Improvements in Work Feeding Devices for Use in connection with Brush Machines and other Purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Work Feeding Devices for Use in connection with
Brush Machines and other Purposes.
A communication by MCCLINTOCK YOUNG, of Frederick, Maryland, United States
of America, Vice President of the Palmetto Fibre Co.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to a work feeding device for use more particularly
but not necessarily in connection with brush machines in which the brush block
is bored and tufted. In machines of this character the brush block is supported
on a fixed table beneath a boring tool by which holes are bored, and it is then
moved beneath a tufting tool which drives and secures the tufts in the holes.
The present invention has for its object the automatic feeding of the blocks to
the borer or tufter and it consists in combining with these mechanisms or either
of them a brush block support and improved means for automatically feeding
the support to present the brush block successively in predetermined positions to
receive the holes or tufts at the proper points.
The invention also consists in the details of construction and combination of
parts hereinafter described.
This invention is represented as applied to a brush machine in which the block
is bored and tufted, the automatic mechanism being formed to feed two brush
blocks simultaneously, one a blank block beneath the borer to receive its holes
and the other a bored block beneath the tufter to receive the tufts, but it will
be understood that the mechanism may be employed as well to feed the blank
block in an independent boring machine, or it may be employed to feed a bored
block in a machine in which the tufting operation only is accomplished, the
essence of the invention residing in the automatically operating mechanism for
feeding the brush blocks to receive its holes or tufts in predetermined positions.
The apparatus comprises the frame of a brush machine, a boring tool for form-
ing the holes in the brush block, and a tufting tool for seating the tufts in the
holes. These parts receive motion from a main driving shaft in the base of the
frame from which motion is imparted to a driving pulley clutched to a secondary
driving shaft by means of a clutch mechanism more fully described hereinafter.
The foregoing parts form no part of the present invention.
The automatic work feeding mechanism constituting the present invention is
sustained, beneath the boring and tufting tools, on a bracket fixed to the frame of
the machine, and this mechanism comprises a fixed guiding frame, a secondary
movable frame supported thereby and movable longitudinally thereof and a brush
block supporting frame sustained by the secondary frame and movable with

page_text: respect to the same transversely of the fixed guiding frame. As a result of this
arrangement the brush block supporting frame is movable both longitudinally
and transversely of the fixed frame so that the blocks may be fed laterally to
effect the spacing of the holes in the rows and longitudinally to effect the spacing
of the individual rows as will be more fully described hereinafter.
The fixed guiding trame extends rearwardly and laterally and is provided near
its front edge with three parallel supporting ribs, on which the secondary frame is
supported. On opposite sides of the central rib, friction rollers are mounted on
Ilates adjustably secured to the tops of transverse ribs, the purpose of which is
to guide the secondary frame longitudinally of the fixed frame. The secondary
frame consists of two rails crossing each other at right angles and firmly secured
together in fixed relations at the point of intersection. A rail is adapted to rest
on the central rib of the guiding frame between the friction rollers, the secondary
frame being thus freely movable longitudinally of the fixed frame.
The brush block supporting frame consists of a flat rectangular plate adapted
to rest on the cross rails of the secondary frame and is movable and guided in
the direction of a cross rail by means of two pairs of friction rollers journalled
on the under side of the plate near its front and rear, and arranged to bear
against the opposite sides of the rail.
The brush blocks are adapted to be held on the block supporting frame side
by side respectively beneath the boring and tufting tools, and each is firmly
clamped between lugs on block holding plates by means of clamping levers
formed with cam surfaces adapted to bear against the side of the block. The
holding plates are removably seated on the block supporting frame, which latter
is provided with two parallel ribs undercut in their outer edges and two undercut
lugs, the edges of the holding plate being adapted to extend in the undercut
portions of the ribs and lugs. Near its rear edge the supporting frame is pro-
vided with two stop pins against which the rear edges of the holding plates are
adapted to abut, and two locking pins are provided near the front edge of the
supporting frame to bear against the front edge of the holding plates to retain
them firmly in position. These locking pins extend but a short distance above
the surface of the supporting frame, and the holding plates are sprung in place
over the locking pins, and being pushed rearward against the stop pins they rest
flatly on the supporting frame between the pins and ribs. The holding plates
may be removed by grasping pins fixed near the forward edge of the same and
lifting the plates free of the locking pins, when they may be drawn forward
from between the ribs. The foregoing construction constitutes a simple and
effective means for holding the brush blocks removably but securely in fixed rela-
tions on the block supporting frame, the arrangement admitting of the rapid
removal of the finished brush from beneath the tutter, its replacement by the
bored brush and the application of a new blank block beneath the borer, these
operations being performed when all the holes in the previously bored block have
been filled by the tufter, and when all the holes in the blank block have been
bored.
