Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Packing Matches.
Year: 1891

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 4th June, 1891-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Packing
Matches.
I, OLA LARSSON BORG, of Teknologgatan No. 7, Stockholm, Sweden, Gentle-
man, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a method of measuring off the quantity of matches,
which is to be packed in each box, and of introducing these fixed quantities into
the inside-boxes, and it differs from before known methods for the same purpose
by the following three operations, which are preparatory to the packing of the
matches in the boxes.
The first operation consists in laying out the matches on a bed (hereinafter called
the row-bearer) so as to form a shorter or longer row of matches placed on and
beside each other with all the heads in same direction, the said row not being or
needing to be either of the same thickness or continuous. By the second operation
the matches thus laid out are brought together by acting on them in the longi-
tudinal direction of the row, so that they are pushed more upon each other between
the bed or its continuation and a rod or plate (hereinafter called the regulator)
some distance above whereby the matches get the form of a row of matches
regularly arranged and of a thickness corresponding to the distance between the
bed and the regulator. By the third operation the finished row of matches will
be finally divided by suitable arrangements into parts suitable for filling the boxes.
In the accompanying drawings there are shewn, by way of example suitable
arrangements forming part of a match-box-filling apparatus.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section along the line in Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 is a cross section along the line y y in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section along the line
in Fig. 4 and
Fig. 4 is a cross section along the line y y in Fig. 3 shewing a modified arrange-
ment of the machine.
Fig. 5 is a horizontal part section along the line in Fig. 1, and
Fig. 6 is a similar section along the line z z in Fig. 3.
Fig. 7 shews a plan of a part of the arrangement of the machine as set forth in
Figs. 12 and 5.
The same letters refer to corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
a is a part of the stand of the apparatus, 6 are the cell-magazines into which
the matches are let down when taken from the isolating frames; c is a plate
on the stand, on which the cell-magazines are placed and pushed forward, dis
an opening in this plate, which extends along the plate and is of the same width
as the width of the cell-magazines. e are the so-called cell-magazine-dischargers,
which transport the matches let down through the opening to the row-bearers.
These dischargers consist of cells (of the same size as those of the magazines) arranged
in a row and in the example shown they are supported by arms f, projecting from a
shaft mounted in the stand a. The said dischargers e which are provided with a
fixed bottom /, have a movable front side i, which is withdrawn by handles j or by

page_text: means of some suitable mechanism at the moment when the dischargers are brought
down and the matches are to be transferred to the bearers (see the dotted position in
Fig. 2). In Figs. 1, 5 and 7 the row bearers, on which the dischargers e place the
matches, consist of endless belts k passing over the pulleys k'. The upper part of the
belts is kept horizontal by means of shelves k² underneath. k³, k³ are movable traps
forming supports for the match row when pushed together and which can be let down
(see Fig. 2); k¹ kare plates which support the matches on passing from the endless
belts to the above mentioned traps k; k, k³ are upright guides on both sides of
the match row.
In the modified arrangement, shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6, 1, 1 are two shelves on
which the matches are laid down by the magazine dischargers e, and 1, are two.
traps movable in a horizontal direction, which carry the row of matches when
pushed together. 1, are upright guides on both sides of the match row and
m is the pusher, which can be moved to and fro in the opening between the
shelves 1.
In Figs. 1-4 and 7, n represents the regulator, which in the examples shown is
rotatable around journals mounted in the stand so that, when the magazine-
dischargers are let down, it can be turned upwards into the position shown in dotted
lines in Fig. 2. oo are knives which in the example shown are fixed and placed
at regular distances from each other below the respective traps or in order
to divide the shoved up match-row into suitable parts. pare the inside matchi
boxes placed between the knives. 99 are movable pieces which when the traps ³
or are let down or drawn away are brought upwards and press against the match-
row in order to retain the superfluous matches.
The apparatus operates in the following manner :-
At the first operation, which consists in placing the matches on the row-bearers,
the so called cell magazines b, into the cells of which the matches have been let
down from the isolating frames in the before known manner, are placed side by
side on the plate c and simultaneously pushed forwards over the same. During this
forward movement which takes place step by step, the matches fall down from that
row of cells, which is over the opening d in the plate (the rows of cells extending
along the whole of the machine from side to side throughout all the cell-magazines).
The inatches fall down into the cells of the discharger e which at this moment is in
an upright position with the movable front side i pushed up so that the matches
are kept in the said cells standing with their heads on the bottom of the cell.
When the regulator n has been turned from its position over the bearer (vide Fig. 2),
the magazine discharger e is brought down so that its cells come right over the
bearer (the endless belts k in Figs. 1 and 5; the shelves in Figs. 3 and 6). The
movable front side i on the same discharger is then opened by the handles ; (or in
any other convenient manner) whereby the matches will fall down on the said row
bearer.
The second operation which consists in the drawing together of the matches to a
regularly formed row is now effected in the following manner.
72
The magazine discharger e is first raised to vertical position and the regulator
is then turned back to its normal position over the row bearer and kept in this
position.
In using the row bearer shewn in Figs. 12 and 5 the endless belts k will there-
after be put into motion in the directions indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1; which
motion is effected by rotating the pulleys k' by means of some suitable mechanism.
The friction between the endless belts and the matches is sufficient for drawing
together the latter, so that by such a drawing together from both sides they are
collected in the middle part of the apparatus on bearer-plates k and the bearer
traps, on which plates and traps they are pressed together against the regulator
thus forming the above mentioned regularly formed row, the thickness of which
corresponds to the vertical distance between these plates and traps in one and the
regulator in the other direction.
22
It should be remarked that in order to facilitate the drawing together of the

