US515201A - Match sticks - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 4Sheets-Sheet 1.

D. F.,EISENHART. MAGHINE FOR BUNGHING MATCH STICKS.

No. 515,201. I Patented Feb. 20, 1894.

LLU

(No Moder. 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' D. F. EISENHART.

MACHINE FQRBUNUHING MATCH STIUKS. N 515,201, Patented-Feb, 20, 1894.

mike/11a (No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 3. D. P. EISENHART.

MACHINE FOR BUNUHING MATCH STICKS. No. 515,201. Patented Feb. 20, 1894.

m: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Y.

Un t-Tan STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

DAVID E. EISENHART, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR BUNCHING MATCH-STICKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,201, dated February 20, 1894.

Application filed April 29, 1893. Serial N0. 472.321. (No model.)

tion.

This invention relates to that class of match bnnching machines by which the match sticks are distributed at uniform intervals between coiled bands or tapes to form a bundle or bunch preparatory to dipping or heading the sticks.

The principal objects of my invention are to improveandsimplifytheagitating mechanism that efiects a parallelism of the loose sticks in the feed hopper so that they will be properly presented to the fluted feed drum; to provide an improved and positively actuated transfer mechanism for taking the sticks from the feed drum unfailingly at the proper point and conveying them in regular order to the bunching spool; and to provide an improved 'automatically actuated mechanism for stopping theagitation of the loose sticks in the hopper and the feeding of the same therefrom when a bunch or bundle of match sticks is nearly completed in readiness for dipping.

The invention consists in the features of construction and novel combinations of parts in a match bunching machine as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawingsFigure 1, is a partly sectional side elevation of a match bunching machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2, is a plan of the same. Fig. 3, is an enlarged partly sectional side elevation of the positively actuated transfer mechanism. Fig. 4, is an enlarged transverse section of the feed hopper, showing the agitating mechanism and operating devices. Fig. 5, is a View of a tension device. Fig. 6, is a detail plan of the mechanismfor automatically stopping the action of the agitating devices and interrupting the feed of the match splints or sticks.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the frame of the machine, having at one end a hopper 2 that is attached to brackets 3 secured to two of the parallel longitudinal frame bars. These brackets 3 are provided with vertical arms 4 that are ex tended into the hopper and in contact with its oppositesides.

In the inner face of each bracket arm 4 is a vertical guide groove 5, to receive one of the side bars of a vertically movable frame 6 having cross rods 7 and 8 at top and bottom respectively. The upper cross rod 7 has pivoted thereto a pair of rearward extended agitating fingers 9 which may project through slots 10 in the back of the hopper. tionary transverse rod 11 may be arranged in the rear portion of the hopper to assist in supporting the agitating fingers 9 which move across said rod while being operated.

In the vertically sliding frame 6 are mounted two rollers 12, one above the other. The

frame 6 is reciprocated in a vertical direction through a pitman 13 that connects the cross rod 8 with a crank 14 on a rotary shaft 15 mounted below the hopper. The fronts of the vertical bracket arms 4: are provided at intervals with swells 16 that project substantially in line with the perimeters of the agitating rollers 12 which pass in line with said swells or-curved projections as the frame 6 is reciprocated. Between the swells or pro jections 16 the fronts of the arms 4 are cut away or recessed at 17 and at their lower ends the said bracket arms 4 are curved forward toward a fluted feed drum 18 that projects into the front lower portion of the feed hopper. The width of the feed hopper 2 is about equal to the length of the match splints or sticks that are placed therein upon the rearward projecting agitator fingers 9 and in front of the bracket arms 4 where they rest upon the inclined or curved lower front ends of said arms and against the fluted feed drum. Through the reciprocations of the vertically sliding frame 6, actuated from the rotary shaft 15, the agitator fingers 9, which are guided in the slots 10, receive a vibratory movement that causes the match sticks lying thereon to be aligned or brought into parallelism and gradually worked forward and downward in front of the agitator frame. The rollers 12 reciprocating with the frame 6 bear against those match sticks or splints that settle between the swells 16 and gradually force the body of aligned sticks toward the feed drum.

