Year: 1895

page_text: I CHARLES FOLLANSBEE SMITH of No. 74 Lewis Street Bridgeport in the
County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, one of the United States of America
Engineer 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 :-
My invention relates to machines for automatically manufacturing chain from
wire, but more particularly has reference to the manufacture of a chain composed
of links of the same shape and size, each link being made of one piece of wire and
having two loops one at each end, the extremities of the wire being secured at or
about the central portion of the link.
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this Specification,
Figure 1 is a plan of my
machine.
Figure 2 a section at the line a-a of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the
arrow c.
Figure 3 a section at the line a-a of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the
arrow b.
Figure 4 a section at the line - of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of
the arrow k.
Fig. 5 a section at the line d-d of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the
arrow e.
Figure 6 a section at the line d-d of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the
arrow f.
Figure 7 a section at the line g-g of Figure 1, looking in the direction of
the arrow h.
Figure 8 a section at the line Q-Q of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the
arrow r.
Figure 9 a section at the line - of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the
arrow m.
Figure 10 a section at the line n-n of Figure 1, looking in the direction of
the arrow p.
Figure 11 a section at the line u-u of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the
arrow v.
Figure 12 a section at the line u-u of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the
arrow 10.
Figure 13 a section at the line s--s of Figure 1, looking in the direction of
the arrow t.
I Price 8d7

page_text: -
Figure 14 a detail broken perspective of the tool for performing the second
bending operation.
Figure 15 a detail broken perspective of the tool for performing the last bending
operation.
Figure 16 a detail perspective of the tool for performing the first bending
operation.
Figure 17 a detail perspective of the tool for performing the fourth bending
operation.
Figure 18 is a broken detail section elevation, on an enlarged scale, taken on
the lines of Figure 1, and showing particularly the position of the parts after
the first bending operation has been performed.
Figure 19 a detail broken plan, partly in section. and on an enlarged scale.
showing the position of the parts after the second bending operation has been
performed.
Figure 20 is a view similar to Figure 19, but showing the position of the parts
after the third bending operation has been performed.
Figure 21 is a view similar to Figure 19, but showing the position of the parts.
after the fourth bending operation has been performed.
Figure 22 a broken detail sectional elevation, at the line s-s of Figure 1, looking
in the direction of the arrow a', and on an enlarged scale, and showing the position
of the parts after the fifth bending operation has been performed.
Figure 23 a view similar to Figure 22, but showing the position of the parts
after the sixth bending operation has been performed.
Figures 24 and 24 are similar to Figure 19, and showing the position of the
parts when the wire has been fed through the loop of a previously completed link.
Figures 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, and 31. are detail views showing respectively the
shape of the wire blank after the performance of the first, second, third, fourth,
fifth and sixth bending operations, Fig. 28 shews an intermediate stage, and
Figure 32 is a detail elevation showing a short length of the completed chain.
Similar numbers of reference denote like parts in the several figures of the
drawing.
8 is the bed of the machine on the rear of which is journalled the main shaft 9
in the usual manner, which shaft carries the various cams for performing the
bending operations, as will be hereinafter fully set forth.
For the sake of clearness and a better understanding of my invention, I will first
describe the feeding and cutting off mechanisms and afterwards the instrumentalities
for performing the various bending operations in their proper order.
The mechanism for feeding the wire is shown in Figures 2, 3, 9, 10, 13, 18 and 22,
but particular attention is called to Figures 2, 3 and 13, from which a clear
understanding of such mechanism may be obtained.
Secured to the bed is an upright 10 within the lower portion whereof is journalled
the short shaft 11 which carries the lower feed roll 12, and within the upper
portion of this upright is a gate 13 within which is a box 14, which latter has a
free vertical play and rests upon a coil spring 15 supported by any suitable portion
of the upright. Within this box 14 is journalled the short shaft 16 carrying the
upper feed roll 17.
It will thus be readily understood that the upper feed roll is normally elevated
by the spring 15 so as not to co-operate with the lower feed roll.
Carried by the shafts 11, 16, are intermeshing gear wheels 18, 19, and also carried
by the shaft 11 is a pinion 20 which is engaged by a spur wheel 21 on the shaft. 9,
whereby rotary motion is imparted from the latter to the shaft 11 and thence to the
shaft 16, thereby causing the feed rollers 17 and 12 to revolve in opposite
directions.
Carried by the shaft 9 is a circular disk 22 having a certain portion of its
periphery recessed as shown at 23, and pivoted at 24 to the block 38 is a lever 25
whose rear end rests with a roller upon the periphery of the disk 22, so that it will
be readily understood that the revolution of said disk will alternately elevate said

page_text: lever or permit it to be lowered, according as the latter is travelling upon the raised
or sunken surface of the disk. A lug 26 extends from said lever in front of the
pivotal point and through this lug projects a screw pin 27, the lower end of which
is in close proximity to the floor of the feed way for the wire for the purpose
presently explained.