The block supporting frame with the brush blocks held thereon respectively
beneath the boring and tufting tools as described, is adapted by the mechanism
now to be described to be moved intermittently to the left, to effect the spacing
of the holes of the rows, and at intervals forward to effect the spacing of the
individual rows. These movements of the supporting frame are controlled by two
horizontal rotary cam wheels, mounted on studs rising respectively from the
upper side of a lateral extension and a rear extension of the fixed guiding frame.
The cam wheel controls the lateral movement of the block support through the
medium of an arm pivoted at its rear end on a vertical axis, and having at its
front end a friction roller bearing against the edge of the supporting frame,
which latter is urged constantly to the left by means of a weight attached to a s
cord passing over a guide pulley and fixed at its end to the support. The
ivotted arm has joined to it between its ends one end of a link, the opposite

page_text: end of which is pivoted to a lever, which is in turn pivoted to a guiding frame.
A pin extends upward from between the ends of a link and bears against the
edge of a cam wheel and is held yieldingly in engagement therewith through its
connection with a pivoted arm which is subject to the action of the weight. The
general contour of the cam wheel is such that as it is rotated the block support will
be caused to reciprocate laterally, its movements being effected alternately by the
weight and cam, the former urging it to the left and the cam moving it in the
opposite direction. To effect this reciprocating movement the edge of the cam
wheel presents a wavy outline extending inward and outward alternately, each
inward and outward surface being stepped. Supposing that the cam wheel is
moving in a given direction, the edge of the wheel extends inward step by step
until the innermost surface is reached when it extends out again step by step
until the outermost surface is reached. As each stepped surface is brought oppo-
site a certain set of pins the block support will be moved by the weight inter-
mittently to the left step by step coming to a full stop at each movement and
presenting the blocks successively in the predetermined positions respectively
beneath the borer and tufter to bore a row of holes in one block and fill the
corresponding row in the other block. The relative size, arrangement and form
of these parts is such that by the time the end of a row is reached the innermost
surface will be opposite one of the aforementioned pins at which time a cam
wheel acts on the supporting frame, as more fully described hereinafter, and
moves the same outward to space for the next row, and as one of the cam wheels
continues to rotate the outwardly extending edge of the cam engages the afore-
mentioned pin and forces the block support back step by step against the influ-
ence of the weight, thereby presenting the blocks to the proper predetermined
positions beneath the borer and tufter to bore and fill the second row. It will be
seen that the stepped surfaces of the inward and outward cams are formed by
inclined surfaces to effect the movement of the block support between holes and
curved surfaces to provide for the temporary pause of the blocks while the borer
and tufter are operating.
The cam wheel by which the block support is moved forward to space between
the rows has its edge formed with a series of long curved surfaces joining each
other by inclined outwardly extending surfaces. The edge of this wheel engages
a pin projecting upward from a link connected at its rear end to a lever pivoted
to the guiding frame. At its front end the link is pivoted between the ends of
an arm pivoted to a frame, and at its opposite end the arm is provided with a
friction roller bearing against the rear edge of the block support. The support
is urged constantly against the pin by means of a weight attached to a cord pass-
ing over a pulley and secured to a support. Assuming that the cam wheel
1otates in a given direction, the support will remain at rest until the inclined
surface engages the pin, when the arm will be moved outward, thereby forcing
the support outward a distance representing the space between the rows of holes
in the brush block. This movement of the support takes place as before stated
at the end of each reciprocating movement or action of the cam wheel, the result
being that by the combined actions of the two cam wheels the brush blocks are
moved beneath the borer and tufter in one direction laterally of the block step
by step to form one row, then longitudinally of the block to space for the next
row, then step by step in the opposite direction laterally of the block to bore and
fill another row and so on.
The cam wheels are so formed that there will be bored and tufted in each
block 12 rows of four holes each. Of course the relative number of holes and
rows may be varied to suit the fancy by varying the form and arrangement of
the cams.
