IMPROVEMENTS. IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING CARDS FOR COMBING OR CARDING FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS.
IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING CARDS FOR COMBING OR CARDING FIBROUS
MATERIALS." A communication from abroad by Augustus Bisco Prouty,
of Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Sealed the 81st December 1867, and dated the 9th July 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th July 1867.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Con-
sulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY POR MANUFACTURING CARDS FOR COMBING OR
CARDING FIBROUS MATERIALS," a communication, to be as follows:-
The said improvements relate to machinery for forming the wire teeth of
the said cards and for securing the same in the strips of leather, and consist
chiefly in the construction and arrangement of the feeding mechanism; in the
arrangement of the devices for perforating the said strips; in the means for
dividing the wire into portions of suitable length, and imparting the required
form to the same; and in the devices for inserting and securing the teeth in
the proper positions in the leather strips. The said improvements also consist
A

page_text: in the combination and arrangement of devices for imparting the required
movements to the several parts of the machine. The various parts of the
machine are supported by a horizontal bed or table, and the strip of leather
into which the card teeth are to be set is fed from a roll conveniently arranged
between guides under the platform of the bed. The strip travels upward in a
direction at right angles with the plane of the bed and with the line of
motion of the apparatus which inserts the teeth; the end of the said strip
of leather is passed over a roller arranged over the feeding rollers in any con-
venient position above the machine, and is thence led to the place of delivery.
A weight is attached to the strip to drag the same along as fast as it is given
off by the feeding rollers. The feeding mechanism for the strips of leather
consists of a pair of rollers, one of which is fluted to produce the necessary
friction, while the other may have a smooth surface. The fluted roller is
mounted on a horizontal shaft, and at the completion of each row of teeth is
caused by a ratchet motion to revolve a certain distance corresponding to the
distance required between the different rows of teeth on the card. A horizontal
bar is provided to support the strip of leather during the operations of punching
the holes and inserting and bending the teeth. The wire from which the
latter are formed is supplied to the machine from a coil, its end being passed
through a guide block to a pair of shears which divide the said wire into
portions of the proper length, each portion forming a pair of teeth; the said
shears consist of two members, one of which is stationary and the other
moveable. The stationary member is cylindrical in form and its end is made
slightly concave to present a well defined cutting edge. The cylindrical shear
is secured in a block, which also holds a guide, whose side is formed with a
groove or channel, through which the wire is led along the surface of the
cylinder. The cylindrical shear and guide are both secured to the block by
clamp screws, whereby their parts in contact can be changed at pleasure. As
each part of the edge of the cylindrical shear becomes blunted it may be
turned on its axis to present a fresh cutting edge. Instead of a solid cylinder
a hollow tube may be used, whose interior is filled with a solid piece having
on its side a groove or channel to contain the wire. In the former case the
cutting edge is the exterior edge of a solid cylinder, while in the latter it is
the interior edge of a tube. The moveable shear in both cases may be a knife
blade radiating from the end of a rocking or vibrating shaft or bar, whose
motion is derived through suitable connections from a crank on the driving
shaft.
The wire feeding mechanism consists of the following parts:-An upright
sLaft is supported in suitable bearings upon the side of the bed, and carries at

page_text: one end a crank and at the other end a pinion; the latter is worked by a
toothed rack supported between suitable guides, the said rack being connected
by a shackle bar to the crank on the upright shaft, from which it receives a
reciprocating motion; the said crank also imparts a reciprocating movement to
a clamp perforated with a longitudinal hole slightly larger than the wire; the
said clamp is provided with a pin arranged in such a manner that its end can
be caused to clamp the wire firmly as it passes through the said hole; the said
pin is pressed upon the wire during the forward movement of the clamp by a
bar which is forced forward by a spring, and against whose surface the head
of the pin slides. The rocking bar or shaft which carries the moveable
shearing blade carries an arm with a rounded edge. When the said shaft is
depressed at the backward movement of the feeding mechanism this arm
strikes against the face of an upright standard attached to the spring bar,
forcing the latter backward and relieving the head of the clamp pin from its
pressure. The wire is thus firmly grasped while being fed in to the shears,
and is released and grasped at a fresh point at each return stroke of the
feeding mechanism. While the clamp of this mechanism is making this
backward movement the point released by the same is held by another clamp
shaped like a bell crank, and fitted to turn freely upon the rocking shaft; to
the end of this bell crank is secured one end of a coiled spring, whose other
end is made fast to the bed; the said spring forces one arm of the bell crank
against the wire during the back movement of the feeding clamp; but when
the latter moves forward the said spring is raised by a stud on the arm of the
rocking shaft. To ensure the proper action of the clamping device last
described two teeth are omitted from the pinion on the upright shaft, one
at each end of its arc of vibration, so that the rack geared into the said
pinion will move for a certain distance without affecting the said shaft.
The holes in the strip of leather are formed by a pair of awls or needles
placed side by side and projecting from the ends of a bar which is placed in a
bed block; the said bar is driven forward by a cam fixed on the main shaft,
and is returned at each stroke by a spring. Each portion of wire cut to form
a pair of teeth is left immediately in front of a pair of bending slides, which
are thrust forward immediately after the movement of the punching awls, and
cause each portion of wire to be bent in the form of a staple. The wire is
beld by the ends of the said bending slides on one side and by a square edged
bar or "doubler" on the other side, the said bar standing midway between
the ends of the benders which move past the former; the bending slides are
also operated in one direction by a cam on the main shaft, and are returned by
a spring. The portions of wire are thus bent into the form of staples, whose

