US2230383A - Cutting machine - Google Patents

Description

Patented Feb. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUTTING MACHINE sey Application September 14, 1939, Serial No. 294,873

Claims.

This invention relates to cutting machines and is illustrated as embodied in a machine for cutting slots in insoles for the reception of the end portions of straps designed to hold a sandal on the foot of the wearer. It is to be understood, however, that the .invention and various important features thereof may have other applications and uses.

Heretofore, various methods have been em- .ployed in securing the end portions of sandal straps to the sandal insole, with results more or less'satisfactory. While strap receiving slots in insoles have commonly been cut by hand operated tools, the operation is time-consuming and there is a lack of uniformity in the results obtained.

It is an object of this invention to provide a high speed machine for making slots of uniform character at selected points in the upper surface of a sandal insole for the reception of strap ends, which may be readily secured in said slots by means of a suitable cement.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an especially'simple and inexpensive machine for making cuts or slots in work pieces at indicated points upon proper presentation of the work piece to the machine.

It is an important feature of this invention that a cutter block for co-operatio-n with a knife or cutter is associated with gaging means adapted to locate a work piece, such as an insole, in proper position for a cutting operation. When in proper position a vertical edge portion of the insole engages both the gaging means and the cutter block so that the cutter, as it approaches the end of its stroke, cuts through the margin of the insole and makes a clean cut of the leather substance where the latter is backed by the cutter block. Preferably, and as shown, the cutter block yields against a spring the tension of which may be adjusted to insure optimum resistance of the cutter block against the thrust of the cutter. By having the cutter block yieldingly mounted at one side of the gaging means or in between spaced. portions of the gaging means, the cutter in its operative stroke may pass beyond the plane of the gaging surface into engagement with an inclined surface on the cutter block and thereby insure that the strap receiving slot is cut through the edge of the insole.

Preferably and as shown, the cutter is movable through an orbital path, the return or idle stroke of the cutter being above the path of its operative stroke. In the described movements of the cutter, the chip cut from the insole is lifted from the latter thereby insuring accomplishment of the intended result.

With the described and other features and advantages in view, the invention will now be described in detail in the specification and then pointed out more particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a cutting machine showing one embodiment of the inven tion;

Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the work supporting table together with a sectional view of gage members and a cutting block;

Fig. 3is a section in a vertical plane extending longitutdinally of the cutting block;

Fig. 4 is a detail of the cutter on a larger scale; Fig. 5 is anenlarged sectional view through a portion of an insole showing the slot or groove made by the cutter; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the path of the cutter.

In the illustrated machine, which is specially designed to cut slots in marginal portions of insoles, there is provided a table H) for the support of the work, said table having gage lines ll scored therein and carrying fixedly secured thereto gaging means comprising spaced members I2 (Figs. land 2) against which an edge portion of a sole is pressed to locate the sole for a cutting operation. Convenviently, the table I0 with its gages I2 is slidably mounted in a supporting member I 4 for adjustment from right to left, and vice versa, in Fig. 1, adjustment being secured by the screw-threaded member l6 rotatable in a bracket member l8 projecting downwardly from the lower surface of the table l0, said member I6 being axially immovable in the member I8 while being screwed into or out of a screw-threaded socket in the support I4.

Located between the gage members I2 is a cutting block (Fig. 2), preferably of compressed fiber or of a soft metal alloy such as brass, to provide an end surface for co-operation with a cutter 22 in securing a clean cut through the peripheral edge surface of the sole. As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, the cutting block 20 is slidable on the surface of the table 10 and is secured to the forward end of a rod 24 slidably mounted in a member 26 screw threaded in a casing or guide member 28 rigidly secured to the table H], as by brazing. Surrounding the exposed part of the rod 24 is a spring 30 abutting the block 20 at its forward end and the member 26 at its rear end, the said spring serving to hold the cutting block 20 yieldingly in its normal position of rest in which its operative surface is projected into substantial alinement with the gaging surfaces of the gage members l2, as clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. By adjustment of the threaded member 26, the tension of the spring 30 may be adjusted so that the cutter block 20 takes the thrust of the cutter 22 with sufficient resistance to insure clean cutting through all the leather fibers right up to the surface of the edge of the sole. For co-operation with the spring 30 in locating the cutter block in its position of rest, there is provided a shoulder on said block which engages an edge portion of the table it, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Conveniently, the cutting face of the block 20 is slanted upwardly and backwardly, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, for reasons hereinafter pointed out.

