Oct. 19, 1943.

w, E. HUMPHREY
SHUTTLEGOCK MACHINE

2,331,931
8 Sheets-Sheet l

Filed Jan. 8, 1942

23

INVENTOR
BY

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ATTORNEYS

Och 19, 1943.

w. E. HUMPHREY
SHUTTIJECOCK MACHINE

2,331,981
8 Sheets-Sheet 2

Filed Jan. 8, 1942

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SHUTTLECOCK MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1942

2,331,981
8 Sheets-Sheet 3

INVENTOR

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Oct. 19, 1943.

w. E. HUMPHREY
SHUTTLECOCK MACHINE

2,331,981
8 SheetsSheet 4

Filed Jan. 8, 1942

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ATTORNEYS

Oct- 19, 1943-

w. E. HUMPHREY
SHUTTLECOCK MACHINE

2,331,981
8 Sheets-Sheet 5

Filed Jan. 8, 1942

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Oct. 19, 1943.

W. E. HUMPHREY
SHUTTLECOCK MACHINE

2,331,981
8 Sheets-Sheet 6

Filed Jan. 8, 1942

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SHUTTLECOCK MACHINE

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8 Sheets-Sheet 7

Filed Jan. 8, 1942

INVENTOR

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ATTORNEYS

BY

Oct- 19, 1943-

w. E. HUMPHREY
SHUTTLECUCK MACHINE

2,331,981
8 Sheets-Sheet 8

Filed Jan. 8, 1942

INVENTOR

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Patented Get. 19, 1943

2,331,981

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFKIE

2.381.981
SHUTTLECOCK MACHINE Walter E. Humphrey. Jeannette, Pa., assignor to Pennsylvania Rubber Company, Jeannette. Pa",
a corporation of Pennsylvania

Application January 8, 1942, Serial No. 426,022 '1 Claims. (Cl. 144-2) positions of operation. Fig. X is a view to larger This invention relates to the manufacture of scale, showing in axial section a machine part badminton shuttlecocks, commonly called birds.
Such a shuttlecock or bird consists of a head and

which in Figs. VIII and IX appears in elevation.

a vane. The head is of approximately cylindri cal form, rounded at one end to substantially spherical curvature; it is approximately an inch long and an inch and a quarter in diameter; it is commonly formed of cork encased in leather (kid). The vane commonly consists of feathers

Figs. XI, XII, XIII, and XIV, are fragmentary views to larger scale, and in horizontal section, on the plane indicated at XI-XI, Fig. VIII, showing certain movable parts in successive posi

tions of operation. Figs. XV and XVI are views in vertical section, on the planes XV-XV and set in conical assembly, symmetrical with respect 10 XVI-XVI, Fig. XI. Fig. XVII is a view in hori zontal section, beneath the bed-plate oi the to the axis of the cylindrical head, set in a cir machine, and approximately on the plane cular succession of holes sunk obliquely in the XVII-XVII, Fig. I. Fig. XVIII is a view in ver rear face of the head and near the periphery of tical section, on the plane XVIII-XVIII, Fig. that circular rear face. when the feathers have XVII. Figs. XIX, XX, and XXI are fragmentary been set they are re-enforced and secured in views in vertical section on approximately the assembled position by rows of stitching; and, same plane with Fig. XVIII, but to smaller scale, finally, the rear face of the head and the

stitched-together shanks of the planted feathers

are coated with an integrating lacquer. In Let

illustrating successive positions of certain of the parts shown in Fig. XVIII. Fig. XXII is a view ters Patent No. 2,262,045, granted November 11, 20 partly in elevation and partly in axial section of the shuttlecock or bird, the assembly of whose 1941, on the application of D. H. Pollitt, now parts is effected in the operation of the machine held in common ownership with the invention of of this invention. this application, a process is described of apply Referring, first, to Fig. XXII, the shuttlecock ing to the assembled shuttlecock the lacquer

coating.

