US696382A

US696382A - Automatic carving-machine.

Info

Publication number: US696382A
Application number: US8297101A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank Streich; Charles L Ruehs
Original assignee: FIRM OF S KARPEN AND BROS
Current assignee: FIRM OF S KARPEN AND BROS
Priority date: 1901-11-20
Filing date: 1901-11-20
Publication date: 1902-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 1919-03-25

Description

No. 696,382. Patented Mar. 25, I902.

F. STHEICH & C. L. RUEHS.

AUTOMATIC CARVING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 20, 1901.) (No Model.) I0 SheetsSheef I.

Qmmnmu If II T AJINNHMINHIHW Wlill No. 696,332. Patented Mar. 25, 39021.

F. STREICH 81. B. L. BUEHS.

AUTOMATIC CARVING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 25, I902.

F. STREIBH &. C. L. RUEHS.

AUTOMATIC CARVING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 20 1901.)

I0 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

Hill! llll llllllllllllllllllllllllIIIIHIlilHH11 llllllllllllllllllllllllllHlllIHlli llllllllllllllIlllllllllfllIllllllIIHI f ll m Q w lillllllll II Ell 5 I III I. IHIIIIIIII No. 696,382. Patented Mar. 25, I902.

F. STREICH C. L. RUEHS.

AUTOMATIC CABVING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 20, 1901.) (No Model.) l0 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W ou'ea @0173; I MM Q I THL warns PEIERE cu. PHOTO-LITMQ, WASHINGYON, u. c,

No. 696,382. Patented Mar. 25, I902.

F. STREICH & C. L. RUEHS.

AUTOMATIC GARVING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 20 1901 (Ho Mode!.) 4 l0 Shee tsSheet 6.

Ill mmuum m No. 696,382. Patented Mar. 25, 1902;

F. STREICH & c. L. RUEHS.

AUTOMATIC CARVING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 20, 1901.) (No Model.) 10 Sheets-Shee11 7.

Patented Mar. 25, I902.

.F. STREIEH & C. L. RUEHS.

AUTOMATIC CARVING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 20, 1901.)

(No Model.)

"cams PiTERS co., mom'umu. vusmns'ron o c Patented Mar. 25, I902. F. STBEICH an. L. RUEHS.

AUTOMATIC CARVI NG MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 20, 1901.)

I0 SheetsSheet 9.

(No Model.)

ma News PETERS co. PNOTO-LH'HO, WASHINGTON, n. c.

Patented Mar. 25, I902.

F. STREIOH &. C. L. BUEHS.

AUTOMATIC CARVING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 20, 1901.)

I0 Sheets$heet ID.

(No Modeh) Farmer P FRANK STREICII AND CHARLES Ii. RUEI-IS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN- ORS TO THE FIRM OF S. KARPEN AND BROS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC CARVlNG IVlACHlNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,382, dated March 25, 1902. Application filed November 20, 1901. Serial No. 82,971. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.- and rough product, difficult and expensive Be it known that we, FRANK STREIOH and to finish, has prevented the general adoption CHARLES L. RUEHS, citizens of the United of these machines. We believe that these States, residing at Chicago, Cook county, Illidifficulties and objections are due principally 5 5 nois, have invented a certain new, useful, and to the fact that the operation of the retract- Improved Automatic Carving- Machine, of ing mechanism and the cutting-tools dependwhich the following is a specification. ing thereon has not been simultaneous with Our invention relates to machines for carvthe moment of side contact of the pattern ing or grinding wood, metal, stone, glass, or with the tracer. In other words, in order to 60 [0 other material, having particular reference place the retracting mechanism in operation to'automatic machines for the purpose; and through the medium of the tracer it has been its object is to produce a number of copies considered indispensable to permit orprovide of any given relief or intaglio design at one for the preliminarymovement of the tracer by operation with accuracy and rapidity and at the moving pattern. This condition,structur- 65 less cost than has been possible heretofore. ally analyzed, develops a differential or lost The special object of our invention is to motion between the tracer and the tools, the provide a machine for automatically produclatter being delayed in their movement away ing in wood or other material a plurality of from the moving work or carving, endangercopies of a single master design or pattern, ing the integrity of the design and the promi- 70 being particularly directed toward the imnences and delicate portions of the carving. provement of automatic carving-machines of We have further observed that the work or that class in which a tracer which rests upon carving is jeopardized and breakages thereof a moving pattern controls a plurality of cutare frequent because of additional lost motion ting-tools as to depth of cut and in a measure resulting from the complicated connections 75 causes the rise and fall thereof and in which that have been employed between. the tracer a power-actuated lifting or retracting mechand the cutting tool or tools, which lost moanism is employed to help or lift the tracer tion is constantly increased by wear. 'Likeor feeler over steep inclines or prominences wise, we believe that the surface inequalities encountered in the pattern. A gently-unduof the carving have been principally due to the o lating design may be reproduced without the simultaneous employment of several tracers assistance of a retracting mechanism; but the upon a pattern and several tools upon a sinlatter is a necessity in the cutting or carving gle piece of work, it being practically imposof the high reliefs and sharp incisions found sible to secure equally-accurate work by all in many pattern-carvings. In such a mathe tools, the result of the relativeinaccuracy 85 3 5 chine the pattern and work move at the same being longitudinal scores or lines in the work. rate of speed, and it is obvious that if there Again, the transverse scores or lines observed is any delay in lifting the tracer and the cutin the carvings heretofore produced have been ting-tools upon an incline or prominence the the result of the step-by-step feeding of the onward movement of the pattern and work work, secured by several longitudinal adj ust- 9o 40 will result in breaking some part of the maments of pattern and work, during which the chine or in chipping or breaking the points working level is frequently changed. Other or prominences of the work or panels being objections are due to the awkward construccarved. These are the chief difficulties that tion and arrangement of the pattern and work have been encountered in the machines hithcarrying parts or tables, the same having in- 5 5 erto devised; but in addition to these drawvariably been separate parts, between which backs the machines have been disproportionthe tracing and cutting members have been ately heavy and bulky and made up of a inaccessibly located, and the latter, because great number of parts difficult of access, of their position, have necessarily been commaintenance, adjustment, or repair, as well pactly arranged, thereby increasing the diffi- I00 as expensive to set up and operate, all of culty of reaching them for purposes of lubri which, in view of the torn, chipped, scored, cation, adjustment, and repair.

