US2874774A - Lacing cutter - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 24, 1959 w; SCOTT 2,874,774

LACING CUTTER Filed Aug. :5, 1955 ZSheeCs-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

.Bks $6077 147702/VEVS.

7 Feb. 24, 1959 w, sco 2,874,774

v LACING CUTTER Fil ed Aug. 3, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a) v INVENTOR. f f 63 J84? W 56077 3% MIX,

United States Patent LA'CING CUTTER Ray W. Scott, Los Angeles, Calif. Application August 3, 1955, Serial No. 526,259

6 Claims. (Cl. 164-37) This invention relates to apparatus for cutting a continuous strip from a disc of material to provide, for example, leather lacing necessary in leather craft.

The object of the present invention is to provide simple apparatus for performing a precise special cutting operation whereby lacing of uniform width is obtained. This is made possible by a novel mechanism for simultaneously rotating the disc and moving it laterally in a direction normal to the axis of rotation and toward a relatively stationary cutter. Advancement of the axis of the disc is at a rate proportional to angular movement of the disc, whereby the mechanism metes out the mathematical criterion for a uniform spiral.

It is another object of this invention to provide in combination with apparatus of this character a winding mechanism provided with simple controls so that the winding mechanism properly takes up the lacing without imposing any undue tension on the lacing.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus of this character that appropriately oppositely bevels the edges of the lacing as a part of a continuous operation. For this purpose, the element cutting the spiral from the disc is appropriately inclined to provide the appropriate bevel for the edge of the lacing then cut, and a second cutting or shaving element shapes the opposite side of the lacing.

It is still another object of this invention to provide apparatus of this character that incorporates novel controls whereby operation of the winder and driving mechanism for the cutter is appropriately stopped when the cutting operation is completed on the material. The controls also cause operation of the mechanism to be promptly halted in the event that the lacing breaks, such as might be due to imperfections in the material. Splicing of the lacing is thereby facilitated, and operations can promptly be resumed.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus of this character that is readily modified and adjusted to provide any desired lacing width,

It is still another object of this invention to provide apparatus of this character that facilitates maintenance and that utilizes standard cutting elements that can easily be replaced.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose, there is shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of apparatus incorporating the present invention for cutting lacing from a disc;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken along the plane indicated by line 2-2 of Fig. l;

ICC

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken along the plane indicated by line 33 of Fig. 2, and showing the mechanism for advancing the disc;

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views, taken along planes indicated by lines 44 and 5-5 of Fig. 2, and illustrating the cutting element of the apparatus;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along the plane indicated by line 6-6 of Fig. l, and showing the driving mechanism cooperating with the lacing, and further illustrating the shaving operation performed on one edge of the lacing to achieve appropriate beveled configuration;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken along the plane indicated by line 7-7 of Fig. 6, and showing a guide for the lacing at the shaving element;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, taken along the plane indicated by line 8-8 of Fig. 6, and showing a control switch responsive to tension in the lacing that is operative to deenergize the winder and driving structure in the event that the lacing breaks or ends;

Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmentary sectional views diagrammatically illustrating the manner in which the appropriately oppositely beveled configuration is imparted to the lacing; and

Fig. 11 is a schematic wiring diagram forming a part of the apparatus.

The disc 11 from which the lacing is cut rests upon a base or table 10. The base 10 also supports the cutting, driving, winding and advancing mechanism.

The disc 11 is shown in the process of being cut into lacing 12. A cutting element 13 (Fig. 2), which may be a standard single-edged razor blade, cooperates with the disc 11, the cutting element being held stationary while the disc is rotated and advanced with respect to the blade 13 in order to achieve a uniform spiral cut.

For supporting the disc 11 for rotation and advancement, a plate 14 is provided that is connected to the disc 11. The plate 14 is guided for rectilinear movement in a direction parallel to the plane of the support It). For this purpose, the opposite edges of the plate 14 are guided in opposed grooves 16 formed in the respective walls of an elongate slot 15 of the support. The slot 15 extends inwardly from a side edge of the support 10, and the cutting element 13 projects from above into the end of the slot with the edge of the cutting element oriented to extend obliquely of the slot 15, as shown in Fig. 2.

For mounting the disc 11, the plate 14 has a bearing boss 17 receiving a spindle 13 that rotatably mounts the disc at its center. For this purpose, the upper end of the spindle 18 projects through a central aperture 19 of the disc 11, and a nut 20, cooperable with the upper end of the spindle 18, clamps the edge of the disc aperture 19 against an intermediate flange 21 formed on the spindle 18. The parts are so proportioned and located that the upper surface of the flange 21, against which the disc 11 is held, is substantially coplanar with the upper surface of the support 10 upon which the disc 11 rests.

