US669953A - Slat-and-wire-fence machine. - Google Patents

Slat-and-wire-fence machine. Download PDF

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US669953A
US669953A US1397100A US1900013971A US669953A US 669953 A US669953 A US 669953A US 1397100 A US1397100 A US 1397100A US 1900013971 A US1900013971 A US 1900013971A US 669953 A US669953 A US 669953A
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shaft
pickets
fence
twisting
picket
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US1397100A
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Emmet W Channell
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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B27WORKING OR PRESERVING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES IN GENERAL
    • B27JMECHANICAL WORKING OF CANE, CORK, OR SIMILAR MATERIALS
    • B27J1/00Mechanical working of cane or the like
    • B27J1/003Joining the cane side by side
    • B27J1/006Joining the cane side by side by strand or wire twisting

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  • Wilgcsscs m Nonms PEYEHS m. PHOTOJIiYNO. WASNXNGYON. o. c
  • This invention relates-to a fence-making machine; and the aim and purpose of the same is to organize aseries of mechanical instrumentalities in intimate relation, whereby the pickets are automatically fed to a predetermined position and singly placed in and held by clamping devices and disposed regularly between the wires and into the crotched portions of the clamping devices, the difference in the length of the pickets being automatically compensatedfor by a part of the mechanism after they have been secured by the Wires.
  • the invention consists in the construction and arrangement and distinct combinations of parts and elements hereinafter described and claimed.
  • Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fence-machine embodying the features of the invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the improved machine.
  • Fig. 3 is a 1eft-end elevation of the improved machine.
  • Fig. 4 is a right-end elevation of the same.
  • Fig. 5 is a front View ofthe feeding-table.
  • Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section of a part of the table.
  • Fig. 7 is adetail elevation of a pair of the picket-holding clamps and a twisting-head and a part of the mechanism for operating in conjunction with the clamps.
  • Fig. 8 is an elevation of the clampsin detail.
  • Fig. 9 represents detail views in plan and elevation of portions of theclamps.
  • Fig. 9 represents detail views in plan and elevation of portions of theclamps.
  • Fig. 10 is an elevation of a part of the slat-feeding gearing.
  • Fig. 11 is a detail elevation of the controlling and gearing on the main shaft.
  • Fig. 12 is a detail elevation of the cam mechanism and connections.
  • Fig. 13 shows detail side and end elevations of one of the twisting-heads.
  • Fig. 14 is a detail elevation of one of the spool-frames.
  • Fig. 14? is a detail end elevation of one of the bevel-gears coacting with the slat-feeding gearing.
  • Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the winding-shaft and clutch mechanism therefor.
  • Fig. 16 is a front elevation of a part of the clutch mechanism shown by Fig. 15.
  • Fig. 16 is a front elevation of a part of the clutch mechanism shown by Fig. 15.
  • Fig. 16 is a front elevation of a part of the clutch mechanism shown by Fig. 15.
  • FIG. 17 is an enlarged elevation of the ratchetfeed mechanism for-compensatingautomatic ally for theincrea-se in the size of the wound roll of completed fence.
  • Fig. 18 is a section through the mechanism shown by Fig. 17.
  • i Fig. 19 is a detail elevation of the bearing for the end of the Winding-shaft opposite that at which the clutch shown by Fig. 16 is located.
  • 'lhe numeral 1 designates the main frame, which is made up of a plurality of vertical, horizontal, and intermediate timbers disposed in regular spaced relation and of difierent lengths to accommodate the desired arrangement of the several coacting elements.
  • a main shaft 2. is journaled and has a controlling-gear 3 fast thereon, which is actuated by a pinion 4 on a shaft 5 below the said shaft 2.
  • the shaft 5 is a stub-shaft and in addition to the pinion 4 has a belt-pulley 6, also .keyed thereon and surrounded bya belt 7 from a pulley 8 at the upper part of the left end of the machine on a shaft 8, which may be properly termed a power-shaft, as it is provided with a driving-pulley 9, surrounded by a belt 10 from a suitable power medium and controlled in its operation by any shifting device to throw the machine into. activity or cause a cessation of operation.
  • the main shaft2 extends almost completely the full length of the machine, as shown by Figs. 1 and 2, and the gear 3 thereon, in addition to the peripheral teeth with which it is provided, has a concentric segment-section 11 of bevel-gear teeth, with which a bevelpinion 12 on the inner end of a shaft 13 has operable contact at certain times, the said shaft 13 being a counter-shaft and having its opposite end extending beyond the front portion of the frame and supplied with a bevelgear 14:, in which the teeth are continuous and face to the front.
  • each head comprises a tubular body 22, rotatably mounted in upper and lower half-seats 23 in achanneliron 24, secured to the front of the frame, the said heads in each instance being removable from the seats and held in place by yokes 25, attached to the outer edge portions of the said channel-iron.
  • each head is enlarged and transversely slotted,'as at 26, to form opposite guards, and extending longitudinally through the body are a pair of apertures 27 for the passage of the wire strands coming from the spools below.
  • the guards provided by the transverse slot in the upper enlarged end of the twistinghead bear upon the contiguous strands of wire fed through the body and facilitate the formation of the twist adjacent each picket that has been placed in the open strands, as will be more fully hereinafter described.
  • a sprocketwheel 28 is removably and adj ustably mounted and has a collar 29 connected thereto or forming a part thereof, in which a set-screw 30 is seated and operates to adjust or maintain the adjustment of the sprocket-wheel 28,
  • the sprocket wheels of all the twisting-heads will be at the same elevation on the bodies thereof and are all engaged by the chain belt 21, the inner portion of said belt passing around the outer part of the first sprocket-wheel on the left, then in rear of the next sprocket-wheel,again returns outwardly and contacts with the outer portion of the third sprocket-wheel, and then around the inner or rearportion of the fourth and last sprocket-wheel, and returns in front and out of contact with said twister sprocketwheels to the sprocket-wheel 20 at the left of the machine, by which it is driven, the outer portion of the said belt 21 being held free of the several sprocket-wheels and the twistingheads by a belt-tightener 31, comprising an arm 32, secured to the left end of the channel-iron or a part of the frame and having a roller in its outer free end, which bears against the outer part of the said chain belt, all as clearly shown in
  • a pairof clamps 34 and 35 are mounted and supported bya horizontal rearwardlyextending web 36 from the channel-iron 24 and havingoppositely-disposed pairs of combined guide and holding lugs 37, between which the rearwardly-projecting shanks 3S and 39 of the clamps 34 and 35, respectively, have bearing and adjustable movement, the shank 38 being on the shank 39.
  • Each clamp comprises an upstanding jaw 40, with an outward flare 42 at the right to cause the pickets to easily enter the clamps, the shank 39 being extended outwardly beyond the jaw 34 to properly locate the jaw 35 and to form a base-rest for the lower edge of each picket as it is fed thereinto and in all the clamps which are in alinement and similarly constructed and arranged.
  • a bearingblock 43 is located, and in all the said bearing-blocks a rock-shaft 44 is mounted and pivoted with a series of arms 45, with intermediate collars 46, so as to provide upper and lower projections operably near the shanks 'of each pair of clamps.
  • each arm 45 normally engages a recess or slot 47 in the shank 39 of the jaw 35, and to the upper projection of the arm a couplingrod 48 is connected, and at its forward end said rod is attached to a lug 49, extending upwardly from the shank 38, the said rod having an intermediate spring 50 and also slidable through the lug to permit the jaw 34 to yield to compensate for variations in the thickness of the pickets, and during the latter operation or automatic adjustment the shaft 44 is permitted to have unretarded operation as well as the arms 45. It will also be seen that this automatic adjustable feature will compensate for variations in thickness of different portions of the same picket without stalling or otherwise obstructing the operation of the actuating mechanism, and no strain or breakage will result.
  • the shaft 44 also has a single larger rocker-arm 51 secured to the forward extremity of a cam-lever 52, fulcrumed on a bearing-shaft 53 and having its rear end bifurcated to receive a roller 54, which contacts with a cam 55 on the main shaft 2. (See Fig. 12.) As the cam 55 reaches its maximum elevation the camlever 52 will be raised correspondingly at its rear extremity and lowered at its front end and the rocker-arm 51 will be drawn down, the shaft 44 rocked, and the clamping-jaws 34 and 35 operated to grip the fence-picket fed thereinto through the medium of the arms 45' and against the resistance of the springs 50.
  • the tension of these springs 50 can be regulated by the adjustment of a nut 56, movable on a screw-threaded portion 57 of each of the rods 48 and the entire mechanism accordingly stiffened or slackened and the binding action of the jaws 34 and 35 also ren dered forceful or slight.
  • the clamps are opened instantly, when free to so operate, by
  • a spring 43 connected to an arm 43" on the shaft 44, and in their closing or approaching operation the said clamps act against the resistance of said spring.
  • the spool mechanism includes a series of spool-frames 58, there being as many of the latter as there are twisting heads, and each frame is rotatably held in upright position by a lower central stub-spindle 59, fitted in a vertical journalbox 60, bolted or otherwise fastened to an angle-beam 61,secured tothe lowerfront portion of the frame at a suitable elevation above the base of the latter.
  • the upper central portion of the frame 58 in each instance is provided with a central upstanding stub-spindle 62, which is rotatabl y mounted in a journ al-bear ing 63 on an angle-beam 64,similar to the beam 61, and also secured to the front of the frame 1 in a plane parallel with the said beam 61.
  • a miter-gear 65 is secured and meshes with a similar gear66 in relative position thereto and fast on a lower shaft 67.
  • the gear 66 in operable relation to each alternate frame 58, is in reverse position to that of the others of the series which mesh with the gears 65, and the frames are also in like manner in reverse position, so that the first frame to the left, for example, is parallel to the front of the frame of the machine and the next frame 58 is in a plane at right angles to the first, and so on, whereby a proper twisting action may be given to the wires in reverse order to effect a more positive binding action and the arrangement of the chain belt 21, as set forth in connection with the sprocket-wheels 28, accommodates the operation.
  • Each frame 58 is of substantially rectangular form and has a central horizontal partition-bar 68,preferably integral with fixed side bars 69 onopposite sides, in turn continuous with or otherwise secured to upper and lower end bars 70 and 71, from which the stub-spindies 59 and 62, respectively, extend.
  • the side bars 69 each have a reversely-extending spindle 72 in a horizontal plane to removably reeeive a vertically-disposed wire-spool 7 3, the spools in each frame being separated by the horizontal partition-bar 68, entrance to the two compartments ⁇ of each frame being acquired through reversely-opening hinged closing-bars 74, which are adapted to be fastened at their free ends to the terminals of the upper and lower end bars 70 and 71 in a detachi able manner, and each bar 74 hasafrictional holding-spring 75 on the inner side thereof to bear against the adjacent head of the spool and serve as a tension means for the latter.
