IMPROVEMENTS IN AND MACHINERY For THE MANUFACTURE OF FIRE-LIGHTERS, ALSO PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Handley and John Maynes, both of the City
of Manchester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND MACHINERY For
THE MANUFACTURE OF FIRE-LIGHTERS, ALSO PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 3rd September 1878, and dated the 9th March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Handley and John
Maynes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th March
1878.
WILLIAM HANDLEY and JOHN MAYNES, both of the City of Manchester. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN AND MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF FIRE-LIGHTERS, ALSO
PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to a novel manufacture of fire-lighters which possess the
advantages of being easily ignited, cheaply produced, and of packing into the
smallest possible compass.
We take rectangular blocks of wood, and by means of circular saws working at
a suitable angle we cut the same almost through in intersecting cuts, so that when
afterwards taken asunder each part or half of the block may correspond in shape
with the part from which it has been detached, and constitutes in itself a fire-
lighter approximating in form to a comb with sharp angular dentals.
In performing our Invention we prefer to take short lengths of timber, and to
cut the same into the requisite rectangular shaped blocks by circular saws, the
timber being fed to such saws by an improved continuous feed motion arranged as
follows: We mount a shaft in bearings at one end of a saw bench and affix thereon
at a suitable distance apart a pair of chain wheels. From this same shaft also
branch a pair of arms which extend across the table of the machine, and carry at
their extremities a pair of chain wheels similar to those on the shaft before
mentioned, and running parallel therewith. These arms and pullies are thus capable
of turning back so as to be out of the way when desirable.

page_text: Endless chains pass round these pullies for the purpose of drawing forward one
or more cranked frames or cross bars, each of which is raised up a sufficient
distance above the table to pass over the circular saw or saws, and from the
rear of these bars depend a series of adjustable farms, the lower extremities of
which are designed to draw forward and hold down the timber, and thus we
feed such timber between the saws, and cut the same into rectangular shaped
blocks. These blocks are now fed into a trough, and thence by means of an
intermittent feed motion are passed along between circular saws mounted at the
extremity of a pair of arms or frames herein-after called the saw frames.
These saw frames are capable of vibrating on horizontal axes so as to approach
each other, and cut through the block whilst held down in the trough by a
suitable arm or arms, and then instantly to retire to allow the block to move
forward ready for the next cuts.
The necessary vibrating motion is communicated to the saw frames by an eccentric
or cam affixed upon the driving shaft, and the periphery of which is contact
with a friction bowl mounted upon a lever arm connected in its turn by means
of suitable rods and levers to arms branching from the vibratory saw frames.
The blocks having been thus cut are pushed along the trough down a gentle
incline which leads them through a shallow bath of liquid resin or other suitable
inflammable material whereby a slight coating of such inflammable material is
imparted to one side of the blocks, and they thus become finished as fire-lighters.
It will be obvious that the machinery herein-before described is applicable for
cutting wedges or other similar shaped articles, or for cutting angles, for instance,
in the manufacture of inlaid or parquet flooring, and also that the improved
continuous feed motion is useful for feeding timber to circular saws for other
analagous purposes besides the cutting of rectangular shaped blocks as herein-before
described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Handley and John Maynes in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th September 1878.
"IM-
WILLIAM HANDLEY and JOHN MAYNES, both of the City of Manchester.
PROVEMENTS IN AND MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF FIRE-LIGHTERS, ALSO
PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to a novel manufacture of fire-lighters which possess the
advantages of being easily ignited, cheaply produced, and of packing into the
Sinallest possible compass.
We take rectangular blocks of wood, and by means of circular saws working at
a suitable angle we cut the same almost through in intersecting cuts, so that when
afterwards taken asunder each part or half of the block may correspond in shape
with the part from which it has been detached, and constitutes in itself a fire-
lighter approximating in form to a comb with sharp angular dentals.
Aud in order this our said Invention may be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect, we have hereunto annexed two Sheets of Drawings
illustrative of our improvements in machinery for the manufacture of fire-lighters,
and will now proceed to describe the same, reference being had to the letters of
reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 represents a top view of a pair of our improved fire-lighters before being
taken asunder or detached from each other, showing the state in which they leave
the machine; and Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a top view of a pair of our improyed fire-lighters, shewn detached and
ready for use.
In performing our Invention we prefer to take short lengths of timber, and to
cut the same into the requisite rectangular shaped blocks by circular saws, the
timber being fed to such saws by an improved continuous feed motion illustrated
on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 4 being a side view; and Fig. 5 a
plan of the same.
