier is
about to make its advance motion it occupies the position represented in
Figures 11 and 12, its end notches q, q, being under the ends of the
stretcher wire h' which has been fed to the machine. On the advance
of the carrier q, q, it rises through slots in the trough g, one of which
is marked in Figure 6, and by engaging the said stretcher wire with
the notches q, q, lifts the said stretcher wire from the trough g. The
carrier q, q, then advances horizontally until the ends of the stretcher
wire are brought over the lower dies d, d, of the first pairs of
dies d, d, d, d. The carrier now assumes the position represented in
Figure 3. The carrier next descending leaves the stretcher wire resting
by its ends on the lower dies d, d, and the said carrier returns hori.
zontally to the position represented in Figure 11. The stretcher wire so
deposited on the lower dies d, d, is marked r in Figures 5 and 6;
Figure 5 representing in elevation the three sets or pairs of dies
or tools situated on one side of the machine, and Figure 6 repre-
senting a plan of the lower dies of the same. The pair of dies d, d², is
represented in section in Figure 7 with the stretcher wire r on the lower
die d. By the descent of the upper dies or flattening tools d², d, upon
the lower dies d, d, the ends of the stretcher wire are flattened and
partly shaped, as represented in Figure 14, the filling-up pieces b, b,
giving the necessary strength to the flattened ends. On the ascent of the
moveable dies or tools d³, d², the carrier q, q, having the position repre-
sented in Figure 11 again rises and lifting by means of the notches q³, q³,
the stretcher wire r from the lower dies d, d, on which its ends rest
carries it forward and places its ends on the lower dies e, e, of the second
pairs of dies or tools e, e², e, e³, as represented in Figures 5 and 6, and
in the separate view of the pair of dies e, e, represented in section in
Figure 8, in which Figures 5 and 6 and 8 the flattened stretcher wire
is marked. By the descent of the upper tools or cutters e², e², the
ends of the stretcher wire are cut off and rounded, as represented in
Figure 15, the carrier having previously descended and retired. The
carrier q, q, again rising and advancing lifts the flattened and rounded
stretcher wire from the dies e, e, by means of its notches q', ', and
places the ends of the said wire on the lower dies ff, of the third sets
of dies ffff", as represented in Figures 5 and 6 in the clevation
of the upper and lower dies Figures 9, and in the section of the

page_text: lower die Figure 10. The stretcher wire on the lower dies f, f, is
marked. The upper dies or piercing tools f, f, descending pierce
the required holes in the ends of the stretcher wire as represented
in Figure 16. In order to prevent lateral movement in the stretcher
wire during the descent of the piercing tools f, f, each of the
lower dies is furnished with a sliding holder fs, f³, (see Figures 9
and 10) which holders on the descent of the piercing tools f², f, are
made to advance and close over the ends of the stretcher wire and
keep it in its place. The advance of the holders f³, f³, is effected by
means of arms f*, f, on the plungers of the piercing tools f², f²,
acting against inclines f, f, on the holders f³, f. On the ascent of
the piercing tools f, f, the holders f³, fs, are returned to their original
positions, and the stretcher wire thereby released by the springs f³, f*.
The next motion of the carrier q, q, advances the stretcher wire a short
distance on the lower dies f, f, that is, to the position, Figures 5
and 6. This advance of the stretcher wire is effected by the operation
of the shoulder q' (see Figure 11) of the carrier q, q. The stretcher
wire is by this last motion of the carrier brought under the cutters or
burring tools f", f, connected with the plungers of the piercing
tools f, f, which burring tools on the next descent of the said piercing
tools remove all fraise or burr from the edges of the curved and
pierced ends of the stretcher wire . On the next advance of the
carrier q, q, the finished stretcher wire is lifted from the lower
dies ff, by the notches or parts q³, qo, of the carrier, and on the descent
of the said carrier the said stretcher wire falls from the machine.
For the sake of clearness of description we have only described the
carrying forward of a single stretcher wire, and the successive operations
of the dies or tools d, e, f, f, at each side of the machine upon its
ends, but it will be seen by an examination of the Drawings that at each
advance of the carrier q, q, four stretcher wires are lifted and advanced
simultaneously, and a finished stretcher wire removed from the machine
and that the said upper dies or tools operate simultaneously upon four
stretcher wires on the lower dies d, e, f, at each side of the machine.
The positions of the several stretcher wires on the lower dies previous
to the simultaneous descent of the upper dies or tools upon them are
represented in Figures 5, 6, and 11. One of the guides of the lower
dies d, d, of the first pair of dies is moveable, and is pressed up to
the fixed guide to adjust itself to the stretcher wire by means of a

