IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING PINS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thaddeus Fowler and De Grasse Fowler, of Northford,
in the State of Connecticut, United States of America, for the Invention.
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING PINS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thaddeus Fowler and
De Grasse Fowler at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 25th July 1860.
We, THADDEUS FOWLER and DE GRASSE FOWLER. of Northford, in the State
of Connecticut, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING PINS," to
be as follows:-
The wire is carried into the machine by a pair of rollers, and headed by
Successive blows while clamped in a jaw; it is then cut off, and carried out in
a peculiar manner into notches in two discs, and the pin or headed blank rests
on a revolving or rolling bed that is between and on each side of these discs,
and the pin is pressed to said rolling bed by a stationary surface. The rolling
bed is made to travel twice as fast as the notched discs, hence the pins are
revolved, and while thus revolving they are pointed by several reciprocating
cutters or files acting on the same side of the pins as the stationary surface, so
that the pins roll under and against the said cutters. When pointed the pius

page_text: are delivered for the next operation, which consists in tinning or coating the
same thoroughly by dipping, or by any known process, for depositing the
coating metal.
Our Invention is especially adapted to the manufacture of pins from iron
wire, and we find that when sufficient thickness of coating metal is applied
that the surface is in a rough state, and the pins will not enter cloth or other
fabric easily, we therefore convey the pins to a wheel that carries them
beneath a stationary surface, and between the said wheel and surface the pins
are rolled, compressed, and effectually smoothed and finished, including the
head and point, so that the pin will enter freely into any ordinary fabric,
because the surface is rendered exceedingly smooth and even by said com-
pressing and rolling operation. And in some instances we employ reciprocating
burnishers in connection with said wheel and stationary surface.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thaddeus Fowler and De Grasse Fowler, in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 23rd January 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THADDEUS
FOWLER and DE GRASSE FOWLER, of Northford, in the State of Connecticut.
United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of July, A.D. One thousand eight
hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign did, for Herself,
Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said Thaddeus Fowler
and De Grasse Fowler. Her special license, that we, the said Thaddeus
Fowler and De Grasse Fowler, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as we, the said Thaddeus Fowler and De Grasse Fowler, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter. during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend.
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR MANUFACTURING PINS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said Thaddeus Fowler and De Grasse Fowler, by an instrument in writing
under our hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,

page_text: and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
alendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Thaddeus Fowler and De Grasse
Fowler, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
scertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon
that is to say).
nd cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
alendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Thaddeus Fowler and De Grasse
Fowler, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
scertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon
that is to say).
Fig. 1 is a plan of our said machine;
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2 is a side elevation:
3 is a vertical longitudinal section:
4 is a cross section through the rolling bed:
5 is a plan of the heading and cutting die and the rolling bed;
.. 6 is a plan of our machine for finishing the pins;
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"
7 is an elevation of the same; and
8 is a plan of a slight variation in the finishing device.
Similar marks of reference indicate the same parts.
Our Invention relates to the means for conveying the pin from the heading
lie to the pointing cutters, and performing the operation of pointing. In all
nachines heretofore constructed, with which we are acquainted, more or less
ifficulty arises in revolving the pins while being pointed, and in consequence
he points are apt to be imperfect and flat on one side; this arises principally
rom the device employed to roll the pins around acting on the same side of
he body of the pins as files or cutters; in other words, as a general thing
he pins have been rolled over a stationary surface by a belt or other device
cting on the upper side of said pins. and the cutters also acted on the upper
ide at the end to point the pins, therefore the action of the cutters was
detain the pins against the progressive and rolling motion from the
elt.
In our Invention we apply the files or cutters on the same side as the
tationary belt or resisting surface. and apply the rolling bed on the other side
f the pins, thereby the files or cutters assist in ensuring the revolution of the
ins. We also make our stationary belt or resisting surface in the arc of a
irele corresponding to the rolling bed. which is itself of cylindrical form, by
which means we are enabled to obtain a resisting surface on which the pins
ll, that will give the pressure on the pins necessary for revolving the same,
nd even straightening them if slightly crooked, and at the same time give

page_text: opportunity for a long sweep or vibration of the file or cutter over the pins.
which prevents the cutters clogging, and gives a better shape to the pin
points.
In the Drawing. a is a shaft revolved by competent power, and sustained
on the bed b of the machine; c, c. are bevel gears driving the second shaft d,
from which a belt 1 passes to the rollers e, e, that feed in the wire; these
rollers are pressed together on to the wire by suitable springs. and continue to
project the wire into the machine whenever opportunity is given for so doing
by the heading jaws opening: when the jaws are closed the rollers either slip
on the wire or the belt slips on the pulleys. The heading jaws f. f', are
operated by the cam on the main shaft a; and his the heading die attached
by the lever h' and cams 2. 2, 2. The wire passes into grooves between the
jaws, f, and is by them clamped at each blow of the header h, the jaws
releasing the wire slightly between each blow, in consequence of the flat
places in the cam g, so that the feed rollers can move the wire slightly
endways, as the head is formed by the successive blows, as now practised. It
has been usual, however, heretofore to open the jaws and cut off the pin and
force it out; the act, however, of so doing often causes the pin to jump out
suddenly, and hence it does not pass properly into the next part of the
machine; we therefore provide the finger i. kept down by a slight spring 3.
and occupying a cavity formed for that purpose in the upper jaws f', and said
finger has a flaring notch, so that the pin wire can pass along in the groove of
the jaw beneath said finger, and when the pin is cut off and passed out
of the jaws this finger, presses lightly on said pin, and ensures its proper
delivery by the cutter . This cutter is actuated by the cam 4, and drawn
back by the spring 5. and has the cutting blade or end 7 acting to separate
the wire, and with the projecting toe 8 carry the headed blank out of the
jaws f, f', and deliver it into the apparatus next set forth, where the pointing
is performed. I is a third shaft geared to a by mitre wheels ' and 9 is a
worm thereon driving the wheel m on the cross shaft m'. This shaft in' has
on it gears 10 and 11, 11; the former connects to and drives the wheel 12.
and rolling bed n on the shaft 13. This rolling bed is composed of rings keyed
ar secured on to the shaft, and receiving between said rings the notched pin
wheels o, o, see section. Fig. 4. and these notched pin wheels are driven by
the gears 11. 11, and the size of the wheels 10, 11, and 12 is such that the
surface of the rolling bed n travels twice as fast as the notches in the
wheels o, o, so that each pin placed in the notches of o by being delivered
from the jaws, as aforesaid, is rolled around constantly, the joint operation of

page_text: the rolling bed n, notched pin wheels o, o, and a resisting stationary surface p.
This resisting surface p is formed by a strip of metal between two projecting
armis 14, 15, the latter of which is fitted to turn. and provided with a
lever 16 and weight or spring, whereby the metallic strip is kept towards
the rolling bed, with the power and tension necessary to cause the pins to roll.
17 is a thin leather belt between the strip p and the pins to make a better
bearing surface for said pins to roll against, and this belt is wound on a stud 18.
by the turning of which the belt can be drawn through under the strip p to
bring a new piece of the belt to the proper place in case of one part thereof
wearing out.
The pins as delivered from the cutting and heading jaws into the notched
wheels o. o. are by them carried up, and a shield 19, see Fig. 5, prevents their
falling out, while an incline 20 slides them endways until the heads of said
pins take the groove 21 in n. and shield 22 behind the heads prevents the pins
being moved endways as pointed. A small grooved compression plate 23.
extended from 22. presses on the pin heads as they roll beneath it, and by joint
nction with the groove 21, compresses and rolls down any slight burr or
inequality in the heads. The pins after being pointed as next described, fall
out into any suitable conductor or receptacle. or are removed from the notched
wheels o, o, by a small stationary tongue of metal. and fall into a trough or
receiver.
The device for pointing consists of several files or cutters, we have shown
four. two of them have a long sweep or movement for taking off the metal
and shaping the point, the other two have a less movement and are finer
cutters to burnish and finish the points: each of these cutters s. 8. t. 1. is
formed with a slide on the upper part thereof, working through an arm u,
extending from the arch r, and 24. 24, are springs pressing the cutters down.
The arms u, u, may be adjustable by set screws, so as to prevent the cutters
touching the edge of the rolling bed n, or removing too much of the pin point.
The cutters 8, 8, are reciprocated by the rock shaft r and connecting rod ic' to
the crank pin 25 on the end of the shaft d, and the cutters f. f. are reciprocated
by the rock shaft r, connecting rod r', and lever, operated on by cam
the 26 on the shaft d. The cam having three or more points gives a short
quick movement to the finishing cutters 1. t. while the roughing cutters 8, 8,
receive a longer and slower movement.
The stationary resisting surface p being curved to the rolling bed, enables us
to use only a thin plate under tension, and thereby but little space is occupied
above the pin; we are therefore able to use cutters of any desired length, and