Pivoted at 28 to an extension 29 from the upright 10 is a lever 30 which has a
nose 31 which rests on top of the lever 25, said lever 30 having depending from its
rear or free end a pin 32 which extends loosely through the bed plate, a coil
spring 33 being arranged around said pin and confined between a head 34 on the
bottom of the latter and the underside of the bed, whereby said lever is normally
forced down against the lever 25.
Within the top of the upright 10 is a piu 35 which extends loosely in vertical
position through the upright and rests by gravity upon the box 14, the head of said
pin normally projecting above the level of said upright as shown at Figure 2.
The lever 30 is always in contact with said pin, so that it will be clear that when
the rear end of the lever 25 is travelling in the sunken portion 23 of the disk 22,
the action of the lever 30 will force said pin downward and thereby depress the
upper feed roll so that it will co-operate with the lower feed roll.
It will therefore be obvious that during the time when the rear end of the
lever 23 is travelling in said portion 23, the feeding of the wire will occur, and
that when said lever is in contact with the remaining portion of the disk 22, the
upper feed roll will be elevated.
The wire 36 is run between the rolls and passes through a quill or tube 37 which
is of an inner diameter to accommodate the wire, and said quill is supported within
the block 38 secured to the bed. This block and quill are provided with vertical
openings 39, 40, through which openings the pin 27 passes so as to directly overhang
the wire. After the wire has been fed the elevation of the rear end of the lever 25
will cause the pin 27 to press firmly against the wire as shown at Figure 22 thereby
holding the latter as against any slipping or back thrust up to the time when the
cutting off of the blank has occurred.
The instrumentalities for cutting off the blank also, by their continued movement,
perform the third bending operation, but I will, at the present time, merely describe
such instrumentalities only in so far as they operate to cut off the wire.
41 is the cut-off-tool secured to a slide 42, which latter is capable of a free
movement within suitable ways, shown in dotted lines at Figure 1. 43 is a bell
crank pivoted at 44 to the bed of the machine, the front leg of which crank extends
loosely with the slide 42 so that when the crank is rocked said slide and the
tool 41 carried thereby will be thrown forward and backward. This cut-off-tool
operates across the front of the quill 37 (see Figures 19 and 20) to shear off the
wire blank. 45 (see Fig. 1) is a slide which is guided within a box 46 rigid on
the bed, and extending laterally from the rear end of this slide is a roller 47
(see Fig. 7) which lies within a side groove 48 in the cam 3 which latter is mounted
on the shaft 9. Carried by the forward extremity of this slide is a swivelled
post 49, and through this post the rear leg of the crank 43 extends loosely.
The revolution of the cam 3 will operate the slide to rock the crank 43 forward
and backward and thereby cause the tool 41 to be thrown across the front of the
quill 37 and retracted therefrom.
I will now describe the mechanism which I employ for performing the first
bending operation, reference being had to Figures 1, 3, 6, 13, 16, 18 and 25.
Journalled in suitable bearings 50 (Fig. 1) secured to the bed is a shaft 51
having upon its outer extremity a pinion 52 which latter engages with a rack bar 53
capable of sliding freely within suitable ways in the bed. This rack bar carries
at its rear end upon one side a roller 54 (see Figure 6) which projects within
a side groove 5 in the cam 1 which latter is mounted on the main shaft 9.
As the cam revolves a forward and backward reciprocation will be imparted to
the rack bar, whereby the shaft 51 will be rocked first in one direction and
then in the other. Secured upon the inner end of the shaft 51 is a head 56.

page_text: (see Fig. 3, 13, 16, 18) and projecting from the face of this head is the bending
stud 57 and the shoulder 58 which are separated from each other by a space just
sufficient to admit of the passage of the wire 36. The normal position of this head
is shown at Figure 3, and at Figure 13 such position is preserved with the wire
having been fed so that the extremity thereof extends between said stud and
shoulder, preparatory to the revolution of the head to perform the initial bending
operation. At Figure 18 the bead is shown as having been revolved throughout
an are of 180 degrees, whereby a short bend or hook is formed in the extremity of
the wire.
The wire having been delivered by the feeding mechanism so that the extremity
lies between the bending stud 57 and the shoulder 58, the timing of the cam 1 is
such that the rack bar 53 will be retracted which causes the head 56 to revolve,
thereby bending the extremity of the wire snugly around the stud 57, so that
there is formed on such extremity a short bend or hook 59, as clearly shown in
Figure 25.
In performing the second bending operation, the forward portion of the wire
in which the hook has been formed is bent by a suitably shaped and operated
tool, so that a loop is formed in a horizontal plane with the hook 59 depending
below the same, as shown at Figure 26, and in describing the manner in which
such operation is performed I would call especial attention to Figures 1, 4, 6,
7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 19, 22, 24, and 26.
60 Fig. 22 is a bracket bolted to the bed of the machine on the under side
and 61 is a vertical shaft journalled within said bracket. This shaft is hollow
and has fixed to its lower extremity a bevel wheel 62 which meshes with a
bevel wheel 63 ou the end of a short shaft 64 journalled also in said bracket.
The upper end of the shaft 61 carries a head 65 which forms a shoulder against
the bracket so that said shaft is confined as against lengthwise movement by the
wheel 62 and said head.
