Improvements in Processes and Machines for Automatically Making Wire Chain.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1896-Accepted, 20th Mar., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Processes and Machines for Automatically Making
Wire Chain.
I, CUMMINS WILMINGTON WARD, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at 188 Lafayette Street, in the City of Bridgeport, County of Fairfield
and State of Connecticut, one. of the United States of America, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained, in and by the
following statement:-
My invention relates to machines for automatically making wire chain, the links
of which have at one end a bow and at the other end two registering eyes disposed'
in a plane at right angles to that of the bow.
In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application-
Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved machine, the parts being shown in that.
position which they assume just after the feeding of the wire has taken place;
Figure 2 a section at the line a-a of Figure 1;
Figure 3 a section at the line b-b of Figure 1;
Figure 4 a section at the line c-c of Figure 1;
Figure 5 a bottom view;
. Figure 6 a plan view similar to Figure 1, but on an enlarged scale, partly broken
away and showing the parts in position for effecting the first bending operation in
the wire blank;
Figures 7 and 8 are sectional views similar to Figure 4, but on an enlarged scale,
partly broken away and respectively showing the parts in position for effecting the
second and third bending operations;
Figure 9 is a sectional elevation taken on the line d-d, of Figure 1, but on an
enlarged scale, and showing the position of the parts preparatory to performing
the fourth bending operation;
Figure 10 a view similar to Figure 9, but showing the position of the parts just
after the fourth bending operation has been completed;
Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 9, but showing the position of the parts
after the fifth bending operation has been performed;
Figure 12 is a view similar to Figures 7 and 8 but showing the parts in position
preparatory to performing the sixth or last bending operation;
Figure 13 a view similar to Figure 6, but illustrating the position assumed by
the various parts in effecting the sixth bending operation;
Figure 14 a view similar to Figure 13 but showing the proper position of the
parts after a wire blank has been fed and delivered through the eyes of a previously
completed link;
Figure 15 (Sheet 14) is a detail sectional elevation taken at the line e-e of
Figure 1;
1.
Figure 16 (Sheet 14) a section, on the line ff, of Figure 15;
Figures 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 are detail perspective views, respectively
illustrating the wire blank and the various shapes into which it is formed by the
several bending operations.

page_text: The particular link which my machine produces is not new, but is the link which
is made by the machine shown and described by Friend William Smith, in Patent
Specification No. 21713 of 1894 but in my improved machine I have made a
radical departure in the method of manufacturing this chain.
Heretofore this sort of chain has been made by first completely forming the eyes
at the ends of a straight blank and then bending said blank into U-shape in such
manner that these eyes will register.
While there is no objection to making the chain in this manner, nevertheless
I am enabled by my presént improvement to perform the several bending operations
very quickly, and my inachine is exceedingly strong and is less complicated than
such machines usually are.
All of the movements of the parts, which come into immediate contact with
the wire for performing the bending operations, are effected and controlled from
cams with the usual intermediate lever connections, and as this is an exceedingly
old and well known manner of controlling and operating wire working tools, I do.
not consider it necessary to describe such cams, levers, and the like, and I will
therefore merely call attention to these parts by numbers of reference.
I use a pair of rolls to feed the wire, although I can apply any of the well known
wire feeds with equal facility. While I have shown this roll feed, together with
the parts and connections for operating the same, I will not describe these parts
or connections, but will call attention to the feed rolls merely by numbers of
reference.
My aim, in describing my present improvement, is to avoid all details which
are not attached to material parts of my invention, and I will therefore merely
refer to very many ordinary parts and constructions by numbers of reference, since
those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains will readily understand
all details as to the operations of these parts without further explanation.
In order that the operation of my inproved machine may be more readily under-
stood, I will, in my description take up in the order in which they are performed
the several bending operations, so that the manufacture of the link in its details
may be followed more readily than would be the case if I first described all the
parts of my machine and then summed up the general operation thereof.
As before stated, the wire is properly fed and cut off, and the blank thus
presented is subjected to six (6) distinct bending operations, the first of which
I will now describe.
As a preliminary to the description of the first bending operation, I will briefly
refer to the means whereby the wire is fed and cut off, attention being particularly
called to Figures 1, 2, 15 and 16.
