18,588. Donnelly, J. C. Aug. 30. Matches. -A machine for making matches comprises a splint - cutting apparatus A, splint-cleaning mechanism C, punching - mechanism D for ejecting broken or defective splints from the carrier B, paraffining-apparatus E, dipping-apparatus F for heading the splints, drying - chamber G, and match - ejecting apparatus H. The splintcutting mechanism and the means for inserting the splints into the carrier are similar to those described in Specification No. 9578, A.D. 1896. The wood is fed intermittently to the cutters along converging channels by pawl and ratchet, mechanism driven by the main shaft 2. The splints are cut by a series of tubular cutters adjustably mounted upon a cutter-bar carried by a vertically-reciprocating head actuated by eccentrics on the main shaft. During the down-stroke of the cutter head, the splints are cut and are pushed from the cutters by a series of vertical pins on a horizontal bar which is fixed in the path of the cutters. The released splints are drawn laterally into a corresponding number of recesses formed in a vertical plate forming the front of an air chamber connected to a fan 53 by a pipe 52. During the cutting of the splints and the first part of their upward travel towards the carrier B, the air is partially exhausted from the chamber, and the rotary valves for controlling the communication with the fan are actuated by chain gearing from the shaft 2. The splints are forced into the carrier B by the cutter head during its up-stroke, the thrust being sustained by a removable cross-bar 64'. Broken or imperfect splints may be ejected from the recesses during the descent of the cutter head by a series of teeth 66 projecting from a reciprocating bar 67, Fig. 22, which moves within the chamber 37 under the action of bell cranks 70, connected by links 73 to bars 74 secured to vertically-reciprocating rods 75. Springs 76 normally press the rods 75 downwards, and these rods are actuated by the oscillating end of the rods 33 which reciprocate the cutter head. The endless carrier B, made up of a series of connected perforated plates, capable of relative longitudinal motion, passes over wheels B', B<2>, and is driven continuously by means of worms and wheels which engage with racks attached to the carrier ; the worms are adjustable longitudinally upon their shafts 83, Fig. 1, and each worm-wheel is formed of two parts adjustable relatively to each other for the purpose of compensating for wear of the teeth. The shafts 83 are driven by the bevel gearing 88 and shaft 87, which is driven from the main shaft 2. The splint cleaning mechanism C comprises two revolving brushes driven by a belt which passes over a pulley 114 on one of the brush shafts and over a pulley 115 on a countershaft. Broken or imperfect splints are forced from the carrier by means of an apparatus D comprising a series of reciprocating punches, which pass into the apertures of the carrier and force out all splints which are not supported by a transverse cross-bar placed just beneath the lower ends of the normally-sized splints. The splints pass over a paraffining-tank 148, which is steam-heated and is fitted in its upper part with a shallow pan to which melted paraffin is fed uniformly by a grooved roller driven by means of a belt passing over a pulley 173. Melted paraffin is supplied from a melting-chamber 149 to the tank 148, by a pump driven by means of a belt 154. The apparatus for tipping the splints with igniting-composition comprises a steam-jacketed chamber 186 fitted with a series of stirrers mounted upon a vertical shaft 191, and with a roller which applies the composition to the splint heads. The supply of composition is regulated by means of an adjustable scraper which is normally held away from the roller by a spring, but is swung into contact with the roller by means of a lever 226 connected to a lever 176 employed for stopping the operation of the paraffining-apparatus. The composition tank and its connected parts are mounted to slide upon a base-plate 180, so as to allow the apparatus to be drawn away from, or beneath, the carrier. The headed splints are next conveyed through a drying-chamber, Fig. 1<a>, connected to the fan by a pipe 244, and having an air inlet 242 near which is a coil of steam pipes 243. The carrier passes over a series of wheels B', mounted upon a framing 245 and driven by means of a worm and wheel 247. Each wheel preferably comprises two sections held apart by transverse tie-rods, and provided with flanges for supporting the plates of the carrier. When the carrier passes around any of the wheels, the adjacent ends of the plates are kept separated. The finished matches are ejected from the carrier by series of radial studs on a wheel secured to a shaft 257, Fig. 1, which, together with toothed wheels engaging with the rack on the carrier, is driven from the main shaft.