IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR GRINDING AND POLISHING NEEDLES.
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur James, of Redditch, in the County of
Worcester, Needle Manufacturer, for the Invention of " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR GRINDING AND POLISHING NEEDLES.'
"
Sealed the 29th December 1874, and dated the 10th July 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur James at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th July 1874.
I, ARTHUR JAMES, of Redditch, in the County of Worcester, Needle
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR GRINDING AND POLISHING NEEDLES," to be
as follows:-
My Invention consists in part of improvements on machinery for
polishing and grinding needles described in the Specification of Letters
Patent granted to me on the Eighth day of May 1868, No. 1514.
My present improvements consist, first, in the following construction
and arrangement or combination of parts for adjusting the position of
the rotating grinders or grindstones of the said machines, whereby the.
A

page_text: adjustment of the said grinders or grindstones is effected with great
facility and with great nicety.
The bearings in which the rotating grinder or grindstone turns are
supported upon a circular disk or bed plate capable of a partial rotation,
by means of which partial rotation the angular position of the grinder.
or grindstone may be adjusted. The partial rotation of the said disk or
bed plate is effected by means of a horizontal hand rod, having at its
inner end a worm or screw which gears with a worm wheel on the
pheriphery of the said disk or bed plate. Upon the said disk or bed
plate is a compound dovetail slide, the upper part of which carries
vertical supports, in which supports vertical slides supporting the
bearings of the rotating grinder work. The horizontal slides of the
said compound slide work independently of each other by means of
screwed hand rods taking into screw boxes on the said slides. By
moving the upper horizontal slide the rotating grinder or grindstone
may be advanced across the machine in one direction, and by moving
the other horizontal slide the rotating grinder or grindstone may be
advanced across the machine in a direction at right angles to that
first described.
°
In addition to the cross and rotating or angular motions described the
rotating grindstone is also made capable of a rising-and-falling motion, by
means of the following combination of parts :-The vertical dovetail slides
in which the bearings of the rotating grinder or grindstone are supported
carry studs, which studs work in forked or slotted arms or levers turning
on a shaft working in the frames in which the said vertical slides work.
A parallel shaft having at one end a hand wheel and at the other end a
cam is supported in the uprights of the machine. The said cam acts
upon a cranked slotted arm fixed on the first described shaft. By moving
the hand wheel in one or other direction it acts through the cam upon
the cranked slotted arm, and the latter gives a rising or falling motion to
the vertical slides, and the height of the rotating grinder or grindstone
may be thus adjusted.
My Invention consists further of the following construction and com-
binations of parts for polishing needles. In addition to giving the
polisher or buff a rotating motion I give the said polisher or buff an
intermittent reciprocating sliding motion, and also a rising-and-falling
motion. For these purposes the bearing in which the rotating polisher
or buff work are carried by vertical dovetail slide, and the latter by a

page_text: horizontal dovetail slide working on the bed of the machine. Rotary
motion from speed pulleys is transmitted through toothed gearing to a
bevil toothed wheel and to a crank pin or arm, on which wheel a con-
necting rod affixed to the horizontal slide is jointed. At the end of
each stroke of the slide the latter comes to rest when a rising-and-
falling motion is given to the rotating polisher or buff in the manner.
herein-after described: This arresting of the motion of the dovetail
slide of the polisher is effected by means of a clutch on the shaft of the
speed pulleys. This clutch is operated by means of a slide and forked
lever so as to throw the clutch into and out of gear with the speed
pulleys at the proper times, the said slide being worked by a cam set
in motion by gearing from the said speed pulleys.
The rising-and-falling motion of the rotating polisher is effected in
the following manner :-The vertical slide supporting the bearings of the
polisher is connected with a horizontal rod, and through the latter by
means of a link with a lever. This lever has a rising-and-falling
motion given to it, and through it a corresponding motion is given to
the polisher at the end of each stroke of the intermittent sliding motion
of the polisher. The said lever is worked by a cam, motion to which cam
is transmitted by a train of wheels driven by speed pulleys. The end of
the lever is supported by a spring. When the cam acts on the lever
a descending motion is given to the said lever and to the polisher, and
on the cam ceasing to act on the lever the latter is raised by its spring
and a corresponding rising motion given to the polisher. In this way a
rising-and-falling motion is given to the rotating polisher at the end of
each of the strokes and during its period of rest as far as its sliding
motion is concerned.

