IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING NEEDLES.
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes
and Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING NEEDLES.".
-A communication from abroad by "The Mallett Manufacturing
Company" of New Haven Tinited States of Amonine
-
Sealed the 17th June 1873, and dated the 18th December 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 18th December 1872.
->
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent
Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING NEEDLES,"
a communication to me from abroad by "The Mallett Manufacturing
Company," of New Haven, United States of America, to be as
follows

page_text: after described, which receiving the blanks in lengths for two needles
transfers the said blanks from one device to another, by which the eyes
are formed at the centre and the two ends pointed.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 represents a top view; Fig. 2,
a front view; Figs. 3 and 4º, detached views of the hopper.

page_text: which a reciprocating movement is imparted through a lever C¹ actuated
'by a cam C on a counter shaft, as seen in Fig. 1. This slide is shewn
enlarged in Figs. 5 and 6. The end of the said slide C is constructed
with a transverse groove d. In the position denoted in Fig. 5ª this groove
would be directly beneath the channel or throat of the hopper, and the
lower wire would rest in the said groove. The before-described move-
ment being imparted to the said slide will carry it forward to the position
denoted in broken lines Fig. 5ª, the surface of the slide passing close to
the lower edge of the throat of the hopper will prevent the escape of
other wires therefrom, and carry the wire to the position denoted by the
grooves in broken lines. This slide works in suitable guides C³.
1
As at times it is desirable to stop the feed while the other parts of the
machine may be working, a slot C', is formed in the slide C, as seen in
Fig. 6, into which the connection or stud on the lever C¹ extends, and
on the front of this upon the slide is pivoted a bar C³, and when this bar
is turned away, as seen in Fig. 6ª, the lever will work in the said slot as
denoted in broken lines without moving the slide, but when the bar
is turned forward of the lever, as seen in Fig. 5ª, the communication
between the slide and the lever is formed, so that the slide will move
with the lever, hence at any time when it is desirable to arrest the
feeding it is only necessary to turn the bar C³ away from the lever and
the object is accomplished.
To take the blank from the groove & in the slide C as it is presented,
a pair of parallel slides D are arranged longitudinally on the machine in
suitable guides D', one of these being shewn enlarged in Fig. 4 and in
detail in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8. To these slides a longitudinal movement
is imparted from a cam D³ through levers D³; a vertical movement is
also given to these slides by a cam D' operated by a counter shaft D*,
the said cams working upon arms D which project down from the said
slides by which last-named cams the slides are raised from the position
in Fig. 6 to that in Fig. 5, also shewn in the raised position in Figs. 4
and 7.
At the end of the slides next the hopper a notch b is formed (see
Fig. 4) which corresponds to the position of the groove d in the slidë C
when thrown forward carrying the wire, and when in that position the
slides are raised, the notches & raising the blank from the grooves in the
slides, then the longitudinal movement of the slide takes place anil
2

page_text: •
carries the blank in the notch to the position 2 as seen in Fig. 4 which
is directly beneath the press E. In this press E are arranged dies for
forming the head of the needles preparatory to punching the eye.
This
is done in the centre of the wire, the slides D presenting the wire to the
discs in that position. The upper die in this first press E is arranged in
a slide E¹, seen enlarged in Fig. 9, and this slide is raised by a cam in
the head of the slide denoted in broken lines in Figs. 2 and 9, the said
cam constructed so that when the slide is raised to its full height it will
fall from the cam and be forced down by the springs E2 striking the
wire beneath with sufficient force to form the head. The operation of
this blow brings the wire or blank to the form denoted in Fig. 10
enlarged, shaping the head and forcing the surplus metal into a thin fin
around the two heads. The said slides D after having presented the
blank to the die, drop and return to the first position that the notch b
on the slide may receive a second blank. On the said slides distant
from the notch 6 equal to the longitudinal movement of the said slide,
that is, at the point where the first operation is performed, when the
notches are in position to take the second blank and denoted as
position 2, Fig. 4, I arrange a pair of jaws e, e; these jaws are hung in
the said slide, opening vertically, as seen in Fig. 6, and are made to close
by the raising of the slide D and to open as the slide drops; these jaws
are hung upon a shaft f, the shaft passing. through a vertical slot g in
the slides, and on the ends of the shaft are arranged anti-friction rolls h,
see Fig. 7. The guide D¹ within which the slides D are arranged are
grooved longitudinally upon the inside within which groove D' the
rolls / run as the slide is moved longitudinally. An arm e¹ extends
from cach jaw into a seat e³ when the slide descends, as in Fig. 6, the
roll strikes upon the bottom of the groove D' as denoted at ', Fig. 8,
before the slide has completed its descent, and as the roll strikes the
bottom of the groove in the descent of the slide, the further descent of
the shaft is prevented, hence as the slide continues down the scats es
draw down the arms of the jaws and cause them to open, as seen in
Fig. 6, and when the slide D is raised the roll strikes the top of the
groove as denoted in Fig. 7 and at h¹ Fig. 8, and arrest the upward
movement of the shaft f before the upward movement of the slide is
completed, hence the continued upward movement of the slide acting
upon the arms of the jaws will close the jaws, as denoted in Fig. 5,
therefore when the slides rise to receive the second blank in the notch b
the first pair of jaws will grasp the wire which was left in the press E