Means is provided for holding the work piece against displacement during the cutting operation, said means comprising in the illustrated construction a pair of spring members 3| (Figs. 1 and 2) secured to opposite sides of the casing 28. These spring members 3|, whil-e self-adjusting to work pieces of various thicknesses, press the work firmly against the table In as the latter rises during upward movement of the supporting member 14 under action of a spring 33, when the operator releases a treadle means (not shown) connected to the table supporting post 35 by a link member 31 (Fig. 1).

As indicated in Fig. 1, and as most clearly shown in Fig. 4, the cutter 22 is trough-shaped with a cutting edge at 22a and other cutting edges at 22b perpendicular to the cutting edge 22a, whereby a chip is taken out of the upper surface of the sole to leave a slot in said surface to a depth which may be predetermined through vertical adjustment of the table In and its support l4. By suitable adjustment of the table If), it is possible also to accommodate work pieces of a wider range of thicknesses. As indicated in Fig. 1, the cutter 22 is mounted in a square opening in a clamping stud 32 which is used to secure the cutter 22 to its carrier member 34.

Vertical adjustment of the support l4, and hence of the table It), is secured by proper manipulation of a knurled thumb nut 39 which is screw threaded on a rod member 4| and locked in adjusted position by a lock nut 39a, the upper end of member 4| being rigidly secured to the table support l4, and the arrangement being such that the nut 39 engages the under surface of a bracket 43 having an opening for slidably receiving the rod 4|. Bracket 43 is rigidly carried between bearing members 45, 41 for the post 35, the said bearing members being rigid with frame 49 of the machine. Surrounding the post 35 at its upper end is the spring 33 located between the under surface of the table support l4 and the upper surface of the bearing member 45, the said spring 33 being of such strength as to support the member l4, and hence the table III, in work presenting position against the downward thrust of the cutter, the arrangement being such that the spring 33 is compressed when the operator steps on the treadle to move the support l4 and the table I!) downwardly while a work piece is being shoved into position beneath the spring fingers 3| and against the gage members I2.

To limit the downward movement of the table l0 and support l4, there is provided a toothed collar 53 screw threaded on the rod member 4| and held in adjusted position by a spring 55 adapted selectively to engage the teeth of the collar 53. It will be understood that the collar 53, when turned, changes its spacing with respect to the upper surface of the member 43, this spacing determining the extent of the down- 5 ward movement of the post 35 and hence of the table support I4, when the treadle is depressed. This limitation on the downward movement of the work support contributes to the efficiency of the machine by reducing to a minimum the time 10 necessarily involved in work support operations. As will hereinafter be pointed out the cutter 22 is continuously operated so that a work piece is slotted through operation of the cutter as soon as the said Work piece is lifted into the path of the cutter through upward movement of the support l4 and table l0.

As illustrated, the cutter carrier 34 is operated by means designed to give the cutter movement in an orbital path, the said means comprising a link 36 pivoted at 38 to the cutter carrier 34 and at 40 in a slot in a head 42 supported at the forward end of an arm 44 overhanging the table l0 and integral with a post or standard 46. By adjustment of the pin at 40, a desired variation in the path of the cutter (and therefore in the slot in the sole) may be secured. This standard 46 is shown as secured to the machine frame 49 which may be a bench or a column, whereby the machine is supported at a suitable height. 30 Mounted in the upper end of the post 46 is a shaft 48 having secured thereto an eccentric 50 about which passes an eccentric strap 52 integral with the cutter carrier 34. Upon rotation of the shaft 48 and eccentric 50 in the direction 35 of the arrow (Fig. 1), the cutter carrier 34 is reciprocated first in a direction to force the cutter into the upper surface of the sole and then into contact with the cutter block 20 to effect a gouging of a sole member 54, as shown at 56 in Fig. 5. Toward the end of the working stroke in this orbital movement of the cutter 22, the cutter block yields against the spring 30 and the end of the cutter wipes upwardly along the slanted face of the operative end of the cutter block, said slanted or inclined face of the block acting as a shearing surface in co-operation with the upwardly moving cutter, thus insuring a clean cutting operation and removal of the chip from the sole. On its idle or return stroke, the cutter 22 moves in a path somewhat above the path of its operative stroke. Preferably the shaft 48 will be driven continuously from any convenient source of power at a speed of about 750 R. P. M.

