apparatus for automatically filling boxes with matches and particularly wax matches
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left 24th Oct. 1896-Accented 2nd Jan
1897
Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left 24th Oct. 1896-Accented, 2nd lan
1897
This invention relates to apparatus for automatically filling boxes with matches
and particularly wax matches."
The method of operation comprises the following steps :-
(1) Division into parcelling out quantities;
(2) Checking by weighing;
(3) Sorting or arranging the matches in oue direction;
(4) Putting the matches into boxes.
These successive operations are performed automatically by a series of devices
one for each operation.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
specification, in which
Figure represents a vertical section on line A B Figure 2 of the entire
apparatus and Figure 2 an end elevation of same.
Figures 3 4 and 5 are detail views in elevation section and plan respectively
of the device for parcelling the matches into given quantities, drawn on a larger
scale.
Figure 6 is a plan of the top plate of the framing.
Figures 7 8 9 respectively represent detail views in elevation section and plan
of the weighing device and its operating mechanism..
Figures 10 11 and 12 respectively represent an elevation end view and plan of
double acting tipping cups and their operating mechanism.
Figure 13 is a detail view in vertical section of one of the cups.
Figures 14 and 15 respectively represent side and end elevation of the single
acting tipping cups and their operating mechanism.
Figures 16 17 and 18 respectively represent part sectional end elevation, side
elevation and plan of the box-filling apparatus.
Figure 19 is a detail of the operating mechanism..
Figure 20 is a perspective view of one of these box-filling devices.
Figure 21 represents the component parts of the device..
Figure 22 is a perspective view of a modified form and Figure 23 represents the
component parts.
Figures 24, 25, and 26 are perspective views of different kinds of match boxes
in use.
Figure 27 represents the holder for supplying empty boxes to the box-fillers.
Figure 28 is a detail perspective view.
'
Figure 29 is a plan of a gauge screen for the preliminary grading of the
matches.
The same letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the
figures.
My improved automatic match-box filling apparatus is constructed as follows:-
a is a container divided into compartments for the matches the bottom being
pierced with round holes from which project downwards a series of tubes b open at

page_text: top and whose bottom ends have one or two small holes e for the passage (singly)
or two at a time according to the number of holes c) of the matches into box
spouts d closed at bottom and provided with a hinged flap e which opens to
discharge the match or matches contained (see Figures 3, 4, and 5). The number
of the tubes b, spouts d, and holes'c may vary according to the number of matches
to be separated or parcelled out at a time. The tubes & are of a length slightly
greater, and a diameter less, than the length of a match so that the matches cannot
assume a too inclined or crosswise position. The box spouts d may be divided by
longitudinal partitions into two or more compartments and the holes may be
varied in diameter so as to give passage to one or several matches at once, the
number being however always restricted since the smaller the number the greater
the accuracy. The greatest accuracy is therefore attained by a single hole e giving
passage to one match only at a time (and not allowing two to enter at once which
may cause choking) a spout d shorter than the match so that the end of the match
will remain in the hole c and prevent the entrance of a second match. If the
hole c gives passage to two or more matches at one time, spout d must admit only
the same number or must be shorter than a match. Or it may be of a size and
length to hold several matches in line end to end. The spouts d discharge their
contents when their hinged side e is opened into channels f extending beneath each
row of tubes b.
The matches pass from coutainer a into tubes b and thence into the spouts d by
their own gravity. To the long sides of container a are fixed two slide bars g
received in guides h which are braced at their ends by cross bars forming a
complete frame, and a horizontal vibrating motion is imparted to container at to
cause the matches to drop into the tubes 6 and box spouts d. For this purpose
studs p on the bars g pass through longitudinal slots y in the guide bars and are
engaged in curved slotted limbs r carried by levers's operated by sinuous cams!
keyed on the main shaft o. The guide bars & are also provided with journals i
supported in bearings and upon which the container a may be oscillated
through 90 degrees when the matches are to be discharged into the channels,
each journal i having keyed upon it a pinion & in gear with a toothed sector/
carried by a bent lever m operated by a cam n fast upon shaft o.
The hinged flapse of the spouts d are operated by rods u united by cross
rods and are kept tightly closed by means of springs as shewn in Figures 3.
and 5. The opening of the flaps e and the delivery of the matches into the
channels is effected during the oscillation of container a by fixed abutments w
acting through rollers and cross rods on rods u. are hinged latches for
retaining the rods and holding the flaps e in the open position while the
container a receives a slight shaking movement by the action of cam t. When
the container a returns to its initial position the latches are released by the
abutments y so as to permit of the flaps e being closed by their springs. Each
channel corresponds to a spout z carried by the upper table 1 shewn in plan in
Figure 6 and each spout leads to a weighing apparatus consisting of a kind of
balance comprising a scale pan 2 mounted on a scale beam 3 which is inclined
downwards at the end opposite to the seale pan which received the charge of
matches from spout z. The beam 3 is tubular and contains a liquid or a ball free
to run along the beam and tending to run to the ends of the beam; when the
beam is inclined under a full charge of matches the ball runs to that end and
causes the complete descent of the scale pan 2 and retains the beam in the inclined
position.
