IMPROVEMENTS IN FILLING SPLINTS INTO THE DIPPING FRAMES USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED FOR SUCH PURPOSE
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to August Berens, of Liverpool, in the County of Lan-
caster, Commission Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FILLING
SPLINTS INTO THE DIPPING FRAMES USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES,
AND IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED FOR SUCH PURPOSE."-A communication
from abroad by Ludwig Anton, of Darmstadt, in the Grand Duchy of
Darmstadt.
Sealed the 16th July 1867, and dated the 18th January 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said August Berens at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th
January 1867.
I, AUGUST BERENS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Commission
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FILLING SPLINTS INTO THE DIPPING FRAMES USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
MATCHES, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED FOR SUCH PURPOSE," (a com-
munication to me from abroad by Ludwig Anton, of Darmstadt, in the Grand
Duchy of Darmstadt) to be as follows:-
The machine consists of suitable framing supporting a shaft which drives
two short transverse shafts by means of four mitre wheels. Each of these
transverse shafts carries a cam or lift wheel, and one of them is provided.
(outside the framing) with a fly wheel and handle. From two brackets
(placed one on each side of the machine) extend in contrary directions four

page_text: arms resting upon the cam or lift wheels, and upon these arms rest two shafts
connected to two shaking boxes placed on the top of the machine. These
shaking boxes are capable of being removed from the machine, and are so
hinged together by means of one of the two shafts last named as to be
capable of opening out like a book. The lower box consists of a square
wooden frame having a perforated plate at top and bottom, and these two
perforated plates (the upper one having rather larger openings than the
lower one) are connected together by a series of slightly conical or taper tubes
soldered or otherwise fixed to the two plates (one to each perforation).
Beneath the lower surface of the tube box is a metal slide capable of being
drawn out or pushed in so as to open or close the perforations. The upper or
supply box is a wooden frame with vertical division plates, from which short
transverse division plates stand out also vertically, but at right angles to the
latter. Close under the lower of these two boxes is a grating having 45
divisions, and beneath this is a second grating having a similar number
of divisions. In the space between these two gratings the dipping box which
is to receive the splints is placed. The dipping box consists of a square
frame provided with 45 laths running at right angles to the gratings, and
capable of being separated to receive the splints and pressed closer together
to hold the same firmly. These laths are opened out to receive the splints by
means of two rows of vertical fingers, the upper ends of which passing
upwards through the lower grating are wedge-shaped, and which are capable
of rising and falling, being actuated by a toothed rack and pinion driven by a
winch handle, and upon their being raised an interstice is formed between
each two laths. When the fingers are withdrawn the laths are pressed
together so as to hold the splints by means of a sliding bar and cross head, to
which latter a bar of wood is fixed, the sliding bar being actuated by a rack
and pinion driven by a winch handle.
The mode of working is as follows:-The two boxes are raised and opened
out to an angle of about 30 degrees, the upper one leaning against the wall or
other convenient place. The tube box is then lowered again, and the upper or
supply box is filled with splints between the divisions, and the upper empty
space above the divisions is also filled by means of a box constructed with a
false bottom for that purpose. The tube box is then again opened, and also
the
upper grating turning on its backward edge. A dipping box as above
described is then placed on the lower grating, and its laths opened out by
raising the fingers, and the upper grating is then lowered, whereby a number
of square openings (about 2,000) will be formed for the reception of the
splints. Upon these squares the tube box is then lowered, the openings

