Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1896
We, JOHN MAYNES and CHARLES LEESE WATCHURST of 14 Temple
Chambers in the County of London Engineers do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to improvements in machinery for the manufacture of
firelighters in which several bars of wood are joined together by other bars tongues
or strips of wood placed in grooves formed in their ends in the line of the grain of
the wood or in grooves made transversely across the bars at right angles to the
grain; the joining bars, strips and tongues being also in some cases formed with
grooves. The machinery now particularly to be described will be that intended
for making the form of firelighter squares which have by preference five bars of
wood joined together by strips or tongues driven into grooves cut in each end of
the bars in the line of the grain; although with suitable modifications it may be
adapted for the manufacture of the other varieties above mentioned.
Each firelighter is made from a single block of wood (which may itself be made
of one or more pieces) which is prepared by sawing to such a size that the bars
and strips required to form it may be cut from the block without waste. Most of
the operations to be described are carried out upon a table top mounted upon
suitable framework and standards which also carry the driving and cam shafts and
other required connections.
The wood blocks are placed upon a suitable travelling chain or belt, the sprocket
wheel of which is fixed in bearings upon the table top. When the blocks arrive
at the top of the vertical diameter of the same they pass under a shroud or flexible
band which retains them in contact with the chain and wheel while they move
with the latter to the under side of it, when the block drops to a lower position.
From that position each block is moved away by means of a sliding piece (actuated
by a lever in connection with a cam fixed by preference on a shaft mounted in
bearings situated at the back portion of the lower framing of the machine) until
it arrives on to a part of the table situated above certain saws which are presently
described. During the above mentioned travel of the block it makes contact with
two suitably placed and driven horizontal saws or cutters mounted on the same
spindle, which are caused, the one to cut a groove the length of one side of the
block along a line at about one half of its depth, and the other to trim the top edge
of the block. The block is suitably guided and supported during its passage past
the saws, and is pressed on its top and on its off side by rollers controlled by
springs which keep it in the desired alignment. The path of travel of the wood
block is situated above certain pushing rods to be presently mentioned, but at the
end of its travel it falls down over the ends of these to a lower elevation resting
then upon the table top. At this point spring rollers press the block against a
guard or fence fixed on the same side as the horizontal saws, whilst a holding down
plate is pressed upon the top of the block, both the spring rollers and holding
down plate being controlled in their movements by levers connected with suitably
placed cams. The guard or fence is provided with a sliding tongue piece which is
caused, by connections actuated from a cam preferably mounted upon the chain
wheel spindle before mentioned, to enter into the groove previously cut in the wood
block, and to cover the trimmed edge of it.

page_text: The wood block, as thus fixed, is directly over the slots of a grid which is sunk
into the table top. A gang of, by preference five, circular saws is mounted on a
spindle revolving in bearings formed in brackets situated below the table top, all
which are caused to rise by connections with a cam suitably placed, raising the
saws through the grid, and so dividing the wood block above it in the direction of
its length into a number of bars, that is, producing five thick bars and two thin
strips of about half the width and depth of the thick ones (the thin piece being
separated into two by means of the groove previously cut in that side of the block).
The arms of the saw bearings may be made adjustable so as to allow for wear of
the saws.
The sawn bars may be numbered for convenience of description consecutively
from 1 to 5. After being sawn the two thin strips together with the alternate
thick bars 1. 3. 5 are pushed forward from between the saws. Each of the strips
is pushed into a holder or arm attached to the top of a vertical spindle mounted in
suitable bearings. The holders, when in position to receive the strips, are end on
and one above the other and are provided with spring pieces to hold the strips
tightly. The three bars 1. 3. 5 are first pushed under or between a corresponding
number of droppers or guides and then are moved further into grooves made in
the surface of a moveable carriage. During the latter part of this movement the
remaining two alternate bars 2. 4 are also pushed between or under similarly
situated droppers or guides to those before mentioned. As soon as the bars 1. 3. 5
are in the grooves of the moveable carriage it is moved a certain distance in a
direction at right angles to the plane of the saws. Concurrently with this motion
the holders, as above mentioned, carrying the strips, are rotated outwards round
their axes, so that they are brought into a position at right angles (being situated
across the ends) to the thick bars. These actions completed, the two bars 2. 4,
beneath or between the droppers or guides are then drawn into a position on the
moveable carriage parallel to the other bars 1. 3. 5, the carriage being then caused
to travel a further distance in the same direction as before; after which operations
there will be five thick bars alongside of each other with spaces between each
and with thin strips lying across the ends of them. In this position they are
underneath a framework called a "hand." These motions are effected as follows:-
In order to push forward the strips and bars from between the saws, a sliding
block is arranged in the table top with bars projecting from it, and which is caused
to move in the required manner in contact with the ends of the wood bars, or to
reciprocate by attachment to levers suitably connected to and actuated by cams.
The projecting bars intended to move the wood bars 2. 4 are shorter than the
others, by which means the difference in their travel is regulated. The two
bars 2. 4 are drawn from under or between the drop or other guides by latches or
hooks attached to another sliding piece which is moved by levers actuated from a
The surface of the moveable carriage into which the bars are pushed is
divided by vertical projections into five spaces, and the whole is mounted in slides
so as to be able to be moved in the required direction by a reciprocating motion
given through suitable connections from a cam. The spindles of the strip holders
are fitted with bevel wheels at their lower parts gearing with a corresponding
wheel which is caused to oscillate as required by means of, preferably spring and
lever connections actuated from a cam, by which the strip holders may be rotated
as before described. This being done, the strip holders are lifted up to the hand
which is effected by levers actuated from a cam, engaging with suitable attachments
on their spindles.
cam.
The bars and strips have now to be lifted into the "hand" which is a framework
mounted on slides and able to be moved in a direction parallel to but at a higher
elevation than the plane of travel of the aforementioned moveable carriage. The
wood bars are raised into vertical spaces in the under part of the hand by means
of an horizontal arm or fork situated in the opening of the table in which the
moveable carriage travels, and over which the wood bars have been caused to pass,
the fork with its vertical spindle being raised, preferably, by a spring link and

page_text: levers suitably actuated from a cam. The strips being also raised as before
described are pushed or transferred into knife-edged prong holders mounted on
either side of the hand. The wood bars having been lifted are thereupon gripped
laterally by spring fingers mounted upon a sliding frame in the hand which, moving
in conjunction with suitable stops or pegs and springs gives to the fingers the
desired degree of pressure against the wood bars. The hand is supported and
slides upon two bars, one of which passes through the boss of a cam mounted on
the hand, and being turned by suitable connections from a cam imparts motion by
clutches to the cam upon it, and so to the sliding frame of the hand for the purpose
above mentioned: or alternatively the cam may be moved direct if the bar which
passes through it is square in section.
The band is now moved a certain distance along its supporting slide bars (which
is effected through suitable links and levers actuated from a cam) and passes
between horizontal saws or cutters suitably mounted on either side of it, so that
grooves will be cut in the projecting ends of the wood bars as they pass the saws.
Arrived at the end of its travel the hand is made to dwell, while the pronged strip
holders on it are turned down through 90° so as to bring the strips in a line
with and adjacent to the saw grooves cut in the wood bars, the turning motion being
effected from a cam through the medium of the second slide bar on which the
hand moves connecting with gearing mounted upon the hand.
The strips being thus in position, hammers on either side are caused, by the
release given by a cam to springs suitably linked to the hammer shafts, to move
quickly inwards and drive the strips into the ends of the wood bars thus binding
them together. The spring fingers in the hand are then released from the wood
bars, and the firelighter drops out, assisted by a fork actuated from the same motion
that releases the spring fingers. The parts of the hand below the binding strips of
the firelighter are cut away, but in order to support the wood bars at these points
while the saw grooves are being cut we attach or pivot, in the interior of the hand,
hanging pieces on either side which are able to move out and fill up the said vacant
spaces, being moved away when the firelighter requires to drop out, the movement
of the hanging pieces being controlled by the gearing that moves the prong holders.
While the hand is moving over the last small portion of its travel in approaching
the hammer position it is caused to touch and move aside an arm secured to a
vertical axis, by which means another arm on the lower part of the axis may
disengage a stop from between the hammer shafts. If from any cause the hand
should not complete its travel, the stop will remain engaged and prevent the
hammers from striking.
A sliding carriage to which reciprocating motion is given by suitable gearing
from a cam is caused to receive and hold the firelighter as it is discharged from the
hand, and to carry it away some distance from that point. A gripper-head mounted
on the end of an arm (which is fixed to and moves with a vertical spindle to which
motion of revolution is given by suitable gearing) is then brought over the
firelighter so that the grippers pass between the wood bars of it, and being suddenly
released catch onto and carry the firelighter round in a circular path with them-
selves, the grippers being controlled by the action of aliding pieces, springs and
stops moving in contact with a cam or wiper surface.
A trough containing hot liquid resin is placed concentrically with but at a lower
elevation than the path of the firelighter, and as the latter moves over the trough
it is given an up-and-down, or if preferred an end-on-end tilting, action, so that it
enters into and gets suitably smeared with resin. The dipping action is given
through the medium of compound lever or hinge connections, arranged as part of
the gripper-head, being actuated by a suitably placed cam or wiper surface. The
resin trough (which is provided with an overflow) is kept supplied with resin from
a pump, or by means of a flow in pipes connected with a central boiler or resevoir,
or by a combination of these methods. Gas burners or other suitable heating
mediums are arranged where necessary to preserve the required temperature in the
pan and pipes. The overflow valve is connected with the striking fever so that it

page_text: may be opened when the machine is stopped. After being smeared the firelighter
is released from the grippers, and is carried away, preferably, by a travelling chain
or belt.
We arrange on the acting levers, preferably, of the moving parts, disengagement
mechanisms which are caused to be released or to break joint respectively should
any obstruction to the smooth working of the machine occur at any part; and we
may further cause any such disengagement as may occur to connect either directly
or indirectly with the striking lever so that on the obstruction taking place the
driving belt will be struck and the machine automatically stopped. These various
applications are duplicates of each other, except for such modificatious as may be
necessitated by their variation of position, and therefore the description of one set
will serve to describe all.
A spring is connected to the striking lever so that the driving belt shall be kept
on the loose pulley except when it is otherwise moved away, and then retained by
means of a catch lever. When the axis of the catch lever is turned, either by the
attendant, or through the operation of the said disengagement mechanisms, the
catch will be released, and the spring striking bar will shift the belt, and the same
action may also bring a brake into operation in order to stop the machine quickly.
The disengagement or break joints on the various motions are effected, preferably,
by constructing the acting levers at each place of two parts which are connected
and sustained together as one by the pressure of a spring catch, the one part of
the lever being moved by the cam, and the other linked to the mechanism to be
moved, but on an obstruction taking place and preventing the motion of the latter,
the spring junction will be released and the two parts of the acting lever will
separate. By means of suitable chains or links this separation may cause a pull to
be made directly so as to turn the axis of the striking catch lever, with the above
mentioned result of stopping the machine. In another way, the mechanisms to be
moved may be connected by gearing, chains or links to respective notch bars or
notch or quadrant plates with the object that if the motions are properly completed,
the "feeler" next to be described will enter into the notches causing no derange-
ment, but that if the motions are not completed the feeler will be obstructed and
will cause the movement of the striking catch lever and stoppage of the machine.
On the axis preferably of the striking catch lever another lever is secured placed
vertically downwards onto the bottom end of which a third lever is hung, an inter-
mediate point of which is also attached to or in connection with a plunger rod or
feeler before mentioned. A cam is caused to wipe against the lower end of the
last mentioned lever at suitable times corresponding with the motions of the
mechanisms with which they are respectively in connection, and by doing so it
moves or attempts to move the plunger or feeler.
