US2438187A - Florist's wire twisting machine - Google Patents

Description

T. E. REYNOLDS El AL FLORISTS WIRE TWIS'IING MACHINE March 23, 1948.

Filed Sept. 22, 1945 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS 'ZTEReynoZds EFyffe ATTORNEYS March 23, 1948. 1-. E. REYNOLDS ET AL FLORISTS WIRE TWISTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 22, 1945 INVENTORS TE. Reynolds E. .Tyffe ATTORNEYS March 23, 1948. 1-. E. REYNOLDS ET AL ,1

FLORISTS WIRE TWISTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 22, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS March 23, 1948.

T. E. REYNOLDS ET AL FLORISTS WIRE TWISTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 22, 1945 7 sheets sheet 4 is 37 16 l I 5 42 a 4B 57 4 3 Q Y L I I 13 5 1 32 g 23 F155. 5 a 27 as C) 7 I6 O INVENTORS 77E Reynolds I YIII/IIIII/IIIIIIIIIII,IIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIII/IIl/II/fi gf e v 22 18 BY m ml: 25

ATTORNEYS 1 March 23, 1948. T. E. REYNOLDS El AL FLORISTS WIRE TWISTING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 22, 1945 INVENTORS TE RegnoLas I E.F'gffe 41x11, M

ATTORNEYS March 23, 1948. T. E., REYNOLDS ET AL 2,433,187

FLORIST'S WIRE TWISTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 22, 1945 7 Sheets$heet 6 (IQ Y 5 7/IIIIIII/III!!!IIIIIIIII/III/IIIIIIIII/lIlIlII/Ifllfl TEZRegnoZds .E'. F yffe ATTORNEYS INVENTORS Match 23, 1948.

T. E. REYNOLDS ET-AL FLORISTS WIRE TWISTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 22, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Ba s. 13

mvsu-rons 7'.'E.Reynolds EFgffe Mm" ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 23, 1948 FLORISTS WIRE TWISTING MACHINE Theron E. Reynolds and Everett Fyiite, Lodi,

Calif, assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to Farmers and Merchants Bank of Lodi, Calif.

Application September 22, 1945, Serial No. 617,936

20 Claims. 1

This invention relates to, and it is an object to provide, an automatic, power driven machine operative to twist florists wires onto the stems of flowers intended for use on floral pieces, or the like. It is the present practice to manually twist the wires onto the flower stems, which procedure requires considerable time and is tedious to the florist. With the present machine, the wires are power twisted onto the flower stems rapidly and effectively; the florist being required to do no more than hold the flower stem in engagement with a projecting half-loop of the wire which the ma chine will next twist.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a florists wire twisting machine which includes a normally stationary but rotary plate provided with means to. releasably clamp a preformed dual leg wire in predetermined position thereon with one leg substantially longitudinally alined with the axis of rotation of the plate, and the other leg diverging therefrom, whereby a flower stem placed along said one leg will have the other leg wrapped or twisted thereabout upon rotation of the plate; said plate being driven, to twist each wire, through a certain number of revolutions by means of an electric motor-driven mechanism including an automatic control circuit associated therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide a florists wire twisting machine, as above, including a novel magazine unit arranged to automatically feed the individual wires to the rotary wire twisting plate; said magazine unit being movable relative, to the twisting plate and actuated by the electric motor-driven mechanism in predetermined timed relation to rotation of said plate.

A further object of the invention is to provide a florists wire twisting machine, as in the preceding paragraph, in which the wire twisting plate rotates about a horizontal axis, and the magazine reciprocates vertically; the electric motor-driven mechanism. and control circuit being operative to cycle the parts to first rotate the plate through its certain number of wire twisting revolutions, the plate stopping in a horizontal position, and to then reciprocate the magazine unit to and from the plate to feed another wire thereto.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device, and yet one which will be exceedingly efiective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure l is a side elevation of the machine showing the wire twisting plate in its normal horizontal position, and the wire feeding magazine in its normal raised position.

Figure 2 is a similar view, but shows the magazine as lowered to feed awire to the twisting plate.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the machine, with the front plate removed- Figure 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the details of the wire feeding magazine, with the parts thereof in their normal retracted positions.

