IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CAPS, PRIMERS OR SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF CAPS, PRIMERS OR SIMILAR ARTICLES and in what manner the saine is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
"
This Invention relates to machines for feeding shells of caps or primers, and
other similar articles to other machines where they are required to be delivered in
a particular direction and position, in order to be subjected to the subsequent
processes of such other machines in a proper manner; and it consists in the
combination of mechanism for that purpose substantially as hereinafter described.
In the accompanying Drawings
Figure 1 is a top view or plan of the Invention as applied to a feeding plate of
well known construction for feeding cartridge shell primers to the cartridge
priming machine.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 3, shows a post used as hereinafter described in my machine.
Figure 4 is a top view of the bed plate of the machine with the attached
conduit.
Figure 5 is a section of the same on the line A A Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a detached view of the driving pulley which drives the machine.
Figure 7 is a side elevation, partly in section on the line B B Figure 8, of the
reservoir into which the primers are poured to be fed out in the proper position.
Figure 8 is a top view of the parts shown in Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a view drawn to an enlarged scale of a section of the wall of the
reservoir, showing the primer feeding apertures and the proper position of a primer
for feeding through these apertures, and an improper position in which it cannot
pass through.
Figure 10 is a side view of a primer in position for being fed from the reservoir
and
Figure 11 is a detail view of the primer in the position in which it cannot pass

page_text: Figure 12 is a modification of the parts shown in Figure 9 illustrating a different
form of aperture to accomplish the same purpose.
C indicates a table supported in any proper manner, to which is attached a circular
disc or plate D by a shaft d (Figure 2) which passes through the table and has on
its lower end a pulley which is used to give a rotary movement to the plate, in
the direction of the arrow, the pulley being driven by any proper motor.
Around the edge of the plate D is the rim attached to the table and projecting
above the surface of the plate D to confine the primers on the said plates as they
are fed around it. A second flange ³ is held in a stationary position upon the
table just above the surface of the rotary plate D by means of a bracket which
is attached by one or more screws d to the table C. The flange d³ is made clastic
at its free end where it approaches the rim da so as to allow the primers to pass
one at a time between it and the rim.
e e indicate the primers lying upon the plate D, by the rotation of which they
are carried around and, passing between the flange d³ and rim d², are fed to the
priming machine attached upon the side of the table C in the ordinary and well
known manner. This rotating plate D, rim d³ and flange dare well known for
this purpose, as well as to feed primers and shells to other classes of machines, and
need not be further described.
Heretofore it has been customary to have an attendant place the primers e e right
side up on the revolving plate D in order that when they pass between the rim d'
and flange d³ they may be fed to the subsequent mechanism operating upon them
in proper position, and this duty has required the constant labor of an attendant.
My improvement is designed to perform this duty by machine and save time
and labor and ensure greater certainty of the primers being delivered from the
plate D right side up.
To the bracket d I attach an upright post or or arm e², shown in Figure 2,
which supports an inclined bed plate N; upon this bed plate N is a rim n forming
at the lower part of the incline of the bed plate, a segment of a circle on each side
of it into which the circumference of a circular box or reservoir M fits. This
reservoir M consists of a segment of a cylinder open at both ends, and having an
enlarged part with a groove m around its periphery near the top to receive a cord,
to cause it to revolve as hereinafter described. In the top of the reservoir is
a central hub m² connected to its upper edge by four arms m³ so as to be integral
with it, as shown in Figures 1, 7 and 8.
The reservoir M is attached to the bed plate N in the following manner.
A bole n² is made through the bed plate near its centre, as shown in Figures 4 and 5,
and into this hole is set the post n³ the smaller lower end of the post fitting in the
hole. The nut n being screwed up solidly on the bottom side of the bed plate N
brings the lower shoulder of the post down upon the top of the bed plate and
secures it rigidly therein. The upper end of the post is provided with a cylindrical
bearing part n which fits into the central hole in the hub m² of the reservoir so
as to allow the latter to revolve thereon, the nut n being screwed down to a shoulder
on top of the bearing n³ to keep the reservoir from rising off the bearing, when in
place, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The height of the bearing n above the bed
plate N is just sufficient to allow the reservoir M to have its lower edge close to
the upper surface of the bed plate N.
Centrally in the revolving plate D is screwed a vertical post d³ to the upper end
of which is attached the band wheel do having a groove in its periphery, in which
and in the groove m of the reservoir M is passed the band 7, thus causing the
reservoir M to revolve by the rotation of the plate D. Within the annular wall
of the reservoir M on its upper surface the bed plate N has certain small scores or
roughened places n'n' and attached to the inner wall of the reservoir is an arm m
which projects its lower surface radially from the wall of the reservoir, inward
parallel to the surface of the bed plate N. The purpose of this arm m* is to
continually stir up and turn over the primers within the reservoir as the latter