In view of the foregoing the particular objects of our invention are to provide a carving-machine that may be properly termed automatic, in which the work and pattern shall lie in a horizontal plane and move together, their relations being absolutely fixed, in which gravity shall be relied upon for the return of the tracer and the cutting-tools to the pattern and work, in which the operation of the retracting or lifting mechanism shall be simultaneous with and in proportion to the pressure of the pattern against the tracerpoint, in which the cutters shall be positively connected with the tracer to move simultaneously therewith, in which every part shall be conveniently accessible at all times, in which the stroke or reciprocation of the pattern and work shall be equal to the length of the pattern, in which but a single cuttingtool shall be employed upon each piece of work, which will produce exact copies as to form and size, which will be of light weight, which will occupy a comparatively small space, and which shall be adapted for carving designs upon flat, curved, and cylindrical surfaces.

Our invention consists generally in an automatic carving-machine of the construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which .Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automatic carving-machine embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof, the forward portion of the machine being shown in section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation offrhe carving-machine. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 4 4 of Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the machine in horizontal section on the line 5 5 of Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. Fig. dis a detail of the side of the machine in elevation, showingthe longitudinally-moving bed and the transverse feed-table thereon. Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the feed-table partly broken away. Fig. 8 is a side view thereof, theside of the feed-table and the bed being broken away onthe line S S of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional detail on the line 9 9" of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a-notherplan view of the feed-table partly broken away, showing how the work is arranged between centers therein. Fig. 11 is anenlarged section on the line 11 11W of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse section substantially on the line 12 12 of Fig.10. Fig. 13is an enlarged vertical section on the line 13 13 of Fig. 10. Fig. 14 is a detail plan View of the bar carried by the cutting-tools and which prevents the chattering thereof. Fig. 15 is a cross-section on the l'ine'15 15 'of Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is an enlarged front vie'wof the tracer and the tracer elevating or retracting mechanism, the frame being shown in section on the lines 16 16 of Figs. 17 and 18. Fig. 17 is a vertical transverse view of the tracer-elevating mechanism in section on the lines 17 17 of Figs 16 and 18. Fig. 18 is aplan view of the tracer-elevating mechanism substantially on the line 18 18 of Fig. 16. Fig. 19 is a sectional detail of one of the friction buttons or pieces on the line 19- 19 of Fig. 18. Figs. 20 and 21 are respectively front and side views of a modified form of the tracer elevating or retracting mechanism wherein a single disk is employed. Fig. 22 illustrates a further modification of the tracer-elevating mechanism wherein the tracer is placed between two friction-disks. Fig. 23 illustrates a modified positive connection between tracer and the cutters. Fig. 24 is an enlarged detail section on the line 24 24 of Fig. 23.

Referring now to the drawings, our machine in its preferred form is made up of ahorizontal reciprocating bed movable longitudinally upon a suitable frame and carrying a transversely-movable feed-table for the pattern and the several blocks or pieces of work,in combination with a tool-head bridging said bed and table and containing the cuttingtools, the tracer, and the retracting mechanism, said tracer and tools being preferably rigidly connected, and suitable means being provided for driving said bed, table, tools, and retracting mechanism. When the machine is set into operation, the pattern and the work are reciprocated slowly and also intermittently fed transversely beneath the statracer, the actuating member of the retract-,

ing mechanism being in constant rotation. Our invention will be better understood by separately considering the main parts of the machine.

Theframe.'-The carving-1n achines hereto fore constructed have been of objectionable size and weight, principally due to the nee-- essary employment therein of vertical feedtables or carriers for the pattern and work. The machines have also been objectionable because of the arrangement of the working parts between the vertical feed-tables, where they cannot be reached conveniently; and one object of our invention is to improve the carving-machine as to weight and size and convenient access to its working parts. To this end we employ a low horizontal frame, on which the work and pattern are arranged in a horizontal plane, with all of the tools above them within easy reach, the toolsbeing held in a very light frame or superstructure.

In the drawings, 1 is the main frame or bed of the machine. This is supported on legs 2, and its top is horizontal.

3 3 are lightv side frames erected on the

frame

1, and 4 is the overhanging frame,

bridge, or head for the tools. This ext-ends transversely of the frame 1, some distance above the same, about midway of its length.