page_text: spring d³, and the lower dies e, e, of the second pair of dies are
provided with bowsprings e³, e³, for gripping the stretcher wire while
it is shaped by the upper tools es, es. In order to prevent the stretcher
wires on the several lower dies from rising therefrom during the
operations of the upper dies or tools, horizontal presser bars 8, 8,
(see Figure 3) descend upon the wires and hold them in their places.
The presser bars 8, 8, are carried down by the plungers of the upper dies
or tools, their return motion being effected by springs &², 82. It is
preferred that the several upper dies or tools on one side of the machine
shall descend a little in advance of those on the other side of the
machine. By this means the wires are fashioned without strain and
their bending prevented. The motion of the several upper dies or
tools d, e, f, ff, is effected by means of levers t, t, turning on the
centres,, and worked from the cams P, 3, on the main shaft k. The
manner in which the short arms of the levers t, t, act upon the upper
ends of the plungers u, u, u, to which the upper dies or tools are
connected will be readily understood' by an examination of Figures 3
and 4. The return motion of the levers t, t, is effected by the springs t.
The ascent of the plungers u, u, u, and moveable dies or tools is effected
by links connected with the short arms of the levers t, t, as represented
in the Drawings. The plungers work in guides of the ordinary con-
struction fixed to the uprights of the machine. The carrier q, q, is
constructed and its several motions effected in the following manner :-
The action of the carrier will be best traced by referring to Figures 11
and 12, and the front elevation, Figure 2. Each of the plates con-
stituting the said carrier is provided with two oblique slots v, v, through
which it is connected by means of the pins and plates w, w, with a
dovetail slide x working in a dovetail groove in the bed c of the machine.
A reciprocating sliding motion is given to the slide x by means of an
excentric rod y worked by an excentric y on the main shaft k. In the
carrier plate q is a rectangular opening z, in which a projection 1 on
the bed c works. Across the front of the opening z and fixed to the
carrier is a plate 2, having on its inner side a projection 3. In front of
the machine are two levers 4, 4, the short arms of which when they are
in their normal positions project in front of the lower edges of the
carrier plates q, q. When motion is impressed upon the carrier through
the dovetail slides x, x, the said carrier would advance horizontally with
the said slides, but is prevented by the stop levers 4, 4, bearing against

page_text: the front of the said carrier. The horizontal motion of the carrier
plates being thus prevented the pins to, wo, work in the oblique slots v, v,
and in so doing lift the said plates vertically, the projection 3 on the
cross plate 2 working against the edge of the fixed projection 1 on
the bed of the machine. This rising of the carrier lifts the several
stretcher wires and engages them with the carrier. As soon as the
bottom face of the projection 3 is in a line with the top face of the pro-
jection 1, the continued motion of the slides x, x, now causes the carrier
to advance horizontally until the projection 3 arrives beyond and has
escaped from the projection 1. This horizontal motion of the carrier
brings the several stretcher wires engaged in its notches onto to their
respective lower dies, the carrier occupying the position represented in
Figure 3. The slides now make their return stroke, but the carrier
cannot move horizontally in consequence of the projections 3 on it
having to escape the projections 1. The carrier is thereby caused to
descend by the pins to working in the oblique slots v, so as to bring
the projections 3 below the projections 1. By this descent of the carrier
the several stretcher wires are left on their lower dies, and a finished
stretcher wire is removed from the machine. On escaping from the
projections 1 the carrier moves horizontally to the end of its return
stroke and occupies the position represented in Figures 11 and 12, when
on the advance of the slides x the said carrier again rises and advances
horizontally, then descends and returns horizontally, and so on at each
revolution of the main shaft k. The motions described with reference
to one only of the carrier plates q are the same in both plates, the said
plates moving simultaneously. When the carrier plates q, q, are raised
so as to escape the projections 1, 1, the bottom edges of the said plates
are above the stop levers 4, 4 (see Figure 2), and the carrier can
consequently advance without obstruction. On the descent of the
carrier plates q, q, they depress the short arms of the stop levers 4, 4,
but the said stop levers after the return stroke of the carrier resume the
positions represented by the weight of their long arms, and thereby
cause the carrier to be raised before it can make its advance stroke, as
herein-before described.
The stretcher machine may be arranged for making stretchers of
different lengths by separating to a greater or less distance the two parts
which operate respectively on the opposite ends of the stretchers. This

