Improvements in Match Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 2nd June, 1899
Improvements in Match Machines.
I, JOHN LIDDLE, of 154, St. Vincent Street, in the County of the City of Glas-
gow, North Britain, Chartered Patent Agent, 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: —
My invention relates to a machine for the manufacture of friction matches;
the machine being adapted automatically to cut the sticks for matches from
blocks of wood fed to it; to suitably coat a portion of the sticks with a freely
and persistently burning material, usually paraffin; and to put a cap or head
of igniting composition on the several sticks.
The machine includes mechanism for receiving blocks of wood theretofore cut
to proper length, and carrying them to, and holding them up to, the cutters,
cutters for severing sticks from the blocks, and therewith means for inserting the
sticks in the bars of an endless carrier; the carrier adapted to receive and hold
the sticks; means for supporting, and mechanism for moving, the carrier; means
for heating the sticks; devices for holding and applying the persistently burn-
ing material; mechanism for putting heads of igniting composition on the sticks;
mechanism for pushing the matches from the bars of the carrier; and other
devices and mechanisms relating incidentally, or an auxiliary, to these principal
features of the machine.
The invention consists of the machine and its several parts and combinations
of parts, as herein described and claimed, or the equivalents thereof.
In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation, on a small scale, of the principal parts
of the machine as seen at the front.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the front of that part of the machine seen at the left
in Fig. 1, and includes the mechanism for discharging the matches from the
carrier.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of the front of that part of the machine just at the right
of the part seen in Fig. 2, and includes the stick-cutting and sticking mechanism
below, and a fragment of the carrier above with some of the means for supporting
and moving it.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a part at the right of that shown in Fig. 3, and
includes the stick-heating apparatus below, and a fragment of the carrier and its
support above.
Fig. 5 is a front elevation of that part of the machine at the right in Fig. 1,
and includes the devices and mechanism for holding and applying the burning
material, the devices and mechanism for holding and putting on the composition
heads, a fragment of the carrier with devices for supporting and moving it, and
mechanism incidental to these features.

page_text: shown in Fig. 2.
Fig. 7 is a rear elevation substantially of parts shown in front elevation in
Fig. 3.
Fig. 8 is a rear elevation substantially of parts shown in front elevation in
Fig. 4.
Fig. 9 is a rear elevation substantially of the parts shown in front elevation in
Fig. 5.
Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the principal features of the block-feeding and
stick-cutting mechanism.
Fig. 11 is a vertical section longitudinally of the stick-cutting mechanism
shown in Fig. 10, and of parts adjacent thereto.
Fig. 12 is a vertical section, transversely of the machine, just in front of, and
looking towards, the block-feeding and stick-cutting mechanism.
Fig. 13 is a vertical section longitudinally of some parts of the stick-cutting
and sticking mechanism, in comparatively larger size, showing the positions of
the parts at the moment of commencing to cut the sticks from the blocks of wood.
Fig. 14 is a vertical section longitudinally, showing the same parts seen in
Figure 13, but at the moment of inserting the sticks in a har of the carrier.
Fig. 1 is a plan of the cutters in place on their support, und of related me-
chanism.
Fig. 16 is a front elevation of a fragment of the support or framing of the
cutters.
Fig. 17 is a rear view of a central portion of parts shown in Fig. 15.
Fig. 18 is a longitudinal section of the feed-box for wood blocks, with the
devices for feeding the blocks to the cutters.
Fig. 19 is a transverse section of the boxes for blocks, with the block pushers
mounted therein.
Fig. 20 is an elevation of a fragment of an anvil bar provided with pins for sup-
porting the match sticks at the moment of being severed from the wood blocks;
the anvil har being shown in cross section in position in Figs. 13 & 14.
Fig. 21 is a cutter bar, parts being broken away to exhibit features of its con-
struction.
Fig. 22 is an elevation of mechanism for communicating an intermittent motion
to a portion of the carrier; this mechanism being in proximity to the cutters,
and being shown in position in Figs. 3 & 11.
Fig. 23 is an edge view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 22.
Fig. 24 is a clutch mechanism on the main driving shaft, shown in position in
Fig. 10.
Fig. 25 is a vertical section transversely of the lower portion of the machine,
through the pan for holding and applying the burning material.
Fig. 26 is a section of a fragment of a supply tank shown in Fig. 25.
Fig. 27 is a vertical section longitudinally of parts of the machine, at and
through the pan for holding the igniting composition.
Fig. 28 is a plan view of the pan, its support and related parts, shown in
Fig. 27.
Fig. 29 is a vertical section, transversely of the lower portion of the machine,
through the pan for holding the igniting composition.
Fig. 30 is a plan of devices above the composition pan, for carrying, and raising
and lowering the carrier.
Fig. 31 is a detail of carrier-supporting and driving mechanism; located at the
right in Fig. 1.
Fig. 32 is a detail of carrier-supporting mechanism on the ways extending
much of the distance between the stick-cutters and the composition pan.
Fig. 33 is an elevation of the end of the machine at the left in Fig. 1, (the
carrier being omitted), showing parts of the match-discharging mechanism.
Fig. 34 is a plan of an endless apron and its supporting and driving mechanism;

page_text: the apron being located below the match-discharging punches, and at the left in
Fig. 1.
Fig. 35 is a vertical section longitudinally of the match-discharging
mechanism, (at the left in Fig. 1,) with the endless apron of Fig. 34 in position
relative thereto, and some related parts.
Fig. 36 is a perspective of a fragment of a match chute, shown in position in
Fig. 35.
Fig. 37 is a plan view of a fragment of the stick and match carrier, broken
away centrally for convenience of illustration.
Fig. 38 is a section of a fragment of the carrier, the locality of the section being
indicated by 38-38 on Fig. 37, looking toward the right.
Fig. 39 is a plan view of an adjustable guide for the match-discharging
punches, shown in position in Fig. 35.
Fig. 40 is a section of the guide shown in Fig. 39, showing also adjacent parts
in their relations thereto and method of operation.
In the drawings, A is a frame of such suitable size and proportions as adapts
it for supporting the operative mechanism. A principal part of the machine, is
the endless stick and match earrier 1, which is adapted to receive and hold the
sticks when they are cut from the blocks of wood, and carry them to and past the
several devices and groups of mechanism for completing the matches, and there-
after for a considerable distance in the air, during which time the composition
heads of the matches become dry and hard and to the discharging mechanism,
where the completed matches are discharged from the machine. This endless
flexible carrier 1 is so mounted that it is adapted to be and is moved past the dis-
charging mechanism and past the stick-sticking mechanism intermittently, while
the remainder of the carrier, which is much the greater part of it in length, is
moved continuously and without intermitting, while the machine is in operation.
The carrier is supported chiefly on a large number of skeleton or open drums or
pulleys, and on horizontal ways, also provided with anti-friction rolls to receive
its bearing. The carrier after passing the stick-cutting and sticking mechanism
located at B in Fig. 1, passes under the pulley C and over the yielding pulley 1,
and under the pulley E, along on the horizontal ways F past the heating devices
located opposite these ways, to the mechanism for applying the burning material
at G, and thence on the horizontal ways to the mechanism at H for applying
the composition heads to the splints, and thence about the adjustable pulley I and
thence about a yielding pulley D, thence over a number of supporting pulleys
mounted on the frame and arranged in two series 2 & 3, in a generally reverse
direction to that it travelled below, to and about the yielding pulley D³, thence
to and about the pulley E and past the discharging mechanism and about the
pulley, thence over the yielding pulley 1 and to and about the pulley C¹ im-
mediately in front of the stick-cutting and sticking mechanism. That section of
the carrier that is between the pulleys D & D and which passes the match dis-
charging mechanism and the stick-sticking mechanism, is moved intermittently
by the toothed wheels K & K', while the remainder of the carrier, which is much
the greater part of it, is moved continuously by the toothed wheels II & L³,
which several toothed wheels engage the carrier directly, and compel its travel in
the manner stated.
The flexible stick and match carrier 1 is constructed of transversely disposed
cylindrical bars or rods 4, 4¹ (Fig. 37) connected together into a chain or belt by
links 5 arranged in series, one series at each end of the short bars, each bar having
two links secured to it conveniently by set-screws, which two links are pierced
and hold therein the next adjoining bar revolubly thus forming a jointed or
flexible construction. The links are conveniently made of flat blocks of metal
suitably bored to receive therethrough the cylindrical rods or bars of the carrier.
The extremities of the longer bars 4 project at each side of the carrier beyond
the ends of the shorter bars 4 and these projecting ends of the bars 4, form teeth
that are engaged by the teeth of the driving wheels K K¹ LL' & L. The pulleys

page_text: (herein before mentioned), on which the carrier is supported and travels, are
arranged in pairs on each axle (the form of which is clearly exhibited by those
of the pulleys that are shown in Figs. 31 & 33), and cach pulley includes a rim
provided with a tread on which the ends of the bars of the carrier bear, and a
radially projecting flange at the outer side to prevent the movement endwise of
the bars of the carrier. These open pulleys are fixed in pairs on an axle, the
pulleys being mounted at such distance apart as to properly take the ends of the
longer bars of the carrier. The axles of the pulleys D D D & D³ are journaled
in the short arms of levers 6 pivoted on the frame, the long arms of
which are secured yieldingly to the frame by means of springs G¹.
(Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, & 9.) These pulleys are so disposed that the springs
hold the pulleys against the carrier and support it normally in the positions
shown in the drawings. The pulleys I are fixed on an axle mounted in laterally
projecting arms 7-7, (Figs. 1, 5, 9, 27 & 30), which arms are mounted and slide
vertically on ways 10 on two posts of the frame A. A. shaft 8 journaled in rear
projections of the arms 7-7, is provided with pinions 9, 9 that mesh in racks 11 on
the frame, whereby by the rotation of the shaft 8, the arms 7 and the pulleys I
thereon may be raised and lowered as desired. A crank-arm 12 fixed on the shaft 8
and connected by a rod 13 to a shifting bar 14 provided with a pivoted hand lever
15 is adapted for limitedly raising and lowering the pulleys I and the carrier there-
on at that end of the machine. The lower extremity of the connecting rod 13 is
slipped removably onto the wrist of the crank 12, so that it can be readily dis-
connected therefrom, and the crank 12 being rotated entirely around by the at-
tendant, can be made to raise and lower the pulleys I to a greater extent than
can be accomplished by the limited rocking of the shaft 8 by means of the shifting
bar 14. Pulleys M are by means of their common axle journaled in the arms of
rock-shaft 16, pivoted on the frame, a crank arm of which shaft, is connected by
arod 17 to the shifting bar 14. These pulleys M when the machine is at work,
rest on and depress the carrier 1 at the locality of the pan that holds the burning
material. The shifting bar 14 is connected to the frame by swinging arms 18 &
19, respectively opposite the connecting rods 13 & 17, the united action of the
rods 13 & 17, with the swinging arms 18 & 19 being substantially that of toggle
joints, and result in depressing the crank 12 and the crank of shaft 16 respec-
tively, when the shifting bar 14 is pushed endwise toward the rear. An additional
hand lever 20 pivoted at its upper end to the frame, is connected medially to the
shifting bar 14, by which the bar 14 can be shifted by the attendant, as well as
by means of the lever handle 15.
The operative mechanism of the machine is driven from the main driving shaft 21,
(Figs. 1, 3, 7, 9, 10), which is journaled on the frame and is provided with a
belt pulley 22 and a fly wheel 23. The shaft 21 is provided with a worm 24 gear-
ing with a worm wheel on the shaft 25 which in turn is geared to the upright
shaft 26, which at its upper extremity is geared to the horizontal shaft 27, which in
turn is geared to the downwardly extending shaft 28 through the interposed
transverse shaft 29 (Fig. 31). The shaft 27 at its front end is geared to the
transverse shaft 30 and the shaft 28 is geared to the transverse shaft 31. Each
of the transverse shafts 29, 30 & 31 is provided with two toothed wheels (L, L'L'
Figs. 29, 30), which gear with the carrier 1, the teeth of the wheels 32 inter-
meshing with the projecting ends of the bars 4 of the carrier. Figs. 27, 29, 37.)
