US1048141A - Wire-cutting machine. - Google Patents

Description

C. E. PETHEROLF. WIRE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATIQN FILED JULY 14.1910.

1,048,141 Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

C. E. PBTHBROLP. WIRE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14.1910.

Panted M124, 1912.

5 SHEETS--SHEBT 2,

U. E. PETHEROLP.

wml CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION 'FILED JULY 14, 1&)10

Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3v @Mii/kudos zo C. E. FETHEROLF.

WIRE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULI' I4, 1910.

1,048,141 vPatented Dec. 24, 1912 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

C. E. PETHEROLP. WIREiCUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1-1. 1910.

1,048,141 Patented Deo. 24. 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5, 31

FIEKD W M32 54 Q UNrrnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. FETHEROLF, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIG'NOR TO `THE JEFFREY-MANU- 'FACT-URING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

WIRE-Gunfire MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.`

Patented Dec.24,1912.

Application led July 14, 1919. Serial No. 572,016.`

l To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. FE'rHnR- 0LF,^a citizen of the United States, resldmg at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Tire-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a speciication, reference being had therein to .the accompanying drawin This invention relates to improvements in machines for straightening and cutting wire, and is especially 'adapted for use in connect-ion with flat insulated wire Vsuch as is used for the armature windings ofdynamos and motors. Machines embodying my invent-ion are, however, equally well adapted for straightening and cutting other kinds of wire. Y

Among the objects of my invention are to Vprovide improved means for feeding the wire, improved means for cutting it, improved means for regulating the length of the cut sect-ions, and improved means for 'actuating and controlling the feeding and cutting means. Other objectswill lowing specification.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this speciiication, I have shown the embodiment of my invention which I at present prefer. It will be understood, however, that various changes in construct-ion and in arrangement of parts appear from the folmay be made wit-hin the scope 'of my inven? tlon.

Of the drawings-Figure .1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan'view. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in cross-section, showing the shearing mechanism and the operating devices therefor. Fig. 4 is a view partly in cross section, taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detailplan view of the main controlling switch. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the controlling switch and the parts adjacent thereto. Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is across sectional view taken along t-he line 9--9 of Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view take-n along the line 10-10 of Fig. 2. Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view. showing the electrical connections. Fig. .12 is a detailed view of the upper feed roll shifting device.

tal plane.

. `Adjacent the machine is a standard 5 havlng a spindle 6 upon which may be mounted a spool 7 having wire wound upon it.I

' Mounted upon thevbed plate 2 of the machine is a wire straightener, indicated as a whole by 9. This comprises a suitable support 9a upon which there is mounted a plurality of horizontal rollers 10 which, on account of their relative arrangement, are adapted to straighten the wire in a horizon- In advence of the rollers 1() are two vertical rollers 12 mounted on stationary spindles and a third vertical roller 13 mounted upon a spindle which is vertically adjustable by means of a screw 14. By means of this screw 14 the straightener may be adjusted in accordance with the stiffness or curvature of the wire upon which it is operating.

18 is a shaft rotatably mounted in the pedestals. 15 and 16 and the bearing bracket 17. 19 is a driving pulley freely mounted on the shaft 18, Connected with the pulley 19 and adapted to rotate with itis a spur gear 20 and the driving element 21 of an electromagnet-ic clutch which will be lnore 'fully described hereafter.

22 represents the' driven element of the clutch and is `keyed to the shaft 18.

Parallel to and directly above the shaft 18 is a rotatable shaft 23 mounted at one end in a bearing 16 which is pivotally mounted on t-he pedestal 16, and at the other end in a bearing 15l1 whichis slidably mounted in the pedestal 15. The shaft 23 is driven from the vshaft 18 by means of a pair of spur gears 24.

Feed rollers 25 and 26 are secured .to the ends of the shafts 18 and 23 and are adapted to engage with the upper and lower sides of the wire which is designated in the drawings by 8. The feed rollers 25 and 26 are in line with the straightening 'rollers and with the spool 7 and are adapted to grip the wire 8 to draw it from the spool between the straightening rollers. The outer end of the shaft 23 is vertically movable. The screw 31, acting through t-he spring 31a serves to maintain a pressure on the bearing 15a, and to this force the roller 26 against t-he upper surface of the wire. A lever 15br is provided for lifting .the roller 26 in order to facilitate the threading of wire through the machine when a new spool of wire is putin place. The wire passes from the feed yrollers through `the tubular guide 27 between the jaws 28 and 29 of the shearing device and into the guide-way 30 of the measuring de.- vice 30.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be noted that the stationary jaw 28 of the shearing device is formed as a part of the casting 28L which is attached to the bed plate 2. The movable jaw 29 of the shearing device is formed on a member 29a which is mounted on a pivot 33 journaled in a bearing in the cast-ing 28a and held in place by lock nuts 34. At the rear part of the member 29HL thereis formed an arm 35 which carries a roller 3G mounted on an axis at right angles to the pivot 33.

