Improvements in Match Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 19th Nov., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Match Machines.
We, ERSKINE HENRY BRONSON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and
residing at 75, Concession Street, Ottawa, in the Province of Ontario, Canada,
and WALTER GOODMAN BRONSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at 72,
Concession Street, in the City, Province and Dominion aforesaid, both Lumber
Manufacturers, 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:―
Our invention relates to improvements in match machines and particularly
to that class of machines which are provided with reciprocating cutters adapted
to cut splints and to deposit them into a travelling belt composed of slats adapted
to receive and hold them.
It consists in providing such a machine with two or more reciprocating cutters,
an endless chain for receiving the splints from the said cutters, worms for feeding
said chain in such a manner that each cutter will deposit match splints in alter-
nate holders or sections of the said chain.
It also consists in certain other novel constructions, combinations and arrange-
ments of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1, represents a top plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with
our invention.
Fig. 2, represents a side elevation of the machine, portions of the same being
shown in section to better reveal the construction of the parts.
Fig. 3, represents a transverse vertical section through the match machine and
a pair of cams or worms mounted therein.
Fig. 4, represents a top plan view of a portion of a carrier chain.
Fig. 5, represents a side elevation of a section of said chain.
Fig. 6, represents a longitudinal vertical section through one of said chain
sections.
Fig. 7, represents an end elevation of one of the chain sections.
Fig. 8, represents a vertical transverse section through the same, and
Fig. 9, represents a vertical transverse section through the said chain, show-
ing strengthening bands or cleats.
1 in the drawings represents a match machine; 2, 2 reciprocating cutters; 3 a
carrier chain; 4, 4 and 5, 5 feeding worms or cams for operating the said chain.
In match machines of this character, it is desirable to be able to cut a large
number of matches at a time and have a chain which is capable of receiving and
holding the splints thus cut. In this way it is desirable to make the match
machine capable of more work without a greater expense in building the machine.
In carrying out the objects of our invention, we employ a machine provided
with a suitable frame as 6 upon the top of which suitable guide ways as 7 are
formed for supporting and guiding a splint carrier chain. Upon the top of the
frame we mount longitudinal shafts as 8. 8 in suitable bearings as 9, 9 the said
Price 871

page_text: shafts being revolved by any suitable or well-known means. Near one end of
the machine, the feeding worms or cams 4 and 5 are rigidly secured to the said
shafts 8, 8. The worm 4 upon one side of the machine is arranged directly
opposite the worm 4 upon the opposite side of the machine and one worm 5 is
arranged opposite the other worm 5 upon the opposite side of the machine. The
pairs of worms 4 and 5 are arranged at a point in the machine opposite the places
where the cutters 2, 2 reciprocate, and are provided with threads or spiral pro-
jections as 10, 10 which engage the carrier chain and move the same forward
in the machine. The worms are preferably constructed upon such pitch with
respect to the pitch of the chain, that the chain will be moved forward two sections
at each revolution of the worms, as for example, a chain having a one inch pitch
would be engaged by wornis having a two inch pitch! By this construction the
worms as seen in the drawings will only engage alternate sections of the chain.
Certain portions of the ribs 10, 10 are made straight as at 11, 11, that is upon
a plane at right angles to the axis of the shafts 8, 8 so as to hold the carrier chain
stationary for the time required to receive the splints from the cutters. The
cutters 2, 2 are constructed in any well-known manner, each preferably having
a cutter head as 12 carrying a cutter as 13. The cutters 13 are provided with a
series of cylindrical cutting edges adapted to cut splints of the desired shape
from blocks of wood presented to the said cutters. Any suitable and well-known
means for reciprocating the said cutters may be employed, that shown in the
drawings comprising a pitman as 14 operated by a crank as 15 formed upon a
power shaft 16.
The cutters may be reciprocated simultaneously for cutting and
carrying up the splints or they may be arranged to reciprocate alternately so that
one is carrying up the splints to the chain, while the other is descending to cut
the splints from the blocks of wood. In either case the cutters are so spaced apart
in the machine as to deposit splints in alternate sections of the carrier chain
whereby the cutters co-operating with the action of the, worms which feed the
chain forward two sections at a time may completely fill the said chain. The
blocks of wood are fed to the cutters, preferably in two troughs 17, 17 arranged
at an angle to the cutters, entering at the side of the machine. While these boxes
might be arranged upon opposite sides of the machine, yet we prefer to arrange
them so as to enter the machine upon the same side thereof. This brings the
two feeding boxes comparatively close together and makes it possible for one
attendant to supply blocks of wood to both of the boxes.
recesses
or apertures formed in them
The
In constructing a machine with double cutters operated in the manner described,
we find it necessary to construct a chain suitable to receive the splints from the
said cutters. The construction of our improved chain forms an important feature
of our invention. It comprises sections made up of two hinged portions as 18, 18,
each of said portions being provided with half journals as 19, 19, which enter
and engage bearings as 20 formed in suitable connecting links as 21. The meet-
ing faces of adjacent half bearings 19 are preferably flattened as at 22 while the
lower edges of the said half bearings are bevelled or cut away as at 23 to permit
of a slight oscillation of the half sections 18 in the bearings 20.