The gears on shafts 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 & 31, and the toothed wheels L, L'L³
being of homogeneous size and form, their action is concurrent and produces
a synchronous and continuous travel of the carrier throughout that greater portion
of its length that is between the pulleys D & D³. The transverse shaft 31 is
journaled in the vertically movable arms 7, (Figs. 29, 30), and the pinion on
shaft 31 meshes with a pinion 33 tongued on shaft 28, whereby the pinion on
shaft 28 rises and falls with the raising and lowering of shaft 31 and remains in
constant mesh with the pinion on that shaft, being held revolubly thereto by
shaft-bearing 95 fixed on arm 7.

page_text: wing intermittently, that portion of the carrier 1 that passes the match-
discharging mechanism and the stick-sticking mechanism, which portion of the
carrier is between the pulleys 12 & 1), the driving shaft 21 is provided with a crank
disk 34, (Figs. 1, 3, 10, 11), and a connecting rod 35 wristed thereto, is pivoted at
5 its other extremity to an oscillating arm 36, (Figs. 3, 7, 10, 11, 22, 23), mounted
loosely on a transverse shaft 37 journaled on the frame. A ratchet wheel 38
fixed on the shaft 37 is engaged releasably by a pawl 39 pivoted on the arm 36,
whereby the shaft is compelled to rotate intermittently by the movement of the
.oscillating arm 36 in that direction. The pawl 39 is held up to its work by a
spring 40 attached thereto and to the armi 36. The transverse shaft 37 is geared
to an adjacent transverse shaft 41, (Figs. 3, 7, 10, 11), which shaft 41 is provided
with a worm 42 that meshes with a worm wheel 43 fixed on a horizontal shaft 44.
(Figs. 6, 7, 10.) The shaft 44 is geared severally to the short upright shafts 45
& 46 which latter shafts are respectively geared to the transverse shafts 47 & 48.
5 The shafts 47 & 48 are each provided with two toothed wheels KK¹, which
toothed wheels mesh with the carrier 1 in the same manner as the wheels L here-
inbefore described. (Figs. 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 35.) The construction and disposition.
of the mechanism just described is such that the portion of the carrier 1 between
the pulleys Ds and D running past the match-discharging and stick-sticking
mechanism, is moved regularly intermittingly, whereby it is properly presented
to the said match-discharging and stick-sticking mechanisms with a brief rest
to permit of the insertion of sticks and the discharge of matches from the carrier
by the mechanisms therefor, during its periods of rest, while it is moved forward
or fed to those mechanisms in the interval between the moments of rest.
In manufacturing matches with this machine the wood of which the sticks are
made is first cut into blocks from a plank, the blocks being of the same length
in the direction of the grain of the wood, as the lengths of the sticks are to be
of which the matches are made. To receive these blocks and properly feed them
to the stick cutters in the machine, feed boxes 50 are provided. (Figs. 1, 3, 10.)
I preferably employ two boxes or troughs for the wood blocks, and these are
located alongside of each other in a horizontal position and at an oblique angle
to the line of motion of the carrier, and to the stick cutters, just in front of which
they are located and to which they are adapted to deliver the blocks to be cut up
into sticks. These boxes are respectively of such size as to receive loosely there-
in the wood blocks, and to permit them to slide forward toward the cutters. In
the initial portion of each block a movable pusher 51 is provided, (Figs. 10, 18,
19), which pusher is in the form of an upright block that extends downwardly
through a longitudinal slot in the bottom of the box, and is provided with later-
ally projecting rollers 52, 521 respectively bearing against the inside and outside
of the bottom of the box, the pusher block being also provided with a knob
handle 53. The pusher is actuated by a weight 54 which is connected thereto by
acord 55, that runs over a pulley 56 mounted in a bracket secured to the box at
he front end of the longitudinal slot in the bottom thereof. The blocks of
material being placed in the boxes in front of the pushers 51 are by the weights 54
carried forward in the boxes to sets of feed rolls located in the boxes on shafts
7-58, respectively below and above the paths of the wood blocks. The shaft 57
s rotated intermittingly by a pawl 59, (Figures 11, 12), that takes into a ratchet
heel fixed on the shaft 57. The pawl 59 is pivoted medially on a lever 60 one
xtremity of which is pivoted to the frame and the other extremity of which
provided with an anti-friction roller 61 that rides on the periphery of
cam wheel 62 fixed on a shaft 63 that is provided with a cog wheel 64
eshing with and driven by a cog wheel 32 on the driving shaft 21. (Figs.
7.) The feed roll shaft 57 at the end distant from the end having the ratchet
heel thereon, is geared to the feed roll shaft 58. The construction and dis-
osition of the parts is such as to move the feed rolls synchronously intermit-
ngly, in harmony and alternating with the movement of the cutter bars up-
ardly, as hereinafter described. The shaft 57 is provided with a hand wheel 65.

page_text: by which it can be rotated independently of the pawl 59 if desired. The pawl 59
is held yieldingly up to its work by a spring 66 attached thereto and to the frame.
(Fig. 12.) A bar 67 sliding horizontally in the frame, is provided with a stud
having an anti-friction wheel 68 thereon that bears against the pawl 59, and the
other extremity of the sliding bar is provided with a lever handle 69 pivoted
medially on the frame adapted to throw the pawl 59 out of engagement with the
ratchet wheel on shaft 57. The handle 69 is slightly elastic and is adapted to
engage a shoulder on a fixed bar 70, and thereby be held in position, when the
pawl 59 is thrown out of engagement with the ratchet wheel. (Figs. 10, 12.)
