provements in the Manufacture of Metallic Articles, such as Spoons, Forks, and the like, and in the Machinery and Tools to be Used therein.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 10th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 22nd May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Improvements in the Manufacture of Metallic Articles, such as
Spoons, Forks, and the like, and in the Machinery and Tools to
be Used therein.
I, THOMAS PRICE TAYLOR of "Breedon," Watford Road, King's Norton, in
the County of Worcester, Manager of Works, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows -
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of metallic articles
such, for example, as spoons, forks, prongs, ladles, and the like, and also in the
machinery and tools to be used in the said manufacture.
Hitherto such articles have been produced by means of four or five separate
processes, namely, cutting out the blank, cross rolling the ends thereof, cutting out
the article, ornamenting and finishing the same.
Now by my invention the article being produced is turned out in its complete
and finished state by one operation from a long strip of suitable metal. I will
describe my invention in connection with the manufacture of forks, the whole of
which, including the stails, are composed of metal.
The machinery consists essentially of a pair of rolling segments or die holders
mounted within bearings fitted to vertical holsters, the said segments having imparted
to them an oscillating or rocking movement by suitable means. The extreme outer
faces of these segments or segmental die holders are constructed to carry tools or dies,
the outer faces of which are arranged in a curved line, the same being struck from the
centres or trunnions of the rocking segments as aforesaid. Cut within and upon the
curved faces of this pair of dies or tools, one of which is the male and the other
the female, is the pattern of the fork and also the counterpart of the ornamentation to
be impressed or formed therecn, and the attachment and arrangement of the pair
of dies is such that, when the two segmental holders come together in their
oscillation, the faces of the dies touch cach other only at the point of nip. This
pair of dies and their carriers are arranged to oscillate together, and at the end of
their movement in either direction to clear each other momentarily or for a given
period.
Now by means of these segmental dies or tools the forks are fashioned from out
of a long strip of suitable metal, the same being fed endways to the dies at a time
when the far sides of them are in contact or clear of each other and, as the
oscillation takes place, part of the metal of the strip is forced into the interstices of
the dies, whilst that which is superfluous flows backwards and tends to lengthen out
the strip.
Immediately the oscillating movement of the dies in the one direction is
accomplished the formation of the fork is effected, and the same simply drops out
upon the opposite side from which the strip is fed, the dies being constructed so as
to cleanly cut out the fork from the strip. The segmental dies then return to their
former position and the strip is again fed forward, the same operation as before
taking place but, if necessary, a strip of metal may also be fed from the other side,
so that at each oscillation of the dies a fork is formed. Instead of the lower die
being made to oscillate or rock it may be made to reciprocate which will give a like.

page_text: Thus by my invention I am enabled to manufacture metallic articles in a very
simple but practical manner, which thereby lessens the cost of production. The
machinery set forth is also applicable and can be utilised for cross rolling blanks of
small articles, instead of rolling them in the ordinary manner, and this can be
accomplished by making the segmental carriers of a breadth sufficient to
accomodate the full length blank of the article to be fashioned, the metal of the
tools at the middle thereof being cut away for the purpose.
Dated this 9th day of June 1896.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co..
Of 11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Metallic Articles, such as
Spoons, Forks, and the like, and in the Machinery and tools to
be Used therein.
I, THOMAS PRICE TAYLOR of "Briedon," Watford Road, King's Norton, in
the County of Worcester, Manager of Works, 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 improvements in the manufacture of certain metallic
articles such, for example, as forks, prongs, spons, and ladles, and also in the
machinery and tools to be used therein.
Hitherto such articles have been produced by means of four or five distinct
processes, namely: cutting out the blank, cross rolling certain parts of it to
reduce its thickness and increase its breadth, cutting out the article, and ornamenting
and finishing it; the principal portion of which is accomplished by stamping
between dies.
According to this invention the article being produced is turned out in approxi-
mately its complete and finished condition from a rough blauk by one operation
of rolling, which lessens the cost of production nearly one haif.
The special machinery and tools consist for the most part of a pair of bearers
fitted to and carried by a pair of holsters or vertical frames, one of the said pair of
bearers to constitute the lower bearing for the bottom die holder, and the other an
adjustable bearing for the top die holder. The middle portion of the underside of
the top bearer is formed of a curve, of approximately eighteen inches radius, and
upon this curved face the oscillating top die holder works; novement being
imparted to it by link mechanism.
The bottom die holder has, preferably, no oscillating or rocking movement, but
has a reciprocating one upon the top face of the bridge bearer carrying it; the
connection being dove-tailed or similar to the slide of a lathe. The die or tool
carried by the oscillating holder has a curved outer face struck from the same
centre as the curved surface of the bearer upon which it works, but the lower die
or tool has a flat top face which is advantageous, inasmuch as it enables existing
stamping dies to be used.