page_text: and raise it from the dies, then the next forward movement of the slides
will take the first wire and carry it on to a second press F, while the
notch 6 will carry. its second blank to the first press E as before, to be
headed.
In order that the jaws may rise with the slide and allow the final
upward movement of the slide to close the jaws a flat longitudinal
spring is arranged in the groove D', as seen in Fig. 8, upon which
the rolls rest, the tendency of these springs being to bear the rolls
against the upper side of the groove and carry the jaws up as the slides
rise, the shaft being borne against the upper end of the slot in the slides
and are therefore carried to their highest position, open and closed, as
before described, by the completion of the upward movement of the
slide. These springs also hold the jaws in their upper position until
the slide has descended the extent of the slot in the slide, which
movement opens the jaws before they commence their descent.
The second press is provided with punches, which perforate the two
eyes. These presses are actuated by a chain of gearing from the driving.
shaft, as denoted in Fig. 1; this completes the forming of the head.
The slides drop and return the notch b for a third blank, the first pair
of jaws for the second, and another or third pair of jaws to take the first
in like manner; and by the next forward movement the blank with the
completed head is carried forward and the next two blanks for the same
operation, and so continuing for each successive blank. The jaws firmly.
griping the wires, as they do, prevent their turning, and enables their
proper presentation for the second operation. The dies which are used
in these presses are substantially the same in form as those employed in
making needles by hand.
Passing from the last process, as described, the wires are ready for
the next operation, which is to remove the fin or surplus metal from
around the head and then for pointing. The surplus metal is removed
by means of a revolving mandril V, see Fig. 2, and the pointing is
performed first on one end by a mill G, then upon the other end by a
mill G¹. These mills caused to revolve rapidly so as to grind the points
as the wires are presented.
In order to present the wires and carry them over the surface of the
mills I arrange three longitudinal screws L, L, L, above a bed H, and
in line with the slides D, as seen in Fig. 1, the screws and bed shewn

page_text: in transverse section in Fig. 11. These screws run in close contact to
the said bed and extend to the point where the blank is left by the
slide D, the thread at the ends terminating in the form of a hook 1,
see Fig. 12. These screws are supported at their extreme ends in a
bearing L³, and are covered by a slide I³, (more fully herein-after
described,) which keeps, them in longitudinal line, and they are caused
to, revolve by a chain of gearing here represented as enclosed within a
casing L³, and the threads, cut so that the draught of the thread is from
the hooked ends. Revolving, the hook 7 on the screws takes the wire,
and each revolution of the screws carries the wire along the distance of
a single thread. By preference the revolution of these screws is timed,
corresponding to the movement of the slides D, so. that at each revolution
a new wire is taken, and these will be carried along between the screws
and the bed H by the revolution of the screws, and pass over the mill V
and the mills, G, G³, one end of the wire first coming in contact with
one mill, then the other with the other mill; but in order to insure the
perfect trimming of the heads and foundation of the point it is necessary
that the wires revolve as they pass over the mills. To do this I arrange
in longitudinal grooves on the bed a slightly flexible material n, as
seen in Figs. 11 and 13, as leather or raw hide, and above these in the
slide L³ and corresponding in position to the strips n I arrange similar
strips m running longitudinally, see Figs. 11 and 14. These are
arranged, each pair, between two of the screws.
Above the upper
strips m I arrange numerous spiral springs p to create a pressure upon
the strips m to bear upon the wires, which lie between them and the
strips n below.
A. longitudinal reciprocating movement is imparted to the slide L² by
means of a cam LA through a lever L' in connection with the said slide,
as seen in Fig. 1. This movement of the slide back and forth causes
the wires between it and the bed below to revolve back and forth accord-
ingly, and, a full movement of the slide back and forth occurs during
each full, revolution of the screws, but the longitudinal movement of
the slide is several times greater than the pitch of the screw; hence the
wires are rolled a greater distance than they would be carried by the
screws themselves. In order therefore to allow the mills to roll this
distance a corresponding longitudinal movement is given to the screw,
that is to say, as the wires will roll one-half the distance that the slide L*
moves, a longitudinal movement equal to one-half the distance traversed
t

