Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Spokes for Bicycle, or other light wheels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 16th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 11th Dec., 1897
Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Spokes for
Bicycle, or other light wheels.
JOHN BATEY Mechanical Engineer 47 Heytesbury Street Dublin - Ireland-do.
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to mechanism for the manufacture of spokes of wire as used
in Bicycles or other light class of wheels.
The object of this invention is to facilitate the aforesaid manufacture by improved.
machinery largely of an automatic character whereby a larger output may be obtained.
at less expense thereby cheapening production.
The method whereby this object is to be attained is as follows-In a machine in
which a coil of wire is carried upon a drum or spool one end of said coil being held
lightly by a clip of any simple device and the other end left free to be operated upon
said drum or spool is carried by a spindle and bearings of any suitable construction
the said coil being free to move with the drum tangently and laterally.
The free end of the wire is passed under a grooved roller, and between the edges
of a series of grooved rollers one or more of which are made adjustable to and from
the wire being operated upon for the purpose of applying the necessary pressure to
take out the curvature of the wire as it passes off the coil with the object of
straightening it-then on through a short cylinder or eye of sufficient length and
size to fit the wire closely whereby the wire is still further straightened-then
through and between a pair of grooved dies one being fixed and the other made
adjustable said dies are always in contact with the wire and 'held in contact
under some pressure by a compressed spring or a weighted lever or by a
lever and spring-said dies are removable to suit different sizes of wire or
arranged with V shaped grooves to take different sizes, or with a number
of grooves of different sizes bisecting the centre point being the direction'
of the wire in a line through the length of the machine-these dies fulfil
functions to be hereinafter described-the wire after passing through the aforesaid
dies is passed through another pair of grooved dies mounted upon a sliding carriage
working in guides arranged on the main frame or bed of machine-the aforesaid dies
enclose the wire on opposite sides-one half of the die is made to recede from and
approach and tightly grip the wire at certain given stages-said gripping is effected
through the medium of a toggle movement working between guides one end being
permanently fixed at a given adjustment by any suitable method-and the other
end is free to grip and ungrip the wire as the toggle movement approaches to or
recedes from its line of centres-these dies are made removable and can be formed in
a similar manner to those already described to suit different sizes of wire-Attached
to the centre pivot of toggle movement is a connecting link the other end of which
is jointed to the top end of a rocking lever-the bottom end of said lever being
fulcrumed on a shaft working in a bearing or bearings-or it may be arranged by
any other suitable method--being attached to or forming part of the main frame of
the machine.

page_text: A reciprocating movement is imparted to the aforesaid rocking lever by a connect-
ing rod attached at a given distance between its two extremes the other end is
attached to a crank pin secured in a slotted, disc carried by a shaft and bearings
secured to or forming part of the main frame of the machine-said shaft being also
the driving shaft to which are attached the palleys or gearing for giving motion to
the various parts of the machine. A weighted fly wheel may be mounted on the
driving shaft to balance the reciprocating parts.-The "slotted crank disc is for the
purpose of adjusting the stroke of the 'reciprocating motion to suit different lengths
of spokes. It is obvious that the full affect of the power required to drive the
reciprocating carriage is taken up by the resistance of the wire through the dies,
toggle movement and connection to the end of the reciprocating lever--through its
attachment to the crank in one direction and in the other direction by the limit of
movement given to the toggle links away from the line of their centres. The wire is
then passed through another short cylinder and between the edges of a pair of cutting
shears arranged against the outer face of cylinder and against the face of a lever arm
said shears may be operated by various methods but by preference one cutting
edge is stationary and the other is moved to cut off the wire through a lever and
rocking shaft with attachment to cutting lever arin by a connecting rod-the
movement being effected by a roller coming into contact with a projection forming
part of or attached to the edge of crank Disc. The cutting dies may be straight or
curved cutters but by preference they are made as rings one being recessed into the
face of cylinder end and the other into the face of cutting lever-the one in the
face of cylinder has a hole in the centre a little larger than the wire to be
cut and the other with a much larger. bole-said cutters are not fixed
except by their faces being pressed together this construction provides for
the, wear of the cutting edges-as,the whole edge of the centre holes is available.
for that purpose.-Guides or guide rollers may be used for guiding the wire under
the first of the series of rollers at the entrance end of the machine.
T
Having now described the method of the first part in the inanufacture of spokes
the operation of which is as follows.
The Drum or Spool with the coil of wire thereon. is placed in its position-one end
of the wire being ligtly clipped to the drum to hold the wire sufficiently firm to
prevent entanglement, and yet not too firmly, fixed to prevent it being drawn away
when the last part is entering the machine-The free end of the wire is passed
through the grooves in the edges of the series of rollers and on through the machine
to just beyond the face of shears then the machine is put into motion. At ench
reciprocating motion of the machine-on its outward or drawing stroke--a given
length of wire is unwound off the coil and as it passes under the first roller it is
depressed or 'moved to the centre line of machine-thereby the wire is held to the
drum or spool tending to destroy its curvature-and as it passes between the grooves
of the series of rollers the adjustable rollers straighten the wire-the necessary
pressure is obtained by moving the adjustable rollers on to the wire sufficiently to
destroy the curvature-as the wire is drawn through the first cylinder or éye any
short Kinks are pulled or pressed out by reason of the close fit of the said cylinder
to the size of the wire-the wire is also pulled through the adjustable dies--which
are retained in contact with the wire by a weighted lever or spring which also tends
to straighten and said dies act as a draw plate hole thereby tending to stiffen the
wire-The toggle movement dies hold the wire firmly until the sliding carriage
completes its outward stroke-at this stage a given length of wire is pushed out
beyond the cutting edges of shears which then come into operation and cut it off
and so on at each consecutive outward movement of the machine.
At each extreme end of the movement of the sliding carriage it is held by a slipping
catch which holds the carriage somewhat firmly whilst the operation of releasing and
engaging the wire is effected thereby enabling definite lengths of wire to be pushed
out beyond the edges of shears and it also assists in preventing the toggle grippers
from carrying the wire back whilst they are unlocking. It is obvious that each

