IMPROVEMENTS IN NAIL MACHINES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Imray, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN NAIL
MACHINES." A communication from abroad by John Coyne, of Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Imray at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th December 1881.
JOHN IMRAY of No. 28 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN NAIL MACHINES." [A communication from abroad by John
Coyne of Pittsburg Pennsylvania, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to the improvement of that class of nail cutting machines
commonly known to the trade as the "Reed" or "American" machine in which
the heading lever is actuated by the cutting lever; and it consists in certain
modifications of several parts of the machine so as to remedy certain defects in its
construction and operation.
For greater clearness the present construction of various parts and their defects
will be described, and the improved construction proposed to remedy these defects,
with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Figures 1 and 2, are perspective views of the improved machine. Figure 3 is a
view of the three operative levers, illustrating their relative positions in the
machine. Figure 4 is a view of the transverse arm of the gripping lever, partly in
section to show the construction of one of the centre bushings and its lubricating
parts. Figure 5 is a side view of the heading lever showing the attachment of tho
heading die. Figure 6 is a side view illustrating the application, to the improved
machine, of a self-feeder actuating attachment. Figure 7 is a sectional view
showing the connection of the pitman to the crank pin of the long arm of the
cutting lever. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the attachment of the nail
selector. Figures 9 and 10 are sectional views of the friction plates and their
sockets. Figure 11 is a vertical longitudinal sectional diagram of the machine, on
the line Fig. 2 illustrating the arrangement of the parts. Figure 12 is a
plan diagram. Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.
The heading lever has usually the form of a long arch turning on an inwardly
projecting centre or journal at each end at considerable distance apart. Tho

page_text: heading die is placed at the middle of the arch and power is communicated to the
heading lever from the short arm of the cutting lever working vertically through a
link against a projecting lug or horn on the back of the heading lever. This
construction is defective as the strain of the work of heading the nail, coming ou
the heading lever at the middle of its long arch, causes it to spring while upsetting
the head, and thus prevents its delivering the full strength of its blow at the
instant it strikes the nail blank; and also produces strain on all parts of the lever
and its bearing, which in time causes breakage.
Another defect is, that the power to operato the heading lever is applied to it
against a long horn or projection extending upwards and backwards from it, over
the short arm of the cutting lever, by means of a link extending up from the
cutting lever and bearing against the said horn. The distance between the end of
the heading die and the point on the projection to which the power is applied is
thus comparatively great, and, as the heading lever in its movement, describes the
are of a circle, the power is applied tangentially. The effect of the great distance
between the end of the heading die and the point where the power is applied thus
tangentially, causes another springing of the heading lever, which aids in producing
the bad effects, mentioned and also frequently causes the breaking off of the horn
or projection to which the power is applied.
Referring to the Drawing of the improved machine, 1 represents the bod, and 2
the leading lever which has a short transverse arm 3 having bushing chambers 4 in
each end, in which are placed tho centres 5 upon which it rocks. These centros 5
are placed inside the bed at a very small distance apart so that there can be little
or no spring in tho casting. The centres 5 of the heading lever are situated almost
directly below the gripping dies, and directly under that side of the dies against
which the head of the nail is upset. The heading die 6 is secured in a V-shaped
recess 7 in the heading lever by means of a U-strap and set-scrow 8, and the power
is applied to the lever from the short arm 9 of the cutting lever 10, by means of
the toggle 11 working in bushed sockets 12. The toggle 11 bears against the lever
in a vertical plane, which if continued would bisect the centre of the heading die 6.
The toggle 11 is a single toggle, being a short arm placed between the extremity of
the short arm of the cutting lever, and the outward extremity of the heading lever,,
and connected by ball and socket joint to each. When the machine is not
operating to head a nail, and the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the
position of the toggle arm 11, is (as shown in Fig. 1) inclining downwards and
outwards to the cutting lever. As the forward extremity or short arm of the
cutting lever rises, its extremity moves in a circular arc, carrying with it one end of
the toggle arm 11, and so bringing the short toggle arm 11 to a horizontal position
in line with the axis of the heading lever. This communicates the necessary
movement to the heading lever with decreasing rapidity and increasing force. The
movement of the toggle is such as to cause the heading die to deliver a nearly
direct blow or thrust on the blank, and as during the forward motion the toggle
approaches a horizontal position the power of the heading lever increases and the
force changes from a blow to a crushing or compressive strain, and effects not only
the simple upsetting, but also the compacting or compression of the end of the
blank thus producing an exceedingly strong, compact and polished head. The blow
is also easier on the gripping dies, being as it were cushioned by the movement of
the die decreasing in velocity and increasing in power, as it approaches the end
of its stroke, and completes the up-setting and compression of the head. Also the
power being applied directly to the lever behind aud in line with the end of the
heading dic, no spring of the lever occurs, and there is no danger of breakage.
In machines as they are usually constructed, the gripping lever is straight,
extending across the bed of the machine the arch of the heading lever passing over
it, whilst it passes under tho cutting lever, which is arched upwards at the right
side of the cutting dies to permit its passage. Instead of this arrangement the
gripping lever is formed with a diagonal arch extending both upwards and back-
wards so as to permit the placing of the short journallod heading lever 2, in tho

page_text: middle of the bed under the gripping dies to have a direct and unyielding action on
the blank. This construction also stiffens and strengthens the gripping lever and
prevents the springing or shrinking under the blow of the heading die. Moreover
the construction is more compact and economical permitting the levers to be placed
nearer together, and thus saving room and reducing the necessary size and weight
of the frame so that a greater number of machines can be placed in a given
space.
In the existing machines the outer end of the heading lever is journalled outside
of the bed-plate. The stationary tools of the machine are mounted in a heavy solid
stationary heud 46 on the bed plate, and the heading lever is parallel thereto, and
when at the limit of its stroke comes close to it. The result of this is that if a
piece of scrap or other hard substance falls down between the stationary head and
the heading lever the latter is almost invariably broken owing to the small space
between these parts. In the improved machine the heading lever being arrangod
and journalled within the bed and under the gripping dies this danger is completely
obviated.
To prevent the nails as they fall from the dies from getting between the end of
the transverse arm of the heading lever and the bed-plate 1 the bed-plate is
chambered out as at 28 and the short end of the transverso arm 3 enters it so that
it acts as a shield and closes the vertical space between the two parts against a
falling nail which if it should get in might wedge the heading lever and by
preventing its withdrawal cause the heading dic to be struck by the moving
knife.
A lug 14 Figs. 3 and 11 formed on the back side of the transverse arm 3 of
the heading lever 2 serves the double purpose of affording a bearing for tho
spring 15 which pressing down on the lug retracts the lever, and of striking tho
pin 16, which communicates a vibration to the nail assorter. The spring 15 is
attached to the bed at 90 (Fig. 12) directly under the right band centre 5 of the
cutting lever.
The cutting lever 10 is formed with a nearly regular transverse arch between
its centres 5, instead of the existing irregular arch at the right side of the moving
knife so that its rigidity is increased and the lever is shortened, and a saving of
material is effected.
The power to operate the cutting lever and through its short arm 9 the heading
lever is communicated from the power shaft 20 to the long arm of the cutting
lever 17, by means of the crank pin 13 and pitman 19, attached to the wrist 18
on the long arm 17 of the cutting lever. In existing machines the journal brasses
are flush with the faces of the pitman, so that the entiro side of the pitman brass
chambers 21 bear against the face of the crank disc 22 and lever 17 producing
great friction, wear and loss of power. According to the improved construction the
brasses 23 have a flange 24 at one end, and the chamber 21 has a recess 25 at its
inner end, of such depth relatively to the thickness of the flange 24 that the brass
projects slightly from its chamber. The brass is made adjustable in the chamber
by a set screw 26 working through the side of the chamber against a steel strip or
liner 27. Thus the brass 23 being the only part of the pitman that bears against
the crank disc 22 or the lever 17 the friction is reduced to a minimum.
In existing machines the thrust of the link which communicates the power from
the cutting lever to the heading lever is vertical while the movement of the
heading lever is in the 'arc of a circle. The result is that the bushing of the right
hand centre of the cutting lever is worn oblong which tends to throw the cutting
lever out of line destroys the accuracy of the bearing of the right hand centre in
its bushing produces shaky motion and so impairs the accuracy of the machine and
increases the wear. According to the improved construction the force of the toggle
is nearly in a line with the right hand centre of the cutting lover instead of at right
angles thereto and this causes an even wear of the bushing and obviates tho
defects mentioned. The link being usually not bushed rapid wear is the result.
But by providing the sockets 12 of the toggle 11 with bushings of suitable

page_text: material (preferably phosphor-bronze) which can be replaced when worn the
wearing and consequent destruction of the lever castings are avoided and the
friction of the machine is reduced.
Each lever is provided with female conical centre bushings 29 in which the
conical centres 5 have their bearing. In existing machines these bearings are
lubricated by an oil hole bored transversely through the side of the lever and
bushing into the centre. But owing to the close contact of the centre with its
bush little if any of the oil gets in and the lubrication is very imperfect. In a
short time the wear resulting from the excessive friction loosens the bush and
permits it to turn in its chamber and thereby closes the oil hole and shuts off the
supply of oil. To avoid this the bushing chamber 30 is made deeper than the
bushing 29 and the bushing has several (preferably three) holes 31 extending
longitudinally from its smaller or inner end to and opening into the conical seat 32.
An oil hole 33 is also made through the lever from the outside to and opening
into the inner end of the bushing chamber 4. Thus when the bushing 29 is inserted
into the chamber 4 an oil chamber 34 is formed between the inner ends of the
bushing and its chamber which oil chamber is supplied through the oil hole 33.