The oscillations of the seale beams otherwise than by a full charge are produced
by lifter rods 4, 5, carried by cross rods jointed to the ends of two levers 6 actuated
by cams fast on shaft 8 (Figures 7, 8, 9) which is operated from shaft o.
Cams 7 are so set out that the movement of beams 3 are divided into three periods;
during the first peried the lifters 4 are lowered to allow the balances to oscillate
under the full charges of matches; during the second period the lifters 5 tip the
scale beams which have received deficient charges of matches so that these matches

page_text: are thrown out by the device hereafter described; during the third period the
lifters 4 rise and return the beams 3 to their initial position where they rest on
fixed stops which limit their oscillation.
It is to be understood that this weighing device is only given as an example
which may be varied or replaced by another fulfilling the same purpose.
The matches discharged from ibo scale pans 2 fall into spouts 9 placed one
opposite each balance. Each spout 9 is open at its lower end but is provided with
a movable deficctor 10 that fits in an aperture in the wall of the spout so as to leave
clear passage to the full charge of matches, the deflector being however placed in
an inclined position across the spout so as to throw out a short charge. For this
purpose the deflectors are mounted on a shaft 11 operated through links 12. from 1
cams 13. fixed on shaft 8: and so timed with regard to cam 7 that the different
positions of the deflectors correspond in point of time to the different movements
of the balances under the action of full charges and of lifters 5 respectively...
The charges of matches delivered by the spouts 9 are therefore of full weight
but as they fall pell mell they should before being boxed bo arranged with their
heads all the same way. For this purpose each spout 9 delivers the matches to a
sorting cup 14 whose bottom is perforated with holes of a diameter greater than
the stem of the match but less than that of the head so that the matches which fall.
heads upwards pass into the holes and remain suspended by their heads whilst those
falling heads downward cannot pass through and remain at the upper part of the
cups 14. The sorting cups which are shewn in Figures 10 and 13 receive a shaking
motion in order to facilitate the passage of the match stem through the holes. For
this purpose the cups 14 are supported by collars' 15 carried on shaft 16 and their
lower eads engage in a cross bar 17 which receives rapidly repeated blows from
bent levers 18 acted on by sinuous cams 19 mounted on shaft 20, spring cushions 21
being interposed between collars 15 and cross bar 17.
The sorting cups 14 afterwards receive a double tipping or reversal so as to
discharge in separate lots the matches which they contain. The cups are first"
tipped through an arc of 135 degrees in order that the matches which rest head-
downwards on the perforated bottom of the cups shall be inverted and fall into
the spouts 22 with their heads upward; the cups 14 are then completely inverted
by being turned in the opposite direction so that the matches which were retained
by their heads in the holes of the perforated bottoms shall fall into the spouts 23
with their heads downward.
The rotary tipping motion of the cups 14 is effected as follows:-The shaft 16
on which they are mounted is provided at each end with a pinion 24 in
rack 25 actuated by cam 26 keyed on shaft 20..
gear with
The matches are thus sorted, all those which are head upwards falling through
spouts 22 and all those which are head downwards passing through the spouts 23.
The cups 14 may be divided into one or more compartments of a diameter. less..
than the length of a match and they may also have a second bottom parallel to the
first at a distance therefrom greater or less than the length of a match according
as it is or is not desired that the matches shall remain suspended by their heads
during the operation.
Opposite each spout 23 is a match-reversing cup 27 the purpose of which is to
receive all the matches whose heads are downwards and which by its reversal
delivers them head upwards into the corresponding spout 22 (see Figures 14.
and 15).
All the reversing cups 27 are mounted on a shaft 28 gearing by a pinion 29 at
its ends with racks 30 receiving motion through cams 31 keyed on shaft 32 which :
is operated through shaft 20. The matches on leaving spouts 22 are therefore all
head upwards.
It is to be understood that the sorting mechanisms might be dispensed with if it is..
not required that the matches should be placed with their heads all the same way.
Each spout 22 opens into a hopper 33 which delivers the charges of matches:
alternately to the distributing spouts 34, 35 (Figures 14 and 15) the hopper 33

page_text: being carried by a sliding gate 36 which receives to and fro motion through a
lever 37 from a cam 38 fixed on shaft 39 driven from shaft 32 and by such notion
opens and closes the lower ends of the distributing spouts 34 35.
The distributing spouts 34, 35 connect respectively with sponts 40, 41, 42, 43,
which deliver the matches into the compartments 44 of the box-filling device shewn
in Figures 16, 17, 18.
