Improvements in and relating to Machines for Making Matches.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1896-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Machines for Making Matches.
I, JACOB PULVER WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at 46 Avon Street, in the City and County of New Haven and State
of Connecticut United States of America, Mechanical 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:-
Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic view of my machine, showing a portion of the
wheels or pulleys for supporting the carrier chain, during the drying and cooling
of the match heads;
Figure 2, a plan view of the main part of the machine, which has to do with
feeding and sticking the splints into the carrier chain and discharging the
completed matches from the latter, such carrier chain being omitted from the
drawings, except where it passes the splint sticking devices;
Figure 3, a view, in rear elevation, of the same part of the machine; with the
carrier chain removed;
Figure 4, a similar view, on an enlarged scale, with the hopper and means for
taking the splints from the latter, left off;
Figure 5, a view, in side elevation, of the mechanism shown in Figure 4, but
with the transfer chains removed;
Figure 6, a similar view, but from the opposite side, the transfer chains and
guides therefor being shown in section;
Figure 7, a view of a vertical section on line x-x of Figure 4; with a portion
of the carrier chain in place, shown partly in section and partly in elevation;
Figure 8, a detail view, on an enlarged scale, showing, partly in section and
partly in side elevation, the carrier chain and the mechanism for inserting the
splints therein;
Figure 9, a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing the hopper
and means for taking the splints therefrom, and delivering them to the transfer
chains;
Figure 10, a detail view, showing, in elevation, a portion of the delivery side of
the hopper and of the feed drum, the scale being the same as in Figure 9;
Figure 11, a detail view, on an enlarged scale, showing the opposite or outer
Bide of the hopper and feed drum, together with the mechanism for driving the
Bame, a portion of the casing of the exhaust trunk being broken away to show the
parts of the machine;
Figure 12, a detail vertical sectional view, on a still larger scale, showing a
portion of the hopper, the feed drum, and means for taking the splints from the
latter and delivering them to the transfer chains;
Figure 13, a detail perspective view, on same scale as Figure 12, showing the
means for driving and guiding the clearers at the delivery side of the hopper;
Figures 14 and 15, views, in side elevation and section, respectively, of the
trip mechanism for ensuring the desired intermittent travel of the transfer
chains;
Figure 16, a detail view, on an enlarged scale, showing in plan the guide ways
for the transfer chains and the beater bar;
Figure 17, a view, on an enlarged scale, showing, partly in vertical section and
partly in elevation, a portion of the exhaust trunk, the guide plate, and a portion
of the carrier chain:

page_text: etan view, showing, in elevation, a portion of the frame and means
for driving the clearers ;
Figure 19; a similar view in the opposite direction, showing the gearing for
actuating the shaft from which the swinging outer side or back of the hopper is
driven;
Figure 20, a plan view, showing one of the plates of the carrier chain, portions
of such plate being shown with the splint-grasping or holding springs removed;
Figure 21, a detail view of one of the plates, showing the same in elevation, the
direction of the view being towards the front side of the plate;
Figure 22, a detail view, showing, in section, a portion of one of the carrier
chain plates;
Figure 23, a detail view, showing, in perspective, one of the spring plates, of
which the splint-grasping or holding devices are made;
Figure 24, a detail view, partly in section and partly in clevation, showing the
main driving or cam shaft with the cams fixed thereon;
Figure 25, a detailed plan view of one of the transfer chains;
Figure 26, a detail view, showing such transfer chain in side elevation, looking
at the outer side of the same;
Figure 27, a detail plan view, showing the guide for the transfer chains;
Figure 28, a view of the same in elevation;
Figure 29, a view of a section on line y-y, of Figure 28;
Figure 30, a detail view, showing, in elevation, a portion of the lifter plate;
Figure 31, a similar view, showing a portion of the slotted guide plate, through
which the splints are passed to the carrier plates.
The object of my invention has been to provide a machine for making matches,
and to this end my invention consists in the machine, and in the construction,
arrangement and combination of the parts thereof, as hereinafter specified.
While my present machine is especially designed for the making of matches
from wooden or other splints previously cut and placed loosely in a hopper or
splint-holding receptacle, I desire it to be understood that portions of the
mechanism are applicable to and capable of being employed to advantage in
match-making machines in which the splints or match bodies are supplied in
other ways.
The splints which are shown in the drawings and upon which it has been my
especial purpose to adapt my machine to work, are rectangular in cross section,
but, if desired, the mechanism shown and described in this application may,
without any change involving departure from my invention, be successfully
employed for operating upon and making matches from other shaped splints or
sticks, whether the same are made of wood or any other suitable material.
As will appear from the description hereinafter given, and the accompanying
drawings, the mechanism used in my machine for holding and conveying the splints
to and past the devices for treating them, applying the heads, and cooling and
drying the latter, are adapted to act upon splints or match bodies of waxed cord
or taper, as well as upon those made of wood.
In Figure 1 of the drawings, which, as described, shows a diagrammatic view of
a portion of the entire machine, I have shown only a few of the wheels or pulleys
for guiding and supporting the carrier chain after it has left the point where the
splints are inserted and before it reaches the point where the finished matches are
discharged from it.
These carrier chain guiding and supporting wheels or pulleys are to be arranged
substantially as are those in the machine shown and described in the Specification
of Patent No. 20,786 of 1894, with the exception that in the present machine there
is one of the large carrier chain guiding and supporting wheels arranged so as to
cause the carrier chain to travel vertically upward past the point where the splints
are inserted and then over and downward to the pulley which guides the chain to
the first of the splint-treating devices.
After leaving the composition applying mechanism, the carrier chain, carrying

page_text: the headed splints, is to pass onward, over and under a series of large guiding
wheels or pulleys, and then back again under a cooling fan, as in the machine set
forth in the patent specification, bereinbefore referred to.
As the devices or different mechanisms for treating the splints as they are
carried along by the carrier chain can be varied without involving any departure
from my present invention, and as they and the fan or cooling device can be the
same in construction and operation as those shown and described in said patent,
I need not describe them or their parts specifically herein.
In the drawings A, A, designate the frame of the main part of the machine, to
which part my present invention is applied. Sach frame consists, mainly, of
uprights connected by suitable cross-bars, and side extensions upon which the
splint-receiving hopper and some of the operative parts with their actuating
gearing, are supported.
Journaled in suitable bearings in frame A, A, is the main driving shaft B,
which is to be driven from any suitable motor or driver through any desired form
of connections or gearing. As shown, it is provided with a belt pulley B¹, which
can be engaged and driven by a belt or band B', running from any power driven
rotating band wheel.
On this driving shaft B, close to the driving pulley B', is a gear wheel B³,
meshing with and driving a gear wheel B, fixed on shaft B, parallel to shaft B,
and, like it, journaled in suitable bearings in frame A, A. This second shaft has,
fixed upon it, an eccentric B, engaging the eccentric strap C which is connected
with the rod C', the other end of which is provided with an opening engaging a
pin c on the rocking disk C, journaled on the shaft D and carrying
pawl Fig. 5. This pawl engages a ratchet wheel D' fixed on shaft D, so that
as the disk is, by the movement of the eccentric rod C, rocked in the direction
indicated by the arrow in Figure 5, the pawl will turn the ratchet wheel and thie
shaft, to which the latter is attached, a certain distance, and as the disk is rocked
back again, the pawl will ride easily over the ratchet teeth and leave the shaft D
at rest.
pivoted
Upon shaft D, close to the inner faces of the side uprights of frame A, A, are
the two gear wheels D, D2, for a purpose to be described.
A pitman rod C³, pivotally connected with the rocking disk C by means of a
pin c, has its other end pivotally connected with a second rocking disk C by a
pin c on such disk, so that the two disks will rock together.
A pivoted pawle on this second disk C, engages a ratchet wheel D³ fixed on
the shaft D which, carrying gear wheels D, D', like the wheels D, D³; on
shaft D, is also journaled in bearings on the frame.
The operation of the pawl e upon the ratchet wheel D³, as the disk C is
rocked, is the same as that of pawl c¹ upon the ratchet wheel D¹ just above
described, the object of the arrangement and connections of the parts being to
ensure a simultaneous and equal step-by-step rotation of the two shafts D, D', and,
consequently, of their gear wheels D', D, and D, D, as the eccentric rod C¹ is
actuated by the eccentric B on shaft B'.
The two shafts D, D', and the two pairs of gear wheels, will be caused to move
with a step-by-step forward rotation as the shaft B revolves, there being one of
such movements of the shafts D, D', and gear wheels, for each revolution of
shaft B. These gear wheels on the two shafts are the same in construction as the
gear wheels used in the machine shown and described in the Specification of Patent
No. 20,786 of 1894, herein before referred to, and are for the same purpose, that is,
to move the carrier chain with a uniform step-by-step movement, past the splint
sticking and match discharging devices.
The carrier chain E, in the machine shown and described in this application, is,
like that of the machine set forth in the patent cited, composed of a series of
plates hinged together at e, e, so as to make a continuous chain, and each having on
its back or inner face two series of teeth e', e', to mesh with the gear wheels D', D',
and D, D', on the shafts D and D. These gear wheels have some of their teeth
.

page_text: omitted to leave double width spaces d, d, for the accommodation of what are, in
effect, double width teeth, at the points where the plates are hinged together, as
best shown in Figures 7 and 8.
The teeth on the plates are so cut that the spaces between those nearest the
ends of the adjoining plates would come at the points where the pivotal connections
of the plates are located, and, consequently, would not be available for the proper
reception of teeth on the respective carrier chain moving wheels. Such wheels
are, therefore, not provided with teeth at the points on them which come opposite
the pivotal or hinge joints of the plates, but with the wide spaces described and
shown.
The form of pivotal or hinge connection between the carrier chain plates, which
is shown in the drawings, consists of overlapping ears on the plate ends connected
by pivot pins passing through them.
.
A perforated ear 2 on one plate, extends in between two corresponding
perforated ears e, e³, on the next plate, and a pin et is passed through the three
ears.
While I prefer this construction, I do not, of course, limit myself thereto, as the
plates may be hinged together in any other desired way.
The carrier chain, made up of the plates hinged together, and provided with
the teeth for engaging the chain moving wheels D2, D3, D, D, is, as it passes
through the main part of the machine being described, engaged by guides at the
points where the moving wheels engage the plate teeth. Such guides have the
portions E', E', overlapping a portion of the outer sides of the carrier plates, so
as to hold the latter with their teeth well in mesh with the wheels D', D³, D³, D³,
and to cause the plates to travel straight in vertical lines as they go by the
wheels.
With this construction and arrangement of wheels and guides, the carrier chain
plates will be brought into and held in the same position as they successively
reach a pair of the chain moving wheels.
The course of the carrier chain E as it passes through the main part of the
machine being described, is down past the pair of moving wheels D', 'D', around
below the shaft B, and then upward between the wheels D2, D3, and the vertical
guides E', E', opposite such wheels. Its travel beyond these guides, and before it
reaches again the wheels D, D, and the guides opposite them, will be described
hereinafter.
Each of the plates of the carrier chain is, as shown in Figures 7, 8, 17, 20 and
22, provided with transverse rows of splint-receiving perforations e, e, of which
there are preferably, though not necessarily, fifty-one in each row. These rows of
perforations are arranged at such a distance apart that the lines of the centers of
the perforations of two adjacent rows will be distant from each other by an amount
just equal to the length of each step-by-step movement of the chain as the latter is
moved by the intermittently rotating wheels D2, D3, D, D', driven by the pawl
and ratchet mechanism hereinbefore set forth.
The object of this construction is to insure that, as the chain is moved, the rows
of perforations in the plates will be successively brought up exactly opposite a
certain point, where they will be kept by the moving wheels while the latter are
at rest.
The splint receiving perforations in the plates may, if desired, be made slightly
smaller in diameter than the splints, so as to compress and clasp the ends of the
splints firmly as the splints are thrust into them, and the splint supplying and
setting or sticking devices, shown in the drawings and described hereinafter, could
be successfully and advantageously used, in connection with the carrier chain
having the splint receiving perforations so made; but I prefer in the present
machine, and especially where, as in the present case, the mechanism is especially
intended to act upon sticks, square or rectangular, in cross section, to have the
perforations in the plates made large enough to enclose and engage the splints
without compressing the ends or any other portions of the splints.