The oil passes from the oil chamber 34 through the holes 31 to the conical end of
the centre 5 and lubricates it perfectly thereby preventing friction heating and
wear, As the bearing of the centre 5 is horizontal the centre hole 29* would not
suffice to furnish oil for lubrication especially as the conical extremity of the
centre 5 has very little motion. To overcome this difficulty three ports 31 are
made to one side of the centre of the bushing through which the oil enters from
the oil space 34 behind the bushing which is left by the taper of the conical
bushing preventing its passing down to the bottom of the recess made to receive it.
The central hole 29* is therefore not designed to serve as an oil port but is tapped
with a screw thread for the purpose of inserting a tool with a screw on its
extremity to extract the bushing when it is desired to remove it.
In existing machines having the fly or balance wheel fixed outside of the left
hand upright 36 the weight of this wheel added to the pull of the belt which is
usually downwards tends to wear down the journal next to the fly wheel faster
than the opposito one. This deviation of the shaft 20 from level produces heating
of the crank pin 13 and renders necessary so much play in the bearings 23 as to
greatly impair the efficiency of the machine. To overcome these difficulties the fly-
wheel 35 is mounted inside the support 30 the hind arm of the gripping lever
being more to the middle of the shaft 20 and in direct line with the work. By
this arrangement the shaft continues level and the momentum of the wheel is
applied directly to the work instead of at one side of it.
In existing machines the gripping lever is retracted or caused to follow its
operative cain by means of a spiral or leaf spring which exerts a very considerable
pressure on the cam during the time of the gripping of the nail and this load
involves considerable waste of power and unnecessary friction. As the spring does
not retract the lever so promptly as the cam leaves it there results a pounding of
the gripping lever on the cam and a vibration which in time crystallizes the iron
and causes fracture. These difficulties aro overcome in the improved machine by
yoking the rear arm 37 of the gripping lover to the cam 38 as shewn in Fig 9 so
that the gripping lever after being brought into action by its cam and retained in
that position while the nail blank is being held by the grippers is withdrawn by a
sudden and positive motion yet without jar at the moment that the moveable
cutter has severed the blank. The yoke 39 is a band sufficiently rigid to secure
the proper definite action of the gripping lever although absolute rigidity is not
necessary. The shape of this cam yoke is an irregular ellipsoidal curve of such
contour that the cam begins to bear against the yoke at the moment (shown in
Fig 9) when the regularly curved portion of the cam face (which is furthest from
the centre of motion) ceases to bear against the friction plate and immediately
withdraws the gripping lever. This contact of the cam yoke and cam continues
drawing back the lever with a steady but rapid motion until the cam again

page_text: commences to bear against the friction plate to raise the lever and it works whether
the machine is moved in the one direction or the other. The friction plate 40
which is embraced by the cam yoke 39 and bears on the cam 38 is of novel con-
struction. It is placed in a slot or socket 41 which being longer than it permits
of its adjustment by means of a set screw 42 and liners 43. This enables it to be
moved forwards or backwards in the slot 41 according as it may have to receive
the stroke of the cain 38 sooner or later. It may if desired be made in two pieces
as shewn at 44 Fig 10 and then by inserting a liner 43 between the two pieces it
can be caused to bear longer on the cam. The fore onds 45 of the yoke 39 are
turned over at right angles on the upper part of the friction plate for the purpose
of taking up any play that may exist between the yoke and the cam as sliewn in
Fig. 9.
The stationary head or tool box in existing machines has the sides in which the
set screws are fitted very frequently broken off. This is owing to a weakness in
the casting caused by this being the last part of the casting to cool. To secure the
rapid cooling of the stationary head 46 in the improved machino a large core is
introduced in this part forming a large cavity 30 (Fig 11) in the casting. This
reduces the amount of metal and at the same time obtains greater tenacity solidity
and strength in this part.
In existing machines various caps and other contrivances have been used to
advance the centres of the levers but these devices are cumbersome and inconvenient
necessitating bolts and packing to keep them in position. To overcome this
difficulty a cap 47 is provided held to the bed-plate with a collar bolt 48 and with
a set screw 49 to advance the centre. When the centre is to be withdrawn from
the machine it is only necessary to slack the collar bolt and the cap will swing
completely out of the way.
The nipper cam shaft 84 is provided with duplicate friction plates 83 (Fig 11)
similar to the friction plates 44 Fig 10. These friction plates 83 are placed in the
end of the nipper rock shaft 84 and bear against the cam 82. These parts operato
in the usual way.