page_text: outward movement carries forward a given length of wire and each inward movement
slips back upon a like length of wire.-On the return movement the following set of
conditions influence the holding of the wire against the action of unlocking the toggle
grippers and the natural tendency of the wire to re-coil itself on the drum or spool.-
First-the gripping effort of the adjustable dies-Secondly-the resistance offered
by the slipping catch to the return of the sliding carriage, and thirdly the cutting
shears are brought into actual cutting contact with the wire at the same time as the
toggle grippers are being unlocked-then when unlocked the adjustable dies hold
the wire until the instroke is completed and the toggle grippers are again in active
contact with the wire-the said locking being effected whilst the sliding carriage is
held by the slipping catch At the inward end-Therefore the successive movements
are performed automatically and systematically so long as there is any wire on the
drum or spool--and the wires thus straightened, drawn and cut to length may be fed
or placed in the open mouth of a Hopper forming another portion of the proness of
manufacture such as screwing or heading and bending the wires-to be more
particularly described and ascertained in the continuation of improved machinery for
the manufacture of spokes in which the aforesaid Hopper is the entrance to a thin
throat in which the wires lie one above another-The bottom end of throat is placed
in near proximity to a roller in which a number of grooves are cut longitudinally of
a depth and size to take one wire and as each groove is brought in successive stages
under the open throat the lowest wire falls into same, and is carried round with the
roller at its next movement and so on at each successive stage.
The aforesaid grooved roller comprises a centre spindle with a fixed part of the
roller at one end and an adjustable part near the other forming one complete roller
with its grooves-the aforesaid spindle is made telescopic beyond the adjustable
part of the roller for a purpose to be more particularly described.-The aforesaid
roller is enveloped by a fixed cylinder at one end and an adjustable cylinder at the
other-the movement of the roller within the cylinder being a rotatory one made in
part movements. The front portion of cylinder in both cases is cut away to admit
the greatest length of wire and to discharge same after it has been operated upon-
The throat of the hopper is also attached to the cylinder at the top of the opening
whilst the Hopper may be supported and carried independently-thougi, forming
an essential part of the complete hopper-including the throat in connection with its
function as an automátic feeder to the machine.-
The aforesaid parts in their complete character are mounted upon or form part of
a sliding carriage arranged to move in guides carried by a lower or main carriage
arranged to move in guides carried by the main framing of the machine. The
aforesaid roller, cylinder and carriages will be referred to hereafter as the feeding
end of the machine. The front or opposite end of the machine-referred to hereafter
as the screwing end-is provided with a head stock carrying a hollow spindle
revolving in suitable bearings driven by fixed and loose pulleys through and by
crossed and open belts, or by any other method capable of effecting a change in the
direction of rotation.
The back end of hollow spindle carries a toothed wheel which is geared with
another wheel attached to the end of a spindle arranged to run in bearings below the
said hollow spindle sufficient to clear the driving pulleys and belts-the said spindle
projects out beyond the face of the screwing head-said projection is threaded and
engages with a nut secured in the adjacent end of the main feeding carriage for
a purpose to be more particularly described.
Attached to the screwing head is a sliding reversing bar provided with projecting
forks to guide and move the crossed and open belts through the agency of a weighted
lever-whose central position is vertical when both belts are running on the loose
pulleys-The aforesaid weighted lever is fulcrumed at its lower end to an attachment
to or forining a part of headstock. It is obvious that the aforesaid weighted lever
will fall away from its vertical position on either side when inoved in either direction
beyond its vertical position-The front end of the hollow spindle of screwing head-
being that nearest to the feeding end-is provided with a chuck in which are a pair

page_text: of screwing dies arranged to open and shut through the agency of a sliding collar
whose outer end is forked and arranged as inclined planes acting upon inclined planes
formed on the outer ends of the dies whereby the dies are pushed together in one
position, and released in another-said opening may be effected by springs or other
mechanical attachment-the ends of the aforesaid sliding collar are supported on their
outward ring by the cylindrical projection of a cap which also forms the front part
of chuck behind which the dies are operated-The centre of said cap is made with
a truncated opening to facilitate the entrance of the wire into the screwing dies-The
aforesaid sliding collar actiates the dies to open or close by an through the agency
of a forked lever enveloping said collar between ring projections-the forked lever
is fulcrumed at a given point to an attachment secured to head, and the outer end
of lever is connected up to the weighted lever by a rod-whereby as the weighted
lever falls away from its vertical position on either side its fall influences the opening
or, closing of the screwing dies.
To the main carriage of the feeding end there is attached a push rod arranged to
slide in a guide or guides on the screwing end-said push rod is provided with two
adjustable collars which come into contact with an extension of the weighted lever-
below its fulcrum-in two different positions during a given period of time-whereby
the aforesaid lever is pushed to and a little beyond its vertical point then gravity
carries it to its furthest extreme on either side of the vertical position according to the
direction in which it is pushed. It is obvious that these opposite motions influence
and move any connections attached to the weighted lever-It is also obvious that any
change in the rotation of the screwing spindle also influences the direction of the
movement of the feeding carriage to or from the screwing head by the change in the
rotation of the screwed spindle driven by the geared wheels at the back of the screwing
head and actuating the feeding carriage through the fixed nut in which the screwed
spindle rotates. The aforesaid screwed spindle may he of any pitch-as the gearing
can be made of any proportions to move the feed carriage at identically the same
speed as that of the wire in the operation of screwing thereby enabling a purely
natural thread to be cut which is the natural function of the screwing dies.
The top carriage of the feeding end carrying the grooved roller and cylinder-forms
an integral part of the main carriage during the operation of feeding in and surewing
the wire but it becomes an independent carriage when this purpose is effected.
During the operation of feeding in and screwing the top carriage has been held and
moved at the same time by a catch-which is pivoted near its centre to the front end
of the main carriage whilst its other end projects beyond and towards the screwing
head said catch engages in a notch formed on the under side of what will be
hereafter referred to as the slip carriage and is held therein by a spring or
counterweight. The tail end is arranged to come into contact with and ride over a
roller-moving on a pin carried in lugs projecting from the screwing head-at a given
"time just immediately after or at the same time as the weighted lever is thrown over
from its vertical position-whereby the screwing dies are opened and the position of
the driving belts changed-and as the tail end of catch rides over the roller the
catch is depressed releasing it from its notch in the slip carriage thereby releasing it
and leaving it free to act independently of the main carriage-this backward
movement is effected by a weighted lever which always inclines to a horizontal
position-the aforesaid lever is pivoted to the main carriage and has a projection
above which engages in a slot made in the bottom of the slip carriage-and as the
said weighted lever gravitates towards its lowest point away from the horizontal the
slip carringe is driven back against a fixed stop attached to the main frame of
the machine the aforenamed stop is made adjustable to enable the desired back
movement to be adjusted.-
This slip movement of the Slip carriage effects various other movements during
Varying periods of its backward Movement. The first part of its backward motion
draws with it the screwed wire to a distance sufficient to clear the opening in the Cap
of Screwing Chuck-and whilst moving through this distance it has also released
toggle gripping mechanism-the said toggle mechanism comprises a system of link

