Machine for manufacturing artificial flowers, vines, &c.

Application filed March 18, 1904. Serial No. 198,866. (No model,)

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, Harry L. McKain, a citizen of the United States, residing· in Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State 5 of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Manufacturing Artificial Flowers, Vines, &c.; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as io will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specifi^T5 cation.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a machine for forming artificial flowers, vines, &c., which makes it possible to materially increase and cheapen the ²⁰ output over hand-made flowers.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, I have illustrated my invention by several views, in which......

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine, ² 5 showing adjustable means for holding the wire.

I ig. 2 is a top plan view of the table portion of my machine. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of my machine, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the telescoping 30 arrangement and the means of securing same to the operating-table. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the wire-rotating pulley and integral extension as seated in the standard.

Numerals of reference designate like parts 35 throughout the several views, in which—

The numeral 1 is the framework or stand, having a tread 2 secured to a rocking^- rod or shaft 3. Secured to one end of the tread is a rod 4, having its upper end connected with a 4° crank 5., said crank being seated in the upright of the frame 1 and a support 6.

T is the power-wheel, mounted on the crankshaft 5.

. 8 is a belt connecting the power-wheel 7 45 with the pulley 9, the latter being mounted on a hollow revolving shaft 10, seated in the supports 11 and 12. The support 11 is secured to the under side of the table near the center, and the support 12 also to the under side of 5° the table near the right-hand edge.

is a pulley mounted on the outer righthand end of the revolving shaft 10.

is an adjustable shaft arranged to telescope in the hollow revolving shaft 10, being secured in position by the screw 25. 55 is a pulley mounted on the outer lefthand end of the adjustable shaft 14.

is the operating-table, having a measuring device 27 arranged thereon and a slotted portion 16' formed therein to permit the stand- 60 arc! 17, .seated on the movable plate 17' and supporting the pulley 18, carrying the belt 23, being slid back and forth across the table, as desired. The belt 23 is connected with the pulley 15 on the under side of the table. 65 is a standard secured to the top of the table 16 at the right-hand side thereof and supports, the pulley 20, the latter being connected with the pulley 13 on the under side of the table by a belt 24. 70 . 21 21 are integral extensions projecting at right angles from the inner faces of the pulleys 18 and 20, each of said extensions havinga hook.or angled slot 21' formed in the ends thereof to receive the forming-wire 22. 75 is a screw connecting the upper and lower sections of the plate 17.

The main feature of my improved machine is in the fact.that I can easily and quickly regulate the distance between the supporting 80 members carrying the forming-wire when it is necessary to lengthen or shorten the same for various kinds of flowers, vines, &c., thus reducing to a minimum the waste of wire. By placing part of the operating device on 85 the under side of the table, as herein set forth, it leaves the operator less hampered for carrying on the work of forming the flowers, &c. The measuring device attached to the top of the operating-table serves as a guide 90 for regulating the length of the forming-wire.

In operation of my improved machine the forming-wire is first inserted in the angled groove formed near the end of the extensions 21, operated by the pulleys 18 and 20, and by 95 the operator starting the machine and alternately holding the ends of the wire the same will become securely fastened in position.

I hereby make reference to my former patent, numbered 754,084, issued March 8, 1904, 100

775,985 as covering further operative features of my invention in the formation of artificial flowers, vines, &c. It is obvious that natural flowers may also be utilized on my machine in thefor5 ma'tion of vines, bouquets, &c.