In the existing machines a small set screw is inserted in the fore-head of the
cutting lever opposite to the centre of the guage slot for the purpose of limiting
the forward advance of the spring gauge or carrier guide which regulates the feed
of the machine. This set screw is an obstruction requiring the moving knife screw
to be placed over the corner of the knife instead of over its centre. According to
the improved construction shown in Fig 6 the spring gauge 50 is pivotted in
the gauge slot 51 by a screw clamp 52 in the cross head 53. The point 54 of the
gaugo 50 screws just under the edge of the knife 55 which is always fed or set to
the gauge. The gauge is held forward by the spring 56 which is inserted in the
slot 51 behind it. The backward movement of the gauge is limited by the screw 57
and its forward movement by the screw 58 which is so arranged that the point 54
of the gauge is flush with the front side of the knife 55. The gauge may be
adjusted vertically in the slot by means of the screw clamp 52. It is preferred to
use a lock nut on the screw 58 to guard against accidental movement. In the use
of the machine the nail plate 59 is fed against the point of the spring gauge as
shown in Fig. 6 and this causes the gauge to be pressed back until it comes in
contact with the screw 57 (which is properly adjusted to secure the required width
of nail) and then the moving knife 55 descends and makes its cut. The cut blank
is held by the spring gauge against the tools in the stationary head 46 (at the
point 60 in Fig. 11) as the knife 55 pushes it down into the gripping dies and for
this reason the gauge is also called a carrier guide. The moving knife 55 is adjusted
in the head by incans of the adjusting screw 61.
Great difficulty has heretofore been experienced in making effective attachments
of self feeding devices to nail machines. The improved machine is arranged with
special reference to this feature. When it is desired to make such an attachment
an oscillating arm or rock shaft 62 is mounted beneath the bed plate 1 pivotted in
lugs 63 cast on the bed plate near the centre of the machine. The rear end of the

page_text: rock shaft 62 is connected by the pitman 64 or other suitable device to a crank
shaft 65.rotating in journals 66 situated in the base of the main-shaft supports 36.
The shaft 65 receives its motion from a toothed wheel 67 placed on the main
shaft 28 between the belt pulley 68 and the upright 36. The wheel 69 having
double .tlie.number of teeth of the gear wheel 67 tho rock shaft 65 which actuates
the self feeding crank shaft makes half the number of revolutions that the main
shaft makes. The forward end of the rock shaft 62 is connected by a ball and
socket or other suitable joint 70 to a pitman 71 or other suitable connection to the
self feeding device. This construction furnishes a simple effective and reliable
power attachment for the feeder. The feeder requires to be turned over in order
to turn the nail plate 59 one half a revolution at every stroke of the knife 55
and it is caused to be so turned on the up stroke of the pitman 71 and then turned
back again at the down stroke. Thus one oscillation of the rock shaft 62 supplies
the proper power to turn the nail plate over and back and enables it to be
properly presented to the knife 55 at each consecutive stroke of the knife and for
this reason the crank shaft 65 is required to make only one revolution while the
main shaft 20 is making two revolutions. Though no self-feeding device is shewn
the power attachment described allows of any known self feeding device to be
applied.
The journals of the self feeder crank shaft 66 are held down by a conical pointed
binding screw 82 (see Fig. 11) placed in the standards or housing and bearing on
the upper brass 83 journal caps being thus dispensed with. In case the screw 82
is put in horizontally the top of the brass 83 should be inclined or bevilled to
produce the same result. The screw may be inserted vertically from below to bear
on the lower brass but in all cases it passes through the housings.
The improved means of attaching the nail separator and its agitating device to
the machine are as follows. Attached by a suitable bolt 72 to the underside of
the machine is a bracket 73 having a suitable grooved face in which by means
of the clamp 74 are fastened the supporting rods 75 of the separator 76. The
agitator 77 is supported by another bracket 78 in which it is loosely pivotted
being fastened by the screw 79. The other end rests loosely in the angle socket 80
on the rear end of the vibrating rod of the separator. The agitator receives its
inotion through the vertical rod 16 which projecting into the path of the heading
lever 2 is struck by the underside of the lug 14 (Fig. 11) and communicates the
jar so received to the separator. The rod 16 is fastened to the rod 77 by a right-
angled joint 81 which is adjustable and can be set in any postion on the rod 77.
This construction of the attachment is more convenient and out of the way that
the arrangement usually adopted and rends the operation of the separator more
perfect as it secures to it the full benefit of the jar of the nail machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Imray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th June
1882.
.
JOHN IMRAY, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN NAIL MACHINES." A communication from abroad. by John
Coyne, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
This Invention relates to the improvement of that class of nail cutting machines
commonly known to the trade as the "Reed" or "American" machine in which
the heading lever is actuated by the cutting lover and it consists in certain
modifications of several parts of the machine so as to remedy certain defects in its
construction and operation.
For greater clearness the present construction of various parts and their defects
will be described and the improved construction proposed to remedy these defects
with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of the improved machino Figure 3 is a
view of the three operative levers illustrating their relative positions in the
machine. Figure 4 is a view of the transverse arm of the gripping lever partly in
section to show the construction of one of the contro bushings and its lubricating
parts. Figure 5 is a side view of the heading lover showing the attachment of the
heading die. Figure 6 is a sido view illustrating the application to the improved
machine of a self-feeder actuating attachment. Figure 7 is a sectional view showing
the connection of the pitman to the crank pin of the long arm of the cutting lever.
Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the attachment of the nail solector.
Figures 9 and 10 are sectional views of the friction plates and their sockets.
Figure 11 is a vertical longitudinal sectional diagram of the machine illustrating
the arrangement of the parts. Figure 12 is a plan diagram Like letters of
reference indicate like parts in each of the Figures.
The heading lever has usually the form of a long arch turning on an inwardly
projecting centre or journal at each end at considerable distance apart. The
heading die is placed at the middle of the arch and power is communicated to the
heading lever from the short arm of the cutting lever working vertically through
a link against a projecting lug or horn on the back of the heading lever. This
construction is defective as the strain of the work of heading the nail coming on
the heading lever at the middle of its long arch causes it to spring while upsetting
the head and thus prevents its delivering the full strength of its blow at the instant
it strikes the nail blank and also produces strain on all parts of the lever and its
bearing which in time causes breakage.
Another defect is that the power to operate the heading lever is applied to it
against a long horn or projection extending upwards and backwards from it over
the short arm of the cutting lever by means of a link extending up from the
cutting lever and bearing against the said horn. The distance between the end
of the heading die and the point on the projection to which the power is applied
is thus comparatively great and as the heading lever in its movement describes the
are of a circle the power is applied tangentially. The effect of the great distance
between the end of the heading die and the point where the power is applied thus
tangentially causes another springing of the beading lever which aids in producing
the bad effects mentioned and also frequently causes the breaking off of the horn
or projection to which the power is applied.
Referring to the Drawing of the improved machine 1 represents the bed and 2
the heading lever which has a short transverse arm 3 having bushing chambers 4 in

page_text: cach end in which are placed the centres 5 upon which it rocks These centres 5
are placed inside the bed at a very small distance apart so that there can be little
or no spring in the casting. The centres 5 of the heading lever aro situated almost
directly below the gripping dies and directly under that side of the dies against
which the head of the nail is upset. The heading die G is secured in a V-shaped
recess 7 in the heading lever by means of a U-strap and set screw 8 and the power
is applied to the lever from the short arm 9 of the cutting lever 10 by means of
the togglo 11 working in bushed sockets 12. The toggle 11 bears against the lovers
in a vertical plane which if continued would bisect the centre of the heading die 6
The toggle 11 is a single toggle being a short arm placed between the extremity of
the short arm of the cutting lever and the outward extremity of the heading lever
and connected by a ball and socket joint to each. When the machine is not operating
to head a nail and the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 the position of the
toggle arm 11 is (as shown in Fig. 1) inclining downwards and outwards to the
cutting lever. As the forward extremity or short arm of the cutting lever rises
its extremity moves in a circular are carrying with it one end of the toggle arm 11
and so bringing the short toggle arm 11 to a horizontal position in line with the
axis of the heading lever. This communicates the necessary movement to the
heading lever with decreasing rapidity and increasing force. The movement of
the toggle is such as to cause the heading die to deliver a nearly direct blow or
thrust on the blank and as during the forward motion the toggle approaches a
horizontal position the power of the heading lever increases and the force changes
from a blow to a crushing or compressive strain and effects not only the simple
upsetting but also the compacting or compression of the end of the blank thus
producing an exceedingly strong compact and polished head. The blow is also
easier on the gripping dies being as it were cushioned by the movement of the die
decreasing in velocity and increasing in power as it approaches the end of its
stroke and completes the up-setting and compression of the head. Also the power
being applied directly to the lever behind and in line with the end of the heading
die no spring of the lever occurs and there is no danger of breakage.
In machines as they are usually constructed the gripping lever is straight
extending across the bed of the machine the arch of the heading lever passing over
it whilst it passes under the cutting lever which is arched upwards at the right.
side of the cutting die to permit its passage. Instead of this arrangement the
gripping lever is formed with a diagonal arch extending both upwards and back-
wards so as to permit the placing of the short journalled heading lever 2 in the
middle of the bed under the gripping dies to have a direct and unyielding action
on the blank. This construction also stiffens and strengthens the gripping lever and
prevents the springing or shrinking under the blow of the heading die. Morcover
the construction is more compact and economical permitting the levers to bo placed
nearer together and thus saving room and reducing the necessary size and weight
of the frame so that a greater number of machines can be placed in a given space.
In the existing machines the outer end of the heading lever is journalled outside
of the bed-plate. The stationary tools of the machine are mounted in a heavy
solid stationary head 46 on the bed plate and the heading lever is parallel thereto
and when at the limit of its stroko comes close to it. The result of this is that if
a piece of scrap or other hard substance falls down between the stationary head
and the heading lever the latter is almost invariably broken owing to the small
space between these parts. In the improved machine the heading lever being
arranged and journalled within the bed and under the gripping dies this danger is
completely obviated.
