Improvements in Block Holders for Brush Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 17th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Block Holders for Brush Machines.
I, WILLIAM EVARTS RICHARDS, of 305, Broadway, City, County, and State of
New York, in the United States of America, Patent Agent and Solicitor, 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 follow-
ing statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide the table of a brush machine with
suitable guide plates for supporting and guiding the block-holder, and which
are so curved that the block-holder may be held thereon at any desired angle of
inclination when boring the perforations in the block, so as to give the desired
spread to the tufts of the brush when the latter are placed in the perforations
of the block; to provide the block-holder with registering devices, and the
table with a pin to engage therewith, so as to facilitate the accurate boring of
the block and the placing of the tufts in the perforations; to provide the block-
holder with a suitable backing so as to prevent the splintering and burring of
the block as the perforations for the tufts are bored therein; and to make the
devices for holding the blocks in the block-holder adjustable, so as to take
blocks of varying lengths, widths and thickness, and, by using backings of
different thickness between the block and block-holder, to vary the distances
between the perforations from centre to centre as may be desired.
This invention is particularly designed to give to a completed brush the spread
of the usual hand-made brush, in which the tufts are put into the back at an
inclination, so as to spread the ends of the tufts.
In the drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which similar
letters of reference refer to similar parts, wherever they occur:-
Figure 1, is a side elevation of a boring machine having my improved block-
holder applied thereto.
Figure 2, a side elevation of my block-holder, part of the latter being
broken away so as to show the pin on the table engaging with one of the depres-
sions in the templet of the block-holder.
Figure 3, is a plan view of table and block-holder.
Figure 4, is a view showing the bottom of the block-holder.
Figure 5, is a transverse section of the block-holder, showing same supported
on a portion of the guide plates, and in one of its most inclined positions.
Figure 6, is a plan view of one of the backings that is used in the block-
holder.
Figure 7, is a transverse section showing a modified form of block-holder,
in which the bottom of the templet is concaved in shape.
Figure 8, is a side elevation of a portion of the block-holder, showing the
adjustable points for holding the blocks.
It should be understood that the boring machine, or brush machine, the latter
being employed for inserting tufts in the brush-block, form. no part of the
present invention, which relates exclusively to the block-holder and means for

page_text: supporting and operating the same, which may be used with any desired machine
to which it is applicable.
Referring to the drawings, A is an angle-iron or base-plate which, when in
use, is fastened by screws or bolts to the table of a boring or tufting machine,
as shown in Figure 1. To the upwardly extending wing or part A¹ of this
angle-iron or base-plate, is secured two thin metal guide-plates B, B', by screws
or bolts, or in any other desired manner. In the centre of the angle iron or
base-plate A, and projecting upwardly therefrom, is a pin C, the upper end of
which is suitably formed to engage with depressions formed in the bottom or
templet of the block-holder. The block-holder consists of the base plate D,
upon which is secured a bottom or templet D', provided with rows of depres-
sions D2, which in conjunction with the pin C, which engages therein, serves to
guide the operations of boring and tufting. The base-plate D is provided at
each end with downwardly extending lugs d, to which are secured plates d',
the lower extremities of which are prolonged, forming two rests d², d³, at each
end of the block-holder.