page_text: crank plate is capable of adjustment on the toothed wheel for the
purpose of increasing or diminishing the throw of the crank and the
motion of the slide...::
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Arthur James in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 8th January 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ARTHUR
JAMES, of Redditch, in the County of Worcester, Needle Manufacturer,.
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the.
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Arthur James, Her
special license that I, the said Arthur James, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Arthur James, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from. time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR GRINDING AND POLISHING NEEDLES," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Arthur James, my
executors or administrators, by. an instrument in writing, under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Arthur James, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in part of improvements on machinery for

page_text: polishing and grinding needles described in the Specification of Letters
Patent granted to me on the Eighth day of May 1868, No. 1514.
My present improvements consist, first, in the following construction
and arrangement or combination of parts for adjusting the position of
the rotating grinders or grindstones of the said machines whereby the
adjustment of the said grinders or grindstones is effected with great
facility and with great nicety.
The bearings in which the rotating grinder or grindstone turns are
supported upon a circular disk or bed plate capable of a partial rotation,
by means of which partial rotation the angular position of the grinder or
grindstone may be adjusted. The partial rotation of the said disc or
bed plate is effected by means of a horizontal hand rod, having at its
inner end a worm or screw which gears with a worm wheel on the
periphery of the said disc or bed plate. Upon the said disc or bed plate
is a compound dovetail slide, the upper part of which carries vertical
supports, in which supports vertical slides supporting the bearings of
the rotating grinder work. The horizontal slides of the said compound
slide work independently of each other by means of screwed hand rods
taking into screw boxes on the said slides. By moving the upper hori-
zontal slide the rotating grinder or grindstone may be advanced across
the machine in one direction, and by moving the other horizontal slide
the rotating grinder or grindstone may be advanced across the machine
in a direction at right angles to that first described.
."
In addition to the cross and rotatory or angular motions described, the
rotating grindstone is also made capable of a rising and falling motion
by means of the following combination of parts :-The vertical dovetail
slides in which the bearings of the rotating grinder or grindstone are
supported carry studs, which studs work in forked or slotted arms or
levers turning on a shaft working in the frames in which the said
vertical slides work. A parallel shaft having at one end a hand wheel
and at the other end a cam is supported in the uprights of the machine.
The said cam acts upon a slotted arm fixed on the first described shaft.
By moving the hand wheel in one or other direction it acts through the
cam upon the cranked slotted arm, and the latter gives a rising or
falling motion to the vertical slides, and the height of the rotating
grinder or grindstone may be thus adjusted.
1

page_text: The improvements described may be applied to polishing machines as
well as to grinding machines.
My Invention consists further of the following construction and com-
binations of parts for polishing needles :--In addition to giving the
polisher or buff a rotating motion I give the said polisher or buff an
intermittent reciprocating sliding motion and also a rising and falling
motion. For these purposes the bearings in which the rotating polisher
or buff work are carried by a vertical dovetail slide, and the latter by a
horizontal dovetail slide working on the bed of the machine. Rotatory
motion from speed pulleys is transmitted through toothed gearing to a
bevil toothed wheel and to a crank pin or arm, on which wheel a con-
necting rod affixed to the horizontal slide is jointed. The slide comes
to rest at the required times when a rising and falling motion is given
to the rotating polisher or buff in the manner herein-after described:
This arresting of the motion of the dovetail slide of the polisher is effected
by means of a clutch on the shaft of the speed pulleys. This clutch is
operated by means of a slide and forked lever so as to throw the clutch
into and out of gear with the speed pulleys at the proper times, the said
slide being worked by a cam set in motion by gearing from the said
speed pulleys.
The rising and falling motion of the rotating polisher is effected in
the following manner:-The vertical slides supporting the bearings of
the polisher are connected with a horizontal rod, and through the latter
by means of a link with a lever. This lever has a rising-and-falling
motion given to it, and through it a corresponding motion is given to
the polisher at the end of each stroke of the intermittent sliding motion
of the polisher. The said lever is worked by a cam, motion to which
cam is transmitted by a train of wheels driven by speed pulleys. The
end of the lever is supported by a spring. When the cam acts on the
lever a descending motion is given to the said lever and to the polisher,
and on the cam ceasing to act on the lever the latter is raised by its
spring and a corresponding rising motion given to the polisher. In this
way a rising and falling motion is given to the rotating polisher at the
end of each of its strokes and during its period of rest as far as its sliding
motion is concerned.
The rotating polisher or buff may either be concave and work under-

