Improvements in Machines for Use in the Filling of Match Boxes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by FORSVIKS AKTIEBOLAG, of Forsvik, in the
Kingdom of Sweden.]
Improvements in Machines for Use in the Filling of Match
Boxes.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
This invention has for object certain improvements in machines for removing
matches from the so-called temporary frames, whereby the matches are received
in cases divided into cells of about the same size as the volume of the inner match-
box, in such a manner that, provided there are no empty spaces in the frame, a
number of matches will be delivered into every cell, which corresponds to the
quantity of matches that are to be contained in each match-box when filled.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the improved machine for removing matches
from the frames.
Figure 2 is a cross section of the same.
Figure 3 is a plan thereof.
Figure 4 is a plan of the frame, and
Figure 5 represents the cellular case.
The machine shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is in some respects similar to the
machines heretofore known for removing the matches in so-called "piles," for
instance the key-mechanism E with the keys e entering between the splats of the
frame, the rack el, the gears with shaft and the crank m are the same as
heretofore as well as the case which is placed immediately beneath the match-
frame F, but the case in the present invention, in contra-distinction to the cases
hitherto known, has funnel-shaped openings g, through which the matches fall into
the cells of the removable cellular case p placed below it.
In the machines hitherto known for removing matches, these on the contrary,
were collected on a lamina adapted to be lowered and placed beneath the funnel-
case on which the matches, on its being suddenly brought into an accumbent
position, crowd together, whereupon, when the lamina is turned over, the said
matches are received in a case or so-called "pile," placed upon it before it is
turned over.
In this machine, a cellular case, as shown at Figure 5, is inserted beneath the
funnel-case in the slides u. These slides, at the upper parts of which the said
case is fixed, are situated on either side of the machine on the inner side of the
supports and are carried on four arms c pivoted at b, said arms with their ends
being attached to the lugs d depending from the said slides. The arms c rest by
means of projections thereon, upon the periphery of two double ratchet gears h,
attached to the shaft i upon which is also arranged the loose pulley, in order
to give a shaking motion to the funnel and cellular cases. This pulley is at its
centre provided with a coupling-box k, which by means of the treadle is brought
into engagement with the pulley when it is desired to operate the said gears to
produce the shaking of the funnel and cellular cases.
When the cellular case as above mentioned is placed in its position a match-
frame is placed on the shoulders n between the key mechanism E as usual in

page_text: machines for this purpose. The crank m is now turned until the level part of the
racks (Figure 3) has forced all the keys to enter between the splats of the frame,
which is thus opened.
As the opening of the frame takes place, the matches are loosened one row
after the other and fall down into the cells provided for them. If a shaking motion
is now given to the funnel and cellular cases, as hereinbefore described the matches
will arrange themselves close to each other in the cells p. In order to get a
maximum number of matches into every cell, and afterwards in each box, I
proceed in the following manner:
In the Figure 4 is shown an opened ordinary match-frame. The black points
indicate the matches and the frame is supposed to be filled. The frame then
contains 2250 matches in 45 rows in the one direction X X and 50 rows in the
direction y-y.
If now for instance each cell is to contain 60 matches, the number
of matches in every box being variable in the different manufactories being from
55 to 80, the funnel case beneath the frame is constructed in such a manner that
for every opened frame 20 matches fall down into each cell or funnel or as shown
in Figure 4, a square of 4 matches in the direction X X and 5 matches in the
other direction y-y.
The thick lines are supposed to represent the upper edges of the funnels
Thus divided the cellular case will contain 11 cells in the direction X X and 10 in
9-
the direction y—y.
The last row in the direction X X is however superfluous here, as 44 and not 45
is exactly divisible by 4. This superfluous row, as well as the splat close thereto,
is therefore taken away, the former one by stopping up the corresponding row of
holes in the pipe-case of the machines by which the frames are filled with matches.
When as above described 20 matches fall down into each cell for each frame, the
number desired or 60 is obtained after having opened 3 frames.
=
In Figure 4 four different modes of dividing are shown, namely that for 60, 70, 75
and 64 matches. For 70 matches the outermost row in the direction y-y is
omitted and every square will then contain 35 matches with 7 along y-y and
5 along X X
7 cells along y-y and 9 along X X. The cellular case will then
contain 63 cells and the number 70 in every cell is obtained after opening two
frames. For 75 matches in each cell a row is not left out, every square then
containing 5 × 5:
25 matches; and the number of cells being 9 in the direction
XX and 10 in the direction y-y: 90 in the whole case.
=
If 64 matches is
desired in each cell the outermost row along y-y as well as the two outermost
rows along X X, one on each side, are omitted and so on.
==
Beneath the bottom of the cellular case there is of course a register-plate that
covers the said bottom. The cellular case being filled is then carried to the
packing-machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In the hereindescribed machines for removing matches from the so-called
temporary frames comprising substantially a case divided into compartments, above
which the temporary frames are inserted and a key-mechanism operating upon
said frame and serving for the "opening " of the frame, the arrangement
immediately beneath the funnel-case of a case adapted to be pushed in and out
divided into cells, the volume of said cells corresponding to the volume of the
inner part of the match-box, in order that every cell may contain exactly the
number of matches required to fill the box.
2. In the machine described in Claim 1, the arrangement in which the temporary
frame is filled with a number of matches exactly divisible with the number desired
in every cell or box, said number varying in different cases, and that the funnel-
case is divided into a number of compartments or funnel-shaped chambers corre-
sponding to the number of cells in the cellular case and the opening of the funnels

page_text: being of such a size that a number of matches, with which the number of matches
that is to be contained in the cell or box is exactly divisible, will fall down into
each funnel every time a temporary frame is emptied.
Dated this 17th day of October 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

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