US571931A

US571931A - Trustees

Info

Publication number: US571931A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 1913-11-24

Description

(No Model.) .5 Sheets-Sheet 1. F. F. RAYMOND, 2d. 810. H. FOGG.

DEVICE FOR FEEDING NAILS.

Patented Nov. 24', 1896.

WITNESSES;

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5Shets-Sheet 2. F. F. RAYMOND, 2d. & C. H. POGG,

(No Model.)

7 DEVICE FOR FEEDING NAILS.

No. 571,931. Patented Nov. 24,1896.

(N0 Mod el. 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

P. F. RAYMOND, 2d. 83 C. H.- FOGG. DEVICE FOR- FEEDING NAILS.

No. 571,931. Patented Nov. 24, 1896.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

P. P. RAYMOND, 2d. & O. H. FOGG. DEVICE FOR FEEDING NAILS.

No. 571,931. Patented Nov. 24, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OE icE.

FREEBORN F. RAYMOND, 2D, OF NEWTON, AND CHARLES H. FOGG, OF HYDE PARK, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO JAMES W. BROOKS, OF PETER- SHAM, AND JOHN BROOKS, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, TRUSTEES.

DEVICE FOR FEEDING NAILS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,931, dated. November 24, 1896.

Application filed October 3, 1895. Serial No. 564,491. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREEBORN 1+. RAY- MOND, 2d, of Newton, in the county of Middlesex, and CHARLES H. FOGG, of Hyde Park,

in the county of Norfolk, in the State of Massachusetts, citizens of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Devices for Feeding Nails, &c., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

The invention relates to means for holding a large number of nails or other fastenings I 5 in order for delivery and for feeding them automatically in such order to a distributor by which they are received, transferred, and arranged in any desired order fordelivery to a nail-carrier.

The invention is represented in the drawings as applied to a heel compressing or attaching machine. We have discovered that it is desirable to use for the purpose of holding and feeding the nails or fastenings a circular disk or plate in which there is made or arranged a large number of radial or diverging lines of nail receiving and holding holes, the lines being placed as closely together as is practical, and the holes in each line also being placed closely together, the lines of holes preferably beginning at some distance from the center of the plate or disk. The nail-holding holes of the disk or plate extend through it and are preferably of the same size and are covered, excepting at the point of delivery, by a cover-plate which is beneath the nail-holding plate. The nail-holding plate is adapted to be moved verticallyin relation to the cover-plate in order that any nails or parts of nails which may have lodged between the The invention further relates to means for rotating the nail-holding plate and for operating the cover-plate to uncover one or more. lines of holes therein at the desired time, and to various other features of construction and 5-5 operation, all of which will hereinafter be more fully described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of our improved nail holding and feeding device. Fig. 2 is a viewin plan thereof, a portion of the nail-holding and covering plates being broken out to show parts below the same. Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of the device, the nail-holder and cover-plate being shown as removed from the distributer. Fig. 4 is a view in rear elevation showing the position of parts when the nail-holding plate and cover are in operative relation with the naildistributer, and Fig. 5 is a view in vertical central section through the device and the nail-distributer. Fig. 6 is a view in plan representing the nail holding and feeding plate, a portable skimmer thereon, and devices for centering or registering the skimmer upon the plate. Fig. 7 is aview in horizontal section taken through the nail holding and feeding plate and the skimmer when in position thereon, its covenplate not being removed. Fig. 8 is a detail view of a portion of the skimmer, its cover, and a cover-locking device. Fig. 9 is a view in section representing the skimmer upon the nail holding and feeding plate and the cover of the skimmer removed to permit its nails to be fed to the holes of the-nail holding and feeding plate. is a view in perspective of the skimmer removed. Fig. 11 is a detail viewof the skimmer, representing one method of securing th cover-plate thereto.

