IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING WIRE NAILS AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES
Year: 1885

page_text: like Articles.
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING WIRE NAILS AND OTHER LIKE
ARTICLES," which invention has been communicated to me from abroad by,
Clinton Lovell, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman,
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 machines adapted to form nails or similar articles from
continuous wire, by cutting the wire into nail lengths or sections and pointing
each section by dies or cutters which simultaneously cut and swage the wire.
Prior to my invention, machines operating on the saine principle have been con-
structed to form but one nail at a time, the pointing and swaging dies being
formed to divide the wire so as to form a flat or blunt end on the body of the wire
and a pyramidal or tapering point on the severed section.
My invention has for its object first to enable the severing and pointing dies to'
simultaneously form two points in severing the wire, secondly to enable the two
sections thus simultaneously pointed to be simultaneously headed, two nails being
thus formed at the same time, and thirdly to provide an organized machine'
containing two duplicate sets of mechanism each adapted to form two nails.
simultaneously and operated alternately, so that while each set is preparing for its
next operation, the other set is operating, the result being a practically continuous
operation and a very rapid production of nails.
To these ends my invention consists in the combination with two blocks or
holders formed to grasp a length of wire and having dies formed to sever or
nearly sever a length of wire centrally, and two headers whereby the outer ends of
the length of wire are up set while grasped by said holders.
The invention also. consists in the combination of two duplicate nail forming,
organizations, each including the elements above named with operating mechanisin
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page_text: F
whereby each element of one organization is caused to act alternately with the
corresponding element of the other organization. The invention also consists in
certain details, all of which I will now proceed to describe.
Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1
represents a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Figure 2
represents a plan view of the same. Figure 3 represents a longitudinal section on
line x, x, Figure 2. Figure 4 represents an end elevation. Figure 5 represents a
section on line y, y, Figure 1. Figure 6 represents an enlarged view of the cutting
off' cutters. Figure 7 represents a section on line z, z, Figure 6. Figure 8 repre-
sents an enlarged section on line z¹, z¹, Figure 1. Figure 9 represents a horizontal
section of the dividing dies used in forming rivets. Figure 10 represents a section
on line 22, 22, Figure 1. Figure 11 represents a pair of blocks (one in elevation
and one in section) having adjustable dies, two nails being shown between the
dies. Figure 12 represents an end elevation of the same. Figure 13 represents a
face view of one of the blocks shown in Figure 11. Figures 14, 15, and 16,
represent one of the cutting and pointing dies. Figures 17, and 18 represent
respectively a side and sectional view of a nail formed by the dies shown in
Figures 11, 12 and 13. Figures, 19, 20, and 21, represent certain modifications in
the barbing dies. Figures 22, and 23, represent respectively a side view and a
section of the nail formed by the dies shown in Figure 19. Figures 24, 25 and 26,
represent improved means for feeding the lengths of wire to the cutting and
pointing dies.
In the drawings a represents the supporting frame of the machine at one end of
which is journalled the transverse driving shaft b. Said shaft is provided with a
crank b, which enters a slot in the end of a lever c. Said lever is pivoted at e¹ to
fixed lugs on the frame a, and is connected by a rod d, with a lever c, affixed to a
rock shaft f, having two arms which are provided with cutters h, h, whereby
lengths or sections are cut from two supplying wires, each section being of the
proper length for two nails. The lever c is also connected by rods i, i, at opposite
sides of its pivot with toggle joints j, j, which operate the movable parts or dies k, k,
which divide the sections cut off by the cutters h, h, into two parts, and form points.
on both parts.
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The driving shaft is connected by bevel gears with two vertical shafts 1, 1,
journalled in bearings on the sides of the frame a. The shaft actuates the
duplicate feed mechanisms hereinafter described whereby the two continuous wires
are fed forward to be severed by the cutters h, h. Four headers or hammers
m, m, m, m, (two for each wire cutter h, and each pair of separating and pointing
dies ) are operated by the shafts 1, 1, each shaft operating two headers as will be
described.
