US806311A - Cloth-cutting machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 806,311. PATENTED DEC. 5, 1905. G. L. BALLARD. CLOTH CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.8,1904.

2 SHEETESHEET 1.

No. 806,311. PATENTED DEC.5,1905.

G. L. BALLARD.

CLOTH CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.8,1904.

$HEETS-SHBBT 2. l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE LAWSON BALLARD, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO BALLARD BROTHERS, OF ROCHESTER, NEWV YORK, A FIRM.

CLOTH-CUTTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1905.

Application filed December 3, 1904. Serial No. 236,033.

T0 at whmn it flea/y concern.-

, Be it known that I, GEORGE LAwsoN BAL- LARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cloth- Outting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrically-operated cloth-cutting machines of the class in which the cutting apparatus is moved over a table upon which is piled the goods to be cut, the cutting-knife being operated by an elec trical motor carried by the machine.

.My invention concerns various features of improvement designed to make the machine simple in construction and more efficient in operation and capable of being handled by the operator with comparative ease.

The invention consists in the features and combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of the apparatus from front to rear, some of the parts, however, being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is an end view looking from the right of Fig. 1 of motor mechanism with its casing and associated parts. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the machine with parts in section and parts omitted. Fig. 4 is a front View of part of the machine looking from the left of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the standard and a portion of the base-plate and throat-plate. Fig. 6 is a detail elevation of one of the bearing-plates for the rollers. Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the said bearing-plate.

The cutting-knife 1 is substantially the same as that usually employed in this class of machines, it being guided to move vertically in a standard 2, extending up from a base-plate 3, in which the said standard is secured by having its flange 4 screw-threaded into a socket 5, formed in the base-plate. This standard supports the casing 6, which contains the motor for driving the cuttingknife. Connection with this motor is secured by a driving-rod 7, which is screwed at its upper end into a cross-head or block 8, guided in a slideway consisting of vertical guide-bars 9, which are secured at their upper ends to a bracket 10, extending up from the main frame or casing 6, and at their lower ends the said guide-bars are secured to the projection 11, carried by the cross-plate 12, which in turn is secured to the flange or for ward extension 13 of the casing. This crosshead or slide-block has a pin 14 extending rearwardly, which carries at its end a slideblock 15, moving in a guideway 16, extend ing vertically of the bracket 10. This pin affords means of connection with the pitman 17, which is pivoted on the pin at its upper end and at its lower end is provided with a pin 18, extending into the crank-arm 19, which latter is secured to the motor-shaft 20. The pitrnan is held within the crank by a screw 21 and a nut 22, the head of the screw being countersunk, as shown, and the nut fitting partly within the opening in the crankpin, so as to make a compact arrangement of parts and keep the length of the machine down to a minimum. The shaft 20 of the motor turns in a bearing or sleeve 23, held within the main frame, which for this purpose is provided with a boss 24, threaded internally to receive the said sleeve which is externally threaded and when screwed therein is held in place by a lock-nut 25. The motor-shaft carries the commutator 26, and this commutator has attached thereto the armature 27. The commutator is secured upon the portion of the shaft which extends beyond the bearing sleeve 23, and the armature overhangs this bearing-sleeve and a part of the boss 24 so that a compact construction is thus pro vided. The shaft is provided with a flange 27, adapted to bear on the end of the sleeve 23. The armature-brushes 28 are carried in hollow holders 29, which are secured to a bracket 30 by screws 31, extending vertically through the bracket and into the hollow holders. Insulating-disks 32 and an insulating-sleeve 33 are provided at the screws, and the arrangement is such that in case of these screws becoming loose the swinging of the brush-holder will not displace the brush in relation to the commutator sections. The brushes are pressed against the commutator by means of springs 34, the said springs consisting of coils 35, having arms, one arm carrying a cross-piece 36, the reduced ends of which are adapted to fit in slots 37 of the brush-holder, and the other arm of the spring also carrying a cross-pin 40, adapted to bear on the end of the brush and press the same inwardly.

The base-plate of the machine is provided ICC with rollers 41, held in a manner as hereinafter described, and the machine runs upon these rollers when at work. In order to move the machine and properly direct it, a handle 42 is provided, which extends from the rear of the machine and is grasped by the operator, who thus forces the machine over the table and directs it accurately to the pattern to be cut from the goods. One important feature of my invention is that the motor has its bearings entirely within the casing of the machine, and no back bearing is necessary, and therefore the operator may grasp the handle close up to the casing and the motor, and thus he may maintain better control of the machine and more accurately direct its movements in connection with the work. In order to protect the hand of the operator and prevent contact with any parts of the motor, I provide a guard 43, consisting of arms 44, extending laterally of the machine and attached to the cover 45 by screws 46, and also an arm 44, extending downwardly to near the handle and also attached to the rear of the motor.

