IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRIVING TACKS OR NAILS INTO BOOTS AND SHOES WHEN LASTING THEM
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon and
Morgan-Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
London, and 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR DRIVING TACKS OR NAILS INTO BOOTS AND SHOES WHEN
LASTING THEM." A communication from abroad by James Willson Brooks, of
Boston, Suffolk County, State of Massachusetts, United States of America
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th January 1878.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 1, Rue Laffitte,
Paris. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRIVING TACKS OR NAILS INTO
BOOTS AND SHOES WHEN LASTING THEM." [A communication from abroad by
James Willson Brooks, of Boston, Suffolk County, State of Massachusetts, United
States of America.]
"
This Invention of improvements in machinery for driving tacks or nails into
boots and shoes when lasting them relates to mechanism to drive tack or nail into
boots and shoes when lasting them.
In the first form of this Invention the Invention consists in a driver combined
with a diagonally moving knife-carrying slide, and a lever and attached roller
actuated by the driver bar to cause the knife to be moved to sever a nail from a
nail strip.
Second. In the combination with such lever and a roller of an excentric stud to
place the roller in proper position with reference to the driver bar.
Third. In the combination with the knife-carrying slide and knife or devices to
adjust the movement of the slide.
Fourth. In a strip guide provided with shoulders and spaces in combination with
hooks and a spring to hold the strip guide in place or permit its removal.
Fifth. In a moveable strip guide, substantially such as described, in combination*

page_text: with a diagonally moveable cutter and cutter carrier, to operate as hereafter set
forth.
Sixth. In a strip guide mounted in guideways and held pressed in one direction
by a spring in combination with a cam to reciprocate the strip guide backward from
the driver and along over the nail strip when the latter is held, substantially as
herein-after described.
Seventh. In a diagonally moving cutter and a driver in combination with a
reciprocating strip guide and a moveable cam to operate the strip guide and move
it away from the driver.
In one modification of this Invention the cutter or knife is made wedge-shaped
at its point, to enter between the back of the strip held in a stationary strip guide,
the inclined face of the cutter made to reciprocate longitudinally, meeting and
bending the tack at the end of the strip away from the next tack of the strip in
position to be driven.
The Invention consists, eighthly, in the combination with the strip guide or holder,
the driver bar, and the cutter actuating bar of a longitudinally reciprocating wedge-
pointed cutter adapted to remove the body of the tack to be driven from the tack
next adjacent to it.
In one modification the strip guide is stationary, one member of the cutting
devices called a blade being pivotted to enter between adjacent tacks at the end of
the strip when it is moved laterally to carry and feed the strip forward, so that the
driver in its descent striking upon the head of the tack at the end of the strip will
act as the other member of the cutting device and sever the tack from the strip.
This blade, as the tack is driven, forms one side of the driver passage. Under this
head the Invention consists,―
Ninthly. In the combination with the strip guide and foot, provided with a driver
passage, of a reciprocating blade adapted to be entered between adjacent tacks or
nails, and to be moved laterally to place a tack, to be driven in line with the driver
passage, and close one side of such passage.
Tenthly. In a reciprocating blade holder and its pivotted blade in combination
with the head and slide, and mechanism to move the slide and blade laterally.
Eleventhly. In the combination with the blade and slide of a locking device to
hold the blade in position while the driver co-operates with it to drive the tack or
nail.
In one modification the strip guide is pushed backward from the nail tube or foot
preparatory to each descent of the driver, thereby moving the guide along the strip,
the latter being held so as not to move back with the strip guide. Under this head
the Invention consists,―
Twelfthly. In the combination with the head of the moveable sleeve and attached
rising and falling strip guide.
Thirteenthly. In the combination in a tack or nail-driving machine of a strip
guide and mechanism to move it backward over the tack or nail strip.
Fourteenthly. In a stationary knife and a tack or nail driver in combination with
a rising and falling strip guide adapted to place the point of the tack or nail beyond
the knife and into the driver passage.
The nails to be used are cut separately from the end of a comb-shaped strip of
usual construction placed in an opening in the strip guide provided with shoulders
embraced by hooks that hold the guideway against the frame. A spring connected
with the frame and with a hook on the strip guide holds the latter pressed toward
the driver passage.