page_text: points are then inserted into the holes in the leather strips. For this purpose
a third cam is arranged upon the main shaft to operate a bar, around which
the staples are bent. As this operation is being performed the bed block
wherein the punching and bending apparatus is placed, which block is hung
on trunnions, is tipped forward by a cam on the main shaft, so that the ends
of the staples are presented to the holes in the plane of the movement of the
punching awls. After the ends of the staples are inserted into the holes the
bed block is tipped back into its normal position, and the perpendicular bar is
removed from the bend of the staple which is left in the leather. The punches
are arranged below the benders and work in a plane unoccupied by any other
moving part of the machine. By this means, and by the employment of a
vibrating bed block, the derangement of the punches and other parts of the
mechanism is prevented. A lateral as well as a forward movement is given
to the benders to ensure the legs of the wire staples being bent sufficiently to
prevent them assuming a diverging position; this lateral movement is effected
by means of inclined planes formed on the sides of the benders and arranged
to come in contact with pins or stops which cause the said benders to approach
each other during their forward movement. The ends of the wire staples are
pushed through the leather and enter the eyes of a pair of hooks arranged
on the extremity of a vibrating arm. The said arm extends from a vibrating
shaft, and as it is moved downward by a cam upon the main shaft it gives an
angular bend to the teeth; this bending apparatus works in connection with
a stop motion which only acts in case a pair of teeth are improperly inserted.
The arm which carries the pair of hooks is flexible and springs slightly away
from the wire teeth. If a staple has not been properly inserted the said arm
will not spring and the wire will strike against a stud projecting from a latch,
which is provided to hold a clutch box upon the main shaft, and will release
the said clutch. If the staple is properly inserted the flexible arm in springing
will act upon a lever or levers pivoted upon the said arm, and these levers
will depress the ends of the wires so that they will not strike the projecting
stud nor disturb the latch connection.
The apparatus or carriage for sustaining and guiding the strips of leather
while the distance between the rows of teeth is marked is provided with a
toothed rack into whose teeth the ends of two levers engage; these levers work
alternately, each giving motion in an opposite direction to the carriage for
holding and guiding the leather strip; these levers move in the direction of
their length for a sufficient distance to enter and leave the spaces between the
teeth of the rack, the forward movement being produced by springs, and the
back movement by cams on the main shaft. A bar which is operated by a cam

page_text: on the main shaft is arranged between these two levers and carries a cam plate;
the latter is formed with a projection, which as the said plate is turned impinges
against the side of one or other of the two levers which actuate the carriage.
By this means a lateral movement is given to the lever by the forward move-
ment of the bar which carries the said cam, and the carriage will be thereby
moved for the required distance. When the carriage reaches the end of its
travel an adjustable pin, arranged in one of a series of holes, strikes a switch
lever and alters its position, the position of the cam is thus changed, and the
motion of the carriage is reversed. The travel of the said carriage is regulated
by means of the adjustable pin. At the time the switch is moved a stud pro-
jecting from the same presses upon a bar which swings on a central pivot,
causing its end to fall into a notch cut in the top of the lever; the said bar is
arranged to stop one lever as it releases the other. The switch lever at all
times, except at the instant of reversing the movement of the carriage, rides
upon the ends of one or other of two pins; these pins raise the pawl
on the under side of the switch lever, and prevent its acting on the
ratchet of the feed motion of the leather, but as the carriage reaches the end
of its travel in either direction is prevented falling between these two pins by
the plate to which they are attached. By this means the pawl is caused to
engage with the teeth of the ratchet.
The rows of wire teeth in the cards are preferably arranged so that the
teeth are not all in line with each other, and each alternate row is therefore
commenced at a different distance from the edge of the leather. For this
purpose a slight end wise movement is imparted to the mechanism of the
carriage. A disc plate is arranged on the end of a shaft which is connected
with the said mechanism. The said plate is provided with a number of pins
whose ends bear against the surface of an inclined plane attached to the side
of the frame; the length of these pins determines the endwise movement of
the carriage, and their pressure against the face of the inclined plane is
opposed by a spring.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 8th January 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer,
send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Robert Lake, Her special licence that I, the said William
Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said William Robert Lake, 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, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING CARDS FOR COMBING OR CARDING FIBROUS
MATERIALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert
Lake, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly.describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 William Robert Lake, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings
forming a part of this Specification:-
The said improvements relate to machinery for forming the wire teeth of
such cards and for securing the same in the strips of leather, and consists
chiefly in the construction and arrangement of the feeding mechanism, in the
arrangement of the devices for perforating the said strips, in the means for
dividing the wire into portions of suitable length, and imparting the required
form to the same, and in the devices for inserting and securing the teeth in
the proper position in the leather strips.
The said improvements also consist in the combination and arrangement
of devices for imparting the required movements to the several parts of the
machine.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved machine with the parts
shown is their relative positions at the moment when the length of wire
necessary in the formation of a pair of teeth has been severed from the coil,

