Improvements in Wire Knotting Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1892-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wire Knotting Machines.
I, PETER FRASER, a subject of the Queen of England, residing at Bridgewater,
in the County of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Gentleman, 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 its object to provide a machine for knotting or uniting
sections of wire by twisting the same together, the machine shown being particularly
adapted for knotting or securing the ends of wire springs used in upholstering, beil
bottoms, etc., etc.
The invention consists first in a clamp for holding the portions to be united firmly
in position with a rotary twister head adapted to wrap one portion around the other,
secondly, in a clamp having oppositely moving jaws in combination with said
movable twister head, whereby the knot is at once released after being formed,
thirdly, it consists in moving the twister head and clamping jaws, or either of
them, by foot treadles with means for rotating the twister head when brought
into operative position, and finally the invention consists in certain novel details
of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts allas will be herein-
after described and pointed out particularly in the appended claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a knotter constructed in accordance with my
present invention.
Figure 2 is a similar view looking at the opposite side.
Figure 3 is a top plan of the head of the machine.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the hammer.
Figure 5 is a detail of the movable carriage for the twister head showing the
rotating gears.
Figure 6 is a section through the same on line - Figure 1.
Figures 7 and
are detail perspectives of the twister head.
Figure 9 is a section of the sanie.
Figure 10 is a detail elevation of the clamping jaws and the operating mechanism
therefor.
Figure 10 is an edge view of the jaws showing the two yokes for moving the
upper jaw.
Figure 11 is a view of a knot formed by the machine.
Like letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
The machine illustrated for carrying the invention into practice is what may be
termed an upright machine, the main frame A being screwed down or otherwise
securely held in position and carries the clamping and knotting mechanisms at a
convenient height to receive the sections of wire presented by the operator who
stands, or is seated in front of the machine.
The clamp just referred to is provided with jaws C C¹ which open at approxi-
mately the level of the upper end of the frame and are preferably operated by
mechanisin to be hereinafter specifically described, to grasp and hold the two
sections of wire firmly in position one slightly in advance of the other, thus in
knotting the ends of springs the coil lies in front as at c8 and the end slightly in
rear thereof as at c, Figure 3, the length of the end beyond the clamp being
determined by an adjustable gage C on the carriage B.
Besides carrying the clamp the upper end of the frame constitutes in effect a
guide upon which slides the knotting mechanism carriage B, for which purpose

page_text: is provided with flanges a (Figures 3 and 6) which fit within recesses in the
carriage formed by plates b.
Journaled transversely in the top of the carriage B is what I term the twister
head consisting essentially of disk or face plate D working close to the flat side
face of the clamping jaws, and a tubular cylindrical extension D¹ taking a bearing
in the outer portion of the carriage (see Figure 9).
The twister head has a central perforation & beveled or flared outward evenly
at d in the cylindrical prolongation and on one side a slot is formed extending
out to the periphery and through which the strand around which the end is to be
knotted may pass to the center of the twister head which position it occupies while
the head is revolving.
A groove d³, Figure 8, is formed in the face of the disk D at one side of
the slot d preferably merging into the same at the point where they both enter
the central opening d. This groove is approximately of the size of the wire
operated upon, and extends across the periphery of the disk as shown at d
Figure 7, thus it will be seen that when the two sections of wire are inserted
as in Figure 3, one section will be in position to enter the slot as the
twister head and carriage are raised and the end will be in position to enter
the groove d. As the twister head rises the end in the groove is bent up in the
groove d³ at right angles to the other section which passes into the central opening
and it is only necessary then to rotate the head to wind the end closely and
uniformly around the section in the central, opening and form a knot of the
character shown in Figure 11.