page_text: is effected by that part of the mechanism situated on the left-hand side,
of the machine, Figures 1 and 2, being made capable of sliding on the
bed plate of the machine nearer to or further from the fixed part on
the right-hand side. The sliding motion of the said moveable part is
permitted, and the said part fixed in the required place by means of the
arrangement represented in Figures 3 and 4. 30, 31, are the front and
back respectively of the bed plate. Under the bed c is a projecting
piece or tenon 32, which takes into a slot made in the bar 33 of the bed
plate. In the front and back of the bed plate are slots 34, 35, through
which screw pins 36, 37, fixed in the bed c of the machine pass; 38, 39,
are screw nuts on the screwed ends of the pins 36, 37. By loosening
the nuts 38, 39, the bed c of the moveable part and the mechanism
carried by it may be moved on the bed plate to a greater or less distance
from the other or fixed part of the machine. The parts 32 and 33 guide
the motion, and the moveable part of the machine is fixed in its required
position by tightening the screw nuts 38, 39. The cam and excentric
are adjusted on the shaft k by temporarily loosening the keys connecting
them with said shaft.
Figure 17 represents in plan a machine constructed according to our
Invention to be used in the manufacture of ribs; Figure 18 represents
in plan, and Figure 19 in side elevation a portion of the same drawn of
the full size; Figures 20 and 21 are separate views of the same;
Figure 22 represents one of the ribs after it has been operated upon by
the machine. The space between the two parts or sides A, B, of the rib
machine is of greater width than that between the sides of the stretcher
machine already described to correspond to the greater length of the ribs
to be made. The side A of the machine is provided with dies and
working tools of the same construction as those situated on either side
of the stretcher machine, and the said tools are worked in the same
The feeder and carrier are also of the same construction.
The parts of the rib machine are marked with the same letters of
reference as corresponding parts of the stretcher machine, and the
description given of the said parts of the stretcher machine applies
equally to corresponding parts of the rib machine. The said side A of
the rib machine is provided as already explained with dies and working
tools for flattening, rounding, piercing, and burring the top notch end
of the rib, while the side B of the rib machine is furnished with tools
manner.

page_text: for operating on the tip end of the rib, the said tools cutting off the
said end and forming the depression required to receive the loop at the
said tip end. The tools at the side B for operating on the tip end are
constructed and worked as follows:-These tools are shown of the full
size in Figures 18 and 19 and detached in Figures 20 and 21. In the
horizontal bolt or plunger 5, 53, the moveable cutter 6 and shaping
tool 7 are carried, and on the bed c of the machine the stationary cutting
tool 8 and stationary shaping tool 9 are fixed. Each of the cutting
tools 6, 8, has an opening or depression in it to receive the trough-
shaped rib wire being greater upon, and each of the shaping tools 7, 9,
lias also an opening or depression made in it for holding and shaping the
rib wire. The shape of the acting parts of the cutting and shaping
tools will be understood by an examination of the separate views,
Figures 20 and 21. On the bolt 5 is a guide 10, and on the bed c is
another guide 11, between which guides the rib 12 is dropped by the
carrier q, q-
The bolt 5, 5, carrying the moveable bolts 6, 7, and
guide 10 is worked by the cam 13 on the main shaft k acting against
a roller 14 on the said bolt. The bolt is made in two parts marked
respectively 5, 5*, which parts are connected together by the screwed
rod 15. The two parts of the bolt slide in guides 16, 16. One end
of the screwed rod 15 screws into the part 5 of the bolt, and the other
end is conical and fits in a conical hole in the other part 5*. By
turning the said rod 15 by the plate 15 the length of the stroke of the
tools 6, 7, may be accurately adjusted. The return stroke of the
bolt 5, 5, is effected by the coiled spring 17 (represented broken off in
Figure 17), one end of which is fixed to the part 5 of the bolt, and the
other end is fixed to one of the guides 16. The rib wires to be fashioned
by the machine have a strengthening or filling-up piece put in that end
only which is to be operated upon by the dies or tools at the side A of
the machine and from which the notch end is formed. The rib wire is
fed into the trough or bar y by the feeder h, h2, and is carried forward
by the carrier q, q, and the notch end is placed on the lower dies of the
first pair of dies or tools d, d, at the side A of the machine, and the tip
end is placed between the guides 10, 11, at the side B of the machine.
By the descent of the upper tool & of the first pair of dies or tools d, d²,
the notch end of the rib wire is flattened at the same time the bolt 5, 5*,
advances, and the tools 6, 7, 8, 9, cut off and fashion the tip end of the
wire in the following manner:-As the bolt 5, 5", advances the moveable