A is the nail holding and feeding plate. It 0 is in the form of a disk and it has the lines a of nail holding and feeding holes arranged closely together radially and of any desired number. The holes extend through the plate. The plate preferably is of iron. It has a cen- 5 tral opening a within the flange (t the flange resting upon the shoulder a of the hub a, which is keyed to the upper end of the shaft B. Rotation is given the plate A to advance one or more lines of holes with the nails 10b therein in regular order to the holes of the nail-distributer O by means of the wormwheelB, fast to the lower end of the shaft B, and the worm B upon the horizontal shaft 1), the worm being in constant engagement with the worm-wheel, and the shaft 1) being turned by means of the gear-wheel B carrying a driving-pawl b, which engages the ratchetwheel B on said shaft Z9. The gear-wheel B is free upon the end of the shaft 1) and is rotated forward and back by the sector-gear B pivoted at 12 (see Figs. 1 and 3,) which has a reciprocating oscillating movement imparted to it by means of the nail-carrier plate D, having a nail-carrier d, by which the nails are transferred from the distributer to the nail-drivin g devices, and which plate is moved forward and back at stated intervals by a cam, (not shown,) a lever (Z, the upper part of which is represented in Fig. 5, and a connecting-link d From the nail-carrier plate D there extends backward the arm 61 the rear end of which is connected with the sector by means of a link (1 which may have lost motion provided it by means of the slot (1 and stud cl, which passes through it and which connects it with the end of the arm 61 A spring d connects the link with the stud and tends to draw it toward the stud. The end (Z of the link is connected with a stud d on the sector 13- by means of an open bearing al and a springlatch cl secures the end of the link to the stud and also permits it to be readily detached therefrom.

The movement of the nail-carrier plate D back and forth imparts areciprocating or oscillating movement to the sector 13 which in turn rotates the pinion B backward and-forward, causing the driving-pawl Z) to turn the shaft 1) as it is moved in one direction by the pinion and to ride backward over the teeth of the ratchet-wheel B as it is revolved in the opposite direction, the ratchet-wheel being held from following this return movement by means of the stop-pawl b (See Fig. 2.) As the pinion B is small, the driving-pawl b is secured to a larger disk Zr, attached to the pinion, (see Fig. 2,) the pawl being pivoted thereto, (see Fig. 1,) and the disk carrying a spring 11 which bears on the back of the pawl. The rotary movement thus imparted to the shaft 19 rotates the worm in one direction and causes it to slowly turn the nail holding and feeding plate A, and at the end of the turning movement it looks it in place as well, and the friction of the worm and worm-wheel on each other assists in holding the shaft 1) stationary during the backward movement of the driving-pawl b.

The shafts B and b and the bracket to which the sector B is pivoted are provided with vertical movements and also with horizontal movements, the said parts being supported or carried by the arm E, in which the shaft B has a bearing, and which arm E is supported by a stud or post e at one side of the center of the device, the stud being fixed to a portion of the frame of the'nail-driving mechanism or to any other stationary support and the arm extending laterally therefrom and being attached thereto to swing horizontally thereon and be also movable vertically thereon. The arm is locked with the parts in operative position by means of the short extension e and the clamping-screw e (see Fig. 2,) which has a head e and passes through a hole or recess in the said end e and a hole in a stationary bracket e and has an outer threaded end which receives the clamping-nut e the clamping nut clamping the arm 6 against the bracket 6 When the nail-holder and other parts are to be moved from operative position, this clamping-screw is released and the arm E and the parts which it carries are moved upward by means of the spiral lifting-incline E on a sleeve e on the lower part of said post or stud c; It is adapted to be turned by the lever 6 (see Fig. 2,) and incline E turns against the spiral incline E, and this causes the arm E to be raised the required distance. The incline E ends in a straight bearing-section a which upon the turning of the arm rides upon the straight top of the sleeve (2 beyond the incline E.

