US722475A - Cloth-cutting machine. - Google Patents

Description

PATBNTED MAIL 10, 1903..

I R. P. WRIGHT.- CLOTH CUTTING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1901.

NO MODEL.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ROSS PIER WRIGHT, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO EASTMAN MACHINE COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW-YORK.

CLOTH-CUTTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,475, dated March 10, 1903.

' Application filed September 6, 1901. Serial No. 74,514. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, Ross PIER WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bufialo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cloth-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates mainly to that class of portable cutting-machines which are used in the manufacture of clothing for cutting a pile or number of plies of cloth simultaneously and in which a reciprocating knife and its operating motor or mechanism are supported upon a base on which the machine is moved about by the operator on a cuttingtable, so as to follow the pattern or desired line of out. In order to be easily handled, such machines must be comparatively small and light. In the use of such machines the action of the cutter mechanism causes vibrations of the machine, which greatly interfere with the propercontrol and guidance of the machine by the hand of the operator.

The main object of this invention is'to so mount the cutter mechanism on the base of the machine that the vibrations are absorbed Another object of this invention is to im-' prove the parts by which the reciprocating knife is guided in the standard and the latter is connected with the base-plate.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cutting-machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the base and the lower portion of the standard on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the base. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary-horizontal section through the standard and knifeguide in line 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a vertical section in line 5 5, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a vertical section in line 6 6, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section in line 7 7, Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a similar view in line 8 8, Fig. 3. Fig; 9 is a similar view in line 9 9, Fig. 3.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A indicates the cutter or knife, which is mounted to reciprocate vertically in a guideway B on the front side of a standard 0, on

which is supported a motor D of suitable type-such, for instance, as an electric motorwhich is connected by a crank E and pitman F with the reciprocating upright rod G, which carries the knife A and which reciprocates in bearings g g, also supported from said standard. H indicates a handle, by means of which the machine is moved about on the cutting-table and guided. These features of the machine form no part of the present invention and may be of any suitable construction.

I represents the base-frame,which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. has preferably a rounded front 11 and has the top face of its marginal edges beveled or rounded off, as at t", to a thin bottom edge, which at the front rests on the cutting-table, so as to' enable the frame to be easily slid along the table under the cloth thereon, which is thus lifted onto the top of the base and into the path of the knife. In order to reduce the friction of the base- .frame on the cutting-table, the frame is provided with supporting-rollers J, preferably located, as shown, one under each side of the frame somewhat in rear of the center of gravity of the machine, so that the forward end of the base-frame is tilted down into contact with the supporting-surface, while the rear end is held clear or out of contact therewith. The rollers are located in pockets or depressions j in the under face of the side pieces of the frame and are j ournaled on axles supported in bearing-lugs j at the sides of the pockets.

The standard 0, which forms the support for all of the working parts of the machine, is

not supported directly on the base-frame I, but indirectly through the medium of a bed or base plate K, which is located within the opening of the base-frame and is yieldingly supported on the latter. This yielding connection of the bed or base plate withthe baseframe is of such a nature that the bed or base plate can vibrate vertically under the action of the cutter mechanism, while the surrounding base-frame rests quietly upon the table and is not affected by the vibrations of the base-plate. As shown in the drawings, the base-plate is connected with the baseframe for this purpose by leaf-springs 7c, ar-

I other end to the base-frame.

ranged at the front and rear sides of thebaseplate on the under side thereof and each secured at one end to the base-plate and at the The connection of one end of each spring is preferably a loose or sliding one to permit free play of the spring. This may be efiected by means of a headed screw passed up through an elongated slot 10 in the spring and screwed into the under side of a depending lug 70 on the base-frame. The lugs 70 and also the inner bearing-lugsj preferably project inwardly beyond the inner margin of the base-frame and into recessesv or pockets k in the under face of the baseplate, so that these lugs form stops, which limit the downward movement of the baseframe. The top of the base-frame is prevented from springing upwardly beyond the top face of the base-frame by suitable means, such as stops L, secured to the under side of the base-plate and projecting under the sides of the base-frame, as shown in Figs. 3 and 9.

The base-plate K preferably occupies the entire opening in the base-frame I, merely having enough play to allow for the free vertical movement of the plate in the baseframe. The front of the base-plate and the opening in the base-frame are preferably rounded or curved, like the front edge of the base-frame. The top face of the base-plate is held normally flush with the top of the base-frame by the supporting-springs k and stops L. In order to hold the plate at its front edge tightly against the front side of the base-frame, so as not to leave a crack in which the cloth can catch, a flat spring M is arranged between the rear lug 1.2 and the front wall of the depression 70 in the baseplate, into which the lug projects, the spring being secured to one part. This spring yieldingly holds the base-plate forward into contact with the front side of the base-frame. A similar spring N, located in the pocket k on one side of the base-plate and bearing against the adjacent bearing-lug, holds the opposite side of the base-plate snugly against the neighboring side of the base-frame.

P represents leaf-springs arranged beneath the base-plate and each secured at one end to the under side of the same. These springs, of which four are shown, cushion the bed and prevent the same from knocking against the cutting-table or other surface on which the machine rests. The springs preferably have antifriction-rollers 0 journaled on their free ends for reducing the resistance which the springs offer to the movement of the machine on the cutting-table. The base-plate is provided above the rollers with pockets or openings 0, which permit the bed to spring down without striking the rollers.

