US2475683A - Block-dividing reciprocating-saw woodworking machine - Google Patents

Description

L. E. TOPHAM DIVID July 12, 1949.

' V BLOCK- ING RECIPROCA'IING-SAW WORKING MACHINE WOOD 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 9, 1944' [III/enfor- L414 rencefYEp/zam h m MR ...N m%% mwvw .J u ly 12, 1949.

BLOCK-DIVIISING RECIPROCATING SAW WOODWORKING MACHINE L E. TOP HAM 2,475,683

Filed Feb. 9," 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 [nuenior Lauren C zapham 5 hi Aiorngy July 12, 1949. l 1.. E. TOPHAM 2,475,533

BLOCK-DIVIDING RECIPROCATING-SAW WOODWORKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 9, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 12, 1949. L. 'E. TOPHAM 2,475,683

BLOCK-DIVIDING RECIPROCAI'ING-SAW WOODWORKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 9, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 [n.venfor July 12, 1949. L. E. TOP M 2,475,633

BLOCK-DIVIDING RECI R EATING-SAW Y WOODWORKING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 9, 1944 [nven for Laure race 5 Topham "B5 kz' flzzorne "A."

July 12, 1949. 1.. E. TOPHAM 2,475,633

BLOCK-DIVIDING RECIPROCATING-SAW WOODWORKING MACHINE 6 Sheets-s 6 Filed Feb. 9 1944 fnven fo Patented July 12, 1949 BLOCK-DIVIDING RECIPROCATING-SAW WOODWORKING MACHINE Laurence E. Topham, Wenham, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 9, 1944, Serial No. 521,679

9 Claims.

This invention relates to woodworking machines and is particularly concerned with machines for dividing a block of wood or similar material by a sawing operation.

In the manufacture of shoe lasts comprising separate, pivotally joined foreparts and rearparts, it is customary to process the foreparts on a last lathe by a turning operation performed on wood blocks having roughly a cylindrical shape, one such block furnishing one last forepart. In finish-turning last foreparts on a last lathe it is necessary, due to the considerable difference in shape between the finished last forepart and the rough block from which it is produced, to remove a substantial amount of Waste material from the block during the turning operation, making that operation both costly and time consuming.

Sometimes the rough Wood block is trimmed prior to the finish-turning to remove some of the bulk of the waste or excess material normally roduced in the finish-turning of a last forepart. This is done by manually presenting the block to a circular saw, an operation which requires high skill and considerable judgment in preventing the circular saw from cutting off too much material. Moreover, this operation is extremely dangerous and has resulted in many accidents. This becomes particularly apparent when realizing that the pieces of material to be trimmed on are irregular in size and shape, a fact which necessitates manual rotation and other manipulation of the block while being operated upon by the circular saw. Even though this procedure may speed up the finish-turning process, it does by no means avoid the loss and waste of a substantial amount of excess wood.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to mitigate the removal from forepart blocks of a large amount of excess material as waste in the finish-turning of last foreparts by the last lathe.

To this end the invention, in its method aspect, provides dividing a last forepart block of com volitional size or of only slightly larger than conventional size into two nested components by a helical cut extending from one end face of the block to the other, and finish-turning each component in a last lathe to produce a last forepart. Thus one last forepart block furnishes two last foreparts.

To divide the last forepart block there is provided, in accordance with another feature of the invention, a machine having a saw, a support for l the last forepart block, and mechanism for simul- 2 taneously rotating and longitudinally moving the support with a block mounted therein so as to feed and rotate the block past the saw and to divide the block into two nested components by a helical cut.

In accordance with a further feature of the.

invention, the rotary and longitudinal movements of the block support are obtained by two axially alined screw shafts which are rigid with the support, an axially immovable, positively rotated nut engaging one of these shafts to rotate the entire assemblage comprising the block support and the two shafts, and a stationary nut engaging the other shaft to control the extent of rotation and longitudinal movement of the assemblage.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the support for the block is actuated to perform a work feeding operation in time relation with the operation of the saw, and in particular the feed motion of the support is retarded or even reduced to zero during the upstroke of the vertically reciprocating saw so as to prevent a binding of the saw in its kerf.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of mechanism for initially positioning the block in the block support with relation to the saw, prior to the initiation of a sawing operation. After the positioning of the block and immediately prior to the initiation of a sawing operation, the block positioning mechanism and block support are locked together to move as a unit.

A further important feature of the invention consists in the provision of a saw having its blade twisted along its longitudinal axis, and a support for the saw provided with a threaded member having a helix angle substantially equal to the helix angle of the twisted saw blade, the threaded member cooperating with a stationary member to rotate the saw support during the reciprocation thereof, Thus the helically twisted saw moves like a screw through the work, which in this instance is the equivalent of a fixed nut.

These and other features of the invention are hereinafter described more specifically in connection with the accompanying drawings, and are pointed. out in the claims.

