US773162A - Match-making machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 773,162. PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.

A. C. RAHE.

MATCH MAKING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED PEB. 2s, 1900.

PATENTBD 00T. 25,1904.

A. o. RAHE.

MATCH MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 1900.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

PAIBNTED OCT. 25, 1904.

A. G. RAHE.

MATCH MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 1900.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

UNTTED STATES Patented October 25, 1904.

ANDREV C. RAHE, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

MATCH-MAKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,162, dated October 25, 1904.

` Application nieu February 28, 1900. Serial No. 6,786. V(No model.)

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ANDREW C. RAHE, a citi- Zen of the United States, residingat Binghamton, county of Broome, and State of NewYork, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Making Machines, fully described and represented in the following speciiication and the accompanying drawings,form ing a part of the same.

This invention relates to match-making machinery of that type in which a conveyer receives a load of match-splints from asuitable inserting mechanism and carries them onward, the splints while held in the conveyer being subjected to a succession of operations by which they are converted into matches, after which they are discharged therefrom.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a con veyer and splint-insertingV mechanism of suoli a character that the conveyer may be continuouslyT advanced, as distin-v guished from a conveyer which is intermittently advanced, thereby prod ucing a machine in which much less power is required to operate-the conveyer and which runs smoothly and easily.

A further object of the invention is to produce a splint-inserting mechanism of such a character that two opportunities shall be given to till the inserting mechanism with splints from the supplying device, suoli as ay hopper, for each operation of the splintinserting mechanism, thereby insuring that the conveyer shall receive its full load of splints for each operation of the inserting mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to produce an improved form of splint-inserting mechanism which shall be so arranged that the splints are supported in4 the inserting mechanism before and at the instant of insertion; but immediately thereafter the support is shifted,'so as'to permit the conveyer to carry the splints onward through the inserting mechanism and also to permit any broken splints to fall out of the inserting mechanism'.

A further object of the invention is to produce an improved form of match-ejecting mechanism which is capable of use with a continuously-advancing' conveyer.

Afurtherobject of the invention is to produce a simple, ecient, and compact construction of match-splint-insertingand match-ejecting mechanisms which can be cheaply constructed, which shall consist of few parts, and which shall be so arranged that both mechanisms may be operated from a single shaft and the conveyer readily guided past them.

A further object of the invention is to produce a match -splint-inserting mechanism which is capacitated to move with the conveyer at the time of inserting the splints, whereby a continuously-moving conveyer may be used in the machine, and an absolute register between the inserting mechanism and the conveyer is secured at'the time when the inserting mechanism inserts the splints into the conveyer.

Afurther object of the invention is to produce a match-ejecting mechanism which is capacitated to move with the conveyer at the time of ejecting the matches, whereby a continuously-moving conveyer may be used in the machine and an absolute register between the ejecting mechanism and the conveyer is secured at the time when the ejecting mechanism ejects the matches from the conveyer.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain constructions and in certain parts, improvements, and combinations, as will be fully described hereinafter and then specifically pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this-specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts, Figure l is a side elevation of one form of match-making machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of a part of the machine, the plane of section being indicated by the line 2 2 of Fig. l Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2, the parts being shown in the position they occupy just before the inserting-slide inserts the splints in the conveyer. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views.

Referring to the drawings, l indicates uprights of a suitable frame, these uprights being' connected by cross-bars2 and 3.

