IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING AND STAMPING METALS
Year: 1851

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HOLMES, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Machinist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain bearing
date at Westminster, the Twenty-fourth day of June, in the fifteenth year
of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said John Holmes, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege
and authority, that I, the said John Holmes, my exors, adñors, and assigns,
and such others as I, the said John Holmes, my exors, admors, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times during the term of years therein granted, should, and lawfully might
make, use, exercise and vend within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
CUTTING AND STAMPING METALS," in which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso, obliging me, the said John Holmes, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to
cause the same to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery,
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
in part recited Letters Patent as in and by the same reference being there-
unto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Holmes, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and

page_text: the manner in which the same is to be performed is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say :)-
My Invention of improvements in machinery for cutting and stamping
metals, relate, in the first place, to an improved arrangement of machinery
for cutting out of a plain sheet or strip of metal blanks of any suitable
form required for buttons, eyelets, rings, nails, steel pens, and other similar
articles.
My Invention relates, secondly, to an improved mode of constructing fly
presses, for the purpose of forming and finishing or completing the articles
before-mentioned, or other similar articles, by means of stamping or pressing.
My improved machinery for cutting out blanks for any of the before-
mentioned purposes, is shewn in Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings, in
which Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a back
view, and Fig. 3 is a plan or birds' eye view of the same; Fig. 4 is a side
elevation of the machine, shewing the means of actuating the feeding
apparatus; and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of the machine,
shewing the principal internal working parts. A long strip or sheet of metal
a a, from which the blanks are to be cut, is wound or placed upon a roller b,
and passes into the machine over a breast roller c, as seen in the sectional
view, Fig. 5. In passing through the machine, the strip of metal a comes
under the steel punches d, d, hereafter more particularly described, and
between the jaws e, e," of the feeding apparatus; and the waste metal is wound
or coiled on, or is delivered over another roller f, on the other side of the
machine. The steel punches may be of any suitable shape, according to
the description of article intended to be produced, and any convenient
number of them are secured in a plate g, by means of set screws h. This
plate is attached by means of screws to another plate i, which is connected
by a dovetail to the plunger j, from which however it may be detached by
removing the bolt k. The plunger jis moved up and down in stationary
guides 1, 1, by means of the connecting rods m, m, (Figs. 1 and 2), which
are actuated by the excentrics n, n, at each side of the machine. The lower
ends of the punches d, d, work through holes made in a plate o, which I
call the "puller off" plate, and under which the strip or sheet of metal a, a,
passes, as seen best in Fig. 5. The punches are also caused to enter holes
made in the punch plate p, which is dovetailed into a cast-iron bed q. The
parts o, p, and q, are secured in their proper places by means of glands or
plates, 1, and bolts 8, 8, and it will therefore be seen that at every descent

page_text: of the punches d, d, these latter will force out of the strip of metal a, a, blanks
or pieces of corresponding size and shape which will pass down through the
punch plate p, and bed plate q, and fall on to the incline t, from whence they will
be guided into any suitable receptacle below. It will also be seen that when
the punches rise again, the plate will hold down the strip of metal a,
while the punches return to their normal position, ready to make another
descent, and by that means pull the metal off the punches. In order to
bring a fresh portion of the strip or sheet of metal a under the punches at
every fresh operation, the feeding apparatus e, e, is made to take hold of
the strip of metal and move forward immediately the metal is relieved from
the punches. This operation is effected in the following manner:-The
feeding apparatus consists of two jaws, e and e". The former is secured to
the upper ends of the rods u, u, and is capable of rising and falling, while the
lower one e is stationary. The rods u, u, are attached at their lower ends
to a horizontal bar v, which is furnished with a coiled spring w, that has a
tendency to raise the upper jaw e, and consequently open the jaws of the
feeding apparatus except when they are kept forcibly closed by the lever x, as
will be hereafter described. A vibrating or reciprocating motion is com-
municated to the feeding apparatus for the purpose of drawing forward a
fresh portion of the strip of metal a for every descent of the plungers. This
motion is effected by means of adjustable cam pieces y, which are connected
to the arms m, of the excentrics n as seen best in the side elevation Fig. 4,
and is made to act against a bowl or antifriction roller 2 connected to the
vibrating frame of the feeding apparatus, which is mounted on a centre or
pivot 1 below, as seen in the sectional view, Figure 5. It will now be under-
stood that as the main shaft of the machine rotates and actuates the excentric
n and arm m, the vibrating motion of this latter will bring the cam piece y
against the bowl 2 of the vibrating frame of the feeding apparatus, and
will force the same back, and as the jaws at that moment have tight hold of
the sheet or strip of metal a, the latter will be drawn forward the required
distance every time the cam piece y strikes against the bowl 2. The strip
of metal a having been drawn forward the required distance, it is held fast
by the jaws of the feeding apparatus until the punches d, d, descend; but
when the punches are descending and operating on the metal, the jaws e, e*,
are opened by the smaller diameter of the cam 2 (Fig. 5) coming round
and allowing the lever x to rise, and the bar v to be drawn up by the force
of the spring w. At the same time the cam piece y is drawn back from the
bowl 2 by the continued rotation of the cam n, and the vibrating frame of
the feeding apparatus being forced back by the spring 3, is then ready to take