In the front of the feedhopper 2, above the A sta-.

and receive the ends of the match sticks.

fluted feed drum 18 are placed clearing rolls 19 that are mounted on a rotary shaft 20 journaled in vertically adjustable boxes 21 supported in guides 22 and each provided with an adjusting screw 23 by which the clearing rolls can be adjusted to bring them into suitable proximity to the periphery of the fluted feed drum. The clearing rolls 19 are spaced apart on their shaft 20; and inside the hopper 2 are placed vertical guards or guide bars 24, one at the outside of each clearing roll and one between said rolls. The bars 24 serve to preventthe match splints from passing up over the clearing rolls and may be rounded or beveled at their lower ends to assist in guiding the sticks to the feed drum. By adjusting the clearing rolls downward in proper proximity to the periphery of the fluted feed drum the match sticks taken up by the grooves 25 of said drum are pressed down into uniform engagement with said grooves and superfluous splints are held back so that each groove of the feed drum will carry out from the hopper only one stick. The grooves 25 of the feed drum 18 extend the entire width of said drum which is somewhat less than the length of the match sticks so that their ends will project on both sides and these grooves are located at such intervals that the match sticks when bunched and separated by intervening coils of webbing will be so far apart that their ends can be properly headed or supplied with igniting substance without liability of becoming stuck together. The fluted feed drum 18 is carried by a rotary shaft 26 extended across the frame of the machine and mounted in suitable bearings thereon.

In front of and partly at the opposite ends of the fluted feed drum 18 is a transfer mechanism comprising endless belts or chains 27, flanged gear wheels 28 and 29 for actuating said belts or chains with a positive and uniform movement, a transfer roll 30 adjacent to the bunching spool 31 and tension rolls 32 intermediate said transfer roll and the feed drum. The gear wheels 28 are mounted at the ends of the feed drum 18, in front of its shaft 26, on studs 33 supported in bearings 34 above the machine frame. The gear wheels 29 and transfer roll 30 are secured to a rotary shaft 35 mounted in bearings 36 and the tension rolls 32 are spaced apart on a rotary shaft 37 mounted in standards 38 projecting above the frame of the machine.

It sometimes happens that the match sticks or splints become wedged in the grooves of the fluted feed drum and are not readily disengaged therefrom at the proper time. This difficulty is obviated by the construction and arrangement of the transfer belts or chains 27 as shown in Fig. 3. The endless transfer belts or chains 27 may be composed of any flexible material, such for instance as rubber, corrugated or grooved transversely to engage n the construction of these transfer devices I prefer, however, the employment of pivotally connected links 39 each of which is provided on one edge with two teeth or projections 40 between which the end of a match stick is to be received and on the other edge with asingletooth or projection 41 to work in the recesses 42 of the gear wheels 28 and 29 by Which said chains are actuated with a positive and uniform movement. The, recesses 42 in the chain carrying wheels 28 and 29 are each, preferably, of sufficient length to receive the teeth 41 of two adjacent links and permit a ready engagement and disengagement of the chains as theyare rotated by said wheels. Each gear wheel 28 is set close to one end of the feed drum 18, near the periphery thereof, and the gear wheels 29 are set close to the ends of the transfer roll 30, while on their outer sides all these gear wheels are provided with flanges 43 which aid to keep the transfer chains in position. It will be observed that the transfer chains 27 are of sufficient length to have their upper portions depend beneath the tension rolls 32 which are adapted to exert such pressure on the chains as will cause them to conform to the periphery of the feed drum and strip the splints therefrom. These tension rolls, therefore, not only maintain an even tension on the transfer chains to take up wear and hold the chains taut, but by depressing the chains to a corresponding curvature with the adjacent periphery of the feed drum they greatly facilitate disengagement of the splints from the grooves of said drum. By this arrangement of the transfer chains 27 and their actuating mechanism, in connection with the tension rolls 32, the spaces between the match engaging teeth 40 are caused to register accurately with the grooves 25 of the feed drum 18 at the point where the chains draw oif from the gears 28 and away from the periphery of the feed drum, and thus by means of these transfer chains the match sticks will be unfailingly disengaged and carried from the feed drum at regular intervals, even though some of the sticks may tend to adhere to the drum.