With the aid of the annexed three sheets of drawings this invention will be
more fully described, the same letters of reference indicating similar parts in the
respective figures.
On Sheet 1, Figs. 1, 2, and 3 set forth the manner in which a metallic fork is
produced according to this invention; the rough blank cut out by a press being
represented in Fig. 1, the partly finished blank in Fig. 2, and the finished blank in

page_text: Fig. 3, the latter only requiring the metal to be cut away, leaving the prongs, and
to be shaped, to constitute a finished fork.
The machinery for the shaping of the rough blank, Fig. 1, to the finished blank,
Fig. 3, is shown on Sheets 2 and 3 by Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7; two modifications,
hereinafter more fully described, being also represented on Sheet 3 at Figs. 8
and 9. In the construction of machinery preferred, Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, (in which
the top die holder is arranged to oscillate, and the lower die holder to reciprocate) the
views shown are respectively a front end elevation, a vertical section between
the frames, a side elevation, and a horizontal section; the latter illustrating
principally the reciprocating bottom die holder, the bridge bearer across which it
works, and the means for reciprocating it.
The holsters or frames a are of a well known construction, each consisting of
upright pillar parts a², standing upon a base a and connected by a crown a', the
middle part as being cut away or gapped to accommodate and form guides for the
top bridge bearer c and the bottom bridge bearer d. These holsters or frames are
connected by stay bars a", and are rigidly attached and connected to a bed or the
like. The bottom bridge bearer d, the shape of which is shown clearly in Fig. 7,
consists of an enlarged middle and body part d, having square ends d³, and a
depending strengthening rib d, the whole bodily resting, by means of its ends d³,
upon and within the bottom of the gaps a of the holsters or frames a. Centrally
and transversely within the top face of the bridge bearer d is formed a rabetted, or
V-shaped flat channel d, within which a reciprocating or sliding die holder e
works, the longitudinal edges of the base e² of the same being inclined or V-shaped
to fit the said channel.
Within a well es upon the top face of this reciprocating die holder a flat surfaced
die e is rigidly fixed, its face being cut with the exact shape and pattern of the
finished blank to be produced. An angular cross bar f, having enlarged circular
ends, to which are loosely connected links, is disposed with its middle part f³
lying within a channel e, formed through the body of the die holder e for the
purpose of reciprocating the said holder; the other end of the links being adjustably
connected to a slotted arm o² of a bell crank lever o, mounted upon a shaft o³,
journalled in bearings o, o, fixed to the edges of the holsters; a rocking movement
being imparted to the said bell crank lever by suitable mechanism.
The top bridge bearer c in construction is practically identical with the bottom
bearer d, it having an enlarged middle part c² and square ends c³, the latter fitting
the opposite gaps in the frames the same as the ends of the bearer d, but its lower
face is formed with a centrally disposed V-shaped curved channel c, struck with
a radius approximately eighteen inches. Within this curvilinear channel the top
die holder g oscillates and works, the longitudinal edges at its base g2 being V-shaped
and curved to allow of the same; a rocking or oscillating movement being imparted
thereto by a pair of links g³ and a cross bar g', identical in construction and fitting
to the one for moving the lower die holder. The curved face of the die
bolder g is set up with a die h, the acting face h of which is a curve struck from
the same centre as the V-groove in the top die holder. The top bridge bearer c
which carries the oscillating die holder or segment g, is bodily slung, at each of
its ends 3, npon two supporting rods p, p, depending through the frames from
crossplates p, p, threaded upon the shanks s of pressure screws s2 working through
the crowns of the framings, the lower parts of which latter impinge upon the top
sides of the bearer ends so that the curved channel of the said bearer can be
always set up, adjusted, and locked to a dead level; which ensures a true working.
The outer ends of the links g³, which latter, as herein before described, impart a
pull and push movement to the oscillating segment or die holder g, are connected
adjustably to the slotted arm o² of the bell crank lever o, herein before referred to,
so that variable throws or movements of the said die holder can be effected; the
latter also applying to the links f' for reciprocating the bottom die holder.
The full length of the rough blank, to constitute the finished blank of a fork,
can be operated upon by this machine and will give good results, but in the

page_text: particular dies and blanks shown in the drawings half of the said blank is first
shaped and then the remaining half. The dies shown in the drawings are for
shaping and ornamenting the handle portion of the blank; a rough blank n as in
Fig. 1, of a less length than the finished blank but of greater thickness, being
placed upon the bottom die e, from the front end of the machine, at a time when
both the dies are clear of each other and furthermost away from the attendant.