page_text: and the carriage conveying the leather strip is in position ready for the insertion
of the first tooth.
Figure 2 is a side view of those parts which operate to punch the holes in
the leather strip, and which shape and insert the wire staple which forms the
tooth, the side of the bed block which contains them being removed.
Figure 2* is a side elevation of an arrangement I use for bending to the
proper angle the legs of the wire staples, showing also parts which in com-
bination with other mechanism bereiu-after described serve as a stop motion
in case a pair of teeth have not been properly inserted.
Figures 2º, 2º, and 2d are details explanatory of the operation of the machine
in inserting and bending the teeth.
Figure 3 is a rear view, and Figure 4 a front view of the parts shown in
Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a top view of the bending slides for forming the severed portions
of wire into staples.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the parts for operating the feed rolls which
move up the leather strip.
Figure 7 taken in connection with Figure 6 illustrates the mechanism I
employ is setting the teeth to cause the different rows of the same to present
a twilled appearance.
Figure 8 is a Diagram explanatory of the action of the parts shown in
Figure 7.
Figure 9 represents the back of a portion of the finished card.
Figure 10 is & plan of the lateral feed or rack motion applied to the
apparatus which sustains and guides the strip of leather.
Figure 10 illustrates a modification in the devices for operating the rack.
Figure 11 is a plan of the mechanism for reversing the direction in which
the carriage conveying the leather strip is made to move by the parts shown
in Figure 10.
Figure 11 is a modification of the reversing mechanism.
Figure 12
a plan of a rack-and-pinion motion which I use in operating
the parts shown in Figure 13, which illustrates the apparatus used in feeding
forward the wire, also its guide block and cylindrical shear,
Figure 18 exhibits another arrangement for cutting the wire, which is a
substitute for that shown in Figure 18.
Figure 14 is an elevation of the clamps used in feeding forward the wire
and in holding it during the operation of the shears.
Figure 15 shows the interior of a disc fastened to the main shaft, through
which the driving pulley imparts its motion to the machine.

page_text: Figure 16 is a side view of the driving pulley.
Figure 17 shows the face of the driving pulley and also some details of the
stop motion.
Figure 18 illustrates one of the details of the stop motion.
Figures 19 and 20 are side elevations illustrating the means of adjustment
of the feeding and shearing mechanism relatively to the parts which form and
insert the wire staples.
Figure 21 is a side elevation of devices for feeding up the leather strip and
for changing the extent of such motion or to regulate the distance between
the several rows of teeth, both of these arrangements being more especially
applicable to "sheet card."
Figure 22 is a plan of the above-named device for "sheet card."
Figure 28 is a modification of the feeding-up device.
The various parts of the machine are supported by the bed or table A.
From a convenient position beneath this bed the leather strip into which the
teeth are to be inserted is brought through an opening a, and is made to pass
in a direction at right angles to the plane of the bed and to the line of motion
of the apparatus which inserts the teeth between suitable guides arranged in
any convenient manner; the strip is then passed between two feeding
rollers and between two other guides located above such feeding rollers, and
thence is carried to the place of delivery over a roller o, Figure 2, placed at
any convenient point above the machine, a weight being attached to the strip
to drag it along as fast as it is given off by the feeding rollers.
The feeding mechanism for the strips of leather consists of a pair of
rollers B, D, Figure 2, one of which B is fluted or otherwise roughened on its
surface to produce the necessary friction. This roller is mounted upon a
horizontal shaft d, Figure 1, having at one extremity a ratchet wheel e,
Figures 1 and 6. This wheel is operated by a pawl through the means
herein-after described, and is made to revolve a certain determined distance
after each row of teeth has been inserted in the strip of leather, which distance S
is equal to the intended space between the several rows; the other roller D
may have a smooth surface and serve as a simple friction roller. To obtain
the pressure necessary to produce the required friction upon the leather strip
to feed it forward I use a spring clamp C, shown in Figures 1 and 2. The
effect of this clamp is to bring the surface of the smooth roller D closer to
the fluted roller B, the bearings in which the roller is placed allowing the
proper extent of side play. The pressure exerted by the clamp can be
regulated at pleasure by increasing the effective force of the springs i, i, which
control the clamp C.