The frame 1 carries the traveling bed 5 and the corners of the main frame 1, With-unob structed spaces between them. In these spaces we arrange the devices for controlling the longitudinal travel or stroke ofthe bed 5 and the transverse feed movement of the table 6. upper and

lower parts

4 and 4", connected by divisions 4 and provided with the rise 4 at the middle, the top thereof serving asthe rest or stop for-the tracer and tool coupling or connecting bar 14. ,On the rear upper corners of the side frames 3 we provide boxes or bearings 15 for the tool-spindle-driving shaft 16 and also provide bearingsor fastenin gs 17 for the shaft 18 of the take-up or tension devices for the belts which drive the tool or cut:1

ter spindles.

The reciprocating bc(Z.-WVith a View Sim plifying the bearings oft-the work-carrying bed and to place the work and pattern-within sight and reach we employ a horizontal bed 5 of less length than the frame 1 and having Vs 5, whichslide freely in the longitudinal V grooves or ways 1' provided on thetop of the.

frame 1, at the sides thereof, the bed5 being nearly as wide as said frame 1. The bed 5 is arectangular frame or casting audis provided with a longitudinal part or beam 19, upon the bottomof which is the rack 19.

20 is a worm or screw that engages with the rack 19 and whereby the bed is slowly moved or recipocated. The shaft of the worm 20 has bearings in the crossparts 10 and 11 of the frame 1 and isdriven by its pinion 2l and a.

gear-wheel 22. The shaft of the large gear has a bearing in the lower part of the frame 11 and on itsforward end carries the beveled gear-wheel 23. This being rotated in one direction causes the movement of the traveling bed toward the rear of the frame 1 and when reversed operates the bed through its return stroke. For operating the gear 23 and the bed we employ two beveled pinions 24 and 25, mounted, respectively,on the transverse shaft 26 and the sleeve-shaft27. This shaft has bearings in the frame-

beams

7, 8, and 9. To the shaft 26 we fasten the pu1ley28 and to The head or bridge 4 of the frame has.

the sleeve-shaft 27 the pulley 29. Between the two

pulleys

28 and 29. there is a loosepulley 30.

31 is ashifting belt extending from the broad pulley 32 on the power-shaft 13, of which 33 is the driving-pulley. The pinions 24 and 25 on opposite sides of the gear 23 rotate in the same direction and are employed to operate the frame in opposite directions, the reversal being obtained by shifting the belt 31 from one fixed pulley 28 29 to the other across the loose pulley 30. For this purpose We provide a shifter 34, engaging the belt 31 and held in slide-bearings in the side of the frame land the part 9 thereof and operated from the bed 5. The operating connection comprises the bell-crank 35, pivoted in the frame 1, connected to the shifter or rod 34 and-by alink 36 to the arm 37 of the rocking shaft 38, journaled in the frame 1. outer end ofthe rocking shaft 38 is an arm 39, provided with a pin40, which liesin the path of the dogs orblocks 41 42 on the side of the reciprocating bed 5. These blocks are adjustable onthe rod 43, provided on the side near the end of the forward stroke of the bed- 011 the of the bed 5, and by means of them the stroke andshifts thelbelt onto the pulley 29, thus setting the pinion 24 in action to run the bed back. Near the end of the backward stroke the block 41 strikesthe arm 39 and shifts the belt-31 over the pulley 29 to reverse the bed. In addition to the pin 40 the shifting-arm 39 is preferably provided with a. handle 44, by which the shifter may be operated to throw the belt 31onto the loose pulley 30, and thus stop the movementofthe bed. If desired, the bed- 5 may have a rocking movement as it travels beneath the tools, in which case curved guides would be provided for the bed. Such a curved bed is convenient for usein the carving of curved articles or panels. The

lindrical pieces, the centers for holding the workmay be placed in this-bed 5; but-this is an uncommon; condition, and we prefer to provide a separate pattern and feed-table that is adapted fol-holding all kinds of work and feeding the same eithertransversely or revolubly.

zontal, is of less widththan the bed 5 and of substantially the same length, and the bed 5 is provided with transverse V-guides 45 at its ends, whereon the table slides freely. The movement of the table transversely is employed to feed the pattern and work to thetools, and this movement is secured by means of screw 46, theends of which areheld inthe side and beam 18 of the bedi5. The connection between the table and the screw 46 is a threaded collar or sleeve-47, movable on the screw and attached to the table 6. Thescrew 46 is rotated by means of a star-wheel 48 upon itsouter end, adapted as the bed is reciprocated to engage with and be partially rotated by the

stationary pins

49 and 50, held in the frame of the machine. These pins engage the top and bottom of the star-wheel 48 at opposite strokes of the bed, and the transverse movement is imparted to the table only at the ends of the stroke of the bed. The

pins

49 and 50 are held in

blocks

51 and 52, that are adjustably-fixed upon the rods 53, which extend between the legs-of the side frame 3 at the left-hand side of the machine. These pin-blocks are adjusted according to the position of the dogs 41 and 42 andare also adjusted to determine the extent of throw or rotation which they shall impart to the star-wheel 48, or, in other words, determine the feed movement of the table 6. When hard materials are being worked, the feed movement is very slight, while in soft material the side out of the tools may range from one-sixteenth to one-fourth of an inch. This sidemovement of thetable 6 is only employed when carving panels, as distinguished from round or cylindrical objects. For the latter work the star-wheel 48 is loosened on the screw-shaft, (after the table has been moved to a central position,) so that the reciprocation of the table will not cause its transverse movement, and thereafter the star-wheel 48 is employed todrive or rotate the center chucks, which are provided in-the table. The detailed construction of the table is best shown in Fig. 2 and Figs. 6 to 13. The table comprises a rectangular iron frame or grating having a number of work-holding middle'of the table, it would represent the pattern, which is usually made of metal,

I though'we propose in some cases to employ heavily-electroplated plaster molds or casts. As shown, the plates 55 have grooved blocks 56,-resting on the rods 54 of the table and se cured thereto by screw-clamps 57, the upper ends of which are T-shaped to be adj ustable in the T-slots 58 of the plate 55. The pattern or panel, as the case may be, is fastened by screw-clamps 59, adjustable in the slots 58. The stroke of the bed is little in excess of the length of the pattern to be carved, and the screw clamps 59 are therefore never struck by the tools.

