US2717011A - Machine for drilling window shade rollers - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 6, 1955 G. A. PHINN MACHINE FOR DRILLING WINDOW SHADE ROLLERS Filed July 6, 1953 United States Patent() MACHINE FOR DRILLING WINDOW SHADE ROLLERS George A. Phinn, Pasadena, Calif.

Application July 6, 1953, Serial No. 366,135

8 Claims. (Cl. 144-93) This invention relates to a machine for extending window shade rollers, and particularly to a machine for accurately supporting a wooden window shade cylinder in axial alignment with a drill bit. The end of the cylinder is then drilled along its axis, so that a dowel may be placed in the bored holes to two such cylinders and a combination cylinder of greater length provided.

Wooden shade rollers presently on the market are sold in a variety of relatively short standard lengths, so that when it is desired to form a short shade roller of nonstandard length it is merely necessary to buy the next longer standard length and cut it to size. However, when it is necessary to form a relatively long shade roller it is customary to employ metal instead of wooden cylinders since no wooden shade roll cylinders of the longer lengths are presently available. Since the cost of a metal cylinder is several times that of a wooden cylinder of equal length, attempts have been made to extend wooden cylinders in such a way as to provide a combination cylinder having the necessary dimensions. This, however, necessitates the carrying out of extremely accurate drilling operations in order to form the axial end holes in which the dowel, which connects the two components of the combination cylinder, is placed. Where the end holes are not accurately drilled on the axes of the cylinders to be joined, a substantial wobble results which renders the extended cylinder unsuitable for use as a shade roller.

In View of the above factors characterizing the iield of window shade rollers, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive apparatus for forming axial end holes in wooden shade roller cylinders, the apparatus being highly accurate yet suiciently simple in operation to permit its use by unskilled personnel in relatively small window shade companies.

A further object is to provide a novel means for holding a wooden window shade cylinder in axial alignment relative to a drill, portions of the aligning means being movable with the cylinder as it is advanced over the drill during the boring operation.

An additional object is to provide novel adjustment, bearing, and spring return means for expediting the drilling operation and rendering it more accurate.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following specication and claims considered in connection with the attached drawing to which they relate.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a top plan View illustratinga shade roll drilling apparatus embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is aview along line 2-2 of Figure l, partly in vertical central section and partly in elevation;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional View along line 3 3 of Figure l and as viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 illustrates the abutting ends of an extended r Cal ICC

mounted on the base 10 at the inner end of drill meansk 11, and stationary cylinder support means 13 mounted at the other end of base 10 and cooperating with slidable support means 12 to align the cylinder to be drilled. A typical wooden shade roller cylinder .to be drilled is shown at 14 in Figures l and 2, and its connection to a corresponding cylinder 16 by means of a dowel 17 is shown in Figure 4, the dowel being inserted in axial end holes 18 formed in cylinders 14 and 16 in accordance with the invention. j

The drill means 11 comprises an electric motor 20 the shaft of which is connected, by means of a`chuck 21, with a relatively long straight drill 22. The drill 22 extends longitudinally of base 10 and is associated, at

approximatelyits center, with a thrust bearing 23 adapted to prevent axial drill displacement when the vcylinder 14 is forced against the twistedbit or cutting end of the drill during the boring operation., The thrust bearing is shown as taking the form of a support block 24 which is anchored on base 10 and provided on oneof itsfacevs, remote from motor 20, with a thrust boss 26. Support block 24 and thrust 'boss l26 are apertured to loosely receive the drill as shown in Figure`2, 'and thrust collar Y 27 is suitably mountedon the drill shank closely adjacent the thrust boss. The thrust of the drill in the direction of motor 20 is then taken by rubbing contact between the cooperating thrust collar 27 and thrust boss 26, and

there is consequently no tendency to damage the motor 20."