  • each spool isfed through the upper bar 70 of each frame and also through the flanged head 76 of each of the upper spindles c2, and from the latter the two wires pass up through the twisting-heads, heretofore set forth. It will be observed that the spools may be quickly and easily removed from or mounted in the several spool-frames,
  • each frame can also be readily threaded through the guiding and feeding means therefor, as well as the twisting-heads.
  • the shaft 67 has a sprocket-wheel 77 secured to one end thereof and surrounded by a chain belt 78, which is also in engagement with a sprocket-wheel 79 on a comparatively short shaft 80, carrying a pinion 81, in mesh with the controlling-gear 3, and to take up the slack in the said belt 78 a belt-tightener 82 is employed, as clearly shown by Figs. 1 and 3.
  • the shaft 67 is rotated and the frames 58 revolved, and the operation of twisting the wires is effectively carried on in conjunction with the twisting-heads, which have a timed operation relatively to that of the spool-frames.
  • a rock-shaft 83 is mounted and has a crank-arm 84 at oneend, which is attached to a cam-lever 85, also hearing on the fulcrum 53 at an intermediate point and having its opposite free end provided withan antifrictional roller 86,which engages a cam 87 on the main shaft 2.
  • the said cam 87 is slightly larger than the cam 55, and as the former cam reaches its maximum elevation the cam-lever is raised at its front end and lowered at its rear end, and the crankarm 84 will be accordingly drawn downwardly and the shaft 83 oscillated.
  • the shaft 83 at regular intervals has arms 88 secured thereto and supplied with bearing-rollers 89 at their ends, which are located in seats 90, of U- sha'ped form, located at an intermediate point in vertically-disposed plungers 1, havingvertical sliding movement in guides 92 on the channel-iron 24 and on the angle-beam 64,
  • each plunger being transversely narrowed at.
  • the plungers 91 are located between the twisting-heads and clamps, and normally the heads 93 have their upper surfaces in alinement with the upper surfaces .of the shanks 39 of the clamping-jaws 35 and also in alinement with the spaces between the sets of jaws 34 and 35.
  • the heads 93 of the plungers 91 all simultaneously bear against the under edge of each picket fed into the clamps and regularlyelevate the successive pickets into proper position in the crotches of the twisted wire, and to facilitate the unobstructed feed of the several picket-s into the clamps the latter have downwardly-inclined guide-lips 94 as a part thereof and on the side adjacent the picketfeeding mechanism and conjointly serve, ⁇ "ith IIO the flares 12 of the clamp-jaws, to insure an accurate disposition of the pickets in the clamps and over the plunger-heads.
  • the organization of elements of the improved-machine also includes means for gradually moving the completed fence fabric by a step-by-step movement from the twistingheads in an upward direction, so as to make room for the successively-applied fence-pickets and maintain an equal-spaced relation of the latter in accordance with a predetermined adjustment or arrangement of the correlative parts.
  • This mechanism comprises a rockshaft'95, mounted in suitable journal-bearings at the upper front portion of the frame 1 and on which is keyed a rocking lever 96, having a connecting-rod 97, movably secured to the rear end thereof and depending to a cam-lever 98, also intermediately bearing on the fulcrum 53.
  • the lower end of the conmeeting-rod 97 is movablyattached to the camlever 98, and has at an intermediate point a turnbuckle 99 for regulating the length of the same, and thereby quicken or slow up the movement of the rocking lever 96, the shaft 95, and the parts carried by the latter to control the feed of the completed fence upwardly away from the twisting-heads.
  • the move ment of the completed fence fabric is timed in such manner through the medium of the rock-shaft 95 and the devices intimately related to the latter that just previous to the introduction of a picket into the clampingjaws the said completed fence fabric will have been drawn upwardly a distance corresponding to that which is desired to exist between the several pickets of the fabric.
  • the shaft 95 has a series of forwardly-projecting arms 100, attached thereto at regular intervals and movable therewith, the front extremities of the said arms lOO'having a series of depending yielding fingers 102 attached thereto and provided at their lower extremities with beveled noses 103, having upper shoulders 104:.
  • the noses 103 and shoulders 104 are located on the rear portions of the said fingers, and near the lower extremities of the latter atie-bar 105 is secured to hold the said fingers in regular-spaced relation and to cause themto positively take hold of the lower edges of the pickets in the completed fence fabric and draw the latter over toward a series of guide wheels 106 on a shaft 107, located immediately in the rear of the lower portions of the said lingers.
  • the rear extremity of the cam-lever 98 has an antifrictional bearing-roller 111 mounted therein,which engages a cam 112, also keyed on the main shaft 2, and, like the preceding cams located on said shaft, has a drop, which when reached will cause the rear end of the cam-lever 98 to suddenly return to a depressed normal position, and simultaneously the springs 108 will restore the fingers 102 and the mechanism for operating the same at the upper part of the machine to normal position to thereby avoid lost motion, which would otherwise be present, to
  • the completed fence fabric travels over the wheels 106, as before indicated,.and then under a rear guard 113 to a rearwardly-inclined table or bed 114, above which extends a rotatable circular saw 115, fast to a saw-shaft 116, having a belt-pulley 117 thereon, which is surrounded by a drivingebelt 118, which also engages a pulley 119 on a lower shaft 120, extending almost the full length of the machine and at an opposite point provided with a smaller pulley 120*, surrounded by a belt 121, running upwardly to and driven by a pulley 122 on the shaft 8 between the pulleys 8 and 9.
  • the operation of the saw 115 is entirely independent of any of the other mechanisms, and the position of such saw is so determined in the structural arrangement of the machine that it will cut the pickets at their lower ends, so as to regularly size the same and while the said pickets are held under the guard 113.
  • the fence fabric is drawn rearwardly over the table 114 to the rear lower part of the machine-frame, Where a windingspindle 123 is removably located and given a step-by-step movement proportionately to the fence-forming mechanisms heretofore setforth.
  • the winding-spindle 123 is removably located in a bearing-socket 124 at one end and at the other end provided with a clutch member 125, which removably interlocks with a clutch-head 126 of an adjacent shaft 127, the latter also having at its opposite extremities a ratchet-wheel 128, adjacent to which a ratchet-wheel arm 129 is movably mounted on said shaft and is supplied with a series of ratchet-blades 130 to engage the teeth of the said ratchet-wheel128, the blades being held in spaced guides 131, located at different points on the ratchet-wheel arm.
  • a connecting-rod 135 extends and is movably attached at its front extremity to the upper member of a rocker-arm 136 on a rock-shaft137, extending longitudinally from the left end of the machine and also having a longer rocker-arm 138, to the lower end of which a connecting-bar 139 is movably attached and provided with a slot 140 at its rear extremity to adjust-ably receive a connecting-block 141, which is controlled in its adjustment by a screw 142 and also attached to a crank-arm 143, fast on the left extremity of the main shaft 2.
  • the machine as thus far described can be employed foretfectually manufacturing fence fabrics or to serve as a fence-loom without any further attachments and be fed by hand, which would be an obviously slow operation and require the continual attention of several operatives, and to make the machine more complete a picket-feeding mechanism is employed in connection therewith and com prises a table 144 at the right end of the machine, which is made up of suitable timbers and braces and has such arrangement as to accommodate the disposition of the several mechanisms included therein.
  • the shaft 2 is continued beyond the right end of the main frame 1 of the machine and has keyed to the right end a mutilated beveled gear 145 or one having a segmental line of teeth 146, which are adapted to mesh with oppositelydisposcd reversely-arranged bevel-gears 147, fixed on a counter-shaft 148, which extends through the frontof the table and has a pulley or drum 149 at its front end, upon which a feed rope or cable 150 has winding movement and is attached at its opposite extremities to two of the spokes of the said pulley or drum, as clearly shown by Fig. 5.
  • the feed rope or cable 150 is disposed on the pulley or drum in such manner that it will unwind in one direction of movement of the said pulley or drum and wind on the latter at an opposite point, and vice versa, and from the said pulley or drum the feed rope or cable passes upwardly over guide-sheaves 151 and 152, respectively, at the inner and outerends of the feed-table, so as to dispose the same over the said table.
  • a driving-head 153 Secured to the said feed rope or cable is a driving-head 153 for pushing or placing the successive pickets in the clamps heretofore set forth.
  • the driving-head 153 as shown by Fig.
  • the otheror intermediate ears having the front slidable portion of said rod disposed therein and connected to a spring 158 and having another of the ends of the rope or cable 150 attached to a front eye 15" thereon, the said spring 158 permitting the front connecting or slidable rod to yield to compensate for pickets of different lengths and to prevent obstructing the operation of the mechanism.
  • the driving-head 153 moves on angular wearplates 160, secured on the upper edges ofa pair of parallel bottom guide-rails 161,forming part of the feeder, and also through a slot 162, between the upper edge portion of wear-plate 160 on the inner guide-rail161 and the lower edge of a top guide-rail 163, in alinementover the said inner guide-rail 161.
  • the rear edge or side of the driving-head 153 is provided with acontactiug flange or extension 164, and at its inner extremity the feeder or table has an upstanding guard 165, with a slot 166 there through to permit free passage of the rope or cable 150 and to effectually hold the portion of the driving-head which passes in like manner through the said slot, while the front extremity of the head extends beyond the inner limit of the table or feeder to fully push or drive the picket in place in the holding-clamps heretofore referred tov
  • the spring 158 will permit the
  • the rope or cable 150 will correspondingly move and without blocking the mechanism until such picket has been properly disposed in the clamps, and the movement of the machine is reversed in a manner which will be presentlyset forth to d raw the head 153 back to the outer end of the table or feeder.
  • the guards 161 apart from each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, the rope or cable 150 is permitted. to pass upwardly therethrough and regularly follow the driving-head 153 as the said rope or cable is wound upon pulley or drum 149, it being understood that the said rope or cable winds in opposite direction on the pulley or drum, and thereby takes up the surplus length of said rope or cable as the driving head moves inwardly toward the first set of clamps.
  • the pickets are regularly placed on the table 144 from the rear toward the front in such quantity that they will be fed toward the upper guard 163 and so that their butt-ends will be in advance of the lip or flange 164 of the driving-head 153, and in placing the said pickets on the table they are arranged edgewise, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.
  • the said table is provided with two traveling feeders 167 and 168 in the form of chain belts which travel from the rear toward the front of the said table or in the direction of the upper guard 163.
  • the innerchain belt is attached a connecting-rod 176, running forwardly and having its opposite extremity connected to the upper end of the long arm 177 of a bell-crank lever 178, fulcrumed on an adjacent part of the frame.
  • the shorter arm 179 of said bell-crank lever is provided with an antifriction-roller in its rear end, as at 180, which is adapted to have contact with a cam 181 on the shaft 2 near the gear 145.
  • the cam 181 comes under and gradually raises the short arm 179 of the bell-crank lever, and thereby throws the long arm 177 in a forward direction or toward the front of the machine and pulls the swinging pawl 175, through the medium of the con necting-rod 176, in the same direction, and thereby rotates the shaft 173 and actuates the inner chain belt 167,Which in turn rotates the shafts 169 and 170 and similarly operates the chain belt-71 68 at the outer end of the table.