page_text: with their pivots-one end being fixed by an adjustable attachment to the edge of
the front or fixed part of Cylinder-the other end being free to move in or out-The
aforesaid free end is attached to a half die arranged to slide in a guide-in an
opening through the edge of Cylinder-t) or from the wire to be operated upon or
released during the periods of fee ling in and screwing or during the time of release
and the partial rotary movement of the grooved roller-said toggle gripping gear is
actuated by a rod which is connected to the centre of the links of the toggle system
at one end and is furnished with a small roller at the other which is in contact with
an inclined plane fixed to the lower or in carriage-In one position-in the
lower part of the plane-the toggle gravitates or is drawn away from its line of
centres thereby releasing and ungripping the wire in one groove of the grooved roller
and in another position in the higher part of the plane the toggle is forced towards
the line of its ceatres and firmly grips the wire and holds it until the operation of
feeding in and screwing, has been effected and the wire is brought out just clear of the
screwing chuck.
It is obvious that the slipping of the slip carriage releases the toggle gripper; as
the lower plane is in the direction of the slip-Immediately after the toggle grippers
are released the backward movement of the slip carriage brings it into contact with
a roller carried by an arm attached to a rocking shaft-carried in bearings attached
to the end of the main carriage-another lever on the rocking shaft acts upon a
swinging lever carrying a pawl which engages with and moves a ratchet wheel secured
to the end of the telescopic spindle thereby moving the grooved roller through a
portion of a revolution also carrying another wire away from the bottom of throat of
the hopper and moving another wire into the position for feeding in and screwing
also discharging one wire already screwed out of the machine into another part to be
more particularly described. It is obvious that the purpose of the telescopic spindle
is to give freedom of movement to the slip carriage without permitting loss of
connection with the mechanism arranged to give it a partial revolution. The
aforesaid telescopic spindle is partly carried by the spindle of the grooved roller and
part by the main carriage. Hence the telescopic part moves always through a partial
revolution at the same time as the grooved roller.
Daring the time in which the slip carriage has been influencing the various
operations the main feeding carriage has been gradually approaching the back of the
feeding end-finishing a little beyond the point at which the catch engages with its
notch being influenced thereto by the spring or counterweight heretofore mentioned
-at the same time the toggle grippers have been forced towards their line of centres
by the roller on the end of the connecting rod riding on to the higher part of the
inclined plane thereby holding the wire firmly in its groove. On the grooved roller
ready for the operation of screwing-The arrangement of toggle gripper and its
actunting rod are contained in the edge of the front part of Cylinder-On the
front side of the feeding end and opposite to the toggle gripper there is arranged an
adjustable resisting block which is carried by a plate secured to the front face of
cylinder-bridging over the gap in the front of cylinder but clear of the end of the throat
and clear of the discharge opening for the discharge of the screwed wire. The exact
timing of each movement of the grooved roller is effected by the aforesaid ratchet
gear, but a homing pusher may be arranged to centre itself in a suitable notch or
hole-at each partial revolution to bring the grooved roller with one groove exactly
under the lower part of the throat of Hopper and one wire immediately opposite the
half die on the end of the toggle gripper.
Having now described the method of another part of the mechanism in connection
with the manufacture of spokes-the operation is as follows-
The grooved roller takes one wire away from the bottom of the throat of the
Hopper into each groove at each successive movement and assuming the feeding
carriage to be moving forward towards the screwing head with one wire tightly
gripped and the screwing dies in the chuck on the screwing head firmly closed and
held closed by the weighted lever-the closing of the aforesaid screwing dies

page_text: regulates the extreme limit of movement of the aforesaid weighted lever through
their attachment to the same in either direction-the feeding carriage is moving at
exactly the same speed as the thread to be cut consequently the thread on the wire
is naturally cut without forcing leaving upon it a screwed thread the complete
counterpart of the thread in the dies.
As the portion of the wire to be screwed approaches its completion the push rod
attached to the main feeding carriage comes into contact with the weighted lever
and pushes it a little beyond its vertical position-then gravity effects its final over-
throw to its other extreme limit-thereby releasing the dies from contact with the
wire and changing the position of the driving belts thereby changing the direction
of rotation of the fixed pulley and consequently the hollow spindle and the screwed
spindle just prior to the complete overthrow of the weighted lever the tail end of
the catch holding the slip carriage has come into contact with and ridden upon to the
roller carried on the front end of the screwing head whereby the slip carriage is
released and left free to slip backward. The backward movement of the slip carriage
brings the screwed wire back until it is just clear of the front of the screwing chuck
and during the same time releases the toggle gripper its further backward movement
brings it into contact with the roller and its ratchet gear thereby giving a partial
rotation to the grooved roller-during the aforesaid partial rotation another wire has
been carried away from under the throat of Hopper another wire is moved into
position for screwing and one already screwed wire is discharged from the machine.
The main feeding carriage has been gradually screwed hack until the weighted lever
has been thrown over by the Push rod to its other extreme position-then the catch
is forced into its notch on the slip carriage and the return or feeding movement is
effected by the change in the rotation of the screwing spindle and its accessories-
then the two carriages-moving as one with one wire securely fixed-moves in
towards the screwing head as before-so the operation of feeding in wires and
screwing same with all the foregoing operations and movements is effected automati-
cally and systematically so long as the Hopper is kept supplied with wires and
efficient lubrication is supplied to the dies the screwed wires-as partly finished
. spokes-are discharged from the machine and may fall or be placed in to a Hopper of
another part of the improved mechanism in connection with the manufacture of
spokes for the purpose of heading one end of the wire and bending over at an angle
in which the spokes after leaving the screwing machine as already described fall into
or are placed in the open mouth of a Hopper having a thin throat in which the wires
lie one above another its mouth being in close proximity to a roller arranged to move
in a cylinder all of a similar construction to that particularly described in connection
with the feeding end of the screwing part including the open side to cylinder with
the Hopper attached to the same adjustable back end of Roller and Cylinder and the
Mechanism for giving a partially rotative movement in successive stages-whereby
each succeeding movement of one groove from under the bottom of throat of Hopper
carries away one wire and changes the position of the other wires and their respective
grooves. The mechanism for effecting this partial revolution comprises a Ratchet
Wheel Carried on the back part of the Roller Spindle-a swinging lever and a pawl
attached to same receiving movement through a rocking shaft and levers carried in
suitable bearings-similar to the mechanism already described but actuated in a
different manner to be more particularly described hereafter. In the present method
the grooved roller has only one movement, being through a part revolution represented
by the distance from centre to centre of the adjacent grooves.-Behind the back part
of the moveable part of Cylinder there is a plate which is cambered forward at one
part to push one wire-already headed-a little in front of the forward or fixed end of
roller for the purpose of being bent over at an angle to be more particularly
described.-
The face of the forward or front end of grooved roller will be referred to hereafter
as the die plate on which the operation of heading and bending is performed.-
The aforesaid grooved roller is mounted upon a strong spindle to which the front
part or die plate is permanently fixed and as this spindle and die plate has to be