66 is a spindle which projects upwardly and loosely through the shaft 61 and is
secured at its lower extremity to a lug 67 which projects from a gate 68, which
latter is capable of a vertical sliding movement within suitable ways in the
bracket 60. The spindle 66 is normally projected above the head 65 (see Figure 12)
and is held in this position to serve as a mandrel around which the second bend in
the wire is made, and projecting from the upper face of the head 65 and eccentric
thereof is a shoulder 69. This shoulder is under cut as seen at 70 in Figures 12
and 14 so as to provide a passage way for the wire whereby the latter may be
confined laterally between said shoulder and spindle when it is fed to the first
bending tool, as shown at Figure 24. In other words, the feed way 70 is in direct
alignment with the space between the stud 57 and shoulder 58 of the first bending
tool, so that when the wire is first fed it will be delivered simultaneously to the
first and second bending devices.
When the head 65 is revolved in the direction of the arrow (see Figure 24) the
wire will be carried away from the first bending tool and will be bent around
the spindle 66 into the form of a loop 71 (see Figures 19 and 26).
72 (Fig. 9) is a bell crank pivoted at 73 to the bed on the under side and
having its outer end formed into a tooth wheel segment 74 which meshes with the
pinion 75 on the end of the short shaft 64 (Fig. 12) 2 is a cam carried by the main
shaft 9 and having in its side a groove 76, and 77 is a lever having its free end
forked and extending around the shaft 9 and having its other end pivotted to the
upper leg of the bell crank 72, and provided with a roller 78 which extends
laterally within the groove 76.
The outline of this groove is such that when the cam is revolved, to and fro
rotary movements will be imparted to the short shaft 64 (Fig. 12) whereby the
bending head 65 (Fig. 14) will be caused to revolve first in one direction and then
in the other throughout an arc of about 180 degrees as hereinbetore set forth.
The initial rotation of the head 65 throughout this are will of course double the
wire upon itself around the upwardly projecting mandrel to form the loop 71, while.

page_text: the return rotation of said head will restore the same to normal position and
re: ove the shoulder 69 out of the way of the devices for subsequently bending the
wire. Simultaneously with the return movement of the head 65 the spindle 66 is
lowered.
As hereinbefore stated this spindle is secured at its lower end to the gate 68,
which latter is caused to have a vertically sliding movement in a manner which I
will now describe.
79 (Figs. 6 and 22) is a bell crank pivoted at 80 to the bed of the machine,
and 81 is a link whose extremities are pivoted respectively to said gate and to
the lower leg of said bell crank. 4 (Figs. 1 and 10) is a cam mounted on the
main shaft 9 and having in its side face a groove 82, and 83 is a lever whose
rear extremity is forked and is supported around said shaft, the other end of
this lever being pivoted to the upper leg of the bell crank 79, while carried by
this lever is a roll 84 which works within said groove. As the cam 4 revolves
vertical reciprocatory movements are imparted to the gate 68.
This gate carries parts other than the spindle 66, as will be presently set forth,
and the groove 82 is so cut as to impart a predetermined variable reciprocation
to this gate but in the present instance it is necessary only to state that the
evolution of the cam 4 will cause the spindle to be elevated during the per-
formance of the second bending operation, and to be lowered as soon as such
operation is completed.
Immediately after the completion of this second bending operation the cut-off-
tool 41 operates to sever the wire blank in the manner herein before set forth,
but this tool, continuing its travel, assists in the performance of the third bending
peration, namely, the formation of a rectangular bend at the inner or severed end
of the blank, which operation I will now explain.
85, Figs. 12, 20, 24, 244, 27, is a mandrel which is carried by the gate 68 and is
projected upwardly, during the third bending operation, above the line of feed of
the wire. This mandrel, when in elevated position, is immediately in front of the
wire blank, and the rear edge of the mandrel is substantially in alignment with the
forward edge of the cut-off-tool 41, so that when the latter is projected it will cut
off the wire and bend the latter around the corner of the mandrel at substantially
a right angle, as shown at 85%, Figures 20 and 27. This last operation leaves the
blank in the shape shown at Figure 27, preparatory to the formation of the loop at
the severed end of the blank and the bringing of the extremities together so as to
be in position for the final setting down of the latter.
The means which I employ for performing the fourth bending operation are a
mandrel 86 and a reciprocatory bending tool for forming a generally U-shaped
loop around such mandrel.
In describing the fourth bending operation attention is called to Figures 1, 2, 5,
10, 11, 12, 17, 19, 20, 21, 24, 28 and 29.
87, Figs. 1 and 11 is a shaft journalled in bearings 88 supported on the bed, and
carrying on its rear end an elongated pinion 89 which latter meshes with a rack
bar 90 capable of lengthwise movements within suitable ways on the bed.
7, Fig. 5, is a cam carried by a short shaft 91, journalled in any suitable bearings
on the bed, said cam having in its side face a groove 92 into which projects a
roller 93 carried laterally by the rack bar 90. When the cam 7 is revolved, the
rack bar 90 will be projected and retracted to impart reverse rotary movements to
the shaft 87.