Above the front portion of the feed drum 18, contiguous to the tension rolls 32,is supported a pair of parallel downwardly curved guards 44 that serve to confine the match splints in the grooves of the drum until they have been carried forward into position to be engaged by the transfer chains or belts. The transfer chains or belts 27 carry the match sticks or splints forward and deposit them on the transfer roll 30 between two bunching webs or hands 45 and 46 by which the splints are conveyed to the bunching spool 31 on which they are formed into a bunch or bundle by the coiling or winding of said bands. One of the bunching webs or bands, preferably the thickerweb 45, is attached to a spool 47 mounted on a spindle 48 supported by a suitable bracket or hanger beneath the machine frame. This lower web or band 45 is passed upward in rear of and above a centrally grooved or depressed portion 49 of the transfer roll 30 and thence to the bunching spool 31.together with the upper or thinner web 46 and interposed match splints. The central circumferential groove 49 in the roll 30 is of a depth and width corresponding to the thickness and width of the thicker bunching web or band 45 so that in traveling over said roll the web or band will be substantially flush with the enlarged ends of the roll and thus afford a more firm support for the match splints. The upperor thinner bunching web 46 is attached to a spool 50 mounted on a spindle 51 supported by a standard 52 projecting above the machine frame. From the spool 50 the web orband 46 is passed down beneath the rotary shaft 37, between the tension rolls 32, and thence onto the match sticks or splints as they are carried forward by the transfer chains 27 in proximity to the upper portion of the periphery of the transfer roll 30 and the lower bunching webor band 45 moving thereon. By means of the forwardly moving webs or hands 45 and 46 the inter-. posed match sticks or splints are drawn off in regular order or succession and at proper intervals from the transfer chains 27 at the point where the transfer roll 30 is in contact with the bunching spool 31 or with the bundle of webs and sticks that are already coiled or bunched thereon.

The bunching spool 31 and the web or band supporting spools 47 and 50 are removable from their respective spindles so that each can be readily slipped 041 and replaced by another, when necessary, The periphery of each spool is provided with a suitable depressed fastening 53 by which the ends of the webs or bands 45 and 46 are detachably connected thereto.

For the purpose of regulating the tension of the bunching webs or bands a grooved pulley 54, Figs. 1 and 5, may be fastened on each of the spindles 48 and 51 of the web carrying spools 47 and 50, respectively. To each pulley 54 is applied a friction strap 55 having its ends secured to adjusting screws 56 supported by the standard or hanger in which the spool spindle is mounted and provided with nuts 57 through which the necessary adjustment of the strap can be obtained in order to control or vary the tension of the bunchingwebs or bands as may be required. The spindle 58 of the bunching spool 31 revolves in a sleeve or long tubular bearing 59 carried by the rear end of an automatically adjustable or ver tically swinging frame 60 the forward end of which is sleeved or fulcrumed on a main driving shaft 61 provided with a driving pulley 62 and a clutch mechanism 63 controlled by a shifter 64 through which the machine can be started or stopped at Will.

On the frame of the machine is a set of pins orfastenings 65 between which the shifter le ver or handle 66 may be held in the required position according to whether the machine is to be operated or allowed to remain at rest.

A belt 67 connects a pulley 68 on thedriving shaft 61 with a pulley 69 on the spindle 58 of the bunching spool 31 and thereby furnishes the required power to rotate said spool in the operation of coiling thereon the webs or bands 45 and 46 and interposed match sticks. The vertically swinging frame 60 carries an adj nstable belt tightening pulley 70 for regulating the tension of the belt 67 according to the required speed of the bunching spool. The bunching spool 31 normally rests against the transfer roll 30, being held in contact therewith by the weight of the frame 60, and as the diameter of the bunch of sticks increases the frame 60 is gradually raised and tilted forward until its further movement is arrested, on completion of the bunch, by contact with a rest or stop 71, at the forward end of the machine frame.

If desired the spindle 58 of the bunching spool 31 may be provided with a hand wheel 72 by which said spool and attached webs can be adjusted to proper position on starting the machine.

On the shaft 26 of the fluted feed drum 18 is a large spur gear 73 by which said drum is rotated in the proper direction through intermediate gears 74 and 75 connecting with'a pinion 76 on the main driving shaft.