page_text: matches the endless belts may if desired be provided with pins or other projections.
In using the row bearer shewn in Figs. 34 and 6, the matches are collected by
means of movable pieces m which are moved towards the middle part of the
apparatus where the finished row has its place (Fig. 3).
The third operation during which the match-row is divided and its parts are let
down into the boxes is effected in the following manner. In the space between
the plates or the shelves just where these plates or shelves respectively touch
the traps or 1, there are two rods qq (called horns) movable up and down, which.
When now the
are moved upwards and pressed against the matches lying above.
traps are turned down to vertical position, or the traps are withdrawn, as the
case may be, so that the part of the row resting on the same traps, falls on the points
of the knives o, the horns will retain the matches lying on the plates k or the
shelves. The falling part of the match-row falls on the somewhat pointed ends
of the knives o and is thereby divided into so many parts as correspond to the
number of the inside match boxes p standing below, into which boxes the matches
fall by their own weight after the division of the row.
The arrangement may of course also be such, that the boxes, the movable
traps or and the knives o are placed above the match row; in such a case the
openings of the boxes and the points of the knives are turned downward, the row
of matches being pressed upward between the knives and into the boxes by lifters
or in any other convenient manner.
The pressing down of the matches into the inside boxes and the pushing of the
latter into outside boxes may in the machines here described be effected in any
convenient manner, and therefore it is not necessary to describe or shew it here.
The apparatus shown in the accompanying drawing is constructed for simul-
taneously filling only six boxes, but the system of construction of these machines
allows also of a simultaneous filling of a much greater number of boxes with one
machine. It is however obvious that in such a case most of the parts of the
apparatus must be lengthened and the apparatus operate with more cell-magazines
than those shown in the accompanying drawing.
Instead of using two bearers, in order to push the matches from two sides to the
middle part of the apparatus, only one bearer may also be used, in which case the
knives are placed at the end of the apparatus.
Dated this 4th day of May 1891
O. L. BORG,
By L. W., per F. B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Packing
Matches.
1, OLA LARSSON BORG of Teknologgatan No. 7, Stockholm, Sweden, Gentle-
nan, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for measuring off the
quantity of matches which is to be packed in each box, and introducing these
fixed quantities into the inside-boxes. The method adopted differs from hereto-
fore known methods for the same purpose by the following three operations, which
are preparatory to the packing of the matches in the boxes.
The first operation consists in laying out the matches on a bed (hereinafter
called the row-bearer) so as to form a shorter or longer row of matches placed on
and beside each other with all the heads pointing in one direction, the said row not
being or needing to be either of the same thickness or continuous. By the second
operation the matches thus laid out are brought together by acting on them in the
longitudinal direction of the row, so that they are pushed more upon each other

