US1724068A

US1724068A - Adjustable ctjttinfs-oit mechanism foe

Info

Publication number: US1724068A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1929-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1946-08-13

Description

Aug. 13, 1929. E. M. BRACKET-r ET Al. 1,724,068

l ADJUSTABLE CUTTING oF MECHANISM FOR STRHJPING MACHINES Filed Aug. 2, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet, l

2 i 90 v y' INVENTOR TTRNEy Aug. 13, 1929. E. M. BRACKETT ET AL 1,724,068

ADJUSTABLE CUTTING OFF MECHANISM FQR STRIPPING MACHINES Filed Aug. 2, 1925 n 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y il l if ,50 /47 n A Sfr.: 1' '/45 /NVENTo-Rs. 0/ EdwardMrac/e# H7 f4; md f d M am# @4 l A TT'ORNE y Al1g- 13, 1929- E. M. BRACKET-r ET AL 1,724,068

ADJUST-ABLE CUTTING OFF MECHANISM FOR STRIPPING MACHINES Fild Aug. 2. 1926 4 sheets-sheen 3 A ToR/VE Y Aug. 13, 1929. E. M. BRACKETT ET AL 1,724,068

ADJUSTABLE CUTTING oFF MEcHANxsM Fon SHIPPING MACHINES Filed Aug. 2, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 qi; BY alza' fred @ac/re# ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 13, 19279.

EDWARD ivi; BRAtcKnr'r AnnFREDMLYVBRACKETT; orfrornin, Kansas: u

ADJUSTABLE CUTTING-err MECHANISM non s'rerrriiite MACHINES;

application meer august 2, Y192e. semi N. 126.450.

(,)ur invention relates to a lcutting oill mechanism and `more particularly to an adjustable cutting off mechanism for stripping machines. i y v It isa purpose ofpur invention to provide a machine for applying a' strip a pair kof sheets or sheet-like members that are varranged with their sides adjacent each other, with means for `severing saidy strip at preden termined points tov leave said articles con nected `together in pairs by means ofk said sti-ip connecting the adjoiningedges thereof,

- Asthe sheet like members, which may a single sheet or va plurality of sheets arranged in super-posed relation to which a sheet is secured by means of a strip, are of various dimensions,v it` is desirable to provide means for adjusting, the cutting off mechanismso,that the width ofthe sheets may be compensated for, It is accordinglyy a purpose of our.,inventionI to provide cuttingk oil' mechanism in a machine of the above mentioned character which comprises a ro'-A tatable member iaving' a cutting member mounted thereon, said rotatable member being adjustable transversely of vtlievfeeding means that conveys the articles secured together bythe strips toward said cutting off mechanism. f n i It :is a further purpose of our invention to provide means lying in the path of the articles tobe acted upon by the cutting olf means, for actuating the `cutting means and to prof vide actuating means for` said cutting olf means that is so mounted thaty certain lportions thereof are movable with the cutting oil' mechanism transversely of the feeding means while certain other portions thereof are mounted in a predetermined `relation 'to the means lying in the path of the articles, which means ismounted onthe framework of the machine and is not transversely movable. p 1 i o y It a further purpose of the invention to provide means for periodically actuating the cutting ofi' mechanism comprising a rotatable member carryinga cutting ofi' knife, amembei' that constantly rotates and means adapted to connect the constantly rotating mem-V beil with the rotatable member, said means engaging a stop controlledby the movement of the articles carried forwardly by the feeding means and y"further comprising a resilient member interposed between :the rotatable member and the Vmeans i adapted to connect the rotatable member with the conf stantly `rotating member `which resilient` meansis held under tension when the stop'isy engaged and whichiresilient means is adapted to move. the means interposed between the rotatable member land ,the constantly rotating member into"v engaging position to rotate the rotatable member when said stop moves out of.engagement.

Other objects and advantages .of the in-` vention ywill appear as the ldescriptionofthe accompanying drawings;proceeds.l t f lowever,

ywe desire VVto` have it distinctly understood.

that we do not intend to limit ourselvesto the exact details shownk or described),` but that we intend to include as part of curlinvention all. such obvious changes and modifications of parts as would occur toVr a person skilled in this art and! as would fall within. the scope of the-claims.

