IMPROVEMENTS IN 'MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF NAILS, SPIKES, RIVETS, AND SCREW BLANKS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Whittle, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
'MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF NAILS, SPIKES, RIVETS, AND SCREW
BLANKS."
Sealed the 3rd Januuary 1865, and dated the 24th September 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Whittle at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th September 1864.
I, WILLIAM WHITTLE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mecha-
nical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “Im-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF NAILS, SPIKES, RIVETS, AND
SCREW BLANKS," to be as follows:-
My said Invention consists of improvements in machinery described in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to me, dated the Twentieth day of
August, One thousand- eight hundred and sixty-two, No. 2327, which said
improvements have for their object the more simple construction and efficient
working of certain portions of the said machinery.

page_text: My improvements in the machine by which the nail and other blanks are
made, have for their object the effectual removal of the blanks from the
machine, and the ready adjustment of the amount of rod fed into the machine.
In this machine I effect the cutting off of the rod from which the nail is to
be made in the ordinary manner, excepting that I make both the holding dies
by which the rod is held, while it is being headed, moveable. The holding
die, which is ordinarily made fixed, I make capable of motion, the said die
being supported by a strong spring, which enables it to yield when the other
or moveable die advances against it, and causes it to follow the moveable die
to a certain distance, when the latter retirés. After the rod has been cut off,
it is carried by the holding.dies in front of the heading die, and headed.
The holding, dies retire from before the heading die, and when clear of it
open slightly, the rod of which, a blank, is to be next formed, advances and
pushes before it the headed blank, which falls from the machine. In order
more effectually to secure the removal of the blank from the dies, as well as to
limit the quantity of the rod fed into the machine, I employ a slide having a
vertical motion. The bottom of the said slide is pressed by a spring upon the
blank as soon as it has been pushed a short distance from the dies. When
by the advance of the blank, and the pressure of the slide upon it, the said
blank falls, the slide descends further and comes in front of the dies, the
advancing rod is fed against the said slide, which then acts as a stop and
arrests the motion of the rod when the required length has entered the
machine; the said slide works in a bracket, which is capable of. being
adjusted on the fixed framing of the machine, so as to allow a greater or less
length of rod to be fed as may be required. In making blanks which require
to be compressed and diminished in diameter under the head it frequently
happens that the slight elongation of the cut off portion consequent upon the
compression, and also the pressure of the heading tool, causé a buckling or
slight curvature in the blank. It also sometimes happens that the cut off
portion of the rod is shaken from its proper position before it is seized by the
holding dies, and a waste blank thereby produced. To obviate these defects,
I make the acting edge of the fixed cutter capable of yielding slightly in the
direction of the axis of the rod, the yielding portion being supported by a
strong spring. I also employ a holding down spring fixed on one of the
holding dies, and having a foot shaped end which works in a recess in the
other holding die. The bottom of the said foot shaped end is inclined at
the side at which the rod is fed, and. as the rod enters the machine it passes
under the said end of the spring, slightly raising the said spring. The said

page_text: spring pressing upon the rod holds it down firmly on the sliding block on
which it is supported, while it is. being operated upon, and projects the blank
from the machine on the opening of the holding dies, and the retiring of the
sliding block.
In the machine for forming the points of nails by the action of two tools
striking or pressing alternately on the end of the blank, and acting the one'in,
a vertical and the other in a horizontal plane, I effect the motions of the 'said:
tools in the following manner:-On the end of a horizontal shaft is an
excentric, the strap. or clip of the said excentric having two arms, the
one horizontal and the other vertical. One of the said arms is rigidly fixed
to the strap, and the other is connected therewith by a joint. Each of the
said hammering or pressing tools is fixed to a joint of the kind commonly
called a toggle joint, and the horizontal arm of the strap of the excentric is
connected to the toggle joint of the vertical tool, and the vertical arm of the
strap is connected to the toggle joint of the horizontal tool. By the revo-
lution of the shaft carrying the excentric, the said tools are made to advance
and, retire alternately and press or hammer the end of the nail to a point,
each of the said tools advancing and retiring twice on each revolution of the
said shaft. By giving the working tools of the machines for making blanks
the required shape, the said machines may be employed for making blanks for
nails, rivets, spikes, and screws. The machinery last described may be em-
ployed for pointing nails or spikes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Whittle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd March 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME; I, WILLIAM
WHITTLE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Whittle, Her special licence that I, the said William Whittle,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William.
Whittle, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agreo