page_text: accurately corresponding, and which when the slide is opened can be tested
by means of a piece of wire. The tube box is now raised up into contact
with the supply box and both boxes brought down, together, the slide.being
opened. The cam or lift wheels are now brought into operation, which will
have the effect of shaking the splints from the supply box into the taper tubes
and through them between the laths of the dipping frame. Upon now raising
the upper box it will frequently be found that some of the tubes contain
double splints, that is to say, a splint and a small splinter, which prevents it
from falling, in that case the latter must be removed, and the box being again
closed a few strokes of a mallet on the box will shake these remaining splints
down, and the dipping box is then filled. The fingers are now withdrawn
from between the laths, and the latter are pressed up closely, so as to hold the
splints firmly by means of the sliding bar and cross head, and after having
been fixed by means of pins passing through holes made in the frame for that
purpose the dipping frame with its splints may be removed from the machine
and the operation be repeated as before. The lower surface of the splints will
be found to be exactly even and ready for dipping.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said August Berens in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th July 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, AUGUST
BERENS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Commission Agent, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
August Berens, Her special licence that I, the said August Berens, my execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said August Berens,
my 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 FILLING SPLINTS INTO THE
DIPPING FRAMES USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES, AND IN APPARATUS. TO
BE EMPLOYED FOR SUCH PURPOSE," (a communication from abroad. by Ludwig

page_text: Anton, of Darmstadt, in the Grand Duchy of Darmstadt,) upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said August Berens, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said August Berens, do hereby declare the
ziature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
that is to say:
.
The machine consists of suitable framing supporting a shaft which drives
two short transverse shafts by means of four mitre wheels; each of these
transverse shafts carries a cam or lift wheel, and one of them is provided
(outside the framing) with a fly wheel and handle. From two brackets
(placed one on each side of the machine) extend in contrary directions four
arms resting upon the cam or lift wheels, and upon these arms rest two shafts
connected to two shaking boxes placed on the top of the machine; these
shaking boxes are capable of being removed from the machine, and are so
hinged together by means of one of the two shafts last-named as to be capable
of opening out like a book. The lower box consists of a square wooden frame
having a perforated plate at top and bottom, and these two perforated plates
(the upper one having rather larger openings than the lower one) are con-
nected together by a series of slightly conical or taper tubes, soldered or
otherwise fixed to the two plates (one to each perforation). Beneath the
lower surface of the tube box is a metal slide capable of being drawn out or
pushed in so as to open or close the perforations. The upper or supply box
is a wooden frame with vertical division plates from which short transverse
division plates stand out also vertically but at right angles to the latter.
Close under the lower of these two boxes is a grating having forty-five
divisions, and beneath this is a second grating having a similar number of
divisions; in the space between these two gratings the dipping box which is
to receive the splints is placed. The dipping box consists of a square frame
provided with forty-five laths running at right angles to the lower grating,
and capable of being separated to receive the splints, and pressed closer
together to hold the same firmly; these laths are opened out to receive the
splints by means of two rows of vertical fingers, the upper ends of which
passing upwards through the lower grating are wedge-shaped, and which are

page_text: capable of rising and falling, being actuated by a toothed rack and pinion driven
by a winch handle, and upon their being raised an interstice is formed between
each two laths. When the fingers are withdrawn the laths are pressed
together so as to hold the splints by means of a sliding bar and cross head, to
which latter a bar of wood is fixed, the sliding bar being actuated by a rack
and pinion driven by a winch handle.
The mode of working is as follows:-The two boxes are raised and opened
out to an angle of about 30°, the upper one leaning against the wall or other
convenient place; the tube box is then lowered again and the upper or supply.
box is filled with splints between the divisions, and the upper empty space
above the divisions is also filled by means of a box constructed with a false
bottom for that purpose. The tube box is then again opened, and also the
upper grating, turning on its backward edge; a dipping box, as above
described, is then placed on the lower grating, and its laths opened out by
raising the fingers, and the upper grating, is then lowered, whereby a number
of square openings (about two thousand) will be formed for the reception of
the splints; upon these squares the tube box is then lowered, the openings
accurately corresponding, and which, when the slide is opened, can be tested
by means of a piece of wire. The tube box is now raised up into contact with
the supply box, and both boxes brought down together, the slide being opened.
The cam or lift wheels are now brought into operation, which will have the
effect of shaking the splints from the supply box into the taper tubes, and
through them between the laths of the dipping frame. Upon now raising the
upper box it will frequently be found that some of the tubes contain double
splints, that is to say, a splint and a small splinter which prevents it froni
falling; in that case the latter must be removed, and the box being again
closed a few strokes of a mallet on the box will shake these remaining splints
down, and the dipping box is then filled; the fingers are now withdrawn from
between the laths and the latter are pressed up closely so as to hold the splints
firmly by means of the sliding bar and cross head, and after having been fixed
by means of pins passing through holes made in the frame for that purpose
the dipping frame with its splints may be removed from the machine, and the
operation be repeated as before. The lower surface of the splints will be
found to be exactly even and ready for dipping.
Such being the nature and object of the said Invention for "Improvements
in Filling Splints into the Dipping Frames used in the Manufacture of
Matches, and in Apparatus to be Employed for such Purpose," I will now
proceed to describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or
may be performed or carried into practical effect; and in order that the same