94, Figs. 1 and 11 is a collar on the shaft 87 and having in its periphery au
annular groove 95. 96 is a lever pivoted at 97 to the bed, and having a stud 98 at
its forward end which works in the groove 95, while the rear end of said lever
carries a roll 99 which works in a groove 100 in the periphery of the cam 3.
As the cam 3 is revolved, the lever 96 will be thrown forward and backward
carrying with it the shaft 87.
Secured on the inner end of this shaft 87 is a head 101 (shown in detail at
Figure 17) which is recessed in its face as seen at 102 to form the loop around

page_text: the mandrel 86 and to contain said loop when formed, as will be presently more
fully explained.
Extending across the face of the head 101 from side to side is a groove 103
dapted to fit snugly over the wire, which groove extends also within the walls of
the recess 102.
Immediately prior to the third bending operation, the cam 3 operates to throw
the head 101 against the wire blank, whereby the groove 103 will fit snugly around
the wine blank so as to hold the latter against displacement during the performance
f both the third and fourth bending operations, as shown in dotted lines at
Figure 20. Of course this head 101 performs no active part in the third bending,
and its function in this connection is precautionary rather than necessary, and
although the projection of said head may be deferred until after the third bending,
I prefer to operate it in the manner above described.
The mandrel 86, see Fig. 2, is in a higher plane than the mandrel 85 and
immediately preceding the further projection of the head 101. the cam 4 operates to
lower the gate 68 to an extent sufficient to bring the mandrel 85 below the
horizontal plane of the wire blank, but at the same time leaving the mandrel 86
immediately in front of said blank.
The cam 3 now operates to throw the head 101 still further forward, whereby the
blank is bent around the mandrel 86, said head enclosing the mandrel and the loop
thus formed, as shown at Figures 21 and 29. Fig. 28 shews an intermediate
stage during this operation.
During this bending of the blank the rectangular bent portion 85ª will
pass within
the hook 59 and will extend beneath and project beyond the opposite side wire of
the partially formed link, as clearly shown at Figure 29, and while this operation
is being performed the revolution of the cam 7 will impart no movement to
the rack bar 90, and therefore at this time the head 101 will not revolve.
I will now explain the parts which operate to perforin the fifth bending operation,
and in this connection will call attention to Figures 1, 4, 11, 12, 15, 21, 22, 23,
and 30.
105 is a shaft journalled in suitable bearings supported on the bed and carrying
on its rear end an elongated pinion 106, which latter meshes with a tooth rack
bar 107 guided within suitable ways on the bed. 5 is a cam carried by the main
shaft 9 and baving in its side a groove 108 (see Figure 4) within which works a
roll 109 on the lack bar 107. As the cam is revolved the rack bar will be
moved forward and backward, thus imparting to the shalt 105 reverse rotary
movements.
On this shaft 105 is a collar 110 having in its periphery an annular grouve 111.
6 is a cam carried by the main shaft 9 and having in its periphery a groove 112, and
113 is a lever pivoted at 114 to the bed, the rear end of said lever carrying &
roll 115 which works in the groove 112, while the forward end of said levet carries
a stud 116 which works in the groove 111.
As the cam 6 revolves the lever 113 will be swung forward and backward to
project and retract the shaft 105 for the purpose presently explained.
Carried by the inner end of this shaft 105 is a ledge 117 (shown in detail at
Figure 15) which projects eccentrically from said shaft and is provided with a
notch 118 near its outer end.
Immediately after the completion of the fourth bending operation, the cam 6
operates to project this ledge immediately beneath the partially formed link, said
ledge extending laterally beyond the straight side of the link so that the extremity
of the wire which projects beyond said side will be within the notch, as clearly
shown at Figure 21. The cam 5 now operates to revolve the shaft 105, whereby
the ledge 117 will be carried around so as to curl this projecting end of the wire
around the adjacent side wire of the link, to form a hook 119, as clearly shown at
Figures 22 and 30.
During the operation of this tool 117 to perform the fifth bending operation the
gate 68 and the head 101 will both remain stationary, or, in other words, in the

page_text: position shown at Figures 21 and 22, and immediately after the ledge 117 has
performed its function, as above set forth, the cam 5 will operate to revolve the
Shaft 105 in the reverse direction thereby restoring said ledge to its position
beneath the link, as shown at Figure 23, and this position of the ledge is maintaine
during the final operation of closing the hooks 59 and 119.
This operation for finally shaping the link is performed by means of dies which
are carried by gates that slide in reverse directions, and, in describing this operation
I will refer particularly to Figures 1, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 22, 23, and 31.
