US1949091A - Paper cutter and process of cutting paper - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 27 1934. w L VALIQUETTE 1,949,091

PAPER CUTTER AND PROCESS OF CUTTING PAPER Filed July 26. 1950 e Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Mm fl afif ORNEW.

1934- w. VALIQUETTE PAPER CUTTER AND PROCESS OF CUTTING PAPER Filed July 26, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

1934. w; VALIQUETTE PAPER CUTTER AND PROCESS OF CUTTING PAPER Filed July 26, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. BY 7 E A TT-ORNEYJ Feb. 27, 1934.. w. 1.. VALIQUETTE PAPER CUTTER AND PROCESS OF CUTTING PAPER Filed July 26, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 w M6////// 7/ N A Q mw an m INVENTOR M A TTORNEY' Feb. 27, 1934.

w. 1.. VALIQUETTE 1,949,091

PAPER CUTTER AND PROCESS OF CUTTING PAPER Filed July 26, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 a; o 1 0 c D o 1% Z I 2 E 1 5 LE 0 Z z 2 "m mm 'F' f o 6 I m H 4- g E- 5 g 8 q a O @08 .W 1'! I I 1 o s l .g 4 T y 6 l E w t :1 0 j i :7 I k 2/ 20 w, T /5 1! mm" (4 a a If;

IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYJ' Feb. 27, 1934. w L, VAUQUETTE 1,949,091

PAPER CUTTER AND PROCESS OF CUTTING PAPER WzM M ATTORNEY-1'.

Patented Feb. 27, 1934 1,949,091 I PAPER CUTTER AND PROCESS OF CUTTING PAPER William L. Valiquette, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Harris-Seybold-Potter Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application July 26, 1930. Serial No. 470,925

21 Claims.

My invention relates to paper cutters and processes of cutting paper, and particularly to that class of machines known as single knife paper trimmers. The particular machine shown and at described in this application for patent is peculiarly adapted for use in the cutting of labels for various uses. These labels present many difficulties to the trimmer operator by reason of the variations in the printing of the labels, their spacing, and varying width of trim.

It is to be understood that labels are usually printed on large sheets, the various labels being arranged in columns in one direction so that the trim or space between is approximately uniform, but the spacing of the label groups in the opposite dlrection may vary between a given group and its neighboring group, and as the succeeding groups may all vary, the problem of separating the labels into individual units has proved to be a time consuming operation. It should be understood that the machine herein described and claimed is not necessarily intended to cut the initial strips of labels, this ordinarily being done on the regular type of trimmer.

In the past it has been the practice, insofar as was possible, to group a given size of label in the printing so as to minimize the difficulties presented by the later trimming and separation.

The machine described herein deals primarily with the long strips, as has been stated, and it is not necessary to have all the labels of a given strip the same width as my new machine will rapidly and economically cut labels of varying sizes and take care of the necessary trims either between labels or between groups of labels.

In paper cutters, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it has been customary to advance the paper to the cutting knife and to gauge the paper by means of pusher arms which push against the rear edge of the advancing stack. In advancing a stack of sheets of paper by pushing them from the rear edge when the pusher stops the pile tends to slide one sheet on another, so that the front edge is disturbed and does not present a clean cut, vertical line. Furthermore, even though a stack of sheets'of paper to be cut. is accurately positioned relative to the knife, when the paper clamp descends upon the stack it tends to buckle the front edge of the stack.

It is an object of my invention to correct the disturbing effect on a stack of sheets caused by advancing them, and by the buckling effect due to clamp pressure, and to gauge them from their rear edge by blocking the forward movement of the front edge. This will both prevent any slip-- page of the sheets one on another, and will straighten the rear edge of the stack. I

It is an object of my invention, as described herein, to gauge the front edge of a stack relative to the knife and to provide gauges which, when 0 the width of the stack is very narrow, will automatically move out of the way to allow for the clearance due to the thickness of the knife. If the thickness of a knife is of an inch and the width of the trim is, for example, only V of an 5 inch, it will be obvious that should a front edge gauge be provided which held the front edge of the stack within /8 of an inch of the cutting edge of the knife, when the bevel edge of the knife descended through the stack it would strike the gauge, so that by providing a trim gauge which moves out of the path of the knife as soon as the knife begins its out I obtain all the advantages of maintaining a vertical straight line at the front edge of the stack, without the disadvantages of not having suflicient clearance to allow for the beveled edge of the cutting knife.