In order that the cam wheels may be rotated to effect the movement of the
support described each wheel is provided on its upper side with a circular series
of ratchet teeth which teeth are adapted to be engaged respectively by vibrating
pawls. These pawls extend in opposite directions from studs projecting laterally

page_text: from the upper ends of arms which are fixed to the ends of a rock shaft, mounted
in bearings on the fixed guiding frame between the two wheels. The shaft is
rocked by means of an eccentric on the secondary drive shaft connected by a
When the shaft is
pitman to the end of an arm projecting from another arm.
rocked the pawl will be moved back and forth, and engaging the ratchet teeth
will rotate the cam wheels step by step. It will be understood of course that
other means for rotating the cam wheels may be employed, but those shown are
preferred as being simple and effective. In order to prevent the back or forward
slip of the wheels, spring fingers are provided fixed to the guide frame and
having their free ends arranged to bear respectively against the vertical sides of
the series of ratchet teeth. The pawl which drives the cam wheel is acted on by
a spring fixed to the frame and bearing on the end of the pawl. This spring
serves to hold the pawl in engagement with the teeth ensuring its proper and
uniform action. In order that when all the holes in the blocks have been formed
and tufted the finished block may be removed, the bored block set beneath the
tufter and a new blank set beneath the borer the clutch is automatically operated
to disengage the driving pulley and thereby stop the machine. This clutch com-
prises a dog pivoted on a disc fixed to the drive shaft and adapted to be moved
by a spring to engage a series of pins on the hub of the driving pulley, which
is mounted loosely on the shaft. The clutch is disengaged by moving a roller in
the path of the dog and thereby disengaging the same from the pins on the
driving pulley. The roller is mounted on an elbow lever pivoted on an arm
fixed to the frame and it is connected by a pitman to the inner end of an operat-
ing lever mounted between its ends on a pivot pin sustained by a frame, adjacent
to the cam wheel, the arrangement being such that the elevation of the pitman
by the upward movement of the inner end of the lever will move the roller in
the path of the dog and disengage the clutch. In order that the lever may be
moved at the proper time and automatically to thus disengage the clutch, the
lever is provided with an arm having on its end a friction roller arranged to bear
on the upper surface of a circular cam extending upward from the rotary cam
wheel. The cam surface is of uniform height except at one part, where it sud-
denly curves upward, and is so formed with relation to the friction roller and
operating lever that while the cam wheel is being revolved to space the rows of
holes in the brush block the operating lever will occupy a position with the
clutch engaged. When the upwardly curved part of the cam passes beneath the
roller it elevates the pitman and moves a roller in the path of the
dog and disengages the clutch, thereby instantly stopping the machine.
The raised cam surface is situated with relation to the operating
lever to engage the same after the last row of holes has been bored and
tufted so at this moment the machine is automatically stopped to permit the
brush blocks to be changed.
In order that the lever may be maintained in a raised position and the clutch
disengaged until the attendant is ready to begin operations anew, an automatic
locking pin is provided mounted to slide horizontally in a frame, with its inner
end in position to engage over the outer end of the operating lever. This pin
is acted on by a spring which tends to hold it inward and when the, roller is
travelling on the lower part of the cam surface the outer end of the operating
lever is elevated and the locking pin bears against the same. When however
the raised cam lifts the operating lever, its outer end is lowered and the pin
springs in over the same and holds it with the clutch disengaged until the
attendant starts the machine by withdrawing the pin and allowing the lever to
drop and the pulley to engage the cam.
The operation of the machine is as follows:
The block-holding plates being supplied one with a bored block and the other
with a blank, they are seated on the block support the bored block beneath the
tufter and the blank beneath the borer. When the supporting frame occupies a
certain given position the blocks will occupy the same relative position to the

page_text: first row.
borer and tufter, the two tools being over the corner of the blocks to begin the
One of the cam wheels being in such position that one of its outer-
most cam surfaces engages one of the aforementioned pins, while a cam wheel
occupies a position with its innermost cam surface engaging one of the afore-
mentioned pins. To start the machine a spring locking pin is withdrawn, a
roller dropping on a cam and withdrawing another roller and allowing a dog
to engage the revolving pulley. The eccentric being revolved, the driving pawls
will be vibrated, thereby rotating the two cam wheels step by step. A cam
wheel permits the weight to pull the block support to the left as the stepped
surfaces successively engage one of the aforementioned pins, and at each pause
of the support the boring and tufting tools perform their functions, the first
boring the hole in the blank block and the second filling the corresponding hole
in the bored block. The movement of the blocks thus step by step to the left
continues until the innermost surface of one of the cams moves opposite the pin,
the long cam surface of one of the wheels having in the mean time travelled past
a pin without moving it. By the time the cam surface of a given wheel arrives
opposite a pin, the inclined surface on one of the wheels arrives at its pin and
engaging the same forces the block support outward a distance corresponding to
the distance between the rows of holes. One of the cam wheels aforementioned
now comes into action again and as the outwardly extending cam surfaces move
against one of the aforementioned pins, the block support is pushed laterally
in the opposite direction to that first travelled and a second row of holes is bored
and tufted. When this row is finished a second inclined surface on ope of the
wheels engages its pin and pushes its support outward again to space for the
third row and these operations are continued until all the rows in the blank block
have been bored and all the bored holes in the other block filled. At this stage
of the operation a raised cam on one of the wheels will have made nearly a com-
plete revolution with the outermost of the stepped surfaces against one of the
pins. The raised cam now moves beneath the roller on the operating lever, and
as heretofore described the clutch is disengaged and the machine is stopped, the
locking pin at the same time engaging over the outer end of the lever and hold-
ing it out of action. When the blocks have been changed to begin the operation
anew, the locking pin is withdrawn, the clutch thrown into action and the
machine started.
