Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 19th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 31st Dec., 1888
I, FREDERICK MYERS, of 56, Huskisson Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a machine for forming the heads of nails, especially of horse
shoe nails.
In the specification of a patent granted to Raphael Hunter Brandon, as a communi-
cation from me (No. 5048 of 1883) a nail-making machine was described in which
the blanks were cut, and the heads formed by squeezing or "upsetting" one end of
the blanks, in a direction parallel to their axis. The unfinished nails formed by this
machine are "single-headed," that is, the head projects only on the front and two edges
of the nail, the back being approximately straight.
The demand in some important markets is for "double-headed" horse shoe nails,
that is, those in which the head projects both in front and rear, and I have found that
the machine aforementioned is not well adapted to form such heads.
Now the object of my present invention is to construct a machine which can form
double nail heads of any shape or size, within reasonable limits, and either with or
without a previous partial upsetting of the blanks.
The manner in which I at present carry out my invention is as follows:-
The nail blanks, preferably after being partly upset in the blank cutting machine,
are placed in the hopper of the "heading" machine, this hopper being in the form of
a rectangular tube, in which the blanks are arranged horizontally, one above the other,
all their points facing in one direction, preferably away from the grips of the machine.
In order that the hopper may be adapted to various lengths of nails, one side or portion
of it may be adjusted relative to the opposite side or portion. Also, the position of
the whole hopper relative to the grips of the machine, may be adjusted, so that, no
matter what the length of the blanks; they may always occupy the same longitudinal
position in the grips when fed thither by the automatic pusher hereinafter described.
The pusher works horizontally in suitable guides, and is actuated by a lever, which

page_text: receives its motion from a cam on the machine shaft, the action of the cam being
supplemented by a spring attached to the said lever. The pusher is also adjustable
in a longitudinal direction. At each forward stroke of the pusher, it enters the
hopper on one side and pushes the lowest nail therein, preferably head foremost,
through an aperture in the opposite side, and between the grips of the machine,
ejecting therefrom the nail headed previously. The exit aperture is of such a size as
to permit of only one nail at a time being ejected.
The combined dies and grips are mounted on the bed of the machine and lie preferably
in the same horizontal plane as the exit from the blank hopper.
They are formed
preferably of four flat steel bars, two of which grip the sides or vertical edges of the
blank between, their adjacent ends, and the other two, the top and bottom sides
thereof, between their inner faces. One side grip is fixed, though capable of adjust-
ment when required, and the other moves forward after each blank has been ejected
from the hopper, and assists in holding said blank in position during the subse-
quent punching or upsetting operation. The side grips are about the same, or of
slightly less thickness than the blanks, and the top and bottom grips lie in close
contact with the side grips and the contained blank, preventing vertical movement in
the latter. The top and bottom grips move as a whole with the movable side grip,
and the top grip is, besides, capable of a small radial movement in a vertical plane,
about that extremity which is remote from the dies. This radial movement is
controlled by means of a spring attached to the sliding box holding the grip, the
said box being adjustable in its guides, and means being provided whereby the grips
therein may be readily changed or their relative position adjusted as required. The
grip box is actuated, through the intervention of a spring lever, by means of a cam
on the machine shaft, the movement of the cam being so timed that the grips move
forward as each blank is deposited between them and return as soon as the head has
been formed as hereinafter described. The top and bottom grips overlap the fixed
side grip when the blank is being upset, all vertical movement being prevented by
means of adjustable bearing rollers between which the grips are forced in their
forward stroke, the top grip being preferably tapered slightly at the end to assist the
tightening action of the rollers. The grips are cut away round the "head" end of
the blank so as to form a die in which the head may be formed. The face of the
punch may also be recessed if desired. The punch is carried in a suitable sliding box,
within which it may be adjusted as desired, the said box being also worked by a spring
lever and a cam on the machine shaft, and being so timed as to upset the blank and
form the head as soon as the former has been properly gripped. The edges of the
grips remote from the punch and directly opposite thereto, are preferably cut away
until their width is about equal to the length of the blank. An adjustable stop bears
against these edges and against the point of the blank and thus prevents any lateral
strain on the grips or any longitudinal movement of the blanks therein, which might
result from the pressure of the punch, in forming the head.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The
The blanks are arranged in the hopper as above described, and the position of the
hopper, grips, etcetera, adjusted to suit the size and shape of blank used and head
required to be formed. The movable grips are now in their rearward position, that is,
withdrawn from the fixed grip, and the forward end of the upper grip is raised a
little by the spring attached thereto, so that the grips are quite open for the reception
of a blank. The machine being set in motion, the pusher advances and drives
forward the lowest blank in the hopper, until it rests in position on the upper face of
the lower grip pushing off any nail that may have been there previously.
