The carriage on which the pattern cylinder is carried being mounted directly on the top of the machine, can be readily lifted off to afford access to the parts below, and it is provided with a movable hood, which may be lifted to inspect the selecting needles.
The keys and key-wires are arranged farther apart vertically than the selecting needles, thus enabling larger keys and heavier and stronger key bearings to be used, and avoiding any liability of the punches striking the keys in the tier next above when those of their own tier are withdrawn.
Instead of applying a separate spring to each punch to move it downward or return it as the die recedes, a positively operated returning plate is used, which moves down as the die recedes and acts on collars on the punches, [see d, [Fig. 27]], and forces all the punches down. This is very important, for if any of the punches should fail to descend, the movement of their keys would be prevented, and thereby the machine would fail to properly repeat.
The bearings of the pattern cylinder are so constructed that the cylinder can be instantly changed to allow either a 400 or a 600-hole cylinder to be used, so that the bearings can be adjusted to adapt them for either size cylinder.
The bearings of the feed cylinder, whereby the chain of cards to be cut is moved, are constructed and supported so as to enable them to be readily adjusted to suit slight variations in the tightness with which the cards are laced, or in a greater degree to suit large or small cards, and the mechanism whereby the cylinder is operated is capable of ready adjustment for the same purpose.
It is well known that the punching of a great number of holes simultaneously, even in cardboard, requires great power, and entails enormous shock and great wear on the machine; to obviate this difficulty, the punches are slightly varied in length relative to their keys, so that they will not all act on the cards at exactly the same instant, and the strain on the machine and power required are thereby greatly reduced.
A Lace-Hole Press
Is indispensable to the machine. This is a separate little machine, designed to set upon a bench or table, and is used especially for cutting the peg and lace-holes. It may be operated very readily by hand, but if desired, is easily adapted to run by power. The feeding is done by one motion of the hand, and once handling of the card; the cards leave the press by gravitation, and arrange themselves in piles. The press is arranged to cut cards for 400 or 600 machines.