Each box-filling device consists of a sort of receiver having an inclined bottom 45
(the several parts being of the shape shewn in Figure 21) leading to a channel 46
through which the matches pass, the device being provided with two holding jaws
of which the upper one 47 is fixed and the lower one 48 movable and held in
position by a blade spring 49 or its equivalent. The boxes to be filled are placed
between the jaws 47, 48 and are held between two wings 50 formed on the two
side walls of the device, the boxes being guided when introduced by the splayed
side flanges of the movable jaws 48. A sliding door 51 enables the height of the
passage for the matches to be regulated. An internal division 52 as shewn in
Figures 17, 18, 20, and 21 is provided at its lower part with an inclined surface 53
which tends to bring the matches towards one point and furthermore the bottom 45
is terminated by an extension 54 designed to cover a portion of the mouth of the
box and forming a temporary division serving to retain the matches in the box
during the shaking motion which the box-filling device receives during the filling
operation, as will be hereafter explained.
When the quantity of matches to be put in the boxes is very small, or when the
boxes have a very narrow mouth, the form of the box-filling device may be slightly
modified, as shewn in Figures 22, 23. In this case the division 52 which serves
to guide the matches is parallel to the two sides of the filler and the bottom 45
terminates at the point where the channel 46 commences so that the mouth of the
box is completely free.
By the apparatus described all kinds of boxes whatever their shape may be filled
whether the box be of the sliding tray form shewn in Figure 24 or has a hinged lid
as in Figure 25 or be of the form shewn in Figure 26, etc., the box-filling devices
being modified to suit in so far as regards the parts by which the boxes to be filled
are held.
The space 44 in which the matches are received may be divided into several
vertical compartments in order to hold the matches always in the same position
bead upwards.
In order to fill the matches into the boxes the box-filling devices receive to and
fro motion and when constructed as shewn in Figure 20 they should moreover be
inclined at an angle of 45 degrees during the to and fro motion in order to effect the
filling. For this purpose they are hinged at their lower part to a frame 55 and are
coupled by pivots at the upper part to a frame 56. The frame 55 receives to and
fro motion through a link 57 from a crank on the shaft 58 driven through any
suitable means, the link 57 being jointed to the slide bar 59 fixed to the frame 55
and guided by rollers 60.
The two extremities of this slide bar 59 may also carry two spring tappets which
by striking at each end of the stroke the supporting bracket of the guide rollers 60
cause repeated shocks which free the matches. A latch 61 enables the box-filling
devices to be inclined at the same time that they receive to and fro motion.
The box 6lling devices of the kind shewn in Figure 22 are not inclined at
45 degrees during the filling operation and always retain their vertical position.
The boxes when filled are removed either by hand or by pushers 62 mounted on
a rod 63 movable in guides 64. The pushers 64 first act on the projection 65 of
the movable jaws 48 so as to cause the latter to open and then push out the filled
boxes. The har 63 may be operated either by hand as in the example shewn, or
automatically by any suitable device.
The empty boxes are placed between the jaws 48 either one at a time by hand
or all at once by means of a frame 66 shewn in Figures 27, 28, the bars of this
frame having channels 67 receiving the empty boxes and corresponding to the jaws

page_text: of the box filling devices. To receive boxes of the snuff-box pattern, each channel
has a slot 68 for the passage of the lid when the latter is raised perpendicular to the
box in order to present the box open to the filler. These channels may contain
one or more boxes which are pushed forward either by hand or automatically by
means of followers arranged and operated in any suitable way, the frame 66 being
temporarily held in front of the box fillers.
When the matches have heads of unequal size it may be necessary to subject
them to a preliminary grading by passing them through a gauge or screen 69
constructed as shewn in Figure 29. The holes are of a diamoter corresponding to
a given size of head and should afford passage to one match at a time but should
never allow the stems of two matches to enter at once in the same hole, and the
area of the gauge or screen is divided into numerous compartments in order to
diminish the danger of ignition.
By referring to Figures 1 and 2 which shew the general arrangement it will be
seen that the different mechanisms which together constitute the entire machine
may be mounted on independent shafts and carried by the two standards of the
frame, these mechanisms being operated in succession either by hand or mechanically,
it being understood that the different shaking and inverting motions may be
produced by any suitable means.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-The matches having been ganged
if necessary through the screen 69 are thrown into the container a which receives
horizontal shaking motion from the levers & in order to cause the matches to
descend into the different tubes & and spouts d whereby a given number of matches
equal to the number of holes c are separated from the bulk, the number thus
separated being, say, twenty-five matches in each row. The container a is then
tipped through 90 degrees by the two sectors operated by the levers mand
cams n; during this tipping motion the abutments to act on the roller v' force back
the rods u and open the flaps e of the spouts d which then occupy nearly a
horizontal position whereupon the matches contained are caused by the shaking
motion of the container a to fall into the channels beneath each row of tubes b
after which the container a is returned to its initial position.