In that patent the planted feathers 25 or bird consists of a head i and of a vane com

that constitute the vane are shown to be stitched

together, in that case with two rows of stitching.

posed of feathers. The feathers in conventional manufacture are goose feathers, carefully select

ed and trimmed to substantial identity. Each The present invention consists in machinery for feather consists of a shaft 3, bare below and sinking holes in the head, and planting and stitching together the feathers that make up the 30 pointed at its lower end, and bearing in its upper
vane. The objects of the invention are accuracy, speed, and economy. In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a gen

portion a web (to which the numeral 2 is imme

diately applied) that extends symmetrically from its opposite sides. The head I of cork, encased

in kid is penetrated through its rear face with era] and somewhat diagrammatic view in side elevation of the machine of the invention. Fig. 35 holes in which the feathers are set; and it will be observed that the holes are sunk obliquely to II is a view in end elevation and in vertical sec the axis of the cylindrical head, so that the as tion, on the plane indicated at IIII, Fig. I.
Figs. III and IV are fragmentary views in ver

sembled feathers, conforming approximately to

a conical surface, form an outwardly and rear tical section, on the planes III-III and IV--IV of Fig. 11. Figs. V and VI are fragmentary views 40 wardly ?aring vane for the shuttlecock. Referring to Fig. X, a spindle 4 is shown to be in vertical section, approximately on the plane

rotatably mounted in a bearing-block 5 that is rigidly mounted upon (cf. Fig. 11) the bed-plate i of the machine. The bed-plate extends hori certain moving parts in successive positions of 45 rontally, and the bearing-block carries the spin dle in obliquely inclined position. The angle operation. Fig. We is a fragmentary view, show at which the spindle is inclined to the vertical ing in side elevation certain cooperating parts in is the angle at which the feathers of the vane organized position at a particular instant in the diverge from the vertical, as seen in Fig. XXII. course of operation. Fig. VII is a view in hori The spindle l carries removably a chuck I, re zontal section, on the plane VIIVII, Fig. I.

V-V, Fig. I (minor departure, in Fig. V, from

that .plane will become clear in the course of description). The two figures, V and VI, show

Fig. VIII is a view in vertical section, also on the

cessed to receive with snug fit the head I of a

plane VV, Fig. Lshowing additional machine

parts, omitted from Figs. V and VI. Fig. D! is a fragmentary view, corresponding to Fig. VIII, but showing certain moving parts in alternate

shuttlecock, and when the chuck is in place in the spindle the chuck-carried shuttlecock head will be in position coaxial with the spindle. The Pln-and-socket union shown in Fig. X between

assaasi
chuck and spindle insures precision of position of the chuck upon the spindle, and rotation of the
assembled parts as a unit. Fig. I shows the bed-plate 6 of the machine to carry, spaced apart at a suitable interval, two

drilled with the holes for the feathers, may then be raised manually from the spindle I to the right (Fig. I) and mounted on the spindle to the left.
And it will be particularly remarked that, in con 6 sequence of the pin-and-socket union of chuck

plied to the other with precision of placement in the matter of angular position with respect to the axis of turning; and that, by duplication in dimension of the two bevel-gear drives, the turn ing of shaft iii will effect simultaneous turning of the two spindles through equal ranges. A block Ii guided between ways I2 is recipro cable upon the bed-plate 6; and means for effect ing reciprocation through a predetermined
shown in the form of a. fluid pressure cylinder II, with the stem ll of whose piston the block II is rigidly connected. On the block H a motor i5
is mounted, and the parts are so positioned that,

a member 3 of a bevel-gear drive, and compan ion and complementary members 3 are borne by a shaft I0. It is manifest that by the pin-and socket connection between chuck and spindle, a chuck I removed from one spindle may be ap 20

bearing-blocks I, in each of which is rotatably to spindle, the previously drilled holes in the mounted a spindle I; and, as here shown, each head do not come to place at haphazard, but in spindle has mounted in place upon it a chuck 1. de?nite space relationship to other machine While one chuck will suilice for the performance parts, and, more particularly, to those machine of the invention, a plurality of them will, a! a 10 Darts next to be described. matter of convenience and expedition, ordinarily Adjacent the spindle l to the left (Fig. I) the be provided. The chuck with a shuttlecock head table 6 carries a slideway 22 in which a slide 23 in place within it becomes a unit, applicable to is vertically reciprocable (of. Figs. V, VI, VII and and removable from the two spindles 4 succes VIII). Reciprocation of slide 23 is effected by sively. The two spindles are equipped each with 15 the rotation of a shaft 2| made effective through
a crank-disk 25 and a. link 28. The slide 23 car

ries a clamp which as the slide reciprocates closes and opens, to grasp a feather, to plant it in a previously drilled hole in the head, and to re lease the planted feather that the cycle of opera tion may progress. The clamp consists of two members, one of which, the member 21, is rigidly carried upon posts 29 by the slide 23, and the other, the mem 25 her 28, is pivotally borne by member 21 on the pin 3|). The pivoted member 23 of the clamp is extended, so that it becomes a lever of the ?rst kind; and the rigidly borne member 21 and

