US2326978A

US2326978A - Tube cutoff mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2326978A
Application number: US427415A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sieg Karl
Original assignee: Samuel M Langston Co
Current assignee: Samuel M Langston Co
Priority date: 1942-01-20
Filing date: 1942-01-20
Publication date: 1943-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 1960-08-17

Description

Aug. 17, 1943. K. SlEG 2,326,978

TUBE CUTOFF MECHANISM Filed Jan. 20, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 d.%% NEYS a INVENTOR [fa-r5 Jif y BY 19M? ATTOR AT LY m mm Aug. 17, 1943. s

TUBE CUTOFF MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 20 1942 INVENTOR Karl ,Sz'e BY E2 WuW --'III//IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII////A ATTORNEYS Aug. 17, 1943. SE6 2,326,978

' TUBE CUTOFF MECHANISM Filed Jan. 20, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Kari 49665 d ATTO R N EYS Patented Aug. 17, 1943 runs oU'roFF mncnsmsm Karl Sieg, Philadelphia, 1a., assignor to Samuel M. Langston 00., a corporation or New Jersey Application January 20, 1942, semi No. 427,415

20 Claims.

' The present invention relates to machine for cutting paper tubes into sections of desired length as they are being continuously produced and advanced endwise. v

This invention relates to that type of cutoif in which a tube cutter is movable into and out of the path .oftravel or the advancing tube, and

advances with the tube during cutting operation. After the tube section has been cut, the cutter moves out of the path or the tube and returns to its initial position for the next cutting operation. The initiating of the cutting operation is controlled by a target also in the path of movement of the tube.

In certain constructions heretofore employed,

' the tube has to push both the cutter and the target, and must also overcome the force of a' spring on lines 4-4, 5-5, G-i, 88, 9-9 and |I-| 0 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is an elevation of a portion of the target trip mechanism taken from the side opposite to that shown mm. 2, and

Fig. 12. is a top plan view of the target trip mechanism shown in Fig. 1l.-

. The cut-off of the present invention is operated in conjunction with a tube forming apparatus of or weight employed to return the cutter to its initial position. Therefore, to relieve the end thrust on the tube resulting from thi operation, different elements of the machine must be made light at the expense of ruggedness and durability. Since the return weight or spring must be as light as possible to reduce to a minimum the strain on the tube, the return of the target and cutter will be relatively slow, so that the minimum tube length obtained by this machine is comparatively long.

- An object of the present invention is to provide a tube cut-off having features which eliminate the disadvantages referred to.

In carrying out the features of the present invention, a spring or weight is provided to assist in the travel of the cutter and target during the cutting period, thereby minimizing the end thrust on the advancing tube.

As a further feature, positive drive means are provided for returning the cutter to its initial position at the end of the cutting operation.

As another feature, means are provided for adjusting the position of the cutter to compensate for any deflection that may occur in the tube winding 'mandrel on which the tube is formed and along which it is advanced.

Various other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following particular description, and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows partly in vertical section and partly in side elevation a. portion of a tube cut-oil! embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a continuation of Fig. l, and shows the other portions of the cut-oil. in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the cut-off. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are sections taken any suitable type in which an endless tube is continuously advanced as it is formed. This tubeforming apparatus may, for instance, b similar to that shown in the Langston Patent No. 981,774, in which two or more plies or strips of paper are spirally wound by a belt around a rotating mandrel ill to form the tube. As thetube is formed on this mandrel i0, it is advanced therealong and cut into sections of the desired length.

The tube cut-oi! of the present invention comprises a cutter mounted beyond one end of the tube winding mandrel i0 and movable periodically across the axial path of the advancing tube, and with said tube during cutting action. This operation of the cutter II is initiated and con trolled by a target i2 when tripped by the end of the advancing tube.