In the drawings:

1 is a front elevation of a last forepart block cutting machine embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail showing of the mounting of the upper end of the saw with which the machine illustrated in Fig. 1 is provided;

Fig. 4 is a detail showing of the mounting of the lower end of the saw;v

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a right-hand side elevation of a vertical section substantially through the middle of the machine illustratedin Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a right-hand side elevation of part of the mechanism for actuating the block support, particularly the feed retarding means of that mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a plan view partly in section of a clutch controlling mechanism which is part of the mechanism for actuating the'block support,

the section being taken along the lineVIII-VIII of Fig. 9;

Fig. 9 is a section taken along the lineiIX-JX of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a, section taken along the line X--X of Fi 1;

Fig. 11 is a detail View, partly in section, of a work positioning mechanism;

Fig. 12 is an end view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 11;

i Fig. 13 is a section taken along the line XIII- XIII ofFig. 1;

Fig. 14, is an end View anda section taken along the line XIV-XIV of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a plan view of'the block support with a last' forepart block contained therein;

.Fig. 16 is a section taken along the line XVI- XVI of Fig. 15;

Fig. 1'7 is a section taken along the line XVllI XVII of Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a section taken along the line XVIII- XVIII of Fig. 15;

Fig. 19 is an angular view of a last forepart block divided into two nested components by a helical cut;

Fig. 20 is an angular view of the lower one of the two components illustrated in Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is an angular view of the upper one of the two components illustrated'in Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 illustrates a finish-turned last forepart produced from one of'the components illustrated in Figs. 20 or 21;

Fig. 23 is a section taken along the line XXIII- XXIII of Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is a section taken along the line XXIV- XXIV of Fig. 22, and

i Fig. 25 is a section taken along the line XXV- XXV of Fig. 22.

The illustrated machine serves the purpose of dividing wood block having a roughly cylindrical shape, such as are commonly used in the manufacture of last foreparts, intotwo nested components. The division is made by a helical out such that the dividing faces of the two components of a block constitute each a hyperbolic paraboloid complementary to the other. .As a result, two last forep-arts may be manufactured from a block of the same size as, or only slightly larger than, a block from which heretofore only one last forepart was produced. To secure this result there is provided a sawing mechanism generally indicated at III in Figs. 1 and 6, and a work support, or more specifically, a last forepart block support generally indicated at I2 in Figs. 1 and 15. The block support I2 is constructed and arranged to rotate about its longitudinal axis: and to move longitudinally along this axis so as to feed a roughly cylindrical wood block B maintained inthe support I2, past the saw and simultaneously to .rotate the block B so as to saw the block into two nested parts or components B and B divided along a helical cut as illustrated in Fig. 19. Each block part or component B or B as shown in Figs. 20 and 21, is roughly in the shape of a last forepart L (Fig. 22) and requires the removal of only a relatively small amount of excess or waste material in its finishturning. The sectionalviews of Figs. 23 to 25 show the closeness in size and shape of the block component and the finished last forepart.

The following detail description of the construction and operation of the illustrated machine is divided into descriptions of the main groups of elements of the machine, including the main driving mechanism, the sawing mechanism and I the work supporting and feeding mechanism.

The machine frame comprises a substantially box shaped base I4 (Figs. 1 and 6) to the upper portion of which are bolted at opposite sides thereof two laterally and upwardly extending arms I6 and I8. The upper ends of the arms I6 and I8 serve to Support mechanism, to be described, for actuating the work support I2 or for controlling the actuation thereof.

The main drive.-As illustrated in Fig. 1 the base I4, has a left hand extension 20 serving as a bracket or support'for a motor 22. Asmall pulley 24 (Fig. 6) on the rotor shaft of the motor 22 is-in driving connection by a belt 25 with a pulley 28 secured on a shaft 30 arranged in suitable bearings in the machine frame, and hereinafter referred to as the main shaft. The main shaft 30 serves to actuate the sawing mechanism In and the work support I2, To actuate the sawing mechanism, the mainshaft 30- has splined to its forward end a disk 32 (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) which is provided near its circumference with a crank pin 34. The connections between the crank pin 34 and the sawing mechanism will be presently described. To actuate the work support, the main shaft 39 has secured to its rearward portion a small pulley 40 (Fig. 6) which is connected by a belt 42 to a pulley '44 of the same size as the pulley 40. The pulley 44 is secured on the rear portion of a counter shaft 46-(Figs. 6 and 7) which is rotatably mounted in fixed hearings in the machine frame and on which is secured a pinion 48 meshing with a pinion 50 on a cam shaft 52 serving to actuate the Work support. The cam shaft 52 is maintained for rotation and axial movement in suitable bearings provided in the machine frame. The pinions 48 and 50 are of sufficient width to maintain driving connection between them in spite of axial movements of the cam shaft 52. The connections between the cam shaft 52 and the work support I2 will be described further below.

The sawing mechanism and its actuation .-The saw comp-rises a blade (Figs. 1 and 6) which is twisted about its longitudinal axis so that the opposite ends of the saw blade are disposed with relation to each other at an angle of about The saw blade 63 is maintained, as will be more specifically described, in a support 62 comprising substantially two looped members which are joined at their upper and lower ends and which are curved laterally and forwardly, or rearwardly respectively, so as to avoid interference with the work support as the latter is caused to move the work contained therein past the saw. The lower end of the saw support 62 is secured to the upper end of a multiple helically splined shaft or multiple threaded screw 64 extending vertically through a stationary nut 66 having a flange at its upper end and being supported in a portion of the machine" frame. In setting up or assembling the machine parts, the nut 66 may be adjusted by a limited rotation about its vertical axis, whereupon the nut is secured in adjusted position by clamping screws 68 (Fig. 1) extending through curved slots in the flange of the nut and threaded into the machine frame. The splined shaft 64 has a lower continuation in the form of a rod having a smooth surface and maintained for sliding movement in and with relation to a fixed bearing I2. Upon vertical re ciprocation of the splined shaft 64 and the saw support '62 by the crank pin 34, as will be described, the saw support 62 is given a rotary motion as a result of the movement of the splined shaft 64 through the stationary nut 66. The helix angle of the threads of the shaft 64 is substantially the same as the helix angle of the helically twisted saw blade 60. Consequently, the saw in moving through the kerf in the work, is moved in the direction of its longitudinal axis as well as rotated about this axis so that its motion through the work may be compared with the motion of the shaft 64 through the fixed nut :66,