  • the chain belt 167 travels over a directing pulley or sheave 182, hung from a part of the frame, and from said pulley passes forwardly and upward to and over the sprocketwheel 171, the said chain belt being prevented from sagging where it. moves over the table 144 by means of an under support similar to one for the chain belt 168, hereinafter referred to, the chain belt 168 being in like manner held against downward movement by a support 184, so that the pickets resting thereon will be caused to regularly respond to the movements of the tWo belts and be fed toward the guard 163.
  • the driving-head 153 will catch one picket at a time and travel in ward with the same and push it inwardly into all the clamps and on the heads of the plunger-s, each picket being limited in such movement by a-stop 185 to thereby maintain the heads of the same in alinement and have the difference in length compensated for at the opposite ends by the saw mechanism heretofore teeth 146.
  • the gear 145 is employed, and the segmental section of teeth thereon extend over one-third of the circumference of the same, the balance, or two-thirds, of the said circumference of the gear just set forth being left blank.
  • the bevel-gears 147 have their hubs 186 formed with shoes 193 to bear against blank sections or flanges on the outer circumference of the gear 145, as at 187, in order to insure an accurate engagement of the teeth of said miter-gears with the segmental section of teeth on the gear 145 when the latter shall have revolved in each instance a sufficient distance and at the times explained and also to hold the said gears in idle fixed positions when out of mesh with When the shoes are free of the flanges 187, they rotate with the shaft 148 in that space between the ends of said flanges.
  • a belt-tightening arm 188 is mounted and carries a belt tightening roller 189 in its free end, the opposite or lower end of the said arm 188 being fixed to a shaft 190, which is operated either by a lever 191, as clearly shown by Fig. 4, or
  • the controlling-gear 3 is provided with the segmental gear-section 11, as heretofore set forth, and is one-half the diameter within its radius or one-third the circumference of the said gear. It will be seen that the shafts 13 and l8, together with the twisting-heads, do the work allotted to them while the main wheel 3 makes one-third of one full revolution and rest or remain at a standstilldu ring the remaining portion of the revolution of said controlling-gear.
  • the pinion 4 on the shaft 5 is in continual mesh with the controlling-gear 3 and the latter also with the pinion 81 on the shaft 80, and by this means the spool-fraine shaft is driven continuously, and though the spool-shaft is separate and discon nected from the twisting-heads the latter make the same number of revolutions as the spool-shaft, but in one-third of the time, and stop for two-thirds of the time of movement of the said spool-shaft, for the purpose which will he presently described.
  • the cams on the shaft 2 at the right end of the machine for actuating the shafts 44, 83, and 95 and the gearing for primarily actuating the same are all in connection with the shaft 2, so that their different constructions and respective shapes will actuate automatically the different rocker-arms and connections at the time set for each to perform its respective Work.
  • the crank 143 on the left end of the shaft 2 is so disposed that it will actuate the rockershaft 137 while the said main shaft 2 makes one-fourth of one full revolution or complete rotation, and correspondingly the ratchetwheel 128 is operated to control the windingspindle 123.
  • the cam 87 which actuates the rock-shaft S3 and the pi ungers 91, is so shaped and arranged on the shaft 2 as to elevate the rolle end of the cam-lever 85 almost instantly two-thirds of the given or predetermined vertical movement of the same and continues to raise gradually the balance of one-third of its prescribed height while the main shaft makes
  • the object of varying the lift of the cam-lever 85in the manner set forth is'to quickly elevate the picket by means of the plunger 9] and force it tightly into the crotch or fork of the wires and then thereafter raise it gradually to full height, so as to have the picket placed about one and one-fourth inches above the twistingheads, and at which time and almost instantly the clamps are forced together to hold the wire firmly against the picket and at the instant the said twistingheads commence and continue to revolve for one-third of one full revolution of the main shaft 2.
  • twisting-heads While the twisting-heads are revolving the clamps are pressing the wires against the sides of the picket and the plungers 91 are moving upwardly,-and thereby all three movements are together and at the same time, thus producing the desired effect of distributing the twist ofthe wires, forcing the latter tightly against the sides of the pickets while said twist is being made and during the time the picket moves upwardly and away from the twisting-heads.
  • the operation of the cam 55 for actuating the shaft 41- 1 in intermittent relation to the clamps is such, in conjunction with its camlever, that the roller end is elevated its full height almost instantly to acquire the proper time movement of the clamps relatively to the other mechanisms set forth.
  • the cam 181 on the main shaft 2, adjacent to the gear 145, lifts the short'arm 179 of the bell-crank lever 178 to its full height when the said main shaft makes one-twelfth of one full revolution in order to actuate the chain belts 167 168 to feed the pickets toward the guards 161 and 163 at a proper time, and it is preferred that the said belts be spaced apart such a distance that they will be located at about six inches from either end of a picket.
  • the clutch for removably connecting the one end of the shaft 123 is shown on an enlarged scale in Figs. 15 and 16 in section and end elevation.
  • the clutch member 125 has a projection or lug 194 to fit and interlock between any of the series of radial lugs 195 on the member 126, so that the connection may be made conveniently at different points and a disconnection readily obtained when desired.
  • the bearing 124 for the opposite end of the shaft 123 is clearly shown in Fig.
  • the ratchet-wheel 128 has a centrally-located friction-disk 198 included in its organization, and in the lower portion or extremity of the arm 129 a friction-disk 199 is rotatably mounted and continually bears against and is in a plane at a right angle to the disk 198.
  • a vertical screw 200 is secured to and rotates with the disk 199, and at its upper end said screw has bearing in a capbox 201 on the upperinner portion of the arm 129.
  • the said screw extends loosely through the head 133 and is detachably engaged by spring-actuated feed levers or jaws 202, pivotally mounted in the upper portion of said head and having inner opposing teeth to fit the screw and upwardly-projecting handles 203 above the plane of the upper edge of the head to operate the same.
  • the purpose of this construction is to gradually compensate for the increase of the weight of the roll of completed fence fabric on the winding-shaft and cause the ratchet mechanism to operate regularly without dragging on the devices for actuating the same.
  • the arm 129 moves backward the friction-disk 199 rolls on the disk 198, thereby turning the screw 200 slightly and raising the head 133 gradually and corresponding to the increasing dimension of the roll of completed fence fabric on the shaft 123.
  • the lower end of the arm 129 is in the form of an extended sleeve 204, freely slidable on the shaft 127 and having its inner end engaged by one extremity of a coiled spring 205 between the same and a set-collar 206, also on said shaft 127, and it will be obviously apparent that when the said collar is adjusted the disk 199 can be made to bear with more or less friction against the disk 198 and in accordance with the direction of movement of the said collar.
  • I 1 In a fence-making machine, the combination of a frame, a main operating-shaft, rotatable frames carrying spools of wire, clamps for holding the fed pickets, twisting-heads in intimate relation to said clamps, means for feeding the pickets to the clamps, plungers for raising the pickets, and means for elevating the fence fabric when completed.
  • a fence making machine comprising means for feeding pickets and wire and twisting the latter around the pickets, and a series of overhanging vertically-movable devices to engage'the finished fence fabric and draw it upwardly away from the twisting devices and to correspondingly move the wires.
  • a fence making machine comprising means for feeding pickets thereto, wire-twisting and picket-holding devices, upper vertically-movable overhanging fingers for drawing the finished fence fabric away from the twisting and holding devices by a step-bystep movement and a saw mechanism for cutting the butt-ends of the pickets and regularly sizing the latter.
  • a fence making machine comprising means for feeding pickets individually thereto, picket-holding devices each comprising a pair of upstanding clamping-jaws automatically operable to compensate for variations in thickness of the pickets, wire twisting heads in intimate relation to said holding devices, and means for automatically moving the individual pickets from the holding devices and the completed fence fabric.
  • a wire-fence making machine comprising- IIO ing means for feeding the individual pickets thereto, holding devices for the pickets, ⁇ viretwisting heads in intimate relation to the said holding devices, plungers for elevating the pickets from the holding devices, means for drawing the completed fence fabric upwardly away from the said holding devices, and a main driving-shaft having a series of three cams thereon between which and portions of the twisting-heads, holding devices, and means for drawing the finished fabric away from the holding devices are intermediate connections for giving the said several mechanisms a properly-timed operation.
  • a fence-making machine comprising a series of rotatable frames for removably holding spools of wire, each frame having two spools mounted therein and the series of frames in alternation arranged in planes at right angles to each other and reversely rotatable, a series of twisting-heads above the said frames, each head having a rotation corresponding to its frame, a pair of clampingjaws in intimate relation to each twisting-head and all the jaws having the open spaces be tween them in longitudinal alinement, means for causing an automatic compensation in the said jaws to accommodate variations in the thickness of pickets, means for feeding the completed fence fabric upwardly and away from the clamping-jaws, and mechanism for operating the several parts.
  • a fence-making machine including in its organization a series of depending fingers to engage the completed fence fabric and draw it upwardly away from the wire twisting mechanism below, a rock-shaft to which the upper extremities of all the said fingers are connected,-and means for operating said rockshaft in timed relation to the other mechanisms of the machine.
  • a fence-making machine comprising in its organization a series of wire-twisting devices, a series of depending fingers unitedly operating to draw the finished fence fabric upwardly from the twisting devices, means to which all the fingers are connected for simultaneously raising and lowering the same and moving them inward and outward from the front of the machine, a rear winding-spindle for the said fabric, means for giving a step-by-step movement to the said windingspindle, and mechanism operably connected to the said parts to cause them to work in timed relation.
  • a fence making machine comprising wire-twisting devices, means for feeding pickets in relative position thereto, a series of vertically-movable plungers on which the pickets are individually disposed, and means for operating the said plungers in timed relation to the wire-twisting devices.
  • a fence-making machine comprising a frame, a main shaft extending longitudinally of the frame and having a controlling-gear thereon provided with a segmental toothed section, a series of three cams mounted on the said main shaft, wire-twistin g, picket-holding and complered-fence-fabric viIhdrawing devices, pluugers for automatically elevating the pickets from the holding devices, the said plungers, holding devices and finished-fabricwithdrawing devices being individually Opel ated by connections with the said cams to move in timed relation, gearing for operating the wi re twisting devices actuated by the segin en tal toothed section of the controlling-gear,
  • the said parts being at rest during certain portions of the revolutions of the said controllinggear and main shaft, rotatable frames carrying wire'spools, intermediate operating mechanism between the said rotatable frames and the said controlling-gear, and means for winding the completed fence fabric by a step-bystep movement imparted by connections with the said main driving-shaft.
  • a fence-making machine comprising in its organization pairs of picket-holding clamps consisting of two upstanding jaws connected to shanks, one shank being disposed on the other, both jaws having flares in the direction of the feed of the picket, and means for operating the said jaws to grip the picket and compensate for variations in thickness of different pickets.