For carving cylindrical objects, at which time the table is at rest on the bed, the plates 55 are removed and the'work and pattern secured between the chucks 60 and the tailpieces or centers 61. The tailpieces 61 are pointed screws held in the bar 62, that is arranged within the frame of the table and is slidable upon the rods 54 thereof, set-screws 63 being provided to fasten the bar 62, as shown in Fig. 10. The chucks 60 are simple point-plates, (see Figs. 7 and 11,) the shafts 64 of which have bearings in the rear end of the table and carry worm-gears 65. Beneath the row of worm-gears we provide the shaft 06, carrying a row of worms or screws 67, meshing with the worm-gear 65. is held in bearings 68, provided on the rear end of the bed 5, and the worms 67 are connected to the shaft 66 by a key-slot in the shaft and keys in the worms 67, whereby the worms are adapted both for rotation by the shaftand to slide freely thereon withoutturning the chuck whenever the table is fed transversely across the bed by the means hitherto described. For keeping the worms in mesh with the gears 65-when the shaft66 is rotated we provide a thrust bearing or bearings 69 on the end of the feed-table.

. As before remarked, the star-wheel 48 is einployed'to drive the chucks or centers when the table is stationary on the bed, and this is accomplished by connecting the star-wheel and the shaft 66. We prefer the sprocket connection, comprising the sprockets 70 and 71 and the spocket-belt 72, as shownin Figs. 6 to 8. 73 is a hand set-screw in the hub of the star-whee148 for fastening the star-wheel to the screw-shaft 46 and which is released when center work is being done. It will be seen that it is only necessary to tighten or loosen this set-screw to change the machine from one kind of work to-the other. If it is desired to carve spirals,the star-wheel may be continuously rotated exceptat the moments of reversal of the bed. Itis seldom though sometimes desirable that the transverse and rotary feeds be used simultaneously. lVhile it is not particularlyobjectionabletorotate the chucks 60 during the carving of panels, we prefer to loosen the set-screw 71' of the sprocket 71 at such times, so that the shaft 66 will not be rotated. After the'table has traveled the full distance across the bed it is reversed by simply giving the shaft 53 a half-turn, so as to present the

pins

49 and 50 in reversed positions with respect to the star-wheel 48. It is for this purpose that the

pins

49 and 50 are extended through the blocks, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

The cuttmg-tools.For carving wood we employ side-bitted tools or cutters occupying positions perpendicular to the table 6 androtated at .a high speed. The spacing of the tools corresponds to the spacing of the chucks or centers in the table, with-the exception that there is no cutting-tool opposite the middle chuck of the table, this space being reserved for the tracer. The cutting-tools 74 are held in tool-chucks 75, provided on the This shaft that can be employed and the depth of the cut of the tool, or, in other words, the highestrelief carving'that may be produced on the machine. It is not necessary to employ the pulleys as stops, however, as suitable stops may be provided in connection with the tracer-bar. The upper ends of the spindles have collars 79 and are journaled in the lifting or coupling bar 14. The weight of this bar and of the spindles is partially compensated and cushioned by the springs 80, arranged beneath the bar, or other suitable means. 81 is a lever, by means of which the bar and the tools depending therefrom may be raised from the work at any time. The spindles upon opposite sides of the middle of the machine are preferably driven in opposite directions in order to equalize their force on the table during the work of carving, this being necessary to prevent the tendency of the table to twist under the tools. bar, preferably of wood, having bushings 83 for the several spindles. This bar rests upon the top of the tool-chucks and by tying the spindles together as to their centers prevents much of the chattering and springing of the spindles experienced before the application of this antichatter-bar.

The tween-The tracer proper is a bar 8t, having a hard tracer-point 85, that is adjustable in its lower end. Its upper end is fastened to and supports the cross or coupling bar 14. It is guided between antifrictionrolls 86 near its lower end and by oppositelyplaced flanged antifriction-rolls 87 near its upperend. When thetracer-point is resting upon a prominence of the pattern, the bar 14 will be raised from the frame 4 and the tool-spindles will be elevated correspondingly. The connection between the tracer and the tools is thus made absolutely positive and rigid, and whenever the tracer moves the tools move with it. The bar 84 is preferably rectangular in cross-section and cannot rotate. When the pattern to be reproduced is of a gently-undulating character free from abrupt angles or shoulders, the pattern itself may be relied upon to wedge and move the tracer and tools upwardly upon its inclines. The tracer will naturally follow the downward inclines of the pattern. The requirements for patterns of this characterare few, howeveiyas designs in low relief can be produced more cheaply by the well-known process of pressing or crushing the wood fibers, and the principal work required of an automatic carving-machine is the production of high-relief carvings. It is therefore necessary to provide powerful means to assist the tracer over abrupt inclines or shoulders in patterns of high relief or deep intaglio, and theprincipal object of ourinvention is to provide a tracer and cutter retracting mechanism that will be free from all of the objectionable features pointed out in the foregoing and which shall be free from lost motion. In short, the object of our invention is to provide a carving-m achiue with aretractin g mechanism that is incapable of any other movement than strictly perpendicular or vertical movement with relation to the feed-table and which at the same time shall be highly sensitive and powerful in order to instantly free the tracer-point from a projecting shoulder of the pattern. The practice heretofore has been to employ a number of friction-pulleys adapted for peripheral engagement with the tracer-bar and to move the bar laterally into con tact with the peripheries of these friction-pulleys, this being done by the moving pattern; but such a device is objectionable, not only by reason of the fact that a distinct movement of the tracer is required to set the mechanism in operation, but also because the rapidly-rotating friction-pulleys quickly wear scallops in the sides of the tracer-bar, which thus becomes more and more difficult to retract, increasing the chances of breakage.