links 21 of the chain are provided with upwardly extending projections as 24
which have
as at 25. Sliding
bars as 26 are arranged above each section and are formed with reduced end
portions as at 27 which are adapted to extend through the apertures 25 in the
links 21. The reduced portions 27 of the said bars are made of sufficient length
to permit of a reciprocating movement of the said bars. The bars 26 are each
cut away upon their inner faces as at 28 so as to form an elongated slot between
the two bars when they are applied together as clearly seen in Fig. 4 of the
drawings. The bars 26 are preferably rigidly secured together. Interposed
between the bars 26 and working in a slot 28 is a slat operating plate 29. the said
plate 29 being provided with laterally extending studs or lugs 30 which engage
inclined ways or slots as 31 formed in each of the bars 26, 26. The greater part
of the slots 31 are arranged upon a diagonal line as seen in Fig. 5 of the drawings,

page_text: the bars
The
the
while each end of each of the said slots is provided with a horizontal portion as seen
in the said Fig. 5. The said slat operating plate 29 is also provided with down-
wardly extending projections as 32, 32 which project between the slats of the
chain sections, sufficient room being left between the slats for this purpose.
lower ends of the projections 32, 32 carry studs or pins 33 which project into and
engage corresponding recesses 34 formed in the edges of the slats 18, 18. This
construction can be clearly seen by reference to Fig. 8 of the drawings. It will
be apparent from this description that upon depressing the plate 29, the studs 33
will carry the edges of the slats 18 downwardly, the said slats turning upon their
half journals 19 and occupying a position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 8.
This movement, of course, operates to spread the edges of the said slats with
respect to each other so that they are ready to receive a row of match splints
between them. When the said plate 29 is raised again, it will raise the adjoining
edges of the slats 18 and clamp the upper ends of the match, splints
between them. It will also be apparent from the above description
that upon moving
26 longitudinally with respect to
sections of the chain, that the slots 31 therein engaging the pins 30 will raise
and lower the said plate 29 to operate the slats. In order to bind the sections
of the chain together more perfectly we may also employ spanning bands or
cleats as 38, illustrated in Figs. 4 and 9 of the drawings. The bands 38 are
preferably formed of flat pieces of metal having depending end portions as 39,
engaging the outer bevelled edges 40 of metal pieces as 41 secured to adjacent
slats 18. The engaging end portions 39 are bevelled to fit the bevelled portions
of the pieces 41 so as to permit the spanning cleats 38 to accommodate themselves
to the movement of the swinging sections 18. As the carrier chain 3 approaches
the cutters, the slats should be lowered and thus opened to receive the match
splints and to accomplish this, we form lugs as 35 at suitable points upon the
peripheries of the worms 4 and 5 to engage the ends of the sliding bars 26, whereby
the said slats will be opened at the proper time to receive the discharged splints
from each of the cutters and will immediately be closed to grip the said splints
and prevent their descent with the cutters. As seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings
the sliding bars 26 will first be moved in one direction to open the slats by the
lug 35 upon one side of the machine and when the splints have been received the
lug 35 on the opposite side of the machine will move the bars 26 back again to
close the sections. The match engaging edges of the slats 18 are preferably
corrugated or grooved to better engage and hold the splints.
After the carrier receives its charges of matches from the cutters, it passes to
suitable parafining, heading, heating and drying mechanisms as in other match
machines of ordinary construction. After being suitably dried, the endless chain
passes back to the splint cutting machine reaching the same at the opposite end
of the machine from the cutters. Here the chain descending to the machine
engages the feeding worms as 36 which are provided with projections 37 similar
to the projections 35 which operate the rods 26 and open the sections of the chain,
whereby the matches are dropped out, thus leaving the chain free to receive the
matches again. The worms 36 are arranged upon vertical shafts mounted in
suitable bearings upon the rear end of the machine, which receive their motion
through bevel gearing as 36, from the shafts 8. The gearing 36" is preferably
of such a character as to impart twice the speed of the shafts 8 to the said worms 36.
This enables us to use only one pair of worms at the discharge end of the machine,
the said worms having a pitch half that of the worms 4 and 5 so as to engage and
open every section of the chain.
While we have described and shown worms at the discharge end of the machine
of a different pitch from those at the cutters and therefore adapted to be revolved
twice as fast, yet we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to this
construction as we may, if desired, use worms at the discharge end of the same
pitch as the worms 4 and 5, and therefore capable of feeding forward two sections
of the chain at one revolution. In this instance, it will only be necessary to
provide the said worms with two lugs instead of one in order to open all the

page_text: chain sections. This will reduce the speed of the worms at the rear to the same
velocity as the one at the front.
Of course, as illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood that the links 21
connect all the sections of the chain so as to form an endless belt or carrier.
When the cutters are arranged to reciprocate simultaneously the carrier chain
can be held taut between the worms 4 and 5 but when the cutters are reciprocated
alternately, it is necessary to arrange the worms 4 and 5 so as to leave a slight
slack in the chain between the said worms. This is rendered necessary on account
of the intermittent feed of the chain at the points where it receives the splints
from the cutters.
It will be apparent that a machine constructed in accordance with our inven-
tion is adapted to do twice as much work as a machine employing a single cutter
and that a machine constructed in this manner and thus able to do double quantity
of work can be constructed as cheaply and with as great strength, as a machine
having only a single cutter. When the cutters are reciprocated alternately, also
the strain upon the machine would he less than when the cutters are reciprocated
together. Feed troughs also being placed near together require only one operator
to feed the blocks to both cutter-heads. Special advantages also accrue from the
construction of our improved chain, particularly in that, no abutment block is
needed to sustain the lower end of the match splints as the matches do not have
to be thrust into the chain. The chain opens and closes to grip them. The
thrust which is usually employed for placing the splints in the carrier is thus
done away with and relieves the machine from the excessive strain accompanying
such thrusts. It will also be noted that a knocker-block or ejector is not necessary
to empty the chain of its load of splints.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :
1. In a match machine, the combination with a splint carrier, of reciprocating
cutters mounted in the said machine, each of said cutters being adapted to cut
splints and carry them to different sections of the carrier chain, and means for
reciprocating said cutters, substantially as described.
2. In a match machine, the combination with a carrier chain, of a plurality
of reciprocating cutters for supplying splints to the said carrier, means for recipro-
cating the said cutters, either simultaneously or alternately for cutting and carry-
ing the match splints to the said carrier, substantially as described.
3. In a match machine, the combination with a carrier, chain, of reciprocating
cutters mounted in the said machine, the said cutters being so spaced with respect
to each other as to insert match splints into alternate sections of the carrier
chain, substantially as described.
4. In a match machine, the combination with a carrier chain, of worms for
feeding the same forward, reciprocating cutters adapted to cut and carry splints to
the said chain, the said worms feeding the chain two sections at a revolution,
whereby each of the cutters will insert the splints into alternate sections of the
chain, substantially as described.
5. In a match machine, the combination with a carrier chain, of worms having
inclined portions and straight portions for feeding the carrier chain with an
intermittent movement, and reciprocating cutters for depositing splints into two
of said sections at a time, substantially as described.
6. In a match machine, the combination with reciprocating cutters, of a
carrier chain comprising sections hinged in suitable connecting links, means
for opening the said sections for receiving the splints from the cutters, and worms
for feeding the said chain forward two sections at a time, substantially as described.
7. In a match machine, the combination with reciprocating cutters, of an end-
less carrier chain comprising sections formed of hinged slats, a reciprocating bar
mounted above the said slats, means connected with the said bars for opening

page_text: and closing the said slats, worms for feeding the said carrier chain, and means
upon the said worms for operating the slat opening bars, substantially as described.
8. In a match machine, the combination with reciprocating cutters, of an end-
less carrier chain comprising slats having half journals, links connecting the
said slats and enclosing the said half journals, means for moving the slats up
and down upon the said journals, whereby their meeting edges will be spread apart to
receive the splints from the cutters, substantially as described.
9. In a match machine, the combination with reciprocating cutters, of a carrier
chain comprising hinged slats, links connecting the same, longitudinal bars
mounted in the said links above the said slats and having slots formed in them,
a vertically moving plate mounted in the said slot and engaging the said slats
for opening and closing the same to receive and discharge the splints, substan-
tially as described.
10. In a match machine, the combination with reciprocating cutters, of an end-
less carrier chain comprising hinged slats, links connecting the said slats, longi-
tudinally moving bars having reduced end portions engaging apertures formed
in the said links, the said bars being provided with elongated slots, vertically
moving slides moving in the said slots and provided with pins engaging angular
slots formed in the said bars, and depending portions formed upon the said slide
and provided with pins engaging recesses in the slats, the construction being such
that when the bars are moved in one direction, they will depress the slide and
thus open the slats and when the bars are moved in the opposite direction, they
will raise the slide and close the slats, substantially as described.
11. In a match machine, the combination with reciprocating cutters, of a
carrier chain mounted therein, said chain comprising hinged slats, longitudinally
moving bars arranged above the said slats and connected therewith, worms for
feeding the chain forward, and lugs formed upon the said worms and adapted to
move the said bars longitudinally for operating the slats, substantially as described.
12. In a match machine, the combination with a cutter, of a carrier chain com-
prising hinged sections hinged in suitable connecting links, means for opening
the said sections for receiving the splints from the cutters, and worms for feeding
the said chain forward two sections at a time, substantially as described.
Datad this 14th day of Sentombar 1808
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.