US1030621A - Machine for cutting leather. - Google Patents

Description

W. G, STEWART.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING LEATHER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8, 1909.

Patented June 25, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PLANOORAPN 00-. WASHINDTON. D. c.

W. O. STEWART.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING LEATHER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8, 1909.

1,030,621 Patented June 25, 1912.

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WILLIAM C. STEWART, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING LEATHER.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, IVILLIAM C. STEWART, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Machines for Cutting Leather, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to machines for cutting thin sheet material, and more particularly leather for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes.

The aims and purposes of the present invent-ion are to provide a machine of the above general character, which will be simple in construction, efficient in operation, and wherein the parts or elements are so associated and combined that the proper cutting operations and inspection of the sheet material may be conveniently and rapidly performed, all of which will more fully ap pear hereinafter.

In the following description and accompanying drawings, one form or embodiment of the invention is set forth with sufficient particularity to enable one skilled in the art to construct and use the same, it being understood that the invention in its true scope is defined in the claims.

In the drawings :F igure 1 is a side view of a machine embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2, Fig. 1, with parts broken away; Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3, Fig. 1; F ig. 4 is a section on an enlarged scale on the line 4-4, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a detail partly in side elevation and with some of the elements broken away showing the means for turning the presser automatically into inoperative position; and Fig. 6 is a sectional detail on the line 66, Fig. 1.

he supporting frame of suitable character may consist of a base 1 from which rises a column 2 provided with supporting arms3, 4. The cutting bed 5 may be formed of any suitable material but preferably as a wooden block sustained by a supporting table 6, the lower cylindrical portion of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 8, 1909.

Patented June 25, 1912.

Serial No. 526,760.

which may pass through a suitable bearing in the'arni 3. The cylindrical portion may be secured in the arm 3 by bolts 7, said arm 3 being preferably split to permit the bolts 7 to tighten the bearing of the arm 3 upon the cylindrical portion of the table.

Extending downward from the cylindrical portion 8 is the threaded stem 9, the lower part of which projects into a boss or hearing. Seated upon the top of the boss or bearing 10 is a nut 11 interiorly threaded to engage the exterior threads on the stem 9, the construction being such that upon manipulation of the hand wheel 12 connected to the nut 11, the table 6 and perforce the cutting block 5, may be raised or lowered, the bolts 7 being first loosened.

Mounted in suitable bearings in the 1nachine frame is the main shaft 13 carrying a loose driving member which may be operated by suitable connections with a source of power, a clutch of any well known form being provided, to operatively connect the driving member and shaft, as desired. In the machine illustrated the driving member 15 is conveniently made as a belt pulley, another belt pulley 14 being employed, if clesired, so that when the belt is on the pulley 14 the machine cannot be operated even though the clutch be thrown into action;

The clutch may be of any usual and well known type, such for instance as described in application, Ser. No. 473,955, filed January 25, 1909, or otherwise. As typical of one convenient form of this clutch, the shaft 3 has fixed thereto a sleeve 16, Fig. 3, in which slides a pin 17, Figs. 1 and 3, said pin being norm ally under the control of a spring acting to force the pin longitudinally into engagement wit-h a hole or recess in the belt pulley 15. Projecting from the pin 17 is a lug 19 adapted to ride over the cam or inclined end of a lever 20 pivoted at 21 to withdraw the pin from engagement with the pulley 15, as said pin completes a revolution with the shaft 13, thus disconnecting the shaft 13 and the driving means, substantially as described in said prior application. The lever 20 is connected by a link 22 to one arm of a treadle lever 23 pivoted at 24 and jointed at 25 to a rod 26 controlled by the treadle 27, the construction being such that by depressing the treadle the end .of the lever 20 will be lifted to permit the pin 17 to move into clutching engagement with the pulley 15, and by removing the foot from the treadle the end of the lever will drop into the path of the lug 19 and as the shaft completes its rotation the pin 17 will be withdrawn from clutching engagement with the pulley 15, thereby permitting the shaft to come to rest. If desired, the shaft may be positively or frictionally arrested after the withdrawal of the pin 17, but as such means is well known and not of the present invention it is not herein further described.