Other novel objects will be noted in the ensuing specification.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a paper trimmer embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the trimmer.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the trimmer.

Figure 4 is a plan of the left-hand end of the 35 movable table showing the construction of the trimmer stops.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section showing one of the adjustable stops in elevation.

Figure 6 is a section on line a Figures 1 and 3, showing the latch for the transverse slide.

Figure 7 is a section on line B, Figure 3, show ing the trip dog for the transverse slide.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the machine from the delivery side showing the stack remover for taking away the material cut.

Figure 9 is a diagram of a typical printed form to be cut.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the stack remover;

The frame of the machine is shown at 1. This frame has the usual guides 2 for the knife 3, and the clamp or hold down 4.

Power is supplied by a motor and the usual gearing (not shown), the output of the power and 1 control devices being connected to the shaft 5 This shaft, as is usual in machines of this class, makes one revolution and then comes to a stop. The wrist pins 6, mounted eccentrically in a cam disc 6 on the shaft 5, have connecting rods '7 mounted thereon which cause the knife to make its cutting stroke.

With this understanding of the machine motions, how these movements are utilized to accomplish the novel results claimed, will now be explained.

Considering Figs. 1, 2 and 3, at the front of the knife is a table '8, at the left, as indicated, is the gauge rail 9. This rail has mounted on it a manually adjustable back gauge 9a. suspended by roller contact to the top edge of the rail and capable of being moved readily by hand. Further to the left of the rail 9 is a stop rail 10 having fastened to its upper edge a series of adjustable stops 1041, the purpose of which will be explained later in this description.

Atthe rear of the knife, Fig. 3, is .a pair of guides 11 and 12 which are a part of frame 1 and extend across the rear of the machine. Mounted upon and sliding in the guides 11 and 12 is a movable table 13. Mounted on the right hand side of the frame 1, as indicated, is a bracket 14, Fig. 1. This bracket furnishes a pivot point for a lever 15. The upper end of the lever 15 has a bearing for a pin 16, which has pivotally mounted on it a link 17. This link at its left end is pivotally fastened to a bracket 18; cast on the underside of the table 13. A bracket 19 is mounted on the left side of the frame 1. This bracket has a forward extension 20 having a hole 21 therein for the passage of a rod. Upon lever 15 is a bearing 22 for a pin 23. A rod 24 is pivotally mounted on the pin 23. 1 v

A compression spring 215 is mounted upon the rod 24 and the end of therod is inserted in the hole in the bracket extension 20. As described, the spring 25 is of the compression type and tends at all times to keep the lever 15, and with it the table 13, urged to the right as shown in Figure 1. Mounted on the shaft 5 at the right is a disc 6a having on its rear face a cam portion 26. The development of this cam is best seen in Figs. 1 and 3. On the arm 15 is mounted a roller 27 which is in the path of cam 26 and which is held in contact therewith by the spring 25. Fastened to a bracket 28 on the frame 1 at the left side of the machine as shown, is an air check'dash pot 29 of'the usual type, having the usual piston and piston rod, and the usual throttling passages for the compressed air.

At 30,Fig. 1, I have shown a bracket cast on the underside of the sliding table 13. This brackpurpose and construction of which will now be described.