Many mechanisms, it is obvious, may be employed to rotate the twister head
and to move the carriage containing the same with relation to the clamping jaws,
or for moving the latter bodily with relation to the said twister head, but I have
devised and successfully used a simple mechanism of great power and convenience
as follows:
The carriage as before explained is mounted to slide vertically (or transversely
to the strands of wire) on the frame and to its lower portion I connect a link E
formed into a rack bar at the lower end which meshes with a pinion or idler E'
journaled loosely on the frame, preferably on the shaft H journaled in the frame.
Pivoted on the frame at one side of and below the pinion E is a segmental rack E2
to which is connected or forming a part of which is a foot lever E³ in the present
instance having a sole piece for the foot, being adapted to move away from and
toward the operator who occupies a seat I supported from the frame by arms and
braces i.
"
As the lever is moved, of course the pinion is rotated and the carriage raised or
lowered as the case may be a guide or stay roller E' being employed to hold the
link E in mesh with the pinion as will be readily understood.
Immediately behind the disk D on the twister head is mounted a gear wheel F
with a slot between two of its teeth corresponding to the slot said wheel forming
practically a part of the head, and below the head a larger gear wheel F¹ is
mounted on a shaft journaled in the carriage and carrying on its outer end a
crank handle f¹.
The gears F F intermesh as shown in Figure 5 and when the handle is moved
the twister head is caused to rotate. I prefer to so proportion the gears and adjust
the handle that one complete revolution of the handle gives the twister head the
desired number of turns the handle always stopping at the lowest point of its travel
where it is out of the way and in position to cuable the operator to exert the
greatest power as the head is started.
The only portion of the twister head subjected to great wear and strain is
the center of the disk including the end of the partition between the groove ³
and the slot 2 and this portion lettered G in the drawings I preferably make
removable and of hardened steel, with a set screw y for holding the same in
place.
Turning now to the clamp, Figures 1, 2, 6, 10 and 10 it will be seen that each

page_text: of the jaws C, C¹ are formed on the upper ends of bars C2, C3, fitting snugly and
capable of longitudinal movement in a recess formed in the side of the frame next
to the twister head, bringing the jaws in position to grasp the wires close up to the
said head.
The lower ends of the bars C2, C3 lie in proximity to the shaft H and the one C²
carrying the lower jaw C is connected by means of the toggle link with the
cam c mounted rigidly on the shaft H and the other bar C is connected to the
upper ends of yokes c² lying on each side of the cam and connected thereto by a
crank pin or bearing on the side of the shaft opposite to connection of the
toggle link c. The link preferably has enlarged circular or disk shaped ends
fitting corresponding bearings in the bar and cam respectively to move the jaw
positively in both directions and it is held in place by the yokes c which fit
closely upon each side of the same as shown clearly in Figures 10 and 10^.
The yokes have enlarged openings & through which the shaft H passes, as shown
in dotted lines, Figure 10, and in order to positively open or close the jaws simul-
taneously it is only necessary to turn the shaft H as by a foot lever K similar in
all respects to the lever before described and adapted to be operated in the
same manner. For instance if the jaws are open, .a forward movement of the
foot lever turns the shaft and its attached cam e forcing the toggle link and
bar C and jaw C¹ upward and simultaneously draws the yokes 2 bar C³ and
jaw C downward grasping the wires firmly without moving the same from their
position.
Of course a single movable jaw such as C could be employed permitting the
jaw C' to remain stationary, but in operation the knot is formed against one side of
the jaws and if only one were moved the knot would not clear and be so easily
removed from the machine hence I employ the double jaws which open and leave
the knot entirely free.
An anvil L is located on one side of the frame having a die thereon in which the
knot after being formed may be placed and struck a blow with the pivotal
hammer M to securely fix it in place on the other wire. The hammer is pivoted
to an arm mon the frame and its weight is partially counterbalanced by a long
spring N as shown and it may be swung down against the action of spring N either
by hand or other suitable means such as a foot lever or the like.