To prevent the nails as they fall from the dies from getting between the end of
the transverse arm of the heading lever and the bed plate 1 the bed-plate is
chambered out as at 28 and the short end of the transverse arm 3 enters it so that
it acts as a shield and closes the vertical space between the two parts against a
falling nail which if it should get in might wedge the heading lever and by
preventing its withdrawal cause the heading die to be struck by the moving knife.

page_text: A lug 14 Figs. 3 and 11 formed on the backside of the transverse arm 3 of
the heading lever 2 serves the double purpose of affording a bearing for the
spring 15 which pressing down on the lug retracts the lover and of striking the
pin 16 which communicates a vibration to the nail assorter. The spring 15 is
attached to the bed at 90 (Fig. 12) directly under the right hand centre 5 of the
cutting lever.
The cutting lever 10 is formed with a nearly regular transverse arch between its
centres 5 instead of the existing irregular arch at the right side of the moving knife
so that its rigidity is increased and the lover is shortened and a saving of material
is effected.
The power to operate the cutting lever and through its short arm 9 the heading
lever is communicated from the power shaft 20 to the long arm of the cutting lover 17
by means of the crank pin 13 and pitman 19 attached to the wrist 18 on the long
arm 17 of the cutting lever. In existing machines the journal brasses are flush
with the faces of the pitman so that the entire side of the pitman brass chambers 21
bear against the face of the crank disc 22 and lever 17 producing great friction
wear and loss of power. According to the improved construction the brasses 23
have a flange 24 at one end and the chamber 21 has a recess 25 at its inner end of
such depth relatively to the thickness of the flange 24 that the brass projects
slightly from its chamber. The brass is made adjustable in the chamber by a set
screw 26 working through the side of the chamber against a steel strip or liner 27.
Thus the brass 23 being the only part of the pitman that bears against the crank-
disc 22 or the lever 17 the friction is reduced to a minimum.
In existing machines the thrust of the link which communicates the power from
the cutting lever to the heading lever is vertical, while the movement of tho
heading lever is in the arc of a circle The result is that the bushing of the right
hand centre of the cutting lever is worn oblong which tends to throw the cutting
lever out of line destroys the accuracy of the bearing of the right hand centro in
its bushing produces shaky motion and so impairs the accuracy of the machine
and increases the wear. According to the improved construction the force of the
toggle is nearly in a line with the right hand centro of the cutting lever instead of
at right angles thereto and this causes an even wear of the bushing and obviates
the defects mentioned. The link being usually not bushed rapid wear is the result.
But by providing the socket 12 of the toggle 11 with bushings of suitable
material (preferably phosphor-bronze) which can be replaced when worn tho
wearing and consequent destruction of the lever castings are avoided and tho
friction of the machine is reduced.
Each lever is provided with female conical centre bushings 29 in which the
conical centres 5 have their bearing. In existing machines these bearings aro
lubricated by an oil hole bored transversely through the side of the lever and
bushing into the centre. But owing to the close contact of the centre with its
bush little if any of the oil gets in and the lubrication is very imperfect. In a
short time the wear resulting from the excessive friction loosens the bush and
permits it to turn in its chambers and thereby closes the oil hole and shuts off the
supply of oil. To avoid this the bushing chamber 30 is made deeper than tho
bushing 29 and the bushing has several (preferably threo) holes 31 extending
longitudinally from its smaller or inner end to an opening into the conical seat 32.
An oil holo 33 is also made through the lever from the outside to and opening into
the inner end of the brushing chamber 4. Thus when the bushing 29 is inserted
into the chamber 4 an oil chamber 34 is formed between the inner ends of the
bushing and its chamber which oil chamber is supplied through the oil hole 33.
The oil passes from the oil chamber 34 through the holes 31 to the conical end of
the centre 5 and lubricates it perfectly thereby preventing friction heating and
wear. As the bearing of the centre 5 is horizontal the centre hole 29* would not
suffico to furnish oil for lubrication especially as the conical extremity of tho
centre 5 has very little motion. To overcome this difficulty threo ports 31 aro
made to one side of the centre of the bushing through which the oil enters from

page_text: the oil space 34 behind the bushing which is left by the taper of the conical
bushing preventing its passing down to the bottom of the recess made to receive it.
The central hole 29* is therefore not designed to serve as an oil port but is tapped
with a screw thread for the purpose of inserting a tool with a screw on its
extremity to extract the bushing when it is desired to remove it.
In existing machines having the fly or balance wheel fixed outside of the left
hand upright 30 the weight of this wheel added to the pull of the bolt which is
usually downwards tends to wear down the journal next to the fly-wheel faster
than the opposite one. This deviation of the shaft 20 from level produces heating
of the crank pin 13 and renders necessary so much play in the bearings 23 as to
greatly impair the efficiency of the machine. To overcome these difficulties the
flywheel 35 is mounted inside tho support 36 the hind arm of the gripping lever
being more to the middle of the shaft 20 and in direct line with the work. By
this arrangement the shaft continues level and the momentum of the wheel is
applied directly to the work instead of at one side of it.