page_text: It may now be supposed that the strip of leather has been arranged between
the feeding rollers, and so guided that it shall travel in a perfectly straight
line without deviation to the right or left. In order to furnish the resistance
necessary in the operation of punching the holes and inserting the wires into
the leather, as also to furnish an edge over which the wire teeth may be bent
to give them their proper angle, I cause the leather strip to bear against the
surface of a plate G. This plate is fastened to the stands E at such a height
that its upper edge will come just below the line wherein the teeth are
inserted.
The wire from which the teeth are to be formed is preferably fed to the
machine from a coil of such wire; the end of the same passes through a
guide block to the point where the shears act to cut off each portion of the
proper length to form a pair of teeth. The cutting shears, Figures 1, 13, and
14, consist of two members one of which is stationary and the other movable.
The stationary member k is cylindrical in form, the end of such cylinder being
made slightly concave so as to present a well defined cutting edge. The wire
is led along the surface of the cylinder through a channel m cut in the side of
the guide, Figure 13, whose surface lies next to that of the cylindrical
shear k, both the cylindrical shear and the guide being imbedded in the
block H, Figure 1, and held by suitable set screws so that the relations of the
parts in contact to each other can be changed at pleasure. As any particular
part of the edge of the cylindrical shear becomes blunted it is evident that by
the arrangement above described it can be turned upon its axis far enough
to present a fresh cutting edge until the whole of the same has been brought
into use.
Instead of this particular arrangement of parts the solid cylindrical shear k
may be replaced by the tube, as shown in Figure 13, into the bore of this tube
I fit the solid cylindrical guide furnished with a longitudinal channel m¹ for
the wire. The only difference between the two arrangements is that in the
one case the cutting edge is the exterior edge of a solid cylinder, and in the
other case it is the interior edge of a tube.
For the moving member of the shears in both cases I use a knife bladen,
Figures 1, 13, 13. This blades radiates from the extremity of a rocker
bar O to which a vibrating motion is given by means herein-after explained.
The knife n is secured by setting it in a dovetail-shaped groove cut in the end
of the rocker bar O, and is held by a set screw or other convenient means
which allow of adjustment in the direction of its length. By means of this
adjustment a new edge may be brought into action against the wire as often
as the part in use becomes blunted. The wire having been properly placed

page_text: in position as described is fed past the cutting edges of the shears for such a
distance that when cut from the coil the cut off portion shall be of the proper
length to form a pair of teeth.
The mechanism for accomplishing this operation, is as follow:-An upright
shaft carried in suitable bearings upon the side of the bed is furnished at one
end with a crank u, and upon the other end of the said shaft is placed a pinion t.
This pinion is worked by a toothed rack r which reciprocates between guides
and is actuated by a shackle bar p jointed to the rack at one end, the other end
of the said bar being pivoted to a crank q upon the end of the main shaft I.
The crank u affixed to the upright shaft gives a reciprocating movement to a
clamp K, Figure 13, through which the wire passes. This clamp has a
longitudinal hole through it a little larger than the wire, but at right angles
with this hole is a pin w which abuts against the end of a plug v unless
separated by the wire; the head of the pin w is furnished with a button head.
The clamp K is so constructed that when flat wire is used it is clamped at
the sides and not at the edges as heretofore; pressure upon the head will
obviously cause the end of the pin w to clamp the wire against the end of the
plug v. This needed pressure is obtained during the forward movement of
the clamp in feeding the wire by means of a bar L, Figure 13, which during
that time is being forced forward by a spring a, Figure 14, the button head
of the clamp pin all the time sliding against the surface of such bar. Upon
the same rocker shaft O to which the movable cutter shear n is attached is
keyed an army which vibrates up and down as the shaft O is rocked; there
is also attached to this spring bar L an upright standard z. When the bead
of the arm y whose edge is rounded is depressed it will strike against the face
of the upright standard z attached to the spring bar L, forcing it backward and
will relieve the head of the clamp pin w from the pressure. This action
occurs however only during the backward movement of the feeding mechanism,
and the devices are arranged for grasping the wire firmly while it is being fed
forward, and for relieving it from the grasp of the clamp when the latter is
returning to take a fresh hold. It is necessary that the wire being used
should be held fast at all times, accordingly while the clamp K is returning
preparatory to its forward
or feeding-in movement another clamp K¹,
Figures 1 and 14, comes into action to hold the wire at the point at which it
was left. This latter clamp consists of a bell crank fitted to turn freely upon
the rocker shaft O, to which the arm y is keyed. Upon the end of the
horizontal arm 11 of this bell crank is secured the end of the coiled spring x,
whose other end is made fast to some fixed part of the bed, and the tendency
of which is to cause the face of the perpendicular arm 1 of the bell crank to

