Improvements in or relating to Machines for Forming Nipples for the Spokes of Bicycle and other Wheels, and for Making other similar Articles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Machines for Forming Nipples for
the Spokes of Bicycle and other Wheels, and for Making other
similar Articles.
A communication from POPE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, a joint stock corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Maine, and having its principal office
and factory at 436 Capitol Avenue, City of Hartford and State of Connecticut,
United States of America, Manufacturers.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 111 Hatton Garden in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
The object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive machine
into which blanks can be easily fed and accurately presented to the action of moving
operating tools whereby the blanks are very rapidly formed and ejected from the
machine completed nipples of the kind employed for connecting the hubs and wire
spokes of the wheels designed for bicycles and other light vehicles.
In the machine shown as embodying the several features of the invention there is
a carrier constructed with a number of perforations for receiving the headed blanks,
and this carrier is intermittently moved so as to automatically present the blanks in
position to be operated by the different tools, which cut, bore and thread and then
eject the blanks.
The tools are arranged in a circle forty five degrees apart about the axis of the
carrier on carriages which are brought up on both sides after each movement of the
carrier, which of course presents the blanks in positions to be operated upon by
the tools differently so all of the various operations are performed simultaneously on
opposite sides of a succession of blanks.
A blank placed with its head towards the right in a carrier perforation from which
a finished nipple has been ejected, is first carried in front of a saw that slots its head:
It is then carried into line with drills that bore it from both ends: The next move-
ment of the carrier places this blank in position to be operated upon by slabbing
mills. Then the blank is carried in front of a drill that completes the perforation :
Next it is presented to other slabbing mills: Then it is presented in front of a tap for
tapping a thread: And, finally, it is ejected from the machine.
By performing these operations simultaneously upon opposite ends of a succession
of blanks, that is, by having a number of blanks located in the perforations in the
carrier and having the carriages on opposite sides of the carrier both move up and
place all of the tools in operation after each movement of the carrier, a large quantity
of finished nipples can be produced accurately in a given period.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a machine embodying the
invention:
Fig. 1 is a front elevation.
Fig. 2 is a rear elevation.
the last and

page_text: Fig. 6 is a view of the face of one of the tool holding carriages.
Fig. 7 is a view of the face of the other of the carriages.
Fig. 8 is a face view of the blank-carrier.
Fig. 9 is a face view of the plate that keeps the blanks from rotating in their
holding perforations in the carrier. Fig. 10 is an edge view of the same.
Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the clutch parts employed for driving the tap
shaft, and
Fig. 12 shows an enlarged side view of the blank, a side view of the finished nipple
and a sectional view of the nipple.
In the views 1 indicates the bed of the machine, which may be mounted on any
form of legs. Supported in bearings held by a bracket 2 secured to the bed is a
shaft bearing a pinion 3 and a driving pulley 4. Extending longitudinally of the bed
is a shaft 5 which, near each end, bears cams 6. This shaft bears a gear 7 that meshes
with the pinion 3 so that when the pulley 4 is driven the cams 6 are rotated.
(Figs. 2, 3, 5.)
Secured to the top of the bed is a block 8 with a bearing sleeve 9. This sleeve
holds a journal that upon one end bears a star wheel 10, the notches of which are
adapted to be engaged by a roll 11 on a pin projecting from the face of the gear 7,
and upon the opposite ends bears a disc 12 that is provided with a number of
perforations 13 which are adapted to receive and hold the blanks while they are
presented to the operating tools. The engagement of the roll with the star wheel
causes the carrier to advance one step at each rotation of the gear, and as there are
eight notches in the star wheel there are eight successive intermittent steps during one
rotation of the carrier, which, therefore, is provided with eight blank holding
perforations. (Figs. 1, 2, 4.)
Held by guideways on the bed are the carriages 14 and 15. These carriages are
forced apart by a spring 16 and are forced toward each other by the contact of the
cams 6 with the rollers 17 mounted on journals near the outer ends of the carriages.