page_text: subjected to some force, the back end of the aforesaid spindle is arranged to work
against the end of an adjustable screw carried in a strong bracket fixed to or forming
part of the main frame of machine whilst the front end of the roller or die plate is
kept in adjustment by another screw carried in a manner to be more particularly
described.
The front part of cylinder is provided with an enlarged face in which grooves are
cut to receive an arrangement of toggle grippers for the purpose of firmly holding
the wires during the operation of heading and bending.
Each toggle gripper comprises a set of links with their pins, blocks, and guides-
part of which is arranged to pivot in a fixed position and the other part being left
free to move in and away from the wires as the links are forced towards or away from
their line of centres. The aforesaid toggle grippers are actuated by a method to be
more particularly described. The complete guide box for the toggle grippers is
completed by a front plate which is firmly secured to the enlarged face of cylinder.
A cap is attached to the open end of each guide box at the opposite end to that
nearest the wire-the fixed position of the toggle grippers is pivoted to said caps-
the said cap plates are screwed down to the edge of the enlarged face of cylinder.
The enlarged face of cylinder-behind each set of toggle grippers-is cut quite
through to enable the rods for actuating them to be attached to their centre links.
To the free end of the toggle grippers-being that nearest to the grooved roller-
there is attached a half die in the face of which is a groove nearly equal to the half
sectional area of the wire it has to grip-the other half die being formed by the
groove in the grooved roller-the two formning a complete die plate in which the wires
are held whilst they are headed and bent.
The opening in the side of the cylinder at the front or die plate end is bridged over by
a bracket screwed against the face of cylinder and is arranged to clear the front end of
the feed Hopper throat and to give a clear discharge for the finished spoke after
heading and bending. To this plate is attached the afore mentioned bracket to carry
the adjusting screw at the front end or die plate and also an adjustable pad arranged
in the space between the feed and discharge openings for the purpose of providing
a resistance to the action of the toggle grippers when they are in their holding
position. The front and back adjusting screws enable the necessary adjustment
to be made to bring the half dies attached to the ends of the toggle grippers level
with the face of the die plate to form one perfect die upon the face of which the
wires are headed and bent--The front cover plate is provided with extensions in the
direction of its diameter and project over its face being formed as lugs to carry
the fulcrum ends of upsetting and bending hammers to which they are attached by
pins the line of centres of the lugs and hammer arms being on the line of Radius
intersecting the centre line of grooves and centre of grooved roller-whereby the
centre of the hammer face-at the completion of its heading stroke-is exactly the
centre of the wire operated upon. Behind each hammer arm are openings through
which the rods to actuate them are brought through and attached to the aforesaid
hammer arms at a given distance from their fulcrum-The hammer arms enter
guides when near the completion of their finishing stroke whereby they are compelled
to centre direct on the end of the wire operated upon.
The method of operating the toggle grippers, heading and bending hammers, also
the operation of moving the grooved roller through part of a revolution is as follows.
Near the back end of the machine is a bracket bearing securely attached to or
forming part of the main frame at the back of the aforesaid bracket is a cylindrical
projection on which a multiple cam and driving wheel is free to revolve as one
piece-the centre of the said cylindrical projection is coincident with the centre line
of the grooved roller spindle the said spindle being free to revolve inside of the
Cylindrical projection
One portion of the multiple cam is arranged as a plain cylinder-being that
nearest the die plate end of machine-about inidway in its length a groove is sunk
large enough to receive a roller.
"The major portion of said groove is made continuous in the true plane of its

page_text: revolution and the minor portion is a deviation from the true plane into another true
plane or dwelling space then back into the original or major plane-the change from
one plane to the other on the entering side is an easy incline whilst the leaving end
is an abrupt drop back into the major groove forming one complete groove entirely
around the Cylinder which deviates from a true plane of revolution during a part of
the complete revolution--being that amount which is necessary to move the toggle
grippers to and from their line of centres to grip and release the wires as required-
To the centre links of each set of toggles one end of a connecting rod is attached
the other end being provided with a roller pivoted on a pin to revolve freely, said roller
is arranged as a working fit in the groove of the aforesaid cam.
Each connecting rod is provided with an adjusting arrangement to enable the
required grip to be given to the wires to be held during the operation of hending
and bending. It is obvious that each revolution of the cam will actuate the toggle
mechanism to and from their line of centres and effect the operation of gripping and
ungripping the wire at given times.
The larger part of the multiple cam has a projecting rim in which are notches of
a cambered shape arranged to operate during the period in which the toggle grippers
are in contact with the wire. To each hammer arm there is attached one end of a
connecting rod-the other end being provided with a roller free to revolve upon a
pin the aforesaid roller is pressed against the projecting rim by a compressed
spring carried upon part of the connecting rod which is arranged to work in guides
As the cambered shaped edges of the projecting rim are arranged with a positive
drop on the leaving side from the highest point to the lowest the roller is forced into
same. As the Cam is revolving-by the stored energy in the compressed spring-
and through the connecting rod the hammer is actuated to strike a rapid blow on
the end of the wire-the number of blows being according to the number of cam
shaped noteles cut in the projecting rim-each approaching notch being an easy
incline to raise or push the roller to the highest and leaving side, and so on during
each succeeding portion of the Revolution the Multiple Can acts upon each successive
toggle gripper or hammer arm which also act upon successive wires arranged under
their immediate action. In the method described there are by preference-three
sets of Toggle Grippers and three sets of haminers-the hammers may be arranged
to strike three successive blows at each révolution of the can and driving wheel.
The first set roughly sets up the end of the wire for the head-the second one
finishes the head and the third one bends the headed wire over at an angle--The
last operation is performed by the hammer striking the head of a swage which is
hinged to the bracket carrying the adjusting Screw-said swage in its normal or
inoperative condition is arranged at an angle to the wire to be bent and is kept in that
position by a spring at a very slight tension with a very short movement-the
folding down of the swage is on the line of radius away from the centre of die plate-
said swage is provided with a tup or head of a shape to suit the folding action during
the striking moment of the bending hammer-during which time the projecting end
of the already headed wire is bent over and set at the angle required.
The above operations have been effected during a part of a complete revolution
during which time the grooved roller has been immoveable during the remaining
part of the revolution a projection on the back of the Multiple Cam, or on the
driving wheel comes into contact with the roller on the rocking shaft lever whereby
the swinging arm and pawl is moved to rotate the ratchet wheel and grooved
roller through a part of a revolution whereby another wire is fed into the machine
and another groove is brought under the throat of hopper-a roughly headed wire
is moved away another stage and an unheaded one takes its place-the roughly
headed one is moved into the position for complete heading whilst the finished
hended wire is moved into position for bending and one completed spoke is
discharged from the machine-straightened, drawn, cut screwed beaded and bent-
The grooved roller may be moved and held in its exact position-after each partial
revolution--by a pusher actuated by a spring to force it into holes corresponding to
the position of the successive grooves in the roller-being moved in and out of

page_text: said holes by a projection on the back of the driving wheel. The driving wheel at
the back of the inultiple cam is toothed and is driven by a pinion wheel and pulleys
mounted on a shaft carried by bearings-of any suitable character.
Having now described the method of another part of the mechanism of improved
machinery in connection with the manufacture of spokes the operation is as
follows.
The grooved roller takes one wire away from the bottom of the throat of the
hopper into each groove of the roller at each successive movement and assuming
that the machine is in active operation the grooved roller remains at rest during
the following operations with various wires in several stages of manufacture--One
wire has been taken into the machine another into position for rough heading
another for finishing the head and one into position for bending and one
completely finished spoke has been discharged out of the machine,
During the period of rest of the grooved roller it assumes the condition of a
dieplate on which the following operations are carried out in three successive stages
by the multiple cam-which is always in motion whilst the machine is in action-
As the deviation of the grooved cam approaches the first roller of the first set of
toggle grippers they are forced in towards the line of their centres firmly gripping
the wire then the larger cam influences the hammer arm to strike three successive
blows upon the end of the wire setting up sufficient metal to form the complete
head. The toggle gripper of the first stage is released and the second set is
brought into action firmly gripping the next wire; then three more blows
are struck by the large cam acting upon the mechanism of the second
hammer thereby completely heading one wire- Then the second toggle
gripper is released and the third set is brought into action firmly gripping
the wire whilst three or less blows are struck pon the head of the bending
swage causing the wire to be bent over and set at an angle as desired.-Then
the third toggle gripper is released and the grooved roller is moved through
another partial revolution by the projecting part on the back part of multiple cam
coming into contact with with the roller on the end of the rocking shaft arm thereby
moving the swinging lever and pawl to actuate and move the ratchet wheel to give
another partial revolution to the grooved roller through another successive stage-
carrying with it the wires in the various stages of manufacture to different positions
to be operated upon as before. Then the mechanism for securing the roller is again
brought into action whilst the various operations are repeated, and so long as the
hopper is kept supplied with wires the whole of the operations occur in succeeding
stages automatically and systematically.
It is obvious that various mechanical details will effect the aforesaid operations,
but by preference the foregoing has been described-
It is also obvious that the number of blows may be made less or more either by
enlarging the projecting cam diameter or by arranging the notches cut in the
projecting edge to admit a given size of roller-as for instance-by varying the
size of the notches and making the rollers on the end of the rods of the first and
second hammer mechanism small enough to drop from the highest to the lowest
point of the smallest notch three blows may be struck-whilst the roller on the end
of the third rod may be too large for two not ches, but small enough for the third
hence one actual blow would be struck instead of three and so on-hence with one
set of notches a varying number of blows may be struck by different hammers.-It
is also obvious that a different arrangement of hammers may be placed in the front
of the dieplate to strike the blows in a line with the wire to be operated upon-
using a similar class of mechanism to that already described, but by preference-
the arrangement of hammers as described are adopted to strike a blow delivered at a
high velocity.
The above description of improved machinery for use in the manufacture of
spokes for Bicycles or other light wheels embodies the use of the various parts as
one consecutive system the discharge from one section being the feeder for the next,

