US1726369A - Cutting machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 27, 1929. 'c, s rr 1,726,369

CUTTING MACHINE Filed April 22. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR QM K A TTORNE ys.

Aug. 27,1929. c. L. SMITH CUTTING MACHINE Filed April 22. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet m "a I a BY 31), "(M *MW/ ATTORNEYS,

Aug. 27, 1929. c. 1.. SMITH 1,726,359

CUTTING MACHINE Filed April 22. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. SMITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSI GNOR TO T. W. & C. B. SHERIDAN COM- PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CUTTING MACHINE.

Application filed April 22, 1926. Serial No. 103,817.

This invention is a novel cutting machine, for example for cutting piles of paper, or for trimming or slicing the edges of various materials. The invention pertains more particularly to that class of cutting machine eml tt ploying a bed for supporting the material, a clamp adapted to clamp material of varying thicknesses upon the bed. and a cutter or knife making its stroke in cooperation with the clamp.

The general object of the present invention is to improve the operation, efficienoy and convenience of cutting machines of the class referred to. It is already known to pull the clamp down upon the material through connections including a rotary friction clutch, which can slip after the clamp has met the material, but known mechanism of this form possesses limitations in clamping efficiency and degree of pressure, and it is a special object hereof to employ friction, or other yielding or receding resistance, in a novel manner adapted tofafford increased clamping pressure,lhigh efficiency of action, and minimum consumption of power. Further objects are to simplify, strengthen and render more durable cutting machines of the kind referred to. Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be explained in the hereinafter following description or will .be apparent to those conversant with the subject.

To the attainment of the objects and advantages referred to the present invention consists in the novel cutting machine, and the novel features of combination, arrangement, operation, construction and detail here-- in illustrated or described.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the machine, with certain parts broken away to show better the construction. Fig. 2 is a right elevation of the machine, that is, looking from the left of the rear view of Fig. 1, with the side plate and certain other elements broken away to show the interior construction. Fig. 3 is a partial top plan view, taken partly in section on the line 8-3 of Fig. 2.

In the above figures the .clamping block and cutting block are shown in their initial or fully elevated positions.

Fig. 4 is a right elevation of the working,

parts of the mechanism, showing them in position with the clamp and cutter down,

the clamp resting on a relatively thin inaterial or pile of paper sheets. Fig. 5 is a view. similar to Fig. 4, but showing the position taken by the depressed parts with a relatively thick material to be cut. Fig. 6 is'a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing a subsequent stage in operation, namely with the mechanism partway returned to initial position.

Fig. 7 is a right elevation showing the preferred resilient construction .of pressure link, as used in Figs. 8, 4 and 5.

The frame may comprise, among other rigid parts, the opposite side frames 8, each formed with a guide or slot ,9, for the clamp bar to be described, and a guide slot 10 for the cutting head. or bar, guiding them in their up and down movements. The frame also comprises a connecting top bar or girder 11, and a cutting bed 12 is rigidly supported by the opposite side frarnes. It is understood that the bed is adapted to support the material to be cut or trimmed such, for example, as a relatively thin, pile or stack A of paper or other sheets, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, or a relatively thicker stack B as shown inFigs. 5 and 6.

Guided in the vertical slots ,9is the clamp or clamp bar 13,- adapted to be brought down and held upon the material to be cut so as to clamp it firmly upon the bed while being cut or trimmed. The cutting blade 14 is secured at the lower inner side of the cutting head or knife bar 15, which is guided in the slots 10; the blade or knife being arranged to descend in face contact with the forward face of the clamp13, the two thus cooperating in the cutting operation. In order togive a shearing or slicing movement to the knife while descending through the paper there is shown a diagonal link 16 connecting the frame girder 11 and the cutter bar The parts thus far described may be of usual or other suitable construction and are not herein claimed per se. There also maybe a controlling handle 1.7 operating a power clutch of usual type, arranged for example to give one complete rotation of the main shafts and thereby one complete cycle of movements, with a stop bringing the machine to rest whentheclamping and cutting elements are restored to their raised or initial position. There may be a fly wheel vthrough which the clutch derives power.

