Improvements in Apparatus for Making Lucifer Matches or the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 9th May, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Making Lucifer Matches or
the like.
Communicated by BERNARD THEODORE STEBER, of 9, Charlotte Street, Utica,
in the County of Oneida and State of New York, United States of America,
Manufacturer, and WILLIAM EDWARD COOк, of 650, Wellington Street,
Ottawa, in the Dominion of Canada, Capitalist.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham
in the County of Warwick and 31, High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in match-making machinery, and has
particular relation to that class of machines which employ endless chains or aprons
to carry the match splints which have been cut from a block of wood and
automatically deposited therein, to and through the heading machine.
This invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations, and
arrangements of parts, all of which will be hereinafter more particularly set forth
and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this Specification,
Fig. 1. represents a side elevation of the machine embodying this invention;
Fig. 2. represents a detail top plan view of a portion of the slat chain ;
Fig. 2 represents a detail side elevation of the endless belt for receiving the
finished match splints;
Fig. 3. represents a transverse vertical section through said match splint machine,
the carrier chain and guide being omitted;
Fig. 4. represents a top plan view of the same, the top plate being removed;
Fig. 5. represents a side elevation of the said machine, showing the shifting
mechanisın;
Fig. 6. represents a front elevation of the said machine;
Fig. 7. represents a side elevation of the machine, showing the mechanism for
feeding the block;
Fig. 8. represents a detail perspective view of one of the feed roller shafts,
showing the longitudinal and circular grooves therein;
Fig. 9. represents a detail perspective view of one of the feed-rollers and its
shaft;
Fig. 10. represents a detail perspective view of the feed box and its holders;
Fig. 11. represents a detail perspective view of the comb and the holding and
accommodating plate in which it is mounted;
Fig. 12. represents a detail side elevation of the key which locks the feed-roller
shafts in position;
Fig. 13. represents a front elevation of the comb-plate;
Fig. 14. represents a front elevation of the holding and accommodating plate;
Fig. 15. represents a detail side elevation of the shifting-lever;
Fig 16 represents a detail rear elevation of the slide and cutters:

page_text: Fig. 17. represents a side elevation of the heading machine embodying this
invention; the perforated endless conveying belt being employed;
Fig. 18. represents an end elevation of the same;
Fig. 19. represents a top plan view of said machine;
Fig. 20. represents a central vertical longitudinal section through said machine;
Fig. 21. represents a detail top plan view of the steam pipe for the heating
tank; and
Fig. 22. represents a detail side elevation of one of the agitating breaking blades
for the composition vat.
The frame of the splint machine comprises a top plate L, side pieces H, and the
binding rods P PP. Beneath the plate L are the feed box holders J which are
firmly bolted to said bed-plate and are provided with holes a aa a through which
the projecting lugs ii of the feed box I pass, and the said feed box is thus
supported, but is free to swing laterally. The said feed box is connected by means
of the shifting rod o with the shifting lever U, which is pivoted at its rear end to
the frame and derives its motion from the cam ; a yoke on the end of said lever
engaging the opposite sides of the said cam.
At the front end of the top plate L is the comb O, which is attached by means
of screws which pass through the slots s. The comb O is provided with a lateral
extension o¹, which fits into a groove t of a holding and accommodating plate T.
This plate is provided with two pendent guiding-stems t₁ that pass through the
frame and are surrounded at their lower ends with coil springs 2, that bear against
the underside of the frame, and lateral pins in the ends of the stems.
It will be
seen from the aforegoing that the accommodating-plate and the comb-plate are
normally held down by the coil-springs, but that they may both rise when necessity
requires as, for instance, when an abnormally large block is introduced.
It will be observed that the accommodating-plate and the comb-plate are attached
together in such a manner as to enable the former to move laterally with the
feed-box, while the comb, which is attached to the top plate of the machine, cannot
move laterally, but is readily moved up or down by the action of the accommodating-
plate when adjusting itself to the block.
W W are the ways or guides between which the slide S reciprocates. This
slide carries the serpentine cutting blade K and is connected to the crank-axle G
by a pitman R.
