US2517901A

US2517901A - Contouring machine

Info

Publication number: US2517901A
Application number: US575519A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard B Luckenbach
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-01-31
Filing date: 1945-01-31
Publication date: 1950-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 1967-08-08

Description

Aug. 8, 1950 R. B. LUCKENBACH CONTOURING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 51, 1945 R. B. LUCKENBACH Aug. 8, 1950 CONTOURING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 31, 1945 Aug. 8, 1950 R. B. LUCKENBACH CONTOURING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 51, 1945 Raw @r g- 1950 R. B. LUCKENB'ACH 7,901

CONTOURING' MACHINE Filed Jan. 31, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 regular contourseutting,

s ch s -nemw s tw d sefl ie t v I Fig.5 is a section on line --5:of Fig.

- h nv r h t. was" 'srmach m t rial. ana @6 4 and moreyarticularly to an apparatus. tor ut, ting .fro n sheets or vstripsef n aterial such as wood, plastic... or metal, articlespf 'gular-form.

An-importantpbject oi the 'nvent onistheprola a ph new is. wit ta ssm h n s w m t rea i y. mad m y :b adaptedior-cutting various ir egular forms from i 1; on

sheet material and: which; W

of this-character ofanarrangemen herehylhoth the sheet :or strip and the piece ysevered' there:-

trbmg a s ver fim yah ldwdu ins the s n v operation.

Still another; qhjecttherovisionioi a i d :1

and revf means r'r enmr ins-an id n an endless cutter: bearing chain for etfectingir- A still further: bieQti-s theiprovisiongef nov and improved cutterstfoi 9.156 in conneetien.

in an t r l i atete -a: E -Q* ms.- sible chatter. l

These. and other objects I.-attai-n;by the eonstruction shown in .theaccompanying drawings,

'wherein ior the purpose of. illustration vI have showna preferred embodiment-oi my invention and wherein zv Fig. -1 is a longitudinal-sectional view through a contouringmachi-ne constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a'sectiononline '2- --2 of'Fig. :1 Fig. 3 is an enlargedsection on line 3 8 of Fig.41isasection'onpline4-4' of Fig 1.

through one Fig. 5a is a'verticalvsection guide supports;

Fig. 6 is a perspective nf th e ings, the numeral "I O generally designatesa 1'hase from which, through standards Una Work sup port [2 issupported. This;wcrksupporu-ior-a purpose. which will presently appear; isprovided with a vren-i-ovtuole and replaceablescover sheetior strin 1-3 which may be, if sodesirecl,-;of; same r roller sections-of the upperand lower ring sections r which the machine is in tended-to act standardsll arearranged-at each of four corners of the base, and supported'in bearings, carried-thy thebase and standards,

are vertically directed shafts 15 having their vupper ends threadegi as indicatedat i6. Mounted upon the threaded(upper end portion 15 of each shaft is a nut H supporting one corner of a mine l-8. jl he supper-ting, onnection between nut; I?

i and irameViB-is, due-mpossible slight misalign ments iof the shaftor slightdeflections ,oi the shaft, (in the {0132p .ef girnlqal rings lt isee Fig; '3)\ :Thestandards a l 1, are preferably in the form of rtical guides against'whichguide rollers secured to the outer ring ofthe gimbal-jointabut sothat; the .trame 18 may be firmly held against displacernent. i 3:

. supiwrtedby theiramedjli andpa-ralleling the Work support, :I his a head :plate 24 mounting the cutter assembly 22. This cutter assembly *com prises sprocket ohain fl eachlink of whibh u preferably comprises a 1 plurality; "of vertically spaced rel'lerv sections 16:, 23b and. Me mounted ugon'common pivots; The headset upp'er ends of w-thegrpi-vpts mount 511311617824 engaging the under surface, at lete 24 whilethe lower ends thereof -mouaatrtool sockets 25 bearing scoringor routing (tools; indicated atifiahd .2 respectively. The chain-23 is guided in its movement by interior-1y *and-exteriofly disposed guide members 28 and :20 (see Fig. 4) which areyaa'ranged 1 in vertically spaced pairs in ;position aux-engagement with the ..23a;and--2'3c of the chain these guides -beingprovi'decl ing-sufiicient hum-berto insure travel of the rehain-upon a predetermined path. hs'atrpresent viewl of a working strip illustrating a partially cutoutcontoured piece of shown, the guide members-are in the form of flat sheets sunported from the "plate 2! through bolts 86.. spacers 3 i1' b,eing -.provided upon; the bolt to :amaintaih' the guides at their proper levels. In vadditibn to their'ifunction as .guides, the guide iplates furthermore serveasa means for assisting *insuppcrti-n thelremaindeiaof the assembly dur- 1 elevatibn-hf theframeirom the worlgsince, as -wii1 he hetetl, "fromanwinspection of Fig. =4 the .ieaves of .the chain are :of slightly greater width gthefi'rth'diametegr f the-rolls and will accordingly The heltssc are hollow and have slidahly diyrecteclq thereth-rough hold diown plungers 32,