Extending from the frame 1 and guides 11 and 12 is'a bracket 32 carrying a bearing 33. Mounted in the bearing 33 is a shaft 34 having, mounted on its right hand end, a ratchet wheel 35. On the left end of the shaft 34 a pin disc 36 is mounted having a notched periphery 37. The disc 36 has in its side walls a series of holes 38 in which is' mounted a series of stop pins 39, the length of which determines the location of the stop bars with relation to the guide 9. A bracket 40 is fastened to the frame 1 and carries a spring mounted detent 41 which engages the notches in the periphery of disc 36.

Mounted on the shaft 34 next the ratchet wheel 35 is an arm 42 which, on its outer extension, carries a roller 43. At its mid-length is a bearing and stud 44, the stud carrying a ratchet pawl 45 having a weighted extension 46 below its center and a hook 47 to the rear of the pawl end. In the path of this hook 47 mounted in the frame is a pin 48.

On the shaft 5 there is a cam 49. The cam is somewhat heart shaped, as is seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and has the roller 4301? the arm 42 in bearing contact with its outer periphery.

At the left end of shaft 34, to the right of disc 36, is mounted a bevel gear 50.

Extending transversely of the machine from a point at the rear of the shaft 34 to the rear of the machine and carried in hearings in the bed is a shaft 51 which, at its back end, has a bevel gear 52, and at its front end a graduated hand disc '53 having handles 54. The gear 52 is in mesh with the gear 50 on the shaft 34 and any movement by hand of the graduated disc to the right or left induces a like movement on the part of the ratchet wheel35 and the disc 36.

As constructed, the parts mounted on the shaft 34 are advanced onenotch for each revolution of the cam 49, the cam lifting the arm 42 and with it the ratchet pawl 45 from the path of pin 48. The pawl, then, due to the counterweight, swings in to an appropriate tooth of the ratchet wheel 35 and as the cam advances towards its maximum, the ratchet wheel and the disc 36 are advanced one notch or tooth, the hand adjustable disc' 53 turning in unison with the disc and ratchet wheel. As the cam recedes from its peak the ratchet pawl 45 is retracted as the arm 42 recedes until the hook 47 on the rear of the pawl comes in contact with the pin 48, where upon the pawl is retracted from engaging position with the ratchet wheel and continues to a position of retreat ready for the next movement. The step by step movement of the disc brings anypins mounted in the holes 38 in step by step succession, to and past the top center line of the disc 36. The positioning of the pins in step by step rotation at a top center line is utilized to producesa desired result, as will be explained.

It is now to be noted that depending from the bottom of the movable table 13 there is a stop 68 so positioned that it will strike any pin in disc 36'that is 'at the top center, or if there is no pin the stop will strike the disc itself. It is obvious that the distance the movable table 13 may travel to the right is determined by the arresting of the table by either the stop 68 striking a pin or the disc 36.

It will also be noted that when the ratchet pawl is freed from the ratchet wheel 35 the hand adjustable disc 53 may be turned by hand in either direction, provided the machine is stopped with the knife down, this positionplacing the table stop 68 furthest to the left out of the path of any of the pins 39 in the disc 36.

Looking at Figs. 1 and, 3, it is to be noted that at the left end of movable table 13 is a series of adjustable steps 55, five in number. The first or left hand one is slightly different than the rest and will be described last.

Looking at Figure 5, the construction is clearly shown. The stops or front edge gauges are composed of sliding bars 56 having upturned ends 57 which act as stops if material be impinged against them. At the opposite end the stop has a threaded hole 59 in which is screwed the adlusting screw 58. This screw has the usual collars each side of an abutment 60 carried by the table so that when the screw is turned, the stop is fed inward toward the knife 3, or retracted therefrom. I Y All of these stops are mounted on the movable close to a line, known as the knife line which is,

the cutting line for the stock, whatever it may be. If it was desired to take, for example, one

eighth of an inch of stock off on a certain cut, and

the stop was set at the proper distance to give this cut, the knife, being one half an inch thick, would strike the stop, to the injury of both, so it is' therefore necessary that this stop be arranged, as the knife descends, to move automatically away from the knife.