The crank axle G is mounted in bearings A, and is provided at one end with a
belt wheel 9, and at the other with a bevel gear M. Said latter gear meshes with
a gear M on a shaft V. This shaft carries a small bevel gear 6' that meshes with
a gear b on the shaft Z.
remove the
The feeding rollers QQ are keyed to their respective shafts o by suitable
grooves and keys in such a manner that they rotate with the said shafts; but
the latter may be withdrawn longitudinally when it is desired to
rollers. The said shafts are held normally in position by a key Y, which takes
into the annular grooves in the ends of the said shafts and thus prevents them from
moving longitudinally.
The box I is provided with apertures through which the shafts o pass, the feed
rollers coming between the side walls of the box, so that as the box is moved
laterally the rollers and shafts move with the same. Said rollers are corrugated,
so as to take a firm hold of the block and feed it evenly forward without slipping.
The outer end of each shaft o² is provided with a gear wheel g', said gears meshing
one with the other, so that the shafts, and, consequently, the feeding-rollers are
revolved simultaneously, but in opposite directions. The upper shaft o is
provided with a ratchet wheel d, rigid thereon. A spring pressed pawl t is pivoted
on the frame so as to engage said wheel, and prevent it turning backward. The
said ratchet wheel is turned forward by a pawl r pivoted on the end of a short arm r
which has its end loosely mounted on the upper shaft o. This pawl is actuated
by a lever h, which lever is pivotally connected at its upper end to said pawl, and
at its lower end to a supporting link h', which link is in turn pivoted to the frame.

page_text: A cam a is mounted on the shaft G so as to engage the lower end of the lever h,
and thus actuate it to turn the ratchet-wheel forward a predetermined distance at each
revolution.
By this new method of shifting the block laterally all the advantages of the
direct feed are retained, and it is easier to watch the grain of the wood, and still
the splints can be deposited into any position which can be done by using a
diagonal feed.
One of the principal features of this invention is the manner in which the feed
rollers are attached. It is sometimes desirable to remove the feed-rollers. To
enable the operator to do this rapidly devices have been constructed as described
and shown in Figs. 3, 8, and 9 of the drawings.
It will be observed that as the slide 8 carrying entting tool K moves up the
match splints are deposited directly into their respective places in a suitable carrying
chain. To facilitate this operation, the comb O is employed. The cutting tool
ascends, carrying with it the splints to be deposited into the openings of the endless
chain, said cutting tool passing between the corrugations of the comb. The
grooves in the said comb are cut wide enough to enable the cutting tool to enter
them, but are reduced to nearly the diameter of the splint at their top ends, so
as to guide the splints accurately into the holes or grooves of the endless chain
above.
By shaping the grooves in the comb so that the cutter may enter the same
upon its upstroke the cut splints are driven well into the endless carrying belt, and
at the same time they are guided until they are well fixed in the perforations of the
belt or plate.
In the heading machine shown in Figs. 17 to 22 inclusive, 1 represents the base;
2 the frame erected upon the same; 3 the heating tank; 4 the composition vat;
5 the distributing roller; 25 25 the ngitating blades, and 37 the comb containing
receptacle.
The frame 2 is of any suitable material and construction whereby the heating
water tank 3 may be firmly supported in position. This tank is preferably circular
in shape, is open at the top and is provided with a heating steam pipe 8. This pipe
enters the tank at one side and passes in proximity to the side wall to a diametrically
opposite point where it again passes through the side wall and out of the tank.
This pipe, by hugging closely to the side wall in its passage through the tank,
leaves the central portion of the tank unobstructed to receive the rotatable
composition vat 4. This vat is also preferably circular and of less diameter than
the tank 3 and is mounted within the latter and carried by a vertical shaft 9 that
passes through a suitable water-tight washer in the bottom of the said tank 3. The
lower end of this shaft is journaled in a step 10 mounted on the base. A bevel
gear wheel 11 is mounted on said shaft and meshes with a similar bevel gear
wheel 12 mounted on the inner end of the power shaft 13; said shaft being
journaled in suitable bearing boxes 14 14 mounted on the base. A belt wheel 15
is mounted on the outer end of the shaft and is connected to any suitable source
of power whereby the shaft 13 and mechanism connected thereto is operated.