Figure 5 is a similar view but shows the parts of the magazine upon feeding of a wire to the twisting plate.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of the parts of the wire feeding magazine corresponding in position to Fig. 4.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary front elevation, as in Fig. 6, but shows the parts of the. feeding magazine corresponding in position to Fig. 5.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the wire twisting plate as in use, after the first revolution thereof.

Figure 9 is a similar View of the twisting plate, as in use, but after two revolutions thereof.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic front elevation of the gear drive and overrunning clutch arrangement for the separate shafts which drive the wire twisting plate and the movable wire feeding mechanism.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of the motor reversing switch. control device; said device being shown in the position which it occupies at the start of the wire twisting cycle of the machine.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of the motor reversing switch control device; said device being shown in the position which it occupies at the start of the wire feeding cycle of the machine.

Figure 13 is a diagram of the electric control circuit.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the machine comprises a horizontal base I having an upstanding front panel 2 mounted thereon. To the rear of, and spaced a substantial distance from, the front panel 2, the base I is formed on top thereof with a motor support 3, on which a reversible electric motor 4 is mounted, with the drive shaft 5 of said motor projecting horizontally forward.

The shaft 5 is coupled to a reduction gear assembly 6, which in turn drives a countershaft I gear II makes two full revolutions for each revolution of the gear I0. 7 7

An overrunning lutch, indicated generally at I2, is coupled between the shaft 9 and the gear a II, whereby the latter is driven by said shaft 9 only when the same rotates in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 10.

Ahead of the gear II the shaft 9 is fitted with an attachment head I3, to which a flat plate I4 is secured adjacent one end; said plate radiating from the axis of rotation of the shaft 9 and being aflixed to said attachment head I3 with said axis intersecting the plate adjacent but short of one end of the latter. It will thus be seen that with rotation of the shaft 9 the plate will be swung thereabout, with the plate facing in the direction of rotation. r 7

At the forward cornerfadjacent the axis of rotation of said plate the latter is notched or cut away, as at I5, and in front of said notch the front plate 2 of the machine includes a vertical slot I6 enlarged adjacent the bottom, and which enlargement is in substantially the plane of the plate I4 when the same is in its normal horizontal position.

The plate I 4 is maintained in such normal horizontal position by a spring catch I! which permits of rotation of said plate therepast in the direction shown in the arrow in Fig. 3, but limits retractive movement of the plate in the opposite position below horizontal. The direction of rotation of the plate I4, as indicated in Fig-3, corresponds of course to the direction in which the shaft 9 is driven by the gear II through the inedium of the clutch I2, which latter overruns in the opposite direction. a

The plate I 4 is provided, on the normally top surface thereof, with a pair of wire receiving clamps I8, said clamps each including, in a suitable mount,a pair-of vertically alined, engaged, ball-type jaws I9. The clamps. I8 are adapted to releasably but friction-ally. engage the separate and divergent legs 20 and 2| of a fiorists wire,

indicated generally at 22, and which wire is of substantially the sametype as shown in copendshown in Fig. 9. Upon completion of the two portion of the leg 20. The operator then manually holds the half loop 23 and the stem 24 in positive engagement between his fingers, and in the manner hereinafter described in detail the' electric motor is then energized to cause one full revolution'of the countershaft l, which results, through the two to. one gears I9 and II, in two full revolutions of the countershaft 9 and plate I4. When this occurs the leg 2I is wrapped twice about said engaged stem 24 and leg 29, as

full turns of the plate I4 it is held in its normal horizontal and starting position by the spring 3 catch H. In order to permit the plate I4 to roing application, Serial No. 562,199, filed November6,1944.. A e The clamps I8 are positioned on the plate I4 so that the leg 20 of each florists wire 22 is held in connection with said plate adjacent and substantially parallel to the axis of rotation thereof; the other clamp being disposed in laterally offset relation and adjacent the forward edge of'the plate, whereby to clampingly engage the leg 2|. The clamp I8 which engages the leg 20 thus faces laterally at right angles to said axis of rotation ofthe plate, while the other clamp I8 is disposed some distance from suchaxis in rearwardly and laterally inwardly facing relation.