A power shaft 18 is shown, which may be driven by the clutch mentioned, under control of the starting handle 17, and from it are driven the other parts of the machine. The power shaft carries a pinion 19 which engages a gear 20 mounted on a counter-shaft 21 located approximately at the center of the machine. A pinion 22 is mounted on the countershaft and this engages a gear 23 mounted on one of the main shafts 24 at the front part of the machine and a gear 25 mount-ed on another main shaft 26 near the rear of the machine. The front shaft 24 is employed particularly for operating the knife or cutter and will be termed the cutter shaft; while therear shaft 26 operates and controls the clamp and will be termed the clamp shaft. However, the gears 23 and 25 are of the same diameter, and are driven for convenience from the same pinion 22', so that the shafts turn in unison and constitute substantially a single actuating means for the coordinated operations of the cutter and clamp. l

The actuation of the cutter bar 15 from the shaft 24 may be as follows. The opposite ends of the shaft carry cranks 30, the pins 31 of which areengaged by blocks 32, which in turn are swivelled to the yoked lower ends of the rods 33, the rods being adjustable in length and extending upwardly and provided at their top ends with swivel couplings 34 connecting them to the outwardly extending extremities of the knife bar 15. By this arrangement a complete rotation of the shaft 24 operates to pull the knife bar from the initial raised position of Figs. 1 and 2 downwardly until the edge of the knife has passed through the material to be cut and reached the cutting bed, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, and then returns the knife upwardly through the intermediate position shown in Fig. 6 to the initial position.

The clamp or bar 13 may be pulled down by rods 38 pivoted to the ends of the bar and at their lower ends mounted directly on a transverse axle 39, which may extend the entire width of the machine so as to connect with both rods 38, as seen in Fig. l. The cross axle 39 may slide in and be guided by vertical slots 40 formed in the opposite side frames 8, and the engagement may be by square blocks 41 in which the axle turns, the blocks sliding in the slots 40. By lowering and lifting theaxle 39 with a parallel motion the clamp member will be accurately lowered and lifted.

The mechanism for depressing the axle 39 to depress the clamp upon the pile of paper may take different forms under the principles of the present invention, but is shown as comprising a toggle system arranged in a manner to insure the parallelmovement of the axle, and giving great power or thrust- 1,72e,see

in depressing and holding the clamp upon the paper. The toggle device or its equivalent, as will be explained, cooperates with certain other devices against which the upward thrust of the toggle is received when the clamp is being thrust downwardly. The toggle device may comprise a pair of oppo site lower toggle links 42 secured directly on the axle 39, and a complementary pair of upper toggle links 43. The upper ends of the latter have not fixed mountings but are connected to movable or floating pivots 44, namely at the ends of short rock arms 45 mounted upon a common cross axle or rock shaft 46. As Will be explained the rock arms 45 do not have an unresisted upward or receding movement when the toggles are straightening. The lowered or normal position of the rock arms however are determined by fixed stops or lugs 49 (Fig. 6), which therefore determine the normal or initial position of the upper toggle links 43.

The toggle links 42 and 43 are shown in their full bent or open position in Figs. 1 and 2, and in their straightened or full closed position in Figs. 4 and 5, and in an intermediate position in Fig. 6. The operation of each toggle pair is shown as effected through a rod 47 extending from the toggle joint to the pin of an operating crank 48 mounted on and turning with the clamp shaft 26. It will be clear that the revolution of the cranks 48 will move the toggle devices and the clamp through their successive positions; the movements being coordinated with those of the cutter, which descends slightly behind the clamp, so as to commence the cut after the material is clamped.

In accordance with the principles of this invention the forcible depression of the clamp is brought about by presenting a strong but yielding resistance to the recession of the floating end of the toggle or equivalent device, and for this purpose it is preferred to provide heavy frictional resistance against which the upper end of the toggle device may thrust upwardly during the operative movement of the toggle, so that the lower end can thrust powerfully downwardly upon the clamp and produce a continuous clamping pressure, the yielding resistance or friction presenting the desired large resistance at the upper end of the toggle, while able to yield during the latter part of the motion to allow the toggle to be straightened after the descending clamp has come to a stop upon the compressed pile of paper. I