gdownward movementof whichis limited-by astop 13.3 engaging the upper end otthe associated bolt "When-the ;'foot 34 of the plunger isdi sposed slightly r'lbfilmw the lower ends orthemutters fi and 2 time angle members, the inner sides of which .provide u plate or plates 38 as shown in the present illus I tration, this guide plate aligning with and engaging the central section 231) of the chain '23.

At a suitable point in its travel, the chain is engaged by driving sprocket 31 which may, if'so desired and as shown in the present instance, serve as a guide for the chain during a portion of its travel. Sprocket 31 is secured to shaft 38 mounted in bearings 39 supported on the upper surface'of 'plate ZII'ILikewise, supported from this plate is a drive motor 40 (Fig. '1) for shaft f The guiding means'for chain 23 may take a variety of forms, one-of which is at present illustrated and, as will be noted, these forms may include relatively sharp arcuate curves, that at present illustrated being the'form for a seat for a child's toy. The scoring and routing tools employed must be of such character that they may operate about such curves and to this end, the operative portions of these tools have their side faces arcuately curved in the direction of travel upon-arcs having aradius substantially that of,

receive a keel 43 on the lower face of the routing cutter 21. These cutters are alternated in the chain. In the present illustration, there is direct alternation but in some instances, it may be desirable that these blades be disposed in alternate groups or in groups alternated with a single blade of the other type and it will be understood that it is in this sense that the term alternated is employed in the claims.

' Means are provided for operation of the shafts 15 to cause the assembly to move toward and away from the worksupport. In the present instance, the shafts l5 are shown as provided with a chain and sprocket connection 44, the chain being driven from a motor 45 (see Figs. 1 and 2). The motor 45 is mounted upon an oscillatory support 46 and is connected through feed and reverse driving belts and 48 to a pulley shaft 49 disposed centrally of and above the oscillatory support 46. "As shown, the

drive belts

41 and 48 extend to the shaft 49 from opposite ends'of the oscillatory platform with the result that upon oscillation of the platform, one of the

belts

41 or 48 will be" tightened as the other is loosened.

This support is linked at 50 to one member 5| of a snap action toggle 52, the second element of "which'is connected through a bell crank arm 53"- -to a vertical rod 54 directed through a bracket 55 carried by one member of frame I 8.

Through stops 56 secured to this rod and engaging the bracket, the'snap action ofthe toggle may be brought into-play atdesiredpoints during raising and lowering oi frame I8, and accordingly, of the assembly 22. Relative movement of the rod 54 and the frame l8 may likewise be employed to operate switch 51 interrupting operation of the motor 40 as the frame is being elevated to disengage the assembly from the work and restarting the motor when travel of the assembly to the work commences.

In Fig. 1, the apparatushas been illustrated in the course of erforming the cutting operation.

At this time, the direction of operation of worm shafts I5 is such that the frame l8 and accordingly the assembly 22 is being fed downwardly.

The scoring cutters produce the side kerfs, one of which provides a guide for the succeeding routing cutters and since the number of cutters is multiplied, the downward feed may be made at a relatively rapid rate. When the assembly has been fed downwardly to a point where the blank B has been completely severed from the work piece W,

the bracket'55 has engagedthe lower stop 56 and depressed the same 'sufilciently to cause a reversal of the'position of the toggle mechanism 52, and

accordingly a reversal of position of the oscillatory support 46 and the direction of drive of shafts ii. The final action-of rod 54 operates switch 5T'stop'ping'the assemblyLf'Shafts" f5-ar'e preferably operated at Ia much higher speed during the retraction'of the assembly. As the assembly is elevating, the work piece is shifted to a new position and when the assembly reaches a predetermined raisedposition, the toggle mechanism 52i's again actuated and switch 51 operated to restart the assembly 22. As the assembly lowers, the hold-down elements 34 come into engagement with the'work piece and the'blank B prior-to engagement of the tools'therewith so that the work piece is veryfirmly heldj Since the construction *herei'n illustrated is obviously capable of considerable modification 'without departing from the spirit of my invention, I don'ot wish to*be understood-'as limiting myself thereto except'as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a contouring machine, a work support, a plurality of pairs of elements-disposed normal to said work support and each having a plurality of vertically spaced bearing sections thereon,- "members intermediate each of said bearingsections connecting th'eblenrents of eachpair and-pivotally connecting said pairs of elements to form of said pairs of 'elements. I

