Improvements in Varnishing Frames or Holders for Pencils, Penholders, and other like articles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 15th Oct.,
1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Varnishing Frames or Holders for Pencils,
Penholders, and other like articles.
A communication by THE AMERICAN LEAD PENCIL COMPANY, of Hoboken, in
the County of Hudson and State of New Jersey, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to he performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has reference to improvements in varnishing frames or holders,
for pencils, penholders, and other like articles, to be held in the frame during the
operation of varnishing.
It has heretofore been attempted to varnish lead pencils by dipping them in
varnish when held near their ends in clamps which embraced the sides of the
pencils near those ends. By this practice a portion of the lead pencil at each end
was not covered with varnish, or, if partly covered with varnish, was unsightly and
unfit to be placed on the market. It was therefore necessary, after varnishing, to
cut off the portions of the ends which had been engaged by the clamps, thus
causing considerable trouble and great waste. In addition thereto the varnish
accumulating at the upper clamps would, when the frame was withdrawn from the
varnish, flow down upon the pencil, causing streaks and ridges of varnish upon the
body of the pencil, which rendered the article unmarketable.
It has been found that in the practicable application of the process of varnishing
pencils by dipping, in order to produce a smooth and even varnish finish and in
order to avoid waste, it is necessary to hold the pencils, while the same are being
dipped, at their terminal surfaces only, and thereby avoid the necessity of cutting
off portions of the finished pencil, the marring of the varnished surface and the
accumulation of varnish near the points where the pencils are held.
With a view of realizing this result, it is the object of the present invention to
provide a holder for the pencils, pen-holders, and the like (all of which will be
hereinafter included in the generic term "pencil"), which holder will engage the
pencils at the end surfaces only, to the exclusion of any sensible part of the
sides.
A holder constructed in accordance with this invention is perfectly adapted for
varnishing pencils by dipping, and while it may be variously constructed to accom-
plish the result aimed at, it is conveniently made of a frame provided with a
number of pointed lugs, and an equal number of spring actuated pins, one opposite
each lug. The distance between the tips of the lugs and the ends of the pins is
somewhat smaller than the length of the article to be held between them, so that
when such article is introduced, the spring is under tension and the said article is
thus firmly clamped, ready to be dipped in the varnish in any convenient or
improved manner.
In the drawings :-
Figure 1, is an elevation partly in section of a holder constructed in accordance
with the present invention, and
Figure 2, is a view of a section on line a-x of Figure 1, with an object (a
pencil), clamped in the frame.
The varnishing frame is composed of three parallel bars 1, 2, 3 arranged in the
same plane. Two of these bars 1, and 2, are a moderate distance apart, while the

page_text: third bar 3, is at a distance from the bar 2, which is somewhat greater than
the length of the objects to be clamped in the frame. These three bars are
spaced and held in their relative positions by side rods 4, 4, to which they are
fastened, either by passing the side rods through holes in the horizontal bars and
upsetting the former, as shown in the drawing, or in any other suitable manner.
For the purpose of securing permanent parallelism between the bars 1, 2, one or
more stiffening rods 5, between the said bars, may be used.
Each bar 1, 2, is provided between the side rods 4, 4, with a series of holes or
perforations 6' (see Figure 2), the holes in one bar matching those in the other
bar; and through these holes extend pins 6, which latter may be simple pieces of
wire of suitable size and length, and each of which constitutes the movable jaw or
follower of a clamp.
Each pin 6, between the bars 1, 2, is surrounded by a helical spring 7, abutting
at one end against the bar 1, and at the other end against a washer 8, on the rod,
which washer in turn rests against a key 9, extending through the said rod 6, at a
point about midway of the length of the latter, and projecting a short distance on
each side thereof. The key 9, bearing upon the bar 2, limits the travel of the
follower pin 6, in one direction, and together with the washer 8, and spring 7,
limits the travel of the follower pin in the other direction.
The tendency of the spring 7 is to maintain the follower with the key 8, against
the bar 2, that is, in the position shown in Figure 1.
The bar 3, is provided with a series of bluntly pointed lugs 10, equal in number
to and each opposite or matching a follower 6, the construction being such that a
pencil or other object may be engaged at one end by a lug 10, and at the other
end by the corresponding end of a follower 6.
It will be understood that the distance between the point of a lug 10, and the
corresponding follower 6, is normally less than the length of the article to be
clamped, and that the spring 7, must be compressed as shown in Figure 2, when a
pencil 11, or other object is placed in the clamp.
The point of each lug is quite blunt and the springs 7, are light so that while
the pencil is firmly held, no injury is done thereto.
The ends of the followers 6, which engage the terminal faces of the article are
preferably made smaller than those terminal faces as shown, and similarly the
points of the lugs 10, are also made smaller than those terminal faces. In this
manner the accumulation of varnish at or about the ends of the article is
avoided.
It is evident that the combined action of the springs 7, when the frame is filled
with pencils, will tend to bind the bar 3, away from the followers since the bar is
supported at the ends only, and so loosen the pencils held in the middle portion of
the frame. In order to counteract this tendency of the springs 7, either the bar 3
may be made so heavy and stiff as to be practically inflexible, or the bar 3 may be
bent toward the follower. The bending of the bar toward the followers, is the
preferable mode of counteracting the tendency of the spring 7, and this form is
illustrated in Figure 1, though somewhat exaggerated for the sake of clearness.
The bowed bar 3, may be made quite light, and when the pencils are placed in
the frame, this bar will be straightened as shown in dotted lines, Figure 1, the
straightening of the bar being made possible by the elasticity of the side rods 4,
which latter will, of course, be bent when the said bar 3 is straightened.
The pencils may be placed in the frame, by putting one end of a pencil against
the end of a follower 6, then pushing the pencil upward to compress the spring 7,
and finally placing the other end of the pencil on the corresponding lug 10. The
pencil is then released and is found firmly held by end pressure between the said
lug and follower.
This operation is continued until the frame is filled and the pencils are then
ready for dipping in the varnishes.
The frame may be supported in any desired manner during the operation of
dipping, but a convenient way is to insert a number of them in a suitable holder