Upon one side of the base-plate D is a channelled block E, in which is adjust-
ably secured by a set screw e a slotted plate E, the upper end of which is pro-
vided with a set-screw E. The opposite side of the base-plate D has two
upwardly extending slotted lugs E3, E, in which the screw threaded points E5, E6,
are adjustably secured by means of the set-nuts e, 3. The brush-block X is
held between the set-screw E and the points E, E, when it is to be bored, or
when the brush tufts are to be inserted, and as the set-screw 2 and the
points E, E, are adjustable in both directions, both up and down, and hori-
zontally, it will be evident that they will accommodate not only blocks of different
widths, but also blocks of different heights as well. The base-plate D is also
provided upon its upper surface at one of its outer extremities with two up-
wardly extending lugs d d forming a way or channel in which is adjustably
secured a slotted stop d. The stop d may be secured in any desired position
between the lugs d by means of the set screw, thus forming an adjustable
stop for the blocks X as they are inserted in the block-holder for boring or
inserting the tufts.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the upper surface of the guide-plates B B is
curved longitudinally, the curve in the surfaces of the plates being the same at
equidistant points from the centre or pin C. The block-holder is placed on the
guide-plates B B, the plates d' resting upon the upper curved surface of the
same, while the rests straddle the said guide-plates, one upon each side,
and rest against same when the block-holder is inclined to the one side or the
other. The block X to be bored or receive the tufts is then placed in the block-
holder, and secured therein between the stop do, the points E³ E and the set
screw E. The block-holder is thus brought directly under the boring bit or
tufting device of the machine, ready for work. While the longitudinally curved
guide-plates B, B₁ thus serve to produce a finished brush in which the end
tufts will be spread longitudinally, they will not, however, of themselves spread
the tufts along the sides of the block. To produce this latter effect the brush-
holder is inclined from side to side upon the guide-plates 13 B¹, the ends of
the rests being the centre or pivot, as is clearly shown in Figure 5. In
these positions the perforations along the sides are made and are presented to
receive the tufts, at an incline to the surface of the block X of the brush, and
the tufts are caused thereby to produce a spreaded appearance when they are
attached to the block X.
The bottom or templet D¹ is, as before stated, provided with rows of depres-
sions D corresponding to the rows of perforations to be bored in the block X,
and the tufts to be placed in the brush. The pin C engages with the depres-
sions D and registers with the boring bit or tufting device, so that as the block-
holder is moved along upon and from end to end of the guide-plates B, B¹ the
pin C will engage with each of the depressions in a row, one after another in its

page_text: order, and as it engages therewith the boring bit may be brought down to bore
a perforation, or the tufting device to insert a tuft. When one row is finished
the block-holder may be moved to either the one side or the other until the
pin C engages with the proper depression in the next row, this operation being
repeated until all the perforations are bored, or all the tufts are inserted.
The outer ends of the guide-plates B B are given an extreme curve down-
wardly. These curves permit the ends of the block-holder to be depressed,
while the end of the block-holder resting over the pin C is inclined, as a result
the perforations formed in the block will be correspondingly inclined, and in
the same way the tufts inserted will also be inclined and have the desired spread.
As the position of the block-holder is changed longitudinally, the angle of the
inclination is gradually increased or diminished as the block-holder is moved the
one way or the other to or from the pin C, according to the curve of the guide-
plates BB¹, upon which the block-holder is supported. In being thus shifted
it is evident that the tufts of the brush are given a gradual spread or inclination
from the upper surface of the block to the outer ends. This produces in the
finished brush a gradual rounded or spread end, permitting the brush to have
an enlarged operating surface for the ends of the tufts. In order that the ends
of the rests de d³ may have a bearing against the guide-plates B, B¹, the rests
are inclined inwardly, toward each other, being separated just a sufficient dis-
tance apart at their lower extremity so as to admit of the free passage of the
guide-plates B, B' between them.
Brushes are manufactured in two principal ways: either the perforations for
the tufts are bored entirely through the block X or they are bored only partly
through the block X and the tufts are then inserted in these perforations.
Brushes may be made in either of these two ways with the present block-holder.
When the perforations are bored entirely through the blocks it is necessary, or
at least preferable, to use a backing F (see Figure 6) usually of wood. This
backing F is placed immediately over the bottom or templet D' of the block-
holder, and the block X to be operated upon is then placed over the backing F
and secured in place between the stop 6, the points E5 E and the set screw E2
as hereinbefore described, and the perforations may then be bored, the bit being
so adjusted that it will pass entirely through the block X and into the backing I,
but not through the same. The backing F will when thus used serve two use-
ful purposes. In the first place it will prevent the bit from striking the metal
templet D, and becoming broken or dulled, and furthermore, a burr F¹ will
be formed by the bit in the backing F, which will prevent the splintering of
the wood of the block X around the perforations bored, making clean and per-
fect perforations. In order that the block-holder may at all times rest firmly
upon the guide-plates B B¹, and have a solid bearing thereon without any lost
motion, no matter in what depression in the block-holder the pin C may be,
it will be evident that the arches de in the plates d, formed between the rests d³, d³
must be properly constructed, and that care must be exercised in forming the
depressions D in the templet D¹. For instance, referring to Figure 7, it will
be evident that the arches d must be so formed that when the pin C engages
successively in the depressions lettered do, d10 and ", that the plates shall
rest solidly upon the guide-plates B B¹ at the points lettered bb₁ and respec-
tively. In other words, the arches must be so constructed that when the
pin C is seated in any depression in the templet 1)¹, the plates d' shall rest upon
the guide-plates, and have a solid bearing thereon, no matter at what angle of
inclination the block-holder may be, or in what position upon the guide-plates
the block-holder is.