The slidable cylinder support 12 comprises an upright block 29 which is anchored on a horizontal carriage plate 30 adapted to slide on base 10 between L-sectioned guides 31 and 32 illustrated in Figure 3.y Block 29 is formed` with `a cylinder-receiving opening 33 having a conical wall 34 which opens out in the direction of stationary cylinder support 13. Opening 33 is in axial alignment with drill 22 and is of such size that various diameters of cylinders 14 will engage conical wall 34 intermediate its base and inner edges, so that different sizes of shade roller cylinders may be extended without the necessity of using separate and interchangeable support blocks. The guides or slides 31 and 32 are disposed parallel to drill 22 adjacent opposite edges of base 10, andare adapted to guide the carriage plate 30 and cylinderreceiving block 29 as it moves toward motor 20 under,

to the bearing block or to the drill,'suitable bushings 38 and 39 are mounted in the bearing block aperture as shown in Figure 2.V Drill bearing block 37 isnormally adjusted so that the cutting end of drill 22 will lie along the axis of conical opening 33 and will drill a hole 18 at preciselythe axis of cylinder 14 when the slidable means v12 are shifted from the solid line to the dashed line ,position shown in Figures l and 2.

`The stationary cylinder support means 13 comprises a pair of upright V-jaws 41 and 42 mounted on opposite edges of an oblong pivot block 44, the latter being in turn mounted on theupper surface of an adjustment plate 46 lying on base 10. The pivotal connection between pivot block 44 and adjustment plate 46 takes the form of a vertical bolt 47 passing axially through the pivot block as shown-inFigure 2. The V-jaws 41 and 42E-are` identical in shape and size, and are disposed symmetrically about both the major and minor axes of pivot'block 44. Furthermore, the V-jaws lie in parallel planes which are-perpendicular to the minor pivot block axis, with the angular notch 48 of each V-jaw opening toward the minor axis so that the jaws may iit over the cylinder 14 to maintain it in alignment. Referring to Figure 5, each of the notches 48 comprises'two edges 49 which diverge at equal angles to a horizontal plane passing through the apex at which the edges meet, the angle between each edge and the horizontal plane Vbeing on the order of forty-tive degrees. The jaws are so mounted that the horizontal plane passingthrough the apexes of the jaw notches will also pass through the axis of conical opening 33 and of drill 22. It follows that when theV jaws 41 and 42 are urged against .opposite sides of the cylinder 14 as shown in Figure l, the axis of the cylinder will be at the same elevation as the axis of conical opening 33 and of the drill. In order to urge the jaws into gripping relationship with the cylinder, a helical tension spring 51 is connected between one end of pivot block 44 and a post 52 on adjustmentplate 46, the post 52 also serving as one end connection for the carriage return spring 36. It will be noted that the positioning of spring S1 is such that it opposes rotation of the pivot block to align cylinder 14 with the drill, for example in vpivoting the cylinder from the solid line to the dashed line position shown in Figure l, the V-jaws 41 and 42 then pressing against the shade roller to eectively hold it in place.

In the normal use of the shade roller extending apparatus, all of the parts are adjusted so that a precise axial bore is formed in the end of wooden roller 14. Thus, in normal operation the vertical axis of pivot bolt 47 for pivot block 44 passes through the axis of conical opening 33. In addition, the drill 22 lies in exact axial alignment with the conical opening and in the same horizontal plane as the apexes of jaw notches 4S. How` ever, to permit flexibility in the operation of the machine, the cylinder-supporting means 12 and 13 are provided with adjustment means permitting otr' center holes as well as holes at an angle to the cylinder axis. 'I'he adjustment means for slidable drill support 12 comprise a plurality of inwardly directed screws which are normal to and engage the various edge faces of drill bearing block 37. Screws 54 are threaded through suitable straps 56 which are mounted on block 29 and overhang the relatively small block 37. Through rotation of the various screws 54, the bit end of drill 22 may be vertically or horizontally shifted so that it no longer lies along the axis of conical opening 33 but instead is somewhat oi center.

Also, it will be understood that screws S4 may be rotated in order to cause the cutting end of the drill to be perfectly centered relative to opening 33, despite any inaccuracy in the mounting of cylinder support means 12.