In the drawings: y n i, Y g o Fig. 1 isa perspective view, partly .broken away, ofza stripping machine, showing our improved cutting off mechanism applied thereto. n t

Fig; 2 is a fragmentary pend.' view thereof. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the cutting oft' mechanismy as viewed from the opposite side thereof from Fig.A 2,2

Fig.` 4 isa fragmentary view, partly in elevation andl partly in sectiomlon awplane taken at rightangles to Fig. 3. l Y

Fig. 51 is aluperspective View ofthe intenv mitteilt driving mechanism` for the cutting off'` means, showing the samek separated.

Fig. (iris a longitudinah sectional view thereof taken substantially oni the line 6-6 ofFigS'.

Fig. 7 lis a section-taken on thezline 7--7 of Fig. 6, looking in' thedirection of the arrows; Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-e8 of Fig." 6,` looking in thedirection of the arrows. f i Fight) isa fragmentary perspective view of' the articleL actuated tripping means for thecuttingoif mechanism.

FiglOis a perspective view-oftliefrotati able clutch device co-operatmg with said g tripping means. y

Fig.` 11 is a longitudinal sectional viewy thereof..

Fig. 12 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the slidablymounted rotatable clutch releasing member.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the clutch stop releasing means.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 1.4*14 of Fig. 2.

Fig. l5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the paired'sheets and connecting strips.

Referring in detail to the drawings:

Our improved cutting off mechanism is shown as being applied to a stripping machine having` a framework 20 on which are mounted the

conveyor belts

21 and 22 which operate to move the articles to which a binding strip has been applied, toward the left in Fig. 1 said articles comprising the

sheetlike members

23 and 24, secured together by means of the strip 25. Said strip 25 is continuous, and in order to separate the articles, which may be pamphlets or similar articles having sheets secured by a strip such as the strip 25, from each other, it is necessary to sever the strip 25 adjacent the edges of the

sheets

23 and 24, and our improved cutting off mechanism is provided to accomplish this purpose.

Mounted on the framework 20 is a bracket member 26 (Figs. 1 and 9) which is secured to one of the members of the frameworkin any suitable manner as by means of the securing members 27. is in the form of a block as shown in Figs. 1 and 9 and is inset in the framework so that the upper surface thereof is substantially flush with the frame member upon which the same is mounted. Said bracket member 26 is provided with an opening 28 therein through which the lingers or arms 29 provided on the-star wheel 30 are adapted to project. The star wheel 30 is preferably mounted on a shaft 3l that extends through the outer wall of the bracket 2G so as to be journalled therein, and is adapted to be rotated by engagement of the articles moved along by the conveyor of the machine with the bevelled outer ends `32 of the arms 29. In order to assure engagement of the articles with the arms 29 a presser member 33 is provided which-is pivoted on the framework at 34 and which has a bifurcated lower end providing the arms 35 having an opening 3G therebetween, said member 33 engaging with the upper surface of the block 2G by gravity and the articles carried by the conveyor moving` into engagement with the inclined portion of t-he member 33 will raise the member 33 sufliciently to permit said articles to pass thereunderbut hold the same in engagement with the upper face of the member 26 so that said members will engage with one of the arms 29 to rotate the star wheel such a distance that the next arm 29 will be in position to be engaged by the The bracket member 26.

next article moving along with the conveyor.

Co-operating with the star wheel 30 isa lever 37 pivotally mounted at 38 upon the framework. The lever 37 is provided with an offset arm 39 at the outer end thereof which has a bevelled end portion 4() adapted to be engaged by the arms or fingers 29 on the star wheel 30 to move the lever 3'? around its pivot 38 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 9.

A spring finger 41 which has a coiled portion 42 is secured to the arm 39 by means of any suitable securing member 44 and engages with the star wheel 30 as shown in Fig. 4 so as to hold one of the members 29 in position to be engaged by the member 24 to rotate the star wheel through the distance from one member 29 to the next member 29. The lever 37 is normally held in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, by means of a spring 45 which has a hooked end 46 eX- tending through the thickened portion 47 of the lever 37 andwhich has a coiled portion 48 extending around the shaft 38 and an end portion 49 extending into a suitable opening 50 in the framework.