Looking at Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that a cam slot 63 is milled in the table guide 11. Mounted on the left end of the sliding table 13 is a pair of abutments 62 serving to support a cover plate and retain the sliding stop bars, A sliding part 64 has 9. depending shoe 65 which has a sliding fit in the cam slot 63 in the table guide 11. An abutment 66 is also carried by the sliding part 64 and mounted in this abutment is an adjusting screw 67 which at its opposite end is threaded into the rear end of the stop .61 and capable, when turned, to adjust the stop 61 in or out.

It is to be further seen that as the sliding table 13 moves to the left it will fgrce an outward movement of the stop 61 due to the riding of .the shoe 65 in the cam slot 63 and thus free the stop from the path of the knife.

It is therefore to be understood that if stock is being cut that needs no trim between cuts, the stop 61 may be adjusted outwardly and to a width suitable to the cut desired or it may be set for trim purposes only and the other stops used for the wider cuts. 1

' Looking now at Figs. 1, 3 and 6, there is mounted for transverse sliding motion in the top surface of table 13 a slide 69, and beneath the slide in the table 13 is an opening 70. Projecting through this opening and secured to the under side of the slide 69 is a roller '71 which extends into a recess 71a, cored in the guidell. The recess has at its right end an outwardly tapering portion 72 which, if the table 13 and slide 69 be moved to the right, will be struck by the roller '71 and the slide 69 be forced outward, as shown in Fig. 3.

It is desired that the slide 69 be retained in this outward position during a working stroke of the knife, as will be. set forth later, and for this purpose a latch 73 is provided and is shown best in Fig. 6. The sliding table 13 has depending from its under side a bracket 74 in which is mounted thelatch 73, this latch having a counterweight portion 75. i

This construction enables the latch, when the slide 69 is forced outward by the cam surface 72, to snap past the holding lug 76 and thus retain the slide 69 in outward position. This outward movement of the slide is made against the resistance of the compression spring 77. This spring is mounted on a rod carried at one end by a and at the other end by a bracket' 79 extendin downward from sliding table 13. Looking now at Fig. 7 which is a sectional view on line B of Fig. 3, mounted on the under inner edge of guide 11, is a bracket 80. Pivoted on a bearing pin in the bracket 80 is a trip dog 81 which has a tail piece 82 acting as a counterweight and stop. A pin 83 is mounted in the bracket and the tail piece or counterweight has a notched portion which rests on the pin 83, thus-holding the trip dog in'a working position. v

Presume now that the table has moved to the right far enough for the roller 71 to strike the cam surface 72, then the slide 69 has been retracted and the latch '73 holds the slide in an outward position. Now if the table be returned to the left toits full limit the slide remains in its retracted position by reason of the fact that a cam shaped strike lug 84, on the rear of latch 73 (and which is in the path of the trip dog 81)' upon striking the rear portion 85 of the trip dog 81,

.rocks the trip dog forward and passes on over,

the trip dog again dropping to normal position against the pin 83. When the movable table 13 again is moved to the right the cam lug 84 immediately strikes the sloping surface 86 of the trip dog 81 which is held rigidly and releases the grip of the latch 73 on the slide 69 which, under the urge of the spring 77, then snaps to normal position, closing the opening 87 in the movable table 13.

The purpose of the construction above described will now be set forth.

When the machine comes to rest after a cutting stroke the movable table 13 is to the right, with the movable table stop 68 against the disc 36 if there is no pin in the disc 36, as would be the case if the trimmer stop was to be used. As the table moves to the right its full stroke, the slide 69 moves outward and is latched in that position, as has been set forth previously. At the same time the stop 61 is then in the position shown in Fig. 3; that is, in line with anything being pushdfor- Ward by the back gauge 9a, .it being understood that the material to be cut is held to the left against the guide rail 9 thus bringing a small portion of the material to be cut in line with stop 61. The operator now pushes, by means of the back gauge, the material to be out against the stop and pulls the starting lever for the operation of the machine. The first result is an immediate start of the movable table to the left and the gripping of the'work by a hold down as is usual in machines of this class.