To provide for the adjustment of stationary drill support 13, the adjustment plate 46 is pivoted at its inner edge as shown in Figure l, the pivot comprising a Vertical screw 57. The axis of screw 57 is at a right angle to, and intersects, the axis of conical opening 33. The adjustment plate 46 may be pivoted on screw 57 through operation of a transversely extending adjustment bolt 59 which projects inwardly from a lug 61 on one edge of support for threaded connection with a lug 62 on the adjacent edge of the adjustment plate. As indicated in Figure 5, the adjustmentibolt 59 is formed with a collar 63, inwardly adjacent lug 61, to provide for pivoting of plate 46 in either direction upon selective rotation of the bolt. To aid in locking the adjustment plate in a desired position, a vertical screw 65. is inserted downwardly through a transverse slot 66 in a horizontal plate 67 which overhangs the outer edge of adjustment plate- 46,'the screw being threaded into base 10 as indicated in Figure 2. Upon loosening of screw 65 and rotation of adjustment bolt 59 to pivot the adjustment plate 46 until pivot bolt 47 for block 44 is no longer directly beneath the axis of conical opening 33, the cylinder 414 will not be in axial alignment with the drill 22 when the inner cylinder end is positioned in the .conical opening. The bore hole 1S in the cylinder end will thenhe directed at an angle oblique to the cylinder axis instead of extending along it as in the normal situation.

In the operation of the apparatus, vlet .it vbe assumed that the various adjustment means are set to normal operating positions for shade roller extension, that is to say with the pivot axis 47 passing through the axis of conical opening 33, and with the shank and bit portions of drill 22 lying along the axis. Prior to the .placing of a cylinder 14- in the apparatus, the components are in the solid line positions shown in VFigures l andv 2, with the pivot block 44 pivoted counterclockwise due to the operation of tension spring 51, and with the slidable cylinder support means 12 in the outeror retracted position due to the operation ot tension spring 36. A shade roller 14 of any various diameters, such as fifteen-sixteenths inch, one and one-eight inches, one and one-quarter inches, etc., is then inserted. transversely of base 10 between V- jaws 41 and 42. The cylinder '14 is then rotated clockwise, as viewed from above in Figure l, until its outer portion engages and is centered by jaw notch edges 49 of V-jaw 41, and its relatively 'inner portion similarly engages and is centered by the edgese 49 of V-jaw 42. Clockwise rotation of cylinder 14 is continued, against the bias of spring 51, until the cylinderis in the axially aligned position shown in dashed lines in Figure l, after which the cylinder is slid until its inner end abuts the conical wall 34 of opening 33. When in this positionthe inner end of cylinder 14 is held, clue to its engagement with the wall 34, in vertical and horizontal alignment with drill 22. ln addition, the outer end of the cylinder is held in vertical and horizontal alignment by the jaws 41 and 42, the cylinder then being axially aligned with the drill as desired. The operator then starts the motor 2li, to eiect rotation of drill Z2, and he manually shifts the cylinder 14 in the direction of the motor so that the end ot the cylinder is pressed over the drill bit. During this operation, the slidable cylinder support 12 is shifted to the dashed line position shown in Figures l and .2. The cylinder support 13, however, remains stationary while the cylinder 14 is slid through it, the tension spring 51 tending to maintain the V-jaws 41 and 42 in align-A ing condition during the operation. Similarly, the tension spring 36 tendsto aid in centering the inner end ot' cylinder 14 since it insures that the conical wall 34 i will never move out of centering .engagement with it.

A hole 18 being bored to the desired depth, the cylinder 14 is moved in the opposite direction toy free it from the drill bit, the spring 36 then koperating tofreturn the carriage plate 30 and associated elements to their initial positions. After the drilling operation is performed on two cylinders such as cylinders 14 and 16 shown in Figure 4, a dowel 17 is inserted in the cylinder 14 and the cylinder 16 is fitted over it. A relatively long combination cylinder is thus formed' which may be used as 'a shade roller without possibility of wobble since the components 14 and 16 are in precise axial alignment.

While the particular apparatus herein shown and .described in ,detail is .fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the. advantages hereiubefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of 'the presenly preferred embodiments of the invention and that. no limitations are intended to. the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in theagpended. claims.

I claim:

