IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING PINS
Year: 1835

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM SHALL PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
SLOCUM, of the New Road, Saint Paneras, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-second day of October, in the sixth year of His reign,
did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Samuel Slocum, His especial licence that I, the said Samuel Slocum, my
exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Samuel Slocum,
my exors, admiors, 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 expressed,
should and lawful might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING PINS;" in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso, obliging me, the said Samuel Slocum, 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 inrolled in His said Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Samuel Slocum, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention to consist
in certain improvements in the machinery for making pins, whereby I am
enabled to make and trim a solid head to and point a pin better than by any

page_text: machinery now in use for that purpose. And in further compliance with the
said proviso, I, the said Samuel Slocum, do hereby describe the manner in
which my said Invention is to be performed by the following statement thereof,
reference being had to the Drawings annexed, and to the figures, letters, and
numbers marked thereon, it being observed that similar letters and numbers
are used to denote similar parts in all the Figures, which prevents the necessity
It may be as well here to state that I shall first describe in detail all the
various parts of the machinery at rest, as shewn in the Drawings, and after-
wards I shall describe the working action of the whole.
In the Drawing marked A, Figure 1 is a side elevation in section of a pin-
making machine with my improvements; and Figure 2 is a plan of the same
machine; and as some parts are omitted in Fig. 1 in order to make the
Figure more clear, it may, perhaps, be better to describe these two Figures
together. (A), cast-iron framing firmly bolted together upon which the
machinery rests; (B), a horizontal flat plate or platform, extending in front
across the machine, forming a part of the frame; (C), a crank shaft, working
in two bearings on the frame, and carrying besides several excentrics; (D), a
moveable frame, which I call the heading frame, its use being to strike up the
heads of the pins out of the solid wire; this frame rests on projections from
the sides of the frame (A), and is connected with the crank (E) on the crank
shaft (C), with an intervening joint after it passes between two pairs of
horizontal flat bars or stretchers (F), that are firmly bolted to the sides of the
frame (A). (G), two lever bars, which move at one end on pins (II), that
pass vertically through one of the stretchers (F), and carry at the other end a
half die each (I), secured in their places by the screws (J); but these are
more clearly shewn and on a larger scale in Figures which will be described
hereafter. (K), two toggle joints, with their extremities pressing ono against
each of the lever bars (G), and the other against the beading frame (D); (L),
a bow spring, so placed as to be constantly exerting its influence to separate
the levers (G); (M), two stop screws to limit the action of the levers (G);
(N), the heading punch, moving in a square groove or channel on a standard
P, attached to the frame (A), and rising between the levers (G), the centre of
the punch and the centre of the dies (I) being in the same line; (0), a spring
at the back of the heading punch to keep it drawn off when at rest; (r), a
cap furnished with two thumbscrews, keeping the heading punch in its
groove; (Q), a revolving circular plate or wheel, seen edgeways, carrying a