page_text: The rising-and-falling motion of the polisher may be dispensed with,
and the said polisher have a continuous reciprocating motion in addition
to its rotating motion. In this case I gear the dovetail slide carrying
the polisher to the speed pulleys in the following manner:-On the shaft
of the speed pulleys is a pinion which gears with a toothed wheel below it.
On the face of the said toothed wheel and excentric to its axis is a crank
plate to which the connecting rod of the slide is jointed. This crank plate
is capable of adjustment on the toothed wheel for the purpose of increasing
or diminishing the throw of the crank and the motion of the slide.
i
Having explained the nature of my Invention I will proceed to
describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in
which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine for grinding and
setting needles constructed according to my invention. Figure 2.
represents the sanic partly in longitudinal section; Figure 3 représents
a plan, and Figure 4 an end elevation of the same. The same letters of
reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
a is the rotating grinder or grindstone carried by the vertical dovetail
slides b, b, working in the uprights c, c, the said uprights being fixed on
thc upper horizontal dovetail slide d of the compound slide d, e; a³ is the
axis of the rotating grinder carrying the driving pulley and working in
the centres as, a³, supported by the vertical slides b, b; fis the circular
disc or bed plate which is capable of a partial rotation on thic foundation
plate of the machine. The said circular disc or bed supports the com-
pound horizontal slide d, e, and parts carried by it. The horizontal
slides d and e work independently of each other, and move in directions
across the machine at right angles to one another. The dovetail on the
rotating bed plate fon which the lower dovetail slide e works is marked
g, in Figure 2, and the dovetail on the lower slide e on which the upper
slide & works is marked h, in Figure 4. The circular bed plate f has a
partial rotation given to it by means of the worm or screw i moved by
the hand wheel 2, taking into the worm wheel on the periphery of
the said bed plate, as best seen in Figures 1, 3, and 4. By moving the
hand wheel in one or other direction a partial rotation may be given to
the bed plate f, and the angular position of the grindstone or rotating
grinder thereby adjusted. The lower horizontal slide e is worked by
means of the screw & and hand wheel 2, the said screw taking into the

page_text: screw box ³ in the said slide (see Figure 2), and the upper horizontal
slide d is worked in a similar manner by the screw and hand wheel 1,
the said screw taking into a screw box in the said upper slide d. By
turning the hand wheel ³ in one or other direction, the slide e may be
moved across the machine in the direction of the arrow m, Figure 3, or
in the opposite direction, and by turning the hand wheel 2 in one or
other direction the slide d may be moved across the machine in the
direction of the arrow n, Figure 3, or in the opposite direction. The two
slides d, e, can thus be moved across the machine at right angles to one
another and independently of one another, so as thereby to bring the
rotating grinder or grindstone at any desired position with respect to the
fixed rectangular frame of the machine.
The height of the grindstone or rotating grinder a is adjusted by the
following mechanism. On the vertical dovetail slides b, b, carrying the
centres a³ in which the axis a² of the grindstone works are pins or studs
b, b², on which pins, or studs slotted arms or levers p, p, work, the said
arms or levers p, p, being fixed to the horizontal shaft q turning in
bearings at q², q², on the uprights c, c, of the upper horizontal slide d.
Parallel with the shaft q is a second shaft » working in bearings ², 13.
The said shaft r has on one end a hand wheel ³, and at its opposite end
a cam 7. The said cam * acts upon the arms fixed on the shaft q
carrying the slotted arms p. p. The end 8² of the arm & is slotted or has
a loop in it (see Figure 4), and in the slot or loop the cam 4 on the
shaft works. By turning the hand wheel in one or other direction
the cam on the end of the shaft r gives motion to the cross am 8, and
through the shaft q to the slotted arms or levers p, p, which arms or
levers by acting on the fixed pins 62, 63, give a rising or falling motion to
the slides b, b. The grindstone a supported by the said slides b, b, is
thereby raised or lowered and its height accurately and readily adjusted.
=
The grindstone or rotating grinder a is readily detached from the
machine by loosening the centres a³, a³, in their bearings by turning"
the handles a, a, and then sliding the said centres outwards. The
axis of the grindstone is thus released and may be removed. The
grindstone is replaced in the machine with the same facility.
By the construction and combination of the rotating bed f, compound
slide e, d, and the mechanism for raising and lowering the vertical
slides b, b, the several adjustments of the grindstone or rotating grinder
are effected with great ease and with great nicety.