page_text: cutter 6 carries forward the rib wire marked 12, by means of its
depression 6, into the depression 8* in the fixed cutter 8, and cuts off
the end of the said wire between the edges of the said cutters 6, 7.
The wire 12 is carried by the motion of the cutter 6 into the depression
or shaping part 9 of the fixed shaping tool 9, and the said wire is by the
advance of the moveable shaping tool 7 shaped between the said tools 7, 9,
that is, the edges of the open top of the trough-shaped wire 12 are closed
inwards by the operation of the shaping part 9 of the tool 9, the part 7ª
of the tool 7 only enclosing the convex side of the wire during the
shaping operation. A depression 18 is thus formed in the tip end of the
rib wire, as represented in Figure 22, to receive the loop at the said tip
end. This loop is fixed in the depression by the action of pressing tools
worked in a press; the fixing of the loop however forms no part of our
Invention. On the rising of the upper tool d³ of the first pair of dies or
tools d, &, and the retiring of the cutting and shaping tools 6, 7, the
rib wire 12 is carried by the carrier q, q, in succession to the second
pair of dies or tools e, e, and from the second pair to the third pair
of dies or tools ff, f, on the side A of the machine, whereby the notch
end is rounded, pierced, and burred as described with respect to the
stretcher wire and the finished rib then removed from the machine.
As only the tip end of the rib wire requires the depression for the loop
to be made in it the said tip end of the rib wire during the subsequent
operations effected on the notch end of the wire rests in the notches or
depressions at 20, 20, (see Figure 17) in the bed c made for its reception.
Four rib wires are carried forward and one wire removed from the
machine at each advance stroke of the carrier q, q, and four rib wires
are simultaneously operated upon by the machine, as described with
reference to the stretcher machine. The rib machine, Figure 17, is
adjusted for making ribs of different lengths by moving the part B of
the machine on the bed plate in a manner essentially the same as that
described with respect to the moveable part of the stretcher machine.
Figure 23 represents in elevation, and Figure 24 in plan a machine
constructed according to our Invention for testing stretchers and ribs.
The said machine consists of two pairs of plain rolls marked respectively
a, b, and c, d, mounted on horizontal axes e, e³. The lower pair of
rolls c, d, are rotated by means of a band passing over both the
pulleys ff, on the shafts e, e². The upper rolls a, b, are not situated

page_text: immediately over the lower rolls c, d, the roll a being situated midway
over the two lower rolls c, d, and the upper roll 6 being situated in
advance of the roll d, as seen in Figure 23. The stretcher or rib h to be
tested is placed on the guide g and passed by the rotation of the lower
rolls c, d, between the series of rolls in the manner represented in the
Drawing. It is thereby made to take temporarily an undulating or
wave-like figure, and if it is too hard it is broken, and if too soft it
takes a permanent set, and in either case it is unfit for use. Those
stretchers or ribs which pass through the machine without injury are
proper to be made up into umbrellas or parasols.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we
do not limit ourselves to the precise details herein described and illustrated,
as the same may be varied without departing from the nature of our
Invention; but we claim as our Invention,―
Firstly. The arrangement or combination, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, of parts of
machinery to be used in the manufacture of stretchers for umbrellas and
parasols, that is to say, so arranging or combining and operating the parts
of the said machinery that both ends of several stretcher wires are
operated upon simultaneously at each stroke of the machine.
Secondly. The arrangement or combination, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, of parts
of machinery to be used in the manufacture of ribs for umbrellas and
parasols, that is to say, so arranging or combining and operating the
parts of the machinery that several rib wires are operated upon
simultaneously at each stroke of the machine.
Thirdly. The arrangement or combination, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, of parts
of a feeder for feeding the wires into the machines.
Fourthly. The arrangement or combination, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, of parts of a
.carrier for simultaneously lifting and carrying forward several stretcher
or rib wires and removing a finished stretcher or rib wire from the
machine at each stroke of the said machine, the parts of the said carrier
being constructed and operating substantially as described and
illustrated..

page_text: Lastly. The arrangement or combination herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings of parts of a machine for
testing the stretchers and ribs of umbrellas and parasols.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Warwick and Arthur
Boyle, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Seventh day
of June, in the year of our Lord Qne thousand eight hundred and
sixty-nine.
THOMAS WARWICK. (L.S.)
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
ARTHUR BOYLE.
(L.S.)