page_text: may be distinctly understood, I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings
illustrative thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters of
reference corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof, that
is to say:
In the annexed Drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Figure 2 a
side view of the improved machine; Figure 3 shows plan and side views of
the dipping frame with its loose laths; and Figure 4, a plan view of the upper
and lower boxes removed from the machine, and opened out so as to lie in the
same plane.
a, a, is the framing of the machine, which supports in suitable bearings two
short transverse shafts b, b, connected together by a longitudinal shaft c, c, and
four mitre wheels d, d, d, d. Each of these shafts b, b, carries a cam or lift
wheel e, é, and one of them is provided outside the framing with a fly wheel
and handle ff. Two brackets g, g, placed one on each side of the machine
support four arms h, h, (two only of which are seen in the Drawing), the outer
ends of which rest respectively on the four cans or lift wheels e, e, and carry
two shafts i, i, attached to the upper and lower shaking boxes k, k, l, 1; these
shaking boxes (see Figure 4) are so hinged together by means of one of the
shafts i, i, as to be capable of being opened out like a book. The lower
box 1, 1, consists of a rectangular wooden frame provided with an upper and
lower perforated plate m, m, connected together by short taper tubes, as above
described. The upper box k, k, is also a rectangular wooden frame, and is
divided into a number of small cells by means of vertical partitions n, n;
immediately beneath the boxes is a grating o, o, (see Figure 2), and below
this again is a second grating p, p, with its bars running at right angles to
those of the former, each having about forty-five divisions, and in the space
between these two gratings the dipping box which is to receive the splints is
placed; this dipping box (see Figure 3) consists of two wooden bars p*, p*, con-
nected together by two rods q, q, on which one of the bars is capable of sliding so
as to approach to or recede from the other. Upon these rods q, q, and between
the bars p, p, are a series of loose laths 7, r; these laths are for receiving
and holding the splints, and are opened out for that purpose by means of two
rows of vertical fingers s, s, the upper ends of which are wedge-shaped so as
to pass between the ends of the laths r, r, and thus separate them. The
fingers s, s, are capable of rising and falling, and are actuated by a toothed
rack and pinion t, t, driven by the winch handle u, u, the said rack being pro-
vided with an inclined plane (not seen in the Drawing), which acts against
projections on the fingers so as to raise them seriatim, and thus separate the
laths one after the other. When the fingers s, s, are withdrawn by turning

page_text: the winch handle u, u, in the reverse direction, the laths are pressed together
so as to hold the splints firmly by means of a sliding bar v, v, and cross
head w, w, actuated by a rack and pinion a, a, (driven by the winch handle
y, y), and fixed by passing the pins, 2, through holes in the rods q, q: In
order to facilitate the even falling through of the splints, there may be a plate
inside the box with ears at each end, from which cords are passed over a wire
at the back of the box, and as the matches are used the plate presses on them
and keeps them in their place.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention for
Improvements in Filling Splints into the Dipping Frames used in the
Manufacture of Matches, and in Apparatus to be Employed for such Purpose,"
together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as the
Invention, communicated to me by the above-named Ludwig Anton, the
method of and apparatus for filling splints into the dipping frames, as above
described and represented in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said August Berens, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
AUGUST BERENS. (L.S.)

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