page_text: The feeding mechanism of the machine consists of a rotating drum
or pressing roller t working over and nearly in contact with the concave
bed or saddle u (see Figure 2). The feeding roller t is fixed on the
shaft, and is worked by the worm ³ on the driving shaft gearing
with the worm wheel on the shaft 2 of the feeding roller t. The
pile of needles to be ground being placed in the hopper v with their
heads (or points) bearing against the side plate v² of the hopper, they
fall one at a time into the concave bed or saddle u. By the rotation
of the feed roller the needles situated between it and the bed u are.
carried forward, and by its pressure a rolling motion is imparted to the
said needles. As the needles move over the bed u they are brought
under the operation of the rotating grindstone a and their ends pointed
or set.
The needles after they have been pointed or set are carried by the
action of the feeding roller into the inclined tray or receiver v³ down
which they fall to a receptacle.
The height of the feeding roller is adjusted by means of the upper
and lower screws and hand wheels to acting respectively against the
brasses or bearings in which the shaft 3 turns, as seen in the side
O elevation Figure 1.
In order to remove the feed roller from the machine it is only
necessary to raise the upper screws to, when the upper bearings may
be lifted in their frames, and the separable ends 7º, to; (see Figure 4), of
the said shaft 2 may be withdrawn from the said shaft, when the latter
5 with its worm t³ and feeding roller t may be lifted from the machine:
The feed roller is replaced in the machine with like facility. The
feeding roller t is thrown into and out of gear with the driving shaft by
mcans of the handle or lever x operating the clutch through the
sliding rod a³ and forked lever x³, as best seen in Figure 3.
The adjusting and feeding mechanism of the grinding machinery last
described may be applied to polishing machinery.
Figure 5 represents in plan a machine for polishing needles, in which
the rotating polisher or buff has an intermittent reciprocating sliding
motion and also a rising and falling motion given to it. a is the
5 rotating polisher or buff carried by vertical dovetail slides working
in uprights carried by the horizontal dovetail slide c, the said slide c

page_text: working on the bed of the machine. The horizontal slide c is worked
by the connecting rod d from a crank pin on the face of the bevil
·wheel e.
Motion is transmitted from the speed pulleys f to the bevil
wheel e² gearing with the bevil wheel e through the shaft hand
gearing i, i. The speed pulleys fare driven from the speed pulleys % on
the driving shaft of the machine.
By the reciprocating motion of the rod d, worked as before described,
a reciprocating motion is given to the horizontal slide c and to the
rotating polisher a carried by it. The said slide c is brought to rest at
the required times by the following mechanism :- is a clutch connected
by a sliding key with the shaft h, the sliding of the clutch in one or
other direction gearing the shaft with or ungearing it from the speed
pulleys, which turn loosely upon the said shaft. The clutch is worked
by the lever m and slide n. The said slide n is operated at the proper
times by a cam p acting upon a stud q on the slide n.
On the cam p
ceasing to act on the slide n the said slide makes its return motion by
the pressure of a spring. The cam P is fixed to the inner face of the
toothed wheel, which wheel is driven by the toothed wheels & from
the speed pulleys f.. In the Drawing the sliden is represented in its
advanced position, and the clutch of the shaft h disengaged from the
speed pulleys f. During the period of rest of the slide c carrying the
polisher a a rising and falling motion is given to the said polisher in the
following manner:-The vertical slides are connected with the hori-
zontal rod or axis t, and the said rod or axis is connected by means of a
crank arm with the lever supported at its free end by a coiled spring
at t. The said lever ³ has a rising and falling motion given to it, which
motion is transmitted to the vertical slides carrying the bearings of the
polisher a through the arm or link t³ and axis t.
"
8
The descending motion of the lever ³ is effected by the cam u bearing
on the said lever, and the rising motion of the said lever is effected by
the spring at supporting the said lever, which spring had been com-
pressed by the descent of the lever. The cam u is worked by the toothed
gearing from the driving shaft carrying the speed pulleys k. By means
of an excentric*x, worked by the hand rod a³, the lever may be thrown
into and out of action at pleasure. The feeding mechanism of this
machine is the same as that herein-before described and represented in
connection with the grinding machinery, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.