page_text: between the row-bearer, or its continuation and a rod or plate (hereinafter called
the regulator) placed some distance above, whereby the matches are caused to
assume the form of a row of natches regularly arranged and of a thickness
corresponding to the distance between the row-bearer and the regulator. By the
third operation the finished row of matches is finally divided by suitable airange-
ments into parts suitable for filling the boxes.
In the drawings left with my Provisional Specification there is shown by way
of example only suitable arrangements of mechanism forming part of a match
box-filling apparatus
In these drawings
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section along the linea a in Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 is a cross section along the line y y in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section along the linea in Fig. 4; and
Fig. 4 is a cross section along the line y y in Fig. 3 shewing a modified arrange-
ment of the machine.
Fig. 5 is a horizontal part section along the line z z in Fig. 1, and
Fig. 6 is a similar section along the line in Fig. 3.
Fig. 7 shews a plan of a part of the arrangement of machine shewn in Figs. 1, 2
and 5.
The same letters refer to corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
a is a part of the stand of the apparatus; bare the cell-magazines into which
the matches are lowered when taken from the isolating frames; c is a plate on
the stand on which the cell-magazines are placed and pushed forward; and d is
an opening in this plate. This opening d extends along the plate and is of the
same width as the width of the cell-magazines. e are the so-called cell-magazine
dischargers, which transport the matches that fall through the opening d to the
row-bearers. These dischargers consist of cells (of the same size as those of the
magazines) arranged in a row; in the example shown they are supported by
arms, projecting from a shaft g mounted in the stand a. The said dischargers e
which are provided with a fixed bottom h, have a movable front side i, which is
withdrawn by means of some suitable mechanism as for example by the handles j,
at the moment when the dischargers are brought down and the matches are to be
transferred to the bearers (see the dotted position in Fig. 2). In Figs. 1, 5 and 7
the row bearers on which the dischargers e place the matches, consist of endless
belts & passing over. the pulleys . The upper part of the belts is kept horizontal
by means of shelves underneath. k³, are movable traps forming supports for
the match row when pushed together and capable of being lowered (see Fig. 2).
k, kare plates which support the matches on passing from the endless belts k to
the above mentioned traps k³. k, kare upright guides at the two sides of the row
of matches.
In the modified arrangement shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6, 1, 1 are two shelves on
which the matches are laid down by the magazine dischargers e, and I, l', are two
horizontally movable traps that carry the row of matches when pushed together.
12, are upright guides at opposite sides of the row of matches, and m is the
pusher which can be moved to and fro in the opening between the shelves l, l.
In Figs. 1 to 4 and in Fig. 7, n represents the regulator, which in the example
shown is rotatable around journals mounted in the stand so that, when the magazine
dischargers are lowered, it can be turned upwards into the position shown in dotted
lines in Fig. 2. o, o are knives which in the example shown are fixed and placed
at regular distances from each other below the respective traps k³ or in order to
divide the row of matches after the matches have been pushed together, into
suitable parts. p, pare the inner match boxes placed between the knives.
movable pieces which when the traps or are lowered or drawn away, are
brought upwards and press against the row of matches in order to retain the
superfluous matches.
The apparatus operates in the following manner.
9 9 are
At the first operation, which consists in placing the matches on the row-bearers,

page_text: the so-called cell-magazines b, into the cells of which the matches have been lowered
from the isolating frames in a well known manner, are placed side by side on the
plate c and simultaneously pushed forwards over the same. During this forward
movement which takes place step by step, the matches fall down from that row of
cells which is over the opening d in the plate, (the rows of cells extending along
the whole of the machine from side to side throughout all the cell-magazines). The
matches fall down into the cells of the discharger e, which at this moment is in an
upright position with the movable front side pushed up so that the matches are
kept in the said cells standing with their heads on the bottom h of the cell. When
the regulator has been turned from its position over the bearer (vide Fig. 2), the
magazine discharger e is brought down so that its cells come over the bearer, viz.
the endless belts & in Figs. 1 and 5; or the shelves in Figs. 3 and 6. The movable
front side on the same discharger is then opened by the handles j, or in any
other convenient manner, whereby the matches will fall down on the said row-
bearer.
The second operation which consists in the drawing together of the matches to a
regularly formed row is now effected in the following manner.
π2
The magazine discharger e is first raised to a vertical position, and the regulator
is then turned back to its normal position over the row bearer and kept in this
position. When using the row-bearer shewn in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the endless belts k
will afterwards be put into motion in the directions indicated by the arrows in
Fig. 1, this motion being effected by rotating the pulleys by means of some
suitable mechanism. The friction between the endless belts and the matches is
sufficient for drawing the latter together, so that by such a drawing together from
both sides the matches are collected in the middle part of the apparatus on bearer-
plates and the bearer traps k³, on which plates and traps they are pressed together
against the regulator n, thus forming the above mentioned regularly formed row,
the thickness of which corresponds to the vertical distance between these plates
and traps in one and the regulator in the other direction.
called
It should be remarked that in order to facilitate the drawing together of the
matches, the endless belts k may, if desired, be provided with pins or other pro-
jections. In using the row-bearer shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6, the matches are
collected by means of movable pieces m, which are moved towards the middle part
of the apparatus which is the place for the finished row of matches (Fig. 3).
The third operation in which the row of matches is divided and its separate
parts are lowered into the boxes, is effected in the following manner.
In the space
between the plates or the shelves at the places where these plates or shelves
respectively touch the traps k³ or 1, there are vertically movable rods
horns, which are moved upwards and pressed against the matches lying above. If
the traps k³ be now turned down into a vertical position, or the traps are with--
drawn as the case may be, so that the part of the row of matches resting on the
traps, falls on the points of the knives o, the horns will retain the matches lying
on the plates or the shelves l. The falling part of the row of matches falls on
the somewhat pointed ends of the knives o and is thereby divided into so many
parts as correspond to the number of the inside match boxes p standing below, into
which boxes the matches fall by their own weight when the row is divided.
7
The arrangement may of course also be such that the boxes, the movable
traps k³or and the knives o are placed above the row of matches; in such a case
the openings of the boxes, and the points of the knives, are turned downward, the
row of matches being pressed upward between the knives and into the boxes by
lifters, or in any other convenient manner.
The pressing down of the matches into the inner boxes, and the pushing of the
latter into the outer boxes or cases, may, in the machines here described, be
effected in any well known manner, and therefore need not be herein described
or shewn.
The apparatus shown in the drawings is constructed for simultaneously filling
six boxes only, but the system of construction of these machines allows also of a

