CERTAIN NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF NAILS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Whittle, of Harborne, in the County of
Stafford, Engineer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN NEW OR IMPROVED
MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF NAILS."
Sealed the 6th February 1866, and dated the 30th October 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Whittle at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th October 1865.
I, WILLIAM WHITTLE, of Harborne, in the County of Stafford, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN NEW OR
IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF NAILS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of the machinery herein-after described for the
manufacture of nails from nail rods or other rods of metal, and consists in part
of improvements in machinery for which Letters Patent were granted to me,
dated September 13th, 1856, No. 2143.
The first part of my Invention consists of machinery constructed as follows:-
A pair of disc rolls are mounted upon spindles, and turn so as to deliver the
rod when rolled at the front of the machine, that is, at the side of the machine
at which the rod was introduced. A portion of the periphery of each roll is
cut away, and when the parts of the rolls from which the portions have been
so cut away come round to the front of the machine, the workman can intro-
duce the rod from which nails are to be made between the rolls, and press it
against a stop at the back of the machine. The further rotation of the rolls
A

page_text: causes the uncut-away portions to seize the rod, and the said portions being
properly shaped to give the required figure to the rod, the said rod is tapered
to a point and delivered back to the workman. The lateral spreading of the
points is prevented by parallel side strips of hard metal, which are brought
into close contact with the sides of the rolls by rings of metal or side cams
placed on the spindle of one of the rolls, and carried round by keys fixed in
the boss of the said spindle. These side cams have rises or projections on a
portion of their sides, and as they revolve the said projections come in contact
with adjustable studs in the framing of the machine, and at the proper time
force the parallel side strips against the sides of the rolls, thus forming a
groove in which the rolls work while drawing or rolling out the points of the
nails. The said side strips are placed in a sliding frame which advances with
the motion of the rolls so long as the projections on the side cams bear against
the studs. When the projections have passed the studs the side strips are
liberated, and together with the sliding frame are returned to their original
position by helical springs. A second pair of rolls similarly arranged are fixed
on the same spindles as the pair first described, the object of the second pair
of rolls being to perfect the points of the nail blanks formed by the first pair
of rolls. When the rods operated upon are of iron they are heated before
being introduced into the rolls, but when the rods are of copper or other soft
metal or alloy they may be operated upon without being heated. The
arrangement of rolls described may be employed to point blanks which have
been previously headed. Or the points may be formed upon the ends of nail
rods, and the pointed blanks cut off and headed in a separate machine. Or
portions of the rod may be cut off by a cutting tool or shears placed at the
back of the rolls, the rod being fed into the rolls at the back. In this case
the pointed blanks will be delivered by the rolls at the front of the machine.
When I point the nails in one machine and head them in another I prefer to
form the point on the end of the rod, and afterwards to cut off a portion
of sufficient length to form a nail, and to feed the blanks so cut off by hand
into a separate machine for heading and forming them into perfect nails. But
when I head and point and finish the nail in the same machine I place one
pair of rolls in front of a second pair, the first pair partially forming the point,
and the second pair finishing it. Between the first and second pairs of
pointing rolls I place a pair of plain disc-carrying rolls, which seize hold of the
blank as it is delivered from the first pair of rolls, and transfer it to the second
pair of rolls. While the pointed blank is being delivered from the second pair
of rolls it enters the jaws of a sliding carrier, by wbich it is conveyed to a pair
of gripping tools which seize and hold the blank while a heading tool

page_text: advances and forms the head. The lateral spreading of the points is prevented
by parallel side strips of the kind herein-before described. The rod is fed into
the machine by feeding rolls until its end comes against a stop. A sufficient.
length of rod is then cut off and rolled through the first pair of rolls, when it
is carried by the carrier rolls to the second pair of rolls, and finished in the
manner herein-before described.
.
My new or improved machinery for heading nail blanks after they have
been pointed, and which constitutes the second part of my Invention, is con-
structed as follows:-A strong standard or framework of iron carries a main
shaft on which is keyed an excentric for giving motion to a vertical slide
carrying a heading tool. A stout metal slide works immediately under the
heading tool, its line of motion being horizontal or at right angles to that of
the heading tool. A pair of side gripping tools with a portion of their ends
resting on the said horizontal slide is made to open and close by cams fixed on
the main shaft; these tools work at right angles to the horizontal slide.
Near each end of the horizontal slide square holes are made to hold the nail
blanks while being carried under the heading tool; the said holes are provided
with springs to hold the blank firmly. The horizontal slide is made to receive
a reciprocating motion, so that when a blank is inserted into one of the holes
in it the said blank is carried between the gripping tools and under the heading
tool, and is seized by the said gripping tools and firmly held while being
lieaded. While one blank is being thus headed another blank is being placed
by the workman in the hole at the opposite end of the slide. The heading
tool now rises, and the gripping tools open the slide with the finished nail,
makes a return motion, bringing another blank under the heading tool, which
blank is operated upon in the manner last described; the finished nail is at
the same time withdrawn by the workman, and a fresh blank inserted. Two
persons feed this machine, one on either side. In place of the horizontal slide
a strong revolving disc may be employed for carrying the blanks between the
gripping tools, the said disc having a ratchet wheel fixed on its side. An
intermittent rotary motion is given to the said disc by a lever and pallet
worked by a cam on the main shaft and acting on the ratchet wheel. A series
of holes equal in number to the teeth of the ratchet wheel are made in the
periphery of the disc. The workman supplies blanks to the said holes, which
blanks are carried forward and are brought in succession between the jaws of
the gripping tools, the ends of which rest upon and are supported by the disc
while the blank is being headed. After the nail has been headed the heading
tool rises, the gripping tools open, and the nail is carried forward by the
rotation of the disc until it is seized by a fork, between the prongs of which

