US41918A - Improvement in dipping-frames for the manufacture of matches - Google Patents

Description

D.- HELM'ER. Dipping Frame for the. Mariufajcture of. Matches.

N. PETERS, Phokn-Lilhogrphar, Wa hl c.

N 41,918"; Patented March 15, 1864 ita] STATES PATE T caml)A RW'lN HELMER, OF MOHAWK, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN DIPPING-FRAMES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 4 L918, dated March 15, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DARWIN HELMER, of Mohawk, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented a new and useful improvement in the slats forming parts of the dipping-frames. used in the manufacture of friction-matches; and I-do hereby declare that the following is a clear, full, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming ,part of thisfspecification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a part of an unimproved slat introduced for comparison. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a part of an improved slat, enough being shown to illustrate this invention. Fig. 3 is an end view or section of Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference on the several figures refer to similar parts.

The character of my invention consists in so forming the several slats that form parts of the dipping-frames used in the manufacture of matches that the operation of placing the blank match-sticks therein may be more rapidly and effectually performed, and that when the blank match-sticks are in place and the dipping-frame keyed up or tightened, the match-sticks are not liable to drop outso as to embarrass the succeeding operation of dipping and cause waste of materials.

As usually made, the dipping-frame is a rectangular wooden frame of dimensions suitable for easy manipulationsay from fifteen to eighteen inches square-adapted to rcceive a number of wooden slats, like Fig. 1, one above another. On the lower surface of each slat is a strip of felt or other equivalent elastic material. (Not showninthedrawings.) Onthe upper surface are a number of transverse grooves, a a a, Fig. 1, of suitable width to receive match-sticks, and placed at suitable equal distances apart. The depth of the grooves a cm is considerably less than the diameter of the match-sticks to be placed therein.

The shallowness of the grooves is an objectionable feature, as it interferes somewhat with the operation of filling the slats with blank match-sticks, but is a necessity so long as the felt or its equivalent is retained on the lower surface of the slat for the purpose of distributing pressure to the matchsticks when the frame is filled and keyed up.

The felt or its equivalent is also an objectionable feature, as in the course of time it loses its elasticity and becomes indented so that if the blank match-sticks vary in size (as they almost invariably do) the smaller ones drop out of the frame in the process of dipping, and are a source of loss by embarrassing the operation of dipping and by causing waste of materials.

The improved slat (see Fig. 2) which is the subject of this invention, and which is designed to obviate the objectionable features in the unimproved slat, is, like its predecessor, made of hard wood. The transverse grooves a a a, Fig. 2, in its upper surface are cut the full diameter of the match-sticks in depth, thereby faciliting the operation of filling the grooves in the upper surface of the slut with blank match-sticks, which operation is per-.

formed by sliding a smallbundle of the matchsticks along the surface of the slat, so as to have them fall into the transverse grooves a a a. The greater depth of the grooves in the improved slat gives them a better hold on the match-sticks, so that the sticks do not slip or get pushed out of the grooves by the pressure of the advancing bundle of sticks along the surface of the slat.

Along the length of the slat, and on its upper surface, channels I) b are out, about half as deep as the transverse grooves a a a, and about a quarter of an inch in width. For greater convenience and utility,they are placed one on each margin of the slat, as shown at b b, Fig. 2. On the lower surface of the slat are corresponding longitudinal elevations, as

shown in section at o c, Fig. 3, not quite as wide as the longitudinal channels on the upper surface. These longitudinal elevations of the slats come in contact with the matchsticks immediately below them, where they are partially exposed along the longitudinal channels when the dipping-frame is filled with slats and match-sticks, and obviate the necessity of using felt or its equival But on the under surface of the slat.

Operation The im1'r)ved slat is Placed in the dippin g-frame andfilled with blank matchsticks in the same manner as before this improvement was made. The frame is keyed up 1n the same manner.

a narrow surface, sink into the soft matchsticks when the dipping-frame is keyed up, and efl'ectually hold them without liability to displacement in the subsequent operations performed on the inaichsticks while retained in the dipping frames.

I claim- 1. The longitudinal channels b b, Fig. 2, on the upper surface of the slats, (without restriction as to the number and location of said channels on the upper surface of the slat,) when the said longitudinal channels are used in connection with corresponding longitudinal elevations on the lower surfaces of contiguous slats, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as set forth.

2. The lon itiuliual elevations 0 Fl 3 The longitudinal eleventions on the under surface of the slat, having (whether formed as part of the slat orby additions thereto,) on the under surface of the slats, when said longitudinal elevations are used in connection with corresponding longitudinal channels on the upper surface of contiguous slats, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as set forth i 3. The improved slat, formed by the combination of the longitudinal elevations on its under side with corresponding longitudinal channels on its upper side, and the deepened transverse grooves for the reception of blank match-sticks or its equivalent, when used in the manner and for the purpose substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

DARWIN IJELMER. Witnesses:

1 JAMES LEWIS, O. E. MYERS.

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