page_text: simultaneous filling of a much greater number of boxes with one machine if
desired. It is however, obvious that in such a case, most of the parts of the
apparatus must be lengthened, and the apparatus must be provided with more cell-
magazines than those shown in the drawings.
Instead of using two bearers in order to push the matches from two sides to the
middle part of the apparatus, it will be obvious that one bearer only may be used
if desired, in which case the knives are placed at the end of the apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In the filling of match boxes with matches, the herein described method of
first laying or spreading out the matches beside and upon each other in a shorter or
longer irregularly thick row on a bed (row-bearer), and then drawing or pushing
them together sidewise between upper and lower guide planes, (row-bearers and
regulators) to form a regularly arranged row of matches of fixed thickness,
preparatory to dividing the row and introducing the several parts thereof into
match boxes, substantially as set forth.
2. In the filling of match boxes with matches, the herein described method of
first laying or spreading out the matches beside and upon each other in a shorter
or longer irregularly thick row on a bed (row-bearer), and then drawing or pushing
them together sidewise between upper and lower guide planes (row-bearers and
regulators) to form a regularly arranged row of matches of fixed thickness, then
withdrawing one or both of the said guide planes and either allowing the matches
to fall over stationary knives so as to divide the row into a number of suitable
parts that enter, with or without the help of pressing pistons, boxes placed below,
or pushing the matches upwards by means of lifters, against or between stationary
knives, and pressing the matches into match boxes which in this case are placed
above and inverted substantially as herein set forth.
3. In apparatus for packing matches according to the method specified in
Claim 1, the construction of row bearers consisting of a greater or smaller number
of plates, rods, endless belts or the like, on which bearers the matches to be
introduced into boxes are placed cross-wise beside and upon each other to form a
row, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
4. In apparatus for packing matches according to the method specified in
Claim 1, the construction of regulators consisting of one or more plates, rods or
the like placed at a suitable distance above and in the same longitudinal direction
as the bearers referred to in the preceding claim, substantially as herein before
set forth.
5. In apparatus for packing matches according to the method specified in
Claim 1, the arrangement of pushers by means of which matches laid out in the
form of an irregularly thick row between the row-bearer mentioned in Claim 3, and
the regulator mentioned in Claim 4, are drawn or pushed together to form a
regularly arranged row having a thickness corresponding to the distance between
the above mentioned row-bearers and regulators, substantially as hereinbefore set
forth.
6. In apparatus for packing matches according to the method specified in
Claim 1, the arrangement of knives by means of which the completed row of
matches referred to in the preceding claim, is divided into suitable parts preparatory
to their being introduced into boxes either by moving downward or by being
pushed upwards, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
7. In apparatus for packing matches according to the method specified in Claim 1,
the arrangement of a number of cell-magazines disposed side by side and capable
of being emptied of the matches contained therein row after row, the rows
extending from side to side throughout all of the cell-magazines, substantially as
hereinbefore set forth.
8. In apparatus for packing matches, the combination and arrangement of parts

page_text: substantially as hereinbefore described with reference respectively to and shown in
Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 7; and in Figs. 3, 4, and 6 of the drawings for the purposes
specified.
O. L. BORG,
By L. W., per F. B.