The wire feeding devices consist of two slides n, n, adapted to move in
guides o, o, affixed to the frame a, each slide being provided with a longitudinal
orifice for the wire and a spring dog p, adapted to grasp the wire and move it with
the slide when the latter is moving forward and to slip on the wire when the slide
is moving backward. Each slide n is provided with a rack n' the two racks being
on the proximate side of the slides. With said racks engage two gear segments
q, q, formed on arms attached to a sleeve or collar r, on a vertical bolt or pivot s,
which is supported in ears or bearings t, t, on the frame a. The collar r, has
another gear segment u, which meshes with a similar segment v, on a vertical rock
shaft w, mounted in bearings on the frame a. The rock shaft w, has a crank w¹ at
its lower end which is connected by a connecting rod w², with a wrist pin w³,
secured to a cross head on the lower end of the vertical shaft l, the wrist pin being
eccentric to the shaft, so that the rotation of the latter causes the connecting rod to
oscillate the rock shaft w, the latter by its gear segments q, q, reciprocating the
feeding slides n, n. It will be seen that said slides will move simultaneously in
opposite directions, the one feeding its wire forward, while the other is being
drawn backward. The length of movement imparted to the slides is determined by
the position of the wrist pin w³, said pin being movable toward and from the

page_text: center of the shaft, in groove in the cross head to vary the throw of the
connecting rod w². The cutters h, h, are located in close proximity to the inner
ends of the feeding slides m, n, each cutter h and a co-operating fixed cutter on
the frame a, being arranged to sever the wire after it has been fed forward by the
corresponding feeding slide, the rocking motion of the shaft f, to which the arms
supporting said cutters are attached causing the cutters to operate alternately like
the feeding slides. The section of wire moved forward by each movement of the
feeding slides, and severed by each cutter h, is of sufficient length for two nails.
The dies k, k, which divide the sections of wire into two parts and point each
part, are located below the plane of the feeding slides, so that each section after it
is severed by a cutter drops to a position to be acted upon by the corresponding
die k. The dies k, k, are composed of the fixed half dies 2, 2, attached to blocks
a¹, a¹, affixed to the frame a by set screws and clamping plates e², c¹, (see Figure 3),
and the movable half dies 3, 3, attached by clamping plates d¹ to block f¹, f',
which are mounted in slides g¹, g¹, which move in guides in the frame a, and
are pivoted to the inner links or members of the toggle joint j, j. The half
dies 3, 3, are operated alternately by the oscillations of the lever c, the parts of
one die approaching each other; while parts of the other die are separating.
The clamping plates d, e, are bevelled on their proximate ends and provided
with corresponding, projections and recesses, so arranged that the projections of the
plate d¹ will enter the recesses in the corresponding plate e¹ the two bevelled edges
forming a V shaped trough h¹ (as shown at the left in Figure 3) which receives
the section of wire severed by a cutter h. When the plate d is moved away from
the plate e by the separation of the parts of the die below said plates an opening
is formed between the plates of sufficient size to permit the section of wire to fall
on to supporting rods i, i, which are adapted to slide in orifices formed through
the dies 2, the blocks a¹ and the parts of the frame a, supporting said blocks, said
rods extending across the space between the dies 2, 3, and being moved alternately
by the dies 3, 3, each die 3 as it approaches its fixed companion, pushing the
rods,, across the space that is at the same time being formed by the movement
of the other die 3, from its fixed companion, thus enabling the rods to arrest the
next blank that falls into said space. Said rods support the sections of wire
between the half dies 2, 3, at the proper height for the detention of said dies.
The headers m, m, m, m, are plungers, adapted to slide in sockets in the frame a,
and to strike the opposite ends of the sections of wire and upset them against the
ends of the blocks a³, f³, thus forming the heads of the nails. The headers are
operated by levers j¹¹, pivoted at k¹, k¹, to ears on the frame a, and having at
their rear ends slots m³, m¹, in which are adapted to reciprocate slides o¹, o³, eccen-
trically pivoted to disks p¹, p¹, on the vertical shafts 1,. The rotation of the
shafts,, causes the levers, ¹, to oscillate.
The headers m, bear against the levers j, at opposite sides of their pivotal
points of the latter and are pressed against the levers by springs g¹ (Figure 5) so
that when the headers at one side of the pivots of the levers are being pressed
inwardly to form the nail heads, the other headers are moving outwardly.
The operation of one series of parts, viz: a feeding slide and the cutter h,
dies k, and headers m, m, co-operating therewith is as follows: The feeding slide
feeds its wire while the cutter h is raised, and the dies k are brought together to
divide the section of wire previously cut by the same cutter. After the wire is
fed the cutter h descends and cuts off a section of wire which drops into the
V shaped trough h¹. The half die 3 with its plate d' then recedes froin the fixed
half die 2, the previously completed nails at the same time dropping into a
chute or receptacle below, the supporting rods having been pushed into the fixed
die by the last approach of the moving half die, so that they interpose no obstacle
to the descent of the nails. Immediately after the nails fall, the rods are pushed
back by the inward movement of the opposite half die 3, and extend across the
space formed by the outward movement of the half die 3, now under consideration.