(3o-operating with the lever 37 is a rotatable member 51 mounted on the shaft 52 to rotate therewith and having the tapering ears or ngers 53 extending outwardly therefrom at substantially diametrically op.-

posed points, the members 53 being pro-.

vided with the flat faces 54 which are adapted to engage with a shoulder 55 provided on the lever 37 when the lever 37 is in the position shown in Figs. l and 4. The rotatable member 51 is not positively connected with the shaft 52 but is frictionally driven thereby through the layer of friction material 56 mounted between the disk like fiange 57 pinned or secured in any other manner to the shaft 52 so as to rotate therewith, and the flat face of the member 51. The member 51 is held yieldingly in engagement with the friction material 5G by means of a coiled spring 58 mounted between the disk or washer 59 and the member 51, the tension of the spring 58 being adjusted by means of the nut GO engaging the screw threaded end 61 of the shaft 52. The disk 57 bears against a shoulder G2 provided on the shaft 52. Accordingly, when the member 51 has one of the projecting vwings 53 thereof in engagement with the shoulder 55, the shaft 52 will rotate without rotating the member 51. However, should the lever 37 be moved out of its normal position by one of the members 29 engaging with the beveled end 40 thereof, the member 53 will be disengaged from the shoulder 55 and the member 51 will rotate. This rotation, however, will only be through half a revolution of the member 51 because the other member 53 will then engage with the shoulder 55 in viewl of the fact that the lever 37 will have been restored to normal positionby means ofthe spring 45.'

Secured to the member 51 so as to rotate therewith is a cup-like' member 63 which has a iiange portion Gelengaging in a recess in the member 51, saidmember 63 being provided with ears G5 `through which' thesecnring .members (56 extend, said securing members (56 engaging withsuitable openings in the `member 51 to secure the members 63 thereto. Tlieinember 08 iis provided with a projecting hub portion G7 which has an opening 68 therein loosely receiving the polygonal,l and preferably square, `shaitt G9 which is secured to thehub by means of a pin 70. l 1

Mounted on the squared shaft 69 so as to be slidable, andnoi'i-rotatable, thereonA is ay collar 71 y(Fig. 12) which isprovided'with the wings or outward projections 72 providing the abrupt shoulders 73 thereon, the opposite sides of the projections 72 being inclined as `indicated at 74; to provide cam faces.`

The member-71 i'sprovided with an outwardly `extending hub portion 7 5 through which the shaft G9 extends, 'said hub "portion being received-*within a bearing 76 provided in the end of the bracket arm 77 which. extends inwardly from the carriage 78. The collar 79 is secured on the hub portion 7 8 outwardly from the bracket arm 77 to hold the member 71 in assembled relation with the arnr 77, the shaft G9 extending through an enlarged opening the memberV 77, as will be evident from Fig.- 1.

The carriagey 78 isadjustably mounted on the transversely extending member 80y of the frame by means rof the securing members 81 which are screw threadedly engaged with sleeve like members 82 (Fig. v14) having flanges 83 engaging the'roar face'ofv the member 80, the heads 8K1v of the securing members engaging' the outer face of the member 7 8, and washers 85 being provided between said -heads and the member 78. Slots 80 are provided in the member 80 receiving the securing members 81 so that when the screw threaded securing members 81 are turned loutwardly the member 78 can be slid crosswise on theframework on` the member 80. Aslthe member 78 is adjusted transversely of the frai'neworlggthe arm 77 will move therewith and will `move `lengthwise of the shaft 69 carrying the member 71 and the collar 7 9, the collar-being secured to the hub portion. 75 by any suitable means such as the pin `87. The carriage 7 871s provided with a substantially' semicircular depending portion 88 which is provided with a peripheral flange 89, said Harige being thickened at Ithe `lower end 90 thereof and being provided with `an ear 91 at said lower ed portion 98y (Fig. 13) ofwh'lclris mounted the hub portion 94 of lever 95,"saidlever 95 being provided with an adjustable eX- tension 96 held in placefby means of these curing members 97, said extension 96 being engaged bythe projections 72 on they meniber 71k to swing saidumember 95 in a clock` wlse direction about the pivot 92, as viewed in Figf. v

