Improvements in Machines for Inserting Metallic Fastenings into Work, chiefly designed for use in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1897-Accepted, 24th July, 1897
Improvements in Machines for Inserting Metallic Fastenings into
Work, chiefly designed for use in the Manufacture of Boots and
Shoes.
I, GEORGE GODDU, of Winchester, Massachusetts, United States of America,
Mechanic, 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 :-
This invention relates to a machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, and
is herein shown as embodied in a machine of that class commonly called loose nailers
and employed in the manufacture of boots and shoes.
This invention has for its object to provide a machine with which loose nails may
be driven into the work in a superior manner, so as to avoid imperfections in the
work, such as crippling or bending of the heads of the nails, and unevenly driven nails,
some of which project above the surface of the work.
The machine is provided with an awl to prick a hole in the work, and with a driver
to force the loose nails into the holes pricked by the awl, and it is further provided
with a stationary throat through which both the awl and driver are adapted to pass,
and the said throat also co-operates with a horn or work support, which is in line with
the said throat, and between which and the said throat the portion of the work to be
pierced by the awl is firmly clamped or compressed, and held stationary while the
operations of pricking a hole in the work and then driving a nail into the hole thus
formed, take place; the machine being constructed, as will be described, so as to
permit these operations to be performed. The throat referred to, has the double
function of a rest for the work and a guide for the nail, which results in the nails being
supported throughout their length while being driven into the work, thereby avoiding
crippling or bending of the heads of the nails, and also results in each nail being
driven into the work, so that its head is flush or substantially flush with the surface
of the work compressed between the horn and the bottom surface of the throat.
The awl and driver pass into the same stationary throat, and, to effect this result,
the said awl and driver are carried by a movable frame or carrier, which, in the
present instance, is pivoted to the head or stationary part of the machine, and the
movements of the said carrier are effected when both the awl and driver are out of the
throat, thereby leaving the said carrier free or clear to be moved in one direction to
place the awl in line with the throat, and in the opposite direction to place the driver in
line with the said throat. The stroke of the awl may and preferably will be
automatically governed by the thickness of the work, so that the hole made in a thin
part of the work, may not extend entirely through the work, but may leave a portion
of the thickness of the work unpunctured, whereby the nail when driven, will be
forced through solid material or work in the thin part as well as in the thick
part, which solid material affords a firm hold upon the nail, and thereby effects a more
efficient fastening together of the work; and, furthermore, the point of the awl is
prevented from being dulled or otherwise injured by striking the horn. The
stationary throat has co-operating with it a roadway for the loose nails, which roadway

page_text: is fastened to a stationary part of the machine, and between which and the throat is
interposed a separator by which the nails in the roadway are transferred one by one to
the throat.
The roadway inay and preferably will be extended into a hopper, to be hereinafter
described, which contains the loose nails in bulk and which is rotated as will be
described.
The work support or horn may and preferably will be lowered by a novel mechanism,
as will be described, and the work when released by the horn may be fed forward by a
feed mechanism independent of the awl, as will be described.
These and other features of this invention will be pointed out in the claim at the
end of this specification.
Fig. 1, is a side elevation with parts broken away of the upper portion or head of a
machine embodying this invention.
Fig. 2, a sectional detail on the line 2-2, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, a sectional detail on the line 3-3, Fig. 1.
Fig. 4, a sectional detail to be referred to.
Fig. 5, a side elevation with parts broken away of the lower portion of the machine
shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 6, a sectional detail on the line 6-6, Fig. 5.
Fig. 7, a front elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 8, a detail in front elevation to be referred to, showing the awl in the throat.
Figs. 9 and 10, sectional details on an enlarged scale of the stationary throat,
Fig. 9 being taken on the line 9-9, Fig. 10, and Fig. 10, being taken on the
line 10-10, Fig. 9.
Fig. 10, a detail on an enlarged scale to be referred to.
Fig. 11, a sectional detail on an enlarged scale through the roadway, the section
being taken on the line 11-11, Fig. 7.
Fig. 12, a sectional detail on the line 12-12, Fig. 7.
Figs. 13 and 14, details of cams to be referred to:
Fig. 15, a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1 looking from the opposite
side.
Fig. 16, a transverse section of the machine on the irregular line 16-16, Fig. 1,
looking toward the right, parts of the machine shown in Fig. 1 being omitted from
Fig. 16.
Fig. 17, a transverse section of the machine on the line 17-17, Fig. 1, looking
toward the left, parts of the machine shown in Fig. 1 being omitted from Fig. 17.
The operating parts of the machine herein shown as embodying this invention,
consist essentially of a head A, a base A¹ and a hollow upright or post A², preferably
integral with the base and upon which the head A is secured as by bolts A. The
machine herein shown includes as part thereof (see Figs. 7 and 8) an awl a to prick a
hole in the work, and a driver a¹ to drive a nail into the said hole, and the said awl and
driver are respectively secured to an awl bar a² and a driver bar a³, which are adapted to
be independently reciprocated in a frame or carrier a', which, in accordance with this
invention, is movably secured to the stationary head or frame of the machine, it being
pivoted as at a to the front face or side a of the said head. The awl a and the
driver a¹, in accordance with this invention, are designed in their independent
reciprocations in a downward direction, to both enter a throat a in a throat plate or
block as, which is stationary and secured to the head A or other stationary part of the
machine below the carrier or frame at. The throat plate a³ may be secured to the
front face of the head A as herein shown, it being fastened at its upper end by a
pin a, and at its lower end by a screw a¹0, and, in order to permit the throat a to be
readily removed, the throat block is provided with a longitudinal slit a¹² (see Fig. 9)
at one side of the hole into which the throat a' is inserted, and the said throat is
firmly secured in its block as by the screw a, which acts as a. clamping screw to
draw the split parts of the block as together to clamp the throat.