Springs 71 secured to the sides of the boxes 50 are adapted to crowd the blocks
against the opposite or long sides of the respective boxes, as they come to the
feed rolls. A cover 72 over the inner ends of the feed boxes holds the blocks in
place in the boxes as they approach the cutters.
Match sticks are cut from the wood blocks by means of a sufficient number of
knives or cutters, that are so arranged as to cut and remove a series of sticks
from the entire front edge of each block of material, as it is presented diagon-
ally to the cutters. (Figs. 10, 15.) The match sticks are preferably cut in cylin-
drical form, and for this purpose each knife or cutter is formed about a circular
aperture in the end of a cutter bar 73. (Figs. 15, 21), the aperture 7+ through
the cutter bar being advisably slightly oblique, inclining away upwardly from the
end of the bar, so that as the stick is severed from the block, and passes upwardly
through the cutter-bar, it will be tilted slightly away from the wood block, and
firmly against the face of a plate hereinafter described. These several cutter-
bars are detachably secured to a vertically reciprocable cutter-bar frame 75 the
lateral ends of which are extended vertically and travel in ways therefor on the
main frame. (Figs. 10, 12, 15.) A. bed plate 76 secured to the frame 75 is pro-
vided with suitable front and rearwardly extending grooves 77 in which the several
cutter-bars 73 are inserted fitting snugly but removably therein, and removable
pins 78 are inserted through medial apertures therefor in the cutter-bars and in
the bed plate 76. A holding plate 79, (Figs. 13, 14, 15, 17), secured detachably
to the frame 75 and being normally a part thereof, rests on the bed plate 76 and
extends over a front medial portion of the cutter bars and holds them in position
in the grooves 77 in the bed plate, otherwise than by the longitudinal withdrawal
thereof, on removing the pins 78. A locking plate 80 hinged to the holding
plate 79 rests releasably on the tops of the pins 78 and holds then in their seats
A handle latch 81 secured to the locking plate 80 is arranged to engage releas-
ably a spring catch 82 secured to the frame 75, and thereby to hold the locking
plate 80 releasably in place. A trimming knife 83, consisting of a bar having a
sharp downwardly-presented front edge and secured to the front transverse edge
of the frame 75, is adapted to trim the material wood blocks, by cutting there-
from the sharp projecting ribs that remain on the front of the block after each
act of cutting a series of sticks therefrom. In the cutting act, this trimming
knife precedes the cutters and removes the sharp ribs from the blocks in advance
of the sticks being cut therefrom. A passage at the rear of the trimming knife
provides for the escape of the several ribs or splints of waste material. A stick-
supporting plate 84, (Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16), rests on the frame 75 in front of the
bed plate 76 and at a little distance therefrom, (Figs. 13, 15), and immediately
beneath the front portion of the cutter bars 73, and is adapted to be thrust for-
ward underneath the cutters and underneath the match sticks, after they have
been completely cut from the wood blocks, and to support the match sticks and
force them into the carrier, as they are carried upwardly with the frame 75, as
herein after described. (Fig. 14.) The plate 84 is provided at its extremities
with rearwardly extending arms 84¹ having stud-pins 85 preferably pro-
vided with roller bearings, that enter and travel in upwardly and downwardly-
extending ways 86, therefor on the frame, the ways being so constructed as to
move the supporting plate 84 forwardly beneath the match sticks, during the
upward movement of the frame 75, just as the plate 84 comes to and pusses above

page_text: To
Plane of the top of the wood blocks X in the feed boxes 50, and to retriev
the plate 84 from beneath the cutters (Fig. 13) at the moment the plate 84 in th
downward movement of the frame 75, approaches the horizontal plane of th
top of the blocks X. A face plate 87 at the front of and secured to the holding
plate 79, is provided with vertically extending channels 88, (Figs. 15, 16), adapte
to receive therein the sticks as they are cut from the wood blocks, and guide and
support them, in connection with the cutter bars, in vertical positions, and so dis
posed as to register with and be insertable in apertures therefor in a bar of the
carrier 1, in a manner hereinafter described. A. bed bar 89 secured to the boxes 50
just below the planes of the bottoms of the boxes at their front diagonal ends,
is provided with a series of short pins 90, (Figs. 13, 14, 20), projecting upwardly
therefrom and so disposed as to register with the apertures 74 of the cutter-bars 73,
and adapted to slightly enter those apertures as the cutters come down there-
to, thus permitting such sufficient downward movement of the cutters as to com-
15 pletely sever the sticks Y from the wood blocks. For reciprocating the cutter
frame and the cutters thereon vertically, the frame 75 is connected to eccentric
wrists or cranks of the doubly wristed or cranked shaft 63, by means of pit-
men 91. (Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14) These pitmen 91 are constructed in two parts united
together by reversely screw-threaded nuts 92, whereby the length of the pitmen
can be adjusted, and the vertical throw of the cutters can be regulated. The
cranks 93 on the shaft 63, to which the pitmen 91 are connected are extended on
the reverse or opposite side of the shaft 63 and are enlarged to form by their
aggregate weight, a counterbalance 94, on the shaft 63, to the load carried by
the pitmen 91. It is sometimes desirable to stop the work of the stick-cutting
mechanism, during the continued operation of the remainder of the machine, and
this non-action of the stick-cutting mechanism is especially desirable, when about
to stop work with the machine, as it is then important to continue the operation
of the remainder of the machine, until all the sticks that have been inserted in
the carrier, shall have been taken through the machine and converted into com-
plete matches and discharged therefrom, so that the machine will be emptied
of all sticks and matches, when it is completely stopped. For the purpose of dis-
connecting and stopping the stick-cutting mechanism, the cog wheel 32 is revo-
lubly loose on the driving shaft 21, and is secured revolubly thereto by the clutch 96,
(Fig. 24), splined on shaft 21. The clutch collar 96 is thrown into and out
of engagement with the hub of the wheel 32 by means of a bell-crank lever 97
pivoted at its angle on the frame and provided with furcate fingers that ride in an
nnular groove therefor in the clutch collar 96. Above the cutters and directly
ver the carrier there is a drum 49 fixed on the shaft 48, which drum is so con-
tructed and disposed as to bear against the upper surface of the carrier, and par-
cularly against the bar of the carrier into which the sticks are being stuck by
e upward movement of the cutter frame. (Figs. 11, 12, 13 & 14.) The carrier
ars 4,41 are each provided with series of vertically disposed apertures 98, 98 so
sposed as when brought over the cutters, to register therewith, and these aper-
res are preferably reamed out forming funnel-like entrances to the apertures
th below and above, so that the match sticks entering from below, or the
nches entering from above to discharge the matches, will readily find entrance
these apertures. (Figs. 37, 38.) The apertures 98 are of such diameter as to
mit snugly therein the match sticks cut by the cutters, and when the sticks
e been inserted in these bars 4, 4' by the means herein before described, they
1 by reason of the tightness of their fit in the bars be held therein against re-
ral therefrom by the retreating downwardly of the cutter bars when the cutter
ne goes down. The grip of the cutter bars 4,4¹ on the match sticks and
ches by reason of the snugness of the fit of the match sticks in the carrier bar
tures, holds the sticks and matches, except in exceptional or accidental in-
ces, in the carrier until they have been carried to the place of discharge from
carrier, and are pushed therefrom by means hereinafter described.