The hub portion 911 is provided with a flattened face 98 from'which the lug or finger 99 projects. A; bellcrank lever 100 pivotally mounted on the pivot member 101` which is mounted in the depending ear portion 91 of the member 78 and has an n an arm 107 which is provided with a curved et portion 108 and terminates in an up# ward extension 109. f coil spring 110 eX- tends from the arm 107'tothe flange 89, the opposite ends of the spring being hooked' in openings in said members 107 and 89respectively. The tendency, accordingly7 is for the bell crank lever to remain inthe position shown Figs. 2 andk 7 with the arm 102 in engagenient with the projection 99. 'y

The arm 103 is provided with? a bore or recess v111 within which the headed member 112 having a head 113 is slidably mounted. The member 112 is further provided with a stem portion lltVv (Fig. 7 and a coil spring 115 is mounted between the shoulder formed between the portion 114 and the main body portion of the member 112 and the bottom .Y

of 'the bore'111. The head 113 'lies closely adjacent the flat wall portion 11G between the reduced extension 1061A andthe shoulder 105, Vand a stop member which may be in the member 117 so as to limit the outward movey ment of the member 112.

A bearing member 118 having ya head 119 and a screw threaded portion 120-engaging .with ascrew threaded opening in the ineinber 78 is mounted sofas to project from the outer face ofthe member 7 8.v Mounted to rotate on the bearing member 118 .is a cutter cutter member 122 is preferably.secured tok oneV face of vthe member 121, ysaid member 121 being preferably provided with a flange 125 defining a groove 126 and isl further provided with a projecting hub portion havingthe circular portion'127, the polygonal portion 128 and the tubular portion of reduced diameter 129. The polygonal portion 128 is preferably `provided with a plurality of elongated flat faces 130, there being eight of such faces shown in the drawings, and

with slightly flattened portions 131 alter-v .projecting stop member 135 thereon which has a substantially radial face 136 providing an abrupt shoulder on one side thereof and which is rounded ofi1 as at 137 on the opposite side thereof. lVhen the member 103 is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 7, the head 113 of the member 112 is engaged by the stop 135, thus holding the member 132 from rotation. The collar 132 is further provided with alternating slots 138 and project-ions 139 forming collectively a slotted flange projecting in the opposite direction from the

stop members

133 and 134. yThe slotted flange portion formed in this manner embraces the polygonal portion 128 of the member 121 and is in turn embraced by the endwise extending annular fiange portion 140 on the clutch member 141, said clutch member 141 being provided with a belt groove 142 for receiving a driving belt 143 and is recessed to receive the head 119 of tie member 118.

The member 141 is rotated' by means of the belt 143 which also p-asses over the grooved pulley 144 which is slidably mounted on the squared shaft 145. The squared shaft 145 extends through a suitable bearing 146, said bearing 146 being provided on a bracket 147 carried by the de pending portion 88 of the member 78, being secured thereto by means of the securing members 148. lThe member 144 is provided with a sleeve like extension 149 eX- tending through the bearing 146, the bearing being provided with a suitable antifriction lining 150. A collar 151 is pinned to the sleeve like portion 149 to hold the meinber 144 in position relative to the bearing 146, and a plate 152 is secured to the member 144 by means of the screws or other securing members 153, said plate'being provided with a squared opening to receive the shaft 145 whereby the shaft is slidable in the member 144, but will rotate the same.

The bearing bracket 147 is adjust-able relative to the member 88 due to the fact that the same is slotted at 154 where they securing members 148 pass therethrough. The shaft 145 also has mounted thereon in fixed position a groovcd pulley 155 over which the belt 156 passes, said belt 156 passing over a suitable driving pulley mounted on the framework of themachine. The pulley 155 is constantly rotated by means of the belt 156 land accordingly the pulley 144 is constantly rotated, rotating the clutch member 141 constantly.