page_text: revolves and thus ensure a certain proportion of them being turned right side up
to escape from the reservoir as hereinafter described.
The annular wall of the reservoir M is made of two parts, an outer and thicker
part which projects downward far enough to revolve just above the rims n n on
the bed plate N where the rims are concentric with the axis of the reservoir; and
an inner annular part of the wall of the reservoir ma projecting downward below
the outer part almost to the surface of the bed plate N. In this lower edge of the
wall m³ are made a series of openings or notches m³ m³ so formed with relation to
the exterior form of the primers that when the primers are one side up they cannot
pass through these holes m³, but when they are the other side up they will just
slip through as is shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11, in which o o indicate the primers.
The purpose of having a series of these openings m³ is to allow a greater number
of primers to escape during a given time, as one opening would do a proportional
part of the work in the same manner as any of the others.
Attached to the lower side of the bed plate N is a conduit N* having its sides yr
above and below the internal passages of the same just far enough apart to receive
a primer between them flat ways and keep it in the same relative position with
relation to the said opposite sides, which it has when it enters the conduit, until
the primer is delivered upon the rotating plate D, the conduit N₁ being bent or
curved around to bring its lower end just above and almost touching the surface of
the plate D as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
This conduit is in the form of a tube rectangular in cross section, having its
sides separated the proper distance apart by edge pieces between the edges of
the sides, through which edge pieces the sides are secured together by rivets, or
otherwise, in any ordinary and well known manner. The edge pieces may bo
a continuation of the rims n n, if desired.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-The parts being mounted in position
as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a quantity of primers are poured loosely into the top
of the reservoir M when they will fall down into the lower side of it upon the
inclined bed plato N, and are prevented from escaping by the annular wall of tho
reservoir on that side. The rotation of the plate D and the reservoir A continually
brings opposite the mass of primers in the reservoir the openings m³ m³, and
whenever a primer the proper side up is pressed against one of the openings by the
mass of primers behind it, it slips through the opening, slides down the bed plate N
into the conduit N2 and through the latter, in which it cannot turn over, upon the
rotating plate D the right side up to be fed by the latter into the capping or other
machine which is to perform the subsequent processes upon it.
Whenever a primer
is pressed against an opening m³ wrong side up it cannot get through and the
opening passes by it while the stirring arm m' passes through the mass of primers
and turns a certain proportion of them over at each passage in position to escape
through an opening or openings m³ and be fed right side up upon the rotating
plate D.
In Figures 4 and 5 I have represented the bed plate N and its connection with
the conduit N with the upper side of the conduit removed for the sake of clearness
and I have represented the conduit in this instance as curved between the bed
plate N and the rotating plate D, so as to turn the primers over in their passage
through the conduit, they being fed out of the opening m³ the other side up from
what they are delivered on the bed plate but this construction, although preferable
with the particular form of primer, is not necessary, as the conduit N2 might be
made straight in its downward incline instead of curved, and the openings m³ be
made to allow the escape of the primers through them the same side up as they
are delivered on the plate D without departing from the nature of this Invention.
Instead of giving the reservoir M a circular motion by a band, it might be given
either that or a reciprocal rotary motion by attaching a short crank upon the
post and a crank upon the top or side of the reservoir, and connecting these
cranks by a link, while parallel to each other, or nearly so, in the ordinary and

page_text: well known manner; or the band d might be removed and the reservoir M
revolved by hand, and accomplish the same results i.c. the automatic delivery of
the primers from the reservoir, all the same side up; or the bolts holding the
wall me to the reservoir might be taken out and the outer ends of the arms m³
attached to the upper edge of the wall me instead of to the outer shell of the
reservoir, and the latter allowed to remain stationary while the wall alone moved
without departing from the nature of the Invention the substantial part of which
is the passing of the wall me provided with openings m³ past a mass of primers
resting against it and adapted to escape through such openings only when a
particular side up.
I do not confine myself to a cylindrical reservoir as the shape of the reservoir
wall may be varied somewhat and still subserve the same purpose and the motion
of the wall mo past the mass of shells might vary from a circle and accomplish the
same result.
Figure 12 shews a modification of the opening mo which may be used with the
primer shown if desired.
It will be observed that the wall me with its openings m³ moves past the mass
of shells charged with fulminate beneath them so that the action of gravity alone
carries them through the openings m³ and thus all danger of exploding the primers
in the reservoir by any mechanical means for forcing them through the openings is
avoided which is very important.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. In combination with suitablo bearings upon which to move the same, the
wall me provided with one or more openings m³ formed to allow the shells to
escape through them only one predetermined side uppermost, and adapted to move
past and beneath a mass of such shells and allow them to escape through said
openings by force of gravity, substantially as described.
Second. In combination with the reservoir, the movable wall m° provided with
one or more openings m³ formed to allow the shells to escape by their gravity
through them only one predetermined side uppermost, and suitable mechanism for
moving the same, substantially as described.
Third. The combination of the bed plate N inclined from a horizontal direction
and the wall me adapted to move on suitable bearings, and provided with one or
more openings m³ formed' to allow the shells to escape through them only one
predetermined side uppermost, substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination of the bed plate N, the conduit N³, and the wall mo
adapted to move on suitable bearings and provided with one or more openings m³
formed to allow the shells to escape through them by their gravity only one
predetermined side uppermost, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination of the feed plate D, the conduit N and the bed plate N,
with the wall me adapted to move on suitable bearings and provided with one or
more openings me formed to allow the shells to escape through them only one
predetermined side uppermost, substantially as described.
Sixth. The combination with the bed plate N, of the revolving wall mº provided
with one or more openings m³ formed to allow the shells to escape through them
only one predetermined side uppermost, substantially as described.
Seventh. The combination of the conduit N2 and the bed plate N, with the
revolving wall me provided with one or more openings m³ formed to allow the
shells to escape through them only one predetermined side uppermost, substantially
as described.
Eighth. In combination with the bed plate N and the wall m adapted to move
on suitable bearings and provided with one or more openings m³ formed to allow
the shell to escape through them only one predetermined side uppermost, the stirring
arm m*, substantially as described,

page_text: Ninth. In combination with the bed plate N and the rotary reservoir M.adapted
to deliver through its side wall the shells only one predetermined side uppermost,
the conduit N having its opposite sides formed and placed relatively to each other
to receive the shells with that side uppermost and convey them and control their
movement through it, and deliver them a predetermined side uppermost,
substantially as described.
Tenth. In combination with the reservoir M provided with openings m³ in its
wall, the inclined bed plate N and the conduit N' having a curved throat or
passage way which brings its lowermost side at the upper end upon the uppermost
side at the lower end, substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.