On the end of the shaft C is a crank-wheel M, to a wrist in which is joined the pitman N, whose upper end is attached to the vertically reciprocating frame 0, carrying the series of knives o o and o' o'. The cutters and the knife-frame are set obliquely to the line in which the blocks are fed, both sets cutting and moving at the same time. Above o o', are guides c, partially open, to allow small slivers of wood to pass out, and thus prevent clogging ; above these guides c, is a guide-plate with countersunk openings, by which the splints are guided into the holes of the moving plates p, and carried out of the machine. The points d hold the wood to form the splints, and allow the cutters to go clear through, and entirely sever the splints from the blocks, these points entering slightly into the cutters for that purpose.
The cutters o o' are made upon the ends of small steel bars ; each of these has a seat in the knife-stock, into which they are slipped from the rear of the machine. They are held in exact position in relation to each other, and to the blocks of wood they are to act upon, by pins r passing through them into the stock ; they can therefore be drawn out or replaced with great accuracy. The stock P is made adjustable on the gate 0 by a slot and set-screw as at s; to hold it in position, steel pins t pass through the stock and into the gate. At times it may be necessary to redrill and enlarge the holes and the pins t, when the stock, by wear, has to be moved up any material distance ; for this purpose, these parts are so made as to be readily reached.
• In a plate Q attached to the main frame, is a cam-slot u, in which runs a roller on the end of the lever R; this lever is pivoted to the gate at v, and is vibrated by the slot. To the upper end of R, is pivoted the sliding keeper-plate w, which, when the splints are in the cutters, guides, or carriers, and are being carried up to be stuck in the plates P, moves underneath and forms a support for them, forcing them into the plates P. In ways x in the carriage-frame D, the two plates p are moved by feeding-fingers S, which take into the holes in these plates, and so push them along in exact time to receive the match-splints as they are brought up to it. These fingers S are loosely arranged upon a shaft with washers y between them ; this shaft is hung in a rocking-box T, by screw-points J, diametrically opposite to each other, and at each end of the shaft, so that the shaft and the fingers may be adjusted with precision, as the holes in the plates p must be exactly over the splints, and at the exact time to receive them, the machine being run at a very high speed. The box T is
rocked from the gate 0 by means of the connecting-rod U and arm V. The plates p are connected together, fed along in an endless series, and separated after they come out filled with match-splints for convenient handling. On the frame D, is placed a rigid presser-bar W, bearing upon the plates p near the points where they are receiving the splints ; and near the end of the frame D, is a yielding presser-bar X, for holding the plates to the ways, and against accidental movement.
The set-screws n are for defining the extent to which the feeding-points g shall enter the wood, and to compensate for their wearing away. At Y, is a wind-trunk, through which an exhaust-current of air is drawn by a fan, to clear the machine of all small slivers of wood and other material that would tend to clog it.
For the purpose of expelling the splints from the perforated plates after dipping, MoO. Young employs the machine shown in Figs. 986 (end view), 988 (plan), and 987 (detail of framing): A is the framing ; B in a sliding block carrying punches C, passing through a perforated guide-plate F; D eccentrics on a shaft E for moving the block B to and fro. The shaft has a partial turn given to it by a long lever-arm whenever B is to be moved. G is one of the plates holding the finished matches ; it is slid into grooves in top and bottom cross bars A', forming part of the frame, and is so brought into position in front of the set of punches. As the plate is slid forwards along the grooves, Fig. 986, it moves freely past a stop H, until its forward end comes against a stop I. The stop H is then, by a spring, caused to turn in behind the rear end of the plate, and prevent it from moving back. When thus held, the holes in G are opposite to the punches.
It requires considerable pressure to simultaneously expel all the matches from a plate, and to support it against the action of the punches. Thin metallic bars K are used, raised or lowered by turning the weighted lever L, Fig. 987, and held in either position by the weight. M are stops. Whilst the plate is being placed in front of the punches, the bars K are in their lowest position. The bars are then raised, one edge of each coming against the plate, and the other against parts of the flame. The block carrying the punches is advanced, and the matches are expelled, and into a ,box. To allow the plate to be moved forward, the stop I must be turned aside ; the stops I H therefore turn on pins 0, and have lever-handles P, by which they can be moved by hand ; they are also anted on by a spring Q, to bring the stop into position.