2. "-In a" contouring machine, "a work support, a

plurality of pairs of elements disposed normal to said work support and eachhaving a plurality of vertically spaced bearing sectionsthe'reon, members intermediate each of said bearing sections connecting the elements-of each pal-rand pivotally connecting said 'pairs of elements to form there- 'With an endless chain, means to support and guide said pairs of elementsfor movement serially through a predetermined endless path comprisingfixedly mounted guide members arranged to engage predetermined bearing sections of said elements from at least one side of said path, and tools carried by said pairs of elements arranged to engage work on said support.

' 3. In a contouring machine, a work-support, a plurality of pairs-of elements disposed normal to said w'ork snpportand eachhaving'a plurality of anomavertically spaced-hearings sections thereon, memhers .intemnediate each :of said bearing sections connecting the elementsof each pairand pivotally connectin gsar dapairs of to form therewithan-endless chaimmeans'to suppor'tand guide said pairs of, elements forQmqvement serially through a predetermined endlesspath comprising fixedly mounted guide memhers arrangedto engagepredetermined. hearingsections or said sole merits, and drive mechanism, operable to actuate said pairs of elementsgas a group through said path. y; l

4 In .a contouring machine a-Wonk support, .a

plurality of pairs of elements disposed-normal to of said, elements, toolsicarried by said pairs of 1 elements arranged-to cngagemonk cnksaidlsupport, drive ,mcchanism operable; to .racftuate "said pairs of elements asea group through said path,

means to bodily relatively shiit'lsai'd pairs of elee ments and: work support toicause said toolsxito engage and disengage. work the support, and mechanism automatically operahle in response to the position of the tools relative to the work for controlling operation of said drive n'lechaniisn'r.

, :5. 'In :acontouringtmachine;a support, a 1' headxplate overlying said work supportparallel thereto, a plurality of pairs of elements disposed intermediate said plate and support normal thereto-land each having aplura'lity of vertically spaced hearing sections thereon, member's intermediate each of said bearing sections connecting the, elements of each ,pair and pivotallyconnecting said pairs of elements to form therewith an endless chain, means tosupport and guide said pairs oiselements for movement serially through a predetermined endless path comprising guide members arrangedflt'o engage vpredetermined bearingsections of said :elementsrifrom at least one side of the said path, drive mechanism operable to actuate :saidpairs of elements as a group through said paths, anti'iriction means carried bysaid pairs of elements and engaging said head plate, and tools carried by saidjpairsof elements and arranged to engagework on said support; E

6. Inwacontouri-ng machine, a workisupport a head plate overlying said work; support? parallel thereto, a plurality oigpairs of elements disposed intermediate said plate andsupport 1 normal thereto and each having a plurality of vertically spaced bearing sections thereon, membersintermediate each of said bearing sections connecting the elements of each pair, andqpivotally connectingsaid pairs of elements to form therewith an endless chain, means to support and "guide said pairs of elements irom said head ,plateior movemerit serially through a predetermined endless path comprising guide members arranged to engage the bearing sections of said elements from opposite sides of the said path,;drive mechanism operable to actuate said pairs ofelementsas-a group through said path, anti-friction means carried by said pairs of elements and engaging said head plate, tools carried by said pairs of elementsand arranged to work on said support; and means t b d y l y-sh the eee l ee worksupport to cause said tools to engageiand disengage work on said support.

7. In a contouring machine, a, worksupport a head plate overlying, said work support parallel thereto, a plurality of pairs of-elements disposed inter-mediatesaid ,plate and support normal thereto -andeachhaving a plurality of vertically spaced bearing sections thereon, members intermediate each of said bearing sections connecting the elementsoieach ,pair and ipivotally connecting said pairs ot elements to form therewith an endless chan -means to support and guide said pairs of elements from said head plate for movement serially through a predetermined endlesspath comprising guid-e lmembers arranged tol engage bearing sections of said velc-iments :irom opposite sidesei the said path, drive mechanism operable toactuatesaid pairs of elements as a group thr-o gh said path, anti-friction means carried by said pairs of elements and engaging said head plate, tools carried by said pairs of,.elements and arranged to engage work on said support, means to bodily relatively shift the head plate and work support to cause said tools to engage: and disengage work on said support, and spring urged hold down means carried by said head plate arranged to engage and hold work on the support while engaged by said tools,