A worm gear 16 is also mounted on said shaft and meshes with a gear wheel 17
mounted upon an oblique upwardly extending shaft 18. This shaft is mounted in
a step 19 secured to the base I and is supported in its oblique position by a
bracket 20 mounted on the tank 3. A bevel spur wheel 21 is rigidly mounted on
the upper end of the said shaft 18 and meshes with a similar spur gear 22 mounted
on a horizontal shaft 23; the latter being journaled in bearing boxes 24 24 mounted
on the tank 3. The composition distributing roller 5 is rigidly mounted on the
horizontal shaft 23 so as to extend down into the composition vat 4 to a point very
near the bottom of the sanie. Stationary agitating or breaking blades 25 25
extend down into the vat on each side of the roller and are provided with suitable
agitating projections 26 26 and apertures 27 27. When the vat is revolved as
before described its contents come in contact with said agitators or breakers and
circulate around them and the composition comprising said contents is thus

page_text: thoroughly co-mingled and the ingredients of different specific gravity prevented
from separating into strata. The composition sticks to the roller 5 as the latter
revolves and any excess of the same is scraped from said roller by an adjustable
scraper 28. This scraper comprises a plate having longitudinal slots 29 and
extension arms 30. The scraper is adjustably mounted on a plate 31 secured to
the tops of the agitators or breakers by screws 32 which pass through said
longitudinal slots and when so mounted the arms 30 extend forward and engage
each side of the roller and thus scrape all composition that may be clinging to the
sides of the roller back into the vat. The carrier guides 33 are constructed of
angle iron and are mounted above the roller 5 by supports 35 35 mounted on the
tank 3. The endless splint carrier slides over the inwardly projecting horizontal
portions of the angle iron guides so that the lower ends of the splints, pendent from
said carrier, wipe the explosive composition from the periphery of the roller 5 to
which it is clinging. The speed of the endless carrier and the roller are approxi-
mately the same so that a fresh supply of composition is brought into position to be
caught by the splints as each successive row of splints is brought forward by the
movement of said endless carrier. It very often happens that the composition
which is thick and very sticky connects two or more of the pendent splints after
they leave the roller thus destroying the utility of said splints as they must be cut
or torn apart after drying with the danger of exploding in so doing. To correct
this defect a comb 37 is provided. This comb is mounted on a rotatable shaft 38
that is journaled in the walls of the receptacle 39; said receptacle being mounted
on one of the carrier guide supports. The shaft 38 is provided with a belt
wheel 40 that is connected to a belt wheel 41 on the power shaft by a belt 42.
The extreme outer end of the shaft 38 is mounted in a support 43 attached to
base 1.
A suitable brush 44 is mounted in an inverted position in the bottom of the
receptacle 39 so that as the comb 37 revolves its teeth will pass through the
bristles of said brush and be cleaned; a suitable amount of water or other liquid
being placed in the receptacle to assist in said cleaning of the comb. The operating
connections of the comb are so arranged that it makes a revolution between each set
of splints in the perforated plates as said splints reach a position over the same and
the teeth of said comb cut or wipe away the soft material that may be connecting
the heads of the several splints.
The upper periphery of the vat 4 may be provided with a horizontal flange if so
desired. The preferable composition for use in the vat 4 consists of chlorate of
potash and phosphorus. This, as is well known, is violently explosive, unless
combined with a filler for separating the fine explosive particles. The preferred
filler is ground glass or whiting or a suitable combiuation of the two. The above
ingredients are suspended in glue or other adhesive substance in the vat, by
agitation. It is very desirable to keep the composition in constant motion as
otherwise the several ingredients that compose the same will separate as they make
only a mechanical mixture of elements of varying specific gravity. This constant
agitation is fully provided for by the revolving vat with stationary agitators or
breakers and roller between the latter.
It is absolutely necessary in the manufacture of matches that certain proportions
of each ingredient be used, for it too much filler is used the match becomes slow or
will not light at all, while if too little filler is used the match becomes explosive
and dangerous. To maintain the exact proportion of parts throughout the whole
thick mass in the vat the constant agitation is not only necessary but is essential.