page_text: The grasping of the splints, so as to keep them from dropping out of the
perforations, is done by spring clamping devices, which engage the splint en is
beyond the backs of the carrier plates, and the perforations in the plates serve
merely to steady and hold the splints from swinging sidewise in any direction as
the carrier chain moves along and the splints are brought to and past the various
treating devices.
With this construction, the splints in any carrier plate will be held most firmly
and rigidly parallel to each other from the time when they are insertel, through the
plate perforations, into the grasp of the spring clamping devices, until they are
ejected from the plate by the discharger to be described.
The spring splint end clamping devices I prefer to make of the construction
shown best in Figures 8, 20, 21, 22, and 23. These consist of a series of spring
fingers E, there being a pair of these for each perforation in the plate.
While these fingers could be made in the form of entirely separate pieces,
secured in position in any desired manner upon the back of the plate, I prefer
to make them as shown, so that each row of them will consist of portions of a
single plate E', which is slit or cut to make such portions movable indepen·lent of
each other.
Each of these plates, except the end ones in each carrier plate, is U-shaped in
cross section, being secured to the back of the plate, between two rows of per-
forations,, by a narrow plate E, engaging the plate between its upright
portions, and itself secured to the carrier plate by screws e, e.
With this construction, both of the upright portions of the U-shaped plate, being
cut or slit to form a series of the spring splint clamping fingers, each plate
carries two series of fingers, situated so as to engage one side of a row of splint
ends, projecting through one row of plate perforations e, e, and the other side of
the next row of splint ends.
The opposing fingers of each pair for grasping the opposite sides of any splint,
are bent inward so as to approach each other, as shown, the angle of inclination
being such as to allow a splint end to be passed outward from one of the plate
perforations e, between the fingers.
To enable the fingers to secure the best and firmest hold upon the splint end to
be engaged by them, each one is made with an upwardly extending groove on its
inner side, such groove being preferably made by bending or striking outward a
portion of the material of the finger.
With the opposite fingers of each pair thus grooved, the fingers will not only
engage the opposite sides of the splint end thrust up between them, but will partially
enclose a portion of it.
The end plates E, E³, on each carrier chain plate, have only one series of
clamping or spring fingers E, E, the sides opposite to those carrying such fingers
being bent down over the ends of the carrier plate and secured thereto by the narrow
plates E, E, fastened to the carrier plate by screws.
The splint receiving perforations e, e, in the carrier plates are preferably
countersunk, as shown at their ends, through which the splints are to enter, so as
to facilitate and ensure the proper entry of the splint ends.
In order to positively lock the shafts D, D, and, consequently, the pairs of
wheels D2, D3, D, D', engaging the teeth on the plates of the carrier chain, when
such wheels are not being turned forward by the pawl and ratchet step-by-step
mechanism herein before described, I provide the automatic intermittently acting
locking device, shown best in Figure 6.
Fixed upon the end of each shaft D, D, just outside of frame A, A, is a
toothed wheel F. A plate F, supported at its opposite ends upon the shafts D, D',
respectively, which pass through openings provided for them in the plate, has
pivoted to it at f, a lever F, which, on opposite sides of its pivot, is pivotally
connected by means of pins f,, with the inner ends of the two oppositely moving
bolt rods F, F, one of which extends towards the toothed wheel on shaft D,

page_text: and has a nose to engage the teeth of the same, and the other of which extends
towards the wheel Fon shaft D', and has a nose to engage its teeth.
Guides ff, on plate F¹, serve to guide these bolt rods at points near their
wheel engaging ends.
The connection of the bolt rods with the lever F', is such that as the lever is
swung in one direction or the other, it will cause the bolt rod ends or noses to
engage or be disengaged from the respective toothed wheels F, F.
A spring F, tends to swing the lever so as to disengage the noses of the bolt
rods from such wheels, in order to leave the latter and, consequently, the
shafts D, D', to which they are attached, free to be rotated as the hereinbefore
described pawl and ratchet mechanism acts to turn such shafts to cause the carrier
chains to be fed along.
In order that the lever F2 may be moved at intervals to cause the described
locking mechanism to positively lock and hold locked the wheels F, F, and the
shafts carrying them, the shaft B' is provided with a cam F, adapted to engage a
roller, or other bearing on the lever, and swing the latter in a direction to
move the bolt rods F, F³, into spaces between the teeth on the respective
wheels F, F, the higher part of the cam which thus moves the lever being so
arranged with relation to the eccentric B, and of such extent, that it will
cause the wheels F, F, and, consequently, the shafts D, D, and the carrier chain,
to be positively locked against movement when the step-by-step ratchet mechanism
for revolving such shafts is not acting to turn the same forward in the manner
hereinbefore indicated.
The carrier chain will then, when it has been moved to bring a row of its
plate perforations to a certain point, be held securely against any movement in
either direction to carry the said row of perforations away from said point.
With this construction, when a row of perforations has been brought into
proper position opposite the splint inserting or sticking mechanism to be described,
the carrier chain can be held positively so as to keep the row of perforations in
proper position until the insertion of a row of splints has been completed.
This splint inserting or sticking mechanism is situated so as to insert the splints
in the perforations of the carrier plates at a point where such plates pass between
the moving wheels D2, D3, and the plate guides E', E¹.
By the locking of the toothed wheel F on shaft D' the carrier chain is held
with a row of perforations in line with the pins of a match ejecting device which is
to discharge the finished matches from the carrier plates, such device being described
hereinafter.
On one of the side extensions of frame A, A, referred to hereinbefore, is the
hopper G, for receiving and holding the splints g, g, which, as shown, are
rectangular in cross section, such hopper being of a width substantially equal to
the length of the splints and so situated as to hold the splints lying in a
direction at right angles to the plane of travel of the carrier chain, and in
position to he taken from the hopper, and carried sidewise past the outer face of the
carrier chain by the mechanism to be described, is formed of two upright rigid
sides, and a front G¹, which is preferably made as shown, sloping downward and
rearward, as seen in Figure 9.
The bottoms of the sides of this hopper are secured to the upright flanges of the
two curved pieces G3, G, which are bolted to the curved upper edges of the
two upright parallel plates G, G³, supported on the side extension A of
the frame A, A.
Each of the pieces G2, G3, has at its forward end an upright plate g¹, to which
is bolted a bearing block g to form a support for the clearer mechanism to be
hereinafter described, situated and operating in an opening in the lower part of the
hopper front.
Journaled in bearings in the two plates G³, G³, is a shaft G', carrying the splint
feeding drum G' for taking the splints from the hopper, such drum revolving in the
open lower side of the hopper, and forming, in effect, the bottom thereof, upon
which the mass of splints rests,

page_text: This drum, which, as shown in the drawings (see Figures 2 and 11), is made
somewhat narrower than the width of the space between the hopper sides, for
a purpose to be described hereinafter, has its two ends provided with a series
of large openings, g, and its periphery formed of two separate series of
parallel longitudinal ribs g, g, having their opposite ends connected with the
drum ends.
The ribs in each series are separated from each other by a space just sufficient
to allow a match splint from the hopper to drop down easily between them, and the
height of the ribs is equal to the thickness of one of the splints.
The bottoms or inner sides of the spaces between ribs g', g', are left open,
communicating with space within the drum.
The two series of ribs are separated from each other by broad blank spaces (see
Figures 9 and 12), and where these spaces are the ends of the drum have their
edges provided with the raised portions g', g', extending circumferentially along.
them from a point near the end of one series of ribs g', g, nearly. to the adjacent
end of the other. rib series. The height of these portions 9', y', is such that their
upper or outer sides travel in the same plane with the outer faces or sides of the
ribs 9, g', as the drum rotates.
The spaces between the ends of the raised portions go, go, and the ends of the
two series of ribs g', g', are of the same size as the spaces separating ribs g', ',
and are adapted to receive portions of splints descending from the hopper
into them.
The number of ribs g', 9, in each series, should be such as to make the number
of spaces between such ribs plus the two spaces between the ends of the series of
ribs and the ends of raised portions 98, 9°, equal to the number of perforations in
each row on the plates of the carrier chain.
In the drawings, there are, in each series, fifty ribs, so that the number of match
splint receiving spaces on the drum will be fifty one in each series.
The feed drum, constructed as above described, is, in effect, a hollow pocketed
drum, having two series of splint receiving pockets with their bottoms, except near
their ends, open and communicating with the drum's interior.
With the hopper supplied with splints 9, 9, and the feed drum revolving in the
direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 9, the splints will tend to drop into the
drum pockets or the spaces between the ribs 9, 9, and between the end ribs of
the series and the ends of the raised portions go, go, so that they will be supported
uear their ends by the portions of the ends of the drum forming the bottoms of
such pockets or spaces.
The rotation of the drum will theu carry the splints so seated in the pockets or
spaces, along under the remaining mass of splints and out beyond the front of the
hopper.
When, by the rotation of the drum, the raised portions or circumferentially
extending ribs 9, 9, are brought under the splints in the hopper, they will, by
engaging portions of the splints near the ends thereof, keep the splints up so that
the longitudinal ribs g, g, can pass freely under then.
To facilitate the seating of the splints, I hinge the back G of the hopper to the
hopper sides at y; and provide means for constantly swinging such back in and
out towards and from the front of the hopper, such means, as shown, consisting of
a pitman rod G7, pivotally connected at one end with the swinging back, and at
the other, engaging a crank G driven by the shaft G', journaled in bearings g', 9',
on the hopper supporting pieces G, G. This shaft is driven by a gear wheel G,
fixed on the drum shaft G, meshing with the pinion G", on shaft G (see
Figures 3, 11 and 19).
The swinging movement of the hopper back, caused by the described mechanism,
serves to jar the splints in the hopper so as to straighten them out into a position
parallel with each other and with the feed drum pockets, and to shake them down
towards and into such pockets.
It effectually prevents the "bridging" of the mass of splints in the bottom of