page_text: •
by the slide is imparted to the screws. This is done by connecting the
bearing L' which holds the screws with the slide L' by a lever M, one
end of which, as at r, is pivoted to the said slide, and the other, as at t,
to a stationary bearing midway between these two points or fulcrums.
A connecting rod M' unites the lever M with the slide L³, as more clearly
seen in Fig. 15, in which the full movement of the slide is shewn in
broken lines, and also that of the bearing 'L' with the screws being equal
to one-half the distance moved by the slides. These screws therefore
move longitudinally with the wires, but adding to the wires the additional
movement of one thread at cach revolution; hence at each full move-
ment of the slides the wires are advanced one thread or pitch of the
screws, and in this manner are carried along by a constant movement,
but always revolving either backward or forward, their ends passing over
the mills G, G₁, as before described.
The wire first passes over the mill V as before stated to remove the fin
or surplus metal thrown out by the heading dies. This mill is hung
upon a plate W upon tho under side of the bed H, sec Figs. 13 and 17,
Fig. 17 shewing the upper side. A slot is formed through this plate and
the bed so that the surface of the mill V will run flush with the upper
surface of the bed, and to this plate W a vibratory motion is imparted
by a cam W' through a rod W, thus giving to the mill a movement
longitudinally with the wires or transversely across the bed, so that the
mill will act to cut away the fin thrown out by the heading dies as the
wire revolves in its passage over the slot in the plate W.
The object of the slotted plate W is that as narrow and open a space
as possible may be formed in the bed beneath the wires, and as tho mill
can touch only at a single point the slot in the plate allows this action
of the mill, and moving longitudinally on the wires causes the dressing
of the whole length of the fin.
The mills G, G¹, are by preference arranged diagonally as seen in
Fig. 1, so that the grinding may commence first at the point and work
back as the wire advances. This grinding reduces the wire all that is
required.
In order to bear the ends of the wires upon the mills I arrange over
cach mill a bar P, sec Figs. 2, 11, and 16. This bar is supported at each
end in a bearing R, and above each end of the bar a spiral or other
spring R' is arranged, as seen in Fig. 16, which will yield slightly, yet
bear with sufficient force to bear the ends of the wires upon the mills.

page_text: In order that the pressure of the bar may be increased at any desired
point along the mill I arrange the bar P within a bar P¹, see Fig. 16,
which bar P¹ is attached at each end, as at P2 to the bar P, and at inter-
mediate points I arrange adjusting screws P³ to bear upon the bar P, and
give it a greater or less depression.
As the mills revolve toward the wires they would naturally force the
wires away from the mills; hence a stop or guide is necessary upon the
opposite side, and this is made by a rib T for the first mill and T' for the
second mill, as seen in Figs. 11 and 13; but as the force of the mill
would cause the wires to drag on this stop I pivot this rib at one end as
at T, and impart to the other end a slight transverse reciprocating
movement by means of a cam T³ through a rod T', see Fig. 1, the
reciprocating movement being indicated by broken lines in Fig. 13.
This reciprocating movement is very rapid, and therefore constantly
striking the ends of the wires, forces them on to the mill, and thus keeps
them always in the required position.
At the end of the machine beyond the mills G, G³, I arrange other
mills G², G³, so that after passing from the first grinding the wires will
pass the second pair of mills which will touch the ends of the revolving
wires and perfect the pointing.
After the wires have passed the mills G, G³, the operation is complete,
and the wires drop therefrom, having the points and heads formed
complete, then taken to another device by which the wires are divided
between the heads.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 2
filed by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th June 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
23

