The splints, sorted in this manner, are fed into a box m forming part of the pointing-machine, a plan of which is represented, with the pointing-rollers removed, in Fig. 977, a front view in Fig. 979, and an end view in Fig. 978. Fig. 982 is a vertical section of parts on the line A B of Fig. 977. The bottom of the box m is formed by a fixed grooved plate, and is provided with /-pieces m, sliding in guides ; to these pieces, is fixed a cross-bar, having at its centre a roller which works within the groove of a cam M, mounted on a cross-shaft turned by a strap, which passes partly around a groove formed on the boss of the cam M, and partly round a pulley fixed on the driving shaft. The splints are placed in the box in a vertical position, and are pressed towards the bottom by wires, whioh work in slots formed in the sides of the box rn, and are acted upon by springs. The splints are, by means of wires, carried by a reciprocating-bar, pushed from beneath the box along continuations of the grooves, and iu their course from beneath the box m, are first acted upon by spring-pistons E, Fig. 981, to retain them in the grooves, and then, before they have left these pistons E, pressure is applied to them for a similar purpose by a series of springs carried by a fixed bar. The spring-pistons also prevent more than one splint passing from a groove at each action of the wires. The bar o is fixed to the lower ends of rods, which, at their other ends, are fixed to a cross-bar 0', whose ends work within channels formed in the frame of the machine. This cross-bar is connected with levers 0, fixed on a shaft, which bears a toothed-wheel o', receiving motion from a toothed segment formed on a lever, whose bearing is connected with a second lever, provided at its end with a roller p, resting on the periphery of a cam p". This cam p" is fixed to the arms of a wheel on one end of the main driving-shaft q. A weight hanging from one end of a cord passes over a pulley, is con neeted at its other end with the cross-bar 0', which it raises, at the same time keeping the roller up to its cam p".
In the further descent of the splints, they fall be tween reoiproeating rubbers, and are correctly adjusted by a catch-plate, which is simultaneously pushed for ward to receive the lower ends of the splints. The rubbers are fixed in frames r 8', whieh slide a short distance away from the splints, so as to leave a free space for their deseent. The frame r is acted upon at each end by cams s" on the main shaft, to remove the rubbers from the splints, and by springs to press them inwards.
From one end of the frame r, projects a stud, pro vided with a roller, working in the groove of a cam s", and the frames r' s' have toothed racks taking into the teeth of a pinion u ; thus as motion in the one direction is given to the second frame r', a similar motion, but in the contrary direction, is given to the second frame s, and consequently the splints held between the rubbers r s are rotated first in one direction and then in the other.
During the rotation of the splints, their ends ere acted upon by pointing-rollers v, provided with cutting surfaces. The axes of these rollers are mounted in
frames v', and on axes to which motion is given by a strap V", passing partly around a wheel fixed on the shaft n. These pointing-rollers v are removed from contact with the splints by means of cams, acting upon adjusting-screws, carried by the frames V' ; and the pointing-rollers are taken into position by the weight p', aeting through a lever, carrying a tension roller upon the band V". A blade w is mounted in the frame r, in order to cut the double splints nearly into two. To facilitate the discharge of the pointed splints from the machine, a wiper x, consisting of a strip of indiarubber mounted between the two halves of a shaft, is employed to act upon the splints.
Machinery is much more employed in this manufacture in the United States than in Europe, and, with the exception of splint-cutters and common filling-machines, most of that here described is due to American ingenuity. Figs. 983, 984, 985, show McC. Young's cutting- and filling-machines.
The main frame A is made very strongly of cast-iron. In bearings B is hung the shaft C, and on it are arranged a series of cams and cranks. On the top of the main frame A is seoured the secondary frame D, set obliquely. To the main frame, is joined a feeding-trough E, in which are two guideways a a, for containing the blocks of wood from which the match-splints are to be cut. Behind, is a feeder b, to which is attached a cord, passing over a pulley, and having upon its end a falling weight e, by whioh the blocks are fed up to the splint-cutters. A spring/ is arranged to press upon the foremost of the series of blocks, to prevent them from slipping back when the feeder g is out of the wood, and recedes to take a new hold. The weights e move the blocks up to the real feeder g, and the latter forces the blocks along to the cutters. The two toothed feeders g are arranged side by side, so that each one feeds up its own line of blocks. A lever F is pivoted to the main frame at h, and, upon its lower end, is a friction-roller that runs in an undercut cam groove G on the cam-shaft C, so that F has a positive motion in both directions. To this lever F, are attached, by a cross-arm, arms to which is pivoted the rear of the frame H that carries the feeding-points g; by this arrangement, the forward and backward feed-motions are attained. Another lever I, pivoted to the main frame at i, has upon its lower end a friction-roller, running in an undercut cam-groove S on the cam-shaft C, by which it also receives a positive vibratory motion. On the lever I, is a crank-arm, to pivot pins j, in which the lower ends of connecting straps L are attached, the upper ends of these straps being pivoted at k to the frame H, which carries the feeding-poiuts g; by this mechanism, the feeding-points receive their upward and downward motions. An adjusting-screw at 1 regulates the backward movement of the frame H, and consequently the length of the feed. The spring m holds the frame H to its bearings.