page_text: with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein éxpressed, 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
THE MANUFACTURE OF NAILS, SPIKES, RIVETS, AND SCREW BLANKS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said William Whittle, my exccutors 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 William Whittle, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My said Invention consists of improvements in machinery described in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to me dated the Twentieth day of
August, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, No. 2327, which said
improvements have for their object the more simple construction and efficient
working of certain portions of the said machinery.
My improvements in the machine by which the nail and other blanks are
made, have for their object the effectual removal of the blanks from the
machine, and the ready adjustment of the amount of rod fed into the
machine. In this machine I effect the cutting off of the rod from which
the nail is to be made in the ordinary manner, excepting that I make
both the holding dies, by which the rod is held while it is being headed,
moveable. The holding die which is ordinarily made fixed I make capable
of motion, the said die being supported by a strong spring which enables
it to yield when the other or moveable die advances against it, and
causes it to follow the moveable die to a certain distance when the latter
retires. After the rod has been cut off it is carried by the holding dies
in front of the heading die and headed. The holding dies retire from
before the heading die, and when clear of it open slightly. The rod of which
a blank is to be next formed advances and pushes before it the headed blank
which falls from the machine. In order more effectually to secure the removal
of the blank from the dies, as well as to limit the quantity of the rod fed into
the machine, I employ a slide having a 'vertical motion. The bottom of the
said slide is pressed by a spring upon the blank as soon as it has been pushed

page_text: a short distance from the dies. When by the advance of the blank and the
pressure of the slide upon it, the said blank falls, the slide descends further and
comes in front of the dies, the advancing rod is fed against the said slide,
which then acts as a stop and arrests the motion of the rod, when the required
length has entered the machine; the said slide works in a bracket which
is capable of being adjusted on the fixed framing of the machine so as to allow
a greater or less length of rod to be fed as may be required. In making
blanks which require to be compressed and diminished in diameter under the
head, it frequently happens that the slight elongation of the cut off portion
consequent upon the compression and also the pressure of the heading tool,
cause a buckling or slight curvature in the blank. It also sometimes happens
that the cut off portion of the rod is shaken from its proper position before it
is seized by the holding dies, and a waste blank thereby produced. To obviate
these defects I make the acting edge of the fixed cutter capable of yielding
slightly in the direction of the axis of the rod, the yielding portion being
supported by a strong spring. I also employ a holding down spring fixed on
one of the holding dies, and having a foot-shaped end which works in a recess
in the other holding die. The bottom of the said foot-shaped end is inclined
at the side at which the rod is fed, and as the rod enters the machine it passes
under the said end of the spring, slightly raising the said spring. The said
spring pressing upon the rod holds it down firmly on the sliding block on
which it is supported while it is being operated upon, and projects the blank
from the machine on the opening of the holding dies and the retiring of the
sliding block.
In the machine for forming the points of nails by the action of two tools
striking or pressing alternately on the end of the blank, and acting the one in
a vertical and the other in a horizontal plane, I effect the motions of the said
tools in the following manner :-On the end of a horizontal shaft is an
excentric, the strap or clip of the said excentric having two arms, the
one horizontal and the other vertical, one of the said arms is, rigidly fixed
to the strap and the other is connected therewith by a joint. Each of the
said hammering or pressing tools is fixed to a joint of the kind commonly.
called a toggle joint, and the horizontal arm of the strap of the excentric is
connected to the toggle joint of the vertical tool, and the vertical arm of the
strap is connected to the toggle joint of the horizontal tool. By the revolution.
of the shaft carrying the excentric, the said tools are made to advance and
retire alternately and press or hammer the end of the nail to a point, each of
the said tools advancing and retiring twice on cach revolution of the said shaft.
By giving the working tools of the machines for making blanks the required