Should the latter enter the notch, no further result will take place, but if in
consequence of an obstruction happening to the moving mechanism, the plunger or
feeler is blocked, the said plunger will form a temporary fulcrum for the lever
when the cam should wipe its bottom end, and thus the latter would be moved and
impart a turning motion at its top end to the lever on the striking catch lever axis,
and so cause the belt to be shifted as before described. For a similar purpose of
safety of action the moving part may move a notch plate, into the gaps of which a
latch may drop on the due completion of each motion. Failing this a part con-
nected with the latch will be interposed in front of a knocking piece which will then
move it through a certain distance, and by the medium of suitable levers and links
will be made to shift the striking catch lever aforesaid. As a further alternative
the cam or wheels respectively may be driven by a clutch or coupling kept up to
its place by the pressure of a spring which will yield on the occurrence of any
undue resistance; and the consequent differential angular and end movement taking
place between the two parts of the clutch or coupling is caused to pull a chain or
links suitably arranged, and so move the striking catch lever and shift the belt.
Where the return or releasing motions of the parts described are not effected

page_text: through the medium of the cams, we intend to use suitable springs or counter-
weights for that purpose where they may be necessary.
The cycle of operations is continuous, and one firelighter is intended to be
finished for each revolution of the cam shafts.
Dated this Sixteenth day of March 1896.
JOHN MAYNES.
CHARLES L. WATCHURST.
Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Firelighters.
We, JOHN MAYNES, and CHARLES LEESE WATCHURST, both of 14 Temple
Chambers, in the County of London, Engineers, 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 machinery for the manufacture of
firelighters, in which several bars of wood are joined together by other bars,
tongues or strips of wood, placed in grooves formed in their ends in the line of the
grain of the wood, or in grooves made transversely across the bars at right angles
to the grain; the joining bars, strips and tongues being also in some cases formed
with grooves.
The machinery now particularly to be described, and which is illustrated in the
accompanying seven sheets of drawings, will be that intended for making from a
single block, Fig. 1, the form of firelighter squares, Fig. 2, which have by preference
five bars of wood joined together by strips or tongues driven into grooves cut in
each end of the bars in the line of the grain; although with suitable modifications
it may be adapted for the manufacture of the other varieties above mentioned.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figs. 1 and 2 are isometric views of the block and firelighter respectively;
Fig. 3 is the side elevation of the machine; Fig. 9 is a front elevation; Fig. 12
is a plan; and Fig. 16 is a back elevation.
The other figures, some of which are drawn to an enlarged scale, represent
details which will be referred to their proper order in the course of this
specification.
Each firelighter is made from a single block of wood (which may itself be made
up of one or more pieces) which is prepared by sawing to such a size that the bars
and strips required to form the firelighter may be cut from the block without
waste. Most of the operations to be described are carried out upon a table top A,
mounted upon a suitable bed plate B carried by standards CD; which also carry
the driving shaft E, front cam shaft F, bottom cam shaft G, back cam shaft H,
and top spindle and cam shaft J, and other required connections. All of these
shafts are suitably supported in bearings of the usual description mounted in the
framework and on the table top, and driven at the required speeds by trains of
spur and bevel gearing deriving motion of revolution from the driving pulley K
placed upon the shaft E.
The wood blocks are placed upon a suitable travelling chain or belt 1, the
sprocket wheel 2 of which, Figs. 3 and 16, is mounted on the spindle J. When
the blocks, travelling in the direction of the arrow, arrive at the top of the vertical
diameter of the wheel 2, they pass under a shroud or cover 3, or it may be a flexible
band, which retains them in contact with the chain and wheel while they move
with the latter to the underside of it, when the block drops to a lower position, the

page_text: block at this point in Fig. 3 being shown shaded. From that position the block
is moved away by a sliding piece 4 (which is actuated to-and-fro by a compound
lever 5, 6 in connection with a cam 7 mounted on the shaft G, the sliding piece 4
moving in slides 5", Figs. 3 and 16, upon the table top A) until it reaches a part
of the table situate above certain saws 8 to be presently described. The sliding
piece 4 is shown in plan in Fig. 4 on an enlarged scale. Three sets of horizontal
saws or cutters 9, 10, 11 (see Figs. 3 and 12) are mounted above the table, their
spindles 12 being suitably supported in bearings there, and extending to footstep
bearings 13 at a lower elevation, where also are placed their driving pulleys 14,
round which, preferably, a rope passes driven from countershafting in any usual or
convenient manner. During the above mentioned travel of the block it makes
contact with the set of two horizontal saws or cutters 9 on the same spindle which
are arranged at such a distance apart that the one will cut a groove a in the block
the length of one side at about one half of its depth, Fig. 1, and the other will
trim the top edge of the block as may be necessary. A suitable fence guides the
block in this travel past the saws, such block being pressed on its top by rollers 15
mounted on a bell-crank lever 16 controlled by the spring 17; and on its off side
by a set of spring rollers 18 Fig. 12 which are shown on an enlarged scale in
Fig. 21.
The path of travel of the wood block is above or on a certain slide 19 and
pushing rods 20 to be presently described, but at the end of its travel it falls down
over the ends of these to a lower elevation resting then upon the table top, as in
Fig. 4 where the divided block is shown clear of the rods. (In Fig. 3, the said
rods 20 are shown occupying this position, but in the course of their motion they
are moved to the right, which will leave the necessary space clear above the
saws 8). At this point spring rollers 21, controlled by the cam 22, through the
medium of the lever 23, Figs. 12, 21, (they are omitted in Fig. 3 for the sake of
clearness,) press the block against a guard or fence 24, Figs. 3, 12, 13, 14, while a
holding down plate 25 supported on the bent lever 26 and controlled by a cam 27
is brought down and pressed up the top of the block, a spring (not shown) being
suitably connected for this purpose to the lever 26. The guard or fence 24 is
shown in detail on an enlarged scale in Figs. 13, 14. It is formed of a bracket 24
which is bolted to the table top, the edge of it forming a fence for the block
(which is shown part shaded in end view Fig. 14). Upon this is a sliding tongue
piece 28, so connected to and moved by the links 29 and levers 30 from the can 31
on spindle J that the projecting tongues shall respectively enter into the groove
cut in the side of the wood block, and cover the trimmed top edge of it.