page_text: the hopper, which would be caused by the compacting together of the splints, since
each backward or outward movement of the hinged back will take away the
support of any bridge which tends to form, and will leave the splints loose so that
they can descend easily towards the feed drum to enter the drum pockets as the
latter are brought around to them by the movement of the drum.
To prevent any splints from getting rearward beneath the hopper back,
between its lower edge and the periphery of the feed drum, the hopper back G
is provided with downwardly projecting lips 7, 9, situated on each side of the
feed drum.
On the opposite end of crank shaft G, from the pinion G, is fixed the belt
wheel G", driving the belt G, which engages and drives the smaller belt pulley H,
fixed on the shaft H', journaled in bearings on the bearing blocks g³, ³, herein-
before described.
This shaft, extending across in front of the opening in the lower part of the
hopper front, carries eccentrics h, h, h, h, eight in number, arranged in two series
of four each on opposite sides of a vertical plane running midway between the
hopper sides. Of these eccentrics, the two outer ones of the two series are
similarly arranged on the shaft, so that their portions of greatest radius will be on
the same side of the shaft. The next inner eccentrics of the two series are
arranged with their portions of greatest radius on the same side of the shaft, but
out of line with the highest portions of the outer eccentrics.
The same arrangement is carried out with the two next inner eccentrics of the
two series, their parts of greatest eccentricity being on one side of the shaft, but
out of line with the corresponding portions of the pairs of eccentrics just above
described.
The two innermost eccentrics, being similarly arranged on the shaft, have their
highest points out of line with those of the other eccentrics.
The parts of adjacent eccentrics which are of the greatest radius or eccentricity
are arranged on radial lines running out from the shaft axis in planes at right
angles to each other, so that, with relation to the rotation of the shaft, the portions
of adjacent eccentrics which are of the greatest radius are distant from each other
a quarter of a revolution.
The two sets or series of eccentrics are arranged at some distance from opposite
sides of the plane running midway between and parallel to the hopper sides.
Each eccentric engages an opening h¹, in a plate H', which bas near its upper
end a longitudinal slot, which engages a rod H³, supported at its opposite ends
in the bearing blocks g², g².
With this construction the plate H2 is left free to rise and fall and swing in and
out with reference to the hopper, as the shaft H¹ revolves and causes the respective
eccentric to actuate the plate.
Shaft H' is revolved in such direction as to cause the eccentrics on it to move
the respective plates H', H3, downward and inward into the hopper opening, and
then upward and outward again. The inner faces of these plates are preferably
made straight and plain, as shown, and of such length as to travel close to the
periphery of the feed drum, or the outer faces of the ribs of the latter, when the
plates are at the lowest limit of their travel and are being moved inward towards
the interior of the hopper.
The driving gearing of the shaft is arranged so as to drive the latter quite
rapidly. The result is that the plates H2, H3, act as rapidly moving clearers,
which, with an inward and upward movement, kick back any splints which have
not become seated in the pockets or splint receiving spaces of the feed drum.
As these kicking clearer plates, engaging the splints in the hopper in pairs, of
which the two of each pair are situated at equal distances from and on opposite
sides of the middle of the engaged splint or splints, move quickly inward and upward,
they will most easily and efficiently clear back any splints not properly taken by
or seated in the pockets of the drum, so as to surely prevent all clogging of the
splints at the point where the periphery of the drum leaves the hopper. They will

page_text: also, by their action upon the splints engaged by then, and because of the jarring
which is given splints adjacent to those directly engaged, operate to cause the
straightening of any splints which may be in a crooked position in the hopper.
The engagement of both the swinging back of the hopper and the kicking
clearers described, with the splints, and the jarring of the mass of splints in the
hopper by the operation of the two nechanisms described, will, I have found,
cause the splints in the hopper to get and remain in the desired position parallel to
each other and to the drum pockets or splint receiving spaces, so that they can
most readily enter the latter.
To prevent any splints from engaging, or being engaged by the upper portions
of plates H, H', I provide, within the forward side of the hopper, a guard
plate H, which, extending downward and rearward, just behind the hopper front,
has its lower portion bent outward and provided with tongues 1, 3, 3, extending
downward and outward between the two series of clearer plates and beyond the
ends of such series.
The shaft G, of the feed drum, is driven by the pinion I, meshing with the
gear wheel G10, such pinion being fixed on the shaft I', journaled in bearings in.
the upright frame plates G, G3, and having its end opposite to that carrying the
pinion I, journaled in a bearing I' on a bracket arm A extending out from the
side extension A¹ of the machine frame A, A.
This bearing is a double one, consisting of two parallel parts between which is
the worm wheel 13, fixed upon the shaft, and meshing with the driving worm
wheel I, secured to a shaft 15 at right angles to shaft 11, and journaled in bearings,
supported by the bracket arm A, below the shaft I'.
The shaft 1 is situated directly in line with the shaft B, herein before described,
and, besides carrying the worm wheel I', has fixed upon it a gear wheel I and a
clutch sleeve I adapted to be engaged. by a sliding clutch sleeve 18 on the adjacent
end of shaft Bo.
The construction of the two coacting clutch sleeves can be that well known in
clutch devices, and need not be described specifically herein.
The sliding sleeve 18, having teeth or projections to engage corresponding parts
on the fixed sleeve J' on shaft 1', is connected with shaft B by the usual spline or
feather 1, engaging a groove in the sleeve, and has the usual circumferential
groove 10 to be engaged by a pin I" on each arm of the fork of the clutch-shifting
lever I
With this construction, as the lever is moved to carry the clutch sleeve 18 into
or out of engagement with the clutch half or sleeve 17 on shaft I, the latter shaft,
and the worm wheel I and gear wheel I, will be driven from the shaft B', or
disconnected therefrom, and allowed to remain at rest while the shaft B' continues
to revolve to actuate the carrier chain moving devices and the splint setting and
discharging devices.
Fixed upon shaft l' is a transfer drum, consisting of the body K and the two
disks K', K, of greater diameter than the body, secured to its ends. These disks
have, in their peripheries, the notches k, k, to receive and hold portions of match
splints, the notches in the two disks being arranged so that those in one disk are
directly opposite those in the other, so that a splint resting in notches in the two
disks will be parallel to the axis of the drum.
The relative arrangement of the described gearing connecting shaft I' with the
feed drum shalt G, and the notches or pockets k, k, of the transfer drum, is such
that as the two drums revolve in opposite directious, as indicated by the arrows in
Figure 9, the notches or pockets of the transfer drum will come exactly opposite
the splint holding pockets or spaces on the feed drum.
With this construction, any splints contained in the pockets or spaces of the feed
drum, may, when they come around opposite the notches of the transfer drum, be
pushed out into the notches of the latter.
To thus transfer the splints from the feed to the transfer drum, we providė
the two bent guide plates K³, K', which, being fastened to a fixed portion of the
L

page_text: casing to be described, extend down close to the ends of the feed drum and are
bent outward to cross at an angle the paths of the splint ends projecting beyond
the sides or ends of the feed drum.
The point where these guide plates thus cross the path of the splints is such that
the splints will, by their engagement with the inclined faces of the plates, be
moved out of the pockets of the feed drum into the opposing notches of the transfer
drum, as indicated in Figures 9 and 12.
From this point the plates K', K³, are curved downward and outward or forward
on a curve concentric with the notched disks of the transfer drum, so as to engage
the ends of the transferred splints in such way that such splints will be retained
in the transfer drum notches until they reach the under side of the latter drum.
Here the ends of the guide plates K, K, are bent downward so as to leave the
splints free to descend out of notches k, k, into the notches or pockets of two
parallel transfer chains M, M, traveling outward from below the transfer
drum.
Other splint guiding plates K, K³, are arranged above the pocketed transfer
chains M, M, having their ends situated on opposite sides of the transfer drum,
bent up so as to cross the path of the ends of the splints in the pockets or notches
of the transfer drum at such an angle and at such a point as to ensure the downward
passage of the splints from the transfer drum to the pockets of the transfer chains,
as indicated in Figures 9 and 12 of the drawings.
From their turned up ends, these plates K, K³, extend along parallel to the
chains so as to effectually prevent the splints from getting out of the pockets or
notches of the latter, until the space directly in front of the carrier chaiu E is
reached.
The chains M, M, are formed of a series of links pivoted together, each having
in its outer edge two notches m, m, and at each end a half notch, the arrangement
being such that as the links are hinged together by the hinge pins m³, m', the half
notches on adjoining link ends will form, when the chain is moving along in a
straight line, a notch like the others, m, adapted to receive and hold a match stick
at one point.
Toothed guide links m, m2, of which there is one for every other link m, are
secured in place on the chain by the hinge pins m', m', as shown best in Figure 25,
and have on their inner edges the teeth m³, one for each link m².
The under or inner edges of all of the links are preferably curved as shown, so
as to engage and be supported by the two rollers M' and M2, around which the
chains travel. Each of these rollers has, in its periphery, the two parallel circum-
ferential grooves m, m, to receive portions of the chains, so as to hold the latter
securely at the desired distance apart, and the longitudinal deeper grooves m, m³,
to receive and engage the teeth m³, m³, so as to move the transfer chains along as
the rollers are rotated.
The grooves m³, m³, on each roller, are so situated that the two parallel chains
will always have their notches exactly opposite each other as the chains travel
along, and the driving mechanism which is applied to the roller M', is so timed
with reference to that rotating the transfer drum, that when the chains are being
moved, their notches m, m, will come opposite the notches k, k, of the transfer
drum in position to receive the splints from the latter, as indicated in Figures 9
and 12.
Of these two transfer chain supporting rollers M', M³, the former is secured to
a shaft M, journaled in the upright plates G³, G, on the side extension A' of
frame A, A, while the other roller has its shaft M journaled in bearings me, m
on plate M³, M, adjustably supported on the side extension A on the other side
of the frame A, A, in such position that the transfer chains move in front of and
parallel to the carrier chain E, where the latter passes upward towards and by the
guides E', E, and the carrier chain actuating wheels D, D.
The portion of the inner transfer chain, which is traveling from roller M¹ to
roller M', is situated quite close to the path of the carrier chain.

page_text: The line of travel of the transfer chains is parallel to the lines of the rows of
perforations in the carrier chain plates, and the notches m, m, are the same distance
apart as are the perforations e, e, in such plates, so that the transfer chains
carrying splints supported in their notches m, m, can readily be brought into
position so that each splint will be in the same vertical plane with the axis or
central line of one of the plate perforation's.
To guide and support the two transfer chains on their way from the roller M',
to the roller M, I provide the guide bar M, extending from a point below the
transfer drum transversely across the path of the carrier chain E, to a point just
beyond such path, the bar being supported on the frame A. A. This bar has, on
opposite sides, the longitudinally extending rebates m', m', to accommodate the
notched links of the two chains, the shoulders at the bottoms of such rebates
forming supports over which the under sides of such links travel, and the deeper
rebates me, m, to accommodate the teeth m³, m³, on the chain links m³, m2.
Plates M', M', fastened to the inner and outer sides of bar Me, engage the sides
of these links m³, m³, and have overhanging flanges m³, m³, to engage the upper
faces of such links so as to hold the chains securely down in place with the notched
links bearing upon the bottoms of the guiding and supporting rebates and the
notches of the links above the upper faces of the bar M and the plates M7, M.
The bar M, has two longitudinal slots or openings Me, Me, made through it
between the ways for the transfer chains, one of such openings beginning near the
end of the bar which is below the transfer drum, and ending where the bar reaches
the part of frame A, A, upon which it is supported, and the other extending along
the part of the plate which is in front of the carrier chain way, between the two
bar supporting parts of frame A, A.
These openings or slots have their sides beveled or inclined downward and
inward from their upper edges, which, in the case of both sides of the opening
which is situated in the part of the bar beyond the frame A, A., and the inner side
of the other opening, are situated very close to the transfer chain guideways (see
Figures 27 and 29), so that any pieces of splints which are too short to extend
across into opposite notches of the transfer chains, or any splints becoming
unseated froin the notches of either chain, can descend easily through the openings
without danger of lodging on the bar so as to interfere with the other splints in
the pockets or notches of the chaiu.
Between the outer side of the opening or slot M³, which extends across in front
of the carrier chain, and the guideway for the outer transfer chain, is a narrow
slot M, extending through the bar Me, in which is situated one of the rising and
falling plates N, N, of the splint lifter, the other plate being situated on the inner
side of the bar M.
These two plates, having their ends secured to the vertically moving heads N¹, N',
guided between the pairs of guides N2, N3, secured to frame A, A, have their
upper edges provided with a series of notches n, n, as shown best in Figure 30, of
a number equal to that of the perforations in any row in the plates of the carrier
chain, and having their bottoms adapted to receive and hold portions of the splints
at the same distance apart as such perforations.
The two plates N, N, have their notches n, n, correspondingly arranged opposite
each other so that a match splint engaged by opposite notches will be held at right
angles to the face of the carrier plate, with its inner end directly opposite the line
of travel of one of the perforations in each row on the carrier chain plates, as such
chain is moved along.
The notches n, n, are preferably not inade rectangular in shape, but have their
sides inclined upward and outward, as shown, so as to leave between the upper
ends of the notches only a narrow part or point, the object of such construction
being to facilitate the receiving and seating of splints in the notches.
The plates N, N, of the lifter, notched as described, are intended to be raised to
lift the splints out of the pockets or notches in the transfer chains when the latter
have been brought to rest in front of the carrier chain way.