The cutter l I is mounted on a reciprocable car- 'riage comprising a horizontal tubular shaft it supported on a frame structure shown in the form of a gear box 5, which is mounted on a base or pedestal it in a manner to be described. This carriage shaft I4 is partially enclosed in the gear box It and is connected at its outer end outside said gear box to the drive housing I 1 of the cutter The carriage shaft It has a slide bearing in the gear box l5 as will be more fully described, and is slidably supported outside said box by a series of guide roll'ers 8 (Figs. 1 and 9), rotatably mounted on a housing 20 enclosed in a cover 2|. The housing 20 and cover 2| are connected together and to an end wall of the gear box it by a series of studs 22.

A tube flange 23 fixed to the end of-the'ca'r riage shaft i4 is secured to a flange 24 on the cutter drive housing I! by studs (not shown). In limiting position of the cutter carriage shown in Fig. 1, the flange 23 engages a bumper 25 made of leather or similar resilient material fixed to the end of the carriage guide cover 2|.

The cutter ii is shown in the form of a circular saw mounted within a guard 28 (Fig.1), and held between a clamp washer 21. and a flanged hub member 28 which isfixed to a shaft 30. For driving this cutter ii, there is provided a motor 3| supported from the underside of the gear box I5, and having a rope drive connection 32 to a main drive shaft 33. A cutter drive shaft 34 (Figs. 1 and 4) extending through the tubular carriage part I4 is driven from the main drive shaft 33 through a transmission comprising a spur gear 35 in the gear box I5 afilxedl to said main drive shaft, and meshing with a pinion 36 near one end of the cutter drive. shaft 84.

The transmission between the cutter drive shaft 34 and the cutter II comprises a gearB'I (Fig. 1), supported in suitable bearings on the cutter drive housing I1, and splined to said drive the cutter shaft 80, so that the drive to the cut-.

ter H is continued without interruption, even while said cutter is moving with the advancing tube being out.

In order to effect the movement of the cutter carriage and the target I2 in unison, there is provided a rod 45 (Figs. 1 and 2) anchored at one end to a tubular shield 46, which encloses the end section of the cutter shaft drive 34, and which is 'amxed. to the cutter drive housing H for movement therewith. To initiate the movemerit of the cutter carriage, the rod 45 carries a target I2 in a manner to be described, and is held against axial movement by a trip pawl 41, which engages a latch plate 48, and which is released from said plate when the target I2 is engaged by the end of the advancing paper tube.

For supporting the latch plate 48 in adjustable position in accordance with the desired length of the sections to be out, there is provided a shaft 50, fixed at one end to a bracket 5| secured to an end wall of the gear box I5, and

supported at its outer end on a stand 52. Slidably embracing the shaft is a sleeve 53 carrying a clamp screw 54 having an outer reduced end extending into a groove 55 on said shaft to lock said sleeve in selected position thereon. Integral or otherwise secured to this sleeve 53 is a target cam 56 (Figs. 2, 3, 11 and 12), which serves a purpose to be described and which carries the latch plate 48 at one end and a plate 5'! at the other end. These plates 48 and 51 are apertured to form slide bearings for the rod 45.

For supporting the target I2 on the rod 45,

in accordance with the length of the tube sections to be cut, and having an upwardly extending arm 6I at one end and a downwardly extending arm'62, at the other end. A roller 63 rotatably supported inthe arm 62 rides in a cam groove 64 formed in the cam 56. A target rod head 66 is pivotally mounted on the block by means of a pivot pin 61, and has an upwardly extending arm in the form of a sleeve 68 receiving the lower end of a target rod 10 on which the target I2 is adjustably mounted by means of a clamp II. This head 66 carries the trip pawl. 41 formed with a notch I2 adapted to receive the edge section of the latch plate 48 in latched position shown in Figs. 2 and 11 to lock the rod 45 against axial movement. A spring I3 has one end bearing against the arm 68 of the target rod head 66 and the other end bearing against an adjusting screw I4 threaded in the arm 6! of the block 60, so that the head 66 is urged in a clockwise direction about its pivotal support 61 (Fig. 2) to normally urge the trip pawl 41 into latched position shown. A stop plates I03 and I04 from the gear IOI.

arm I5 (Fig. 11) integral or otherwise secured to the target rod head 66 extends between a pair of superposed limiting stop pins I1 and I8 projecting from one side of the block 60 to determine the angular limiting position of the target rod head 66 about its pivotal support 61.