The awl a and the driver a' are alternately inserted into and withdrawn from the
throat a' in the operation of the machine, and to permit this result to be accomplished,

page_text: the carrier or frame a¹ is moved on its pivot a³ at a time when both the awl and
driver are out of the throat, the said frame or carrier being moved in one direction to
place the awl over and in line with the passage a¹s in the throat, and in the other or
opposite direction to place the driver in line with the passage a¹5 in the said throat.
In order to reduce this oscillating movement of the carrier or frame a¹ to a
minimum and thereby facilitate the speed of the machine, the driver and awl are
preferably brought together as close as possible without interfering with each other,
and this result may be effected as herein shown by providing the awl bar a² with an
arm a¹, which extends toward and close to the path of movement of the driver (see
Fig. 8), the said arm being preferably provided with a slitted end, between the parts
of which the awl a is clamped by a set screw a17, and the driver bar a is also
preferably provided with a longitudinal slot a20 at one side (see Fig. 2), into which
the driver a¹ is inserted and clamped by the set screw a¹¹.
The carrier or frame a' may be swung in one direction by a cam disk a²² on a
shaft 23 (see Figs. 7 and 13), which, in the present instance, is the main shaft of
the machine and which is supported in bearings in the head A of the machine.
The cam 2 acts, as shown, on a roller a24 mounted on a stud or pin a25 (see
Figs. 7 and 15) carried by the frame a¹, and the said roller is kept in engagement
with its co-operating cam a" by a spring a2, herein shown (see Fig. 15) as secured
at one end to the head A of the machine, and having its other end engaging the
stud or pin a, the said spring moving the carrier or frame at in an opposite
direction from the cam disk a22.
The carrier or frame a is turned on its pivot, when both the aw and driver are
removed from the stationary throat a', and the said awl and driver are and
reciprocated as will now be described.
may be
In the present instance, the awl bar a² is movable in a guideway formed in the
carrier or frame at at one side thereof, as shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 8, and the said
awl bar is reciprocated in said guideway by an elbow lever a (see Fig. 1), provided
as shown with a hub a³1 (see Fig. 7), mounted upon a stud or pivot pin a³² attached
to the head A of the machine. The lever a30 has one arm as operatively connected
to the awl bar a², and this connection may be effected, as herein shown, by providing
the arm a³ with a slot a to receive a block as loosely mounted on a stud or
pin as extended from the awl bar a². The elbow lever as is moved on its pivot a³
in one direction, by a cam a", herein shown as a face cam fast on the main shaft a23,
the said cam engaging a roller, not shown, but which is loose on a stud or pin a³
carried by the arm as of the elbow lever, and the said elbow lever is moved in an
opposite direction by a suitable spring, herein shown as a wire rod 40, bent at one
end into the form of a loop or coil, which is fastened to an adjustable or movable
support, shown as an arm or lever a pivotally secured to the head A, and provided
with a socket into which one end of the spring rod a is fastened as by a set
screw a¹², the said lever or arın having its other end adapted to engage an adjusting
screw a, extended through a threaded opening in a boss or projection as on the
head A. The free end of the spring a bears upon the arm a³ of the lever a³0.
In the present instance, the awl is moved downward by the spring a⁰ and is moved
upward by the cam disk 37, and one of the features of this invention consists in
automatically regulating the length of the downstroke of the awl, according to the
thickness of the stock or work in line with the throat and to be entered by the
awl. This automatic regulation may and preferably will be effected by mechanism
as will now be described.
Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the arm a³ of the lever a³ is provided
with an extension a, inclined with relation to the said arm and adapted to
co-operate with a variable back stop, shown as an inclined head a" on a lug or
arm a projecting from a lever or arm a (see Figs. 1, 15, and 16) provided with a
pivot pin or stud a54, suitably supported, and herein represented as extended into a
socket in the hub as of a cam-actuated lever a supported in a boss or hub a"
attached to the head A. The lever a" is provided with an arm a58 (see Figs. 15 and 16)
carrying a stud or roller a", which enters a cam groove a" (see dotted line Fig. 16)

page_text: in the face of a disk a", herein represented as forming part of the cam disk a³. The
lever a" has its other arm a2 extended through an opening a³ in the head A, and
provided at its end with a sleeve or hub a", through which extends a rock shaft aas
(see Fig. 4) provided at one end with an eccentric arm or crank a66, on which is
mounted a clutch or friction shoe or member a", preferably provided with a beveled 5
face to enter a beveled groove a" in a curved or segmental arm or stud a" of the
lever a. The sleeve a" of the cam-actuated lever a is preferably split and secured
together by a clamping screw a, to frictionally hold the rock-shaft a
The clutch or friction shoe a" is adapted to be held out of engagement with its
co-operating surface a", by a crank or arm a¹ on the rock-shaft engaging a block or 1
rest a (see Fig. 1), preferably adjustably secured to the head A, and the said shoe is
adapted to be engaged with its co-operating surface, when the crank or arm a is
carried off from the block a as will be described, by a spring as shown as coiled
about the sleeve a, and having one end fast to said sleeve and its other end
engaging the crank or arm a".