In existing machines the gripping lever is retracted or caused to follow its
operative cam by means of a spiral or leaf spring which exerts a very considerable
pressure on the cam during the time of the gripping of the nail and this load
involves considerable waste of power and unnecessary friction. As the spring
does not retract the lever so promptly as the cam leaves it there results a pounding
of the gripping lever on the cam and a vibration which in time crystallises the
iron and causes fracture. Those difficulties are overcome in the improved machine
by yoking the rear arm 37 of the gripping lever to the cam 38 as shewn in Fig. 9
so that the gripping lever after being brought into action by its cam and retained
in that position while the nail blank is being held by the grippers is withdrawn by
a sudden and positive motion yet without jar at the moment that the moveable
cutter has severed the blank. The yoke 39 is a band sufficiently rigid to secure
the proper definite action of the gripping lever, although absolute rigidity is not
necessary. The shape of this cam yoko is an irregular ellipsoidal curve of such
contour that the cam begins to bear against the yoke at the moment (shown in
Fig. 9) when the regularly curved portion of the cam face (which is furthest from
the centre of motion) ceases to bear against the friction plate and immediately
withdraws the gripping lever. This contact of the cam yoke and cam continues
drawing back the lever with a steady but rapid motion until the cam again
commences to bear against the friction plate to raise the lover and it works
whether the machine is moved in the one direction or the other. The friction
plate 40 which is embraced by the cam yoke 39 and bears on the cam 38 is of
novel construction. It is placed in a slot or socket 41 which being larger than it
permits of its adjustment by means of a set screw 42 and liners 43. This enables
it to be moved forwards or backwards in the slot 41 according as it may have to
receive the stroke of the cam 38 sooner or later. It may if desired be made in
two pieces as shewn at 44 Fig. 10 and then by inserting a liner 43 between the
two pieces it can be caused to bear longer on the cam. The fore ends 45 of the
yoke 39 are turned over at right angles on the upper part of the friction plate for
the purpose of taking up any play that may exist between the yoke and the cam
as shewn in Fig. 9.
The stationary head or tool box in existing machines has the sides in which the
set screws are fitted very frequently broken off. This is owing to a weakness in
the casting caused by this being the last part of the casting to cool. To secure
the rapid cooling of the stationary head 46 in the improved machino a large core
is introduced in this part forming a large cavity 30 (Fig. 11) in the casting. This
reduces the amount of metal and at the same time obtains greater tenacity solidity
and strength in this part.
In existing machines various caps and other contrivances have been used to
advance the centres of the levers but these devices are cumbersome and incon-
venient necessitating bolts and packing to keep them in position. To overcome
this difficulty a cap 47 is provided held to the bed-plate with a collar bolt 48 and

page_text: with a set screw 49 to advance the centre. When the centre is to be withdrawn
from the machine it is only necessary to slack the collar bolt and the cap
will swing
completely out of the way.
The nipper cam shaft 84 is provided with duplicate friction plates 83 (Fig. 11)
similar to the friction plates 44 (Fig. 10). These friction plates 83 are placed in
the end of the nipper rock shaft 84 and bear against the cam 82
These parts
operate in the usual way.
In existing machines a small set screw is inserted in the fore-head of the cutting
lever opposite to the centre of the gauge slot for the purpose of limiting the
forward advance of the spring gauge or carrier guide which regulates the feed of
the machine. This set screw is an obstruction requiring the moving knife screw
to be placed over the corner of the knife instead of over its centre. According to
the improved construction shewn in Fig. 6 the spring gauge 50 is pivotted in the
gaugo slot 51 by a screw clamp 52 in the crosshead 53. The point 54 of the
gaugo 50 screws just under the edge of the knife 55 which is always fed or set to
the gauge. The gauge is held forward by the spring 56 which is inserted in the
slot 51 behind it. The backward movement of the gauge is limited by the screw 57
and its forward movement by tho screw 58 which is so arranged that the point 54
of the gauge is flush with the front side of the knife 55. The gauge may be
adjusted vertically in the slot by means of the screw clamp 52. It is preferred to
use a lock nut on the screw 58 to guard against accidental movement. In the use
of the machine the nail plate 59 is fed against the point of the spring gauge as
shown in Fig. 6 and this causes the gauge to be pressed back until it comes in
contact with the screw 57 (which is properly adjusted to secure the required width
of nail) and then the moving knife 55 descends and makes it cut. The cut blank
is held by the spring gauge against the tools in the stationary head 46 (at the
point 60 in Fig. 11) as the knife 55 pushes it down into the gripping dies and for
this reason the gauge is also called a carrier guide. The moving knife 55 is
adjusted in the head by means of the adjusting screw 61.