A guide for steadying the advancing tube while it is being cut is shown (Figs. 2 and 3) in the'form of an angle connected to an arm 8|, which-is secured to a support 02 fixed to the target cam 56.

When the end of the advancing tube reaches the target I2, it tilts the target rod head 66 about its pivotal support 61 and against the action of the spring I3, sothat the trip pawl 41 is angularly moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 11, out of latch engagement with the latch plate 48. This releases the rod 45, so that it is free to move axially with the cutter carriage towards the left (Fig. 2). The pushing action of the advancing tube on the target I2 urges the cutter carriage and the target I2 to move with the advancing tube.

As a feature of the present invention, the movement of the target I2 and the cutter carriage is aided by a counter-balancing member, as for instance, a spring'or counterweight. In the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a counterweight is provided secured to one end of a cable 86 passing 'over a sheave 81 and anchored at its other end to a part rigid with the cutter carriage, as for instance, an extension 88 (Fig. 1) on the tubular shield 48. This sheave 81 is supported on a bearing member 80 (Figs. 2 and 3) shown in the form of a sleeve embracing the shaft 50. In order to prevent the swaying of the weight 85 during its vertical movement, there is provided a guide 9| rigidly secured to the bearing 80 by means of a bar 82, and having an aperture 03 slightly larger than the outside diameter of the weight 85 to permit the free guided movement of this weight through said apertureQ Additional radially slotted removable counterweights 84 may be provided in order to regulate the counterweight force acting upon the cutter carriage.

Upon the release of the rod 45 by the tripping of the target I2 as described, the target with its tripping mechanism, the rod 45 and the cutter carriage are moved by the pushing action of the advancing tube on said target, and also by the gravitational action of the weight 85, so that the cutter II is moved with the advancing tube while cutting said tube. During this movement of the target I2, the roller 63 riding in the cam groove 64 of the cam 56 will cause said target to swing away from the path of movement of the tube after the cutter II has entered the tube and has started cutting.

For swinging the cutter II transversely across the advancing tube, there is provided a horizontal cam shaft I00 in the gear box I5, driven from the main drive shaft 33 through a suitable friction clutch. As shown, this clutch comprises a gear IOI, meshing with a pinion I02 on the main drive shaft 33, and rotatably supported with respect to a pair of friction plates I03 and I04 on opposite sides of said gear. Friction discs I05 of asbestos or other suitable material separate these The friction plate I03 has a hub section I06 keyed to the cam shaft I00, while the friction plate I04 is splined for slidable movement along said hub and for rotation therewith. A spring I01 between the friction plate I04 and a nut I08 clamped on the friction plate hub I06 urges the friction plate I04 axially towards the right as shown in Fig. 1 to effect a friction drive between the gear IM and the cam shaft I00.

The rotation of the cam shaft I causes oscillation of the cutter II towards and away from the advancing tube. For that purpose, an arm H (Figs. 1 and '7) has its hub splined to the carriage shaft I4 and journalled in a frame wall I I0 of the gear box I5. Collars on the hub of this arm H5 engage opposite sides of the gear box frame wall H0, so that said hub is held against axial movement and serves as a slide bearing for the carriage shaft I4. The arm H5 carries at its outer end a follower roller II1 riding in the cam groove II8 of a face cam I fixed to the cam shaft I00. Thi cam groove H0 is formed with a rapidly rising section H9 extending from a circular section I2I, so that during the initial period of rotation of the cam shaft I00, while the carriage shaft I4 is moving axially with the advancing tube, said shaft is rotated in a direction to tilt the cutter H towards said tube.