Then the machine is in operation the carrier 1 directly after it has been loaded

page_text: with match sticks where it passes the stick-cutting mechanism, runs over the
wheels D, and thence under the wheels E, and then along on the ways F for a con-
siderable distance, and thence past the burning material mechanism at G, and
thence on another section of ways F; to the composition applying mechanism H.
The ways F are advisably constructed of bars of channel iron or steel 99, (Figs. 4,
8, 32), supported on the frame and are provided with anti-friction bearing
wheels 100, on which the links 5 of the carrier rest and travel. Guards 10Ï
secured to the outer sides of the channel irons 99, prevent the shifting of the
carrier laterally. For thoroughly drying and warming the match sticks, some
steam tight warming reservoirs 102, 102 supported on the frame are located im-
mediately below the carrier for some distance in its line of travel directly after
it has been loaded with match sticks. These warming pans are kept hot by means
of steam or hot water introduced thereto through the pipes 103 which steam or
hot water is discharged from the warm reservoirs by the discharge pipes 104.
In the manufacture of matches and to so prepare them for use that after the
composition head of the match has been ignited, it will continue to burn and set
the wood on fire, that portion of the stick at and adjacent to the end that is to
receive the composition head, is first coated and to some extent saturated, with a
freely and persistently burning material. The material most commonly used for
this purpose is paraffine. To apply such material to the match sticks, a paraffine
pan 105 is located below the path of the carrier and at such position with
reference thereto, that the sticks being carried by the carrier, may by the de-
pression of the carrier to a limited extent be dipped, in part, into and carried
through a supply of melted paraffine in the pan. (Fig. 25.) To keep the para-
fine in the pan in a melted and liquid condition, the paraffine pan 105 is sus-
pended in a hot water or bath pan 106, which, when the machine is in operation,
is constantly supplied with hot water, by a pipe 107 leading thereto, the water
being discharged through the pipe 107. (Figs. 5, 9, 25.) To keep the paraffine
pan properly supplied with liquid paraffine, a supply tank 108 is provided, in
which paraffine is melted and kept hot by means of steam carried through the
pipe 109 which enters and extends in an irregular course through the tank near
its bottom, and leads therefrom by the exhaust pipe 109¹. A trough 110 having
its initial end over the supply tank 108 is disposed in an inclined position with
its lower end so arranged as to discharge into the pan 105. A bucket 111 is sus-
pended pivotally, and so as by gravity to normally assume an upright position,
in the furcate arms of a rod 112 movable vertically in brackets fixed on the frame.
The rod 112 is pivoted to a connecting rod 113 which rod at its other extremity
is pivoted on the wrist of a crank on a transverse shaft 114, said transverse
shaft being geared to an upright shaft 115 which in turn is geared to the
shaft 27. The bucket 111 is provided with a hook 116 so disposed as to be
adapted when the bucket is lifted by the upward movement of the rod 112, to en-
gage a catch therefor on the under side of the initial end of the trough 110, and
cause the bucket by the upward movement thereof to be overturned and to dis-
charge its contents into the trough 110. The construction and disposition of the
parts is such that the bucket 111 when the machine is in operation is inter-
mittingly lowered into the supply tank 108 and is raised therefrom and dis-
charges its contents through the trough 110 into the pan 105, thereby keeping
up the necessary supply of liquid paraffine in the pan 110, any surplus of para-
ffine in the pan being discharged by the overflow spout 117 back into the tank
108. The pulleys MM are so mounted in the levers 16, that when the machine
is in operation these pulleys by means of the shifting bar 14, are forced against
the upper side of the carrier 1 to such extent as to deflect it downwardly some-
what causing it to travel so near the top of the pan 105, that match sticks in the
carrier will be dipped partly into and thus carried through the paraffine in the
pan, whereby their ends are coated and to some extent saturated with the liquid
paraffine.