' The essence of our invention, so far as it concerns the retracting mechanism, lies in placing the rotary friction-pulleys in actual contact with the tracer-bar to start with, the pulley or pulleys themselves preventing any lateral movementof the tracer, and in depending upon pressure caused by the pattern to strengthen the engagement between the rotary pulleys and the bar to such an extent that the weight or resistance of the bar and attached parts will be overcome and the same -will be forcibly retracted fromthe pattern i and work.

Ifconstructed in accordance with our invention, the efficiency of a retracting mechanism of the old form may be greatly increased by placing the friction-pulleys in direct contact with the tracer-bar and. depend ing upon pressure aloneinstead of movement and pressure to produce suffieient friction .be-

i tween the parts to cause the retraction of the tracer when struck by the pattern; yet on account of the scalloping of the bar We much gagement with the sides (not the periphery) of said friction-disk and constituting a more or less positive connection therewith, acc0rding to the force that is exerted to press the barn pon the disk. While in this manner the tracer-bar and the frictional retracting-disk are always kept in contact and are restrained justment being so close that there is no lost from lateral movement, the frictional engagement of the tracer-bar with the friction-disk is too weak to affect the tracer until lateral pressure is exerted on the tracer-point; but the strength of the engagement between the tracer and the upwardly-turning friction-disk obviously increases in exact proportion to the lateral pressure that is placed upon the tracerpoint, and when this becomes strong enough to overcome the weight of the tracer, the bar 14, and the cutter-spindles such associated parts will be slowly or instantly raised at a speed in exact ratio to the pressure exerted upon the tracer-point at any given moment. It will be evident, further, that when great pressure is exerted upon the tracerpoint, as by a sharp shoulder in the pattern, such pressure will temporarily make the frictional connection between the bar and the disk quite as positive as a crank pin connection would be, and as the peripheral speed of the disk is quite high under such circumstances the retraction of the tracer will be instantaneous and all danger to the tracer from the pattern will be avoided. After the tracer has mounted the rise in the pattern, either by a sudden movement of the tracer with the disk or because of the operation of the disk plus the-wedging action of the pattern, it is obvious that the tracer will be relieved from side pressure, whereupon the relation of mere contact as opposed to pressure between the tracer-bar and the disk will be reestablished and the force of gravity Will return and hold the tracer upon a descending part of the pattern, and the tools, which are connected to the tracer by the rigid bar 14, will of course likewise descend and cut into the panels upon the feed-table.

Referring now to the drawings, it is to be noted that our preferred form of retracting mechanism comprises two large friction-disks 88 and-89 and the tracer-bar 84, the intermediate portion of which is bifurcated to admit the peripheral portions of the two disks, and said bar being provided with four contact pieces or buttons 90, that press upon opposite sides of the disks, one being provided on each side of each disk. The friction-disks are narrow-faced and of quite large diameter. They are fixed upon their shafts 91 and 92, and these shafts are fixed in bearings 93 in the frame 4-and by these bearings are positively held against longitudinal movement, which, if permitted, would amount to lateral movementat the tracer-point. The disks are slowly rotated in opposite directions and turn upwardly with relation to the tracer-bar, as indicated by the arrows, Fig. 16. They are driven by oppositely-pitched worms 93 upon the cross-shaft 94 and which mesh with the Worm-gears 95, provided upon the forward ends of the disk shafts 91 and 92. The shaft 94 has three bearings 96 on the bridge 4. The buttons 90 in opposite sides of the tracer-bar are set against the sides of the disks, the admotion between the disks and buttons. The tracerj-bar is capable of very free vertical movement inits roller-bearings, friction at all points except with the disk being substantially eliminated. The result is that when pressure is exerted upon the tracer-point in either longitudinal direction of the pattern the buttons upon the side (front or back) from which the pressure'is exerted will be forced strongly against the sides of the disks,-

such as to clamp the tracer upon the disks firmly-enough to cause the buttons to more firmly adhere thereto and rise with the upward-moving sides of the disks, thus positively lifting the tracer-bar independently of the pattern, though Without actually removing the tracer-point from contact with the pattern, and when a very abrupt shoulder is encountered in the pattern the maximnm pressure of the pattern will be infriction between the tracer-bar and the disks is also relieved and the tracer will instantly drop, being checked only by the cushions or springs 80, provided beneath the cross or coupling bar or beam 14. .We always prefer to place the tracer midway of the group of cutter-spindles, so that the machine may be balanced, and as the tracer-bar has no play in its bearings the cross-beam 14 may be rigidly attached to the upper end of the tracer-bar.