The shaft 13 at its inner part is provided with an eccentric portion or pin 28, Figs. 1 and 2, which is embraced by one end of a link 29, the other end ofsaid link being jointed at 30 to the lower end of a presser operating spindle 31. Surrounding the spindle 31 is a presser column 32, preferably formed hollow, as shown in Fig. 2, said column being rotatable about the spindle 31 but confined for longitudinal movement therewith. As one form of means for thus supporting and associating the presser column 32 with relation to the spindle, the latter, Fig. 2, is provided with a shoulder 33 carrying one member of an anti-friction bearing 34, the other member of said bearing being secured to the column 32 and closely embracing the spindle 31, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2. At or near its upper end the spindle 31 is screw-threaded and a cap 35 interiorly screw-threaded and having a fiange'36 bearing on the top of the column 32 confines the column on the spindle 31 so as to move up and down therewith while free to swing or turn there-on. Check nuts 37 may be employed to lock the parts in the position indicated by Fig. 2. Secured to the presser column 32 is the presser arm 38, which may be clamped to the column by the clamp screws 39 indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the said presser arm having a face portion 40, which, upon vertical movement of the spindle 31 and column 32, is adapted to act upon a die or cutter 41 placed upon the sheet material previously placed upon the cutting block 5.

From the construction described it will be noted that the presser arm may be swung into dotted line position, Fig. 1,.0ver the die or cutter 41, and by tripping the treadle, the presser arm may be caused to make a sudden downward'movement to force the die or cutter through the sheet material on the cutting block, said arm then rising and coming to rest'in raised position.

It is important that the operator may be able to place the die or cutter on an appropriate part of the leather skin being out, it being well known that different parts of a fits and slides a key 43, said key being secured to the sleeves 44 and 45 surrounding the column 32 and supported by and movable on the supporting collar 46 secured by suitable means, as the bolt 47, Fig. 4, to the frame 2 of the machine, the construction being such that the sleeves 44 and 45 may rotate with the column 32 but are held from rising and falling movement therewith by the collar 46 and the lower port-ion of the bearing 48 projecting from the supporting frame. The sleeves 44 and 45 are connected together by a pin or other fastener 49, Fig. 5, and are provided with two series of ratchet teeth 50 and 51. These ratchet teeth are best indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, those, 51, on the upper sleeve 44 facing in one direction, as indicated in Fig, 4, and those, 50, on the lower sleeve 45 facing in an opposite direction. The sleeves 44 and 45 are provided with bearings for pawl carrying rings 52 and 53, each of said pawl carrying rings being provided with a projection 54 to which is pivoted at 55 a pawl 56, the pawl on one ring facing in one direction, and the pawl on the other ring facing in the opposite direction. These pawls are normally under the influence of suitablesprings, as 57, tending to throw said pawls toward the periphery of the pawl carrying rings. Each of the pawl carrying rings is further provided with a projecting lug 58, Figs. 4 and 5, which are suitably connected by links 59 to an actuating lever 60, said links being connected to the actuating lever 60 at 61. The actuating lever 60 is mount-ed on a pin 62 extending upward from the machine frame and is fixedly connected to a lever 63 carrying an interiorly threaded pin 64 which is engaged by the exterior threads 65 on an adjusting rod 66. The rod 66 passes at its opposite end through a guiding stud 67 suitably supported by the machine frame, constituting a rocking guide for the end of the adjusting rod 66. Disposed between a shoulder on the guiding stud 67 and a collar 68 secured to the rod 66 is a spring 69 normally acting to move the lever 63 and perforce the actuating lever 60 to the right, Fig. 4, and draw the lugs 58 toward each other. 7

From the construction thus far described it will be apparent that if either one of the pawls 56 be brought into engagement with 45, as will be readily understood.

its cooperating ratchet teeth, it will cause the sleeve 44 or 45 carrying such ratchet teeth to be turned, and, owing to the connection between such sleeve and the presser column 82, said column 82 will likewise be turned, such turning movement being due to the expansive force of the spring 69. As one means of bringing the pawls into cooperative relation with their ratchet teeth, the shaft 13 is provided with a cam 7 0, Figs. 1 and 4, the surface whereof is adapted to engage a roller 71 mounted on the lever 63, the construction being such that upon movement of the roller 71 and its associated parts to the left, Fig. 4, the pawl carrying rings 52 and 53 will be rotated in opposite direc tions about the presser column, and one or the other of said pawls will be brought into engagement with its ratchet teeth by reason of the presser arm having been swung to position over the cutting bed, such swinging movement of the presser arm carrying with it the ratchet carrying sleeves 44 and.

Upon release of the presser arm, under the conditions mentioned, the spring 69 having been compressed, and a high part of the cam 7 0 having passed from engagement with the roller 71, the presser arm will be swung to one side of the cutting bed. In order that both of the pawls 56 may not be simultaneously engaged, each with its respective ratchet teeth, it i will be noted that such ratchet teeth extend over only a portion of each of the sleeves 44 and 45, such portion being less than the distance between the acting ends of the two pawls, when said pawls are in their closest position relatively. In order that the presser arm may not be swung into such position as that neither of the pawls 56 will be in engagement with its coacting ratchet teeth, the presser column 82 is provided with a beveled piece 7 2, Fig. 6, which, when said column is moved into the position stated, will be brought in contact with a corresponding beveled piece 73 carried by a spring arm 74 secured at 75 to the machine column, the construction being such that should the presser arm be moved into such central or dead position that neither of the pawls 56 would be in coacting relation with the end tooth of its series, the coacting beveled pieces 72 and 73 will give slight rotative movement to the presser column to cause one or the other of the pawls 56 to come into coacting relation with its ratchet teeth.