1. are ordinary feed rolls carried by suitably journaled shafts 2, on which latter
are also meshing gears 3. 4 is a short shaft suitably journaled and supported on
the bed of the machine and carrying at its inner end a spur gear 6 and at its
outer end a pinion 7 which mesh respectively with the pinion 8 on one of the feed
roll shafts 2, and with a segment gear 9 on the end of a rocker bar 10 pivoted to
the bed. This rocker bar receives its movements through a lever 11 one end of
which is secured to the lower arm of the rocker bar, while the other extremity
is loosely supported around the main shaft 12 and is provided with a friction roll
(not shown) which tracks within the groove of the face cam 13 carried on said
main shaft.
Rigid with the pinion 7 is a hub 14, which pinion and hub are both loose on this
shaft 4, and keyed rigidly to this shaft beyond the hub, is a disk 15.
16 are fingers which are properly supported within the hub 14 so as to be carried
thereby and are radially disposed and are capable of a slight movement in the
direction of their length. 17 are coil springs whose extremities are connected to
said fingers and to the hub 14, so that it will be clear that when said hub is
revolved in the direction of the arrow, the fingers will be thrown inwardly until
they grip the periphery of the disk 15, whereupon the continued movement of the
hub will effect the like movement of the feed rolls. When the gear 7 and hub 14

page_text: are rotated in the reverse direction the fingers will of course loose their grip on the
disk and the feed rolls will be stationary.
The above parts and the movements thereof will be readily comprehended as
effecting the necessary intermittent feed of the wire.
The wire passes from the feed rolls through a stout tube 18 which is pivoted at
its outer end to the bed so as to be capable of swinging movements, the forward
extremity of this tube being against a shear block 19, so that it will be clear that
when the tube is swung the wire will be cut off close to the shear block, the front
of which latter is of course open, to permit of the bending of the wire into U-shape
around the former, presently to be explained.
Pivoted to the bed is a lever 20 whose inner end is properly secured to the tube
while its outer extremity carries a friction roll (shown in dotted lines) which tracks
within the peripheral groove of a cam 21 carried by the shaft 22 properly supported
on the bed . Revolving with this cam is a gear (shown in dotted lines) which
latter meshes with a rack bar 23 carried by a reciprocatory slide 24 guided within
suitable ways on the bed. As this slide operates the lever 20 will be rocked up
and down thereby operating the tube to cut off the wire.
The first operation to which the wire blank thus cut off is subjected is the
bending into U-shape and this is effected in the following manner, attention being
called to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6.
25 is a bending head properly recessed and carried by the slide 24, and 26 is a
former carried by a vertical reciprocatory gate 27 guided within suitable ways in
a hanger 28 bolted to the under side of the bed.
After the wire blank has been delivered across the face of the bending block
and the former elevated into position, the slide 24 is operated to throw the bending
head forward, thus causing the blank to be bent around the former into U-shape,
as shown at Figure 6.
The slide 24 receives its movements through the medium of a lever 29 pivoted
to the bed of the machine, one end of this lever being pivoted to the slide while
the other end is provided with a roll (not shown) which depends within the
peripheral groove of a cam 30 on the main shaft 12.
The gate 27 has an inclined slot 31 within which is a block 32 capable of
moving freely therein, while a rock shaft 33 journaled in the hanger 28 is provided
with a crank 34 from the extremity of which latter projects a stud 35 loosely
within the block 32. Another crank 36 extends from this shaft 33 and is con-
nected with a lever 37 by means of a link 38, so that it will be clear that any
swinging movement of the lever 37 will effect the rocking of the shaft 33 and
consequently the vertical reciprocation of the gate 27. The lever 37 is pivoted at
its upper end to the under side of the bed, and a bar 39 is pivoted at one extremity
to this lever, the other end being lousely supported around the main shaft and
provided with a friction roll (not shown) which tracks within the groove of a face
cam 40 so that it will be clear that the proper movements of the gate 27 will be
effected from this cam 40 through the medium of the various elements above
referred to.
The slide 24, during its initial movement to carry the bending block against the
wire blank, effects the depression of the tube 18 to properly cut off the blank
before said block comes in contact with the wire, and the latter is properly
supported by the shear block 19 and also by the block 41 opposite thereto.
It now becomes necessary to completely form registering eyes by bending the
extreme ends of the blank and I accomplish this without disturbing in the slightest
degree the normal horizontal plane of the loop end of the blank, this being a very
important feature (although it is not new with me) in automatic machines of this
description, since it must be remembered that a blank for a succeeding link must
be, threaded through the eyes of a previously completed link, and if the normal
elevation of the blank is at all disturbed, then some mechanism must be employed
to restore the blank to its normal position before a succeeding blank can be
properly threaded.

page_text: The second bending operation consists in ferming a half round bend with the
extreme ends of the blank projecting upwardly, as shown at Figure 19, and this
operation is performed while the parts which effect the first bending operation are.
yet in their effective position.