  • a fence-making machine comprising a main shaft, a controlling-gear thereon, means for feeding and twisting wires around pickets fed to the machine in regular succession, a winding spindle for receiving the finished fence fabric, a shaft connected to said winding-spindle and having a ratchet-wheel thereon, a swinging ratchet wheel arm having blades freely movable longitudinally thereof to engage the said ratchet-wheel, a crank on the end of the main shaft, a connecting-bar adjustably attached to said crank, a rockshaft having an arm connected to the forward extremity of said bar, and a connecting-rod extending from said rock-shaft and adjustably secured at its rear terminal to the ratchetwheel arm, whereby a step-by-step movement may be imparted to the winding-spindle in timed relation to the wire twisting and feeding devices.
  • a fence-making machine comprising a frame, a plurality of vertically-disposed wiretwisting heads, a similar number of wire-feeding devices, a series of picket-holding clamps disposed in pairs above and in line with the twisting-heads, a stop against which the head end of the successively-fed pickets are brought to bear, means for automatically feeding the said pickets, means for individually pushing the pickets upwardly into the wire crotches, and means for operating-the twisting-heads and wire-feeding devices.
  • a fence-making machine comprising in its organization a plurality of wire-twisting heads which are adapted to have a rotary motion imparted thereto, upper and lower seats for removably holding the said wire-twisting heads, automatically-adjustable clamps arranged in pairs over the heads and serving to maintain the wire coming through the heads in proper relation to the pickets, means for feeding the pickets to the clamps, and means for operating the twisting-heads and clamps.
  • a fence-making machine comprising Wire-twisting devices, picket-feeding mechanism, means for drawing the completed fence fabric upwardly away from the twisting devices, a table over which the said completed fabric is drawn toward the rear of the machine, a guard over a part of said table and located between the latter and the front part of the frame of the machine, the table having a downward incline toward the rear, and a rotatable saw at one end of the table for cutting off the butt-ends of the pickets held in the completed fence fabric to thereby uniformly size said pickets.
  • a fence-making machine including in its organization a series of picket-holding devices each comprising a pair of automatically movable jaws with the openings between all of the same in longitudinal alinement, and a feeding mechanism comprising an endless rope or cable automatically movable in opposite directions and having a head to engage the individual pickets and feed them longitudinallyinto the open spaces of said holding devices.
  • a fence-making machine including in its organization wire twisting and picketholding instrumentalities, the latter being above the former and each comprising a pair of movable jaws and the jaws of the series having their open spaces in longitudinal alinement, and picket feeding mechanism comprising a head automatically movable in opposite directions to individually feed the pickets to the picket-holding devices and hav ing means in connection therewith for compensating for the difference in length of the pickets.
  • a fence-making machine comprising wire-twisting and picket-holding instrumentalities, the latter comprising a plurality of longitudinally-alined movablejaws, a picketfeeding mechanism comprising an endless rope or cable automatically movable in opposite directions and having a head fixed to and movable therewith, an automatically-reversible drum on and from which the rope or cable winds and unwinds, and picket-feeding belts movable in planes at right angles to the said rope or cable to gradually dispose the pickets in succession individ ually in the path of in ovement of the said head.
  • a fence-making machine comprising instrumentalities for twisting wire strands and holding individual pickets, the latter being disposed vertically over and independent of the former and comprising pairs of alined movable members, and feeding mechanism for the pickets consisting of an automaticallymovable head having means in connection therewith for compensating for the difference in length of the pickets to avoid obstruction of operation of the mechanism, and means for operating the said head.
  • a fence-making machine comprising Wire-twisting and picket-holding instrumentalities, the latter being disposed vertically over and independent of the former and comprising pairs of alined movable members, and picket-feeding mechanism consist-ingof ahead automatically movable in opposite directions, a continuous cable connected to said head, a drum on and from which said cable winds and unwinds, gearing controlled by the main driving mechanism for automatically reversing the movement of saiddrum, and traveling devices movable in planesat right angles to the plane of movement of the head and given a step-bystep movement to successively dispose individual pickets in the path of movement of the said head.
  • a fence-making machine comprising wire twisting and picket-holding instrumentalities, the latter being disposed vertically over and independent of the former and comprisingpairs of alined movable members, and a picket-feeding mechanism consisting of a head automatically movable in opposite directions, a continuous cable connected to said head, a drum on and from which said cable winds and unwinds, gearing controlled by the main driving mechanism for automatically reversing the movement of said drum, a pair of chain belts spaced apart from each other and movingin a plane'at rightangles to that of the head, a shaft. having aratchetwheel thereon with which one of the chain belts engages, and means for imparting a timed step-by-step movement to the said shaft.
  • a fencemaking machine comprising wire-twisting and picket-holding instrumentalities, the latter being disposed vertically over and independent of the formerand comprising pairs of alined movable members, and picket-feeding mechanism consisting of a movable head adapted to operate or shift in opposite directions in an automatic manner, an endless rope or cable connected to said head, a pulley or drum on which the said rope or cable winds or unwinds in reverse directions, a shaft for said pulley or drum, a main shaft for the entire machine by intermediate connections giving the wire-twisting and picket-holding instrumentalities timed operation, and automatically reversing-gearing between the main shaft of the machine and the shaft of the pulley or drum.

Description

No. 669,953. Patented Mar. I2, 1901. E. W. CHANNELL.
SLAT AND WIRE FENCE MACHINE.
(Application filed Apr. 3, 1900.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet l.
Wilgcsscs m: Nonms PEYEHS m. PHOTOJIiYNO. WASNXNGYON. o. c
P. L L E N N A H C W .L
SLAT AND WIRE FENCE MACHINE.
A mmon' filed Apr. 23. 1900.
9 Sheets-Sheet 2 {no Model.)
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NM NM ZZI IZWJZ Wilgcsscs W W m: "aims Pzfzns o0. Puofaumm WASIHNGTON n c Patented Mar. l2, |90|I= E. w. CHANNELL. SLAT AND WIRE FENCE MACHINE.
mppli cation filed Apr. 3, 1900.) (N0 Mudel.) 9 Sheets-Shut 3.
In: NORRIS mans co. momumu. wisumc-wu. n. c.
"No. 669,953. Patented Mar. l2, mm, E. W. C HANNELL. SLAT AND WIRE FENCE MACHINE. (A ncaeion filed Apr. 28, 1900. (No ldqde l.) 9 Sheets-Sheet4.
me mums PETERS co. mpTo-umu wsuma'ruu. n. c.
No. 669,953. Patented Mar. l2, l90l.
E. W. CHANNELL.
SLAT AND WIRE F ENCE IACHINE.
(Afiplication filed Apr. 23, 900.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 5.
THE nonms PETERS w momumo, wasummou, o, c,
No. 669,953. Patented mar. l2, I90I.
I E. w. CHANQJELL.
SLAT ANIYWIRE FENCE MACHINE.
' (Application filed Apr. 23, 1990.,
('llo Model.) 9 Sheets-$heat 6.
= WUfiu/nneZZ 1 3 Anon-gays,
"m: uonms PEYERS co. PHOTOLVTHOH msmusmn. n c
No. 669,953. Patented Mar. I2,Q l90l.
- E. W. GHANNELL; SLAT AND WIRE'FENGE MACHINE.
(Application; me'aA r'. 23,1900.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 1.
Wilgcsscs' If/c9101" No.669,953. I Patented Ma r. l2. l90l.
' -E. w. CHANNELL. I
'SLAT AND WIRE FENCE MACHINE.
(Application filed Apt. 23, 1900.)
(No Model.) 98haets-Shadt 8.
m: yaoams PETERS co worcumm WASNINGTON. law 0.
No. 669,953. Patented Mar. [2, I901.
E. w CvH ANNELL. SLAT AID WIRE FENCE MACHINE.
(Appliltion filed Apr. 23, 1900.)
(Ila Model.) 9 Shpets-Sheet 9.
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U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
EMMET 1V. CHANNELL, OF LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA.
SLAT-AND-WlRE-FENCE MACHINE.
SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 669,953, dated March 12, 1901. Application filed April 23, 1900. serial No. 13,971. No model.)
This invention relates-to a fence-making machine; and the aim and purpose of the same is to organize aseries of mechanical instrumentalities in intimate relation, whereby the pickets are automatically fed to a predetermined position and singly placed in and held by clamping devices and disposed regularly between the wires and into the crotched portions of the clamping devices, the difference in the length of the pickets being automatically compensatedfor by a part of the mechanism after they have been secured by the Wires.
The invention consists in the construction and arrangement and distinct combinations of parts and elements hereinafter described and claimed.
In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fence-machine embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the improved machine. Fig. 3 is a 1eft-end elevation of the improved machine. Fig. 4 is a right-end elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a front View ofthe feeding-table. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section of a part of the table. Fig. 7 is adetail elevation of a pair of the picket-holding clamps and a twisting-head and a part of the mechanism for operating in conjunction with the clamps. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the clampsin detail. Fig. 9 represents detail views in plan and elevation of portions of theclamps. Fig. 10 is an elevation of a part of the slat-feeding gearing. Fig. 11 is a detail elevation of the controlling and gearing on the main shaft. Fig. 12is a detail elevation of the cam mechanism and connections. Fig. 13 shows detail side and end elevations of one of the twisting-heads. Fig. 14 is a detail elevation of one of the spool-frames. Fig. 14? is a detail end elevation of one of the bevel-gears coacting with the slat-feeding gearing. Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the winding-shaft and clutch mechanism therefor. Fig. 16 is a front elevation of a part of the clutch mechanism shown by Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is an enlarged elevation of the ratchetfeed mechanism for-compensatingautomatic ally for theincrea-se in the size of the wound roll of completed fence. Fig. 18 is a section through the mechanism shown by Fig. 17. i Fig. 19 is a detail elevation of the bearing for the end of the Winding-shaft opposite that at which the clutch shown by Fig. 16 is located.
Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.
'lhe numeral 1 designates the main frame, which is made up of a plurality of vertical, horizontal, and intermediate timbers disposed in regular spaced relation and of difierent lengths to accommodate the desired arrangement of the several coacting elements. At a suitable elevation at the left end of the frame a main shaft 2. is journaled and has a controlling-gear 3 fast thereon, which is actuated by a pinion 4 on a shaft 5 below the said shaft 2. The shaft 5 is a stub-shaft and in addition to the pinion 4 has a belt-pulley 6, also .keyed thereon and surrounded bya belt 7 from a pulley 8 at the upper part of the left end of the machine on a shaft 8, which may be properly termed a power-shaft, as it is provided with a driving-pulley 9, surrounded by a belt 10 from a suitable power medium and controlled in its operation by any shifting device to throw the machine into. activity or cause a cessation of operation.