page_text: the nail passes, and is withdrawn by its head from the disc. This machine
may be worked either vertically or horizontally. In making the disc rolls
described I prefer to employ a bar of iron bent into a ring, the ends being
joined by, welding. I turn and shape the ring into the required form and
size and case-harden it, thereby converting the surface into steel. Rolls so
made can be used much harder on the surface than steel rolls without the
risk of breaking which would be incurred if they were made wholly of steel.
Rolls so made are easier to fit up than rolls made of steel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Whittle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th April 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
WHITTLE, of Harborne, in the County of Stafford, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Whittle, Her special licence that I, the said William
Whittle, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Whittle, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "CERTAIN NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF NAILS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Whittle, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within, six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters. Patent.
NOW, KNOW YE, that I, the said William Whittle, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-

page_text: My Invention consists of the machinery herein-after described for the manu-
facture of nails from nail rods or other rods of metal, and consists in part of
improvements in machinery for which Letters Patent were granted to me,
dated respectively September 13th, 1856, No. 2143, and November 21st,
1859, No. 2631.
The first part of my Invention consists of machinery constructed as follows:-
A pair of disc rolls are mounted upon spindles, and turn so as to deliver the
rod when rolled at the front of the machine, that is, at the side of the machine
at which the rod was introduced. A portion of the periphery of each roll is
cut away, and when the parts of the rolls from which the portions have been
so cut away come round to the front of the machine the workman can intro-
duce the rod from which nails are to be made between the rolls, and press it
against a stop at the back of the machine. The further rotation of the rolls
causes the uncut-away portions to seize the rod, and the said portions being
properly shaped to give the required figure to the rod, the said rod is tapered
to a point, and delivered back to the workman. The lateral spreading of the
points is prevented by parallel side strips of hard metal, which are brought
into close contact with the sides of the rolls by rings of metal or side cams
placed on the spindle of one of the rolls, and carried round by keys fixed in
the boss of the said spindle. These side cams have rises or projections on a
portion of their sides, and as they revolve the said projections come in contact
with adjustable studs in the framing of the machine, and at the proper time
force the parallel side strips against the sides of the rolls, thus forming a
groove in which the rolls work while drawing or rolling out the points of the
nails. The said side strips are placed in a sliding frame, which advances with
the motion of the rolls so long as the projections on the side cams bear against
the studs. When the projections bave passed the studs the side strips are
liberated, and together with the sliding frame are returned to their original
position by helical springs. A second pair of rolls similarly arranged are fixed.
on the same spindles as the pair first described, the object of the second pair
of rolls being to perfect the points of the nail blanks formed by the first pair
of rolls. When the rods operated upon are of iron they are heated before being
introduced into the rolls, but when the rods are of copper or other soft metal
or alloy they may be operated upon without being heated. The arrangement
of rolls described may be employed to point blanks which have been pre-
viously headed. Or the points may be formed upon the ends of nail rods,
and the pointed blanks cut off and headed in a separate machine. Or por-
tions of the rod may be cut off by a cutting tool or shears placed at the back
of the rolls, the rod being fed into the rolls at the back.
In this case the