page_text: or each part or section may be used as a separate machine to perform or carry out
one part of the aforesaid manufacture.
The improved mechanism as described in the first process of straightening drawing
and cutting the wire into given lengths may be duplicated to any extent whereby a
number of coils of wire may be carried by one or more drums or spools - each wire
passing through a system of mechanism as heretofore described--Also in the second
stage of manufacture the feeding end of screwing mechanism may be duplicated at
the opposite end of the screwing head behind the geared wheels to perform exactly
as that already described for the purpose of screwing the wire automatically and
systematically whereby the mechanism of the afore said screwing end may be also
the mechanism for actuating the feeding of the wires as before the only addition to
same being a similar die chuck and mechanism as already described and an
extension of the screwed revolving spindle at the opposite end whereby two wires
would be operated upon and screwed during one complete cycle of this part of
the process of manufacture.
Dated this 15th day of December 1906
Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Spokes for
Bicycle or other Light Wheels.
I, JOHN BATEY, of 47 Heytesbury Street, Dublin, 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 relates to machinery for the manufacture of wire spokes for
wheels.
In the first place the wire used has to be straightened and cut into lengths of the
size required.
Figures 1 to 9 of the drawings hereunto annexed show the mechanism for
effecting this object.
In this machine the wire to be straighened is led partly around a curved surface
which gives to the wire a definite curvature this surface may be a grooved roller or it
may be fixed-afterwards the wire is led in a zig-zag course over and under rollers
which take out this curvature and then through an eye or eyes for its end to be
seized by a gripper on a sliding carriage. The moveable jaw of the gripper is
actuated by toggle levers-the central joint of the toggle levers is coupled by a
connecting rod to an oscillating lever. As the lever oscillates it opens and closes
the gripper and moves the slide to and from the eyes above mentioned. When the
slide is at the end of its travel nearest to the eyes the next movement of the lever
closes the gripper and causes it to seize the wire, and then moves the sliding carriage
forwards the gripper drawing forwards the wire along with it. A definite length
of wire is so drawn forwards and passed between cutters. At the end of the forward
stroke the cutters are caused to commence to cut the wire. The next backward
movement of the lever first opens the gripper and then moves back the carriage-
the cutters then complete their cut and the same operations are repeated.
Figure I is a side elevation, and Figure 2 an end view of the machine.
Figure 3 is a side elevation, and Figure 4 an end view of the curved surface over
which the wire is first led.
Figure 5 is an end view on a larger scale of dies used for holding the wire and
cting to some extent as a draw plate hole after the wire has been straightened.

page_text: Figure 6 is an end view with cover plate removed, and Figure 7 a longitudinal
section of the sliding carriage and gripper carried by it.
Figure 8 is an end view, and Figure 9 a plan of the cutting mechanism.
A is a drum having wound around it the wire to be straightened. B is a brake
block carried by a lever arm on an axis B¹ and made to bear down upon the wire by
the weight B2 carried by another lever arm on the same axis. C is a fixed curved
surface having pins C projecting from it in a zig-zag line. C is a guide carried at
the lower end of this surface. is an eye through which the wire is led after
passing over the guide. D D D D are flanged rollers under and over which the
wire is led. The first roller D' can be raised or lowered so as more or less to deflect
the wire from a straight line as it passes below and over the rollers D. E is a fixed
block having an eye or hole formed through it of a size to fit the wire closely
and of sufficient length to take out any short sharp bends which may still remain in
it. FF are two half dies carried by a block F and which nip the wire between
them the lower one 'is fixed and the upper one pressed down towards it by a
lever Facted on by a spring F. G G are two half dies mounted on a sliding
carriage H-the upper die is fixed to the carriage the lower one can be slidden
towards or away from the upper die. G¹are toggle levers jointed at their upper end
to the lower die G and at their lower end to a fixed point on the carriage. G² is a
link passing from the central joint of the toggle levers to the upper end of a lever
arm J-this arm can be rocked on the axis J1 at its lower end by a connecting rod
K passing from it to a crank pin projecting from a disc L which is fast on the
main or driving shaft. M. The crank pin can he slidden along a radial slot in the
disc and set nearer to or further from the shaft to adjust the extent of movement
given to the lever. N is a roller on the lower end of a vertical slide on the carriage H
it is pressed downwards by a spring N₁ and when the carriage is at the end of its
traverse nearest to the dies F it enters a hollow in a bracket piece O and tends to
retain the carriage in this position but can yield if sufficient force is exerted to move
the carriage along its guides. PP are the cutters for severing the wire and Q an
eye through which the wire is ledd just before passing to the cutters-preferably the
cutters are formed as shown at Figures 8 and 9 of two small rings through which.
the wire passes. One ring P lies in a corresponding recess in the end face of the
block Q' by which the eye Q is carried the other in a recess in the face of a lever P¹
which turns on a fulcrum at P2. The two rings are held together face to face by the
lever being held up to towards the end of the block Q1 in the manner shown. One
end of the lever Pi is weighted with a weight Ps the other is coupled by a connecting
rod P with one arm of a lever R another arm of which carries a truck or roller R¹
which rests on a cam S on the main shaft M. The cam I form in such manner that
the cutters commence to partially cut the wire just as the sliding carriage H
completes its forward movement and they complete their cut just before the carriage
commences its next forward movement. The ring which lies in the recess in the
block Q¹ has a hole in the centre a little larger than the wire to be cut and the other
a much larger hole-the holes are somewhat eccentric to one another; a slight
tendency is thereby given to the rings to make a partial turn at each cut. The
whole edge of the central hole in each ring is thereby made available as a cutting
edge-each portion of the edge being at one time or another brought into action.
As the wires drop away after being cut off they may fall or be subsequently placed
into the hopper of a second machine to have a screw thread cut on one of their ends.
In this machine the wires pass one by one from the hopper into grooves cut
longitudinally along the circumference of a roller to which a step by step revolving
motion is imparted. One of the grooves in the roller being brought at the end of
each partial turn below the hopper so. that a wire may drop into it. As the roller
turns the wires in the grooves are carried round with it and are brought one by one
into a position in which the wire is nipped and thereby locked and prevented from
turning within the groove. After each time that a wire has been brought into this
position the roller has an endway movement given to it and the end of the wire
which is so prevented from turning is presented to a pair of revolving screw cutting