the pivoted member 23 together cooperate, clos

range, and in co-ordination with the movements 3n ing and opening with the movement of a pair of of other parts of the machine, are in Fig. II scissors. A spring 3| tends constantly to open

the clamp. Closing (against the tension of

spring 3|) is effected by a lever 22 which is in

termittently swung counterclockwise (Figs. V, VI,

and VIII) in its pivot bearing 33 by the advance

in the reciprocation of block H, the motor is of a cam 34 borne by the turning shaft 20. The brought to position directly above the spindle 5 more detailed structure of the lever 32 will be on the right (Fig. I) and withdrawn from such understood on comparing Figs. 1, VII and VIII. position. In the block II a vertically extend A spindle 36 is rotatable in the bearing 33; with ing slideway is formed, and in this slideway a 40 this spindle, at one end, the lever arm that bears slide I6 is reciprocable (Fig. III). From slide the numeral 32 is integrally united: and with it it extends an arm II that carries rotatably a at the other end the work-arm 31 of the clamp drill l8. The drill is aligned with the driven controlling lever is integrally united; (though shaft of motor l5 and is connected with the with provision for adjustment, as the drawings motor shaft by an extensible connection. The 4.. show). movement of the slide I6 in its slideway is con The operation of the several moving parts of trolled by a cam l9 borne by a shaft 23 that en the machine is a step-by-step operation, and, as gages the lower end of the slide, and the cam l9 will presently appear, the intermittent movement shifts the slide downward against the resistance of each part is co-ordinated with the movements of a spring 2|. The rotation of the cam I9 is 5" of the other parts. Referring to Fig. VIII, it co~ordinated with the operation of other ma will be understood that the crank-disk 25 is at chine parts, as hereinafter will appear. the moment at rest, with the slide-borne clamp The parts are so organized that, when a shut 21, 28 in position to be opened for the reception tlecock head has been set in a chuck I and the chuck mounted on the spindle I to the right _ of a feather. While the clamp is at rest in such (Fig. I), the advance of the block H from right 5" position, the turning shaft 23 carries the cam 34 from the position in which it is shown in Fig. VIII to left (Fig. II) will bring the drill l3 precisely into the position shown in Fig. V, and in conse to position for drilling in the seated head a hole quence the lever 32 swings clockwise (under for a feather. When this advance has been ef gravity), and the clamp, released to the effect of fected the turning of cam l9 effects the descent of the drill Iii (which, it will be understood, 5" spring 3 l, opens. Rotation of the cam 34 contin uing from the position shown in Fig. V to that driven by motor I5, is in rotation) and the drill .shown in Fig. VII, the lever is swung counter ing of the desired hole in the shuttlecock head. clockwise, closing the clamp again. As the clamp Furthermore, block ll continuing in the ad vanced position shown in Fig. II, and the turn 65 closes, the crank-disk 23 is set in clockwise rota tion, raising the slide 23 to its upper limit (cf. the ing of shaft Ill being rendered intermittent and full-line position in Fig. VI), and eifecting its the'range of turning being controlled, and cam

operation being brought into co-ordination with

descent (that is to say, through the position

shown in Fig. V) to the position shown in broken spindle turning, it is manifest that as machine operation continues a succession of holes proper 70 lines 210, 23a in Fig. VI. As, however, the slide borne clamp approaches its lower limit (the ly spaced and in circumferential succession may be drilled in the seated shuttlecock head. When broken-line position of Fig. VI) , the lever arm of the clamping member 23, descending, passes be this has been done, co-ordinated operation of cylinder I! will eifectethe retraction of block ii. yond the restraint of lever 32, whereupon the
The chuck that carries the shuttlecock head, now 75 spring 3! becomes effective to open the clamp,

2,881,981
while the lever 82 (from which the clamp has es

caped) continues in clamp-closing position.