page_text: series of revolving metal chucks, and which plate or wheel I therefore call the
chuck wheel; this wheel is placed at right angles, with a line passing
longitudinally through the centre of the heading punch (N), and has spring
chucks (herein-after more particularly described) so placed at equal and con-
venient distances in its periphery, that in its revolution the centres of the said
chucks are mado successively to pass in the central line common to the
heading punch N and dies (I); one chuck it will be seen in this Figure is in
the position alluded to. Between these chucks are shoulders or dents pro-
jecting from the plate, to be acted upon by a detent bar, which will be further
explained hereafter by other Figures. (R), one of the said revolving spring
chucks, formed with projections around their centres, which serve as axles, and
take a bearing upon two arms, which are fastened one on each side of the
wheel Q, better shewn in other Figures, which will be hereafter described;
these chucks are grooved in their circumferences, and contain a spring within,
better shown hereafter. Through the centre of these chucks a hole is made
sufficiently large to admit easily the wire of which the pin is to be made, or
blank, as it is called, when cut off to the length to form the pin. (S), a
vibrating frame carrying a series of revolving cutters which are used to point
the pin, as herein-after described more particularly; (A'), a spindle upon
which the chuck wheel (Q) revolves; (B'), a pair of bevil wheels of equal
diameter; (C), a spindle; (D¹), a catch or ratchet wheel; (E), a vibrating
spring lever driving the same; (F¹), a rod conveying motion to the chuck
wheel (Q) from the eccentrics (a) on the crank shaft (C), by means of the
ratchet wheel (D) acting on the spindles (C') and (A'), which are supported
on standards, bolted or otherwise secured to the platform B in the front part
of the frame; (G), a sliding detent bar, working in a groove on the upper part
of the lever bar (G), and connected to the crank plate (H¹) by a pin (e);
(H), a crank plate, moving on a pin (f) in the side frame (A), and connected
by the rod (I) to the rod (F); (J), a stationary chisel, screwed to an
upright standard on the platform (B); (K¹), a sliding chisel, moving in a
groove on the upper end of one of the lever bars (G), and when at rest kept
back by the spring (L'); one end of the sliding chisel is drawn by the spring
(L'), in contact with edge of the crank plate (H'), by which it is urged.
forward when in action. (N¹), the upper one of two inducting or feeding
rollers, slightly grooved at their edges so as to bestride the wire with a greater
pressure, and placed in front part of the frames, the one directly above the
other, nearly in contact with each other, so as gently to press the wire and
draw it forward as required when the machinery is in action; (0'), one of
be two spur wheels, of equal diameter, placed one above the other, gearing

page_text: ;
together the spindles upon which the rollers (N') are keyed; (P¹), a ratchet
wheel and spring lever, similar to that described at (E'); (Q'), rod connecting
the eccentric (R¹) on crank shaft C, with spring lever and ratchet wheel
(P) (S¹), the ordinary reel with the coil of wire from which the blanks
are to be cut and the, pins made; (T). straightening pegs or screws, the 5
reel and pegs being supported by the projecting. bar (U), that is bolted to
the platform B; (V), a metal strap, bent at one end and passed over the
spindle of the upper inducting roller (N¹), the upper or lower end sup-
porting a weighted lever (W), which is fastened by a pin joint (C) to a
standard (X) on the platform (B), and it is by the adjustment of the weight
on the lever bar (W) that the necessary nip is given to the wire by the
rollers (N); (Y¹), a moving frame, fastened at one end to the cutter frame
(S), and sliding at the other through notches in a standard (Z), which standard
is fastened to the frame (A); (A2), an eccentric fixed to crank shaft (C), and
giving motion to the frame (Y'); (B), four pullies, mounted on a spindle in
the moveable frame (Y), over which the gut strings or bands (c2) pass to
smaller grooved pullies, forming a part of the collar against or upon which
the cutters (U) are secured, there being a pully to each cutter; the grooved
pullies are better shown in another Figure, to be hereafter explained. (S2), a
gut string or band, passing around the pulley (K) over the guiding rollers (T³)
to a driving pully (U) on the spindle,. upon which the pullies (B), which
give motion to the cutters (U), not seen in this Figure, are mounted; (V2), a
pully (used also as a fly wheel) on the crank shaft (c), from which the pully
(L) is driven by a band (W) passing around cach; (X), a bar sliding on
mortices in the frame (Y), which frame is fastened to the upright (G), and
moved by an eccentric (7) on the crank shaft (C); (A³), the connecting rod.
The bar (X) is for the purpose of pulling the pins when formed out of the
chucks, and has a hooking piece set on an angle at the end nearest the wheel
(Q). The action of the eccentric (Z) shoves this hooking piece up close
under the head of the pin, and by its backward motion abstracts the pin from
the chuck (R). The hooking piece and bar (X) will be shown separately
hereafter. (B'), a flat spring attached to the frame (Y), its lower end when
in action passing or sliding along the back of the hooking piece and pressing
against it, till as the bar recedes it at last looses its hold of the hooking piece
and snaps forward, striking the pin out of the hooking piece and throwing it
into any receptacle placed to catch it. On the return forward of the bar, the
same action of the spring takes place at the front part of the hooking piece,
and thus it is again brought into a position to act upon the back of it, as
fore. (C) a flat bar or plate, placed between the inducting rollers (N).