The main shaft2 extends almost completely the full length of the machine, as shown by Figs. 1 and 2, and the gear 3 thereon, in addition to the peripheral teeth with which it is provided, has a concentric segment-section 11 of bevel-gear teeth, with which a bevelpinion 12 on the inner end of a shaft 13 has operable contact at certain times, the said shaft 13 being a counter-shaft and having its opposite end extending beyond the front portion of the frame and supplied with a bevelgear 14:, in which the teeth are continuous and face to the front. Adjacent the shaft 13 and the gear 14: and above the same are a pair of parallel timbers 15 and 16, to which are secured vertically-alined bearing boxes or journals 17, in which ashort vertical shaft 18 is mounted, and on the depending end thereof below the lower edge of the timber 15 a vices, and these heads are clearly shown in detail in Figs. 7 and 13. Each head comprises a tubular body 22, rotatably mounted in upper and lower half-seats 23 in achanneliron 24, secured to the front of the frame, the said heads in each instance being removable from the seats and held in place by yokes 25, attached to the outer edge portions of the said channel-iron. The upper end of each head is enlarged and transversely slotted,'as at 26, to form opposite guards, and extending longitudinally through the body are a pair of apertures 27 for the passage of the wire strands coming from the spools below. The guards provided by the transverse slot in the upper enlarged end of the twistinghead bear upon the contiguous strands of wire fed through the body and facilitate the formation of the twist adjacent each picket that has been placed in the open strands, as will be more fully hereinafter described. On the body of each twisting-head a sprocketwheel 28 is removably and adj ustably mounted and has a collar 29 connected thereto or forming a part thereof, in which a set-screw 30 is seated and operates to adjust or maintain the adjustment of the sprocket-wheel 28,
and it will be understood that the sprocket wheels of all the twisting-heads will be at the same elevation on the bodies thereof and are all engaged by the chain belt 21, the inner portion of said belt passing around the outer part of the first sprocket-wheel on the left, then in rear of the next sprocket-wheel,again returns outwardly and contacts with the outer portion of the third sprocket-wheel, and then around the inner or rearportion of the fourth and last sprocket-wheel, and returns in front and out of contact with said twister sprocketwheels to the sprocket-wheel 20 at the left of the machine, by which it is driven, the outer portion of the said belt 21 being held free of the several sprocket-wheels and the twistingheads by a belt-tightener 31, comprising an arm 32, secured to the left end of the channel-iron or a part of the frame and having a roller in its outer free end, which bears against the outer part of the said chain belt, all as clearly shown in Fig. 2.
Direct-1y over the upper end of each twisting-head a pairof clamps 34 and 35 are mounted and supported bya horizontal rearwardlyextending web 36 from the channel-iron 24 and havingoppositely-disposed pairs of combined guide and holding lugs 37, between which the rearwardly-projecting shanks 3S and 39 of the clamps 34 and 35, respectively, have bearing and adjustable movement, the shank 38 being on the shank 39. Each clamp comprises an upstanding jaw 40, with an outward flare 42 at the right to cause the pickets to easily enter the clamps, the shank 39 being extended outwardly beyond the jaw 34 to properly locate the jaw 35 and to form a base-rest for the lower edge of each picket as it is fed thereinto and in all the clamps which are in alinement and similarly constructed and arranged. On the rear extremity of the web 36 in each instance a bearingblock 43 is located, and in all the said bearing-blocks a rock-shaft 44 is mounted and pivoted with a series of arms 45, with intermediate collars 46, so as to provide upper and lower projections operably near the shanks 'of each pair of clamps.
The lower projection of each arm 45 normally engages a recess or slot 47 in the shank 39 of the jaw 35, and to the upper projection of the arm a couplingrod 48 is connected, and at its forward end said rod is attached to a lug 49, extending upwardly from the shank 38, the said rod having an intermediate spring 50 and also slidable through the lug to permit the jaw 34 to yield to compensate for variations in the thickness of the pickets, and during the latter operation or automatic adjustment the shaft 44 is permitted to have unretarded operation as well as the arms 45. It will also be seen that this automatic adjustable feature will compensate for variations in thickness of different portions of the same picket without stalling or otherwise obstructing the operation of the actuating mechanism, and no strain or breakage will result. The shaft 44 also has a single larger rocker-arm 51 secured to the forward extremity of a cam-lever 52, fulcrumed on a bearing-shaft 53 and having its rear end bifurcated to receive a roller 54, which contacts with a cam 55 on the main shaft 2. (See Fig. 12.) As the cam 55 reaches its maximum elevation the camlever 52 will be raised correspondingly at its rear extremity and lowered at its front end and the rocker-arm 51 will be drawn down, the shaft 44 rocked, and the clamping- jaws 34 and 35 operated to grip the fence-picket fed thereinto through the medium of the arms 45' and against the resistance of the springs 50. The tension of these springs 50 can be regulated by the adjustment of a nut 56, movable on a screw-threaded portion 57 of each of the rods 48 and the entire mechanism accordingly stiffened or slackened and the binding action of the jaws 34 and 35 also ren dered forceful or slight. The clamps are opened instantly, when free to so operate, by
a spring 43, connected to an arm 43" on the shaft 44, and in their closing or approaching operation the said clamps act against the resistance of said spring.
As before indicated, the upper ends of the twisting-head are exposed through the lower portions of the clamping- jaws 34 and 35, and the lower extremities of said heads are disposed directly overand at so me distance above the spool mechanism below. The spool mechanism includes a series of spool-frames 58, there being as many of the latter as there are twisting heads, and each frame is rotatably held in upright position by a lower central stub-spindle 59, fitted in a vertical journalbox 60, bolted or otherwise fastened to an angle-beam 61,secured tothe lowerfront portion of the frame at a suitable elevation above the base of the latter. The upper central portion of the frame 58 in each instance is provided with a central upstanding stub-spindle 62, which is rotatabl y mounted in a journ al-bear ing 63 on an angle-beam 64,similar to the beam 61, and also secured to the front of the frame 1 in a plane parallel with the said beam 61. On the lower end of the stub-spindle 59 a miter-gear 65 is secured and meshes with a similar gear66 in relative position thereto and fast on a lower shaft 67. The gear 66, in operable relation to each alternate frame 58, is in reverse position to that of the others of the series which mesh with the gears 65, and the frames are also in like manner in reverse position, so that the first frame to the left, for example, is parallel to the front of the frame of the machine and the next frame 58 is in a plane at right angles to the first, and so on, whereby a proper twisting action may be given to the wires in reverse order to effect a more positive binding action and the arrangement of the chain belt 21, as set forth in connection with the sprocket-wheels 28, accommodates the operation.
Each frame 58 is of substantially rectangular form and has a central horizontal partition-bar 68,preferably integral with fixed side bars 69 onopposite sides, in turn continuous with or otherwise secured to upper and lower end bars 70 and 71, from which the stub-spindies 59 and 62, respectively, extend. The side bars 69 each have a reversely-extending spindle 72 in a horizontal plane to removably reeeive a vertically-disposed wire-spool 7 3, the spools in each frame being separated by the horizontal partition-bar 68, entrance to the two compartments {of each frame being acquired through reversely-opening hinged closing-bars 74, which are adapted to be fastened at their free ends to the terminals of the upper and lower end bars 70 and 71 in a detachi able manner, and each bar 74 hasafrictional holding-spring 75 on the inner side thereof to bear against the adjacent head of the spool and serve as a tension means for the latter. The wire strand from each spool isfed through the upper bar 70 of each frame and also through the flanged head 76 of each of the upper spindles c2, and from the latter the two wires pass up through the twisting-heads, heretofore set forth. It will be observed that the spools may be quickly and easily removed from or mounted in the several spool-frames,
and the two wires from each frame can also be readily threaded through the guiding and feeding means therefor, as well as the twisting-heads.
The shaft 67 has a sprocket-wheel 77 secured to one end thereof and surrounded by a chain belt 78, which is also in engagement with a sprocket-wheel 79 on a comparatively short shaft 80, carrying a pinion 81, in mesh with the controlling-gear 3, and to take up the slack in the said belt 78 a belt-tightener 82 is employed, as clearly shown by Figs. 1 and 3. By means of the mechanism just described the shaft 67 is rotated and the frames 58 revolved, and the operation of twisting the wires is effectively carried on in conjunction with the twisting-heads, which have a timed operation relatively to that of the spool-frames.
At a suitable elevation between the upper extremities of the spool-frames and the lower portions of the twisting-heads a rock-shaft 83 is mounted and has a crank-arm 84 at oneend, which is attached to a cam-lever 85, also hearing on the fulcrum 53 at an intermediate point and having its opposite free end provided withan antifrictional roller 86,which engages a cam 87 on the main shaft 2. The said cam 87 is slightly larger than the cam 55, and as the former cam reaches its maximum elevation the cam-lever is raised at its front end and lowered at its rear end, and the crankarm 84 will be accordingly drawn downwardly and the shaft 83 oscillated. The shaft 83 at regular intervals has arms 88 secured thereto and supplied with bearing-rollers 89 at their ends, which are located in seats 90, of U- sha'ped form, located at an intermediate point in vertically-disposed plungers 1, havingvertical sliding movement in guides 92 on the channel-iron 24 and on the angle-beam 64,
each plunger being transversely narrowed at.
the center and broadened toward the opposite extremities to move and hold well in the guides 90 and having heads 93 at their upper ends. The plungers 91 are located between the twisting-heads and clamps, and normally the heads 93 have their upper surfaces in alinement with the upper surfaces .of the shanks 39 of the clamping-jaws 35 and also in alinement with the spaces between the sets of jaws 34 and 35. When the rear end of the cam-lever 85 is lowered, the arms 88 on the shaft 83 are all similarly and simultaneously raised and the rollers 89 at the free ends of the said arms bear against the upper portions of the seats 90 and elevate the plungers 91. The heads 93 of the plungers 91 all simultaneously bear against the under edge of each picket fed into the clamps and regularlyelevate the successive pickets into proper position in the crotches of the twisted wire, and to facilitate the unobstructed feed of the several picket-s into the clamps the latter have downwardly-inclined guide-lips 94 as a part thereof and on the side adjacent the picketfeeding mechanism and conjointly serve,\\"ith IIO the flares 12 of the clamp-jaws, to insure an accurate disposition of the pickets in the clamps and over the plunger-heads.
