IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY FEEDING NAIL PLATES TO THE CUTTERS OF NAIL MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Field, of Taunton, in the County of
Bristol, and State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY FEEDING
NAIL PLATES TO THE CUTTERS OF NAIL MACHINES."
Scaled the 8th November 1878, and dated the 27th August 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Henry Field at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th August 1878.
"
WILLIAM HENRY FIELD, of Taunton, in the County of Bristol, and State of
Massachusetts, in the United States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM
FOR AUTOMATICALLY FEEDING NAIL PLATES TO THE CUTTERS OF NAIL MACHINES."
This Invention relates to automatic nail plate feeding devices or the mechanism
by which the nail plates are fed automatically to the cutters of a nail machine.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Figure 1 is a top view of a nail machino
having my improved feeder; Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same
through line x, x, of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a section through line y, y, of Fig. 2;
Figure 4 is a side view of the rear part of the feeder; Figure 5 is an extreme
rear view of the same; Figure 6 is a section through lines, s, of Figure 3; and
Figure 7 is a detail section of the turning rod attachments.
In the above-described Figures of the Drawings similar letters of reference are
employed to indicate corresponding parts wherever such may occur.
A represents the frame or bed plate of the machine, which may be of any suitable
construction, and carries uprights A¹ upon which or in which the driving shaft B
has its bearings. Power is applied to one end of this shaft, which carries upon its
opposite end a crank wheel C, to the crank pin of which is pivoted one end of a
connecting rod D, the opposite end of said rod being pivoted to a crank arm E
attached to the holder F of the movable and adjustable cutter G, between which
and the stationary cutter H the plates are cut into nails.

page_text: The stationary cutter H is preferably attached to a holder I adjustably secured
to the table or bed plate A of the machine; J is a gauge or stop attached to holder I
for regulating the position of the nail plate.
To the front of the bed plate A are bolted the upper vertical arms of the right-
angled knees K, which are adjustable vertically, and have bolted to the under side
of their projecting horizontal arms the ends of the adjustable brackets L, which are
slotted longitudinally with the length of the machine to receive the bolts, so that
the feeder may be moved toward or from the machine and secured in any given
position by tightening the nuts upon the bolts.
The feeder may be adjusted Interally in a similar manner by means of the trans-
verse slots in the upper vertical arms of the knees K, which slide upon bolts pro-
jecting from the bed plate A, so that a double adjustment of the feeder in relation
to the machine is possible, viz., a longitudinal motion, or a motion in a line with the
length of the machine, and a lateral motion or a motion transversely across the front
of the machine for the purpose of adjusting the feeder with reference to the gauge
stop J. Besides this lateral adjustment for the feeder by means of the slotted
knees K the shaft which carries the rock lever N by which the feeder proper is
supported and operated is so constructed as to admit of the lateral adjustment of
this lever without stopping the operation of the machine.
The lever N consists of two arms N, N, set at about a right angle to cach
other, and a hub or perforated head N₁ at the point where the arms N, N,
unite. Through this hub passes a shaft M which is provided with a stationary
collar m upon one side of the hub or head N¹, and a movable collar m³ secured
by a set screw upon the other side of the hub. In this manner the hub
carrying the levers N, N, is confined between the collars m³, m³, and rocks
freely upon shaft M.
It is obvious that instead of the movable collar m² a check nut or equivalent
device for confining the lateral motion of the hub upon the shaft may, if pre-
ferred, be employed without deviating from the nature of my Invention. In cither
caso the shaft M passes loosely through one of the brackets L and has a screw thread
formed upon the other end which is screwed into the screw-threaded perforation of
the opposite arm L, and secured in place by the lock nut m³. It follows that the
hub carrying the bell crank or levers N, N, may be adjusted laterally by turning
shaft M so as to change its bearings in relation to the arms L, L, and consequently
the machine and this adjustment may be effected while tho machine is in full
operation.
For the purpose of facilitating the turning of the shaft M its screw-threaded end
is squared off to fit it to receive a wrench or key. The end of the lower or long arm
of the lover N, N, is slotted longitudinally to receive the pin by which it is pivoted
to the socket O, which is also slotted longitudinally to receive the nut into which
the end of the crank rod P is screwed. The upper end of this rod is connected by
a strap to an eccentric Q upon the driving shaft B, so that when the machine is in
motion the angle lever N is rocked or vibrated upon shaft M.
In order to prevent breakage or injury to the machine by sudden stoppage caused
by the feeder meeting an obstruction or from other causes, I provide the lower part
of the connecting rod with a spiral spring R, the lower end of which rests upon the
upper shoulder of the slotted socket O, while its upper abuts upon a collar or
annular shoulder secured upon or forming part of rod P. This spring is made of such
a strength as to hold the rod P and socket O extended under normal circumstances;
but should the feeder meet with an obstruction, the spring R will yield and allow
the rod P to be pushed down into the slot of socket O, thus forming a yielding or
elastic joint or coupling between rod P and the rock lever N, N, which will permit
the continuous revolution of the driving shaft B and eccentric Q without breakage
until the machine can be conveniently stopped.