page_text: sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special licence
that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINES FOR MAKING NEEDLES," a communication to me from
abroad by the Mallett Manufacturing Company, of New Haven,
United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, 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 per-
formed, 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 Edward Thomas Hughes, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon (that
is to say) :-
This Invention relates to improvements in machinery for making
hand sewing needles, and consists in the mechanism more fully herein-
after described, which receiving the blanks in lengths for two needles
transfers the said blanks from one device to another, by which the eyes
are formed at the centre, and the two ends pointed. In the accom-
panying Drawings Fig. 1 represents a top view; Fig. 2, a front view;
Figs. 3º and 4*, detached views of the hopper.
Figs. 5ª and 6ª, detached views of the hopper feed.
Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, detached views of the mechanism for carrying
and presenting the blanks to the dies.
Figs. 5 and 6, detached views of the hopper feed.
Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, detached views of the mechanism
and presenting the blanks to the dies.

page_text: Fig. 10, a diagram of the blank after the operation of the first press.
Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, detached views of the pointing
mechanism.
A is the bed upon which the mechanism is arranged; A' is the driving
shaft supported and so as to revolve fredly in bearings A², power being
applied thereto in the usual manner for driving similar machinery; B
is the hopper in which the blanks are arranged. This hopper is con-
structed as seen in Figs. 3" and 4", enlarged, and is of V form, and formed
in two parts as seen in Fig. 3º, so that the hopper may be lengthened or
shortened to accommodate different lengths of wires for making different
sized needles. The throat a of the hopper, sce Fig. 4, is made
adjustable to wires of different diameters, that is to say, the throat may
be only so wide as to permit a single column of wires to stand therein
and this adjustment is accomplished by making one of the cheeks B'
adjustable so as to be set farther from or nearer to the other cheek B².
Into the space between these two checks the wires fall from the hopper
to supply the place of each wire taken therefrom. In order that this
supply may be constant and the mass not choked, I arrange upon a
shaft B³ two cams a', substantially of the form seen in Fig. 4º, the said
shaft revolving by the application of power thereto in any convenient
manner, so that the cams a¹ constantly raise the mass at the throat of
the hopper and allow them to fall, thus keeping them constantly
agitated, which prevents the wires from choking or clogging at the
throat.
To take the blanks from the hopper to transfer them singly to the
proper carrier a slide C is arranged beneath the throat of the hopper,
to which a reciprocating movement is imparted through a lever C¹
actuated by a cam O³ on a counter shaft, as seen in Fig. 1. This slide
is shewn enlarged in Figs. 5ª and 6". The end of the said slide O is
constructed with. a. transverse groove d.. In the position denoted in
Fig. 5 this groove would be directly beneath. the channel, or throat of
the hopper and the lower wire would rest in the said groove. The before
described movement being imparted to the said slide will carry it for-
ward to the position denoted in broken lines Fig. 5º, the surface of
the slide passing close to the lower edge of the throat of the hopper will
prevent the escape of other wires therefrom and carry the wire to the
position denoted by the grooves in broken lines. This slide works in
suitable guides C³.