page_text: Figures 6 and 7 represent clevations taken at opposite sides of a
machine for polishing needles, the said machine containing a diagonal
polisher in combination with an endless band or carrier for feeding the
needles into and through the machine as described, represented, and
claimed in the Specification of the Patent herein-before referred to; and
Figure 8 represents a plan of the same; Figure 8ª represents in section
a portion of the machine.
In combination with the said Patented improvements I use the
following arrangements of parts, whereby the details of the machine are
simplified, and great convenience and efficiency in its use are secured :-
Instead of putting the required tension on the endless feeding band or
carrier a by means of a pressure plate and bow spring, as described in
the said Patent, I substitute therefor a pressure roller b working in the
uprights c, c, fixed on the removeable horizontal frame d, which carries
the driving pulleys e, e, of the feeding band. By means of screws f,f,
acting on the bearing blocks f of the axis of the pressure roller the
required tension may be put and maintained on the feeding band a. The
frame d carries a bar d for preserving the parallelism of the acting part
of the feeding band.
For the purpose of enabling the rotating polisher g to be thrown out
of action with certainty and speed when the needles being fed get out of
position or for other purpose, and for adjusting with great nicety the
height of the polisher, I combine with the polisher the following parts:
-The centres g², 92, in which the axis of the polisher g turns are mounted
on the vertical adjustable spring slides h, h, situated at opposite ends of
the machine. The said slides are connected to screw rods i, i, which are
pressed upwards by coiled springs acting on the collars i³.
The screw
rods i, i, of the slides are raised and lowered and the height of the
polisher adjusted by means of the screw nuts bearing against the
bottoms of the boxes containing the springs 2, and the said screw nuts ¿*
arc locked in the adjusted positions by the screw nuts (see the sectional
view Figure 84). On the slides are pins or studs k, which bear against
the side arms 1, 12, of the jointed frame 7. The said frame is worked
by the lever m, the short inner arm of which carries an antifriction
roller, which bears on the cross bar of the jointed frame. By
depressing the lever m. the arms 1, 1, of the frame act upon the
studs k, k, on the slides h, and carry down the said slides and with them
the centres g, g², and polisher g, and the said polisher is withdrawn from

page_text: the feeding band a and needles, the jointed frame being maintained in
its depressed state by the lever m and roller n. As the slides h, h, are
carried down the springs are compressed, and on raising the lever m
the polisher and parts connected with it are raised by the action of the
said springs.
In order to throw the driving pulleys e, e, of the feeding band or
carrier a rapidly into and out of gear with the speed pulleys p I place on
the shaft p² carrying the worms q, q, which gear with the worm wheels
99, on the said driving pulleys, a sliding clutch r worked by the forked
lever ², connecting rod 73, and slotted handle or lever *.
In Figure 7 the shaft p² is shown out of gear with the speed pulleys p.
By pulling the handle in the direction of the arrows, Figures 7 and 8,
the sliding clutch is engaged with the speed pulleys p, and rotatory
motion is transmitted from the said speed pulleys to the shaft p², and
the feeding mechanism is put in motion.
I make the bottom plates of the hopper down which the needles are
fed to the endless band a yielding and adjustable, so that the needles as
they come in contact with the feeding band are gripped between
it and the curved inner end of the said bottom plate. For this
purpose I joint the hopper plates at 82 to a vertical slide t, and I
support the outer end of the plate s upon an adjustable spring bearing u.
The spring bearing is adjusted by the screw nut u³.
:
The moveable frame d carrying the feeding band a is adjusted so as to
bring the acting under part of the band closer to or further from the
bed or table of the machine, by means of the top and bottom screws v, v,
acting upon the brasses in which the axes of the driving pulleys e, e,
and worm wheels q²; q², work. The said screws are raised and lowered
by the screws boxes or caps v³, v³, and the required pressure is
maintained on the screws by the coiled springs represented. The
frames or boxes carrying the screw and caps v, v², and springs are jointed
at w² to the tops of the bearing frames x for the purpose of readily
removing and replacing the feeding mechanism, the whole feeding.
mechanism being carried on the frame or plate d.
1. When the boxes w are closed they are held in their places by the
hooked plates 10³. The cross pieces of the frames c, c, carrying
the pressure roller care jointed in a similar manner and for a like
purpose.