The polygonal portion 128 of the member 121 forms a co-operating clutch member with the clutch member 141, rollers 157 being mounted in the slots 138 in the member 132 and engaging with either the faces 130 or the faces 131 on the member 128. When the rollers 157 are in the position shown in Fig. 7 in engagement with substantially the central portions of the flat faces 130, they are the nearest to the axis of the member 128 and will be out of engagement with the inner face of the flange 140. This is the position of the parts when the stop 135 is in engagement with the head 113. The stop 135 is held in engagement with the head 113 by means vof a coil spring 158 mounted in the groove 126 with one end in engagement with the stop pin 159 and the other end thereof in engagement with the stop lug 133. The spring 158 is normally under compression and the stop lug 134 is mounted between the stop member 159 and a stop member 16() which has an outwardly extending stop flange 161. The stop flange 161 engages with the reduced end portion 162 of the stopfinger 163 which is mounted upon the pivot member 164 provided on the transversely extending bar 165 extending between the opposite angular flange portions 17() on the member 78. The stop finger 163 is provided with an angular end portion 171 against which the compression spring 172 bears so as to normally hold the member 163 in such a position that the end portion 162 will engage with the stop 161 to prevent clockwise rotation of the member 121 as viewed in Fig. 8. Accordingly, with the spring 158 compressed between the stop 133 and the stop 159, the stop 134 will be in engagement with the stop 160 and the flange 161 on the stop 160 will be in engagement with the end 162 of the stop finger 163, the compression of the spring 158 furthermore holding the stop 135 in engagement with the head 113.

Accordingly, when the member 71 is rotated so that one of the projections 72 thereon engages withthe end portion 96 of the lever 95, the downward movement of said end portion will raise the lug 99, rotating the bell crank lever so as to move the head 113 out of engagement with the stop 135, whereupon the spring 158 will act to turn the collar 132 relative to the member 121, moving the rollers 157 from the central portions of the flat faces 130 toward the faces 131, thus carrying said rollers 157 outwardly and into engagement with the flange 140. When the rollers 157 engaged With the flange 1410 the member 121 is rotated with the member 14:1, moving the cutter 122 into cutting relation with thesquared edge 178 provided on the member 78, thus ycutting the strip 25 at this point.` However, when the member 51 has made half a turn `thestop 53 lwill engage with the shoulder' 55, thus halting the rotation of the'squared shaft 69 and stopping the member 71 with the member 72 out of engagement With the end 9G of thev lever 95. t

to restore the bell crank lever '100 to its original position, moving the head 113 of the member 112 into the .path of thestop lug 185, thus stoppingthe member 132. in its rotation when the member 121 has made one con'iplete turn, and with the vknife 122 in substantiallythe position shown in Fig; ,2. When` the lug 13 5 engages with the headL `113 the spring 1,15is compressed, absorbing the impact of the parts. .Hoiveverg when the member 132 is halted in its movement, the member 141 continues to rotate, thus causing the rollers 157 to again becarried around to the position shown in Fig. 7 ,c disengaging the member 132 from the member `1411, again compressing the spring 158 and thus resetting the clutch for the next actuation thereof. `This occurs at -such a point that the stop finger 1G8fengages with the stop projection 161 to hold, the member 1.21 from' reverse rotation.V

The shaft 52 is preferably anextension of one of the: conveyor belt ,pulley shafts and accordingly the member 71 will rotate in a definite proportion to the rate of travel of the

conveyor belts

21 and 22. Accordingly when themember 29 is actuated by one of the articlesl carried forward by the conveyor, moving the member 37 to such a ,position as to release themember 51, this will cansey the projection 72 ony the member 71 to engage with. the member 9G at such a time that `the strip 25 will be cut byr the .knife 122, substantially in alignment with the edges of the sheets 23 and 211, the knife 122 rotating rapidly and naccordingly l cutting substantially instantaneously.

. The plate or bar 165 (Figs. 1, 2.7and is preferably yrnfovided with anotch 17 l to accommodate the fastening member 81 at `one end thereof and an opening 175 to accommodate the other fastening member 81 at. the

otherend thereof andis cut 17,6 and 177 toaccommodatethe moving `partsof the device.` The` depending.' curved platelike member 88 is preferably .provided with opening 178 throughfivhicli,an .oiled .felt coveredfroller 17 9 projects soas toengage with the knife' v`122 to Vclean adhesive that may be"` thereon from the same.y The roller 179 is mounted upon a shaft180:exn