(Figs. 1, 2.)
Projecting upward from the carriage 14 is a standard 18. Near the top this standard
supports a bracket 19 in bearings secured to which is a spindle that has on one end a
driving pulley 20 and on the other end a saw or similar slotting tool 21. Connected
with the bracket 19 is an arm 22 that supports a bearing in which there is a shaft that
has on its ends pulleys 23, and the belt for rotating the saw is passed around these
pulleys. (Figs. 1, 2, 7.)
Secured to the standard 18 is a bearing 24 in which is supported a spindle that has
a driving pulley 25 at one end and a chuck 26 adapted to receive a drill or similar
boring tool at the other end. (Figs. 1, 2, 7.)
To the same standard is secured a rod 27 which projects through a guiding sleeve 28
attached to the block 8. This rod is adapted to register with the perforations 29 in
the blank carrier 12. (Figs. 1, 7, 8.)
When the carriage 14 is moved toward the blank-carrier by the engagement of the
cam on the main shaft with the roll on the carriage the rod 27 is advanced into one of
the perforations 29 so as to lock the disc in correct position, while the further forward
movement of this carriage takes the saw and the drill mentioned close to the disc so
that these tools will operate upon the blanks held in the perforations in the carrier, in
front of them.
A spring 30 is preferably secured to the bracket 19 so that its free end will project
into the vicinity of the edge of the saw and engage and hold the heads of the blank
while the saw is slotting them. (Figs. 1, 2, 7.)
Projecting upward from the carriage 15 is a standard 31. In bearings secured
near the top of this standard is a spindle that has on one end of a driving pulley 32
and on the opposite end a chuck 33 that is adapted to hold a drill or similar boring
tool. The axis of this drill is preferably located in line with 'the axis of the drill
borne by the other carriage so that the drills will operate upon opposite ends of the
same blank. (Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6.)
Secured to this standard 31 is a bracket 34 in bearings in which is a spindle that

page_text: has on one end a pulley 35 and on the other end a pair of mills or similar cutting or
or abrading tools 36.
Secured to the same standard is a bracket 37 having a bearing in which is a spindle
that has a pulley 38 and another pair of mills or similar abrading or cutting tools 39.
(Figs. 1, 5, 6.)
These mills are located with relation to the axis of the blank-carrier ninety
degrees apart so that the first set operate to slab off two diametrically opposite
sides of the end of the blank presented to them, and then when the same blank is
carried around ninety degrees the other set operate to slab off the other diametrically
opposite sides and thus square that end of the blank.
To keep the blanks from rotating in the holding perforations while they are
drilled and tapped and to ensure that they are correctly presented to the mills so the
slabbing will accurately square the ends, a plate 40 is secured to the block 8 and
on this is formed a rib 41 that projects outward on the arc of a circle into the path
of the slots that are sawed in the heads of the blanks. When the blanks are carried
around the slots travel along this rib so that the blanks will be held while the boring
tools are operated and turned just 90 degrees and be presented to the mills so the cuts
will be at right angles with each other. (Figs. 1, 6, 9, 10.)
Supported in bearings 42 secured to the standard 31 is a- spindle that has on one
end a pulley 43 and on the opposite end a chuck 44 adapted to hold a drill or similar
boring tool. (Figs. 2, 6.)
A bearing sleeve 45 that is formed in two sections joined by a yoke is supported by
the standard 31. In one of the sections is a shaft with a pulley 46 and a clutch part 47,
and in the other section is a shaft that has a pulley 48 and a clutch part 49. These
pulleys 46 and 48 are belted so as to be rotated in opposite directions. A spindle is
passed through a perforation in one of the shafts, and on one end this spindle has a
clutch part 50 and on the other end is a chuck 1 that is adapted to hold a tap or
similar threading tool. The clutch part on the spindle is adapted to be engaged with
either of the clutch parts connected with the shafts. When the tap is being forced
into the blank the spindle is pushed back so that its clutch part engages with one
of the shaft clutch parts and is rotated in one direction but when the tap is being
pulled back out of the blank the pull will draw the tap and spindle forward so that
its clutch part disengages from the clutch part that drove it in and becomes engaged
with the other of the clutch parts and is rotated in the reverse direction. By
means of this the blank can be readily tapped by the forward feed of the carriage and
the tap unscrewed when the carriage moves backward without any complicated
mechanism or fine adjustment of the parts. (Figs. 1, 5, 11.)