The fiorists wire 22 is formed, intermediate its ends, with a forwardly projecting, initially untwisted half loop 23, and when the wire is secured to the rotary plate l4, said half loop 23 projects forwardly through the vertical slot I6 in the front panel 2. To twist the wire about a flower stem zd, said stem is projected through the vertical slot IE on top of the half'loop 23 and along the adjacent Wire is then disposed in secured relation on the plate I4 fo a subsequent operation; the fiorists wire beingautomatically fed in timed relation to said plate. I4 by a wire feeding magazine structure comprising the following: 7 The magazine structure, indicated generally at 25, comprises a housing 26 'mounted for vertical reciprocation above the twisting plate I4 by means of a transversely spaced vertical pair of guide sleeves 21 on the back of housing 29 slidably disposed on vertical posts 23 upstanding from the base I.'- Compression springs S surround the posts. 29 between the base I and the sleeves 21; said springs tending to move the magazine structure 5 upwardly to its normally elevated position. Reciprocationof the magazine structure 25 between its normally raised position and a lowered position in engagement with the normally horizontal'twisting plate I4 is accomplished through the medium of a crank 29 on theforward end of countershaft 1; the outer end ofthe crank being connected to the magazine structure in operative relation by means of a pivotally attached link 39. The crank 29 is normally maintainedin a vertical position by means of a spring detent 3i mounted on top of the frame; whereby the magazine structure 25 is correspondingly maintained in its normally raised position. i

An overrunning clutch 32 is coupled between the shaft I and the crank 29, whereby motion is imparted to said crank from the shaft only when the latter turns in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 10. Itwill .thus benoted that when the reversible motor 4 is driven in one direction the shaft 1 will run free relative to the crank 29, and at whichtime the shaft 9 is driven. through the clutch I2, to rotate the twisting plate i4. I However, when the motor is driven in the other direction the twisting plate remains stationary in its normally-horizontal position and the shaft 1, with each full revolution thereof, rotates the crank to first lower and then raise the magazine structure 25. With each lowering of the magazine structure, and as it engages the normally horizontal plate I4, a florists wire 22 is deposited on said plate and engaged in the clamps I8 in the following manner:

The magazine structure 25 includes double walls39 and 34 disposed in divergent relation and in the same relative positions as the legs 2s. and. 2.! of the wires 22;: a vertical bank of said wires being carried in the magazine structure with the. legs of said.- wires vertically downwardly slidably disposed in. corresponding ones of. the double walls 33 and 34. The half loops. 2.3. of the wires project. forwardly through the slot 1.6. The double walls 33 and. 3d are disposed so. that when the magazine structure 25, is-in its lowered position in engagement with the plate 14, said walls are disposed directly inwardly oi the wire receiving face of. the clamps. l8. At their. lower edge. the double walls 33 terminate. short of the bottom plate 35. of the magazine structure, whereby to form a horizontal slot 36 through which the legs of wires 22 may be projected outwardly into secured relation. in the clamps 58 when the magazine structure is in. its lowered position. The clamps iii are elevated slightly above the plate Mby spacer plates, as shown, whereby the throat of said. clamps it? falls into register with the slots 36 when the magazine structure is in its lowered position.

Such outward projection of the legs of the florists wire into the clamps i8- is automatically accomplished, when the magazine structure reaches its lowermost, position inv engagement with the plate I l, in the following manner;

Within the housing 26 and on the bottom plate 35 there are a pair of slide plungers 3T positioned to project through the slots 36 and to force the adjacent legs of they lowermost florists wire in the magazine structure outwardly into the clamps Iii; said slide plungers being carried in guides 38. The slide plungers 31 ,are simultaneously actuated, in an outward. direction, and from a normally retracted position, by means of solenoid actuated arrangement which comprises a solenoid 39 mounted vertically in the housing 23 and including a downwardly projecting solenoid plunger is. The solenoid plunger dilworks against a vertically swingable lever ll which in turn rides on a horizontal cross head 42. The cross head 42 is fixed on top of and spans between a pair of vertical. cam plungers d3 carried in guides s4, and normally held in up position by springs 65. At their lower ends the cam plungers d3 are formed with laterally outwardly facing bevel cams 46 adapted to bear against rollers 51 on the rear ends of the slide plungers 37. Thus, when the solenoid 39 is actuated the solenoid plunger 6B projects forcefully downward, resulting in depression of the cam plungers 43 and outward movement of the rollers 41, causing the slide plungers 3! to project through the slots carrying the adjacent legs of the florists wire into the clamps it. Leaf springs 48 engage the rollers 47 on the side opposite the bevel cams 6 and normally maintain the slide plungers 3i retracted.