:
From the foregoing, the operation will now be readily understood and is, as
follows: The operator first grasps the spring and places the two last coils at one
end between the jaws CC, with the end of the last coil against the gage C³, as
shown clearly in the top plan view Figure 3, he then brings the jaws together by
pressing the foot lever K forward and the wires are held rigidly in such position
that the strand 8 is just above the slot in the twister head and the end c³ is just
above the groove da, d', in said head.
The carriage B carrying the twister head is now elevated by pressing the foot
lever E³ forward causing the strand to pass through the slot into the central
opening of the twister head and the end to be bent at right angle in the groove
or channel d in the face of the twister head or disk D, the flat side of the
clamping jaws serving to retain the said end in the groove as the carriage and
head move up to the position shown in Figure 2. The end e now occupying a
position at right angles to the stranded in the central opening of the twister head,
and both the strands being held rigidly by the jaws just back of the twister head,
it is only necessary to rotate the latter carrying the end of the wire in the
groove to wrap said end closely around the strand . The end of the wire
while it cannot escape laterally froin the groove d² draws readily toward the center
as it is wrapped around the strand c*. A knot is shown in Figure 11 and after it
is formed as just described. the carriage is lowered the strandes and knot passing
out through the slot d2 and occupying a position above the twister head, then the
jaws are opened, the spring removed and the knot is struck a blow with the
hammer, being for this purpose placed on the anvil L.
:
This last step is found highly desirable particularly in spring knotting for fine

page_text: upholstering and practice has demonstrated that a blow is much more effective
than a powerful slowly acting clamp, seeming to set the metal perfectly against any
possibility of springing back.
By employing the two movable jaws instead of one two material advantages are
gained, first I am enabled to get a very much more powerful action as the operating
mechanism for each, which is in effect a toggle is enabled to approach very close
indeed to the central line and at the same time the jaws may be separated widely
without sacrificing the power in the least; secondly, by moving both jaws the knot
is at once cleared, and may be removed easily, a fact fully demonstrated in the
actual operation of the machine, as with one movable jaw the knots hang in the
jaws while with both jaws movable it clears at once and the operator is enabled to
knot many more springs in a day's work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a wire knotting machine, the combination with the clamp for holding the
sections of wire to be united, of the rotary twister head movable bodily with relation
to the clamp; substantially as described.
2. In a wire knotting machine, the combination with the clamp for holding the
sections of wire, of the twister head mounted in a carriage movable toward and
from the clamps and means for rotating said head; substantially as described.
3. In a wire knotting machine, the combination with the clamp for holding the
sections of wire, of the twister head, the carriage in which the twister head is
journaled movable toward and from the clamps and the gear wheel carried by the
carriage for rotating said head; substantially as described.
4. In a wire knotting machine, the combination with the frame having the guide
way thereon and the clamp for holding the sections of wire, of the carriage held
by the guide way on the frame and movable toward and from the clamp, and the
rotary twister head mounted in the carriage; substantially as described.
5. In a wire knotting machine, the combination with the frame having the guide
way thereon and the clamp for holding the sections of wire, of the carriage held by
the guide way on the frame and movable toward and from the clamp, the rotary
twister head journaled in the carriage and having the gear wheel thereon, the gear
wheel meshing with the gear wheel on the twister head and the crank handle for
rotating the same; substantially as described.
6. In a wire knotting machine, the combination with the frame having the guide
way thereon and the clamp for holding the sections of wire, of the carriage held
by the guide way on the frame and movable toward and from the clamp, the rotary
twister head journaled in the carriage and having the gear wheel thereon, the gear
wheel of greater diameter also journaled in the carriage and meshing with the first
mentioned gear wheel and the crank handle connected therewith for rotating the
gears and twister head; substantially as described.
7. In a wire knotting machine, the combination with the transversely movable
rotary twister head having the central opening and groove in its face leading into
said central opening, of the relatively stationary clamp lying in proximity to the
twister head whereby as the twister head is moved one strand of the wire is bent at
an angle in the groove and when rotated it is wrapped around the other strand of
the wire substantially as described.