From the construction hereinbefore described it will be apparent that the presser arm may be swung by hand into operative posit-ion above the cutting block, and that, upon depression of the treadle, the pawl carrying rings will be rotated about the presser column to bring one or the other of said pawls into coacting relation with its appropriate teeth carried by one of the sleeves 44 or 45, the spring 69 being placed under tension during such movement by the cam 70, so that upon release ofthe presser arm by the operator, such arm will swing either to the right or to the left from position over the cutting block dependent upon which of the pawls 56 is for the time being in engagement with its coacting ratchet teeth. In order that the pawls may be each removed from its cooperative relation with its ratchet teeth at the end of its movement for swinging the presser arm to the right or left, there is provided a trip 76, Figs. 4 and 5, each of said trips being appropriately secured to the collar 46 or other stationary part and each having a beveled upper face 77 to coact with a pin 78 projecting from each of said pawls, the construction being such that as said pawls are moved by the spring 69 into their initial position and turn the presser arm to the right or left, each is tripped from its coacting ratchet teeth by the trips 76, thus leaving the presser column and presser arm free to be again moved by the operator into operative position above the cutting block.

It will be noted from the construction described that the presser arm is normally free to be swung in any direction desired when the machine is inactive, and that when the machine is operated said arm is passed under the control of a spring or suitable yielding means for moving said presser arm into inoperative position, and that the ten-' sion of the spring for thus moving the presser arm is produced by the operation of the machine itself. It will be noted further that the same amount of tension is put upon the spring at each operation of the machine and that therefore the moving force imparted to the presser member after the dying-out operation is always the same. In view of the considerable inertia of the parts to be moved, the use of a spring or other yielding means to efiect the lateral movement of the presser member into inoperative position is important, the moving force being thus applied to the presser member gradually. Breakage of the parts which might result from positive connection of the moving means with the source of power from which the machine is operated is thus avoided.

Obviously various changes may be made in the particular means for carrying the in vention into practical effect, and it is to be understood that applicant does not regard himself as limited to the means herein shown and described as one form of the present invention, which in its true scope is clearly defined by the claims.

hat is claimed is:

1. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination with a bed and a presser member freely movable into operative position over the bed, of means for automatically moving the presser member toward the nearer side of the bed into inop 1 erative position.

' 2. In a machine for dying out sheet ma terial, the combination of a bed, a presser member freely movable to operative position over the bed, and means for automatically moving the presser member toward the nearer side of the bed into inoperative position.

3. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination of a bed, a presser member freely movable to operative position over the bed, and means made operative during the dying out operation for automatically moving the presser member toward the nearer side of the bed into inoperative position.

4. In a machine for dying out leather for boots and shoes, the combination with a cutting bed and a presser member freely movable laterally over said bed into operative position, of means for automatically moving thepresser member laterally into inoperative position constructed and arranged to store uppower from the source from which the machine is operated and to apply said power gradually in effecting said lateral movement.

5. In a machine for dying out leather for boots and shoes, the combination with a cutting bed and a presser member freely movable laterally over said bed into operative position, of means for automatically moving the presser member laterally into inoperative position arranged to be put into opera tive condition through temporary connections with the power by which the machine is operated and constructed to operate beyond the time when said connections are interrupted.

6. In a machine for dying out leather for boots and shoes, the combination of a cutting bed, a presser member freely movable laterally over said bed into operative position, and spring operated means permitted to act upon the presser member only after the dying out operation is completed for moving the presser member laterally into inoperative position.

7. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination with a bed and a presser member freely movable over the bed into various selected operative relations thereto, of spring operated means for moving the presser member into inoperative position tensioned during the dying out operation and permitted to act upon the presser member only after the dying out operation is completed.

8. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination with a bed, of a into different operative positions and spring operated means for moving the presser member into inoperative position tensioned from the source of power by which the machine is operated and permitted to act upon the presser member only after the dying out operation is completed.

9. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination with a cutting bed and a presser member freely movable over said bed into operative position, of spring operated means rendered operative as the dying out operation is completed for moving said member over the bed into inoperative position, and means for disconnecting said moving means from said member as said member comes into inoperative posi tion.

10. In a machine for dying out leather for boots and shoes, the combination with a cutting bed, a presser member freely movable laterally over said bed into operative posi tion and mechanism for moving said presser member toward and away from said bed to effect a cutting operation, of automatic ieans for moving the presser member laterally into inoperative position, and connec tions between said means and said mechanism constructed to permit said means to act upon the presser member only after the cutting operation is completed, said means being independent of the source of power at the time when it is permitted to act.