A spring upon the strip guide is so constructed and shaped at
its forward end as to enter a slot in the latter and press upon the side of the nail
strip acting as a friction device, and at its rear end the spring is turned up so as to
be grasped by the fingers, and it is also provided with a holding projection to fall
behind the upper hook to prevent the strip guide from being drawn upward entirely
out from the hooks except when the spring is lifted, when the strip guide may be
moved longitudinally until the spaces cut in the shoulders come opposite the hooks,
when the strip guide may be entirely removed. The head, adapted to be held in

page_text: 2
the hand, is hollow and provided with a strong spiral spring to elevate the nail-
driver bar after it is driven down to drive a nail. At the lower end of the head is a
nail tube or foot, provided with a nail passage. The knife-carrying slide is fitted
to be moved in an inclined gnideway placed diagonally with relation to the path of
the driver. A spiral spring in a fixed part of the head or frame depresses the knife-
carrying slide after it is lifted by slide-lifting lever pivotted and provided at top
with an adjustable roll mounted upon an eccentric stud, the roll to lift the lever and
slide being struck by a projection on the driver bar at each descent thereof.
The ears of this slide are provided with adjusting screws to permit the lever to
lift the slide more or less, according to the distance it is desired to move such slide
and its cutter or knife, this distance depending upon the width of the cutter, which
is changed from time to time as the cutter is ground. These set screws are not
absolutely necessary, for the adjustment described as accomplished by the screws
may be and preferably is accomplished through the eccentric stud, upon which is
mounted the roller, for by adjusting this stud the periphery of the roller will be
more or less distant from the fulcrum of the lever, and the projection on the driver
bar will strike the roller sooner or later and lift it more or less, as required.
The knife is held by finger plates, which permit it to be freely moved longitu-
dinally to keep a sharp portion of the knife in operative position. The knive when
lifted bends the end nail of the strip from the adjacent nail of the inclined strip and
presents it in the line of the driver passage, ready to be severed by the driver at its
next descent. The end of the driver acts as the upper member of the cutting
device.
The lower end of the slide is provided with a cam, which each time the slide is
lifted strikes the lower end of the strip guide and moves it backward away from
the driver passage and horizontally over and along the nail strip at this time the
cutter holds the strip. After the slide descends, the spring connected with it and
with the frame moves the strip guide and nail strip toward the driver passage.
In one modification of the Invention the head held by the operator is provided
with two guides, one for the tack driving bar, and the other for the slide bar that
operates the carrier and the attached cutter or knife. The driver bar is provided
as usual with a nail or tack driving rod, adapted to drive the head or upper end
of the tack out through the usual opening in the nail tube or foot, preferably
serrated or roughened at its lower end. The driving bar is connected with the bar
by means of a lever. When one bar is driven or forced down the lever will raise
the other. The bar has at its lower end a pin that extends into an irregular slot
made in a carrier, adapted to slide in suitable ways formed in the head. The knife
adjustably attached to the carrier has a vertical face, an inclined face, and a cutting
edge.
The tack strip is held in a strip guide attached to the head, so as to present the
head forming portion of the strip to the path of the nail driver in an acute angular
direction. The follower connected with the elastic cord or spring, attached to the
strip guide, rests against the outer end of the comb-like tack strip against one wall
of the driver passage when permitted so to do by the removal of the knife.
The head-forming part of the tack at the end of the strip, held forward against
the wall of the driver passage, stands at an inclination to the driver passage, but
when the knife is moved forward, its thin wedge-shaped end, having an inclination
corresponding with the opening between the adjacent tacks, enters between the
tack, having its head stopped by the wall of the nail passage and the adjacent tack
of the strip, and removes the body of the tack from an inclined to a vertical position,
it then being in line with the nail passage. In this position the knife separates
the first tack of the strip from the second, and forms one side of the driver passage.
Lying between the adjacent tacks the upper edge of the knife becomes the lower
member of the severing mechanism for the head, the driver acting as the upper
or second mechanism. This change of position of the body of the tack, with reference
to the remaining tacks of the strip, assists in severing the head-forming portion,
enables the knife to be made very strong, and the head to be cut off squarely.