8. In a wire knotting machine, the combination with the transversely movable
rotary twister head having the central opening slot from said opening to the
exterior and the groove in the face of the head merging into the central opening,
of the relatively stationary clamp against which said twister head works, whereby
as the twister head is moved one section of wire passes into the central opening
through the slot and the other is bent at right angles and wrapped around the
other as the head rotates; substantially as described.
9. In a wire. knotting machine, the combination with the transversely movable

page_text: rotary twister head having the flat face the central opening, slot from said opening
to the exterior and the groove in the flat face, separated from the slot at the
periphery of the head and merging into the same at the central opening, of the
clamping jaws having the flat face against which the flat face of the twister head
works; substantially as described.
10. In a wire knotting machine, the combination with the transversely movable
rotary twister head, of the clamp in proximity to said head having the two movable
jaws with mechanism for opening and closing said jaws simultaneously; sub-
stantially as described.
11. In a wire knotting machine, the combination with the frame and the twister
head mounted thereon, of the clamp having the jaws formed on bars sliding in a
recess in the frame adjacent, the twister head with means for moving said jaws
simultaneously in opposite directions substantially as described.
12. In a wire knotting machine, the combination with the twister head, of the
co-operating clamping jaws, the bar carrying one of the said jaws, the operating
shaft and treadle therefor, the crank pin moved by the shaft and the yoke con-
necting said pin the bar carrying the clamping jaw; substantially as described.
13. In a wire knotting machine, the combination with the twister head, of the
oppositely arranged clamping jaws and bars carrying the same, the operating shaft
therefor carrying the cam and connections between the respective bars and cam on
opposite sides of the shaft whereby the jaws are moved in opposite directions as
the shaft is rotated substantially as described.
14. In a wire knotting machine, the combination with the twister head, of the
oppositely arranged clamping jaws and bars on which they are mounted, the
operating shaft therefor the cam secured rigidly on said shaft, the yokes connected
to one of said bars and to the cam at one side of the shaft and the toggle link
connecting the other bar and the opposite side of the cam; substantially as
described.
15. In a wire knotting machine, the combination with the twister head, of the
oppositely arranged clamping jaws and bars on which they are mounted, the
operating shaft therefor, the cam secured rigidly on said shaft, the toggle link
uniting the cam and one bar at one side of the shaft and the yokes arranged on
each side of the cam and toggle link and connecting the other bar with the cam on
the opposite side of the shaft; substantially as described.
16. In a wire knotting machine, the combination with the clamp, and the twister
head journaled in a movable carriage, of the link connected to the carriage, the
idler wheel engaging said link and the foot treadle co-operating with the wheel to
rotate the same and move the carriage: substantially as described.
17. In a wire knotting machine, the combination with the clamp, the twister
head and the movable carriage in which the twister head is journaled, of the link
connected to the carriage and having its lower portion formed into a rack bar, the
idler wheel meshing with said rack bar, the foot lever having the segmental rack
meshing with the idler and the guide roller for holding the link in gear ;
substantially as described.
18. In a wire twisting machine, the combination with the clamp, the rotary
twister head and the movable carriage in which the twister head is journaled, of
the gage for determining the length of wire to be inserted mounted on the movable
carriage; substantially as described.
19. In a wire twisting machine, the combination with the clamp, having the flat
face, of the rotary twister head movable transversely with relation to the clamp
having the groove in its face, journaled with said face in proximity to the flat face
of the clamp; whereby by the transverse movement the wire held by the clamp
may be bent at an angle in the groove; substantially as described.
20. In a wire twisting machine, the combination with the clamp having the flat
face, of the rotary twister head movable transversely with relation to the clamp
having the central opening and slot and the groove in its face, said head being
journaled with its face in proximity to the flat face of the clamp, whereby by the

page_text: transverse movement the wire held by the clamp may be bent at an angle in its
.groove; substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of August. 1892
W. P. THOMPSON. & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.