US1366783A

US1366783A - Machine for cutting bar-stock or the like

Info

Publication number: US1366783A
Application number: US286182A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nathan F Fretter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1919-03-29
Filing date: 1919-03-29
Publication date: 1921-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 1938-01-25

Description

N. F. FRETTERQ MACHINE FOR CUTTING BAR STOCK OR THE LIKF. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. l9l9.

1,366,783. Patented Jan. 25,1921.

2 SHEETS SHEET 1- N. F. manna.

MACHINE FOR C JIIING BAR STOCK OR THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED mm. 29. ms.

1,366,783,. 7 Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

smear OFFICE.

NATHAIQ' F. FRETTER,

O1 CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MACHINE FOB CUTTING BAR-STQCK 01? THE LIKE Application filed march 29,

Z 0 all w 710m it may concern:

Be it known that l, NATHAN F. Fnnrrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement. in Machines for Cutting Bar-Stock or the like, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to machines for cutting or sawing bar stock, l-beains, and the like into pieces of any desired length. More particularly, the invention relates to machines of the aforesaid nature involving a number of saws or cutters.

The main objects of my invention are to provide a substantial and durable machine of the above character that is highly productive; is convenient and economical of operation and maintenance, and that is comparatively simple of construction.

Other objects are to provide a machine oi the above nature that is adjustable tothc cutting of stock of different diameters and cross-sectional shapes; that is adjustable to produce pieces or dillerent lengths; and that can be readily supplied with a. greater or less number of saws or cutters and associated work supports, whereby the capacity oi the machine may be altered at will.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a multiple sawing machine or cutter involving individual supports for the separate, cut pieces and a holding means associated with each support; to provide a common clamping member through which the several holding means may be operated in unison and with uniform pressure; and to provide mechanism whereby the several holding means may be simultaneously I'tlaxed and retracted to permit the removal of cut pieces, and the introduction of a fresh bar of stoclr. I

The invention has for further objects, other improvements, and consists in cer tain novel constructions and combinations as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

in the drawings, Figure l is a plan View of the machine, certain parts being shown in section; Fig-1 2 is a side elevat'on ot the machine; Fig. 2 a sectional detail on line 2 of Fig. 2; is a lon titudinal vertical section throuo'h the machine substantially on the line 3-4.; of l and looking in the Specification of Letters Patent.

1919. Serial No. 286,182.

directionof the arrows; Figz is a section on line l l of Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing the changespeedgearing and drive; Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a holding means or clamp associated with one of the individual work holders or cut-piece supports; Fig. 7 is a similar view of one of said Work holders or supports; and Fig. 8 is'a detail of the shaft and associated parts used to move the common clamping member of the several holding means or clamps.

The frame of the machine consists of a base 1 incorporating a cross web 2 and a drain basin 3, the latter being situated toward the front of the machine. The frame involves a support 4 that serves as an abutment for work holders 5, and the support has, in its upper horizontal surface, a longitudinal groove 6. l

Guides 7 extend along the upper edge portions of the sides of base i from therear of the machine to a point beyond its middle, and at the extreme rear end of each guide is a lug 8 through which an adjusting screw 9 is threaded to limit the rearward travel of a cutter carriage 10, which is slidably mounted on the guides '7, and is held in place by gibs 11. secured to the carriage by s rews 12.

The cutter carriage (which for the purpose of claims, may in some instances be referred to as the sustaining element), is shown as rising somewhat above the planeof support 4, and as being hollow in its cenand it has a longitudinalgroove l l in its upper horizontal surface, on which suriace are slidably supported the cutterguides and. cutter arbor bearing brackets 16, the guides and brackets having tongues for engagement within the groove i i. To the rear of and secured to the cutter carriage 10, are racks 18, one lying along the upper side of each 'L'Iide Z, and these racks are limited in their rearward nriovements by the previously mentioned screws 9. Secured to carriag e i0 is a cable 19' that is guided over a sheave 20, supported by a bracket 21 that extends upwardly and rearwardly from web 2. A weight 22' is attached to the cable tor returning the carriage to starting position after a cutting expedition, as I shall presently explain. u

in arm 23 extends forwardly from the left hand side oi carriage 10, the arm being shown as formed integral with the carriage; and adjacent its forward end, the arm forms a bearing for the left hand end of a cutter arbor 2%. At its opposite end, and at its middle, the arbor is also supported in the.

