Improvements in and connected with the Manufacture of Fire Lighters.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 11th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Manufacture of
Fire Lighters.
I, WILLIAM GEORGE HAY, of 61, Hawkstone Street, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention has reference to the production of certain kinds of fire-lighters by
mechanical means, and has for its object to make such lighters more quickly and
economically than heretofore and to provide machinery therefor of an efficient and
simple kind.
According to this invention, fire-lighters consisting of bars of wood connected
together at their ends by strips or bars of wood are wholly made by machinery
without handling the wood or timber from its introduction into the machinery to
the completion of the fire-lighter.
The mode of manufacture consists in cutting up the plank or length of wood
into lengths, then providing grooves in the ends of the pieces so provided to receive
the connecting strips or bars, then cutting up said grooved pieces into a number of
bars or pieces, then separating such bars or pieces, and then introducing such
connecting bars or strips into the grooves or recesses, thus completing the article.
The article, however, so produced is in some cases mechanically rosined and then
dried.
A complete set of machinery or apparatus for effecting the above mode of
manufacture comprises a feed device to feed up the plank intermittently for each
length to be cut off; a saw moved up to and away from such plank to cut off the
lengths; a device for moving the cut off lengths to grooving tools; grooving tools
say of rotary type by which a groove or recess in each end of the pieces is
simultaneously cut; a set of saws to cut up the pieces simultaneously into a number
of bars or pieces; a feed device to move the pieces up to and through the said
saws; a dividing device to separate and keep the pieces the required distance apart;
a device to receive said separated bars or pieces and hold them while the connecting
laths or strips are being introduced into the grooves or recesses in the ends thereof,
devices for feeding the said connecting laths or strips; and a device for forcing
said connecting laths or pieces into said grooves or recesses. When the mechanical
rosining apparatus is employed there may be employed a device to move the
completed articles from the apparatus above specified to and through the rosining
apparatus.
There may be employed in connection with the above a saw to cut off and keep
the width of the plank to a uniform dimension.
The device for manipulating the connecting laths or strips comprises devices to
feed the two laths intermittently forward; saws to cut them into required lengths;
and means for feeding said cut lengths up to the device for forcing them into the
grooves or recesses of the main pieces. To render the whole apparatus capable of
being attended to by one person and to save room, the connecting laths are arranged
parallel with the main planks, and devices are employed to receive the strips as cut
off and move them round 90 degrees and at right angles to the length of the main
pieces to receive them and in the correct position for being introduced into the
grooves or recesses of such pieces.
The cutting off saws by which the wood is cut up into lengths may be mounted
on suitable moving arms operated by cams or other suitable ineans or they may be
otherwise suitably moved and operated.

page_text: The grooving tools may in some cases be mounted in suitable movable or
adjustable holders or frames, so as to be capable of any required adjustment.
The device by which the separated pieces are received and held for receiving
the connecting strips or laths may be a movable one (say of travelling or rotary kind)
and adapted to move forward the articles as completed, the operating device being.
adapted to operate intermittently.
One form of devices for receiving the cut off connecting strips or laths may
consist of circular form having radial grooves to receive and hold said laths or
strips, and they may be rotated intermittently by suitable actuating_pawls or
devices and held by a spring catch or stop or equivalent means.
The strips
or laths may be moved from such holding device by a suitable intermittently
moving device.
The pieces cut off from the plank and those cut off from the laths or strips may
be moved forward by their respective removing devices before they are fully on to
the part on which they slide or move, and the part by which they are moved
adapted to form a stop to the leading end of the succeeding pieces. Either or both
of these stop pieces may be movable and spring retained.
The part on which the pieces cut off from the plank move or slide may be
provided with an aperture through which ends of planks not of the required
length will fall and so will not pass into the other parts of the apparatus.
The completed articles may be rosined by moving them through rosin in a tank
heated by steam or other fluid. They may be passed through the liquified rosin on
suitable guides or on a carriage or truck. After this they may be dried by passing
them through a shaft, tube or vessel, through which air or other drying gas is
passed, and this air or gas may in some cases be at atmospheric temperature; or in
others at a higher temperature in which case it would be suitably artificially
heated.
All the movable parts will be actuated by suitable cams, shafts, or equivalent
means, suitably operated.