The organization of elements of the improved-machine also includes means for gradually moving the completed fence fabric by a step-by-step movement from the twistingheads in an upward direction, so as to make room for the successively-applied fence-pickets and maintain an equal-spaced relation of the latter in accordance with a predetermined adjustment or arrangement of the correlative parts. This mechanism comprises a rockshaft'95, mounted in suitable journal-bearings at the upper front portion of the frame 1 and on which is keyed a rocking lever 96, having a connecting-rod 97, movably secured to the rear end thereof and depending to a cam-lever 98, also intermediately bearing on the fulcrum 53. The lower end of the conmeeting-rod 97 is movablyattached to the camlever 98, and has at an intermediate point a turnbuckle 99 for regulating the length of the same, and thereby quicken or slow up the movement of the rocking lever 96, the shaft 95, and the parts carried by the latter to control the feed of the completed fence upwardly away from the twisting-heads. The move ment of the completed fence fabric is timed in such manner through the medium of the rock-shaft 95 and the devices intimately related to the latter that just previous to the introduction of a picket into the clampingjaws the said completed fence fabric will have been drawn upwardly a distance corresponding to that which is desired to exist between the several pickets of the fabric. The shaft 95 has a series of forwardly-projecting arms 100, attached thereto at regular intervals and movable therewith, the front extremities of the said arms lOO'having a series of depending yielding fingers 102 attached thereto and provided at their lower extremities with beveled noses 103, having upper shoulders 104:. The noses 103 and shoulders 104 are located on the rear portions of the said fingers, and near the lower extremities of the latter atie-bar 105 is secured to hold the said fingers in regular-spaced relation and to cause themto positively take hold of the lower edges of the pickets in the completed fence fabric and draw the latter over toward a series of guide wheels 106 on a shaft 107, located immediately in the rear of the lower portions of the said lingers. 'It is obviously apparent that the down ward movement of the arms 100 will cause the rods 101 to likewise descend and force the fingers 102 unitedly down in the same direction, and to insure a proper engagement of the said fingers with the pickets springs 108 are attached to opposite extremities of the tie-bar 105 and the adjacent portion of the frame, the said springs retracting the series of connected fingers and forcing the shoulders 104 to bear against the under edges of the several pickets with which the fingers engage. The opposite ends of the tiebar 105 also bear against stops 109, which are fixed in alinement on opposite portions of the main frame 1 to hold the fingers outwardly in proper operating position, and through the springs 1.08 will act to slightly draw the tiebar105 and fingers 102 downwardly into normal position or to their lower primary adjusted positions and after the operating mechanism of the cam-lever 98 has reached its maximum elevation. The rear extremity of the cam-lever 98 has an antifrictional bearing-roller 111 mounted therein,which engages a cam 112, also keyed on the main shaft 2, and, like the preceding cams located on said shaft, has a drop, which when reached will cause the rear end of the cam-lever 98 to suddenly return to a depressed normal position, and simultaneously the springs 108 will restore the fingers 102 and the mechanism for operating the same at the upper part of the machine to normal position to thereby avoid lost motion, which would otherwise be present, to
restore the said arms to a proper lower level, in addition to their movement in a downward direction to take hold of succeeding pickets in the completed fence fabric.
The completed fence fabric travels over the wheels 106, as before indicated,.and then under a rear guard 113 to a rearwardly-inclined table or bed 114, above which extends a rotatable circular saw 115, fast to a saw-shaft 116, having a belt-pulley 117 thereon, which is surrounded by a drivingebelt 118, which also engages a pulley 119 on a lower shaft 120, extending almost the full length of the machine and at an opposite point provided with a smaller pulley 120*, surrounded by a belt 121, running upwardly to and driven by a pulley 122 on the shaft 8 between the pulleys 8 and 9. It will be observed from the foregoing description that the operation of the saw 115 is entirely independent of any of the other mechanisms, and the position of such saw is so determined in the structural arrangement of the machine that it will cut the pickets at their lower ends, so as to regularly size the same and while the said pickets are held under the guard 113. After the pickets have been cut to properly size them the fence fabric is drawn rearwardly over the table 114 to the rear lower part of the machine-frame, Where a windingspindle 123 is removably located and given a step-by-step movement proportionately to the fence-forming mechanisms heretofore setforth. The winding-spindle 123 is removably located in a bearing-socket 124 at one end and at the other end provided with a clutch member 125, which removably interlocks with a clutch-head 126 of an adjacent shaft 127, the latter also having at its opposite extremities a ratchet-wheel 128, adjacent to which a ratchet-wheel arm 129 is movably mounted on said shaft and is supplied with a series of ratchet-blades 130 to engage the teeth of the said ratchet-wheel128, the blades being held in spaced guides 131, located at different points on the ratchet-wheel arm. To
prevent backlash of the ratchet-wheel 12R, looselymonnted gravitating pawls ordogs 132 are held on the main frame adjacent to said wheel, and adj ustably attached to the ratchet wheel arm 129 is a sliding head 133, and from the said head a connecting-rod 135 extends and is movably attached at its front extremity to the upper member of a rocker-arm 136 on a rock-shaft137, extending longitudinally from the left end of the machine and also having a longer rocker-arm 138, to the lower end of which a connecting-bar 139 is movably attached and provided with a slot 140 at its rear extremity to adjust-ably receive a connecting-block 141, which is controlled in its adjustment by a screw 142 and also attached to a crank-arm 143, fast on the left extremity of the main shaft 2. By adjusting the connecting-blocks 141 in the connecting-bar 139 the stroke of the rocker-arm 138 will be varied, and consequently the shaft 137 and rocker-arm 136, and through the medium of the connecting-rod 135 the movement of the ratchet-wheel arm 129 will be correspondingly Varied, and the rapidity of movement of the winding-spindle 123 can thus be timed proportionately to the operation of the other mechanism. 7
The machine as thus far described can be employed foretfectually manufacturing fence fabrics or to serve as a fence-loom without any further attachments and be fed by hand, which would be an obviously slow operation and require the continual attention of several operatives, and to make the machine more complete a picket-feeding mechanism is employed in connection therewith and com prises a table 144 at the right end of the machine, which is made up of suitable timbers and braces and has such arrangement as to accommodate the disposition of the several mechanisms included therein. The shaft 2 is continued beyond the right end of the main frame 1 of the machine and has keyed to the right end a mutilated beveled gear 145 or one having a segmental line of teeth 146, which are adapted to mesh with oppositelydisposcd reversely-arranged bevel-gears 147, fixed on a counter-shaft 148, which extends through the frontof the table and has a pulley or drum 149 at its front end, upon which a feed rope or cable 150 has winding movement and is attached at its opposite extremities to two of the spokes of the said pulley or drum, as clearly shown by Fig. 5. The feed rope or cable 150 is disposed on the pulley or drum in such manner that it will unwind in one direction of movement of the said pulley or drum and wind on the latter at an opposite point, and vice versa, and from the said pulley or drum the feed rope or cable passes upwardly over guide- sheaves 151 and 152, respectively, at the inner and outerends of the feed-table, so as to dispose the same over the said table. Secured to the said feed rope or cable is a driving-head 153 for pushing or placing the successive pickets in the clamps heretofore set forth. The driving-head 153, as shown by Fig. 6, consists of a tiat bar with upstanding ears 154 at the rear and an intermediate point, a connecting-rod 155 being" attached to the rear pair of cars, and having an eye at its extremity 156 for securement of one of the ends of the rope or cable 150, and
the otheror intermediate ears having the front slidable portion of said rod disposed therein and connected to a spring 158 and having another of the ends of the rope or cable 150 attached to a front eye 15" thereon, the said spring 158 permitting the front connecting or slidable rod to yield to compensate for pickets of different lengths and to prevent obstructing the operation of the mechanism. The driving-head 153 moves on angular wearplates 160, secured on the upper edges ofa pair of parallel bottom guide-rails 161,forming part of the feeder, and also through a slot 162, between the upper edge portion of wear-plate 160 on the inner guide-rail161 and the lower edge of a top guide-rail 163, in alinementover the said inner guide-rail 161. The rear edge or side of the driving-head 153 is provided with acontactiug flange or extension 164, and at its inner extremity the feeder or table has an upstanding guard 165, with a slot 166 there through to permit free passage of the rope or cable 150 and to effectually hold the portion of the driving-head which passes in like manner through the said slot, while the front extremity of the head extends beyond the inner limit of the table or feeder to fully push or drive the picket in place in the holding-clamps heretofore referred tov To accommodate this latter operation, it will be observed that a considerable portion of the driving-head moves in advance of that part to which the rope or cable 150 is attached at the front, and consequently the intermediate and rearportions of the said head will stand under or within a part of the guard 165, while the forward e'xtremity of the driving-head will be beyond, and in the event that a longer picket is engaged, or one having a greater length than that for which the machine is set, the spring 158 will permit the slidable connecting-rod 155 to pull out. or in aforward direction, and the rope or cable 150 will correspondingly move and without blocking the mechanism until such picket has been properly disposed in the clamps, and the movement of the machine is reversed in a manner which will be presentlyset forth to d raw the head 153 back to the outer end of the table or feeder. By spacing the guards 161 apart from each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, the rope or cable 150 is permitted. to pass upwardly therethrough and regularly follow the driving-head 153 as the said rope or cable is wound upon pulley or drum 149, it being understood that the said rope or cable winds in opposite direction on the pulley or drum, and thereby takes up the surplus length of said rope or cable as the driving head moves inwardly toward the first set of clamps. The pickets are regularly placed on the table 144 from the rear toward the front in such quantity that they will be fed toward the upper guard 163 and so that their butt-ends will be in advance of the lip or flange 164 of the driving-head 153, and in placing the said pickets on the table they are arranged edgewise, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The said table is provided with two traveling feeders 167 and 168 in the form of chain belts which travel from the rear toward the front of the said table or in the direction of the upper guard 163. At the rear and front portions of the said table or feeder shafts 169 and 170 are located and have front and rearsprocketwvheels'171,over which the chain belts 167 and 168 have movement .and arein mesh therewith, the innerchain belt is attached a connecting-rod 176, running forwardly and having its opposite extremity connected to the upper end of the long arm 177 of a bell-crank lever 178, fulcrumed on an adjacent part of the frame. The shorter arm 179 of said bell-crank lever is provided with an antifriction-roller in its rear end, as at 180, which is adapted to have contact with a cam 181 on the shaft 2 near the gear 145. As the said shaft 2 revolves the cam 181 comes under and gradually raises the short arm 179 of the bell-crank lever, and thereby throws the long arm 177 in a forward direction or toward the front of the machine and pulls the swinging pawl 175, through the medium of the con necting-rod 176, in the same direction, and thereby rotates the shaft 173 and actuates the inner chain belt 167,Which in turn rotates the shafts 169 and 170 and similarly operates the chain belt-71 68 at the outer end of the table. After leaving the sprocket-wheel 172 the chain belt 167 travels over a directing pulley or sheave 182, hung from a part of the frame, and from said pulley passes forwardly and upward to and over the sprocketwheel 171, the said chain belt being prevented from sagging where it. moves over the table 144 by means of an under support similar to one for the chain belt 168, hereinafter referred to, the chain belt 168 being in like manner held against downward movement by a support 184, so that the pickets resting thereon will be caused to regularly respond to the movements of the tWo belts and be fed toward the guard 163. It will be seen that the driving-head 153 will catch one picket at a time and travel in ward with the same and push it inwardly into all the clamps and on the heads of the plunger-s, each picket being limited in such movement by a-stop 185 to thereby maintain the heads of the same in alinement and have the difference in length compensated for at the opposite ends by the saw mechanism heretofore teeth 146.