page_text: pointed blanks will be delivered by the rolls at the front of the machine.
When I point the nails in one machine and head them in another I prefer
to form the point on the end of the rod, and afterwards to cut off a portion of
sufficient length to form a nail, and to feed the blanks so cut off by hand into
a separate machine for heading and forming them into perfect nails. But
when I head and point and finish the nail in the same machine I place one
pair of rolls in front of a second pair, the first pair partially forming the
point and the second pair finishing it. Between the first and second pairs of
pointing rolls I place a pair of plain disc-carrying rolls, which seize hold of the
blank as it is delivered from the first pair of rolls, and transfer it to the second
pair of rolls. While the pointed blank is being delivered from the second
pair of rolls it enters the jaws of a sliding carrier, by which it is conveyed to
a pair of gripping tools, which seize and hold the blank while a heading tool
advances and forms the head. The lateral spreading of the points is pre-
vented by parallel side strips of the kind herein-before described. The rod is
fed into the machine by feeding rolls until its end comes against a stop. A
sufficient length of rod is then cut off and rolled through the first pair of rolls,
when it is carried by the carrier rolls to the second pair of rolls, and finished
in the manner herein-before described.
My new or improved machinery for heading nail blanks after they have
been pointed, and which constitutes the second part of my Invention, is con-
structed as follows:-A strong standard or framework of iron carries a main
shaft, on which is keyed an excentric for giving motion to a vertical slide
carrying a heading tool. A stout metal slide works immediately under the
heading tool, its line of motion being horizontal or at right angles to that of
the heading tool. A pair of side gripping tools with a portion of their ends
resting on the said horizontal slide is made to open and close by cams fixed
on the main shaft; these tools work at right angles to the horizontal slide.
Near each end of the horizontal slide square holes are made to hold the nail
blanks while being carried under the heading tool; the said holes are provided
with springs to bold the blank firmly. The horizontal slide is made to receive
a reciprocating motion, so that when a blank is inserted into one of the holes
in it the said blank is carried between the gripping tools and under the
heading tool, and is seized by the said gripping tools and firmly held while
being headed. While one blank is being thus headed another blank is being
placed by the workman in the hole at the opposite end of the slide. The
heading tool now rises, and the gripping tools open the slide with the finished
nail, makes a return motion bringing another blank under the heading tool,
which blank is operated upon in the manner last described;. the finished nail

page_text: is at the same time withdrawn by the workman, and a fresh blank inserted.
Two persons feed this machine, one on either side. In place of the horizontal
slide a strong revolving disc may be employed for carrying the blanks between
the gripping tools, the said disc having a ratchet wheel fixed on its side. An
intermittent rotary motion is given to the said disc by a lever and pallet worked
by a cam on the main shaft, and acting on the ratchet wheel. A series of
holes equal in number to the teeth of the ratchet wheel are made in the
periphery of the disc. The workman supplies blanks to the said holes, which
blanks are carried forward, and are brought in succession between the jaws
of the gripping tools, the ends of which rest upon and are supported by the
disc while the blank is being headed. After the nail has been headed the
heading tool recedes, the gripping tools open, and the nail is carried forward
by the rotation of the disc until it is seized by a fork, between the prongs of
which the nail passes, and is withdrawn by its head from the disc. This
machine may be worked either vertically or horizontally. In making the disc
or tapering rolls described, I prefer to employ a bar of iron bent into a ring,
the ends being joined by welding. I turn and shape the ring into the required
form and size, and case-harden it, thereby converting the surface into steel.
Rolls so made can be used much harder on the surface than steel rolls with-
out the risk of breaking which would be incurred if they were made wholly of
steel. Rolls so made are easier to fit up than rolls made of steel.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe
with reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent improvements in machinery for pointing
nails. This machine and those portions of the machine herein-after described,.
and represented in Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, which effect the tapering or pointing
of the nails, are improvements on machinery for which Letters Patent were
granted to me on the 13th September 1856, No. 2143, and 21st November
1859, No. 2631 respectively.
In the Patents referred to I made use of pressing rolls for giving the
tapered form to the nail blanks; I also used side rolls and side rings applied
in various ways, the said side rolls and rings having for their object the pre-
vention of the lateral spreading of the nail while being rolled out to a tapered
point; I also used fixed side strips for the same purpose. The rods of iron
from which the nail blanks were to be formed were heated their whole length
and passed into the machine or set of rolls, the said rods being delivered from
the rolls in a series of wedges joined together, the thin part or point of the one
being attached to the thick part of the other. These blanks or series of