It is to be understood that the different mechanisms herein specified may be
employed individually as well as conjointly as specified and applied one or more of
them to machines or machinery differing from that specified without departing from
my invention; also such mechanism and the machinery herein specified may be
modined and combined in different ways, or equivalents used, without departing
from the main or controlling characteristics thereof.
Dated this 10th day of November 1892.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Manufacture of
Fire Lighters.
I, WILLIAM GEORGE HAY, of 61, Hawkstone Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This invention has reference to the production of certain kinds of fire-lighters by
mechanical means, and has for its object to make such lighters more quickly and
economically than heretofore and to provide machinery therefor of an efficient and
simple kind.
According to this invention, fire-lighters consisting of bars of wood connected
together at their ends by strips or bars of wood are wholly made by machinery
without handling the wood or timber from its introduction into the machinery to
the completion of the fire-lighter.

page_text: The mode of manufacture consists in cutting up the plank or length of wood into
lengths, then providing grooves in the ends of the pieces so provided to receive the
connecting strips or bars, then cutting up said grooved pieces into a number of
bars or pieces, then separating such bars or pieces, and then introducing such
connecting bars or strips into the grooves or recesses, thus completing the article.
The article, however, so produced is in some cases mechanically rosined and then
dried.
A complete set of machinery or apparatus for effecting the above mode of
manufacture comprises a feed device to feed up the plank intermittently for each
length to be cut off; a saw moved up to and away from such plank to cut off the
lengths; a device for moving the cut off lengths to grooving tools; grooving tools
say of rotary type by which a groove or recess in each end of the pieces is
simultaneously cut; a set of saws to cut up the pieces simultaneously into a number
of bars or pieces; a feed device to move the pieces up to and through the said
saws; a dividing device to separate and keep the pieces the required distance
apart; a device to receive said separated bars or pieces and hold them while the
connecting laths or strips are being introduced into the grooves or recesses in the
ends thereof; devices for feeding the said connecting laths or strips; and a device
for forcing said connecting laths or pieces into said grooves or recesses.
When the
mechanical rosining apparatus is employed there may be employed a device to
move the completed articles from the apparatus above specified to and through the
rosining apparatus.
There may be employed in connection with the above a saw to cut off and keep
the width of the plauk to a uniform dimension.
The device for manipulating the connecting laths or strips comprises devices to
feed the two laths intermittently forward; saws to cut them into required lengths;
and means for feeding said cut lengths up to the device for forcing them into the
grooves or recesses of the main pieces. To render the whole apparatus capable of
being attended to by one person and to save room, the connecting laths are arranged
parallel with the main planks and devices are employed to receive the strips as cut
off and move them round 90 degrees and at right angles to the length of the main
pieces to receive them and in the correct position for being introduced into the
grooves or recesses of such pieces.
The cutting off saws by which the wood is cut up into lengths may be mounted
on suitable moving arms operated by cams or other suitable means or they may be
otherwise suitably moved and operated.
The grooving tools may in some cases be mounted in suitable movable or
adjustable holders or frames, so as to be capable of any required adjustment.
The device by which the separated pieces are received and held for receiving
the connecting strips or laths may be a movable one (say of travelling or rotary
kind) and adapted to move forward the articles as completed, the operating device.
being adapted to operate intermittently.
One form of devices for receiving the cut off connecting strips or laths may
consist of circular form having radial grooves to receive and hold said laths or
strips, and they may be rotated intermittently by suitable actuating pawls or
devices and held by a spring catch or stop or equivalent means.
The strips
or laths may be moved from such holding device by a suitable intermittently.
moving device.
The pieces cut off from the plank and those cut off from the laths or strips may
be moved forward by their respective removing devices before they are fully onto
the part on which they slide or move, and the part by which they are moved
adapted to form a stop to the leading end of the succeeding pieces. Either or
both of these stop pieces may be movable and spring retained.
The part on which the pieces cut off from the plank move or slide may be
provided with an aperture through which ends of planks not of the required length
vill fall and so will not pass into the other parts of the apparatus.