In both the Figs. A is a shaft mounted in bearings A¹ at one end of the saw
bench A²; B, B, are a pair of chain wheels affixed upon the shaft A at a suitable
distance apart; and B¹, B¹, are a pair of frames branching from the same shaft and
extending across the table of the saw bench, where at their extremities they carry
a pair of chain wheels B2, B3, which are similar to and run parallel with the chain
wheels B, B, herein-before mentioned. This arrangement of the chain wheels and
frames B¹ permits of their being turned back in the direction of the curved centre line
sec) Fig. 4), so as to be out of the way when desirable; C, C, are endless chains passing
round the chain wheels, and which are employed for drawing forward the cranked
'frames or cross bars C¹, each of which is raised up a sufficient distance above the
table of the saw bench to pass over the circular saws D, and from the frames or
bars C¹ depend a series of adjustable arms C, the lower extremities of which are
designed to act as claws to draw forward and hold down the timber O³, and thus
we feed such timber between the circular saws D, and cut the same into rectangular
or oblong shaped blocks.
In order to prevent the arms C³ falling back as they are carried round with the
chains, studs are affixed upon the inner sides of such arms, and which slide along
outside, an overhanging guard or ledge B³ projecting upon the top and at the two
extremities of the frame B', and to prevent such arms falling as they approach the
table we provide a shield B' to receive the studs and so guide the arms C³ into
position for grasping the timber. A slow motion is imparted to this feeding
mechanism from the saw shaft D¹ by means of the small pulley D³, conveying
revolving motion through the strap D³ to the large pulley D. This pulley D' is
mounted loosely upon the shaft A, and carries on its inner side a spur pinion D³,
-running loose upon the stud D, and gearing with two spur wheels E and E', the

page_text: spur wheel E being fast upon the shaft, and the spur wheel E¹ being fixed to the
bearing A¹; the spur wheel E is provided with one or more teeth less than the spur
wheel E', and thus the fractional difference in the revolutions of such spur wheel is
imparted to the feeding mechanism.
On Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawing we illustrate in Fig. 6 a front view,
and in Fig. 7.a side view of our improved machinery for cutting the rectangular
shaped blocks of timber by intersecting cuts into the form illustrated by Fig. 1
and 3, and also for coating one surface of the same with inflamable material.
Fig. 8 is a sectional plan of Fig. 7 across the line ab, with the top saw and
gear removed; and Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of the trough for containing the
necessary inflamable coating material.
In all the views F is the standard or framework of the machine constructed with
angular cheeks F', upon which a pair of head stocks G are mounted, and which are
capable of sliding up and down as herein-after described. Each of these sliding
head stocks (herein-after called the saw frames) carries a circular saw G¹, affixed at
the extremity of a spindle G2, mounted in double bearings G³, and which spindle
has at its other extremity a double grooved pulley G', round which a pair of endless
cords pass, as herein-after described for imparting the requisite revolving motion to
the circular saws G¹. These saw frames Ġ are connected together by a chain G
passing over a pulley G (as seen dotted in Fig. 7), and thus nearly balance each
other, the upper saw frame preponderating sufficiently to give the requisite force to
enable the saws to cut through the blocks. The circular saws G¹ are set at the required
angle to each other by means of the adjusting bolts and nuts G7 to cut a pair of
saw grooves in the rectangular blocks of timber simultaneously and from opposite
sides of such blocks, and for this purpose an up-and-down or approaching-and-
receding motion is communicated to the saw frames G to give the depth of cut
required by a pair of cams H working in contact with a pair of friction bowls H',
upon the face of the saw frames. The cams H being carried by a shaft H³, to
which a constantly revolving motion is communicated by the worm and worm
wheel H³ gearing with the driving shaft I, through the bevil wheels I'.
The rectangular blocks of wood J to be forined into fire-lighters in accordance
with this Invention are first introduced into an incline K leading into a trough L,
and slide by their own gravity towards the intermittent and adjustable feed motion
AI, which feeds them forwards between the circular saws G', such feed motion being
mounted at the extremity of the cam M³, and actuated by the eccentric N upon the
shaft H, through the medium of the eccentric rod N¹, pawl N³, and ratchet wheel
N³, the action of this intermittent feed motion is to cause the blocks J to advance
along the trough L the desired distance betwixt the cuts, and then to stand still
whilst the saws G' perform the next cutting operation.
We would here observe that the adjoining or intersecting cuts in the blocks J
aro not produced simultaneously, as in that case the teeth of the circular saws G'
would come in contact, and accordingly we arrange the saws a sufficient distance
apart to cut the alternate grooves simultaneously; for instance, the grooves bearing
the same numbers in Fig. 1 are cut together.
