IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR REDUCING AND SHAPING METAL BARS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
'IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR REDUCING AND SHAPING METAL BARS."
A communication from abroad by George Joseph Capewell, of Cheshire, Con-
necticut. United States of America, Manufacturer.
Sealed the 2nd May 1879, and dated the 4th March 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th March 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR REDUCING
AND SHAPING METAL BARS." A communication from abroad by George Joseph
Capewell, of Cheshire, Connecticut, United States of America, Manufacturer.
This Invention relates to machinery for reducing and shaping bars of metal and
more particularly to that class of such machinery in which the said bars are com-
pressed between grooved pressure rolls.
The said Invention comprises certain improvements in the feeding devices which
supply bars to the remainder of the machine; certain devices for impressing or
shaping the bars before they pass to the rolls; a peculiar construction and arrange-
ment of the guide which presents the bars to the pressure rolls; mechanism for
propelling the bars or blanks through said guide; devices for preventing the
clogging of said bars or blanks; contrivances for adjusting said pressure-rolls in case
they get out of register; providing the impressions of the pressure rolls with flaring
guide-ways to ensure the proper presentation of the blanks thereto; certain devices
for trimming and finally shaping the heads and points of the blanks before they
are discharged from the machine; and in various details of construction hereinafter
fully set forth.
In the accompanying Drawings,
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved machine for reducing and shaping
bars of metal without the feeding devices hereinafter first described, as also those
for regulating the presentation of bars or blanks to the rolls.
Figure 2 is an end elevation with a portion of the operating shaft and attached
parts removed and also without devices for regulating the supply of blanks to the
rolls.
Figure 3 is a partial plan shewing the devices for actuating the trimming and
shaping plungers.

page_text: Figure 4 represents in detail the cam-grooved wheels used for actuating said
plungers.
Figure 5 represents in perspective the feeding devices detached.
Figure 6 is a plan of the same.
Figure 7 represents in detail the yoke-frame plunger and cutter-bar.
Figure 8 represents in detail the feeding lever and its fulcrum block.
Figure 9 represents in detail the cam shaft and arm for lifting the feeding-lever
out of engagement.
Figure 10 represents in detail the cams on the main driving shaft whereby the
feeding-lever, holding-lever, yoke-frame plunger and cutter-bar are driven.
Figure 11 represents in detail the arrangement of anti-friction rollers in the
impressing yoke-frame.
Figure 12 represents the cutter-bar in detail.
Figure 13 represents in detail the roll-gear and devices for adjustment to secure
registering.
Figure 14 represents in detail the construction of the rolls, showing the arrange-
ment of the impressions, the flaring guide-ways belonging thereto, and the cam-
grooves in the outer roll.
Figure 15 represents in vertical section the devices for regulating the presentation
of blanks to one pair of impressions of the rolls.
Figure 16 is a front view of a complete set of such regulating devices.
Figure 17 represents a detached plan of the plungers and other devices for
finally shaping and trimming the blanks.
Figure 18 represents in detail the slide which delivers the blanks in proper
position to said plungers.
Figure 19 is a vertical section of the endless conveying belt and of the devices for
pressing it against the grooved plate.
Figure 20 is a view shewing some of the plunger-operating devices in detail.
Figure 21 is a detail view of the grooved rear guide-plate and wheels.
Figures 22, 23, and 24 represent a modification of the blank lifting devices,
Figure 22 being an end elevation thereof, and Figures 23 and 24 being detail views
of the same.
A is the bed-plate of the machine which consists of an upper platform a at one end
and a lower platform a¹ at the other end, the two being connected by a vertical wall a².
This bed-plate rests on front legs or standards A³, and shorter rear legs or standards
A³, whereby the whole machine is held in a backward inclined position. This
inclination facilitates the working of the endless lifting-belt hereinafter described.
This bed-plate serves as a base for standards A³ and A', and solid frames B, B', B²,
B³, which sustain the operating parts of the machine; C is a platform or upper bed
above the platform a and supported by the solid frames B, B', B². This platform C
supports solid plates C1, C1, which have overhanging bearings C2, C3, formed in them
for the driving-shaft E of the machine. The said driving shaft receives motion
through any suitable gearing, and is provided with a fly-wheel D, and gear-wheel
El, also with cams (see Figure 10) E³, E³, and E, for operating the feeding-lever and
holding-lever hereinafter described, also with cams E and E, for operating the
impressing yoke-frame, plunger, and cutter, as herein set forth..