pusher afterwards retires to its original position. The blank is now carried forward
on the lower grip until it is jammed between the side grips. By this time the upper
and lower grips are in position between their bearing rollers, and the tapered end of
the former has been instrumental in squeezing the grips together, and holding the
blank against any tendency to move in a vertical direction. The blank now rests in
the grip with its head opposite the punch, and its point opposite the stop afore-
mentioned. The machine shaft, continuing its revolution causes the punch to come

page_text: forward and form the head. The punch now moves backwards, the three grips (with
the nail) are withdrawn, the upper one raised by its spring, and the nail pushed off by
the succeeding blank, which undergoes the same operation as its predecessor.
Although my invention has been described with reference to the manufacture of
double headed nails, it is equally suitable for the production of single heads, whether
of horse shoe nails or other kinds.
Also the blanks may be partly upset before going to the heading machine; or the
heads may be formed in the heading machine either before or after the shanks of the
nails have been finished, but the latter way is not recommended.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: 1, FREDERICK MYERS of 5 Huskisson Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a machinė for forming the heads of nails, especially of
horse shoe nails.
In the specification of a Patent granted to Raphael Hunter Brandon as a communi-
cation from me (No. 5048 of 1883), a nail making machine was described in which
the blanks were cut, and the heads formed by squeezing, or "upsetting" one end of
the blanks in a direction parallel to their axes. The unfinished nails formed by this
machine are "single headed," that is, the head projects only on the front and two edges
of the nail, the back being approximately straight
The demand in some important markets is for "double-headed" horse-shoe nails, that
is, those in which the head projects both in front and rear, and I have found that the
machine aforementioned is not well adapted to form such heads.
Now the object of my present invention is to construct a machine which can form
double nail heads of any shape or size, within reasonable limits, and either with or
without a previous partial upsetting of the blanks.
The manner in which I at present carry out my invention may be best described by
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is front elevation, and
Figure 2 an end elevation of the machine.
Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section of a portion of the machine, and
Figure 4 a plan of same, with parts broken away.
Figure 5 detail of dies, (side view) to same scale.
Figure 6 detail illustrating working of automatic pusher.
In these:-
A is the bed of the machine supported on suitable framework A¹.
The nail blanks B, preferably after being partly upset, (as shown in Figure 4) in
the blank cutting machine, are placed in the hopper C, C₁ of the "heading" machine,
this hopper being in the form of a rectangular tube in which the blanks B are
arranged horizontally one above the other, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, all their
points facing in one direction, preferably away from the grips of the machine herein-
after described. In order that the hopper may be adapted to various lengths of nails,
one side or portion C may be adjusted relative to the opposite side or portion (
Also, the position of both sides relative to the grips of the machine, may be adjusted,
so that, no matter what the length of the blanks, they may always occupy the same
longitudinal position in the grips, when fed thither by the automatic pusher D,
hereinafter described. This adjustment is accomplished as follows:-
The side C is provided with lugs c, having elongated slots c¹, through which set
screws pass into the stationary bearing roller frame E hereinafter described. The
side C is attached to a horizontal slide (, adjustable in suitable guides in the
bracket C³, which is mounted upon the machine table A. The slide is held in
position by the screws 3. The back of the hopper is preferably prolonged upwards for

page_text: a short distance as shown at c, (Figure 2), in order to assist the operator in placing
the nail blanks in the hopper. The rectangular pusher bar I), works horizontally in
suitable guides ct on the bracket c³, and is actuated by the bell crank lever F, which
receives motion in one direction from a cam F¹, on the machine shaft G, and in the
other direction by the action of a spring f, attached to the lever F, and to the
framework A. The two portions of this lever F are carried by a cross shaft f¹.