page_text: lying at one end on a pin (D³), with a groove on the upper surface, in which
the wire moves when under the compressed action of the rollers (N¹), and
kept in its place by means of a spring (E³) and stop (F³), placed opposite to
each other at its other end; this bar or plate (C) has a space cut out between
the rollers (N), so as not to interfere with their joint pressure upon the wire,
whilst the groove forms a channel to conduct it directly to the centre of the
spring chucks (R) and dies (I). (G), an arm attached to the lower surface
of the heading frame (D), extending towards the wheel (Q) in such a manner
as to present the end of a punch or screw (H³) to a convenient part of the
circle formed by the revolution of the centres of the spring chucks (R), the
punch alternately approaching and receding from the chucks according to
the movement of the heading frame (D). The object of this punch is to push
the blanks as they come opposite to it and after they have been headed and
have left the dies (I) forward in the chuck, so as to facilitate the operation of
cutting the points.
In the Drawing marked B, Figure 3 is an elevation of the spring chuck
wheel Q, the segment plate W, the detent bar G', and the cutters, trimmers,
and various other parts of the machinery, which could not be so con-
veniently shown in the former Figures. (U), two or more cutters, of hardened
metal (usually stcel), revolving rapidly within, and having a bearing upon
the cheeks (T), adjusted by screws to bring their cutting edges nearer to or
farther from the blank to be pointed; (V), vibrating levers, of equal lengths,
attached at one end to the cutter frame (S), and secured at the other by
adjusting pivots, working in slots formed in projections on the stationary
circular plate or segment (W), which plate is placed near to and parallel
with the revolving chuck wheel (Q); upon the plate (W) are small adjusting
plates (X), whose upper edges are made to approach the edges of the cutters,
and to afford a bearing for the wire while under the operation of the cutters.
(Y), a stationary arm or frame, which I call the trimming frame, because it
carries small stationary cutters which act upon the head of the pin as soon as
it has been punched up and trim it into shape; this frame is firmly secured to
the platform B, and is formed with lugs or checks, in which are placed the
steel cutters (Z) in such a manner that the heads of the blanks may be
brought in contact with them. The edges of these stationary cutters or trimmers,
as I call them, to distinguish them from the revolving cutters, are grooved, so
as to have a circular bearing upon the pin's head as it revolves, and thus trin:
it to a round shape. (D2), a cutter in a fixed frame revolving rapidly between
lugs on a standard (E 2), which standard is fastened to the plate (B); (F),
another cutter in a fixed frame, revolving in a similar manner between lugs