page_text: It is evidently that the acuteness of the angle of the strip guide, with reference
to the driver, may be changed, and instead of the inclined guide, a guide somewhat
curved might be used.
The knife is thicker at its base than the usual distance of the point of one tack
from the adjacent tack when the strip is in its normal condition. This thickened
base separates the points of the adjacent nails, and bends the head-forming portion
of the tack strip between adjacent nails before severing a nail from the strip. The
point of the knife being bevelled gradually removes the tack from its normal
position, with reference to the other tacks of the strip, to a position in line with
the driver passage. This wedge-pointed knife with thickened base is therefore an
important requisite of the Invention.
In another modification of the Invention, the head of the machine to be grasped.
and held by the operator has within it a bar and driver, the bar being surrounded
as usual by a spiral spring to lift it. The foot at the lower end of the head is
roughened to engage the stock, and above its lower end is attached by screws the
strip guide, provided with a suitable channel or way to receive the strip, a spring
holding the latter down therein. The guide is shaped to receive a T shaped strip.
The bar is provided with a cam-shaped projection extended laterally through
a slot in the head, which as the driver descends strikes a roller at the upper end
of a lever pivotted on a bracket. The lower end of this lever is connected with
a blude holder, to which is pivotted a blade. This blade at its forward enters
between legs opposite a slot in a slide, adapted to be moved at right angles to the
movement of the holder by means of a lever pivotted and actuated in one direction
by a cam at the lower end of the lever, and in the other direction by a spring.
The spring moves the lever in opposition to the cam projection.
A shoulder on the blade holder strikes and moves forward a locking device, it
being adapted to enter a slot in the slide, so as to hold it and the blade firmly in
position when a tack is being driven.
Assuming that the lever blade holder and blade are in position, then as the driver
bar is depressed its projection actuates the lever, moving forward the blade holder,
the blade hinged to the holder passing through the slot in the slide and between
the two tacks at the lower end of the strip. In this condition the lever is moved
by the cam to actuate the slide.
The slide carries with it the blade, and the latter resting between the tacks at
the end of the strip moves the strip until the tack nearest the driver is placed in
line with it, when the locking device moved forward by the blade holder enters an
opening in the slide, and holds it and the blade in position while the driver
completes its descent, severs the head-forming portion of the strip transversely
between its lower end and the upper edge of the blade, and drives the tack. The
blade held in locked position serves as one wall of the driver passage as the tack or
nail is driven.
The head of the machine, in which reciprocates the bar and driver, has an
attached foot or tube with a tack or nail passage. A sleeve-like handle surrounding
and moving longitudinally over the head, has pivotted or otherwise secured to it
a strip guide, curved and provided with a T shaped passage for the tack strip.
When the sleeve is held up from the shoulder, the end of the strip guide, then
in its highest position, projects forward into the opening in the foot far enough
to place the point of the first tack at the lower end of the strip beyond the upper
cutting edge of the stationary knife, forming one side of the tack or nail tube
passage.
When the sleeve is lowered, as the strip guide descending with it places the first
one of its tacks within the passage in the foot, and in line with the driver. As the
bar descends a cam thereon acts upon a moveable stud, and throws the strip guide
back, moving it over the nail strip. The strip guide as the nail reaches its lowest
position may be prevented from moving forward toward the knife far enough, as
the sleeve rises to cause the end of the strip to strike the knife and push back the
strip by means of a spring wedge, which slips in behind the arm of the strip guide,

page_text: and between it and the head, which remains there until the sleeve and strip guide
rise far enough to lift the end tack of the strip above the knife.
When the guide rises far enough for its shoulder to pass the wedge, the point.
of the tack or nail then being above the knife, the strip guide moves forward to
pass its nail or tack beyond the knife edge. The nail pressed down into the driver
passage beyond the knife acts to hold the strip in place while the guide is moved
back. The tack head-forming portion of the strip resting upon the knife is severed
by the driver, which in its descent strikes the head of the tack or nail in line with
it. The tack or nail so severed is driven by the further movement of the driver
into the boot or shoe.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th July 1878.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 1 Rue Laffitte,
Paris. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRIVING TACKS OR NAILS INTO
BOOTS AND SHOES WHEN LASTING THEM.' A communication from abroad by
James Willson Brooks, of Boston, Suffolk County, State of Massachusetts, United
States of America.