The lever a is operatively connected to the work support, shown in the present
instance as a curved or bent horn b (see Fig. 5) provided at its upper end with a
suitable tip or cup bx, and adjustably secured in an arm 61, fastened as by a screw b² to
the end of a shaft 63 having bearings in a post or upright b*, erected from the
base A¹. The shaft 6 is connected to one arm 65 of a lever 6° (see Figs. 5 and 6) 2
mounted on a shaft or rod 6', supported in a depending arm 6" attached to a cross
bar 6°, connected to the front legs 6 of the base A'. The connection of the shaft b³
with the lever 6' is effected as herein shown by means of a link or rod b¹³, extended
through a sleeve or nut 614 adapted to enter a screw-threaded socket 6 in the lower
end of the shaft 63, the said rod or link being provided at its upper end with a 2
head b. The lower end of the rod or link 613 is screw-threaded and enters a
threaded socket in an arm b, pivotally connected to the arm 65 of the lever be.
The other arm 618 of the lever 66 is connected to the lever a" by a link or
rod 69 extended up through the hollow post A2 and, in the present instance,
fastened at its upper end by a screw 620 to an arm or lug 621 pivotally secured as 3
at 62 to the lever. a" (see Fig. 16). The horn b is normally elevated, which may be.
accomplished, as herein shown, by bent spring rods 62, only one of which is shown in
Fig. 5, one end of the said bent spring rods being fastened to the opposite sides of
the bracket or arm 68 by pins or projections 62, 625, which engage the upper and
lower surfaces of the said rods, the other or free ends of the said rods bearing 3
against the under surface of suitably grooved rolls 6250, only one of which is shown in
Fig. 5, the said rolls being mounted on studs or pins 628 projecting from the
opposite sides of a sleeve or block 627, fitted upon the link or rod 613 and secured
in its adjusted position thereon, as herein shown, by means of lock nuts 628, 629.
By reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the position of the horn with relation 4
to the stationary throat, automatically controls the position of the inclined back
stop or head as
with relation to the inclined extension a, and thereby
automatically governs the extent of movement of the awl actuating lever a", and
consequently automatically governs the length of the down stroke of the awl and,
therefore, the depth of the hole made in the work by the said awl, according to the
thickness of the stock or work between the horn and the throat, so that when a
thin part of the work is interposed between the horn and throat, a hole of less depth
will be made by the awl, than when a thick part of the work is supported on the
horn.
The eccentrically operated clutch or friction member or shoe a" connects the horn
mechanism with the cam-operated lever «5, to lower the horn as will be described.
The awl bar a and the driver bar a³ are alternately reciprocated, and the reciproca-
tion of the latter may and preferably will be accomplished as will be now described.
Referring to Figs. 7, 8 and 12, the driver bar ³ is shown as extended through its
carrier a', and the latter is provided with a slot or opening 680 forming a guideway
for a cross head or block 631, fastened on the driver bar as by a set screw 632, and
having one end extended into a chamber or space 633 (see Fig. 12), between the
carrier a¹ and the front face of the head A, and into which projects a lifting cam 6³

page_text: fast on the main shaft a, and herein shown as integral with the carrier-operating
cam a The cam 634 serves to lift the driver bar and to retain it in its elevated
position a predetermined length of time, and is suitably shaped to permit the said
bar to be moved downward or in the opposite direction by a suitable spring,
preferably of the construction herein shown, it consisting of a bent wire rod 635 (see
Figs. 1 and 15), having one end fastened to an adjustable support, shown as a
lever b, pivoted as at 63 to the head A and having a socketed arm 638 into which
the one end of the wire rod 635 is inserted and fastened as by a set screw 659, the
other arm of the said lever being engaged by an adjusting screw 6" extended
through a boss 642 on the head A. The other end of the spring 65 engages the
driver bar a³, and, in the present instance, the said spring rests upon a grooved
roll 62 mounted on a pin 43 supported in a head" on the end of the driver bar,
the said driver bar also having on it, as herein shown, washers of leather or
other suitable material to cushion the blow of the driver. The driver a¹ on its
descent, passes into the throat a and forces the nail therein out of the said throat,
and into the hole in the stock or work previously made by the awl, the said driver
being, moved the same or a uniform distance on each stroke, and in its lowered
position in the throat, the end of the said driver is substantially flush with the
bottom surface of the throat, so that each nail is driven into the work or stock with
its head flush with the upper surface of the work.
The nails referred to, are supplied to the throat one by one, and to effect this result
in the machine herein shown, the throat a' is provided on one side with a longitudinal
slot or opening c. (see Fig. 10), preferably provided with inclined side walls which
extend downward and rearward as shown in Fig. 10, and which may be formed by
removing a portion of the circumferential wall of the throat to leave an inclined flat
face 3 (see Figs. 10 and 10^), for a purpose as will be described. The slot c in the
throat a' has co-operating with it a longitudinal nail slot c¹ in roadway, preferably
made as herein shown, and consisting of a cylindrical bar c² (see Figs. 11 and 15)
having its lower end wall or face 4 adjacent to the throat a' (see Fig. 10ª) inclined
and substantially parallel to the inclined flat face 3 of the throat, for a purpose as
will be described. The cylindrical bar c² is provided with preferably a substantially
wide longitudinal slot c³ into which is placed a substantially. flat plate or bar ct of
substantially the length of the roadway and constituting an adjustable side wall for
the nail slot c', the said side wall being secured in its adjusted position in the slot c³
as herein shown, by means of screws c', c', the screw c' being extended into a threaded
opening in the movable side wall or plate c', (see Fig. 11), and the screw c working
in a threaded opening e' in the roadway c² and adapted to abut against the movable
plate or side wall, to adjust or position the same with relation to the stationary side
wall or the slot c', to vary the width of the slot according to the width or thickness
of the nails. The screw c'is provided as hereinshown with a head c' adapted to seat
against the bottom of a socket c¹ in the side of the roadway.