8.. 1 11 a. contouring machine, a work support a head, plate overlying said work support parallel thereto, a plurality of pairs of elements disposed intermediate said plate and support normal thereto and each having a plurality of vertically spaced bearinglsections thereon, members intermediate each, of said bearing sections connecting the elements of each pair and pivotally connectingisaid pairs of elements to form therewith an endless chain, means to support and guide said pairsqoi elements from said head plate for movement serially through .a predetermined endless path comprising guide members arranged to en gagethe bearing sections of said elementsirom opposite sides of the said path, drive mechanismoperableto actuate said pairs of elements as a group through said path, anti-friction means carried by said pairs of elements and engaging said head plate, tools carried by said pairs of -elements and [arranged to engagework on said supper-15,; means to bodily r-elatively'shilt the head plate and work support to cause said tools to engage anddisengage worklon said support, and mechanism automatically operable in response to thelposition oi said tools relative to Work on the support for controlling operation of said lastnentioned means. r

9. End contouring machine, a work support, an assembly comprising a plurality of pairs of elements disposed normal to said Work sup-port and each having a plurality of vertically spaced hearing sections thereon, members intermediateeach of said bearing sections connecting the elements preach pair and pivotally connecting said pairs of elements to form therewith an endless chain, means to support and guidesaid pairs of elements for movement serially through a predetermined endless path comprising fixedly mounted guide means arranged to engage predetermined hearing sections of said elements, drive mocha:- operable to actuate said pairsiof elements as a group throughsaid path, tools carried by said pairs of elements and arranged toengage work on saidsupport, a plurality. of spacedthreadedshaits having theirasies normal to the work support connections between said shafts and saidasseme 75 means to rotationally drive said shaits t0 asi'vgeoi 7 bodily'relatively shift the assembly and work support to cause said tools to engage and disengage work or saidsupport. 10. In a contouring machine, a work support, a head plate overlying said work support parallel thereto, a plurality of pairs of elements disposed intermediate said plate and support normal theretoand each having a plurality of vertically spaced bearing sections thereon, members intermediate each of said bearing sections connecting the elements of each pair and pivotally connecting said pairs of elements to form therewith an endless chain, means to support and guide said pairs of elements from said head plate for movement serially through a predetermined endless path comprising guide members arranged to engage predetermined bearing sections of said elements from at least one side of the said path, drive mechanism operable to actuate said pairs of elements as a group through said path, anti-friction means carried by said pairs of elements and en g'aging said head plate, tools carried by said pairs of elements and arranged to engage work on said support, a plurality of spaced threaded shafts having their axes normal to the head plate, conn'ections between said shafts and said head plate, means to rotationally drive said shafts to bodily relatively shift the head plate and work support to cause said tools to engage and disengage work on said support, and spring urged hold-down means carried by said head plate arranged to engage and hold work on the support while engaged by said tools. l1. In a contouring machine, a work support, an assembly comprising a plurality of pairs of elements disposed normal to said work support and each having a plurality of vertically spaced bearing sections thereon, members intermediate each of said bearing sections connecting the elements of each pair and pivotally connecting said pairs of elements to form therewith an endless chain, means tosupport and guide said pairs of elements for movement serially through a predetermined endless pathcomprising guide members arranged to engage predetermined bearing sections of said elements from at least one side of said path, drive mechanism operable to actuate said pairs of elements as a group through said path including means "connecting all of said pairs of elements, toolscarried by said pairs of elements and arranged to engage work on said support, a plurality of spaced threaded shafts having their axes normal to the support, a connection between each of said shafts and said assembly comprising a gimbal joint mounting, and means to rotationally drive said shafts to bodily relatively shift the assembly and work support to cause said tools to engage and disengage work on said support. '12. In a contouring machine, a work support, a head plate overlying said Work support parallel thereto, a plurality of pairs of elements disposed intermediate said plate and support normal thereto and each having a plurality of vertically spaced bearing sections thereon, members intermediate each of said bearing sections connecting the elements of each pair and pivotally connecting said pairs of elements to form therewith an endless chain, means to support and guide said pairs'of elements from said head plate for movement serially through a predetermined endless path comprising guide members arranged to engage predetermined bearing sections of said elements from the inner and outer sideof said path, drive mechanism operable to actuate said pairs of elements as a group through said path, anti- 8 friction means carried by said pairs of elements and engaging said head plate, tools carried by said pairs of elements and arranged to engage work on said support, a plurality of spaced'threaded shafts having their axes normal to the head plate, a connection between each of said shafts and said head plate comprising 'a gimbal joint mounting, means to rotationally drivesaid shafts to bodily relatively shift the headplate and work support to cause said tools to engage and disengage work on said support,'and' hold-down means carried by said head plate arranged to engage and hold down work on the support while engaged by said-tools.

13. In a contouring machine, a work support, an assembly comprising a plurality of pairs of elements disposed normal to said work sup-port and each having a plurality of vertically spaced bearing sections thereon, members intermediate each of said bearing sections connecting the elements of each pair and pivotally connecting said pairs of elements to form therewith an endless chain, means to support and guide said pairs of elements from said head plate for movement serially through a predetermined endless path comprising guide members arranged to engage predetermined bearing sections of said elements from at least one side of said path, means to bodily relatively shift the assembly and work support, and intercooperating means associated respectively with said assembly and work support operable to guide the assembly and support normal to one another during relative bodily shifting thereof.

14. In a contouring machine, a Work support, a head plate overlying said Work support parallel thereto, a plurality of pairs of elements disposed intermediate said plate and support normal thereto and each having a plurality of vertically spaced bearing'sections thereon, means intermediate each of said bearing sections connecting the elements of each pair and pivotally connecting said pairs'of elements to form therewith an endless chain, means to support and guide said pairs of elements from said head plate for movement serially through a predetermined endless path comprising guide members arranged to engage predetermined bearing sections of said elements, drive mechanism operable to actuate said pairs of elements as a group'through said path, means to bodily relatively shift the head plate and work support, and intercooperating means associated respectively with said head plate and work support operable to guide the head plate and support normal to one another during relative bodily shifting thereof.

15. In a contouring machine, a work support, an assembly comprising a plurality of pairs of elements disposed normal to said work support and each having a plurality of vertically spaced bearing sections thereon, members intermediate each of said bearing sections connecting the elements of each pair and pivotally connecting said pairs of elements to form therewith an endless chain, means to support and guide said pairs of elements for movement serially through a predetermined endless path comprising guide members arranged to engage predetermined bearing sections of said elements, drive mechanism operable to actuate said pairs of elements as a group through said path, tools carried by said pairs of elements'and arranged to engage work on said support, a plurality of spaced threaded shafts having their axes normal to the work support, a connection between each of said shafts and said assembly comprising a gimbal joint mounting, means to rotationally drive said shafts to bodily relatively shiftthe assembly and work support to cause said tools to engage and disengage work on said support, and intercooperating members associated with said assembly and support operable to guide the assembly and support normal to one v another during relative bodily shifting thereof.

16. In a contouring machine, a work support, an assembly comprising a plurality of pairs of elements disposed normal-to said work support and each having a plurality of vertically spaced hearing sections thereon, members intermediate each of said bearing sections connecting the elements of each pair and pivotally connecting said pairs of elements to form therewith anendless chain,

normal to the work support, a connection between a each of said shafts and said assembly comprising a gimbal joint mounting, means to rotationally drive said shafts to bodily relatively shift the assembly and work support, guide means fixedly mounted about the work support normal thereto and cooperatively engaging bearing surfaces on said assembly to guide the same and said support normal to one another during relative bodily shifting thereof.

RICHARD B. LUCKENBACH.

' REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name 1 Date 495,350 Loetscher Apr. 11, 1893 732,867 Melville June 30, 1903 840,314 Gray et a1. Jan. 1,1907 860,020 Dearholt July 16, 1907 896,356 Brown Aug. 18, 1908 1,137,459 Campbell Apr. 27, 1915 1,169,406 Konieczka ,Jan. 25, 1916 7 1,553,672: DeNorthall Sept. 15, 1925 1,667,347 Field Apr.'24, 1928 2,012,059 Whinery Aug. 20, 1935 2,026,109 Walters Dec. 31, 1935 2,216,721 Crouch Oct. 8, 1940 2,230,534 Elmer et al. f Feb. 4, 1941 2,311,216 Duffy Feb. 16, 1943 2,372,534 Victor Mar. 27, 1945 2,372,826 w Grob Apr. 3, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 345,611 Germany Dec. 14, 1921 440,718 Germany Feb. 14, 1927 600,766

France Nov. 20, 1935