40 is a shaft parallel to the shaft 18 and rotatably mounted in bearings 41 and 42 which are secured to the bed plate 2. The shaft 40 is driven from the pulley 19 by means of the gear wheel 44 which meshes with the gear wheel 20 and by means of a magnetic clutch, one member of which, 43, 'is attached to the gear wheel 44, and the other member of which, 39, is attached to t-he shaft. This clutch will be hereinafter described in detail.

Secured to the shaft 40 is a cam 38 which is adapted to engage the pulley 36 on the arm 35. The pulley is maintained in engagement with the cam by means of the spring 37 which acts through the rod 37. The tension of the spring may be adjusted by means of the nut 37b on the rod 37a. It will be noted that the cam 38 is frustocono-idal in shape so that there will be Pfull engagement with the roller for all positions. The shear member 29 is provided with a downward extending arm 45 which is provided with a laterally extending pin 46.

48 is a lever pivoted to the bed plate 2 atV 49, and provided with a longitudinal slot 47 through which the pin 46 passes.

54 is a shaft rotatably mounted in suitable bearings on the brackets 56 which are mounted on the tubular extension 3 of the bed plate 2. The shaft 54 is connected at its rear end with the upper end of the lever 48 by means of an arm 53 and a link 51, the link being connected with the arm and with the lever 48 at 52 and 50 respectively. It will be noted that by means of the system of levers and links-which has been described, the shaft 54 will be rocked back and forth through a small angle at each actuation of they shear. A

llhe measuring device comprises a guideway30 which consists of a stationary bar 55 having in its bottom a groove 55a. The bar 55 is supported on the brackets 56. A bar 58 serves as a Hoor for the groove or trough 55a and is mounted by means of brackets l59 on the shaft 54. The wire to be cut is fed by. the rollers 25 and 26 into the groove 55a. The connections between the shearing device and the shaft 54 are such that as the shear is moved the floor 58 drops and ermits the severed section of wire to fall 1nto racks 57 which are secured to the brackets 56.

61 is an endless steel tape or belt which passes over the rollers 62 and 63 which are mounted at the ends of the bar 55. The trough 55a is provided at its upper part with two opposite laterally extending grooves which are adapted to receive the lower strand of the tape 61. Permanently secured to the tape 61 is a depending lug or stop 64 which is adapted to entirely close the passageway through the trough 55a. stop is most clearly shown in Fig. 7. At a convenientpoint along the bar 55 there is provided an electric controller switchwhich 'is mounted upon a plate 67.v The plate 67 is provided with a depending bearing boss 66 in which there is rotatably mounted a vertical shaft 68, upon the lower end of which there is a-bevel pinion 69 adapted to mesh with a bevel gear 7() on the shaft 54. Secured to the upper end of the shaft 68 is a head 71 having a finger 72.

74 is a switch blade rotatably mounted ofi the shaft 68 between the head 71 and the plate 67. At one side the blade 74 is provided with a notch 77 adapted to be engaged by a pivotally mounted latch 78. A spring 79 tends to hold the latch in engagement with the notch.

is a clamp 'adapted to be secured to the lupper strand of the tape 61 at any desired point.

guide-way 82 for the clamp. This guideway is provided with a slot through which extends a depending pin 82 which is adapt- -ed to engage the latch 78 to release it from The plate 67 is provided with a the notch 77. A spring 76 attached at one end to the pin 75 on the plate 67 and at the iother end to the upper part of the pin 73 is secured to the switch blade 74. When the latch 78 releases the switch blade the spring 76 immediately moves it into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6.

84 is an insulated plate mounted upon theswitch blade 74 and carries a Contact plate 83.

87 and 90 are stationary insulating blocks secured to the plate 67. The block 90 is provided with lingers 88 and 89 adapted to engage the `contact plate -83 when the switch arm is in one position, and the block 87 isl provided with .contact fingers 85 and 86 adapted to engage the contact plat-e when the switch arm is in the other posit-ion.