page_text: After leaving the mechanism at G, the carrier runs forward on the ways F', to
the mechanism for applying composition heads to the sticks at H. For applying
heads or caps of ignitable composition to the ends of the sticks, a composition pan 118
is supported on the frame directly below the path of the carrier 1. The pan is supplied
5 with a quantity of semi-liquid or viscous ignitable material or composition, and
this material is kept in its semi-liquid condition, by suspending the composition
pan 118, in a hot water or bath pan 119, the water in which is kept hot by means
of steam introduced thereto through a pipe 120, which is bent and extends in
diverse directions at the bottom of the pan, and leads therefrom in a suitable
O discharge pipe 120¹. (Figs. 1, 5, 9, 27, 28, 29.) Water is supplied to the pan 119,
conveniently through the pipe 121 and the overflow is discharged therefrom through
the pipe 121. A roller 122 located partially in and partially above the pan 118,
is, by means of its axle 1221, geared to the shaft 28, and is rotated thereby when
the machine is in operation. The composition z in the pan adheres to the roller 122
and is carried up and over it by the rotation of the roller, and the roller is ɛo
disposed with reference to the path of the carrier 1, that the ends of the match sticks
enter the composition on the top of the roller as they pass it, in the manner
indicated in Fig. 27, and thereby the match sticks are capped or provided with
heads of the ignitable composition, that adheres to the sticks. The roller 122 at its
upper side rotates in the direction of the travel of the carrier past it. A scraper 123
secured adjustably to the pan 118 is adapted to prevent an undue amount of con-
position from adhering to and being carried upwardly over the roller 122, the
excess of composition being scraped or turned back into the composition pan.
A refuse catcher 124 consisting of a trough substantially as long as the length of the
roller 122, and as the width of the carrier 1, is located just at the rear of the
roller 122, and below the carrier 1, and is adjustably mounted on the pan 118.
The refuse catcher 124 is provided with a screen bottom, and is adapted chiefly
to catch any sticks that may be accidently pulled out of the carrier at this locality,
by the tenacity of the composition, or otherwise. Sticks are not likely to be
pulled from the carrier by the composition, except only in instances where for some
cause the stick is of incomplete size and is inserted too loosely in the carrier. The
adjustments of the scraper 123, and of the refuse catcher 124, are toward and from
the roller, as clearly indicated in Figs. 27 & 28. To prevent the heavier portions
of the composition Z from settling at the bottom, and to keep it thoroughly and
equally mixed a composition stirrer is provided consisting advisably of two
longitudinal perforated bars or paddles 125 suspended near the bottom of the pan
at a little distance from each other, in depending radial arms fixed in the hubs 126
journaled and revoluble limitedly in boxes therefor on the rim of the pan 118. The
roller axle 1221 is journaled in these hubs 126, which are concentric therewith.
The hubs 126 are provided with crank arms 127 that are pivoted to connecting
rods 128 that at their other extremities are pivoted to crank arnis on shaft 129,
which is geared to shaft 1:30 which latter shaft is in turn geared to shaft 28 through
he intermediate shaft 131. The construction and arrangement of parts just
lescribed is such as to cause the stirrers 125, to oscillate in the composition while
he machine is in operation, and thus maintain the proper consistency of the
omposition.
When the matches have thus been complete by putting composition heads
hereon, they are carried by the carrier 1 a considerable distance through such
evious path as has herein before been described, upwardly and from the right
xtremity of the machine to the extreme left extremity thereof, and down to the
ischarging mechanism at the lower left portion of the machine as seen in Fig. 1,
hich discharging mechanism is shown in greater detail in Figs. 2, 6, 33, 35, 36,
9,40. While being thus carried for the considerable distance stated, the.composition
eads on the matches set and become hard, so that the matches may thereafter
e handled without danger of the composition coming off or adhering to
ticle with which the matches may come in contact. For removing the matches
any

page_text: from the carrier a series of punches 132, (Figs. 33, 35, 39, 40,) are fixed in a
punch bar 133, the punches being located above and so disposed as to register
with the apertures in a bar of the carrier, when that bar comes beneath them.
The bar 133 is secured to depending legs of a yoke 134 secured to the upper
extremities of downwardly extending rods 135, 135, the lower extremities of which
rods are secured to a transverse rail 136. The rods 135 are mounted and slide
vertically in brackets or ways therefor on the main frame. The yoke 134 the
rods 135 and the rail 136 form a punch-carrying vertically-reciprocable frame.
The rail 136 is provided with ears 137 that are pivoted in the free extremity of
swinging arms 138 pivoted at their other extremities on the frame. These
arms 18 are provided medially with bearing rollers 139 resting on cam
wheels 140 on the transverse shaft 141, which shaft is geared to the longitudinally-
extending shaft 142, which at its other extremity is geared to the driving shaft 21.
(Figs. 1, 2, 6, 10, 33, 35.) A spring 143 connected to the rail 136 and to the floor
is adapted to draw the punch-carrying frame downwardly, quickly and with an
initially strong action, forcing the punches into the apertures in the carrier bar
when the bearing rollers 139 travelling on the cam wheel 140 come to and follow
the straight bearing surface on the cam, the punches being lifted from the carrier
during the time of the travel of the bearing rollers 1:39 on the curved portion of
the cam wheel 140. This construction is adapted to secure a quick and initially
strong action of the punches regularly as the several bars of the carrier are
intermittently brought thereto, while at the same time the elasticity of the spring
provides for the accident of the failure of the punches on the downward movement
of the punch-carrying frame to enter the apertures in the carrier har, and thus
obviates the breaking of the machine or punches on such accidental failure of the
punches to properly enter the apertures in the carrier bar. For properly support-
ing and directing the punches into the apertures in a bar of the carrier, a punch
guide 144 is provided consisting of two plates or members secured to the frame at
their lateral extremities by bolts 145 that pass through laterally elongated slots
in the overturned ends of these plates and turn into the frame. These plates come
together substantially in the plane of the punches and are each provided with a
toothed edge, the teeth being of considerable length, and the teeth of one plate
overlapping the teeth of the other plate providing interdental spaces through which
the punches 1332 pass whereby they are guided. "By means of this construction any
slight wear of the parts can be readily taken up, and the movements of the punches
can be nicely adjusted and accurately guided. An inclined groove chute 146 is
secured to the frame directly below the place of discharge of the matches from the
carrier, and is adapted to cause the matches as they fall thereon to assume such
position that they will be discharged therefrom, onto the endless apron 147 in
longitudinal positions, with the heads in advance.