The side walls c' c* of the slot c¹ are provided at their upper ends with shoulders
c12, cl, upon which rest the heads of the nails.
The roadway c² is provided as hereinshown (see Figs. 7, 8 and 10^) with projecting
fingers c", only one of which is shown in said figures, and which fingers are extended
from the upper part of the inclined end wall 4 of the said roadway, and project into
transverse slots 10 in the inclined walls of the slot c, for a purpose as will be
described.
The roadway c is adapted to fit into a substantially semi-circular groove in a lug
or projection on the side of the head A,(see Fig. 15), and to be secured to said lug
by a screw c¹³ extended through said lug and into one side of the roadway.
The roadway c² is inclined upwardly with relation to the head A and is adapted to
be supplied with nails from a rotating hopper B, preferably of the construction
hereinshown, and consisting of a tapering or conical body portion c", preferably
provided with a cylindrical extension or sleeve c', which abuts against the end of the
lug or projection c¹ on the frame A. The conical body portion c¹ is preferably
provided with a curved head c", provided with a suitable inlet opening for the nails,

page_text: which opening may be normally closed by a cover or cap c" secured to the end of the
roadway c², (see Fig. 7), the said cap forming a bearing for one end of the hopper.
The conical body portion c¹ is provided on its inner circumference with a series or
plurality of troughs, shelves or arms c20, preferably attached to the head c¹8 and
provided with an upturned outer side or edge cx (see dotted lines, Fig. 7), which arms
act as scoops or shovels to lift the nails and carry them up over the roadway, and to
discharge them upon the latter and into an enlargement c21 of the slot c¹ in the
roadway, which enlargement is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 7.
The conical hopper is mounted upon the inclined roadway to revolve thereon, and
by reference to Fig. 7, it will be seen that the underside or portion of the conical
hopper inclines downward from the apex toward the base of the cone, that is,
from the point of contact of the conical hopper, namely, the cylindrical
extension c, with the roadway, toward the head of the hopper, which construction,
it will readily be seen from an inspection of Fig. 7, precipitates or gravitates the
nails, which are not lodged in the roadway, toward the base of the conical body
portion and, therefore, toward the lifting arms or shovels c, upon which they
are caught and retained by the curved or upturned edges of the said arms, and
again carried over and discharged upon the large opening in the roadway. This
construction of hopper avoids the nails accumulating at the discharge end of the
roadway, and ensures a free passage of the nails down the roadway, and also enables
the machine to be run until substantially all the nails in the hopper have
been used.
The rotation of the conical hopper B may be effected as hereinshown, by means of
a bevel gear c, encircling the hopper and meshing with a bevel pinion c²³ on the end
of a shaft c, having bearings in a hollow arm c", extended from the head A of the
machine, the said shaft being provided on its inner end with a bevel pinion c20 (see
Fig. 12), which meshes, through an opening in the hollow arm c, with a bevel
gear 27 on the face of a cam ca fast on the shaft a³.
The loose nails deposited in the slot c' of the roadway, travel down the said roadway
with their heads supported by the shoulders c¹², c¹³, and are retained in the said slot
by the sleeve c and an adjustable cap for the front end of the slot c¹, the said cap
being shown as a substantially triangular piece c", having its front end, as
hereinshown, extended into the throat (see Fig. 10) to cover the endmost nail.
The cap c may and preferably will be adjustable away from the slot c¹ in the
roadway to permit of inspection of the nails, which adjustment may be effected
by providing the cap with a hole larger than the screw c¹, by which the said
cap is detachably secured to the head A. The cap being detachable, also
permits of access to the nails in the discharge end of the roadway, in case they
should become wedged, or their passage down the roadway obstructed.
The passage of the nails, one by one, from the slot in the roadway into the
passage as in the throat through the slot c, is controlled by a separator,
preferably of the construction hereinshown, (see Fig. 3) it consisting of a thin
blade co provided with a rearwardly inclined front edge €500, (see Fig. 1), and
secured as by the screw c³1 to the lower end of a separator lever c³ (see Figs. 7 and 15)
the said lever, as hereinshown, being provided with a hub c", loosely mounted on a
stud, pin or bolt 34, extended from the head A of the machine.
The separator lever c³ has its lower end inclined with relation to its hub, so that
the blade c³, when secured to said lever, may enter the inclined passage between and
formed by the inclined end wall 4 of the roadway and the inclined flat face or wall 3
of the throat a'. The inclined separator blade, when inserted into the passage
between the throat and the end of the roadway, closes the slot c in the throat
and forms an inclined support down which the nail may be directed into and
toward the bottom of the throat, as clearly shown in Fig. 10.