The operation of the switch is as follows: When the `end of the wire to be cut engages the stop 64 it moves t-he tape 61 andwith it the pin 81 a sufiicient distance to disengage the latch 78 from the notch 77. The spring 76 immediately throws the switch arm into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6, the circuitI being thus broken through the lingers 88 and 89 and established through the fingers 85 and 86. As soonl as the wire has been cut off it is dropped by the floor 58 and in this way the stop 64 is released. The spring 79 immediately tends toreturn the latch 78 and with it the tape 61 to their original positions. The same movement'of the shaft 54 which releases the wire from the trough also actuates thevshaft G8 which, by means of the finger 72 and the pin 73, re-

` t-urns the switch arm 74 to its original position. l p I have found from experience that occasionally the wire will foul and work its way out. between the door 58 and the bot tom of the bar 55. 'When this occurs, the wire, of course, fails to engage the stop 64 andthe controlling switch is not operated. In order to prevent this difficulty I provide contacts 97 and 99 which are connected into the electrical circuit of the machine in a Y manner hereinafter to be set forth. The contact 99 is secured to the door 58, and the contactl 97 is preferably in the form of a screw adjustable in the lug 98. The two contacts are so positioned relative to each other that when the door 58 is fully closed, electric connection will be established through the contacts. vWhen the door is partly'open, as is the. case when a wire is between it and the lower surface of the bar 55, electrical connection is broken.

I will now describe somewhat more in detail the electric clutches which have been heretofore mentioned. These clutches are similar in construction and itwill therefore be necessary to describe but one of them. Referring to Fig. 3, 43 is the driving element which is secured to the driving` gear. rThe element 43 is provided with an annular groove in which there is a coil 105A which is connected, by means of wires passing through the insulated bushings 106 and 107, with the insulated collector rings 108 and 109. The rings of the shear clutch are provided with contact brushes 113 and 114 and the rings of the feed roller clutch are -provided with brushes 115 and 116. A diaphragln 112 is sprung into annular notches in thc groove for the coil and serves to protcct the coil against injury. A disk 112a of non-magnetic material is preferably provided between the elements 39 and 43 to 117 represents as a whole a switch-board i which is mounted on the bed plate 2 by means of suitablebraces 118. The switchboard carries a number of incandescent lamps 119 which are connected in parallel and which are used as a'rheostat to regulate the voltage'of the current supplied tothe machine. T wo snap switches 120 are provided to control the circuits, and two carbon resistance pencils 121 shunt the coils of the clutches to guard the insulation@ against puncture by the inductive kick.

Attached tothe shear arm 35 is a clip 122 to which is'connected a rod 123 which engages with an automat-ic counter 124. This counter may be of any desired construction,

but I prefer to use a counter which is provided with means for interrupting the electric circuit after a certain predetermined` number of actuations. In this way the machine may be adapted for the cutting of a definite number of wires and for automatically stopping after this definite numberhas v been cut.

I prefer to provide the shaft 23 with a pulley 125 over which passes a belt 126 which engages asuitable groove127 formed ,on the spool 7. In this way the spool 7 is positively moved and the tension on the wire 8 is reduced. 4 y

As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, I provide electrical contact devices on t-he shear arm 35.

Mounted upon opposite sides of the shear arm ,are two insulating blocks 91 and 92 carrying contact plates 93 and 94, respectively. A pair of contact fingers 95 are provided to engage with the contact plate 93 when the shear arm is in its lower position. A pair of Contact fingers 96 are provided to engage with the contact plate 94 when the p shear arm is in its raised position.

The electrical connections will be understood from a study of Fig. 11. 'Current is'- led to the machine from the elements 119 and passes through one of the switches 120 to one of the contact fingers 95. Supposing the shear to be in its normal position, the arm 35 will be depressed and contact will be established by the plate 93 between the two ngers95. Supposing the cont-rolling switch to be in its normal position, contact will be established between the fingers 88 and 89 bythe plate 83. Suppe-sing the door 58- to be in its closed position, connection will be established between the contacts 99 and 97.

128 designates the circuit breaking device connected with the counter, and for present purposes this can be considered as closed. The current then passes through the circuit which has been described to the clutch 21 which serves to rotate the shaft 18 and the feed rollers 25 and 2G. The feed rollers continue to o-perate until the end of the wire engages the stop 64, whereupon the controlling switch is actuated andthe circuit is broken between the finger-S88 and 89 and `established between the fingers 85 and 86.

The clutch 21 is thus denergized and the feed rollers stop. Theclutch 43 is energized and the shear is act-uated. rIhe operation of the controlling switch is quiterapid and in order to prevent the transfer of current from the clutch 43 to the clutch 21 before the shearing operation is complete, I provide the - addi'tional contacts 95 and 96. As soon as the movement of the shear is started, the circuit is broken between the contacts 95, and established between the contacts 96. In this way the current to the clutch 43 is maintained until the completion of the shearing operation, regardless of. the action of the controlling switch, and in the same way the current is cut off from the clutch 21 until the shear has reached its inoperative position. When theproper number ofv wires have been cut, the counting device breaks the circuit at 128 and the operation of the feed rollers is stopped.

What I claim is:

1. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a wire feeding mechanism, a wire cutting mechanism, frictional braking devices on said mechanisms, and means in advance of the feeding mechanism and cutting mechanism for controlling the said mechanisms, said means being adapted to be operated b v the forward end of the wire, substantially as set forth.

2. In a wire cutting machine, the combination with a feeding and cutting mechanism, of an endless belt adapted to operate the said feeding and cutting mechanism, and an adjustable belt actuating stop adapted to be operated by the forward end of the wire.

3. In a wire c utting machine, the combination with a feeding and cutting mechanism, of a controlling device comprising an .endless belt, one strand of which is adjacent the path of the wire, a stop on the belt adaptedl to he engaged by the forward end of the wire to move lthe belt, and means whereby the movement of the belt controls the operation of the cutting mechanism.

et. Ina wire cutting machine, the combination with a feeding and cutting mechanism, of a controlling device comprising a wire receiving trough, an endless belt, one strand of which is adjacent the tro-ugh, a stop on the belt and within the trough adaptedto be engaged by the forward end of the wire to move the belt, and means whereby the movement of the beltcontrols the operation o-f the `feeding and cutting mechanism, substantially as set forth.

5. In a wire cutting machine, the combination with a feeding and cutting. mechanism, of a device comprising a wire receiving tro-ugh, an endless belt adjacent the trough, a stop secured to the belt and lying within the trough, the said-stop being adapted to be engaged by the end of the wire to move the belt, a means for controlling the operation of the feeding and cutting mechanism, and means for connecting t-he said controlling mechanisml with the belt at any desired point, substantially as set forth;

6. In a machine for cutting wire, the combination with a feeding and cutting mechanism, of a device comprising a wire receiving trough, an endless belt, one strand of which lies at one side of the trough, a stop movable within the trough and secured to the said strand of the belt, the said stop being adapted to be engaged by the end of the wire, and a controlling means for the cutting and feeding mechanism adapted to be connected to the other strand of the belt at any desired point to adjust the operation of the machine for cutting wires of an" desired length, substantially as set forth.`

7. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding mechanism, a cutting mechanism, electrically controlled operating means for the said mechanisms, an electric switch adapted to control, the supply of current to the said operating means, and means, whereby the switch may be operated by the movement of the wire to be cut, substantially as set forth.

8. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a wire feeding mechanism, an electrically controlled device for operating the said feeding mechanism, a wire cutting mechanism, an electrically controlled device for operating the said cutting mechanism, an electric-switch adapted for alternately supplying current to the said operating devices, and means whereby the switch may be controlled by the movement of the end of the wire to be cut, substantially as set forth.

9. In a wire cutting machine, the combination with feeding and cutting mechanisms, 'of a wire receiving trough having a. continuous hinged bottom, and means for moving the said bottom to release the wire when it has been severed by the cutting mechanism, substantially as set forth.

10. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a wire feeding mechanism, a wire cutting mechanism, a tubular wire receiving trough having one continuous hinged side, means within the trough adapted for engagement by the end o1 the Wire to control the saidl cutting and feeding mechanisms, and means for movingthe said hinged side to release the wire after -it as been 5 severed by the cutting mechanism, substantially as set forth. A

11. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding mechanism, a cutting mechanism, a wire receiving trough having a continuous hinged side, and means adapted to be controlled by engagement with the end of the wire for moving t-he saidhinged side to release the Wire from the trough, substantially as set forth.

12. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding mechanism, a cutting mechanism, a wire receiving trough having a movable side, means for moving the said ,side to release the wire when it has been 'severed by the cutting mechanism, and

means connected with the said movable side for stopping the operation of the machine when the said sidedoes not return to normal position after movement, substantially as set forth. l

13. In a wire cuttingmachine, the combination of a feeding mechanism, a cutting mechanism, electrical devices for controlling the said mechanisms, a wire receiving trough having a movable side, means for moving the said side to release the wire after it has been severed by the cuttingmechanism, two electrical contacts located respectively on the said trough and on the said movable trough side, the said contacts being in engagement only when the said side is in normal closed position, and electrical connec tions whereby the current for controlling the operating device for the feeding mechav nism passes through the said contacts, substantially as set forth.

14. In a wire cutting machine, the combination with a feeding and cutting mechanism, of a device comprising an endless belt adjacent the path of the wire, a stop secured to the belt, the said stop being adapted to be engaged by the end of the wireto move the belt, means for controlling the operation of the feeding and cutting mechanism, and connecting means between said controlling mechanism and the belt at any desired point.

15. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding mechanism, an operating device therefor, a cutting mechanism, an operating device therefor, means controlled by the end of the Wire for stopping the action of the feeding mechanism and simultaneously starting the action of the cutting mechanism, and means for automatically starting the feeding mechanism after the completion ofthe operation of the cutting mechanism, substantially as set forth.

16. In a wire cutting machine, the combinaticn of a feeding mechanism, an electrically controlled operating device therefor,l

a cutting mechanism, an electrically controlled operating device therefor, an electric switch normally directing current through the operating vdevice for the feeding mechanism and adapted to be operated by the end of the wire after it has moved a predetermined distance beyond the cutting mechanism, the said switch being adapted to deenergize thecontrolling device for the feeding mechanism and to simultaneously ener-- gize the controlling device for theA lcutting mechanism, means for automatically returning the said switch to normal position, and a supplemental switch device adapted to interrupt the connection to the feeding mechanism controlling device and tomaintain the connection to the cutting mechanism controlling device until the completion of the operation of the cutting mechanism, substantially as set forth.

17. In a machine'for cutting wire, the combination of a feeding mechanism, an electrically controlled operating device therefor, a cutting mechanism, an electrically controlled operating device therefor, an' electric switch normally directing current through the operating device for t-he feeding mechanism and adapted to be operated by the end of the wire after it is moved a predetermined distance beyond the cutting mechanism, the said switch being adapted to denergize the cont-rolling device yfor the feeding mechanism and to simultaneously energize the controlling device for the cutting mechanism, and means operatively connected with the cutting mechanism and with the switch for returning the switch to normal position as the cutting mechanism opcrates, substantially as set forth.

18. In a Wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding mechanism, a cutting mechanism, a movable receiving device for vthe wire, controlling means adapted to be operatively engaged by the end of the wire for stopping the action of the feeding mechamsm and starting the action of the cutting mechanism, and means operatively connected with the cutting mechanism for moving the wire receiving device to release the ,wire and for operating the said controlling means to stop the action of the cutting mechanism and start the action of the feeding mechanism, substantially as set forth.

19. In a Wire cutting machine, the combination with a feeding mechanism and a cutting mechanism, of a movable wire receiving device, a rock shaft parallel to and sup-` porting the said receiving device, a controlling device adapted to be operatively engaged by the end of the wire to stop the action of the feeding mechanism and start the action of the cutting mechanism, operative connections between the rock shaft and the said controlling device, and operative connections between the cut-ting mechanism and the shaft whereby the shaft is rocked by the movement of the cutting mechanism to release the wire from the wire receiving device and to operate the control` ling device to sto-p the action of the cutting mechanism and start the action of the feeding mechanism, substantially as set forth.

20. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding mechanism, a cutting mechanism, a movable wire receiving device, a rock shaft parallel to the Wire receiving device upon which the said device is mounted, connections between the said rock shaft and the cutting mechanism whereby the shaft is Vrocked upon the actuation of the cutting mechanism to release the wire from the receiving device, substantially as f set forth.

21. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of two parallel shafts, a feeding mechanism operatively connected with one shaft, a cutting mechanism operatively connected with the other shaft, two magnetic clutches/ each having its driving element freely rotatable on one of the shafts, and each having its driven element secured to one of the shafts, .operative connections between the two driving elements, means for actuating the said driving elements, and electrical switch devices for alternately energizing the said driving elements to alternately actuate the said feeding mechanism and the said cutting mechanism, substan- -tially as set forth.

22. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of two rotatable shafts, a feeding mechanism operatively connected with one of them, a cutting mechanism operatively connected with the other of them, magnetic clutches, one on each of the shafts, each of the said clutches having a driving element rotatable on its shaft and a driven element secured to the shaft, means for continuously actuating the said driving elements, automatically controlled electric switch devices for energizing and denergizing the said clutches, and a brake device engaging each driven clutch element to check its movement when the clutch is denergized, substantially as set forth.

23. In a wire cutting machine, the combination with a feeding device and a cutting device, of a spool adapted for holding a coil of wire, and means independent of the wire to be cut for rotating the said spool when the feeding device is in operation, substantially as set forth.

24. In a wire cutting machine, the combination with a feeding device, of a cutting device comprising a stationary shear, a pivoted movable shear provided with an operating roller, a rotatably mounted cam adapted to operatively engage the said relier, a continuously rotating driving element, and means for intermittently connecting the said rotating element with the said cam for rotating it, substantially as set forth.

25. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding device and a cutting device comprising a shear, a rotatable cam for operating the shear, and -automatlc means for intermittently rotating the cam through a definite angle, subtstantiallyl as set forth. l

26. In a machine for cutting wire, the combination with a feeding and cutting mechanism, of an endless belt, one strand of which lies along the path of the wire, a stop secured to the said strandl of the belt, the said stop being adapted to be engaged by the end of the wire, and a controlling means for the cutting and feeding mechanism adapted to be connected to the other `strand of the belt at any desired point to adjust the operation of the machine for cutting wires of yany vdesired length, substantially as set forth.

27. In a wire cutting machine, the combination with a cutting device, of a feeding device comprising a pair of rollers adapted to frictionally engage the wire at opposite sides, means for adj ustably and yieldingly holding one of the said rollers against the wire, and means for separating one of the said rollers lfrom the other and for holding it in the said separatedposition, substantially as set forth. n A

28. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a pair of parallel freely rotatable shafts, gearing between the said shafts, wire engaging rollers mounted upon the said shafts, a magnetic clutch mounted upon one of the said shafts and'havin its driven element secured thereto and its riving element rotatable thereon, means for continuously rotating the driving element, and automatic switch devices for intermittently actuating 'the clutch to rotate the said shafts and the said rollers, substantially as set forth.

29. lIn a wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding mechanism, a cutting loo mechanism, electrically controlled operating means for said cutting mechanism, an electric switch adapted to control the supply of current to the said operating means, and means whereby the switch may be operated by the movement of the wire to be cut.

30. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding mechanism, a cutting mechanism, electrical devices for controlling the said mechanisms, a wire receiving trough having a movable side, means for moving the said side to release the wire after it has been severed by the cutting mechanism, two electrical contacts located respectively on the said movable trough side and a fixed portion of the machine, the said contacts being in engagement only when the said side is in normal closed position, and electrical conneet-ions whereby the current for controlling the operating devices for the feeding mecha- `nected with the other sha nism passes through the said contacts, substantially as set forth.

3l. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding mechanism, a cutting mechanism, an electrically controlledA operating device for said cutting mechanism, an electric switch adapted to be operated by the end of the wire after it has moved a predetermined distance beyond the cutting mechanism, thelsaid switch being adapted to energize the controlling device for-the cutting mechanism, and means for automatically returning the said switch to normal position.

32. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of two parallel shafts, a feeding mechanism operatively connected with one shaft, a cutting mechanism oeratively cona magnetic clutch having its driving element freely-lrotatable on the cutting mechanism shaft and a driven element secured on said shaft, operative connections for driving the two shafts,

and an electrical-v switch device for energizing the said magnetic clutch, substantially connected with the other, two clutches, one

on each of the shafts, each of said clutches having a driving element rotatable on its `shaft anda driven element secured to the shaft, means for continuously actuating the said driving elements, automatically 'controlled devicesv for engaging and disengagingl the said clutches, and abrake device engaging each driven clutch element to check its movement whenthe clutch is disengaged,

substantially as set forth.

In testimon whereof I affix my signature,

in presence o two witnesses.

CHARLES E. FETHEROLF. Witnesses:

' DUDLEY T. FISHER,

E. F. SNIVELY.

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