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rI'hc main shaft of the machine is indicated at 35. '.lhis shaft, which is mounted in bearings 36 in side bars 26, (see Fig. 2,) which bars will be hereinafter more fully described, is provided with any suitable driving means, as a belt-pulley, (not shown,) and is also provided with a bevel-gear 37. This bevel-gear 37 meshes with a similar bevel-gear 38, carried on a short vertical shaft which is journaled in a bearing 39, secured to a portion of the frame. The short vertical shaft referred to has on its lower end a bevel-gear 40, which meshes with a similar bevel-gear 41, carried on a way-shaft 4. This way-shaft is supported in suitable bearings 5, two of which are shown as mounted on the uprights 1 of the frame, and another of which is shown as located either on the, base of the machine or on the Hoor of the room in which the machine is placed. rlhis way-shaft serves to drive certain parts of the machine in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The shaft 35 is provided on one of its ends with a gear 6, which meshes with a large gear 21, which is mounted on a shaft 20, said shaft finding its bearings in any suitable supports as, for instance, in uprightsforming a part of the frame of the machine. The shaft 2O is provided with two sprockets 19, (see Fig. 2,) which serve as the driving-gears for the conveyor 14, which will now be described.

The conveyer 14, which serves to convey the match-splints through the machine, may be variously constructed. It will preferably, however, as in the machine shown, consist of two parallel chains 22, consisting of links 23, pivoted together in the usual manner. Crossbars 24 are secured in any suitable manner to the links 23 of thc chains, and these crossbars are provided with perforations in which the ends of the match-splints are forced in a manner to be hereinafter described. 1n the machine illustrated each bar is shown as provided with a single row of perforations, so that it carries a single row of splints. It is to be understood, however, that more than a single row of perforations may be placed in the bar, if desired. The conveyer 14 passes around the sprockets 19, before described as mounted on the shaft 20, after which it is given in the machine shown a horizontal run through the machine. At the end of this run it passes around a pair of idle sprockets 13 on a shaft 12, which shaft is 0r may be mounted in bearings in the uprights 1 at the left-hand end of the machine, as is shown in Fig. 1. After leaving the sprockets 13 the conveyer is given an upward run and runs horizontally over pairs of idle sprockets 15, located at the top of the frame, the run of the conveyer between the sprockets being supported in any suitable manner, as by friction-wheels 16. The conveyer is moved in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1 and at the power end of the machine is frame.

given a downward run, passing around other idle sprockets 17, suitably supported in the After leaving these sprockets 17 it is given an upward run and then passes over pairs of idle pulleys 18, mounted on the crossbars 3. After leaving these pulleys it is again given a downward run to the powerdriven sprockets 19, before described.

r1`he mechanism by which the splints are inserted in the perforations in the bars of the conveyer may be varied within wide limits. ln the machine shown, however, the shaft 20, on which the sprocket-wheels 19 are mounted, also serves to support one end of each of the two side bars 26, before referred to as supporting the shaft 35. These side bars have enlarged perforated bosses 27 at one end through which the shaft 2O passes and at the other end are provided with similar' bosses 28, through which pass studs 29, the studs extending into bearings or perforations in uprights 1. These studs 29 are merely additional supports for the bars and may be omitted, if desired.

The shaft 35 has mounted on it a pair of side frames 30, said shaft being preferably provided with hubs or enlargements 7, which form bearings for the frames. VThe frames 30 are provided in the machine shown with ordinary journal-boxes 8, and are designed to have an oscillating movement about the shaft 35 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Preferably, also, friction-bushings 9 are introduced between the boxes 8 and the frames; but these bushings may be omitted, if desired, or other devices substituted for them. The side frames 30 are connected at one end by a cross-bar 31 and at the other end by a crossbar 32.

The splint-inserting devices proper, which, as has been said, may be varied widely in construction, include a sliding' plate 42, the