page_text: dies which cut a screw thread upon it. When a screw thread of the desired length
has been cut the dies are made to open so as to be free from the screw thread cut on
the wire and the roller is then moved back endwise away from the dies carrying the
wire back along with it. Another partial turn is given to the roller and ultimately
the wire upon which a screw thread has been cut is brought round to a point where
the wire is free to drop away from the groove in which it was lying and is delivered
from the machine.
The drawings annexed show a machine constructed in the above manner.
Figure 10 is a side elevation partly in section of the machine. Figure 11 is a
cross section on the line a b looking to the left. Figure 12 is a cross section on the
line ab looking to the left. Figure 12 a cross section on the line c d looking to the
right. Figure 13 an end view of the mechanism for giving a step by step rotating move-
ment to the roller B, and Figure 14 a longitudinal section showing the catch for
coupling together the two slides.
A is the hopper into which the lengths of wire are placed-the hopper has a thin
throat or delivery end in which the wires lie horizontally in a single layer one above.
the other.
B is a roller in close proximity to the bottom end of the throat along the
circumference of which a number of grooves are cut longitudinally each of a depth
and size for a single wire B¹ to lie in. The roller may be a complete roller or as
shown a hollow spindle with discs at its two ends the grooves for the wires being
formed in the circumference of the discs. The roller is of shorter length than the
hopper and the wires contained in it so that each wire as it lies in a groove in the
roller may extend beyond one of its ends. Each end of the roller is surrounded for
the greater part of its circumference by a cylinder C which keeps the wires in the grooves
as they are carried round by the step by step rotation which the cylinder receives.
The cylinders are cut away where the hopper mouth passes through them and where
the wires after having had a screw thread cut on one of their ends are to be
discharged from the grooves in the roller in which they lie. The two cylinders C
the hopper A and the bearings for the axis of the roller B are fixed on the top of a
a slide D) which can be moved endwise to and fro along the top of a second slide E
which can also be moved endwise to and fro along guides on the fixed bed F of the
machine. It receives this endway motion by a nut G fast, upon it engaging with a
screw thread on the end of a spindle H which is carried in bearings in a frame I
fixed to the bed of the machine and which spindle is revolved first in one direction
and then in the opposite direction. It receives these movements through gear wheels
J from a second spindle K also mounted in bearings upon the frame. This second
spindle may be driven at one time in one direction and at another time in the
opposite direction in any suitable manner but preferably I drive it by a fast pulley K
having a loose pulley on either side of it so that the fast pulley may he driven either
by a crossed or an uncrossed belt moved on to it. This second spindle K also carries
on its end which is towards the slides D and E above mentioned a chuck carrying
screw cutting dies L which are to cut the screw thread on the ends of the wires.
To shift one belt off the fast pulley K¹ and bring the other one on to it forks on a
sliding bar M may be used in the ordinary way. The bar M is moved endwise in one
direction or the other at the proper time by a lever N weighted at the top and turning
on a fulcrum N¹ near its lower end. And extension of the lever below the fulcrum is
acted on alternately by two collars O¹ on a rod O which extends from the lower sliding
carriage E. As this carriage completes its movement in one or other direction one
of the collars comes against the lower, extension of the lever and turns the lever until
the weighted upper end of the lever passes the vertical the weight then continues the
turning movement of the lever and shifts the bands so changing the direction in
which the spindles are driven.
When both sliding carriages are at the extreme end of their travel away from the
screw cutting dies a spring catch P locks the two slides together so that when the
ower carriage E is again moved towards the screw cutting dies the upper carriage I
ravels along with it-the end of one of the wires carried in one of the grooves o

page_text: the roller is so brought up to the screw cutting dies which are revolving and has a
screw thread cut upon it.
As the lower carriage completes its movement towards the screw cutting dies it
commences to turn the weighted lever as above explained-this movement of the
lever first causes the screw cutting dies to be moved apart so that they no longer
engage with the screw thread cut on the end of the wire-afterwards an incline on
the tail end of the spring catch P which locks the two carriages together comes
against a roller P¹ and the catch is tripped-the upper carriage D is then at once
drawn back away from the screw cutting dies carrying the wire back with it.
This
movement may be given to the carriage in any suitable manner. In the drawings it is
shown to be effected by a weighted lever Q acting upon it-this lever is pivotted at Q¹
to the lower carriage E.
As the carriage completes its backward movement it causes a partial turn to be
given to the grooved roller B. It comes against and partially turns a weighted lever
R and by a pawl R¹ carried by the lever acting upon a ratchet wheel R2 fast on a
spindle which passes telescopically into the spindle of the growed roller gives a
partial turn to this roller so as to bring a fresh groove in it below the hopper A.
S is a stop against which a bar D₁ fixed on the upper carriage D strikes when this
carriage comes to the end of its backward movement. The stop S is at the upper end
of a lever S¹ which at S2 turns on a fulcrum carried by the fixed bed of the machine.
The lower end of the lever rests against a fixed block of elastic material S³ so as to
avoid shock.
As soon as the weight on the upper end of the lever N has passed beyond a vertical
position the weight causes the lever to continue the turning movement which was
being given to it and shifts the driving belts so that the pulley K which before was
being driven in one direction by one belt is now driven in the opposite direction by
the other belt. This causes the lower carriage E to be moved back slowly by the
screw spindle Hand when it has completed its backward movement the spring catch
P again locks the two carriages together and so the movements go on.
In order that the screw cutting dies L may be moved apart just before the sliding
carriages D and E complete their forward movement-the end of the spindle K which
carries the dies is surrounded by a sliding collar T which has inclines on the interior
of its outer end which when the collar is slidden outwards along the spindle act upon
inclines on the two half dies L and press them together. When the collar Tis
moved in the opposite direction the two halves of the dies are pressed apart by the
action of springs. The collar receives its endway to and fro movement from a forked
lever T which is connected by a connecting rod T2 to the weighted lever N used for
shifting the belts.
A cylindrical cap V forming the front portion of the chuck which carries the screw
cutting dies forms a support for the front end of the sliding collir T to keep it from
being bent out of form by the pressure on the inclines. The front of the cap has a
bell mouthed hole V formed centrally through it which forms a guide to guide the
ends of the wires to the screw cutting dies.
During the time that the screw thread is being cut on the end of one or other of
the wires the wire is clamped and held within the groove so that it cannot turn. This
is effected by the groove in which the wire lies having at this time been brought
opposite to the end of a radial slide W which lies in a groove in the cylinder C which
embraces the front end of the roller B. The slide W is jointed to one end of toggle
levers W the opposite end of which is jointed to a fixed but adjustable pin Won
the cylinder the central joint of the toggle levers has a rod W" extending downwards
from it through guides and carrying a roller W at its lower end. As the lower slide
completes its backward movement an incline E¹ upon it comes under the roller W
and lifts it, thereby straightening the toggle levers and thrusting the radial
slide W inwards and causing it to clamp the wire and the wire remains so clamped
so long as the two carriages remain locked together but is released shortly after the
upper carriage D commences to make its backward movement.
As the radial slide W is pressed against the wire on one side of the roller B