This Invention of improvements in machinery to drive tacks or nails into boots
and shoes when lasting them, relates to mechanism to drive tacks or nails into boots
and shoes when lasting them.
In the first form of this Invention, embodied in Figures 1 to 5 of the Drawing,
the Invention consists in a driver combined with a diagonally moving knife-carrying
alide and a lever, and attached roller actuated by the driver bar to cause the
knife to be moved to sever a nail from a nail strip.
Second. In the combination with such lever and a roller of an eccentric stud, to
place the roller in proper position with reference to the driver bar.
Third. In the combination with the knife-carrying slide and knife of devices to
adjust the movement of the slide.
Fourth. In a strip guide provided with shoulders and spaces in combination with
hooks and a spring to hold the strip guide in place, or permit its removal.
Fifth. In a movable strip guide substantially such as described in combination
with a diagonally movable cutter and cutter carrier, to operate as hereafter set forth.
Sixth. In a strip guide mounted in guideways, and held pressed in one direction
by a spring in combination with a cam to reciprocate the strip guide backward
from the driver, and along over the nail strip, when the latter is held substantially
as herein-after described.
Seventh. In a diagonally moving cutter and a driver in combination with a
reciprocating strip guide, and a movable cam to operate the strip guide and move
it away from the driver, substantially as herein-after described.

page_text: In the modification of this Invention, described in Figures 6 to 13, the cutter or
knife is made wedge-shaped at its point, to enter between the back of the strip
held in a stationary strip guide, the inclined face of the cutter made to reciprocate
longitudinally, meeting and bending the tack at the end of the strip away from the
next tack of the strip in position to be driven. The Invention consists,―
Eighthly. In the combination with the strip guide or holder, the driver bar and
the cutter actuating bar of a longitudinally reciprocating wedge pointed cutter,
adapted to remove the body of the tack to be driven from the tack next adjacent
to it.
In the modification shown in Figures 14 to 18, the strip guide is stationary, one
member of the cutting devices called a blade being pivoted to enter between
adjacent tacks at the end of the strip when it is moved laterally to carry and feed
the strip forward, so that the driver in its descent, striking upon the head of the
tack at the end of the strip, will act as the other member of the cutting devices,
and sever the tack from the strip. This blade as the tack is driven, forms one side
of the driver passage. Under this head the Invention consists,-
Ninthly. In the combination with the strip guide and foot provided with a
driver passage of a reciprocating blade, adapted to be entered between adjacent
tacks or nails, and to be moved laterally to place a tack to be driven in line with
the driver passage, and close one side of such passage substantially as herein-after
described.
Tenthly. In a reciprocating blade holder and its pivotted blade, in combination
with the head and slide, and mechanism to move the slide and blade laterally, sub-
stantially as herein-after described.
Eleventhly. In the combination with the blade and slide of a locking device to
hold the blade in position, while the driver co-operates with it to drive the tack or
nail, substantially as herein-after described.
In the modification shewn in Figures 19 to 21, this strip guide is pushed back-
ward from the nail tube or foot, preparatory to each descent of the driver, thereby
moving the guide along the strip, the latter being held so as not to move back with
the strip guide. Under this head the Invention consists,-
Twelfthly. In the combination with the head of the movable sleeve and attached
rising and falling strip guide, substantially as herein-after described.
Thirteenthly. In the combination in a tack or nail driving machine of a strip
guide and mechanism to move it backward over the tack or nail strip, substantially
as herein-after described.
. Fourteenthly. In a stationary knife and a tack or nail driver in combination with
a rising and falling strip guide, adapted to place the point of the tack or nail beyond
the knife, and into the driver passage, substantially as herein-after described.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation a hand nailer provided with the improve-
ments herein set forth. Figure 2, an elevation of the machine looking at it from
the right of Figure 1; Figure 3, a section showing the spring to return the knife
carrier to its normal position; Figures 4 and 5, sections of the eccentric roller.
The nails to be used are cut separately from the end of a comb-shaped strip of
usual construction, placed in the opening a in the strip guide b, provided with
shoulders c, c, embraced by hooks d, that hold the guideway against the frame e..
A spring f connected with the frame and with hook g on the strip guide hold the
latter pressed toward the driver passage. A springh upon the strip guide is so
constructed and shaped at its forward end as to enter a slot in the latter, and press
upon the side of the nail strip acting as a friction device, and at its rear end the
spring is turned up, so as to be grasped by the fingers; and it is also provided with
a holding projection 2, to fall behind the upper hook d, to prevent the strip guide
from being drawn upward entirely out from the hooks, except when the spring
lifted, when the strip guide may be moved longitudinally, until the spaces 3, cut in
the shoulders c, come opposite the hooks, when the strip guide may be entirely re-
moved. The head i, adapted to be held in the hand is hollow, and provided with a
strong spiral spring j, to elevate the nail-driver bar k, after it is driven down, to

page_text: 11.
At the lower end of the head 18 anal tube or 100 t, provided with a
nail passage. The knife-carrying slide m is fitted to be moved in an inclined
guideway (see Figure 1) placed diagonally with relation to the path of the driver.
A spiral spring n in a fixed part of the head or frame depresses the knife-carrying
slide after it is lifted by the slide-lifting lever p, pivoted at 4, and provided at top
with an adjustable roll q, mounted upon an eccentric stud r, the roll to lift the lever
and slide being struck by a projection on the driver bar at each descent thereof.
The ears 8 of the slide mare provided with adjusting screws to permit the
lever to lift the slide more or less, according to the distance it is desired to move
such slide and its cutter or knife u, this distance depending upon the width of
the cutter, which is changed from time to time as the cutter is ground. These
set screws are not absolutely necessary, for the adjustment described as accomplished
by the screws may be and preferably is accomplished through the eccentric stud,
upon which is mounted the roller q, for by adjusting this stud the periphery of the
roller will be more or less distant from the fulcrum of the lever, and the projection
on the driver bar will strike the roller sooner or later, and lift it more or less 88
required.
The knife is held by finger plates v, v, which permit it to be freely moved longi-
tudinally to keep a sharp portion of the knife in operative position. The knife
when lifted bends the end nail of the strip from the adjacent nail of the inclined
strip, and presents it in the line of the driver passage ready to be severed by the
driver at its next descent. The end of the driver acts as the upper member of the
cutting device.
The lower end of the slide m is provided with a cam 6 (see Figures 1 and 2),
which each time the slide is lifted strikes the lower end of the strip guide, and
moves it backward away from the driver passage, and horizontally over and along
the nail strip. At this time the cutter u holds the strip. After the slide descends
the spring a connected with it and with the frame e moves the strip guide and
nail strip toward the driver passage.
Figure 6 represents in side elevation a hand-tacking machine embodying a
modification of the Invention herein described.
Figure 7, a rear side view.
Figure 8, a detail of the strip guide, with the tack strip in place.
Figure 9, a detail of the cutter or knife.
Figure 10, the strip guide at the opposite side from Figure 6.
Figure 11, a side and bottom view of the knife.
Figures 12 and 13, details illustrating the position of the strip and end nail.
The head a¹ held by the operator is provided with two guides b¹, c¹, one c¹ for
the tack driving bar d¹, and the other for the slide bar e¹ that operates the
carrier f¹ and the attached cutter or knife gl. The driver bar is provided, as usual,
with a nail or tack-driving rod, adapted to drive the head or upper end of the tack
out through the usual opening in the nail tube or foot h¹, preferably serrated or
roughened at its lower end. The driving bar d' is connected with the bar e¹ by
means of a lever i having its fulcrum at j. When one bar is driven or forced down
the lever will raise the other. The bar e' has at its lower end a pin that extends
into an irregular slot m' made in the carrier f1 adapted to slide in suitable ways
formed in the head. The knife g' adjustably attached to the carrier has a vertical
face 1, and inclined face 2, and a cutting edge 3.
The tack strip n is held in a strip guide o¹ attached to the head, so as to present
the head-formning portion of the strip to the path of the nail driver in an acute
angular direction. The follower p¹ connected with the elastic cord or spring r¹,
attached to the strip guideat 8¹, rests against the outer end of the comb-like strip
against one wall of the driver passage, when permitted so to do by the removal of
the knife.