As above stated, the base-plate of the machine is provided with rollers. These rollers are carried in bearings 47 of rings 48, which are held within thickened portions 49 of the baselate by means of screws 50, the heads of whlch overlie a portion of the bearing-ring and fit into recesses 51 in the lower face of the same. The base-plate is provided with flanges 52 of segmental form, extending downwardly therefrom within the thickened portions 49, thus forming annular grooves, and in these annular grooves rings 53, preferably of rubbe, rare placed, said rings providing a resilient backing for the bearingrings of the rollers, and thus providing a yielding bearing for the rollers adapted to take up the vibration of the machine. These rubber rings, together with the bearin rings, provide a compact arrangement affor ing yielding bearings for the rollers.

The base-plate of the machine is provided with a throat-plate 53* for the knife to work in, the said throat-plate being formed separately from the standard and being held in place within a recess 54 of the base-plate by a screw 55. The throat-plate is slotted at 56, and it is also threaded at 57 X to fit the threads of the standard. The standard is flanged at 57 at its base, and this provides a hollow 5S thereunder. At one side the flange is provided with a radial groove 59, which communicates with the slot 56 in the throatplate and with the opening below the throat-plate, so that any cuttings which fall below the throat-plate may pass through the slot 59, and thus pass away from the cutting-point and from the knife, preventing the latter from being clogged or choked in its operation.

As before stated, the throat-plate is inde pendent of the standard. This construction allows a stronger standard to be used, as the base-flange or foot of the standard does not have to be cut away to answer the purpose of a throat-plate. This base-flange of the standard is of circular form and lies mostly toward the rear of the standard opposite to the point at which the throat-plate is secured. The throat-plate by the construction described may be readily removed.

The presser-foot for pressing upon the cloth is shown at 60. This is carried at the lower end of a bar 61, extending vertically through the boss or bracket 1], carried by the casing of the machine. This presser-bar is provided with worm-teeth 63, adapted to be engaged by a worm 64 on the lower end of a shaft 65. I prefer to arrange this shaft vertically, as shown, and it turns in a bearing 66 near its upper end and in the bracket 11 at its lower end. It is provided witha fingerpiece 67 at its upper end, by which it may be turned. By arranging this shaft vertically with the finger-piece at its upper end the presser-foot may be raised and lowered with out bringing the hand of the operator into proximity with the cutting-knife, which might result in injury thereto.

In order to lock the presser-foot at any point at which. it may be adjusted, I provide a wing-nut 68, adapted to press the front plate 69 of the bracket 11 firmly against the front face of the bar 61, and thus hold the said bar in place. The plate 69 is held to the bracket by screws 70 and is so arranged that it will spring slightly outwardly when the pressure from the wing-nut is relieved, so that the presser-foot bar is then free to be adjusted up or down.

I provide means for sharpening the knife during the operation thereof, the said means consisting of an emery-wheel 71, j ournaled on a bracket 72, which is loosely carried by the presser-bar 61. The bracket is free to turn about the said presser-bar and the emerywheel is placed in such angular relation to the vertical axis of the bracket as will bring the said emery-wheel in proper relation to the cutting edge to secure the proper sharpening effect. The emery-wheel is of frusto-conical form, and when placed against the knife it has a grinding eflect thereon and not simply a rolling action. It is of course turned by its contact with the reciprocating knife; but its axis being at an incline to the line of reciprocation of the knife the grinding effect is secured As above described, the knife-driving bar is guided by its cross-head and also by the sliding block 15, arranged in rear of the pitman connection. This construction is of im portance, as all side strain to which the knife is subjected will be resisted and the parts will be accurately guided, so as to hold the knife in correct position and accurately to the line to be followed. This construction .also enables wear to be taken up, as the guidebars 9 when worn may be filed off at the points where they are secured to the frame, and thus be set in to compensate for the wear.

As a means of oiling the parts I provide the motor-shaft with a central duct 73, the inner end. of which is connected by a lateral port 7 4 with the crank-pin on the pitman, so that in the revolution of the parts the lubricant introduced into the central duct will find its way to the crank-pin socket, and thus lubricate the crank-pin. Ports are also provided at 75, leading to the interior of the bearing-sleeve 23, so as to lubricate the hearing for the motor-shaft. The-wrist-pin is lubricated from a lubricant cup or socket 7 6, formed in the upper part of the cross-head or slide-block 8. This cup or socket is provided at its upper end. with a cover 77 of special construction and arrangement consisting of a small plate having a central opening with a flange depending around the said opening into the cup. I prefer to fillthe cup with some absorbent material which will aid and hold the lubricantin place. The purpose of the flange is to prevent the lubricant from flying out under the rapid reciprocation of the cross-head or block. This oil-retaining cover is soldered within the oil-cup.