the work in this case corresponding to the latter.

The crank pin 34 acts upon the sawing mechanism by means of a connecting rod I4, the upper end of which is connected to th splined shaft 64 for universal movement relatively thereto. For this purpose, the lower end of the splined shaft 64 has secured to it a collar 16 (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) provided with a laterally and forwardly extending arm 78, integral with which is a depending pin 80 (Fig. 2). The pin 80 is pivotally received in a sleeve or bearing member 02 surrounding a horizontal pin 84 and secured thereto by a set screw (not shown). The pin 80 extends through th bearing member 82 and is held therein by a nut 85 threaded upon the lower end of the pin 80 and bearing against the bearing member 82. Rotatably mounted on the horizontal pin 84 is a cross shaped hollow block 66 in which the bearing member 82 is contained for movement relatively thereto and which in turn is pivotally secured by trunnion pins (not shown) to a yoke 88 (Fig. 1), provided at the upper end of the connecting rod 14. The lower end of the connecting rod I4 cooperates with the abovementioned crank pin 34 in the following manner. The lower end of the connecting rod 14 has a U- shaped or yoke shaped portion 90 upon which fits a complementary member 92 secured thereto by screws 04 to hold in place two block shaped members 96 (Fig. 2) which are machined out to provide a spherical socket for the ball shaped head 98 of the crank pin 34.

As will be noted, upon rotation of the shaft 30, which is uniform, and the disk 32 as well as the crank pin 34, the saw support '62 and the saw blade 60 secured therein, are reciprocated vertically, and at the same time, by reason of the engagement of the splined shaft 64 with the stationary nut '66 and the vertical movement of theshaft through the nut, the shaft 64 and the saw frame 62 supported by it, are rotated about the longitudinal axis of the saw blade, which coincides with the longitudinal axis of the splined shaft '64.

The upper end of the saw blade 60 is secured engaged by a nut I04 and a check nut I06, the nut I04 resting against a washer I08, seated upon the upper end of the saw support 62. To receive the saw blade, the block I00 is provided with a vertically extending slot IIO. Integral with the with with relation to the saw support 62 upon vertical adjustment of the block, there is provided a pin and slot connection II6 between the block I00 and the upper end of the saw support 62.

The lower end of the saw is secured in the saw support 62 in the following manner: The aforementioned splined shaft 64 has a reduced upper portion I I1 (Fig. 4) provided with a central bore hole of substantial diameter. The upper portion II! of the splined shaft 64 fits into a central socket provided at the lower end of the saw support 62 and extends therethrough. In the assembled condition of the machine parts there is contained in the bore of the upper portion II! a cylindrical block II8 provided with an inclined saw receiving slot I20 the inclination of the slot corresponding in its angularity to the helix angle of the twisted saw blade 60. The lower end of the saw blade extending into the slot I20, is secured in the block I I8 by a horizontal pin I22, driven through alined bore holes of the block H8 and a corresponding hole in the saw blade alined therewith. Mounted on top of the cylindrical block H8 is a disk I24 having certain portions along its periphery machined out to provide lands I26 engaging a groove I28 provided near the upper end of the bore in the portion II! of the shaft 64. The overhanging flange I29 produced by the groove I26 also is machined out along certain portions of its perimeter to produce lands I30 (Fig. 5). Upon assemblage of the machine parts, the disk I 24 is brought into engagement with the slot I20 (after the block II8 with a saw blade received therein hasbeen placed into the bore of the portion I I1) by passing its lands I26 through the machined out portions of the flange I29, whereupon by rotation of the disk I24, it may be held against vertical displacement in the fashion of a bayonet lock. The disk I26 also has a saw receiving slot which is a continuation of the slot 520. Thereafter, the disk I24 and the block I I8 are secured together by screws I32 (Fig. 5).

To twist the saw blade 60 and maintain it in a twisted condition, the disk I24 has pivotally secured to it a dog I34, one end portion of which may be brought to engage an end face on one to the shaft 64 that the opposite ends of the saw blade are disposed at an angle of to each other.

In order to prevent the saw support 62 from relatively rotating with relation to the upper end of the splined shaft 64, the two are connected bya key I38 (Fig. 4), held in the lower end of the saw support 64 and extending into a vertical keyway I36, provided in the upper portion II! of the shaft64. This entire assemblage, particrate-i953;

ularl shaft- 6 and, up or is-held o e he by nut. I3 0, threadedupon th pore tion Il proiectin 'outaof:th as eket rthe. aw' supp r 62; the n I40 being t tened against the upper end of-t hat'socket.