The wood block, as thus fixed, is directly over the slots of a grid plate which is
sunk into the table top. A gang of, by preference five, circular saws 8 (see plan
view, Fig. 15) is mounted on a spindle 32 revolving in bearings formed in a
bracket 33 which is pivoted at 34 on the standard D Fig. 3. The bracket 33 is
caused to rise and carry the saws upwards through the grid slots by means of the
upright (and adjustable) bar 35, which is connected to the bracket by the rod 36
on which it is pivoted at its top end, and to a cam (36" shown in dotted lines) on
shaft G at its bottom end. The rod 35 has a guide fork 35" at its lower end to
keep it in line as it is operated by the cam. The saw spindle 32 is driven from
the pulley 38 in any usual or convenient manner. The saws are thus caused to cut
through the wood block above them, dividing them in the direction of its length
into a number of bars, that is, producing five thick bars and two thin strips of
about one half the width and depth of the thick ones (the thin pieces being
separated into two by means of the groove a shown in Fig. 1 previously cut in
that side of the block). The bottom tongue of the tongue plate 28 will form the
support for the top half strip when thus sawn, and the tongue plate as a whole is
held down by the spring 39, which will however allow it to rise with the block,
should the saws from any cause, accident or otherwise, lift the block instead of
cutting it.
The sawn bars, Fig. 4, are numbered for convenience of description consecutively

page_text: from 1 to 5. After being sawn the two thin strips, together with the alternate
thick bars 1, 3, 5 are pushed forward from between the saws. Each of the strips
(the one of which lies above the other) is pushed into a holder or arm 40, 41
respectively Figs. 9, 12, 22, 23, 24, (the latter three figures being drawn on an
enlarged scale), attached to the top of vertical spindles 42 mounted in suitable
bearings. The holders when in position to receive the strips, are end on and one
above the other as in Fig. 24 (the strips entering in the direction of the arrow
Fig. 24) and are each provided with pivoted pieces 43 to hold the strips tightly by
means of the springs 43 against a bent metal plate 43. The three bars 1, 3, 5,
are first pushed between a corresponding number of guides 44 fixed in the table
top, and shown on an enlarged scale in Figs. 44, 6, 7, (Fig. 4 being in a relative
position to Fig. 4) and are then moved further into grooves 45, Fig. 10, made in
the surface of a grooved carriage 46. During the latter part of this movement
the remaining two alternate bars 2, 4, are also pushed between the similar and
companion fixed guides 44 to those before mentioned. As soon as the bars 1, 3, 5,
are in the first three (left hand) grooves of the grooved carriage 46, Fig. 10, the
latter is moved a certain distance at right angles to the plane of the saws 8, the
position then being that shown in Fig. 10. Concurrently with this the strip
holders 40, 41, are rotated outwards round their axes, so that the strips are brought
into a position at right angles (being situated across the ends) to the three thick
bars. This position is that shown in Figs. 9, 10, 12, 22, 23. These actions being
completed, the two bars 2, 4, between the fixed guides 44 are then drawn into the
right hand end grooves of the grooved carriage 46, in a position parallel to the
other bars 1, 3, 5, and the carriage is then caused to travel a further distance in
the same direction as before; after which operations there will be five thick bars
alongside of each other with spaces between each, and with thin strips lying across
the ends of them. In this position they are underneath a framework 47 called a
"hand" or top carriage, which at that time is at the right hand extremity of its
travel; in Figs. 9, 12 it is shown at about the middle of its travel. These motions
are effected as follows:-
In order to push forward the wood strips and bars from between the saws 8 a
sliding block 19, Figs. 3, 4, 12, is mounted in slides 48 (shown in end view in
Fig. 16) arranged in the table top. The sliding block 19, Fig. 4, has bars 20
mounted on and projecting from it, (a cross section of which is shown in Fig. 5),
which are all caused to move forward in contact with the ends of the strips and
bars, and to return, by being attached by the link 49 to the compound lover 50, 51,
which is controlled by a cam mounted on shaft G placed in front of cam 36". The
projecting bars 20 intended to move the wood bars 1, 3, 5 as also the bars 20°, 20°,
to move the strips (which latter are arranged in double tier, and angle shaped for
purposes of strength) are of one length and push the strips and bars to the end of
the motion as described, but the projecting bars to move the wood bars 2, 4 are
shorter than the others, and, in movement, leave the said wood bars between the
fixed guides 44 only, at which time they are under the two hooks 52, more clearly
shown in the detached views Figs. 8 and 44. A sliding piece or angle plate 53 on
which these hooks or latches are mounted slides in the bracket 54, and is controlled
in its movements by the compound lever 55, 56 which is joined by the link 57 to
the lever 58 Fig. 3 in connection with the cam 59. The end of this lever as well
as the levers 5 and 50 (are on the centre X). The surface of the grooved
carriage 46, Fig. 10, into which the wood bars are pushed is divided by vertical
projections into five grooves 45, and the whole slides in dovetail grooves bin a
bracket 60 bolted to the under side of the table, Fig. 23, so as to be able to be
moved in the required direction by a reciprocating motion given through the
link 61 lever 62 and bevel segmeut pinion 63, which last in its turn is moved by
the bevel segment wheel 64 mounted on the compound lever 65, 66 in contact with
the cam 67 on the same boss as cam 81, Fig. 22, hereafter referred to. The
spindles 42 of the strip holders 40, 41, Figs. 22, 23, 24, are each fitted at their
lower parts with a boss arm 68 in which is secured a carrier pin 69 which passes

page_text: through and is mored by the quadrant bevel pinions 70. The two bevel pinions 70
on each side gear with the double bevel segment 71 carried by arm 71 which is
caused to oscillate as required by connections through links 72 (preferably spring
links as shown) attached to levers 73 the rollers 73 of which are in contact with
the cams 74 on shaft F. The other ends of the spring links 72 are connected to
pins 72, 72, at the extremities of a cross head 72 attached to the arm 71. By
these means the strip holders may be rotated round their axes as before
described.
The bars and strips have now to be lifted into the "hand" 47, which is a frame-
work mounted on slide bars 75-76 and able to be moved in a direction parallel to
but at a higher elevation than the plane of travel of the grooved carriage 46.
The "hand" and details thereof is shown on an enlarged scale in Figs. 25 to 34,
where Figs. 25, 26, 27 are front and side elevations and plan respectively; Fig. 28
shows the interior slide and fingers; and Fig. 29 is a side view of the prong
bolders.
