IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF NEEDLES USED FOR SURGICAL AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Oppenheimer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 7th May 1875.
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1
I, DAVID OPPENHEIMER, of Watling Street, in the City of London,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention. for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF NEEDLES
USED FOR SURGICAL AND OTHER PURPOSES," communicated to me from abroad
by James C. Holland, of the City and State of New York, in the United
States of America, to be as follows:-
The Invention relates to machinery or apparatus for the manufacture

page_text: of needles used for surgical or other purposes, and formed with a slot
extending from the eye to the adjacent or nearest extremity in such
manner that the needle is threaded by carrying the thread transversely
into the slot and pressing it inward to the eye, instead of inserting it
endwise to the eye in the usual way.
In the machinery or apparatus a cutting punch, fixed die holder, and
moving die are combined and airanged in such manner that the required
slot is cut or formed in the needle, and the slotted end shaped for the
use of the needle at one operation. Also in such machine a spring is
combined with the moving die in such manner that the die rectifies the 1
displacement of one side of the slotted portion of the needle incident to
the formation of the slot.
Improved grooved dies are used to construct needles with slots of
peculiar curved or sinuous form or configuration.
An actuating cam and a spring are combined with the plunger 1
carrying the cutting punch, and with the holder and the fixed and
moving dies.
I proceed to describe arrangements for carrying the Invention into
practical effect.
A square plunger has vertical motion in guide jaws opened and closed
by a screw and nut. The plunger has at top adjustable screw stop
arrangements. On the adjusting screw is an arm, against which a
spring bears. A cam or eccentric worked by a lever depresses the
plunger, which is caused to ascend or resume its former position by a
spring. At the lower end of the plunger is a cutting punch for cutting
a slot from the eye of the needle to the adjacent end. The fixed die is
bedded in the frame, and the moveable die has a spring, so that though
free to descend its upper surface is level with that of the fixed die. A
projection or stem adjusts the moving die. The configuration of the
inner sides of the two dies correspond with that of the cutting punch
to obtain contact or coincidence. Across the faces of the contact dies
is a straight groove, and at the bottom of this groove the adjacent inner
upper edges of the two dies are bevelled off, so that a sinuous groove
common to the two dies is formed along the contact line, and coincident
with the lower end or edge of the cutting punch or die there are
adjustable rests and stops. A holder is pivoted to the framework at one

page_text: end; it projects over the rest, and is brought into and out of contact
therewith by a lever and spring.
In working the machine the needle to be slotted is laid on the rest
and pushed into the groove; the holder grips it, and the cam depresses
the plunger, so that the cutting punch is forced through the portion of
the needle between the eye and the adjacent end, so that a slot is formed
of configuration corresponding with that of the edge of the cutting
punch or die, and of the sinuous groove which is common to the moving
and fixed dies, and which allows the full depression of the cutting
punch or die for the formation of the curved or sinuous slot, the straight
groove and the holder or clamp sustaining and steadying the needle
during the action of the cutting punch or die. As this would permit half
of the slotted portion of the needle to be depressed or displaced from its
due relation to the other half thereof, the moving die rises so soon as
the cutting die rises by the motion of the cam, and before the grip of tho
holder relaxes, and thus the previously depressed part of the slotted end
of the needle returns to its proper position and attains its proper shape;
then the clamping holder releases its grip on the slotted needle, and is
ready to receive the next needle for operating upon.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said David Oppenheimer in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th November 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
OPPENHEIMER, of Watling Street, in the City of London, Merchant, send
greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said David Oppenheimer, Her special license, that
I, the said David Oppenheimer, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said David Oppenheimer, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein

page_text: expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, cxercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF NEEDLES USED FOR SURGICAL AND OTHER
PURPOSES," communicated to me from abroad by James C. Holland,
of the City and State of New York, in the United States of America,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said David Oppen-
heimer, my executors or administrators; by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should parti-
cularly 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 David Oppenheimer, 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, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
as communicated to me, that is to say :-
The Invention relates to machinery or apparatus for the manufacture:
of needles used for surgical or other [purposes, and formed with a slot
extending from the eye to the adjacent or nearest extremity in such
manner that the needle is threaded by carrying the thread transversely
into the slot and pressing it inward to the eye, instead of inserting it
endwise to the eye in the usual way.
2
In the machinery or apparatus a cutting punch, fixed die holder, and
moving die are combined and arranged in such manner that the required
slot is cut or formed in the needle, and the slotted end shaped for the
use of the needle at one operation. Also in such machine a spring is
combined with the moving die in such manner that the die rectifies the a
displacement of one side of the slotted portion of the needle incident to
the formation of the slot.
Improved dies are used to construct needles with slots of peculiar
curved or sinuous form or configuration.
An actuating cam and a spring are combined with the plunger a
carrying the cutting punch, and with the holder and the fixed and

