Motion is communicated to the machine from the fly-wheel on the main shaft by a band o, run ning on a grooved rest-pulley fast to the wire-brush shaft, and which, by a groove of larger diameter, drives a cross-band p; the latter turns a grooved pulley fast to the shaft q, which rotates in bearings on the under side of the frame of the machine. On this shaft, is a pinion gearing with a carrier toothed-wheel r, running on a stud-pin at the side of the frame, and carrying with it a pinion which drives a second toothed-wheel, with a pinion s, which gears with the wheel t fast to the receiving wheel shaft, and also with u on the count-wheel shaft.
The wheels on the receiving-cylinder and count-wheel shafts, being both driven by the same pinion s, must bear the same proportion to each other, as the number of opposite pairs of teeth in the count-wheels do to the number of splint-grooves in the receiving-cylinder. Figs. 992-994 show on a larger scale the connecting and disconnecting mechanism ; e, Fig. 993, are recesses in the count wheel E, which receive the splints from the cylinder, and convey them to the setting-wheels ; ei is one of a series of bent levers pivoted at its angle to studs projecting from the face of one of the count-wheels ; a bent end of this lever extends into the recess of the count-wheels, and furnishes a bearing for the match-splint ; the long arm of the lever extends inwards toward the axis of the wheel. At e", is seen a block secured to the count-wheel in such a manner as to revolve with it, and which is provided with radial recesses, Fig. 992; ”' is a shuttle lying in this, and able to move in a longitudinal direction to a limited extent ; v" is a ring by means of which the shuttles v' are securely fastened in their proper position ; to represents a cam arranged over the count-wheel.
By the fixed cam-piece G, the shuttle-pieces are moved in one direction. The shaft H is sup ported in bearings, and provided at one end with a pinion z, whose teeth engage successively with the projecting ends of the shuttles when the latter are thrust out of the casting. On the other end of this shaft, is the check-wheel.
The count-wheels receive in the recesses e the splints from the cylinder D. As these pass beneath the cam to, the short arm of the lever e' is depressed, and the long arm is moved, causing the shuttle to elide outward. The latter thus projects into the plane of movement of the pinion z, and serves as a cog to give it movement for a determined distance, by which the setting-wheels are moved through the intermediate connecting mechanism to a corresponding extent. If, however, a splint is wanting, the lever e' is not actuated, and no tooth is presented to engage with the spur wheel. As the latter remains stationary, the settiug-wheels of the winding-band will not be moved, and consequently no vacant spaces are left in the frame.
The shuttles, after being thrown out to engage with the spur-wheel, are returned to their former position by the action of the cam G, against which they are carried by the continued revolution of the wheel. The check-wheel I, Fig. 992, the end of shaft H of the spur-wheel z, is a disc, having
its periphery provided with a series of inclined planes overhanging upon one side. The check-wheel I engages with a wheel K, which actuates the mechanism for holding and feeding the main tape. J is provided with a series of pins j", which lie in the plane of the movement of the check-wheel I, the construction being such that this wheel J can only revolve as its pins are successively driven or released by the revolution of the wheel I. With these parts so constructed, all the movements of the spur-wheel will be positively communicated by the check-wheel to the setting and framing meohaniem ; but the force applied to turn the frame-drum cannot be exerted through the connecting mechanism to turn the oheck-whcel, when the latter is stationary. The shaft of the check-wheel should be set at such an angle, that its inclined planes will engage with tho pins of the gear-wheel at one point only. The hopper c is pivoted in front to a seat upon the tie-rod l', to which it is confined, so as to vibrate freely by the screw-pin m' ; it ie also supported behind near the top by being jointed to a long elastic rod n', fast at the lower end of the tie-rod. A shaking motion is given to the hopper by the bell crank T, connected by a link N with the lever, and playing between the pins projecting from the bottom of the hopper.
After being dipped, the splints have to be unwound, and out at the middle. This is effected in the maohine shown in Figs. A is the frame of the machine ; a, a shaft on which the coil of matches is placed to be unwound ; b, an arm carrying a; e, a tension pulley operated by the strap d and weight d' ; e f, shafts on which the webs of the coil are wound ; g, a treadle ; h, a pulley connected with it, and serving for tightening the driving-belt ; k, endless hands; 1, guiding-discs covered with indisaubber ; m, a revolving cutter, fitted between two blocks, and working above similar blocks m', which are provided at o with some soft material for the knife to work on ; n wires for keeping the matches in place. The circular bundle, consisting of matches held between webs, is placed on the shaft a, and the operator, taking the ends of the bands of the coil, places one of them round the shaft e, and another round!. The machine being set in motion by depressing the lever g, and so causing the pulley h to press against the driving-strap j, and tighten it, the web is unwound from the coil, and wound upon the shafts, leaving the matches between the endless bands k, which carry them between two revolving discs, and forward under the cutter nt, which divides them in the centre. The discs present the splints to the cutter in such a manner as to ensure their being divided into equal lengths, and during this operation, they are kept from flying out of place, by two wires n, and are finally delivered into a trough, ready to be put into boxes.