Match-making Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 28th Feb., 1891.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Match-making Machines.
I, AUGUSTUS ELFONZO ELLINWOOD, Machinist, a citizen of the United States,
residing in 142, North Broadway, Akron, in the County of Summit, and State of
Ohio, U.S.A., 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 :-
My invention relates to match-making machines, and refers more particularly
to the separating-device that receives the splints in a compact condition, from
which condition of contact it is necessary to separate each individual splint
slightly from its fellow splint in order that there will be no liability of inter-
fering contact or friction of the green matches after the application of the igniting
material to the end of the splint, as the match continues to flow or be carried
onward in the process of drying, as it passes through the machine over the
successive rollers.
In order to more clearly define the invention, the drawings accompanying
this
Application show in Figure 1 an end view of the gearing actuating the separating-
device; the gearing is attached to shafts, rollers or pulleys that carry the
expansible rubber belts of the separating device; and Figure 2 is a sectional side
view of the same, the rollers being adjusted in relation to each other so that the
periphery of the upper rollers is slightly lower than the upper surface of the
lower roller; this adjustment or arrangement of the rollers is effected by placing
the upper rollers slightly in advance of the corresponding lower roller, and this
ensures the desired pressure or frictional contact of the expansible separating
belts on the splints, and also on the carrying pulley or roller, to prevent slipping
of the belt.
Figure 3 is a plan view.
Figure 4 is a side view of a modified form of the expansible separating-device,
operating in connection with the chute or passage-way that conveys the compact
stream of splints to the expanding carrier-belts for separation and delivery of
the same to the fluted roller of the match-making machine, which is substantially
the same device as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 5 is also a modification of the device, showing a single expansible carrier,
operating in connection with the chute, conveying the compact stream thereto, the
lower surface of the chute being curvilinear in form, passing under the expanding
carrier and its rollers to ensure the desired pressure of the elastic carrier on the
splints, which will adhere to the surface of the carrier and move therewith, as it
expands on its lower side as it is pulled outward by the outer fast-running roller,
and contracts on its upper or return side; the increasing expansion or stretch of
the carrier is constant in its outward travel, and the separating of the splints is of
uniform distance apart.
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the lower or fast-running roller 5 and its
gear-wheel 16, 1 being the main frame to which the long journal or bearing 35
is affixed, or forming a part thereof, and extending inside of the roller 5, which is
secured to the outer end of the shaft 22, while the driving gear-wheel 16 is attached
to the other end of the shaft.
23, 23, 23, 23 are circumferential grooves in the delivery roller 5, in which travel
the compressing transfer belts that hold and compress the match-splint, as it is
delivered on the fluted cylinder 10. 24, 24, is the bearing for the expansible
separating-belt 6.
Figure 7 is a sectional view of the cylinder 10, which is the first of the series of
the fluted cylinders which receives the splints that are delivered to it from the

page_text: separating device, the journal-bearing 27 being affixed in a supporting-hub 30,
attached to the main frame 1.
17 is the driving gear-wheel which is secured by means of its hub 29, and a
set-screw to the extended sleeve 28 of the cylinder 10.
Figure 8 represents one of the expansible separating-belts 6, also clearly shown
in plan view in Figure 3.
These several figures relate to the same invention, clearly showing the con-
struction and operation of this novel device that receives and firmly grasps the
match-splint in regular compact order, as it is delivered thereto, and gradually
creates a space, and thus separates the splints without disturbing the splint from
the position in which it is received and positively held by the carrier; this action
on the splint is desirable to secure uniformity and regularity of movement to the
splints and prevent any liability of disarrangement as the machinery is run at a
high rate of speed, and the frail, light splints must be controlled positively, or the
liability of one splint or more assuming a crosswise position would necessitate a
lower rate of speed, and consequent decrease of the capacity of the machine, in
order to prevent accidents and liability of clogging and breaking the machine.
In the drawings, 1 represents the main frame; 2, 3, the inner or slow-running
carrier-rollers; 4, 5, the outer or fast-running carrier-rollers. 6, 6, are the upper
expansible carrier-belts, while 33, 33, are the lower expansible carrier-belts.
34, with 9, forms the chute or passage-way of the match-splint receptacle, through
which the solid compact stream of splints is received. In Figure 5, 8 represents the
lower surface of the chute or passage-way extending under a single expansible
carrier-belt; its office is to support the splint, and, being curvilinear in form and
elastic in its pressure upwardly, it holds the splint firmly in contact with a single
separating-belt.
10 is the first of a series of fluted cylinders of the match-making machine,
receiving the separated splints from the separating-device and moving them onward;
25 and 26 are the metallic endless carrier compressor or holding-belts that hold the
splint on the fluted cylinders, and aid in its transfer from cylinder to cylinder ;
19 and 20 are the slow revolving receiving roller-shafts actuated by the gear-
wheels 14, 13; 22 and 21 are the fast revolving delivery roller-shafts of the
separating-device; 15, 16, are the actuating-gear of equal size; the shaft 19 has
secured thereon a larger gear-wheel 12 that actuates a gear-wheel 11, on shaft 21,
imparting thereby a greater speed to the delivery-rollers.
In operation, my invention, as heretofore explained, receives the completed splint
out of which the match is formed in a compact stream or condition, and takes a firm
hold of the splint as it emerges from the chute or receptacle, and holds it positively
in its grasp, and, as the splint is thus carried onward by the continuous movement of
the endless belt or belts, the expansion of the belts, or belt caused by its outer
supporting-rollers revolving at a greater speed than the inner rollers, will form a
space between the splints, and thus separate each splint in regular uniform order,
and at a distance apart proportioned to the ratio of increase of speed imparted to
the expanding-rollers over the receiving-rollers of the separating mechanism;
I have in practical operation of the machine found that four to one is a desirable
speed; that is, by revolving the outer rollers 4, 5, four times faster than the inner
rollers 2, 3, the desired expansion of the belt is secured to form the space required
between the splints.
I do not claim to be the first to invent mechanism to separate match-splints in
match-making machines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a match-making machine, the combination of the longitudinally expansible
carrier-belt and rollers actuating the same, the outer roller being caused to revolve
at a greater speed than the inner roller, thus causing the longitudinal expansion of

page_text: the carrier-belt to produce a space between, and separation of the match-splints,
substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
2. In a match-making machine, the combination, with the splint-supporting
receptacle that supplies the match to a splint-separating device consisting of an
expansible endless carrier or splint-moving belt that receives the splints in a compact
form from said splint receptacle, and causes the same to be separated while in the
process of being conveyed forward through said separating device by the longitudinal
expansion of the carrier, which delivers the splints thus separated to a continuous
carrier of the match-making machine, for passing the same through the machine that
finishes the match, substantially as shown and described.
3. In a match-making machine, an expansible carrier-belt or belts by which the
match-splints are carried forward and delivered to the match-making machine, said
carrier-belt or belts being caused to expand longitudinally in carrying the splints
outwardly and thereby separate the splints, substantially as and for the purposes
shown and described.
4. In a match-making machine, an expansible endless carrier-belt combined with
a splint-supporting surface upon which the splints are received and separated, said
endless carrier, by its outward movement, being caused to expand longitudinally,
forming a space or separation between the splints, substantially as shown and
described.
5. The expansible separating-belt provided with rollers actuated by gear which
gives a greater speed to the outer roller, for the purpose of elongating or stretching
the carrier-belt, substantially as and for the purposes described.
6. The combination of the chute or passage-way provided with a lower extended
plate or surface 8, of curvilinear form that supports the splint-separating carrier-
belt 6, operating substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1890.
AUGUSTUS ELFONZO ELLINWOOD.