The completed articles may be rosined by moving them through rosin in a tank

page_text: heated by steam or other fluid. They may be passed through the liquified rosin on
suitable guides or on a carriage or truck. After this they may be dried by passing
them through a shaft, tube, or vessel, through which air or other drying gas is
passed, and this air or gas may in some cases be at atmospheric temperature; or in
others at a higher temperature in which case it would be suitably artificially
heated.
All the movable parts will be actuated by suitable cams, shafts, or equivalent
means, suitably operated.
It is to be understood that the different mechanisms herein specified may be
employed individually as well as conjointly as specified and applied one or more of
them to machines or machinery differing from that specified without departing
from my invention; also such mechanism and the machinery herein specified may
be modified and combined in different ways, or equivalents used, without departing
from the main or controlling characteristics thereof.
In the drawings which serve to illustrate this invention,
Figure 1 is a general plan illustrating the parts of the machinery combined, and
Figure 1 is a view of the fire-lighter made by it.
Figure 2 is an elevation illustrating the grooving saws or cutters.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the machinery looking towards the side marked A A
in Figure 1.
Figure 4 illustrates the machinery in elevation, viewed from the side
marked B B.
Figure 5 is an elevation of the machinery viewed from and seen from the line or
part marked CC in Figure 1.
Figure 6 is an end elevation of the machinery viewed from or upon the line D D
Figure 1.
Figure 7 is an elevation or end view of the machinery taken at the line E E.
Figure 8 is a side elevation of the spring catch employed to feed forward the
blocks of timber as they are cut off from the planks.
Figure 9 is a side elevation of the spring catch used for feeding the blocks
through the dividing saws.
Figure 10 is a side elevation of the spring catch for feeding the completed
fire-lighters from the machinery.
Figure 11 is an elevation of the turntable actuating mechanism, and
Figure 12 is a plan illustrating in detail the mechanism wherein the bars or strips
are held in their divided condition and have the side connecting strips or laths
inserted, and also the catch by which the completed lighter is moved away from
the machinery shewn in Figure 1.
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1, is the timber
plank being fed to the machinery. In being so fed, it is moved past a circular
saw a driven by a belt from the wheel a'; by this saw the plank is trimmed to the
exact width of plank required. This plank is fed forward past the saw a by
reciprocating feeding pawls a² mounted upon the bell crank lever as fulcrummed at a³,
and operated by an eccentric or cam a fixed upon the-shaft 1.
After the plank has been thus trimmed, it is cut off or up into lengths. This is
done by the saw 6 mounted in the frame 2 upon the axle ', said frame being
hinged at the end opposite to that at which the saw is mounted. The frame is
moved up and down about its hinge, so that the saw b is brought down onto the
plank at certain times, whereby the part of the plank projecting beyond the saw is
cut off, after which it is raised and allows the plank to be again fed forward below
the saw.
A side elevation of this frame and saw and its operating gear is shewn in
Figure 7. This consists of a lever 3 worked from an eccentric or cam 4, fixed on
the shaft 2, the lever being connected to the frame 2 by the rod . Thus as the
eccentric or cam 6 is rotated, the frame 2 and its saw are moved about its hinge b
which is a rotating shaft and upon which a belt pulley is fixed, the motion
whereof is transmitted through a belt 68 to the saw shaft b¹.
After the blocks of timber are cut off the planks, they are pushed forwards by

page_text: the feeding mechanism a² onto a feeding mechanism which transmits them in a
direction at right angles to the former longitudinal direction, past cutters or saws
by which grooves are cut in the edges of the blocks across the grain. This
mechanism is illustrated in side elevation in Figure 8, and consists of a sliding
block e with a spring catch el in it, which normally is pressed upwards and projects
above the slide as shewn in Figure 8, by a spring, the slide being moved backwards
and forwards by the bell crank lever c² fulcrummed at 3 and operated by the
eccentric or cam et from the shaft 2. The action is, that when the slide c is in its
backward position, and a block in front of the catch c', by the reciprocating action
of the lever c³, such block is fed forward by the catch and pushes also those which
have been previously moved forward past the grooving saws. When the slide has
been moved forward, another block will have been fed onto the top of the slide
behind the catch which will be the next one to be dealt with and fed forward by
such catch. In the return of the slide the spring catch e' is pressed downwards as
it moves under the said block by coming in contact with the underside thereof, but
as soon as it is past, the spring of the catch forces it up ready for engaging with
the said block on the next forward motion.