page_text: .
Figure 9 represents. in front elevation, Figure 10 in side elevation,
and Figure 11 in plan, another machine for polishing needles con-
structed according to my Invention. The same letters of reference:
indicate the same parts in Figures 9, 10, and 11. In this machine tho:
polisher has a reciprocating motion in addition to its rotatory motion..
a is the rotating polisher situated parallel to the feeding band or
carrier 6; c is the pressure or tension roller of the said feeding band
constructed and working as before described. The centres a², a², of the
rotating polisher a are carried by the vertical dovetail slides d, d, working
in the uprights d, d, the said uprights being fixed on the horizontal-
dovetail slide e working on the dovetail f on the bed plate of the
machine (see Figure 9). The slide e has a reciprocating motion given-
to it, which motion is imparted to the rotating polisher a by the con-
necting rod g and the following gearing. One end of the rod g is jointed
at h² to the block on the slide e, and the other end of the said rod is.
jointed to the crank pin on the crank plate i fixed to the face of the
bevil toothed wheel k.
Rotatory motion is transmitted from the shaft of the speed pulleys
to the wheel by the following arrangement of gearing :-On the shaft.
of the speed wheels is a pinion m which gears with the toothed
wheel m, and the latter with the toothed wheel m³ on one end of the
On the opposite end of the said shaft n is the bevilled toothed
shaft n.
wheel P, which gears with the bevil toothed wheel / carrying the crank
pin and plate h, i. The manner in which motion is transmitted from-
5 the shaft of the speed pulleys to the bevil toothed wheel p will be
readily traced by an examination of Figures 10 and 11. The crank
plate i is capable of adjustment on the wheel k by the screw pins and
slots at 2, 3; for the purpose of increasing or diminishing the throw of
the crank and the stroke of the reciprocating slide e.
0
.
°
The length of the connecting rod g is also made adjustable by means
of the screw pins and slots 93 at the overlapping parts of the said
connecting rod. The slide e carrying the polisher a is thrown into and
out of gear with the shaft of the speed pulleys by the sliding clutch 12
on the said shaft being engaged with or disengaged from the loose
5 speed pulleys 2. The said clutch is worked by the hand lever, forked
lever, and sliding rod connected with the bottom of the said forked
lever. The hand lever turns on the centre 1.
>

page_text: As the worms w, 10, which gear with the worm wheels x, x, for
driving the feeding band or carrier 6 are fixed on the shaft 1, the same
motion which gears or ungears the slide e with or from the driving shaft
also gears or ungears the feeding band or carrier 6 with or from the
driving shaft.
The rotating and reciprocating polisher a is raised to and withdrawn
from the feeding band in the following manner:-On each of the
vertical slides d, d, supporting the centres a³, a², of the polisher is a
cross arm d³ connected to the slide d by a slot and screw pin at d', the
two arms d³, d³, being fixed on the ends of the axis or shaft d³ (see
Figure 9). By means of a coiled spring p and adjustable screwed rod q
affixed to the cranked part on one of the arms d³ (see Figure 9) the
polisher a when at liberty to move is pressed into its raised or working
position. The adjustable screwed rod 9 and its adjusting and fixing
nuts are similar to those particularly described with respect to the
machine Figures 6, 7, 8, and 84. The polisher a is depressed out of
action when required by the hand lever 8 working in a slot 2 in a
vertical arm t, which is connected to the cranked part of one of the
cross arms d. When the polisher has been withdrawn out of action by
the depressing of the hand levers acting on the vertical arm t the said
polisher is maintained in its depressed position by fixing the lever 8 by
means of the spring sliding bolt u, the said bolt being made to cross the
edge of the hand lever and prevent it rising in the manner best seen in
Figure 11.
When it is required to raise the polisher a into action the
spring bolt is pressed inwards when the levers is liberated and the
slides d, d, and parts connected therewith are raised by the action of the
spring p and the polisher lifted to the feeding band.
Figure 12 represents a plan, Figure 13 a side elevation, and Figure 14
a part of a polishing machine similar to that last described, excepting
that instead of a feeder consisting of an endless band a feeder consisting
of a rotating drum and concavebed is employed, as employed as described
and represented in connection with the grinding machinery, Figures 1, 2,
3, and 4. The arrangement for depressing the polisher is also somewhat
different from that described with respect to the machine, Figures 9, 10,
and 11.
a is the rotating polisher fixed on the reciprocating slide e. the said