previously mentioned movable brackets l6 which overhang the front or" the carriage, and are formed with depending portions 25, which bear against the vertically disposed front wall of the cutter carriage. The brackets are guided properly with respect to the carriage, when adjusted transversely thereof, and are prevented from turning to either side, by the engagement of their tongues within the groove l4 of the carriage, as pre viously mentioned, The brackets 16 also have tongues 27 on their top sides which it a longitudinal groove 28 in a main, clamping member 29, to maintain them in proper position with respect to the member, as I shall presently explain. 7

lhe cutter arbor 2 i has a keyway 30 extending its entire length, and sets of collars 81 are slidable along the arbor but are held against turning with respect thereto by the engagement of their integral keys (see id 3) within keyway 30. A circular saw or cutter 82 is held between the collars of each set, and the saw collars are effectually restrained against relative angular move ment by dowel pins 33 which are carried bv onecollar and pass through apertures in the saw and enter holes in the other. The collars may be held in any adjusted position along the arbor, and those of each set in proper relation to each other, by set screws 34 that are threaded through the collars and bear a ainst the arbor.

The saw guide and guard 15, which partially surrounds each saw 32, has radially disposed sets of rollers 35 that are angularly spaced from each other a suitable distance apart and are adjustably brought to bear upon the opposite sides of the saw through the instrumentality of clamping screws 36 which go through the opposed wings of the guard. The shank 37 oieach guard is guided similarly to the arbor bearing brackets 16, the shank having a tongue 88 on its lower side and a ton ue 39 on its u 3 or side for engagement within the respective grooves of the cu ter carriage 10 and previously mentioned clamping member 29. The guard has a depending portion 40 which bears against the vertically disposed front wall of the cutter carriage to withstand rearward thrust of the guard.

The main clamping member 29 extends transversely the width of the cutter carriage. Mounted at each end of said member is a vertically disposed screw ll which has its upper end threaded through a bracket, the one situated at the left hand side of the machine (viewin it from the front) being designated 42 and the one at the right hand side, l3. These brackets are secured to the cutter carriage by bolts 4% and L5 respec tively. Each screw ell is guided. at its lower end within a tubular boss 46 of the clamping member :29, and is provider therebeyond with a collar that occupies a counterbore in the underneath side of the clamping member.

Between each boss and a shoulder l? on the co responding screw 4-1 is a worm wheel e 8 that is to the screw and arranged to be driven by a worm that is fastened to the adjacent end of a shaft d9, journaled in bearings 50 extending from the clamping member 29. Secured to the right hand'end of said shaft is handle 51 through which the shaft may be manually rotated to turn the aforesaid worms and consequently the worm wheels 48, thereby to operate the screws 41 and raise or lower clamping member 29 as desired. The bracket 43 is so shaped as to permit the arbor brackets 16 and saw guards 15 to be readily taken and put on from the right hand side oi the machine.

Each work holder has a V-shapcd groove or notch arranged to receive the work which may be in the nature of round stock as indicated, or it may consist of a multiple of bars of relatively small diameter grouped together in a manner well known to those familiar with the art. it is obvious that the work holders may be formed with any de sired shape of work receiving notches or grooves according to the character of the och to be out. F or the purpose of claims the work holders generally may be referred to as means for supporting an article to be cut, or simply supporting means. The holders rest on a horizontal shelf 53 r extends rearwardly from the support 1-. and terminates at its rear edge in a downwardly inclined lip 54, provided for a purpose presently to be explained. Each work holder has its lower iron corner cut away, indicated at 55, where it meets the angle between the shell and support 4 to allow for any irregularities in the machining of the base and to insure an even bearing of the work holder on its support. A. projection 56, somewhat wider than the work holder, extends forwardly from the upper end of each and overlies the upper surface of support I. The projection has a depending tongue that is guided in a longitudinal groove of the support.

In the projection 56 of each work holder is a groove 57 wherein is guided a holding means clamp 58 having a downwardly extending lip 59 at its front end for engagement with the corresponding end of the projection to limit the rearward movement of the holding means or clamp. llhe rear end of the clamp is inclined upwardly indicated at 69 and is then directed horizontally (see Fig. 6),'and a screw 61 is threaded through the horizontal portion. When the clamps 58 are in effective position their screws 61 bear upon the work to hold the same in place during the cutting or sawing operation; and once the screws are adjusted for work of a given size, they need not be altered so long as the machine continues to operate on work of that size. The reason for this will become apparent from the descriptionimmediately following.

A main clamping member 62 cooperates with the several holding means or clamps 58 in a manner substantially identical with that in which the former clamping member 29 cooperates with the saw guards 15 and brackets 16, hereinbefore described. Each clamp 58 has a tongue 63 that occupies a longitudinal groove in the underneath face of the main clamping member 62. Slides 6-1 and 65 are guided, respectively, in grooves formed in the tops of

brackets

66 and 67 and these brackets are situated, respectively, at the right and left hand front corners of the machine and are f-stened to the base thereof by screws 68. uh slide has a tapped hole in which a vertically disposed screw operates; and said screw is connected with the main clamping member 62 precisely as each of the previously mentioned screws 11 is connected to the clamping member 29.

Mounted loosely on shaft '70 slidably supported in brackets 70 that extend upwari'lly and forwardly from thefclamping member 62, are a set of spur gears 71 and 72, which are adapted to mesh with racks 7 1'3 and H secured to the respective brackets 66 and 6'7. Similarly mounted on shaft 70 are worms 75 and 6. The gears andworms are each situated between and restrained against engi wise movement by adjacent ones of the aforesaid brackets 7m .Eachworm and gear has a counterbore 79' (see Fig. 8)

from which extend diametrically opposed notches 80 arranged to receive the ends of l 'ng pins 81 that are carried by the when the shaft is slid in an appropi ite direction.

It will be observed that the worms mesh with worm wheels 69* on screws 69. By means of a handle 70*, that is attached to the right hand end of shaft 70, the operator may shif the shaft in direction to clutch the worms to the shaft, then turn the shaft in a direction to rotate screws 69 and elevate the clampingmember 62 to relax. the clamps 58 and bring spur gears 71 and 72 into mesh with their respective racks. New by shifting the sl inthe opposite dircction, he may unclutch the worms and clutch the gears to the shaft, after which, by'rotating the shaft in the proper direction he may feed the clamping member 62;, with clamps 58, forwardly to-permit ready access to the work in the holders. Upon supplying the holders with fresh material, the foregoing operation may be reversed to clamp the work within the holders. By reason of the fact that the relaxing of the clamps and the shifting of them from holding position are sequential steps of a ccntinuous operation, the operator is precluded from shifting the clamps laterally while forcefully engaged with the work and is thereby prevented from injuring the machine.

A shaft 82 is supported transversely of the machine and to the rear of the cutter carriage 10 in brackets 83 and 8. that are located respectively on the right and on the left hand sides of the machine base and are secured thereto by screws 86. Gears 55 are fixed to shaft 82 and mesh with the racks 18 of the cutter carriage. Projecting from the outer face of the left hand gear 85 are two 'adially disposed lugs 87 that are adapted to be engaged and driven by a clutch member 88. This clutch member slides in the bearing 841 and has splined on its outer end a bevel gear 89 which has its hub resting against the outer face of said bearing 8 1.