" said plate being connected in any suitable manner, as by bolts 43, to cam-yokes 44, of which two are shown. These yokes 44 embrace cams 45, which are mounted on the shaft 35. (See Fig". As the shaft 35 rotates, therefore, and the cams 45 operate upon the yokes, the slide will Abe given a reciprocating movement. The frames 30 are provided with guides 46, said guides being formed therein in any suitable manner, and these guides engage the edges of the plate 42. 'I he plate 42 is provided at its operating end with a series of fingers 47, these fingers being arranged to provide spaces 43 between them which are sufiiciently wide to hold a matchsplint. The plate 42 and the fingers are thus rigidly connected, and that part of the plate between each of the lingers forms an abutment against which the ends of the matclr splints lie during the splint-inserting operation. These fingers 47 are slightly shorter than the match splint and are somewhat thicker than the splints. The sliding plate IIO 42 is further provided with grooves 49, which are shallower than the spaces 48 between the fingers, the grooves registering with said spaces and forming prolongations thereof which arc less in depth than the spaces. In the machine shown the match-splints are designed to be delivered to the spaces 48 between the fingers 47 in any suitable manner, as bya construction to be hereinafter described, after which 4the forward movement of the sliding plate causes them to be inserted into the perforations in the bars of the conveyer. It is obvious, since the spaces 48 have no bottoms, that suitable means must be provided to support the match-splints while they are contained therein. Vhile these means may be varied in form, in the machine shown there is provided a plate 50, having a series of fingers 51, which are slightly wider than the spaces 48, and in the normal position of the plate underlie said spaces. These fingers 5l are formed to provide spaces 52 between them, which are substantially the same in width as the spaces 48, before described. The plate is given a sidewise or shifting movement for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Thile this movement may be produced in various ways and the plate may be suitably mounted, so as to receive it, in the machine shown the inner edge of the plate moves in a guideway formed in a cross-bar 53, said bar being secured to the side frames 30, and the plate is further supported by a bracket 54, the upturned ends 55 of which project through slots in the plate 42. The bracket 54 has connected to its under side a stud 56, and this stud is engaged by a lever 57, said lever being pivoted on a screw-stud 58, which takes into the cross-bar 53. The .inner end of the lever 57 lies in the path of a cam projection 59 on a cam-roll 60, said roll being secured to the shaft 35, before referred to. The inner cnd of the lever is held up against the side of the roll 60 and in the path of the cam pro? jection 59 by means of a suitable spring 6l, which is connected at one end to the lever and at its other end to the said plate 53.

The match-splints may be supplied to the match-inserting slide in any suitable manner. In the machine shown there is provided a removable hopper 62, which may be secured in position over the slide in any suitable manner. In the present machine the hopper is provided with ianges 63 64, the iiange 63 having a shoulder which takes under the edge of the cross-bar 32, before referred to. The iiange 64 is provided with a shoulder which is engaged by a similarly formed shoulder on a pivoted locking-bar 65, said bar having journals 66, which find their bearings in the side frames 30. rIhc hopper 62 will preferably be arranged so as to be agitated in order to shake the match-splints down into the match-splint-receiving slide. The construction by which this is accomplished, however,

is a common feature in match-making machines, and smce .1t has no relation to the vpresent invention is not illustrated.

In the construction so far described when the match-inserting slide is in its forward positiori or in the position illustrated in Fig. 3, the grooves 49 will be beneath the mouth of the hopper and a series or load of splints will be delivered from the hopper into these grooves. As the slide moves backward under the operation of the cam 45, since the grooves 49 are not quite as deep as the matchsplints are thick, the rear edges of the splints will strike the edge of the hopper and cause the splints to be advanced from the grooves 49 forward into the spaces 48. The throw of the slide is, however, sufficient to bring the spaces 48 beneath the hopper. If, therefore, any of the grooves 49 fail to receive splints from the hopper and so fail to supply the spaces 48, a second opportunity is given to iill said spaces 48, the match-spli nts dropping directly into them from the hopper. The inserting device as a whole is therefore provided with means for initially receiving the splints from the hopper, this means being in the present machine the grooves 49. The splints are then shifted into the position with reference to the inserting device, which they occupy when they are delivered by the said device. At the time this shifting of the splints is completed the inserting device comes into position beneath the hopper, so that in case there are any unfilled spaces they will have a second opportunity to receive splints from the hopper. The devices which have been shown and described for manipulating the-inserting mechanism, so that it is given two opportunities to be filled from the hopper, are simple and eiiicient. It is to be understood, however, that other devices may be substituted for them, if desired. As the IOO slide 42 moves forward, the lingers 5l of the plate 50 are beneath tbe spaces 48, and consequently the match-splints are supported in their forward movement by these ngers and are truly guided into the perforations in the bars of the conveyer. As soon, however, as the slide 42 has made its complete forward movement and the match-splints have been inserted in the perforations in the cross-bars of the conveyer the plate 50 is shifted slightly by the lever 57, so as to bring' the spaces 52 between the fingers 5l beneath the spaces 48. This affords an opportunity for any short, broken, or imperfect splints to drop out of the plate and also permits the splints held in the conveyer to move downward.