explained. If the picket fed inwardly by the driving-head 153 is longer than those before fed to the clamps, thediff'erence in length will be taken up by the spring 158, as before explained, and while the driving-head is in its inward position a part of the succeeding unfed picket resting on the table will be adjacent to the said head, in such manner as not tointerfere with its outward return move ment, and to operate the said head the gear 145 is employed, and the segmental section of teeth thereon extend over one-third of the circumference of the same, the balance, or two-thirds, of the said circumference of the gear just set forth being left blank. When the segmental section of teeth on the gear 145 operate in conjunction or mesh with the outer bevel-gear 147, the shaft 148 will be turned one full revolution to the right, winding up the rope or cable 150 on the pulley or drum 149 and causing the driving-heads 153 to move inwardly and force the picket inplace. As soon as the segmental section of teeth on the gear-wheel 145 become disengaged from the outer bevel-gear 147 the teeth of the latter will bear against or stand over the smooth face of the said gear, and the shaft 148 and both miter-gears will stand at rest during one-third of one full revolution of the controlling-gear 3 and shaft 2, and at the end of this state of rest the segmental sect-ion of teeth on gear 145 will engage with the rear bevel-gear 147, and will move the same one full turn backward or in a direction opposite to the movement of the outer miter-gear, as set forth, and thereby unwind the rope or cable 150 from the pulley or drum 149 from one side and wind up the same on the other side to draw the drivinghead outward until the same shall have reached its normal position beyond the plane of the butt-ends of the line of pickets on the table and will stand still until the outer mitergear is again engaged, and duringsuch interval the next picket will have been fed up to the guard 163, when the same operation will be repeated and continued during the feeding of all the pickets. The bevel-gears 147 have their hubs 186 formed with shoes 193 to bear against blank sections or flanges on the outer circumference of the gear 145, as at 187, in order to insure an accurate engagement of the teeth of said miter-gears with the segmental section of teeth on the gear 145 when the latter shall have revolved in each instance a sufficient distance and at the times explained and also to hold the said gears in idle fixed positions when out of mesh with When the shoes are free of the flanges 187, they rotate with the shaft 148 in that space between the ends of said flanges.
At the left end of the machinea belt-tightening arm 188 is mounted and carries a belt tightening roller 189 in its free end, the opposite or lower end of the said arm 188 being fixed to a shaft 190, which is operated either by a lever 191, as clearly shown by Fig. 4, or
by a pull-bar 192, attached to said lever 191 and extending to the front of the machine, so that said belt-tightener shaft 190 can be conveniently operated at different points. The said belt tightening roller 189 is thrown into contact with the belt' 7, running from the 'pulley 6 to the pulley 8, respectively, on the shafts 5 and 8 the said belt being slack enough in the first instance to run loose or until the said belt-tightening roller is thrown in contact therewith. By this means the motion of the entire machine is controlled, and
when the belt-tightening roller 189 is thrown off from the belt 7 the several mechanisms will cease to operate without completely shutting off the machine from the power-generating medium. i
The controlling-gear 3 is provided with the segmental gear-section 11, as heretofore set forth, and is one-half the diameter within its radius or one-third the circumference of the said gear. It will be seen that the shafts 13 and l8, together with the twisting-heads, do the work allotted to them while the main wheel 3 makes one-third of one full revolution and rest or remain at a standstilldu ring the remaining portion of the revolution of said controlling-gear. The pinion 4 on the shaft 5 is in continual mesh with the controlling-gear 3 and the latter also with the pinion 81 on the shaft 80, and by this means the spool-fraine shaft is driven continuously, and though the spool-shaft is separate and discon nected from the twisting-heads the latter make the same number of revolutions as the spool-shaft, but in one-third of the time, and stop for two-thirds of the time of movement of the said spool-shaft, for the purpose which will he presently described. The cams on the shaft 2 at the right end of the machine for actuating the shafts 44, 83, and 95 and the gearing for primarily actuating the same are all in connection with the shaft 2, so that their different constructions and respective shapes will actuate automatically the different rocker-arms and connections at the time set for each to perform its respective Work. The crank 143 on the left end of the shaft 2 is so disposed that it will actuate the rockershaft 137 while the said main shaft 2 makes one-fourth of one full revolution or complete rotation, and correspondingly the ratchetwheel 128 is operated to control the windingspindle 123. ranged on the shaft 2 that when the roller 111 on the cam-engaging end of the cam-lever 98 starts to roll up on the said cam the rear end of said lever is lifted to its highest elevation in one-fourth of one full revolution of the main shaft. 2 and is held in said position during one-third of one full revolution of the shaft, and as said cam controls the lifting-fingers 102 through the intermediate mechanism heretofore described the shoulders of the said fingers will catch a picket or adjacent part of the finished fence and hold the same after the lifting operation during The large cam 112 is also so arone-third of one full revolution.
one-third of one full revolution of said shaft 2. It is obvious that the object. of lifting the finished fence is to draw the wires upwardly through the twisting-heads and to hold the samein thisposition during the time required and until the next picket is driven in between the wires, the latter at such times being separated, and while the twisting-heads are stopped and said Wires are resting against the inside surfaces of the clamps or jaws 34: and thereof. This mechanism alsoinsures an absolute even space between the pickets, as the lifting device moves upward a given height at every revolution or like distance for every picket that is fed into 'the machine. The cam 87, which actuates the rock-shaft S3 and the pi ungers 91, is so shaped and arranged on the shaft 2 as to elevate the rolle end of the cam-lever 85 almost instantly two-thirds of the given or predetermined vertical movement of the same and continues to raise gradually the balance of one-third of its prescribed height while the main shaft makes The object of varying the lift of the cam-lever 85in the manner set forth is'to quickly elevate the picket by means of the plunger 9] and force it tightly into the crotch or fork of the wires and then thereafter raise it gradually to full height, so as to have the picket placed about one and one-fourth inches above the twistingheads, and at which time and almost instantly the clamps are forced together to hold the wire firmly against the picket and at the instant the said twistingheads commence and continue to revolve for one-third of one full revolution of the main shaft 2. While the twisting-heads are revolving the clamps are pressing the wires against the sides of the picket and the plungers 91 are moving upwardly,-and thereby all three movements are together and at the same time, thus producing the desired effect of distributing the twist ofthe wires, forcing the latter tightly against the sides of the pickets while said twist is being made and during the time the picket moves upwardly and away from the twisting-heads.
The operation of the cam 55 for actuating the shaft 41- 1 in intermittent relation to the clamps is such, in conjunction with its camlever, that the roller end is elevated its full height almost instantly to acquire the proper time movement of the clamps relatively to the other mechanisms set forth. The cam 181 on the main shaft 2, adjacent to the gear 145, lifts the short'arm 179 of the bell-crank lever 178 to its full height when the said main shaft makes one-twelfth of one full revolution in order to actuate the chain belts 167 168 to feed the pickets toward the guards 161 and 163 at a proper time, and it is preferred that the said belts be spaced apart such a distance that they will be located at about six inches from either end of a picket.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that the improved mechanisms are almost all automatic in their operation and have a timed relation to obtain the best results in a rapid manner and are so organized that the machine as an entirety can be run at a very high speed, and in View of the siniplicity of the several operations one operative can easily control two machines. The fence manufactured is evenly spaced without irregularprojections at opposite ends, and the topand bottom are tightand rigid, as all slack and curve are taken out of the wires as they are pressed around the pickets and fed straight from the twisting-heads. By means of such fence fabrication the injurious effect of wind and weather and tending to loosen or slacken the parts is entirely unavoided.
The clutch for removably connecting the one end of the shaft 123 is shown on an enlarged scale in Figs. 15 and 16 in section and end elevation. The clutch member 125 has a projection or lug 194 to fit and interlock between any of the series of radial lugs 195 on the member 126, so that the connection may be made conveniently at different points and a disconnection readily obtained when desired. The bearing 124 for the opposite end of the shaft 123 is clearly shown in Fig.
19 and comprises an upstanding rigid jaw 196, which is curved to receive a similar curved extremity of said shaft, and coactingwith said rigid jaw is a hinged jaw 197, whereby the application or withdrawal ofthe shaft end may be easily accomplished.
One of the particularly essential features of the improved construction resides in the construction and operation of the sliding head 133 of the ratchet mechanism for winding the shaft 123. The ratchet-wheel 128 has a centrally-located friction-disk 198 included in its organization, and in the lower portion or extremity of the arm 129 a friction-disk 199 is rotatably mounted and continually bears against and is in a plane at a right angle to the disk 198. A vertical screw 200 is secured to and rotates with the disk 199, and at its upper end said screw has bearing in a capbox 201 on the upperinner portion of the arm 129. The said screw extends loosely through the head 133 and is detachably engaged by spring-actuated feed levers or jaws 202, pivotally mounted in the upper portion of said head and having inner opposing teeth to fit the screw and upwardly-projecting handles 203 above the plane of the upper edge of the head to operate the same. The purpose of this construction is to gradually compensate for the increase of the weight of the roll of completed fence fabric on the winding-shaft and cause the ratchet mechanism to operate regularly without dragging on the devices for actuating the same. As the arm 129 moves backward the friction-disk 199 rolls on the disk 198, thereby turning the screw 200 slightly and raising the head 133 gradually and corresponding to the increasing dimension of the roll of completed fence fabric on the shaft 123. This operation is repeated at each revolution of the shaft 2, and when the fence is completed or the roll on the shaft 123 becomes as large as originally intended that it should be the sliding head 133 will be located near the upper end of the arm 129. When the'roll of completed fence is removed, it is necessary to lower the sliding head to its startingpoint, and to do this the feed levers or jaws 202 are opened away from the screw 200 and allow the head to slide downwardly. When in the latter position, the said feed levers or jaws are again caused to engage the screw 200, and the several parts will then be ready for a succeeding like operation. This construction and operation of parts avoid reversing the ratchet-wheel and feeding the sliding head downward by the screw 200. To hold the friction-disk 199 in adjustable friction-bearing with relation to the disk 198, the lower end of the arm 129 is in the form of an extended sleeve 204, freely slidable on the shaft 127 and having its inner end engaged by one extremity of a coiled spring 205 between the same and a set-collar 206, also on said shaft 127, and it will be obviously apparent that when the said collar is adjusted the disk 199 can be made to bear with more or less friction against the disk 198 and in accordance with the direction of movement of the said collar.
Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is I 1. In a fence-making machine, the combination of a frame, a main operating-shaft, rotatable frames carrying spools of wire, clamps for holding the fed pickets, twisting-heads in intimate relation to said clamps, means for feeding the pickets to the clamps, plungers for raising the pickets, and means for elevating the fence fabric when completed.
2. A fence making machine comprising means for feeding pickets and wire and twisting the latter around the pickets, and a series of overhanging vertically-movable devices to engage'the finished fence fabric and draw it upwardly away from the twisting devices and to correspondingly move the wires.
3. A fence making machine comprising means for feeding pickets thereto, wire-twisting and picket-holding devices, upper vertically-movable overhanging fingers for drawing the finished fence fabric away from the twisting and holding devices by a step-bystep movement and a saw mechanism for cutting the butt-ends of the pickets and regularly sizing the latter.