page_text: vibrate them freely over the points: this is of considerable importance, par-
ticularly in pointing iron pins, because we can use cutters with a larger extent
of surface and a comparitively slow motion. so that neither the cutters or pins
become heated: and the cutters will remain sharper longer than those now in
use, and act to remove the metal in detail. The movement given to the
cutters from the rock shaft dresses the points in a convex curved form; that
is the best shape for penetrating easily.
It will be seen that the pins roll under the cutters, and that these cutters
acting on the same side as the stationary resisting surface, do not interfere in
the least with the pin rolling freely and revolving as it rolls.
The machinery above described is especially adapted to making pins out of
iron wire, we therefore proceed to describe our mode of finishing such
iron pins.
Pins have heretofore been formed of iron by the ordinary cutting, heading.
and pointing machinery, and have afterwards been coated by boiling in tin
similar to the brass pins, but the coating put on is so thin that the iron is
liable to discolor and rust. When a thicker coating of tin is put on the pin
by dipping the pins, or by any ordinary process for depositing such coating
metal on the pins, they become very rough in their surface. so that they will
not pass into or through any fabric with ease because such coating exists on
the surface in minute granules. if the pins after being thus coated are
subjected to any of the known polishing operations. such as the revolving or
shaking box. the inequalities of surface are not removed. and considerable
power is required to stick the pin in the fabric, as well as giving an unpleasant
sensation to the hand. This portion of our Invention does not relate to any
particular mode of coating the iron pins, but consists in finishing such coated
pins by a rolling and compressing operation, whereby the granules are crushed
down to a perfect bevel, and the pin rendered smooth and uniform throughout
its entire length. To accomplish this operation we make use of a wheel e'
mounted on a shaft c', that is sustained on a frame b', and rotated by the fly
wheel d' or otherwise. is the conductor on to which the pins are placed and
pass down the curved end of the conductor, and lie horizontally, as seen in
Fig. 9. which is a vertical section at the line a', a', Fig. 7. From the
conductor the pins are separated one at a time by the slide g'. that is moved
by the lever . that is acted on by the pins i', i, at the back of the wheel e'.
is a spring to keep the lever towards the pin i: P is a slide. acting on
the levers m³ that is set on the fulcrum 31. and formed with a chisel-shaped
separator 32; 36 is a spring acting against the end of the lever m³.
The

page_text: operation of this is that the slide g' presses a pin along from beneath the end
of the conductor to be acted on, as hereafter described, at which moment the
separator 32 is drawn back, and the line of pins rests on the slide g'. Now.
as the slide draws back, the separator 32 passes above the lowest pin,
sustaining the others above: while this lowest pin falls on the wheel c' as
slide draws from under it. n' is a spring compressing plate, coinciding near
its end with the shape of the edge of the wheel e. 37 is a screw, by which
the spring compressing plate is kept towards e' with more or less power. The
end of this plate n' is slightly bevelled, so that each pin is pressed in between
the wheel e and plate a¹. The revolution of the wheel e' rolls the pin around.
and both surfaces being very smooth, all the inequalities and roughness con-
sequent on the tinning operation are rolled down. and a perfectly smooth and
highly finished pin is produced. and the finished pin passes away from beneath
the plate a before another is entered, so that any slight inequality in size will
not affect the perfect operation and uniformity of pressure on the pin. To
finish up the point we make use of the vibrating polisher o, kept on to the
point by the spring p', and vibrated by the joint operation of the spring 33 and
a series of teeth 35 around the back of the wheel el, acting on a stud 34 from
the slide o'. When desired, this vibrating plate o may extend in the form of
burnishing fingers 37. see Fig. 8, the ends of which act through openings in
the compressing plate n' to burnish the pin as it rolls beneath said plate n'
between that and the wheel e'.
It will now be apparent that by the rolling and compressing operation
herein set forth an iron pin can be made in as perfect and saleable form as the
brass pin, because the pins heretofore made either had not sufficient coating
material to be protected from rust, or else were rough and uneven in their
surface, we are enabled to apply the necessary amount of coating material,
and then bring the surface to a perfect finish.
What we claim. and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-
First, the spring finger i within the clamping jaws for the purposes and as
specified.
Second, we claim the combination of the cutter 7 and toe 8 with the finger i
for carrying the headed pin out of the clamping jaws, and delivering the same
into the notched pin wheels o, o, as set forth.
Third, we claim a rolling bed in combination with a stationary resisting
surface and cutter or cutters, when said cutter or cutters act on the same side
of the shaft of the pin as the stationary surface against which the pin rolls in
being pointed, for the purposes and as set forth.

page_text: Fourth, we claim the notched pin wheels o, o. and revolving and rolling
bed n, constructed and operating substantially as set forth.
Fifth, we claim the metallic strip p kept at a proper tension by the lever 16
or its equivalent, and pressing the belt 17 on to the pins. in combination with
the rolling bed and notched plates, as and for the purposes specified.
Sixth, we claim finishing coated iron pins by the rolling and compressing
operations, substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thaddeus Fowler and De Grasse
Fowler, have hereunto set our hands and seals. this Twenty-sixth day
of October, A.D. One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
BOWL RD
Witnesses,
LEMUEL W. SERRELL,
119, Nassau St., N. York.
CHARLES II. SMITH,
119. Nassau St., New York.
DE GRASSE FOWLER. (L.s.)