The wear in the retracting mechanism is upon the end surfaces of the buttons and upon the sides of the disks 88 and S9, and it is obvious that these parts will wear smooth, their efficiency being increased by their smoothness of surface. The friction-buttons 90 of the tracer-bar may be of the same material as are the friction-disks S8 and 89; but we prefer to secure a higher coefficient of friction by using another material, preferably hard or semihard rubber, which gives a high coefficient of friction upon a steel or iron surface. Any lost motion between the tracerbar and the disks is instantly observed from the Work that is being done by the machine. Therefore the friction-buttons 90 require occasional,thoughnotfrequent,attention. Furthermore, any material such as rubber, fiber, or wood used for friction-buttons possesses considerable elasticity and if used alone between the tracer-bar and the, disks without a rigid material would permit the tracer-bar to yield to a greater extentthan we deem expedient. For these reasons we make the buttons proper, 90, of metal to contain the rubber or like material. As shown in Fig. 10, 90 isa tube the inner end of whichis in constant contact with the side of the disks 88 89. This tubeis threadedin the tracer-bar 8-l,and therefore is adjustable toward and from the disks. The inside or recess 97 of the tube contains the rubber 98, which is compactly forced into the tube and is independently adjustable.

against the disk by means of the screw-plug 90, provided in the outer end of the tube 90. In practice the button is adjusted by applying a wrench to the end of the plug 90', both the metal and rubber parts being simultaneousl y and delicately adjustable thereby. In this way we are able to secure a. strong frictional engagement between the parts when necessary and at the same time preserve the fine metallic bearing between the buttons and disks. The wear upon the thin edge around the recess 07 is not very rapid, and the buttons are cheap and easily renewable.

The (Zrz v mg of the cutters and the refraction:

disks-4n the carving-machines hitherto devised the faulty arrangement of the tracing and cutting tools between feed-tables has necessitated a very compact arrangement of the parts, and particularly the driving-belts,

one for. each cutter-spindle, and from these narrow belts 103 extend around the small pulleys or sheaves 78 of the spindles 74. The tops of the pulleys 102 are preferably opposite the middle position of the pulleys 78, between the upper and lower portions of the bridge 4. The direction of twist of the belts determines the direction of rotation of the spindles, and, as shown in Fig. 3, the. belts are twisted oppositely upon the two sides of the tracer, so that thespindles in the two groups of spindles run in opposite directions. To permit the rise and fall of the spindles and to take up the slack of thebelts, we provide each belt with a tension device comprising a weighted lever 104, pivoted on the cross-.

shaft 18 and in its forward end provided with an idle pulley 105, over which the lower leg.

of the belt runs. In case the belt breaks, the operator standing in front of the machine is protected by the vertical divisions 4 in the bridge, which prevent the belt from throwing forward. The retraction-disks aredriven by the tracer and cutting-tools. be automatically reversed at the end ofeach stroke by the action of the dogs 41 and/l2 and the shifting mechanism.

a belt extending from a pulley 106 on the shaftli) to the pulley 107 on the shafttlat, the specdbeing much lower than that communicated to the spindles.

The operation of our machine is, in brief,

feed-table in the machine, the, plates 55 described, or the chuck centers being emlVhilethebedis stationary the pattern and the pieces of work are secured upon the.

ployed, according tothe character of the pattern and work. .After the pattern and the blocks of material are secured the shifter 39 i-is thrown .to move .belt Stupon one of the fixed pulleysand thereafter the bed will reciprocate slowly upon the frame and beneath The bed will In the mean.- time the table,.which .has been set to one side, will begin to feed transversely across the bed, so that atthe end of each stroke of the bed the. table will be given a slight feed movement beneath the tracer and thecutting-tools. In this wayihe work ishfed toward the sides of the cutting-tools, which work at a depth varyingwith the clevationof the tracer by the pattern. As the bed reciprocatesit is obvious/that the pattern will move beneath the tracer and will cause its rise and fall either directly orthrough the operation of the forcibletracer-retracting mechanism. Wheneveraprominent projection in the pattern encounters the tracer-point the IIO tern and work and by vertical movement and control of the cutting-tools the exact. pattern blocks upon the table during one complete transverse movement of the table. In case it is desiredto inspect the workat anytime -or design is produced upon the panels or the bed may be. stopped by throwingithe shifter 39, or the bed may continue to move and the tools maybe lifted. by means of the lever 81. When the work has been completed,

it will be removed from the table and new parts in detail will be understood from the foregoing detailed description.

There are various possible modificationsof our invention, some of which are shown in Y the drawings. .Thus in Figs. 20 and 21 we have illustrated a. retracting mechanism in V which but one rotating. disk 88 is employed.

for elevating the'tracer-bar; but we prefer the construction shown in the main figures of the drawings, as the two oppositely-rotating friction-disks serve to balance the forces upon the tracer-bar.

Instead of placing a single friction-disk between the parts of the tracer-bar the tracerbar may be made as shown in Fig. 22, disks SS 88 being arranged upon opposite sides of the tracer-bar to be engaged by the buttons arranged between the disks and simultaneously adjustable in the tracer-bar by means of the right and left adjusting-screw 110.