The crank shaft 15, from which is operated the agitator mechanism located in the feed hopper, has splined thereon a longitudinally movable and automatically released clutch jaw 77, Figs. 2, 4 and 6, that is normally engaged with a clutch jaw 78 secured toa pinion 79 which is loosely mounted on one end of the said shaft 15 in position to mesh with and be driven by a gear 80 On the shaft 26 of the fluted feed drum. The gear 80 drives, also, a pinion 81 secured to one end'of ashort shaft journaled in a standard or bearing 82, Fig. 2, and carrying at its other end a gear 83 which drives the clearing rolls 19 through a pinion 84 on one end of the'roll shaft. The feed drum shaft 26 carries a spur gear 85, Fig. 2, meshing with an intermediate gear 86 that connects with and drives a gear 87 on one end of the shaft 35 to which the transfer roll 30 and transfer chain-driving gears 29 are secured. The gears 28 are rotated by the transfer chains or belts 27; and the tension rolls 32 and, their shaft 37 receive only such motion as may be imparted to them by the trans fer chains and from the upper bunching web or band.

At a suitable point beneath the frame of the machine and adjacent to the feed drum 18 are hangers 88, Fig. 1, in which a rock shaft 89 is supported. The rock shaft 89 is provided with cranks 90, Fig. 6, to which are pivotally attached the supporting arms 91 of a pair of segmental feed guards 92 that project into the hopper 2 at each end of the fluted feed drum 18 and normally rest on the beveled forward ends 93, Fig. 1, of the bracket arms 4, in proximity to the ends of the fluted drum periphery.

To the upper end of an arm 94 projecting vertically from the rock shaft 89 is pivotally connected the rear end of a forwardly projecting latch bar 95, Figs. 1 and 6, having in its under side a notch or recess 96, Fig. 1, by which the latch may be engaged with a catch 97 attached to the machine frame. When the latch bar 95 is thus engaged with the catch 97 the rock shaft 89 and attached feed guards 92 are drawn forward so that the segmental rims or operative portions of said feed guards will uncover the ends of the grooves in the periphery of the feed drum and permit the said grooves to take up match sticks from the hopper. The forward end of the latch bar 95 is provided with a laterally projecting arm 98 having a series of sharpened pins 99 or serrated projections 100, Fig. 6, attached to its forward edge. As shown in Fig. 1, these pins or sharpened projections 99 are normally located beneath the transfer roll and at a sufflcient distance therefrom to be out of the path of the lower bunching web or band at the beginning of the' operation of bunching and while the roll of webbing on the spool, 47, retains a large diameter. Just before the bunch or bundle of match sticks and webbing on the bunching spool 31 is completed the diameter of the roll of Web or band 45 on the spool 47 will have diminished sufficiently to change the direction taken by said band in passing up to the transfer roll 30 so as to carry the vertically moving portion of the band into frictional engagement with the pins 99 and thereby trip the latch bar 95, or release it from the catch 97, and permit the rock shaft 89 to be turned back under the tension of a spring 101, Figs. 2 and 6, having one end attached to the machine frame and the other end secured to a hand lever 102 that is mounted on one end of the rock shaft. This backward movement of the released rock shaft 89 actuated by the spring 101, or by a weight if preferred, will cause the segmental rims of the feed guards 92 to move outward and cover the ends of the grooves 25 in the periphery of the feed drum so as to prevent them from taking up any more match sticks from the hopper.

The automatically released clutch jaw 77, on the shaft 15 of the agitator mechanism, is connected to one end of a clutch lever 103, Figs. 2 and 6, that is centrally fulcrumed to the machine frame and loosely engaged at its other end in a cam groove 104 formed in the top of an arm 105 on one end of the rock-shaft 89 so that when the released rock-shaft is turned backward by the spring 101 the clutch lever 103 will be moved in such direction as to release the clutch jaw 77 from the clutch teeth on the pinion 79 and thus stop the shaft 15 and the agitator mechanism connected therewith. Thus when a bunch or bundle of match sticks is nearly completed on the bunching spool 31 the latch bar 95 will be tripped by the moving lower web or band 45 and the agitation of the match sticks in the hopper 2 and their engagement with the fluted feed drum 18 will be automatically stopped. The rotation of the feed drum, the-bunching spool and the intermediate transfer mechanism will, however, continue as long as the driving pulley 62 is allowed to remain clutched with the driving shaft 61, and thus the match sticks that are already outside the hopper on their way to the bunching spool will be fed forward in regular order, as before, until the bunch or bundle is completed. When the several spools have been removed and replaced by others and it is desired to resume the feed of match sticks from the hopper, the rockshaft will be turned forward by means of its hand lever 102 and secured by the latch bar 95 thus retracting the feed guards 92 and causing the lever 103 to clutch the pinion 79 onto the shaft 15 and again start the agitating and feeding mechanism. The operation of the machine will then be'rcpeated in the manner already described.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a machine for bunching match sticks, the combination with a hopper and a feed drum, of a vertically reciprocating agitator frame located in the hopper, vibratory agitator fingers connected to the upper end of said frame, and a crank shaft located below the hopper and having a pitman connection with the lower end of the reciprocating frame, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for bunching match sticks, the combination with a hopper and a feed drum, of a vertically reciprocating agitator frame located in the hopper, transversely arranged rollers journaled in said frame, vibratory fingers connected to the upper end of the frame, a crank shaft located below the hopper, and a pitman connecting said shaft and frame, substantially as described.