page_text: As at times it is desirable to stop the feed while the other parts of
the machine may be working, a slot C₁ is formed in the slide C as seen in
Fig. 6, into which the connection or stud on the lever C' extends, and on
the front of this upon the slide is pivoted a bar C³, and when this bar is.
turned away, as seen in Fig. 6º, the lever will work in the said slot, as
denoted in broken lines, without moving the slide; but when the bar is
turned forward of the lever, as seen in Fig. 5ª, the connection between the
slide and the lever is formed, so that the slide will move with the lever,.
hence at any time when it is desirable to arrest the feeding it is only
necessary to. turn the bar C³ away from the lever and the object is accom-
plished.
To take the blank from the groove d in the slide C as it it presented,
a pair of parallel slides D are arranged longitudinally on the machine
in suitable guides D³, one of these being shewn enlarged in Fig. 4, and
in detail in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8. To these slides a longitudinal move-
ment is imparted from a cam Ds through levers D³. A vertical movement
is also given to these slides by a cam D' operated by a counter shaft D³,
the said cams working upon arms D° which project down from the said
slides, by which last-named cams the slides are raised from the position
in Fig. 6 to that in Fig. 5, also shown in the raised position in Figs. 4
and 7.
At the end of the slides next the hopper a notch 6 is formed (see
Fig. 4) which corresponds to the position of the groove d in the slide C
when thrown forward, carrying the wire, and when in that position the
slides are raised, the notches braising the blank from the grooves in
the slides, then the longitudinal movement of the slide takes place and
carries the blank in the notch & to the position q, as seen in Fig. 4,.
which is directly beneath the press E. In this press E are arranged:
dies for forming the head of the needles preparatory to punching the
eye. This is done in the centre of the wire, the slides D presenting the
wire to the dies in that position. The upper die in this first press E
is arranged in a slide E¹, seen enlarged in Fig. 9, and this slide is
raised by a cam in the head of the slide, denoted in broken lines in
Figs. 2 and 9, the said cam constructed so that when the slide is raised
to its full height it will fall from the cam and be forced down by the
springs E striking the wire beneath with sufficient force to form the
head. The operation of this blow. brings the wire or blank to the form
denoted in. Fig. 10, enlarged, shaping the head and forcing the surplus

page_text: metal into a thin fin around the two heads. The said slides D after
having presented the blank to the die drop and return to the first
position, that the notch bon the slide may receive a second blank.
On the said slides, distant from the notch b equal to the longitudinal
movement of the said slide, that is at the point where the first operation,
is performed when the notches are in position to take the second
blank, and denoted as position 2, Fig. 4, I arrange a pair of jaws e, c.
These jaws are hung in the said slide, opening vertically, as seen in
Fig. 6, and are made to close by the raising of the slide D, and to open
as the slide drops. These jaws are hung upon a shaft f, the shaft
passing through a vertical slot 9 in the slides, and on the ends of the
shaft are arranged anti-friction rolls h, see Fig. 7. The guide D', within
which the slides D are arranged, are grooved longitudinally upon the
inside, within which groove D' the rolls / run, as the slide is moved
longitudinally. An arm e¹ extends from each jaw into a seat e². When
the slide descends, as in Fig. 6, the roll strikes upon the bottom of the
groove D', as denoted at 7, Fig. 8, before the slide has completed its
descent, and as the roll strikes the bottom of the groove in the descent
of the slide the further descent of the shaft f is prevented; hence as
the slide continues down, the seats e³ draw down the arms of the jaws
and cause them to open, as seen in Fig. 6, and when the slide D is
raised the roll strikes the top of the groove, as denoted in Fig. 7, and
at ¹ in Fig. 8, and arrests the upward movement of the shaft ƒ before
the upward movement of the slide is continued; hence the continued
upward movement of the slide acting upon the arms of the jaws will
close the jaws, as denoted in Fig. 5, therefore when the slides rise to
receive the second blank in the notch the first pair of jaws will grasp
the wire which was left in the press E and raise it from the dies, then
the next forward movement of the slides will take the first wire and
carry it on to a second press F, while the notch 6 will carry its second
blank to the first press E, as before, to be headed.
In order that the jaws may rise with the slide and allow the final
upward movement of the slide to close the jaws, a flat longitudinal
spring h³ is arranged in the groove D', as seen in Fig. 8, upon which the
rolls rest, the tendency of these springs being to bear the rolls against
the upper side of the groove and carry the jaws up as the slides risc,
the shaft being borne against the upper end of the slot in the sides, and
are therefore carried to their highest position, open, and closed, as before