By the use of the comb 37 my correspondents are enabled to place the splints
very near together in the endless carrier which is of course a great advantage as
more splints can be headed or tipped at a time. In practice the tank 3 is very
nearly filled with water. This water is heated by the steam pipe and in turn
heats the revolving vat to a uniform temperature throughout and thus keeps the
glue in a soft condition best suited for the work. The steam pipe is connected
to any suitable source of supply.

page_text: The top plate 1 of the splint machine is provided with horizontal grooved
guides 45 through which the slat or perforated chain 46 passes and is guided.
The
This slat form of chain consists of bars or slats 36 arranged in pairs and provided
with a link 47, near each end. These links are provided at each end with heads 48
and pins 49, whereby such links can be united into a flexible chain_as seen.
lower heads of the said links serve as bearings for a spring 50. This spring has
slotted ends 1 which bear upon the heads 48 of the links while the middle part of
the spring is fastened to one of the slats 36, and thus one slat is pressed against
the adjoining one which bears against the heads 48 of the links 47. Opposite the
grooves of the comb plate O the slats 36 are bevelled or provided with oblique
surfaces 51 forming V-shaped grooves in the slats whereby the splints can be
easily forced in between said slats by the upward movement of the cutter.
As the endless chain moves forward after receiving the cut splints it passes over
a series of flues 52 that are heated by means of a furnace 53, and the lower ends of
the splints are thus heated. A vat 54 is arranged just above a portion of the
heating flues or may be built into the same. Rollers 55 55 depress the endless
carrier just above this vat so that the splints carried by said carrier are dipped into
the melted paraffin contained in said vat. A blower 56 is arranged at a suitable
point beyond the vat 54 so as to discharge a blast against the paraffin coated splints
in such a manner as to remove any surplus paraffin adhering to the outside of the
dipped ends of the splints. The endless carrier then passes over the heading
machine as before described.
The endless chain or carrier passes about suitable supporting arms 57 after
leaving the beading machine and is of sufficient length to allow the matches to
remain in the machine until the glue in composition becomes set hard enough to
avoid their sticking together, before they are removed from the carrier by a
hammer 58 operating horizontally by means of a cam connection with the moving
parts of the machine. This hammer strikes the uuheaded ends of the splints and
drives them from the endless carrier in a horizontal position. As the splints fall
from the carrier they are caught on a horizontal endless belt 59 upon which they
rest laterally. As the said belt 59 moves forward the splints on the same come
in contact with the lower edge of a baffle plate, and said splints are thus piled up
on said plate with the heads all at the same end. The splints are removed from
this plate and boxed.
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 correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a match making machine, the combination with a match splint forming
machine, an endless carrier for receiving the splints from said machine, and a
machine for applying the explosive composition to said splints; said machine
comprising a rotatable composition vat and a distributing roller dipping into the
same but journaled independently of it, substantially as described.
2. In a match making machine, the combination with a splint machine comprising
a laterally reciprocating feed box, feed rollers mounted in the same, a slide
carrying cutters adapted to cut the splints from the blocks fed forward by the
feed rollers, an endless splint carrier adapted to receive the splints from the above
machine, and a machine for applying the explosive composition to said splints,.
substantially as described.
3. In a match machine, the combination with a splint forming machine,
an endless carrier adapted to receive the cut splints, means for drying said splints
and applying paraffin to their ends, a machine for applying an explosive composition
to the ends of the splints, devices for removing the splints from the endless carrier,
and an endless belt for catching said splints and piling them up against an
obstructing plate whereby they can be readily removed, substantially as described.
4. In a match machine, the combination with a splint machine comprising a
laterally reciprocating feed box, feed rollers mounted in the same, a slide carrying

page_text: cutters adapted to cut the splints from a block fed forward by the feed rollers, of
an endless carrier adapted to receive the cut splints, and a machine for applying the
explosive composition to said splints; said machine comprising a rotatable com-
position vat and a distributing roller dipping into the same but journaled
independently of it, substantially as described.
5. In a match machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of a laterally
reciprocating feed box, fluted feed rollers mounted in the same and geared
together so as to revolve in opposite directions, a cam and lever for reciprocating
said box, a pawl for revolving the feed rollers with a step by step motion, a cam
on the power shaft, a lever for connecting said pawl and cam, a slide carrying cutters
adapted to cut the splints from the blocks fed forward by the fluted rollers,
and a spring pressed accommodating plate, a comb plate mounted in the same and
adapted to bear upon the block from which the splints are to be cut, substantially
as described.