The lever is provided with an arm c (see Fig. 15) adapted to be acted
upon by a cam on the periphery of a cam disc e, provided with a hub ca fast
on the shaft a3, the said cam, in the present instance, engaging a roller c"
loose on the arm c" of the separator lever, The cam cacts on the separator lever

page_text: to move it in one direction, and the said lever may be moved in the opposite direction,
as hereinshown, by a spring c³, hereinshown as coiled about the hub c3 of the separator
lever, and having one end engaging a pin or projection c" on the lever c³, and the
other end engaging a pin or projection c" on a collar or flange c" on the bolt
or stud $4.
The cam disc. c is further provided as hereinshown, with a peripheral cam c** and
a face cam c" with which co-operate respectively, rollers c³ ³ (see Figs. 1 and 17),
carried respectively by arms "c" of a feed lever c³, provided with a pivot pin or
stud c, having bearings in a hub or boss c on the head A of the machine, the said
pivot pin being adapted to be rotated and to be moved longitudinally in the boss or
bearing hub c, for a purpose as will be described.
The feed operating lever c" carries at its lower end a feed bar c", provided on its
front face with suitable teeth or serrations cl, (see Fig. 7), which are adapted to
engage the work, when it is desired to effect a feed or movement of the same on the
horn. The feed bar c; in the present instance, is represented as dove-tailed into the
lower side of the feed lever c", and the said bar may be moved in its dove-tailed slot
by means of a suitable handle c", after the manner now commonly practised in this
class of machines, the feed har being held in its adjusted position in the feed-lever, by
a spring c³, encircling a shaft or rod c", to which the operating handle c52 is secured.
The face cam c is designed, in practice, to operate upon the roller c¹³, and move the
pivot pin c for the lever c", longitudinally in its bearing c" towards the front of
the machine, so as to bring the feed bar c into engagment with the work; and the
peripheral cam c¹ is designed to turn the pivot pin c" in its bearing in one direction,
namely, toward the left (viewing Fig. 7), so as to effect a forward or feed movement of
the work, while the feed bar c is held in engagement with the work by the face cam 5:
After the work has been fed forward-by the movement of the lever c toward the left
(viewing Fig. 1), the said lever and its pivot pin e" are moved bodily backward, so as
to disengage the feed bar c" from the work, and after the said lever has been moved
backward, it is then turned or rocked in an opposite direction into its starting position
and these two movements inay and preferably will be effected by a single spring, shown,
in the present instance as a wire rod c (see Figs. 1 and 17), one end of the said wire
rod being fastened to the framework of the machine, and the other end engaging a
grooved stud or roller c" on the arm c" of the feed. lever c. The length of the feed
may be regulated, as herein shown, by means of a set screw c", extended through an
offset on the arm c" and adapted to engage the head. A of the machine.. The feed
movement just described, takes place at or about the time the horn b commences to be
lowered by the engagement of the clutch member or shoe a with its co-operating
member a" which engagment, as previously described, takes place when the crank or
arm a passes off from the block. a; and, when the clutch member a is in
engagement with its co-operating member a", the horn b is then positively connected
with the cam-operated lever a, and the said born is lowered by the cam a a sufficient
distance to permit the feed of the work.
'
After the horn has been lowered as above described it is again raised, and at or about
the time the horn engages the work and firmly presses the same against the bottom of
the throat plate or block a", the crank or arm a" is brought upon the plate or block a72;
and the rock-shaft a" is turned in such direction as will disengage the clutch
member, or shoe a" from its co-operating member a", thereby leaving the latter under
the control of the work, so as to position the back stop or head a51 accurately with
relation to the extension a on the awl-operating lever a, so that the movement of
the awl will be governed by the thickness of the work between the horn and the throat
plate or block a³.
The rotation of the main shaft a² and thereby the operation of the machine, may
and preferably will be controlled by means of a clutch mechanism, préferably of the
construction hereinshown, and consisting of two members d d¹, provided with
co-operating bevel' faces, and made in the form of yokes to fit over the main shaft a23.
the member d being connected to the foot, treadle d² by a connecting rod d³, so that
when the foot treadle d² is depressed, the member d will be raised from the position

page_text: shown in Fig. 1 toward the top of the machine, and its bevel face will move the
member d¹ longitudinally on the shaft a23, so as to engage a normally loose pulley d'
with a co-operating disk d³ fast on the shaft a. The normally loose pulley d may be
driven by means of a suitable belt, not hereinshown, from a counter or other shaft.
The fast disk d³ may and preferably will have secured to or forming part of it, a brake
wheel or disk.d, provided, as hereinshown, with a substantially V-shaped annular
groove d', with which co-operate a substantially V-shaped brake shoe d, fast on the
end of a brake-operating lever d³, inserted into a suitable slot d in the head A of the
machine and pivoted as at d¹², the said brake lever being provided at its front end, as
hereinshown, with a roller d¹³, adapted to co-operate with and enter a depression or
recess d¹ in the periphery of the wheel or disk d', when the brake shoe d' is in
engagment with the brake wheel de, but which roller d¹³ is adapted to ride upon the
full periphery of the wheel or disk d³, when the brake shoe is disengaged from the
brake-wheel or disk d and the machine is in operation. The lever d' is adapted to be
turned on its pivot d¹² by a suitable spring, not shown, but which acts on the underside
of the short arm of the lever, and tends to force the brake shoe d' into engagement
with the brake wheel or disk d³, when the recess d" in the periphery of the disk
or wheel d' is brought under the roller (11³.