page_text: described, by the completion of the upward movement of the slide.
These springs also hold the jaws in their upper position until the slide has
descended the extent of the slot in the slide, which movement opens the
jaws before they commence their descent.
The second press is provided with punches which perforate the two
eyes. These presses are actuated by a chain of gearing from the driving
shaft, as denoted in Fig. 1. This completes the forming of the head.
The slides drop and return the notch 6 for a third blank, the first pair
of jaws for the second, and another or third pair of jaws to take the first
in like manner, and by the next forward movement the blank with the
completed head is carried forward, and the next two blanks for the same
operation, and so continuing for each successive blank. The jaws firmly
gripping the wires as they do prevent their turning, and enables their
proper presentation for the second operation.
The dies which are used in these presses are substantially the same in
form as those employed in the making of needles by hand.
Passing from the last process, as described, the wires are ready for the
next operation, which is to remove the fin or surplus metal from around
the head, and then for pointing. The surplus metal is removed by
means of a revolving mandril V, see Fig. 2, and the pointing is
performed first on one end by a mill G, then upon the other end by a
mill G¹, these mills cause to revolve rapidly, so as to grind the points
as the wires are presented.
In order to present the wires and carry them over the surface of the
mills, I arrange three longitudinal screws L, L, L, above a bed H and
in line with the slides D, as seen in Fig 1, the screws and bed shewn
in transverse section in Fig. 11. These screws run in close contact to
the said bed, and extend to the point where the blank is left by the
slides D, the thread at the ends terminating in the form of a hook 7, see
Fig. 12. These screws are supported at their extreme ends in a
bearing L, and are covered by a slide L³ (more fully herein-after
described) which keeps them in longitudinal line, and they are caused
to revolve by a chain of gearing, here represented as inclosed within a
casing L³, and the threads cut so that the draught of the thread is from
the hooked ends. Revolving, the hook on the screws takes the wire
and each revolution of the screws carries the wire along the distance of
a single thread. By preference, the revolution of these screws is timed

page_text: corresponding to the movement of the slides D, so that at each revolution
a new wire is taken, and these will be carried along between the screws
and the bed H by the revolution of the screws, and pass over the mill V
and the mills G, G¹, one end of the wire first coming in contact with
one mill, then the other with the other mill; but, in order to insure the
perfect trimming of the heads and formation of the point, it is necessary
that the wires revolve as they pass over the mills. To do this I arrange
in longitudinal grooves on the bed a slightly flexible material n, as seen
in Figs. 11 and 13, as leather or raw hide, and above these in the
slide L³ and corresponding in position to the strips n I arrange similar
strips m running longitudinally, sec Figs. 11 and 14.
These are
arranged, cach pair, between two of the screws.
Above the upper
strips m I arrange numcrous spiral springs p to create a pressure upon
the strips m to bear upon the wires which lie between them and the
strips n below.
A longitudinal reciprocating movement is imparted to the slide I
by means of a cam L' through a lever L' in connection with the said
slide, as seen in Fig, 1. This movement of the slide back and forth
causes the wires between it and the bed below to revolve back and forth
accordingly, and a full movement of the slide back and forth occurs
during each full revolution of the screws, but the longitudinal movement
of the slide is several times greater than the pitch of the screw, hence
the wires are rolled a greater distance than they would be carried by the
screws themselves. In order therefore to allow the mills to roll this
distance a corresponding longitudinal movement is given to the screw,
that is to say, as the wires will roll one half the distance that the
slide L³ moves, a longitudinal movement equal to one-half the distance
traversed by the slide is imparted to the screws. This is done by
connecting the bearing L', which holds the screws, with the slide L' by
a lever M, one end of which, as at r, is pivoted to the said slide, and the
other, as at t, to a stationary bearing, midway between the two
pivots or fulcrums a connecting rod M¹ unites the lever M with the
slide L³, as more clearly seen in Fig. 15, in which the full movement
of the slide is shewn in broken lines, and also that of the bearing L
with the screws, being equal to one half the distance moved by the
slides. The screws therefore move longitudinally with the wires, but
adding to the wires the additional movement of one thread at each
revolution, hence at each full movement of the slides the wires are