page_text: another grip of the metal a, which it will do immediately the larger diameter
of the cam z is brought round and made to act on and depress the lever x.
The cams n and z are both mounted on the main shaft, and the several
operation above described are timed in such a manner that the strip of
metal a is never left free, but is either held by the jaws e, e, or else is under
the operation of the punches.
I would here observe that according to the size of the articles to be pro-
duced, or the blanks to be cut, so must the length of the feed be. This is
roughly adjusted by means of the adjustable cam piece y, but when the size
of the articles does not differ very materially, the feed may be most accurately
regulated by means of the adjusting and regulating screws 4, 4, the ends of
which project through the lower jaw e", and by coming against the side of
the stationary standards of the machine, prevent the spring 3 from forcing
back the feeding frame too far.
In the detached view, Fig. 6, I have shewn another mode of actuating the
feeding apparatus, which is applicable where the plan shewn in Fig. 5 will not
give sufficient feed.. It will also be found peculiarly useful when the punches
have become shortened by wear, as by adjusting the several parts I am enabled
to compensate for this wear. It has been already said that it is necessary to
hold the sheet or strip of metal firmly all the while it is in the machine, and
that when the feeding apparatus has left go, in order to come forward and
take hold of a fresh part of the metal, the punches are in operation, and the
metal cannot shift its position in the machine; but when the punches have
been used some time, and have become shortened by wear, they will upon
rising quit the metal too soon, and will not return again in time to lay hold of
it until the jaws of the feeding apparatus have quitted their hold; the metal
will, therefore, be left free in the machine, and may shift its position and spoil
the work. In order to prevent this, and compensate for the wear of the
punches, I find it advisable to employ the arrangement for working. the feed
shewn in the detached view, Fig. 6. In place of having a bowl 2 mounted in
fixed bearings, as shewn in Fig. 4, I attach to the jaw e* of the feeding appa-
ratus the arrangement shewn in Fig. 6. This consists of a slotted cam
piece 5, which is secured by screws or nuts to a slotted arm 6, so that by the
peculiar form or inclination of the end of the cam piece 5, the latter (which
is forced inward with the jaw e* by the spring 8 (Fig. 5) against the cam
piece y,) may remain stationary until the punches again descend and begin to
operate upon the metal.
In Figures 7 and 8 I have shewn a side elevation and plan view of a
modification of the above machine. The operation of the working parts is