page_text: The movement of the transfer chains during the operation of the machine is an
intermittent one caused by mechanism to be described.
Each forward movement of the chains is equal to the space taken up by fifty-one
notches ou each chain, such number being that of the perforations in any row on
one of the carrier chain plates. The travel of the notched chains, constituting the
transfer carrier for the splints, is then such that it brings successive series of
fifty-one splint-holding notches successively into position in front of the carrier
chain E¹.
To raise the lifter,.to cause it to take the splints from the transfer carrier in its
notches n,, we provide the two levers N, N, pivotally supported on frame A, A,
each having one end connected with one of the sliding heads N', N', by a link N',
and its other end engaged by one of the cams N, N', on the cam shaft B, each of
such rams having its raised portion adapted to move the respective lever N far
enough to raise the lifter sufficiently to bring the bottoms of its notches entirely
above the chains of the transfer carrier and hold it in such raised position for a
short time.
Springs N, N, attached to the frame A, A, and heads N', N', serve to draw
the lifter quickly downward when the cams N, No, have released the levers N', No.
The upward movement of the lifter is such that it will bring any splints resting
in the notches m, n, of its plates exactly opposite a row of perforations in one of
the carrier chain plates, each time that such carrier chain comes to rest, and while
it is held locked by the mechanism herein before described.
To thrust the splints on the raised lifter into the carrier plate perforations
opposite them, I provide the beater har O, supported on the swinging arm 0, 0,
pivoted at o, o, to the frame A, A, such bar being adapted, as it is moved inward
towards the lifter and the carrier chain, to engage the outer ends of the splints
projecting from the lifter, and drive the splints end wise into and through the
perforations e, e, of the carrier chain plate, so that the inner ends of the splints
will pass between and be grasped by the spring fingers E, E', on the back or inner
side of the carrier plate.
The splint setting movement of the beater bar O is a quick one, caused by
the action of the cam projections o', o, of the two cam wheels 0, 0, fixed on the
shaft B upon the bearings o, o, on two levers 0, 0, pivoted to the opposite
sides of frame A, A, at o. These levers are connected with the beater bar by
links 0, 0. Springs 0, 0, attached to the frame A, A, and levers 0, 0,
serve to throw the latter quickly forward to return the beater bar to its normal
retracted position, when the projections o', o, of the cam wheels 0, 0, have
passed the bearings on the levers.
In order that the position of the beater bar, when at the limit of its inward
throw, may be adjusted as desired, each of the links 0, 0, is made in two parts,
having their adjacent ends oppositely threaded, and engaged by the correspondingly
threaded opposite ends of a conuerting sleeve 0.
By turning this sleeve in one direction or the other, the two parts of the link
can be brought nearer together or further apart, to shorten or lengthen the link,
according as it is desired that the beater bar shall be nearer to or farther from the
carrier chain when at the limit of its inward splint setting movement. The beater
bar can thus be adjusted to thrust the splints to the desired extent, through the
perforations e, e, of the plates of the carrier chain.
In order to securely hold the splints down in place in the notches n, n, of the
lifter, both when the latter comes to rest at the end of its quick upward movement,
and while the henter bar is driving them inward into the carrier plate perforations,
the beater Lar O, is provided with the guard frame O', projecting inward from its
inner face, and over the lifter.
This frame, as shown, consists of a bent bar liaving its main portion adapted to
extend over and close to the upper sides of any splints held in the lifter notches
when the lifter is raised and the bent end parts attached to the beater bar.
To ensure the proper entrance of the inner ends of the splints into the perfogations

page_text: of the carrier plate as the splints supported by the raised lifter are driven inward
by the beater bar, the guide plate P is provided, secured to the uprights which
carry the guides E', E, for the carrier chain. This guide plate has the series of
slots p, p, with open upper ends, their lower ends being so situated as to be in line
with the lower sides of the carrier plate perforations, into which the splints are to
be thrust. Around such lower ends of the slots, are the counter sinks p', p',
adapted to ensure the guidance of the ends of the splints through the slots to the
perforations which are to receive them beyond plate P, should any of such splint
ends tends to get a little out of line with the receiving perforations of the carrier
chain plate before or as the splints are being driven in by the beater bar.
The mechanism for giving the transfer carrier (consisting of the notched or
pocketed transfer chains M, M, and the driving and supporting rollers) the desired
intermittent forward movement, to bring, each time, a new series of fifty-one splint
holding notches into position opposite the carrier chain, is constructed as follows:
On the shaft M of roller M', which is the one which drives the transfer
chains M, M, is fixed the ratchet wheel R, having a hub r, upon which is journaled
the gear wheel R' meshing with and driven by a piniou R³, fixed upon the shaft I¹
of the transfer drum, which latter shaft carries fixed upon it, the pinion I herein-
before described as meshing with and driving the gear wheel G", on the shaft o
the feed drum G*.
The shaft and consequently, the feed drum and transfer drun, rotate
continuously while the machine is in operation, and the sliding clutch sleeve 1* is
held in engagement with the fixed clutch hub or sleeve 1'..
The gear wheel R' bas journaled in it the short rock shaft or pin r, which has
fixed upon one end the pawl, to engage the ratchet wheel R, and on its other end
the rigid trip arm, to be engaged by a trip lug 4, on the inner side of the
flange of the trip disk R. A spring, attached to gear wheel R', acts to press
the pawl towards the ratchet wheel. The disk R is secured by screws,
(see Figures 14 and 15), to the hub of the worm wheel R, journaled loosely on
shaft M, and kept in place thereon by the collar R fixed to the shaft by set
screw. A washer or collar 10 is placed on the shaft M, between the inner side
of the trip disk R and the pawl carrying gear wheel R¹.
The worm wheel R meshes with and is driven by the worm R, carried by
shaft R' journaled in bracket arms,, on the side extension A¹ of the
frame A, A.
A pinion R fixed upon this shaft, meshes with and is driven by the gear wheel I'
rotating with shaft 1. This pinion bas one-half the number of teeth that the
gear wheel has, and the worm wheel R has forty teeth.
The relative arrangement of the described intermeshing gears, worm R and
worm wheel R, is such that for each revolution of the roller M' and the gear
wheel R¹ the trip disk M' is turned forward to carry its pawl tripping lug in the
direction of the travel of the pawl, so that the gear wheel R' and, consequently,
the shaft M and roller M, because of the engagement of pawl with the ratchet
wheel R, will have to travel through one and one-twentieth of a revolution before
the pawl will, because of the engagement of the trip arm with the lug 4, be
moved to entirely disengage the pawl from the ratchet wheel and let the shaft M*
and roller M' come to a rest. The described one and one-twentieth of a revolution
of roller M, I have found necessary to ensure the travel of the transfer chains
through the full distance of fifty-one of the transler chain notches.
While, with the parts of the transfer chain moving mechanism, arranged as
shown in the drawings, I prefer the trip devices set forth above, I wish it to be
understood that I do not limit myself to the specified construction of such device,
but can use, instead, without departure from my invention, any other desired form
or means for ensuring the required intermittent movement of the transfer chains.
Each stoppage of the roller M occurs just as the feed of the splints from the feed
drum under the transfer drum to the transfer chains is stopped because of one, of
the unpocketed portions of the feed drum passing the transfer drum.

page_text: The cams for actuating the lifter to raise the splints from the transfer chains and
the beater bar to drive the splints on the lifter into the perforations of the carrier
chain, are timed so as to act upon the respective levers N3, N5, and 0, 0, while
the transfer chains are at rest, and before the roller M' begins to rotate forward
again.
While, with the hereinbefore-described devices for jarring and straightening the
splints in the hopper and for clearing back the splints not seated in the feed-drum
pockets, the feeding of the splints from the hopper will be carried on as the feed
drum revolves, I have found it of great advantage to provide means for ensuring
the seating of the splints in the feed drum pockets or notches and for removing
any chips or broken splints from the hopper, so that they may not interfere with
such seating of the splints. With this end in view, the distance between the
plates G, G³, is made greater than the width of the feed drun, so that there will
be spaces left on each side of the latter. 1
Curved plates S, S, on the plates G, G³, extend inward close to the sides of the
feed drum, so as to close the upper and forward portions of the said spaces. The
curvature of these plates is substantially concentric with the feed drum, and their
inner edges are in contact with continuous portions of the feed drum ends or sides,
so as to prevent the downward passage of air into the spaces between the drum and
the plates G, G'.
The plates S, S, form with the plates G³, G³, a casing enclosing the spaces at the
sides of the feed drum, to which casing the splint guide plates K, K2, hereinbefore
described, are fastened. Connected with and forming an extension of this casing
is a chamber S', extending down below the feed drum, the sides of the chamber
beyond the feed drum being extended across such drum close to the periphery
thereof, the construction being such that with an exhaust fan or pump connected
with this chamber S' air will be drawn down through the openings in the periphery
of the upper part of the drum and will pass from the drum interior to the chamber S₁,
through the openings g', 93, in the drum ends, as well as through the openings of
that part of the drum periphery which happens to be passing through the chamber S¹
or the space within the drum enclosing casing.
With this chamber is connected the exhaust or suction trunk S, running to an
exhaust pump or fan indicated at S, which has the discharge trunk S', which is to
lead to any point where it is desired that the dust, chips and pieces of splints
drawn down into chamber S¹ shall be discharged, as, for instance, to the fire box
of a furnace.
Any of the well-known forms of suction or exhaust pumps or fans can be
employed, and it is, therefore, not necessary to describe the construction of such
device herein.
With the casing and exhaust chamber arranged as above described, with reference
to the feed drum and the exhaust device in operation, as the feed drum revolves to
-carry its periphery along under the mass of splints in the hopper, any short pieces
or splinters which may be present in the mass, and which, if they remained there,
would interfere with or prevent the desired seating of the splints in the drum
pockets, will be drawn by the passage of the air down through the openings in the
bottoms of the drum pockets or through the large openings in the drum periphery
situated between the series of pockets, and from the interior of the drum out
through the openinge g³, g, in the drum ends, whence they will pass ou down
through the chamber S¹ and the trunk S to and through the discharge trunk S.
Any dust or small pieces or splinters which may not be thus drawn out through
openings g, o, will be drawn down and out through the openings in the periphery
of the under side of the drum.
Any splints which may be lying too crooked in the hopper to be straightened by
the action of the swinging hopper back and the kicking clearers, can pass down and
out of the hopper through the larger openings in the drum's periphery. In this
way, broken splints, splinters, and crooked lying splints which would otherwise tend
10 collect in the lower part of the hopper, and keep the good splints in the mass in