page_text: wedges were then passed through a second machine by which each blank was
cut off and headed and formed into a nail. By manufacturing the nails in
this way the points were blunt and square at the end. By the use of side
rolls for controlling the lateral spreading of the blanks of the nails while being
acted upon by the tapering or pressing rolls, a portion of the iron was forced
by the lateral spreading over the sides of the pressing or tapering rolls, and
being carried between the sides of the pressing rolls and the faces of the side
rolls, a burr was thus raised on the nail blanks, giving them an unsightly
appearance. In using the fixed side strips before mentioned the formation of
the burr was prevented, as no portion of the iron could be forced over the
edges of the pressing rolls, but the friction of the iron in passing the fixed
surfaces of the side strips, together with the heat from the rods, rapidly
softened and wore away the controlling parts of the said fixed side strips.
The arrangement and combination of parts of the machine constituting part
of my present Invention are designed for the purpose of remedying the defects
mentioned. I am aware that moveable side strips have been used for the
prevention of the lateral spreading of the nail blanks while being rolled into a
taper form, but the said moveable side strips were not actuated and applied
in the manner herein-after described and constituting part of my Invention.
Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a pointing machine
constructed according to my present Invention, a portion being also represented
in side elevation; Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in cross section, the said
section being taken through the line W,X, Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a plan
of the same, partly in section, the said section being taken through the line
Y, Z, Figure 1. The same letters indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2,
and 3.
A is the framing of the machine cast in one piece; B is the main shaft;
C is the fly wheel; D, the fast and loose pulleys; E, the gearing wheels for
gearing the main shaft to the lower spindle of the rolls; and F are the
standards of the machine; a, a, are the pressing or tapering rolls mounted
on the spindles m, m¹; b is the stop against which the nail rod is pushed by
the workman when inserting it between the opening in the rolls; c, c, are the
side strips for preventing the lateral spreading of the nails while being rolled;
d, are the rings or side cams fitted on to the bosses e, e, of the spindle m²;
f, f, are the adjustable studs in the framing A of the machine; g is the sliding
frame for carrying the side strips c, c; h, h, are the helical springs for returning
the sliding frame and side strips to their original position; i is a draw wedge
for adjusting the tapered side strips to the width of the central space between-
the first and second pairs of rolls, as best seen in Figure 3; j is a cap, shown

page_text: partly broken away in the plan, Figure 8, for holding down the side strips on
to the sliding frame 9; k is a lever carrying an upper shear blade, which
works against a lower blade fixed on the framing of the machine for cutting
off the blanks from the ends of the rods after being pointed. The moveable
blade or shear is actuated by the connecting rod 7, one end being attached to.
the lever k of the shears and the other end to a lever working on the stud n
fixed into the side of the machine. Motion is given to the said lever by a
cam P fixed on the main shaft B (see the side elevation, Figure 1). o are
caps for holding the bearings of the spindles m, m¹, of the rolls in position;
one of the said caps is represented removed in Figure 1.
The action of the machine is as follows:-A portion of nail rod of a
sufficient length to form from three to six nail blanks, according to the length.
of nail required, is heated in a suitable furnace. The heated rod is placed by
the workman in the space formed between the side strips by the junction of
the rolls and lightly pushed forward in the direction of the stop b. When the
cut-away part of the rolls come round to the front of the machine, as repre-
sented in Figure 2, an opening is formed between the. rolls through which.
the nail rod passes until it is arrested by. the stop b, as shown in the said.
Figure 2. When the machine is in this position the rises on the side rings
or cams d, d, have come against the adjustable side studs f,f, thereby causing
the side cams to press the side strips c, c, into close contact with the pressing
or tapering rolls a, a, thus forming a groove in which the blank is rolled to:
a tapered point by the excentric form of the rolls, the said rolls delivering
the tapered blank back to the workman at the front of the machine. The.
side strips c, c, prevent the lateral spreading of the iron. While the point
of the nail blank is being thus formed by the motion of the rolls a, a, the.
side strips c, c, are being carried forward by the pressure of the side cams upon.
them, and the spreading of the nail blank between them is prevented; thus:
the side strips and the nail blank move together, the surfaces being merely in.
contact instead of the iron being drawn forcibly over the surface as would be.
the case if the side strips were fixed. It will be seen that according to this.
arrangement the lateral thrust is in a line with the centres of the adjustable.
studs f, f; thus the side strips c, c, cannot spring or move from their work, as
no part is brought to bear the thrust excepting at the time it is passing the
centre line. When the rolls have moved sufficiently to taper the iron to the
degree required, the rises or projections on the side cams d, d, have passed.
the adjustable studs f, f, and the side strips c, c, liberate the iron and are free.
to be returned to their former position by the coiled springs h. The rod or
nail blank tapered or pointed in this way is afterwards inserted between the