The five wood bars are raised into vertical spaces in the under side of the
"hand" (which correspond with the spaces of the grooved carriage 46) by means
of a horizontal arm or fork 77, Figs. 10, 22, situated in the opening of the table
in which the grooved carriage 46 travels, and over which the projecting ends of the
wood bars have been caused to pass. The fork 77 is attached to a spindle 78,
Fig. 22, which is able to be raised by the spring link 79 attached to the table and
to an arm 78 carried by the spindle; a sleeve 80 in contact with a cam 81 through
a roller 80 carried by said sleeve being also mounted on the spindle 78 and tied
thereto by the spring 82; so that the cam may lower the whole arrangement to its
first place after having been raised, the spring 82 being intended to stretch in case
of obstruction to the motion. The strip holders 40, 41, are also raised as next
described, pushing or transferring the strips into knife-edged prong holders 83
Figs. 25, 26, 29, mounted on either side of the "hand" on spindles 83, 83", the
outer prongs of which in straddling the strips enter the cleared spaces 84 in the
strip holders 40, 41, Fig. 24. A front view of the strip holder lifting arrangement
is shown in Fig. 22 and a side view in Fig. 3, and it is also seen in Figs. 9, 12.
It consists of a vertical bar 85 which can be pushed down by a cam 86 bearing on
a roller 86 on the bar. Said bar is guided in bracket bearings 87, 88 and to
avoid the shaft F is cranked as shown in Fig. 3 aud is connected at its lower end
by means of the sleeve 89 and links 90 to the pair of double ended levers 91
pivoted on the bracket 87. These levers respectively carry at their other ends
hooks 92 which can make contact with the studs or pins 93 fixed in the bosses 68
attached to the lower ends of the strip holder spindles 42. When therefore the
levers 91 are moved by the cam 86 the hooks 92 will raise the strip holders as
desired. As the strip holders are not originally at the same height (one being above
the other) the hooks 92 are made of correspondingly different lengths, so that
in rising, the motion of the strips shall end equally. The sleeve 89 is connected or
secured to the vertical bar by a spring catch 94, which will be overcome so as to
disconnect the bar 85, cam 86, and motion in case of obstruction.
The "hand" 47 is provided on either side with sleeves or bushes 95, 96, Fig. 26,
which form the bearings on which it slides on the bars 75, 76. These sleeves 95, 96
are made with collars carrying clutch teeth 97, 98, 99 which engage respectively at
either end with clutches 100, 101, 102 mounted on the slide bara Figs. 9, 11, 12.
The clutches 100, 101 on the slide bar 75 are able to be moved by means of lever
connections 103, 104 Figs. 3, 9, 12 by the cam 105 on shaft F and when the clutch
teeth on the "hand" are in contact with either of them respectively the sleeve 95
of the "hand" carrying the cam 106 upon it may be moved as desired. This cam 106
makes contact with a double legged lever 107 pivoted at 108 the inner leg of which
lever is connected by a link 109 to the sliding piece 110 Fig. 28 mounted in the "hand."
When the wood bars have been raised into the "hand" the end movement of the sliding
piece 110 effected from the cam 106 causes the spring fingers 111 to grip the wood
bars laterally and hold them securely. This is effected as follows:-Two sets of

page_text: fingers 111 are arranged for each bar, Fig. 26, and the ten, with their springs, are
mounted and carried on the sliding piece 110. Pins 112, Figs. 25, 28 are secured
in both sides of the "hand" so as to make contact with the fingers 111. When
the sliding piece 110 is moved in the direction of the arrow Fig. 28, the fingers
tend to be moved away from their stop pins respectively and the springs 113 will
be compressed against the adjoining stop pins respectively, by the reaction of which
the springs will tend to press the fingers 111 back again as far as the wood bars
(which are shown shaded will allow the bottom ends of them to move, that is, the
wood hars will be tightly pressed against the dividing bars 114 of the "hand."
The "hand" is now moved to the left to the other end of its travel, this being
effected through the medium of the link 115 pivoted to a stud 115" and compound
lever 116, 117 which are connected to the top end of the vertical spindle 118
Figs. 10, 11. A lever 119 at the bottom end of this spindle is connected by the
link 119 Fig. 10 with the piece 120 (which slides in a dovetailed groove in the
slide 121) to the cam 122 mounted on the cam shaft G from which the necessary
motion is obtained. In the course of this travel of the "hand" it passes between
the horizontal saws or cutters 10, 11, Fig. 26, by which means grooves will be cut
in the projecting ends of the wood bars. Arrived at the end of its travel (at which
place the clutch tooth 99 on the other sleeve 96 makes contact with the clutch 102),
the "hand" is made to dwell, while the prong holders 83 with the strips are turned
down through 90 degrees as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 29 so as to bring the
strips in a line with and adjacent to the grooves just before cut in the wood bars.
The spindles of the prong holders 83 are turned by means of the connected pairs of
quadrant spur gearing 123, 123, 124, 124, the first of which 123 is mounted on the
clutch sleeve 96. They are steadied at the ends of their movement by the arms 83
mounted on the ends of the prong holder spindles through the action of the
springs 83°. An arm 102" on the clutch 102, Figs. 9, 11, 12, is connected by
the link 125 to the bell crank lever 126 a roller 126 carried by which bears
against the cam 127 on shaft F from which the primary motion for this action is
obtained.
The strips being thus in position, hammers 128 on either side are caused to move
quickly inwards and drive the strips into the ends of the wood bars, Fig. 11, thus binding
them together. The hammer shafts 129 are pivoted at their lower ends at 130 and
after being opened out by eams 131 pressing upon them at their middle points, they are
simultaneously released, and the springs 132 cause them to strike on the wood strips
in the required manner. The spring fingers 111 in the "haud" are then released
from the wood bars through the clutch 101 by reversing the motion of the lovers
which pressed them on, in the course of action of the cam 105, and the firelighter,
being then bound together, drops out, assisted by a fork or plunger 133, Figs. 26, 27.
This plunger fork 133 is hung on the end of an arm 134 by means of a link 134
which is placed upon the sleeve 95, a tooth 135, Figs. 26, 27, on the cam 106
engaging with a tooth 136 on the boss of the arm 134, so that when the cam 106 is
turned to release the spring fingers 111 it moves the arm of plunger 133 as
required.