Such a yielding resistance may be applied to the upper toggle ends as follows. As stated the rock arms 45 carrying the upper ends oftoggle arms 43 are secured to a rock shaft 46. This shaftalso carries otherrock arms 51 which may be substantially parallel with the arms-45a There maybe any'num' ber ofseco'ndary rock arms '51, and connected parts, two being shown: Extending downwardly from each of the secondary rock arms is shown a connectingl-ink 52 extend ing to a friction member or bar 53, thisbe= ing a generally flat platelike' member an ranged to be moved upwardly and down wardly while subject to friction. The frietion is applied by opposed-pressure members or blocks. The front friction pressure block 54 is preferably fixed to the frame, for example by upper and lower extensions 55' and 56. The opposed or rear block .57 is shown movably mounted, preferablyxso that it can be forced by a parallel movement against the rear surface of the friction bar 53-; for example,"an inclinedlink 58 may suspend the lowerendof the block 57 from the stationary block 54-.

By apply-ingasqueezing pressure through the friction blocks each of the friction bars 53 may be held by" any desired degree of strength or resistance, while subject to frictional sliding, or recession for the purposes mentioned. As many of the friction bars as desired may be employed, thus-giving unlimited friction resistance, but usually two bars, such as shown, will be sufficient.

It is desirable that the friction or resist ance may be effective at certain parts of the cycle of movements and'ine'fi'ective at other periods. To carry out these purposes the friction pressure may be removed" at times by the following or other mechanism. The rear side of each of the movablepres'sure blocks 57 is formed-with a b0ss '59 to which is connected apressure rod 60, having at its rear end-suitable guide means, such as a-yoke 61 straddling the clamp shaft 26. A cam stud or roller 62' stands out laterally from each pressure rod 60, and theseare acted upon by cams 63 mounted on and turning with the clamp shaft, each cam having a high gportion operating to apply the full frictional pressure during the operative stroke of the toggle and clamp, and alow portion wholly relieving the pressure during the return stroke, so that the parts may be freely restoredto initial position.

The slidingfriction bar 53'may consist of a plate of cast iron, or other hard material, with flat sides, and the opposing pressure members 54: and 57 may be provided with suitable frictional facings 65*, for exampl'e'of leather, fiber, or other non-metallic friction facing, in orderto maintain an effective'anduniform frictional cdopera-tion with the bar. One of the friction pressure members, for example, the stationary one 54, may be ad'- j-ustable to take wear and regulate pressure by means of a igib 66behi nd the leather facing, which may be adjusted in position by means of back screws 67,.as'indicat1ed iii-Fig. 3.

A' resilient'element. may be included. in the'fri'ctionbar pressingmeans. For example, the gi'b' 66' may have short but powerf'ulresilient backings or springs, determining a-maximum for the friction pressure, with screw adjustment means behind the springs. Or resilience and adjustment of the .movable friction pressure member 57 may bevprovided, for example, as shown in Fig; 7, by a powerful coil spring'68 surrounding the shank of link 60*, and bearing against the separate head 60 in which the shank 'm'ay slide longitudinally. Adjusting lock nuts=69 determine the amount-{of compre'ssi'ou'of the spring when the pressure is applied and therefore the degree of pressure; and a light spring 70 may be arranged to"prevent lo'oseness 'o'r slack by pulling outward'ly on the pressureblock 57 when the cam 63 has relaxed the spring 68, thus keep i-ng cam roll 62"upon the cam. This refers to Figs. 2, 3 and 7. Fig. (ishow's a link 160 withoutspring, but with screw 71 adjusting its length, and therefore the pressure, with lock nut 72 securing the adjustment.