page_text: second pair of rolls a³, a³, by which second pair of rolls the point is perfected
to the taper required. The tapered rod is then placed on the botton shear
blade and pushed forward to a stop (not shown in the Drawing), which is set
to measure the length of nail blank required. The tapered blank is then
moved sideways under the upper shear blade and cut off by the descent of the
said blade, the cut-off blank falling down a spout or incline placed for the
purpose of conveying it into an iron pan or box placed to receive it. The end
of the rod is again inserted between the rolls as before described, when a
second blank is made, and so on until the whole of the heated part of the rod
is worked up. By the arrangement described and represented the blanks are
rolled from the head to the point, finishing off at the point, thereby giving a
roundness and better finish to the said points.
Figure 4 represents in longitudinal vertical section a machine for making
complete nails constructed according to my Invention, that is, cutting off,
pointing, and heading in the same machine; Figure 5 is a cross section of a
portion of the same; Figure 6 is plan of the same and Figure 7 is a side
elevation of the same. The same letters and figures of reference indicate the
same parts in Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7.
A is the bed or framing of the machine for carrying the working parts; B
is a framing for carrying the spindles k, k, on which the rolls b, b, and d, d, aro
fixed; C is a framing for carrying the spindles 8, s, of the feed rolls a, a; D
are the legs or standards of the machine; E. is the main shaft; F, the fly wheel;
G, the crank on the end of the main shaft E; H is a connecting rod from the
said crank to a vibrating or ratchet lever I, working on a fixed axle P in tho
bed of the machine; J, ratchet wheel fixed on the wheel K, also working
loose on the axle P; L, M, N, O, are pinions (see Figure 7) on roll spindles
k, k, motion to which pinions is communicated by the toothed wheel K; Q
are the fast and loose pulleys for driving and arresting the machine; R is a
lever for transmitting motion from the cam T to the heading tool S; U is a
pall working on the ratchet lever I for driving ratchet wheel J; V, V, are
adjusting screws for regulating the pressure on the rolls b, b, and d, d; W, W,
are adjusting screws for regulating the gripping tools g, g', for holding the
nail while being beaded; X, X, are screws for adjusting the studs x, x,
against the side cams or rings u, u, and v, v; Y is a screw for adjusting feed.
rolls a, a; Z is a screw for adjusting the lower cutting-off tool 3; a, a,
feed rolls worked by the spindles s, s, and pinions t; b, b, pressing or tapering
rolls; c, c, first pair of carrying rolls; d, d, finishing rolls; e, e, second pair of
carrying rolls;f, f, carrying rolls for conveying blank into gripping tools g, g¹;
h, sliding bar for working toggle joint j, actuated by the cam i, by means of

page_text: which toggle joint the gripping tools g, g¹, are closed; k, k, are the spindles.
carrying the tapering rolls b, b, and d, d; l, l, are the spindles carrying the
rolls c, e, f; m, m, m, are pinions on the ends of the carrying roll spindles ;
n, n, n, are bevil pinions for working carrying roll spindles; o, shaft for work-
ing bevil pinions n; p, bevil pinion on the end of the shaft o, for gearing into
the bevil wheel 9 on the main shaft; r is an endless band, working in the
groove on boss of bevil wheel q, for giving motion to the spindle s of the feed
rolls a, a; u, u, and v, v, are side rings or side cams placed on the bosses of
the lower spindles k, k, and carried by keys, but capable of a sliding or lateral
motion in the direction of the axes of the spindles; w, w, are side strips of
bard metal for preventing the lateral spreading of the nail blanks while being
rolled; x, x, adjustable studs, against which the rises on the side cams u and v
act when revolving, thereby closing the side strips w; y is a bearing for sup-
porting blank when cut off from the nail rod 1 by the shearing tools 2, 8;
2,2,2,2, supports for the blanks while being conveyed between the several
pairs of rolls.
1 is the nail rod between the feeding rolls a, a; 4 is a por-
tion cut off by the cutting or shearing tools 2, 3; 5 is a blank which has been
passed through the first pair of tapering rolls b, b, and conveyed by the carrying
rolls c, c, against the shoulders of the second pair of tapering rolls d, d; 6 is
a finished nail in the gripping dies g, g¹, of the machine, the heading tool S
being represented partly in section to show the head of the nail; 7 is a lever
on the spindle 8 (shown broken off in plan), for giving motion to the shearing
tool 2; 9 is another lever on the opposite end of the spindle 8, and fixed at
right angles to the former, carrying a stud 10, working in the groove of the
cam 11; 12 is a groove cam on the main shaft E for working the stud 13,.
fixed on the vertical lever 14 on the end of the spindle 15, passing under the
bed of the machine, as shown in dotted lines in the plan, Figure 6; 16 is a
lever fixed on the end of the. spindle 15. The position of the lever 16 is
best seen in Figure 5, which represents a cross section of part of the bed of
the machine, taken through the gripping tools g, g¹; 17 is a stud fixed on the
under side of the sliding piece 18 working under the gripping tool g¹. On
the said sliding piece 18 the nail blank rests while being headed; 19 is a
moveable support vibrating on an axis at its lower end for the nail blank to
rest upon whilst being fed into the gripping tools g, g', by the carrying rolls f, f.
This vibrating support 19 is actuated by the stud 26 on the sliding piece 18,
and brought by the advance of the said sliding piece into the position indi-
cated by the dotted lines in Figure 5. When the sliding piece 18 recedes
the support 19 is returned to its former position by a spring (not shown),
and allows the finished nail to fall out of the dies down the opening 29 in the