The vibrations of the machine caused by the cutting mechanism are not transmitted to the base-frame, but are absorbed by the springs connecting the base-plate with the frame. The base-plate is free to vibrate vertically more or less in the base-frame, while the latter rests quietly on the cutting-table or passes quietly over the same as the machine is guided by the operator in following the pattern or line of cut.

The upright front side of the standard 0 and the parts attached thereto must be comparatively thin and smooth to ofier as little resistance as possible to the cloth and prevent its catching. The sides of the standard are for that purpose tapered forwardly, and the knife-guide is formed of two thin hard steel plates B, having sharp front edges. The preferred manner of securing these plates to the standard is shown in Fig. 4, from which it will be seen that the front side of the standard is provided with a groove or channel p, into which the upright rear edges of the plates extend, the plates being spaced apart by a spacing-strip p.

19? indicates rivets which pass through holes in the walls of the channel of the standard, the plates B, and the spacing-strip p and whereby the parts are firmly secured to the standard. The spacing-strip p is also made of hardened steel and forms a back support against which the back of the knife runs and which guides the knife and receives the pressure resulting from the knife cutting into the material, thereby preventing the knife from wearing into the standard at the back of the groove. The wall of the groove, which are formed of the comparatively soft iron of which the standard is formed, are protected by the guide-plates and the back strip from the wear of the knife, and the latter is guided and controlled with great accuracy at all times. If it should become necessary, the guide-plates and back strip can be readily renewed. The latter is provided with a circular foot Q, Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, which is externally screw-threaded and screwed into a circular screw-threaded opening q in the base-plate K. This foot is provided with a knife slot or opening 1 the upper portions of the walls of which preferably overhang or approach each other and are made of separate throat-plates of hard steel. These throat-plates are segmental in shape and are set in correspondingly-shaped seats in the upper face of the foot Q and secured by means of screws g To make the connection a very secure one, the under sides of the throat-plates are provided with tongues q, entering corresponding grooves in the bottoms of the seats, or vice versa. To prevent accidental turning of the foot in its opening, a wedge-bolt R, Fig. 3, is secured in an opening formed partly in the base plate and partly in the foot Q.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of a base adapted to rest upon and be moved about on the cuttingtable or other supporting-surface, a bed for a cutting mechanism or the like yieldingly supported by said base above and clear of the supporting-surface, whereby said bed is permitted to vibrate on said base while the lat- IIO ter rests quietly upon such table or other supporting-surface,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a base adapted to rest upon and be moved about on the cutting-table or other supporting-surface, a bed for a cutting mechanism or the like, and an elastic connection between said bed and said base, whereby the bed is supported by the base above and clear of the supporting-surface and is permitted to vibrate on said base while the latter rests quietly upon such table or other supportingsurface, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a bed-plate for supporting a cutting mechanism or the like, a base-frame which surrounds said plate and rests upon the supporting-surface for the cloth, and springs by which said bed is yieldingly supported on said frame above and clearof the supporting-surface and permitted to vibrate in said frame, substantially as set forth.

4.. The combination of a base-frame which rests upon the supportingsurface for the cloth, a supporting-bed for a cutting mechanism or the like arranged in the opening of said frame, and springs secured to the under side of said bed and base-frame for yieldingly supporting said bed-frame above and clear of the supporting-surface, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a base-frame which rests upon the supporting-surface for the cloth, a supporting-bed for a cutting mechanism or the like arranged in the opening of said frame, and springs secured to said baseframe and projecting under parts on said bed, whereby said bed is yieldingly supported by said frame above and clear of the supportingsurface, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a base-frame which rests upon the supporting-surface for the cloth, a supporting-bed for a cutter mechanism or the like arranged in said frame and capable of vertical movement therein, an elastic connection by which said bed is supported on said frame above and clear of the supporting-surface, and a spring arranged between the side of the frame and bed for preventing horizontal movement of the bed in the frame, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a base-frame which rests upon the supporting-surface for the cloth, a supporting-bed for a cutting mechanism or the like arranged in the same, springs yieldingly supporting said bed on said frame above and clear of the supportingsurface, and stops for limiting the vertical movement of the bed in the frame, substantially as set forth.

'8. The combination of a base which rests upon the supporting-surface for the cloth, a supporting-bed for a cutting mechanism or the like, springs yieldingly supporting said bed from said base above and clear of the supporting-surface, and spring devices secured to said bed and which project below the bottom of the bed and are adapted to contact with the supporting-surface to yieldingly oppose the downward movement of the bed, substantially as set forth. 1

9. The combination with a knife and a standard provided with an upright channel or groove for said knife, of guide-plates arranged with their rear portions in said groove and their front portions projecting beyond the front face of the standard, a spacing-strip arranged between the rear portions of said guide-plates, and fastenings passing through said standard, guide-plates and spacing-strip, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of a knife capable of up-and-down movement, a standard having an upright knife-groove which is open at the front, and an upright back strip secured in the rear portion of said groove and forming a back-support and guide for the knife, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination of a knife capable of up-and-down movement, a standard having an upright knife-groove which is open at the front, and upright guide-plates arranged in said groove against-the sides thereof, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination of a knife capable of up-and-down movement, a standard having an upright knife-groove which is open at the front, upright guide-plates arranged in said groove against the sides thereof, an upright back strip arranged between said plates at the back of the groove and forming a backsupport and guide for the knife, and means whereby said guide-plates and back strip are secured in said groove, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 14th day of August, 1901.

I ROSS PIER WRIGHT. Witnesses:

JNO. J. BONNER, O. B. HooNBEoK.

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