page_text: nearly identical with those of the machine just described, the principal dif-
ference being in the arrangement and in the form of the framework. I do
not, therefore, consider it requisite to give any detailed description of these
Figures, and as I have marked similar letters of reference on corresponding
parts, it will only be necessary to refer to the foregoing description of the
machine shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and the arrangement shewn in
Figures 7 and 8 will be clearly understood.
My improvements in machinery for stamping metal, which form the second
part of my Invention, are shewn in the several Figures of Sheet II. Fig. 9
is a front elevation of a fly press constructed according to my improvements.
Fig. 10 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same, taken in the line 1, 1,
Fig. 11 which is a horizontal section taken in the line 2, 2, of Figures 9 and
10; and Fig. 12 is a transverse vertical section, taken in the line 3, 3, of
Fig. 11. The improved fly press shewn in these Figures is intended to make
metal buttons, but it will be easily understood that it can be equally well
adapted to produce such articles as eyelets, embossed discs, rings, or other
similar articles. The framework or standards a, a, of the press, as well as the
screw b, b, and fly lever or arm c; c, are similar to those ordinarily employed
for such purposes. The plunger d, d, is attached in any convenient manner to
the lower end of the large screw b, and works up and down in V guides e, e.
The plunger is made hollow, and is furnished at its lower end with a block j,
which is also hollow, and carries a compound die or punch of peculiar con-
struction, hereafter more particularly described. The metal blank to be
operated upon is placed in a stationary die g, which is shewn detached at Figs.
18, and is fixed in a hollow bed piece h, which is firmly secured to the foun-
dation of the machine by glands and screws.
The compound die or punch f is shewn detached, and drawn upon an
enlarged scale at Figures 13, 14, 15, and 16. Fig. 13 represents a front
view of the compound die and its appendages. Fig. 14 is a side view of the
same, and Fig. 15 is a vertical section shewing the construction and arrange-
ment of the internal parts. This compound die or punch consists of two
principal parts (viz):-First, the punch f, which is shewn detached in eleva-
tion at Fig. 16, and forms the holes and centre part of the button, and which
is a fixture or remains stationary in the block j of the plunger. Second, the
moveable die or punch i which surrounds the centre punch f, and is capable of
moving up and down in its socket in the block j of the plunger. This punch i
forms the rim of the button, and is shewn detached in section and plan at
Fig. 17, and the block to which it is adapted is screwed at its upper end, so
that it may be attached with facility to the lower end of the plunger. The

page_text: punch
is suspended in its socket in the block j by means of two rods k, k
the lower ends of which are made to fit into dovetailed grooves made at the
upper part of the punch, as seen best in the detached sectional view, Fig. 17,
and the upper ends of these rods carry a cross bar o, against the underside of
which bears a coiled spring 7, which always keeps the die in its socket, except
when it is pushed out by the spring being forcibly compressed. The punch f
is a fixture in the block j, and is secured therein by means of screws m,
Figures 10 and 13. It is furnished at its lower end with four or any other
number of projecting pins n, n, which form the thread holes in the blank. It
will of course be understood that corresponding holes are made in the stationary
lower die, as shewn in plan and section at Fig. 18. The operation of these
parts is as follows:-A blank is placed upon the stationary lower die g, and
the punches and i of the plunger are brought forcibly down thereon by
means of the fly lever or arm c, c, Fig. 9. By this means the button can be
made complete with the thread holes at one and the same operation. The
plunger with its block and punches will then rise again, and carry with it the
newly-formed button, which is forced or knocked off the pins n, n, by the cross
head or bar o of the inner pinch i, i, coming against a stationary stop piece p,
Figures 10 and 11, which forces the die or punch i, i, out of its socket, and
thereby pushes the newly formed button off the pins of the punch f, and delivers
it into any suitable receptacle. The stop piece p is fitted into an adjustable
plate q, which is secured by means of screws r, r, to the stationary glands s, s,
but admits of being adjusted thereon, so as to fix the stop piece at any required
altitude. Although the punch f is, practically speaking, a fixture in the
block j, being secured therein by means of the screws m, as above explained,
yet it is capable of being adjusted as the face of the punch i wears away.
This adjustment is effected by means of the back screw t, Fig. 15, which,
as the face of the punch i wears away, must be from time to time unscrewed
in order to allow the punch f to be drawn back in its socket.
In manufacturing buttons of a superior kind from a harder material than
brass I sometimes find it desirable to submit them to a second stamping
operation, in order to give them a better finish. When such is the case I first
place the blank in a machine similar to that just described, and thereby form
a rough button, which is planished and finished in a second pair of dies by a
subsequent operation. Of course the button having been roughly formed, and
the thread-holes made therein, the compound die or punch just described will
not be required for the second operation, a simple die or punch with a hole
through the centre, is therefore all that is required, and is fitted into the
block of the plunger; and in place of the stationary dio I
another stationary