Th o k. suppo t ng and" fee ing mechanismand; its. actuation.'l?he-worksupport it om-- pri es principa lya hollcw- 'shell-like'.m m e .06: (Figs. 1 and 15) whiohzis-substantiallycylindrical and has openings out out along :helically. extending edges 202,- andslots 2 0 4,also-extendingi-helicale ly in the direction of thelaxis of rotation of-the- Work support toprovide clearance for thesawblade 60, cooperating,withwthework support-and; passing through it. The shell-like member .200. connects two axially al-ined, helically splined! shafts or. screw. shafts 26.6: and" 2.08 having multiplethreads With which the shell-like member 200is-integral. The shafts 20.6 and 208 support the shell-like member 200 and actuate it so as to feed and turn the work.

The right-hand shaft 220.8.issupported' in'the upper end of the previously mentioned arm I6- of the machine frame. To this end the upper extremity of thearm l8 isformed as a twopartclamp 210 in whiohis received anut'2 i2 (Fig. 13),. The nut 2|2 is in threaded engagement. with the screw shaft 205 and is held against rotaa tion by the action ofithezclamp-2lfl. To prevent axialmovement of. the nut 2I2itisprovided at: its opposite ends with flanges 2M and 2i'6', abutting the end facesoft the clamp: 2l0. The two parts of the clamp 2L0 are held'together in firm clamping engagement byscrews 2l8; illustrated, best in Fig. 14, thenut 2!2 is provided with an adjustment to facilitate its assemblage in the setting up. of the machine parts. The lower portion of the flange 2 16 ofthe nut 252, has in it an arcuate slot 222: through which extends. a clamping screw 220 threaded" into the lower portion of the clamp 210. With the clamp ing screw 220. backed, off, the nut 2!2 may be rotated to the extent-permitted by the length of the slot 222. Thereafter; the clamping screw 220 is tightened to connect together the nut 2!2 and the clamp;2l0.

The lefthand shaft 206 is'supported'in the upper end of the. previouslzg mentioned arm. Hit of the machine frame in: a manner. similar to that just described in connection with the rightehand' shaft 200. The upper end of the arm l6. also is formedas a two part clamp 226 .(F gs. 1 and 10), the two parts of which are held together by screws 228 and afford a bearing for a nut 230. The nut 230 is in threaded: engagement. with the screw shaft 206 and is rotatably sup-s ported in the clamp bearing 226. The nut 230' isaxially immovable and for this purpose it is provided at its right-hand end with a collar 234 splined to the nut 230 and abutting one end face of the clamp 226. At its left-hand end the nut 230'has a flange 236 which contacts the other end face of the clamp 226 and isin the form of a gear. By the rotation. of the gear 23fi,-the nut 23-0 is rotated to rotatethescrew shaft 206. and the mechanism connected therewith, as will= be described presently.

As will be seen from the above description of the construction of the Work supporting and feeding mechanism, the serewshaft 206' is re.- tated by the gear 236 which, is integral with the nut 230. Since the shell200 and thescrewshaft 208 are integral with the screw shaft 206, they are rotated with the latter. :However, thescrew shaft 206 and'the. nutx230 donot rotate solidly isconstrained by the nut 2l2 to make approxi;

of the screw shaft 208.

cooperating with the rotary nut 230 to tend, SQ.

o ether, t ere e n a v l f rent al rotation. and;

an endwise movement of the screw s aft 20,6 with; relation to and through the axially immovr. able nut 230. Theendwise or axial movement.

1 of the screw shaft 206 and hence of the shell 200;;

and the screw shaft 208 is theresultof therotae. tion of the screw shaft 208 through the sta-. tionary nut 2 [2. It is understood that the crew shaft208 by reasonof its rotationwith relation; to the stationary nut 2l2 is constrained to move endwise or longitudinally in the direction of, its; axis of rotation. In viewof the factthat the nut 212 is stationary and has-a predetermined helixangle, the extent ofthelongitudinal movement of: the screw shaft 208 and hence the extent of;v longitudinal movement of the shell 200. and the screw shaft 206is determined by the stationary, nut, 2I2. At the same time it is to be noted thatthe extent of rotarymotion imparted to the screw.

shaft 208-, the shell 200 and the screw shaft 206;

during a predetermined endwise movement and: sufficient to move the work past the saw, is also determined by the stationary nut 212. a. matter of'fact, during. the predetermined endwise movement of the work supporting mechanism it mately one-half of a revolution.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the arrangement is such that the helix angle of; the screw shaft 206-differs from the helix; angle: In the particular int. stance, the helix angles. of the shafts 20 6 and; 208 are so selected that the shaft 208 has the smaller helix angle. The purpose of this ar rangement is to cause the screw shaft 206- in,

to speak, to feed ahead, thus preventing any bachlash of the screw shaft 208 with relation to the. stationary nut 2 I 2.

The compound rotary and longitudinal motion, of the shell 200 causes the work supported therein to be fed past the sawand simultaneously tobei turned or rotated so thata helical cut is made: by the saw 60 through the work from one end face thereof to the other.