As the table moves to the left the stop 61 is carried to the left and'at the same timeretracted outward by the devices previously described and the movement to the left continuing until a dwell in the cam 26 is reached. When the dwell of the cam stops the table the slot 87 is then to the left in line with the left edge of the material to be trimmed and the knife 3 has just reached the material for cutting action. As the trim cut is made the waste material drops through the slot 87 into a receptacle in the base of the machine. The

knife then retreats and the machine .comes tobringing into action a pin in the disc 36 ready to stop the movable table 13 and present a stop for gauging of the stock for the next out.

If there is a series of similar width cuts to be made, each followed by a trim, then pins 39 of similar length would be inserted in the disc 36 in every other hole and every other stroke of the table to the right would be a full or trim position 'stroke, the stop 68 coming against the disc 36 instead of against a width determining pin 39.

Referring to Fig. 9, a diagram of a printed sheet of labels of different sizes and of varied indexing and trimming requirements is shown.

These sheets vary in size according to the grouping and quantity of labels required to fill a given order so that the diagram is but typical of hundreds that might face the operator of the machine of this invention.

Attention is called to one of the diiiicultles of the printing art as shown in the diagram where 91, 92, 93 and 94 indicate what will be called the "make up space, which is necessary to permit the use of the appliances which look the printing cuts in the form for the press. It has been found to be impossible to control this space in the make up for the press to exact limits, and while the variation is slight, it is enough to cause serious trouble if any attempt is made to cut up the stock from a given starting point and maintain a register of the cuts with the edge of printed labels.

Facing this condition the applicant hasovercome the difiiculty as will be shown in the description to follow.

The large sheets of labels, sometimes 48 inches by '72, are first-cut into strips as is indicated at 90, it being understood that several hundred of these sheets are grouped in a single pile before being cut.

The cutting may be done on a regular type cutting machine.

The strips are now transferred to the machine described herein and proceeded with as follows:

It is essential that there be established a base line out as a starting point, therefore there is inserted in the disc 36 a long pin which keeps the group of adjustable stops 55 to the left past a line coinciding with the side gauge rail 9 against which the strips are abutted sidewise. The operator now moves the front gauge 911 up to the pile of strips and, having measured the necessary cut for the make up space edge 91, sets an adjustable stop 10a on the edge of the rail 10.

On the front gauge 9a, at its upper center, is a pair of bearings 98, mounted in these bearings is a hand operated stop lever 99, the end 100 of which is in the path of one of the adjustable stops 10a. When the adjustment is complete for the first base line out the stop lever end 100 is against the adjustable stop 10a.

The operator now sets the stop 5511 the proper distance to cut the first label. He then inserts in the disc 36 the number of pins 39 necessary to make the successive cuts required, in the case of the cut-up sheet was .placed in the machine, the

work would have to be done all over again and again.

However, what he does is to insert another long pin 39 in the disc 36 and again get the base line out. He then sets a second adjustable stop 10a on rail 10 against the end 100 of lever 90, makes the cut, and then sets another stop 55b for the next set of labels, and continues this procedure until the entire strip is cut.

This method of procedure will take care of any quantity of duplicate piles of strips, the successive operations being, after the first setting, entirely automatic, for as each cut is made, either the pins 39in disc 36 or the front gauge stops 10a definitely position the stack. for the cut.

Looking now at Fig. 9, there is indicated at 101 a series of labels having 9. trim on one edge. The operator having established the base line out at 93, then sets a pin 39 in disc 36 for the travel to the right of the movable table 13, sets the adjustable stop 550 for the label width, makes the cut, the table, just as the cut is started, moving to the left its full distance. As the knife starts up the table starts to the right and by the time the knife reaches its fully retracted position, the trim stop is in front of the stock ready for the operator to push the stock up for the next out. As has been set forth, a succession of pins and blanks in the disc 36 will cut the label stock as illustrated at 101.

