Improvements in Machinery for Finishing Needles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 1st July, 1893-Accepted, 26th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Finishing Needles.
We, HENRY MILWARD AND SONS LIMITED, of Washford Mills, Redditch, in
the County of Worcester, Needle, Fish Hook and Fishing Tackle Manufacturers,
and JAMES SWANN, of No. 22 Albert Street, Redditch aforesaid Needle Finisher
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The said invention consists of machinery for finishing needles the parts of the
said machinery being arranged and used substantially in the manner hereinafter
described.
By the use of machinery arranged and used according to this invention the
finishing processes are simplified and time and labour saved.
In order that the said invention may be the better understood we will first
describe briefly the ordinary machinery or appliances used for finishing needles.
The finishing processes consist essentially first, in "curing" or polishing the
insides of the eyes of the needles; secondly, in grinding the ends of the heads
and setting the points of the needles and thirdly in polishing the eyes and shafts
or bodies of the needles.
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The first process for polishing the interior of the eyes is effected by means of a
rotating roller or curer" having teeth or points arranged helically on its cylindrical
surface, the said roller or curer being supported between cheeks or uprights
and a rapid rotatory inotion given to it by means of a band or gut. The needles
held between the fingers of the workman are so manipulated by him as to cause the
insides of the eyes to be polished or cured by the action of the points or teeth
on the rotating roller or "curer."
The rotating roller or curer having been removed from the cheeks or frame a
grinding stone is substituted therefor by the rotation of which the ends of the
heads are ground and the points of the needles set or sharpened.
The grindstone being removed from between the checks, a rotating buff or
polisher is substituted therefor for polishing the exterior of the eyes and the
shafts or bodies of the needles.
After each process the workman in order to remove the last tool used and sub-
stitute for it the tool to be used, has to lay down the needles being operated upon
and after the required tool has been placed in the cheeks to again take up the
needles.
66
"
According to this invention we arrange the rotating roller or curer first
used; the rotating grinding stone next used and the rotating buff or polisher
used for the final process in the same frame or uprights. The three rollers or
tools are arranged one over the other the eye "curing" roller being arranged pre-
ferably at the top of the frame, under it the grinder and below the grinder the
polishing buff. Each of the rotating tools described is driven by an independent
band or gut and all rotate together.
66
"
In using the needle finishing machinery thus arranged, the workman having
placed the needles to be finished between his fingers in the ordinary way he
brings the said needles under the operation of the top rotating roller or curer
for polishing the insides of the eyes of the needles. He then, without removing the
needles from between his fingers, brings the said needles under the operation of
the rotating grinder for grinding their heads and setting their points; and he
finally, without removing the needles from between his fingers, brings them under
the operation of the rotating polishing buff for polishing the eyes and shafts or
bodies of the needles.
By the use of the improved machinery described the finishing process is made
continuous; that is, the three finishing operations are performed by the machinery

page_text: without the workman removing the needles from between his fingers, and the time
and labour required for changing the tool and putting down and taking up the
needles when using the ordinary machinery are economised.
We do not limit ourselves to the use of the particular tools described as other
analogous tools required for the finishing of needles may be combined, one above
the other, in the same frame or cheeks.
Dated the 8th day of November 1892.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Finishing Needles.
We HENRY MILWARD AND SONS LIMITED, of Washford Mills, Redditch in
the County of Worcester, Needle, Fish Hook and Fishing Tackle Manufacturers
and JAMES SWANN of No. 22 Albert Street Redditch, aforesaid Needle Finisher
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 :-
The said invention consists of machinery for finishing needles the parts of the
said machinery being arranged and used substantially in the manner hereinafter
described.
By the use of machinery arranged and used according to this invention the
finishing processes are simplified and time and labour saved.
In order that the said invention may be the better understood we will first
describe briefly the ordinary machinery or appliances used for finishing needles.
The finishing processes consist essentially, first in "curing" or polishing the
insides of the eyes of the needles; secondly, in grinding the ends of the heads and
setting the points of the needles and thirdly in polishing the eyes and shafts or
bodies of the needles.
The first process for polishing the interior of the eyes is effected by means of a
rotating roller or "curer" having teeth or points arranged helically on its cylindrical
surface, the said roller or curer" being supported between cheeks or uprights and
a rapid rotary motion given to it by means of a band or gut. The needles held
between the fingers of the workman are so manipulated by him as to cause the
insides of the eyes to be polished or cured by the action of the points or teeth on
the rotating roller or "curer."
The rotating roller or "curer" having been removed from the cheeks or frame a
grinding stone is substituted therefor by the rotation of which the ends of the heads
are ground and the points of the needles set or sharpened.
The grindstone being removed from between the cheeks, a rotating buff or
polisher is substituted therefor for polishing the exterior of the eyes and the
shafts or bodies of the needles.
After each process the workman in order to remove the last tool used and
substitute for it the tool to be used, has to lay down the needles being operated
upon and after the required tool has been placed in the cheeks to again take up the
needles.
According to this invention we arrange the rotating roller or
66 curer "first used,
the rotating grinding stone next used and the rotating buff or polisher used for the
final process in the same frame or uprights. The three rollers or tools are arranged
one over the other the eye "curing" roller being arranged preferably at the top of
the frame, under it the grinder and below the grinder the polishing buff.
Each of
the rotating tools described is driven by a hand or gut and all rotate together.
In using the needle finishing machinery thus arranged, the workman having
placed the needles to be finished between his fingers in the ordinary way he brings
the said needles under the operation of the top rotating roller or
66
"
curer for