The mechanism thus far described provides a rotary mounting for the disc 11 in which the axis of the rotary mounting may be translated toward the cutting element 13 in order to achieve the appropriate spiral cut.

The cutting element 13 is held in a slot or groove 22 formed in the sloping end surface 23 (Fig. 5) of a supporting block 24 secured to the support 10. The end of the block 24 holding the cutting element 13 is undercut, as at 25, to permit passage of the marginal portions of the disc 11 beyond the cutting element 13 whereby a strip may be cut from the disc. The cutting element 13 is removably held in place by a clamping bracket 26 that provides a surface bearing against the exposed lateral surface of the cutting element 13.

The operative edge of the cutting element 13 is addressed in a tangential direction with respect to the disc 11. That intermediate portion of the cutting element 13 located at the undercut portion 25 is operative to cut the disc 11, the element 13 projecting substantially be yond the disc 11 and into the slot 15.

In order to achieve a spiral cut of uniform pitch, the advancement of the axis of rotation of the disc 11 toward element 13 must be directly related to the angular movement thereof. For this purpose, it is the angular move ment of the disc 11 that causes advancement of the plate. Angular movement of the disc causes angular movement of a pulley wheel 30 supported on the plate 14, the wheel 30 being in driving engagement with a steel wire 27. The wire 27 extends below the disc 11 along the length of the slot 15 and is anchored at its ends. At an intermediate portion of the wire, a loop is formed to extend in driving relationship with the wheel 30. For anchoring the wire 27, a post 31, located adjacent the outer end of the-slot 15, secures one end thereof, and a capstan 32 (Fig. 2), located beyond the supporting block 24, is provided for the other end thereof.

The wheel 30 is secured on the upper end of a shaft 33 that is journaled in a bearing boss 34 carried by the plate 14 adjacent the mounting means for the disc 11. The wire 27 flexes downwardly for cooperation with the wheel 30, the wheel 30 being located just below the upper surface of the support in the slot 15. The lower 'end of the shaft 33 mounts a spur gear 29 (Fig. 3) that engages a pinion 28 carried at the lower end of the spindle 18 upon which the disc 11 is mounted. The wheel 30, accordingly, is coupled to the disc 11. Angular movement of the wheel 30 causes advancement of the plate 14, and the mathematical criterion for a spiral cut of uniform pitch is achieved.

The capstan 32 is yieldingly restrained against angular movement so that it may be normally operative to hold the wire 27 tightly wrapped about the pulley wheel 30. For this purpose, the shank 32a of the capstan 32 provides a shoulder 32b bearing tightly against a washer 70. The washer 70 is located in a recess or counterbore 71 at the upper side of the support 10 aligned with the aperture 72 through which the shank 32a extends. A nut 73, secured to the end of the shank 32a, locates a washer 74 with respect to the capstan shank 32a. resilient friction member 75 is interposed between and compressed by the washer 74 and the lower surface of the support 10. The resilience of the member 75 transmits a downward longitudinal force on the shank 32a and determines the force of interengagement between the shoulder 32b and the washer 70. Accordingly, the frictional restraint on the capstan 32 is determined by adjustment of the nut 73 to vary the extent of compression of the resilient member 75. The nut 73 is held in place by a lock screw (not shown).

To start the cutting operation, the disc 11 is mounted upon the spindle 18. The capstan 32 is turned in a direction to release the Wire 27 from driving contact with the wheel 30, and the disc 11 is advanced until its edge is adjacent the cutting element 13. The capstan 32 is then turned in a direction to cause driving engagement between the wire 27 and the wheel 30. The disc 11 is rotated by hand until a starting length of lacing is cut. A bar 76 (Fig. 1), extending substantially diametrically across the upper surface of the disc and having a portion located adjacent the cutting element 13, holds the disc flat so that any inherent warping of the disc does not interfere with the appropriate cutting of lacing of uniform width.

A driving mechanism engages the lacing just cut to rotate the disc 11 in a cutting direction. The mechanism is shown to best advantage in Figs. 1 and 6. The lacing '12 is passed between driving rollers 35 and 36 that are arranged so that their axes are horizontal and parallel to the support 10. As shown'in Fig. l, the driving An apertured 2,874,774. I I V 4 rollers 35 and 36 are located substantially along a tangent line to the disc 11 extending from the cutting element 13 so that no tearing forces are exerted on the material as it is being cut.