The engagement of the lever 82, 81 with the clamping member 28 is not immediate, but is oscillation of a shaft 48 (Fig. XVIII) . The shaft effected through a T-shaped block 88 that is piv 4! beers integrally two arms 48 and 41 (cf. Fig. I) . oted by one extremity of its cross-arm to the le A spring 48, acting upon arm 41, maintains the ver arm 81, and that bears by the opposite ex arm 48 in bearing abutment upon a cam disk 48 tremity of its cross-arm (Fig. V) upon the lever borne by shaft 28. As the cam disk turns the arm extension of clamping member 28. The stem of the T-shaped block, by abutment upon the 10 standard 88 reciprocates: and by organization of the instrumentalities described the reciproca lever arm 81, limits the counter-clockwise turn tion of the standard is synchronized with the ing of the block under gravity. A stop 31a, borne reciprocation of slide 28 and the opening and by and extending from lever arm 81, limits the closing of the clamp 21, 28. clockwise turning of block 88 and prevents it The spindle 4 to the left (Fig. I) is so organ from swinging too far under the momentum of ized that when a chuck 1 bearing a shuttlecock operation. When, in the descent of slide 23, the head i after placement upon the spindle 4 to lever-arm extension of clamping member 28 has the right and after the formation in the head passed below the abutment of block 38 upon it, of a circular succession of drill-holes, is removed the spring 8| is effective to open the clamp, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. VI. When in con- 20 from the spindle to the right and mounted upon the spindle to the left, one of the drill-holes of tinued operation the clamping member rises the succession will be positioned precisely and again, the parts being in the position shown in exactly beneath a feather when held in position Fig. VIa, the upper end 28b of the lever arm of by the clamping members 21, 28; the turning of clamping member 28 beers from beneath upon the shaft i8 is an intermittent, step-by-step turn the cross-arm of the T-shaped block and turns ing, and the range of turning at each step is pre the block clockwise. In the continued rise of cisely that required to shift the head, whether the slide 23 the engagement of the ascending borne by the spindle to the right (that a succes end of the pivoted clamp member 28 with the sion of holes may be drilled in it) or by the spin then upwardly inclined nether edge of the cross dle to the left (that a succession of feathers may arm operates to swing clamp member 28 into be set in the previously drilled holes) through clamp-closing position. Note in Fig. VIII the the angular interval between successive feather position of the block 88 and of the clamp. receiving holes in the head. And in the intervals The ordered opening and closing of the clamp of rest, between the successive steps of turning 21, 28 is related both to means for sustaining of shaft Ill, the instrumentalities already de the feather in position to be taken by the clamp, scribed act, to set the feathers in the head. In and to means for bringing a shuttlecock head to sequence upon the advance of the chuck-borne position for the reception of a feather. head to a position in which an un?lled hole is As shown in Figs. I and VII, a standard 88 is in alignment with a feather held in the clamp borne upon the table 8 and is reciprocable between ways 48. The standard affords a seat in which is) 21, 28, the turning of the crank-disk 25 carries slide 28 downward, and drives the clamped a feather may be set, point down, and a seat feather point ?rst into the hole, thus planting that will allow the ready removal of the feather. the feather in the head. It will be understood Conveniently, the standard carries a clip in the that the attendant who initially places the form of two fingers 4i and 42 that extend from . feathers one by one between the fingers 4|, L2 its upper end and in the direction of reciproca orients them to substantially correct position, tion. One finger (4!) is integrally home by the and that the clamping members 21, 28 have faces standard; the other (42) is pivoted at its basal so shaped as to bring the feather precisely to end to the standard, and at its distal end is ad properly oriented position, so that the web of vantageously provided with a vertically extend ing notch 43, adequate to accommodate with snug 50 the planted feather extends in precisely the de sired planar position relatively to the cylindrical though not tight ?t the shaft of a feather. The head of the shuttlecock. pivoted ?nger is, by a light spring 44, held closed When a feather has been planted, the head upon the rigid ?nger. In the ori?ce formed by bearing the planted feather turns through a small the notch 43 in the finger 42 and the opposed angle, sufficient to bring the next succeeding plane face of finger 4i the feathers one by one hole of the series to position to receive the next are manually set, vertically from above. Figs. I feather; but, before the feather-planting slide and VII show the parts in position for inserting 23 descends again, other instrumentalities oper a feather. This is done, and in Fig. VII the shaft ate, to carry forward the gradual stitching to lot a feather is indicated in place between the ?ngers. Fig. I clearly shows the feather in place, (ii gether of the feathers assembled in the head. Referring to Fig. XIHI, three rows 300 of stitch engaged at its tip, while throughout the greater ing (the number of rows is not essential; the part of its extent it stands free above the holding number three, here shown, is exemplary) are fingers. shown, encircling the shafts 3 of the assembled A feather is so placed, and thereafter, in the feathers. Each row consists of two strands of ordered operation of the machine, the standard
88 advances in right-to-left traverse, as indi cated in Fig. VII by an arrow, and in so doing
thread that pass, one on each side of each feather, and that are twisted together in the intervals