11. In a machine for dying out leather for boots and shoes, the combination with a bed and a presser member freely movable over said bed into operative position, of automatic means for moving the presser member over said bed into inoperative position comprising a spring arranged to be tensioned during the dying out operation from the source of power from which the machine is operated, and means for effecting a connection between said spring and said presser member as the dying out operation is completed.

1-2. In a machine for dying out leather for boots and shoes, the combination of a cutting bed, a presser member freely movable laterally over said bed into operative position, normally inoperative spring operated means for moving the presser member laterally into inoperative position, and devices for rendering said means operative when the presser member is in operative position with respect to the bed, the operation of said means being independent of the amount of or speed of the initial movement of said presser member.

13. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination with a cutting bed and a presser member freely movable over said bed into operative position, of yielding presser member freely movable over the bed means for applying to said presser member a predetermined amount of force to move said member automatically into inoperative position.

14:. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination with a cutting bed and a presser member freely movable over said bed into operative position, of means for moving the presser member automatically into inoperative position constructed and arranged to apply yieldingly to said presser member the same amount of moving force at each operation.

15. In a machine for dying out leather, the combination of a bed, a presser member, means to move the presser member toward and from the bed to press upon the die or cutter, a spring to move the presser member laterally into inoperative position, and means for imparting to the spring a predetermined tension during the dying out operation.

16. In a machine for dying out leather, the combination of a bed, a presser member, means to move the presser member toward and from the bed to press upon the die or cutter, and spring actuated means for moving the presser member laterally in either direction into inoperative position constructed to impart to said presser member the same amount of moving force for each operation.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a cutting bed, a presser member freely movable laterally into operative position with relation to said bed, a spring forreturning the presser member laterally to inoperative position, and means operated from the source of power during the dying out operation for tensioning said spring and operatively connecting it with said presser member.

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a cutting bed, a presser member freely movable laterally into operative position with relation to said bed, a shaft, connections between said shaft and presser member for moving it toward and from the bed,'and spring operated means controlled from said shaft for automatically moving the presser member laterally into inoperative position.

19. In a machine of the character de' scribed, the combination of a cutting bed, a presser member freely movable laterally into operative position with relation to said bed, a shaft, connections between the shaft and presser member for moving the presser member toward and from the bed, means normally inoperative with relation to the presser member for moving it laterally into inoperative position, and devices cont-rolled from said shaft for rendering said means operative with relation to said presser member to effect said lateral movement to inoperative position, said means when operative being independent of said shaft.

20. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a cutting bed, a presser member freely movable laterally into operative position with relation to said bed, and means including ratchet and pawl mechanism for movingthe presser member laterally into inoperative position.

21. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination with a cutting bed and a presser member freely movable over said bed into different operative relations thereto, of spring operated means for moving the presser member laterally into inoperative position, and means including ratchet and pawl mechanism for connecting said spring operated means to said presser member.

22. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination with a bed and a presser member freely movable over the bed into different operative relations thereto, of means for moving the presser member laterally into inoperative position, and means for connecting said moving means to said presser member including a ratchet and pawl mechanism for effecting such connection when the member is to be moved in one direction and a second ratchet and pawl mechanism for efliecting such connection when the member is to be moved in the other direction.

23. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination with a bed and a presser member freely movable over the bed into different operative relations thereto, of spring operated means for moving the presser member laterally into inoperative position tensio'ned during the 'dying out operation, and means including pawl and ratchet mechanism for connecting said spring operated means to said presser memher as the dying out operation is completed.

24. In a machine for dying out leather, the combination of a supporting frame, a shaft mounted thereon, a cutting bed, a spindle, connections between the spindle and. shaft for moving the spindle vertically, a presser column surrounding said spindle, collars on said spindle at top and bottom thereof between which the presser column is confined to cause said column to move vertically with and permit rotative movement on said spindle, and a presser arm carried by the presser column.

25. In a machine for dying out leather, the combination of a supporting frame, a shaft mounted thereon, a cutting bed, a spindle, connections between the spindle and shaft for moving the spindle vertically, a presser column surrounding said spindle, collars on said spindle at top and bottom thereof between which the presser column is confined to cause said column tomove In testimony whereof, I have signed my vertically With and permit rotative movename to this specification, in the presence 10 ment on said spinldle, a Presser arm carried of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

by the presser co umn, and means permitting free turning movement of the presser WVILLIAM STEWART" arm to operative position and acting to au- Witnesses:

tomatically turn the presser arm to inoper- WILLIAM J. BRENNAN,

ative position. REDFIELD H. ALLEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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