page_text: as last described; a², a², are the centres of the polisher carried by the
vertical dovetail slides d.
..
The arrangement for raising the polisher to and depressing it from the
feeder is as follows:-p is the coiled spring, and q the adjustable screw
rod, which acting on one of the cross arms d³ raise the slides d, and
through them the polisher a. The polisher is depressed by the action of
the lever & upon the cranked part of one of the cross arms d³. Instead
of fixing the levers in its depressed position by the long spring bolt
shown in the last-described machine I substitute therefor a bevilled
latch bolt 1 urged outwards by a flat spring 2 (see Figure 14). When
it is required to depress the polisher out of action the lever & is pulled
down, which lever acting against the crank part of one of the cross-
arms d³ causes the said cross arms to depress the slides & and polisher
carried by them, and to compress the spring p, as herein-before par-
ticularly described. As the levers is depressed it acts against the
bevilled end of the bolt 1 pushing the said bolt inwards and the lever
is allowed to descend. On the lever passing the bolt 1 the said bolt is
shot forward and prevents the return of the lever, and thereby holds
down the polisher in its depressed position.
.
The rotating feeding roller or drum is marked 3 and the concave. bed
or saddle beneath it is marked 4. The said feeding roller is worked and
thrown into and out of gear by mechanism of the kind herein-before
described.
When the grooves of sewing machine needles are to be polished by
the use of the machines constructed according to my Invention I
substitute for the polisher represented rotating polishing brushes
supplied with emery or other polishing material. When in use the
bristles of the polishing brushes enter the grooves of the needles and
effectually polish the said grooves.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in
which the same is to be performed I wish it to be understood that I do :
not limit myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated as
the same may be varied without departing from the nature of my
Invention, but I claim as my Invention,-
First. The improvements in machinery for grinding and polishing
needles, herein-before described and illustrated in, figures 1, 2, 3, and 4:

page_text: of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, adjusting the cross and
angular positions of the rotating grinders or grindstones or polishers of
the said machinery by supporting the bearings of the grinder or grind-
stone or polisher upon a compound horizontal dovetail slide, and the
latter upon a rotating disc or bed plate, the said compound slide and
rotating disc or bed plate and parts connected therewith being con-
structed and combined and worked substantially as described and
illustrated. Also the combination with the said cross and angular
adjusting mechanism of mechanism for adjusting the height of the
rotating grinder or grindstone or polisher, substantially as described.
and illustrated. Also the arrangement or combination of parts for
gearing and driving the feeding mechanism of the said machines, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly. The improvements in machinery for polishing needles,
herein-before described and illustrated in Figure 5 of the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say, the construction and combination or arrange-
ment of parts for giving the polisher or buff an intermittent reciprocating
sliding motion, and also a rising and falling motion in addition to the
ordinary rotating motion of the said polisher or buff.
Thirdly. The improvements in machinery for polishing needles, herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 6, 7, 8, and 8 of the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say, the arrangement or combination
of parts for putting the required tension on the endless band or feeding
carrier; also the arrangement or combination of parts for raising,
lowering, and adjusting the rotating polisher; also the arrangement or
combination of parts for throwing the feeding mechanism into and out
of gear with the driving wheel; also the arrangement or combination
of the parts of the feeding hopper; and also the arrangements or
combinations of parts for adjusting the height of the moveable frame
carrying the feeding mechanism and for permitting the said frame and
the tension roller of the feeding band or carrier to be readily removed
and replaced.
Fourthly. The improvements in machines for polishing needles,
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 9, 10, and 11 of the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say, giving the polisher of the said
machines a reciprocating sliding motion in addition to its rotatory
motion, substantially as described and illustrated; also the arrange-

page_text: ments or combinations of parts described and illustrated for throwing
the rotating and reciprocating polisher and the feeding band or carrier
into and out of action.
Lastly. The improvements in machinery for polishing needles, herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 12, 13, and 14 of the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say, the combination with polishing
machinery in which the polisher has a reciprocating motion, in addition
to its ordinary rotatory motion, of a feeder consisting of a rotating drum
or roller and concave bed or saddle; also the arrangement or combi-
nation of parts described and illustrated for withdrawing the polisher
out of action and for fixing the polisher in its withdrawn position.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur James, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
c
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
ARTHUR JAMES. (L.S.)