l. A machine for use in extending shade rollers, which comprises a base, a drill connected at its shank end to a motor, slide means mounted on said base, a cylindersupporting member provided on said slide means for movement longitudinally of said drill, said cylinder-supporting member having a conical opening formed therethrough adjacent the cutting end of said drill, said conical opening being in axial alignment with said drill and having its relatively large diameter base portion remote from said motor, a pivot member spaced from said cylindersupporting member on the opposite side thereof from said motor, said pivot member being pivotable about an axis normal to and intersecting the axis of said drill and said conical opening, and a pair of V-jaws mounted on sai pivot member and on opposite sides of said pivot member axis for engagement at axially spaced locations with opposite sides of a cylinder to be drilled, said V-jaws being shaped to cooperate with said cylinder-supporting member in maintaining said cylinder in axial alignment with said drill during movement of the cylinder toward said drill to form an axial end bore therein.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1, wherein the notches of said V-jaws are formed with angularly related edges intersecting at apexes disposed in a common plan; with the axis of said drill and of said conical opening, and wherein means are provided to bias said pivot member in a direction to cause pivoting thereof to maintain said V-jaws in engagement with said cylinder.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 2, wherein the intersecting edges of each of said V-jaws lie in a plane parallel to a plane containing the intersecting edges of the other V-jaw, said parallel planes being parallel to said pivot member axis and equally spaced on opposite sides thereof.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 3, wherein said V-jaws are disposed symmetrically relative to a plane containing said pivot member axis and perpendicular to said parallel planes.

5. A machine for use in extending shade rollers, which` comprises a base, a drill journaled on said base and connected at its shank end to a motor, carriage means mounted on said base for movement longitudinally of said drill, a cylinder-supporting member provided on said carriage means for movement therewith, said cylinder-supporting member having a conical opening formed therethrough adjacent the cutting end of said drill and converging toward said motor, a pivot member spaced from said cylinder-supporting member on the opposite side thereof from said motor, said pivot member being pivotable about an axis normal to and intersecting the axis of said drill and said conical opening, a pair of V-jaws mounted on said pivot member and on opposite sides of said pivot member axis for engagement at axially spaced locations with opposite sides of a cylinder to be drilled, spring means to urge said V-jaws into gripping engagement with said cylinder, and spring means to elfect return movement of said carriage means at the completion of a drilling operation.

6. A machine for use in extending blade rollers, which comprises a motor, a drill mounted in said motor for rotation thereby, centering means mounted substantially axially of said drill and being adapted to shift from adjacent the cutting end of said drill toward said motor to encompass said drill, said centering means including means to dene at least a portion of a conical surface of revolution converging toward said motor, a pivot member spaced from said centering means on the opposite side thereof from said motor, said pivot member being pivotable about an axis normal to and intersecting the axis of said drill, a pair of jaws iixedly mounted on said pivot member and on opposite sides of said pivot member axis for engagement at axially spaced locations with opposite sides of a cylinder to be drilled, and means to bias said pivot member to pivot the same about said axis in a direction to maintain said jaws in engagement with said cylinder.

7. A machine for use in extending shade rollers, which comprises a base, a drill connected at its shank end to a motor, slide means mounted on said base, a cylindersupporting member provided on said slide means for movement longitudinally of said drill and being adapted to provide a bearing for the cutting end of said drill, said cylinder-supporting member having a conical opening formed therethrough adjacent said cutting end of said drill, said conical opening being in axial alignment with said drill and having its relatively large diameter base portion remote from said motor, a pivot member spaced from said cylinder-supporting member on the opposite side thereof from said motor, said pivot member being pivotable about an axis normal to and intersecting the axis of said drill and said conical opening, and a pair of i/-jaws mounted on said pivot member for engagement at axially spaced locations with opposite sides of a cylinder to be drilled, said V-jaws being shaped to coopcrate with said cylinder-supporting member in maintaining said cylinder in axial alignment with said drill during movement of the cylinder toward said drill to form an axial end bore therein.

8. A machine for use in extending shade rollers, which comprises a base, a drill connected at its shank end to a motor, slide means mounted on said base, a cylindersupporting member provided on said slide means for movement longitudinally of said drill, said cylinder-supporting member having a conical opening formed therethrough adjacent the cutting end of said drill, said conical opening being in axial alignment with said drill and having its relatively large diameter base portion remote from said motor, a pivot member spaced from said cylindersupporting member on the opposite side thereof from said motor, said pivot member being pivotable about an axis normal to and intersecting the axis of said drill and said conical opening, a pair of V-jaws mounted on said pivot References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 284,859 Hofstatter Sept. 11, 1883 494,834 Austin Apr. 4, 1893 698,608 'Whiton Apr. 29, 1902 785,193 Brown Mar. 21, 1905 1,472,927 McLain Nov. 6, 1923 1,503,836 Kunzer Aug. 5, 1924 1,510,771 English Oct. 7, 1924 1,513,350 Stolle Oct. 28, 1924 2,341,926 Lanby Feb. 15, 1944

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