The endless apron 147 (Figs. 33, 34, 35,) is mounted on wheels on shafts 148
& 149, which are journaled in boxes therefor on the frame. The shaft 148 is
driven by a belt 150 running thereon from the shaft 141. The shaft 149 is
journaled in boxes 151 slidable on the frame and are made adjustable by means of
the tightening screws 152 turning through parts of the frame into lugs on the
boxes. By this means the tension of the apron 147 may be properly regulated.
The matches as they are discharged from the carrier and slide down the
chute 146, are delivered intermittingly in series as they are discharged from the
carrier on the apron 147 and are so delivered thereto that they lie thereon
longitudinally thereof with their heads in the direction of the movement of the
apron. (Fig. 35.) At the outer extremity of the travel of this apron, the matches
are discharged therefrom onto an endless apron 153, which apron is only slightly
wider than the length of the matches. This apron 153 runs on wheels on
shafts 154 & 155 mounted in boxes therefor on the frame. The shaft 154 is geared
to a short shaft 156 which in turn is geared to the driven shaft 148. (Fig. 34.)
The shaft 155 is journaled in boxes 157 adjustable on the frame, by means of

page_text: screws 158 turning through a portion of the frame and into parts of the boxes. By
this construction the tension of the apron 153 is regulated. The upper line of
the apron 153 runs in a trough or box 158, the side walls of which trough are close
to and project for a considerable distance above the apron 153, forming guards that
prevent the escape of matches from the apron laterally in either direction. The
upper line of the apron bears movably on the bottom of the trough, which forms a
support from the apron and its load. At the rear end of the trough an end board 159
preferably in an inclined position serves the purpose of a dam or stop against which
the matches are bunched as they are brought thereto by the continuously
moving apron, for convenient removal therefrom in proper arrangement for
boxing.
ᎥᏝ
In connection with the oscillating arm 36 and the thereby intermittingly moved
shaft 37, I have provided a device (Figs. 1, 3, 10, 22, 23,) for detaching the
oscillating arm 36 from the shaft 37 operatively, with reference to permitting the
intermitting shaft 37, and the mechanism driven therefrom to remain at rest while
other parts of the machine are in operation. As this releasing device will rarely,
Iever, be required, I have not deemed it important to describe it in connection with
the specific description of the oscillating arm 36 the shaft 37 and the means for
connecting them operatively. The releasing device consists of a bar 160 mounted
and slidable endwise in brackets 161 therefor on the frame, which bar at one
extremity is connected to a hand lever 162 pivoted at its lower extremity on the
frame. A rod 163 slidable vertically in ways therefor on
ing arm 36 substantially at right angles to the bar 160, is provided
the oscillat-
with a finger 164 projecting laterally therefrom just above the upper arm of the
pawl 39. (Fig. 23.) It is also provided with a stud pin 165 having thereon an
anti-friction roller, located a little below the bar 160. The bar 160 is provided
with a downwardly projecting process or cam 166, so disposed that when the bar 160
is shifted toward the right, (Figs. 3, 22.) the cam will be brought into contact
with the stud bearing 165, whereby the rod 160 will be forced down carrying the
pawl 39 with it, taking the pawl out of the path of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 38,
thus disengaging the oscillating arm 36 operatively from the shaft 37. When the
cam 166 is in contact with the stud bearing 165 and the arm 36 continues to
oscillate, the roller of the stud bearing 165, will travel reciprocably on the curved
apex of the cam 166. The rod 1633 is held yieldingly upwardly out of action, when
not in engagement with cam 16t, by the spring 167 attached thereto and to the
arm 6.
Horizontally disposed rails 168 secured to the frame serve as ways on which the
carrier is supported and travels at the locality of inserting match-sticks therein,
and opposite to the drum 49. Similar rails 169 secured to the frame also serve as
ways for the support and travel thereon of the carrier at the locality of discharging
he matches and opposite the punches 132.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
nvention. and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
-
1. In a match machine, an endless match-carrier comprising a series of per-
orated match-carrying transverse bars, and links securing, said: bars together
exibly each bar having a set of links secured rigidly to it, an adjacent bar being
evoluble in the same set of links.
2. In a match machine, an endless match-carrier comprising a series of inde-
endent perforated match-carrying transverse bars, said bars being alternately
ng and short the extremities of the longer bars projecting laterally beyond the
ads of the short bars and serving as teeth to be engaged by toothed driving
heels, and links securing said bars together flexibly.
3. In a match machine, an endless match-carrier comprising a series of long
ad short round transverse bars, said bars severally having a single series of

page_text: diametrically disposed apertures for taking and holding match sticks, and links
in pairs one at each extremity of the bars pierced by two adjacent bars one of
which bars is secured rigidly in said links and the other of which two bars is
revoluble in said links.
4. In a match machine, an endless match-carrier comprising a series of long
and short perforated independent match-carrying transverse bars, the long bars
projecting laterally at both extremities beyond the short bars, links securing the
bars together flexibly, and driven toothed wheels meshing with the long bars of
the carriers and adapted thereby to move the carrier forward.
5. In a match machine, an endless flexible match-carrier, driving wheels geared
to one portion of the carrier adapted to move that portion of the carrier continu-
ously, other driving wheels geared to another portion of the carrier adapted to
move that other portion of the carrier intermittingly, permanently located idle
pulleys supporting the carrier in part and other pulleys (1) 1) focuted at the
junctions of those portions of the carrier that move differentially, and spring
supported yielding arms in which said last mentioned pulleys are mounted and
support the carrier vieldingly at those localities.
G. In a match machine, the combination with an endless flexible match-carrier,
of two sets of driving wheels at a distance apart meshing with and adapted to
move a portion of the carrier intermittingly, three sets of idle pulleys, one
set (3) in front of said sets of driving wheels, another set (D) between the two
sets of driving wheels, and the remaining set (1) behind said driving wheels, and
spring supported yielding arms on which said three sets of pulleys are severally
mounted, said pulleys being adapted to support the carrier thereon yieldingly.