It has been heretofore stated that the. side frames 30 have an oscillating movement about the shaft 35. The purpose of this oscillating movement of the frames 30 is to permit the conveyer to travel continuously and at the same time insure the accurate insertion of the match-splints thereinto. In order to give the side frames this oscillating movement, the match-inserting slide or plate 42 is provided with projecting' fingers 10. These fingers are so arranged as to engage the conveyer (see Fig. 5) just before the inserting-slide begins to insert the splints into the perforations in the conveyer-bars and cause the slide to move with the continuously-moving conveyer during the inserting operation. In the same way the match-ejecting slide 87, which will be hereinafter described, is provided with fingers 11, which are also designed to engage the conveyer-bars, as will appear from the description to be given hereinafter. The ejecting-slide is operated from the cams 45 on the shaft 35, the said cams operating to retract one slide as it throws the other forward.

Referring to Fig'. 5, in which the parts are shown in the position which they occupy after the fingers on the inserting-slide have en gaged the conveyer 14, it will be seen that the inserting-slide stands above andat an acute angle to a horizontal plane which contains the axis of the shaft 35, and that the cams 45 are operating to throw the slide 42, so as to insert the splints in the perforations in the conveyer-bars. fhile the cams are operating,the side frames 30 and the whole of the inserting mechanism are secured to and moving with the continuously-moving conveyer, so that absolute register between the splint-inserting mechanism and the perforations in the conveyer-bars is insured. The fingers 10 remain in engagement with the conveyer until the inserting-slide has completed its forward movement and, in fact, for some little time thereafter. The movement of the conveyer therefore operates to turn the slide from the position shown in Fig. 4 to a position in which the insertingeslide and the side frames are as much below the horizontal plane containing the axis of the shaft 35 as they are above this plane when the fingers eng'age the conveyer. At the time when the cams 45,0perating on their yolres 44, withdraw the inserting-slide and disengage the fingers 1() from the conveyer they project the ejecting-slide and cause its fingers 11 to engage the conveyer, the ejecting-slide being at this time above and at an angle to the horizontal plane before referred to. The fin gers 11 of the ejecting-slide remain in engagement with the conveyer during the ejecting movement of the slide, and the conveyer therefore tips the frames 30 and the parts carried thereby into a position where the ejecting-slide is below the horizontal plane referred to andthe inserting-slide is above it. The cams 45 are intended to be so timed and the fingers 10 and 11 are intended to be of such a length as to cause one or the other of the set of fingers to be continuously in engagement with the conveyer. If the cams are timed with sufficient accuracy, the frietion-bushings 9, before referred to as surrounding the hubs 7 on the shaft 35 and lying between the said hubs and the bearings 8, may be omitted. Preferably, however, either these friction-bushings or some other device will be provided to prevent movement of the frames 30 at the time when one set of fingers is engaged with and the other set of fingers is disengaged from the conveyer. After the matchsplints have been inserted into the bars of the conveyer they are carried forward overa heating-table 67, which may be suitably located in the run of the conveyer, b v which the ends of the splints are heated. This heating-table is a well-known feature of match-making machines and need not be specifically described. After the match-splints leave the heating-table they are carried into a paraflining mechanism which is located between uprights 68 69. Secured to the upright 69 are bracket-arms 70, only one of which is shown, said bracletarms serving to support guide-pulleys 71, which support the edges of the conveyer. In the same way the upright 68 has afxed thereto bracket-arms 72, inwhich are mounted guide-pulleys 73, said pulleys serving in a similar manner to support the sides of the conveyer. A guide 74 is supported on each of the uprights 68 69, and in these guides move slides 75, the purpose of which is to depress a certain number of bars which are loaded with splints intoA a tank 76, which contains paraffin. The slides 75 a-re thrown downward by means of cams 77, (see dotted lines in Fig. 1,) the said cams being mounted on a shaft 78, which also carries a belt-pulley 79. This pulley is operated by a belt 80, said belt running over a pulley 81, mounted on the way-shaft 4. As the cams 77 move out of contact with the upper ends of' the slides the tension of the conveyer will be sufficient to lift the slides, or if it is not suitable springs (not shown) may be pro vided for this purpose. The cams 77 will be formed so as to depress a given number of bars into the paraffining mechanism, the cams making one revolution for a given advance of the conveyer. After the splints carried by the conveyer leave the paraflining mechanism, which has just been described, they are caused to pass through a composition-tank 82 of any suitable construction, the roll in said tank being driven by a gear 83, mounted on a shaft 84. The gear 83 is a worm-gear and is driven by a worm 85 on the way-shaft. This composition mechanism is a common one and a more specific description of it is not necessary. After the match-splints have received the comyposition they are carried forward by the conveyer andallowed to cool. 1t may be here remarked that the run of the conveyer shown is simply intended to illustrate generally how the conveyor of such a machine might be arranged. The run of the 'conveyer may be varied in any suitable manner, it being only necessary that the length of the run be suflicient to give the lOO TIO