page_text: the hopper from getting into the drum pockets, are automatically and quickly got
out of the way and disposed of by the machine.
The suction causing the air to pass through the hopper and down through the
open bottoms of the drum pockets, serves also to cause the splints under which such
pockets may come when the drum is revolving, to drop quickly into and be firmly
and squarely seated in the pockets. It also acts to retain the splints so seated in
the drum pockets after such pockets have moved outward from the hopper and
while they are traveling to the transfer guides which are to shift the splints to the
notches or pockets k, k, of the transfer drum.
The action of the suction, in causing the passage of the splints from the hopper
in the drum pockets, has been found to be very advantageous, since the splints are
naturally quite light and have very little weight to cause them to drop into the
pockets because of their own gravity.
The downward draft caused by the suction, makes them drop quickly into any
empty pockets coming below them, overcoming any friction of the adjacent splints
upon their sides.
In order to hold the splints down in the pockets or notches of the transfer chains
and also to draw off and dispose of any pieces or splinters of match sticks, there is
another suction trunk S connected to trunk S2 and having its upper end made
hopper-shaped, communicating with the opening M8 in bar Me, which extends
along that portion of the bar which is in front of the carrier chain way, as described
herein before.
With this construction, any splinters, pieces of splints, or whole splints which
may get out of the chain notches, and in between the transfer chains, will be drawn
away through the trunk S.
Should any splints be broken during a setting operation, as the beater bar is
forcing them into the perforations of a carrier plate, the pieces will be drawn down,
into the exhaust trunk clear of the path of the next series of splints to be brought
up into position in front of the carrier chain by the transfer chains. The passage
of air on its way to the exhaust trunk, downward between the splints resting in the
notches of the transfer chain, will also tend to hold the splints seated in such notches.
until the lifter raises them therefrom.
From the described splint setting devices the carrier chain E passes upward past
and beyond the guides E', E', to and over a pair of guiding and supporting wheels
at T, and then downward to a pair of octagonal wheels at T', having their peripheries
formed with flat faces t, t, to engage the end portions of the plates of the carrier
chain. From wheels T the carrier chain passes to and over a drying heater,
indicated at T', which is for drying and heating the splints preparatory to the
application of paraffin to them. From this heating device the carrier chain passes.
to the paraffin-applying device indicated at T3, where portions of the splints are to
be treated with paraffin. Beyoud this paraffining device, the carrier chain carries
the splints to and past the mechanism T, for applying the head forming
composition.
The splint heating, paraffing and composition applying devices can be of any
desired construction, and need not be described in detail in the present application,
as their construction can be varied as desired, without involving any departure from
the invention forming the subject matter of the claims of this application. As
these devices are indicated in the drawings, they are of the same relative
arrangement, and can be of the same construction as the corresponding devices.
or mechanisms shown and described in the prior patent specification bereinbefore
referred to.
Having passed the composition applying mechanism, the carrier chain with the
headed splints passes up over a pair of guide wheels at T, and thence to and over
guides at T, from which it is to pass over and under a series of pairs of guiding
and supporting wheels, to give the composition forming the heads on the splints a
chance to cool, dry and harden. If desired, the number of these guiding and
supporting wheels can be made large enough to give the carrier chain sufficient

page_text: travel before it reaches the discharging mechanism to afford time for the match.
heads to get quite dry and bard enough to allow of immediate boxing of the matches
as discharged from the machine.
After leaving the series of guiding and supporting wheels, the carrier chain
travels back over guides indicated at T', T', to and over a pair of wheels, at T8,
from which it passes to and over another pair of wheels at T, and then down
to the discharging mechanism for punching the finished matches out of the
perforations of the chain plates.
The movement of the carrier chain to and past this discharging mechanism is an
intermittent, or step-by-step one, caused by the engagement of the intermittently
driven gear wheels D, meshing with the plate teeth.
The position of one pair of such gear wheels D' is indicated at To, in Figure 1,1
and another at T", and these are to be driven, as indicated, by belts or sprocket,
chains T and Tis, respectively, driven from a rotating part from which the
composition applying mechanism T is driven, the object being to have the
travel of the match splint ends, when in contact with the composition on roller T,
of the same rate as that of the layer of composition into which the splint ends
extend.
To allow for the difference in travel of the carrier chain as it passes through the
main part of the machine and past the sticking and discharging devices, and as it
travels out through the rest of the machine and back, there are slack portions in the
chain between the two sets of guide wheels T and T and between the guide wheels
at T and the octagonal wheels at T.
The match discharging mechanism for ejecting the finished matches from the
carrier plates is situated so as to act upon the matches held in a carrier chain plate,
which is held between the toothed wheels D, D, and the guides E', E'.
Such mechanism consists of a reciprocating head U, supported on guides U, U,
so as to be movable towards and from the back of a carrier chain plate held between
the wheels D, D, and guides E, E, its movement being in a plangat right angles.
to such plate.
This head carries a series of punch pins u, u, of the same number as the
perforations e, e, in a row on the currier chain plates, the pins being so situated on
the head that each one will be opposite one of the plate perforations when the
carrier chain has come to rest, and is held from movement by the gear wheels D', D',
as the latter are locked from movement by one of the hereinbefore described locking
bars or bolts engaging a toothed wheel on their shaft.
The head U is connected with the two actuating rods U, U, which at their
other ends are pivotally connected with the arms U, U, on the rock shaft U,
journaled in suitable bearings on the frame A, A. Attached to this shaft is an
arm U, to the outer end of which is pivoted by pin u³, the end of the rod U, the
other end of which is connected with a longitudinally slotted plate U', supported
and guided on the shaft B by its slot u engaging the latter. This plate carries a
bearing, preferably, but not necessarily, a roller, engaging a cam groove u in the
cam Us, fixed upon shaft B³.
The shape of this cam groove is such that the rod U will, at a certain point in
the revolution of shaft B, be quickly moved outward and retracted, so that the
rock shaft U will be rocked to move the head U quickly towards the carrier chain
plate to cause the ejector pins 1, 1, to push the matches in front of them out from
between the clamping fingers e, e, and the plate perforations e, e, and then to
return the head to its normal retracted position.
The cam Us is so arranged on the shaft B that the described movements of the
head U will be caused to take place and be completed while the carrier chain is at
rest, and the shaft D, carrying the wheels D, D', is locked by the described
locking mechanism. The shaft B carries, fixed upon it, the sprocket wheel B',
engaging and driving the sprocket chain B, which passes around and drives the
second sprocket wheel B', fixed on shaft B10, which is journaled in suitable bearings
on frame A, A, and carries, also, fixed upon it a pinion W, meshing with and

page_text: driving gear wheel W₁ on shaft W', journaled in bearings on frame A, A, and
carrying a sprocket wheel W, engaging a sprocket chain W, which runs to and
drives the sprocket wheel W, which is, as indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings,
to be connected by gearing with the rotating part from which the sprocket chains
or belts T and T are driven, and which is to actuate the chain or belt T,
running to and actunting the composition applying mechanism.
The operation of my machine, with its parts constructed and operating as
hereinbefore set forth and shown in the drawings, is as follows:
With power applied to drive the main driving shaft B, the clutch lever. I",
moved into position to keep the clutch 17, 18, in operative position to connect
shafts B and 1 together, the hopper G supplied with splints or match sticks g, g,
and the exbaust pump in operation, the feed drum G will be rotated continuously
to carry its periphery through the bottom of the hopper under the mass of splints
in the latter, and the suction or exhaust device will draw the air downward from
the hopper through the openings in the periphery of the upper part of the drum,
such openings consisting of the spaces between the ribs g, g, forming portions of
the periphery of the drum, and the larger openings between the adjoining ends of
the series of ribs and the raised portions or, ribs 9, 9', on the drum end.
As the drum revolves, the splints in the hopper, if straight and parallel with the
spaces between the ribs 9, 9, will drop into the latter and be seated therein with
portions near their opposite ends resting upon the drum ends, their upper sides
being then substantially flush with the upper or outer faces of the ribs g', g',
between the splint receiving spaces.
The ribs, with the splint receiving spaces between them, and the portions of the
drum ends adapted to support the splints between the ribs form, in effect, pockets.
with most of their bottoms open.
Without the suction device, the splints, if properly situated in the hopper, will
tend to drop into place in the drum pockets, but the action of the suction is to draw'
them quickly and squarely down in place between the pocket sides; to that, with
the splints in the lower part of the hopper arranged parallel to the drum ribs, the
drum pockets will be certain to be completely filled before such pockets are, by the
movement of the drum, carried outward beyond the hopper front.
While the drum is rotating, the back G of the hopper is given a constant.
swinging movement by the crank and pitman mechanism described, which
movement, by jarring the mass of splints, tends to straighten them in the hopper,
EO that they will be in a position at right angles to the swing of the back, and,
consequently, parallel to the ribs and pockets of the feed drum, and to shake them
down into such pockets.
The alternate packing together, and loosening of the splints at and near the
bottom of the hopper, caused by the swinging back, assist very greatly to ensure
the falling of the splints into the drum pockets.
The rapidly swinging and rising pairs of kicking clearers H2, H3, act to kick
backward and inward any splints not seated in the drum pockets, but tending to
move forward and outward with the periphery of the drum.
With the pair of clearers moved quickly, and having, when they engage the
splints, not only a rearward, but an upward movement, the splints will be most
easily cleared back and kept from any possible packing at the exit from the
hopper to clog or interfere with the free travel of the drum periphery out of
the hopper.
The kicking or
striking of the splints by these clearers at corresponding points
on opposite sides of the middle of the sticks, also serves to jar the mass of splints,
and straighten any splint or splints which may be crooked in the hopper or out of
parallel with the other splints and the feed drum pockets.
Any short splints, pieces or slivers which may be in the hopper, will, as they
reach the bottom of the latter, be drawn by the action of the suction device, down
through the openings in the drum periphery, either between the ribs, or between
the ends of the series of ribs, into the interior of the drum, whence they will be
.:
0

page_text: drawn outward and downward into the suction trunk either through the openings g³,9³,
in the drum ends, or through the openings in the drum's periphery, which may be
on the lower side of the drum.
Any splints which may be too crooked in the hopper to be straightened by the
action of the swinging hopper back and the clearers H2, H, will work down and
out of the hopper through the large openings in the periphery of the drum, which
are between the series of ribs g', 9, and will be drawn out into the suction trunk
through the openings g³, g³.
From this suction trunk the splints, pieces, chips and slivers removed from the
hopper will be carried to and discharged through the discharge pipe or trunk of
the pump or fan.
With the above described arrangement and operation of parts, the lower portion
of the hopper will be kept free of short splints, pieces of splints, slivers, chips, &c.,.
which would otherwise interfere with the entrance of the splints into the drum
pockets or prevent their being properly seated in the latter; and there will be
no necessity for stopping the machine and removing the contents of the hopper
in order to get access to and remove the clogging material from the lower part
of the hopper, as in the case of match making machines heretofore made, employing
a notched or grooved drum to take splints from a hopper.
In my machine, all of the short sticks, pieces, chips, slivers, &c., which work
down to the bottom of the hopper are at once taken out of the way of the good
splints, and even whole splints, if so crooked as to interfere with the access of the
rest of the hopper coutents to the pockets of the feed drun, will be removed
through the larger openings in the drum periphery, so that the feeding of the
splints by the drum can go on uniformly, the pockets being filled with splints,
while in the old grooved drum and hopper machines a splint getting or being put
crooked in the hopper, so as to stand at much of an angle to the drum pockets
or grooves, would so interfere with the passage of the splints into the drum as to
necessitate the removal of the hopper contents for the taking out or straightening
of such splint before the work of the machine could go on.
An exit for small chips and splinters from the hopper is also provided on each
side of the feed drum where there is a space between the drum end and the adjacent
plate G, such space having for its bottom one of the curved plates S, S.
As the feed drum G revolves, the splints contained in the pockets thereof will
be carried out from under the hopper and then downward to a point opposite the
trausfer drum, into the notches or pockets of which they are caused to pass by the
guide plates K2, K2, engaging their ends projecting beyond the sides or ends of
the feed drum.
The transfer drum, which, like the feed drum, is constantly rotating, while the
clutch mechanism remains in operation to connect shafts B and 1, carries the
splints held in its pockets or notches by the guide plates K', K', onward and
downward to a point over the transfer chains M, M, where the splints are, because
of the bending downward of plates K2, K2, free to drop into the notches m, m, of
such chains.
To insure the shifting of the splints into such notches from the pockets or
notches of the transfer drum, the upturned ends of guide plates K', K', are arranged
to present downwardly and forwardly inclined faces to the ends of the splints
projecting beyond the ends of the feed drum.
The shifting of the splints and their secure seating in the notches of the
transverse chains is thus insured.
With the feed drum constructed as described, with the two series of fifty-one
splint receiving pockets separated by unpocketed portions of the periphery
provided with raised portions or ribs go, go, extending circumferentially along
parts of the drum end, the feeding of the splints to the transfer drum will be
intermittent, there being a cessation of the feed for a time at the end of the
delivery of each series of fifty-one sticks or splints. This causes a corresponding
cessation of delivery of the sticks or splints to and into the notches m, m, of the