F is the cover-plate. It preferably is a cast-metal plate of asize to cover the holes of the nail-holding plate, excepting those adjacent to the point of delivery, where it is pieced out or has added to it a thinner sheetmetal or steel section or plate f, which is adapted to continue the covering of the holes to a line just beyond the holes in the distributer and to uncover the holes of the nailholder to permit the nails to pass from one or more lines of holes therefrom into the holes of the distributer. slight movement or rotation given it, the plate returning to its holecovering position before the nail-holding plate has been moved sufficiently to advance a filled line of holes. The plate is cut away or opened beyond the edge of the cover enough to permit any nails remaining undelivered in the holes of the nail-holding plate to drop from it after they have been moved from register with the holes of the distributer. The cover-plate is moved to uncover the holes at the proper intervals by means of a rock-shaft f, having an arm f at its upper end, which engages a pin f near the outer edge of the cover-plate at its back, and an arm f at its lower end, which is adapt- The cover-plate has a ed to be moved at practically the end of the backward movement of the nail-carrier plate D by a bracket f attached to the reciprocating arm (1 the bracket preferably carrying a strikingsection which is adjustable thereon and which is represented as made in the form of a screw-stud f freely movable therein, having a head at one end and a nut f at the other, by which the length of the projecting end f of the stud may be regulated in relation to the bracket and the time and the extent of the movement of the rook-shaft thus varied.

It will be understood that the nail-holding plate preferably is fed upon the forward movement of the nail-carryin g plate D and remains stationary during the backward movement thereof, and as the nail-carryin g plate reaches the end of its backward movement the coverplate is moved sufficiently to uncover one or more lines of holes of the nail-holding plate over the distributer. Upon the forward movement of the nail-holder plate the cover-plate is released and the spring f attached there to and to a fixed point on the arm E, immediately returns it to its covering position. The plate F has a hub f which surrounds the part of the arm E furnishing the bearing for the shaft B. (See Fig. 5.)

The nail-holder plate A has in its flange a holes g, through which extend pins G, fast to the shoulder or flange a These pins prevent the nail-holdingplate from turning on the hub a and also provide means by which the plate A may be lifted from the cover-plate when desired. The pins further act to register the large skimmers or filling-plates H, (shown in Figs. 6 and 7,) which are made in the form of sectors in which are a large number of lines of holes corresponding with the lines of the corresponding section of the nail-holding plate A. This perforated sector-plate is adapted to be filled by hand or otherwise and to transfer the nails from the place where received to a position over the plate A. It has in its inner edge holes h, which register with two of the pins G, and it also has handles it and a cover-plate 7L2, which is movable outwardly from the under side of the plate H when its holes are in register with the holes of the plate A. (See Fig. 7.) To cause the nails to be started and dislodged from the sides of their holding-holes when they have arrived at a point over the distributer, we have attached to the machine a plate I, (see Fig. 2,) having an upwardly-curved outer edge 2', (see Fig. 4,) which is carried at the end of an arm 2", pivoted at t to a stationary support. v g

It will be understood that the holes of the nail-holding plate A are not deeper than the nails, the ends of the nails generally extending above the top of the plate, and they ride under the plate I, so that generally it bears upon the tops of the nails, and the vibration of the nail-driving machine causes the plate to have sufficient tremor or movement to act to loosen and help eject the nails. The plate .also acts as a cover-plate in preventing nails from being jarred from the nail holding and feeding plate at this point.

' The distributer C has the upper perforated plate 0, in which there may be one or two lines of holes, generally two lines, which lines diverge and register with the two lines of holes of the nail holding and feeding plate. The distributer also has a lower plate 0 which has holes a of any desired arrangement, and tubes having nail-passages connect the holes of one plate with the holes of the other. The

two plates are attached to each other by the posts 0 one at each end, and the distributer is held in place by means of a button 0 which buttons upon the lower plate, and the stationary abutment 0, against which the side 0 of the upper plate comes in contact.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The holes of the nail holding and feeding plate are filled with nails or fasteners either by hand or by means of the removable skimmer or loader. The distributer O is put in place and the nail-driving machine actuated, and this causes the nail holding and feeding plate A to be turned, the lines of nails to be brought by successive impulses over the distributer and discharged therein.