page_text: advanced one thread or pitch of the screws, and in this manner are
carried along by a constant movement, but always revolving either
backward or forward, their ends passing over the mills G, G³, as before
described.
The wire first passes over the mill V, as before stated, to remove the
fin or surplus metal thrown out by the heading dies. This mill is hung
upon a plate W upon the under side of the bed H, see Figs. 13 and 17,
Fig. 17 shewing the upper side. A slot is formed through this plate and
the bed so that the surface of the mill V will run flush with the upper
surface of the bed, and to this plate W a vibratory motion is imparted by
a cam W' through a rod W³, thus giving to the mill a movement longi-
tudinally with the wires, or transversely across the bed, so that the mill
will act to cut away the fin thrown out by the heading dies as the wire
revolves in its passage over the slot in the plate W.
The object of the slotted plate W is, that as narrow and open a space
as possible may be formed in the bed beneath the wires, and, as the mill
can touch only at a single point, the slot in the plate allows this action
of the mill, and moving longitudinally on the wires causes the dressing
of the whole length of the fin.
The mills G, G₁, are by preference arranged diagonally, as seen in
Fig. 1, so that the grinding may commence first at the point, and
work back as the wire advances. This grinding reduces the wire all that
is required.
In order to bear the ends of the wires upon the mills, I arrange over
each mill a bar P, see Figs. 2, 11, and 16. This bar is supported at each
end in a bearing R, and above each end of the bar a spiral or other
spring R' is arranged, as seen in Fig. 16, which will yield slightly, yet
bear with sufficient force to bear the ends of the wires upon the mills.
In order that the pressure of the bar may be increased at any desired
point along the mill, I arrange the bar P within a bar P¹, see Fig. 16,
which bar P¹ is attached at each end as at P³ to the bar P, and at inter-
mediate points I arrange adjusting screws P³ to bear upon the bar P,
and give it a greater or less depression.
As the mills revolve toward the wires they would naturally force the
wires away from the mills, hence, a stop or guide is necessary upon the
opposite side, and this is made by a rib T for the first mill, and T" for

page_text: the second mill, as seen in Figs. 11 and 13, but as the force of the mill
would cause the wires to drag on this stop, I pivot this rib at one end as
at T, and impart to the other end a slight transverse reciprocating move-
ment by means of a cam T³ through a rod T", see Fig. 1, the reciprocating
movement being indicated by broken lines in Fig. 13. This reciprocating t
movement is very rapid, and therefore, constantly striking the ends of
the wires, forces them on to the mill, and thus keeps them always in the
required position.
•
At the end of the machine beyond the mills G, G¹, I arrange other
mills G³, G³, so that after passing from the first grinding, the wires will 1
pass the second pair of mills which will touch the ends of the revolving
wires, and perfect the pointing.
After the wires have passed the mills G³, G³, the operation is complete,
and the wires drop therefrom, having the points and heads formed
complete, then taken to another device by which the wires are divided ]
between the heads.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention
as communicated to me from abroad, I claim,―
First. In a hopper, substantially such as described, the two cheeks
B1, B2, which form the throat a. of the hopper, one of which is made 2
adjustable, so that the said throat may be made of greater or less width,
substantially as described.
Second. In combination with a hopper for supplying the blank wires
I claim the revolving shaft B³ with its cams a' arranged in the relative
position to the throat a, as and for the purpose specified.
Third. In combination with a hopper for delivering the blank wires I
claim the slide O having a longitudinal reciprocating movement, and
constructed with a slot C³, and provided with a pivoted bar C³, by means
of which the said reciprocating movement may be arrested without
stopping the other parts of the machine, substantially as described.
Fourth. The parallel slides D having an up-and-down and longitudinal
reciprocating movement combined with the jaws e, e, to receive and
translate the blanks for successive operations, substantially as set
forth.
Th The longitudinal screws L constructed with the hook at their s
2

page_text: and combined with the mills V and G, G³, over which the blank is
carried by the said revolving screws, substantially as described.
Sixth. In combination with the revolving longitudinal screws L, I
claim the slide L'and bed H, the said slide L' having a reciprocating
movement, substantially as described.
Seventh. The longitudinal revolving screws L, the slides L³, and
bed H, the said slide Land the revolving screws L having each a longi-
tudinal reciprocating movement independent of the other, substantially
in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
Eighth. The arrangement of the springs p above the flexible strips m
in the slide L³, substantially as and for the purposo set forth.
Ninth. The arrangement of the mill V and slotted plate W, sub-
stantially in the manner described, when to both is imparted a transverse
vibratory or reciprocating movement, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Tenth. In combination with the mills G, G¹, I claim the bars P and
their pressure spring R³, substantially as and for the purposo described.
Eleventh. In combination with the mills G, G³, bars P, and their
spring R', I claim the auxiliary bar P¹ and adjusting screws P³ to bear
upon the said bar, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Twelfth. In combination with the mills G, G³, and a carrying device
for presenting the wires to the said mills I claim the ribs T, T, when a
rapid vibratory movement is imparted to the said ribs, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.