The cam shaft I00 is normally locked against rotation while the paper tube is advancing towards the target I2, and is released by the tripping i of the target I2 to cause the tilting of the cutter II towards said tube as described. For locking this cam shaft I00, there is provided a ratchet wheel I22 (Figs. 1 and 5) fixed to one end of the cam shaft I00 in the gear box I5, and formed with a pair of stop conformations I23 and I24. A pawl I25 is pivotally connected to one arm of a bell crank lever I20 (Figs. 1 and 5 which is fixed to a rock shaft I21 supported for rotation in the gear housing I5. This rock shaft I21 may,

for instance. be supported on shaft centers, one of said centers I28 (Fig. 10) being shown fixed to the frame wall H0 of the gear housing I5, while the other center I30 in the form of a sfud is threaded in the end wall of said housing.

The pawl I25 is guided for slidable movement in the diametrical hole of a fixed bushing I3I (Figs. 1, 5 and 10), and is urged into locking engagement with the ratchet I22 by a spring I32 extending between one arm of the bell crank lever I20 and an adjusting screw I33 threaded in a lug I34 integral or otherwise rigid with the bushing I3I.

To release the ratchet I22 and thereby release the cam shaft I00 for rotation through the friction clutch drive, there is clamped to the carriage shaft I4 a lever I (Figs. 1, 6 and 10) carrying a roller i II. Fixed to the rock shaft I21 is a cam lever I42 carrying an adjustable screw I43, adapted to be engaged by the roller MI 213 the carriage shaft I4 moves toward the left (Fig. 1).

When the carriage shaft I is released for axial movement by the tripping of the target I2, the lever I40 moving with said shaft engages the head of the screw I43, and thereby rocks the lever I42 in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 6. This clockwise rotation of the lever I42 is transmitted through the shaft I21 to the bell crank lever I20, so that the pawl I25 is lifted out of engagement with the stop conformation I23 on the ratchet I22. This action causes the cam shaft I00 to rotate through the friction clutch drive as already described. so that the cut ter tilting cam I20 is rotated to tilt the cutter II towards the advancing tube. After the lever I40 has passed beyond the lever I42, this latter lever is released, so that the shaft I2! is returned to normal position under the action of the spring I32, and the pawl I25 is moved downwardly in position to engage the next stop conformation I24 on the ratchet I22 when said conformation reaches said pawl.

After the completion of the cutting operation, the cutter II is tilted back into position out of the path ofmovement of the advancing tube, and is returned into initial position shown in Fig, l in preparation for the next cutting operation. To effect this return tilting movement of the cutter II, there is fixed to the shaft I21 a lever I41 Figs. 1, 8 and 10) provided with a pair of arms I48 and I49. The lever arm I48 slidably carries a spring-pressed slip pin I having its inner end urged into any one of a series of holes I5I provided along a fiat surface section of the shaft I21, so that the position of the lever I41 along said shaft can be adjusted in accordance with (he desired length of travel of the cutter II with the tube, this length of travel depending on the diameter of the tube to be cut. The other arm I49 carries a screw I52 similar to the screw I43 on the lever I42.

When the lever I40 travelling with the carriage shaft I4 reaches a position in which the roller I4I engages the screw I52, the lover I41 is rotated, and the shaft I21 again rocked to effect release of the pawl I25 from engagement; with the ratchet stop conformation I24. This again releases the cam shaft I00 and permits the cut- Ier tilting cam I20 to complete its revolution. During this period. the cutter II is tilted by the cam I20 out of the path of movement of the advancing tube. At the same time, the target I2 and cutter II are returned into original position in preparation for the next cutting opcration.