page_text: I proceed to describe arrangements for carrying the Invention into
practical effect.
A square plunger has vertical motion in guide jaws opened and closed
by a screw and nut. The plunger has at top adjustable screw stop
arrangements. On the adjusting screw is an arm, against which a
spring bears. A cam or eccentric worked by a lever depresses the
plunger, which is caused to ascend or resume its former position by a
spring. At the lower end of the plunger is a cutting punch for cutting
a slot from the eye of the needle to the adjacent end. The fixed die is
bedded in the frame, and the moveable die has a spring, so that though
free to descend its upper surface is level with that of the fixed die. A
projection or stem adjusts the moving die. The configuration of the
inner sides of the two dies correspond with that of the cutting punch to
obtain contact or coincidence. Across the faces of the contact dies is a
straight groove, and at the bottom of this groove the adjacent inner
upper edges of the two dies are bevelled off, so that a sinuous groove
common to the two dies is formed along the contact line, and coincident
with the lower end or edge of the cutting punch or die there are
adjustable rests and stops. A holder is pivoted to the framework at one
end; it projects over the rest, and is brought into and out of contact
therewith by a lever and spring.
In working the machine the needle to be slotted is laid on the rest
and pushed into the groove; the holder grips it, and the cam depresses
the plunger, so that the cutting punch is forced through the portion of
the needle between the eye and the adjacent end, so that a slot is formed
of configuration corresponding with that of the edge of the cutting
punch or die, and of the sinuous groove, which is common to the moving
and fixed dies, and which allows the full depression of the cutting
punch or die for the formation of the curved or sinuous slot, the straight
groove and the holder or clamp sustaining and steadying the needle
during the action of the cutting punch or die. As this would permit
half of the slotted portion of the needle to be depressed or displaced
from its due relation to the other half thereof, the moving die rises so
soon as the cutting die rises by the motion of the cam, and before the
grip of the holder relaxes, and thus the previously depressed part of the
slotted end of the needle returns to its its proper position and attains its
proper shape; then the clamping holder releases its grip on the slotted
needle, and is ready to receive the next needle for operating upon.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine constructed according to
the Invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Figures 3 and 4 are plans of the dies on an enlarged scale; these dies
form an essential part of the machine; and Figure 5 shows on a greatly
enlarged scale the end portion of the peculiar variety of slotted needle,
for the manufacture of which the apparatus is more particularly
designed.
A is a square plunger capable of a vertical movement in a guide B
supported on the frame C. This guide B is formed in two pieces or
parts, the outer one is hinged to the other at one side, and provided with
a notch or recess a³ at the side opposite the hinges. A catch A¹ is
pivoted in the frame C, and provided at its free end with a screw and
nut B¹ in such manner that the screw being moved into the notch a¹
the nut may be brought tight against the adjacent surface of the outer
portion of the guide B to close the same. By these means provision is
made for opening the guide to permit the removal of the plunger when
desired. Upon the upper extremity of the plunger is formed a screw B¹¹,
upon which adjusting nuts C¹ are placed. These nuts limit the downward
movement of the plunger A by striking the upper end of the guide B,
the stroke of the plunger being by this means made capable of minute
and accurate adjustment. Extending rearward from the screw B" is an
arm b, against which bears the upward pressure of a spiral spring c,
shewn in dotted lines in Figure 2. D is a cam or eccentric worked
by its attached handle or lever E, and pivoted in the top of the
frame C.
In giving the requisite operative movement to the plunger the handle
or lever E is forced downward by the cam, and returned upward by the
spring c aforesaid. In the lower extremity of the plunger is fixed by
any ordinary or suitable means the cutting punch f. This punch is
designed to cut the slot from the eye of the needle to the adjacent end
of the latter, and its edge must conform in configuration to that of the
slot to be made. This slot is seen on a greatly enlarged scale in
Figure 5, in which it is shewn curved from 6' to f¹, and the lines from

page_text: 6¹ to f¹ are coincident with that represented by the edge of the cutter,
as it would be seen in inverted plan. F is a fixed die bedded in the
base F fixed upon the frame C, and G is a moving die working in or
through a recess provided in the base F, and having a spring arranged
below it in the said recess in such manner that the moving die while.
capable of a downward movement has nominally its upper surface kept:
on a level with that of the fixed die aforesaid.
In order that it may be accurately adjusted, the moving die G has a
downwardly projecting stem g, which passing through a suitably.
provided hole in the base has adjusting nuts g³ screwed upon its lower
portion to permit the easy and accurate adjustment of the moving die
with its upper surface flush with that of the fixed die. The stem g is:
forced back to its former position by the spring x, seen in dotted lines,
Figure 2. The innermost sides of the two dies are made to conform to
the curvature of the cutting die herein-before described, so that when
the cutting die descends its edge will be exactly coincident with the
joint or line of contact of the two contiguous dies. This joint or line
of contact is more fully indicated at a" in Figures 3 and 4. It must
be especially kept in mind that the two dies being thus in contact have
formed in common across their faces a straight groove c¹, and that at or
in the bottom of this groove the adjacent inner upper edges of the two
dies are bevelled off, so that a sinuous groove common to the said two
dies is formed along the line of contact of the same, and of course
coincident with the lower end or edge of the cutting die. I is a
vertically adjustable rest provided at one end of the groove c", and J is
a horizontally adjustable stop provided at the opposite end of said
groove. K is a holder, the same being an arm pivoted at m to the
frame C with one end n projecting over the rest I, and the other.
arranged in such relation with a lever L that the depression of a treadle
attached to the rear end of the latter will force down the end n of the
holder upon the rest I aforesaid. N is a spring arranged to act upon
the holder to keep it out of contact with the rest, except when actuated
as just herein-before described.
The needle to be slotted having previously been provided with its eye
is laid upon the rest I and thrust inward into the groove c", the eye of
the needle being of course vertical, and the degree of the inward thrust
bcing regulated by the adjustable stop J. The holder K is then caused
to grip the needle upon the rest I. This done the cam D is actuated to

page_text: nection with the holder, the moving die and the fixed die, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Oppenheimer, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of October, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
Witness,
G. W. ELLIS,
Patent Office,
68, Fleet Street,
London.
∙DAVID OPPENHEIMER. (L.S.)