In certain brush machines the boring tool is mounted to reciprocate vertically
to bore one hole and retreats for the next operation, and the tufting tool acts
in the same manner and simultaneously with the borer. In adapting the present
automatic feed mechanism to machines of this character, the size, relative
arrangement and form of the operating cams and other connected parts are such
that when the blocks come to a rest after each lateral and longitudinal move-
ment the borer and tufter will descend to perform their respective functions.
01. day of Tonnory 1800
Improvements in Work Feeding Devices for Use in connection with
Brush Machines and other Purposes.
A communication by MCCLINTOCK YOUNG, of Frederick, Maryland, United States
of America, Vice President of the Palmetto Fibre Co.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.1.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both

page_text: in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 follow-
ing statement:-
-
This invention has reference to a work feeding device for use more particularly
but not necessarily in connection with brush machines in which the brush block
is bored and tufted. In machines of this character the brush block is supported
on a fixed table beneath a boring tool by which holes are bored, and it is then
moved beneath a tufting tool which drives and secures the tufts in the holes.
The present invention has for its object the automatic feeding of the blocks to
the borer or tufter and it consists in combining with these mechanisms or either
of them a brush block support and improved means for automatically feeding
the support to present the brush block successively in predetermined positions to
receive the holes or tufts at the proper points.
The invention also consists in the details of construction and combination of
parts hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompaning drawings,
Figure 1 is a sectional plan of the improved mechanism applied to a brush
machine in which the brush blocks are bored and tufted.
Figure 2 is a similar view with the parts in a different position.
Figure 3 is a vertical sectional elevation on the line a-a of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a similar view on the line b-b of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is an end elevation as viewed from the opposite side of the machine.
Figure 6 is a vertical section through one of the cam wheels on an enlarged
scale, on the line of Figure 1.
Figure 7 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of the driving pawls for operating
the cam wheels.
Figure 8 is a top plan view of the brush block support and the block holders
proper.
Figure 9 is a top plan view of the secondary supporting frame for the same.
Figure 9 is an end elevation of the secondary supporting frame.
Figure 10 is a top plan view of the fixed guiding frame.
Figure 10 is an end elevation of the same.
Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional elevation on an enlarged scale on the
line ff of Figure 3, showing the mechanism for automatically stopping the
machine.
Figure 12 is a vertical sectional elevation of the same on the line c-c of
Figure 11.
Figure 13 is a vertical sectional elevation on the line d--d of Figure 11.
Referring to the drawings,
This invention is represented as applied to a brush machine in which the block
is bored and tufted, the automatic mechanism being formed to feed two brush
blocks simultaneously, one a blank block beneath the borer to receive its holes
and the other a bored block beneath the tufter to receive the tufts, but it will
understood that the mechanism may be employed as well to feed the blank
block in an independent boring machine, or it may be employed to feed a bored
block in a machine in which the tufting operation only is accomplished the
essence of the invention residing in the automatically operating mechanism for
feeding the brush blocks to receive its holes or tufts in predetermined positions.
Referring more particularly to Figures 1-5, 2 represents the frame of a brush
machine, 3 represents a boring tool for forming the holes in the brush block,
and 4 a tufting tool for seating the tufts in the holes. These parts receive motion
from a main driving shaft (not shown) in the base of the frame from which
motion is imparted to a driving pulley 5 clutched to a secondary driving shaft 6
by means of a clutch mechanism 7 more fully described hereinafter. The fore-
going parts form no part of the present invention.

