AN AUTOMATIC SCREW MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING METAL SCREWS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Curtis, of Paris, Dept. of the Seine, in the
Republic of France, Screwmaker, for the Invention of "AN AUTOMATIC SCREW
MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING METAL SCREWS."
Sealed the 21st January 1879, and dated the 25th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Curtis at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th July 1878.
maker.
FRANCIS CURTIS, of Paris, Dept. of the Seine, in the Republic of France, Screw-
"AN AUTOMATIC SCREW MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING METAL SCREWS."
My Invention relates to an improved automatic machine for the manufacture of
metal screws, and amongst its advantages are,-
1°. Rapidity and perfection of manufacture.
My improved. machines require a band or belt of between one and two inches in
breadth, according to the dimensions to be given to the screws..
One person conversant with the machine can easily set at work and attend to six
machines, and at the same time effect any pressing repairs.
Each machine may easily produce from 500 to 2,000 screws a day, according to
the lengths and thicknesses required.
These machines deliver screws ready for sale and free from rough or chipped
edges or other defect of manufacture which might injure their sale or interfere with
their use.
2°. Saving of time.
Machines are now used for making screws, but when a first operation is finished
upon one machine a second and even a third machine must be used to complete the
screws. With my improved machine all these hindrances disappear of themselves
and all the operations required for the manufacture take place in a single machine.
A very appreciable saving of time and labour is thus obtained, the manufacture is
accelerated, and the workman's attention being concentrated upon one kind of
machine he directs it with more certainty and is less likely to neglect his work.

page_text: I will now proceed to describe the working of my improved machine, reference
being had to the accompanying 2 Sheets of Drawing.
The machine being set at work I take a copper tube A, the inner end of which a
is narrowed and has for object to stop the shaft B of the eccentrics.
A tool b (Figure 1, Sheet II.), in which the iron wire to be used in the manufacture
of the screws is set, is introduced into the tube A, which is itself inverted in a
conical shaft C, at the end of which is fitted a shifting mandrel D seizing by means
of jaws the wire intended for the manufacture.
Previous to the introduction of the iron wire, the tube being riveted to one of its
ends by its adhesion with the tube, co-operates in the stoppage of the conical shaft
of the machine.
The iron wire d.being.seized by the jaws E is, by means of a moveable wedge e,
fixed on a slide communicating with an eccentric F placed on the shaft B, presented
to a tool which turns the body, the head, and the point of the screw to the
required diameter.
A rocking arm pushed forward by the carriage 9 gives place to another shaft I
having above one of its ends a screw-threaded mandril or stock i, which, by a
retrogade movement given to it by two levers P, p, placed on the shaft I, seizes the
screw; the levers P, p, then free an adjusting guage, leaving the screw under
manufacture to turn until the knife K comes and separates the iron wire stem of
the screw at the required distance. After this operation the carriage, again set in
motion by the eccentric H, retires with the same mandrel or screw stock still holding
the cut screw to submit it to the operation of a cutting tool M which rounds its
head, and then leads it to a vertical shaft N having a head n which makes the slit
or groove.
By a second backward movement of the same carriage the shaft above mentioned
comes in front of the turnscrew O, which receives the screw from the mandrel or
stock, holding it by means of the two fingers R until the carriage again coming
forward, impelled by a spring stops opposite the turnscrew, presenting a shaft S, also
provided with a mandrel in which jaws open to seize the screw yielded to it by the
turnscrew. At this moment the carriage continuing its retrogade movement to a
fixed point carries with it the same shaft with screw stock, and presents the stock
to a finishing tool T which removes the roughness which the saw may have left.
The screw having undergone without stoppage and on the same machine all the
operations above described, the carriage receives a return motion from the eccentric H.
Then the jaws of the mandrel on the shaft S open, actuated by an impulsion from
the lever shaft U, and at the same moment a tappet or striker pinned to a washer X
on the shaft B being put in action strikes a rod Y, the pushing of which towards
the open jaws causes the screw to fall.
.
On the accompanying 2 Sheets of Drawing,-
Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents the riveted copper tube A.
Figure 2, Sheet 1, the copper tool b, also riveted.
.. Figure 3, Sheet 1, the conical shaft.
Figure 4, Sheet 2, the knife K.
Figure 5, Sheet 2, the tool. f.
Figure 6, Sheet 2, the saw n.
Figure 7, Sheet 2, the turnscrew O.
Figure 8, Sheet 2, the cutter M.
Figure 9, Sheet 2, the screw stock or die.
Figure 10, Sheet 1, the wedge e.
Figure 11, Sheet 1, the mandrel D with jaws E.
Figure 12, Sheet 2, a general view of the machine and Figure 12 Shoot 1

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Francis Curtis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th January
1879.
FRANCIS CURTIS, of Paris, Dept. of the Seine, in the Republic of France, Screw-
maker. "AN AUTOMATIC SCREW MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING METAL SCREWS."
My Invention relates to an improved automatic machine for the manufacture of
metal screws, and amongst its advantages are,―
3
1°. Rapidity and perfection of manufacture.
My improved machines require a band or belt of between one and two inches in
breadth, according to the dimensions to be given to the screw.
One person conversant with the machine can easily set at work and attend to six
machines, and at the same time effect any pressing repairs.
Each machine may easily produce froin 500 to 2,000 screws a day, according to
the lengths and thicknesses required.
These machines deliver screws ready for sale and free from rough or chipped
edges or other defect of manufacture which might injure their sale or interfere with
their use.
2°. Saving of time.
Machines are now used for making screws, but when a first operation is finished
upon one machine a second and even a third machine must be used to complete the
screws. With my improved machine all these hindrances disappear of themselves,
and all the operations required for the manufacture take place in a single machine.
A very appreciable saving of time and labour is thus obtained, the manufacture is
accelerated, and the workman's attention being concentrated upon one kind of
machine he directs it with more certainty and is less likely to neglect his work.
I will now proceed to describe the working of my improved machine, reference
being had to the accompanying 2 Sheets of Drawing.
The machine being set at work I take a copper tube A, the inner end of which a
is narrowed and has for object to stop the shaft B of the eccentric.
A tool or apparatus 6 (Figure 1, Sheet 1), in which the iron wire to be used in
the manufacture of the screws is set, is introduced into the tube A, which is itself
inserted in a conical shaft C, at the end of which is fitted a shifting mandrel D
seizing by means of jaws the wire intended for the manufacture.
Previous to the introduction of the iron wire the tube being riveted to one of its
ends by its adhesion with the tube, co-operates in the stoppage of the conical shaft
of the machine.
The iron wire d being seized by the jaws E is, by means of a moveable wedge e,
fixed on a slide communicating with an eccentric F placed on the shaft B, presented
to an instrument f which turns the body, the head, and the point of the screw to
the required diameter.
A rocking arm pushed forward by the carriage g gives place to another shaft I,
having above one of its ends a screw-threaded mandril or stock i, which, by a
retrogade movement given to it by two levers P, p, placed on the shaft I, seizes the
screw; the levers P, p, then free an adjusting gauge, leaving the screw under
manufacture to turn until the knife K comes and separates the iron wire stem of
the screw at the required distance. After this operation the carriage, again set in
motion by the eccentric H, retires with the same mandrel or screw stock still holding
the cut screw to submit it to the operation of a cutting tool M which rounds its
head, and then leads it to a vertical shaft N having a head n which makes the slit
or groove.
By a second backward movement of the same carriage the shaft above mentioned
comes in front of the turnscrew O, which receives the screw from the mandrel or
stock, holding it by means of the two fingers R until the carriage again coming
forward impelled by a spring stops opposite the turnscrew, presenting a shaft S, also

page_text: provided with a mandrel in which jaws open to seize the screw yielded to it by the
turnscrew.. At this moment the carriage continuing its retrogade movement to a
fixed point carries with it the same shaft with screw stock, and presents the stock
to a finishing tool T which removes the roughness which the saw may have left.
The screw having undergone without stoppage and on the same machine all the
operations above described, the carriage receives a return motion from the eccentric H.
Then the jaws of the mandrel on the shaft S open, actuated by an impulsion from
the lever shaft U, and at the same moment a tappet or striker pinned to a washer X
on the shaft B being put in action strikes a rod Y, the pushing of which towards
the open jaws causes the screw to fall.
On the accompanying 2 Sheets of Drawing,-
Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents the riveted copper tube A.
Figure 2, Sheet 1, the piece b, also of copper and riveted.
Figure 3, Sheet 1, the conical shaft.
Figure 4, Sheet 2, the knife K.
Figure 5, Sheet 2, the tool f.
Figure 6, Sheet 2, the saw n.
Figure 7, Sheet 2, the turnscrew O.
Figure 8, Sheet 2, the cutter M.
Figure 9, Sheet 2, the screw stock or die.
Figure 10, Sheet 1, the wedge e.
Figure 11, Sheet 1, the mandrel D with jaws E.
Figure 12, Sheet 2, a general view of the machine; and Figure 13, Sheet 1, a
side view of the same.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is or may be performed, I claim as secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent,-
Firstly. The use of the copper tube A riveted at one end and having an iron
washer fitted upon the other, substantially as herein-before described and shown,
Figure 1, Sheet 1, of the Drawing.
Secondly. The use of the tool b, substantially as herein-before described and
shown, Figure 2 (Sheet 1) of the Drawings.
Thirdly. The use of the conical shaft with three grooves at the end to receive the
three springs staying the wire of which the screw is to be made, substantially as
herein-before described and shown, Figure 3 (Sheet 1) of the Drawings.
Fourthly. The use of the knife K which, without interfering with the operations,
separates the wire spindle from the screw, substantially as hercin-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Curtis, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-eighth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
FRANCIS CURTIS. (L.S.)