Each channel therefore contains twenty-five matches which it delivers to the
corresponding spout z the several charges of twenty-five matches being thereupon
checked by the weighing mechanism.
The full charges delivered to the scale pans 2 tilt the beams 3 and are delivered
to the spouts 9 by which they are conducted to the sorters. A short charge will
fail to tilt the scale beam and will not be delivered to the corresponding spout 9.
until the beam is tilted by the rod 5 at which moment the deflector 10 is placed in
position to eject the incomplete charge. The full charges fall from spouts 9 poll
mell into the vibrating sorters 14, which separate those matches which are head.
uppermost from the remainder which are deposited head uppermost in the spouts 22
when the cups are made to describe an arc of about 135 degrees in the direction of
the arrow (Figure 10). The matches which were suspended by their heads in the
holes of the sorting cups are deposited head downwards in spouts 23 when the cups
are completely inverted in the reverse direction, the matches thence falling into
reversing cups 27 which on being inverted deliver them head uppermost into the
spouts 22 so that the whole of the matches are arranged in the same direction when
they arrive in the hoppers 33 by which they are delivered alternately to the
distributors 34 and 35.
The proportions of the driving pulleys and the forin of the cams are such that
two successivo charges will be delivered to the distributors for filling boxes with
fifty matches. For this purpose the shaft 39 has a speed four times less than that
of shafts o, 8, 20, 32, which operate the other parts. The matches are delivered by
the spouts 40, 41, 42, 43, to the box-fillers as before mentioned by which they are
caused to slide parallel one to the other along inclined planes 45 under the action
of the to and fro movement which the latter receive, the matches finally passing
through the channels 46 into the boxes. The shafts o, 8, 20, 32, 39, are geared

page_text: together by means of pitch chains in order to ensure the necessary correspondence
between the different operations.
The operation of automatically filling match boxes is effected by the combination
of apparatus for separating or parcelling out the matches in given quantities,
weighing devices, sorting cups, and box-filling devices. The action of the first
mentioned apparatus is based on the separation of the matches in a vertical
position by the action of gravity and a shaking movement so as to cause them to
pass through holes of a certain gauge, the matches thus separated being then
delivered in the horizontal position and the remainder being retained. The
weighing apparatus check the quantities of matches distributed, and consist
essentially of a balance which will only be tilted by the charge when the latter is
a full one. The sorting cups arrange the matches all in the same direction, the
operation of the first set of cups depending on their diameter and the size of the
holes and on the double reversal permitting the matches remaining on end partly to
fall into the holes and to follow one or other of two directions according to the
position of the heads, the two lots being finally reunited and delivered in the same
direction after the inversion of the second cups.
The box fillers consist essentially of an inclined plane or horizontal surface on
which the matches are caused to slide parallel to each other under the action of
the vibratory movement and if necessary of shocks imparted at each end of the
stroke for the purpose of loosening the matches and facilitating their entrance into
the boxes of which the mouths, whatever their form, are partly closed by the filler
leaving only a small aperture for the entrance of the matches so as to prevent the
matches being thrown out by the shaking motion. Any number of sets of these
apparatus may be arranged side by side all the corresponding parts being placed
on the same shafts and working in unison.
Dated this 3rd day of February 1900
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
I, VICTOR CARASSALE of 70, Rue Miroménil, Paris, France, Gentleman, 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 apparatus for automatically filling boxes with matches
and particularly wax matches."
The method of operation comprises the following steps:-
(1) Division into parcelling out quantities;
(2) Checking by weighing;
(3) Sorting or arranging the matches in one direction;
(4) Putting the matches into boxes.
These successive operations are performed automatically by a series of devices
one for each operation.
Reference is to be had to the drawings accompanying my Provisional
Specification, in which
Figure 1 represents a vertical section, on line A B Figure 2, of the entire
apparatus and Figure 2 an end elevation of the same.
Figures 3 4 and 5 are detail views in elevation section and plan respectively

page_text: of the device for parcelling the matches into given quantities, drawn on a larger
scale.
Figure 6 is a plan of the top plate of the framing.
Figures 789 respectively represent detail views in elevation section and plan of
the weighing device and its operating mechanism.
Figures 10, 11, and 12 respectively represent an elevation end view and plan of
double acting tipping cups and their operating mechanism.
Figure 13 is a detail view in vertical section of one of the cups.
Figures 14 and 15 respectively represent side and end elevation of the single
acting tipping cups and their operating mechanism.
Figures 16, 17, and 18 respectively represent part sectional end elevation,
side elevation and plan of the box-filling apparatus.