Further, our invention may be modified to the extent of employing upwardly-traveling belts to take the place of the friction-surfaces presented by the sides of the rotary disks. In this case we should prefer to make the belts of leather and have them travel over plain metal surfaces, the contact-buttons of the tracer-bar being preferably of a different material in order to secure as high a coefficientof friction as possible and at the same time secure durability for the parts. In place ofleather belts metal belts may be used. Further, our invention may be modified to the extent of dispensing entirely with the frictionretracting mechanism and adapting the point of the tracer to rapid auxiliary vibration in either lateral or vertical directions,with a view to diminishing the friction between the tracerpoint and the pattern, so that the tracer-point will climb up the elevations of the pattern. Again, the tracer and cutting-tools may be subjected to "a constant elevating force, and this, may be opposed by magnetic attraction between the tracer-point and the pattern, which attraction will vary according to the area of contact between the pattern and the tracer-point. It is obvious also that the tracerbar may be actuated by fluid-pressure and by the direct application of retracting-magnets. In any of these cases the other portions of the machine would remain as shown in the drawings.

Anysuitable means may be employed for communicating a Vertical movement of the tracer to the tool-spindles so long as the I meansareof a positive character, and the the cams or wedges 121 a varietyof panels may be produced from a single pattern, the same Varying in depth of relief, while being strictly proportional and exact in plan and contour. Antifriction means are interposed between the tracer and each part of bar 119, between the bars and the frame 4, and between the upper ends of the spindles 7G and the wedges 121 of the bars 119. The weight of the spindles upon theinclines or wedges 121 will cause the automatic return of the bars when free from the tracer; but we prefer to exert the force of a spring upon the end of each bar 119, as indicated in Fig. 23.

The cutters for ordinary work are side outting-tools or bits; but fixed planer-points may be substituted therefor, the spindles being adapted for vertical movement only; but in place ofsuch a tool we may substitute millingcutters in the lower ends of vertical moving spindles or tool-bars 74, driving the cutters by any suitable means and preferably reversing them at the end of each stroke of the bed. These cutters are adapted for working iron and other metals and may be replaced by grinding-wheels for the cutting of harder materials, such as glass. For cutting stone reciprocatory hammers or chisels may be substituted in the lower ends of the spindles or tool-bars 74. Our machine, made in various sizes and proportions, is adapted for all classes of carving and engraving work, ranging from minute articles, such as watchcases and the like, to large figures and designs in wood, metal, and stone.

The term relief-pattern herein and hereinafter employed is intended to include reverse or obverse and intaglio patterns and any pattern having surface prominences.

It is obvious that numerous other modifi-' cations of our invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, and we therefore do not confine our invention to the particular construction herein claimed and described.

Having described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a carving-machine, a cutter in combination with a tracer wherewith said cutter is movable, a pattern and work holding and feeding mechanism, the relief-pattern held thereby and engaging said tracer and limiting the movement thereof in one direction, and a driven device exerting retractileforce upon said tracer at all times, said force increasing in proportion to the lateral pressure of the pattern on the tracer, substantially as described.

2.- In a carving-machine, a cutter in combination. with a tracer wherewith said cutter is movable longitudinally, a pattern and work holding and feeding mechanism, the reliefpattern held 'by said mechanism, engaging said tracer, limiting the movement thereofin one direction, and exerting pressure upon said tracer laterally to its direction of movement, and a driven device at all times exerting retractile force upon said tracer, the force'of said driven device upon said tracer increasing in proportion to the lateral pressure of the pattern upon the tracer whereby said tracer is retracted upon lateral engagement with said pattern, substantially as described.

3. In a carving-machine, the connected cutter and tracer; and, the pattern and work holding mechanism, movable relatively to one another in intersecting planes, in combination with the relief-pattern engaged by said tracer, limiting the movement thereof in one direction, and exerting varying pressure upon the tracer during the relative movement of the pattern and tracer; and a retracting device operating upon said tracer at all times with a force that increases in proportion to the pressure of the pattern upon the tracer and said device coacting with the pattern to retract the tracer and cutter, substantially as described.

a. In a carving-machine, a tracer longitudinally movable, and positively held against other movement, a cutter moved and controlled by said tracer, a pattern and work holding mechanism movable laterally with relation to said tracer, the relief-pattern held by said mechanism, slidably engaged by said tracer continuouslyand exerting lateral pressure upon said tracer during the movement of said mechanism, and a driven device continuously cooperatingwith said pattern to retract said tracer and cutter, substantially as described.

5. In a carving-machine, a tracer movable longitudinally and held against lateral movement, in combination with a cutter movable with said tracer, a laterally-movable pattern and Work holding and feeding mechanism, the relief-pattern held thereby, engaging and exerting lateral pressure on said tracer, and a device exerting retractileforce upon said tracer at all times, the force exerted by said device upon the tracer being increased by the lateral pressure of the pattern on said tracer, substantially as described. 1

6. In a carving-machine, the relatively mov-- able cutter and the work-holding mechanism, in combination with the relatively movable tracer and relief-pattern, said tracer being connectedWit-h and controlling said cutter, said pattern being engaged by said tracer, limiting the movement thereof in one direction, and exerting pressure thereon during the relative movement of the tracer and pat tern, and a retracting device operating upon said tracer at all times and with force increasing in proportion to the pressure of the pattern thereon, substantially as described.

7. In a carving-machine, the cutter and the work-holding mechanism relatively moved while in engagement, in combination with a tracer and a relief-pattern relatively moved while in engagement, said tracer and said on tter being connected together for movement corresponding to the sinuosity of the pattern, said pattern exerting varying lateral pressure upon the tracer during said relative movement, and a driven retracting device asso ciated with said tracer exerting retractile force thereon at all times and retracting said tracer simultaneously with the exertion of lateral pressure upon the tracer by saidpattern, substantially as described. c

8. In a carving-machine, the pattern and work holding and feeding mechanism, in combination with a longitudinally-movable tracer and connected cutter, with relation to which said mechanism is laterally movable, a pattern carried by said mechanism in slidable engagement with said tracer and exerting a varying lateral pressure thereon, and a retracting device engaged with said tracer, said device and associated parts constantly holding said tracer against lateral movement by said pattern and said retracting device operating automatically to retract said tracer with a force and speed increasing in proportion to the increase of lateral pressure of said pattern upon said tracer, substantially as described.