ter the composition on the splints has dried -the completed matches must be removed from the bars in the conveyer-chains. IVhile this may be accomplished by any suitable devices, it will preferably be effected by means of the ejecting-slide 87, which has been before referred to and which will now be specifically described. rIhis slide 87 moves in guides 86 in the side frames 30 and is connected to the yoles 44, which surround the cams 45, by means of bolts 88 or in any other suitable manner. The slide 87 carries a series of punches 89, which are arranged to exactly register with the perforations in the bars 24 at the time when the slide is at the limit of its forward movement, which movement, as has been before indicated, is produced by the cams 45 operating on the yokes 44. The punches will therefore operate to force the completed matches out of the perforations in the bars.

In order to prevent the conveyer from moving sidewise away from the ejecting mechanism at the time when the punches come into action, brackets 89 are provided, thesebrackets being mounted in any suitable place in the machineas, for instance, beingsecured by screws to the bosses 28, before described. The forward ends of these brackets overlap the sides of the conveyer at points substantially in line with the punches, so that the bars cannot be moved sidewise by the action of the punches.

Any suitable mechanism may be arranged to receive the completed matches when they are delivered from the bars. In the machine shown, however, an endless belt 90 is provided, said belt serving to support a series of boxes, one of which, 91, is shown, the boxes being supported and carried along the belt in position to receive the completed matches as they are punched out of the bars. This belt may be driven in any suitable manner. In the machine shown it is driven bya shaft 92, which is supportedin bearings 93, formed on abraclet 94, secured to one of the uprights 1. The shaft 92 is or may be provided with a series of gears having teeth which vary in number, these gears meshing with a change-gear 95, secured to the way-shaft 4. By this construction the speed at which the boxes are moved by the belt may be varied, according to the sizes of the boxes to be filled.

The mechanism by which the various operations above described are effected may be widely varied in construction. The invention is not, therefore, to be limited to the specific mechanisms which have been herein described.

1. The combination with suitable side frames, of an inserting-slide guided in the frames, an ejecting-slide also guided therein, and means for alternately moving the slides outwardly from and inwardly toward a common center, substantially as described.