In operating the machine, the operator steps on the treadle, thereby depressing the table a distance predetermined by the spacing between the adjustable member 53 and the top of fixed member 43. He then places a sole on the table Ill with an indicating mark in the sole margin 60 directly above one :of the gage lines scored in the surface of the table ID. The sole is then shoved firmly toward the gage members l2 until it is positioned by such gage members. Upon releasing the treadle, the sole is carried up tothe plane where it will be operated on by the 1 continuously :oscillating cutter. In passing, it may be noted that while it is desirable that the operator should operate the treadle and work support in properly timed relation to the travel of the cutter, it is not necessary because no harm is done if the first cut is incomplete, since the next succeeding cut will perfect the slot or groove, The operator may then shift the sole to another position for a second cutting or gouging loperation. Ordinarily the cutter will cut a slot of about width. If a wider slot is desired the sole is shifted correspondingly and a second out is taken, :overlapping the first somewhat, to provide a wider slot. Due to the efiiciency and simplicity of the operation, an operator may readily produce in rapid succession a number of slots in the sole, according to the indications carried by the latter. As the cutter supports are shown adjusted in Fig. 1, including the position of the pin 40 in its slot, the cutter will make a slanting cut into the insole for about inch and then a substantially horizontal cut of about inch to and through the vertical edge of the sole, as shown in Fig. 5. However, the parts, including the supports for the table and cutter, may be adjusted to perform cutting operations for other purposes. For intance, the adjustment may be such as to cut into the top surface of the sole and come out with a slanting cut clear through the thickness of the sole, thus making a notch in the periphery of the sole.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for cutting slots in an unattached sole member, a work support upon which the sole is supported, a gage member having a surface against which a peripheral edge portion of the sole is pressed, a cutting block having a surface for co-operation with a cutter, said surface being substantially in the plane of said gaging surface, a trough-shaped cutter, and means to operate the cutter to cause it to enter the upper surface of the sole and to travel through the substance of the latter to and through a portion of the peripheral edge surface of the sole, the cutter and the cutter block (re-operating to insure clean cutting of the material whereby a chip is removed from the sole leaving a slot in the upper surface thereof.

2. In a machine for cutting slots in an unattached sole member, a support for a sole, a gage member secured to said support to locate the sole for the cutting operation, a cutter block adjacent to the gage member and spring-pressed into operative position, a trough-shaped cutter to cut a slot in the sole and to co-operate with the cutter block in completing the removal of a chip from the sole, and means to operate the cutter in an orbital path such that the cutter presses the cutter block back against the resistance of its backing spring and then wipes upwardly along the surface of the cutter block to insure clean cutting and to remove the chip from the sole.

3. In a machine for cutting slots in an unattached sole member, a table tosupport a sole to be operated upon, spaced gage members against which a peripheral portion of the sole is pressed to locate the latter, a cutter block located between the gage members, a spring backing the cutter block and operative to hold it yieldingly with its cutter surface projecting substantially into the plane of the gaging surfaces of the gaging members, a trough-shaped cutter to co-pperate with the cutter block, and means to operate the cutter to cause it to cut a slot in the surface of the sole and to penetrate through the peripheral edge surface of the sole into contact with the cutter block, the extent of movement of the cutter being such as to force the cutter block backwardly from the plane of the gaging surfaces, thereby to insure clean cutting of the material and separation of a chip from the sole.