The cycle of'operation of the described partsmay be substantially as follows In the initial po'sition'the-c'lamp and the cutter are at the top of their strokes, and the toggle 42-, 43 is bent or opened toits full 'ext'ent, as shown inFigs. 1-, 2 and 3-, and the frictionjpress'u're is on, that is, the cam" 63 has forced and is holding the pressure member 57 powerfully againstfrie'tion bar 53, this having-preferably occurred just before the end of the return movement 'of the parts. When power is thrown on and the cutter shaft and clamp shaft commence their rotation, counterclockwise in Fig. 2, the'clitter bar' and clamp bar start downwardly; During' this stage each toggle 42, 43 isbein'g progressively straightened by the crank 48, and merely draws or let's down the clamp, theuppe'r end of the toggle being effectually anchored. After an extent of movement, which will vary reversely with the thickness of the pi'1e ofpaper or other material to be cut, the clamp comes down upon and compresses the material. This is a very powerfirl compressing action due to the straightening of the toggles and due also to the effectual anchoring of the upper. end of each toggle by'the friction on the bar 53, it being well known that initial or static friction is greater than friction between parts in sliding engagement. Immediately after the lower ends of the toggles are unable to lower the clamp any further, and the upperends of the toggles thereupon come into action. The toggle thus has a double action, operat ing as a spreading device, and pressing apart the elements at its two ends. The rock arms and 51 are thus compelled to rise, resisted by the receding resistance or friction, which opposes continued high resistance while the friction bar 53progressively slips upwardly from its normal or lowered position. The amount of the yielding or reced ing Slip of the friction bar corresponds with the thickness of the material being cut; slight thickness of material requiring only slight slippage and vice versa; but in each case, throughout the action, the intense resistance to slip insures continuous powerful toggle depression'of the clamp bar upon the work. At the halfway point in the cycle of operations, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, the knife has finished its out and the toggle has closed or straightened to its full extent; the clamp is still held powerfullydown upon the work, the friction still being applied, although the slippage has ceased. Immediately after this stage the cam 63 Operates through link to slacken the pressure and thus remove or substantially release the friction upon the bar 53, the clamp thereafter being held down upon the work only by gravity. The continued action causes the knife to be moved upwardly by the cranks 30, while the crank 48 continues opening or bending the toggle. In the first part of this action the toggle operates to let down the friction bar 58 and the connected rock arms 51 and 44:. It is only after the rock arms come down against their fixed stop 47 that this action ceases, with the friction parts now restored to normal, this stage being shown in Fig. 6. Thereafter the continued opening of the toggle operates to lift the clamp from off the work and to continue its upwardly movement unopposed by friction. Finally the cutter and clamp bars reach normal or elevated position, and the clutch thereupon preferably operates automatically to stop the machine, permitting the readjustment ofthe work for a new cutting operation. I In connection, with the clamp there have thus been described the following particular elements each of which is considered to be novel in itself and in combination with another or others of such elements. First, the clamp actuating mechanism, consisting of a toggle or other double acting or spreading device which exerts opposite thrusts upon the clamp and the resistance, depressing the clamp with reaction on the resistance, and later restoring the clamp by power to elevated position. By this mechanism the clamp is. causedto come smoothly but surely andfirmly into place upon the paper stack. The initial pressure of the clamp is by gravity which is promptly followed up by the power thrust and there is no blow nor possibility of rebound or disarrangement of the material being cut. Second, the receding resistance device in the form of a flat sliding friction bar orv plate, or a plural number of them, each of which is shown squeezed between friction blocks, giving high but yielding resistance. This device involves preferably a straight sliding movement as the bar is pushed or pulledbetween the pressure blocks. Not only is a higher resistance obtainable with this device than with rotary friction devices, but the action is found to be more uniform and reliable. The device is such that it may be duplicated or multiplied so as to increase the resistance without limit, and it operates to maintain high compressive power uponthe work during the slippage of the friction and while the knife is cutting the work., Third, the means for applying and removing the frictional resistance, namely by means of a timed mechanism or cam which applies the full friction at a predetermined point, for the clownstroke of the clamp, and releases it quickly and completely at another predetermined point, namely at the-end of the downstroke, permitting easy and frictionless lifting of the clamp by the clamp actuating mechanlsm. 1

. There has thus been described a cutting machine embodying the principles and at- 1 taining the objects of the present invention.