The lower driving roller 35 is mounted upon the end of a shaft 37. This shaft is journaled in a bracket 38 secured upon the support 10. The opposite end of the shaft 37 mounts a friction wheel 39 engageable with the shaft 40 of a fractional horsepower motor 41. The upper driving wheel 36 is rotatably mounted upon a yoke 42 that is pivotally mounted on the bracket 38 by a pin 43. A compression spring 44, engaging a finger piece or arm 45 secured to the yoke 42, urges the yoke in a direction corresponding to movement of the upper roller 36 toward the lower driving roller 35. Manual deflection of the finger piece 45 against action of the spring 44 serves to separate the driving rollers 35 and 36 so that the lacing 12 can be inserted between them.

The lacing 12 passes about the upper driving wheel 36 to a spool 46 mounted upon a winding mechanism generally designated at 47 (Fig. l). The winding mechanism 47 and the driving rollers 35 and 36 are then simultaneously operated. A separate fractional horsepower motor (not shown) serves to operate the Winding mechanism 47. As the lacing is wound upon the spool 46, the

increasing diameter of the material on the spool tends to take up the lacing at a rate increasing with respect to that determined by the driving rollers 35 and 36. In order to ensure that the lacing is taken up by the spool 46 at a rate on the average corresponding precisely to that caused by the driving rollers 35 and 36, special provisions, to be presently described, are provided in the energization circuit of the motor 48.

The energization circuits for the motors 41 and 48 are diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 11. Connections 49 and 50 may cooperate with the usual prong type connector (not shown). 'The energization circuit for the motor 41 can be traced as follows: connection 49, lead 51, manually controlled switch 52, motor 41, lead 53, a common connection 54, and an interrupter switch 55 (to be later described), to the return connection 50. The energization circuit for the winding motor 48 parallels the circuit for the driving motor 41. It can be traced as follows: lead 56, manually controlled switch 57, motor 48, speed control network 58, limit switch 59 (to be later described), lead 60, to the common return lead 54, interrupter switch 55, to the return connection 50.

The speed control network 58 includes two parallel branches comprising resistors 61 and 62. The resistor 61 is always in circuit relationship with the motor 48. The resistor 62 is inserted in circuit relationship with the motor and in shunt relationship with the other resistor 61 only when a predetermined slack exists in the lacing between the driving rollers 35 and 36 and the take-up spool 48.

When the resistors 61 and 62 are both in circuit with the motor, the resistance in the motor circuit is small, and the motor 48 tends to operate rapidly to take up the slack in the lacing. The combined resistance of the resistors 61 and 62 is sufliciently small that the lacing slack can be fully taken up by the spool 46 even when the effective diameter of the lacing on the spool is at a When the slack in the lacing sufliciently diminishes, the resistor 62 is cut out of circuit relationship with the motor 48, and only the resistor 61 is operative. The motor is slowed down until the slack reaches the critical value. The resistance of the resistor 61 is sufliciently large that the slack will be increased even when the elfective diameter of the lacing on the spool 46 is at a maximum.

In order to provide a mechanism responsive to the tension in the lacing, a circuit controller 63 associated with the resistor 62 is operated in accordance with the slack in the lacing. For this purpose, a lever arm 64 that is located substantially beneath a plane including the opposed elements of the driving rollers 35 and 36 and the axis of r u the spool 46, :is provided. An eye 65 located at the end of the lever 64 receives the lacing 12. The arm 64 is hingedly mounted on a block 66 for angular movement about a horizontal axis. A leaf spring 67 carried by the block 66 urges'the eye 65 downwardly so that the angular position of the arm corresponds to the slack in the lacing. The circuit controller 63 is located beneath the arm 64, and is operated to increase the speed of the motor if the slack exceedsa critical value, and is operated to decrease the motor speed if the slack is less than the critical value. The slack in the lacing accordingly is held within close limits.

The block 66, mounting the arm 64, and the circuit controller 63 are rotatable in unison about a vertical axis so that theeye 65 can follow the lacing 12 as it traverses across the spool 46. Advancement of the disc 11 is automatically stopped when the disc .is almost completely exhausted. For this purpose, a block 65 (Fig. 2) located in the support opening 15 and immediately in advance of the ,cuttingelement 13, forms an abutment in the path of movement of the plate 14. When the plate 14 engages the block 65, the pulley wheel 30 slips with respect to the wire 27. The spiral cut accordingly terminates in a small circular-cut about the disc aperture 19.