While the "hand" is moving over the last small portion of its travel in
approaching the hammer position, it is caused to touch and move aside an arm 137,
Figs. 9, 11, secured to a vertical axis 138 by which means another arm 139
on the lower part of the axis ren.oves a stop piece 140 pivoted at 140* from between
the hammer shafts 129. If from any cause the hand should not complete its travel,
the stop 140 will remain engaged and prevent the hammers from striking.
A sliding compound carriage 141, 142 which is made up of an inner and an outer
part, Figs. 9, 35, 36, is arranged to receive and hold the firelighter as it is
discharged from the "hand" and to carry it away some distance from that place.
The compound carriage 141, 142 which slides upon the two bars 143 is reciprocated
by means of its connection with a chain 144 which passes round the two sprocket
wheels 145, 146. The wheel 145 is mounted upon one end of a spindle 147 which
carries a spur wheel 148 at its other end, it serving also as a pivot for the slide-
B

page_text: bars 143. The spur wheel 148 is turned by segmental rack 149 forming the end of
the compound lever 150, 151 a roller 151 on the part 151 making contact with the
cam 152. As the lever 150, 151 is moved to-and-fro by the cam, the chain and
wheels will be moved in either direction carrying the compound carriage 141, 142
from end to end of the slide bars 143 as required. The two ends of the chain are
attached to the carriage by the studs 144° 144° as shown. When approaching the
end of the slide bars, the whole arrangement is raised, by means of the lever 153
the roller 153" of which is in contact with the cam 154 so that the end of the lever
presses upon a lug 155 on the under side of a bracket 155 coupling the slide
bars 143, so that when the compound carriage 141, 142 is at the end of its travel
(i.e. when under the position where the firelighter is discharged from the "hand")
it is at a suitable distance from the bottom of the "band" to receive the firelighter
which is dropped upon its surface. The cam 154 then allows the carriage arrange-
ment to drop so as to clear the firelighter from the "hand." A clip plate 156 on
the inner part of the compound carriage 141 can approach a similar clip plate 157
on the outer one 142 under the pressure of the spring 158. The hooks 159
however can hold the two apart, and they are shown dropped down over the inner
carriage 141 with this object in Fig. 9. As the compound carriage approaches the
"hand" and is raised up to it as above described with the clips 156, 157 open, the
ends of the hooks pass over a projection 160 formed on the front of the "hand
Fig. 25, so that when the carriage 141, 142 drops with the firelighter upon it, the
hooks 159 are struck up and disengaged, and the clips 156, 157 are sprung together
thus holding a bar of the firelighter firmly, between them as shown in Fig. 35.
The compound carriage carrying the firelighter is then moved away to the left, to
the position shown in Figs. 9, 35, being raised also, preferably, to a level position.
A vertical shaft M suitably supported by the bracket N and the overhead
girder O is driven by bevel gearing P from the shaft F. On an upper part of the
shaft M a double ended gripper arm 162 Figs. 9, 12, 16 and 31, 32 is mounted,
which is thus caused to move round in a horizontal plane. Each of its outer ends
carries a gripper head consisting of a frame 163 in which is held an inner box 164
and the speed of the arm is so adjusted that one of these beads is brought over the
firelighter each time one of the latter is brought into the position on the compound
carriage 141, 142 last mentioned.
Figs. 30, 31, 32 represent the front and side elevations and plan view respectively;
Fig. 33 is drawn to show the action of the gripping picces in the inner box, with
the hinge and spindle removed; and Fig. 34 is a side view of the inner box.
The gripper head 163 is made up of an outer box 163 and an inner one 164.
The outer box is secured to the spindle 165 and is held up to the arm 162 by the
spring 166. The inner box is similarly hinged on the spindle 167 passing through
the other side of the outer box. By means of the arm 168 and links 169 the inuer
box is tied to the gripper arm 162. A lever and roller 170 on the end of the
spindle 165 is placed so as to be able to be pressed down by the cam 171 carried
by shaft M, the spindle 165 being supported in bearing studs 172 secured to the
gripper arm 162. The effect of the action of the cam 171 on these combined parts
will be to give a "parallel motion "vertically downwards to the free end of the
inner box, so that anything held by the grippers 173, 174, 175, 176 (e.g. the
firelighter) will be moved similarly. By a slight alteration of the parts, an
alternate tilting action can be given to the grippers, if preferred, instead of the
"parallel motion" downwards. As the arm 162 with the gripper head approaches
the firelighter secured on the compound carriage 141, 142, the grippers 173 to 176
have to open so as to pass between the wood bars until, when the centre lines of
the parts coincide, the grippers are quickly released and catch hold of the fire-
lighter bars. The grippers 173. to 176, Figs. 33, 34, are steel bits or blades
arranged in two sets or pairs, the blades being secured to bearing pieces 177 to 180
which are on spindles 181 to 184. Each bearing piece is placed on two spindles
for smoothness of motion, the pairs of spindles, preferably, being placed diagonally.
For instance the bearing piece iso Figs. 34 and 33 is carried on-the-spindles 182 184.

page_text: Each spindle has a reduced end but one end is of greater length than the other.
Taking the spindle 184 as an example of all it will be seen that the long reduced
end indicated in dotted lines on the left of Fig. 33 passes through the bearing
piece 179 without being fixed thereto through one of the sides of the box 164 and
out of same for a short distance, while the other end passes through the opposite
side of the box without a reduction in its size and carries on its short reduced end
the piece 180 the opposite end of which is supported as stated by the spindle 182
which is similarly shaped to 184 and passes through the other end of the bearing.
piece 179.