page_text: The automatic work feeding mechanism constituting the present invention is
sustained beneath the boring and tufting tools, as shown more particularly in
Figures 3, 8, 9, and 10, on a bracket S fixed to the frame of the machine, and
this mechanism comprises a fixed guiding frame 9, a secondary movable frame 10
supported thereby and movable longitudinally thereof and a brush block sup-
porting frame 11 sustained by the secondary frame and movable with respect to
the same transversely of the fixed guiding frame. As a result of this arrange-
ment the brush block supporting frame is movable both longitudinally and trans-
versely of the fixed frame so that the blocks may be fed laterally to effect the
spacing of the holes in the rows and longitudinally to effect the spacing of the
individual rows as will be more fully described hereinafter.
The fixed guiding frame 9 extends rearward as at 12, and laterally to one side
as at 13, and is provided near its front edge with three parallel supporting
ribs 14, 15, and 16, on which the secondary frame is supported. On opposite
sides of the central rib, friction rollers 17 are mounted on plates 18 adjustably
secured to the tops of transverse ribs 19. the purpose of which is to guide the
secondary frame longitudinally of the fixed frame. The secondary frame consists
of two rails 20 and 21 crossing each other at right angles and firmly secured
together in fixed relations at the point of intersection. The rail 20 is adapted to
rest on the central rib 15 of the guiding frame between the friction rollers, the
secondary frame being thus freely movable longitudinally of the fixed frame.
The brush block supporting frame consists of a flat rectangular plate 22 adapted
to rest on the cross rails of the secondary frame and is movable and guided in
the direction of the cross rail 21 by means of two pairs of friction rollers 23
journalled on the under side of the plate near its front and rear, and arranged to
bear against the opposite sides of rail 21.
The brush blocks are adapted to be held on the block supporting frame side
by side respectively beneath the boring and tufting tools, as shown in Figure 1,
and each is firmly clamped between lugs 24 on block holding plates 25 by means
of clamping levers 26, formed with cam surfaces adapted to bear against the side
of the block. The holding plates are removably seated on the block supporting
frame, which latter is provided with two parallel ribs 27 undercut in their outer
edges and two undercut lugs 28, the edges of the holding plate being adapted
to extend in the undercut portions of the ribs and lugs. Near its rear edge the
supporting frame is provided with two stop pins 29 against which the rear edges
of the holding plates are adapted to abut, and two locking pins 30 are provided
near the
to
front edge of the supporting frame bear against the
front edge of the holding plates to retain them firmly in position.
These locking pins extend but a short distance above the surface of the sup-
porting frame, and the holding plates are sprung in place over the locking pins,
and being pushed rearward against the stop pins they rest flatly on the support-
ing frame between the pins and ribs. The holding plates may be removed by
grasping pins 31 fixed near the forward edge of the same and lifting the plates
free of the locking pins, when they may be drawn forward from between the ribs.
The foregoing construction constitutes a simple and effective means for holding
the brush blocks removably but securely in fixed relations on the block support-
ing frame, the arrangement admitting of the rapid removal of the finished brush
from beneath the tufter, its replacement by the bored brush and the application
of a new blank block beneath the borer, these operations being performed when
all the holes in the previously bored block have been filled by the tufter, and
when all the holes in the blank block have been bored.
The block supporting frame with the brush blocks held thereon respectively
beneath the boring and tufting tools as described, is adapted by the mechanism
now to be described to be moved intermittently to the left, in Figure 1, to effect
the spacing of the holes of the rows, and at intervals forward to effect the spacing
of the individual rows. These movements of the supporting frame are con-
trolled by two horizontal rotary cam wheels 32 and 33, see Figures 1 and 2,

page_text: mounted on studs rising respectively from the upper side of the lateral exten-
sion 13 and rear extension 12 of the fixed guiding frame. The cam wheel 32
controls the lateral movement of the block support through the medium of an
arm 34 pivoted at its rear end on a vertical axis, as at 35, and having at its
front end a friction roller 36 bearing against the edge of the supporting frame,
which latter is urged constantly to the left by means of a weight 37 attached to
a cord 38 passing over a guide pulley 39 and fixed at its end to the support, as
at 40. The pivotted arm 34 has joined to it between its ends one end of a
link 41, the opposite end of which is pivoted to a lever 42, which is in turn
pivoted to the guiding frame as at 43. A pin 44 extends upward from the link 41
between its ends and bears against the edge of the cam wheel and is held yield-
ingly in engagement therewith through its connection with the pivoted arm 34
which is subject to the action of the weight. The general contour of the cam
wheel is such that as it is rotated the block support will be caused to recipro-
cate laterally its movements being effected alternately by the weight and cam,
the former urging it to the left and the cam moving it in the opposite direction.