7. In a match machine, the combination with an endless flexible match-carrier
supported chiefly on permanently located ways and revoluble idle pulleys, of a set
of pulleys (I) about which the carrier runs substantially reversing its direction to
and from the pulley, pulley-supports adjustable at a right angle to the general
direction of the carrier towards and from said adjustable pulleys, means for
adjusting said supports, and an adjacent set of carrier-supporting pulleys (I)')
mounted in spring-retained swinging arms on which last mentioned pulleys (D')
the carrier runs next after running on the adjustable pulleys (I).
8. In a match machine, the combination with a composition-supplying roller,
of an endless flexible match-carrier, a set of pulleys near to and above said roller
on which said carrier travels, arms movable vertically on ways on the frame in
which arms said pulleys are mounted, a vertically-disposed rack on the frame, and
a pinion mounted in said arms and meshing with said rack adapted to lift the
carrier vertically directly away from said roller.
9. In a match machine, the combination with a pan adapted to hold an inflam-
able material, and a flexible match-carrier running above and adjacent to the pan,
of a set of pulleys above and adapted to depress the carrier opposite the pan, a
rock-shaft having radial arms in which said pulleys are mounted, a crank-arm on
said rock-shaft, a horizontally disposed shiftable bar (24), an obliquely disposed
rod connecting said bar to said crank, and an opposite reversely obliquely disposed
rod connecting said shiftable bar to the frame, by which said rock-shaft may be
rotated limitedly and said pulleys be raised and lowered.
10. In a match machine, the combination with an endless flexible travelling
carrier consisting of transverse match-carrying bars so constructed and arranged
as to form thereof a continuous series of cog-teeth-engaging means at regular and
equal distances apart throughout the length of the endless carrier, of a driving
shaft, shafts and gears connecting the driving shaft directly to a portion of the
carrier whereby that portion of the carrier is caused to travel continuously, an
auxiliary intermittingly moving shaft (37) geared to another portion of said
carrier, a ratchet wheel fixed on said shaft, an oscillating arm loose on the shaft,
a spring-actuated pawl pivoted on the arm engaging the ratchet wheel, and a rod
pivoted eccentrically on the oscillating arm and to a crank on the driving shaft,

page_text: whereby the entire carrier a portion of it at a time, is adapted to be moved
regularly equal distances and intermittingly.
11. In a match machine, the combination with a driving shaft journaled in the
frame, of an auxiliary shaft (37), a ratchet wheel fixed on said auxiliary shaft,
an oscillating arm loose on the auxiliary shaft, a pawl pivoted on the oscillating
arm and engaging the ratchet wheel, a rod connecting a crank on the driving
shaft to the oscillating arm, a third shaft (41) geared to the auxiliary shaft, a
worm on said third shaft, a fourth shaft (14) having a worm wheel meshing with
said worm, short shafts (45, 46,) respectively geared to said fourth shaft and to
shafts 47, 48, said shafts 47 & 48 at a distance apart and provided with toothed
wheels, and an endless flexible carrier engaged by said toothed wheels, whereby a
considerable portion of said carrier is driven synchronously intermittingly.
12. In a match machine, the combination with an endless flexible carrier, a
match discharging mechanism, stick sticking mechanism at a distance from and
following the match discharging mechanism in the line of travel of the carrier
and through which mechanisms the carrier travels, means for moving these
mechanisms and the carrier between and past these mechanisms intermittingly and
synchronously, and a set of pulleys supported yieldingly on, which the carrier
travels and by which it is held taut between said mechanisms in the path of its
intermitting movement.
13. In a match machine, the combination with a movable cutter frame having
therein a bed plate, of cutter bars fitted and slidable endwise in grooves
in said bed plate, pins inserted loosely through said cutter bars into
sockets in the bed plate holding the cutter bars against endwise move-
ment, and a locking plate hinged to said frame and resting normally on the pins
holding them releasably in place.
14. In a match machine, the combination with a pan for holding a semi-liquid
and ignitable composition, of a roller located partly in the pan, oscillating paddles
in the pan below the roller, said paddles being suspended on radial arms fixed in
hubs concentric with the roller, and means for oscillating the paddles.
15. In a match machine, the combination with a pan for holding a semi-liquid
ignitable composition, of a roller located partly in the pan, oscillating paddles
in the pan below the roller, said paddles being suspended on radial arms fixed
in hubs concentric with the roller, a crank arm rigid to one of said hubs, a con-
necting rod, and a driven shaft provided with an eccentric wrist to which said
connecting rod is pivoted.
16. In a match machine, the combination with a travelling and intermittingly
esting match carrier, of a frame so mounted as to be movable in a plane at a
ight angle to the travel of the carrier adjacent thereto, punches fixed in said
movable frame and so disposed as to be capable of entering stick apertures in said
carrier from the rear side, a spring acting on said frame adapted to move said
rame forward quickly and with an initially strong action and thrust the punches
through the apertures in the carrier forcing the matches therefrom, and means for
orcing the frame rearwardly against the constant action of the spring and hold-
ng the frame in such rear position except during temporary intervals when
eleased therefrom.
17. In a match machine, the combination with a travelling and intermittingly
esting match carrier, of a punch-carrying frame reciprocable in a plane at a
ight angle to the carrier, a spring acting on said frame adapted to force the
unches in said frame quickly and with an initially strong action to their work,
lever arm (138) pivoted to the match frame at
nd connected to said punch frame at the other extremity, and a revoluble
one extremity
am bearing against said lever-arm medially adapted to force said frame and
unches away from the carrier against the action of said spring except at intervals
termittingly.
18. In a match machine, the combination with a reciprocating frame and a

page_text: series of punches fixed therein and reciprocating therewith, of an adjustable punch
guide comprising two plate members each provided with sets of opposite and over-
lapping teeth and registering interdental spaces through which spaces the punches
pass, said plate members being adjustable on their support towards and from each
other.
T
• 1
1
1000
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Patent Agents.