page_text: fastened to the standard (G2), which standard is also secured to the plate B;
(2), a shaft, extending across and resting upon the lower part of the frame A,
upon which are placed the driving pullies (12), (J2), (K2), (L2), (M2), a gut
string or band passing around the pully (I 2) and over the guiding rollers N
to one of the grooved pullies herein-before mentioned, and in this case form-
ing part of the collar to which the cutter D2 is attached; 02, a gut string or
band, passing round the pully (J 2), and over the guiding rollers P2, Q2, (R2),
in such a manner as to lie snug in the grooved peripheries of the spring
chucks R as they come within its range, by means of which gut the chucks
receive a rotary motion round their axes when the machine is in action.
Figure 4 is a plan of the lever bars G with the half dies (I, I,) and heading
punch N, on a larger scale, more clearly to show their form and position;
Figure 5 is a cross section of the bars and dies, drawn to the same scale;
Figure 6 is an end view of the heading frame D; Figure 7 is a plan of the
heading frame (D); Figure 8 is a side elevation of the segment plate (W)
and one of the cutters (U), with the support pieces or bearing plates (X);
Figure 9 is a side view of the same; Figure 10 is a sectional view of tho
spring chuck wheel segment cutter with its vibrating lever pully B and
eccentric A2; Figure 11 is a separate side view of the snapping spring B3,
bar X2, and hooking piece; Figure 12 are two separate views of the bar X2
and the hooking piece, showing the angle at which it should be placed on the
bar X2; Figure 13 is a separate and front view in section of one of the
spring chucks with a pin completed in it, and showing how it is supported on
its axes and bearings; Figure 14 is a side view of the same; Figure 15 is a
separate view, in plan, of the stationary and fixed chisels, and the wire channel
or grooved guide plate; Figure 16, a side view of the vibrating cutters pro-
jected on a plane, so as to exhibit the relative points of contact of each cutter
upon the blank when under the operation of pointing. In this Figure only
one of the vibrating levers is shewn, in order that the cutters may be more
distinctly seen in contact with the blank.
Having now described the machinery in detail, by reference to the various
figures and letters in Drawings A and B, I will proceed to explain the working
action of it, which will render more clear several parts which it will be difficult
to understand until the action of the whole has been explained. Motion is given
to the crank shaft (C) by the pully (V2), which pulley is acted upon by a band
received from any convenient adjacent machinery. The wire having been placed
upon the reel (S), one end of it is passed between the streightening pegs T 1
and there introduced within the groove on the plate (C 3), so as to be brought
between the inducting rollers (N1); in this position the revolution of the crank

page_text: shaft (C), by imparting motion to the spring lever at the end of the rod (1),
effects a corresponding movement of the ratchet wheel (P1), the ratchet wheel
moving forward one ratched division at every revolution of the crank shaft
(C), and remaining stationary during the backward motion of the rod (Q1).
The movement of the ratchet wheel (P1) causes a simultaneous and corre-
sponding movement of the two inducting rollers (N 1), geared together by the
spur wheels (01), and by their joint pressure upon the wire, occasioned by the
weighted lever (W 1), draws it forward the length of the blank required to
make the pin, the number of lengths drawn in it at each complete revolution
of the rollers (N1) corresponding with the number of divisions on the ratchet
wheel (P1); the wire thus urged forward passes in a line between the chisels
(J1 and K1) and enters into one of the spring chucks (R), whilst at the same
time one of the projections or dents of the chuck whee! (Q) is resting against
and stopped by the detent bar (G1) as soon as the wire is safely lodged in the
spring chucks; and during the resting period of the inducting rollers (N1)
the chisel (K1), urged by the joint action of eccentric (F1), the rod (11), and
the crank plate (H1), pushes the wire against the edge of the stationary chisel
(J 1) and cuts off one length, leaving about equal portions of wire projecting on
each side of the chuck. During this operation, and by the continual revolution
of the crank shaft (C), a forward movement of the heading frame (D) takes
place, occasioning the dies (I) to close by means of the toggle points (K1)
firmly around that portion of the wire which projects beyond the chuck (R),
while at the same time the heading punch (N) is driven forward by a projection
on the heading frame (D), and causes the punch to strike up a head within the
dies (1). The head having been thus formed, the detent bar (G1) is withdrawn
from the dent of the wheel (Q) by an eccentric (a), and the chuck wheel (Q)
made to revolve by means of the bevel wheels (B1), ratchet wheel (D1), and
vibrating spring lever (E1), as they receive motion from the excentric (a) on
the crank shaft (C) until the centre of the next chuck in the periphery of the.
chuck wheel (Q) arrives opposite to the next length of wire to be introduced
into it by the inducting rollers (N¹), when the detent bar (G') again returns,
and passing to the front of the next dent on the chuck wheel (Q¹) detains that
wheel until the operations of cutting and heading are repeated, and so on con-
tinually. The motion of the spring lever (E1) must be so adjusted that at
each stroke from the excentric (a) the centre of a chuck on the wheel (Q) is
brought to the centre of the dies (I), and opposite to the end of the wire to be
introduced into it. By the continued revolution of the crank shaft (C) and
the operations already described the spring chucks (R) are consequitively
furnished with headed blanks, a certain number of the chucks (R) always