4. In a machine for cutting slots in an unattached sole member, a table having a substantially horizontal surface to support a sole, a gage member to position the sole on the table by engagement with an edge portion of the sole, a cutter block having a slanting face to engage an edge portion of the sole adjacent to the portion engaged by the gage member, a troughshaped cutter to co-operate with the cutter block in cutting a slot in the sole and simultaneously removing a chip from the sole in producing the slot, a carrier member for the cutter, a link pivotally supporting the front end of the cutter carrier from a point above the table, an eccentric for operating the cutter carrier in co-operation with said link, whereby the cutter is given a back-and-forth movement in an orbital path above said table, and a spring backing the cutter block whereby said block co-o-perates with the cutter in securing a clean cut of the material from the sole, the block then yielding further to permit the cutter to continue movement in its orbital path.

5. A machine of the character described comprising a work support, a trough-shaped cutter movable in an orbital path, a gag-e having a surface for positioning a sole member with its margin in the path of the cutter, a cutting block, a spring backing the latter, said block having an inclined surface in the path of the cutter, said block being normally held with its inclined surface projected into the plane of said gaging surface, and being retractable under pressure by said cutter as the cutting edge of the latter wipes upwardly along said inclined surface to complete the cutting operation, and means for operating the cutter transversely of the sole margin through the substance thereof in the direction of the sole edge to remove a chip and to form a slot in the margin of the sole.

6. In a cutting machine, a table for supporting a Work piece, a gage member to locate the work piece for a cutting operation, a cutter block associated with the gage member, a spring yieldingly backing the block, a trough-shaped cutter co-operating with the cutter block, and means to operate the cutter in an orbital path so arranged that the cutter is caused to engage the work piece at a point within the periphery of the latter to initiate the cutting of a slot in the work piece and then to continue in its movement until it contacts the block and forces it back to complete the cutting of the slot and the removal of a chip of material from the work piece through co-operation of the cutter and the movable cutter block.

7. In a cutting machine, a cutter, means for moving the cutter in an orbital path, a table to support a work piece, a gage member to position the work piece on the table, said table being movable toward and from the path of the cutter thereby to make adjustment for varia tions in the thickness of the work to be operated upon and the depth of the cut to be taken therein, a cutter block having its operative surface located substantially in the same plane as.

the operative surface of the gage member so as to engage an edge portion of the work piece closely adjacent to the portion engaged by the gage member, and spring means backing the cutter block to permit yielding of the latter against the thrust of the cutter whereby the cutter block co-operates with the cutter in securing a clean cutting of the material and then yields to permit continuation of the movement of the cutter in its orbital path.

8. In a cutting machine, a table for supporting a work piece, a gage member to locate the work piece for a cutting operation, a cutter block associated with the gage member, a cutter co-operating with the cutter block, means to oscillate the cutter continuously toward and from the cutter block, the gage member and table co-opcrating to position the work piece so that the cutter is caused to engage the work piece at a point within the periphery of the latter to initiate the cutting of a slot in the work piece and then in co-operation with the cutter block to complete the cutting of the slot, spring means backing the work supporting table, means to adjust the table to determine the depth of cut for various thicknesses of work pieces, and means including said spring means for moving the table between work receiving and work presenting positions with respect to said oscillating cutter.

9. In a cutting machine, a cutter, a cutter block, means for oscillating the cutter continuously toward and from the cutter block, a table to support a work piece, a gage member to position the work piece on the table, said table being adjustable toward and from the path of the cutter thereby to determine the depth of cut for various thicknesses of the work pieces to be operated upon, a spring to support the table in work presenting position, and a post connected to the table, said post being movable downwardly to depress the table against the pressure of said spring to a work receiving position, release of the post being instantly followed by upward movement of the table to present the work piece in the path of the cutter.

10. In a machine for cutting a groove through the exposed surface of an unattached sole and to and through a peripheral portion thereof, a table for supporting a sole, a cutter shaped to cut a groove in the sole, operating means constructed and arranged to cause said cutter to enter the exposed surface of the sole and to emerge through the edge of the sole, and a gage having a pair of ab-utments disposed upon opposite sides of the path of said cutter for engagement with the edge of the sole for gaging the sole and also for supporting the sole against the thrust of said cutter.

NAPOLEON A. MONFILS.

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