page_text: transfer.chains M, M. During such cessation the latter chains are at rest, because
of the tripping of the pawl, to disengage it from the ratchet wheel R fixed on
the shaft M of the roller M', which supports and actuates the transfer chain, this
tripping of the pawl being caused by the engagement of the trip arm on the
rock shaft carried by the rotating gear wheel R, with the trip lug on the trip
disk R, supported and moved as hereinbefore described.
These pawl tripping devices are so limited in their netion as to disconnect the
transfer chain actuating roller M' from its driving mechanism, and leave it at rest
during each intermission in the feed of splints to the chain, caused in the manner
and by the arrangement above indicated.
The transfer chains will then start to move forward after each intermission, just
as the first splint of a new series is fed into those notches m, m, in the two
chains M, M, which are next to the last one of the chain notches filled by the.
previous feeding of splints from the feed drum and transfer drum.
Each forward movement of the roller M' is just sufficient to move the transfer
chains through the distance of a number of their notches m, m, equal to the..
number of the splint receiving pockete in ench series on the feed drum.
Each forward movement of the transfer chains will then bring a new series of
fifty-one of their splint holding notches into position in front of the carrier chain E,
the position of which, with relation to the transfer chains, is such that the latter will.
stop with each splint carried by them about in line with the line of travel of one of
the perforations in the carrier chain plates.
Each step-by-step movement of the carrier chain, caused by the mechanism
hereinbefore described, takes place during the travel of the transfer chains, the
carrier being brought to rest so that each time that the carrier chain stops a new
row of the plate perforations e,, will be brought into position just above the plane
of the inner ends of the splints held in the notches of the transfer chains.
The carrier chain is then locked from movement by the locking bolt rods F, F³,
engaging the teeth of toothed wheels F, F, on the shafts D, D, which carry the
pairs of toothed wheels D, D', D, D, respectively, which mesh with the teeth on
the carrier plates, the bolt rods being moved into and held in wheel locking position
by the action of the cam F' on the lever F.
The splints which are in the notches of the stopped transfer chains in front of the
carrier chain, are acted upon by the suction through the exhaust trunk S* and
slot M, so that they will be kept securely seated in the chain notches.
The down draft of air will also free the splints of any loose chips and pieces, and
will carry off any short or broken splints.
With the carrier chain stopped and locked, as the transfer chains come to rest,
the cams N, N, on the main cam shaft B' actuate the levers N' so as to raise the
heads N1, Ni, and the notched lifter plates N, N, carried thereby quickly a sufficient
distance to take the splints from the notches m, m, of the chains, and hold them
supported by the bottoms of the plate notches n, n, in position directly opposite a
row of perforations e, e, in a plate of the carrier chain.
The movement of the lifter is so guided that the bottoms of its notches will always
travel in lines exactly opposite the lines of travel of the perforations in a row on a
carrier plate, as such plate is moved along with the travel of the carrier chain, and
is of such extent that each notch a will, when the lifter reaches its highest position,
be directly opposite one of the plate perforations, so that a splint supported in
corresponding notches in the two lifter plates N, N, will be in line with such
perforation, so that if it is moved endwise it will enter the latter.
The sides of the notches n, m, are preferably inclined upward and outward,
shown, so that the splints will be properly taken from the notches m, m, of the
transfer chains, and sented in the notches n, n, even if the chain notches, or the
splints supported therein, should not be exactly in the-same vertical planes with
the bottoms of notches n, n.
As the lifter rises quickly to its uppermost position, the splints taken thereby
from the transfer chain pockets or notches, come under the guard frame

page_text: on the beater bar, which is to prevent the splints from jumping out of the lifter
notches.
The beater bar is then moved quickly towards the carrier chain by the action of
cams O upon the bearings on levers 0, 0, connected with the bar by the
links 0, 0, so as to strike the outer ends of the splints which are on the lifter, and
drive the splints forward so that their inner ends will be passed through the plate
perforations e, e, into the grasp of the respective pairs of spring clamping
fingers E, E, on the back of the carrier plate.
The guard frame 07, effectually prevents any jumping of the splints away
from the bottoms of notches n, n, as the beater bar strikes and drives the splints
inward.
The guide slots P. P, in guide plate P, with their countersinks pl, pl, serve to guide
the inner or forward ends of the splints so as to prevent any chance striking of the
splint ends against the carrier plate on one side or the other of the respective
perforations e, e, which they are to enter.
While this setting or sticking of the splints into the perforations of the carrier
chain plate is going on, the carrier chain being held stationary, as hereinbefore
described, the discharging mechanism is acting to eject a row of finished matches
from the carrier chain, at the point where such chain is held between guides E¹, E',
and the toothed wheels Do, Do
For this purpose the cam groove u in cam Us, engaging the bearing pin or
roller on the slotted plate U, moves such plate and the connected rod U'
quickly outward and then back. This, through the connection of the rod with
the arm Us, rocks the rock shaft U and swings the arms Us, U, on such shaft
to move the rods U, U³, forward and back to carry the head U towards and from
the carrier chain E. This movement of the head, causes the punch pins u, u,
carried by the latter, to quickly pass between the respective pairs of spring
clamping fingers E', Es, and out through the perforations e, es, pushing the inner
ends of the matches before them, clear of the carrier plate, and then return to their
normal retracted position, the return of the head U being quick enough to clear the
pins not only from the plate perforations e, es, but from the clamping fingers E³, E³,
before the carrier chain is again moved forward.
The beater har O is, by the action of springs 0, 0, upon levers 03, 0³, returned
quickly to its normal retracted position, after the high parts o', o', of the lever
actuating cams O pass the bearings o, o, on the levers and the lifter is quickly
depressed by the action of springs N, No, upon its levers N³, N³, when the
cams N, No, have released the lever ends, as they do before the transfer chains are
caused to move again, because of the re-engagement of the pawl, carried by the
rotating driving gear wheel R¹ with the ratchet wheel R on the shaft M* of the
roller M', such re-engagement being caused by the pawl spring, after the trip
arm has passed off of the trip lug.
Just as the new forward movement of the transfer chains begins, the feed of the
splints into the chain notches, which has stopped for a while because of the non-
delivery of splints to the transfer drum while one of the unpocketed portions of the
feed drum periphery is passing the trausfer drum, also commences again.
The transfer chains now move far enough to bring a new series of fifty-one splints
carrying notches m, m, in frout of the carrier chain, and then stop, because of
the pawl being again tripped out of engagement with ratchet wheel R by
the trip lug, on trip disk R³, engaging the trip arm 3 on the pawl carrying
rock shaft r².
While this new movement of the transfer chains is going on, the cam E' is turned
to take its higher part out of engagement with the bearing on locking lever F, and
the spring F swings such lever to withdraw the bolt rods F, F, from the respective
toothed wheels F, F, so as to leave shafts D and D, and the pairs of toothed
wheels D, D, and D', D', thereon, free to turn.
The eccentric B', on the same shaft, B, with cams 02, 0%, U, U', U', and F',
then actuates the strap C and rod C', so as to rock the disk C, and through the

page_text: connecting rod C³, the disk C, to cause the pawls cand c, carried by such disks,
respectively, to move the respective ratchet wheels D' and D' forward.
This movement of the ratchet wheels turns the shafts D and D' forward, so that
their toothed wheels. D', D', and D', D', cause the carrier chain E to advance
one step to bring a new row of perforations up opposite the place where the
insertion of the splints is to be performed, and a new row of perforations in
another plate of the carrier chain opposite the punch pins u, u, of the match
discharging device.
When the carrier chain has been thus moved, the cam F swings the lever F' to
cause the bolt rods to lock the wheels F, F, and, consequently, the shafts D and D'
with their toothed wheels D2, D3, D³, D', so that the carrier chain is held
immovable in either direction after said chain has been so locked and the transfer
chains have moved to bring a new series of splints in front of a plate of the carrier
chain, and have come to rest because of the described tripping of the pawl of the
stop mechanism connecting the shaft M³ of the transfer chain actuating roller M'
with the means for driving the same.
The cams N, N', then raise the lifter to lift the new series of splints out of the
notches of the transfer chains, and the cams 0, 0, with their projections o¹, o',
actuate the levers 03, 0, to cause the beater bar O to drive the raised splints into
the row of perforations e, e, opposite them in the carrier chain plate.
As the eccentric B, cam F, and cams N', N, O, O2, and Ns are all carried by
and rotate with the shaft B', the movements of the carrier chain moving devices,
the locking mechanism for the same, the means for actuating the lifter, the means
for moving the beater bar, and the means for actuating the discharging or ejecting
head can readily be properly timed, relatively, and will always, then, take place at
the proper times as the shaft B' is revolved.
The connection of this shaft, directly and positively with the shaft I', which is
the main driving shaft for the mechanism which actuates the swinging back
and the clearers of the hopper, and the driving mechanism for the feed drum,
the transfer drum and the transfer chain actuating roller M', ensures that the
movements of the feed drum, transfer drum and transfer chains, shall always,
when properly timed with relation to the movement of the carrier chain, lifter,
beater bar and ejector or discharger, remain so timed while the whole of the
machine is in operation.
With the clutch device used for connecting shaft B with shaft I, it is possible,
upon moving the lever I', so as to disconnect the clutch part 18 from that part I'
fast on shaft I, to stop the movements of the feed drum, the transfer drum, the
transfer chains, the swinging hopper back and the clearers, while leaving the rest of
the machine in operation, to complete the treatment of any splints already in the
carrier plates and cause the finished matches to be all ejected.
The operation of the paraffining and composition applying mechanisms, to and
past which the splints held in the carrier plates are carried, need not be described
herein, as such mechanism may be of any desired suitable construction and
operation, without departure from my present invention.
While the machine, constructed as hereinbefore described and shown in the
drawings, is especially intended for use with square sticks or splints, it can be
employed to advantage in making matches from round or other shaped sticks.
It has been found to work most successfully and continuously as long as the
splints are supplied to the hopper.
With the described means and arrangement for straightening the splints in the
hopper, clearing them, back at the outlet of the hopper, and automatically removing
from the hopper any crooked lying splint, and any short or broken splints, pieces,
chips or slivers, it has been found that the pockets of the feed drum, and,
consequently, the notches of the transfer chains will always be well filled.
The result of this uniform filling of the transfer chain notches, and of the action:
of the beater bar, and the means used for retaining the splints in such notches while
the chains are being moved and the beater bar is acting, is that the splint receiving