Figure 19 is a detail of the operating mechanism.
Figure 20 is a perspective view of one of these box-filling devices.
Figure 21 represents the component parts of the device.
Figure 22 is a perspective view of a modified form and
Figure 23 represents the component parts.
Figures 24, 25, and 26 are perspective views of different kinds of match boxes
in use.
Figure 27 represents the holder for supplying empty boxes to the box fillers.
Figure 28 is a detail perspective view.
Figure 29 is a plan of a gauge screen for the preliminary grading of the
matches.
The same letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the
figures.
My improved automatic match-box filling apparatus is constructed as follows:-
a is a container divided into compartments for the matches, the bottom being
pierced with round holes from which project downwards a series of tubes b open at
top and whose bottom ends bave one or two small holes c for the passage (singly
or two at a time according to the number of holes c) of the matches into hox
spouts d closed at bottom and provided with a hinged flap e which opens to
discharge the match or matches contained (see Figures 3, 4 and 5). The number
of the tubes b, spouts d, and holes c, may vary according to the number of
matches to be separated or parcelled out at a time. The tubes bare of a length
slightly greater, and a diameter less, than the length of a match so that the
matches cannot assume a too inclined or crosswise position. The box spouts d may
be divided by longitudinal partitions into two or more compartments and the
holes c may be varied in diameter so as to give passage to one or several matches
at once, the number being however always restricted since the smaller the number
the greater the accuracy. The greatest accuracy is therefore attained by a single
hole e giving passage to one match only at a time (and not allowing two to enter
at once which may cause choking) a spout d shorter than the match so that the
end of the match will remain in the hole c and prevent the entrance of a second
match. If the hole c gives passage to two or more matches at one time, spout d
must admit only the same number or must be shorter than a match. Or it may be
of a size and length to hold several matches in line end to end. The spouts d
discharge their contents when their hinged side e is opened into channels fextending
beneath each row of tubes b.
The matches pass from container a into tubes 6 and thence into the spouts d by
their own gravity. To the long sides of container a are fixed two slide bars g
received in guides h which are braced at their ends by cross bars forming a
complete frame, and a horizontal vibrating motion is imparted to container a to
cause the matches to drop into the tubes b and box spouts d. For this purpose
studs p on the bars 9 pass through longitudinal slots q in the guide bars h and are
engaged in curved slotted limbs r carried by levers 's operated by sinuous cams t
keyed on the main shaft o. The guide bars are also provided with journals i
supported in bearingsj aud upon which the container a may be oscillated through 90°

page_text: when the matches are to be discharged into the cliannels, each journal i having
keyed upon it a pinion k in gear with a toothed sector I carried by a bent lever m
operated by a cam n fast upon shaft o..
The hinged flaps e of the spouts d are operated by rods a united by cross rods v
and are kept tightly closed by means of springs, as shewn in Figures 3 and 5. The
opening of the flapse and the delivery of the matches into the channelsfis effected
during the oscillation of container a by fixed abutments to acting through rollers
and cross rods von rods u. are hinged latches for retaining the rods and
holding the flaps e in the open position while the container a receives a slight
shaking movement by the action of cam t. When the container a returns to its
initial position the latches are released by the abutments y so. as to permit of the
flaps e being closed by their springs. Each channel corresponds to a spout
carried by the upper table 1, shewn in plan in Figure 6, and each spout leads to a
weighing apparatus consisting of a kind of balance comprising a scale pan 2
mounted on a scale beam 3 which is inclined downwards at the end opposite to the
scale pan which received the charge of matches from spout . The beam 3 is
tubular and contains a liquid or a ball free to run along the beam and tending to
run to the ends of the beam; when the beam is inclined under a full charge of
matches the ball runs to that end and causes the complete descent of the scale
pan 2 and retains the beam in the inclined position.
The oscillations of the scale beams otherwise than by a full charge are produced
by lifter rods 4, 5, carried by cross rods jointed to the ends of two levers 6 actuated
by cams 7 fast on shaft 8 (Figures 7, 8, 9) which is operated from shaft o. Cams 7.
are so set out that the movement of beams 3 are divided into three periods;
during the first period the lifters 4 are lowered to allow the balances to oscillate
under the full charges of matches; during the second period the lifters 5 tip the
scale beams which have received deficient charges of matches so that these matches
are thrown out by the device hereafter described; during the third period the
lifters 4 rise and return the beams 3 to their initial position where they rest
on fixed stops which limit their oscillation.
It is to be understood that this weighing device is only given as an example
which may be varied or,replaced by another fulfilling the same purpose.
The matches discharged from the seale pans 2 fall into spouts 9 placed one
opposite each balance. Each spout 9 is open at its lower end but is provided with
a movable deflector 10 that fits in an aperture in the wall of the spout so as to
leave clear passage to the full charge of matches, the deflector being however
placed in an inclined position across the spout so as to throw out a short charge.