To effect this reciprocating movement the edge of the cam
wheel presents a
wavy outline extending inward and outward alternately, as at 45 and 46, each
inward and outward surface being stepped. Assuming the cam wheel is moving
in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1, the edge of the wheel extends inward
step by step until the innermost surface 47 is reached when it extends out again
step by step until the outermost surface 48 is reached. As each stepped surface
is brought opposite the pins 44, the block support will be moved by the weight
intermittently to the left step by step coming to a full stop at each movement
and presenting the block successively in the predetermined positions respectively
beneath the borer and tufter to bore a row of holes in one block and fill the
corresponding row in the other block. The relative size, arrangement and form
of these parts is such that by the time the end of the row is reached the inner-
most surface 47 will be opposite the pin 44, at which time the cam wheel 33
acts on the supporting frame, as more fully described hereinafter, and moves the
same outward to space for the next row, and as the cam wheel 32 continues to
rotate the outwardly extending edge of the cam engages the pin 44 and forces
the block support back step by step against the influence of the weight, thereby
presenting the blocks to the proper predetermined positions beneath the borer
end tufter to bore and fill the second row. It will be seen that the stepped sur-
faces of the inward and outward cams are formed by inclined surfaces 49 to
effect the movement of the block support between the holes and curved surfaces 50
to provide for the temporary pause of the blocks while the borer and tufter are
operating.
The cam wheel 33 by which the block support is moved forward to space
between the rows has its edge formed with a series of long curved surfaces 51
joining each other by inclined outwardly extending surfaces 52, as shown in
Figure 1. The edge of this wheel engages a pin 53 projecting upward from a
link 54 connected at its rear end to a lever 55 pivoted to the guiding frame. At
its front end the link is pivoted between the ends of an arm 56 pivoted to the
frame as at 57, and at its opposite end the arm is provided with a friction
roller 58 bearing against the rear edge of the block support. The support is
urged constantly against the pin by means of a weight 59 attached to a cord 60
passing over a pulley 61 and secured to the support 62. Assuming that the cam
wheel rotates in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1, the support will remain
at rest until the inclined surface engages the pin, when the arm 56 will be moved
outward thereby forcing the support outward a distance representing the space
between the rows of holes in the brush block. This movement of the support
takes place as before stated at the end of each reciprocating movement or action
of the cam wheel 32, the result being that by the combined actions of the two
cam wheels the brush blocks are moved beneath the borer and tufter in one
direction laterally of the block step by step to form one row, then longitudinally

page_text: of the block to space for the next row, then step by step in the opposite direction
laterally of the block to bore and fill another row and so on.
The cam wheels are so formed that there will be bored and tufted in each
block 12, rows of four holes each. Of course the relative number of holes and
rows may be varied to suit the fancy by varying the form and arrangement of
the cams.
In order that the cam wheels may be rotated to effect the movement of the
support described, each wheel is provided on its upper side with a circular series
of ratchet teeth 63 and 64, as shown more particularly in Figures 1, 3, 5 and 6,
which teeth are adapted to be engaged respectively by vibrating pawls 65 and 66,
see Figures 1 and 7. These pawls extend in opposite directions from studs 68
and 69 projecting laterally from the upper ends of arms 70 and 71 which are
fixed to the ends of a rock shaft 72, mounted in bearings 73 on the fixed guiding
frame between the two wheels. The shaft is rocked by means of an eccentric 75,
Figures 3 and 4 on the secondary drive shaft 6 connected by a pitman 76 to the
end of an arm 77 projecting from the arm 70. When the shaft is rocked the
pawl will be moved back and forth, and engaging the ratchet teeth will rotate
the cam wheels step by step. It will be understood of course that other means
for rotating the cam wheels may be employed, but those shown are preferred as
being simple and effective. In order to prevent the back or forward slip of the
wheels spring fingers 78 are provided fixed to the guide frame and having their
free ends arranged to bear respectively against the vertical sides of the series
of ratchet teeth. As shown in Figure 7 the pawl which drives the cam wheel 32
is acted on by a spring 79 fixed to the frame and bearing on the end of the pawl.
This spring serves to hold the pawl in engagement with the teeth ensuring its
proper and uniform action. In order that when all the holes in the blocks have
been formed and tufted the finished block may be removed, the bored block set
beneath the tufter and a new blank set beneath the borer, provision is made for
operating automatically the clutch 7 to disengage the driving pulley and thereby
stop the machine. This clutch comprises a dog 80 pivoted on a disc 81 fixed to
the drive shaft and adapted to be moved by a spring 82 to engage a series of
pins 83 on the hub of the driving pulley, which is mounted loosely on the shaft.