rou gli bearing 1.81 in tl w a r gnstablgv The spring I1l() thus free means of a plate 182 receivinga reducedend portion of the shaft 180, said plate being held in position vby means `of the faste/n ing member 183. The other end of the shaft 18() is provided with suitable means such `as the Washer 1841 and the cotter pin185 `for holding the rollers in position ,thereon` l/Jhat We claim and` desire to secure by ,Letters Patent iszi i 4 1. In amachine ofthe character described, means-for conveying articles including a rotatable shaft, a blade, a constantly rotating driving mechanism `having friction clutch means for moving the bladefincluding a spring-impelled clutch memberfor engaging` the blade with the driving mechanism, ya stop `for saidmember, a stop actuatingmember, a friction `clutchon said conveyorshaft, including an element for tripping said stop actuating member, alatchfor said trip element, and means operable by an article being conveyed to trip the latch.

.2, A rmachine `of the character described including an articleconveyor, a carriage adjustable transversely of .the conveyor, a blade rotatably'mounted in the carriage, a stop for `retaining the blade in set position, friction clutch mechanism for rotating and resetting the blade, a spring for moving' one 4clutch member into engagement with the other, a trip for said stop, meansfor actuatingsaid trip, and a latch for said actuating means operable lby an article on the conveyor. l

8. In a machine of the characterdescribed, a knife, a vrrotatable member carrying said rknife and ,means for periodically rotating knife `and means for periodically rotating said member tomove said linifeinto cutting position comprising a rotatingl shaft, a member constantly .rotated from said shaft, and means for periodically.connecting said members, said lastnnentioned'means comprising ,an element `having Vlimited movement relative to said knife-carrying member, .said innfe-carryingr member'l having portions of greater rand lesser diameter, and outwardly .movable means engaging said element and .normally engaging ,saidl portions of ilesser diameter, but movable outwardly by engagement with `said pQriOIl'S 'of greater-diameter to grip said constantly` `rotating member it of saidgelement relatifs, to

5. In a machine of the character described, a knife, a rotatable member carrying said knife and means for periodically rotating said member to move said knife into cutting position comprising a rotating shaft, a member constantly rotated from said shaft, and meansl for periodically connecting said members, said last-mentioned means comprising a collar having limited movement relative to said rotatable member and being provided with openings therein, outwardly movable means in said openings, said rotatable member having portions ofv greater and lesser diameter embraced by said collar, said outwardly movable means normally engaging said portions of lesser diameter, but being movable outwardly by engagement with said portions of greater diameter to grip said constantly rotating member upon movement of said collar relative to said rotatable member.

6. In a machine of thejcharacter described, a knife, a rotatable member carrying said knife and means for periodically rotating said member to move said knife into cutting position comprising a rotating shaft, a member constantly rotated from said shaft, and means for periodically connecting said members, said lastmentioned means comprising a collar having limited movement relative to said rotatable member and being provided with openings therein, rollers mounted in -said openings, said rotatable member having portions of greater and lesser diameter embraced by said collar, said rollers mounted normally engaging said portions of lesser diameter, but being movable outwardly by engagement with said portions of greater diameter to grip said constantly rotating member upon movement of said collar relative to said rotatable member.

7 In a machine of the character described, a knife, a rotatable member carrying said knife having a polygonal portion and means for periodically rotating said member to move said knife into cutting position comprising a rotating shaft, a member having an endwise projecting annular flange thereon constantly rotated from said shaft and means for periodically connecting saidmembers comprising a collar embracing the polygonal portion of said rotatable member and rotatable in said annular flange, said collar having openings therein, and rollers mounted in said openings and engaging the polygonal portion of said rotatable member, said rollers being normally out of engagement with said annular flange but being movable into engagement therewith upon relative movement of said collar and said rotatable member.

8. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable member, a knife mounted thereon and means for periodically rotating said member to move said knife into cutting position comprising a clutch member, resilient means interposed between said rotatable member and said clutch member, a stop engageable by said clutch member, said resilient means being compressed when said clutch member is engaging said stop, a (zo-operating clutch member, means for rotating said cooperating clutch member, and meansl actuated by said resilient means to engage said clutch members when said stop is moved out of engagement with said first clutch member.

9. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable member, a knife mounted thereon and means for periodically rotating said member to move said knife into cutting position comprising a clutch member, resilient means interposed between said' rotatable member and said clutch member, a stop engageable by said clutch member, said resilient means being compressed when said clutch member is engaging said stop, means for holding said rotatable member against reverse rotation when said clutch member is engaging said stop, a co-operating clutch member, means for rotating said co-operating clutch member, and means actuated by said resilient means to engage said clutch members when said stop is moved out of engagement with said first clutch member.

l0. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable member, a knife mounted thereon and means for periodically rotating said member to move said knife into cutting position comprising a clutch member, resilient means interposed between said rotatable member and said clutch member, a stop engageable by said clutch member, said resilient means being compressed when said clutch member is engaging said stop, a cooperating clutch member, means for rotating said co-operating clutch member, and means actuated by said resilient means to engage said clutch members when said stop is moved out of engagement with said first clutch member, said first clutch member and said rotatable member having engaging means to positively drive said rotatable member when said stop is disengaged therefrom. 11. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable member, a knife mounted thereon and means for periodically rotating said member to move said knife into cutting position, comprising a clutch member, resilient means interposed between said rotatable member and said clutch member, a stop engageable by said clutch member, said resilient means being compressed when said clutch member is engaging said stop, a cooperating clutch member, means for rotating said co-operating clutch member, means actuated by said resilient means to engage said clutch members when said stop is moved out of engagement with said first clutch member, and stop releasing means actuated;

by the articles to be acted on by said knife.

12. In a machine of the character described, means for conveying articles in a predetermined path, cutting mechanism adapted to operate on said articles, and means for actuating said cutting means com prising a member engaged by said articles as the same are moved along by said con'- veying means, a rotatable member, releasable means normally holding said rotatable member against movementy and movable out of holding position when said first member is engaged by one of said articles to permit said rotatable member to move through a predetermined arc, a clutch mechanism for driving said cutting mechanism and a stop for holdingsaid clutch mechanism in inoperative position, said stop being moved out of holding position upon movement of said rotatable member throughsaid arc.

13. In a machine of the character described, a framework, a conveyor extending longitudinally of said framework, cutting mechanism mounted on a carriage adjustable transversely of said framework, clutch kmechanism on said carriage for periodically operating` said cutting mechanism, means on said carriage for holding said clutch mechanism in disengagement and means for re-r leasing said holding means, comprising a member on said framework engaged by articles on said conveyor at aprcdetermined point in their movement and means for actuating said releasing` means. actuated by said member, said last-mentioned means comprising elements mounted on ysaid framework and elements adjustable with said carriage. y

111-. In a machine of the `character described, a -framework, a conveyor extending longitudinally of said framework, cutting mechanism mounted on a carriage adjustable transversely of said framework, clutch` mechanism on said carriage for periodically operating said cutting mechanism, means on said carriage for holding said clutch mechanism in disengagement and means for releasing said holding means, comprising a member on said framework engaged by articles on said conveyor at a predetermined longitudinally of said framework, .cutting j mechanism mounted on a carriage adjustable transversely of said framework, clutch mechanism on said carriage for periodically. op-

erating `said cutting mechanism, means on saidcarriage for holding saidclutch mechanism in disengagement and means for releasing said holding means, cemprising a memberV on said framework engaged by'articles on said conveyor at a predetermined point in their movement and means for actuating said releasing means actuated by said member, said last-mentioned means comprisingelements mounted on said framework and elements adjustable with said carriage and comprising an axially slidable, rotata-V ble member.

16. In a ymachine of the character described, aframework, a conveyor extending longitiiidinally of said framework, cutting mechanism mounted on a carriage adjustable transversely of said framework, clutch mechanism on said carriage for periodically operatingsaid cutting mechanism, means onv said carriage for -holdingsaid clutch mechanism in disengagement and means for releasing said holding means, comprising a member on said framework engaged by articles on said conveyor at a predetermined point intheir movement and means for actuating said releasing means actuated byl said member, said Alast-mentioned means comprising'elements mounted on'said :trainework and elements adjustable Vwith said cai'- riage and comprising an axially slidable, rotatable member, rotatable through a predetermined are to trip said Vreleasing means.`

In testimony whereof we aiix our signatures.

EDIVARD M*I BRACKETT. vvFRED M. BRACKETT.