\Ve would not be understood as limiting the invention to its employment in feeding nails and fastenings, as it is obvious that it can be used for feeding any other article or thing which it is desirable to hold and feed automatically in large numbers and distribute in any desired arrangement for any other manipulation or action.

The loading skimmer. (shown in Figs. 6, 7, 9, and 10) has ledges or flanges at each end for the retention of the cover formed by fiat pieces N, attached to each end of the plate and having inwardly extending flanges at slightly below the under surface thereof. These flanges diverge on account of the shape of the edges of the plate, and the cover-plate h slides into them from the front edge of the plate. ends which slide upon the flanges n. It is of thin metal and has at its outer edge the handles n by which it is inserted and withdrawn. A button n secured to the edge of the skimmer, drops in front of the edge of the cover when it is in place and secures it there. The

skimmer also has handles it, by which it is transferred. They are preferably swinging or bailhandles and are placed closely to each end of the skimmer, so that when in a horizontal position they will extend beyond each end and leave the entire upper part of the skimmer unobstructed. Theyare preferably formed as represented in Figs. 6 and 7 that is, one arm, of, of the handle is attached bya screw pivoted to the front edge of the skimmer, and the other arm, n, has at its end a horizontal extension 7L7, which enters a housing or box 11 secured to the top of the skimmer within the perforated section. The skimmer also has the centering-holes before referred to, which cooperate with the centering-pins G, as already explained.

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a machine of the character specified, a nail-holding plate A having a large number of lines a of nail-holdingholes arranged therein and guides upon which said plate is vertically movable without being detached from the machine.

2. The nail-holder plate A, having an in- It is secured to the skimmer by the ner flange a to rest upon the shoulder a of the rotary central plate a.

3. The rotary plate a, having a shoulder (t a nail-holding plate A having a flange a and means for fastening the flange and shoulder together.

at. The rotary plate a and the nail-holder plate A,verticall y movable in relation thereto.

5. The rotary plate a having pins G, and the nail-holding plate A having holes in its inner edge through which said pins extend.

6. A nail-holding plate having a large number of nail-holding holes arranged in rows therein and a portable nail-holder having a similar arrangement of nail-holding holes, and means for centering the portable holder above the nail-holding plate with its lines of nail-holding holes in line with the nail-hold ing holes of the nail-holding plate.

7. The combination of a nail-holding plate A having intermittent periods of rotation and rest, and provided with a flat upper surface and skimmer-registering devices movable therewith with a portable skimmer to rest upon said plate and be registered by said registering devices, the holes of which are of the same order and arrangement as the holes of the section of the nail-holding plate over which it is placed, and a removable cover therefor adapted to be withdrawn after the plate has been registered.

8. The combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, the registering-pins G, with the nail-feeding skimmer having holes upon its inner edge to register with the pins G, the nail-holding skimmer being in the form of a sector-plate and having a cover-plate movable outwardly therefrom.

9. A nail-holder skimmer in the form of a perforated sectorplate having sections of registering devices, handles and a removable cover-plate.

10. In a machine of the character specified, a nail-holding plate in the form of a segmentplate provided with a large number of radiating holes arranged therein, having a bottom or under plate removable outwardly therefrom, whereby the plate is adapted to hold in a relatively small compass a large number of nails, an d whereby it is also adapted to feed nails to a section of a circular nail holding and feeding plate having nail holding and receiving holes of similar arrangement, as and for the purposes set forth.

11. A movable nail holding and feeding plate and an upwardlymovable plate I arranged over the nail holding and feed in g plate to operate as specified.

12. A movable nail holding and feeding plate and the plate I having the curved edge 'i arranged over the nail holding andfeeding plate to operate as specified.

13. A movable nail holding and feeding plate with a plate I pivoted to an independent support and arranged to bear upon the tops of the nails carried by said plate.

14. A movable nail holding and feeding plate provided with nail-receiving holes from which the upper ends of the nails project, in combination with a nail-discharging plate I arranged over the nail holding and feeding plate at the point where the said plate discharges its nails and which is adapted to assist in said discharge, as and for the purposes specified.

