IMPROVEMENTS IN POINTING WIRE
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Iles, of Peel Works, Birmingham
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN POINTING WIRE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Iles at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 9th February 1853.
I, CHARLES ILES, of Peel Works, Birmingham, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN POINTING
WIRE to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of combining the following mechanical
instruments into an apparatus or machine, which, in pointing, cuts
the wire into length. The wire is fed into the apparatus through a
fixed tube, through which the wire is moved at intervals a distance
equal to that which is to be cut off. On the tube there is a pulley,
which is driven by a band or strap.;. this pulley has fixed to it a
boss or projection, which is hollow, and moves on the tube. The

page_text: boss or projection carries a lever, which has a tendency to stand off
from the centre by means of a spring. Around the boss and its
lever is a collar, which is capable of sliding along it; and by being
slided, it causes the outer end of the lever to approach the centre
by pressing it into a groove in the boss. The lever carries a cutter,
the cutting edge of which is formed to give the desired shape of
point. The wire is supported near where the cut is made. In
working, the length of wire to be cut is fed beyond the cutter;
when the cutter is away from the centre of the apparatus, the wire
is then held in this position; the cutter is caused gradually to
approach by the sliding of the collar on the boss, and the metal is
cut away till the wire is severed, the two ends being pointed, or only
of them, according to the form of cutter for the time being in the
machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said Charles Iles in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th August 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
CHARLES ILES, of Peel Works, Birmingham, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Charles Iles, Her
special licence that I, the said Charles Iles, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles
Iles, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom,
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,

page_text: an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN POINTING WIRE," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Iles, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Iles, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
This Invention consists of combining the following mechanical
instruments into an apparatus or machine, which, in pointing, cuts
the wire into lengths. The wire is fed into the apparatus through a
fixed tube, through which the wire is moved at intervals a distance
equal to that which is to be cut off. On the tube there is a pulley,
which is driven by a band or strap. This pulley has fixed to it a boss
or projection, which is hollow, and moves on the tube. The boss or
projection carries a lever, which has a tendency to stand off from the
centre by means of a spring. Around the boss and its lever is a collar,
which is capable of sliding along it, and by being slided it causes
the outer end of the lever to approach the centre by pressing it
into a groove in the boss. The lever carries a cutter, the cutting
edge of which is formed to give the desired shape of point. The
wire is supported near where the cut is made. In working, the
length of wire to be cut is fed beyond the cutter; when the cutter
is away from the centre of the apparatus, the wire is then held in
this position; the cutter is caused gradually to approach by the
sliding of the collar on the boss, and the metal is cut away till the
wire is severed, the two ends being pointed, or only one of them,
according to the form of cutter for the time being in the machine.
And in order that my said Invention may be more fully under-.
stood, and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the
means pursued by me.

page_text: α,
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, shows a horizontal section of the combined apparatus
according to my Invention, the parts being in the position when
the cut is made; Figure 2, shows a similar section, the parts being
in the position before the cutter comes into action on the wire;
Figure 3, is an external view of the same parts; Figure 4, is a
front view; and Figure 5, shows a cutter and the support for the
wire near where the cut is made. a, is a fixed tube, through which
the wire is fed in any convenient manner. I prefer to employ
lever nippers b, b, which are arranged to close on the wire, and
move in the direction of the arrows, and then to remain stationary
till the cut is made. Such nippers then open and go back and
take hold of the wire; such movement of the nippers being
regulated according to the lengths desired to be cut off. To such
arrangement or constructing and working of nippers, I make
no claim as of my Invention. c, is a pulley or drum on the
tube which receives quick rotatory motation by a band or strap,
put in motion in any convenient manner. The pulley has a tubular
stem c¹, which extends beyond the fixed tube a, as shewn by the
Drawing. In a slit formed in the part c', is a lever d, which carries
the cutter e, the form of the cutting edge of which may be varied. f
is a collar which embraces the tubes a, c¹, and also the lever d; so
that by the collar being slided outwards, it causes the cutter
gradually to come more and more into the wire, and such collar is
inoved by means of a lever g, acted on by a cam or other suitable
instrument, so as to cause the collar f, to move outwards from the
position shown in Figure 2, to the position shown in Figure 1, and then
when the cut is complete to move back the collar into the position
shown at Figure 2. h, is the rest or support for the wire. The
Drawing shows the back end of the lever d, as being formed with
an inclined surface, by which means, when the collar is moved back,
it causes the cutter to go out of action, but in place of which a
spring may be used under the lever, tending to force the cutter end
of the lever outwards.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the

page_text: manner of performing the saine, I would have it understood that I
nake no claiin to the parts separately of which the apparatus or
machine above described is composed; but what I claim is, the mode
herein described of combining the several mechanical parts into a
machine or apparatus for pointing wire.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Iles, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness, EDWARD LINNETT,
Small Heath, Birmingham.
CHARLES ILES. (L.S.)