page_text: bed of the machine; 21 is a cap for holding down the heading tool S; 22 is a
cap for holding down the gripping tool g, g¹; 23 is a support for carrying
one end of the spindle shaft 8; 24 is a support for carrying shaft o; 25 is a
support for the shaft s of the feed rolls; 27 and 28, caps on framing B for
keeping the bearings in position, in which the spindles k, k, of the rolls 6 and d
work. The return motions of the moving parts are effected by springs, several
of which are not shown in the Drawings, in order that more important parts
may be the better exhibited.
The action of the machine is as follows:-One end of a nail rod which
has been heated in a suitable furnace being placed between the feed rolls
α, it is carried into the machine by the action of the said rolls until it is
arrested by coming in contact with the upper cutting-off tool 2, as seen in
Figure 4, when the action of the cam 11 raises the said cutting-off tool, and
allows the end of the rod to advance until it is again arrested by coming in
contact with the shoulders or projections on the tapering rolls b, b. The
cutting-off tool 2 now descends, and cuts off between it and the fixed tool 3
the portion of the rod marked 4. The action of the crank G and connecting
rod H now causes the toothed wheel K to move through a sufficient space to
give to the pinions L, M, N, O, and consequently to the tapering rolls b, b,
and d, d, half a revolution. By this motion the portion of rod 4 is carried
through the first pair of rolls b, b, and tapered, the said rolls remaining at
rest during the return motion of the ratchet lever I and pall U. During this
period of rest of the rolls b, b, the carrying rolls c, c, which have a continuous
rotary motion, transfer the partially tapered blank 5 to the shoulders or pro-
jections on the finishing rolls d, d. The next motion of the crank G and
wheel K gives to the rolls b, b, and d, d, another half revolution, which motion
carries the blank 5 through the second or finishing rolls d, d, whereby the
point of the blank is brought to a proper taper. The finished blank 5 is now
carried successively by the rolls e, e, and f, f, to the heading tool S. It will
be seen by an examination of the heading cam T, Figure 4, that there are
two rises on its surface, the first rise bringing the heading tool S so near the
gripping tools g, g', that á sufficient space is left between the said tools for as
much of the end of the blank as is sufficient to form a head. At the time
the blank 5 is being carried by the rolls and f the gripping tools g, g', are
open to allow the blank to be carried between them, the heading tool S.being
acted upon by the first rise of the cam T, so that the blank is arrested by the
said heading tool, while the gripping tools close upon and hold the blank.
The second rise of the cam T now brings the heading tool S home and forms
the head of the nail 6, as seen in the Drawing. The lever R and heading

page_text: tool S now follow the cam T to its lowest fall. The gripping tool g', sliding
piece 18, and the moveable support or guide 19 now recede to the left
hand, as seen in Figure 5, and the rolls f push the finished nail 6 forward,
when it falls from the machine down the slot 29. By reference to Figure 4
it will be seen that while the blank 5 is being rolled through the finishing,
rolls d, d, a fresh portion of rod is cut off and placed ready to be operated
upon by the rolls b, b, and so on in succession. The side strips w, w, for
preventing the lateral spreading of the nail whilst being rolled are acted upon
by the side cams u, v, in the same manner as described in the machine for
pointing the ends only of the rods represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3. The
pins marked 20 in the framing C of the feed rolls a, a, rest on the blocks in
which the spindles s work. The upper ends of these pins are filed partly away
on each side and fit into slots in the ends of a light bow spring of steel which
spans from pin to pin under the cap 30. The screw Y acts on the centre of
this spring, and thus regulates the pressure on the feed rolls. There is only
sufficient pressure applied to feed the rods into the machine, so that when the
motion of the rod is arrested by the cutting-off tool 2 the surfaces of the said
feed rolls slip over the surface of the rod as long as the rod remains stationary,,
but as soon as the obstruction is removed the rolls being always in motion.
immediately advance the rod. The upper spindles of the carrying rolls have
play in their bearings in an upward direction, the said spindles being also, kept
down by springs, thus allowing the rolls to yield and adapt themselves to the
tapered form of the blanks and also to draw the blanks with a force only;
sufficient to carry them from one roll to another.
Figure 8 is a side elevation, and Figure 9 a front elevation of an upright
heading machine for heading nails, constructed according to my Invention.
The same letters indicate the same parts in both Figures. A is the framing
of the machine, cast in one piece; B is the main shaft; C is the fly wheel;
D the fast and loose pulleys for giving motion to and arresting the machine ;
E, the standards to which the framing is bolted. a, a, is the strap or joint
for connecting the crank or excentric on the main shaft to the sliding bolt b, b;
c is the heading tool fixed to the said bolt; d is a stout metal horizontal slide,.
having holes near each end for carrying the nail blanks y between the gripping.
tools e, e, by which the nail blanks are held while being headed; f, f, are two.
sliding bars actuated by the cams 9, 9, for giving motion to the gripping
tools e, e; h are toggle joints for transmitting motion from the sliding bars to
the gripping tools; i is a stud acted upon by the set screw w, for regulating
the amount of grip on the nail blank; j is another stud for checking the motion
of the slide d. Two of these studs ; are used, one at each end, but one only.

page_text: is represented in the Drawing; k is a pinion on the main shaft gearing with
the wheel, for giving motion to the disc m and groove cam n; o is a stud
on the sliding rod p, which stud works in the groove cam n, and gives a rising
and falling motion to the connecting link q, attached to a lever on the spindle
of the toothed quadrant or sector r; s is a spindle shaft carrying a toothed
pinion worked by the toothed sector r. At the opposite end of the said shaft &
is a pinion t, which gears with the rack u on the slide d; v, v, are two helical
springs for keeping the sliding bars f, f, to the cams 9, 9; x, helical springs
for opening the gripping tools e, e, one only of the said springs being shown
in the Drawing. The following is the action of this machine :-A nail blank
being placed in the slide d, as represented at y, Figure 8, and the machine
put in motion, the action of the grooved cam n on the stud o depresses the
sliding rod p, link q, and the sector r, and gives motion to the spindle shafts,
and through it to the pinion t, gearing with the rack u.
The slide d carrying
the nail blank is thereby moved in the direction of the heading tool c. A
pause on the cam n will arrest the further motion of the slide d, and cause
the blank to remain between the gripping tools e, e. By the action of the
cams 9, 9, on the sliding bars f, f, the toggle joints h will force the gripping
tools e, e, together, and firmly hold the nail blank between them, while the
heading tool c descends by the action of the crank or excentric, the joint a,
and the slide bolt b, and heads the blank into a nail, as represented in
Figure 9. By the continued motion of the main shaft the reverse motions
to those described will take place, the slide d and finished nail being returned
to the position represented in Figure 8, when the nail is withdrawn by the
workman and another blank inserted. Two persons are employed to feed this
machine, one on either side, so that while one nail is being headed another
blank is being inserted at the opposite end of the slide d. A hole z, larger
than the one for carrying the blanks, is formed on the under side of the carry-
ing slide d, in which is fitted a moveable plug or piston supported by a helical
spring. On this elastic plug the point of the nail rests, the object being to
prevent by the yielding of the spring at the buckling of the nail, should it
slip between the gripping dies while being headed. The main shaft B makes
two revolutions to one revolution of the disc m and cam n, as it requires one
complete revolution of the main shaft for the heading of each nail.
Figure 10 represents a front elevation (partly in longitudinal section), and
Figure 11 a plan of a horizontal heading machine, in which the blanks are
fed to the gripping tools by a revolving disc; Figure 12 represents the
revolving disc separately. The same letters indicate the same parts in
Figures 10, 11, and 12.