The bevel gear 89 meshes with a bevel gear 90, secured to a shaft 91. The latter shaft extends at right angles to shaft and is journaled in a bearing 92 of bracket and in two vertical arms 93 (F 4; and of a change-speed-gear bracket The bracketheis fastened to the side wall of the base at the front of the machine by screws 95 and is formed to constitute an oil basin for the change-speed-gears which 1 shall presently desc' 'be.

An arm 96 projects rearwardly from hearing 8e: and has pivoted to its end, a clutch shifting member 9?. Connection between the member and clutch is accomplished in the usual manner by providing the clutch with a groove and the shifting member with opposed pins projecting into the groove, one of the pins being shown at 100. The outer ends of the links of a toggle joint 101 are connected respectively to the free end of the clutch shifting member 97 and to a lug 102 on the front side of bearing 84:, while the knee of the toq' 'le has connection with a and project some distance beyond the forward end thereof. This bar is provided near its rear end with an. abutment 105 (Fig. 2) and at its forward end with an operating handle 106. The handle is situated at the pivotal junction of bar 10% with a link 107. This link is fulcrumed on one branch of a forked bracket 108 that extends from the front of the machine, and its end opposite that connected with bar 1041 has pivotal connection with one arm of a bell crank 109 that isfulcrumed on the other hrancl'i of bracket 108. The bell-crank incorporates a belt shifter for cooperation with a beltpres ently to be introduced. 1n the vicinity of the abutment 105, the bar 104: is held against upward deflection by a lug 111 that projects from the adjacent side of the cutter carriage.

Projectingfrom the left hand side of the czurriage near the bottom thereof, are two' From the foregoing description it follows that, the carriage moves forwardly and approaches the end of its course, the dog strikes lug 105 of bar 10%, shifting the bar in the same direction, thereby disengaging clutch member 38 from the adjacent gear 85 by reason of the connection of the bar with the clutch through toggle joint 101 and shifting member 97, and shifting the previously mentioned belt from effective position, as Ishall presently explain, through the connection of the rod with the bell crank belt shifter 109. i

A shaft 116 extends parallel. to the left hand side of the machine and at its forward end is journaled in arms 117 and 118 that may be formed integral with bracket 67. The shaft is held against endwise movement by collars 119, located on opposite sices of arm 118. The rear one of the shaft is supported within

bearings

120 and 121 that project from the side of bracket 23 which, it will be recalled, is part of the cutter carriage and consequently moves therewith. A. bevel gear 122 issplined to shaft 116 and meshes with a sin ilar gear 123 that is secured to the adjacent end of the saw or cutter arbor To retain these gears in proper relation to each other as thecarriage moves with respect to shaft 116, l groove the hub of gear 122 and engage within the groove a rib on a plate 121 that is attached by screw 125 to hearing 121 (see Power from any suitable source is introduced through a belt 126 which is shiftable from one to the other of a of

pulleys

126 and 126", the forn'ier being loose and the latter fixed on a drive shaft 127. This shaft carries a worm 127 that is situated between two bearings 128 incorporated in bracket 67 and wherein the drive shaft is journaled. A. shaft 129 is supported within the outer ends of the previously mentioned arms 117 and 118. Secured to this shaft is a worm wheel 130 that meshes with worm 127. This shaft also has fastened. to it two separate change-speed-

gears

131 and 132 with which are adapted to mesh, respectively, the change-speed-

gears

133 and 131 that are slidably mounted on shaft 116.

Pivoted at 135 to ears projecting from bracket 67 is a member 136 with a forked projection 137 that fits in a groove 138 in a hub that connects the two

gears

133 and 134.

' Said member 136 has secured to it a handle 139 through which it may be operated to shift the gears 133 and 13 1 thereby to obtain difierent speeds of the cutter arbor.

Journaled upon shaft 129 adjacent gear 131, and confined against movement lengthwise of the shaft by said gear and a collar 110, is the hub of an arm 141. A spindle 1412 is j ournaled within the outer end of the arm and carries a gear 143 on one side of said arm which constantly meshes with gear 131, while on the opposite side of the arm it has secured to it a collar 1 14;, wherefore the spindle is held against longitudinal movement. Slidable and rotatable on shaft 129 is the hub of a yoke 145 through bearing apertures in the branches whereof extends the spindle 142. A tumbler gear is splined to the spindle between the branches of the yoke and is adapted to be shifted into mesh with any desired member of a cone gear unit 1416 through the instrumentality of the yoke as the latter is manipulated by means of its handle 1 15 The yoke may be held in any of its several positions by the engagement of its handle within notches of bracket 9 1, as indicated in Fig. 5. The con: set 14-6 is secured to the previously mentioned shaft 91.

Accordin to the usual ractice a lubrib 7 eating oil oreooling solution may be conducted to the Various cutters by a system of tubes properly arranged for the purpose, the same being omitted from the drawings for the sake of clearness. When such a system is used, the oil or solution drips off the shelf 53 over the lip 54 into a chip drawer 151 which has holes in its bottom through which the solution drains into a basin 3. A suitable pump would be included in such a system for drawing the oil or solution from the basin and circulating it through the tubes.

The chip drawer 151 may be withdrawn through an opening 151 in the right hand side of the machine, and the drawer is supported on angle irons 152 extending between and secured to the sides of the machine. The chip drawer is conveniently located under the lip 54 of the table and those chips that are not washed OK the table may be readily scraped off into the drawer.

From the foregoing description the operation of the machine will be readily understood. A bar or other piece of Work, indicated at W, is placed upon the work supports. The handle is then rotated to turn the spur gears 71 and 72 and teed them along their respective racks thereby to move the main clamping member (32 and the individual clamps 58 rearwardly until they are stopped by the engagement oi the lip, 59 with the forward ends of work holder projections 56. The shalt "(O is next pulled outward to unelutch the gears from the shaft and clutch the worms thereto. lhrough the worms the vertical screws 69 are turned and the main clamping member is brought down to bear upon the individual clamps 58 and secure the worl in place ready to be cut. The handle 106 is pushed to the rear and, through the link connections previously set out, the driving belt is shifted from the loose pulley to the driving pulley 126". Simultaneously the clutch member 88 is thrown to etlective position; the carriage is fed forwardly, and the cutter arbor 24: starts rotating as will be readily understood. The cutter carriage 10 is stopped in its forward movement after it has cut the stock by the adjustable dog 115 engaging the abutment 105 on the bar 104: and moving the bar forwardly to disengage the clutch S8 and shift the belt to loose pulley 126. The carriage is then brought back to initial starting position by the action of weight 22.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. in a machine of the character set torth, the combination of means for supporting an article to be cut, a carriage movable toward and from said supporting means, an arbor supported by the carriage at points spaced apart longitudinally of the arbor, a cutter secured to the arbor intermediate of said p hits, driving mechanism, operative connections between sa d mechanism and the arbor, and further operative connections between said mechanism and the carriage.

2. In a machine of the char:

:ter set forth, the combination of a carriage, an arbor supported thereby, a. plurality of cutte's secured to the arbor, a plurality 01E holding means for collectively holding an article to be cut and alter the article is cuti individually sustaining the pieces cut, driving mechanism, operative connections between said mechanism and the arbor, and further operative connections between said mechanism and the carriage.

2}. In a machine of the character set :lorth, the combination of a supporting structure, a carriage reciprocably supported thereby, means tending to move the carriage to starting position, elements designed for cooperation with each other as means for supporting a piece oi work and atool for operating upon the worlr, one sustained by the car riage and the other supported in operative relation thereto, mechanism for moving the carriage in a direction to present one of said elements to the other, and means automatically disconnecting the carriage from the mechanism when the carriage has moved a predetermined distance.

lo a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a supporting structure, a carriage reciprocably supported thereby, n'ieans tending to move the carriage to starting position, elements designed for cooperation with each other as means for supporting a piece of work and a tool for operating upon the work, one sustained by the carriage and the other supported in operative relation thereto, carriage advancing mechanism, driving means, a clutch through which the driving means is adapted to be operatively connected to the carriage advancing mechanism, and means for rendering ineffective the aforesaid clutch when the carriage has traveled a predetermined distance.

In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of base, a work support sustained thereby, a carriage movable along the base toward and from the work support, means tending to move the carriage from the support, an arbor sustained by the carriage, a cutter on the arbor, mechanism for driving, the arbor and for moving the carriage toward the Work support, means actuated automatically when the carriage has moved a predetermined distance tor rendering ineffective the connect-ions between the a li'oresuid mechanism and the arbor and carriage, and manually operated means through which said connections may be reestabi ished. I

6. In a machine of the character set forth,

the combination of a base, a carriage reciprocable along the base, means tending to move the carriage toistarting position, an arbor sustained by the carriage, a cutter cured to the arbor, means for supporting an article to be cut in operative relation to the cutter and toward and from wh'ch the carriage is movable, mechanism for rotating the arbor and for moving the carriage in a direction to present the cutter to the article, and means automatically disconnecting the carriage from the mechanism when the carriage has moved a predetermined distance.

7. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a base, a work support sustained thereby, a carriage movable along the base toward and from the work support,

means tending to move the carriage away from the support, an arbor sustained by the carriage, a cutter on the arbor, mechanism for driving the arbor and for moving the carriage toward the Work support, and means actuated automatically when the carriage has moved a predetermined distance for rendering ineffective the connections between the carriage and the aforesaid mechanism.

8. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a work support, a carriage movable toward and from the same, means tending to move the carriage away from the support, an arbor sustained by the carriage, a cutter on the arbor, carriage advancing mechanism, driving means common to the arbor and to the carriage advancing mechanism, a clutch through which the driving means is adapted to be operatively connected to the carriage advancing mechanism, a source of power, a member shiftable between effective and ineffective positions and through which the source of power is adapted to be coupled with the driving means, and means for simultaneously shifting the last mentioned member to ineffective position and disengaging the aforesaid clutch. V

9. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a support, brackets associated with the support, an arbor journaled within said brackets, a plurality of cutters secured to the arbor, a guard associated with each cutter, clamping means "common to the guards for clamping them to the support, and means for driving the arbor. V

10. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a work support, a sustaining structure, means for moving one toward the other of the work support and sustaining structure, an arbor, bearing members for the arbor having parts overly ing the sustaining structure, a clamping member disposed above said parts, a plurality of screws through which the clamping member is connected with the sustaining structure, means common to said screws for rotating them in unison to move the clamping members toward and from the sustaining structure, and means for driving the arbor.

11. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a support, a plurality of brackets associated with the sup port, an arbor journaled within said brackets, clamping means common to the brackets for clamping them to the support,

and means for driving the arbor.

12. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a work support, a sustaining structure, means for moving one toward the other of the work support and sustaining structure, an arbor, cutters secured to the arbor, bearing members for the arbor and guards for the cutters having parts overlying the sustaining structure, a clamping member disposed above said parts, .arplurality of screws through which the clamping member is connected with the sus: tainingstructure, .means common. to said screws for rotating them in unison to move the clamping member toward and from the sustaining structure, and means for driv ing the arbor.

13. I11 a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a work support, a sustaining structure, means for moving one toward the other of the sustaining structure and work support, the sustaining structure having a horizontal surface and a groove traversing the same, a clamping plate, screws through which the clamping plate is operatively connected to the sustaining structure, the clamping plate having a groove substantially parallel to that of the sustaining structure, an arbor, cutters secured to the arbor, arbor supporting means, members embracing the cutters for the pur pose specified and having parts disposed be tween the clamping plate and the horizontal surface of the sustaining structure, said parts being provided with tongues engaged within the grooves of said sustaining structure and clamping plate, means common to the aforesaid screws for rotating them in .unison to move the clamping plate toward and from said structure, and driving means for the arbor.

14. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a work support, a sustaining structure, means for moving one toward the other of the sustaining structure and work support, the sustaining structure having a horizontal surface and a groove traversing the same, a clamping plate, screws through which the clamping plate is operatively connected to the sustaining structure, the clamping plate having a groove substantially parallel to that of th sustaining structure, an arbor, arbor sup porting brackets having parts disposed be tween the clamping plate, and'the horizontal surface of the sustaining structure, said parts being provided with tongues engaged within the grooves of said sustaining structure and clamping plate, means common to the aforesaid screws for rotating them in unison to move the clamping plate toward and from'said structure, and driving means for the arbor.

15. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a sustaining structure having a clamping surface, a clamping plate, screws through which the clamping plate is supported from the sustaining structure in operative relation to the clamping surface thereof, and means for rotating the aforesaid screws in unisonto move the clamping plate toward and from the clamping surface.

16. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a sustaining struc-, ture havingv a clamping surface, a clamping plate, screws through which the clamping plate is supported from the sustaining structure in operative relation to the clamping surface thereof, either or both the clamping plate and structure having means for cooperation with complementary parts of elements designed to be clamped between the plate and structure thereby to hold the parts in proper position, and means for rotating the aforesaid screws in unison to move the clamping plate toward and from the clamping surface.

17. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting a piece of material to be cut, mechanism for cutting said piece of material into sections, an individual clamp for each section, and mechanism through which the several clamps may be simultaneously operated.

18. In a machine of the cha'acter set forth, the combination of means for supporting a piece of material to be cut, mechanism for cutting said piece of material, a clamp for holding the piece of material while being cut, and mechanism through a continuous operation of which the clamp ay be moved into operative relation to the piece of material and then into engagement therewith. i

19. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for su port-ing a piece of material to be cut, mechanism for cutting said pieces of material, a clamp for holding said piece while being cut, and mechanism through which the clamp may be released from clamping engagement with the piece of material and then laterally out of operative relation thereto.

20. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting a piece of material to be cut, mechanism for cutting said piece of material into sections, an individual clamp for each section, and mechanism through a continuous operation of which the several clamps may be simultaneously removed from clamping engagement with the sections and then moved laterally out of operative relation thereto.

21. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting a piece of material to be cut, mechanism for cutting said piece of material into sections, an individual clamp for each section, and mechanism through a continuous operation of which the several clamps may be simultaneously moved into operative relation to the piece of material and then into engagement therewith.

22. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting a piece of material to be cut, mechanism for cutting said piece of material into sections, an individual clamp for each secticn, and mechanism operable 1n one direction for moving the several clamps simulforth, the combination of means for supporting a piece of material to be cut, mechanism for cutting the piece of material into 'sections, an individual clamp for each section, a pressure plate arranged to engage the clamps and press them into contact with the sections, operative connections between the plate and clamps whereby lateral movement of the plate is transmitted to the clamps, and mechanism through which the pressure of the plate may be relieved and the plate moved laterally.

24. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting a piece of material to be cut, mechanism for cutting the piece of material into sections, an individual clamp for each section, a pressure platearranged to engage the clamps and press them into contact with the sections, operative connections between the plate and clamps whereby lateral movement of the plate is transmitted to the clamps, and mechanism through which the pressure of the plate may be regulated and the plate moved laterally.

In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a support for a piece of material to be cut, a clamping mei ber adapted to be brought to bear upon the piece of material or to be removed therefrom and shifted laterally out of operative relation thereto, a screw through which said member is adapted to be moved into and out of clamping engagement with the piece of material, a shaft, gearing through which operative connection may be established between the shaft and screw, a stationary rack, gearing through which operative connection may be established between the shaft and 'aclr, means for rotating the shaft, and means for alternately securing the shaft against rotation with respect to the gearing associated respectively with the screw and rack.

26. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting a piece of material to be cut, mechanism for cutting said piece of material into sections, an adjustable clamp for each section, and mechanism through which the se *eral clamps may be simultaneously operated.

27. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a support for a piece of material to be cut, a clamping member adapted to be brought to bear upon the piece of material, or to be removed therefrom and shifted laterally out of operative relation to said piece, a screw through which said memill) her is adapted to be moved into andout of clamping engagement with the piece of material, a gear carried by the screw, a shaft, a gear carried by the shaft for cooperation with the former gear, a second gear carried by the shaft, a sta ionary racl; wherewith the last mentioned gear is arranged to cooperate, means for turning the shaft, and further means for locking the shaft against turning with respect to either one or the other of the gears carried thereby.

28. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a support for a piece of material to be cut, a clamping member adapted to be brought to bear upon the piece of material or to be removed therefrom shifted laterally out of operative relation thereto, a screw through which said member is adapted to be removed into and out of clamping engagement with the piece of material, a gear carried by the screw, a shaft, a gear carried by the shaft for cooperation with the former gear, a second gear carried by the shaft, a stationary rack wherewith the last mentioned gear is arranged to cooperate, means for turning the shaft, and

further means for locking the shaft against turning with respect to either one of the other gears carried thereby.

29. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting a piece of material to be cut, mechanism for cutting said piece of material into sections, an individual clamp for each section, a memher through which the several clamps may be simultaneously engaged or removed from en agement with the material, operative connections between said member and the clamps whereby lateral movement of the member will effect like movement of the clamps, a pair' of screws rotatably carried by the member, a slide within which each screw is threaded, a stationary guide for each slide, a stationary rack associated with each guide, a worm wheel on each. screw, a

shaft supported by the member, means for turning the shaft, worms carried by the shaft, one for cooperation with each worm wheel, gears carried by the shaft, one for cooperation with each rack, and means for locking either the worms or the gears against rotation with respect to the shaft.

80. In combination, anarbor, a pair of collars on the arbor that are held against turning with respectthereto, a cutteron the arbor between the collars, the cutter having an opening, a member projecting from one collar through the opening of the cutter and into a receiving recess of the other collar whereby the cutter and collars are held against relative turning, and means for holding the collars against movement longitudinally of the arbor.

31. In combination, an arbor, a pair of collars on the arbor that are held against turning with respect thereto, a cutter on the arbor between the collars, the cutter having an aperture and the collars having holes alining with said aperture, a dowel pin extending through the apertureof the cutter and having its ends cngagedwit iin the holos of the rollers, and meansfor holdin the collars against movement longitudinally of the arbor.

32. In combination, an arborhaving a keyway, a pair of collars on the arbor that are provided with keys engaged within the keyway of the arbor, a cutter on the arbor between the collars, the cutter having an aperture, a member projecting from one collar through the-aperture of the cutter and into a receiving recess of the other collar whereby the cutter and the collars are held against relative turning, and means for securin the collars against movement longitudinally of the arbor.

33. in combination, an arbor, a pair of collars on the arbor that are held against turnin with respect thereto, a cutter on the arbor between the collars, the cutter having a circular series of apertures concentric with its rotating axis, a series of projections on one collar extending through the apertures of the cutter, the other collar having a series of recesses for the reception of the projections of the first collar, and means forholding the collars against movement longitudinally of the arbor.

3 In mechanism of the character set forth, the combination of an arbor, a saw on the arbor, and sets of rollers rotating on a common axis and having comparatively narrow faces engaging the opposite sides of the saw for sustaining the same against lateral deformation, the axes of the sets being radially disposed with respect to the arbor.

35. in mechanism of [the character set forth, the combination'of saw, a guard within which the saw operates, and guide rollers carried by the guard and engaging the opposite sides of the saw for sustaining the same against lateral deformation.

In testimony whereof, l hereunto afiix my signature.

NATHAN ll. FRETTER.