Prior to the initiation of a sawing operation, the wood block B supported in the shell 200 is located with relation to the saw 60. This rela= tion is best illustrated in Fig. 15. One end face of the wood block is positionedv opposite the toothed edge of the saw, the latter passing. through the slot 204 of the shell 200. During one. sawing operation, the entire length of the block B. is fed past the saw.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the screw shafts 206 and 208 have oppositelyextending threads. The reason for this will become apparent upon the following consideration, In order to bring about a feed movement of the work supporting shell 200 from the position illustrated in Fig. 1 toward the left, it is necessary, since the gear 236 is ro-, tated in a clockwise direction as viewed from the left-hand side of the machine, that the screw shaft 206 has rightehand threads. The nut 2|2= cooperating with thescrewshaft 208- being stationary, it is necessary that the shaft 208has left hand threads in order to be rotated in the same direction asthe shaft 206.

After the completion of one feed movementof the work supporting shell 200 past the saw 60, it is automatically brought to a stop as will be explained, whereupon the shell 200 and both screw shafts 206 and 208 are manually returned to initial position. As indicated in Fig. 13, the screw shaft 208 is hollow-audits right-hand end.-

. I is closed by a fitting 240 which is in threaded engagement with internal threads in the said end of the shaft 208. Threaded into tapped bores of the fitting 240 and extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 208 are two handles '242, this mechanism constituting a capstan by which the shaft 208 and with it the shell 200 and the shaft 206 may be returned to initial position by a combined longitudinal and rotary motion.

The mechanism for initially positioning the work-Before the initiation of a sawing operation, the block B is positioned in the shell 280 so as to locate it initially in a predetermined position with relation to the saw 60, the mechanism accomplishing this also serving to secure the block in the shell 200 in this predetermined position. To this end, there are provided two pairs of block engaging prongs 250 and 252 which are movable in opposite directions toward and from each other parallel to the axis of rotation of the shell 200. The two prongs of each pair extend horizontally and their horizontal alinement is maintained during the positioning of the work. The left-hand prongs 250 are illustrated in Figs, 10, 11 and 15, and the right-hand prongs 252 are illustrated in Figs. 13 and 15. The mounting of the left-hand prongs 250 is as follows:

Referring to Fig. 10 it will be noted that the screw shaft 206 also is hollow and its left-hand end is closed by a fitting 254 threaded into it. Rotatably mounted in a bore extending through the fitting 254 is the reduced left-hand end 256 of a rod 258 extending along the interior of the screw shaft 208. At its left-hand extremity the reduced end 256 has secured to it a hand wheel 260 by which it may be rotated. The rod 252 is immovable axially in both directions. To this end, the hub 262 of the hand wheel 260 is arranged to abut the left-hand end face of the fitting 254. This prevents movement of the rod 258 toward the right of Fig. 10. Axial movement of the rod 258 in the opposite direction is prevented by the engagement of a shoulder on the rod 258 with the right-hand end face of the fitting 254. A J' A right-hand portion 266 of the rod 258 also is reduced in diameter. The portion 266 is threaded and is in engagement with an internally threaded tube 266, also extending along the interior of the hollow screw shaft 206. The tube 268 is slidable in a bearing sleeve 210 immovably maintained inside the shaft 206. As will be noted, upon rotation of the hand wheel 260 the rod 258 is rotated but prevented from axial movement and the rotary motion of the threaded right-hand portion 266 of the rod 258 causes an axial movement of the tube 268 in one direction or the other depending upon the direction of rotation of the hand wheel 260. The tube 268 serves to support the prongs 256. For this purpose, the tube 268 is provided with a forked front end 212 (Figs. 10 and 11) and a pin 214 extends crosswise through the fork at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the tube 268. Secured on the pin 214 is a casing 216 housing theend 212 and the mechanism connected therewith (Fig. 11). Mounted in the casing for sliding movement parallel to the axis of the tube 268 and the screw shaft 206 are two blocks 218 located diametrically opposite to each other. The blocks 218 are cylindrical and provided with apertures in their front ends in which are received and secured by set screws 280 the two prongs 250. The set screws 280 extend through slots 282 provided in the walls of the casing 216 to prevent the blocks 218 from rotating about their longitudinal axes. The rear end faces of the blocks 218 are in engagement with an equalizer 284 rotatably mounted on the pin 214. Thus the two prongs 250 may move independently of each other to a limited extent in the axial direction of the screw shaft 206, so as to accommodate uneven end faces of the block B to be clamped in the shell 200. Undue movement of the equalizer 284 is prevented by a conical stop face 286 provided at the forked end 212 of the tube 288 and cooperating with the rear face of the equalizer 264.

To keep the prongs 250 in horizontal alinement during their movement caused by the rotation of the hand Wheel 266, the tube 268 is provided with a slot 280 (Fig. 10) engaged by a pilot screw 292 mounted in the hub of the shell 200. Thus the tube 266 is prevented from undue rotation so as to prevent the prongs 250 from fouling the saw 60. After the prongs 3:168 have been advanced with relation to the screw shaft 286 and the shell 200 to position and secure the block B in the shell 200, the tube 268 carrying the prongs 250 is prevented from further movement with relation to the screw shaft 206 by the tightening of a binding stem 294, locking the tube 268 to the screw 206 so that henceforth both move as a unit during the ensuing sawing operation. Thus the predetermined position of the work with relation to the shell 200 is maintained. The binding stem 264 is operated by a handle 296 (Fig. 15), which is in engagement With the threaded upper end of the stem 284.

