Improvements in Cycle Spoke-bending Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1906
Complete Specification Loft 14th Dec 1806 Accented 23rd Jan
1897
Complete Specification Loft 14th Dec. 1806 Accented 23rd Jan.
1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cycle Spoke-bending Apparatus.
We EDWIN LEADBEATER of St. Mary's Works, Penistone Road, in the City
of Sheffield, Manufacturer, and GEORGE ELLIOTT 17 Alderson Place, Sheffield
aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention has reference to an improved machine for bending the ends of
metallic spokes, such as are used in cycle wheels and other like wheels, the object
being to effect such bending in a rapid and effective manner.
We propose to construct our machine as follows; Within a suitable frame we
mount two pullies or drums provided with an endless horizontal belt, upon the
outer face of which are secured a number of gripping levers and jaws to seize and
carry forward the spokes as they are placed in the jaws by the attendant.
The upper part of the frame constitutes what is usually termed a bed, somewhat
similar to a lathe bed, and as each plate which carries the said gripping lever
reaches the top of the pulley it enters a longitudinal groove formed in each side
of the bed which guides it and prevents any oscillation either vertically or laterally
until it passes out at the opposite end.
A roller fixed upon a vertical axis is secured to the back face of the bed, so as
to press upon the free end of a pivotted lever upon each travelling plate, so as to
cause it in passing the roller, to force forward a bolt (provided with a reacting
spring) and to grip the end of a spoke which has been placed between the stationary
jaws, or in a slot constructed to hold that portion of the spoke which requires
bending at a right angle to the other part.
This vertical slot or its equivalent is made in the front edge of the travelling
plate and it passes close to the periphery of a second vertically fixed roller (the
bending roller) having a grooved face to receive the spoke and prevent it from
being flattened or otherwise damaged.
We preferably make this roller adjustable so that it can be moved towards or
from the edge of the travelling plate as desired.
Upon the front part of the bed we also arrange an inclined strip or releaser.
When the machine is at work, the headed end of a spoke is placed by the
attendant into the vertical slot or jaw of one of the travelling plates, the long end
projecting in front of the apparatus, and the lever coming in contact with the first
roller, the spoke is gripped and held fast.
The spoke now comes in contact with the second roller upon the front part of
the bed which bends it back against the edge of the travelling plate.
The lever having now passed the first roller the spoke is released and is raised
by the inclined strip out of the slot, and falls into a receiver.
The above mechanism may be duplicated in the same framework.
Dated the 13th day of March 1896.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Applicants' Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Cycle Spoke-bending Apparatus.
We EDWIN LEADBEATER of St. Mary's Works Penistone Road, in the City
of Sheffield, Manufacturer, and GEORGE ELLIOTT, 17 Alderson Place, Sheffield
aforesaid, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same has to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
Our invention has reference to an improved machine or apparatus for bending
the ends of metallic spokes such as are used in cycle wheels and other like wheels,
the object being to effect such bending in a rapid and effective manner.
The annexed sheet of drawings clearly illustrates the invention, and will be
referred to in the specification.
Similar letters refer to similar parts in any of the figures.
Fig. 1, represents the spoke as brought to the machine for bending.
Fig. 2, the same when bent by the machine.
Fig. 3, plan of machine when in operation.
Fig. 4, end view of same.
We construct the machine illustrated in the drawings as follows: Within or
between the sides of a frame or bed, and at each end thereof we mount a pulley or
drum capable of revolving and upon these two pullies which cannot be shown in
the drawing we place an endless belt say for example of leather stretching
horizontally from one pulley to the other, and motive power is applied to cause the
pullies to revolve and the belt to travel, in any desired manner.
Upon the outer face of the belt marked A, in Figs. 3, and 4, we secure a series
of grippers marked B, consisting of a plate, having one vertically raised edge C,
in which a slot or recess D, is made to receive the neck and head of the spoke
shown in Fig. 1, and a lever E, pivotted at one end, and arranged to act upon a
sliding bolt F, so as to force it against the head of the spoke S, in the recess D,
while the neck is bent.
The bed G, of the machine is divided, and the belt A, carrying the grippers B,
travels longitudinally between the sides as seen in Fig. 2, and is held in position
by the edges of the gripper plate entering longitudinal slots or grooves H, as seen
in Fig. 4, the said grippers entering the grooves at one end and leaving it at the
other end of the bed, and thus either vertical or lateral oscillation or misplacement
is avoided.
A roller I, upon a vertical axis, is fixed upon the far side of the bed G, in
such a position that it will force forward the free end of the pivotted lever E, of
each travelling gripper as it passes, and press the sliding bolt F, into the
recess D.
Upon the near side of the bed we fix another roller J, having a circumferential
groove K, and which is perfectly free to revolve upon its vertical axis; the
groove of this pulley or roller is exactly opposite to slot D, in the vertical side C
of the gripper B.
This slot is made to hold the head and neck of the spoke which require bending
to a right angle or thereabouts to the spoke, and we prefer to strengthen it with
steel facings, or to make it in a block of steel and attach it to the plate B, so as to
resist the wear and tear to which it is subject.
The axis of the roller J, may be made adjustable so as to bring the roller nearer
or further from the side of the gripper plate B.
When the machine so constructed is at work the series of grippers are constantly
passing in front of the attendant at a moderate speed, descending over the left
hand pulley and ascending over the right hand pulley.

page_text: The attendant holding a bundle of headed spokes places one with its head and
neck in the slot D, and the lever E, coming in contact with the roller I, presses
down the sliding bolt F, which grips the spoke S; the projecting part of the
spoke now comes in contact with the grooved roller J, and being carried forward
by the gripper is bent flat against the side of the part marked C, completing the
operation.
The lever E, having now passed the roller I, is released, and the spring L,
forces back the bolt F, liberating the spoke; to raise the spoke out of the slot D,
we make an incline upon the forward part of the bed, and when the gripper
reaches this part, the incline passing under the spoke raises it out of the recess
and permits it to fall into a basket or the like.
The groove K, prevents the spoke being flattened during the bending
operation.
The bed of the machine may be of any desired length, and the rollers be
repeated at suitable intervals so as to allow of several attendants working together,
or not as preferred.
Although the belt shown is made of ordinary flat leather, other kinds such as
those made in links may be used, or metallic chain may be substituted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim, is :-
1. A cycle spoke-bending machine constructed and operating as hereinbefore
described and set forth.
2. In a cycle spoke-bending machine, the travelling gripper B, having a lever E,
grip bolt F, and recess D, in which the spoke head and neck is placed and held
as hereinbefore described and shown.
3. In a cycle spoke-bending machine, a flexible belt provided with one or more
spoke grippers arranged to draw the spokes between a grooved roller and the side
of the gripper, as herein before described and shown.
4. In a cycle spoke-bending machine, a travelling belt or chain, one or more
grippers attached thereto, and having their edges supported or guided during their
forward movement in grooves formed in the bed of machine; the gripper auto-
matically put in action and released, and the spoke bent by being drawn by the
gripper past a closely situated roller as herein before described.
Dated the 12th day of December 1896.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicants.