11,480. Glover, A. W. May 27. Baling presses; parcelling. - Fire - lighters, of square or circular crosssection, composed of four or more sticks enclosing shavings, sawdust, &c., are made in the apparatus shown. Figs. 2 and 3 show apparatus for making the square fire-lighters. Two or more sticks are laid across a U-shaped casting c with their ends in boxes c<3>. The boxes c<3> are open at the tops and on their inner sides, and are normally closed at the back by a casting b to which the casting c is hinged at d. Sawdust, shavings, &c. are pressed down on the sticks, and two or more sticks are placed on the shavings. The fire-lighter is then compressed by plungers e<1>, e<2>, operated through a bar f from a treadle g. A spring m attached to the bar f or to a slotted link k in which a pin i on the bar f rides, brings the plungers into line with the boxes c<3> before the plungers move vertically downwards. A stop f<x> on the bar f engages an arm c<x> on the hinge d at the end of the stroke of the treadle and compresses the lighter laterally. While the plungers are held down in the boxes, a wire or preferably a string or paper binder is secured around the lighter ; the treadle is then released, and a strong spring h causes the withdrawal of the plungers from the boxes. The casting c is forced away from the back piece b by a crank n, p, and the lighter is removed. One of the boxes c<3> may be fitted with a loose end y, which is engaged by a projection on the crank n, p, for loosening the lighter before it is withdrawn. Fig. 5 shows in elevation an apparatus for making the cylindrical lighters. The sticks t are placed in guides r on slotted cylinders s, s<1> resting on cores v, while shavings are fed into hoppers u, u<1>. The cylinders s, s<1> are advanced, closing the hoppers u, u<1>, and the shavings are compressed by plungers x against stop-plates w, w<1>. These plates are then lowered, and then the sticks are carried by the cylinders s, s<1> to a position over supports c, where they are retained by catches while the cylinders are retracted and the shavings forced by a further advance of the plungers between the ends of the sticks. Plungers e', e<2> compress the lighter against the supports c; it is then tied and removed. In another apparatus shown in part in Fig. 18, the sticks t are placed in guides on frames c, which rest in slots c<z> in two pairs of crossed hinged arms 3. These arms are operated from a treadle through a shaft 5 with cams 4. The inward movement of the arms causes lids 11, which support the shavings during compression, to assume an horizontal position and at the same time forces the sticks t clear of their guides. Vertical plungers then compress the lighter as before, the compressed lighter is tied, the pressure relieved, and the finished lighter removed.