page_text: polishing the insides of the eyes of the needles. He then, without removing the
needles from between his fingers, brings the said needles under the operation
of the rotating grinder for grinding their heads and setting their points; and
he finally without removing the needles from between his fingers, brings them
under the operation of the rotating polishing buff for polishing the eyes and shafts
or bodies of the needles.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in front elevation, partly in
section, the said machinery for finishing needles and Figure 2 represents the same
in vertical section the section being taken through the rotating tools of the said
machinery.
""
a, a is the "curer or rotating tool hereinbefore referred to by which the
polishing of the interior of the eyes of the needles operated upon is effected, the
said "curer" consisting of a wooden roller a from the cylindrical face of which
helically arranged teeth or steel points a² project. b is the grindstone hereinbefore
referred to by which the heads of the needles are ground and the points set or
sharpened and c is the "buff" or polisher by which the exterior of the eyes and
bodies or shafts of the needles operated upon are polished.
Each of the said tools a, a²; b; c is provided with a spindle marked
respectively d, e, the said spindles d, e, f also carrying at either end a grooved
disc or pulley marked respectively g, h, i over which the guts or bands q, r pass
from the overhead driving pulleys and communicate a rotary motion to each of the
said tools.
The pointed ends of the said spindles d, e, f take a bearing in the pairs of wood
blocks marked respectively k, k; l, l; m, m; which are fixed in the required
position in the hollow or frame like cheeks or uprights n, n in the following
manner, the said cheeks or uprights n, n being fixed upon the bench or table at
which the workman is seated. Each of the cheeks or uprights n, n has in addition
to its base plate n², n² shelves n³, n³ upon which the bearing blocks m, l, k are
respectively placed and adjusted. The said bearing blocks m, l, k are fixed in their
adjusted position by fixing screws m², 12, k² passing through the back of the cheeks
or uprights n, n as seen in Figure 2. The ends of the said screws take a bearing
against the filling or bearing plates p situated between the inner side of the back
of the cheeks or uprights n and the wood bearing blocks k, l, m.
The fixing
screws are turned by a tool introduced into one or other of the holes in their
heads.
The arrangement of the driving guts or bands q, r for giving the rotary motion
to the respective tools will be readily understood by reference to Figure 2. Instead
however of driving the " curer a, a² and "buff" c by one gut or band g as
represented they may be driven by independent guts or bands.
"
The curer a, a², grindstone band polishing buff c are used in the manner
hereinbefore particularly explained.
By the use of the improved machinery described the finishing process is made
continuous that is, the three finishing operations namely curing grinding and
polishing are performed by the machinery without the workman removing the
needles from between his fingers and the time and labour required for changing the
tool and putting down and taking up the needles when using the ordinary
machinery are economised.
We do not limit ourselves to the use of the particular tools described as other
analogous tools such for example as a bluer or rough buff required for the finishing
of needles may be combined, one above the other, in the same frame or cheeks.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that we claim
as the said invention of "Improvements in machinery for finishing needles" ;-
Arranging the rotating roller or "curer," the rotating grindstone and the
rotating buff or polisher or other analogous tools used in the finishing of needles
one above the other in the same cheeks or uprights, whereby the finishing process

page_text: is made continuous, that is to say, the several finishing operations are performed by
the machinery without the workman removing the needles from between his fingers
and hence the time and labour ordinarily required for changing the tool and
putting down and taking up the needles are economized substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the Twenty-ninth day of June 1893.
HENRY MILWARD AND SONS, LIMITED,
By J. F. Milward, Director.
JAMES SWANN.