page_text: bear against the wire. During the forward or feeding in movement of the
clamp K the strain of the spring a is taken off by means of a stud pin 2,
which projects from the side of the arm y. During the forward movement
of the clamp K this stud pin partakes of the upward movement of the arm y
to which it is attached, and being of sufficient length for the purpose raises
the horizontal arm 1 of the bell-crank clamp. The face of the perpendicular
arm 1 which would otherwise bear against the wire is thus moved away from
it; when the clamp K commences to return to grasp another portion of the
wire this clamp K¹ comes again into action. The manner in which the
spring bar L is hung is clearly shown in Figure 19. At the end of the said
spring bar an arm descends through a recess cut in the table M, Figure 1,
into the bed N beneath the same; at the end of each arm pins which form
the pivots extend horizontally and fit into boles drilled in the sides of the
recess; the length of this recess is such as to allow sufficient motion length-
wise to the spring bar to free the pins from the holes when the bar is to be
removed. This arrangement is convenient, but devices for causing the bar to
move laterally instead of rocking can be employed. referred; to make sure
that the wire which has been fed forward shall be clamped by the means last
described before the feeding clamp cominences its retreating movement, and
also that the feeding clamp shall gripe a fresh portion of the wire before its
advancing movement commences, and at the instant when the gripe of the
holding clamp K' is relaxed two teeth are omitted from the pinion t, Figure 12,
attached to the end of the shaft which operates the feeding mechanism;
one tooth being wanting at each end of its are of vibration the rack r whose
teeth engage with such pinion will move for that distance without giving
motion to the pinion; this gives time for the crank q which operates the rack,
the rocker shaft, and its appendages described to bring the holding clamp K¹
into action before the retreating movement of the feeding clamp k commences,
and to relax the gripe of the holding clamp and put into action the feeding
clamp before the feeding in of the wire commences. A portion of wire of the
required length having been brought forward the next operation is to cut
such length from the coil, which is accomplished by means of the shears
already described. The movable cutter n is vibrated by the rocker shaft O,
and its action is simultaneous with the bringing of the wire to its position.
The next operation of the machine is to punch the holes for the card teeth
in the leather, and this is followed by the operation of bending the wire into
the form of a staple and inserting it into the holes prepared in the leather
strip.
The mechanism required to effect these objects is represented in Figures 2,

page_text: 3, 4, and 5, also in perspective in Figure 1. The holes are made with two
awls or needles projecting from the end of a sliding bar 8, Figures 2 and 4,
placed parallel with each other, and at a distance apart equal to the required
distance between two teeth in the same row. This slide is thrust forward by
a cam 10 upon the main shaft I, as seen in Figure 2; the projecting part of
the sliding bar 8 is not formed from the same piece with the remainder, but
is joined to it in such a manner as to allow of adjustment in the direction of
its length in order that the reach of the punching awls may be varied. To
return the slide as fast as it is free from the working face of the cam
as the latter revolves a spring 13 is used, one end of which is attached
to a pin 14 in the slide while the other is fastened to the bed block P,
in which the slide moves. The portion of wire which has been cut off
to form a pair of teeth is seized at its central point between the side of
an upright rectangular bar 16, and the end of a horizontal bar 17. The end
of the latter where the wire is received is notched for this purpose, and is
also made thin enough to enter a slit in the lower end of the upright
rectangular bar in order that the wire may be more firmly held. The
pressure required thus to hold the said wire is derived from a spring 18
which is connected at one end with a head block 25, and holding the upright
bar draws forward the horizontal bar to which the other end of the spring
is attached. The wire being thus firmly held against the side of the upright
square edged bar 16 is next to be bent into the form of a staple; this
operation is effected by the forward thrust of a pair of bending arms 19,
Figures 1, 2, and 5; these arms are provided with the part 36, which is
attached to the part 19 by means of clamp screws 38 and 39, which allow
the portion 36 to be conveniently adjusted both vertically and laterally. By
this means these bending instruments upon which the accurate formation of
the staple greatly depends is capable of being accomodated as required to
varying conditions.
The operations of bending the portions of wire into the form of a staple
which immediately follows the operation of the punching awls, is obtained by
the action of a cam 21 which is fixed upon the main shaft, and presses
against the end of the slide 20, Figures 3 and 4, supported by the bed
block P; to this slide the bending arms are fastened, as shown in Figures 1,
2, and 3. The return movement is obtained by the use of the spring 22,
one end of which is fastened to the supporting slide 20, and the other to the
bed block P. The staple being thus formed the next operation is to insert
its two ends into the holes previously punched in the leather. For this
purpose a cam 24 on the main shaft pushes forward the slide 23, whereby

page_text: both the staple and the perpendicular bar 16 around which such staple is
bent are made to advance; while this is being done the whole bed block P,
wherein the punching and bending apparatus is located, and which is hung
on trunnions is made to tip by the action of a cam 31, Figure 1, on the main
shaft I working against the under face of the lever 28 attached to the bed
block P, so that the ends of the staple by this movement of the said block
are presented to the holes upon a plane identical with that in which the
punching awls move when making the punctures. So soon as the ends of
the staples have passed through the holes in the leather the bending arms 19
commence their retreating movement, and a binder 42, Figures 3 and 5,
which connects the two slides comes in contact with a stop 43 attached to
the horizontal bar 17, causing it to partake of such retreating motion, and
releasing the wire from its pressure; at the same time the cam 31 which
causes the lever 28 to tip the bed block has revolved so far as to allow a
spring 34 to return the said block to its first position. By this movement
of the bed block the end of the perpendicular bar around which the staple
was formed is lifted out of the bend and leaves the staple inserted in the
leather; the various devices which so co-operate to form and insert the
staple are then returned by the aid of springs to their proper positions for
acting upon another advancing portion of wire. A great defect existing in
other machines of this class is that the punches or awls for making the holes
in the leather for the teeth are liable to injury by coming in conflict with
some of the other moving parts.
In my improved machine to avoid this frequent cause of derangement the
punches are located underneath the benders 19, and are arranged to move in
a plane which during their movement cannot be occupied by any other
moving member of the machine, while by means of the vibrating bed block
the proper presentation of the teeth to the holes is accomplished notwith-
standing the arrangement of the apparatus for carrying forward the staple
above the plane in which the punches travel. The chord of the arc of
vibration of the bed block must be equal to the difference between the height
of the plane in which the punches travel and that occupied by the staple
when the same is first bent; and the extent to which the bed block is tipped
is determined by a stud pin or stop 32, the height of which can be adjusted
at pleasure so as to limit the descent of the lever 28 operating the bed block,
whereby the said block will be more or less under the influence of the
lifting cam 31 as described. In order that the natural tendency of the wire
to spring back for a certain distance after the staple bas been formed and
thus leave the legs of the staple diverging from rather than parallel with