In order to lubricate the slideways of the cross-head, I form ports 77 leading laterally from the oil-cup to the sides of the slide block or cross-head.

The crank-pin may be formed integral with or fixed to the pitman, and, as above noted, it is wholly within the crank. By this the crank is brought nearer to its work and a stronger and stiffer construction is afforded. The machine is also thereby shortened. A suitable bushing surrounds the crank-pin.

The wrist-pin 14 is held to the pitman by having the latter split, as at 79, at its upper end, the pin passing through the split portion and a screw 80 drawing the split sections together.

I do not wish to limit myself to the use of one emery-wheel, as two may be used, as desired, one on each side of the knife. When one emery-wheel is used, however, it is simply necessary to swing the bracket on the Presser-bar, so as to position the emerywheel on first one side and then the other of the knife to get the diagonal grinding effect on the knife-edge. When two wheels are combined with the machine, only one is used at a time.

In constructing the motor I have sought to provide a simple arrangement of parts, and for holding the field-coils in place I provide pieces of stiff fiber, (indicated at which are slightly arched and are sprung into place with their edges bearing against the I prefer to place in the duct of the motorshaft a perforated plug which while allowing the introduction of the lubricant into the said duct will prevent its discharge at the outer end of the shaft.

In machines of this class it has been customary to arrange an electric lamp adjacent the cutting-knife, so that nightwork may be carried on. These lamps have been carried by a bracket with their axes horizontal. In this position under the vibration which necessarily exists from running machines of this kind there is great liability of breakage of the filament, as it extends in substantially a horizontal plane and is supported at the ends. In order to overcome this difficulty, I support the lamp, as shown at 76, in a socket whose axis is vertical, and the lamp thus depends from the socket and the filament extends downwardly from its points of support, and is thus not liable to be broken under ordinary conditions.

I claim as my invention-- 1. In combination in a cloth-cutting machine, a base-plate, a standard, a vertically reciprocating knife, a drive rod connected with the knife, a motor-shaft, a crank thereon, a pitman having a pin entering a socket in the crank, means for holding the said pin therein with the pitman and drive-rod close to the face of the crank and a wrist-pin connection between the pitman and the kniferod, substantially as described.

2. In combination in a cloth-cutting machine, the knife, the drive-rod for the knife the motor-shaft, the crank on the motorshaft, the pitman having a crank-pin within a socket in the crank, a countersunk screw passing through the pin and a nut for holding the pin whereby the pitman and drive-rod may work close to the face of the crank, substantially as described.

3. In combination in a cloth-cutting machine, a base-plate, a standard, a verticallyreciprocating knife, a vertically-reciprocating drive-rod, a casing or frame on the standard, a motor carried in the frame and having a shaft, a crank on the shaft, a pitman connected with the crank and extending upwardly therefrom, a cross-head or slide-block connected with the upper end of the driverod of the knife, slideways in which the said block moves, a wrist-pin connecting the pit man and the cross-head or slide-block at the upper end of the pitman, a guideway in rear of the pitman and a block on the wrist-pin moving in the said guideway to control the upper ends of the drive-rod and pitman, substantially as described.

4. In combination in a cloth-cutting machine, a base-plate, a standard, a knife, means for driving the knife, a presser-foot, a toothed presser-bar extending vertically and guided through a portion of the frame, a worm engaging the toothed bar and a shaft extending Vertically from the said worm and having means at its upper end for operating the shaft, substantially as described.

5. In combination, in a cloth-cutting machine, a base-plate, a standard, a cutting knife, means for operating the presser-bar, a guidewayfor the resser-bar a plate extending across said guideway and adapted to spring slightly away from the presser-bar to release the same, and means for forcing and holding the plate so as to pinch the presserbar, substantially as described.

6. In combination, in a cloth-cutting machine, a cutting-knife, means for operating the same, a resser-foot, and means associated with the said presser-foot for sharpening the knife, substantially as described.

7. In combination in a cloth-cutting machine, a base-plate, a standard, a cuttingknife, means for operating the same, a presserfoot, a presser-bar and a knife-sharpening device swiveled on the presser-bar, substantially as described.

8. In combination in a cloth-cutting machine, a reciprocating cutting-knife, a presserfoot, a presser-bar, a bracket swiveled on the presser-bar and a sharpening-wheel set at an inclination of the bracket to have a diagonal action on the knife as the same reciprocates Vertically, substantially as described.

9. In combination in avcloth-cutting machine, a frame, a knife, a shaft bearing in the frame, a crank-arm on the shaft, connections between the same and the knife, means for driving the shaft, and a duct leading longitudinally through the shaft, a duct extending at right angles at its forward end through part of the shaft and the crank and to the crank-pin whereby the centrifugal force will feed the lubricant to the crank-pin, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE LAWSON BALLARD.

I/Vitnesses OWEN BALLARD, JosEPH C. WITZEL.

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