The cycle of operation of the wire twisting machine is as follows:

With the magazine structure elevated and a fiorists wire engaged in the normally horizontal twisting plate M, the motor 6 is energized in a direction to operate said twisting plate through two full turns; the wire 22 as twisted about a stem 2s then being immediately withdrawn through the vertical slot 96. The electric motor a is then reversed to cause rotation of the shaft i in an opposite direction and through one full revolution, whereupon the crank 29 causes a low ering, followed by 9. raising, movement of the magazine structure. A5 the magazine structure reaches its bottom-most position the solenoid 39 is automatically actuated to discharge one. florists wire from the magazine structure into the clamps [,8. of the/twisting. plate. l4.

The. electric circuit, by means, of" which the above cycle, of. operations is-automatically accomplished, comprises the following:

A push-type switch, 49 is mounted on the front panel, 2 and includes. a switch. control plunger 50 projecting both forwardly and rearW-ardly of said panel; the switch being. closed when. the plunger is pushed inwardly from in front of the panel, and. open when pushed forwardly from the rear. Said. switch 419. is interposed. in a motor energizing circuit including. wires. 5], which lead from a supply circuit 52.. One of the wires. 5|. leads direct to one terminal. of the reversible electric motor t, while the other wire, 5i leads to the common terminal; of av toggle-type reversing switch 53' which is mounted. on the frame 8 adjawnt but to one. side'of' the shaft 7.. From the reversing terminals of the switch 53 a pair of separate motor energizing leads 5Q extend to opposite terminals of the motor. When the switch 53' is in the position shown in Figs. 11. and 13, the motor is energized in a direction to operate the twisting plate IA, while said switch 53, when in the position shown in, 1'2, reverses the motor to cause an, operation of the. maga zine structure.

The switch 53 is automatically reversed, upon completion of each full revolution of the shaft l, by means of a. radially projecting finger 55 adapted to engage the toggle of switch 53 from one side or the other, depending on the, direc tion of rotation said. finger coming to rest against a stop 55. on either side thereof after effecting a corresponding reversal of the. switch 53.. In order to assure of one full revolution of the shaft 1 before the finger 5.5 reverses the switch 53, said finger has a certain amount of loose play in a direction circumferentially of said shaft.

It will thus be. seen that with the switch 53 in its starting position, as shown in Figs. 11 and 13, the operator, after placing a stem in position to twist a wire thereon, in the manner previously described, pushes inwardly on, the plunger 5c of the switch. 49. This, energizes, the motor in the direction which causes rotation of the twisting plate M, which plate then makes two full revolutions and comes to a stop, in its normal horizontal position, as. the finger 55 reverses switch 53.

With reversal of the switch. 53, the electric motor makes one full revolution in an opposite direction, resulting in lowering and then raising of the magazine structure; the entire circuit being broken and reestablished in its initial position when the magazine structure reaches top position. This is accomplished by a trigger 5i mounted on the magazine structure; said trigger being arranged to spring past the plunger 58, without affecting the. position of the latter, upon downward movement of the magazine structure, but operative, upon raising of the latter, to. push said plunger outwardly whereby to open the switch 49. It is evident that when the switch 49 is opened the. entire mechanism ceases to operate, and at which time all of the parts, ineluding the switch 53,.have been returned to their initial or starting position.

The solenoid 39 is automatically energized, when the magazine structure reaches its bottom point, by means of. matching pairs of contacts 58 and 5 9 on the magazine structure and frame 8; the contacts 58 being wired to a solenoid circult 60, while the contacts 59 are wired to the circuit comprising wires i. Thus, the instant that the magazine structure reaches its bottom position, the solenoid functions to cause ejection of a wire 22 into the clamps l8, and an instant later-as the magazine carriage begins to risethe solenoid circuit is automatically broken, whereupon the operating parts of the magazine structure return to normal. With the above described florists wire twist ing machines, wires can be applied eifectively, readily, and automatically to the stems of flowers; and a practical means is supplied for afiixing the wires to flower stems other than manually.