9. In an automatic carving-machine, the pattern and work holding and feeding mechanism, in combination with a longitudinallymovable tracer and a cutter connected therewith, with relation to which tracer and cutter said mechanism is laterally movable, a continuously-rotated retracting device constantly engaged with said tracer, and parts associated with said device holding said tracer againstlateral movement,substantially as de scribed.

10. In a carving-1nachinea longitudinallymovable tracer, in combination with a mechanism carrying a relief-pattern and the work and moved laterally with relation to the direction of movement of said tracer, said patfrictional engagement with said tracer and functionally responsive to the pressure of the pattern upon the tracer, substantially as described.

11. In an automatic carving-machine the pattern and work holding and feeding mechanism and the relief-pattern thereon, in combination with a rigid tracer rigidlyheld for movement only toward and from said pattern, a cutter moved with said tracer, and a driven retracting device in constant frictional engagement with said tracer and functionally responsive to lateralpressure, and said tracer communicating the lateral pressure of the pattern upon the tracer to said device, substantially as described.

12. In an automatic carving-machine the .pattern and work holding and feeding mechrality of cutters, in combination with a single tracer connected with all thereof, the pattern and work holding and feeding mechanism, the relief-pattern held thereby and engaged with said tracer and exerting varying pressures thereon, and a driven retracting device at all times exerting retractile force upon said tracer and opposed thereby and functionally responsive to the pressure of the pattern upon said tracer, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

14. In an automatic carving-machine the pattern and work holding and feeding mechanism, and the relief-pattern held thereby, in combination with a reciprocable tracer, one or more cutters connected therewith, and a rotating friction device constantly engaged with said tracer and communicating thereto movements that vary in length and correspond to the varying relief of the pattern, substantially as described.

15. Inacarving-machinetheconnectedcutter and tracer and the relatively movable work and pattern holding mechanism, in combination with a driven retracting device ex-' erting retractile force upon said tracer at all times and causing the same to retire when subjected to pressure, substantially as described.

16. In a carving-machine the connected cutter and tracer and the relatively movable work and pattern holding mechanism in combination with a driven retracting device at all times in frictional engagement with said tracer and exerting retractile force thereon causing its retraction when subjected to pressure, substantially as described.

17. In an automatic carving-machine the pattern and work holding and feeding means in combination with the cutter and a retract-.

ing mechanism comprising a relief-pattern tracer-bar and-means'at all times exerting a retracting force upon the tracer-bar and increasingly effective to retract the tracer in proportion to the lateral force wherewith the tracer-bar is applied to said means,and means partially counterbalancing said tracer and cutter, substantially as described.

I8. In an automatic carving-machine the pattern and work holding and feeding mechanism, in combination with a cutter movable toward and from said mechanism, a relief-pattern tracer connected to said cutter,and a continuously-moving means in engagement with the tracer constantly tending to retract the same, and made functionally operative, to move the tracer, by side pressure upon the tracer, substantially as described.

19. In an automatic carving-machine, the pattern and work holding and feeding mechanism, in combination with a cutter and a relief-pattern tracer suitably connected and normally in engagement with the work and pattern respectively, and a driven retracting device functionally dependent upon pressure, constantly tending to retract said tracer and cutter but insufficient to retract the same 1111 til pressure is applied to increase the retractile tendency of said device, substantially as described.

20. In an automatic carving-machine, the pattern and work holding and feeding mechanism, in combination with the cutter movable toward and from said mechanism, the tracer movable with said cutter,driven means constantly tending to retract said tracer and cutter and operating to retract the same simultaneously with the lateral engagement of the pattern with the tracer, substantially as described.

2 l. The pattern-tracing and cutter-retracting mechanism for carving-machines comprising a longitud inally-movable cutter-operating tracer-bar, in combination with driven means constantly exerting a retractile force upon said tracer-bar and retracting the tracerbar when subjected to lateral pressure or thrust, substantially as described.

22. In a carving-machine the mechanism for holding and feeding the pattern and work, in combination with a relief-pattern tracer and a cutter movable toward and from said mechanism, said mechanism being laterally movable with relation to said tracer and cutter, a continuously-driven retracting device constantly engaged with said tracer, and said device with associated parts holding said tracer against movement laterally with said mechanism and exerting a retractile force upon said tracer at all times, said force increasing when the tracer is pressed upon said device by laterally-directed force, substantially as described.

23. In an automatic carving-machine the pattern and work holding table and means for moving the same in ahorizontal plane,in combination with a vertical tracer-bar and a vertically-movable cutter, said bar and cutter being connected and normally depressed by gravity, means partly counterbalancing the weight of the connected tracer-barand cutter, and a retracting device driven in constant engagement with said tracer-bar and tending to retract the same, and made functionally operative to lift the tracer-bar and cutter by the pressing of the tracer-bar thereon, substantially as described.

24. The retracting mechanism for carvingmachines comprising a longitudinally-movable tracer-bar, fixed guides for said bar, and a continuously-driven retracting device associated with said guides for preventing lateral movement of said bar, said device operating