15. In a machine of the character specified, a nail holding and feeding plate having holes for the reception of nails with a cover-plate arranged over said nail holding and feeding plate and adapted to prevent upward movement of the nails from the said nail holding and feeding plate as said plate is being fed or as the machine is being operated.

16. The movable nail holder and feeder having the plate 1 arranged over a portion thereof as specified and attached to the machine to be movable by a swinging movement out of operative relation therewith.

17. A movable nail holding and feeding plate and an under cover-plate beneath the same, one being movable vertically in relation to the other.

18. A rotary nail holding and feeding plate having intermittent forward rotation imparted to it and a cover-plate beneath the nail holding and feeding plate having a narrow aperture extending inward from its edge and provided with a slight interrupted oscillating movement.

19. In a machine of the character specified,

a circular nail holding and feeding plate in combination with a worm-wheel attached thereto and an intermittently-operated worm arranged to engage the worm-wheel and which acts to move the nail holding and feeding plate and also to lock the said nail holding and feeding plate at the end of its feeding movement and to hold it locked in said position.

20. The rotary nail holding and feed-ing plate, a nail-transferring plate or carrier and actuating devices for rotating the said nail holding and feeding plate, which devices are connected with the nail transferring or carrier plate, and operated thereby.

21. The combination of a nail-transferring plate or carrier, an oscillating sector-gear connected with said plate, or its actuating device, to be oscillated thereby, a worm-wheel connected with a nail holding and feeding plate, a worm to engage said worm-wheel, and intermittently-operated devices between the worm-wheel and sector-gear comprising a pinion to mesh with the sector-gear, a feedpawl carried thereby and a ratchet-wheel with which said feed-pawl engages connected with the said worm-wheel, as and for the purposes described.

22. The combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, the worm-wheel B connected therewith, the worm B its shaft b, the ratchet-wheel 13 secured thereto and the oscillating feed-pawl b to engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel.

23. The combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, the Worm-wheel B connected therewith; the worm B which engages the worm-wheel B, the shaft b, the ratchetwheel 19 carried thereby, the stop-pawl b and the driving-pawl I) attached to a pinion B free upon the said shaft 12, and means for rotating the pinion forward and back, as and for the purposes described.

24. The combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, its actuating worm-wheel, the worm B and its actuating devices detachably connected with the movable nail carrier or transferrer.

25. The combination of the worm-operating sector 13, the reciprocating arm (Z and the intermediate link-latch d 26. The combination of the worm-operating sector E the reciprocating arm (1 having a stud d, the link connecting the stud with the sector having the slot (1 and the spring d 27. The combination of the worm-operating sector 13 with the connecting-link cl, having the sector-stud bearing (Z and springlatch (Z 28. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, a nail holding and feeding plate of the character specified, having a large number of nail-holding holes and an under cover-plate therefor, both of which plates are vertically movable together, as and for the purposes specified. 1 I

29. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, a nail holding and feeding plate having a large number of nail-holding holes and an under cover-plate therefor, both of which plates are adapted to be moved laterally together, as and for the purposes described.

30. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, a nail holding and feeding plate having a large number of nail-holding holes, an under cover-plate therefor, the said nail holding and feeding plate and said cover-plate both being vertically and laterally movable together, as and for the purposes described.

31. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, a nail holding and feeding plate having a large number of nail-holding holes, an under cover-plate therefor, the said nail-holdin g plate and cover-plate being adapted to be moved first vertically and then laterally, as and for the purposes described.

In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, a nail holding and feeding plate having a large number of nail-holding holes, an under cover-plate therefor, the said plates being adapted to be separated vertically andalso to be moved vertically in their separated relation, as and for the purposes described.

33. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, a nail holding and feeding plate having a large number of nail-receiving holes, an under nail cover-plate, the two plates being separable vertically in relation to each other, and both of said nail-plates being laterally movable in their separated relation, as and for the purposes described.

34. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism of the character specified, the combination of a vertically-movable nail holding and feeding plate adapted to hold a large number of nails and feed them in successive order to a nail-distributer, with said distributer, as and for the purposes described.

35. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the distributer O, with nail holding and feeding plate and a plate-cover both vertically movable with relation to the nail-distributer.

36. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the distributer, with nail holding and feeding plate and its cover- I plate, both movable vertically and laterally in relation to the distributer.

37. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the distributer, the nail holding and feeding plate, the movable cover-plate and the stay or registering plate 0 against which the upper part of the distributer is held in contact.

38. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, its cover-plate, an arm supporting the same and means for moving the arm vertically.

V 39. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, its cover-plate and an arm for supporting the same pivoted to a stationary stud or post at one side of the center of said nail-holding plate.

40. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of a nail-holding plate, its cover-plate and supporting mechanism, and means for moving it vertically, comprising the two inclines E, E bearing opposed relation to each other, and one of which is movable in relation to the other.

41. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nail holding and feeding plate,its cover and means forsupporting them both, and devices for lifting them and holding them in their lifted position, comprising the inclines E, E ending in flat surfaces and one of which is movable in relation to the other, their flat surfaces coming together at the end of the lifting movement and acting to support the parts in their lifted position. 7

42. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the post or support 6, an arm pivoted thereto carrying at its outer end a nail holding and feeding plate and cover-plate, the said arm having a horizontal swinging movement upon said pivot and means carried by said pivot for moving said arm vertically thereon and for holding it in its vertical position during the swingingmovement of said arm. I

43. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the lifting and swing-' ing arm E, the nail holding and feeding plate and cover-plate carried thereby, their operating mechanism also carried by said arm to be movable vertically and horizontally therewith, a detachable connection between said operative devices and the movable part of the machine upon which the feeding apparatus is used, as and .for the purposes described.

H. The combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, its cover-plate, the movable arm E for supporting the same and means for locking said arm with the nail holding and feeding plate and cover-plate in operative position.

45. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nailholding and feeding plate, the cover-plate, and a supporting-arm, pivoted as described, having a short end 6 and a stationary bracket or arm against which. said short end is brought in contact, as and for the purposes described.

46. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, the cover-plate and a supporting-arm E, pivoted as described, and having a short end 6' and a stationary bracket, and means for fastening the arm to the said bracket.

47. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nail holding and feeding plate and its cover-plate, both laterally movable, and means for locking them in their operative position.

48. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, the cover-plate, a rock-shaft connected therewith to move it in one direction, and a movable part of the machine to which the nail-feeding apparatus is attached which communicates movement to said rockshaft.

49. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, the cover-plate and a rockshaft connected therewith, the rock-shaft having an arm with which a tappet is adapted to be brought into contact.

50. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, its cover-plate, a rock-shaft connected therewith, its tappet-arm and an adjustable tappet.

51. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, its cover-plate and an arm operated by a tappet for actuating the same and an adjustable tappet.

52. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, the cover-plate, the cover-plateoperating devices, and a reciprocating tappet for actuating the same.

53. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the'nail holding and feeding plate, its cover-plate, and operating mechanism and means for actuating the coverplate-operating mechanism, comprising a reciprocating tappet, the said tappet consisting of a threaded stud carried by a reciprocating part, and a nut for adjusting the relation of the end of the stud to said reciprocating part.

54. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, its cover-plate, a lever or rockshaft for moving it in one direction, and a spring for moving it in the reverse direction.

55. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nail'holding and feeding plate, its cover-plate, the nail-carrier and connecting devices for operating the cover-plate at the end of the backward in ovement of the nail-carrier.

56. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, the cover-plate, the nail-carrier, a tappet carried thereby, a tappet-arm connected with the cover-plate, and a spring for returning the cover-plate and reversing the position of the tappet-arm, as and for the purposes described.

57. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, the cover-plate, the nail-carrier plate, and means connecting it with the nail holding and feeding plate to rotate it during the forward movement of the carrierplate, and other means connecting the carrier-plate with the cover-plate to operate it .at the end of the backward movement of the carrier, substantially as described.

58. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of a nail holding and feeding plate, the cover-plate, the distributor having uncovered passages therein, the nailcarrier and devices for moving the nail holding and feeding plate upon the forward movement of the nail-carrier and for actuating the cover-plate to uncover the holes in said nail holding and feeding plate upon the backward movement of the nail-carrier.

59. In a machine of the character specified, a portable skimmer or loader having a nailholding section in the form of a segmentplate in which the nail holding and receiving holes are arranged in a large number of radiating lines, which holes correspond to a similar arrangement of holes in the nail holding and feeding plate, as and for the purposes specified.

60. In a machine of the character specified, the portable skimmer or loader having flanges at each end and a cover-plate sustained by said flanges.

61. In a machine of the character specified, a portable loader or skimmer in the shape of a segment-plate having alarge number of radiating lines of holes therein and provided with an under cover-plate detachably secured to the said skimmer by its edges only, and adapted to be moved outwardly from the front edge thereof to uncover its holes.

62. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a portable loader or skimmer having a large number of nail-holding holes therein, a removable under cover-plate attached by its edges only to the said skimmer and adapted to be moved outwardly from its front edge in uncovering the holes therein and handles attached to the front edge of said cover-plate shaped to hook upon the outer surface of the skimmer when the cover-plate is in its closed position, whereby they serve also to sustain the front edge of the coverplate when the skimmer is loaded with nails.

63. In a machine of the character specified, the portable skimmer or loader, a cover-plate attached to the under surface of the skimmer or loader and a lock for fastening it to the skimmer or loader, substantially as described.

64. In a machine of the character specified, a portable skimmer or loader having sections of a registering device in combination with other sections of a registering device mounted upon or carried by the nail holding and feeding devices.

65. In a machine of the character specified, the portable skimmer or loader having an inner flange provided with registering holes.

66. In a machine of the character specified, in combination with the nail holding and feeding plate, the portable skimmer or loader, having a cover removable from its front edge, means for centering the skimmer or loader with its attached cover upon the nail holding and feeding plate in a manner to permit the withdrawal of the cover from the front edge thereof, as and for the purposes described.

67. In a nail holding and loading machine of the character specified, a nail holding and loading plate circular in form, having radial lines of holes extending entirely around it and divided by skimmer or loader registering or centering devices into sections, each of which is provided with centering or registering devices for receiving and locating a portable nail-holder or skimmer, substantially as described.

68. In a nail feeding and loading apparatus of the character specified, a rotary nail holding and feeding plate divided into sections of equal length by centering or registering devices of the same character and arrangement,

each of which is adapted to receive any one of a number of portable skimmers or loaders and center it or register it, whereby the same or a uniform portable skimmer or loader may be employed with each section of the nail holding and feeding plate, as and for the purposes described.

69. In a nail holding and feeding device of the character specified, a slowly-moving nail holding and feeding plate having centering or registering devices thereon which move with it, and a portable loader or skimmer adapted to be centered or registered by said centering or registering devices upon said nail holding and feeding plate and while it is in motion, whereby the nail holder and feeding plate may be loaded with nails without interfering with or stopping the operation of the machine, substantially as described.

70. The combination in a machine of the character specified of a nail holding and feeding plate having a large number of nail-receiving holes adapted to be moved to deliver said nails in successive order, with a portable skimmer or loader having a large number of nail-receiving holes of the arrangement of the holes of the nail holding and feeding plate, adapted to be mountedupon said lastnamed plate, and an independent under coverplate for said portable skimmer or loader, the said portable skimmer or loader being adapted to be moved with the nail holding and feeding plate.

FREEBORN F; RAYMOND, 2D. CHAS. H. FOGG.

In presence of- J. M. DOLAN, ERNEST L. FORD.