The right-hand prongs 252 (Fig. 13) are mounted in the machine in a manner similar to that of the left-hand prongs 250 described above. The hollow screw shaft 208 is closed at its righthand side by the previously mentioned fitting 240. A rod 300 extends along the interior of the screw shaft 208 and has a reduced right-hand portion 302 extending through the fitting 240 and rotatably mounted therein. The portion 302 carries at its right-hand extremity a hand wheel 304 by means of which the rod 300 may be rotated. The rod 300 is immovable axially. To this end, the hub 306 of the hand wheel 304 is arranged to abut the fitting 240. This prevents axial movement of the rod 300 toward the left of Fig. 13. To prevent axial movement of the rod 300 toward the right of Fig. 13 a shoulder formed by the reduced right-hand portion 302 abuts against the left-hand end face of the fitting 240. The rod 300 also has a reduced left-hand portion 308 which is threaded and is in engagement with the internal threads of a tube 310. The tube 3l0 is movable in the direction of its longitudinal axis upon rotation of the rod 300 by the hand wheel 384. The tube 3l0 is received in a bearing sleeve 3l2 mounted in the interior of the screw shaft 208 and held in place therein. At its left-hand end the tube 3l0 carries an equalizing mechanism for the prongs 252, which mechanism is identical in construction and purpose with the equalizing mechanism of the prongs 250. To prevent rotation of the tube 3l0 on rotation of the rod 300 and thus limit the motion of the tube 3l0 substantially to a longitudinal motion for the purpose of keeping the prongs 252 in horizontal alinement, the tube 3l0 is provided with a slot 3l4 extending lengthwise thereof and engaged by a pilot screw 316 threaded through the right-hand hub of the shell 208. As will be seen, upon rotation of the hand wheel 304 the tube 3l0 carrying the prongs 252 is advanced or retracted depending upon the direction of rotation of the hand Ywheereut. )[This movement-of thetube a l tand the prongs' 2'52- is with relation to the shaft 2938 "and the work supp'orting shell 200 integral therewith. After 'tliisvifork en'gaging and work-posit'ioning movement-ofthe'p'rOrig's-252has been ter ininated the tube 310 is looked to the shaft 2% "by the tightening of a binding stem 3 [8 provided with an operating handle-320 (Fig.

In clamping-a woodblock-B in the machineand fwithin theshell 290. It is'to'be understood that any irregularities in'theend faces of the block engaged by the prongs B and 252 are automatically accommodated by the self -'adj'usting prongs.

- Theufinal positionof the blook Bwith relation to "the shen the is maintained. and 'securedby the operation oftheh'andles296 and 320 taking up on the binding, stems 294 and. M8 soas to lock. the jprongs and the mechanisms carrying and moving them to their respective shrew shafts zflfi and. 298. It has been stated: that. the work support is drivenby the positives rotated gear 238 which is integral with the him 230, the latter being in threaded engagement with thescrew shaft 206. "Moreoverfitllhasbeen pointedout that the pre- "viously described shaft752 (FisQ'G and '7) serves "to actuate the work'sup'pfo'rt. The connections, Qincluding'a clutohine'cha n is'in between the shaft 52am th gear 2 36, are as follows: As illustrated best in Fig. 7, 2 worintiill is secured'on the left- "hand portion of the shaftihand is in-driving enjgagement with a worm-ge ar 332. The worm gear 332, as illustratedbest in Fig.1, is part of a speedreducing mechanism --genera l1yindicatedat 334 and containinga series of stub; shafts and intermeshing gears, incI-udi-ngagear-MG which meshes with a gear 3330x152, clutch-shaft-MB (Fig. 8-). The clutch "shaft? 3140 :'-is- :rotatably mounted ina bracket which is part-of the" left-hand arm ll 6 of the machine-framerandcarries" a' gear 342 loosely rotatable thereon but' axially immovable relatively thereto. Integral'w ith 'the' ge'ar 342" is a 'frust'ocvzinical'friction clutch member 344 which is the "drivenmember of; aclut'ch. -Thedriving member "of the clutch is identified -at 34B andis fast 'on the shaft 340' in the sense that it is constrained to rotate th-eiew-itlrbutmay be displaced axially "with relation thereto-seas toinove into and out *or driving'engagement with the member 344. A spring"3T1?! interpdsea tetweeh a collar 352 fixed (on the left-hand extremity ofthe shaft 340 and the"h1.ib"354 fof' the-drivingiclutch' member 34% tends to slid th merfllo el 34fi fwhich is continuous'ly"rotatd as a resultof "the continuous rotation of the" shaft 3'4'flj'to the Tightof Fig. 8 to en- "gage the c1utch n1eh1her-3 44 and rotate the gear "342' which 'l'neshes -witlfrthe'gear 2'36, thereby r0- ftating the nut the "resu'ltspreviously explained T -h b354of'the"c1utch member3'46 has a 'circumf'erhtial groovewhich is engaged the forked 'endof a clutch shifting lever 356 fpivotallysecured"at358*to abracket arm 3'60 which is'part'of the machine frame. "Substantiallyfinidwayffitweenfits endsthelever 356 is *pivotally ngaged'by one"er'1d'of at'oggle' comf prising two links' fiz anti esnonnettee to e her by "a center joint -366-E togglelink f36'4- is pivotally se'chred 4 at- 3! 0 5 to -'-the 'machine frairie and'has integral' th'rewith-aifd' extending atright angles theretd a "handle 368-. Movement of the handle'to' therig-ht of Figibreaks thetoggle'arid permits the spring 950 to -'establish"driving connection betweenthe clutch "members-*3 and-346 s'o that the *work s'iipporting assemblage "will be actuated. v