From the foregoing description it will be read- I ily seen that there has been produced such a deadapted to be held against rotation and to have a flower stem disposed therealon-g, said machine comprising a support, a rotary holder, means rotatably mounting the holder on the support, means on the holder to releasably secure a florists wire thereon in position with one leg adjacent and extending lengthwise of the axis of rotation of said holder, and means to rotate the holder whereby to wrap the other leg of the Wire about said one leg and a flower stem extending therealong; there being releasable catch means operative to engage and maintain said holder in a certain starting position, and the holder rotating means being operative to actuate said plate through a predetermined number of full revolutions from said starting position. i a,

2. A twisting machine for a, florists wire having a pair of divergent legs one of which is adapted to be held against rotation and to have a flower stem disposed therealong, said machine comprising a support, a rotary holder, means rotatably mounting the holder on the support, means on the holder to releasably secure a florists wire thereon in, position with one leg adjacent and extending lengthwise of the axis of rotationof said holder,,and means to rotate the holder whereby to wrap the other leg of the wire about said one leg and a flower stem extending therealong; said-wire securing means comprising a pair of spaced clamps on the holder in position to engage the divergent legs of the wire, each clamp including a pair of engaged spring pressed elements between which the corresponding leg is adapted to pass for frictional engagement in the clamp.

3. A twisting machine for a florists wire having a pair of divergent legs one of which is adapted to be held against rotation and to have a flower stem disposed therealong, said machine comprising a support, a rotary holder, means rotatably. mounting the holder on the support,

means on the holder to releasably secure a flor-,

ists wire thereon in position with one leg adjacent and extending lengthwise of the axis of rotation of said holder, and means to rotate the holder whereby to wrap the other leg of the sass-is? wire about said one leg and a flower stem extending therealong; the machine including a front panel behind which the holder is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis at a right angle to said panel, the panel having an access opening adjacent said axis and the wire including a projecting intermediate portion ex tending through said opening when the wire is secured to the holder, the flower stem extending from said projecting intermediate portion inwardly along said one leg whereby the operator can manually grasp the stem and said portion to prevent rotation of said one leg upon rotation of the holder. 7

4. A twisting machine for a florists wire having a pair of divergent legs one of which is adapted to be held against rotation and to have a flower stem disposed therealong, said machine comprising a normally stationary but rotary holder including means to releasably support a florists wire thereon with one leg of the wire adjacent and lengthwise of the axis of rotation of the holder, means to intermittently rotate the holder in a direction to wrap the other leg of the wire around said one leg and a flower stem extending therealong, a magazine structure carrying a plurality of florists wires, means mounting said magazine structure for movement between positions clear of and cooperating with said holder, means to transfer a wire from the magazine structure to the holder when said magazine structure is in cooperating position relative to said holder, and means to move the magazine from its clear position to cooperating position and return between said intermittent rotations of the holder.

5. A machine as in claim 4 in which said wire transferring means includes a solenoid on the magazine structure, and means to automatically energize the solenoid when the magazine structure is in said cooperating position relative to the Wire holder. 7 l

6. A twisting machine for a florists wire having a pair of divergent legs one of which is adapted to be held against rotation and to have a flower stem disposed therealong, said machine comprising a normally stationary but rotary holder including means to releasably support a florists wire thereon with one leg of the wire adjacent and lengthwise of the axis of rotation of the holder, the holder being rotatable to wrap' the other leg of the wire about said one leg and a flower stem extending therealong, a magazine structure carrying a plurality of said florists wires, means mounting the magazine structure for movement between a normal position clear of the holder to a cooperating, wire feed position relative thereto, means to automatically feed a wire onto the holder from the magazine structure when the latter is in said cooperating position, power means operative to automatically'and alternately rotate the holder in a wire wrapping direction, and move the magazine structure to g and from said cooperating position.