The clutch is disengaged by moving a roller 83 in the path of the dog and
thereby disengaging the same from the pins on the driving pulley.
The roller is mounted on an elbow lever 84 pivoted on an arm 85 fixed to the
frame and it is connected by a pitman 86 to the inner end of an operating
lever 87, (Figures 11, 12 and 13) mounted between its ends on a pivot pin 88
sustained by a frame 89, adjacent to the cam wheel 33, the arrangement being
such that the elevation of the pitman by the upward movement of the inner
end of the lever will move the roller 83 in the path of the dog and disengage
the clutch. In order that the lever may be moved at the proper time and auto-
matically to thus disengage the clutch the lever is provided with an arm 90
having on its end a friction roller 91 arranged to bear on the upper surface of
a circular cam extending upward from the rotary cam wheel. The cam surface
is of uniform height except at 93, where it suddenly curves upward, see Figure 6,
and is so formed with relation to the friction roller and operating lever that
while the cam wheel is being revolved to space the rows of holes in the brush
block the operating lever will occupy the position shown in Figures 3, 11 and 12
with the clutch engaged. When the upwardly curved part 93 of the cam passes
beneath the roller it elevates the pitman and moves a roller 83 in the path of the
dog and disengages the clutch, thereby instantly stopping the machine. The
raised cam surface 93 is situated with relation to the operating lever to engage
the same after the last row of holes has been bored and tufted so at this moment
the machine is automatically stopped to permit the brush blocks to be changed.
In order that the lever may he maintained in a raised position and the clutch
disengaged until the attendant is ready to begin operations anew, an automatic
locking pin 94 is provided mounted to slide horizontally in the frame 89, with

page_text: its inner end in position to engage over the outer end of the operating lever, as
shown by dotted lines in Figure 12. This pin is acted on by a spring 95 which
tends to hold it inward and when the roller is travelling on the lower part of
the cam surface the outer end of the operating lever is elevated and the locking
pin bears against the same. When however the raised cam lifts the operating
lever its outer end is lowered and the pin springs in over the same and holds
it with the clutch disengaged until the attendant starts the machine by with-
drawing the pin and allowing the lever to drop and the pulley to engage the cam.
The operation of the machine is as follows.
The block-holding plates being supplied one with a bored block and the other
with a blank, they are seated on the block support the bored block beneath the
tufter and the blank beneath the borer. When the supporting frame occupies the
position shown in Figure 1, the blocks will occupy the same relative position to
the borer and tufter, the two tools being over the corner of the blocks to begin
the first row. The cam wheel 32 is in such position that one of its outermost
cam surfaces engages the pin 44, while the cam wheel 33 occupies a position with
its innermost cam surface engaging the pin 53. To start the machine the spring
locking pin 94 is withdrawn, the roller 91 dropping on the cam 92 and with-
drawing the roller 83 and allowing the dog 80 to engage the revolving pulley.
The eccentric being revolved, the driving pawls 65 and 66 will be vibrated,
thereby rotating the two cam wheels step by step. The cam wheel 32 permits
the weight to pull the block support to the left as the stepped surfaces succes-
sively engage the pin 44, and at each pause of the support the boring and tuit-
ing tools perform their functions, the first boring the hole in the blank block and
the second filling the corresponding hole in the bored block. The movement of
the blocks thus step by step to the left continues until the innermost surface 47
of the cam moves opposite the pin, the long cam surface of the wheel 33 having
in the mean time travelled past the pin 53 without moving it. By the time the
cam surface 47 of wheel 32 arrives opposite the pin, the inclined surface 52 on
the wheel 33 arrives at its pin and engaging the same forces the block support
outward a distance corresponding to the distance between the rows of holes.
cam wheel 32 now comes into action again and as the outwardly extending cam
surfaces 46 move against the pin 44 the block support is pushed laterally in the
opposite direction to that first travelled and a second row of holes is bored and
tufted. When this row is finished a second inclined surface on wheel 33 engages
its pin and pushes its support outward again to space for the third row and these
operations are continued until all the rows in the blank block have been bored
and all the bored holes in the other block filled. At this stage of the operation
the raised cam 93 on wheel 33 will have made nearly a complete revolution with
the outermost of the stepped surfaces against the pin 53. The raised cam now
moves beneath the roller on the operating lever and as heretofore described the
clutch is disengaged and the machine is stopped, the locking pin at the same
time engaging over the outer end of the lever and holding it out of action.