The grooving saws or cutters past which the blocks are fed by the catch last
described are shewn in elevation in Figure 2 as well as in plan in Figure 1. These
saws or cutters designated d-are arranged horizontally, being fixed upon vertical
spindles d' and driven by a band d from any suitable revolving shaft, the spindles
being mounted in frames d³ adjustable laterally. This lateral adjustment is effected
by mounting the frames d³ in a fixed bed or rest, in the manner of the tool
holder of a slide-rest, the lateral adjustment being effected by screws a' mounted
in said rest d and operated by the hand wheel de. By this means the adjustment
of the saws in relation to the blocks 2, and the depth of the groove cut by said
saws in the blocks, can be regulated as desired. This action of cutting the groove
merely consists in passing the edges of the blocks past the edges of the saws or
cutters by the feeding mechanism just described.
The next action is feeding the grooved blocks forward at 90° from the position
occupied when being grooved, namely, in a direction parallel with the direction of
the grain, and past the saws by which the blocks are cut up into bars or strips.
The feeding mechanism by which this change of direction of motion is given to
the blocks, consists of a sliding spring catch arrangement similar to that set forth
with reference to Figures 8 and 1; that is to say, it consists of a slide e having
a spring catch e adapted to engage with the blocks in the manner of the spring
catch c', and operated by the bell crank lever e² fulcrummed at e³ and operated from
the shaft 1 by the cam or eccentric e. The action is, that as the shaft 1 revolves,
the slide e is reciprocated and the blocks are fed forward past the dividing
saws.
The dividing saws-which in the drawings are five in number-are mounted on
the shaft having the driving pulley 2 thereon. The action of these five saws
is that as the blocks are moved past them they are cut up into six bars or
strips.
After the pieces cut up into bars or strips as described leave the saws f, they are
separated by dividing wedge shaped bars g on the bed on which the wood travels.
The edges of these wedges lie in the same planes in which the five saws lie, and
thus are in line with and opposite the divisions between the bars or strips made
by the saws. In this manner, by the feeding forward of the feeding device e
the blocks are cut up into strips and subsequently separated in the manner shewn
in Figure 1.
After thus separating the strips, they are fed onto the endless travelling pitch-
chain shewn in Figure 12 and Figure 4, where they are provided with the side
connecting laths. This mechanism consists of an endless pitch-chain of any
known suitable kind with projecting distance pieces h' on its outer surface and
working over wheels 2 mounted suitably on a frame. The six bars or strips of
wood are pushed between seven separating, dividing, or distance pieces on the chain

page_text: с
when it is at rest, and when the bars or strips are so introduced, the chain is pushed
forward (as hereafter described) opposite the mechanisms by which the side con-
necting laths are introduced and then stopped.
This mechanism consists of slides i with a thin ledge at the end by which the
laths y are pressed towards the strips or bars, and into the grooves cut out of their
ends. The laths y are fed up into position in front of the slides i from either
direction (as hereinafter described) within channels provided in the sides of the
frame in which the slides i work; whilst in the movement in which they are
pressed into the bars, they pass through apertures in the faces of the sides as
shewn in Figure 5. The intermittent motion of the chain his effected by a bell
crank lever ³ fulcrummed at and having a pawl which engages with the
chain and moves it forward a distance equal to the length of the lighter, whilst its
opposite end is operated upon by cam or eccentric on the shaft 2. The inter-
mittent motion of the slides i is effected by the bell crank levers i³ fulcrummed
at, and operated from the shaft 3 by the cam or eccentric thereon.
The laths y are operated upon as follows:-They are first cut into lengths, this
being effected by saws which are mounted in frames & supported upon revolving
shafts, and lifted and lowered onto and off the laths y by levers ³, said saws
being rotated by wheels ³ fixed on revolving shaft k² and driving the saws by
bands. This mechanism, it will be seen, is substantially identical with that
above described for sawing the planks into blocks, but it is in duplicate and I will
describe, for convenience, only that shewn on the upper side of Figure 1. The
feeding forward is effected by a mechanism similar to that for feeding the planks,
namely, a pawl or tooth mounted on the lever and worked from the revolving
shaft 3 through the cam or eccentric 2 thereon, and the rod 1. After the laths
are cut by the saw they are fed onto a turn table m which consists of a radial
arrangement of docks into which the pieces are pushed, said turn-table being
mounted on a vertical axle m², and intermittently operated by a pawi m² mounted
on a lever m³ and working in connection with a rack m on the turn-table; the
lever m³ being operated by an eccentric or cam on the shaft 3.