For this purpose the deflectors are mounted on a shaft 11 operated through
links 12 from cams 13 fixed on shaft 8 and so timed with regard to cam 7 that
the different positions of the deflectors correspond in point of time to the different
movements of the balances under the action of full charges and of lifters 5
respectively.
The charges of matches delivered by the spouts 9 are therefore of full weight
but as they fall pell mell they should before being boxed be arranged with their
heads all the same way. For this purpose each spout 9 delivers the matches to a
sorting cup 14 whose bottom is perforated with holes of a diameter greater than
the stem of the match but less than that of the head so that the matches which
fall heads upwards pass into the holes and remain suspended by their heads whilst
those falling heads downward cannot pass through and remain at the upper part of
the cups 14. The sorting cups which are shewn in Figures 10 and 13 receive a
shaking motion in order to facilitate the passage of the match stems through the
holes. For this purpose the cups 14 are supported by collars 15 carried on shaft 16
and their lower ends engage in a cross bar 17 which receives rapidly repeated
blows from bent levers 18 acted on by sinuous cams 19 mounted on shaft 20, spring
cushions 21 being interposed between collars 15 and cross bar 17.
The sorting cups 14 afterwards receive a double tipping or reversal so as to
discharge in separate lots the matches which they contain. The cups are first

page_text: ipped through an arc of 135° in order that the matches which rest head downwards
on the perforated bottom of the cups shall be inverted and fall into the spouts 22
with their heads upward; the cups 14 are then completely inverted by being
urned in the opposite direction so that the matches which wore retained by their
heads in the holes of the perforated bottoms shall fall into the spouts 23 with their
hends downward.
The rotary tipping motion of the cups 14 is effected as follows:-The shaft 16
on which they are mounted is provided at each end with a pinion 24 in gear with
rack 25 actuated by cam 26 keyed on shaft 20.
The matches are thus sorted, all those which are head upwards falling through
spouts 22 and all those which are head downwards passing through the spouts 23.
The cups 14 may be divided into one or more compartments of a diameter less
than the length of a match and they may also have a second bottom parallel to
the first at a distance therefrom greater or less than the length of a match
according as it is or is not desired that the matches shall remain suspended by
their heads during the operation.
Opposite each spout 23 is a match-reversing cup 27 the purpose of which is to
receive all the matches whose heads are downwards and which by its reversal
delivers them head upwards into the corresponding spout 22 (sce Figures 14
and 15).
All the reversing cups 27 are mounted on a shaft 28 gearing by a pinion 29 at
its ends with racks 30 receiving motion through cams 31 keyed on shaft 32 which
is operated through shaft 20. The matches on leaving spouts 22 are therefore all
head upwards.
It is to be understood that the sorting mechanisms might be dispensed with if it
is not required that the matches should be placed with their heads all the same
way.
Each spout 22 opens into a hopper 33 which delivers the charges of matches
alternately to the distributing spouts 34, 35 (Figures 14 and 15) the hopper 33
being carried by a sliding gate 36 which received to and fro motion through a
lever 37 from a cam 38 fixed on shaft 39 driven from shaft 32 and by such motion
opens and closes the lower ends of the distributing spouts 34, 35.
The distributing spouts 34, 35 connect respectively with spouts 40, 41, 42, 43
which deliver the matches into the compartments 44 of the box-filling device shewn
in Figures 16, 17, 18.
Each box-filling device consists of a sort of receiver having an inclined bottom 45
(the several parts being of the shape shewn in Figure 21) leading to a channel 46
through which the matches pass, the device being provided with two holding jaws
of which the upper one 47 is fixed and the lower one 48 movable and held in
position by a blade spring 49 or its equivalent. The boxes to be filled are placed
between the jaws 47, 48 and are held between two wings 50 formed on the two
side walls of the device, the boxes being guided when introduced by the splayed
side flanges of the movable jaws 48. A sliding door 51 enables the height of the
passage for the matches to be regulated. An internal division 52 as shewn in
Figures 17, 18, 20, and 21 is provided at its lower part with an inclined surface 53
which tends to bring the matches towards one point and furthermore the bottom 45
is terminated by an extension 54 designed to cover a portion of the mouth of the
box and forming a temporary division serving to retain the matches in the box
during the shaking motion which the box-filling device receives during the filling
operation, as will be hereafter explained.
When the quantity of matches to be put in the boxes is very small, or when
the boxes have a very narrow mouth, the form of the box-filling device may be
slightly modified, as shewn in Figures 22, 23. In this case the division 52 which
serves to guide the matches is parallel to the two sides of the filler and the bottom 45
terminates at the point where the channel 46 commences so that the mouth of
the box is completely free.