Carried by the gate 27 is a female die 42, (clearly shown at Figure 4), and
carried by an arm 43 pivoted to the bed is a male die 44. 45 is a rock lever
pivoted to a hanger 46 bolted to the underside of the bed, the inner end of this
iever being connected to the arm 43 at or about its middle portion by means of
a link 47, while the outer end of this lever is provided with a friction roll
(not shown) which tracks within a groove in the side of the cam 30, so that it
will be clear that the vertical movements of this arm 43 will be effected from the
cam 30.
The first bending operation will leave the straight side wires of the blank
resting immediately upon the die 42 and as the arm 43 descends the dies 42, 44,
will co-operate to bend the ends of the blank so that oue half of the eyes will
be formed with the ends projecting upwardly, as shown particularly at Figures 7
and 19.
Immediately prior to the third bending operation the former and the die 42 are
lowered by the operation of the cam 40, so as to leave the blank held and
supported within the bending head, and the latter is then bodily advanced by the
continued movement of the slide 24, so as to bring the blank into proper position
with respect to the instrumentalities which perform this third bending operation,
and which I will now describe, reference being had particularly to Figures 1, 5,
8 and 9.
48, 49, are slides side by side within suitable ways in the bed and capable of
free movements in the direction of their lengths, and 50 is a jog-link secured to a
vertical rock shaft 51 suitably supported below the bed. The two opposite
extremities of this link 50 are respectively connected to the slides 48, 49, by
means of pitmans 52, 53, whose ends are pivoted to said extremities and slides, so
that it will be clear that the rocking movements of the shaft 51 will effect
reciprocatory movements to these slides. To the lower extremity of the rock
shaft 51 is secured a segment gear 54 which meshes with a segment 55 carried by
a lever 56 which latter is pivoted to the frame of the machine at or about its
middle portion, and carries at its outer end a roll (not shown) which tracks within
the groove of the cam 57, as shown partly in solid and partly in dotted lines at
Figure 5, so that it will be clear that the proper reciprocations of these slides will
be effected from this cam.
Respectively bolted upon these slides are uprights 58, 59, and rising from the
bed are
uprights 60, 61. Within the uprights 60, 61, and the inner uprights 58, 59,
are journaled hollow shafts 62, 63, which are free to rotate but have no lengthwise
movements independent of the uprights 58, 59. These hollow shafts carry
pinions 64, 65, which are engaged by segments 66, 67, which latter are secured
to a horizontal rock shaft 68 journaled on the bed of the machine, to one end of
which shaft is secured another segment 69 which in turn meshes with a segment 70
formed on a lever 71, which latter is pivoted at its lower end to the frame of the
machine and carries a roll 72 which tracks within the peripheral groove of the
cam 40. The revolution of this cam 40 effects the rocking of the segment 70
whereby rocking movements are imparted to the shaft 68, thereby causing the
shafts 62, 63, to be revolved first in one direction and theu in the other, for the
purpose presently to be explained.
The inner extremities of these shafts 62, 63, carry bending heads 73, 74, which
latter are respectively provided with long bending lips 75, 76, and short bending
lips 77, 78, which lips are eccentric to the axis of said heads.
Extending loosely through the hollow shafts 62, 63, are horizontally disposed
mandrels 79, 80, which are capable of free sliding movements independent of said
hollow shafts.

page_text: The outer portions of these mandrels extend loosely through the outer
uprights 58, 59, and are provided at their extreme ends with adjustable stop-
shoulders 81, 82, while around these mandrels immediately beyond the outer
extremities of the hollow shafts are adjustable shoulders 83, 84, between which
last named shoulders and the inner walls of the outer uprights 58, 59, are coil
springs 85, 86, around said mandrels.
It will thus be clear that when these uprights 58, 59, are carried toward each
other by the action of the slides 48, 49, the mandrels 79, 80, will be carried
therewith, but that when the inner extremities of these mandrels strike against
any shoulder or abutment, the inward movements of said uprights will not be
arrested thereby but will continue independent of said mandrels, with the result
that the springs 85, 86, will be compressed so as to bind said mandrels firmly
against said abutment.
87 is a bar pivoted at 88 upon the bed-plate and capable of a free lateral
reciprocation. Upon the extreme inner end of this bar is au anvil 89, which is of
a general conical shape in cross section, that is to say, its sides are inclined, as is
shown at Figures 8 and 9.