Great difficulty has heretofore been experienced in making effective attachments
of self feeding devices to nail machines. The improved machine is arranged with
special reference to this 'feature. When it is desired to make such an attachment
an oscillating arm or rock shaft 62 is mounted beneath the bed plate 1 pivotted in
lugs 63 cast on the bed plate near the centre of the machine. The rear end of the
rock shaft 62 is connected by the pitman 6+ or other suitable device to a crank
shaft 65 rotating in journals 66 situated in the base of the main shaft supports 36.
The shaft 65 receives its motion from a toothed wheel 67 placed on the main
shaft 28 between the belt pulley 68 and the upright 36. The wheel 69 having
double the number of teeth of the gear wheel 67 the rock shaft 65 which actuates
the self feeding crank shaft makes half the number of revolutions that the main-
shaft makes. The forward end of the rock shaft 62 is connected by a ball and
socket or other suitable joint 70 to a pitman 71 or other suitable connection to the
self feeding device. This construction furnishes a simple effective and reliable
power attachment for the feeder. The feeder requires to be turned over in order
to turn the nail plate 59 one half a revolution at every stroke of the knife 55 and
it is caused to be so turned on the up stroke of the pitman 71 and then turned
back again at the downstroke. Thus one oscillation of the rock shaft 62 supplics
the proper power to turn the nail plate over and back and enables it to be properly
presented to the knife 55 at each consecutive stroke of the knife and for this
reason the crank shaft 65 is required to make only one revolution while the main
shaft 20 is making two revolutions. Though no self-feeding device is shewn
the power attachment described allows of any known self feeding device to be
applied.
The journals of the self feeder crank shaft 66 are held down by a conical pointed
binding scrow S2 (see Fig. 11) placed in the standards or housing and bearing on
the upper brass 83 journal caps being thus dispensed with. In case the screw.82
is put in horizontally the top of the brass 83 should be inclined or bevilled to

page_text: produce the same result. The screw may be inserted vertically from below to
bear on the lower brass but in all cases it passes through the housings.
The improved means of attaching the nail separator and its agitating device to
the machine are as follows. Attached by a suitable bolt 72 to the underside of
the machine is a bracket 73 having a suitable grooved face in which by means of
the clamp 74 are fastened the supporting rods 75 of the separator 76. The
agitator 77 is supported by another bracket 78 in which it is loosely pivotted
being fastened by the screw 79. The other end rests loosely in the angle socket 80
on the rear end of the vibrating rod of the separator. The agitator receives its
motion through the vertical rod 16 which projecting into the path of the heading
lever 2 is struck by the underside of the lug 14 (Fig. 11) and communicates the
jar so received to the separator. The rod 16 is fastened to the rod 77 by a right-
angled joint 81 which is adjustable and can be set in any position on the rod 77.
This construction of the attachment is more convenient and out of the way than
the arrangement usually adopted and renders the operation of the separator more
perfect as it secures to it the full benefit of the jar of the nail machine.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent
I hereby declare that I make no general claim to nail machines nor to their
construction arrangement or operation generally but only to the improvements
which I have described and which I distinguish in the following claiming clauses
that is to say I claim in respect of nail machines,-
First. The arrangement of a diagonally arched gripping lever with a heading
lever pivotted below the gripping dies so as to operate within the diagonal arch of
the gripping lever.
Second. The construction of the heading lever with a short transverse pivottal
arm of a length on one side equal to the thickness of the gripping lever a recess
for the heading die in its front sido and a socket for the end of the driver in its
rear side.
Third. The combination with the heading lever of a togglo or its equivalent
communicating movement decreasing in velocity and increasing in power as it
approaches the end of its stroke.
Fourth. The combination of the transverso arm of the heading lever with the
recessed bed plate so as to prevent the nails wedging between the bed plate and
lever.
Fifth. Providing the heading lover with a lug on its transverse arm.
Sixth. Making the cutting lever arched between its centers.
Seventh. The use in combination with the crank pins and the pitman of brasses
made with projecting flanges bearing against the crank disc.
Eighth. Tho use for the centres of the levers of conical bushings with their oil
feeding ports in combination with an oil chamber at the inner end of the bushing
chamber.
Ninth. Arranging the rear arm of the gripping lever directly behind and in line
with the gripping dies.
Tenth. The use of the ellipsoidal cam yoke in combination with the gripping lever
and cam 38.
Eleventh. The use in combination with the gripping lever of an adjustable cam
frriction plate or plates regulating the operation of the gripping lever.
Twelfth. Making in the stationary head a large central opening.
Thirteenth. The arrangement of the stop device behind the cutter gauge so as to
permit of the adjusting screw being placed centrally to the cutter.
Fourteenth. The combination with the nail machine of a rock shaft pivotted
below the bed and driven from the mainshaft for working a self feeder.
Fifteenth. The arrangement of the brackets 73 and 78 for sustaining the nail
selector and its movement in combination with the agitator rod 77 and the tappet
rod 16.

page_text: Sixteenth. The use for the brasses of the crank shaft of a bearing screw inserted
through the housing.
All substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Imray, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty two.
JOHN IMRAI. (L.S.)