The trough h¹ is opened by the outward movement of the half die 3, and plate ¹

page_text: and the section of wire falls upon the rods . The half die 3 then moves toward
the half die 2, the two severing the wire at the center of its length and by a com-
bined cutting and swaging action forming pyramidal or conical points on the nail
ends thus formed. At the same time the headers move simultaneously against the
projecting ends of the sections, and form heads on both nails. The half dies 2, 3,
then separate as before, the completed nails fall, and the operation is repeated.
The operation of the machine as a whole will be readily understood from the
foregoing description it being borne in mind that the feeding devices, the severing
cutters, the dividing and pointing dies, and the headers, of one series alternate in
their operation with the corresponding parts in the other series.
The mechanism is so timed that both series operate during a single rotation of
the driving shaft; four nails being thus formed in the time required in most
machines to make one. In forming rivets the pointing dies k, k, are removed and
dies K, K, (Figures 9 and 10) adapted to sever the wire and form blunt ends instead
of points, are substituted for them.
The headers are arranged with their centers at one side of the line of wire as
shown in Figure 5 so that by partially rotating each header a different portion of
it can be presented to the wire. Cavities are formed in the beaders adapted to form
the convex heads of rivets, said cavities being interchangeable with the flat nail-
head forming portions of the headers.
In Figures 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, and 21, I have shown the blocks a¹, f¹, provided
with adjustable cutting and pointing dies 2, 3, and adjustable gripping dies 4, 4,
formed to serrate or barb the shanks of the nails.
The cutting and pointing dies are inserted in internally threaded orifices in the
blocks a¹, f¹, and are supported by screws A, fitted in said orifices and adjustable
therein, so that they can move the dies outwardly or inwardly and thus adjust
them to the requirements of the work. Screws B, inserted in the sides of the
blocks a, f¹, and bearing on the sides of the dies 2, 3, are used to prevent the dies
from moving away from their supporting screws A. The cutting dies are in this
instance cylindrical in cross section and to prevent them from rotating they are
provided with side slots C, into which the screws B, project. Said dies may be of
any other suitable shape in cross section that may be desired.
4, 4, represent the gripping dies which are inserted in sockets in the ends of the
blocks a¹, f, and are adjusted by backing screws A, and held where adjusted by
side screws B, in the same manner that the cutting and pointing dies are adjusted
and held. The dies 4, 4, and their sockets are preferably of dovetail form in cross
section but may be of any other desired shape. Said dies 4, 4, may be formed to
corrugate the shanks of the nails as shown in Figures 11, 17 and 18, or to form
a series of independent notches or barbs as shown in Figures 19, 21, 22 and 23, to
increase the holding power of the nails when they are driven.
In Figures 19 and 21, I have shown the blocks provided with supplemental
dies 5, 5, formed like the dies 4, 4, to barb the shank. I prefer to make the
dies 5, 5, with barb forming points separated by a smooth intermediate portion as
shown in Figure 19. The dies thus formed barb the nail near its head and point,
and leave an intermediate smooth portion, as shown in Figures 19 and 22.
power of the nail in holding one piece against another (as a box and its cover) is
thus increased.
The
The barbs may be of any desired shape and may extend the entire length of
the nail if preferred, as shown in Figure 21.
It will be seen that the adjustability of the barb forming dies and their
capability of being inserted and removed enables them to form the barbs to any
desired depth and to be readily replaced at small expense. I do not limit myself
however to adjustable and removable gripping and barbing dies, as said dies may
be integral with the blocks. Heretofore wire for nails has been barbed before the
nails are made, two separate operations being required in barbing and forming
the nails. By my improvement the nails are barbed and formed at one operation.

page_text: In. Figures 24, 25 and 26, I have shown means. for positively controlling the
lengths of wire from the time when they are severed until they are in position
between the dies and resting on the rods, , instead of allowing them to drop
loosely from the cutters h, to said rods i'.
The wire is introduced into plates or guides N, having slots opening at the
bottom, so that the wire entering said slots can move downwardly therefrom.
Latches or detents 8, 8, are pressed by a spring 12, into each guide N and project
under the length of wire, so that it cannot fall of its own weight when severed
from the main wire.
I, I, represent arms secured at their lower ends to holders. I, which are
supported by levers L, L, pivoted to the frame a, said levers being connected by
rods M, with the lever c. The motion of the lever c, oscillates the levers L, L,
which move the arms I, I, up and down. Said arms have hooks 6, at their upper
ends which project over the lengths of wire when the arms I are raised as shown-
at the left in Figure 24. When the arms I are lowered, the hooks 6 bear upon
the wire and force it down along the ends of the yielding latches 8, and along the'
sides of yielding arms 9 below said latches, said arms being pressed outwardly.
against the wires by springs 10, bearing on rods or pins interposed between them
and the arms g, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 24. The latches 8, and arms 9
constitute detents or brakes that bear against the lengths of wire while they are
being depressed by the hooks 6, until they nearly reach the supporting rods ¹,
the lengths of wire being thus prevented from falling by gravitation, and perfectly
controlled while moving from one position to the other. Springs K, secured to
the holders I, and levers L, draw said holders back so as to press the upper ends
of the arms I, against the lengths of wire.