A rod 52 is held by the standard 31 with an end projecting towards the blank-
carrier. When this carriage 15 moves toward the carrier both of the sets of mills,
both of the drills, the tap and the ejecting rod for pushing out a finished nipple
which it carries, are brought up to accomplish their work on the ends of the blanks.
(Figs. 1,, 6.)
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the same is
to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a machine for forming nipples, in combination a blank-carrier supported so as
to be capable of rotation upon the bed, mechanisms for imparting to the carrier an inter-
mittent rotary movement carriages movable upon the bed toward and from each side
of the carrier, mechanisms for moving the carriages, operating tools mounted upon
the carriages, and means for rotating the tools, substantially as specified.
2. In a machine for forming nipples, in combination a blank-carrier supported, so
as to be capable of rotation, upon the bed, mechanisms for imparting to the carrier
an intermittent rotary movement carriages moveable upon the bed toward and from
each side of the carrier, mechanisms for moving the carriages, operating tools
mounted upon the carriages, mechanisms, for rotating the tools and a part borne by

page_text: one of the carriages and adapted to engage with and lock the carrier when the
carriages move up, substantially as specified.
3. In a machine for forming nipples, in combination, a blank-carrier supported, so
as to be capable of rotation, upon the bed, mechanisms for imparting to the carrier
an intermittent rotary movement, carriages movable upon the bed toward and from
each side of the carrier, mechanisms for moving the carriages, operating tools mounted
upon the carriages, means for rotating the tools, and a part borne by one of the
carriages and adapted to eject a finished nipple from the carrier when the carriages
move up, substantially as specified.
4. In a machine for forming nipples, in combination, a blank-carrier supported, so
as to be capable of rotation, upon the bed, mechanisms for imparting to the carrier
an intermittent rotary movement a carriage movable upon the bed toward and from
the carrier, mechanisms for moving the carriage, milling cutters arranged on the
carriage so as to operate when the carriage is moved up, in one part of the path of
travel of the blanks, milling cutters arranged on the carriage so as to operate when
the carriage is moved up, in another part of the path of travel of the blanks, whereby
the blanks are given a partial revolution while passing from one set of mills to the
other and means for rotating the mills, substantially as specified.
5. In a machine for forming nipples, in combination a blank-carrier supported, so
as to be capable of rotation, upon the bed, mechanisms for imparting to the carrier
an intermittent rotary movement a carriage movable upon the bed toward and from
the carrier, mechanisms for moving the carriage operating tools mounted upon the
carriage, means for rotating the tools, and a projecting guide connected with the
bed and adapted to engage the ends of the blanks and prevent them from rotating
in the holding perforations while they are moving with the carrier substantially as
specified.
6. In a machine for forming nipples in combination a blank-carrier supported, so
as to be capable of rotation, upon the bed, mechanisms for imparting to the carrier
an intermittent rotary movement a carriage movable upon the bed toward and from
the carrier mechanisms for moving the carriage, and a saw drill, and locking rod
borne by the carriage substantially as specified.
7. In a machine for forming nipples in combination, a blank-carrier supported, so
aɛ to be capable of rotation, upon the bed mechanisms for imparting to the carrier
an intermittent rotary movement a carriage movable upon the bed toward and
from the carrier mechanisms for moving the carriage and two sets of slabbing
mills, a tap and an ejecting rod borne by the carriage, substantially as specified.
Dated this 24th day of October 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.