The pieces or
laths y are not pushed home in the turn-table before the turn-table begins to move,
but are left projecting out of same somewhat and are subsequently pressed home
by the fixed inclined plate m³ at the periphery thereof, against which said ends
come in the rotation of the turn-table. After the turn-table has been moved a
distance equal to the pitching apart of the said docks, and in line with the filling
mechanism, they are taken off or out of same. This is done by a feeding pawl
mechanism of the kind set forth with reference to Figure 3. This pawl is
designated n and is worked from the shaft 2 by the lever n', fulcrummed at n²,
through the rod ³, and cam or eccentric fixed on said shaft. This mechanism-
which is illustrated in elevation in Figure 4-feeds the pieces of lath forward into
the space in the frame 2 of the slides i one by one, from which space they are
pressed into the grooves of the bars of the lighter by the ledge of the
slides i, so completing the construction of lighter as far as connecting up the
parts.
It will be seen, as is of course necessary, that the mechanism for cutting and
feeding the side laths are in duplicate. That just described is the one on the upper
side of Figure 1. The other is identical as regards the different mechanisms and
their functions, and the parts thereof which are the same as, or equivalent
to, those already described, are marked with the same letters and figures of
reference.
As the lighters are completed they are discharged from the chain onto a
delivery table or slide o, worked from the shaft 3 through an eccentric o* and
bell crank lever o², fulcrummed at o³, the slide o having a catch o¹ in it similar
to those above described, by which the lighter is thrust side-wise from the
apparatus.
The lighters may be then discharged or passed through a rosin bath in any
uitable known way, or rosined by hand.

page_text: It will be seen that in the drawings the different parts of the machinery are
shewn without beds, supports, etc., but these, as will be obvious, may consist of any
known suitable forms. This is done to render the drawings clear and not confused.
Also for the same reason the supports on which the timber is moved or slides, are
not shewn in detail in the drawings: these may also consist of simple beds and
guides of any known form by which the timber in different parts is supported
and guided or held in place in its motion through the different parts of the
machinery.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The construction of fire-lighter of the type herein specified, substantially in
the manner herein described, that is to say, by first cutting planks into blocks;
then cutting grooves in the ends of said blocks; then sawing. lengthwise said
blocks into a plurality of bars or strips; then separating same; and then inserting
connecting laths at the edges in said grooves; all substantially in the manner
described and by means substantially as herein set forth, for the purposes
specified.
2. The herein described improvement in or connected with the manufacture of
fire-lighters of the type herein specified, consisting in cutting planks into blocks,
grooving the edges of said blocks and cutting them into strips, and separating
same by means substantially as described; and supplying connecting laths by
separate mechanisms by which said laths are fed up at right angles to the direction
of length of the bars or strips, and are introduced into the grooves in the ends
thereof.
3. In fire-lighters of the kind herein described, means for separating the
strips or bars as they leave the dividing saws; operating substantially in the manner
described.
4. In the manufacture of fire-lighters, mechanism operating substantially as
described, by which the bars thereof are held and moved and the connecting laths
introduced into the ends thereof.
5. In machinery for making fire-lighters, a saw or saws mounted and working in a
hinged or swinging frame, and oscillated continuously or intermittently by suitable
mechanism and at right angles to the direction of motion of the timber, whereby
said timber is cut up into lengths; substantially as described.
6. In the manufacture of fire-lighters, the mechanisms for cutting the wood up
into bars or strips preparatory to being connected by side pieces, combined and
operating substantially as set forth with reference to the drawings.
7. In the manufacture of fire-lighters, mechanisms for cutting and operating said
side connecting laths or strips, combined and operating substantially as set forth
with reference to the drawings.
8. In the manufacture of fire-lighters of the kind herein described, the
mechanisms for the purposes set forth, combined and adapted to operate
substantially in the manner described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 9th day of September 1893.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.