The arms I, have hooks 7 below the hooks 6, to remove the completed nails
from the dies in case said nails stick to the dies.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of iny said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. In a machine for making wire nails or other like articles, the combination
of two duplicate nail forming organizations, each including a feeding device, a
cutter for severing a section of wire, dividing dies located below the plane of said
feeding device and cutter, duplicate headers or hammers, and operating mechanisın
substantially as described, whereby each element of one organization is cause I
to act alternately with the corresponding element of the other organization as
set forth.
Second. The combination with a duplicate cutting off, dividing, and head forming:
mechanism, of the feeding slides having wire grasping devices, and racks, the.
segment gears g, g, engaged with said racks, and mechanism substantially as
described for oscillating said segment gears, and thereby reciprocating the slides,
simultaneously in opposite directions, as set forth.
Third. The combination of the feeding slides, the gear segments engaging with
racks thereon, the rock shaft w, adapted to oscillate said gear segments, the
connecting rod connected to a crank on the rock shaft, and the driving shaft l,
having a cross-head and an adjustable wrist pin to which connecting rod is
connected, said pin enabling the throw of the connection rod and the length of the
feed movement of the feeding slides to be adjusted, as set forth.
Fourth. The combination with a duplicate feeding, dividing and head forming
mechanism, of the cutters h, h, affixed to arms g, g, the rock shaft f, supporting
said arms, and mechanism for oscillating said rock shaft whereby the cutters are
caused to act alternately, as set forth.
Fifth. The combination with duplicate feeding, cutting off, and head forming
mechanism of the fixed half dies 2, 2, the half dies 3, 3, secured to slides g', gl,
the toggle joints j, j, connected to said slides and to fixed supports, the pivoted
oscillating lever c connected as described to the toggle joints at opposite sides

page_text: of its pivot, whereby 'the dies 3, 3, are moved in unison and caused to act alter-
nately, as set forth."
Sixth. The combination with duplicate feeding, cutting off, and dividing
mechanism, of the four spring retracted hammers arranged to bear against the
ends of two sections of wire held by the dividing mechanism and mechanism
whereby said hammers are operated two at a time, as set forth.
Seventh. The combination of the feeding devices having feed movements of
twice the length of a nail, the cutters adapted to sever the wire after each feed
movement, two plates d', c¹, one fixed, and the other movable below the plane of
each feeding device, and cutter, said plates having their proximate ends formed
to present a trough to receive the section of wire, two dividing half dies 2, 3, one
fixed and the other movable, located below each of said troughs, sliding rods 2, 23,
adapted to be moved by the half dies 3, 3, and arranged to arrest the wire sections
falling from the troughs, mechanism for moving said movable plates d', and dies 3,
toward and from the fixed plates e¹ and dies 2, the headers or hammers and
operating mechanism therefor all arranged and operated substantially as set forth. .
Eighth. The headers or hammers arranged with their centers at one side of the
line of wire and adapted to be rotated to present different heading surfaces to
the wire, as set forth.
Ninth. In a wire nail machine the combination of two blocks or holders having
cavities in their proximate faces, the two cavities fitting the wire from which the
nails are to be produced, dies or cutters between said cavities arranged to sever a
blank of wire into two parts by a combined cutting and swaging action and
thereby form two points, two hammers arranged in line with the cavities in the
blocks or holders, and adapted to move toward and from said dies in the direction
of the length of the wire held thereby, and mechanism substantially as described to
operate said blocks or holders, dies and bammers, as set forth.
+
Tenth. The blocks a¹, f', having the adjustable cutting and pointing dies and
means for holding said dies in any position to which they may be adjusted.
Eleventh. The blocks a¹, f, having cutting and pointing dies, adjustable gripping
dies and means for holding said gripping dies in any position to which they may
be adjusted.
Twelfth. The blocks a', f', having cutting and pointing dies, and barb forming
dies, whereby the nails are barbed while being formed, as set forth.
Thirteenth. The rivet dies k, k, formed substantially as shown to sever a wire
and form blunt ends on the separated portions thereof, as set forth.
Fourteenth. The combination of the cutters which sever the wire lengths from
the main wire, the severing and pointing dies located below the cutters, and means.
for controlling said lengths during their movement from the cutters to the dies, as
set forth.
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