page_text: each other I bend them during the formation of the staple so much converging
as to just compensate for such reactionary tendency; the legs are thus
caused when completed to be parallel with each other. Accordingly a
lateral as well as a forward movement is given to the benders 19; this
lateral movement is accomplished by means of inclined planes 34, Figures 2
and 5 formed upon the sides of the benders respectively. These inclined
planes by coming into contact with the ends of pins or stops 35, which may
be set at pleasure, will cause the benders to approach each other during their
forward movement. These pins or stops are connected by a yoke 37 so
arranged that both will be operated simultaneously by adjusting one of them.
After a pair of teeth has been inserted in the leather the next operation is
to give them an angular bend. By examining the back of a finished card
it will be seen that the bend in the wire is made at a distance from the back
of the staple greater than the thickness of the leather, so that the angle will
be a little above its surface, as shown in Figure 2d. When the holding
bars 16 and 17 are withdrawn the wire is left in the position shown in
Figure 2b, the head of the staple a little in the rear of the back of the
leather, and the legs of the staple just above the upper edge of the plate G,
and so far through the leather as to enter the eyes of a pair of hooks or
benders 41, Figure 2, which are placed upon the extremity of and at right
angles with a vibrating arm 42*, the centre of whose motion lies in the
axis of a rocker shaft Q, to which it is fastened. A downward movement
of the benders 41 in the direction of the arrow will therefore bend the wire
over the edge of the plate G to the required angle, as seen in Figure 2°.
The back or head of the staple however still remains in its position away
from the back of the leather, therefore to complete the operation of setting
the teeth, it is necessary that they should be pushed inward until they bear
against the leather. This operation is accomplished by the head of the
punching apparatus coming in contact with the staple, and foreing it into
its place while punching the holes for a succeeding pair of teeth. The
shaft Q, Figure 1, derives an appropriate rocking motion from the arm 43,
which is connected by the rod 44 with the cam 45 upon the main shaft I.
This cam by its revolution will thrust forward the rod 44, thus depressing
the bending apparatus. By the action of a spring 46, one end of which is
fastened to the bed and the other to the arm 43, the latter is drawn
backward, thus bringing all parts just mentioned to their first position. The
hub or boss of the arm 43 is provided with a set screw whereby it may
be so fastened to the shaft as to cause the eyes of the hooks 41 to be
presented properly to the teeth. The peculiarity of this bending apparatus

page_text: consists principally in its arrangement to work in connection with a stop
motion, which is brought into action when the insertion of a pair of teeth
has been improperly performed. The arm 42*, Figure 2, which carries
the books 41 above mentioned is flexible and will by the resistance which
the teeth make in bending be slightly sprung upward. If a staple has not
been properly inserted the arm in question will not be so sprung, and in
consequence two wires 63 which extend downward at right angles or nearly
so with the flexible arm, and whose extremities are bent outward at a right
angle with the main portion of their length, will strike against a projecting
stud pin 65, upon the latch gear 52, 53, Figure 1. This latch gear keeps
closed a clutch box connecting the driving pulley with the driving shaft, and
tripping the same by throwing outward the arm 52 cause the lever 53 to fall
out of the notch in the arm 52 which supports it. By this means a spring is
released and pulls open the clutch box. If the staple has been inserted properly
the movement of the spring arm in bending will act upon a lever or levers 62,
Figure 2, pivoted upon a fulcrum pin 60, which is attached to such flexible
arm, and these levers bearing against the ends of the wires 63 before
mentioned will depress them so low that the portion of the said lever which
is bent at right angles will not strike the projecting stud pin 65, upon the
latch gear, and consequently will not disturb the clutch connection. The
upper ends of the wires 63 are kept constantly bearing against the under
side of the levers 62 by means of the springs 64.
The next function performed by the machine after a pair of teeth have been
fixed in the strip of leather and bent as described, is to move the strip of
leather laterally for the distance which will give the space between the last
and the next pair of teeth. The apparatus which sustains and guides the
strip of leather is mounted upon a sliding carriage, and is furnished with a
toothed rack V, Figure 10, upon one side with the teeth of which the ends
of two levers 80, 81, are fitted to engage. One of these levers gives motion
to the carriage which sustains and guides the leather in one direction, and
the other lever moves the carriage in the opposite direction. When one of
the levers is in action the other is at rest, and as the action of one ceases the
other commences. These levers are capable of a movement in the direction
of their length for such a distance as will allow them to enter the spaces
between the teeth of the rack V and upon the return movement will withdraw
them therefrom. The forward movement of the levers is effected by the
tension of springs 82 and 83, and its backward movement by the action of
cams 84 and 85, Figure 1, upon the main shaft I.
When the forward move-
ment of either lever is to be suspended it is held back against the strain of