7. A twisting machine for a florists wire having a pair of divergent legs one of which is adapted to be held against rotation and to have a flower stem disposed therealong, said machine comprising a normally stationary but rotary holder including means to releasably support a florists wire thereon with one leg of the wire adjacent and lengthwise of the axis of rotation of the holder, the holder being rotatable to wrap the other leg of the wire about said one leg and a flower stem extending therealong, a magazine 9 structure carrying a plurality of said florists wires, means mounting the magazine structure for movement between a normal position clear of the holder to a cooperating, wire feed position relative thereto, means to automatically feed a wire onto the holder from the magazine structure when the latter is in said cooperating position, and power means operative to automatically and alternately rotate the holder in a wire wrapping direction, .and move the magazine structure to and from said cooperating position; said last named means including a reversibly driven shaft, driving connections between the shaft and holder including a clutch arranged to overrun in one direction, and driving connections between-the shaft and magazine structureincluding a clutch arranged to overrun in an opposite direction.

8. A twisting machine for a florists wire having a pair of divergent legs one of which is adapted to be held against rotation and to have a flower stem "disposed therealong, said machine comprising a normally stationary but rotary holder including means to releasably support a florists wirethereon with one leg of the wire adjacent and lengthwise of the axis of rotation of the holder, the holder being rotatable to wrap the other leg of the wire about said one leg and a flower stem extending therealong, a magazine structure carrying a plurality of said 'fiorists wires, means mounting the magazine structure for movement between a normal position clear of the holder to a cooperating, wire feed position relative thereto, means to automatically feed a wire onto the holder from the magazine structure when the latter is in said cooperating position, and power means operativeto automatically and alternately rotate the holder in a wire wrapping direction, and move the magazine structure to and from said cooperating position; said last named means including a reversible electric motor,:driving connections between the motor and" said holder and magazine structure arranged to actuate the former when the motor runs in one direction and to actuate the latter when the motorruns in the opposite directions, and instrumentalities operative to automatically reverse the motoraftera predetermined number of revolutions in each direction.

9. A machine as in claim 8 'in which the motor is included in a reversing circuit; said instrumentalities including a reversing switch in the circuit, a motor driven shaft adjacent the switch, the latter including a lever movable in opposite directions toreverse the motor, and a member radiating from the shaft in position to engage and throw said lever on opposite sides dependent on the direction of rotation of the shaft.

10. A machine as in claim 8 in which the motor is included in a reversing circuit; said instrumentalities including a reversing switch in the circuit, a motor driven shaft adjacent the switch, the latter including a lever movable in opposite directions to reverse the motor, and a member radiating from the shaft in position to engage and throw said lever on opposite sides dependent on the direction of rotation of the shaft; said member having limited loose play circumferentially of the shaft so that the latter may make one full revolution between reversing throws of said lever.

11. A twisting machine for a florists wire having a pair of divergent legs one of which is adapted to be held against rotation and to have a flower stem disposed therealong, said machine comprising a normally stationary but rotary holder including means to releasably support a florists wire thereon with one leg of the wire adjacent and lengthwise of the axis of rotation of the holder, the holder being rotatable to wrap the other leg ofithe wire about said one leg and a flower stem extending therealong, a magazine structure carrying 'a plurality of said 'florists wires, means mounting the magazine structure for movement between a normal position clear 'of'the holder to a cooperating, wire feed position relative thereto, means to automatically feed a wire onto the holder from the magazine structure when the latter is in said cooperating position, power means operative to automatically and alternately rotate :the holder in a wire wrapping direction, and move the magazine structure to and from said cooperating position, said power means including a reversible electricmotor, a circuit for the motor, a reversing switch in the circuit, means arranged to reverse said switch after a predetermined number of motor revolutions in each direction, an on-01f switch in the circuit adapted to be manually placed'in .on position, and means actuated by a movable part of the machine to place said latter switch in off position upon completion of each cycle comprising one wire wrapping operation "of the "holder followed "by a wire feed operation of said magazine structure.

12. A twisting machine for a fiorists wire having a pair of divergent legs one of which is adapted-to beheld against rotation and to have a flower stem disposed therealong, said machine comprising a base, a support upstanding from the base, a shaft 'journa-led on and projecting horizontally from the support, *a normally horizontal'and stationary holder mounted in connection with the shaft 'for rotation therewith, said holder including means on top thereof to releasably secure'a florists wire with one leg thereof adjacent and lengthwise of the axis of rotation,

the holder being rotatable to wrap the other leg of the wireabout said one leg and a flower stem extending therealong, a florists wire feeding magazine structure,-means mounting the latter in connection with the support for vertical said-holder.