The cutting of labels introduces the problem to the trimmer operator of maintaining the formation of what is known as the pile", the result of a out. In mostinstances the labels are of a narrow design and as the knife of the trimmer descends, the stock out being so narrow, is thrown over, causing extra time and labor to reassemble. I have overcome this difficulty in the present machine in a novel manner as will now be set forth.

Looking at Fig, 1, it is to be noted that the surface of the movable table 13 and slide 69 is slightly lower than that of the front table 8. Considering now Figs. 8 and 10, a stock receiving unit has a frame 102. This frame has on its bottom edge a sliding plate 103, and at its center is an upwardly extending dovetail rib 104 sliding in a dovetail slot in the lower face of frame 102. This rib at the right hand end has an upwardly extending end shoe 105. Fastened in this shoe is a rod 106 extending to the left to a hole in a plug 107. This plug is threaded so as to be removable to insert a spring 108 over the rod 106. A bearing 109 is cast in the upper right hand portion of the frame 102 and a lever 110 is pivotally mounted therein. This lever has its opposite end in bearing contact with the shoe 105 and a handle 111 is provided to facilitate its use by an operator. In use, the stock receiving unit is placed by an operator directly in front of the next gauged pile of stock, the thin forwardly extending edge of plate 103 being inserted under the bottom of the pile.

When the knife 3 makes its out the stock is left in the pile form shown by the dotted line 112, being laid in a straight pile against the unit except at the bottom where, due to the taper of the knife body the pile is beveled at its base. Enough stock is resting on the extended end of lift the pile away. The operator now delivers the pile at any convenient point, as, for instance, the right hand extended end of movable table 13, by first pushing the pile against a block or stop, thus straightening mostly the beveled portion of the pile. The operator then grasps the lever 110, pulling it to the left, thus retracting the plate 102 from beneath the pile of stock and further straightening the lower portion. The complete withdrawal of the plate deposits the pile of label stock in a well straightened stack ready for further disposal. Attention is called to the graduated hand disc 53 (Figs. 2 and 3,)

If a given set of labels use only a portion of the pin holes on pin disc 36, and there is no provision for disengaging the ratchet pawl 45, it will be necessary to advance the pin disc 36 step by step until the beginning is reached, but by reason of the disengaging pin 48 retracting the ratchet pawl 45 from the ratchet wheel, it is possible by reason of the graduated hand disc 53 to ascertain just how many pins have been used and how far the pin disc must be turned either ahead or reverse, to return to the starting point. The operator has but to grasp the handles on the disc 53 and turn to zero and the cycle is ready for a repeat.

I have endeavored to clearly set forth the novel features of my invention in this specification, but it is to be understood, however, that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art; and various modifications may be made due to commercialization of the trimmer without in any way departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. In a mechanical paper cutter having a cutting knife and means for holding down stacks of sheets during the cutting operation, means for advancing stacks of sheets and gauging means fordetermining the width of cut arranged to be abutted by the front edge of an advancing stack of sheets to be out, said gauging means comprising an abutment set in the path of the knife for determining the width of trim, and a plurality of additional abutments successively farther from the knife for determining the successive widths of cut, said abutment for determining the width of trim being movable out of the path of the knife after said knife begins its-operating stroke, and means for causing relative movement of the abutments and the stacks of sheets to permit the sheets to pass successive abutments.

2. In a mechanical paper cutter having a cutting knife and means for holding down stacks of sheets during the cutting operation, means for advancing stacks of sheets and gauging means for determining the width of cut arranged to be abutted by the front edge of an advancing stack of sheets to be cut, said gauging means comprising an abutment set in the path of the knife for determining the width of trim, and a plurality of additional abutments successively farther from the knife for determining the successive widths of out, said abutment for determining the width of trim being movable out of the path of the knife after said knife begins its operating stroke, and means for varying the distance of each additional abutment from the knife for determining successive variable widths of cut, and means for causing relative movement of the abutments and the stacks of sheets to permit the sheets to pass successive abutments.

