Improvements in Machines for. Making Matches.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1897-Accepted, 13th Nov., 1897
Improvements in Machines for. Making Matches.
A communication by BERNARD THEODORE STEBER of 9 Charlotte Street, Utica,
in the County of Oneida, and State of New York, United States of America,
Manufacturer and Machinist..
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool & 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, & 322 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil 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 improvements in machines for making matches and
more particularly to that class of machines which are adapted to cut match
splints and place them in an endless belt or carrier.
It consists in means for cutting match splints in combination with holders for
receiving the same, the holders being provided with slots or grooves whose walls
are grooved at points opposite to each other for receiving the ends of the match
splints, the side walls of said grooves being of less distance apart than the diameter
of the match splints..
It also consists in means for cutting match splints in combination with an
endless chain, said chain comprising holders having grooves for receiving the
match splints and means for forcing the said holders into holding contact with
the said splints.
It further consists in certain other novel constructions, combinations and
arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of this improved match machine, portions of the frame
being broken away.
Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the same, portions of
the same being shown in side elevation.
Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the machine showing part of the carrier
chain and the cams for actuating the same.
Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view showing the construction of one of the holders
of the said chain.
Fig. 5 is a detail end elevation of a portion of the machine showing the carrier
chain in place, and the depressor for forcing the chain downward.
Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the construction of the ejecting platen.
Fig. 7 is a detail view showing a form of holder which my correspondent con-
templates employing.
Fig. 8 shows another form of holder, the splint receiving slots being adapted to
receive a double; row of splints, and
Fio 9 represents a detail view showing a modified form of depressor.

page_text: A in the drawings represents a match splint machine; B an endless carrier
or chain; C a depressing bar for forcing the chain downwardly; D D cams for
feeding the chain, and E cams for actuating the depressing bar C.
At one end of the frame A a shaft a is mounted; transversely of the same and is
provided with a crank a¹. The crank a¹ operates a pitman a2 which carries at
its upper ends a cutter slide a3. The pitman a2 is provided with an adjusting
sleeve a whereby its length may be accurately adjusted to suit the cut which it
is desired to make. The shaft a is provided with a belt wheel by which power
may be received from any suitable source and communicated to said shaft à, the
crank a being revolved to reciprocate, by means of the pitman a², the cutter
slide 3. The cutter slide a carries at its upper end a suitable match splint
cutter a which is adapted to engage suitable blocks of wood a fed to it between
the feed rollers 8 a8. The sharp edge of the cutter af is at the lower edge and
the stroke of the pitman is so arranged that the cutter as it descends will engage the
end of the block or blocks inserted between the feed rollers and cut the desired
match splints. When the cutter again rises, the match splints will be carried
up thereby and deposited in the endless chain B as will be hereinafter more fully
described.
The
The endless carrier chain B which is adapted to receive the match splints after
they are cut is composed of holders or slats bb. The holders bb may be made of
metal or other suitable substance as wood fiber or hard fiber and are provided
with match receiving slots 661 which extend inwardly from one edge of the said
holders. The holders are preferably in the form of flat bars and it has been found
that in addition to using iron or steel for making these bars, wood fiber, being
very hard and tough, is also a good material of which to make these bars. The
slots are preferably provided with enlarged portions as 62 62 to receive the
ends of the match splints. The under edges of the openings of the apertures 63 62
are preferably beveled as seen at 63 in Fig. 4 of the drawings. This helps to guide
the end of the match splint into the end of the opening which is to hold it.
ends of the holders are provided with connecting links as by which each holder
is linked to the next holder upon either side, all the holders being linked together
to form an endless chain. The holders are provided with end projections 65 65
which engage guide-ways as 66 66 upon the top of the frame A and also serve as
means by which the belt may be fed forward. Horizontal shafts d d journaled
upon the top of the frame A carry actuating cams D D. The cams D D are
provided with flanges dd, a portion of which are spiral and a portion straight
for engaging the end projections 65 of the holders b. When the cams are
revolved by any suitable mechanism not shown the flanges d'engage the end
projections and when the spiral portion is bearing against them, serve to move
the chain forward, and when the straight portion of the flanges dd engages the
said projections, no motion is imparted to the said belt. The intervals of rest
caused by this straight portion of the flanges are timed so as to permit a
holder of the chain B to rest above the cutter a long enough to receive its charge
of match splints.
As shown in Figure 7 of the drawings the holders composing the endless chain B
may be provided with grooves as 67 which have no enlargements similar to the
apertures 22 but are merely provided with straight sides the proper distance
apart to receive the ends of the match splints. As shown in Figure 8 of the
drawings the holders composing the endless chain may also be provided with
diagonal slots as 18 68. These slots may also be provided with enlargements to
receive the match splints similar to the enlargements 22 of the holder b b.
The diagonal slots may be made long enough to receive a double row of splints
as illustrated in the said Fig. 8 of the drawings.
In using a match; splint machine of this character it is found that it is advan-
tageous to provide a means for forcing the holders bb downwardly upon the ends
of the match splints to assist in inserting them in the holders. For this purpose
the bar C has been devised which extends transversely with relation to the