page_text: -shape the said machines may be employed for making blanks for nails, rivets,
spikes, and screws. The machinery last described may be employed for
pointing nails or spikes.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe
with reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in which the same
is to be performed. In order that my improvements may be the better under-
stood, I will describe the general action of the machines to which my
improvements are applied before explaining those parts which constitute my
present Invention.
Figure 1 represents in plan a machine for cutting off and heading the
blanks of nails and spikes, preparatory to pointing, as well as for making blanks
for rivets and screws, and Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of a portion
of the same; the said Figures 1 and 2 also represent a portion of the im-
*provements constituting my present Invention. The same letters of reference
indicate the same parts in Figures 1 and 2.
a is the bed of the machine upon which the whole of the moving parts are
situated; b is the main shaft on which the cams for giving motion to the
several moving parts are fixed; c is a slide carrying a moveable die d for
holding the rod of metal z against the fixed die while it is being headed, and
also for cutting off the piece of nail rod before it is headed. The said slide c
is actuated by the cam 1; d' is the die, commonly called the fixed die, corre-
sponding with the moveable die d; e is a slide carrying the heading tool &³,
which slide and tool receive their motions while heading from the slide ƒ by
the intervention of the connecting link f' and toggle joint f³. The slide.ƒ is
worked by the cam 2; j, k, are the feed rolls for carrying the rods into the
machine. These rolls receive their motion from the main shaft 6 by the bevil
toothed. wheels and counter shaft o; p is the fly wheel, and q is one of the
legs or standards of the machine.
The action of the machine is as follows:-Motion being given to the main
shaft 6 by any suitable power a length of nail rod z is inserted between the
feed rolls j, k, which rod is carried forward into the machine until its motion
is arrested in the manner herein-after explained. By the motion of the die d
the rod is cut off against the edge r, and held between the said die d and
die d³, and carried in front of the heading die e³, as represented. in Figure 1.
By the action of the cam 2 the heading die e' is made to advance and head
the blank. Upon the retiring of the heading die e³ the die d retires and the
two dies d, d³, separating the headed blank, is removed from the machine in
the manner herein-after explained.
I will now describe those parts of the machine Figures 1 and 2 which

page_text: constitute part of my present Invention. These improvements have for their
object the effectual removal of the blanks from the machine, and the ready
adjustment of the amount of rod fed into the machine. Instead of making
the holding die de fixed as is usual, I make the said die capable of motion, the
said die de being urged forward towards the die.d by the strong springs and
made to follow the moveable died when the said die d retires. The die d!
can only follow the die d so far as to bring its face up to the edger. The
die d retiring somewhat further, it is.separated from the die d³, and the headed
blank is free to be pushed out of the dies by the rod of which a blank is next
to be formed. In order to secure more effectually the removal of the headed
blank from the dies d, d³, as well as to limit the quantity of rod fed into the
machine, I employ a slide t having a vertical motion in the guide u. The said
slide is actuated by the lever v, its rising motion being effected by the cam w
on the driving shaft 6, and its descending motion by a coiled spring not repre-
sented in the Drawing. Figure 2 best shows the action of the slide t.. By
the action of the cam w upon the lever v the slide t is kept in the position
represented in Figure 2 until the headed blank has been pushed partly from
the dies as shown in Figure 2. The cam w no longer keeping the slide traised,
the coiled spring brings the said slide down, when it strikes the headed blank
from the machine as soon as the end of the said blank is pushed out of the
dies. The said slide descends below the level of the hole through which the
nail rod z is fed into the machine, and the said rod is fed against the said
slide t which acts as a stop and arrests the motion of the rod when the
required length has entered the machine. After the rod has been fed against
the slide t the die d advances and cuts it off against the edger, and
the piece of rod held between the dies d, d³, is carried to the front of the
heading die and headed in the manner already described. The slide t is raised.
by the action of the cam w ready to descend to strike the headed blank. out of
the machine when it has been brought into a line with the rod z. The slide t
and guide u are carried by the bracket a which is capable of being adjusted.
on the fixed framing of the machine so as to allow a greater or less length. of
rod to be fed as may be required. The heading tool ³ has a figure proper to.
form a head of the required shape. Figure 3 represents a finished nail or
spike of the kind made from blanks headed in the machine, Figures 1 and 2..
In making blanks from which nails or spikes of the kind represented in
Figure 4 are to be made, that is to say, nails. or spikes in which the blank is
compressed and diminished in diameter under the head, I employ the machine
represented in Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 representing a vertical longitudinal