its seat between ?ngers ll, 42. Thereupon, the standard 28 recedes, leaving the way clear for the descent of the slide and its burden. Reciprocation is given to standard 88 by the

brings the feather that it bears into position be tween the clamping members 21, 28, which at that moment stand open and apart. Closing of the clamp 21, 28 follows. Already it has been explained that after the closing of the clamping members the slide that carries them rises, and in this rise of the slide 23, the feather, nlow

between the shafts of succeeding feathers. Referring to Fig. VIII, three identical twisters 50 are shown in vertical stand adjacent the spin dle 4 (the spindle to the left, Fig. I) and on the
side that affords immediate access to the verti

cally standing feather, newly set by the latest

descent of slide 28. The relative positions in plan are sumciently indicated in Fig. XI. (Figs. XI

clamped between members 21, 28, is raised from

9,881,981
of threads Illi, as seen in Fig. XIII. The shaft

31V are views in horizontal section. In these

i through one step of turning and brings a new drill-hole lili to position to receive a feather. The bearing block II then advances again to the position shown in Fig. XI. Thus the cycle of twister operation is repeated, with a single quali ?cation: the successive turnings of the twisters three twisters are rotatably mounted in a bear are e?'ected alternately by one and the other of ing block M (Fig. am; they are severally 10 the two racks 51. In consequence, the succes equipped with gear-wheels 52; the gear-wheels sive twistlngs are in opposite directions, and the are of equal size and in the assembly are inter cumulative eifect at the thread-supply end of meshed, and the whole assembly is driven through the twisters, that unidirectional turning would a gear-wheel I3 which, borne by a shaft 54, bring about, is avoided. When the last feather meshes with the lowermost of the gear wheels 52. 15 has been planted and the twister withdrawn to Each twister carries a pair of needles II that the Fig. XII position, the pairs of threads are extend from the end adjacent the work (the left removed from the anchorage 99 and out free hand end, Figs. VIII, XI), and the needles of from the twisters, and the ends are tied to each pair are spaced apart and on opposite sides gether, pair by pair. of the twister and remote from the axis of twister 20 The bearing block ii is normally held by a rotation. The two needles of each pair are un spring 98 at the remote end of its range of re equal in length (as best seen in Figs. xn_-xrv) , ciprocation upon the bed-plate 8. Such is the and each near its free end is provided with an position shown in Figs. IX, XII_XIV. From eye. The twister is axially perforate, as appears remote position it is intermittently advanced to in Fig. XI. 25 the position shown in Figs. VIII and XI. This is The shaft 54 is further equipped with a pinion effected by the rotation of shaft 20, and the in 58, and pinion i6 is on opposite sides engaged termediation of the cam disk 59 and the lever by two racks 51 that extend vertically in paral 60. The racks 51 are impelled upwardly and in lelism and are reciprocable vertically in pas alternation by the rotation of the same shaft 20, sageways provided for them in the body of the 30 through the lntermediation of the cam disks GI bearing block 5|. As one or the other of the and 62 and the levers B3 and 64. Considera two racks 51 is impelled powerfully upward the tion of Figs. VIII, XV, and XVI will show that, twisters are rotated, each in one direction or while cam 82 having engaged lever 64 has driven the other, while the inactive rack moves idly one of the racks 51 upward, the release of the downward. 