As a feature of the present invention, the cutter II and target I2 are returned into original position by a positive drive desirably comprising a cam I (Fig. 1) shown in the form of an angle iron supported on the cam shaft I00 and spirally bent around sa d shaft. The lever I40 is provided with an arm I50, which carries a follower roller I51. As the cam shaft I00 completes its revolution, the helical edge I50 of the cam I55 comes in contact with the follower roller I51 and moves the lever I40 axially. This returns the carriage shaft I4 axially towards the right (Fig. ll against the action of the weight 85, so that the cutter II and the target I2 are positively driven at a predetermined rate into initial position. During this return movement. the pawl I25 riding in engagement with the periphery of the ratchet I22 locks the cam shaft I00 as soon as the ratchet stop conformation reaches said pawl.

As another feature 0? the present invention, the cutter mechanism is supported for pivotal adjustment with respect to the tube winding mandrel l0 to compensate for deflections in said mandrel. For that purpose. the gear box I5 is supported on a swivel or pivot pin IBI (Fig. 4') extending into the bore of the pedestal I0. A clamp confo'mation I02 on this pedestal I0 permits rotative adjustment of the pivot pin I0! and in turn the gear box I5.

To permit the adjustment of the cutting mechanism towards or away from the tube winding mandrel I0, the gear box I5 is supported on a slide I03 forming the upper part of or otherwise rigid with the swivel pin IOI. A hand screw I04 threaded in a nut I05 fixed to the gear box I5 effects the slide adjustment of said gear box.

As many changes can be made in the above apparatus. and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention can be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A cut-off mechanism for tubes having endwise and rotational movement, in which there is provided a target with which the end of the tube may engage, a rotatable cutter having an axial movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the tube and a lateral movement toward and from the tube axis and into and out of the wall of the tube, said mechanism being Characterized by a latch interconnecting said target and said cutter, and means for releasing said latch after engagement of said tube with said target and prior to the starting of said lateral movement of said cutter.

2. A cut-oft mechanism for tubes having endwise and rotational movement, in which there is provided a target with which the end of the tube may engage, a rotatable cutter having an axial movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the tube and a lateral movement toward and from the tube axis and into and out of the wall of the tube, said mechanism being characterized by means for holding said cutter and target at a predetermined constant distance apart during the total period while both said cutter and said target are in contact with the advancing tube, and counterbaiancing means exerting a substantially constant force tending to move said cutter and target along with said tube.

3. A cut-off mechanism for tubes having endwise and rotational movement, in which there is provided a target with which the end of the tube may engage, a rotatable cutter having an axial movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the tube and a lateral movement toward and from the tube axis and into and out of the wall of the tube, said mechanism being characterized by means for effecting travel of said cutter and said target at the same linear speed in a direction parallel to while both said cutter and said target are in contact with said tube, and a counterbaiancing weight for moving said cutter and target along with said tube.

4. A cut-oif mechanism for tubes having end- Wise and rotational movement, in which there is provided a target with which the end of the tube may engage, a rotatable cutter having an axial movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the tube and a lateral movement toward and from the tube axis and into and out of the wall of the tube, said mechanism being characterized by means for maintaining a predetermined constant distance between said cutter and said target during the travel of said cutter and said target in a direction parallel to the axis of the tube and after said cutter has completed its lateral movement toward the axis of the tube and while the target is in contact with the tube, and counterbaiancing means exerting a substantially constant force tending to move said cutter and target along with said tube.

5. A cut-ofi mechanism for tubes having endwise and rotational movement, in which there is provided a target with which the end of the tube may engage, a rotatable cutter having an axial movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the tube and a lateral movement toward and from the tube axis and into and out of the wall of the tube, said mechanism being characterized the axis of the advancing tube by a latch interconnecting said target and said cutter, means for maintaining said cutter and said target at a predetermined constant distance apart after said latch has been released and during the total period while both the cutter and the target are in contact with the advancing tube.