page_text: section, and Figure 6 a plan of the essential parts of the said machine. The
same letters indicate the same parts in Figures 5 and 6. .
.
is a slide which works under the slide 6 carrying the moveable die c. The
said slide a carries the block d on which the nail or spike blanks rest when
cut off by the moveable die c. Before the portion of rod about to be headed
is held by the dies c, c, motion is given to the slide a by the stud 6 on the
cam f fixed on the driving shaft g, the said stud e acting on the turned. up end
of the bar h attached to the slide a by the stud i; k is the rod from which
blanks are to be made, fed from feed rolls not represented in the Drawing.
Motion being given to the main shaft g, the nail rod k is fed by the rolls driven
from the said shaft g by the bevil gearing 7 and shaft.m. The rod k is carried
forward until its motion is arrested by its end coming in contact with the
heading tool n, the slide a having been previously advanced by the action of
the stud e on the bar h. The slide 6 advancing, the moveable die c cuts off
that portion of the rod which is between the fixed cutter o and the heading
tool n. The slide 6 still continues its motion until the die c approaches
sufficiently near the die c³ to pinch the blank and hold it firmly while the
heading tool n advances and forms a head upon that part of the blank which
projected beyond the dies c, c. The heading tool n in Figure 6 is represented
in its advanced position, that is the position it occupies after having formed a
head on the blank, the heading tool n, moveable die c, and block d retire,
and the headed blank is removed from the machine in the manner herein-after
explained. During the time the heading is going on, the nail rod k is resting
with its end against the moveable die c, and after the headed blank has been
forced from the machine as herein-after explained, and the block d has again
been brought under the nail rod k, the slide 6 and moveable die c recede
further back by a fall on the cam g³ which works the slide b, and the nail rod k
passes the moveable die c and is again fed into the machine by the motion of
the feeding rolls, until the said nail rod is arrested by the heading tool n, and
the operations described are repeated. The return motions of the several
slides are effected by springs, some of which are not shown in the Drawing
but are well understood.
"In order to prevent the slight elongation and curvature or buckling of
the blanks which is frequently produced by the machine, Figures 5 and 6, I
make the edge of the fixed cutter o capable of yielding slightly in the direction
of the axis of the rod, the yielding portion being supported by a strong
spring p. In order to prevent the cut-off portion of the rod being shaken'
from its proper position before it is seized by the dies, I employ. a holding-

page_text: down spring a fixed on the die 'c; this holding-down spring q, has a foot-
shaped end 9', which works in a recess in the die c. The under side of the
foot-shaped end q' is inclined, its highest end being towards the nail rod k,
so that as the rod k is fed into the machine it readily. passes under the foot q³,.
slightly raising the spring q. The said spring 9 pressing upon the cut-off portion
of rod, holds it down firmly on the block d while it is being operated upon,
and projects the headed blauk from the machine on the opening of the
dies c, &, and the retiring of the sliding block d.
. Figures 7 and 8 represent a machine for forming the points of nails and
spikes by the action of two tools striking or pressing alternately on the end
of the blank, and acting the one in a vertical and the other in a horizontal
plane, Figure 7 being a side elevation and Figure 8 an end elevation of the
said machine. The same letters indicate the same parts in Figures 7. and 8.
a is the bed of the machine; b is the main shaft from which the motions of
the several parts of the machine are taken; c is a standard cast with the bed
of the machine, and forming with the bed one casting, the said standard a
carrying the parts by which the vertical forging tool d is worked; and for
carrying the main shaft 6; e is a horizontal slide for carrying the horizontal
forging tool f. Opposite to the tool f, and in the same horizontal plane, is
the fixed forging tool g, the fixed tool g and the horizontal forging, toolf both
resting on the block or anvil i. The stationary tool 9 is adjusted by a draw.
wedge acted upon by the screw k; the anvil i is adjusted by the screw and
lock nut 1.
The motions of the forging tools d and fare effected in the following
manner, the mechanical arrangements for giving these motions constituting
part of my present Invention:-On the end of the driving. shaft 6 an
excentric m is keyed, the clip or strap n working on the said excentric,
having two arms o, p, the one being situated horizontally, and the other, p,
vertically; one of the said arms is fixed rigidly to the clip n, and the other is
connected thereto by a joint.
In the machine represented the arm o is connected to the.clip n by the
joint q, but the joint q may be made in the vertical arm p instead of in, the
horizontal arm o with the same effect. The slides e and r in which the forging
tools f and d are respectively fixed, work in guides marked and ŕ respec-
tively. The slide e is connected to the vertical arm p by means of the
joint s, the said joints being of the kind commonly called a toggle joint'; the
slider is connected to the horizontal arm o by means of a toggle joint t.
The construction of toggle joints is so well understood, and is so fully shown

page_text: in Figure 7, that I do not think it necessary to describe the same. The
stationary end of the toggle joint s works in the bearings capable of adjust-
ment by a screw and lock nut, and the stationary end of the toggle joint t
works in the bearing t, also capable of adjustment by a screw and lock nut,
as represented. The moveable ends of the toggle joints s, t, are connected in
the ordinary way to the slides and r respectively.. By the revolution of the
shaft 6 and excentric m the forging tools f, d, are made to advance and retire
alternately, and press or hammer the end of the nail or spike u to a point,
each of the said tools advancing and retiring twice on each- revolution of the
shaft b. The blanks to be pointed by the machine, Figures 7 and 8, should
be heated to redness before being subjected to the action of the machine.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit
myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings, as the same may be varied without departing from the
nature of my Invention; but I claim as my Invention,-
Firstly, with respect to the machine for making blanks for nails, spikes,
rivets, and screws, herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of
the accompanying Drawings, the general arrangement or combination of the
parts described and illustrated in the said Figures 1 and 2 for effectually
removing the blanks from the said machine, and for readily adjusting the
amount of rod fed into the said machine, that is to say, by means of the
moveable holding die d³, vertical slide t, and adjustable bracket, and the parts
immediately connected therewith.
Secondly, I claim, with, respect to the machine for making blanks for nails
and spikes, herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the
accompanying Drawings, the general arrangement or combination of the parts
described and illustrated in the said Figures 5 and 6 for preventing the
buckling.or slight curvature of the blanks by the action of the machine, and
also for preventing the portions of rod cut off to be formed into blanks, from
being shaken from their proper position before they are seized by the holding
dies, as well as for removing the headed blanks from the machine, that is to.
say, by means of the cutter o made capable of yielding, and the spring q, I³,
by its action on the headed blank ensuring the falling of the same from the
machine.
Thirdly, I claim, with respect to the machine for pointing nails or spikes,.
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying
Drawings, the general arrangement or combination of the parts described

page_text: and illustrated in the said Figures 7 and 8 for giving the motions to the
hammering or forging tools by which the nail or spike is pointed, that is to
say, by means of the excentric m, strap n, arms o, p, and toggle joints s, t, and
the parts immediately connected therewith.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Whittle, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
WILLIAM WHITTLE. (L.S.)