The spring referred to, may be located in a suitable socket in the head A of
the machine and its tension may be adjusted by means of a screw d20 extended
through the brake lever d. The brake lever ď is adapted to be moved so as to
release the brake shoe d' from engagement with its co-operating brake wheel do,
when the clutch member d is elevated, and this result may and preferably will be
effected as hereinshown by means of a connecting rod d2, extended loosely through
the head A with its lower end secured to the clutch member d and its upper end
loosely attached to the brake lever d", which may be accomplished, as hereinshown, by
providing the brake lever d" with a socket for the reception of a ball do and a nut d¹,
through both of which the connecting rod d is extended (see Fig. 1).
By reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the brake lever d', when elevated, is
maintained so, by the roller d¹³ riding on the full periphery of the wheel or disk d',
and by reason of the positive connection between the said brake lever and the clutch
member d, the latter is also kept elevated, and, therefore, the loose pulley d is
maintained in engagement with the fast disk d in opposition to the weight of the
treadle d², until the groove or depression in the periphery of the disk d' comes
under the roller d¹³, consequently avoiding the necessity of the operator maintaining
his foot on the treadle d².
The foot treadle d² may be designated the starting treadle for the machine; and the
lever b' to which the horn is connected, is adapted to be turned by the operator so as
to lower the horn, when so desired, by means of a second foot treadle d (see Figs. 5
and 6), the treadle d24 being provided with a lug or projection d² extended under and
adapted to engage a lug or projection d26 on the lever bº.
In order to positively stop the rotation of the brake wheel in case of slip between the
brake-shoe and the said brake-wheel, the brake-lever d' is provided with a lug or
projection, shown as a block 60 (see Fig. 15), attached to the lever d" by a screw 61,
so that its bottom edge will be carried into the recess or depression d" in the disk d³,
and into the path of movement of the end 62 (see Fig. 16) of the said recess or
depression, so as to form a solid abutment against which the end 62 will strike, if the
disk d³ should not be stopped by the brake shoe d.
The operation of the machine hereinshown, may be briefly described as follows:-
Assuming the parts to be in the position they would occupy after a nail has been
driven and the machine stopped in its operation, which position of the parts is
represented in Fig. 7 of the drawings.
Let it be assumed that the operator is commencing a new piece of work, in which
case he depresses the foot treadle d24 so as to lower the horn b a sufficient distance to
permit him to place the work thereon, after which he removes his foot from the
treadle d and permits the spring 62s to elevate the horn and firmly press the work

page_text: against the underside of the throat plate. The machine is now in condition to be
started, which is effected by the operator depressing the foot treadle ³, so as to
elevate the clutch member 4, and release the brake shoe (8 from engagement with
its brake wheel do, and at the same time bring the loose pulley into engagement
with the fast disk d', which operation sets the main shaft in rotation, and effects
a complete cycle of the movements necessary to drive a loose tack or nail into the
work. During the rotation of the main shaft, the driver a¹ is first lifted from the
throat plate a, and when it has been raised out of the throat, the carrier a* is turned
toward the left (viewing Fig. 7), so as to bring the awl a into line with the passage a¹³
in the throat a, and when brought into line with the said passage, the awl is moved
downward through the throat a into the work and into the position shown in Fig. 8,
by its spring a acting on the lever 33, and the extent of the downward movement
of the awl a is controlled or limited by the engagement of the inclined extension o
with its inclined back stop a", which has been previously positioned by the work so
as to engage the said extension and limit the backward movement of the arm a³ of
the said awl-operating lever, and consequently limit the downward movement of the
awl into the work, according to the thickness of the work. While the awl is in the
throat, the separator e is operated so as to uncover the slot in the roadway, and
permit the endinost nail in the roadway to be forced by the nails above it against the
awl and into the position shown in Fig. 10, and the awl is then raised, and during its
ascent, the separator blade is moved forward in the inclined passage between the
roadway and throat, and its pointed upper end enters between the two endmost nails
and carries the nail into the throat when the awl has been sufficiently raised, and, at
the same time, the lower portion of the separator blade closes the slot c in the throat
and forms an inclined wall down which the nail slides into the lower portion of the
passage in the throat, the separator blade at the same time also closing the end of
the slot cl in the roadway, so that when the awl entirely withdrawn from the throat,
the nail will have passed entirely into the passage al in the throat and into position
to be driven into the stock or work. During these movements of the awl, the driver
remains elevated and stationary, being held so by the lifting cam, but as soon as the
awl has cleared the throat, the carrier a' is turned toward the right (viewing Fig. 8),
so as to place the driver in alignment with the throat, and when properly positioned,
the driver descends into the throat the full length of the same, (see Fig. 8) and drives
the nail into the stock, the downward movement of the lever being effected as above
described, by means of the spring 63, which acts when the driver lifting cam has
passed from under the cross head or block 631, so as to leave a clear path or passage for
the descent of the driver. The nail having been driven into the stock or work, the
horn is automatically lowered by the cam ", which acts upon the lever, so as to
turn the said lever on its pivot and move its long arm a upward (viewing Fig. 16).