page_text: the opposite side of the roller rests against a fixed but adjustable support. X carried
by the cylinder C-the axes of the roller B are thus relieved of all sideway strain.
After a wire has thus had a screw thread cut on its end it is by the subsequent
step by step turning movements of the roller B carried round to a point at Y where
the cylinders C are cut away. The wire then being no longer retained in the groove
in which it was lying drops away and is discharged from the machine. The back
cylinder C and the back dise of roller B are made adjustable along the slide D and
the spindle of roller B to suit varying length of wire to be screwed.
To increase the amount of work that can be performed by the machine the
mechanism above desuribed may be duplicated the spindle K carrying screw cutting
dies at each of its ends and the spindle H also formed with a screw thread at each
end to actuate the lower slides E of two sets of mechanism for feeding wires up to
the screw cutting dies. Thus when one feed mechanism is carrying forwards a wire
to one pair of screw cutting dies the other feed mechanism will be moving away from
the other pair of screw cutting dies.
The wires after having had a screw thread cut on one of their ends and after being
discharged from the above described screw cutting mechanisin may fall or be
subsequently placed into the hopper of a third machine for forming a head on the
opposite end of the wire.
In this machine the wires pass one by one from the hopper into grooves cut
longitudinally along the circumference of a roller to which a step by step revolving
motion is imparted one of the grooves in the roller being brought at the end of each
partial turn below the hopper so that a wire may drop into it. As the roller turns
the wires in the grooves are carried round with it and are brought into successive
positions in which the wires are gripped and held firmly into the grooves and
prevented from moving endwise. Whilst so held in the first of these positions the
end of the wire is subjected to repeated blows from a small hammer and may be
treated in a similar manner by a second hammer at the second position and if desired
by a third hammer in a third position-and at the last of the positions the end of the
wire is bent over at an angle-finally the wire is carried round to a position in which
it is allowed to drop out of the groove in which it was lying and is discharged from
the machine.
The drawings hereunto annexed show a machine constructed in the above manner.
Figure 15 is à side elevation and Figure 16 an end view of the machine-the lower
part of the frame being cut away. Figure 17 is a horizontal section on the line a b
Figure 16 of that end of the machine at which the wires are headed and bent.
Figure 18 is a section taken through one of the toggle lever grippers and Figures 19
and 20 are separate views of the swage mechanism for bending the headed ends of the
wires Figure 21 shews separate the roller spindle with one end disc or portion of
the roller fast with it-the other disc or portion of the roller may be movable along the
spindle to suit different lengths of wire. Figure 22 is a side elevation and Figure 23
an end elevation of one of the cylinders E carrying the incline E. Figure 24 shows
one of the guides a separately.
In these figures A is the hopper containing the wires to be headed and bent the
throat or delivery mouth of the hopper is a narrow channel down which the wires
descend in a horizontal position one above the other in a single layer. Below the
end of the narrow throat is a roller B having longitudinal grooves formed along its
circumference-the roller might be a solid roller but preferably it is as shewn formed
of a spindle B¹ carrying two discs B one fast with one end of the spindle and the
other movable along the spindle so that it may be fixed to it at any desired distance
from the first disc. The ends of the spindle are supported by fixed pivot pins C. D.
Each disc or end of the roller B is surrounded by a short cylinder E part of which
is cut away where the hopper inouth passes through it and where the wires are
discharged from the machine. The short cylinders E may be carried by or form
part of standards F G which are fixed to the bed of the machine. The standard F
has a short axis F1 projecting horizontally from it-the spindle B passes freely
through the centre of this axis and a cam wheel H can revolve freely around its

page_text: exterior. B is a ratchet wheel fast on the spindle B-by it a step by step revolving
notion is given to this wheel and so to the roller B by a pawl B³-the pawl has motion
given to it from a rocking lever B' one arm of which is acted on by a cam
projection H¹ on the cam wheel H. The circumference of the wheel is formed
as a cog wheel. A pinion I¹ on a driving shaft I gears with the teeth of this wheel
and a continuous revolving motion is so imparted to it. The driving shaft is carried
in bearings fixed to the bed of the machine."
In the outer face of the cylinder G which surrounds the other end of the roller B
are three radial grooves. In each of these radial grooves lies a slide J which can be
moved towards or away from the roller B by toggle levers J' one end of these levers
is jointed to the slide the other to a block J2 fixed to the cylinder G at the outer
end of the radial groove. The central joint of the toggle levers has a rod L
connected to it this rod is led away parallel with the axis of the roller B and at its
further end carries a roller L' which lies in a cam groove L2 formed around the boss
of the cam wheel H and by this cam groove an endway to and fro motion is imparted
to the rod and the toggle levers are thereby alternately caused to thrust the slide J
up to the roller B so that it may nip and hold one of the wires lying in a groove in
this roller and subsequently to move the slide J away from the roller and release the
wire. The rod L at its end which carries the roller L' is square and is supported by
guide blocks 1, carried by the standard F and is guided by them in its to and fro
motion-the rods are in two parts connected by short coupling tabes L with right and
left hand screw threads so that their length may be adjusted and each slide J when
moved up to the roller B be thereby caused to grip the wire that is lying opposite to
its end with sufficient firmness.
M is a plate secured to the face of the cylinder G-by it the slides J are retained
within the radial grooves in the cylinder. Standing out from the outer face of the
plate M are three pairs of projections M. One end of a radial hammer arm N' is
jointed to each pair of projections the other end carries a hammer head N. The
haminer arms are radial and each time that the roller B is brought to rest one or
other of the grooves in it is brought into the same radial plane as each arm. The
arins also are each of such a length that the hammer heads carried at their ends
may strike against the ends of the wires carried in such grooves.
One end of a rod N2 is jointed to each hammer arm N¹ the rod extends through
openings in the standard G and through guides in the standard F and at its further
end carries a roller N3 which is acted on by a notched cam surface N formed around
the inner face of the cam wheel H near its circumference. One end of a coiled
spring N bears against a collar on the rod-the other end of the coiled spring bears
against one or other of three arins which extend outwards from a cylinder O. This
cylinder is concentric with the roller B and extends from the standard F to the
standard G and forms part of the fixed frame of the machine. The three arms
extending out from the cylinder 0 also carry guide blocks to guide and steady the
rods Land N2 in their to and fro movement.
P is a bracket fixed to the plate M and carrying the pivot pin D for supporting
the end of the spindle B'-the plate also carries on its inner face a block Q-the
block fits against the circumference of this end of the roller B and relieves the pivot
pin D from all strain at the time when the slides J are thrust inwards towards the
roller and are nipping wires contained in its grooves.
The short cylinder E which surrounds the end of the roller B furthest from the
hammers has a plate E¹ fixed to its outer face. The ends of the wires lying in
the grooves in the roller B rest against the inner face of this plate. After each wire
has been brought into position for its opposite end to be acted upon by two of the
hammers and as it is being carried round to be brought into position to be acted on
by the third hammer an incline E on the plate E (see Figure 22) causes the wire
to be moved a short distance endwise along the groove in which it is lying-the end
of the wire which has a head formed upon it is thereby made to project somewhat
more beyond the outer or swage face of the roller B and beyond the outer face of the