The pusher D is adjustable in a longitudinal direction on the horizontal arm D² of the
pusher bar D¹, by means of the screw d and slot d'. The forward end of the pusher D
works in a guiding groove d² in the slide (2, and is preferably provided (as in
Figure 6) with a notch d³, and a guiding finger d, which assists in guiding the nails
into and out of the grips as will be hereinafter explained. At each forward stroke of
the pusher bar, the pusher enters the hopper C, C¹, on one side and pushes the lowest
nail blank therein, preferably head foremost, through an aperture in the opposite side,
and between the grips of the machine, hereinafter described, ejecting therefrom the
nail blank which was headed previously (see Figure 6). The guiding finger d
prevents the headed nail being pushed to one side by the in-coming blank, and thus
there is no possibility of two nails getting into the grips at once.
The exit aperture
is of such a size as to permit of only one nail at a time being ejected.
The combined dies and grips are mounted on the bed of the machine, and lie
preferably in the same horizontal plane as the exit from the blank hopper C, C¹. They
are formed preferably of four flat steel bars H, H1, H2, H3, two of which, H, HY,
grip the sides or vertical edges of the blank B between their adjacent ends (as shown
in Figure 4) and the other two H2, H3, grip the top and bottom sides thereof between
their inner faces. One side grip H is fixed, though capable of adjustment when
required. To this end it is mounted in the box I, within which it can be adjusted
longitudinally by the screw i, and afterwards tightened in position by the pinching
screw i¹. The box I is similarly adjustable, by means of the screw 2, within fixed
guides on the table A, and can be held thereon by screws 2³. The overhanging
end of the grip H is strengthened by a plate h.
The other side grip H¹ moves forward after each blank has been ejected from the
hopper C, C, and assists in holding said blank in position during the subsequent
pinching or upsetting operation. The side grips H and H¹ are about the same or of
slightly less thickness than the blanks, and the top and bottom grips H2, H³, lie in
close contact with the side grips H, H, and the contained blank, preventing vertical
movement in the latter during the upsetting operation. The top and bottom
grips H2, H3, move as a whole with the movable side grip H¹, and the top grip H² is
besides, capable of a small radial movement in a vertical plane about its rear
extremity h. This radial movement is controlled by means of a spring h², attached
to an arm ³ carried by the sliding box J, within which the grips H1, H2, H³, are
mounted. As in the case of the box I and grip H, each of the grips H1, H2, H3, can
be adjusted and clamped within the box J, the box itself being capable of a
longitudinal sliding movement in the guides J¹. By this means the grips may be
readily changed or their relative position adjusted as required.
The grip box J is actuated through the intervention of a lever K by means of a
cam K on the machine shaft G, the cam being of such a shape and its movement
being so timed that the grips move forward as each blank is deposited between them,
and they return as soon as the head has been formed, as hereinafter described. The
bowl k, of the lever K is held in contact with the cam K' by a spring ³, interposed
between the lever and the framework A¹.
The top and bottom grips H2, H3, overlap the fixed side grip H when the blank is
being upset, all vertical movement being prevented by means of adjustable bearing
rollers E, E², between which the grips are forced in their forward stroke, the top
grip H2 being preferably tapered slightly at the end H4, to assist the tightening
action of the rollers.
The side grips H, H¹, are cut away at 75 opposite the "head" end of the blanks B
(see Figures 4 and 5), and constitute two sides of the die in which the head is to
be formed.

page_text: To form the other two sides of the die, the inner faces of the upper and lower
grips H2 and H³ are bevelled or cut away throughout their length as shown at 6,
(Figures 3 and 5), and the adjacent faces of the side grips H and H' are
correspondingly thickened as shown at h (Figures 3, 4 and 5) so as to fit accurately
against the bevels hº.
The face of the punch L may also be recessed if desired.
The punch is carried in a suitable sliding box M, within which it may be adjusted
as desired, by the screw m, and held firmly therein by the screw m¹. The box M
is also worked by a lever N and a cam N¹ on the machine shaft G, the lever being
assisted by a spring n. The cam N¹ is so formed and timed as to upset the blank
and form the head as soon as the former has been properly gripped. The boxes I
and J are preferably made wide enough to accommodate grips which are capable
of holding the longest blanks likely to be operated upon. In this case, the edges of
each set of grips remote from the punch L and directly opposite thereto, are cut
away more or less, according to the length of the blanks under operation, as shown
at H (Figure 4). An adjustable stop O bears against these edges at H³, and
against the point of the blank held by the grips, and thus prevents any lateral strain
on the grips or any longitudinal movement of the blanks therein, should any
such movement be caused by the pressure of the punch L in forming the head.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The blanks B are arranged in the hopper C, C₁, as above described, and the
position of the hopper, grips, etcetera, adjusted to suit the size and shape of blank
used and head required to be formed. The box J and the movable grips H³, H², H³,
are now in their rearward position, that is, withdrawn from the fixed grip H, and
the forward end of the upper grip H2 is raised a little by the spring /² attached
thereto, so that the grips are quite open for the reception of a blank. The machine
being set in motion, the cam F¹ rotates in the direction of the arrow thereon, and the
pusher D advances by reason of the contraction of the spring f, and drives forward
the lowest blank in the hopper, until it rests in position on the upper face of the
lower grip H³, pushing off any nail that may have been there previously. The pusher
afterwards retires to its original position as the horizontal arm of the lever F is raised
by the cam F. The blank is now carried forward on the lower grip H³, until it is
jammed between the side grips H, H'. By this time the upper and lower grips are
in position between the bearing rollers E', E, and the tapered end of the former
has been instrumental in squeezing the grips together, and holding the blank against
any tendency to move in a vertical direction. The blank now rests in the grip with
its head opposite the punch L, and its point opposite the stop O. The machine
shaft G, continuing its revolution, causes the punch to come forward (by means of
lever K and cam K¹) and form the head of the nail. The punch now
backwards by the contraction of the spring k¹, the three grips H1, H2, H³ (with the
headed nail) are withdrawn, the upper grip raised by its spring h², and the nail pushed
off it by the succeeding blank, which undergoes the same operation as its
predecessor.
moves
Although my invention has been described with reference to the manufacture of
double headed nails, it is equally suitable for the production of single heads, whether
of horse shoe nails or other kinds.
Also the blanks may be partly upset before going to the heading machine; or the
heads may be formed in the heading machine, either before or after the shanks of
the nails have been finished, but the latter way is not recommended.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is: :-
1. In a nail heading machine, a gripping apparatus consisting of a fixed side
grip H, an opposing side grip H¹, having a longitudinal reciprocating movement to
and from the grip H; a lower grip H³ and an upper grip H, both moving with
the side grip H and lying adjacent thereto, and to the grip H (the upper grip being

page_text: capable of a radial vertical movement); the bearing rollers E¹, E2, or their
equivalent supporting the grips in a vertical direction when closed; and a stop or
abutment O, resting against the edges of the grips and receiving the thrust of the
punch L; each part being adjustable relative to the other parts and to the punch,
substantially as set forth.
2. In combination with the grips H, H1, H2, H³, the die h³, h6, formed by the
bevelled edges he of the upper and lower grips H2, H3, which fit against
complementary splayed edges h of the side grips H and H¹, and by the truncated
opposing corners of the said splayed edges, substantially as described and shown.
3. In combination with the adjustable gripping device, the extensible hopper C, C',
consisting of two parts C and C¹, each adjustable independently of the other and
with reference to various widths of gripping apparatus, and having respectively at
their lower ends an entrance aperture for the adjustable pusher D, and an opposing
exit aperture for the blanks or nails, of such a size as to permit of only one blank
or nail being passed through it at each stroke of the pusher, substantially as
set forth.
4. In a nail heading machine, the combination with the revolvable machine
shaft G and the cams F, K, M¹ thereon, of the reciprocating pusher D, grip bore J,
and punch bore M worked thereby, of the operating levers F, K, N, and of the
cooperating springs f, k, n, substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 17th day of November 1888
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.