90 is a slide within suitable ways on the bed and pivoted to the bar 87 about
midway of its length. 91 is a lever, immediately beneath the bed, and pivoted at
one end to the slide 90 while the other extremity is supported by the shaft 12 and
is provided with a roll (not shown) which tracks within the groove of the face,
cam 92 so that it will be clear that the rotation of this cam will effect the proper
reciprocatory movements of the bar 87. It will be remembered that immediately
after the second bending operation the former and dies were withdrawn preparatory
to the movement of the slide 24 to bring the blank in position for subsequent
bending operations, thus leaving the blank without adequate support to prevent
displacement during such operations. I have provided clamping mechanism
whereby the blank will be firmly held during these operations, and which is
brought into effective position before the third bending operation is performed.
This clamp comprises a dog 93 rigid on a rock shaft 94, which latter is carried by
the slide 24, the nose of said dog being capable of entering the recess in the
bending head and binding firmly against that part of the wire blank which
constitutes the loop of the link. 95 is a crank which extends from the
shaft 94 and is provided at its lower or free end with a roll 96 which rests upon a
track 97 secured to the bed. The inner portion of this track is elevated as seen
at 98, the two portions of the track being connected by an incline (shown in
dotted lines at Figure 8). As the slide 24 moves inward the roll 96 will travel up
onto the elevated portion 98 of this track, thereby causing the nose of the dog 93
to be depressed so as to firmly clamp the blank, and when the slide is retracted the
crank 95 and the roll carried thereby will by their combined weight effect the
elevation of the dog when the roll travels along the outer or lower portion of
the track.
It will therefore be clear that during the movement of the slide 24, which
brings the blauk into position for the third bending operation, said blank will be
firmly clamped as against any displacement.
In performing this third bending operation, the slides 48, 49, operate to throw
the bending heads 73, 74, and the mandrels 79, 80, carried thereby toward each
other, and I have provided an abutment 99 rising from the bed and against
which said mandrels are forced and are firmly bound by the continued inward
movement of the bending heads, which latter is necessary in order to bring the
lips 75, 76, athwart and behind the upwardly projecting extremities of the wire
blank.
The shafts 62, 63, are now rotated by the instrumentalities herein before set forth,
thereby revolving the bending heads and causing the lips 75, 76, to bend the
extremities of the wire blank to the position shown at Figures 8 and 9.
Simultaneously with the revolution of these bending heads the latter advance

page_text: slightly still further inward, whereby the ends of the wire as they are bent will be
thrown inwardly so that they will be passed inside of that portion of the blank
which forms the loop.
This will cause these extremities of the partially completed link to depend on
opposite sides of the anvil 89, and the parts are then in position for performing the
fourth bending operation, which latter is effected by the shifting movements of this
anvil, as I will now describe.
When the parts are in position as shown at Figures 8 and 9, the bar 87 is shifted
laterally first in one direction and then in the other, whereby the anvil 89 is forced
against the depending extremities of the wire to spread them laterally to the position
shown at Figure 10 and this completes the fourth bending operation.
The extremities of the wire when thus spread are within the field of operation
of the short bending lips 77, 78, so that it will be clear that when the bending heads
are revolved in the direction the reverse to that previously set forth, these short
lips will bend up said extremities to the position shown at Figures 11 and 22, which
completes the fifth bending operation.
These reverse movements of the bending heads are of course effected from the
vertical rocking movements of the segments 66, 67, and during said movements
there will be a dwell in the action of the slides 48, 49, and also while the third,
fourth and fifth bending operations are being performed the mandrels 79, 80,
will be stationary and will of course act as firmn supports for the wire.
After the completion of the fifth bending operation, the bending heads 73, 74,
are retracted, thus leaving the partially completed link supported within the bending
head 25, and the slide 24 is now operated to retract said head and the partially
completed link to the position shown at Figures 12 and 13 where the eyes of said
link are immediately in front of the instrumentalities for performing the sixth
and last bending operation, which latter consists in finally curling the extremities
of the wire inwardly against the eyes and also in completely shaping the link.
When the bending head 25 has been retracted to this position, the former 26 is
elevated so that it again enters the loop within said head, where it remains until
the link is completed.
Referring particularly to Figures 1, 3, 12, 13 and 23; 100, 101, are slides
properly guided upon the bed of the machine, and 102, 103 are rotary spindles
supported in said slides but incapable of any lengthwise movement independent of
the latter. The outer extremities of these spindles are supported within suitable
boxes 104, 105, in which latter are formed curved slots 106, 107, within which
studs 108, 109, extend from said spindles. Secured upon the inner extremities of
the spindles 102, 103, are heads 110, 111, and eccentrically carried by said heads
are the closing in dies 112, 113. In Figure 14 these dies are shown out of
operative position, while in Figure 13 they are shown in their elevated or operative
position.