page_text: and Dolding devices of the carrier cam, are always most mormy men wit
splints.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1. In combination with a hopper for the splints and a traveling feeder with
splint receiving pockets, a swinging and reciprocating clearer at or near the point
where the feeder passes from the hopper, and means for swinging such clearer
inward with reference to the hopper, and raising it, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
2. In combination with a hopper for the splints and a traveling feeder with
splint receiving pockets, a clearer at or near the point where the feeder leaves the
hopper, having a pair of swinging and reciprocating plates, and means for swinging
such plates inward with reference to the hopper, and raising them, substantially as
and for the purpose shown.
3. In combination with a hopper for the splints and a traveling feeder with
splint receiving pockets, a clearer, at or near the point where the feeder leaves the
hopper, consisting of a series of pairs of swinging and reciprocating plates, and means
for moving such pairs of plates successively inward and upward with relation to the
hopper contents, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In combination with a hopper for the splints and a traveling feeder with
splint receiving pockets, a clearer, at or near the point where the feeder leaves the
hopper, having a plate supported so as to be capable of swinging and rising and
falling motion, a rotary piece and an eccentric on the latter engaging the plate,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
5. In combination with a hopper for the splints and a traveling feeder with
splint receiving pockets, a clearer, at or near the point where the feeder leaves the
hopper, having a pair of plates supported so as to be capable of both a swinging
and a rising and falling motion, a rotary-piece, and a pair of eccentrics thereon
engaging and actuating the plates, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6. In combination with a hopper for the splints and a traveling feeder with
splint receiving pockets, a series of pairs of plates, at or near the point where the
feeder leaves the hopper, means for supporting such plates so that they can swing
and rise and fall, a rotary.shaft and a series of pairs of eccentrics thereon engaging
and actuating the plates, substantially as and for the purpose shown.
7. In combination with a hopper for the splints and a traveling feeder with
splint receiving pockets, a series of pairs of plates, at or near the point where the
feeder leaves the hopper, means for supporting such plates so that they can swing
and rise and fall, a rotary shaft, and a series of pairs of eccentrics thereon engaging
and actuating the pairs of plates, the pairs of eccentrics being differently arranged
on the shaft with reference to the rotation of the latter, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
8. In combination with a hopper for the splints, and a traveling feeder with
splint receiving pockets, a pair of clearer plates, at or near the point where the
feeder leaves the hopper, having slots, a rod engaging such slots, a rotary shaft
and a pair of eccentrics thereon, engaging and actuating the plates, substantially as
and for the purpose described.
9. In combination with a hopper for the splints, and a traveling feeder with
splint receiving pockets, a series of pairs of plates, at or near the point where the
feeder leaves the hopper, each having a slot, a rod engaging the slots in the plates,
a rotary shaft and a series of pairs of eccentrics on the shaft engaging and actuating
the plates, the different pairs of eccentrics being situated on the shaft so that their
portions of greatest eccentricity are in different planes radial from the axis of the
shaft, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
10. In combination with a hopper for the splints, a traveling feeder for
taking the splints from the hopper, having the series of splint receiving pockets

page_text: with portions upon which the splints can rest, and the bottoms of the pockets open
between such portions, substantially as and for the purpose shown.
11. In combination with a hopper for the splints, a traveling fee ler for taking
the splints from the hopper, having portions to support the splints, aul ribs
extending between such portions so as to form pockets or receptacles for the splints
with open bottoms, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
12. In combination with a hopper for the splints, a traveling feeder for taking
the splints from the bopper, having the portions to support the splints on opposite
sides of the middle points and the separate ribs with the spaces between them
open, extending between the splint supporting portions of the feeder, an exhaust
trunk communicating with the spaces between the ribs, and an exhaust device
connected with the trunk, substantially as and for the purpose described.
13. In combination with a hopper for the splints, a traveling feeder for taking
the splints from the hopper, having a series of splint receiving pockets with
openings in their bottoms, and one or more large openings beyond the series of
pockets, and an exhaust device connected with the openings in the feeder,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
14. In combination with a hopper for the splints, a traveling feeder with a
series of pockets to receive the splints, and openings between such series, an
exhaust device connected with such openings when they are passing the hopper,
substantially as and for the purpose shown.
15. In combination with a hopper for the splints, a traveling feeder having the
series of splint receiving pockets with openings in their bottoms, and the larger
openings between the series of pockets, an exhaust device connected with such
openings and those in the bottoms of the pockets, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
16. In combination with a hopper for the splints, the hollow rotary feed drum
having the two ends with separate ribs extending across from one end to the other,
so as to leave open-bottomed splint receiving spaces between the ribs, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
17. In combination with a hopper for the splints, the hollow rotary feed drum
having the two ends with several series of ribs extending across between such ends
to leave between the ribs splint receiving spaces with openings in their bottoms,
circumferentially extending ribs on the drum ends between the series of ribs and
openings in the drum periphery between such circumferentially extending ribs,
substantially as and for the purpose shown.
18. In combination with a hopper for the splints, the hollow rotary feed drum
having a series of splint receiving pockets with portions to support the splints on
opposite sides of the middle points of the latter, and the bottoms of the pockets
between such portions left open, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
19. In combination with a hopper for the splints, the hollow rotary feed drum
having several series of splint receiving pockets with openings in their bottoms,
circumferential ribs between the series of pockets, and openings between such ribs,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
20. In combination with a hopper for the splints, the hollow rotary feed drum
having a series of splint receiving pockets with openings in their bottoms to allow
the passage of short splints or pieces of splints, and an exhaust device in
communication with the interior of the drum, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
21. In combination with a hopper for the splints, the hollow rotary feed drum,
baving a series of splint receiving pockets with portions of their bottoms adapted
to support the splints on opposite sides of the middle points of the latter, and the
remainder of the bottoms between such portions, open, and an exhaust device
communicating with the interior of the drum, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
22. In combination with a hopper for the splints, the rotary drum having a
series of splint receiving pockets and an opening in its periphery beyond such

page_text: pockets, and an exhaust device in communication with the interior of the drum,
substantially as and for the purpose shown.
23. In combination with a hopper for the splints, the hollow rotary feed drum
having several series of splint receiving pockets with portions of their bottoms
left open, and large openings in its periphery between the series of pockets, and
an exhaust device communicating with the interior of the drum, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
24. In combination with a hopper for the splints, the hollow rotary feed drum
having the two ends, several separate series of ribs extending across between such
ends with the spaces between the ribs left open to the interior of the drum,
circumferentially extending ribs on the drum ends between the series of transverse
ribs, and openings or spaces between such circumferentially extending ribs, and an
exhaust device communicating with the interior of the drum, substantially as and
for the purpose described.
25. In combination with a hopper for the splints, the hollow rotary drum having
openings in its sides or ends, and its periphery provided with splint receiving
pockets with portions of their bottoms open to the interior of the drum, a casing
partially enclosing the drum, so as to form a chamber communicating with the
opening in the drum ends, and an exhaust device having its trunk connected with
such chamber, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
26. In combination with a hopper for the splints, the hollow rotary drum having
openings in its ends, and its periphery provided with several series of splint
receiving pockets with their bottoms between the drum ends open to the interior
of the drum and with openings between the series of pockets also communicating
with the interior of the drum, a casing in which the drum revolves adapted to
form a closed chamber with spaces on each side of the drum communicating with
the openings in the drum ends, and a space through which the under side of the
drum passes, and an exhaust device in communication with the interior of such
casing, substantially as and for the purpose shown.
27. In combination with a hopper for the splints, the hollow rotary feed drum
having openings in its ends, and its periphery formed of two series of ribs
extending between the drum ends, such series being separated by large spaces, and
circumferentially extending raised portions on the drum ends on opposite sides of
such spaces, a casing enclosing the lower side of the drum, and having portions
extending up on opposite sides of the drum so as to form spaces or chambers on
opposite sides of the drum, in communication only with the openings in the drum
ends and the chamber below the drum, an exhaust device, and connections between
the same and the latter chamber, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
28. In combination with a hopper for holding match splints, a feeder to take the
splints therefrom having a moving surface provided with series of splint receiving
pockets separated by unpocketed spaces, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
29. In combination with a hopper for holding match splints, a rotary feed drum
baving its periphery provided with a series of splint receiving pockets, and
unpocketed surfaces at opposite ends of the series of pockets, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
30. In combination with a hopper for holding match splints, a rotary feed drum
having its periphery provided with several series of splint receiving pockets, and
unpocketed portions between the ends of the series of pockets, substantially as aud
for the purpose shown.
31. In combination with a hopper for holding match splints, a rotary drum
having its periphery provided with one or more series of splint receiving pockets,
with a plane unpocketed portion at the end of the series of pockets, a rotating
transfer device having pockets to receive the splints from the feed drum and means
for shilting the splints from the feed drum pockets into those of the transfer
device, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
32. In cou.bination with a hopper for holding match splints, a rotary feed drum

page_text: having in its periphery series of splint receiving pockets, with unpocketed spaces
between the ends of the series, a rotary transfer device having splint receiving
pockets, and guides to engage the splints in the pockets of the drum, and shift
them therefrom into the pockets of the rotary transfer device, substantially as and
for the purpose described.
33. In combination with a hopper for holding match splints, a rotary feed drum
having its periphery provided with a series of splint receiving pockets and an
unpocketed portion, an intermittently traveling transfer carrier, meins for
transferring the splints from the pockets of the drum to the transfer carrier, and
means for moving such carrier intermittently, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
34. In combination with a hopper for holding match splints, a rotary feed drum
having its periphery provided with several series of splint receiving pockets, with
unpocketed spaces between the ends of such series, a transfer device to take the
splints from the drum pockets, an intermittently traveling transfer carrier receiving
the splints from the transfer device, and means for intermittently moving the
transfer carrier, substantially as and for the purpose shown.
35. In combination with a hopper for holding match splints, a rotary feed drum
having its periphery provided with a series of splint receiving pockets, and an
unpocketed portion beyond the end of such series, the rotary transfer drum, the
intermittently traveling transfer carrier receiving the splints from the transfer
drum, and means for moving such carrier intermittently, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
36. In combination with a hopper for holding match splints, the rotary feed
drum having its periphery provided with series of splint receiving pockets
separated by unpocketed portions, the transfer drum having notches or pockets to
receive the splints from the drum, the intermittently traveling transfer carrier
having parallel portions provided with splint receiving notches and means for
intermittently moving such transfer carrier, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
37. In combination with a hopper for holding match splints, the traveling feed
device having series of splint receiving pockets, and unpocketed portions between
the ends of the series of pockets, a transfer device to take the splints from the
feed device pockets, the parallel transfer chains provided with splint holding
notebes to receive the splints from the transfer device, and means for inter-
mittently moving such chains, adapted to move the chains only while the splints
are being transferred to them from the feed device, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
38. In combination with a hopper for holding match splints, the rotating feed
drum having its periphery provided with several series of splint receiving pockets,
and unpocketed portions between such series, the rotary transfer drum having the
notched disks to receive the splints, guides to shift the splints from the feed drum
to the transfer drum, the two parallel transfer chains having splint holding notches,
guides for shifting the splints from the transfer drum into the notches of the chains,
and means for moving such chains while the splints are being delivered to their
notches, substantially as and for the purpose shown.
39. In combination with the notched transfer chains, the driving roller around
which they pass, and a support for the chains beyond such roller, a toothed wheel
on the shaft of such roller, a driven wheel, a pawl on the latter to engage the
toothed wheel on the roller shaft, and means for tripping the pawl out of engagement
with the toothed wheel at certain intervals, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
40. In combination with the notched transfer carrier, and the driving roller for
moving it, a toothed wheel rotating with such roller, a driven rotary wheel, a rock
shaft journaled thereon, a pawl on such shaft to engage the toothed wheel rotating
with the roller, a trip arm on the rock shaft and a device to engage and move such
D

