Improvements in Machines for the Working of Wire.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for the Working of Wire.
I, EDMOND CHARPENTIER, of Hodimont, in the Kingdom of Belgium, 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:-
The apparatus to which this invention relates enables twisted wire to be
manufactured with greater precision or uniformity while at the same time producing
a larger amount of work. Up to the present time the apparatus used for this
purpose have been chiefly characterized by a catch or step by step arrangement
but these were deficient as regards the twisting of the wire and the gripping of the
same during the twisting operation. The twisted wire is especially applicable for
the manufacture of heddles or healds for weaver's looms.
The apparatus herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings is
arranged for continuous motion and enables a greater amount of work to be
performed in a given time.
By means of a gripping device described farther on the wire is always held in
the proper position while it is being twisted at either end of the mesh and at the
"heads" without being either crushed or damaged.
As will be seen from the
drawings the twisting is effected at or in the centre of a pinion A within which
works a slide C with a slot provided for the passage of the wire. Into this slot
is inserted a rod D upon which the mesh or link is formed and which also serves
for twisting. Where it meets this rod D the slot is contracted so as to bring the
wires closer together. The slide is capable of two different motions.
1. It carries the rod D to the centre of the pinion A. so as to carry the wires
along with it and
2. It releases the mesh and consequently the whole of the twisted wire from the
said rod. The slide is maintained in its two alternate positions by the action of a
spring-bolt or catch E which engages the notches G G¹ provided for the purpose
in or on the slide.
The pinion is composed of two pieces so as to enable two grooves to be formed
therein, the one for the insertion of the slide C and the other for the spring-bolt E.
The pinion is journalled in its bearings in a transverse support so that its centre
remains free and it receives continuous motion from toothed disc B carrying around
with it the slide C.
The toothed disc B is provided with a groove formed in its rim into which fit
the ends of the slide. It also carries two rollers F F¹ located in the said groove.
When the double wire is placed within the slot of the slide and held on either side
of the pinion by the grippers the first roller pushes the slide so as to carry its rod
to the centre of the pinion and between the wires. The pinion in continuing to
rotate, effects the twisting of the wire in the spaces between the said rod and the
grippers with the assistance of the rod itself which serves for the formation of the
mesh. As soon as the twisting is completed the second roller bearing upon
the opposite end of the slide C carries the latter back to its initial position. The
mesh is thus released from the rod D which has been used to form it, and by means
of the spindle of the pinion A. the twisted wire may be removed and a fresh supply
of wire fed to the mechanism. The second roller may be arranged at any suitable
point within the groove of the disc, so as to accelerate or retard its action according
to the number of twists to be imparted to the wire. Upon the boss of the disc B
is mounted a cam K for operating the grippers M N. The wire is held during the
twisting operation by the two grippers M N which are operated as follows:-

page_text: The lever J is operated by the cam K secured to the toothed disc. The lever
in being moved upwardly by the cam produces a double result:-
1. It operates another double armed lever N which it so swings around its pivot
that the upper arm forms one of the gripping jaws.. The lower arm of the said
lever is provided with a set-screw whereby the gripping device may be adjusted
from the centre of the apparatus.
2. It compresses a spring L which is arranged to press upon a rod guided within
the lever J and within the transverse support of the apparatus and is flattened at
the top (at M) so as to form the second jaw of the gripper. As the cam continues
to rotate the lever J is carried down by its counterweight the spring expands and
the lower gripping jaw descends while the upper lever arm withdrawn by the
spring rises and makes room for the passage of the wire in the centre of the
mechanism.
The twisting at the ends of the piece of wire takes place automatically in the
same manner and the same apparatus may be used for making twisted wire with
projecting ends and with twisted-in ends.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In a machine for working wire the method of twisting wire and forming the
mesh by means of a double pinion fitted with a slide substantially as described.
2. In a machine for working wire a toothed disc such as B having a groove in
which are rollers such as F F adapted to engage a slide such as C which enters
the groove substantially as described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a machine for working wire the combination and arrangement of parts
constituting the spring-controlled wire gripping mechanism substantially as
described and illustrated in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.
4. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the wire-
twisting mechanism substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 21st day of March 1891.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.