page_text: revolving each around its own axis by means of the gut strong or band (02)
passing from the pully. (J 2) around their respective grooved peripheries, whilo
at the same time they are periodically carried forward by the wheel (Q) to the
trimmers or small stationary cutters (Z), which are so placed and so adjusted
that the revolving heads of the blanks are brought slightly in contact with
them, in order that slight imperfections (if any) may be removed and the
heads made of uniform diameter. The headed lengths having passed the
trimmers (Z) remains stationary during the period of another heading; at this
moment the projecting arm (G3), attached the heading frame (D), advances
towards the blank, and the end of the punch or screw coming in contact with
the head presses it close to the spring chuck (R), and in such a manner that
the blank is no longer held in the middle by the chuck, but protrudes in the
opposite side of it as far as the head will permit; in this position the pro-
truding part or portion is brought by the wheel (Q) to the cutter (D2), by the
action of which it is partially pointed, the edge of the cutter being placed at
such an angle as will effect this object. From the cutter (D2) the blank passes
successively to the cutting edges of the revolving and vibrating cutters (U),
where the further reduction of the wire is effected and the desired acuteness of
the point of the pin completed. By the motion conveyed to the vibrating
levers (V) from the excentric (A2), the cutters U are made to deprive the
blank of a portion of metal at different angles and at different points of
contact, performing their offices in such a manner that by their united action
the surface of the reduced part of the blank corresponds to the segment
of a circlo formed by the vibration of the levers (V), as seen in Fig. 16,
Drawing B, during the action of each of the vibrating cutters (U), the blank
or blanks being operated upon are for the time being, supported on the sides
opposite to the cutters by the resisting edges of the steadying plates (X), that
are attached to the edge of the segment plate (W). From the vibrating cutters
(U) the blank thus pointed is carried forward by the wheel (Q) to another
cutter (F 2) revolving in a stationary frame, when the extreme point only
is brought in contact with the cutting surfacɔ at an obtuse anglo to deprive it
of any appendage, and thus give firmness and finish to the point. From this
last cutter the finished pin is carried by the wheel (Q) to the hooking piece on
the sliding bar (X2), the projection being chamfered and notched, so as to close
around the pin just under the head, when the chuck wheel arrives at a resting
point opposite to the bar (X2); in this position the bar (X2) is drawn back
by the excentric (Z2) and rod (A 3), and the pin thus abstracted from the
spring chuck (R) is effectually disengaged from the bar (X) by a snap from
the spring (B3) and falls into some convenient receptacle.

page_text: Now, whereas I claim as my Invention the following improvements, that is
to say, the parts generally, as shewn in Figure 3, namely, the chuck wheel
furnished with chucks and mode of working the same; as also the mode
of making the chucks revolve for the purpose of causing the heads to be
trimmed; and, further, sharpening the points of the pins by means of vibrating
cutters, or the application of vibrating cutters to effect the uniform curvilinear
reduction of the wire in the operation of pointing the pin; and such my
Invention being to the best of my knowledge and belief entirely new, and never
before used within that part of His said Majesty United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland called England, His said Dominion of Wales, or Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, I do hereby declare this to be my Specification of the
same, and that I do verily believe this my said Specification doth comply in all
respects, fully and without reserve or disguise, with the proviso in the said
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent contained, wherefore I do hereby
claim to maintain exclusive right and privilege to my said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Slocum, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and thirty-six.
SAMUEL (L.S.) SLOCUM.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named Samuel Slocum, in the presence of
M. BRITTAN, Sol', Bristol,
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Nineteenth day of April, in the
year of our Lord 1836, the aforesaid Samuel Slocum came before our said
Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, 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.
Inrolled the Twenty-second day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-six.