page_text: and then lowering the frames in the varnish, preferably by machinery, to prevent
the tremblings which cannot be avoided in hand manipulation.
In dipping, the frame is lowered into the varnish until the pencils are immersed,
and is then withdrawn, and the frame with the pencils therein, is put aside to
allow the pencils to dry, the operations of dipping and drying being performed
as often as necessary.
The pencils are either left in the frame until the several coats of varnish are
applied and dried, or they may be removed at any stage of the varnishing, for
receiving the maker's stamp or for other purposes, and can be quickly replaced
in the frame.
The pencils being held at the end surfaces only, no accumulation of varnish
at these points can occur, and consequently the smooth, and even surface of the
finished pencil is unbroken and unmarred.
The
It will be seen that this improved varnishing frame, while it contains a series
of independent individual spring clamps, each for holding a single pencil, also
acts as a whole as a spring clamp for holding a number of pencils.
fundamental idea of this invention being to hold pencils or other like articles
by end pressure at their terminal surfaces, to the exclusion of any portions of the
sides, it will be understood that it is not absolutely confined to the details of
construction shown and described, since the same may be variously changed without
departing from the principle of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A varnishing frame or holder for pencils and other like articles, engaging by
end pressure the terminal only of the pencil or other article, substantially as
described.
2. A varnishing frame or holder for pencils and other like articles containing a
number of individual clamps for engaging by end pressure the terminals of the
pencils to the exclusion of any portion of the sides, substantially as described.
3. A varnishing frame or holder, provided with a series of spring actuated
followers, and a series of lugs or supports for the articles to be varnished, equal in
number to and matching the followers, substantially as described.
4. A varnishing frame or holder provided with a series of clamps, each com-
posed of a spring actuated follower and a blunt lug opposite to and matching said
follower, substantially as described.
5. A varnishing frame or holder composed of two parallel bars, spring actuated
followers mounted therein, another bar provided with lugs equal in number to, and
matching the followers, and side rods connecting the last named bar with the two
parallel bars, substantially as described.
6. A holder for articles to be varnished, composed of a rigid guide with a series
of elastically supported pin followers mounted therein, and a frame connected with
the rigid guide and provided with a bar having lugs in alignment with the pins,
substantially as described.
7. A holder for articles to be varnished, composed of a rigid guide with a series
of elastically supported pins mounted therein, and an elastic frame connected with
the rigid guide and provided with an elastic bar having lugs in alignment with the
pins, substantially as described.
8. A varnishing frame or holder for pencils and other like articles, engaging by
end pressure a portion only of the terminals of the pencil or other articles,
substantially as described.
9. A varnishing frame or holder for pencils and other like articles containing a
number of individual clamps for engaging by end pressure a portion only of the
terminals of the pencils to the exclusion of any portion of the sides, substantially
as described.
10. A varnishing frame or holder, provided with a series of spring actuated

page_text: followers, and a series of lugs or supports for the articles to be varnished, equal in
number to and matching the followers, the clamping faces of the followers and lugs
being smaller than the terminal faces of the articles, substantially as described.
11. A varnishing frame or holder provided with a series of clamps, each com-
posed of a spring actuated follower and a blunt lug opposite to and matching said
follower, the clamping faces of the followers and lugs being smaller than the
terminal faces of the articles, substantially as described.
12. A varnishing frame or holder composed of two parallel bars spring actuated
followers mounted therein, another bar provided with lugs equal in number to,
and matching the followers, the clamping faces of the followers and lugs being
smaller than the terminal faces of the articles to be held thereby and side rods
connecting the last named bar with the two parallel bars, substantially as
described.
13. A holder for articles to be varuished, composed of a rigid guide with a
series of elastically supported pin followers mounted therein, and a frame con-
nected with the rigid guide and provided with a bar having lugs in alignment with
the pins, the clamping faces of the followers and lugs being smaller than the
terminal faces of the articles to be held thereby, substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of September 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.