As has been previonslyexplained, during the actuation of the work s'iipp'orting assemblage it is moved fro'm'the position ill-u'stratedin Fig. 1to "ward the left. Thismotio'n' is utilized automatically to throw out the'c1utch344," 3460n termina- "tion'of a sawing operation. To "this'end the handle 368] isfprovi dewwith a'small upstanding plate 3'i2 migltr hich may-be engaged by a slide rod 314 movablei -a bore in a' 'bracket"of the "machine frame anw-pr videar-at its "right-hand extremity with a'jfork s'hapedmember 316 (Fig. "9) 'embracingt'hesc'rewshaft ZUBTpaLrt way. to

prevent rotation "of? the rod, 314. Upon'ter'mination' of a sawing ofieiiatiorfth 'ine'iriber 316is ena clutch member-3 46 out. of. engagementwith the notc "member 3'44. 1 The toggle;- 3 62,; 364- being "xte'fidd it acts as :a' roaring "means for: holding the clutch "disengagdlagain'st the pressure ofthe spring 350iwhiclifseeks' to reestablish driving con- "nectio'n.

The feedocin'fiolling mechcm-ism- To facilitate the sawing operation;in particular to insure that the saw tt doesi'hot' bincl when moving through its .kerf,' special mechanism --is provided in connection' with fthelpreviously, mentioned 02,111 shaft 52; for. retarding" or completely stopping the feed motion 'of the work-n temporarily and intermity't'ently. 'In I particular, -the feed motion of the work is retarded or. completely stopped during alternate strokeswof the vertically reciprocating aw; and in the present instance the arrangement is such that the: work'ieed ris retardedor stopped during each upstroke ,of the saw or, in other words, that the work is fed' or fed more srapidly during each downstroke o f the saw. To accomplish-this there is secured onthet shaft-52a :camb1ock 38-0 (Fig 7 l provided; with a. peripheral groove,--the center ofjthegroove lying-1 generally inia plane oblique to' the axis-ofthe-shaft SZ; 'The groove is engaged .by-acam; follow-er 38-2twhichis rotatably mounted on-a-fixed bracket'r384r As previously mentioned, the-- shaft- 5291s mounted for sliding-movement in the direction of its axis. -As

a result ofthe action of, the stationary follower 38g on the: cam block 380-the=-shaft-52-willbe reciprocated axially-during each revolution thereof. Upon td isplacement ofthe shaft BZ axiallyrin one y direction the wormg-33 this :so -movedlongitudinally with relationto 'the. worm gear 3321-meshing therewi'th that the motion-. ofthe worm gear 3'32 and ofl'the --entire 3 mechanism rotated by -it is. retarded. f 'If. the throw of the cam 3 8fl-is equal to; lead of -the w0rm-t330','- the motion of the worm, gear. 332 is. completelystopped during thef 'a rial displacement of the: shaft :52 in one direction. Asnaybe seen best'in- F ig fi, the ratio oftransmissionfbetweenlthe? shafts; $0

'ahd46,"as"we1l'as'that between the shafts 4e The operation of the machine-4h the opera-- tion of the machine a wood block B of substantially cylindrical shape, which is to be divided into two nested components by a helical cut extending from one end face of the block to the other, is presented to the shell 2M and positioned therein in predetermined relation to the saw 60 by the manipulation of the hand wheels 260 and 304, whereupon the work-positioning and securing mechanism is locked to the shell 2M and the two shafts 206 and 208 integral therewith. It is understood that the shell 200 is located in its initial position illustrated in Fig. 1 from which it begins its work-feeding and rotating motion toward the left of that figure. The saw 60 extends through a slot 204 of the shell 20!! and.

is positioned opposite one end face of the block B, as illustrated in Fig.

Then the handle 368 is moved toward the right I of Fig. 8 to establish driving connection between the clutch members 344, 346 and to rotate the nut 230. As a result the work-support I2, comprising the threaded shafts 206, 208 and the shell 200, is rotated and advanced along the axis of rotation, the extent of rotation and axial advance being controlled and determined by the nut 2|2 engaging the right-hand threaded shaft 298, as previously described. The work in thus being moved past the saw and rotated with relation to the saw is divided into two parts by a helically extending out, as illustrated in Figs. 19 to 21. When the saw 60 emerges from the end face of the block B opposite to the end face where the sawing operation started, the hub of the shell 200 engages the fork 316 and pushes the hand lever 368 toward the left of Fig. 8 to throw out the clutch 344, 346 and terminate the sawing operation.

After the removal of the two divided work parts the shell 280 and the members connected therewith are then manually returned into initial position by means of the capstan 240, 242, the rotatable nut 230 spinning idly as well as the loosely rotating gear 342 meshing therewith.