120, Figs. 1, 4, 9, 11, 12, 22, 23, is an upright bolted to the bed of the machine,
and 121, 122, Figs. 22 and 23, are gates capable of independent sliding movements
within suitable ways in said upright and to the gate 121 is bolted the upper die 123,
while to the gate 122 is bolted the lower die 124. 125, Figs. 9, 11, 12, is a
horizontal rock shaft journalled within the upright 120 and having secured to its
inner end a disk 126 free to revolve within suitable peripheral bearings in said
upright. Extending from the face of this disk at points diametrically opposite to
each other in substantially a horizontal plane are crank pins 127, 128, Fig. 23,
which project loosely within blocks 129, 130, which latter are contained and have a
horizontal play within openings 131, 132 through said gates. It will be obvious
that the rocking of this disk 126 in reverse directions will cause reverse vertical
reciprocation of said gates whereby the dies 123, 124, will be brought together and
separated.
On the outer end of the rock shaft 125 is a crank 133 (see Figures 1, 4, 8, 11 an
23), and pivoted at 134 to a support 135 rising from the bed is a lever 136. The
rear end of said lever carries a roll 137, Fig. 8, which works in a groove 138 cut in
the side of the cam 6, while a link 139 is pivoted at its extremities respectively to
the crank 133 and the forward end of said lever.
As the cam 6 revolves the lever 136 will be vertically rocked, thereby imparting
a rocking movement to the disk 126, for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
When the gates 121, 122, Fig. 23 are operated as before set forth, the
dies 123, 124, will be closed above and below against the hooked extremities 59
and 119, thereby setting them down firmly into the form of eyes, whereby the link
is completed.
The lower die 124 is cut away as seen at 140 so as to conform closely to the
ledge 117 and to re-enforce the latter in its position beneath the link during this
sixth bending operation.
There is no especial object in keeping this ledge beneath the link at this time,.
except that the machine may be run at a higher speed to greater advantage, it
being unnecessary to consume any time in withdrawing the ledge.
Immediately after the completion of the sixth bending operation the cam 6
operates to withdraw the dies from the link, and it now becomes necessary to feed
the wire for a new link within one of the loops of the previously completed link.
During the performance of the fifth and sixth bending operations the head 101
will remain in the position shown at Figure 21, where one loop of the link is shown
as contained within the recess 102 in this head, the completed link lying in a
horizontal plane.
In order to feed the wire through the loop of a previously formed link, it
becomes necessary to give such link a quarter turn so that it will stand in a vertical
plane, and also to retract the link so that the loop 71 will be opposite to the feed
way of the wire. This is accomplished by the rotatory and lengthwise movements
of the shaft 87, Figs. 1 and 24, such movements being effected and controlled by
the cams 3 and 7, in the manner which I will now describe.
After the completion of the sixth bending operation the cam 6 operates to
separate the dies, and at the same time to retract the ledge 117 to normal position,
and prior to any movement whatever of the bead 101 the cam 4 operates to
lower the gate 68 thereby withdrawing the mandrel 86 from the loop in said head.
The cam 7, Fig. 5 now operates to give the head 101 a quarter turn and at the
same time the cam 3 operates to retract such head until the free projecting loop

page_text: is opposite to the feed way of the wire, whereupon the wire is now fed through
this loop in the manner hereinbefore set forth, the head remaining stationary
during this feeding. As soon as the feeding of the wire is completed, the cam 3
operates to retract the head 101 whereby the finished link is stripped or withdrawn
from said head and allowed to drop by gravity into any suitable well or
receptacle 150 for the finished chain.
A notch 149, Fig. 19, is cut in the maudrel 86 to accommodate the wire of a
previously formed link so that the operation of the head 101 to form a loop around
said mandrel for a succeeding link is unimpeded.
After the finished link has been withdrawn from the head the retraction of the
latter continues until it has reached its normal position, while at the same time the
cam 7 operates to give said head a quarter turn back to its original position first
referred to and shown at Figures 1 and 19.
The various instrumentalities are now in position for making a succeeding link,
and their operations are the same as hereinbefore set forth, with the exception
that the head 101 during its initial retraction to bring the subsequently finished
link into proper position opposite the feed way of the wire, is given a quarter
turn by the operation of the cam 7 in a direction reverse to that shown at Fig. 24,
or, in other words, this turning of the head brings the latter in the position shown
at Figure 24^.
The object of this turning of succeeding links in opposite directions is to bring
corresponding bends on alternate links into the same position with respect to each
other.
In chain of this sort adjacent links are at right angles to each other, so that
alternate links only are in the same plane and it is very desirable that alternate
links should correspond with each other and be uniform in every respect, and it
will be quite obvious that if the head 101 turned all the links in the same direction
for the purposes of threading succeeding blanks, only every fifth link would
correspond and be uniform.
This reverse turning of the links is therefore a very important feature, and I
will still further describe in detail the construction of the cam 7 and its operations
for effecting such turning, reference being had particularly to Figures 1, 5, 12,
19, 21 and 24.
Calling attention in the first place to Figures 1 and 5, 141 is a pinion on the
main shaft 9 meshing with a spur wheel 142 carried by the short shaft 91 and
moving in harmony with the cam 7. The relative sizes of this pinion and wheel are
such that a complete revolution of the pinion will impart only one half revolution
to the spur wheel, and therefore it will be clear that the cam 7 only accomplishes
a half revolution during the formation and completion of a link.