35 lever 63 from engagement by the corresponding The bearing block II also reciprocates in a cam it has allowed the companion rack 51 to slideway 58 upon the bed-plate I in right-and descend idly, in response to the rotation of pinion left traverse, as seen in Fig. VI1Ithat is to say, 56 with which the two racks are constantly toward and away from the work. meshed. On the side of the spindle l (the spindle to 40 Referring particularly to Figs. XVII-XXI, a the left. Fig. I) opposite the stand of twisters motor 85, through a gear-reduction 68, shaft 81, 50 a yielding anchorage OI for thread is pro and sprocket drive 68, drives constantly the vided. From a suitable source of supply pairs wheel 69, which is idly mounted upon shaft 24. of strands of thread 3M are carried from right The sprocket-chain-drlven wheel 89 is the com to left (Fig. XI) through the axial bores of the 45 mon member of two friction clutches. The twisters, and the threads are severally passed driven member III of one of these clutches is in through the eyes of the needles SI. The pairs tegrally mounted upon shaft 24, so that through of threads pus thence over the face of the seated this friction clutch the shaft 24 is rotated; and shuttlecock head I, and are secured to the the driven member H of the other of these fric anchorage 89. The threads then are drawn taut. 50 tion clutches, through appropriate gear trans A twister in successive positions of operation mission I2, drives shaft 20. A spring T3 of ad is illustrated in Figs. XI--HV; and, since all justable tension gives eiiicacy to the friction are alike in structure and in operation, the show clutches. ing of one serves for all. Beginning with Fig. Rotation of shaft 20 imparts step-by-step XI, the bearing block 5| will be understood to 55 turning of shaft HI through the narrow angular stand in advanced position, the position of near range at which the holes are drilled in circular est approach to the work. The organization is succession in the shuttlecock head. The means such that, when the bearing block is in this ad for accomplishing this are found in the dogs 14 vaneed position, the two needles borne by each (in this instance two in number, of. Fig. VIII) twister ?ll lie in horizontal plane, the longer 60 borne by shaft 20, which as shaft 20 turns makes extending diametrically above the seated shuttle successive periodic engagement with the ratchet cock head, and the shorter extending tangentially disk 15 borne rigidly by shaft H. with respect to the shuttlecock head, or approxi To the end that the several operations of the mately so, and overlying the head near the rim. shall be effected in proper coordination, (The three pairs of needles will be understood 65 machine a system of latches is arranged to release the to be disposed in three planes at different heights shafts 20 and M to the torque of the rotating above the seated head.) In vertical line between clutch member Bil in ordered sequence. A latch the needles of the three pairs 9. drilled hole I00 18, engaging a tooth 10a upon the periphery lies exposed. In this so exposed hole a feather of the clutch-disk Ill, is effective to hold shaft 3 is, by the action of slide 23, planted. The 70 24 from turning; and two latches are alternately bearing block 5| then recedes (left to right, Figs. effective to hold shaft 20 from turningone VIII, XI) and the parts assume the relative posi latch, 18, engaging the teeth "a upon a disk tions shown in Fig. XII. One of the racks 51 H on shaft 20, and the other latch, 19, engag then is driven upward, setting the twisters in il'lg the teeth 80a. upon disk 80 integrally borne rotation, and forming a twist in each of the pair 75 by shaft 20. A solenoid 85 when energized