Upon the upper or short lever arm N is formed a circular head, to which is
pivoted the circular lug formed upon the outer side of the lower arm of the bracket S.
To the upper arm of this bracket is secured a sleeve T in which works the barrel U..

page_text: The forward end of the barrel is flattened upon a taper so as to guide the nail plate
into proper position to be cut whatever may be its position when inserted into the
other end of the barrel. The springs V, attached to the front end of the barrel U
by bolts and washers, are designed to hold the nail plate firmly in place during the
operation of cutting the nails and prevent it from being drawn back by the rear-
ward movement of the feeding device.
Upon the rear end of the barrel U is formed a gear wheel X, into the teeth of
which mesh the teeth of a vertical rack Y. The rack is secured upon a plate Z
by screws, or in any other suitable manner, to enable a packing to be inserted
between rack Y and plate Z, as may be required, to take up the wear, and secure
even and accurate motion of the gear wheel X and barrel U.
The edges of the plate Z are beveled, as shown in Fig. 6, to enable it to fit into
a dovetailed vertical recess, in which it slides, and which is formed by a plate A",
so as to allow the gib a' to be tightened up against the beveled side of sliding rock
plate Z, and thereby take up wear and prevent lateral play of the plate. To the
back of this is secured a stud or bolt B, which passes out through a longitudinal
slot in plate A, and has pivoted upon its end the coupling sleeve C¹, in which, at
right angles with the hole for the pin or stud B1, is formed a vertical perforation to
receive the connecting rod D₁, which may be adjusted in the perforation by means
of a set screw c¹ (Fig. 7). is a collar placed upon rod D' above the coupling C',
and secured in place by means of a set screw ³, as shown.
By this construction and combination of coupling and connecting rod the opera-
tion of the mck plate Z, rack Y, and barrel U may be stopped without stopping the
machine by simply loosening the set screw c', so as to allow the rod D' to work loose in
its perforation in the coupling C'. This allows tho feeder being tipped back, so as to
afford convenient access to the knives or cutters of the nail machine, as the barrel U
will remain still when the operator is adjusting the cutters.
Another advantage is that the stroke of rod D' may be regulated by adjusting
the collar d' upon the rod, which admits of re-adjustment of the rod D in its
relation to the pin or bolt B' after uncoupling by loosening the set scrow c¹ by
simply shoving the coupling up against the collar, and then securing it into position
by simply tightening the set screw c¹, so that the stroke of the rod D' will always
be of the same length after each uncoupling for the purpose of adjusting the cutters
or for other purposes.
The lower end of the connecting rod D₁ is pivoted to the crank E', which is
attached to the forward end of a short shaft F that rests in a box cast upon and
in one piece with the hub N¹ of the lever N, N. Upon the inner end of shaft Fu
is formed a fork f', within which is placed a ball G¹. This ball is secured in place
by set screws H¹, which pass through screw holes in the arms of the fork f¹, and
their ends enter recesses in the opposite side of ball G'. In the opposide sides of
the ball G are formed recesses at right angles with the other two recesses to
receive the ends of the set screws I, which pass through screw holes in the arms of
the fork formed upon the inner end of the connecting shaft F¹. The set
screws H¹, I', are provided with jam nuts to prevent them from working loose.
The outer end of the connecting shaft revolves in bearings in a hanger J¹ attached
to the frame A, and terminates in a crank K', which is slotted to receive the crank
pin, so that the throw of the crank may be adjusted as required. To the pin of
the crank K' is pivoted the lower end of the connecting rod L', the upper end of
which is pivoted to the crank pin attached to the gear wheel M, the journals of
which revolve in bearings projecting from the standard A' of frame A, while the
teeth of wheel M¹ mesh into the teeth of the small gear N¹ attached to the driving
shaft B. By this arrangement and combination of parts the revolutions of the
driving shaft B will rock the lever N, N, and barrel U, and reverse the nail plate
as each nail is cut.
The barrel U and bracket S are held in working position by a spring O¹, which
Dresses against the under side of the rearwardly projecting arm of the bracket S. or

page_text: of a bar P¹ attached to said arm by a bolt. The spring O' is pivoted to the upper
arm of the lever N in such a way that it may be swung to one side to allow the
barrel U and the bracket S to be turned back to give convenient access to the cutters
G, H. The spring O' allows the barrel U to give, should an obstruction occur, and
thus prevents breakage.
Qis a rod which slides in a hole in a guide lug attached to or formed upon the
side of the bracket S. The outer end of the rod Q' passes into a hole in the end
of the socket block R', which is slotted to receive the collar S', and its set screw
by which the rod Q' is kept from being drawn out of the said block, and to receive
the spiral spring T¹ placed upon the end of the rod Q1, with one end resting against
the collar S, and the other end resting against the block R' at the outer end of its
slot. To the side of the outer end of the block R', or in a socket formed in said end,
is pivoted the end of a short lever U₁, which is pivoted to the lower part of the jaw
V₁ of the clamp. The other end of the lever U is beveled off or made cam-shaped,
so as to strike against a friction roller which is pivoted to the end of the other jaw
W of the clamp, to move the upper end or face of said jaw W' towards the upper
end or face of the jaw V¹, so that its upper end may be moved towards and from
the upper end of said jaw V1; the jaw W₁ is for that purpose pivoted to jaw V'.