Arrival of the plate 14 to the limited position also causes operation "of the winding mechanism 47 to cease. For this purpose, the limit switch 59 is mounted upon the abutment block 65. An arm 59a of the limit switch 59 normally engages the contact of another arm 59b to main- :tain the circuit for'th'e motor 48 as shown in Fig. 11. The arm 59a is in the path of movement of the plate 14 and is moved away from the opposite arm 59b just as the plate 14 moves toward its limited position. The plate carries an insulator 99 that is interposed between the plate 14 and the arm 59a.

Although the winding mechanism is stopped by the switch 59, the driving rollers 35 and 36 continue to operate until the end of the lacing is formed. The driving motor 41 is deenergized by the interrupter switch 55, which is shown to best advantage in Figs. 6 and 8. The interrupter switch 55 is biased so that it normally is in circuit opening position, but it is maintained in circuit closing position by, the tension in the lacing 12. Thus, when the lacing ends or if a fracture occurs in the lacing for'any reason, the interrupter switch 55 opens, and energization of both motor circuits is interrupted (Fig. 11).

The switch 55 comprises a pair of generally parallel, vertically juxtaposed, flexible strips 77 and 78 that are insulatedly mounted upon a block 79 that is secured to the support 10. The upper strip 77, unless restrained, assumes aposition in which the contacts 80 and 81 carried by the strips are separated. A. U-shaped arm 82, carried by the upper strip, is engaged by the lacing 12 immediately in advance of the :driving rollers '35 and 36. The tension in the lacing, acting through the arm 82, urges the upper strip 77 downwardly into contacting or circuit closing relationship.

In order to provide an inward bevel of the edges of the lacing from the finished side thereof, the edge of the cutting element 13 is located in an appropriately inclined plane. The end surface of the block 24, against which the cutting element 13 is held, is in a plane inclined to a line radial to the disc 11. The cutting element 13, as shown in Fig. 9, appropriately bevels one edge 12a of the lacing 12. The opposite edge 12b, which was cut on the preceding turn of the disc, is beveled inappropriately, however. To finish this edge 1212, a shaving element 83 (Figs. 1, 6 and 7) is provided. The shaving element 83 is oriented with its edge extending horizontally and is addressed in the direction of movement of the lacing 12. It is mounted in a recess 84 on the top surface 85 of a mounting block 86 and is held in position by a bracket 87 similar to the bracket 26.

The lacing 12 is guided for movement so that a triangular segment is cut from the edge 12b as the lacing iii) passes beyond the shaving element 83. For this purpose, a hooked guide 88 is provided. It is 'held against an inclined rest 89 formedby an inwardly offset portion 90a of the forward wall 90. One side of the guide 88 enters a slot 89a formed along the inner side of the rest 89. The guide 88 of the block 86 has a downwardly turned hooked end 91 through which the lacing 12 is threaded. The hooked end is located just above and in advance of the shaving element 83, and holds the lacing 12 in a slightly twisted position and fiat against the inclined guide 88. The edge 12a, provided appropriately by the main cutting element 13, is seated at the seat of the hook, with the finished side of the lacing engaging the shank of the guide 88. The orientation of the guide 88 is such as to provide an appropriate angularity between the lacing edge 12b and the shaving element 83. The top surface of the block 86 immediately forward of the shaving edge 83 is appropriately notched, as at 92 (Figs. 6 and 7), to expose the element 83 to the lacing 12. Accordingly, appropriate finishing of the edge 12b is accomplished.

The triangular segment shaved from the edge 12b of the lacing 12 passes downwardly through aligned openings 93 and 94 (Fig. 6) in the block 86 and the support The position of the hooked guide 88 can be adjusted in order that the edge of lacing of various widths can be properly located with respect to the shaving element 83. A clamping screw 97 bears against the hooked guide 88 to hold the guide in adjusted position. A threaded post 99, attached to surface a, mounts the lock screw 97 for providing a clamping action as the screw is turned in the support 99.

In order to ensure that the appropriate edge 12b is operated upon by the shaving element 83, an inclined J length of the shank of the guide as may be necessary or desirable.

In order to cut lacing of different widths, the pulley 30 may be removed and a pulley of ditierent size accommodated, or, optionally, an entire plate 14 with its associated parts may be substituted.

In operation, the limit switch 59 causes operation of the winding mechanism to cease. The tension sensing or interrupter switch 55 causes operation of the driving rollers .35 and 36 to cease. In the event that fracture .7 of the lacing occurs prior to completion of the cutting operation, the tension sensing or interrupter switch 55 causes operation both of the winding mechanism and the driving rollers 35 and 36 to cease. A splice may quickly be made and operation resumed. To achieve a resumption in operation, the spliced lacing may be appropriately rethreaded through the apparatus.

Since the actual cutting of the lacing is dependent upon the continuity of lacing, it is ensured that the lacing cannot be out without being appropriately wound up.

The inventor claims:

1. In apparatus for spirally cutting material into lacing, or the like: a support; means for holding a cutting element on the support; a member movable along the support toward the holding means and having provisions for rotatably mounting material to be cut; means cooperable with the strip of material cut for rotating the material; transmission means capable of slipping for advancing the member toward the holding means in accordance with the angular movement of the material; and abutment means forming a limit to advancement of the number and causing the transmission to slip, thereby terminating the strip by a circular cut of the material.

2. Iii-apparatus for spirally cutting material into lacing, or the like: a support; means for holding a cutting element on the support; a member guided for rectilinear movement toward the holding means; means mounting the material to be cut on the member for angular move ment about an axis transverse to the direction of movement of the member; a rotary element movable in accordance with the angular movement of the material, and carried by the member; a lead wire extending along the path of movement of the rotary element, and looped thereabout; and releasable means for tensioning the wire for causing the wire frictionally to grip the rotary element, release of the tensioning means permitting rapid movement of the guided member.

3. In a device for performing a spiral cut in material of disc form: a cutting element; a movable mounting for material to be cut, and including means for advancing the material in accordance with angular movement thereof; means forming a limit to advancement of the material without limiting angular movement thereof; driving rollers for the material cut; a motor for the driving rollers; a winding mechanism for the material cut; a

motor for the winding mechanism; and an energization circuit for each motor, including a common control element adjacent said advancing means and responsive to the existence of a discontinuity in the material cut for interrupting energization of the motors, a speed regulating network in circuit relationship with the Winding mechanism motor having a control element responsive to the tension in the lacing to regulate the speed of the winding mechanism motor, and circuit controlling means operated upon arrival of the material to the limited position for interrupting energization of the winding mechanism motor.

4. In apparatus for beveling an edge of leather lacing, or the like: a member having a cutting edge; a holder for the member; a guide having a shank provided with a transversely extending end against which one edge of the lacing is adapted to abut; the shank providing a surface against which one side of the lacing is adapted'to engage; a support immediately in advanceof the cutting edge and having a surface inclined to the length of the edge; the shank engaging the inclined surface; the surface being so located that a portion of the shank adjacent the transversely extending end is aligned with the edge, adjustment of the position of the shank along the surface locating successive portions of the shank in alignment with the cutting edge; releasable means for clamping the shank against the surface; and means for guiding the lacing so that it engages the transversely extending end with one side of the lacing engaging the shank.

5. In apparatus for beveling an edge of leather lacing,

or the like: a member having a cutting edge; aholder for the member; a guide having a shank provided with a transversely extending end against which one edge ofthe lacing is adapted to abut; the shank'providing; a-surface against which one side of the lacing is adapted to engage; a support immediately in advance of the cutting edge and having a surface inclined to the length of the edge; the shank engaging the inclined surface; the surface being so located that a portion of the shankadjacent the transversely extending end is aligned with the edge, adjustment of the position of the shank along the surface locating successive portions of the shank in alignment with the cutting edge; releasable means for clamping the shank against the surface; and a post in advance of the shank and substantially parallel thereto, and having an adjustable nut threadedly engageable. with the post for orienting the lacing before engaging the shank.

6. In apparatus for spirally cutting material into lacing, or the like: a support; means for holding a cutting element on the support; a member guided for rectilinear movement toward the holding means; means mounting the material to be cut on the member for angular movement about an axis transverse to the direction of movement of the member; a rotary element movable in accordance with the angular movement of thematerial, and carried by the member; a lead wire extending along the path of movement of the rotary element, and looped thereabout; a capstan for tensioning the wirefor causing References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS,

115,949 Foster June 13, 1871 435,381 Rohrmoser Aug. 26, 1890 524,767 Randall Aug. 21,- 1894 526,230 Howe Sept. 18,1894 526,617 Druschky Sept. 25, 1894 680,927 Krom Aug. 20, 1901 874,102 Merrick Dec. 17,' 1907 1,265,329 Henderson May 7, 1918 1,495,960 Merrick -n May 27, 1924 1,942,365 Rozier Jan. 2, 1934 2,097,142 Borton Oct. 26, 1937 2,227,355 Lawson Dec. 31, 1940 2,353,639 Berthold July 18, 1944 2,419,518 Eichinger Apr. 22, 1947 2,553,335 Scott May 15, 1951 r 2,685,950 Demby Aug. 10, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 26, 1905

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