The spindles 181 and 183 are similarly shaped but their longer reluced ends are
on the opposite side and they pass through the bearing piece 177 while their
reduced ends pass into bearing piece 178. The inner bearing pieces 177, 179
carry roller 185 on their top side, which can be moved in the direction of the
arrows, respectively, as the gripper arm 162 in the course of its revolution pushes
the said rollers through or past the specially shaped cam sides 186, 187, which
cam pieces are secured to the overhead girder O, Fig. 9. By means of shoulders
on the spindles 181 to 184 formed by the reduced ends before referred to when the
bearing piece say 177 and its gripper blade 173 is moved to the left the outer
bearing piece 178 and blade 174 is moved the same amount in the same direction; and
similarly, when the bearing piece 179 and blade 175 is moved to the right, the other
outer bearing piece 180 and blade 176 is also moved to the right. The effect of these
combined movements controlled by the cam sides 186 187 is to open the pairs of
gripper blades 173, 176 and 174, 175 as they approach the firelighter bars, until
on the centre line, the cams are cut away and the spring 188 which joins together
the outer bearing pieces 178, 180 pulls the two sets of blades together thus
gripping onto the firelighter. At the same time an inclined cam piece 189 fixed
to the under side of the gripper arm 162, Figs. 9, 35 engages with a roller 190
secured on a pin 191 which is screwed into the inner carriage 141, and pulls back
the carriage and clip 156, the hooks 159 being at the same time engaged, and thus
drawing and holding back the inner carriage and clip. By this means the
firelighter, which has been gripped as above described, is freed from the compound
carriage 141, 142 and is then carried along with the gripper arm 162 in the course
of its continued revolution.
A trough 195 containing hot liquid resin is placed concentrically with, but at a
lower elevation than the path of the firelighter, and as the latter moves over the
trough it is given the downward "parallel movement" above described (by means
of the acting part of the cam 171, Figs. 9 and 30), so that it enters into and gets
suitably smeared with the resin. After being smeared, the firelighter rises again,
and as the gripper head continues to revolve it is carried through or past the cam
sides 192, 193, which act on the grippers in a similar manner to the cam
sides 186, 187 before described, so that the grippers are released from the firelighter,
and the latter drops down preferably, onto a travelling chain or belt 194, which
passes over a sprocket wheel or pulley 194 or shaft F by which chain or belt it is
carried away.
The resin trough (which is provided with an overflow) is kept
supplied with resin from a pump or by means of flow in pipes connected with a
central boiler or reservoir, or by a combination of both methods. Gas burners or
other suitable heating mediums are arranged where necessary to preserve the
required temperature in the pan and pipes.
We arrange on the acting levers, preferably, of the moving parts, disengagement
mechanisms which are caused to be released or to break joint, respectively, should
any obstruction to the smooth working of the machine occur at any part; and we
further cause any such disengagement as may occur to connect either directly or
indirectly with a striking lever, so that on the obstruction taking place, the belt
will be struck and the machine automatically stopped. These various applications
are duplicates of each other except for such modifications of detail as may be
necessitated by their variation of position, and therefore the description of each
set, respectively, will serve to describe all.

page_text: A counterweight 196 (or spring) is arranged in connection with the striking
lever shaft 197 so that the striking fork 198 shall keep the driving belt upon the
loose pulley L except when it is otherwise moved away to operate the machine and
for this purpose it is held by means of a preferably, bell crank shaped catch
lever 199 Figs. 3, 16, 19. When the spindle 200 of the catch lever 199, is turned
either by the attendant or through the operation of the aforesaid disengagement
mechanisms, the cranked end of the catch lever 199 will be removed from a
notch 201 in a striking bar 202, and this being connected by the lever 203 to the
striking lever shaft 197 the counterweight or spring will be able to shift the striking
fork 198 and belt onto the loose pulley Las above mentioned. The disengagements
or break-joints on the various motions are made as shown in the detached view,
Fig. 8. The lever there (and similarly with others in the machine) is constructed
of two parts 55, 56, which are connected and sustained together as oue by the
pressure of a spring catch 204 pivoted to the part 56. Such catch has a tooth
which engages with a notch in the upper end of the part 55 and a spring 55*
attached to its free end and to some convenient point as the pin 55" to hold the
tooth in the notch; the part 55 of the lever is connected to and moved from the
cam, and the other 56 is linked to the mechanism to be moved. In case of an
obstruction taking place and preventing the motion of the latter, the spring ju iction
will be released and the two parts of the compound lever will separate. The effect
of this separation may be made to strike the belt automatically in several ways.
First. As shown detailed in Figs. 10, 11, 12, 16 a chain 205 connected to a spring
catch 206 is connected directly to a lever 207 on the striking catch lever spin:lle 200
(its motion being increased by means of a bell crank lever 208 or otherwise, as
may be necessary) so that on the spring catch 206 opening a pull will be made
directly onto the catch lever spindle 200 with the above described result of moving
the belt shifter and stopping the machine. Second. In the case of the compound
carriage 141, 142, Figs. 16, 20, 35, 36, a notched dise 209 is fixed on a part
connected to the mechanism, that is, on the spindle 147, and a pawl or finger 211
is caused to enter a notch 212 in the same, if the carriage 141, 142 duly arrives at
either end of its motion, when no further result will ensue. The times for and
action of the pawl 211 entering and leaving the notches is controlled by the pawl
roller 213 which is in contact with the cam 214. In Figs. 20, 36, the pawl is
shown engaged. But if the aforesaid separation of the levers 150, 151 has taken
place from any cause, and the compound carriage has stopped at any point other than
the ends of its motion, uo notch will present itself for the pawl to engage in, and
then the point 21 of the pawl 211 will be in such an angular position that a
projection or knocker 216 on the side of the cam 214 on shaft F will engage with
the same, and give it an angular pull downwards, which will communicate itself to
the axis 217 and then to a lever 218 fixed thereon; which, through the chain or
link 219, will pull the striking catch lever 199 and thus stop the machine as
aforesaid. Third. The side levers 5, 6 and 50, 51 are connected by links or
chains 220 so as to move respective notch ur bored bars 221, Figs. 3, 19, 16, with
the object that if the motions are properly completed, the "feelers "222 respectively,
next to be described, will enter into the notches or holes of the bars 221 causing no
derangement; but that if any of the motions are not completed the "feeler" at
that place will be obstructed, and will cause the aforesaid movement of the striking
catch lever and stoppage of the machine. (In the case of the strip-holders 40, 41
Figs. 22, 23 the axis of the double bevel segment 71 is connected by segment spur
wheels 223, 223" to the axis 224 which is extended to the back of the machine
at 225, Fig. 16. From there an arm 226 and link 227 connects with a similar
notch bar 228 to those just described. If the strip-holders 40. 41 are obstructed, a
differential movement between them and their cam levers 73 will result in stretching
the spring links 72, which will have a similar effect on the connected notch
bar 228 as the separation of the compound levers on the other notch bars
aforesaid.) Ou the catch lever spindle 200 (in connection with each set of nuteh
bars) are levers 229, 229 229 fixed in a downwardly hanging position onto the

page_text: bottom ends of which levers 230, 230 230° are hung, an intermediate point of each
of which levers is also attached to or is in connection with a plunger rod or
"feeler" 222 before mentioned. The sets of these are shown in plan on an enlarged
scale, in Fig. 18, Fig. 17 being a plan of the "feeler." These sets of rods are-
held and slide in a frame 222 as shown and each consists of a notched block fixed
to a rod, a spring 222 being secured to each block and to the frame 222".