page_text: the spring by a lock hereafter described; between these two levers is a bar
86 which derives a reciprocating movement from a cam 88 on the main
shaft. The sides of this bar at the forward end converge so as to form
inclined planes. The inner sides of the levers 80 and 81 are also provided
with inclined planes so arranged that the forward movement of the bar 86
will cause the surface of one of the inclined planes at its end to impinge
against the surface of the inclined plane of the lever 80 or 81, which is in the
path of the said bar. The lever 81 is shown engaged with the teeth of the
rack which operates the carriage, and a lateral movement being thus given
to such lever the rack will move the carriage the proper distance to present a
fresh portion of the strip of leather which it carries to receive a tooth. At the
same time the other lever 80 which moves the carriage by similar means in the
opposite direction is held back by means of the locking bar 98 hereafter again
referred to. The end of the lever is also held outward by the pin 79 fixed
upon a sliding bar 92, so that the surface of the inclined plane which it carries
is out of the range of movement of the inclined plane upon the sliding bar 86
which otherwise would impinge against it. A peculiarly formed bar 103,
Figures 1, 10, and 11, is pivoted at f to the bar 86, this bar acts as a
switch bar to change the direction of the motion of the carriage; being
attached to the bar 86 the said carriage necessarily partakes of the movement
of the former. The switch bar 103 works backward and forward between
pins 97, set on either side of it in the transverse sliding bar 92. Projecting
forward from such sliding bar is a pin g which overlaps the top surface of
the rack V. Underneath the bar 103 is a disc plate 100 arranged to vibrate
on a central axis; from this plate projects a tail piece 101, which as shewn
in Figure 11 overlaps a short transverse bar 98 which is arranged to rock
slightly on its central point. The bar 98 holds back from this engagement
with the rack first one and then the other of the levers 80 and 81. The
movement of the rack in either direction when the same is near the end of
its path of travel imparts a slight movement in the same direction to the bar
98 whenever one of two pins which may be set at pleasure in holes formed in
the rack V, as shown in Figure 11, strike against the overlapping pin 9. Such
movement of the bar 98 allows that one of the levers 80 or 81, which is
held away from the range of travel of the inclined planes upon the end of the
bar 86, to come into range again. Immediately afterward in consequence of
the same movement of the bar 98, the switch bar 103 is pushed from a
supporting stud set on the face of the disc plate upon which it at other times
rides; and at the next forward movement of the switch bar 103 a shoulder
102 on the said bar is allowed to strike a pin set near the periphery of the disc

page_text: plate 100, and turning the plate upon its axis cause the tail piece 101 to be
shifted as shown in dotted lines, Figure 11. The effect of so changing the
position of the said tail piece is to slightly depress the opposite end of the
rocking bar 98. The lever 80 or 81, which was before locked, is now released,
and that one which was before free is now blocked by the bar. The carriage
will then travel in the opposite direction until its movement is reversed by
means similar to those just described. The mechanism whereby the strip of
leather is fed along to receive the successive rows of teeth is shown at Figures 6
and 7. As has already been implied the switch bar 103 rides at all times
upon the end of a supporting pin except at the instant when the direction
of movement of the carriage is to be changed. Simultaneously with
making the adjustment for giving a new direction to the movement of the
carriage it is necessary to feed along the leather for a distance sufficient
to allow of the insertion of another row of teeth. The falling of the end of
the arm 103 in connection with the mechanism for changing the direction of
the movement of the carriage permits a pawl 104, Figure 6, to engage with
the teeth of the ratchet wheel 105, so that the next forward movement of the
bar 86 will give movement to the feeding rollers. By the modification of
parts illustrated in Figure 10° the extent of the endwise movement of the
carriage may be regulated as desired to vary the distance between the
rows of teeth. The bar V¹ supports the rack V, but in such a manner as to
permit an independent movement of the latter. The said bar is connected to
the lever Vs by a pin V³, which pin is made adjustable in the slot V4 in the
arm V nearer to or farther from the fulcrum Vs of the said lever, and the
relative motion of the rack and bar is varied accordingly. The arrangement
shown in Figure 11° is a modification of the reversing device Figure 11. The
piece 100 is pivoted to the arm 103 and acts upon the studs in the disc 100
to change the position of the tail piece 101.
In the manufacture of "sheet card" it will be impracticable to cause the
leather to be moved laterally while the mechanism for punching the boles,
inserting the wire, and bending them into the proper form remains fixed. It
will be advisable therefore in manufacturing such description of card to give
to the mechanism for inserting and setting the teeth a lateral movement while
the leather remains fixed. The means for accomplishing this purpose need
not be different in principle from those already described for giving movement
to the carriage which carries the leather.
The arrangement of devices for feeding along the sheet are shown at
Figures 21 and 22. The sheet of leather is held by means of the jaws 133
and 134, which rest against the surface of inclined posts 135; chains or
B