The head-forming part of the tack at the end of the strip, held forward against
the wall of the driver passage, stands at an inclination to the driver passage, as
shewn in Figure 12, but when the knife is moved forward its thin wedge-shaped

page_text: end x, having an inclination corresponding with the opening between the adjacent
tacks, as shewn in Figure 11, enters between the tack, having its head stopped by
the wall of the nail passage and the adjacent tack of the strip, and removes the
body of the tack from an inclined to a vertical position, as shewn in Figure 13, it
then being in line with the nail passage. In this position the knife separates the
first tack of the strip from the second, and forms one side of the driver passage.
Lying between adjacent tacks the upper edge 3 of the knife becomes the lower
member of the severing mechanism for the head, the driver acting as the upper or
second member. This change of position of the body of the tack with reference to
the remaining tacks of the strip assist in severing the head-forming portion,
enables the knife to be made very strong, and the head to be cut off squarely.
It is evident that the acuteness of the angle of the strip guide with reference to
the driver may be changed, and instead of the inclined guide a guide somewhat
curved might be used.
The knife is thicker at its base than the usual distance of the point of one tack
from the adjacent tack when the strip is in its normal condition. This thickened
base separates the points of the adjacent nails, and bends the head-forming portion
of the tack strip between adjacent nails before severing a nail from the strip. The
point of the knife being beveled, as described, gradually removes the tack from its
normal position with reference to the other tacks of the strip to a position in line
with the driver passage. This wedge-pointed knife with thickened base is therefore
an important requisite of the Invention.
Figure 14 is a side elevation of a hand tacking or nailing machine, representing
another modification of my Invention; Figure 15, an under side view thereof,
showing the blade and other parts in dotted lines.
Figure 16, an enlarged side view of part of the machine.
Figure 17, a cross section of the strip guide.
Figure 18, a detail of the blade holder and slide bar.
The head a² of the machine to be grasped and held by the operator has within
it a bar b² and driver c³, the bar being surrounded as usual by a spiral spring to
lift it. The foot d' at the lower end of the head is roughened to engage the stock,
and above its lower end is attached by screws 2 the strip guide es, provided with
a suitable channel or way to receive the strip or spring 3, holding the latter down
therein. The guide shewn is shaped to receive a T shaped strip.
The bar 62 is provided with a cam-shaped projection f extended laterally through
a slot in the head a³, which as the driver descends strikes a roller g³ at the upper
end of a lever h² pivoted at 2 on a bracket . The lower end of this lever h³ is
connected with a blade holder k³, to which is pivoted at 12 a blade m³. This blade
at its forward end enters between lugs opposite a slot in a slide n³, adapted to be
moved at right angles to the movement of the holder by means of a lever o*
pivoted at p³, and actuated in one direction by a cam 2 at the lower end of the
lever h³, and in the other direction by a spring 8³. The spring t³ moves the lever hª
in opposition to the cam projection f
A shoulder on the blade holder strikes and moves forward a locking device u³,
it being adapted to enter a slot in the slide n² so as to hold it and the blade
firmly in position when a tack is being driven.
Assuming that the lever h², blade holder k³, and blade m² are in the positions
shown in Figures 15 and 16, then as the driver bar is depressed its projection f*
actuates the lever h² moving forward the blade holder in the direction of the arrow,
Figure 15, the blade m² hinged to the holder passing through the slot in the slide n³,
and between the two tacks at the lower end of the strip. In this condition the
lever o is moved by the cam to actuate the slide n³ in the direction of
arrow 3.
The slide carries with it the blade, and the latter resting between the tacks at
the end of the strip moves the strip until the tack nearest the driver is placed in
line with it, when the locking device u², moved forward by the blade holder k³,
enters an opening in the slide n², and holds it and the blade in position while the

page_text: driver completes its descent, severs the head-forming portion of the strip trans-
versely between its lower end and the upper edge of the blade and drives the tack.
The blade held in locked position serves as one wall of the driver passage as the
tack or nail is driven.
Figure 19 represents in sectional elevation a hand tacker or nail provided with
another modification of my Invention; Figure 20, an elevation thereof; and
Figure 21, an elevation of the side of the machine, opposite that shown in
Figure 19.
The head as of the machine in which reciprocates the bar 63 and driver c³ has an
attached foot or tube d³, with a tack or nail passage es. A sleeve-like handle fs
surrounding and moving longitudinally over the head has pivoted or otherwise
secured to it at h³ a strip guide g³, shown as curved, and provided with a T shaped
passage for the tack strip.
When the sleeve f³ is held up from the shoulder is, as in Figure 21, the end of
the strip guide, then in its highest position, projects forward into the opening j³ in
the foot d far enough to place the point of the first tack at the lower end of the
strip beyond the upper cutting edge of the stationary knife ³ forming one side of
the tack or nail tube passage.
When the sleeve is lowered, as in Figure 19, the strip guide descending with it
places the first one of its tacks within the passage e³ in the foot, and in line with
the driver. As the bar 63 descends a cam thereon acts upon a moveable stud and
throws the strip guide back, moving it over the nail strip. The strip guide as the
nail reaches its lowest position may be prevented from moving forward toward the
knife far enough as the sleeve rises to cause the end of the strip to strike the knife
and push back the strip by means of a spring wedge m³, which slips in behind the
arm of the strip guide, and between it and the head, which remains there until
the sleeve and strip guide rise far enough to lift the end tack of the strip above the
knife.
When the guide rises far enough for its shoulder 2 to pass the wedge, the point
of the tack or nail being above the knife, the strip guide moves forward to pass its
nail or tack beyond the knife edge. The nail pressed down into the driver passage
beyond the knife acts to hold the strip in place while the guide is moved back.
The tack head-forming portion of the strip resting upon the knife is severed by the
driver, which in its descent strikes the head of the tack or nail in line with it.
The tack or nail so severed is driven by the further movement of the driver into
the boot or shoe. The spring o³ holds the head-forming portion of the strip down
in place in the strip guide.
Instead of vibrating about a pivot the strip guide might be supported in guide
ways, and be reciprocated longitudinally therein.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,―
Firstly. The head i and driver in combination with the diagonally moving knife-
carrying slide, and the lever and its roller actuated by the driver bar to move the
knife into operative position to assist in severing the nail, substantially as
described.
Secondly. The combination with the lever of the eccentric stud and roller, sub-
stantially as described.
Thirdly. The slide and its lever and devices to adjust the movement of the slide,
in combination with a knife or cutter, substantially as described.
Fourthly. The strip guide provided with shoulders and spaces, in combination
with hooks and spring h to hold the strip guide in place, or to permit its removal,
substantially as described.
Fifthly. A movable strip guide, substantially such as described, in combination
with a diagonally moving cutter and cutter carrier, to operate substantially as set
forth.
Sixthly. A strip guide mounted in guideway and held pressed in one direction

page_text: by a spring, in combination with a cam to reciprocate the strip guide backward
from the driver and along over the nail strip, when the latter is held substantially
as described.
Seventhly. A diagonally moving cutter and a driver, in combination with a
reciprocating strip guide and a movable cam to operate the strip guide and move it
away from the driver, substantially as described.
Eighthly. In the combination with the strip guide or holder, the driver bar and
the cutter actuating bar of a longitudinally reciprocating wedge-pointed cutter
adapted to remove the body of the tack to be driven from the tack next adjacent to
it, substantially as described.
Ninthly. The combination with the strip guide and foot provided with a driver
passage of a reciprocating blade adapted to be entered between adjacent tacks or
nails, and to be moved laterally to place a tack to be driven in line with the driver
passage, and close one side of such passage, substantially as described.
Tenthly. The reciprocating-blade holder and its pivoted blade, in combination
with the head and slide and mechanism to move the slide laterally, substantially as
described.
Eleventhly. The combination with the blade and slide of a locking device to
hold the blade in position while the driver co-operates with it to drive the tack or
nail, substantially as described.
Twelfthly. The combination with the head of the movable sleeve and attached
rising and falling strip guide, substantially as described.
Thirteenthly. The combination in a tack or nail driving machine of a strip guide
and mechanism to move it backward over the tack or nail strip, substantially as
described.
Fourteenthly. A stationary knife and a tack or nail driver, in combination with
a rising and falling strip guide adapted to place the point of the tack or nail beyond
the knife and into the driver passage, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN. (L.S.)