Cams 231, 231 231° are caused to wipe against the lower onds of the last mentioned
levers 230, 236 230° at times corresponding with the end motions of the mechanism
with which they are in connection, and by doing so each cam moves or attempts to
move through the levers its plunger or "feeler" 222. Should the latter enter the
notch in one of the bars no further result will take place; but if in consequence of
an obstruction happening to the moving mechanism, the notches are away from the
"feeler" point, the "feeler" will be blocked when next moved by one of the
levers 230, 230, 230%, and that particular "feeler" 222 will form a temporary
fulcrum for the lever when the cam shall wipe its bottom end, and thus the latter
will be moved and impart a turning motion at its top end to the lever 229 229*
or 229 and catch lever spindle 200 and so cause the belt to be shifted as before
described. As a further alternative the shafts or wheels or parts upon them may
be driven by clutches or couplings 232, Fig. 9, and 233, Figs. 12, 16, kept up to
their places by springs 232 233 respectively which will yield on the occurrence of
any undue resistance; and the consequent differential angular or end movement
taking place between the two parts of the clutch or coupling is caused to pull a
chain or links, as at 234 Figs. 12, 16, through the medium of a double ended
lever 235, and so pull a lever 236 on the catch lever spindle 200, and thus stop the
machine as before described.
Where the return or releasing motions of the parts described are not effected
through the medium of the cams, we intend to use suitable springs and counter-
weights for that purpose where they may be necessary.
The cycle of operations is continuous, and one firelighter is intended to be
finished for each revolution of the cam shafts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A machine for making firelighters from a block of wood in a consecutive
series of operations having two or more cam shafts for effecting the primary
motions of the respective parts substantially as described.
2. The combination with a belt for feeding the blocks of wood of a shroud cover
or band serving as a guide for the blocks, a sliding piece in front of which the
blocks drop and a lever and connected parts for operating such piece substantially
as described.
3. The combination with a horizontal saw arranged for cutting a groove in the
side of the block of a second saw arranged to trim the upper edge of the block
substantially as described.
4. The combination with the horizontal sans of a spring pressed roller for
holding down the block and spring pressed rollers for holding it against a side
fence substantially as described.
5. In combination rollers such as 21 and means such as the cam 22 and
connections for pressing them against the side of the block substantially as.
described.
6. The combination with means such as described in the preceding claim for
pressing against the block and means for holding it down of a guard or fence such
as 24 having a sliding tongue such as 28 adapted to enter the groove made in the
side of the block and means for covering the top edge of the block substantially as
described.
7. In a machine constructed substantially as described in the first claim the
means for carrying the gang of vertical saws 8 consisting of the pivoted bracket 33,

page_text: spindle 32 pulley 38 and pivoted bar 35 such bar being raised and lowered by
suitable means substantially as described.
8. The sliding block 19 having the bars 20 of unequal length and bars 20* 20
arranged one above the other a lever such as 50 and connections for reciprocating
such block and a cam for operating such lever substantially as described.
9. The sliding piece such as 53 carrying pivoted hooks 52 under which latter
some of the bars are thrust after cutting, fixed guides between which the bars are
thrust, a lever such as 56 and connections for reciprocating said piece 53 and a
carriage such as 46 into which the wood bars are drawn by the hooks substantially
as described.
10. In a machine constructed substantially as described in the first claim, the
construction and arrangement of the carriage 46, a bracket such as 60 in which
same may slide and means for reciprocating the carriage substantially as described.
11. The holders such as 40, 41, for holding the connecting strips of the lighter
quadrant bevel pinions 70 and segment 71 and connected parts for rotating and for
raising same substantially as described.
12. The construction and arrangement of parts for raising and lowering the
fork 77 consisting of the cam 81. sleeve 80 attached to spindle 78 through
spring 82 and a spring link such as 79 for raising such spindle substantially as
described.
13. The sliding carriage or hand such as 47 having clutch parts such as 97, 98, 99,
cam 106 and means for moving the sliding frame 110 substantially as and for the
purpose described.
14. The means for opening and closing the hammers 128 and the arm 137 and
stop device 140 the latter adapted to be interposed between said hammers or parts
carrying saine substantially as described.
15. The arrangement and construction of the carriage such as 141, 142 for
receiving the formed firelighter and means for reciprocating and raising said
carriage substantially as described.
16. The arrangement and construction of the double ended gripper arm 162,
means for rotating same, a box or frame such as 163, 164 carried by same, grippers
carried by said box and means for giving the box a reciprocating movement and
opening and closing the gripper substantially as described.
17. The fixed cams such as 186, 187 and 192, 193 with which rollers or parts
carried by the box or frame referred to in the preceding claim are brought into
contact for operating the grippers substantially as described.
18. In a machine for making firelighters from a block of wood the construction
of parts adapted to be applied where desired to levers forming part of the machine
whereby in case of an obstruction in the machine the parts of the lever disconnect
substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 8.
19. In a machine for making firelighters from a block of wood the various
arrangements and combinations of parts including the feelers or pawls and notched
bars or plates for operating the belt shifter when any part connected therewith
does not complete its function substantially as described.
20. In a machine for making firelighters from a block of wood the parts for
operating the belt shifter actuated by the release or opening of a spring clutch,
substantially as described and illustrated.
21. The improved machine for the manufacture of firelighters from a block of
wood constructed substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated thie 7th day of Decembar 1906
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent,
For the Applicant.