13. A twisting machine for a fiorists wire having a pair of divergent legs one of which is adapted to be held against rotation and to have a flower stem disposed therealong, said machine comprising a base, a support upstanding from the base, a shaft journaled on and projecting horizontally from the support, a normally horizontal and stationary holder mounted in connection with the shaft for rotation therewith, said holder including means on top thereof to releasably secure a florists wire with one leg thereof adjacent and lengthwise of the axis of rotation, the holder being rotatable to wrap the other leg of the wire about said one leg and a flower stem extending therealong, a florists wire feeding magazine structure, means mounting the latter in connection with the support for vertical reciprocal movement between a normally raised position and a lowered position relative to the holder, the

magazine structure when lowered being operative to feed a wire to the holder, means arranged to automatically actuate the magazine structure the motor reversibly driving said other shaft, a

crank connected between said other shaft and the magazinestructure in operating relation to the latter, a driving connection between said shafts, and clutches interposed between the holder and crank' and the corresponding shafts, said clutches overrunning in opposite directions.

14. A wire feeding magazine structure for fiorists wires havi g divergent legs, said magazine structure including an upstanding housing having vertical double Walls spaced apart and corresponding in angular position to the divergent legs of the wires, a bank of the latter having their legs vertically movably engaged in said walls, the'housing includinga bottom and the walls terminating short thereof to provide slots through having vertical double walls spaced apart and corresponding in'angular position to the divergent legs of the wires, a bank of the latter having their legs vertically movably engaged in said walls, the

-housing including a bottom and the walls terminating short thereof to provide slots through which the legs of the lowermost wire of the bank may be projected outwardly, and means in-the housing operative to engage said legs of the lower- ,most wire and projecting the same through the slots; saidlast named means including normally retracted slide plungers in the housing positioned I for passing through the slots, a solenoid mounted in connection with the housing, and operating connections between the solenoid and slide plungers.

16. A wire twisting machine for twisting a tively straight leg, a second leg extending laterally out at an angle to the straight leg and a loop connecting adjacent ends of the legs, such machine comprising a support, an element mounted in the support for rotation about an 'florists wire and which wire consists of a relaaxis, means to rotatethe element, a pair ofgripping members on the element and rotatable therewith, one such member beinginsubstantially axial alinement with the axis of rotationof-the element-and in which the straight leg of the wire may be disposed in substantial alinement with such axis of rotation, the othermemberbeing spaced laterally out from the first member 'and in which other member .the laterally extending leg of the wire'may be disposed. l.

17. A machine as in claim'16 including means for automatically feeding wires torthegripping members in timed relation to 'a' predetermined number of rotations of the rotating element.

18. A machine as in claim 16 in which the rotatable element is a relatively flat plate, the two gripping members upstanding from the face of the plate. v

19. A device as in claim 18 in which the plate is cut away for a predetermined distance at the corner of the plate adjacent which the juncture of the legs of thewire will lie when such legs are held in the gripping members. 1 g o a v20. A wire twisting machine for twisting a fiorists wire and which wire consists of a relatively straight leg, a second leg extending laterally out at an angle to the straight leg and aloop connecting adjacent ends of the legs, such machine comprising a support, a shaft rotatable inlthe support, an attachment head fixed to one endvof the shaft, a plate fixed to the head, the face of theplate lying in a plane outside theaxis ermtation of the shaft, a pair of gripping members upstanding from the face of the plate and rotatable therewith, one gripping member being in line with the axis of rotation of the shaft and operable to receive the straight leg of one of such wires, the other gripping member being spacedlaterany out from the first .member and operable to receive the laterally extending leg of such wire.

' THERON E. REYNOLDS.

, EVERETT FYFFE. V

REFERENCES CITED U The following references are of record in the file of this patent::

UNITED STATES PATENTS: '1 a a Date 2,075,826 Nolan Apr, 6, 19.37

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