When the blocks have been changed to begin the operation anew, the locking
pin is withdrawn, the clutch thrown into action and the machine started.
The
In certain brush machines the boring tool is mounted to reciprocate vertically
to bore one hole and retreats for the next operation, and the tufting tool acts
in the same manner and simultaneously with the borer. In adapting the present
automatic feed mechanism to machines of this character, the size, relative
arrangement and form of the operating cams and other connected parts are such
that when the blocks come to a rest after each lateral and longitudinal move-
ment the borer and tufter will descend to perform their respective functions.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:
1. In a brush block feeding mechanism, the combination with a block support-

page_text: ing frame movable both longitudinally and transversely, of means for securing
the brush block thereon, mechanism acting on said frame in one direction to
move it longitudinally, and mechanism acting also on said frame in another
direction to move it transversely.
2. In a brush block feeding mechanism, the combination with a block support-
ing frame movable both longitudinally and transversely, of means for holding
the brush block thereon, a rotary cam wheel, intermediate devices operated by
the cam wheel and acting on the frame to move it in one direction, a secondary
rotary cam wheel and intermediate devices operated thereby and acting on the
frame to move it in another direction.
3. In a brush block feeding mechanism, the combination with a block support-
ing frame and means for securing the brush block thereon, said frame being
movable back and forth, of a rotary cam wheel having its edge extending alter-
nately inward and outward and formed with stepped surfaces comprising sur-
faces 49 and 50, and intermediate devices acted on by the edge of the cam wheel
and engaging the block supporting frame; whereby the frame will be moved
alternately back and forth, step by step, and pausing at each step to permit the
tool to act.
4. In a brush block feeding mechanism, the combination with a block support
movable transversely and longitudinally, of a rotary cam, intermediate devices
operated thereby for moving the support in one direction, a second rotary cam,
intermediate devices operated thereby for moving the support in another direc-
tion, a series of driving teeth on said cam wheels a rock shaft and pawls carried
by said shaft and engaging the driving teeth.
5. In a brush block feeding mechanism, the combination with the block sup-
porting frame and means for holding the block thereon, said frame movable on
guides, of a rotary cam wheel, a pivoted lever 34 engaging the edge of the frame,
a link 41 pivoted to the lever and engaged by the cam wheel, and means acting
on the support to yieldingly hold the link 41 in engagement with the cam
wheel.
6. In a brush block feeding mechanism, the combination with the fixed frame
provided with guides, of the secondary frame comprising a rail 20 movable in
said guides, and a rail 21 at right angles, and a block supporting frame formed
with guides in which rail 21 extends: whereby the block supporting frame is
movable both laterally and longitudinally of the fixed frame.
7. A brush block feeding mechanism comprising a block support movable
longitudinally and transversely, means acting on the support to constantly urge
the same longitudinally, means acting on the support to constantly urge
the same transversely and mechanism acting on the support to automatically
move the same at intervals in opposition to the constantly acting means.
8. A brush block feeding mechanism comprising a block support movable
longitudinally and transversely, a weight acting on the support and urging it in
one direction transversely, a rotary cam wheel and intermediate devices formed
to control the movement of the support under the action of the weight and
acting on the support to move the same in opposition to the weight, a second
weight acting on the support to move the same in one direction longitudinally
and a cam wheel and intermediate devices to control the movement of the sup-
port longitudinally under the action of the second weight and acting on the sup-
port to move it in opposition to the second weight.
9. In a brush block feeding mechanism the combination with a fixed guiding
frame of a secondary frame sustained thereby and movable longitudinally thereof
and a block support sustained by the secondary frame and movable with relation
thereto transversely of the fixed frame.
10. The combination with a block support provided with undercut ribs and
retaining pins of a block holder adapted to be inserted between the ribs and
sprung in place between the pins.
11. In a brush machine the combination with a driving shaft a driving pulley

page_text: and clutch, of an operating lever and intermediate connections, a block feeding
mechanism, a rotary cam wheel controlling the movement of the same and adapted
to engage the clutch operating lever and operate the clutch.
12. In a machine for boring and tufting brush blocks the combination with a
borer and tufter and means for operating the same, of a work support movable
thereunder longitudinally and transversely, means for holding the brush blocks
on the support respectively beneath the borer and tufter, means for automatically
moving the support transversely to present the brush blocks at different pre-
determined positions beneath the borer and tufter to bore and fill a row of holes,
and means for automatically moving the support longitudinally to effect the
spacing of the rows.
Dl
+1 Ja of l 1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.