Method of and Apparatus for Coiling Wire and Inserting it into Fabric or other Material.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Method of and Apparatus for Coiling Wire and Inserting it into
Fabric or other Material.
་
We, CALVIN JACKSON, Machinist, of Jacksonwald, and JAMES.HERVEY
STERNBERGH, and PHILIP HERVEY STERNBERGH of Reading, both in the
State of Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Iron Manufacturers 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 :-
The main object of this invention is to effect the combination of a metal in the
form of wire with softer materials, as for the purpose of joining together two or
more separate pieces of material, forming an edge thereon, or strengthening or
ornamenting the same.
The invention is fully described hereinafter in connection with the accompanying
drawings, and is specifically pointed out in the claims.
Figure 1 is a plan view of the fixed or lower portion of a simple form of machine
embodying my invention.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the curved extension.
Figure 3 is a separate view of one of the supporting plates for the flexible shaft
of the extension.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation through y y of Figure 1, showing the flexible
shaft of the lower extension with the larger number of the disks, supporting plates,
and rollers removed. The upper or hinged portion of the machine is also shown,
but without the flexible shaft.
Figure 5 is an elevation showing the geared end of the two roller machines.
Figure 6 is a sectional elevation through x of Figure 4.
Figure 7 shows an attachment for automatically coiling the end of a wire.
Figure 8 is a sectional elevation, corresponding with Figure 6, of a modified
form of machine having smooth instead of grooved rollers.
Figures 9 and 10 are sectional elevations, corresponding with Figure 4, of modified
machines provided with four and three rollers, respectively.
Figures 11 and 12 illustrate the character of work done.
In the two roller machine illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 the lower C¹ is supported
in a fixed frame A', which is represented as of U-shaped cross-section, with end
bearings a and as for the roller. A top roller C is carried by an upper and movable
frame A of similar shape to A', but inverted, and the two frames are hinged
together at D by means of lugs a' and a³. The projecting journals c²² of the
upper and lower rollers are provided with gear wheels E2 and E', both of which
gear with a third wheel E. The center of rotation of the latter is the pivotal or
hinging point D of the frames.
In the sectional views of Figures 4, 9 and 10, the gear wheels being cut away,
the pitch circles are indicated by long and short dots alternately.
The rollers C and C¹ are formed with circumferential grooves c.
Upon the
meeting faces of the upper and lower frames clamping plates BB and B' B₁,
respectively, are adjustably secured by means of screws a², passing through slots a²,
passing through slots a' in the flanges a. The inner edges of these clamping-plates
are brought as near to the line joining the center of the lower and upper roller, as
the diameter of the coil will permit, their function being to firmly clamp the
naterial into which it may be desired to insert the coil, and also in the present
construction to assist in regulating the position of the latter.
The main features of my invention are embodied in the simple mechanism already
lescribed, the operation of which is as follows:-It being desired to insert a wire
nto a fabric or other comparatively soft material R in the manner indicated at 1

page_text: in Figs. 11 and 12, or to unite the abutting edges of two adjoining materials, as
indicated at 2, or of two lapping edges, as at 3, or to insert it into the edge of a
straight-cut material, in either case the material R is properly placed in the
machine between the frames A and A', as indicated in Figure 4, the former being
raised by suitable handles a³ to permit its introduction. The upper roller C being
moved around the center D of the gear wheel E, the latter wheel is always in gear
with both rollers, and on either one of the rolls being rotated in the direction of
the arrow the other will be rotated in the same direction, as shown. The end g of
the wire G being pointed and given one or more turns around a proper sized
mandrel F, placed between the rollers, as indicated in Figure 6, the upper
frame is closed, thus clamping the material and at the same time causing the
coiled end on the wire to be pressed between the upper and lower rollers C
and C¹ and to be rotated by them, as indicated by the arrow.