On the platform C and parallel with the front thereof I arrange a guide-way F,
in which a sliding feed-carriage G reciprocates horizontally, conveying successive
lengths of metal bar to a fixed guide-plate G¹, which is supported by the block
which forms the guide-way F. The reciprocating movement of said feed-carriage
is effected by means of a feeding-lever H (Figure 8), which is pivotted horizontally
near its middle on the block H₁, which is sleeved and vibrates vertically on a short
shaft I (Figure 9), said feeding-lever is thus capable of both horizontal and vertical
vibration. To facilitate this compound motion the connection between said feeding
lever H and said feed-carriage G is made by means of a pin h and slot g, whereby
said lever rocks vertically without lifting said carriage but moves it along while
vibrating horizontally. The operating end of said feeding lever is also screw tapped

page_text: to receive a small pressure-screw g¹, the office of which is to be pressed on the bar
of metal while the carriage is moving forward, and to hold the said bar in its place.
The degree of such pressure may be varied to suit the thickness of the bar or
according to other considerations by working the screw out or in through the
screw-tapped end of said feeding-lever. The latter derives its vertical motion
from the cam E³ on the shaft E, which operates against a vertical anti-
friction roller H2 on the short end of the feeding lever H; and its horizontal
motion is in like manner derived from the cam Es, which works against the
horizontal anti-friction roller ', similarly attached to said lever. The employment
of these rollers prevents wear on the cams and the lever. The arrangement of the
above feeding-devices is such that the pressure of the feeding lever on the bar in
said carriage continues until the latter has reached its forward limit, when the cam
E ceases to operate and (the roller end of said lever being the heavier) gravity
entirely removes the pressure. Said feeding-lever is at the same time relieved from
the horizontal pressure of the cam E³, and a retracting spring Es reverses the
horizontal motion of said lever so as to throw the feed-carriage G into its rearmost
position. As soon as said feed-carriage begins to move forward again the pressure
of said feeding lever on said har recommences.
It is necessary to prevent the bar from receding with said feeding carriage. This
I effect by means of a vertically acting holding-lever J, which turns freely on the
shaft I. This holding-lever is provided with a curved tail j, which receives the
upward pressure of the cam E, and is held against said cam by an expanding
spring J¹, so as to cause the screw j' in the holding end of said holding-lever to
press against the bar in the guide-plate G¹. The screw j¹ may be adjusted like the
similar screw g¹ so as to conform to the thickness of the bar and for other purposes.
The arrangement of said parts is such that the pressure of said holding-lever is
withdrawn from said har as soon as the forward movement of the feeding-carriage
G begins again. The continuous bar is thus fed forward in equal lengths to the
cutter hereinafter described and to the tubular guide which conducts the several
lengths to the rollers.
It is often desirable to raise said feeding-lever and said holding-lever entirely out
of the way of the metal bar so as to allow the inspection or adjustment of the same,
and for convenience this should be effected by a single motion. The means shown
for accomplishing this result consist of a crank-arm I' and the shaft I, which shaft
is journalled in bearings 12, 13, on the platform C. The journalling of the inner end
of said shaft is effected by a wrist pin i, which is arranged excentrically with respect
to the axis of said shaft. The result of this arrangement is that when the crank
arm I' is raised the shaft I is turned excentrically so as to raise the levers H and J,
said crank arm and shaft being rigidly connected to each other. When said crank-
arm is lowered the said levers are lowered also. I do not however desire to confine
myself to this particular contrivance for lifting said levers, as the said Invention
has a much wider scope. It is obvious that a shaft like the shaft I may readily be
carried up and down by a nut travelling on a screw-threaded rod or by toggle-levers,
wedges, or any one of many other well known lifting devices. But it is also plain
that the mechanisın herein shown and described as applicable to this purpose is
superior to any of the substitute devices immediately above enumerated.
K is a sliding yoke-frame which moves at right angles to the guide-way F, and
the main shaft of the machine between suitable guides on the top of the platform C.
The metal bars are fed through one end of an elongated recess or broad slot K' in
said frame, and said frame is provided at one end of said slot with an inwardly
facing die k. Immediately opposite to the said die is a similar die formed on the
end of a plunger L, which plunger works longitudinally in said slot or recess K¹.
The other end of said slot is enlarged at K2 to allow the cam E³ (Figures 7 and 10)
to turn therein. Said cam E is provided at one point of its circumference with a
single projection or horn e, which bears against an anti-friction roller l on the rear
end of plunger L. Said cam E³ is provided on the opposite part of its periphery
with two projections or horns e¹, e¹, which bear against rollers k¹, k³, (which may be

page_text: made in one piece) arranged opposite to the roller on the inner face of the yoke-
frame K, as shewn in Figure 7. The projection e is in the middle line of said
periphery, and the projections e¹, e¹, are arranged one on each side of said line, so
that the projection e when said cam E³ turns passes between said rollers k¹, k¹, with-
out operating them, and projections e', e¹, pass on each side of roller without
operating it. The effect of said arrangement is, that the said yoke-frame and
plunger are actuated once only in each revolution of the cam E³, so that the action
of the impressing dies k, l, alternates with that of the cutter hereinafter described.
An expanding spring K2 interposed between said yoke frame and the plunger
at the operating end of the latter restores them to their original position as the
cam E³ ceases to act. The action of the cam E³ is equal in opposite directions,
and hence the elastic strain of said replacing spring K2 through said yoke-frame and
plunger is equally and simultaneously applied at opposite points of the periphery
of said cam.
This prevents any uneven wear or torsion of the bearings of the
shaft E, which would be inevitable if the cam acted alternately on the sash or yoke-
frame K, and the plunger L, or on one of them only. By means of the dies k, l,
impressions are made in the sides of the metallic bars before being cut off by the
cutter M.
This cutter is carried by a vertically vibrating cutter-bar N which is arranged
parallel to the yoke-frame K, and pivotted near its centre to one of the bearing
plates. It is operated by the cam E so as to alternate with the action of the
dies k, l, and its cutting end is lifted when the cam E does not operate by an
expansion spring. This cutting end of cutter bar N is also provided with a thinner
extension N2, which works in a recess of a block K³ attached to the yoke-frame K ;
said block braces said cutter bar. The arrangement of the aforesaid devices is
such that shortly after each length of the metal bar is cut off by the cutter M, the
dies k, l, close against and imprint the next length, which is in like manner forced
forward to be cut off in its turn.
outer one.
0, 0¹, are the pressure-rolls, O being the inner and driver-roll, and O¹ the
The office of these rolls is to reduce the severed bars or blanks of metal,
and to shape them into the form of the article desired. They may also be employed
to reduce bars without shaping them. The impressions or grooves in the said rolls
may be of any shape desired. Those shown in the Drawings are adapted to
machines intended for the production of heated articles, such as nails. The said
rolls are provided with several successive series of impressions o, so that a single
pair of rolls may take the place of several ordinary pairs. These impressions are
arranged on each roll so as to overlap each other, that is, so that a line drawn over
its surface parallel to its axis would necessarily cross at least two of them. The
effect of this arrangement is, that the rolls operate continuously and evenly, there
being no interval of non resistance between the discharge of one blank and the
receipt of another. Each impression is provided with a flaring guide-way o¹ at its
receiving end, which acts as a funnel to receive and direct the blanks us they are
delivered to it. This ensures accuracy of action on the part of said impressions.
These impressions or grooves o are also arranged to diminish in cross-section pair
by pair, so that the blanks submitted to their action will diminish likewise while
retaining the shape of the first impressions.
It is found in practice that after a time, pressure rolls will generally wear so
that their impressions get out of register. The usual method of remedying this
defect has been by making the couplings of the roll-gear in two or more parts
keyed on a connecting spindle. It is then possible to adjust the rolls by turning
one on its axis and refitting the keys, but this is a tedious operation. The need
has been felt for something more simple and expeditious, and this need I meet as
follows, that is to say, I provide the driving roll O with a continuous spindle or
shaft P, which extends out of the machine through the roll-driving gear-wheel Q
driven by the wheel E', and which is provided at its outer end with a fixed arm q
which is clamped at its outer end to said gear wheel by a clamp screw P and nut,
said screw passing through a slot in said wheel. When said clamp-screw is

page_text: loosened, said arm q can be turned so as to turn said spindle or shaft on its axis
thereby adjusting said roll so as to make its impressions or grooves register with
those of the other roll. The said arm is then clamped again in its new position.
It is obvious that other clamping and adjusting devices may be used for turning
and fastening the continuous roll spindle, and the said Invention includes all such
as well as the special contrivance shewn. It also includes these adjusting devices
and their equivalents when used with machines of different general construction,
or used for purposes other than those herein stated.
When rolls are employed having, like those herein described, several series of
impressions in a single pair, I have found a helical guide tube to be the only satis-
factory means of presenting the several bars or blanks to the successive series of
impressions. I have given various forms to such tubes, but experience demonstrates
that the best is one with inlets and outlets as nearly straight as may be, and with
straight coils, except where a turn becomes necessary. In the Drawings such a
tube is shown at R. It receives the several bars from the cutter aforesaid in its
inlet, and conveys them to the first pair of impressions in the rolls. At this point
there is a gap in the tubular guide so as to permit the blanks to be pressed by said
rolls. After such pressure in the first pair of impressions the blanks again enter
the tube R, through which they pass to their next pressure in the next series of
impressions, and so on until discharged from the tube.
It is obvious that some means must be employed for moving said blanks through
said tube. As a rule I have found that it is necessary to remove the tube in part
and substitute open channels therefore at the top, bottom, and rear of the machine,
so that the guide way may be accessible at those points to the action of some
positive lifting device. The Drawings show a grooved plate R' substituted for the
tube at the back of the machine, and grooved wheels R³, R2, respectively at the top
and bottom of the same. The lifting device employed is an endless belt S passing
over pulleys 8, 8', at the top of the machine, and pulleys 82, 83, at the front and
bottom of the same. Said belt is so arranged that its inner part passes partly
around the under side of the lower grooved wheel R2 and the upper side of the
upper grooved wheel Rs, and is pressed tightly against the grooved plate R¹. To
increase this pressure and hold said belt in position for action a spring T is
employed which is attached to a cross-bar T¹ and operates against the rear of the
inner part of said belt. The said tube is twisted so as to give each blank a partial
turn in passing from one pair of impressions to the next. The result is that each
blank or bar receives equal pressure on all sides in passing through the machine.
It becomes necessary sometimes to slacken the said belt in order to gain access
to the interior of the guide-way to remove obstructions and for other purposes. To
facilitate this I journal the upper pulleys 8, 8', in a frame S¹ which is pivotted near
its middle at the top of the machine occupying normally a rearwardly and upwardly
inclined position. In this position it is locked by a spring-pin S³ which passes
through said frame below and in front of its pivot-point, and enters a recess in a
fixed part of the main frame of the machine. When said pin is withdrawn the
rear part of said frame S' (being slightly heavier than the front part) drops by
gravity so as to slacken the belt S as desired. Other means for clamping or locking
said frame in a raised position may obviously be substituted for that shewn and
described.
I often find it desirable to substitute for the belt and wheels herein before
described a device or combination of devices adapted to pick up the blanks at the
bottom of each length of the guide-tube and lift the same to the top of the next
length thereof, depositing them therein. The best form of this part of my Inven-
tion is that shewn in Figures 22, 23, and 24. R³ in Figure 22 designates a pair of
standards supported by the upper platform of the main frame of the machine, and
occupying a position slightly inclined from the vertical. To the upper ends of
these standards are pivotted the rear ends of the side bars of a tilting frame R
which has approximately vertical oscillation about these pivotal points. This

page_text: motion is received through a connecting rod R' which is pivotted at one end to one
side of the front of the said tilting frame, and at the other end to a wrist pin or
the gearing of the machine. This motion is similarly communicated to a bar R³
which has in its lower part a cam slot R³, and carries on its lower end an inwardly
extending permanent magnet S³ of the horse shoe form. The slot R⁹ receives a
stud or wrist pin Se rigidly attached to an upright standard or plate S7 which is
permanently attached to the frame of the machine. The said stud and cam slot
together guide the upward and downward movement of the said permanent magnet
(as frame Re rocks up and down), so that the said magnet is moved inward at the
upper and lower ends of its movement. These are the only points at which it
touches the guide tubes or any part of the machine. T designates a fixed
permanent magnet arranged at the front and bottom of the guide way opposite to
the lowest position occupied by the movable magnet S5. The rear part of each
length of the guide tube or guideway R is removed, as herein before described, but
no guide plates or wheels are substituted. The front of the guideway is thus all
that remains to perform the functions of a guide, and consequently each length of
tube has such an incline that its lower end will be under the upper end of the next
length. The lower ends of these lengths of tube, except the last, have their inner
faces removed to allow access of the magnet S to the blanks standing therein.
They are provided also with a bottom-plate To to prevent the escape of said blanks
downward with flaring side guides T', Figure 23, to direct the inward motion of
said magnet S³, and with a vertical spring bar T8. T is a fixed horizontal spring-
plate attached to the standard S7 and extending toward the upper end of the guide
tube or guide tubes R. S8 is a block of truncated wedge form arranged within the
front of the horse-shoe magnet S5, so that its rear corners extend outwardly from
the sides thereof like horns. This block is guided and braced by a long pin S⁹
running back through said magnet. Its construction is clearly shown in Figure 24.
Its arrangement is such that spring plate To will be pressed back by its inclined
side as it goes forward, and inward at the upper end of said movable magnet's
journey, but will spring behind its corner, and as the magnet withdraws to descend
will thrust said block S8 forward, disengaging the blanks from the magnet S³ and
permitting them to fall into the upper ends of the respective lengths of guide-
tube R. The said block S8 protrudes during its descent, but when thrust in toward
the guide-tube R again at the lower end of its journey it is forced back by the
slight resistance of the spring or spring-bar T into the magnet again. This spring
bar T8 yields to the pressure of the magnet and does not prevent in any way its
contact with the blanks.
The operation of these last described devices is as follows:-The bar or blank of
metal coming from the feeding and cutting devices first hereinbefore described will
pass downward to, through, and from the pressure rolls by the action of gravity and
the impulse communicated by the feeding carriage and rolls. On reaching the
lower end of the first length of tube it rests on the bottom plate To and is held in
an upright position by the attraction of the fixed magnet T. The movable
magnet S5 (being more powerful than the magnet T5) then approaches, picks it up,
and carries it to the top of the guide-tube where it is deposited as herein before
described. On reaching the last length it passes down and out by gravity to the
final trimming and shaping devices hereinafter described.
The shape, arrangement, and method of attachment of these various parts may be
considerably varied. The block in the movable magnet may for instance have but
one outwardly extending corner or more than one guide pin or rod; also the
relative arrangement of the guiding slot and stud may be reversed. In Figure 22
the upper and lower positions of the magnet-carrying devices are indicated
respectively by full and dotted lines.
Instead of a permanent movable magnet I may employ a temporary movable
magnet arranged to be demagnetized on reaching the upper end of its movement
and of the guide-way R. In this case the sliding block in the magnet and the

page_text: fixed springs engaging there with may be omitted. The magnetizing electric
current may be produced by a galvanic battery, friction devices worked by the
main shaft of the machine, or by any other suitable expedient.
Instead of a magnet I may employ any device or devices which will grasp, raise,
and drop the blanks so as to effect the desired object. One, and perhaps the most
convenient, of such contrivances would be a set of spring-jaws arranged to move
like the magnet to close automatically on the blanks at the lower end of their
course, and to open automatically at the upper end thereof to deposit said blanks
in the said guide-tube R. There will be one pair of jaws for each length of tube
except the last.
A fixed wedge forms a convenient means for automatically
opening them; inward inclines in the inner faces of all the jaws allow the entrance
of the blanks and springs hold the same when within.
It is found necessary to provide means for ensuring that the blanks shall be
delivered to the pressure-rolls only when the latter are in proper position to receive
them, otherwise there will be great danger that the nail heads (for example) will
be caught between the shallower parts of the impressions in the rolls and pressed
out of all proper shape. To prevent that I employ a series of gates or slides U, one
for each section of the tube above the rolls, working in and out through openings u
in the front theroof, and flaring side guides u³ on the outside of said openings.
Each gate is operated by a pendant lever provided at its lower end with a projec-
tion u which ongages with a cam-groove u² in the outer roll O¹. Above the pivot
of said lever is a spring u' working in opposition to the cam action of the said
roll O. The effect is to allow the blanks to fall one by one just at the right
moment to insure their reception and proper treatment.
There are as many
cam-grooves in the outer roll O' as; there are of tube sections and gates, and they
are arranged so as to alternate with the other grooves or impressions. These
regulating devices may be modified in various ways provided the principle of the
Invention is preserved.
The
The driving-shaft of the machine carries wheels or discs V, V, V, V³, having cam-
grooves v, 1, 2, 3, in their sides as shown in Figure 4. These cam grooves receive
wrist-pins whereby said wheels operate respectively upright levers W, W¹, W³, W³.
The levers W, W¹, are operated through rocking-beams w, w¹, pivotted on the
shaft W which is journalled on bearings supported by standards A³, A
vertical motion of these levers W, W¹, is transferred as horizontal longitudinal
reciprocation through toggles x, x¹, to a trimming plunger X and a griping-plunger X¹.
These plungers are arranged parallel to the front of the machine, the trimming
plunger X being on the outside and the griping-plunger X' being on the inside.
Opposite to said trimming-plunger is a fixed punch Y provided with a trimming
blade, and opposite to said griping plunger is a sliding block Y¹ pressed toward said
griping plunger by a spring y¹ and guided by pin and slot y or some equivalent
device. The disc V2 rocks horizontally the lever W2 which is pivotted in suitable
bearings like a lever of the first kind and transmits longitudinal horizontal motion
to a delivery slide Z which operates at right angles to the plungers x, xl, and is
recessed underneath at its working end z, so that it turns the blanks on their sides
as received from the guide-tube and thrusts them to the plungers. This action is
facilitated by a slight concavity z which receives the heads of the nails as they
fall out of the tube. The disc V³ has its cam groove on the side opposite
to the cam grooves of the other discs. The lever W³ which it operates has its
upper end bifurcated at w² to avoid locking against the working-shaft.
vertical motion is transmitted through a toggle w³ as horizontal reciprocatory
motion to a heading-plunger Z' which works parallel to slide Z. Both it and the
griping plunger are suitably recessed at their working ends to give the head of
the nail or other article the proper shape. Said griping-plunger is provided with
clearers 2, 3, which set into grooves on the sides of its working end, and the
rear ends of said clearers set into recesses in the bed-plate, so that they remain
stationary while the griping-plunger moves backward and forward; when said
Its

page_text: griping-plunger moves forward for griping it passes to or beyond their forward
ends. When it is withdrawn they project beyond it, and operate to prevent
the nail or other article from adhering to the griping-plunger. Similar adhesion
to the block Y is prevented by the jarring action of spring y¹ when released from
pressure. These plungers X, X₁, and Z' and slide Z are provided with suitable
guides, and they as well as the parts Y and Y are held detachably but firmly in
their places by removable blocks and clamping screws or other suitable devices.
The action of said final shaping and trimming devices is as follows:-The blank
drops head-foremost from the discharge end of the guide-tube R immediately before
the delivery-slide Z. Said slide then moves forward, turns the blanks into a hori-
zontal position point-foremost and feeds it to the griping plunger X¹. The latter
then moves forward, pressing back the block Y₁ against the resistance of the
spring y, while trimming-plunger X forces the pointed end of the blank against
the fixed trimming blade. The working end of said trimming plunger is recessed
to allow the more perfect working of said trimming blade. The heading plunger
Z is then advanced against the head of the blank so as to give it shape, the said
blank being meanwhile held by the griping-plungers X¹ and block Y¹.
plungers are then withdrawn and the blank freed as above stated, and the feeding
forward of the next blank follows. The blanks, drop successively from these
plungers through an opening in the bed-plate into any suitable receptacle.
The
It is obvious that many changes besides those already enumerated may be made
in the various parts of the said Invention without departing from its spirit and scope.
For instance the system of levers, toggles, and other devices employed for operating
the plungers and slide is susceptible of many substitutions and modifications in its
details without materially affecting the result. Also the spindle passing through
the roll coupling with adjusting devices may be applied to either pressure-roll, and
those adjusting devices may be varied at will. Also the regulating gates and their
levers may be operated by raised cams on the roll instead of cam grooves, the other
roll being suitably recessed, or by independent cams, or by any suitable equivalent
devices. Also, wherever available, a continuous helical tube with pneumatic or
hydrostatic pressure, or a tube partly broken away with a large grooved feeding-
wheel may be employed instead of the endless conveying belt tube R, small grooved
wheels and grooved plate described. Also the endless belt may be driven in any
convenient manner other than by a pulley on the shaft of one of its upper pulleys
as shown. Also the framing may be modified in any way consistent with properly
bracing the guide tube and other parts of the machine.
The guide-tube and guide-grooves in the wheels and plate must register, but
they may be changed so as to suit bars of any form in cross-section. My Invention
includes all positive motion feeds employed like the lifting belt herein before des-
cribed in connection with a helical guide and grooved pressure rolls. It also includes
any one of the devices hereinafter claimed when employed on a machine differing
in construction from that herein set forth but employed for similar purposes.
The openings through which the regulating gates act also afford convenient
means for inspection of the inside of the guide tubes above each pair of rolls.
When the magnet or series of spring jaws is employed instead of the friction
belt as a lifting device, it is not necessary nor desirable to tilt the machine back-
wards, but its position may be simply and firmly vertical.
The trimming hereinbefore described may be effected either by vertical or by
horizontal action. The trimming punch or blade may also be attached to the
trimming plunger instead of being stationary as shown.
Pneumatic or hydraulic pressure may if desirable be used for many purposes to
which the said Invention may be applied.
Having thus fully deecribed the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,-
First. In a metal-working machine the combination with a feeding-lever and a

page_text: holding-lever of a lifting device for raising said levers out of engagement with the
bar or blank of metal operated upon.
Second. In combination with a feeding-lever and holding-lever a cam-shaft and
lever for raising said feeding lever and holding the lever out of engagement with
the bar of metal operated upon.
Third. In combination with a doubly pivotted feeding-lever and cam-carrying
operating shaft, a horizontal anti-friction roller and a vertical anti-friction roller for
receiving the impact of the cams on the said shaft.
Fourth. In a machine for reducing and shaping bars of metal, the combination
with an actuating shaft of a yoke-frame and plunger carrying dies, the said parts
being arranged in such manner that the impressions of said dies will be made
simultaneously and at opposite points, so as to prevent all unequal strain on the
bearings of the said shaft.
Fifth. In a metal-working machine the combination of a rotating cam having a
projection on the middle line of its periphery and two opposite projections, one
being on each side of said middle line with a reciprocating yoke-frame and plunger,
substantially as described.
Sixth. In a metal-working machine the combination with pressure-rolls of
a helical guide and devices for transporting bars of metal through the saine.
Seventh. In a metal-working machine the combination with pressure-rolls of a
helical guide adapted to direct the bars to the successive pairs of impressions in
said rolls and devices for transmitting bars of metal through said guide, the latter
being constructed so as to turn the bars partly around in their passage.
Eighth. In a metal-working machine the combination with pressure rolls and a
helical guide of positive-motion devices for transmitting the bars through said guide.
Ninth. In a metal working machine the combination of an endless travelling
belt with a helical guide and rollers, said guide being open in part of its course to
allow said belt to engage with the blanks.
Tenth. In a metal-working machine the combination of an endless lifting belt
with an inclined frame and devices supported thereby.
Eleventh. In a netal-working machine the combination of an endless lifting
belt with a helical guide and pressure-spring for forcing said belt against the open
part of said guide.
Twelfth. In a metal working machine the combination of an endless lifting belt
with a helical guideway, consisting of front tubes, peripherically grooved wheels at
top and bottom, and a grooved rear plate.
Thirteenth. In a metal-working machine the combination with a guide-way of
an endless lifting-belt and pulleys with movable bearings, whereby said belt may
be slackened at will.