page_text: arm to trip the pawl at a certain point in the rotation of the pawl carrying wheel,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
41. In combination with the notched transfer carrier and the driving roller for
moving it, a toothed wheel rotating with such roller, a driven rotary wheel, a rock
shaft journaled thereon, carrying a pawl to engage the toothed wheel and a trip
arm, a rotary piece carrying a lug in the path of the trip arm, and suitable
gearing to give such piece a rotation in the same direction as that of the
pawl carrying wheel, but at a slower rate, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
42. In combination with the notched transfer carrier and the driving roller for
moving it, a toothed wheel rotating with such roller, a driven rotary wheel
carrying a rock shaft provided with a pawl to engage the toothed wheel and a
trip arm, a rotary piece carrying a trip lug in the path of the trip arm, and
worm gearing for rotating the rotary piece in the same direction as the rotation
of the pawl carrying wheel, but at a slower rate, substantially as and for the
purpose shown.
43. In combination with the two parallel notched transfer chains, having teeth
on their inner sides, the rollers over which such chains puss, having the circum-
ferential grooves to receive and guide the chains, and recesses to engage the chain
teeth, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
44. In combination with the two parallel notched transfer chains, having teeth
on their inner sides, the rollers over which the chains pass having circum-
ferential grooves to receive and guide the chains, and deeper longitudinal
grooves to receive the teeth on the chains, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
.45. In combination with the notched transfer chains, having teeth on their
inner sides, the guides for such chains having rebates to receive the chains and
deeper rebates to accommodate the chain teeth, and guide plates to keep the chains
in the rebates having overhanging flanges to engage the outer or upper sides of
portions of the chains below the notched portions, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
46. The transfer carrier, consisting of chains each formed of notched links
pivotally connected together, and toothed guide links pivotally connected with
alternate notched links, and having their upper or outer edges lower than the
notches of the links, substantially as and for the purpose shown.
47.. In combination with a splint conveying carrier, having two parallel notched
portions to support the splints, an exhaust trunk communicating with an opening
or throat situated between the notched portions of the carrier, and an exhaust
device connected with such trunk, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
48. In combination with a splint conveying transfer carrier consisting of two
parallel endless flexible portions provided with splint receiving notches, an exhaust
trunk communicating with an opening or throat between the two parts of the transfer
carrier, and an exhaust device connected with such trunk, substantially and as for
the purpose described.
49. In combination with the transfer chains provided with splint receiving
notches, the plate between such chains provided with a slot or elongated
opening, an exhaust trunk communicating with such opening, and an exhaust
device connected with the trunk, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
50. In a match making machine, in combination with a carrier to receive the
splints and hold them while they are being treated, a traveling conveyor to receive
the splints from a source of supply and carry them into a position in front of the
receiving and holding carrier, and means for moving such conveyor intermittently,
substantially as and for the purpose shown.
'
51. In a match making machine, in combination with a carrier to receive the
splints and hold them while they are being treated, a traveling transfer device to

page_text: receive the splints from a source of supply and carry them into a position in front
of the receiving and holding carrier, and means for moving the transfer device
intermittently, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
52. In a match making machine, in combination with a carrier to receive the
splints and hold them while they are being treated, a traveling endless conveyor to
receive the splints from a source of supply and convey them into a position in
front of the receiving and holding carrier, and means for moving such conveyor
intermittently, substantially as and for the purpose described.
53. In a match making machine, in combination with a carrier to receive the
splints and bold them while they are being treated, means for moving such carrier
with a step-by-step movement, a traveling endless conveyor to receive the splints
from a source of supply and convey them to a position in front of the receiving and
holding carrier, and means for moving such conveyor forward intermittently,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
54. In a match making machine, in combination with a carrier to receive the
splints, and hold them while they are being treated, a traveling endless conveyor,
provided with splint receiving notches adapted to receive the splints from a source
of supply and convey them to a point in front of the splint receiving and holding
carrier, and means for intermittently moving such notched conveyor, substantially
as and for the purpose shown.
55. In a match making machine, in combination with a carrier to receive the
splints and hold them while they are being treated, the transfer device consisting of
a pair of endless notched flexible carriers adapted to receive the splints from a
source of supply and carry them to a point in front of the receiving and holding
carrier, and means for moving such transfer device intermittently, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
56. In a match making machine, in combination with the carrier to receive the
splints and hold them while they are being treated, the parallel notched transfer
chains to carry the splints to a point in front of the splint receiving and holding
carrier, and means for moving such chains intermittently, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
57. In a match making machine, in combination with a carrier provided with
means to receive and hold the splints in rows, a moving transfer device to bring a
row of splints in front of the carrier, a lifter to lift the splints from such transfer
device, and means for driving the splints on the lifter into the splint receiving and
holding devices on the carrier, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
58. In a match making machine, in combination with a carrier provided with
means to receive and hold the splints in rows, a transfer device adapted to hold
match splints in position parallel to each other, means for moving such device to
bring the splints in front of the splint receiving and holding carrier, a notched
lifter, means for lifting the same to raise the splints from the transfer device, and
means for forcing the splints supported on the lifter into the splint receiving and
holding devices of the carrier, substantially as and for the purpose shown.
59. In a match making machine, in combination with a carrier provided with
means to receive and hold the splints, a transfer device adapted to receive and bold
a series of splints, means for moving such transfer device to carry the splints in
front of the splint receiving and holding carrier, a notched lifter to lift the splints
from the transfer device, means for raising the lifter, a benter to engage the splints
on the raised lifter and force them into the splint receiving and holding devices of
the carrier, and means for actuating such benter, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
60. In a match making machine, in combination with a carrier provided with
means for receiving and holding match sticks, the transfer device having the
parallel notched portions, means for moving such transfer device intermittently,
the lifter having the two parallel notched plates to take the splints from the transfer
device, means for moving the lifter, and means for moving the splints on the raised'
>

page_text: lifter into the splint receiving and holding devices of the carrier, substantially as
and for the purpose described.
61. In a match making machine, in combination with a carrier provided with
means to receive and hold the splints, the parallel transfer chains with notches to
receive splints, the lifter having the two notched plates to raise the splints from the
chain notches, and means for forcing the splints supported on the lifter into the
splint receiving and holding devices of the carrier, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
62. In a match making machine, in combination with a carrier provided with
means to receive and hold the splints, the two parallel notched transfer chains,
means for moving them intermittently, the lifter having the two parallel notched
plates to lift the splints from the transfer chains, means for actuating such lifter, a
beater bar to engage the splints on the raised lifter and force them into the splint
receiving and bolding devices of the carrier, and means for actuating such bar,
substantially as and for the purpose shown.
63. In a match making niachine, in combination with a carrier provided with
means to receive and hold the splints, the two parallel notched transfer chains,
means for moving them intermittently, the lifter having the two parallel notched
plates to lift the splints from the transfer chains, means for actuating such lifter, a
beater bar to engage the splints on the raised lifter and force them into the splint
receiving and holding devices of the carrier, and means for actuating such bar,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
64. In a match making machine, in combination with a carrier provided with
series of splint receiving and holding devices adapted to hold the splints in rows, means
for moving such carrier with a step-by-step motion, a transfer device to bring a
row of splints in front of the carrier, means for moving such device intermittently,
a lifter to raise the splints from the transfer device, means for actuating the lifter,
and a beater to force the row of splints on the raised lifter into a row of splint
receiving and holding devices of the carrier, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
65. In a match making machine, in combination with a carrier provided with
devices for receiving and holding splints, a rising and falling lifter to raise a series
of splints into position opposite the receiving and bolding devices of the carrier,
means for forcing the splints so raised into said devices, and means for actuating
the lifter, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
66. In a match making machine, in combination with a carrier provided with
devices for receiving and holding splints, a rising and falling lifter to raise. the
splints up into position opposite the receiving and holding devices of the carrier, a
beater bar to force the splints from the lifter into such devices, having a guard to
extend over the upper sides of the splints on the lifter, means for actuating the
lifter, and means for actuating the beater bar, substantially as and for the purpose
shown.
67. In a match making machine, in combination with a carrier provided with
devices for receiving and holding splints, a rising and falling lifter having splint
holding notches, the beater bar having a guard to extend over and close to the
lifter when the latter is raised, means for actuating the lifter, and means for
actuating the beater bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
68. In combination with the lifter having the splint receiving notches, and
means for raising and lowering it, the beater bar made movable substantially at
right angles to the travel of the lifter, and having a guard frame attached to it
extending over the litter in position to keep any splints down in the notches of the
lifter when the latter is raised, aud means for actuating the beater bar towards and
from the lifter, substantially as and for the purpose described.
69. The splint lifter, having the two reciprocating heads and the plates carried
thereby having their upper edges notched, in combination with the levers,
connections between the latter and the heads, cams to actuate the levers to raise

page_text: the lifter, and one or more springs acting to lower it, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
70. The beater bar supported on the two swinging arms in combination with the
two levers, the links connecting the levers with the bar, the cams for actuating the
levers in one direction, and one or more springs acting to swing the levers in
the other direction, substantially as and for the purpose shown.
71. The beater bar and means for movably supporting the same, in combination
with the levers, the cams for actuating the same, and links connecting the levers.
with the bar made adjustable in length, substantially as and for the purpose set..
forth.
72. The beater bar, and means for movably supporting the same in combination
with the levers, the cams for actuating the same, and links connecting the levers
with the bar, each made in two parts, with a screw sleeve connection between the
parts, substantially as and for purpose described.
73. In a match making machine in combination with a step-by-step moving
carrier having series of splint receiving and holding devices adapted to receive and
bold the splints in rows, means for moving such carrier, the endless transfer chains
with splint holding notches moving at right angles to the travel of the carrier
means for moving such chains intermittently to bring successive rows of splints in
front of the carrier, a lifter to lift such splints out of the chain notches when the
chains are at rest, means for actuating the lifter, a beater bar to force the splints
on the raised lifter into the splint receiving and holding devices on the carrier,
and means for actuating such beater bar while the carrier is at rest between its
step-by-step movements, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
74. In a match making machine, in combination with a traveling carrier having
splint receiving and holding devices and means for feeding such carrier along with
a step-by-step motion, a toothed wheel connected with the carrier feeding means, a
locking bolt to engage such wheel, a lever connected with the bolt, a cam to actuate
the lever, to move the bolt into engagement with the wheel and hold it so for a
certain predetermined time, and a spring to move the lever to retract the bolt,.
substantially as and for the purpose shown.
75. In a match making machine in combination with a traveling carrier for
receiving and holding the splints while being treated, two sets of feeding devices.
for moving the carrier along with a step-by-step motion, engaging such carrier at
different points in its travel, the two toothed wheels each connected with one of the
carrier feeding devices, the two locking bolts to engage these wheels, a lever
connected with these bolts on opposite sides of its pivotal point, a cam to move and
hold the lever in position to bring and keep the bolts in engagement with the
respective wheels, and a spring to return the lever to retract the bolts, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
76. As a means for holding and carrying match splints, a carrier having an
opening to enclose a portion of a splint, and clamping devices to clamp a part of
the splint projecting beyond such opening, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
77. As a means for holding and carrying match splints, a carrier having an
opening to enclose a portion of a splint, and a pair of spring clamps to engage
the splints beyond such opening, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
78. As a means for holding and carrying match splints, a carrier having a
series of openings to enclose portions of the splints, and clamping devices to.
clamp the splints beyond such openings, substantially as and for the purpose
shown.
79. As a means for holding and carrying match splints, a carrier having a.
series of openings to enclose portions of the splints, and separate spring clamping
devices, one for each opening, to clamp the splints at a point beyond the openings,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
90. In a carrier for match splints, in combination with a plate provided with an.
די

page_text: opening to enclose a portion of a splint, a splint clamping device on the back of
the plate, substantially as and for the purpose described.
81. In a carrier for match splints, in combination with a plate having openings
to receive and enclose portions of the splints, a series of pairs of spring clamping
fingers, one pair for each opening, on the back of the plate, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
82. In a carrier for match splints, in combination with a plate having an opening
to receive and enclose a portion of a splint, a pair of spring clamping pieces on the
back of the plate having their opposing faces grooved, substantially as and for the
purpose shown.
83. In a carrier for match splints, in combination with a plate having a series
of openings to receive and enclose portions of the splints, a series of splint
clamping devices on the plate, having their opposing faces grooved, to receive and
hold portions of the splints beyond the plate, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
84. In a carrier for match splints, in combination with a main plate having rows
of openings to receive and enclose portions of splints, plates attached to the main
plate between rows of openings therein, and having portions standing out from the
main plate split or cut so as to form independently movable splint engaging spring
fingers, substantially as and for the purpose described.
85. In a carrier for match splints, in combination with a plate having rows of
openings to receive and enclose portions of the splints, plates fastened to the main
plate between the rows of openings, having upturned portions close to the sides of
the adjoining rows of openings, grooved and split, or cut to form separate splint
clamping fingers with grooves in their splint engaging sides, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
Dated this Thirty-first day of July 1896.
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.