6. A cut-off mechanism for tubes having endwise and rotational movement, in which there is provided a target with which the end of the tube may engage, a rotatable cutter having an axial movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the tube and a lateral movement toward and from the tube axis and into and out of the wall of the tube, said mechanism being characterized by a helical cam having its axis parallel to that of said tube, a counterbaiancing weight for moving said cutter along with said tube, and a member connected to said cutter and engaging said helical cam for moving said cutter axially in the opposite direction.

7. A cut-oil mechanism for tubes having endwise and rotational movement, in which there is provided a target with which the end oi the tube may engage, a rotatable cutter having an axial movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the tube and a lateral movement toward and from the tube axis and into and out of the wall of the tube, said mechanism being characterized by a drive shaft for rotating said cutter, a sleeve encircling said shaft, a pair of cams having their axes parallel to said shaft, means engaging one of said cams for oscillating said sleeve and moving said cutter laterally, and means engaging the other of said cams for moving said sleeve and cutter along said shaft.

8. A cut-off mechanism for tubes having endwise and rotational movement, in which there is provided a target with which the end of the tube may engage, a rotatable cutter having an axial movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the tube and a lateral movement toward and from the tube axis and into and out of the wall of the tube, said mechanism being characterized by a drive shaft for said cutter, a sleeve encircling said shaft on which said cutter is mounted, a cam for oscillating said sleeve and moving said cutter laterally, a cam for moving said sleeve and cutter parallel to said tube, friction driving means connecting said cams and said cutter shaft, means normally preventing rotation of said cams, and means controlled by said target for intermittently releasing said cams and permitting rotation thereof through said friction means.

9. A cut-off mechanism for tubes having endwise and rotational movement, in which there is provided a target with which the end of the tube may engage, a rotatatable cutter having an axial movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the tube and a lateral movement toward and from the tube axis and into and out of the wall of the tube, said mechanism being characterized by means normally tending to move said cutter axially of said tube, a latch normally preventing said axial movement, means normally tending to move said cutter laterally, a latch norntally preventing said lateral movement, means controlled by said target for releasing said first mentioned latch and permitting said axial movement, and means actuated by said axial movement [or releasing said second mentioned latch.

10. A cut-off mechanism for tubes having endwise and rotational movement, in which there is provided a target with which the end of the tube may engage, a rotatable cutter having an axial movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the tube and a lateral movement toward and from the tube axis and into and out of the wall of the tube, said mechanism being characterized by a counterbalancing weight normally tending to move said cutter axially of said tube, a latch normallypreventing said axial movement, a friction drive normally tending to move said cutter laterally, a latch normally preventing said lateral movement, means controlled by said target for releasing said first mentioned latch and per mitting said axial movement, and means actuated by said axial movement for releasing said second mentioned latch.

11. A cut-ofi for a continuously advancing tube, comprising a rotary cutter, means for automatically moving said cutter towards said advancing tube for cutting action when a predetermined length of said tube has passed beyond said cutter and for automatically returning said cutter at the completion of said cutting action, a counterweight urging said cutter to move with said advancing tube while it is cutting said tube, means normally locking said cutter against the action of said counterweight, and means for automatically releasing said cutter when a predetermined length of said tube has passed beyond said cutter.

12. A cut-ofi for a continuously advancing tube, comprising a rotary cutter, a target, means inter-connecting said cutter and said target for movement in unison with said advancing tube during cutting action, means for tilting said cutter towards said advancing tube when said target is engaged by the forward end of said advancing tube to out said tube, and for tilting said cutter away from said tube into initial position upon the completion of the cutting action, a counterweight, a pulley, a flexible cable passing oversaid pulley and connected at one end to said counterweight and at its other end to a part of the cutofi movable with said cutter along the path of travel of said tube, whereby said cutter and said target are urged by the action of said counterweight for movement with said tube during cuttin means for rendering said counterweight ineffective while said cutter is in initial position, and means for rendering said counterweight effective while said cutter is cutting said tube to assist in the movement of said target and said cutter with the advancing tube during cutting action.