The contour of the groove 92, Fig. 5, in this cam 7 of course determines the
variable throw of the rack bar 90, and consequently the variable movements of
the head 101. This groove extends inwardly, as shown at 143, 144, at one side
of the cam, and at the diametrically opposite side of the cam said groove leads
outwardly as seen at 145, 146. Dwells 147, 148 are made at these diametrically
opposite points between the portions 143, 144 and 145, 146 respectively. The rest
of the groove 92 on both sides between the points 143, 145 and 144, 146, is
concentric with the shaft 91 and therefore constitutes dwells.
While the roll 93 is in the position as shown at Figure 5 within one of the long
dwells in the groove immediately beyond the portion 143, the various parts of the
machine are in their normal position preparatory to forming a link, and while the
roll travels throughout this dwell until it reaches the point 145, all the various
bending operations hereinbefore described are performed, and immediately before
the roll travels throughout the portion 145 the parts are in the position shown at
Figure 21. When the roll travels throughout the portion 145 of the groove the
rack bar will be projected thereby giving the head 101 a quarter turn to the
position shown at Figure 24, and during this time the cam 3 will have operated
to initially withdraw said head. While the roller is travelling throughout the

page_text: dwell 148 the wire for a subsequent link will be fed through the loop of a previously
formed link, and during this time the cam 3 will operate to still further withdraw
said head to strip the finished link as herein before set forth. As the roll travels
throughout the portion 146 of the groove the rack bar 90 will be retracted thereby
giving said head a quarter turn back to its normal position with the groove 103
disposed in a horizontal plane, and simultaneously the cam 3 operates to retract
said head to its normal position as shown in Fig. 1.
As the roll travels throughout the long dwell in this groove between the
points 146 and 144, during the continued revolution of the cam, the various
bending operations are performed whereby a succeeding link is completed, and
immediately before the roll travels throughout the portion 144 the parts are in
the position shown in Figure 21. When the roll travels throughout the portion 144
of the groove the rack bar will be again retracted thereby giving the head 101
a quarter turn to the position shown in Figure 24, or, in other words, to, a
position in a reverse direction to that previously set forth and shewn in Fig. 24,
and during this time the cam 3 will have operated to initially withdraw said head.
While the roll is travelling throughout the dwell 147 the wire for a subsequent
link will be fed through the loop of a previously formed link, and during this
time the cam 3 will operate to still further withdraw said head to strip the finished
link as herein before set forth. As the roll travels throughout the portion 143 of
the groove the rack bar will be projected thereby giving said head a quarter turn
back to its normal position with the groove 103 disposed in a horizontal plane,
and simultaneously the cam 3 operates to retract said head to its normal position
as shown at Figure 1.
It will thus be obvious that during a complete revolution of the cam 7 tivo
completed links will be formed by the machine, and that the head 101 is revolved
first in one direction and then in the other whereby succeeding completed links are
turned in opposite directions for the purpose of feeding the wire for subsequent
links.
In the description heretofore given of the various feeding, cutting off and
bending operations, no particular mention has been made of any peculiar shape of
the various cam surfaces or grooves, excepting in the instance of the cam 7, since
no description is deemed necessary for the reason that it will be readily understood
that the cutting of the cams is such as to produce the necessary movements or
dwells of the various parts and mechanisms.
The operation of my improvement, constructed and working as to its parts in the
manner hereinbefore set forth, is as follows:-
Pre-supposing a link to have been completed and to be held within the head 101
and the wire for a subsequent link having been threaded through the free loop of
the completed link as shown at Figure 24, the cam 3 now operates to retract this
head so that the finished link will be stripped therefrom, and after such link
is freed from the head the cam 7 operates to give said head a quarter turn to bring
it into the normal position shown at Figure 1. The cam 1 meantime has operated
to cause the head 56 to turn a half revolution thereby completing the first bending
operation, as shown at Figure 18. The cam 2 next operates to revolve the head 65
around the mandrel 66 which latter has been elevated by the action of the gate 68
controlled by the cam 4, whereby the second bending operation is completed and
the parts brought into the position shown at Figure 19. The action of the cam 3
Bow causes the cutter bar 41, see Fig. 1 and 20, to sever the wire and continuing to
perform the third bending operation, said cam also causing the head 101 to advance
to embrace the wire blank to hold the same as against displacement during such
operation. The cam 4, during this action of the cam 3 effects a slight lowering of
the gate 68 whereby the mandrel 85, Fig. 20 is brought below the level of the
wire, and in performing the fourth bending operation the head 101 is advanced by
the continued action of the cam 3, so as to bend the blank around the mandrel 86, as
shown at Figure 21. The cam 6 then operates to project the ledge 117 on the
shaft 105 Figs. 15, 21, beneath the link as herein before set forth, while immediately
B

page_text: following the cam 5 effects a half revolution of said ledge, whereby the fifth
bending operation is performed and the link completed with the exception of
setting down the hooked portions, as shown at Figure 22. Before the next
operation this cam 5 causes the ledge. 117 to revolve back to normal position
immediately below the link, whereupon the dies 123, 124 on the descending
gates 121, 122 are closed upon the hook portions by the action of the cam 6, and
the link finally completed, as shown at Figure 23.