page_text: die with a central hole is employed, as shewn best in the detached sectional
view, Fig. 19. A rod u, attached at its lower end by means of an arm to the
lever v, works in the central hole of the lower die, and after every stroke of
the upper dio this rod u rises and lifts the button out of the lower die. This
motion is effected by causing an inclined piece w, Fig. 9, attached to one arm
of the fly lever c, to come against the upper end of the rod z (Figures 9, 10,
and 19), which passes down a hole in one of the standards, and is connected at
the other end to the lever v. In order to prevent the upper end of the rod x
from getting bent I find it convenient in practice to adapt to the upper end
thereof a small lever with a bevilled piece at the extremity, or the end turned
back, as shewn in the small detached view, Fig. 20. As it will sometimes be
found that the button will adhere to the upper die instead of the lower one, I
also adapt thereto a clearing pin u*, which passes through the centre of the
die, and at every rise of the plunger the upper end of this pin comes against
the stop piece p, and the lower end thereof is thereby made to protrude and
push off the button if it should happen to adhere to the upper die; or if pre-
ferred the clearing pin u may have an eye made in or attached to its upper
part, as shewn in the detached view, Fig. 23, and be by means of this eye
suspended from the stop piece p, so that as the die or punch rises, the lower
end of the clearing pin, being stationary, may protrude through the centre
of the die or punch and push off the work if it should adhere thereto.
In Fig. 10 I have shewn another mode of working the upper clearing pin.
In this case the stop piece p and adjustable plate q are dispensed with, and the
clearing pin is connected to a rod p", which passes up a hole made in the
centre of the screw b; this rod p* is screwed at its upper end, and is furnished
with a nut, whereby it may be adjusted or regulated to any height; it is also
suspended from the support q", which being secured to the stationary part of
the framework or standards of course holds the clearing pin stationary while
the punches rise and fall. Fig. 21 is a side elevation, and Fig. 22 is a vertical
section of a die for forming rings or washers. It will be seen upon inspecting the
Drawing that this die is constructed upon precisely the same principle as that
shewn in Figures 13, 14, and 15, there being in both Figures a fixed central
punch fand a moveable annular punch i round the same for the purpose of
pushing off or delivering the work from the fixed central die or punch f; it will
not, therefore, be necessary to give any more detailed description of these Figures.
Having now explained the nature and object of my Invention of improve-
ments in machinery for cutting and stamping metals, I would observe in
conclusion that although I have described the best means with which I am at
present acquainted for carrying the same into effect, yet I do not by any means

page_text: intend to confine myself rigidly to the precise arrangement of parts herein
set forth, as they may doubtless be considerably varied without departing from
the nature and object of my Invention, and I would further observe that
although in order that my improvements may be more clearly understood I have
considered it necessary to describe various parts of well-known machinery
which have heretofore been employed for similar purposes, yet I do not intend
to claim such parts as constituting any portion of my present improvements,
except when constructed, combined, and arranged in the manner herein shewn
and described; but that which I consider to be new, and therefore wish to
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, as regards the first part of my Invention, the general
arrangement of the several parts shewn in Sheet I. of the accompanying
Drawings or any mere modification thereof, for cutting out blanks of any
suitable size and shape from a plain sheet of metal, which is passed through
the machine by mechanical means. I claim particularly the construction,
operation, and mode of actuating the feeding apparatus whereby the strip or
sheet from which the blanks are to be cut is drawn into and passed through
the machine.
In reference to the second part of my Invention, (viz.), improvements
in fly presses for stamping metals, I claim, first, the employment of a hollow
plunger and its block, and also the use of a compound die or punch,
such as is described and shewn in Sheet II., or any modification thereof,
consisting principally of the parts f and i, one of which is stationary in the
block of the plunger, while the other is capable of motion, in order to enable
it to push off the work from the stationary part. I further claim the use of
the stationary stop piece p, whereby the moveable punch in one arrangement,
and the upper clearing pin in another arrangement is worked. I also claim
the means shewn of adjusting the same, and further, the modification shewn
in Figure 10 of applying and working a clearing pin for the upper punches or
dies, as well as the means of working the lower clearing pin, as described and
shewn in the several Figures.
In witness whereof, I, the said, John Holmes, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty-second day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the said
John Holmes in the presence of
J. R. BLOXHAM, Sol",
Birmingham.
JOHN (L.S.) HOLMES.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-second day of December,
in the year of our Lord 1851, the aforesaid John Holmes came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforc-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.