Fourteenth. In a metal-working machine the combination with a guide-way of
an endless lifting-belt, a rocking frame forming the bearings for one or more of the
pulleys of said belt, and a locking and unlocking device, whereby said frame may
be made to hold said belt taut or may slacken it at will.
Fifteenth. In a metal-working machine pressure rolls provided with impressions
or shaping and reducing grooves which have flaring extensions or guide-ways at
their receiving ends.
Sixteenth. A roll provided with one or more impressions, each having a flaring
inlet or guideway as its receiving end.
Seventeenth. A pair of pressure rolls one of which is provided with a continuous
spindle passing through the roll-gear, and means for adjusting said spindle so as to
bring the impressions of the rolls into register.
Eighteenth. A pair of pressure rolls, one of which is provided with means for
bringing the impressions on the rolls into register without unkeying any roll-
coupling.
Nineteenth. In a metal-working machine a guide tube having an opening or
openings above the pressure rolls.

page_text: Twentieth. In a metal-working machine a guideway and pressure-rolls in com-
bination with a device for regulating the supply of blanks to the rolls, so that each
nail will be presented only when the rolls are ready to receive it.
Twenty-first. In combination with the pressure-rolls of a metal-working machine
a guide tube and a gate for regulating the supply of blanks to said rolls, said gate
being operated by a lever which receives motion alternately from a cam or its
equivalent, and a spring or its equivalent.
Twenty-second. A roll provided with cam-grooves and with alternating impressions
for shaping and diminishing metal bars, the impressions successively decreasing in
cross-section, and being arranged so that any line drawn over the surface of the
roll and parallel to its axis will pass through two of them at least.
Twenty-third. In a metal working machine the combination of a guide-tube for
supplying bars to the rolls with a sliding gate operated automatically for regulating
such supply, said guide-tube being provided with an opening and side guide-way
for directing the movement of said sliding gate.
Twenty-fourth. The combination with suitable actuating mechanism and suitable
head-pressing and trimming mechanism of a reciprocating delivery slide adapted
to receive the nails or other blanks head-foremost from the guide tube, to turn
them point-foremost horizontally, and to feed them to said head-pressing and
trimming mechanism.
Twenty-fifth. The combination with suitable actuating mechanism of a recipro-
cating griping plunger, a spring-pressed block, a reciprocating trimming plunger,
and a trimming blade (either stationary or carried thereby), said plungers being
arranged to move forward for trimming and operating either horizontally or
vertically.
Twenty-sixth. The combination with a griping plunger and spring-pressed
block of a heading plunger operating at right angles thereto, said heading plunger
being reciprocated by suitable mechanism to form the head of the nail or other
article.
Twenty-seventh. A reciprocating griping plunger adapted to hold the blank
firmly while being trimmed and headed, and withdrawn on the completion of the
heading, in combination with clearers which prevent the adhesion of the blank to
it after it is withdrawn.
Twenty-eighth. The combination of four cam-grooved wheels with wrist-pins
operating four upright levers or bars (one of which vibrates horizontally, and the
other three reciprocate vertically) two walking-beams, three toggles, a reciprocating
delivery slide, and three reciprocating plungers, all of said parts operating sub-
stantially as herein before described.
Twenty-ninth. In combination with the pressure rolls and helical guide of a
metal-working machine, a set of reciprocating devices for pressing the heads of the
blanks into shape, and trimming the said blanks as the latter are discharged from
the said guide after leaving the rolls.
Thirtieth. In combination with the rolls and tubular guide of a metal working
machine, a device adapted to pick up the blanks at the bottom of each length of
said guide and deposit them in the top of each successive length.
Thirty-first. In combination with the rolls and tubular guide of a metal-working
machine, a moveable magnet and releasing devices arranged to pick up the blanks
at the bottom of the guide tube and deliver the same at the top thereof.
Thirty-second. In combination with the rolls and tubular guide of a metal
working machine, a fixed magnet arranged to hold the blanks in vertical position
at the bottom of the guide tube till picked up by the lifting device.
Thirty-third. In combination with the rolls and tubular guido of a metal working
machine, a movable horseshoe magnet having a sliding block extending outwardly
on one side, a fixed spring which forces said block forward at the top of the guide

page_text: way, and another spring which replaces said block at the bottom of the guide
way.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.