13. In a tube cut-off, the combination comprising a substantially horizontal tube winding mandrel alongwhich a tube is continuously advanced, a frame structure, a carriage supported on said frame structure and reciprocable thereon along the path of movement of said tube, a cutter mounted on said carriage, and a base having a pivotal clampable connection with said frame to permit angular adjustment of the cutting plane of said cutter about a substantially vertical axis with respect to said mandrel.

14. In a cut-off for an advancing tube, the combination comprising a shaft, a circular cutter blade encircling said shaft, a pair of clampin'g members on opposite sides of said blade, one of said clamping members being affixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, while the other clamping member is threaded on the shaft,- aflixed clamping member, said blade and said clamping members being mounted on said shaft in overhanging relationship thereto to permit easy removal of said blade, means for driving said shaft, means for supporting said shaft for oscillatory movement about a pivot axis spaced from the axis of said shaft, and means for oscillating said blade about said pivot axis towards and away from said advancing tube at predetermined intervals in accordance with the length of tube sections to be cut.

- 15. 'A cut-off for an advancing tube comprising a cutter, a target having its tube engaging face extending parallel to the forward end of the advancing tube, structural means aside from said tube interconnecting said cutter and said target as a unit for movement in unison with said advancing tube during cutting action, means for moving said cutter towards said advancing tube for cutting action when said target is tripped by the forward end of said advancing tube and for returning said'cutter into initial position upon completion of said cutting action, a member applyingb. counterbalancing force to said cutter and said target to urge them to move in unison with the advancing tube during cutting action, means normally locking said cutter and said target against the action of said force applying member, means for releasing said cutter and said target upon the tripping of said target by the forward end ofsaid advancing tube to permit the movement of said cutter and said target with the advancing tube with the assistance of said force applying member. and means operable after said cutter has entered said tube for moving said target transversely away from said advancing tube and out of engagement with said tube, while maintaining said target face parallel to said forward tube end.

16. A machine for cutting a continuously advancing tube into sections including a target in the path of movement of the tube, a cutter connected to said tube and movable with the latter while the tube end is in engagement with the target, a shaft parallel to said tube, a frictional drive for said shaft, a cam on said shaft for swinging the cutter toward and from the tube, a

cam on said shaft for positively returning the cutter upon the completion of a cut and in a direction opposite to the path of movement of the tube, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, and means movable in the direction of the path of movement of the tube and with said cutter and said target for releasing said ratchet wheel and permitting intermittent rotation of said shaft.

17. In a tube cut-off, the combination of a tube winding mandrel, along which a tube is continuously advanced, a rotary cutter movable toward and away from said tube in a plane at right angles to the axis of said tube and movable along the path of movement of said tube, said cutter being mounted on an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said mandrel, and means for varying the angularity between the axes of said outter shaft and said mandrel,

18. In a cut-off for an advancing tube, the combination of a target adjustable in the direction of travel of the advancing tube to cut tube sections ofdifferent lengths, a circular cutter blade movable toward and away from the tube in a plane at right angles to the axis of the tube, means for supporting said cutter blade for oscillation about and slidable movement along an axis spaced from the axis of said blade, and

means for securing said cutter blade in overhanging relationship to saidsupporting means to permit easy removal of said blade.

19. In a cut-off for an advancing tube, the combination of a circular cutter blade movable toward and from said tube in a plane at right angles to the axis of said tube and movable along the path oi movement oi said tube, means for adiusting the distance of travel along said path of movement in accordance with the diam- 5 vancing tube into sections, including a cutter 1 movable back and forth in a direction parallel to the axis oi the tube and movable toward and from said tube, a shaft having a cam for eflectin: the second mentioned movement and a helix having its axis parallel to said tube for moving the cutter in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the tube, and means independent of said helix for aiding the tube in moving the cutter in the same direction as the tube durin the cutting action.

KARL SIEG.