page_text: slides J which is in the same plane with it in order that this end of the wire may be
bent over at an angle.
The bending over of the end of the wire is effected by a swage R jointed to an
arm P¹ which extends from the bracket P. Normally the swage is held at an angle
to the face of the roller B by a spring R as shewn at Figure, 20. The third hammer is
caused to strike three or other number of blows on the swage and thereby to bend
over the wire to the desired extent.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The roller B is rotated with a step by step movement by the action of the cam
projection H on the cam wheel H. At the completion of each partial rotation
one of the grooves in the roller B is below the mouth of the hopper and a wire
drops from the hopper into the groove. At the same time other wires in other
grooves in the roller B are brought into position to be acted on by the three
hammers. As the cam wheel H continues its rotation the cam groove L' formed
around the boss of the cam wheel H causes the wire which is to be acted on by
the first hammer to be gripped and held in the groove in which it lies and whilst
it is so held the first hammer is caused to strike three blows upon its end by
the action of three inclined projections of the cam surface N of the cam wheel H.
Each incline acting on the roller N³ thrusts the hammer back and when the summit
of the incline has passed the roller N³ the rod N2 which carries the roller is thrust
endwise by the action of the spring N5 and the hammer is caused to strike a
blow.
As the cam wheel H continues its rotation the cam surfaces L² and N cause the wire
which is to be acted on by the second hammer to be gripped and held in the groove
in which it lies and cause this hammer to strike three blows on its end as with the
first hammer. Afterwards by the continued rotation of the cain wheel the cam
surfaces L2 and N' cause the wire which is to be acted on by the third hammer to be
gripped and held and the swage which is to bend over its end to be struck three or
it might be a less number of blows by the hammer. If this hammer is to strike a less
number of blows this may be effected by making the depressions in the cam surface
of varying sizes and by making the roller by which this hammer is actuated of such a
size that it can descend into the wider depressions and not into the narrow ones in
the one case the hammer strikes a blow and in the other does not strike a blow.
After the third hammer has struck its blow or blows the cam surface causes the.
roller B to make another partial turn-the wire which has thus had its end bent
over is carried into a position where the wire is free to drop out from the groove in
which it was lying and passes from the machine and the same operations are
repeated.
SS are guides between which the haminer arms pass as they strike a blow-
These guides are fixed to the plate M as shewn in Figures 16 and 17.
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. A machine for straightening and dividing wire into lengths constructed
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 9 of the
drawings annexed.
2. A machine for straightening and dividing wire into lengths in which the wire
is drawn forwards through straightening mechanism by grippers carried by a slide
the grippers and slide being actuated by a rod to which an endway to and fro motion
is imparted and which is coupled to the central joint of toggle levers acting as
described in such manner that when the rod is moved forwards it first closes the
grippers on to the wire and then moves the slide forwards and draws the wire along
with it and afterwards as the rod commences its backward movement it causes the
toggle levers to open the grippers so that they release their hold of the wire before
the slide is moved backwards.
3. The combination of the curved surface over which the wire is first drawn, the

page_text: curved surface giving a uniform bend to the wire, and the rollers which subsequently
take this bend out from the wire.
4. The arrangement of the entiers in such inanner that they partially cut through
the wire at the time when the slide completes its forward movement and complete
the cut just before the slide commences its next. forward movement.
5. The cutters formed of two rings held together face to face and moved one over
the other and both free to turn substantially as described.
6. A machine for cutting a screw thread on the end of wires constructed'
substantially as herein before described and illustrated at Figures 10 to 14 of the
drawings hereunto annexed.
7. A machine for cutting a screw thread on the end of wires in which the wires are
fed one by one from a hopper into grooves formed along the circumference of a foller
to which a step by step revolving motion is imparted and which after each partial
turn is caused to move endwise and then present the end of the wire lying in one of
its grooves to revolving screw cutting dies which cut a screw thread upon it, this wire
being at this time nipped and prevented from turning within the groove.
8. The combination of the two slides one sliding on the other the screw spindle
revolved first in one direction and then in the other and giving an endway to and fro
motion at a uniform speed to one slide the longitudinally grooved roller carried by
the second slide the catch for locking this slide to the first when the first makes its
forward movement-means for releasing the catch just before the completion of this
movement and a weight or spring for then drawing back the second slide and means
for then causing the roller to make a partial turn.
9. The combination of the longitudinally grooved roller means for feeding wires
one by one into the grooves of this roller and for alternately giving to the roller first
a partial turn and subsequently an endway movement-the revolving screw cutting
dies acting to cut a screw thread on the end of one of the wires carried by the roller
each time that the roller receives its endway forward movement-gripping mechanism
for at this time holding the wire and preventing it from turning and means for
causing the screw cutting dies towards the end of the rollers forward movement to
first move apart to disengage themselves from the screw thread cut on the wire and
the roller to then make its backward movement.
10. The combination of the hopper the longitudinally grooved roller the slide
carrying this roller the second slide upon which the first can move endwise-the
revolving screw spindle for giving an endway to and fro motion to this second slide
means for revolving the screw spindle in either direction the catch for locking the
two slides together whilst making their forward movement-the spring or weight for
drawing back the first slide when the catch is released the nipping mechanism to
hold fast a wire lying in one of the grooves in the roller-as the slides move forwards
the revolving screw dies to which the end of this wire is presented and means for
moving the screw dies apart before the completion of the slides forward movement
and for then liberating the catch which locks the two slides together and for then
changing the direction in which the screw spindle is revolved.
11. The arrangement of the gripping mechanism for holding the wire in one of
the grooves in the roller substantially as described.
12. The arrangement of the weighted tumbling lever moved past a vertical
position first in one direction and then in the other by the to and fro movement of
the slide actuated by the revolving screw spindle and as it is so moved acting first to
open the screw cutting dies and then to reverse the direction in which the screw
spindle is driven.
13. A machine for heading and bending the headed end of a wire constructed
ubstantially as herein before described and illustrated at Figures 15 to 24.
14. A machine for heading and bending the headed ends of wires in which the
vires are fed one by one from a hopper into grooves formed along the circumference
of a roller to which a step by step revolving motion is imparted the wires projecting
omewhat from one end of the roller and in which three or other number of wires
ying in grooves in the roller are when the roller comes to rest nipped against the

page_text: roller close up to this projecting end and in which hammers are then caused to strike
against the projecting ends of the wires to form a head upon them.
15. The arrangement of mechanism for bending the headed end of the wires
substantially as described.
16. The combination of the hopper-the grooved rollers-the gripping
mechanism the hammers and the three revolving cams one imparting a step by
step revolving motion to the roller-another actuating the hammers at the time
when the roller is at rest to cause each of them in succession to strike any desired
number of blows and the third to actuate the gripping mechanism to hold the wires
whilst they are being struck.