On the upward movement of the long arm of the lever a", the crank or arma" is
carried off from the block a2, and the clutch shoe or member a is engaged with the
co-operating clutch member a" of the lever a, and the latter is thereby positively
connected to the cam-operated lever a, so that on the further movement of the arm a
in the upward direction (viewing Fig. 16), the normally loose lever a³ is positively
elevated, and the horn, through the intermediate connection previously described, is
positively lowered. At or about the time the horn commences to be lowered, the
work-feed operating lever c" is moved forward by the face cam c', and the feed bar c
is engaged with the work, after which the peripheral cam c" turns the lever c5 so as
to effect a forward feed of the work, and the lever c is then moved bodily backward
and then rotated to its normal or starting position by the spring c
The pivotal movement of the carrier a, as above described, is effected in one
direction by means of the cam a22, and in the opposite direction by means of the
spring a, and it will be understood that the cams, which effect the various novements
above referred to, will be properly timed so as to permit the said movements to be
effected at the proper time and in the proper sequence. After the machine has inade
a complete cycle of its movements, it may be automatically stopped by the brake
lever d engaging the brake shoe d' with the brake wheel ", which engagement

page_text: takes place when the recess or groove d in the periphery of the disk or wheel d³
comes under the roller d¹³, provided, however, the operator has removed his foot from
the starting treadle d². During each complete rotation of the main shaft a33, the
hopper is rotated as above described, by means of the gear c, pinion c²ª, shaft c²,
pinion c³ and bevel gear c²²
From the above description, it will be seen that the awl and driver are
alternately reciprocated and both enter the same stationary throat, and that the leather
or other work pierced by the awl is compressed and firmly held up against the bottom
of the throat, the cup or tip 6x engaging the underside of the work about the point
in line with the passage a¹ in the throat, so that the awl will make a hole in the work,
in line with the passage in the throat, which ensures the nail being properly inserted
into the work and properly clinched in the stock to obtain a superior fastening
together of a plurality of thicknesses of material.
Furthermore, it will be seen that by means of the stationary throat acting as a rest
or bearing against which the upper surface of the leather is firmly pressed, and by
means of the driver working in said throat and having a uniform stroke, which
terminates at the mouth of the throat in contact with the leather or work, the nail is
guided and supported its entire passage through the throat and into the stock or work,
until its head has passed out of the throat, at which time the said head will be
embedded in the work with its upper surface flush or substantially flush with the upper
surface of the work, which results in all the nails being uniformn with relation to the
upper surface of the work, namely, flush therewith, and avoids bending or crippling of
the heads of the nails.
So also, it will be noticed that the awl, which passes through the stationary throat
into the work, has a variable stroke with relation to the work, which variable stroke
is automatically controlled, so that the point of the awl is prevented from being
dulled or otherwise injured by striking the horn, when a thin portion of the work is
interposed between the horn and throat, and the said awl is prevented from
penetrating entirely through the thin portion of the work.
Furthermore, it will be noticed that the work is not fed by the awl but by an
independent feed mechanism, which does not operate until after both the awl and
driver have performed their work.
The slot c¹ in the roadway may and preferably will be extended entirely through
the roadway at its front or lower end as shown in Fig. 15, to permit loose nails,
slivers, etc., to drop out of the said roadway.
The hopper B may be provided within it, at or near its discharge end, with any
suitable device to remove imperfect nails from the roadway.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising a throat, a
reciprocating awl and a reciprocating driver co-operating with said throat, ineans to
positively move bodily both the awl and driver laterally with relation to the said
throat, to alternately carry the said awl and driver from their stationary positions out
of line with said throat into line with the same, independent mechanisms to
reciprocate said awl and driver and operate one of said parts and insert it into and
withdraw it from said throat, while the other of said parts is held stationary out of
line with said throat, substantially as described.
2. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising a stationary
throat, a reciprocating awl, a reciprocating driver movable independent of the awl, a
carrier for said awl and driver inovable with relation to the stationary throat to
alternately place the said awl and driver into line with said throat, and independent
and disconnected means to reciprocate said awl and driver independent of each other,
Bubstantially as and for the purposes specified.
3. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising a throat, a
reciprocating awl, a reciprocating driver, a carrier for said awl and driver movable
with relation to said throat with the awl out of the work to alternately place the awl
and driver in line therewith, independent mechanisms to reciprocate said awl and

page_text: driver when placed in line with said throat and to hold one of said parts stationary out
of line with said throat when the other of said parts is being moved into and out of
said throat, substantially as described.
4. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising a reciprocating.
awl, a reciprocating driver, a carrier for said awl and driver, a throat disconnected'
from said carrier to permit of movement of one with relation to the other, and
independent mechanisms to alternately reciprocate the said awl and driver in said
throat, and to maintain one of said parts stationary out of the throat while the other
of said parts is being inserted therein, and a feed mechanism for the work independent
of the awl and acting upon the work when the awl is withdrawn therefrom
substantially as described.
5. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising an awl,
mechanism to effect movement of the said awl in one direction to prick a hole in the
work, a work support or horn, and mechanism connected to said horn and co-operating
with said awl-actuating mechanism to automatically control the extent of movement
of the awl into the work according to the thickness of the work, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
6. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising an awl, a
driver, a carrier for said awl and driver, a throat disconnected from said carrier to
permit of movement of one with relation to the other, and means to alternately
insert the said awl and driver in said throat, and means to automatically control the
extent of movement of the awl through and beyoud the said throat, substantially as
described.
7. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising a horn or
work-support, a lever connected thereto to move simultaneously therewith, a
cam-actuated lever, a friction surface or member movable with the cam-actuated lever
and adapted to engage a co-operating friction surface on the lever connected to the
said horn, and means to effect the engagement of the said friction surface with its
co-operating surface, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
8. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising a horn or
work-support, a lever connected thereto to move simultaneously therewith, a
cain-actuated lever, a rock-shaft carried by said lever, a crank or eccentric on said
rock-sbaft, a clutch member operated by said eccentric to engage with and be
disengaged from the lever connected to the said horn, and means to control the
rotation of the said rock-shaft, substantially as described.
9. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising a stationary
frame, a throat secured thereto, a roadway attached to said frame and co-operating
with said throat, a separator movable between the said throat and the said roadway,
a reciprocating awl, a reciprocating driver, a carrier for said awl and driver pivoted to
the said frame, and means to move said carrier on its pivot when both the awl and
driver are removed from the said throat to alternately place the said awl and driver in
line with said throat, and independent mechanisms to reciprocate said awl and driver
and operate one and move it into and out of the said throat while the other is held
stationary out of line with said throat, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
10. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising a
reciprocating awl, a reciprocating driver, a carrier for said awl and driver, a throat
disconnected from said carrier to permit of movement of one with relation to the
other, independent mechanisms to reciprocate said awl and driver and operative at
different times to insert one of the said parts in the throat while the other of said
parts is held stationary out of line with said throat, and means to automatically
control the extent of movement of the awl through and beyond the said throat,
substantially as described.
11. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising a
reciprocating awl, a cam-actuated mechanism to lift the awl, a spring to throw the
awl downward, a horn or work-support, and mechanism connected to said horn and
co-operating with the awl-actuating mechanism to automatically limit the downward
movement of. the awl by the said spring, to thereby.control the depth of the hole

page_text: pricked in the work by the awl according to the thickness of the work, substantially
as described.
12. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising a throat
provided with a longitudinal passage and with a longitudinal slot in its side wall
communicating with said passage and provided with inclined front faces 3, a roadway
co-operating with the said slot and having an inclined end wall 4 substantially
parallel with the inclined faces 3 of the said slot to form a separator passage
inclined with relation to the passage in the said throat, a separator inovable in said
separator passage, and means to operate said separator, substantially as described.
13. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising a stationary
throat, a reciprocating awl and a reciprocating driver adapted to be alternately
inserted into said stationary throat, means to effect a uniformn stroke of the driver in
the said throat, and means to effect a variable stroke of the awl in the said throat,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
14. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising a reciprocating
driver bar provided with a driver, a cam to move it in one direction, a spring to move
it in the opposite direction and composed of a bent wire rod having one end in
engagement with the driver bar and its opposite end secured to a pivoted lever, and
means to turn said lever on its pivot and thereby adjust the said spring, substantially
as described.
15. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising a reciprocating
awl bar provided with an awl, a lever connected therewith to move said awl bar in one
direction, a cam to act on said lever, a spring to move the said lever in an opposite
direction and composed of a bent wire rod having one end in engagement with the
said lever, and its other end secured to a lever ut, and means to turn said lever on
its pivot to adjust the said spring, substantially as described.
16. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising a stationary
frame, a throat secured thereto, a roadway attached to said frame, a separator
movable between said throat and roadway, an awl, a driver, a carrier for said awl and
driver pivoted to said frame, means to move said carrier on its pivot in one direction
to place the awl in line with the said throat, means to move the carrier on its pivot
in the opposite direction to place the driver in line with said throat, means to move
the driver into the said throat a uniform distance, means to move the awl through the
said throat, and means to vary the extent of movement of the awl through the said
throat, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
17. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising a stationary
throat, a reciprocating awl to prick a hole in the work normally out of line with said
throat, a movable carrier for said awl, mechanism to move said carrier to place the
said awl into line with said throat, mechanism to reciprocate said awl, a horn or
work-support, and a movable back stop connected to said horn and co-operating with
the awl-actuating mechanism to automatically govern the length of stroke of the awl
through said throat, and thereby govern the depth of the hole made in the work by
the awl, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
18. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising a
work-support or horn provided with a tip or cup, a stationary throat permanently in
line with the said cup, an awl, a driver, a carrier for said awl and driver movable
with relation to said stationary throat to alternately place the said awl and driver
into line with said throat, means to move said driver into said throat, means to move
said awl into said throat, and means connected to said work-support or horn and
co-operating with the awl-actuating mechanism to automatically govern the length
of stroke of the awl, substantially as described.
19. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising the throat a
provided with the passage as and with the slot c having the inclined walls, a roadway
provided with the inclined end wall co-operating with the faces of the inclined walls
of the slot c, and the thin separator blade movable in the inclined passage between
the throat and roadway, substantially as described.
20. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising the throat a

page_text: provided with the passage a" and with the slot having the inclined walls provided
with transverse slots 10, the roadway provided with the inclined end wall co-operating
with the faces of the inclined walls of the slot c and having projecting fingers
extended into the transverse slots 10, and a separator blade movable in the inclined
passage between the throat and roadway, substantially as described.
21. A machine for inserting metallic fastenings into work, comprising a throat
having a fixed or stationary position, of a reciprocating awl co-operating with said
throat, mechanism to reciprocate said awl, a horn or work support movable toward and
away from the underside of the fixed or stationary throat, and means connected to
said horn to be moved thereby and co-operating with the awl actuating mechanism
to automatically lengthen or shorten the stroke of the awl through and below the
stationary throat according as the work bearing against the underside of the throat
increases or diminishes in thickness, to thereby increase or decrease the depth of the
hole made in the work according to the thickness of the work below the stationary
throat, substantially as described.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.