It will be obvious that some of the parts herein shown and described may be used
without the others, and that my invention in part or parts inay be carried out by
other mechanisms well known to any ordinary mechanic, and I therefore do not
wish to be confined to the exact details of construction shown and described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
+
1. The combination of the bed, the upright rising therefrom and having a
gate 13 in its top, the bearing within said gate and capable of a free vertical play,
the spring whereby said bearing is normally elevated, the lower and upper feed
rolls journalled respectively in said upright and bearing and carrying on their
shafts intermeshing spur wheels, means for revolving the lower wheel, the circular
rotary disk 22 having its periphery sunken at 23, the lever 25 pivoted to the bed
of the machine and provided at its outer end with a roller which travels on the
periphery of said disk and having at its inner end a projecting lug, a vertical pin
depending through said lug to a point immediately above the feed way of the wire
whereby when the outer end of the lever is elevated said pin will be forced against
the wire to grip the same, the pin 35 extending loosely through the top of said
upright and resting upon said bearing, the lever 30 pivoted to said upright and in
normal contact with the top of said pin and lever 25, and the spring whereby said
lever is normally depressed, substantially as set forth.
2. In a machine for automatically making wire chain of the character described,
the combination of the hollow vertically disposed and rotary head 65 having
projecting eccentric thereof a bending shoulder 69, the vertical mandrel 66
concentric within said head and having a free movement therein and separated
from the same by a space sufficient to contain the wire, means for turning said head
a half revolution, and means for lowering said mandrel, whereby the second bending
operation is performed, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination of the bed, the bracket 60 bolted thereto, the hollow rotatory
vertical shaft 61 journalled within said bracket and carrying on its lower end
a bevel wheel 62 and on its upper end a hollow head 65, the vertically reciprocatory
gate 68 within suitable ways within said bracket, the mandrel 66 carried by said
gate and extending upward through said hollow shaft 61 and head and capable of
a free movement therein, the shaft 64 journalled in said bracket and carrying the
bevel wheel 63 which meshes with said wheel 62, and independent instrumentalities
for revolving the shaft 64 and for reciprocating the gate 68, substantially as set
forth.
4. In a machine for automatically making wire chain of the character described,
the combination of the quill 37 through which the wire is fed, the cut-off-tool and
means for reciprocating the same across the front of said quill whereby the wire is
severed, the lower press gate 68 carrying the mandrel 85 and means for elevating
said gate prior to the operation of the cut-off-tool, whereby the continued
movement of the latter will bend the severed end of the blank into rectangular
shape around said mandrel, thereby performing the third bending operation,
substantially as set forth.
5. The combination of the quill 37 through which the wire is fed, the lower press
gate 68 carrying the mandrel 85, means for elevating and lowering said gate, the
slide 42 capable of a free movement within suitable ways on the bed, the
cut-off-tool 41 carried by said slide and capable of reciprocation in front of said

page_text: quill and between the latter and sad mandrel, the reciprocatory slide bar 45:
within suitable ways in the bed, the pivoted bell crank 43 having its extremities
loosely connected with said slide and slide bar respectively, and means for
reciprocating the latter, substantially as set forth.
6. In a machine for automatically making wire chain of the character described,
the combination of means for initially forming a hook in one extremity of the wire,
for doubling said extremity to form a loop with said hook depending therefrom and
forming a rectangular bend in the other end of the wire, with mechanism for.
bending round this end last referred to into the form of a loop and for simul-
taneously causing said rectangular bend to enter said hook beneath the link and
to project laterally beyond the opposite side of the latter, substantially as
set forth.
7. In a machine for automatically making wire chain of the character described,
the combination of mechanisms for initially forming a hook in one extremity of the
wire, for bending said hook end into the form of a loop with the hook depending
therefrom and for forming a rectangular bend in the opposite end of the wire, with
the lower press gate 68 carrying the mandrel 86, means for elevating said gate,
whereby said mandrel is brought above the horizontal plane of the wire, the
shaft 87 capable of a lengthwise reciprocation and carrying at its inner end
a recessed head 101 having a horizontally disposed groove opposite said wire, and
means for projecting said shaft whereby the wire is bent into the form of a loop
around said mandrel and within said recessed head, thereby performing the fourth
bending operation, substantially as set forth.
8. In a machine for automatically making wire chain of the character described,
the combination of mechanisms for initially forming a hook in one end of the wire,
for bending said end into the form of a loop with the hook depending therefrom,
for forming a rectangular bend in the opposite end of the wire and for forming a
loop in this end last referred to with said rectangular bend extending within said
hook and projecting beyond the opposite side wire of the link, with means for
bending said projecting end around the opposing side wire of the link, whereby the
fifth bending operation is performed, substantially as set forth.