views the head of the shuttlecock is, for sim pliclty, shown in plan, as though its upper surface lay in horizontal plane. That surface extends in a plane that is inclined to the horizontal, as is indicated in Fig. VIII. In this particular Figs, XI-XIV will be understood to be dimammatic, and the showing will not be misleading). The

Ill then turns and carries the shuttlecock head

2,331,981
swings latch 10 to release position. A sleeve 8|, with toothed periphery, integrally borne by shaft
20, is effective as shaft 20 turns, to engage a lever 82 and shift latch II into release position; a sleeve 83, with toothed periphery, integrally borne by shaft 24, is effective as shaft 24 turns
to engage a lever 24 and shift latch I0 into re

ti and the twisters are arrested in retracted p0 slum (Figs, 11! and XIV). The rotation of the crank-disk 25 continues, and carries the open clamp upward and away from the planted feather,
and as the disk 25 approaches the end of a com

plete rotation, and the rising clamp moves up ward from the path of the twister needles, the

tooth 83a on the sleeve 83 engages and swings the lease position. In service the motor 85 drives the lever 84, thereby raising the latch 19 and once disk 69 continuously, and the several latches are in ordered sequence actuated to release the 10 again releasing the shaft 20 to rotative stress. The shaft 20 turns through a small angular range, shafts 2|! and 24 to the driving torque of the and is arrested by the abutment upon latch 15 member 89, and then to arrest them again. of tooth 11b of the disk 11. The rotating shaft It will be understood that the latches l6 and 24 is simultaneously arrested (with the clamp 18 extend in the shaft-arresting positions shown in Fig. XVIII, until it is desired to begin a. shuttle 15 bearing slide 23 returned to initial position), by the abutment upon latch l8 of tooth 10a of the cock-assembling operation. To start the opera disk 10. In such rotation of the shaft 20 through tion a pedal switch (not shown) is pressed and the the small angular range, the bearing block 5| solenoid B5 is energized. Thereupon the latch I6 recedes from the shuttlecock head, to the position swings counter-clockwise, disengaging the tooth 11a and releasing the disk 11. The shaft 2|! is re 20 shown in Figs. IX and X11, and the threads are drawn taut against the stem of the planted leased to the torque of member 69 and begins to feather, and in such position they are ready to turn. At the instant the rotation of the shaft be twisted. Such is the cycle of the feather-as 2|) is thus initiated, the twister block 5| is in the sembling operations, in which the shaft 20 has position shown in Fig. IX. turned through 180 and the shaft 24 through Immediately after the shaft 20 begins to rotate 360. the cams 6|, 52 effect (through the swing of arms From what has been said earlier, it will be un 63, 64) the rise of one rack 51 and the descent of derstood that in the rotation of the shaft 20 the other, with the effect that the three sets of through 180 the drill I8 is through the instru needles are rotated, forming a twist in each of the three pairs of threads extending from the 30 mentalities of the cam l9 and the spring 2| moved downward through a hole-forming stroke and stem of the feather that preparatory to the op raised again. eration has been planted in the shuttlecock head. In repeating the cycle of operations described, (Compare the positions of the threads Figs. X11 as the cycle must be repeated for each feather and XIII.) Next, in the successive operations of that goes into the vane of the shuttlecock, the the machine, one of the dogs I4 on the rotating solenoid 85 is again energized. Again the latch shaft 2|! engages the ratchet-wheel I5, turning 16 is released; the shaft 2|) rotates; the needles the shuttlecock head, and bringing a drill-hole 55 twist the paired threads 3M (Fig. XIII); the into position of vertical alignment with the clamp bearing block 5| advances to the position shown 21, 28 (cf. the hole l?l in Fig. XIV). Then the cam 59, turning with the shaft an, swings the le 40 in Fig. K1; the feather is introduced to the clamp; and so on. ver 60 and advances the twister block to the posi While the operation of the machine is ar tion in which the paired threads are spread (Fig. rested at the end of each cycle, as described, it XI) to allow the stem of the feather that is next will be understood that, alternatively, the sole to be planted in the head to descend between noid may be continuously energized (the pedal them. switch may be held in circuit-closing position), While these operations are in progress, the fol and the cycles repeated without intermission; lowing movements are effected in ordered suc that is, after the ?rst feather has been planted, cession: The lever 32, 21 swings clockwise, and under the stress of spring 2| the clamp 21, 28 50 and the otherwise free ends of threads 3M have been fastened to the member 89, the operation opens (Fig. V) ; then the slide 29 shifts in right may be continuous. to-left direction (Fig. I), carrying a feather that It is noteworthy that the machine is readily has been manually inserted between the ?ngers adapted to the assembly of vanes having a 4|, 42, into position between the opened clamp greater or less number of feathers than here il members. Then the lever 22, 21 swings counter lustrated. It is simply necessary to apply to the clockwise, closing the clamp upon the feather. shaft ID a ratchet-wheel 15 whose teeth corre As this stage in the operation is reached, the spond in number to the feathers in the vane to be tooth 8|a on the turning sleeve 8| (Fig. XVIII) assembled. All of the several operations of the engages and swings lever 82, lifting the latch 18 (Fig. XIX) and releasing shaft 24 to the torque 60 machine~the drilling of the holes in the shuttle of friction clutch B9, 10; thereupon the shaft 24 cock head, and the planting and stitching of the is set in rotation, and the crank-disk 25 on such feathersare without other provision or adjust ment properly coordinated. shaft, acting through link 28, raises the slide 23, and lifts the clamped feather from the ?ngers Recurring ?nally to the ?uid pressure cylinder 4|, 42; then, through the operation of instru 65 I3 by which the block II is reciprocated, it is mentalities above described, the fingers recede; manifest that a control valve may be provided and the slide 23, passing its upper limit, moves which, subject to the rotation of shaft II), will downward, planting the feather in the shuttle effect the recession of the block I I when a shuttle cock head. As the clamp reaches its lower limit cock head borne by the spindle to the right (Fig. 'of travel, the arm of clamp member 28 passes be 70 I) has received its complement of drilled holes. low the arm of the T-shaped block 38, and the Such elaboration, however, is hardly necessary,

clamp opens (cf. broken-line position in Fig. VI),

while the tooth 800 on disk Ill comes to abutment

upon the latch N! (Fig. XX), bringing the shaft 20 to r 2st, with the effect that the bearing block 75 completely drilled head, and to advance again

since an attendant can readily at proper time shift such control valve to cause the block II at proper time to recede and allow the removal of a

when a fresh and undrilled head has been set

in place. .