page_text: achine, and is carried by links c c pivotally connected at their rear ends
rame A. This construction enables the bar to be raised and lowered as desired.
The bar C is preferably arranged so as to be just above the holder 6 which is in
position over the cutter to receive the match splints so that when the said bar
lescends it will force that holder downwardly. If it is desired to allow the upper
end of the match splints to project a little above the upper surface of the holders,
the bar C may be so arranged as to strike the holder to one side of the rows of
splints, or the holder may be made with vertical corrugations as shown in Fig., 9,
so as not to extend over the end of the splints, all without departing in the least
from the spirit of this invention. In order to impart the downward motion to
the bar C at the proper time cams E E are secured to the shaft a upon each side
of the machine. These cams, E E are preferably formed by making grooves.in
the outer faces of the discs or wheels e. The grooves in these discs are concentric
except at one point as at e' where they are provided with offsets to draw the.
bar downwardly. In these grooves, travel friction wheels c¹ c¹ carried by the
lower ends of the links c² ² which are pivotally connected to the ends of the bar C
The offsets in each groove of the cams are so located as to depress the arm C just
after the splints have been raised to the carrier above them.
In order to enable the bars bb to move downwardly when actuated by the
depressor C the ways or tracks which support them are mounted upon screw
bolts as 6 which extend upwardly through the top of the frame A and engage
the said ways or tracks 66 above the said frame. Springs as 610 are interposed
'between the said ways be and the top of the frame A so that the said ways be are
normally raised to the extent allowed by the bolts above the top of the frame A.
My correspondent does not rely upon the springs alone to raise the ways to
their normal height, as the forward ends of the said ways 66 66 are preferably
connected with and supported by the depressing bar by means of bars or
links bb so that when the depressor moves downwardly the ways be be will be
also carried downwardly against the action of the springs 610 610 and when it is
Oraised the ways will be raised again.
In cutting the splints the cutter is so regulated as to extend a short distance
above the block from which the splints are being cut so as to completely clear
the same and give an opportunity for it to be fed forward for the next cut. As
the cutter descends it cuts the splints from the end of the block, the cutting.
5 edge thereof coming just to the lower edge of the block. Upon ascending the
splints are carried upwardly by the cutter and are guided by means of a comb
as a which directs them into the holder b which is just above the same.. When
the cutter reaches its highest point the tops of the match splints touch, or nearly
touch and partly enter the bell mouthed slots of the holding bars b. At this
10 moment the chain depressor C is actuated to pull the bar b downwardly at the.
same speed as the cutter descends but it continues on downward a short distance
after the cutter touches the block and has again started upon the operation of
cutting the next row of splints. The match splints of the first cut are, thus
resting on the block and they cannot go down any further and the grooved bar b
45 is pushed downward over the splints and causes them to enter into its grooves
and become firmly held therein. The depressor C is moved upwardly immediately
after the match cutters have released themselves from this lot of splints by reason
The chain is now moved
of the new lot which is being cut pushing them out.
forward to the next bar by means of the cams D and the next row of splints is
50 cut and brought upwardly in the same manner as above.
It will be observed that this improved machine is constructed in a simple
manner and yet in a way which is particularly well adapted for the purpose for
which it is used. There is a decided advantage in having slots for receiving
match splints instead of holes for when the mechanism for moving the chain
55 becomes worn considerably, the slots will make an allowance to some extent for
the wear and prevent trouble in the operation of the machine.
It will be apparent that great advantage is gained by the use of holders having

page_text: deep slots in their edges for in the constant use of the machinery the parts are
apt to wear and if slots were not used the platen which ejects the matches would
in case of such wear strike and bend the plates. But the slots used in accordance
with this invention prevent any such difficulty. Moreover the use of the slots
makes it certain that the splint will be received and held by the said holder.
The modification shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings illustrates a holder adapted
to receive a double row of splints cut by a double cutter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a match-splint machine, the combination with a splint-cutter, of an endless
chain consisting of holders linked together, each of said holders being composed
of a single bar adapted to extend longitudinally with respect to the cutter, said
holders being provided with deep slots in their lateral edges adapted to receive
and hold the splints after they are cut, substantially as described.
2. In a match-splint machine, the combination with a suitable cutter, of holders
each composed of a single bar adapted to extend longitudinally with respect to
the cutter, and provided with deep slots extending inwardly from the lateral edges
of the same for receiving and holding the match-splints after they are cut, sub-
stantially as described.
3. In a match-machine, the combination with a splint-cutter, of holders having
slots in their edges, the said slots being provided with groove portions opposite each
other in the walls of said slots adapted to receive and hold the match-splints after
they are cut, substantially as described.
4. In a match-machine, the combination with a splint-cutter, of an endless
chain comprising holders linked together, the said holders being provided with
slots in their edges having grooves opposite each other in the walls of the said
slots for receiving and holding the match-splints after they are cut, substantially
as described.
5. In a match machine, the combination with a cutter, of an endless chain
consisting of holders linked together having slots in their edges to receive the
match-splints, ways for supporting and guiding said chain, springs constituting
a yielding support for said ways, means for depressing the holders of the chain
for forcing them upon the match-splints, said ways being connected to said depress-
ing means whereby they are depressed to correspond to the downward movement
of the chain, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of September 1897.