2. The combination with suitable side frames, of an inserting-slide guided in the frames, an ejecting-slide also guided therein, rigid connections between the slides, acommon operating-shaft mounted between the slides, and means whereby the shaft operates the slides, substantially as described.v

3. The combination with suitable side frames, of an inserting-slide guided in the frames, an ejecting-slide also guided therein, operating devices mounted between the slides, means whereby said devices operate to alternately move the slides outward and inward from a common center, a conveyer having match-splint-retaining devices, and means for guiding the conveyer past both slides, substantially as described.

4. The combination with suitable side frames, of an inserting-slide guided in the frames, an ejecting-slide also guided therein, operating devices mounted between the slides, means whereby said devices operate to alternately move the slides outward and inward from a common center, a conveyer having match splintretaining devices, means for guiding the conveyer past both slides, and

means for giving the conveyer a continuous movement, substantially as described.

5. The combination with suitable side frames, of an inserting-slide guided therein, an ejecting-slide also guided therein, a shaft mounted between the slides, operating-cams for the slides mounted on the shaft, aconveyer consisting of a series of flexibly-connected bars, each bar having splint-holding perforations with rigid walls, means for guiding the conveyer past the slides, and means for giving the conveyer a continuous movement, substantially as described.

6. In amatch-makingmachine, the combination with a continuously-moving conveyer, of a splint-inserting mechanism, and means for connecting the inserting mechanism and the conveyer at the time when the splints are inserted, whereby the conveyer and inserting mechanism may move together during the splint-inserting operation, substantially as described.

7. Ina match-making machine, the combination with a continuously-moving' conveyer, of a splint-inserting mechanism, a match-ejecting mechanism, an operating means for these mechanisms, and means whereby each of the mechanisms is connected to the conveyer and moves with it during the time of its operation, substantially as described. i v 8. In amatch-makingmachine, thecombination with a continuously-moving conveyer, of a pair of frames mounted to oscillate about a center, splint -inserting and match ejecting slides carried by said frames, an operating means for the slides, and means whereby each of the slides is connected to the conveyer during the time of its operation, substantially as described.

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IOS

ISO

9. .ln a match-making machine, the combination with a continuously-moving conveyer, of

a pair ot' frames, a shaft on which said frames are mounted, splint-inserting and match-ejecting slides mounted in the'f'rames, cams on the shaft f'or operating the slides, said cams operating to project one slide as they retract the other, and lingers carried by the slides f'or engaging the conveyer, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a slidehavingtingers arranged to f'orm splint-receiving openings between them, and means f'or opening and closing the openings. and means for moving the slide to forward the splints, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a splint-supplying device, of a slide moving thereunder, said slide having iingers arranged to form openings between them which receive the splints, means for moving the slide to forward the splints, a plate underlying the slide, said plate having openings corresponding to the openings in the slide, and means for moving the plate so that its openings will be at times in and at times out of register with the openings in the slide, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a slide having lingers arranged to form openin gs between them, of' means for moving the slide, a plate having openings corresponding to the Openings in the. slide, and means for moving the plate so that at times the openings in the slide will be in register with the openings in the plate and at times the portions ot the plate lying between the openings will close the openings in the slide, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a slide having fingers arranged to form openings between them, ot' means f'or moving the slide, a plate lying beneath the slide, said plate having fingers arranged to form openings between them corresponding with the openings in the slide, and means for moving the plate at an angle to the line ofl movement of the slide, so that at times the fingers of the plate will be beneath the openings in the slide and at times the openings in the slide and plate will register, substantially as described.

14. In a splint-inserting mechanism, the combination with a slide having fingers arranged to form splint-receiving openings between them, oi' a plate having lingers arranged to form openings between them which correspond to the openings in the slide, a conveyer having splint-retaining means,means Jfor moving the conveyer past the ends of the fingers of the slide and plate, means for moving the slide to insert the splints in the conveyer, and means Yfor moving' the plate so that its fingers will at times lie beneath the openings in the slide and at times its openings will register l il l l with the openings in the slide, substantially as i,

described.