page_text: This machine, like that last described, has for its object the heading of
previously pointed nail blanks. A is the bed or framework of the machine,
cast in one piece; B is the main shaft; C is the counter shaft; D, fly wheel;
E, fast and loose pulleys; F, pinion on countershaft gearing with the toothed
wheel G on the main shaft B; H are the standards on which the bed or
framing of the machine is bolted; a is a crank or excentric; b, joint or strap
connected to the sliding horizontal bolt c by the links c, c3; d, the heading
tool; e, e, gripping tools; f, f, toggle joints; 9, 9, sliding bars; h, h, cams for
working the same; i, i, caps for holding down the sliding bars g, g; k and l,
caps for holding down the sliding bolt c and gripping tools e, e; m is the
revolving disc for carrying the nail blanks between the gripping tools e, e;
n is a ratchet wheel fixed on one side of the said disc m; o is a ratchet lever
carrying the pallet or pall v, for giving an intermittent motion to the said
ratchet wheel and disc; p is a lever for working the ratchet lever by the
connecting rod the said lever p being worked by the cam u on the main
shaft; r is a forked lever for withdrawing the nails after having been headed;
s is a draw wedge for advancing the heading tool to increase the pressure on
the heads of the nails being made. Figure 12 represents the interior parts of
the rotary disc m; 2, 2, being the spaces or holes for receiving or holding the
blanks, as seen at w, w; x is a circular spring on which the points of the nail
blanks rest, the object of the said spring being to prevent the buckling of
the nails while being headed in case the said nails slip between the gripping
tools.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The machine being put in
motion, the action of the crank or excentric a upon the joint or strap 6 causes
the sliding bolt c and heading tool d to advance towards the gripping tools e, e,
against which the heading tool comes in close contact. After the crank has
passed the centre the heading tool d retires; before the heading tool d
advances the rises on the cams h, h, act upon the sliding bars 9, 9, and cause
the toggle joints f. f, to act upon the gripping tools e, e, and to close them.
The rises on the cams h, h, having passed the ends of the sliding bars g, g, the
motion of the said bars is reversed by the action of the helical springs 6 aud
7. The pressure being thus taken off the toggle joints the gripping tools will
be free to open by the action of the springs 8 (one only of which is shown).
It will be seen that by the action of the cam u, (shown partly in dotted lines
in Figure 10) upon the cranked lever p, and through it to the connecting
rod and ratchet lever o; the ratchet wheel n and disc m will be advanced
19
one tooth for each rotation of the main shaft. While the machine is thus in
motion nail blanks are inserted in the holes 2 in the revolving disc m, as

page_text: shown at w, w, Figure 10, and the said nail blanks are carried forward in
succession between the ends of the gripping tools e, e, by which they are held,
while the heading tool d advances and forms a head. The heading tool then
recedes, the gripping tools open, and the carrying disc is moved another tooth,
when a fresh blank is brought between the gripping tools, and is headed in
the manner before explained. As the nails pass from between the gripping
tools e, e, they are carried forward by each motion of the ratchet wheel n, and
are brought successively between the forked end of the lever r, and are jerked
out of the said disc by the end of the ratchet lever o, when it is making its
backward motion, striking the short arm of the lever r, as represented in
Figure 10. On the ratchet lever o advancing the disc m the forked lever r is
returned to the position indicated in dotted lines, by the coiled spring repre-
sented, and is again ready to receive another nail. A slot is made near the
end of the sliding bolt c, through which the draw wedge s works. Another
horizontal slot is planed from the end of the sliding bolt into the first-
mentioned slot which carries the heading tool d; a hoop t is passed over the
end of the sliding bolt, and secures the heading tool d by the screw 9; y is a
break placed between the framing of the machine and the disc m, and acted
upon by the set screw 5, to prevent by its friction the disc m from advancing
by its momentum beyond the point to which it is driven by the ratchet lever o
and pall v.
I make the disc or tapering rolls described and represented from a bar of
iron bent into a ring, the ends being joined by welding. The ring or disc
thus made is turned and shaped into the required form and size, and its
surface is afterwards case-hardened or converted into steel. Rolls made in
this way can be used much harder on the surface than steel rolls without the
risk of breaking, which would be incurred if they were made wholly of steel,
and the rolls are easier to fit up than rolls made of steel.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
limit myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings, as the same may be varied without departing from
the nature of my Invention; but I claim as my Invention,-
Firstly, the arrangement and combination, substantially in the manner
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, of the accom-
panying Drawings, of the parts of a machine for pointing nail blanks or
blanks which have been previously headed.
Secondly, the arrangement and combination, substantially in the manner
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the

page_text: accompanying Drawings, of the parts of a machine for pointing and heading
nails, or for the formation of complete nails in the same machine.
Thirdly, the use of side rings or side cams placed on the spindles of the
tapering rolls in combination with side strips for preventing the lateral
spreading of the nail while being rolled, the said side rings or cams and
side strips being constructed and actuated in the manner herein-before
described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the accom-
panying Drawings.
Fourthly, the arrangement and combination, substantially in the manner
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the accompany-
ing Drawings, of the parts of a machine for heading nails.
Fifthly, the arrangement and combination, substantially in the manner
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 10, 11, and 12 of the
accompanying Drawings, of the parts of a machine for heading nails.
Lastly, the manufacture of rolls used in the machines for tapering or
pointing nails, herein-before described, the said rolls being formed of soft
wrought iron, the surface of which is afterwards case-hardened or partially
converted into steel.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Whittle, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
WILLIAM WHITTLE. (L.S.)