3. A paper cutting machine having a cutting knife and a clamp for holding down a stack of sheets, said paper cutting machine being provided with means for forwarding a stack of sheets, means for gauging the front edge of a stack of sheets for a desired width of trim and out, said gauging means comprising a series of straight-edged members provided with means for setting same a desired distance from the plane of the cutting edge of the knife, said straightedged members being mounted in a transversely movable table limited in its movement to the distance apart of said straight-edged members.

4. In a mechanical paper cutter having a bed. a beveled edge cutting knife and means actuated in timed relation therewith for holding down stacks .of sheets during the cutting operation, gauging means for determining the width of cut arranged to be abutted by the front edge of an advancing stack of sheets to be cut, said gauging means comprising a gauge abutment adapted to be engaged by the stack determining the width of a trim, and a plurality of similar abutments for determining the successive widths of out, said gauge abutments being disposed in staggered relation, and means for laterally moving said gauge abutment for determining the width of trim out of the path of the knife after said knife begins its operation.

5. In a paper cutting machine, in combination with the movable knife thereof, past which the front edge of a pile of stock is advanced for each cutting of the pile of stock, a plurality of abutments arranged in a stepped series transverse to the path of advance of said edge.

6, In a paper cutting machine, in combination with the movable knife thereof, past which the front edge of the stock is advanced for each cutting of the stock, a series of abutments in stepped arrangement across the path of advance of said edge,.and means operated incident to the machine operation for gauging the relative positions of the abutments and the stock along a plane at right angles to said path.

'7. In a paper cutting machine, in combination with the movable knife thereof, past which the front edge of the stock is advanced for each cutting of the stock, a series of abutments in stepped arrangement across the path of advance of said edge, and means operated incident to the machine operation for setting said abutments successively greater distances laterally outward from the path of advance of a lateral edge of said stock.

8. In a paper cutting machine, in combination with the movable knife thereof, past which the front edge of the stock is advanced for each cutting of the stock, a series of abutments in stepped arrangement across the path of advance of said edge, and means operated in coordination with the movement of the knife for effecting successively greater relative lateral displacements of the abutments and a lateral edge of the stock.

' 9. In a paper cutting machine, in combination with the movable knife thereof, past which the front edge of the stock is advanced for each cutting of the stock, a series of abutments in stepped arrangement across the path of advance of said edge, and means having a cycle of operations in coordination with the knife movement, effecting recurring programs of successively greater lateral displacements of the abutments and a lateral edge of the stock.

10. In a paper cutting machine, in combination with the movable knife thereof, past which the front edge of the stock is advanced for each cutting of the stock, a series of abutments in stepped arrangement across the path of advance of said edge, and means havinga cycle of operations in coordination with the knife movement, effecting.

recurring programs of setting said abutments successively greater distances laterally outward from the path of advance of a lateral edge of the stock.

11. In a paper cutting machine, in combination with the movable knife thereof, past which the front edge of the stock is advanced for each cutting of the stock, a series of abutments in stepped arrangement across the path of advance of said edge, one abutment being movable relatively to the others into and out of the path ofsaid knife and into and out of the path of the stock.

12. In a paper cutting machine, in combination with the movable knife thereof, past which the front edge of the stock is advanced for each cutting of the stock, a series of abutments in stepped arrangement across the path of advance of said edge, one abutment being movable relatively to the others into and out of the path of said knife, and means for varying the relative positions of said abutments and a lateral edge of the stock along a plane at right angles to said path, said means being efiective to move said one abutment into and out of the path of the knife.