We would further remark that the circular saws do not cut entirely through the
blocks J, but approach as near to each other as is indicated by the circular line in
Fig. 2.
In order to hold down the blocks J in the trough L as they are undergoing the
cutting operation of the circular saws G', and to prevent the same being lifted by
such saws we provide an arm O, branching from one side of the trough L, and wo
cause the necessary pressure to be exercised upon this arm by a spring stud O¹
affixed upon the upper saw frame G, and thus, as such upper saw frame rises and
approaches its highest position, such arm is released at the exact instant when the
.next forward motion is required to be imparted to the blocks J, by the feeding
mechanism.
The bracketed arm B is provided to slightly raise the serrated discs M
of the feeding mechanism so as to disengage the same from the blocks J and

page_text: allow the succeeding blocks to close together whilst the blocks being cut are still
firmly held in the trough L by the arm O.
Motion is communicated to the circular saws G₁ by means of the double endless:
bands Q passing round the double grooved pulleys R in the direction indicated by
the arrows, and which arrangement of such endless bands permits of the up-and-
down motion of the saw frame G, any adjustment or tightening of such bands
being effected by raising or lowering the pulleys R* by means of the hand-
wheel S.
The action of this machinery may be described as follows:-The rectangular
blocks J being placed in the incline K, leading to the trough L, slide by their own
gravity to the intermittent feed motion M, and are thereby drawn forward between
the circular saws G', and are there firmly held by the arm O whilst the saw frames
G approach each other, and thus effect two cuts in the block at the desired angle to
each other, say the cuts numbered 1, in Fig. 2. The saw frames G then recede,
and immediately the saws G₁ are clear of the blocks J, and the spring O' has
released the arm O, the feeding mechanism again comes into play, and causes the
blocks to advance a sufficient distance along the trough L ready for the next cuts
(say those numbered 2, in Fig. 2) to be performed when the saw frames are timed
once more to approach each other, and the same operation is repeated. The blocks
J having been thus cut in intersecting cuts are pushed along the trough L down a
gentle incline into a shallow bath T of melted resin or other suitable inflamable
material, as seen in Fig. 9. This bath T is provided with a grating T¹, which is
opposite to and forms a continuation of the trough L, so that as such blocks J are
pushed along through such bath a slight coating of the inflamable material is
imparted to their under surfaces, and they emerge from such bath as finished fire-
lighters. The inflamable liquid in this bath is kept at one constant level by being
pumped out of the cistern V by a pump U, the overplus escaping back into the
cistern V through the overflow pipe W. A fire-place is arranged beneath or com-
municates with the outside of the cistern V to heat its contents and keep the same
in a liquid state, and the flue X from such fire-place serves also to keep up the
temperature of bath T and its contents by passing along its under surface, as
illustrated.
Instead of mounting the circular saws G' upon slides, as illustrated, and herein-
before described, the same may be mounted at the extremity of vibrating arms, and
instead of the intersecting cuts being performed from opposite sides of the blocks J
both circular saws could be mounted and caused to revolve at the required angle
and distance from each other in a single saw frame, and thus the double cuts could
be effected from one and the same side of the block.
It will be obvious that the machinery herein-before described, and illustrated on
the accompanying Drawing, is applicable for cutting wedges or other similar shaped
articles, or for cutting angles, for instance, in the manufacture of inlaid or parquet
flooring, and also that the improved continuous feed motion is useful for feeding
timber to circular saws for other analagous purposes besides the cutting of
rectangular-shaped blocks as herein-before described.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our said
Invention, together with the best methods with which we are acquainted for
carrying the same into practical effect, we wish it to be understood that we do not
confine ourselves to the precise details, relative proportions, or dimensions of the
various parts of the mechanism herein-before described, and illustrated on the
accompanying Drawing, as the same may be considerably varied without departing
from the Invention, and that we claim,―
1st. The improved manufacture of fire-lighters by intersecting saw cuts, sub-
stantially as herein-before described, and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
2nd. The improved continuous feed motion for circular saws when arranged and
operated, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described, and
illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.

page_text: 3rd. The general arrangement and construction of machinery for the manufacture
of fire-lighters, substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated on the
accompanying Drawing.
4th. Mounting circular saws upon sliding frames or vibrating arms at the
required angle to each other, and communicating an up-and-down motion to the
same, as and for the purposes herein-before described, and illustrated on the
accompanying Drawing.
5th. The mode of and apparatus for coating fire-lighters with resin or other
inflamable material, as herein-before described, and illustrated on the accom-
panying.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Maynes, for and on behalf of the said
William Handley and myself, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
7th day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-eight.
JOHN MAYNES. (L.S.)