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine for building shuttlecocks two

spindles rotatably mounted in suitable support,

means for eifecting simultaneous turning of the two spindles through equal angular ranges, each spindle being adapted to receive and carry a
shuttlecock head, means for sinking a hole in a

adjacentto said spindle, a reciprocable and ro tatable twister arranged adjacent to said spindle, and means for electing operation of the said parts in ordered sequence, as follows: (i) turn ing of the spindle, (2) forward reciprocation of the twister, (3) downward and upward recipro
cation of the feather-planting means, (4) rear ward reciprocation of the twister; and (5) rota tion of the twister.

shuttleoock head carried by one of said spindles,

and means for planting a feather in a hole sunk

6. In shuttlecock-building machinery and in

combination with a rotatable seat for a shuttle cock head, a twister for applying a stitching of thread to the shafts of a succession oi feathers set in a seated head, such twister including a

spindles.

in a shuttlecock head carried by the other of said

e?ecting movement of the parts associated with ing beyond such engagement and abutting upon 45 the second of the two spindles during the period the stem of the T-shaped block and the clamp in of rest of the spindles in ordered sequence, as its return reciprocation engaging from beneath follows: (1) advance of the feather carrier and
the free arm of the T-shaped block, and means
5. In a shuttlecock-building machine the com

tion by abutment of the stem oi the T upon the lever, the clamp throughout a portion of its range reciprocation being engaged by the free arm of the T-shaped block and in further traverse pass

hole sunk in a seated shuttiecock, the last-named means including a clamp and means for opening a feather-planter including ways, a slide re 35 and closing the clamp in ordered sequence in the eiprocable in said ways, a clamp borne by said course of the reciprocation thereof, a leather car slide, yielding means for maintaining the clamp rier reciprocable to and from position of coopera in normally open position, a clamp-closing lever, tion with said feather-planting means, and a ro a T-shaped block pivoted by one arm to said lever tatable thread-twister reciprocable in a plane and limited in pivotal movement in one direc above the face 01' a shuttlecock head seated in

4. In a shuttlecock-building machine, and in combination with a seat for a shuttlecock head,

to one of said spindles, and means for planting a 30 one of said spindles for sinking a hole in a seated feather in a hole sunk in a shuttlecock head when shuttlecock head, means reciprocable above the applied to the other of said spindles. other of said spindles for planting a feather in a

nism with spindle rotation, and the feather body axially reciprocable in said support, said planting means including a clamp reciprocable in body being provided with a plurality of eyed synchronism with spindle rotation. needles projecting longitudinally irom one head 3. In a machine for building shuttlecockg two of the body and spaced apart relatively to the spindles rotatably mounted in suitable support, 20 axis of rotation. means for effecting simultaneous turning 01' the '7. In a shuttlecock-building machine the com two spindles through equal angular ranges, a bination of a support, two spindles rotatably chuck adapted to receive a shuttlecock head and borne by said support, means for imparting to applicable to either of the two spindles with the the spindles simultaneous and intermittent turn axis of the shuttlecock head aligned with the 25 ing through successive predetermined and equal axis oi spindle rotation and in predetermined ranges, a seat for the head of a shuttlecock ap positions within the range of turning of the seated plicable to and removable from either of the two shuttlecock head upon such axis, means for sink spindles in predetermined position with respect ing a hole in a shuttlecock head when applied to the range of turning, means reciprocable above

2. The structure of claim 1, the hole-sinking means including a drill reciprocable in synchro 15 support, an axially perforate rotatable cylindrical

the second of said spindles, means for effecting reciprocation of the hole~sinking means during
the period of rest of the spindles, and means for

for e?ecting coordinated reciprocation 01' said slide and swing of said lever.
bination of a support, a spindle rotatably mounted in the support, means for imparting to

the spindle intermittent, step-by-step turning,

reeiprocable feather-planting means arranged

of the thread twister, (2) closure of the clamp oi the feather planter, (3) rise of the feather planter, (4) recession of the feather carrier, (5) descent of the feather planter, (6) recession of the twister, (7) rotation of the twister, and (8) subsequent to (5) the rise of the feather-planter.
WALTER E. HUMPHREY.