4. A fence making machine comprising means for feeding pickets individually thereto, picket-holding devices each comprising a pair of upstanding clamping-jaws automatically operable to compensate for variations in thickness of the pickets, wire twisting heads in intimate relation to said holding devices, and means for automatically moving the individual pickets from the holding devices and the completed fence fabric.
5. A wire-fence making machine compris- IIO ing means for feeding the individual pickets thereto, holding devices for the pickets, \viretwisting heads in intimate relation to the said holding devices, plungers for elevating the pickets from the holding devices, means for drawing the completed fence fabric upwardly away from the said holding devices, and a main driving-shaft having a series of three cams thereon between which and portions of the twisting-heads, holding devices, and means for drawing the finished fabric away from the holding devices are intermediate connections for giving the said several mechanisms a properly-timed operation.
6. A fence-making machine comprising a series of rotatable frames for removably holding spools of wire, each frame having two spools mounted therein and the series of frames in alternation arranged in planes at right angles to each other and reversely rotatable, a series of twisting-heads above the said frames, each head having a rotation corresponding to its frame, a pair of clampingjaws in intimate relation to each twisting-head and all the jaws having the open spaces be tween them in longitudinal alinement, means for causing an automatic compensation in the said jaws to accommodate variations in the thickness of pickets, means for feeding the completed fence fabric upwardly and away from the clamping-jaws, and mechanism for operating the several parts.
7. A fence-making machine including in its organization a series of depending fingers to engage the completed fence fabric and draw it upwardly away from the wire twisting mechanism below, a rock-shaft to which the upper extremities of all the said fingers are connected,-and means for operating said rockshaft in timed relation to the other mechanisms of the machine.
8. A fence-making machine comprising in its organization a series of wire-twisting devices, a series of depending fingers unitedly operating to draw the finished fence fabric upwardly from the twisting devices, means to which all the fingers are connected for simultaneously raising and lowering the same and moving them inward and outward from the front of the machine, a rear winding-spindle for the said fabric, means for giving a step-by-step movement to the said windingspindle, and mechanism operably connected to the said parts to cause them to work in timed relation.
9. A fence making machine comprising wire-twisting devices, means for feeding pickets in relative position thereto, a series of vertically-movable plungers on which the pickets are individually disposed, and means for operating the said plungers in timed relation to the wire-twisting devices.
10. A fence-making machine comprising a frame, a main shaft extending longitudinally of the frame and having a controlling-gear thereon provided with a segmental toothed section, a series of three cams mounted on the said main shaft, wire-twistin g, picket-holding and complered-fence-fabric viIhdrawing devices, pluugers for automatically elevating the pickets from the holding devices, the said plungers, holding devices and finished-fabricwithdrawing devices being individually Opel ated by connections with the said cams to move in timed relation, gearing for operating the wi re twisting devices actuated by the segin en tal toothed section of the controlling-gear,
the said parts being at rest during certain portions of the revolutions of the said controllinggear and main shaft, rotatable frames carrying wire'spools, intermediate operating mechanism between the said rotatable frames and the said controlling-gear, and means for winding the completed fence fabric by a step-bystep movement imparted by connections with the said main driving-shaft.
11. A fence-making machine comprising in its organization pairs of picket-holding clamps consisting of two upstanding jaws connected to shanks, one shank being disposed on the other, both jaws having flares in the direction of the feed of the picket, and means for operating the said jaws to grip the picket and compensate for variations in thickness of different pickets.
12. A fence-making machine comprising a main shaft, a controlling-gear thereon, means for feeding and twisting wires around pickets fed to the machine in regular succession, a winding spindle for receiving the finished fence fabric, a shaft connected to said winding-spindle and having a ratchet-wheel thereon, a swinging ratchet wheel arm having blades freely movable longitudinally thereof to engage the said ratchet-wheel, a crank on the end of the main shaft, a connecting-bar adjustably attached to said crank, a rockshaft having an arm connected to the forward extremity of said bar, and a connecting-rod extending from said rock-shaft and adjustably secured at its rear terminal to the ratchetwheel arm, whereby a step-by-step movement may be imparted to the winding-spindle in timed relation to the wire twisting and feeding devices.
13. A fence-making machine comprising a frame, a plurality of vertically-disposed wiretwisting heads, a similar number of wire-feeding devices, a series of picket-holding clamps disposed in pairs above and in line with the twisting-heads, a stop against which the head end of the successively-fed pickets are brought to bear, means for automatically feeding the said pickets, means for individually pushing the pickets upwardly into the wire crotches, and means for operating-the twisting-heads and wire-feeding devices.
14. A fence-making machine comprising in its organization a plurality of wire-twisting heads which are adapted to have a rotary motion imparted thereto, upper and lower seats for removably holding the said wire-twisting heads, automatically-adjustable clamps arranged in pairs over the heads and serving to maintain the wire coming through the heads in proper relation to the pickets, means for feeding the pickets to the clamps, and means for operating the twisting-heads and clamps.
15. A fence-making machine comprising Wire-twisting devices, picket-feeding mechanism, means for drawing the completed fence fabric upwardly away from the twisting devices, a table over which the said completed fabric is drawn toward the rear of the machine, a guard over a part of said table and located between the latter and the front part of the frame of the machine, the table having a downward incline toward the rear, and a rotatable saw at one end of the table for cutting off the butt-ends of the pickets held in the completed fence fabric to thereby uniformly size said pickets.
16. Afencemachineincludinginitsorganization wire twisting and feeding devices and a plurality of longitudinally-alin'ed holdingclamps each comprising a pair of'adjustable gripping-jaws to receive the individual pickets, a feeder at one end of the machine consisting of a support with an endless rope or cable movable longitudinally in line with the said picket-clam ps, and a picket-driving head attached to said rope or cable for pushing the pickets individually into the said clamps.
17. A fence-making machine including in its organization a series of picket-holding devices each comprising a pair of automatically movable jaws with the openings between all of the same in longitudinal alinement, and a feeding mechanism comprising an endless rope or cable automatically movable in opposite directions and having a head to engage the individual pickets and feed them longitudinallyinto the open spaces of said holding devices.
18. A fence-making machine including in its organization wire twisting and picketholding instrumentalities, the latter being above the former and each comprising a pair of movable jaws and the jaws of the series having their open spaces in longitudinal alinement, and picket feeding mechanism comprising a head automatically movable in opposite directions to individually feed the pickets to the picket-holding devices and hav ing means in connection therewith for compensating for the difference in length of the pickets.
19. A fence-making machine comprising wire-twisting and picket-holding instrumentalities, the latter comprising a plurality of longitudinally-alined movablejaws, a picketfeeding mechanism comprising an endless rope or cable automatically movable in opposite directions and having a head fixed to and movable therewith, an automatically-reversible drum on and from which the rope or cable winds and unwinds, and picket-feeding belts movable in planes at right angles to the said rope or cable to gradually dispose the pickets in succession individ ually in the path of in ovement of the said head.
20. A fence-making machine comprising instrumentalities for twisting wire strands and holding individual pickets, the latter being disposed vertically over and independent of the former and comprising pairs of alined movable members, and feeding mechanism for the pickets consisting of an automaticallymovable head having means in connection therewith for compensating for the difference in length of the pickets to avoid obstruction of operation of the mechanism, and means for operating the said head.
21. A fence-making machine comprising Wire-twisting and picket-holding instrumentalities, the latter being disposed vertically over and independent of the former and comprising pairs of alined movable members, and picket-feeding mechanism consist-ingof ahead automatically movable in opposite directions, a continuous cable connected to said head, a drum on and from which said cable winds and unwinds, gearing controlled by the main driving mechanism for automatically reversing the movement of saiddrum, and traveling devices movable in planesat right angles to the plane of movement of the head and given a step-bystep movement to successively dispose individual pickets in the path of movement of the said head.
22. A fence-making machine comprising wire twisting and picket-holding instrumentalities, the latter being disposed vertically over and independent of the former and comprisingpairs of alined movable members, and a picket-feeding mechanism consisting of a head automatically movable in opposite directions, a continuous cable connected to said head, a drum on and from which said cable winds and unwinds, gearing controlled by the main driving mechanism for automatically reversing the movement of said drum, a pair of chain belts spaced apart from each other and movingin a plane'at rightangles to that of the head, a shaft. having aratchetwheel thereon with which one of the chain belts engages, and means for imparting a timed step-by-step movement to the said shaft.
23. A fencemaking machine comprising wire-twisting and picket-holding instrumentalities, the latter being disposed vertically over and independent of the formerand comprising pairs of alined movable members, and picket-feeding mechanism consisting of a movable head adapted to operate or shift in opposite directions in an automatic manner, an endless rope or cable connected to said head, a pulley or drum on which the said rope or cable winds or unwinds in reverse directions, a shaft for said pulley or drum, a main shaft for the entire machine by intermediate connections giving the wire-twisting and picket-holding instrumentalities timed operation, and automatically reversing-gearing between the main shaft of the machine and the shaft of the pulley or drum.
24. In a fence-making machine, the combination of picket-holding and wire-twisting instrnmentalities, means for feeding pickets to said instrumentalities, main driving mechanism having a partially-toothed reversinggear, and a reversing-shaft for controlling the movement of said means for feeding the pickets having independent pinions on different portions thereof to individually engage the teeth of said reversing-gear, said reversing-gear and pinions having coacting engaging means for insuring accurate engagement of the pinions with said gear.
25. In a fence-making machine, the combination of picket-holding and wire-twisting instrumentalities, means for feeding pickets to said instrumentalities, main driving mechanism having a partially-toothed reversinggcar with peripheral flanges and a reversingshaft for controlling the movement of said means for feeding the pickets having inde pendent pinions on different portions thereof provided with shoes to engage the flanges of the reversing-gear, the said pinions individually engaging the teeth of the latter gear.
26. In a fence-making machine, the combination of picket-holding and Wire-twisting instrumentalities, means for feeding pickets to said instrumentalities, means for drawing the completed fence fabric away from said instrnmentalities, a Winding-spindle for said completed fabric having astep-by-step movement, a bearing-socket in which one end of the said shaft is removably mounted, a clutch member on the other end of the shaft provided with a lug, an adjacent shaft having a clutch member thereon with radial lugs with spaces between them for engagement with the lug of the clutch member on said winding-shaft, and means for operating said parts.
27. In a fence-making machine of the class set forth, the combination of picket-holding and Wire-twisting instrumentalities, a winding-shaft for the completed fence fabric, and means in intimate relation to said windingshaft for automatically and gradually compensating for the increase of the weight of the roll of fabric on said shaft to maintain an invariable movement of the shaft, said means comprising an upright or support, a head slidingly mounted on said upright or support and having a pair of gripping-jaws therein, and a vertical screw in intimate operative relation to the said shaft and passing up through the head for engagement by the jaws, the release of the jaws permitting the head to lower to normal position on the screw.
In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.
EMMET W. GHANNELL. Witnesses:
J SHELDON TOOMER, W. R. JORDAN.
US1397100A 1900-04-23 1900-04-23 Slat-and-wire-fence machine. Expired - Lifetime US669953A (en)

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