By the apparatus described all kinds of boxes whatever their shape may be

page_text: filled whether the box be of the sliding tray form shewn in Figure 24 or has a
hinged lid as in Figure 25 or be of the form shewn in Figure 26 etc., the box-
filling devices being modified to suit in so far as regards the parts by which the
boxes to be filled are held.
The space 44 in which the matches are received may be divided into several
vertical compartments in order to hold the matches always in the same position
head upwards.
In order to fill the matches into the boxes the box-filling devices receive to
and fro motion and when constructed as shewn in Figure 20 they should moreover
be inclined at an angle of 45° during the to and fro motion in order to. effect the
filling. For this purpose they are hinged at their lower part to a frame 55 and
are coupled by pivots at the upper part to a frame 56. The frame 55 receives to
and fro motion through a link 57 from a crank on the shaft 58 driven through any
suitable means, the link 57 being jointed to the slide bar 59 fixed to the frame 55
and guided by rollers 60.
The two extremities of this slide bar 59 may also carry two spring tappets
which by striking at each end of the stroke the supporting bracket of the guide
rollers 60 cause repeated shocks which free the matches. A latch 61 enables the
box-filling devices to be inclined at the same time that they receive to and fro
motion.
The box-filling devices of the kind shewn in Figure 22 are not inclined at 45°
during the filling operation and always retain their vertical position.
The boxes when filled are removed either by hand or by pushers 62 mounted
on a rod 63 movable in guides 64. The pushers 62 first act on the projection 65
of the movable jaws 48 so as to cause the latter to open and then push out the
filled boxes. The bar 63 may be operated either by hand, as in the example
shewn, or automatically by any suitable device.
The empty boxes are placed between the jaws 48 either one at a time by hand,
or all at once by means of a frame 66 shewn in Figures 27, 28 the bars of this
frame having channels 67 receiving the empty boxes and corresponding to the jaws
of the box-filling devices. To receive boxes of the snuff-box pattern, each channel
has a slot 68 for the passage of the lid when the latter is raised perpendicular to the
box in order to present the box open to the filler. These channels may contain one
or more boxes which are pushed forward either by hand or automatically by means
of followers arranged and operated in any suitable way, the frame 66 being
temporarily held in front of the box fillers.
When the matches have heads of unequal size it may be necessary to subject
them to a preliminary grading by passing them through a gauge or screen 69
constructed as shewn in Figure 29. The holes are of a diameter corresponding to a
given size of head and should afford passage to oue match at a time but should never
allow the stems of two matches to enter at once in the same hole, and the area of the
gauge or screen is divided into numerous compartments in order to diminish the
danger of ignition.
By referring to Figures 1 and 2, which shew the general arrangement, it will
be seen that the different mechanisms which together constitute the entire machine
may be mounted on independent shafts and carried by the two standards of the frame,
these mechanisms being operated in succession either by hand or mechanically, it
being understood that the different shaking and inverting motions may be produced
by any suitable means.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-The matches having been gauged
if necessary through the screen 69 are thrown into the container a which receives
horizontal shaking motion from the levers s in order to cause the matches to descend
into the different tubes band spouts d whereby a given number of matches equal to
the number of holes c are separated from the bulk, the number thus separated
being, say, twenty-five matches in each row. The container a is then tipped through
90° by the two sectors operated by the levers m and cams n; during this tipping
motion the abutments wact on the roller v', force back the rods u, and open the

page_text: flaps e of the spouts d which then occupy nearly a horizontal position, whereupon
the matches contained are caused by the shaking motion of the container a to fall
into the channels beneath each row of tubes 6 after which the container a is
returned to its initial position.
Each channel therefore contains twenty-five matches which it delivers to the
corresponding spout, the several charges of twenty-five matches being thereupon
checked by the weighing mechanism.
The full charges delivered to the scale pans 2 tilt the beams 3 and are delivered
to the spouts 9 by which they are conducted to the sorters. A short charge will
fail to tilt the scale beam and will not be delivered to the corresponding spout 9
until the beam is tilted by the rod 5 at which moment the deflector 10 is placed
in position to eject the incomplete charge. The full charges fall from spouts 9
pell mell into the vibrating sorters 14 which separate those matches which are
head uppermost from the remainder which are deposited head uppermost in the
spouts 22 when the cups are made to describe au arc of about 135° in the direction
of the arrow (Figure 10). The matches which were suspended by their heads in
the holes of the sorting cups are deposited head downwards in spouts 23 when the
cups are completely inverted in the reverse direction, the matches thence falling
into reversing cups 27 which ou being inverted deliver them head uppermost into
the spouts 22 so that the whole of the matches are arranged in the same direction
when they arrive in the hoppers 33 by which they are delivered alternately to the
distributors 34 and 35.