In their backward movement, viz. :-the oscillation of the one and the reciprocation
of the other, which takes place at the same time as if coupled together, the
metal approximately at the junction of the blade with the handle is first
operated upon and squoze into the interstices of the lower die, and as the movement
of the parts continue the superfluous metal flows backwards and is forced into the
sinking until the movement is completed; the handle portion w of the blank being
thereby considerably lengthened and also ornamented; the result being a partially
finished blank as represented in Fig. 2.
In shaping the remaining part of the fork blank or the blade a new die is
substituted for the one in the bottom die holder, cut of such a shape as to lengthen
out and fashion the blade m of the blank, as shown in Fig. 2, into the figure shown
at m², Fig. 3; the rounded top edges of the prongs being also pressed out as shown
in the smaller section in the same fig.
Thus from a rough blank, as shown in Fig. 1, is fashioned, by rolling, a
finished blank as shown in Fig. 3, there being just sufficient metal in the first-
named to form the latter; one half of the article being first operated upon
and then the other as described, or the whole of it at the same time, by a pair
of dies, one reciprocating and the other oscillating; the faces thereof being
shaped so that the said dies touch each other only at the point where they nip the
blank.
In the modification shown in Fig. 8 both top and bottom die holders g and e
oscillate, the under and top side surfaces of the bearers c and d carrying them
being formed into V-shaped curved channels, within which the die holders, as
aforesaid, work for a bearing. The acting surfaces of the dies are curved from
the same centre as the curved bearing surfaces of the bearers, so that they only
touch each other at the point where they nip the blank. Movement is imparted to
the said die holders by jointed links f and g³, connected thereto in the same
manner as in the arrangement Figs. 4-7; both the said holders moving together
or simultaneously.
In the modification Fig. 9 the die holder g is shown as a swinging segment, the
same being provided with trunnions 9 which work in suitable bearings fixed to
a pair of frames. The lower curved surface of the segment is set up with a die h,
having a curved acting face 2 struck from the centre of the trunnions g³; an
oscillating or rocking movement being imparted to the said segment by jointed
links g.
In the production of a spoon the rough blank is similar to the blank shown in
Fig. 1, other than a half moon portion is substituted for the blade part m, the said
half moon part containing sufficient metal to shape out the finished blank of the
ball-part of the spoon.
The arrangement of the bearing surfaces of the die holders, as set forth in
Figs. 4 to 8, are of the greatest importance, as the nearer the curved bearing
surfaces, upon which the die holders work, are to the acting faces of the dies
the more rigid and true is the setting; it being found that the said dies must be
beautifully set, and rigidly held afterwards in their working, to give good working
results.
The improved machinery is also applicable and useful for crossrolling various
metal blanks; it being only necessary to fit a plain pair of dies to the holders
instead of the ones shown.
The machinery set forth is also useful for shaping other articles than those
enumerated, so long as the metal of which they are composed is not too hard to
flow whilst in a cold state, and a blank is the basis of the working.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In the production of forks, spoons, ladles, and the like by rolling, the use
of a pair of die holders or carriers such as e, g, in Figs. 4 to 7, the one carrying
a die with a curved nipping face and being arranged to oscillate and work upon the
curved face of a stationary bearer and the other carrying a flat surface die and
being arranged to reciprocate and work upon a flat surfaced stationary bearer
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 4 to 7.
Second. The combination with the supporting frames or holsters a of bridge
bearers cand die holders 9, e, the first named bearer having a curved surface
upon which the first named die holder oscillates and works, and the last named
bearer a flat surface upon which the last named die holder reciprocates substantially
as described in Figs. 4 to 7.
Third. The combination of the supporting frames a, bridge bearers cd, die
holders eg, cross bars fg, pairs of links gf, bell crank lever o, as set forth in
Figs. 4 to 7.
Fourth. The combination of the curved surface bearers cd, die holders g, e,
oscillating and working thereon and set up with curved surface dies, and the
means g, gf, and f for imparting movement to the said die holders as set forth in
Fig. 8.
Fifth. The segmental construction of oscillating die holder set forth with
reference to Fig. 9.
Sixth. Working up, shaping, and ornamenting rough metallic fork, spoon, ladle,
or like blanks as shown and described in connection with Fig. 1, into finished full
length blanks as shown in Fig. 3, by rolling them between oscillating and
reciprocating dies having respectively curved and flat nipping surfaces.
Dated this 9th day of April 1807
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
also of Liverpool, London, and Manchester,
Agents for the Applicant.