Right here 1 desire to state that no stress is to be placed upon this construction
just described, which contemplates the slots 106, 107, and the studs 108, 109, since
such construction is a mere expedient to throw the dies out of the way of the wire
blank when the latter is bent into U-shape. This construction is preferable to the
performing of the first bending operation at a further distance from the vertical
plane in which the last bending operation is performed, and this is the sole reason
for this present construction.
114, 115, are levers pivoted at their lower extremities to the hanger 28 and
having their upper extremities loosely connected in any ordinary manner with the
slides 100, 101. 116, 117, are levers whose inner extremities are pivoted
respectively to the levers 114, 115, about midway of the latter, while the outer
extremities of these levers 116, 117, are loosely supported around the shaft 12, said
levers being respectively provided with rolls (not shown) which track within
.grooves in the face cams 118, 57. The rotation of these cams will cause these
levers 114, 115, to be thrown toward each other thereby carrying the slides 100, 101,
inwardly and bringing the closing in dies into effective operation against the link,

page_text: whereby the extreme ends of the wire are curled against the eyes and the link itself;
completely closed and shaped around the former 26, as shown at Figure 13.
The link is now completed and the closing in dies are retracted and the former 26
is withdrawn from the link, whereupon the slide 24 operates to still further draw
back the bending head carrying the completed link, until the registering eyes of
said link are in such a position with respect to the feed way of the wire, that the
latter when fed will pass through the eyes of this previously formed link, as shown
at Figure 14.
After a succeeding blank has been passed through the eyes of a previously.
formed link, the slide 24 is operated to finally withdraw the bending head 25.
so that the completed link is stripped therefrom, it being of course understoo
that during the retraction of this head the dog 93 will have been elevated to release
the link.
After a completed link has been stripped from the bending head 25, the various.
parts and instrumentalities will be in the position shown at Figure 4, and the
completed chain will depend from the blank that has been fed into position,
preparatory to bending, and the various bending operations herein before described
will then take place with respect to this blank.
I do not wish to be limited to the employment of any particular mechanical
appliance for handling and bending up the wire blank into the form of a completed.
link, since it will be clear that in this respect there are a great many substitutions
of mechanisms which may be made and which are all within the range of ordinary
mechanical skill.
The end aimed at by my present invention is to bend up the eyes in the vertical.
plane which they occupy with respect to the horizontal plane of the loop, since.
I am thereby enabled to make a stronger and more compact machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-..
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I.
claim, is:-
1. The herein-described improvement in the art of manufacturing chain from
wire blanks, which consists in first bending the blank into U-shape, then bending.
the extremities of the blank into registering eyes which are disposed in a vertical
plane at right angles to the horizontal plane of the loop or closed end of the blank,
and finally shaping the blank into a completed link.
2. In a machine for making wire chain, the combination of means for bending
the blank into U-shape, means for forming one-half of the eyes with the extreme
ends of the blank extending upwardly, means for curling said ends downwardly
within the loop, means for spreading said ends horizontally in opposite directions,
means for bending said ends upwardly, and instrumentalities for curling the ends.
inwardly against the eyes and for finally shaping the link, substantially as set.
forth.
3. In a machine for manufacturing wire chain, the combination of means for
feeding and cutting off the wire biank, means for bending the blank into U-shape,
a pair of dies for bending the ends of said blank whereby one half of the eyes are
formed with the extreme ends of the blank projecting upwardly, a pair of mandrels.
and bending heads, and means for advancing the same laterally toward the link.
whereby the wire for the eyes is properly supported, means for rotating said heads
in opposite directions, a laterally reciprocating anvil whereby the extreme ends of
the wire are supported, and means for finally bending the extreme ends of the
blank, inwardly and for completely shaping the link, substantially as set forth.
4. In a machine for manufacturing wire chain, the combination of the former
and bending head whereby the first bending operation is performed, the pair of
dies whereby the second bending operation is performed, the sliding and rotatory
bending heads carrying the mandrels whereby the third and fifth bending operations
are performed, the laterally shifting anvil whereby the fourth bending operation is
performed, means for properly sliding the bending head whereby the link is..

page_text: presented to the several bending instrumentalities, means carried by said head for
properly clamping the link, and means for performing the sixth bending operation,
substantially as set forth.
DLL it to of To 1906
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents."