US3589230A

US3589230A - Adjustable clamp for knives

Info

Publication number: US3589230A
Authority: US
Inventors: Don E Neuman
Original assignee: DOVEY Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: DOVEY Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1969-06-04
Filing date: 1969-06-04
Publication date: 1971-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-29

Abstract

An adjustable clamp is provided for clamping knives of the type used to cut handholes in cardboard boxes. The clamping device includes a pair of clamping members connected by adjustment means for moving the clamping members toward and away from one another. The clamping members engage an inner or outer peripheral surface of a cutting knife and clamp the knife in position.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Don E. Neuman Anderson, lnd.

App]. No. 830,316

Filed June 4, 1969 Patented June 29, 1971 Assignee Dorey Manufacturing Company Anderson, lnd.

ADJUSTABLE CLAMP FOR KNIVES 23 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs. A

[1.8. CI 83/669, 83/700 lat. Cl B26d 1/12 Field of Search 83/669,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.387.876 10/1945 Bright 83/700 3.l28,663 4/1964 Dovey 83/700 X 3,321,874 5/1967 Henc 76/107 X Primary Examiner-William S. Lawson AltameyMeyer, Tilberry and Body ABSTRACT: An adjustable clamp is provided for clamping knives of the type used to cut handholes in cardboard boxes. The clamping device includes a pair of clamping members connected by adjustment means for moving the clamping members toward and away from one another. The clamping members engage an inner or outer peripheral surface of a cutting knife and clamp the knife in position.

PATENTEB JUN29 I9?! SHEET 1 OF 2 i TM E mm. 8 W VN 40 W. W E WJA T w 0 N vmm m PATENTEUJUN29|97I 3,589,230

SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR.

311 E 00/v 5 NEUMA/V M fwd-5 5 A TTORNEKS' ADJUSTABLE CLAMP FOR KNIVES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application pertains to the art of cutting and more particularly to clamping devices for holding cutting knives in cutting apparatus for making handholes in cardboard boxes and will be described with particular reference thereto although it will be appreciated that the invention has broader application and can be used in supporting cutting or deforming knives of other types.

In the art of cutting cardboard or the like, it is common to mount a cutting knife on a rotating drum. Another rotating drum covered with a rubberlike material is positioned in spaced-apart relationship to the first drum and defines an anvil against which the knife cuts. Cardboard is fed between the anvil and the knife, and cutting operations are performed as the knife rotates into contact with the cardboard. In previous arrangements, the cutting knife was clamped in position by a clamping device which was not adjustable to accept knives of different sizes and shapes. In such prior devices, it was necessary to provide a completely new clamping device for use with cutting knives of different sizes and shapes. Therefore, it was necessary to keep an inventory of a large number of clamping devices. This was very expensive and consumed a considerable amount of time in changing production runs from the use of one cutting knife to another. In addition, specifications for special sizes or shapes of cuts required initial manufacture ofa completely new clamping device to hold the special size or shape of knife.

It would be desirable to have an adjustable clamping device for adjustably clamping cutting knives of various sizes and shapes. It would also be desirable to have a clamping device which could be modified for clamping highly modified shapes or sizes of cutting knives by changing a minimum number of parts of the clamping device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an adjustable clamping device is provided for clamping various sizes and shapes of cutting means in a working position. More specifically, the adjustable clamping device of the present invention includes a pair of clamping members having clamping surfaces thereon. An adjustment means connects the clamping members for adjustable movement toward and away from one another. One type of cutting means for use with the clamping device of the present invention includes inner and outer peripheral surfaces. The clamping members are moved by operating the adjustment means until their clamping surfaces tightly engage at least portions of at least one of the inner or outer peripheral surfaces on the cutting means.

In one arrangement, the clamping device of the present invention includes a pair of support members which are connected by adjustable connecting means. The knife clamping members are supported by the support members, and adjustable positioning means is provided for varying the supported position of the clamping members on the support members. This provides adjustment of the depth of cut made by the cutting means. Therefore, the radial distance ofa cutting knife from its rotating drum may be adjustably varied in a very simple manner so that the knife will accurately cooperate with an anvil.

In a preferred arrangement, the clamping device of the present invention is for use with a cutting knife having a substantially oval shape. The cutting knife has a substantially oval inner peripheral surface which includes curved end surface portions. The clamping surfaces of the clamping member are curved at substantially the same curvature as the end surface portions of the cutting knife. The adjustable connecting means is then operable to move the clamping members away from one another for tightly engaging the clamping surfaces on the clamping members with the end surface portions on the inner periphery of the oval cutting knife. With this arrangement,

cutting knives of various lengths may be clamped in position without requiring any change in the parts of the clamping device. In addition, a substantial change in the width of such a cutting knife merely requires change of the two clamping members. This may be effected very rapidly and requires no change in the support members or in the adjustable connecting means.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a knife having a substantially H-slhaped cutting edge is clamped in position by clamping means which includes an inner clamping member. With the present invention, the H- shaped knife is clamped in position by using the same support members and adjustable connecting means as used with oval knives. In this arrangement, a pair of clamping members are moved toward one another to tightly grip the peripheral surfaces of the H-shaped knife between clamping surfaces on the inner clamping member and the pair of clamping members.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the support members are provided with substantially vertical legs including a laterally extending flange. The vertical legs of the support members engage surfaces on the clamping members so that movement of the support members also moves the clamping members. The lateral flanges on the legs extend over surface portions of the clamping members so that the clamping members do not fall from the supports when the knife and clamp are rotated on a drum.

It is a principle object of the present invention to provide an adjustable clamping device for adjustably clamping cutting knives in a working position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a clamping device which requires change ofa minimum number of parts to clamp cutting knives having highly variant shapes.

It is also an object ofthe present invention to provide an adjustable knife clamping device which is very simple to manufacture and assemble.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, preferred embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof.

FIG. 1 is a side, elevational cross-sectional view showing a mounting drum and anvil drum having the improved clamping device of the present invention incorporated therein:

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of one form of the adjustable clamping device of the present invention and with portions cut away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view looking in the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2',

FIG. 4 is an end, elevational view looking in the direction of arrows 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the adjustable clamping device of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting same, FIG. 1 shows rotatable drum A ofa printer-slotter machine for use in cutting cardboard or like material. A second rotatable drum B defines an anvil for cooperation with a knife C mounted on drum A. Anvil B is covered with a hard, rubberlike material to prevent rapid dulling of knife C. A base member D is secured to drum A as by bolts 12 and cooperates with other parts of a clamping device for holding knife C to drum A. Base member D includes an elongated keyway slot E. having under cut

end portions

14 and 16. Inwardly extending

flange portions

18 and 20 of base member D cooperate with the bottom surface 22 of slot E to define under

cut portions

14 and 16.

In the arrangement of FIG. 2, a pair of support members F and G include outwardly extending

bottom flanges

26, 28, 30 and 32. Flanges 2632 of support member F and G are 3 slideably receivable in

underout portions

14 and 16 of elongated slotE. The bottom surfaces of the

lateral extensions

18 and 20 on base member D cooperate with the upper surfaces I of flanges 26-32 of support members F and G .to hold support members F and G in position in slot E against any movement except sliding movement longitudinally of slot E.

In accordance with a preferred arrangement of the present invention, an adjustment means is provided for adjusting the spacing between support members F and G when they are positioned within slot E. In one arrangement, the adjustment means is defined by a'screw H having a right-hand thread 36 formed on one end portion and a left-hand thread 38 formed on its other end portion. Right-hand thread 36 is threadedly receivable in a threaded bore 40 in support member F. Threaded bore 40 is also-formed with right-hand threads for cooperation with the right hand threads 36 of screw H. Support member G is provided with a bore 42 having left-hand threads formed therein for cooperation with left-hand threads 38 of screw H. in the preferred arrangement, threaded bores 40 and 42 are formed completely through support members F and G and are substantially centrally located in support mem bers F and .G longitudinally of the longitudinal axis of slot E. Screw H may be provided with an end hexagonal recess 44 for receiving a hexagonal rod. A similar recess may be provided on end 38 of screw H. Therefore, when end 36 and 38 are threaded into

bores

40 and 42, screw H may be rotatably adjusted by inserting a hexagonal rod through either bore 40 or 42 for reception in hexagonal recess 44. The hexagonal rod may then be rotated to rotate screw H and vary the length of end portions 36 and 38 of screw H which are threaded into

bores

40 and 42 of support members F and G.

in a preferred arrangement, support members F and G are provided with a longitudinal recess in one side face and only one of which is shown for support member F at 48. Base member D has threaded

bores

50 and 52 which extend completely through lateral 191 bores 50 and 52 which extend completely through lateral extension 20. Either one or both of threaded

bores

50 and 52 receives a setserew J and the inner end portion of sctserew J is receivable in recess 48. SetscrewJ may be tightened until its bottom end tightly engages the bottorn surface of recess 48 to hold support members F and G in desirable position.in slot E. Slight loosening of setscrew I permits adjustable movement of support members F and G in slot E but prevents the entire assembly of support member F. screw H and support member (3 from sliding out of slot E because the inner end portion of setscrew J will engage the end portions of recess 48. Setserew J may be further turned outwardly in either bore 50 or 52 until its inner end portion is completely free of recess 48 so that support member F, screw H and support member may slide axially out of slot E. Setscrew .i may also include a hexagonal recess 54 for receiving a hexagonal rod which is turned to rotate setscrew J to its desired position. Base member D includes a bore 56 and slot 58 which may be duplicated on theother side of base member D for cooperation with bolts 12 of FIG. 1 to hold base member D on drum A.

it will be readily recognized that counterclockwise rotation of screw H, as viewed from end 36, causes support members F and G to move away from one another due to screw H unthraading itself from bores 40 and 42. Likewise. counterclockwise rotation of screw H. as viewed from end 36, causes support members F and G to move toward one another due to threading of end portions 36 and 38 into

bores

40 and 42. Each support member F and 0 includes a pair of spaced apart substantially vertical leg members 60. 62, 64 and 66. Leg members 617- also include laterally extending

flanges

70, 72, i4 and 76. The vertical surfaces 80, 82. 84 and 86 of legs 60-66 define engagement surfaces for cooperation with clamping members as will be more fully described hereafter. it will be recognized that support members F and G are substan= tially identical in shape and construction except for bore 40 in support member F having a right hand thread While bore 42 in support member G has a left hand thread.

in accordance with one arrangement, a pair of substantially identical clamping members K and L are provided for cooperation with support members F and G to clamp cutting knife C in position. Clamping members K and L include spaced apart vertical slots and 92, and 94 and 96 are spaced apart substantially the same distance as

legs

60 and 62, and

legs

64 and 66. Each slot 90-96includes a

shoulder

100, 102, 104 and 106 spaced below upper surfaces 108 and 110 of clamping members K and L'. in a preferred arrangement, clamping members K and L are slidably interconnected by a dowel 112 which is slidabiy received in longitudinal bores formed in clamping members K and L and only one of such bores is shown at 114 in clamping member L. Slots 90-96 are dimensioned, in relation to legs 60-66, so that clamping members and L may be abutted when support members F and G are abutted and leg members 60-66 will not interfere with abutment of clamping members K and L. in addition, leg members 60-66 are vertically dimensioned to be substantially flush with upper surfaces 108 and 110 of clamping members K and L when the .bottom surfaces of clamping members K and L are resting on the upper surfaces of support members F AND G. in addition, the vertical dimension of engagement surfaces 80-86 of leg members 60-66, as measured from the upper surfaces of support member F and G to the bottom edge of laterally extending flanges 70-76, is greater than the distance from the bottom surfaces of clamping members K and L to shoulders 100-106. With this arrangement, clamping members K and L will not fall from support members F and G when drum A OF FIG. 1 is in such a position that base member D is facing vertically downward because flanges 70- 76 of leg members 60-66 will engage shoulders 100-106 on clamping members K and L. Each clamping member K and L is further provided with a threaded vertical bore and 122 extending completely therethrough. Threaded bores 120 and 122 are adapted to receive setscrews only one of which is shown at M. Setscrew M may include a hexagonal recess 124 for receiving a hexagonal rod which is rotated to thread setscrew M into and out of threaded bore 120. Setscrews M may then be adjusted to bear against the upper surface of support member F so that the bottom surface of clamping member K the upper surface of support member F are spaced apart in ac cordance with the distance with which setscrew M extends completely through bore 120. it is for this spacer adjustment reason that vertical engagement surfaces 80-86 of leg members 60-66 have a vertical dimension which is greater than the distance from the bottom surfaces of clamping members K and L toshoulders 90-96. Therefore, clamping members K and L may be adjustably positioned on support members F and G anywhere between a position in which the bottom surfaces ofclamping members K and L engage the upper surfaces of support members F and G, to a position in which such surfaces are spaced apart any desirable distance, such as up to one-tenth of an inch, by setscrew M. it will be recognized that a setscrews M is also provided for bore 122 in clamping member L. with this adjustable arrangement. it is possible to accurately position the cutting edge of knife C at a predetermined radial distance from the rotational axis of drum A so that the cutting edge of knife C accurately cooperates with anvil B in cuttin material which is fed between the knife and anvil B.

For clampin urposes, each clamping member K and L in cludes an outer, curved substantially vertical clamping surface and 132. Clamping members K and L further have a bob tom outwardly extending

flange

134 and 136 defining a sub stantialiy

horizontal shoulder

138 and 140 intersecting clamp= ing surfaces 130 and 132 at substantially right angles. Cutting knife C has a substantially oval shape in plan view. Cutting knife C may be formed into an oval shape from a flat strip of metal which is joined along a line 142 as by having a joining member 144 Welded to the outer surface of knife C on op= posite sides of joining line 142. it will also be recognized that joinin line 142 may be directly welded in the absence of com nesting member 144. Cutting knife includes a bottom edge I46 and a cutting edge 148 which is formed with a plurality of cutting teeth. It will be evident that cutting member C includes an outer peripheral surface 150 and an inner peripheral surface 152 which is of substantially oval shape. Inner peripheral surface 152 includes curved

end surface portions

154 and 156 at opposite ends of the longitudinal axis of knife C. In a preferred arrangement, the curvature of

end surface portions

154 and 156 is substantially the same as the curvature of clamping

surfaces

130 and 132 on clamping members K and L. Knife C is receivable over clamping members K and L with bottom edge 146 of knife C resting on

shoulders

138 and 140 of clamping members K and L. Clockwise rotation of screw H as viewed from end 36 then moves support members F and G away from one another and this in turn moves clamping members K and L away from one another due to cooperation ofengagement surfaces 80-86 of leg members 60-66 with the inner vertical surfaces of slots 90-96. Clamping

surfaces

130 and 132 ofclamping members K and L then tightly engage end curved surface portions I54 and 156 of knife C to tightly clamp knife C on clamping members K and L. With this arrangement, it will be recognized that knives such as C having a varying longitudinal spacing between

end surface portions

154 and 156, may be rigidly clamped to clamping members K and L due to the adjustability feature described. In addition, it is possible to clamp knives having widely different widths or shapes simply by replacing clamping members K and L without any necessity of replacing support members F and G or adjustment screw H. It will also be recognized that the present arrangement makes it possible to provide a reinforcing connecting member 144 at joining line 142 knife C without making any special provision in the clamping device because knife C is internally clamped and connecting member 144 does not interfere with clamping. In addition, replacement of knife C merely requires slight rotation of screw H in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from end 36 to draw support members F and G toward one another and loosen clamping members K and L so that knife C is readily removed. It is a simple matter to then insert anew knife over clamping members K and L, and to clamp the new knife in position simply by rotation of screw H.

In accordance with another arrangement, as shown in FIGS. 2-4, support members F and G are reversely positioned so that legs 60-66 may engage the outer edge surfaces of clamping members, rather than the inner surfaces as with clamping members K AND L. In this arrangement, adjusting screw H is threaded into

bores

40 and 42 of support members F and G in the same manner as described with reference to FIG. 5. More specifically, this arrangement provides a pair of clamping members P and R. Each of clamping members P and R have an outer centrally located

projection

160 and 162 which are laterally dimensioned to fit snugly between

legs

60 and 62,

nd legs

64 and 66. The upper outer edge surface positions of clamping members P and R are positioned beneath flanges 70-76 to prevent clamping members P and R from falling from supports F and G when they are loosev As in the arrangement of FIG. 5, the vertical thickness of clamping members P and R is less than the distance from the upper surfaces of flanges F AND G to the bottom edges of flanges 72-76 so that clamping members P and R may be adjustably positioned relative to support members F and G. In accordance with this arrangement, clamping members P and R include

bores

164, 166, 168 and 170 for slidably receiving

dowel

172 and 174 which slidably interconnect clamping members P and R. Clamping members P and R include inner clamping surfaces 180 and 182, and 184 and 186 which slope toward one another toward

bottom surfaces

188 and 190. In the preferred arrangement, surfaces 180-190 are substantially perpendicular to the upper surfaces of support members F and 6. It will be recognized that clamping members P and R are substan tially identical. An inner clamping member S includes outer surfaces 200 and 202 which slope at substantially the same angles as clamping surfaces 180 and I82. Clamping member 5 also has surfaces 204 and 206 which slope at substantially the same angles as clamping surfaces 104 and 186 of clamping member R. Inner clamping member S includes bottom outwardly extending

flanges

208 and 210 which define

upper shoulders

212 and 214 intersecting clamping surfaces 200- 206 at substantially right angles. Three knife blade members T, V and W, cooperate to define a substantially H-shaped cutting knife. Blades T nd V are bent slightly at their midpoint so as to extend at substantially the same angles as the clamping surfaces on clamping members P, R and S. Medial blade members W has its bottom edge received in a slot 220 extending across inner clamping member S at the midpoint thereof. Setscrews as at 222 are receivable in threaded

longitudinal bores

224 and 226 of inner clamping

member S. Bores

224 and 226 extend inwardly to intersect slot 220 so that setscrews 222 may have their inner end portions engaging the outer surfaces of the bottom end portion of knife blade W to hold blade W in position in slot 220. Blades T and V have bottom edges which rest on

shoulders

212 and 214 of inner clamping member S. The thickness of blades T and V is preferably slightly greater than the width of shoulders 212 and .214. With the bottom edges of blade T and V positioned on

shoulders

212 and 214, clamping members P and R are moved toward one another so that the inner peripheral surfaces of blades T and V are tightly clamped against clamping surfaces 200-206 of inner Clamping member S while the outer peripheral surfaces of blade members T and V are tightly clamped against clamping surfaces l-186 of clamping members P and R. With blade members T and V clamped in position in this manner, they cooperate with blade member W to define a substantially H shaped cutting blade and the cutting edges of blades, T, V an W lie in substantially the same plane. The cutting edges of blades T, V and W may also be toothed as described with reference to cutting blade C in FIG. 5.

In a preferred arrangement, inner clamping member S is provided with vertical threaded

bores

232 and 234 extending completely therethrough. Setscrews are receivable in threaded

bores

232 and 234 so that the inner ends of the setscrews may bear against the upper surfaces of support members F and G. With such an arrangement, the spacing between the upper surfaces of support members F and G, and the bottom surfaces of clamping members P, R and 5 may vary between a contacting condition to a spaced condition such as around one-tenth of an inch simply by varying the distance at which the setscrews project through the bottom ends of bores 232 an 234. This permits adjustment of the distance at which the cutting plane edge of blade members R, V and W extend from drum A on which the assembly is mounted so that the cutting edge may be accurately positioned with respect to anvil B. With the arrangement described, it will be recognized that base D, supports F and G, and adjustment screw H are usable for clamping various sizes and shapes of knives simply by interchanging clamping members K, L, P, R and S. In addition, it will be recognized that the dimensions of blades T and V need not be accurately maintained because the adjustability of the clamping members provides rigid clamping in all circumstances. It will also be recognized that the longitudinal length of blades T and V may be varied to providecuts of many different sizes while still maintaining a very tight clamping engagement.

When assembled, the bottom and upper plane surfaces of clamping members P, R and 8 lie in common planes. The bottom surfaces of clamping members P. R and 8 rest on the upper surface of support members F and G, or are slightly spaced therefrom by setscrews received in threaded

bores

232 and 234. The cutting edges of blades T, V and W extend substantially above the upper surfaces of clamping members P, R and S in the same manner as shown for knife C in FIG. 1 with respect to clamping member K.

With the arrangements described, a. rubber pad may be placed within the inner periphery of knife C, and within the two portions of the H-shaped cutter defined by blades T, V and W. Such a yieldable pad allows the cutting knife to cut completely through material and to eject any material tending Y to stay within the inner periphery of the knife. The clamping members of both arrangements are constructed in such a manner that there is no interference of legs 60-66 with a yieldable pad positioned inside of the inner peripheral surfaces ofa knife.

It will be recognized that one very important aspect of the present invention with regard to the clamping device of FIG. 5, is that of applying an outward force to the inner periphery of an oval cutting knife so that the cutting knife is placed under tension. This tensioning of the cutting knife substantially rigidifies the same against deformation while performing cutting operations. Although the device for so tensioning an oval cutting knife has been described with reference to an arrangement in which a pair of clamping members are both moved away from one another it should be recognized that it is possible to hold one clamping member stationary and to move only the other clamping member away from the one clamping member. For example, with reference to FIG. 5, it is possible to omit the screw threads 38 on screw H to replace bore 42 by a circular recess having a bottom. End 38 of screw H then would be positioned in the recess with the end of portion 38 bottomed against the bottom of the recess. With such an arrangement, rotation of screw H clockwise as viewed from end 38 would cause support member F to be screwed from end 36 so that clamping members F and G would, in effect, move away from one another. It will also be recognized that it is possible to omit support members F and G and to provide clamping members K and L with flanges such as 2632, and with threaded bores such as 40 and 42, so that the clamping members would fit directly in slot E and cooperate with screw H. However, the arrangement described with respect to the present invention is more economical in that it is only necessary to replace clamping members K and L for a different size of shape of knives. While a rotatable screw has been described as the adjustment means for moving the clamping members away from one another, it will be recognized that it is possible to use other arrangementssuch as a screw threaded into a lateral bore in either one of support members F and G, or clamping members K or L, for threaded movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to screw H so that it would cooperate with a shiftable wedge slidably positioned in one of the support or clamping members for movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis of screw H. While the adjusting means defined by screw H positively moves the clamping members both toward and away from one another, it is possible to have a wedge and screw adjustment which positively moves the clamping members only away, or only toward, one another. In such a device the clamping force is released simply by relaxing the wedge and screw so the clamping members are free to move in an unclamping direction. However, such an adjustment means would not perform universally to clamp both outwardly as in FIG. 5, or inwardly as in FIG. 2. It is also possible to have

engagement surfaces

130 and 132 of clamping members K and L defined by arcuate members slidably mounted on a center block for movement outwardly away from one another by a wedge or other adjusting device.

While bladelike knife C of FIGS. 1 and 5 has been shown as having a continuous oval-shaped cutting edge, it should be understood that joint 142 could be spaced apart so that the cutting edge would have two curved end portions and only one straight portion. The spaced-apart ends may then be connected by a connecting member 144 weldable to the outer faces of the bladelike knife so that the knife can still be placed in tension by the clamping device of FIG. 5. It is also possible to weld curved connectors to the ends of blades T and V of FIG. 2, with the connectors defining noncutting portions, so that a cutting edge as defined by blades T and V could be clamped under tension by the clamping device of FIG. 5. It is obvious that many such arrangements may be made. In any event, whether the bladelike knife is formed of a continuous cutting edge, or a plurality of cutting edges connected by welded-on noncutting connectors, the knife still has a continuous periphery which may be formed by one member or a plurality of welded members, and the plurality of welded members need not all be cutting portions. This continuous periphery, in all cases, has opposite end surface portions, which may be cutting on noncutting portions, and which end surface portions are engaged by the clamping members of FIG. 5 to tension the knife and rigidify it against deformation out ofits desired shape.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it is obvious that modifications and alterations will occur to others upon the reading and understanding of this specification.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An adjustable clamping device for clamping cutting means in working position, said cutting means having inner and outer peripheral surfaces, said device comprising; a pair of clamping members having clamping surfaces thereon, at least one of said clamping members being positioned for movement in a first direction toward the other of said members and in a second direction away from the other of said members, adjustment means cooperable with at least said one clamping member for adjustably moving at least said one clamping member in at least one of said directions for tightly engaging said clamping surfaces with at least portions of at least one of said peripheral surfaces, said adjustment means comprising a pair of support members connected by adjustable connecting means for adjustably positioning said support members in adjusted relationship to one another along a longitudinal axis common to both of said support members, and said clamping members being releasably supported by said supportmembers.

2. The device of claim 1 and further including adjustable positioning means for adjustably positioning said clamping members in supported position on said support members, said adjustable positioning means adjustably positioning said clamping members relative to said support members in a direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

3. The device of claim 2 and further including a base member having elongated keyway means therein, said support members being slidably positioned in said keyway means, and releasably locking means for releasably locking said support members in adjusted position in said keyway means.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said clamping members are substantially identical.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said cutting means includes bottom edge means and said clamping members have shoulder means thereon, said edge means being supported on said shoulder means.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein said device is for clamping substantially oval cutting means, said oval cutting means having a substantially oval inner peripheral surface including curved end surface portions, said clamping surfaces of said clamping means being curved at substantially the same curvature as said end surface portions, said adjustment means being operable to move said clamping members away from one another for tightly engaging said clamping surfaces with said end surface portions.

7. The device of claim 3 wherein said device is for clamping cutting means having a pair of spaced-apart elongated blade members, said blade members having inner and outer surfaces, and further including inner clamping means, said clamping members having inner clamping surfaces engageable with said outer surfaces of said blade members, said inner clamping member having outer clamping surfaces engageable with said inner surfaces of said blade members, said adjustment means being operable to move said pair of clamping members toward one another for tightly engaging said inner clamping surfaces of said pair of clamping members with said outer surfaces of said blade members and said outer clamping surfaces of said inner clamping member with'said inner surfaces of said blade members.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said adjustable positioning means for adjustably positioning said clamping members in supported position on said support members is carried by said inner clamping member.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said cutting means is substantially H-shaped and includes connecting blade means positioned between said pair of blades, said connecting blade means being secured to said inner connecting member.

10. An adjustable clamping device for clamping substantially oval cutting means in working position, said oval cutting means having a substantially oval inner peripheral surface, including curved end surface portions, said device comprising; a pair of clamping members having clamping surfaces thereon, said clamping surfaces being curved at substantially the same curvature as said end surface portions, at least one of said clamping members being positioned for movement in a first direction toward the other of said members and in a second direction away from the other of said members, adjustment means cooperable with at least said one clamping member for adjustably moving at least said one clamping member away from the other clamping member for tightly engaging said clamping surfaces with said end surface portions, said adjustment means comprising a pair of support members connected by adjustable connecting means, and said clamping members being releasably carried by said support members.

11. The device of claim 10 and further including adjustable spacer means carried by said clamping members for varying the distance between said clamping members and said support members.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said support members have substantially vertical leg means thereon, and said clamp ing members have substantially vertical slot means therein, said leg means including laterally extending flange means and said slot means including shoulder means, said leg means being received in said slot means with said shoulder means positioned beneath said flange means.

13. An adjustable clamping device for clamping cutting means having a pair of spaced-apart elongated blade members in working position, said blade members having inner and outer surfaces, said device comprising; a pair of outer clamping members having inner clamping surfaces thereon, engageable with said outer surfaces of said blade members, inner clamping means having outer clamping surfaces engageable with said inner surfaces of said blade members, at least one of said outer clamping members being positioned for movement toward and away from the other of said outer clamping members, adjustment means cooperable with at least said one outer clamping member for moving said pair of outer clamping members toward one another for tightly engaging said inner clamping surfaces of said pair of outer clamping members with said outer surfaces of said blade members and said outer clamping surfaces of said inner clamping means with said inner surfaces of said blade members, said adjustment means comprising a pair of support members connected by adjustable connecting means and said pair of clamping members being carried by said support members.

14. The device of claim 13 and further including adjustable spacer means carried by at least one of said clamping members for varying the distance between said clamping members and said support members.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said support members have substantially vertical leg means thereon, and said clamp ing members have outer edge means and outer face edge portions, said leg means including laterally extending flange means, said leg means being positioned against said outer edge means with said outer face edge portion positioned beneath said flange means.

16. in a clamping device for clamping a bladelike cutting knife in working position, said knife having a continuous periphery including inner and outer peripheral surfaces, said inner surface including opposite end surface portions, the improvement comprising; clamping being positionable within said inner peripheral surface of said knife, said clamping means having opposite clamping surfaces engageable with at least said end surface portions, adjustment means for moving at least one of said clamping surfaces away from the other of said clamping surfaces for tensioning said knife and rigidifying said knife against deformation, said adjustment means comprising a pair of support members connected by adjustable connecting means for adjustably moving said support members away from one another and said clamping members being releasably carried by said support members for movement therewith.

17. An adjustable clamping device for clamping cutting means having a pair of spaced-apart elongated blade members in working position, said blade members having inner and outer surfaces, said device comprising; a pair of outer clamping members having inner clamping surfaces thereon engageable with said outer surfaces of said blade members, inner clamping means having outer clamping surfaces engageable with said inner surfaces of said blade members, at least one of said outer clamping members being positioned for movement toward and away from the other of said outer clamping members, adjustment means cooperable with at least said one outer clamping member for moving said pair of outer clamping members toward one another for tightly engaging said inner clamping surfaces ofsaid pair of outer clamping members with said outer surfaces of said blade members and said outer clamping surfaces of said inner clamping means with said inner surfaces ofsaid blade members.

18. In a clamping device for clamping a bladelike substantially oval cutting knife in working position, said knife having a longitudinal axis and a continuous periphery including inner and outer peripheral surfaces, said inner surface including smoothly curved opposite end surface portions located at op posite ends of said longitudinal axis, the improvement com prising; clamping means positionable within said inner peripheral surface of said knife, said clamping means having opposite clamping surfaces engageable with at least said end surface portions, said clamping surfaces being smoothly curved at substantially the same curvature as said end surface portions, and adjustment means for moving at least one of said clamping surfaces away from the other of said clamping surfaces along said longitudinal axis to tension and rigidify said knife against deformation, said outer peripheral surface of said knife being free of engagement with any clamping members and said knife being held to said clamping members solely by engagement between said clamping surfaces and said end surface portions.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein said cutting knife includes a bottom edge means and said clamping means has outwardly extending shoulder means thereon, said edge means being supported on said shoulder means.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein said adjustment means comprises a screw means having screw threads thereon, a threaded bore formed in at least one of said clamping members and extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, said screw means being threadedly received in said bore, and cooperating means on said screw means and the other of said clamping members for moving at least one of said clamping members away from the other clamping member upon rotation ofsaid screw means in said bore.

21. An adjustable clamping device for clamping cutting means in working position comprising; a pair of outer clamp ing members movable toward and away from one another along a longitudinal axis, each of said outer clamping mem bers having inner clamping surfaces facing toward the other of said outer clamping members, each of said inner clamping surfaces on each of said outer clamping members including spaced apart clamping surface portions spaced transversely of said longitudinal axis, at least one of said clamping surface portions on each of said outer clamping members sloping outwardly away from said longitudinal axis in a direction extending toward the other outer clamping member, inner clamping means positioned between said inner clamping surfaces of said outer clamping members, said inner clamping means having outer sloping surface portions complementary with said sloping surface portions on said outer clamping members, adjustment means for moving said outer clamping members toward one another to engage with said inner clamping means, said sloping surface portions on said outer clamping members and said inner clamping means cooperating in a camming action for holding cutting means in working position.

22. An adjustable clamping device for clamping cutting means in working position, said cutting means having peripheral surface portions, said device including a pair of clamping members having clamping surfaces thereon, at least one of said clamping members being movable toward a longitudinal axis in a first direction toward the other of said clamping members and in a second direction away from the other of said clamping members, adjustment means cooperable with said clamping members for adjustably moving at least said one clamping member in at least one of said directions for tightly engaging said clamping surfaces with said peripheral surface portions of said cutting means, said adjustment means comprising screw means having screw threads thereon, a threaded bore formed in at least one of said clamping members and extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, said screw means being threadedly received in said bore, and cooperating means on said screw means and the other of said clamping members for moving at least one of said clamping members in one of said directions upon rotation of said screw means in said bore, said clamping members having facing guide bores therein extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, and dowel means slidably received in said guide bores for slidability interconnecting said clamping members.

23. An adjustable clamping device for clamping cutting means in working position, said cutting means having inner and outer peripheral surfaces, said device comprising; a base member having elongated keyway means therein, a pair of clamping members positioned in said keyway means and having clamping surfaces thereon, at least one of said clamping members being slidably in said keyway means in a first direction toward the other of said members and in a second direction away from the other of said members, adjustment UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CQRRECTION Dated June 29, 1971 Patent No. 3 589,230

Inventor(s) Don Ne uman It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

The assignee is Dovey Manufacturing Company.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of January 1972.

{SEMA fittest:

'EILZMAHD M.F1JETCHER, JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

Claims

1. An adjustable clamping device for clamping cutting means in working position, said cutting means having inner and outer peripheral surfaces, said device comprising; a pair of clamping members having clamping surfaces thereon, at least one of said clamping members being positioned for movement in a first direction toward the other of said members and in a second direction away from the other of said members, adjustment means cooperable with at least said one clamping member for adjustably moving at least said one clamping member in at least one of said directions for tightly engaging said clamping surfaces with at least portions of at least one of said peripheral surfaces, said adJustment means comprising a pair of support members connected by adjustable connecting means for adjustably positioning said support members in adjusted relationship to one another along a longitudinal axis common to both of said support members, and said clamping members being releasably supported by said support members.

7. The device of claim 3 wherein said device is for clamping cutting means having a pair of spaced-apart elongated blade members, said blade members having inner and outer surfaces, and further including inner clamping means, said clamping members having inner clamping surfaces engageable with said outer surfaces of said blade members, said inner clamping member having outer clamping surfaces engageable with said inner surfaces of said blade members, said adjustment means being operable to move said pair of clamping members toward one another for tightly engaging said inner clamping surfaces of said pair of clamping members with said outer surfaces of said blade members and said outer clamping surfaces of said inner clamping member with said inner surfaces of said blade members.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said cutting means is substantially H-shaped and includes connecting blade means positioned between said pair of blades, said connecting blade means being secured to said inner connecting member. 10. An adjustable clamping device for clamping substantially oval cutting means in working position, said oval cutting means having a substantially oval inner peripheral surface, including curved end surface portions, said device comprising; a pair of clamping members having clamping surfaces thereon, said clamping surfaces being curved at substantially the same curvature as said end surface portions, at least one of said clamping members being positioned for movement in a first direction toward the other of said members and in a second direction away from the other of said members, adjustment means cooperable with at least said one clamping member for adjustably moving at least said one clamping member away from the other clamping member for tightly engaging said clamping surfaces with said end surface portions, said adjustment means comprising a pair of support members connected by adjustable connecting means, and said clamping members being releasably carried by said support members.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said support members have substantially vertical leg means thereon, and said clamping members have substantially vertical slot means therein, said leg means including laterally extending flange means and said slot means including shoulder means, said leg means being received in said slot means with said shoulder means positioned beneath said flange means. 13. An adjustable clamping device for clamping cutting means having a pair of spaced-apart elongated blade members in working position, said blade members having inner and outer surfaces, said device comprising; a pair of outer clamping members having inner clamping surfaces thereon, engageable with said outer surfaces of said blade members, inner clamping means having outer clamping surfaces engageable with said inner surfaces of said blade members, at least one of said outer clamping members being positioned for movement toward and away from the other of said outer clamping members, adjustment means cooperable with at least said one outer clamping member for moving said pair of outer clamping members toward one another for tightly engaging said inner clamping surfaces of said pair of outer clamping members with said outer surfaces of said blade members and said outer clamping surfaces of said inner clamping means with said inner surfaces of said blade members, said adjustment means comprising a pair of support members connected by adjustable connecting means and said pair of clamping members being carried by said support members.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said support members have substantially vertical leg means thereon, and said clamping members have outer edge means and outer face edge portions, said leg means including laterally extending flange means, said leg means being positioned against said outer edge means with said outer face edge portion positioned beneath said flange means.

17. An adjustable clamping device for clamping cutting means having a pair of spaced-apart elongated blade members in working position, said blade members having inner and outer surfaces, said device comprising; a pair of outer clamping members having inner clamping surfaces thereon engageable with said outer surfaces of said blade members, inner clamping means having outer clamping surfaces engageable with said inner surfaces of said blade members, at least one of said outer clamping members being positioned for movement toward and away from the other of said outer clamping members, adjustment means cooperable with at least said one outer clamping member for moving said pair of outer clamping members toward one another for tightly engaging said inner clamping surfaces of said pair of outer clamping members with said outer surfaces of said blade members anD said outer clamping surfaces of said inner clamping means with said inner surfaces of said blade members.

18. In a clamping device for clamping a bladelike substantially oval cutting knife in working position, said knife having a longitudinal axis and a continuous periphery including inner and outer peripheral surfaces, said inner surface including smoothly curved opposite end surface portions located at opposite ends of said longitudinal axis, the improvement comprising; clamping means positionable within said inner peripheral surface of said knife, said clamping means having opposite clamping surfaces engageable with at least said end surface portions, said clamping surfaces being smoothly curved at substantially the same curvature as said end surface portions, and adjustment means for moving at least one of said clamping surfaces away from the other of said clamping surfaces along said longitudinal axis to tension and rigidify said knife against deformation, said outer peripheral surface of said knife being free of engagement with any clamping members and said knife being held to said clamping members solely by engagement between said clamping surfaces and said end surface portions.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein said adjustment means comprises a screw means having screw threads thereon, a threaded bore formed in at least one of said clamping members and extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, said screw means being threadedly received in said bore, and cooperating means on said screw means and the other of said clamping members for moving at least one of said clamping members away from the other clamping member upon rotation of said screw means in said bore.

21. An adjustable clamping device for clamping cutting means in working position comprising; a pair of outer clamping members movable toward and away from one another along a longitudinal axis, each of said outer clamping members having inner clamping surfaces facing toward the other of said outer clamping members, each of said inner clamping surfaces on each of said outer clamping members including spaced apart clamping surface portions spaced transversely of said longitudinal axis, at least one of said clamping surface portions on each of said outer clamping members sloping outwardly away from said longitudinal axis in a direction extending toward the other outer clamping member, inner clamping means positioned between said inner clamping surfaces of said outer clamping members, said inner clamping means having outer sloping surface portions complementary with said sloping surface portions on said outer clamping members, adjustment means for moving said outer clamping members toward one another to engage with said inner clamping means, said sloping surface portions on said outer clamping members and said inner clamping means cooperating in a camming action for holding cutting means in working position.

23. An adjustable clamping device for clamping cutting means in working position, said cutting means having inner and outer peripheral surfaces, said device comprising; a base member having elongated keyway means therein, a pair of clamping members positioned in said keyway means and having clamping surfaces thereon, at least one of said clamping members being slidably in said keyway means in a first direction toward the other of said members and in a second direction away from the other of said members, adjustment means cooperable with at least said one clamping member for adjustably moving at least said one clamping member in at least one of said directions for tightly engaging said clamping surfaces with at least portions of at least one of said peripheral surfaces, and releasable locking means cooperable with said base member and with said clamping members for releasably locking said clamping members in adjusted position in said keyway means.