6. In a match machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of a laterally
reciprocating feed box, of feed rollers, a slide carrying cutters, a spring pressed
accommodating plate, a comb plate mounted in said accommodating plate and
having grooves wide at the bottom and narrow at the top and adapted to receive
the cut splints and guide them to a holder, and means for operating the slides and
rollers, substantially as described.
7. In a match machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of a laterally
reciprocating feed box, of feed rollers, reciprocating cutters, a spring pressed
accommodating plate, and a comb mounted in said accommodating plate and having
grooves large enough to admit the cutters at one end and reduced to nearly the
diameter of the cut splints at the other end, substantially as described.
8. In a match machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of a laterally
reciprocating feed box, feed rollers, reciprocating cutters, a spring pressed
accommodating plate and a comb plate mounted in the same and bearing upon the
block from which the splints are cut and adapted to receive and guide the cut
splints from the time they are cut until they are deposited in the perforated belt,
substantially as described.
9. In a match machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of a laterally
reciprocating feed box, feed rollers, reciprocating cutters, an accommodating plate
mounted on said feed box and having pendent stems and a horizontal groove, a
spring surrounding said stems to hold said plate normally down, and a comb plate
mounted in the groove of said accommodating plate, the construction being such
that the accommodating plate can move laterally independent of the comb plate but
must move vertically therewith, substantially as described.
10. In a match machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of a feed box,
feed rollers, shafts mounted in the box and carrying the rollers and provided with
longitudinal grooves and annular grooves, keys in the longitudinal grooves and
connecting the shafts and rollers, a removable key for fitting into the annular
grooves of both of said shafts and engaging one side of the said box and preventing
said shafts from moving longitudinally independent of said box, and a slide carrying
cutters, substantially as described.
11. In a match machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of a laterally
reciprocating feed box, feed rollers, reciprocating cutters, a vertically movable
accommodating plate carried by the feed box, and a comb plate fixed against
lateral movement but movable vertically with the accommodating plate, substantially
as described.
12. In a match machine, the combination of a suitable frame, a composition
agitator rotatably mounted upon the same, stationary agitating blades projecting
into the composition, a distributing roller mounted independently of the said
agitator and extending into the composition, devices for bringing the match splints
into contact with the said roller, and means for operating said roller, agitator and
splint carrying devices, substantially as described."
13. In a match machine, the combination of a suitable frame, a stationary heating

page_text: tank mounted upon the same, a composition vat rotatably mounted within the same,
a distributing roller mounted independently of the vat and extending into the
same, devices for bringing the match splints into contact with said roller and
means for operating said vat, roller and splint carrying devices, substantially as
described.
14. In a match machine, the combination of a rotatable vat, splint carriers above
the vat, rotatable means for taking up and applying the composition to the heads
of the splints, and a rotatable comb adapted to have its teeth move between the
splints and cut the heads apart while still wet, substantially as described.
15. In a match machine, the combination with a suitable frame, a water tank
mounted on the same, means for heating the water in said tank, a rotatable vat
mounted in said tank, a distributing roller mounted independently of the vat and
extending into the same, devices for bringing the splints into contact with said
roller, and means for operating said vat and roller, substantially as described.
16. In a match machine, the combination with a suitable frame, a rotatable vat
mounted in the same, agitating means in said vat, a distributor for carrying the
composition in said vat to the match splints, and means for operating said vat and
distributor, substantially as described.
17. In a match machine, the combination of a suitable frame, a hot water tank, a
rotatable vat, a distributing roller, a splint carrier, a rotatable comb for separating
the heads of the matches while still wet, and means for cleaning said comb,
substantially as described.
18. In a match machine, the combination of a suitable frame, a splint carrier,
a hot water tank, a rotatable vat, a distributing roller below the carrier, an
adjustable scraper for varying the amount of composition fed to the splints,
substantially as described.
19. A match machine provided with stationary agitators or breakers arranged
in a composition vat and at suitable points in respect to a distributing roller which
takes up and applies the composition to the heads of the splints.
Dated the 12th day of March 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.