3. In a machine for bunching match sticks, the combination with a hopper and a feed drum, of vertically grooved arms located in opposite sides of the hopper and having their lower ends curved toward the feed drum, a reciprocating agitator frame guided in said vertically grooved arms and provided with agitator fingers and rollers and acrank shaft located below the hopper and connected with said frame, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for bunching match sticks, the combination with a hopper, agitating mechanism located in the hopper, anda crank shaft from which said mechanism is actuated, of a pinion loosely mounted on the crank shaft and provided with a clutch jaw, an automatically released clutch jaw splined on said shaft and normally engaged with the pinion clutch, a clutch lever fulcrumed to the machine frame, and a rock shaft having an arm provided with a cam groove in which one end of the clutch lever is loosely engaged, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for bunching match sticks, the combination with a hopper, a fluted feed drum, agitating mechanism located in the IOC ITC

hopper, a shaft from which the agitator mechanism is actuated, a pinion and clutch mechanism mounted on said shaft, and a clutch lever fulcrumed to the machine frame, of a rock shaft having an arm provided with a cam groove in which one end of said clutch lever is loosely engaged, feed guards connected with therock shaft and adapted to control the engagement of match sticks with the fluted periphery of the feed drum, a latch bar pivotally connected to therock-shaft and having one end projecting in position to be tripped by one of the moving bunching webs or bands as its diameter decreases upon its supporting spool, a catch to normally engage the latch bar, and means for turning the rockshaft backward, when released, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for bunching match sticks, the combination with a hopper, a fluted feed drum, feed guards supported at the -ends of the feed drum in position to control the engagement of match sticks with the fluted periphery ofsaid drum, and a rock shaft from which said feed guards are actuated, of a latch bar pivotally connected with said rock shaft and having one end provided with a series of pins or serrations projecting in position to be engaged by a portion of one of the moving bunching webs or bands as its direction of movement is changed by the decreased diameter of the web roll, a catch to normally engage the latch bar and hold the rock shaft in a forwardly turned position until released by the tripping of the latch bar through the action of said moving web or band, and means for turning the rock-shaft backward and automatically stopping the feed of match sticks'when the rock-shaft is released, substantially as described.

7. In a machine for bunching match sticks, the combination of a fluted feed drum, a

' bunching spool, a transfer roll, positivelyactuated transfer chains or belts mounted at the ends of said drum and roll, and tension rolls bearing on the upper portions of the transfer chains or belts intermediate the feed drum and transfer roll to depress the transfer chalns and cause them to conform to the periphery of the feed drum and facilitate stripping the match splints therefrom, substantially as described.

8. In a machine for bunching match sticks, the combination of a fluted feed drum, a bunchin g spool, a transfer roll, transfer chains or belts mounted at the ends of said drum and roll, gear wheels mounted directly at the ends of and in. line with said drum and roll to supportand actuate the transfer chains, and tension rolls mounted above and bearing on the upper portions of the transfer chains substantially as described.

9. In a machine for bunching match sticks, the combination of a fluted feed drum, a vertically swinging bunching spool, a transfer roll, downwardly curved guards supported above the ends of the front upper portion of the feed drum, transfer chainsor belts mounted at the ends of the feed drum and transfer roll, and tension rolls located above the upper portions of the transfer chains or belts intermediate the feed drum and transfer roll to bear on and depress said chains, and cause them to conform to the periphery of the feed drum substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- DQSSGS.

DAVID F. EISENHART. WVitnesses:

ALBERT I-I. NORRIS, T. A. GREEN.

Images