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

1. In a woodworking machine, the combination of a rotary and longitudinally movable work support provided with two axially alined screw shafts, a positively rotated nut engaging one of said screw shafts to rotate the work support, a stationary nut engaging the other screw shaft and controlling the extent of rotation and longitudinal movement of the work support, a saw for dividing the work into two nested components, and means for operating the saw.

2. In a woodworking machine, the combination of a rotary and longitudinally movable work support provided with two axially alined screw shafts having different helix angles, a positively rotated nut engaging one of said screw shafts to rotate the work support, a stationary nut engaging the other screw shaft and controlling the extent of rotation and longitudinal movement of the work support, a saw for dividing the work into two nested components, and means for operating the saw.

3. In a woodworking machine, the combination of a rotary and longitudinally movable work support provided with two axially alined screw shafts having different helix angles, a positively rotated nut engaging the screw shaft having the I larger helix angle to rotate the work, a stationary nut engaging the screw shaft having the smaller helix angle to control the extent of rotation and longitudinal movement of the work support, a saw for dividing the work into two nested components, and means for operating the saw.

4. In a woodworking machine, the combination .of a rotary and longitudinally movable work support provided with two axially alined screw shafts having oppositely extending threads, a positively rotated nut engaging one of said screw shafts to rotate the work support, a stationary nut engaging the other screw shaft and controlling the extent of rotation and longitudinal movement of the work support, a saw for dividing the work into two nested components, and means for operating the saw.

5. In a woodworking machine, the combination of a saw, a rotatable and longitudinally movable shell-like work support provided with slots and openings extending helically in the direction of the axis of rotation of the support to afford clearance for the saw in passing through the work when the latter is fed past the saw as a result of the longitudinal movement of the work support, two axially alined oppositely threaded shafts rigid with the work support and arranged for rotation and longitudinal movement in the direction of their axis of rotation, means for operating the saw, means actuated by said saw operating means and engaging one Of said shafts for rotating the shafts and the support, and means engaging the other shaft for controlling the extent of rotation and longitudinal movement of the shafts and the support.

6. In a woodworking machine, the combination of a saw, a rotatable and longitudinally movable shell-like work support provided with slots and openings extending helically in the direction of the axis of rotation of the support to afford clearance for the saw in passing through the work when the latter is fed past the saw as a result of the longitudinal movement of the work support, two axially alined oppositely threaded shafts rigid with the work support and arranged for rotation and longitudinal movement in the direction of their axis of rotation, means for operating the saw, a positively rotated, axially immovable nut engaging one of said shafts and actuated by said saw operating means for rotating the shafts and the support, and a stationary nut engaging the other shaft for controlling the extent of rotation and longitudinal movement of both shafts.

'7. In a woodworking machine, a vertically reciprocating saw, a movable work support arranged to feed the work past the saw, means for reciprocating the saw at a uniform rate of speed, support actuating means operated by said saw reciprocating means, a rotary and axially movable shaft included in said support actuating means, a worm on said shaft transmitting the rotation of the shaft to a worm gear included in said support actuating means, a cam on said shaft, and means cooperating with said cam for axially moving said shaft during the upstroke of the saw so as to move the worm bodily with relation to the wormagearzthereby-iredueingvthe feed movement of said support.

5 8. i In a. machine for dividing :a last f'reibart -b1eck i'nto two nest'ed reemponentsceorrespending rroughly totwo'lastforeparts,tassaw mhellowxexternally threaded lshait, re, blok esuppnrt rigid. With-said shaft, 'n'xeansvaeting 0n the shaft-to weause the support to rotatea 'bl'ock 'slipporbed 'ithere'in and longitudinallyrmove itipasttthe saw, val-med prongs for lecati'ng'the .blockxm a .pre deter-mined position with'hrelati'on to 'zthe .saw -p'r-1or toa sawing operation, aas'cre w operated sleeve arranged "inside 'said shaft-fer relative movement thereto :and carrying-said iiro'ngs, tneans acting 'on=said sleeve to maintain the prongs in alinement during said: relative movement'of the sleeve and "thelshaft,-and'means for locking said ssleeve and. shaft together after the completion-of saidrelativemovement.

- 9. In a woodworking machine, a werk-support, a sawhaving'a. blade twistedalongtits longitudi- -"-na1 axis, .a support for :said .saw including a threaded member the helixaangle hf whichrcorresponds to the helix angle of the' -twistedsaw Number 7 119,678-- amass 141341 147,339 7 284,512 A.-eo3,9e4

"fATEQPATifiNTS .Name- 7 1 \Date Wright et a1. June--20, 1865 3, Zimmerman 1 May v14, 1872 Heer .a '.'July' 29, 1373 Grier 1 Feb '10, 1874 Tait -.-Sept.-'*4, 1883 Foster-et a1 Aug 26,1884 Ha111 Novfll, 1893 Burnham Mar. 21, 1899 Brown Feb.,-Z1, --1905 "blade; means for :reeipreeatingz the-saw support, 2.25

raw

ween-3s 1,979,193 2,030,141 11144 335 Number- -Bergstr.om =1 Fitzpatrick Germany 11.1.4

Oct. 29,1918 July .13, 1926 0013.31, 1933 111mg. 14, 1934 Jensen et a1.

Madigan 1-Sept; 17,1940

-Date -Dec. 20 1917 Apr. 30; 1931 Sept; 8, '1934 Country Great Britain Germany '-.'.a

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