page_text: belts 137 passing over pulleys as shown are wound upon a drum 138, and the
weight of the jaws and sheet of leather may be counterbalanced by a weight
139 which pulls the wheel 140 keyed to the drum shaft in opposition to the
resistance of the jaws. A pawl 144 and ratchet 141 give an intermittent
motion at proper times to the stud 142 to which the ratchet wheel is affixed,
and a belt or chain wound upon the drum 143 upon such shaft, and leading
from the drum 145, causes the sheet of cards to be pulled upward. By changing
the drums, and by varying the size of the drum upon the stud 142, the distance
to which the sheet of leather shall travel at each movement of the ratchet
wheel can be readily determined, and by changing the size of the drum upon
the ratchet hub such distance of movement of the sheet of leather can be
varied to produce wider or narrower spaces between the rows of teeth.
When manufacturing narrow strips or bands of card I prefer to adopt the
modification of parts shown in Figure 23. The leather band passes over the
pulleys 146, and the portion of the said band between the said pulley carries
the roller weight 147, which being supported solely by the band allows the
latter to travel forward freely in the direction of the arrows, and at the same
time subjects it to the proper tension. The clamp 138 or other suitable
means may be employed to hold the band or strip at the rear of the
pulleys as the portion between the same is drawn forward by the feeding
mechanism.
It is desirable to cause the several rows of teeth to be so set as to present
a twilled appearance as shewn in Figure 9, and in my improved machine this
is done by causing the first tooth from the edge of each row to be inserted in
the strip of leather at a point not in the same straight line with the first tooth
of the preceeding row, and as all the succeeding teeth are separated by uniform
distances it follows that each tooth of any one row will stand out of line
with the corresponding tooth in the previous row. Thus, supposing one row
to have been inserted, the first tooth of the second row will be set a little
further from the edge than the first tooth of the preceeding row, and the first
tooth of the third row will be set still further from the edge than the first
tooth of the second row. The first tooth of the fourth row may then be set
so as to be in line with the first tooth of the first row, and so on with the first
tooth of every third row; this result is obtained by giving to the whole
machinery for setting the teeth which rides upon its carriage a slight endwise
movement. A disc plate 129, Figures 1 and 7, upon the end of a shaft which
is connected with the carriage machinery is furnished with a number of pins
130, the ends of which bear in succession at different points upon the surface
of an inclined plane, Figure 8, affixed to the side of the frame. Upon the

page_text: surface of this inclined plane the pins successively ascend as the disc plate
revolves, as it is made to do for a prescribed distance before the commencement
of a change of movement in the direction of the carriage, consequently the
point of bearing of a pin upon the surface of such plane determines the extent
of the endwise movement of the carriage, all of the pins being of the same
length, and one only at a time bearing upon the surface of the plane as such
plate revolves. It is obvious therefore that the carriage in moving will not
start from the same point twice successively, and as the extent of its movement
is uniform the teeth of the different rows must be set as shown in Figure 9
The pressure of these pins against the face of the inclined plane is opposed by
a spring, and as the shaft to which such disc plate and pins are attached
rotates for a certain distance at each change in the direction of movement o
the carriage, the result above described is very easily obtained.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be conveniently an
advantageously carried into practice, I claim,―
First, the cylindrical shear k or equivalent device arranged to operate i
combination with a vibrating shear or like cutting instrument and guide
substantially as described.
Second, the spring clamp K, holding clamp K¹, rocker arm 1', and standard
or other equivalent devices, combined and operating substantially as and fo
the purposes set forth.
Third, the crank u operating with an intermittant motion for the purpose
and substantially as set forth.
Fourth, constructing the clamps K, K', substantially in the manner set
forth.
Fifth, the rocking bed block P or equivalent device arranged in combination
with punching, inserting, and bending instruments, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
Sixth, the bow 37 for adjusting the bending screws 35 constructed and
arranged substantially as set forth.
Seventh, the construction of the needle holder, substantially as set forth.
Eightb, combining the mechanism for giving the hooked bend to the teeth
with suitable mechanism for disconnecting the driving shaft from the source of
motion, substantially as described.
Ninth, the combination of the levers 80, 81, the reciprocating inclined planes
upon the bar 86 and rack V, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Tenth, the combination of the rack V, sliding bar 92, and the levers 80, 81,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.

page_text: Eleventh, the rack V and devices for regulating the motion of the carriage,
combined and operating substantially as set forth.
Twelfth, the combination of the levers 80, 81, with the rocking bar 98,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Thirteenth, the mechanism for changing automatically the direction of
movement of the carriage which carries the leather, operating substantially in
the manner described.
Fourteenth, combining the mechanism which changes the direction of move-
ment of the carriage with suitable pawl and ratchet mechanism for feeding
the strip of leather onward to receive a fresh row of teeth, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Witness,
THOS. N. PALMER,
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
8, Southampton Buildings,
W.C.