13. In a paper cutting machine, in combination with the movable knife thereof, past which the front edge of the stock is advanced for each cutting of the stock, a series of abutments in stepped arrangement across the path of advance of said edge, one abutment being movable relatively to the others into and out of the path of said knife, and means having a cycle of operations in coordination with the knife movement for efiecting successively greater relative lateral displacements of the abutments and a lateral edge of the stock, and moving said one abutment into and out of the path of the knife.

1%. In a paper cutting machine, in combination with the movable knife thereof, past which the front edge of the stockis advanced for each cutting of the stock, an abutment in the path of the knife and the path of the stock, and means for causing a movement of said abutment along the path of the stock out of the path of the knife, and causing another movement of said abutment out of the path of the stock.

15. In a paper cutting machine, in combination with the movable knife thereof, past which the front edge of the stock is advanced for each cutting of the stock, a series of abutments in stepped arrangement across the path of advance of said edge, means for gauging the relative positions of the abutments and the stock along a plane at rights angles to said path, a back gauge for the rear edge of the stock, advancing with the stock, and means for selectively stoppin'g said back gauge at various stages of its advance.

16. In a paper cutting machine, in combination with the movable knife thereof, past which the front edge of the stock is advanced for each cutting of the stock,- a table receiving the advanced edge of the stock, reciprocated transversely of the path of advance, having a section movable toward and away from the knife in coordination with the transverse reciprocation of the table, leaving a space for droppage of trimmings when moved away from the knife.

1'7. In a paper cutting machine, in combination with the movable knife thereof, past which the front edge'of the stock is advanced for each cutting of the stock, a table receiving the advanced 'edge of the stock, having a section movable toward and away from the knife, leaving a space for droppage of trimmings when moved away from the knife, a series of abutments carried by said table, in stepped arrangement across the path of advance of said edge, said movable section being at one side of said path, means for reciprocating the table transversely of said path, shifting said abutments out of said path and said section into said path and away from said knife when reciprocated in one direction and shifting said section out of said path and toward said knife when reciprocated in the opposite direction, and means for successively decreasing the reciprocation in said opposite direction for setting said abutments successively greater distances laterally outward from said path.

18. In a paper cutting machine, in combination with the movable knife thereof, past which the front edge of the stock is advanced for each cutting of the stock, a series of abutments in stepped arrangement across the path of advance of said edge, means for reciprocating said abutments across said path, and means for successively decreasing the reciprocation of said abutments in one directionfor setting said abutments successively greater distances laterally outward from said path.

19. In a paper cutting machine, in combination with the movable knife thereof, past which the front edge of the stock is advanced for each cutting of the stock, a series of abutments in stepped arrangement across the path of advance of said edge, one abutment being movable into and out of the path of said knife, means for reciprocating said abutments across said path, means whereby said reciprocation causes said one abutment to move into and out of said path of the knife, and means for successively decreasing the reciprocation of said abutments in one direction for setting said abutments successively greater distances laterally outward from said path.

20. In a paper cutting machine, in combination with the movable knife thereof, past which the front edge of the stock is advanced for each cutting of the stock, a series of abutments in stepped arrangement across the path of advance of said edge, means for reciprocating said abutments across said path, engaging means reciprocating with said abutment, and a circular series of stops rotated successively into the path of said engaging means at each reciprocation of said abutments in one direction and variously positioned along the path of said engaging means, the means for reciprocating said abutments being yielding in effecting said reciprocation in said one direction, whereby said abutments, by said engaging means engaging with the successively, encountered stops, have their reciprocation insaid one direction successively decreased for setting said abutments successively greater distances laterally outward from said path.

21. In a paper cutting machine, in combination with the movable knife thereof, past which the front edge of the stock is advanced for each cutting of the stock, means adjustable incident to the machine operation for gauging various degrees of advance of the stock by engagement with the front edge thereof, means engaging the rear edge of the stock for advancing the stock, and means adjustable for gauging said rear edge engaging means to various positions initial to advance.

WILLIAM L. VAIJQUETTE.

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