The proportions of the driving pulleys and the form of the cams are such that
two successive charges will be delivered to the distributors for filling boxes with
fifty matches. For this purpose the shaft 39 has a speed four times less than that
of shafts o, 8, 20, 32, which operate the other parts. The matches are delivered
by the spouts 40, 41, 42, 43 to the box-fillers as before mentioned by which they
are caused to slide parallel one to the other along inclined planes 45 under the
action of the to and fro movement which the latter receive, the matches finally
passing through the channels 46 into the boxes. The shafts o, 8, 20, 32, 39 are
geared together by means of pitch chains in order to ensure the necessary corre-
spondence between the different operations.
The operation of automatically filling match-boxes is effected by the combination
of apparatus for separating or parcelling out the matches in given quantities,
weighing devices, sorting cups, and box-filling devices. The action of the first
mentioned apparatus is based on the separation of the matches in a vertical position
by the action of gravity and a shaking movement so as to cause them to pass
through holes of a certain gauge, the matches thus separated being then delivered
in the horizontal position and the remainder being retained.
The weighing
apparatus check the quantities of matches distributed and consist essentially of a
balance which will only be tilted by the charge when the latter is a full one.
sorting cups arrange the matches all in the same direction, the operation of the
first set of cups depending on their diameter and the size of the holes and on
the double reversal permitting the matches remaining on end partly to fall into
the holes and to follow one or other of two directions according to the position
of the heads, the two lots being finally reunited and delivered in the same direction
after the inversion of the second cups.
The
The box fillers consist essentially of an inclined plane or horizontal surface on
which the matches are caused to slide parallel to each other under the action of the
vibratory movement and if necessary of shocks imparted at each end of the stroke
for the purpose of loosening the matches and facilitating their entrance into the
boxes of which the mouths, whatever their form, are partly closed by the filler
leaving only a small aperture for the entrance of the inatches so as to prevent
the matches being thrown out by the shaking motion. Any number of sets of
these apparatus may be arranged side by side, all the corresponding parts being
placed on the same shafts and working in unison.

page_text: now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The herein described method of automatically filling boxes with matches
and particularly wax matches, consisting in the combination of the following
steps:-
(a) Division of the matches into regulated quantities;
(6) Weighing or checking these quantities;
(e) Sorting each lot of matches so as to arrange them all one way;
(d) Causing the matches to slide down an inclined plane direct into the
boxes.
2nd. The herein described apparatus for automatically filling match boxes,
consisting in the combination of:
(a) Apparatus for separating the matches into regulated quantities and
delivering them into collecting channels;
(b) Weighing apparatus for checking the quantities of matches and throwing
out any incomplete charges;
(c) Sorting cups for rectifying the whole of the matches contained in a
charge;
(d) Box-filling devices for conducting the matches into the boxes; all
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.
3rd. In a machine of the kind specified, apparatus for parcelling out matches
into given quantities and in a vertical position by the action of gravity combined
with repeated concussions, by causing them to pass through holes of a certain size
in numbers equal to the charges to be boxed whereby the matches are, caused by
the tipping of the container to be distributed in a horizontal position, in required
numbers to the collecting spouts, the remainder being retained as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 3, 4, and 5.
4th. In a machine of the kind specified, weighing or checking apparatus each
composed of a balance in which the beam is acted on by two supports operated by
cams through the medium of levers and connecting rods in such manner that the
full charges are delivered freely into a corresponding spout and the incomplete
charges are delivered thereto at a later period and thrown out of the machine by
means of a deflector adapted to said spout as herein before described with reference
to Figures 7, 8, and 9.
5th. In a machine of the kind specified, the sorting cups for separating in each
charge the matches whose heads are in the one direction from those whose heads
are in the other direction, by imparting a vibratory motion to said cups which are
provided with a bottoin having perforations of such diameter as to allow only the
stems of the matches to pass through and retain the heads each of said cups
discharging the matches by means of a double reversing movement into two
separate spouts uniting at their lower ends and one of said spouts being intercepted
by a cup which by a single reversing movement arranges the matches it receives
in the same direction as the remainder as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 10 to 15.
6th. In a machine of the kind specified, the devices for placing the matches in
the boxes by causing them to slide in parallel direction along an inclined plane or
horizontal surface by means of a to and fro movement with or without a concussive
action at each end of the stroke for the purpose of freeing the matches and
facilitating their entrance into the boxes, as described.
7th. In a machine of the kind specified, the employment in connection with the
box-filling devices of a device for covering a portion of the mouth of the box
during the filling as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 16 to 21.
8th. In a machine of the kind specified, the device for facilitating the placing
of the empty boxes in position as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 27 and 28.

page_text: 9th. The employment of the several devices herein before described, whether in
combination or separately or grouped in any desired manner for putting up
matches as specified.
Dated this 24th day of October 1896.
A. M. & W M. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.