The latter is pivoted to the end of the bar or arın P₁, so that the upper end of the
two jaws V¹, W, may be moved toward and from the machine, and both jaws V¹,
W, are drawn back by the spiral spring X, one end of which is attached to the bar
or arm P', and its other end to the lower end of the jaw V¹, or to an arm attached
to said end.
The rearward movement of the jaws V₁, W', of the clamp, is limited by a set
screw Y¹, which passes through a hole in the arm P₁, so that its forward end may
be struck by an arm formed upon the lower part of the jaw V¹. On the other
hand, the forward movement of the jaws V, W₁, of the clamp, is limited by the set
screws Z³, one of which passes through a lug formed upon the bar or arın P¹, and
the other through a lug formed upon the jaw V, the said lugs being so formed that
the ends of the said screws may strike against each other.
By this construction and combination of parts, it will be observed that as the
barrel U is carried forward by the rocking movement of the lever N, N, upon its
shaft M, the inner end of the rod Q will strike the spring A2 attached to the frame
A, or some other suitable support, and is pushed outward.
The first effect of the outward movement of the rod Q', is to force the cam end
of the lever U against the friction roller of the jaw W, which causes said jaw to
clamp the nipper rod B2 against the other jaw V¹. As the rod Q continues to
move outward, the clamp V₁, W', is turned inward upon its pivot, which forces the
nail plato forward in the barrel U for a distance equal to the required breath of a
nail.
The spring A is made of such strength as to resist the rod Q, until the clamp
V₁, W, has moved forward, and the set screws Z' have come in contact, and will
then yield as the barrel U continues to move forward to complete its stroke.
Spring A thus takes up the wear, so that the machine can be used a long time
without re-adjusting the rod Q. As the barrel U moves outward, the rod Q' is
withdrawn from the spring A2 which releases the clamp V₁, WI, and allows the
nipper rod to be turned with the barrel U, and at the same time the spring X'
draws the clamp V', WI, back into position to again grasp the nipper rod B³, and
carry it forward. The nipper rod B has a clamp or nipper attached to its forward
end to grasp and hold the nail plate. C is a set screw which passes through the
lower arm of the bracket S, and rests against the upper arm of the lever N, to
enable the barrel U and U springs V to compensate for any little variation in the
thickness of the cutters when changed.
I am aware that it is not new to use two springs on each side of the barrel, but
these upper springs require grooves in the barrel to guide them, said grooves
weakening the barrel and causing it to break at the end, at the same time allowing

page_text: the but or wasto end of the nail plate to catch in it. Also (there being two springs
on each side of the barrel), when the ends are worn so as to require adjustment, it
is very difficult to set the springs correspondingly.
Having thus described my Invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by
Letters Patent,―
1st. In combination with the frame A of a nail machine, the adjustable knees K,
adjustable brackets L, forming bearings for the shaft M, and vertical rock lever
N, N, N, all constructed and combined to operate substantially as and for tho
purposes herein-before set forth.
2d. The combination of the adjustable brackets L, L, screw-threaded shaft M,
having collar m' and nut m³ movable collar m² and rock lever N, N', N, whereby
the latter may be adjusted laterally in relation to the brackets L, L, and the nil
machine, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before set forth.
3d. The vertical rock lever consisting of the arms N, N, hub N', and journal box
N", cast in one piece, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before set forth.
4th. The combination of the vertical rock lever N, N¹, N", having journal box
N", with the coupling rod F', shaft F", and connecting rod D', substantially as
and for the purposes herein-before set forth.
5th. The sleeve T and guide plate A", cast in one piece, in combination with the
adjustable gib a', having fastening and adjustable screws a², substantially as and
for the purposes herein-before set forth.
6th. The combination of the guide plate A2, having longitudinal slot rack plate
Z, carrying rack Y, and having stud or bolt B' projecting through the slot in the
guide plate, laterally adjustable gib al, and connecting rod D', substantially as and
for the purpose herein-before set forth.
7th. The combination of the vertically sliding rack plate Z, having stud B',
adjustable coupling C³, having one transverse, one vertical, and one longitudinal
horizontal perforation for the insertion of stud B', rod D', and set screw c', respec-
tively, and connecting rod D', having adjustable collar d', substantially as and for
the purposes herein before set forth.
8th. The combination with the barrel bracket of the rock lever N, N¹, N, and
spring O', the latter pivoted to the arm of the former so as to admit of its lateral
movement, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before set forth.
9th. In a nail plate feeder, the spring V constructed in the form of a staple, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein before set forth.
10th. The combination of connecting rod P, slotted socket O, and spring R. sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein-before set forth.
11th. The combination of the rod Q, the set screw Y, the cam lever V₁, tho
spiral spring X, the set screw Y₁, the two set screws Z', and the spring A, with
the jaws V, W, and the bar P¹, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Field, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight
WILLIAM HENRY FIELD. (L.S.)