Since various matters-of combination, ar-

rangement, operation, construction and de tail ma-yb'e variously modified without de parting from 'the principles it is not intended to limit the invention to such matters except so' far as setforth in the appendedcl'aims. 1 What is claimed is: 1 1. Aflcutting machine having a bed for supporting the material to be cut, a clamp and a cutter cooperatively movable toward the bed, and in combination therewith a plurality of slipping friction devices, each having a fixed part and a receding part, and operating mechanism comprising means thrusting the-clamp toward the bed with simultaneous reaction against the receding parts of the friction devices, and timed means for applying friction pressure to the friction devices during the operative stroke of the clamp toward the bed and for removing Such pressure during the return stroke. a 2. A cuttingmachine asin claim 1 and wherein is a rock shaft havinga plurality of rigid rock armsto'which the receding parts of the friction devices are connected by links and through which the reaction is appliedthereto. 1 3. A cutting machine having a bed for supporting the material to be cut, a clamp and a cutter cooperatively movable toward the bed, and in combination therewith a receding resistance device, and 0p 1 crating mechanism for the clamp and cutter comprising a spreading device, comprising a toggle, having both ends movable, one end thrusting the clamp toward the bed while the other end is thrusting oppositely against the receding resistance device.

4:. A cutting machine having a bed for supporting the material to be cut, a clamp and a cutter cooperatively movable toward the bed, and in combination therewith a receding resistance device, and operating mechanism for the clamp and cutter comprising an upright toggle so arranged that while straightening the toggle its lower end thrusts down on the clamp and its upper end thrusts up on the receding resistance.

5. A cutting machine having a bed for supporting the material to be cut, a clamp and a cutter cooperatively movable toward the bed, a receding resistance device, and operating mechanism for the clamp and cut ter comprising a plurality of toggles having their lower ends connected to the clamp and their upper ends pivoted in alinement, and arranged to thrust against the resistance device.

6. A cutting machine as in claim 5 and wherein the upper ends of the toggles are pivoted to floating pivots, rock arms carrying such pivots, and a common rock shaft for said arms.

7. A cutting machine as in claim 5 and wherein the operating mechanism comprises also a power driven crank and a connecting rod from said crank to the toggles.

8. A cutting machine having a bed for supporting the material to be cut, a clamp and a cutter cooperatively movable toward the bed, a receding resistance device comprising a friction part sliding under pressure against a fixed part, operating mechanism for the clamp and cutter comprising means thrusting the clamp toward the bed with abutment reaction against the friction part of the resistance device, and timed means putting the resistance device under operative pressure for the operative stroke of the clamp and releasing it for the return stroke.

9. A cutting machine as in claim 8 and wherein the resistance device comprises sliding friction members, and the timed means operates to engage the members under pressure always at the same point and to release them always at another point in the cycle of operation.

10. A cutting machine having a bed for supporting the material to be cut, a clamp and a cutter cooperatively movable toward the bed, a receding friction resistance device, operating mechanism for the clamp and cutter comprising means thrusting the clamp toward the bed with reaction against the resistance device; and timed means rendering the resistance device operative for the operative stroke of the clamp and inoperative for the return stroke and consisting of a cam turned in coordination With the operating mechanism, and having connections to apply the resistance for the movement of clamp toward bed, and release the resistance for the return movement of clamp, said connections comprising a thrust rod adjustable to set the friction pressure of the resistance device.

11. A cutting machine having a bed for supporting the material to be cut, a clamp and a cutter cooperatively movable toward the bed, and the combination, with said elements, of a fixed friction part and a friction plate arranged to slide in a straight line on the fixed part, pressure means squeezing the friction plate against the fixed part, and mechanism thrusting the clamp toward the bed with abutment reaction against the sliding resistance of said plate.

12. A cutting machine having a bed for supporting the material to be cut, a clamp and a cutter cooperatively movable toward the bed, a flat friction bar arranged to slide longitudinally, means applying friction thereto, and clamp operating mechanism cooperating with said friction bar whereby after the clamp meets the material the continued action of the mechanism may cause the sliding of the bar.

18. A cutting machine as in claim 12 and wherein the friction bar is fitted to slide parallel to the clamp movement, and the clamp operating mechanism thrusting down on the clamp and up on the friction, and vice versa.

14. A cutting machine as in claim 12 and wherein the friction applying means comprises opposed pressure blocks, timed means for moving one of said blocks into and out of pressing engagement, and means for adjusting the pressing position of one of said blocks.

15. A cutting machine having a bed for supporting the material to be cut, a clamp and a cutter cooperatively movable toward the bed, a friction plate, and mechanism thrusting the clamp toward the bed with reaction against the sliding resistance of said plate, pressure means squeezing the plate, comprising a pressure spring, and means for adjusting the pressure thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have affixed my signature hereto.

CHARLES L. SMITH.

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