9. In a machine for automatically making wire chain of the character described,
the combination of mechanisms for initially forming a hook in one end of the wire,
for bending said end into the form of a loop with the hook depending therefrom,
for forming a rectangular bend in the opposite end of the wire and for forming
a loop in this end last referred to with said rectangular bend extending within said
hook and projecting beyond the opposite side wire of the link, with the rotatory
shaft 105 capable of a lengthwise reciprocation and carrying on its inner end the
notched ledge 117, means for projecting said shaft whereby the notched portion of
said ledge is extended immediately beneath said projecting end of the wire, and
means for turning said shaft a half revolution whereby said projecting wire is bent
around the opposing side wire of the link, substantially as set forth.
10. In a machine for automatically making wire chain of the character described,
the combination of mechanisms for initially forming a hook in one end of the wire,
for bending said end into the form of a loop with the hook depending therefrom
for forming a rectangular bend in the opposite end of the wire, for forming a
loop in this end of the wire with said rectangular bend extending within said hook
and projecting beyond the opposite side wire of the link and for bending said
projecting end into the form of a hook around the opposing side wire of the link,
with means for completely closing said hook ends whereby the sixth bending
operation is performed and the link completed, substantially as set forth.
11. In a machine for automatically making wire chain of the character described,
the combination of mechanisms for initially forming a hook in one end of the wire,
for bending said end into the form of a loop with the hook depending therefrom,
for forming a rectangular bend in the opposite end of the wire, for forming
a loop in this end last referred to with said rectangular bend extending within
said hook and projecting beyond the opposite side wire of the link and for

page_text: bending said projecting end into the form of a hook around the opposing side wire
of the link, with the upright 120 secured to the bed of the machine, the gates 121, 122
guided within said upright and capable of independent vertical reciprocations, upper
and lower dies respectively carried by said gates, and means for sliding said gates
in reverse directions whereby said dies are closed against said hook ends, substantially
as set forth.
12. In a machine for automatically making wire chain of the character described,
the combination of mechanisms for initially forming a hook in one end of the wire,
for bending said end into the form of a loop with the hook depending therefrom,
for forming a rectangular bend in the opposite end of the wire, for forming a loop
in this end last referred to with said rectangular bend extending within said hook
and projecting beyond the opposite side wire of the link and for bending said
projecting end into the form of a hook around the opposing side wire of the link
with the upright 120 secured to the bed of the machine the gates 121, 122 guided
within said upright and capable of independent vertical reciprocations and having
openings therein, the blocks within said openings and having lateral play therein,
upper and lower dies 123, 124 respectively carried by said gates, the horizontal
short shaft journalled within said upright and having fixed to its inner end a disk
provided with diametrically opposite crank pins extending from its lace loosely
within said blocks, the crank secured to the outer end of said shaft, and
means for rocking said crank whereby said gates are caused to slide in reverse
directions and the dies closed against said hook ends, substantially as set forth.
13. In a machine for automatically making wire chain of the character described,
the combination of the shaft 87 capable of both rotatory and lengthwise recipro-
cations and carrying at its inner end a head 101 recessed and open at the bottom
and having within said recess a horizontally disposed groove, means whereby the
link is formed and completed with one end housed within said groove in a horizontal
plane, means for giving said head a quarter turn whereby the completed link is
brought into a vertical plane preparatory to the threading of a succeeding wire
blank, means for retracting said head whereby the completed link is withdrawn
therefrom, means for revolving said head whereby said groove is restored to its
normal horizontal position preparatory to receiving a succeeding link, means for
advancing said head whereby a succeeding link, is housed therem, and means for
giving said head a quarter turn in a direction reverse to the previous turning
whereby said succeeding link is brought into a vertical plane, substantially as set
forth.
14. In a machine for automatically making wire chain of the character described,
the combination of the head 101 capable of rotatory and lengthwise movements and
provided with a recess open through the bottom of said head and with a horizontally
disposed groove within the walls of said recess, means for forming the link with
one end of the same finally disposed within said recess, means for turning said head
in reverse directions whereby succeeding finished links are turned from a horizontal
plane to a vertical plane in reverse directions preparatory to threading the wire
blanks for succeeding links, means for withdrawing the completed links from said
head after said threading and means for turning said head to its normal position
with said groove in a horizontal plane intermediate of said reverse turning of the
head preparatory to threading succeeding links, substantially as set forth.
15. The combination of the shaft 91 journalled in suitable bearings rising from
the bed of the machine, the spur wueel carried by said shaft, the main shaft
carrying a pinion meshing with said wheel the diameter of the latter being double
the diameter of the former, the cam 7 carried by the shaft 91 and having within
its side a groove composed of diametrically opposite long dwells and diametrically
opposite short dwells at right angles to the first mentioned dwells, said groove
extending outwardly from the centre of the cam to connect the long dwells with
one of the short dwells, and inwardly toward said centre to connect the long
dwells with the other short dwell, the rack bar 90 capable of sliding within
'suitable ways on the bed of the machine and carrying a roller which works

page_text: within said groove, and the shaft 87 journalled in suitable bearings supported
on the bed and carrying at its outer end a pinion 89 which meshes with said
rack bar and having secured upon its inner end the bending head 101, substantially
as set forth.
Dated this 7th day of Aumist 1805
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.