15. The combination with a splint-supply-n ing device, such as a hopper, of a splint-inserting device constructed to receive the splints Yfrom the supplying' device, and means for presenting' the splint-inserting device to the suppl ying device, the construction being such that two opportunities are given to load the inserting device for each inserting operation, substantially as described.

16. The combination with a hopper, of an inserting-slide having splint-receiving spaces, means tor initially receiving the splints Jfrom the hopper, means f'or shifting the position of the slide so that the splints are properly positioned in the spaces thereof for delivery and at thc same time bringing the slide in position beneath the hopper so that any unfilled spaces may receive splints directly from the hopper, substantially as described.

17. The combination with a conveyer having means f'or retaining match-splints, of a hopper, an inserting-slide having splint-receiving spaces, means f'or initially receiving the splints from the hopper, means for shifting the position of the slide so that the splints are properly positioned in the spaces thereof for delivery and at the same time bringing the slide in position beneath the hopper so that any unfilled spaces may receive splints directly from the hopper, substantially as described.

18. In a splint-inserting mechanism, the combination with a splint-siuiiplying device, such as a hopper, of a slide having a series ol' spaced fingers and a series ot' grooves registering with but of less depth than the spaces between the fingers, means for moving the slide so that the grooves and spaces will both pass beneath the supplying device, and means for transferring the match-splints from the grooves to the spaces between the fingers, substantially as described.

19. In a splint-inserting mechanism, the combination with a splint-suplilying device, such as a hopper, of a slide having fingers arranged to form openings between them and also having grooves which register with but are of less depth than the openings between the lingers, means for moving the slide so that first the grooves and then the openings will come beneath the supplying device, means tor transferring the splints trom the grooves to the openings, a plate lying beneath the slide and having openings which correspond to the openings between the tingers, and means for moving the plate so that its openings will at times register with the openings between the lingers and at times be closed by said lingers, substantially as described.

20. In a match-making machine, the combination with a suitable splint-supplying device, such as a hopper, of a slide having iingers arranged to form openings between them and also having a series of grooves registering with the openings between the lingers but oi' less depth than said openings, means for ICO moving the slide so that first the grooves and then the openings come beneath the supplying device, a plate lying beneath the slide, said plate having fingers arranged to form openings corresponding to the openings in the slide, means for moving the plate so that its openings and lingers shall alternately register with the openings in the slide, a conveyer having' splint-retaining means, and means for moving' the conveyer past the ends of the iingers of the slide and plate, substantially as described.

21. rllie combination with a slide having a series of fingers arranged to form splint-receiving openings between them and a series of grooves registering' with the openings, of a plate lhaving a ,series of lingers also arranged to have openings between them, a shaft, a cam mounted on the shaft, suitable connections between the cam and-the slide, whereby the slide is moved, a second cam, and means whereby the second cam is caused to shift the plate across the path of movement of the slide, substantially as described.

22. In a match-making machine, the combination with a match-splint-inserting slide, of a match-ejecting slide, connections between the slides, a shaft mounted between the slides, means carried by the shaft. for operating the two slides and causing them to move toward and away from the shaft, a conveyer, and means for guiding the con veyer past the slides, substantially as described.

23. In a match-making machine, the combination with a match-splint-inserting slide, of a match-ejecting slide, connections between the slides, a shaft mounted between the slides, means carried by the shaft for giving the two slides alternate movements toward and away from the shaft, a conveyer, and means for giving the conveyer a continuous movement past the slides, substantially as described.

24C. ln a match-making machine, the combination with a pair of side frames, of a matchsplint-insertingslide guided in the side frames, a match-ejecting slide also guided in the side frames, yokes connecting the two slides, a shaft passing through the yoles, cams on the shaft operating to move the slides firstA in one direction and then in the other, a conveyer, and means for guiding the conveyer past the slides, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofl have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW C. RAHE.

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