Liners may be
used to adjust the clamping-plates for different sizes of coil and thicknesses of
materials, so that pressure may be brought upon both at the same time. The
point gas rotated enters successive grooves in the upper and lower rollers
and each time it reaches the material R punctures and passes through it,
additional wire G being at the same time drawn from a conveniently-placed
reel and continuously coiled as it passes between the grooved rollers. It will
be seen that the wire is thus automatically and simultaneously drawn from the
reel, coiled, and inserted in the material, the coil being either right or left, as
determined by the direction in which the rollers are rotated. It is evident,
however, that, if desired, the forming of the coils and the inserting of them in
the material may be accomplished in two separate operations, the wire being
coiled as described without placing any material in position to be punctured by
it, and the pointed end of the completed coil being afterwards placed between
the rollers with the other end projecting beyond the end of the machine, the
rotation of the coil, as already described, causing the pointed end to enter the
material successively at each rotation, while the projecting portion of the coil
gradually advances into the rollers.
In Figure 7 I have illustrated a means by which the initial coil may be
made automatically. The pointed end of the wire G after passing between the
upper roller and the mandrel F comes in contact with an attachment T, having
a diagonal groove in its concave face, adapted to give the wire the proper
deflection and curve for any desired diameter and pitch of coil, the concave
face being arranged in close proximity to the mandrel. A supplemental attach-
ment T may also be used, if desired, to complete the first coil, the pitch of
which mainly determines the pitch of the coils subsequently formed.
When it is desired to insert the coil in other than a straight line, it becomes
necessary to provide a substitute for the rollers C and C₁ and Figures 1 to 4
illustrate a mechanism for this purpose, adapted to form an extension of the
machine already described for the purpose of running the wire around a curve.
As a substitute for the rollers C and C¹, I employ flexible shafts K and K',
which may be formed of oppositely wound coils of wire or in any suitable
manner. One end of a flexible share is secured to the end of a roller, by which
it is thus rotated, while the other end may be supported, as represented, in a
suitable bearing 12 or h³, forming part of curved extension plates H₁ and H,
which may be secured to the main frames A' and A. the clamping-plates BB
and B B are also provided with corresponding curved extensions, which are
fastened to the right angled ends h and h¹ of the extension plates H and H',
and the flexible shafts K and K' are thus located between the plates H and B
and Hand B', respectively. Instead of the grooves e in the rollers C and C¹³,
disks k, with corresponding grooves k¹, are used, being secured to the shaft in
any suitable manner, so as to rotate with it. Between these disks are placed
supporting plates M, through which pass wires or rods L, and loosely sprung
upon these wires between the plates M are rollers 1, having their peripheries
shaped to correspond with the grooves k² of the disks k, upon which they bear,

page_text: the strain upon each separate disk being conveyed through the said rollers and
the supporting plates M to the extension plates H and H'. "It will be readily seen
that the coil of wire will be guided around the curve between the grooved disks
and clamping-plates in substantially the same manner as it is between the rollers C
and C', and it may thus be inserted in material in a curved line, as indicated at 4-
in Figure 11. There is no friction upon the flexible shaft except in the outer
bearing 2 and 3, it being allowed to pass loosely through the plates M and the
strain and wear being conveyed through the grooved disks and rollers / to the
wires L L. The bearings 2 and 3 may, however, be dispensed with as for
irregular curves, leaving the plates M alone to support the flexible shafts in any
curve that they may be set to.
It is evident that more than two rollers may be used to advantage, in some
cases as, for instance, where the size of wire employed requires increased rotary
contact with the exterior of the coil to insure its rotation. In Figure 9 I have
shown an arrangement of four rollers, of which C and C' are geared directly with.
the wheel E at the pivotal center D in. the same manner as in the previous con-
struction, the additional rollers C2 and C³ being operated through idlers E³ and E*
to secure the same direction of rotation for all. With this arrangement four
flexible shafts will be required instead of two, as in the previous arrangement, and
six wires L and series of supporting-rollers / instead of four, the location of which
are indicated in the drawings.