When the blocks to be operated upon have a flat surface the templet D¹ may
be flat; if the blocks have a rounded surface the templet used may have its under-
side curved in substantial agreement with the surface of the blocks.
It will also be noticed that by using backings F of greater thickness than
usual, and by adjusting the stop do the points E5 E and the set screw E² to

page_text: suit, that not only may thicker blocks X be used, but by raising the blocks X
away from the templet D¹, the distances between perforations, from centre to
centre may be varied as desired.
This improved block-holder is thus entirely adjustable, so that blocks of
varying sizes and thickness, as well as lengths, may be used and the depths of
perforations, the distances apart, and the angle of inclination may be varied as
desired. The contour of the guide-plates may be changed as desired, and by
altering the curvature of the upper surface of the guide-plates, the arches of
the plates and the lengths of the legs of the block-holder, not only may
any spread of tufts desired be secured, but blocks of any size and even of great
irregularity may be operated upon.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
--
1. In a brush machine, the combination with the table, of the curved guide-
plates and pin carried thereby and the block-holder having a plurality of seats
to engage said pin and having a sliding connection with the guide-plates, sub-
stantially as described.
2. In a brush machine, the combination with the table, of the curved guide-
plates and pin carried thereby, the block-holder with means for holding the
brush blocks the templet carried on the under side of the block-holder and hav-
ing a plurality of seats adapted to engage the pin, and rests carried by the block-
holder and adapted to engage the guide-plates, substantially as described.
8. In a brush machine, the combination with the table, of the guide-plates
having curved bearing edges, the pin interposed between said plates, a block-
holder, rests carried by said block-holder having sliding contact with the guide-
plates, and a templet carried by said block-holder having a plurality of seats or
depressions adapted to be engaged by said pin, substantially as described.
4. In a brush machine, the combination with the table, of vertically arranged
guide-plates carried thereby having curved bearing edges, the block-holder
having rests adapted to slidingly engage said guide-plates, and means for deter-
mining the proper position of the block-holder upon said guide-plates, substan-
tially as described.
5. In brush machines, the guide-plates B B mounted upon the table of the
machine, the pin C, between said guide-plates, and a block-holder provided
with a templet for engagement with said pin, and with means for engagement
with the guide-plates, substantially as shown and described.
6. In a brush machine, the combination with the table, of the guide-plates
and pin carried thereby, a block-holder having a templet provided with a series
of recesses or seats adapted to be engaged by said pin and rests carried by said
block-holder adapted to slidingly rest upon the edges and embrace the sides of
the plates, substantially as described.
7. In a brush machine, the combination with the table, of the guide-plates
and pin carried thereby, a block-holder having a templet provided with a
plurality of seats or recesses adapted to be engaged by said pin, and rests for
said block-holder comprising the plates having portions adapted to rest upon
the edges of the guide-plates and depending portions adapted to embrace the
sides of the guide-plates, substantially as described.
8. In a brush machine, the combination with the table, of the vertically
arranged guide-plates and pin carried thereby, the block-holder, the templet
having its surface curved to correspond to the curve of the brush block to be
operated upon and having a plurality of seats or recesses adapted to be engaged
by said pin and rests carried by said block-holder adapted to slidingly engage
said guide-plates, substantially as described.
9. In a brush machine, the combination with the table of the vertically dis-

page_text: posed guide-plates and pin carried thereby, the templet having a plurality of
seats or recesses adapted to be successively engaged by said pin, and the rests
carried by the block-holder and adapted to slidingly engage the guide-plates,
said rests comprising the depending arms having arches connecting them at
the upper portion adapted to rest upon the edges of the plates and permit rock-
ing movement of the block-holder transversely of the guide-plates, said arms
converging towards their lower ends to closely embrace the guide-plates, sub-
stantially as described.
VALKS2
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents.