IMPROVEMENTS IN NUT MAKING MACHINES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
NUT MAKING MACHINES. a communication to me from abroad by Thomas Neely,
of Pittsburgh, in the County of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, United
States of America, Manufacturer, to be as follows :—
"
This Invention relates to certain improvements in nut making machines in which
a bar or rod is fed into a forming die and nut blanks cut therefrom which are
compressed in the forming die by end compression for shaping the nuts. The
blanks while held in the forming die, are punched axially in a line transverse to the.
plane of the cut and then the nuts thus compressed and punched, are expelled from
the forming die.
Heretofore the cutting of the blanks from the bar or rod fed into the machine,
has been against one edge of the forming die, that is the forming die itself has
constituted one of the cutting edges of the machine. This is found objectionable
since the cutting of the blanks against the forming die soon wears the die and
renders it useless.
The present invention consists principally in such construction of the nut
machine, that the cutting of the blanks against the forming die is avoided, a
separate stationary and transversely reciprocating knife being provided for this
purpose, the blanks being shifted by the reciprocating knife or other suitable
means. to a position in line with the forming die and between it, and the
compressing die so that the blank will be forced forward into the forming die and
compressed by the forward movement of the compressing die.
The invention also consists of the special construction arrangement and com-
bination of the parts of the machine all as hereinafter described.
The forming die is mounted in a crossbar and is closed at one end by the one
compressing die (hereinafter called the bottom die) attached to a sliding cross head
and made hollow for the passage of the punch which is fixed in a sliding crosshead

page_text: drawn forward at the proper time by eccentrics on the main shaft for punching the
blank while held in the forming die.
The punch before entering the bottom die passes through a guide against which
the bottom die abuts and which is made adjustable for regulating the distance of
backward movement of the bottom die for making nuts of different lengths.
The reciprocating knife for cutting the blanks from the rod (which is fed by
hand or by the feeding mechanism hereafter described) into the machine through
coinciding passages made through the various cross bars the passage in the cross
bar first mentioned as carrying the forming die being fitted with a cutting die
against which the reciprocating knife cuts the blank from the rod.
The knife in this instance is reciprocated by a lever and cam from the main shaft
and the knife is held in place against the working face of the cross bar by the
dovetailed guides. At its cutting end the knife is formed with fingers or prongs
projecting in advance of the knife and between which the blank is retained while
the advance movement of the knife carries it along to a position in line with the
forming die and the other compressing die herein referred to as the top die. This
last mentioned die is adapted to be forced forward by a cam on main shaft for
forcing the blanks into the forming die and compressing them therein against the
bottom die thus flattening the blanks and causing them to take the shape of the
forming die
i
The top die is made hollow to receive the punch after it has been forced through
the blank during the compression of the latter in the dies the punch being carried
by a stock which is so guided that the die will have a rectilinear movement to and
from the forming die. The feed movement of the rod from which the blanks are
cut is limited by a stop so that the blanks will always be of the proper and of
uniform length. Another adjustable stop is placed near the forming die in such
position that the forward movement of the knife will carry the blanks against it so
that this stop serves to straighten up the blanks between the prongs or fingers of
the knife to properly position the blanks in front of the formning die to be forced
into the same by the forward movement of the top die.
After the blank has been forced forward by the top die into the forming die and
compressed, and the top die has been carried back again the completed nut will be
expelled from the forming die by a forward movement of the bottom die which is
effected by cams on the main shaft acting on the crosshead which carries the said
die. The connections of the said crosshead with its operating cams are made
adjustable so that the backward movement of the crosshead may be regulated to
suit the position of the punch guide which as above described, may be adjusted!
forward or backward for regulating the degree of compression of the blanks and
the thickness of the nuts.
The feed mechanism is composed of upper and lower grooved feed rollers pressed
together by springs and actuated by the crosshead carrying the punch so that as
the latter moves backward the rod will be forced forward.

page_text: Improvements in Nut Making Machines.
J, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (a communication to me
from abroad by Thomas Neely, of Pittsburgh, in the County of Allegheny and
State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Manufacturer) 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 certain improvements in nut making machines, in
which a bar or rod is fed into a forming-die and nut blanks cut therefrom, which
are compressed in the forming-die by end compression for shaping the nuts. The
blanks while held in the forming-die, are punched axially in a line transverse to
the plane of the cut and then the nuts thus compressed and punched, are expelled
froin the forming-die.
Heretofore the cutting of the blanks from the bar or rod fed into the machine,
has been against one edge of the forming-die, that is, the forming-die itself has
constituted one of the cutting edges of the machine. This is found objectionable
since the cutting of the blanks against the forming-die soon wears the die and
renders it useless.
The present invention consists principally in such construction of the nut making
machine, that the cutting of the blanks against the forming-die is avoided, a
separate stationary and transversely, reciprocating knife being provided for this
purpose, the blanks being shifted by the reciprocating knife or other suitable means
to a position in line with the forming-die, and between it, and the compressing die,
so that the blanks will be forced forward into the forming-die and compressed by
the forward movement of the compressing die.
The invention also consists of the special construction arrangement and com-
bination of the parts of the machine, all as hereinafter described and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification; in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the figures.
Figure 1, is a plan view of the improved nut making machine.
Figure 2, is a sectional elevation thereof taken on the line x x of figure 1, and
figure 3, is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line y y of figure 1.
A represents the bed of the machine. To this is bolted the cross bar B in the
centre of which is held the forming-die C, one end of which is closed by the com-
pressing die D attached to the sliding cross-head E. The die D is made hollow
and through it passes the punch F which is fixed in the sliding cross-head G drawn
forward at the proper time by the connecting-rods H H and eccentrics I I on the
main shaft J for punching the blanks while held in the forming-die C as hereinafter
described.
The punch F before entering the compressing die D passes through the hollow
head L against which the die D abuts, which head L is held in the heavy cross-
bar K bolted to the bed A; and the head L is made adjustable in the cross-bar K

page_text: preferably by being screwed into the said cross-bar, for varying the distance of
backward movement of the die D and cross-head E for making nuts of different
lengths, as will be fully described below.
M. is the movable knife for cutting the blanks from the rod N which is fed by
hand or by the feeding mechanism O, into the machine through coinciding passages
nade through the bed A and cross-bars G K B, the passage P in cross-bar B being
fitted with a cutting die Q, against which the movable knife M cuts the blank from
the rod N.
The knife M in this instance is reciprocated by the lever R which is rocked upon
its central pivot by the cam S secured to the main shaft J, and the knife M is held
in place against the face of the fixed cross-bar B by the dovetailed flanges T. T.
which form guide ways for the movement of the said knife. At its cutting end
the, knife M is formed with the fingers or prongs a a which serve to retain the
blank while the movement of the knife carries it along to a position in line with
the forming-die C and compressing die D₁ which latter is adapted to be forced
forward by the cam U on main shaft J and sliding yoke V against which the
cam U acts, for forcing the blanks into the forming-die and compressing them
therein against the die D, thus flattening the blanks and causing them to take the
shape of the forming-die, which may be of any desired internal configuration,
according to the shape of nuts desired.
The die D is made hollow to permit the entrance of the punch F after it has
been forced through the blank, and is held in a cavity made in the stock V₁ which
forms a part of the yoke V, and which passes through and is guided by the cross-
bar W so that the die D¹ will have a rectilinear movement, to and from the
forming die C.
.
•
In rear of and communicating with the cavity in the stock V₁ is formed the
outlet passage b for any scales or pieces of metal that may be forced into the die D1
by the punch F. B¹ is a bent adjustable stop plate bolted upon the upper surface
of the cross bar B so as to reach down in front of the passage P in the cross bar B,
to limit the distance the rod N may be fed forward after the cutting of each blank,
so that the blanks will always be of the proper and of uniform length. Another
adjustable stop C₁ is bolted to the cross bar B near the forming die C, which stop
is so arranged that the forward movement of the knife M carries the blanks
against it so that this stop serves to straighten up the blanks between the
prongs a. a of the knife M to properly position the blanks in front of the forming
die to be forced into the forming die C by the forward movement of the com-
pressing die D¹.
After the blank has been forced forward by the die D¹ into the forming die C
and compressed and compressing die D¹ has been carried back by the action of the
cam U, the completed nut will be expelled from the forming die C by a forward
movement of the die D which is effected by the cams E¹, E¹, on shaft J, yokes F1 F1
which surround the cams E' E' and connecting rods G' G' which connect the said
yokes with the cross head E which carries the die D as above described. The
connections of the rods G¹ G' with the cross head E are made adjustable by means
of suitable screw nuts c. c. screwed upon the ends of the rods, so that the backward
movement of the cross head E may be regulated to suit the position of the head
which as above described, may be adjusted forward or backward in the cross
bar K for regulating the degree of compression of the blanks and the thickness of
the nuts.
The feed mechanism O is composed of the upper and lower grooved rollers d, d,
and the ratchet wheel f fixed upon the same shaft g with the upper feed roller d.
The lower feed roller d¹ is constantly pressed upward by the coiled spring e which
causes the rollers to grasp the rod N and the ratchet f. shaft g, and upper roller d
are revolved by the pawl attached to the cross head G so that as the cross
head G is forced backward the rod N will be forced forward as will be clearly
understood from Figures 1 and 2.

page_text: The operation of the machine is as follows:-The main shaft J being revolved
by power applied to the shaft by the cog wheel J1, the parts of the machine being
in the position shown in Figure 1, the knife M will be forced forward by and sever
a blank from the rod N and carry it against the stop C and thus partially
compress the blank and hold it fairly in front of the forming die C. The com
pressing die D will now be moved and force the blank into the forming die C
compressing it against the die D, the die D¹ owing to the shape of the cam U
being caused to dwell for a short space of time whilst the crosshead G carrying the
punch is drawn forward by the eccentrics II acting through yokes H¹ H¹ and
connecting rods H H and cause it to puncture the blank held in the forming die C.
While the blank is being compressed by the forward movement of the die D¹ the
knife M will be carried back to its original position so as not to interfere with the
feeding forward of the rod N.
The punch after being forced through the blank, is withdrawn from the nut the
feed mechanism O being at same time operated and carrying the rod N forward
the length of a blank. At the time the die D¹ is withdrawn from the forming
die C the cams E¹ E¹ acting through yokes F¹ F¹ and rods G¹ G¹ draw the cross
head E forward which will cause the die D to expel the finished nut from the
forming die C.
The forming die C and the compressing dies D D' are in this instance shown
hexagonal in cross section for making hexagonal nuts, but I do not confine myself
to any particular form of dies, as they may be made in various forms to suit the
shape of nuts desired to be produced; nor do I confine myself to any particular
form of rod from which the blanks are cut; while preferring a round rod, the same
nuts can be inade from blanks cut from hexagonal oval or other shaped rods other
than the flat bars from which nuts have heretofore been made.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is.
1. In a nut machine the combination with forming and compressing dies of a
knife for cutting a blank and carrying it in line with the forming die, substantially
as herein shown and described.
2. In a nut machine, the combination with forming and compressing dies of
a cutting die at one side of the forming die, a blank cutting and carrying knife,
and means for operating said. knife, substantially as herein shown and described,
whereby provision is made for cutting the blanks and feeding them to the dies, as
set forth.
3. In a nut machine the combination with the forming die C and the compressing
dies D D¹, of the stationary cutting die Q and the reciprocating knife M formed
with the fingers a, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby provision
is made for cutting the blanks and carrying them in line with the forming die, as
set forth.
4. In a nut machine the combination with the forming die C and the compressing
dies D D¹, of the stationary cutting die Q the reciprocating knife M provided with
the fingers a, and the stop C, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby
provision is made for cutting the blanks carrying them in line with the forming die,
and partially compressing them, as set forth.
5. In a nut machine the combination with the stationary cutting die Q and the
reciprocating knife M, of the forming die C, the hollow compressing dies D. D¹², and
means for operating said dies, substantially as herein shown and described.
6. In a nut machine the combination with the frame A, the cross bar K, the
compressing die D, the cross bead E, and means for operating said cross head, of
the head I adjustably secured in the said cross bar, substantially as herein shown
and described, and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 7. The reciprocating knife M formed with the fingers a. a. feed mechanism O,
and cutting die Qin combination with the forming die C, hollow compressing
dies D. D¹, and reciprocating punch F, the die D being adapted to be drawn forward
for expelling the nut from the forming die, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.