In Figure 10 an arrangement of three rollers is shown, the center of C4 being
represented at the pivotal point of the frames and it being geared through idlers E
and E with the two other rollers C5 and C6. Four wires L and series of
supporting-rollers will be required for the three flexible shafts in this
arrangement, located as indicated.
In Figure 8 is shown a modified apparatus, by means of which a coil may be
inserted in material in an equivalent manner to that already described without
imparting a longitudinal movement to the coil. In this case smooth rollers N
and N¹ are used, the finished coil being placed between them and rotated thereby,
while the material P, which may be held between suitable clamps p and pl, is drawn
between the rollers as the pointed end of the wire enters it at each rotation
successively.
Our method, unlike that heretofore in use, of coiling the wire upon a rotary
mandrel is adapted to permit the simultaneous formation of the coil and its insertion
into a material, as described. It is also, however, a very satisfactory method of
forming a coil independently of such insertion, the length of the coil being only
limited by the length of the wire fed to it and any pitch being formed with equal
facility. The same grooved rollers may be adapted to form coils of different
pitches by horizontally adjusting them, as by a removable washer c¹, Figure 6.
The general character of the work that may be done by the insertion of coiled wire
into material, as described, is indicated in Figures 11 and 12, and its specific
application to different articles of manufacture will be readily suggested thereby.
A butt or lap seam is thus readily made in a novel manner or a coiled wire edge or
bead formed on a straight or curved line for any desired purpose.
Having thus fully revealed my invention in such practical shape as will enable
those skilled in the art to practice it, I do not intend to limit myself to the specific
mechanism of the special application described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same may be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a wire coil machine, the combination, with the geared rollers and a
mandrel F, located between said rollers, of a forming device T, secured to the
machine frame and provided with a grooved concaved face arranged contiguous to
said mandrel, substantially as set forth.
2. In a wire coil machine, substantially as described, the combination, with one

page_text: or more rollers supported, in a fixed frame, of one or more similar rollers supported
in a movable frame pivoted to the fixed frame, said rollers being geared with a
gear wheel having its center at said pivotal point, substantially as set forth.
3. In a wire coil machine, substantially as described, the combination, with the
fixed frame, the movable frame hinged thereto, and the rollers supported in said
frames, of clamps adjustably secured to the meeting faces of said frames, the inner
edges of said clamps being brought close to the wire coil and holding the material
through which the coil is to be inserted, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
4. In a wire coil machine, substantially as described, a rotary flexible shaft
suitably supported at the ends and having a series of circumferentially-grooved
disks secured thereto, in combination with a series of supporting-plates arranged
between said disks, substantially as set forth.
5. In a wire coil machine, substantially as described, a flexible shaft suitably
supported at the ends and having a series of circumferentially-grooved disks
secured thereto, in combination with a series of supporting-plates arranged between
said disks and one or more series of rollers for said grooved disks, strung upon
wires or rods passing through said supporting-plates, substantially as set forth.
6. In a wire coil machine, substantially as described, the combination, with
straight roller supported in a suitable frame, of a curved extension of said roller,
consisting of a flexible shaft having one end secured thereto, said shaft being
provided with a series of disks and supported by a series of plates arranged between
the said disks, substantially as set forth.
7. The method of strengthening or uniting softer materials by means of wire,
which consists, first, in forming the wire into a spiral coil, and second, in perma-
nently combining said coiled wire with the aforesaid material by rotating the coil
and passing the pointed end thereof successively through a series of punctures made
in the material, substantially as set forth.
8. The method herein described of continuously forming wire into a spiral coil
and combining the same with a softer material, which consists, first, in simul-
taneously forming said wire into a spiral coil and advancing the pointed end of the
same by means of exterior rotary pressure thereon, and second, in simultaneously
puncturing and inserting the coil into the material, substantially as set forth.
9. In a wire coiling and inserting machine, the combination of the geared rollers,
the mandrel F located between said rollers, a forming device T contiguous to said
mandrel, and the clamps for holding the material through which the coil is to be
inserted, all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as set forth.
Dated this 5th day of December 1892.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.