US1485546A - Cutting machine - Google Patents

Description

March 4], 1924. ,v I 1,485,546

H. F. AFFELDER CUTTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1920 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 i I 0H, 7 x

March 4 1924.

' 1,485,546 H- F. AFFELDER CUTTING MACHINE Filed Feb; 6, 1920 3 Sheets-Shed; 2

58 l: 3; IV 7/7 5 g un w 52 I 5 w, -m? 4 mi il zzverzfo 7L H. F. AFF-ELDER CUTTING MACHINE March 4 1924.

Filed Feb. 6, -1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 *2? J QL.

Patented Mar. 4, 1924.

HARRY F. .AFFELDEBI,

on otnvnrnun, 1110.

CUTTING MACHINE.

7 Application fiIed-FebIuary-G, 19 2 0. serlal rlo. 356,677, i

To all whom 2'25 may concern: 1

Be it known that I, HARRY F. AFFELDER', a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland. in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Cutting Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to cutting machines adapted particularly for cutting sheet material, such for example as paper employed for forming envelope blanks, or other materials such as cloth,cardboard, leather and the like.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a cutting machine which is efficient, easily operated, accurate and rigid, and quickly adjusted to suit the sizeand shape of the article to be cut.

Other objects are to eliminate the necessity of handling the knives or dies; to get exact relation between the position of the knives and the material to be cut; to at all times have proper cutting surface on the support on which the material to be out 'is supported; and to provide means whereby there is no waste of power in the operation of the machine.

The invention may be briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be described in the specification andset forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings illustrating my invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a press or cutting machine. embodying the difierent features of my invention; Fig. 2 is a'rear view looking at the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end view of the same illustrating particularly the inclined position in which the machine is supported; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a part of the machine showing nisni; Fig. 5 is a similar View showing the same partly in elevation and partly in section; Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the upper part of the machine including the bed, cutting block and reciprocating head carrying the cutters, this section being taken from the rear to the front sides of the machine; Fig. 7 is a sectional view with parts omitted,

substantlally along the irregular line 7 T of Fig.- 11, section being at right angles to the section of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a view'showing one of the cutters and its associated holder employed for cutting ordinary envelope blanks; Fig. 9 is aview showing two associated cutters which may be employed for envelope blanking purposes in 'place of the set of cu tterssu ch as shown in Fig. 8; Fig: 10 is a top plan view showing by dotted lines a stack of envelope blanks out from a block of paper with a set of four cutters such as shown in Fig. 8;. and Fig. "11 is an inverted view showingthe under side of the head of the machine carrying the cutters, the supporting rods for the headfbeing shown in section.

.F'FICE. if

The machine to which my invention is applied is in the form of a press having a base 10, a bed 11' on which'is supported a movable, and inthis case, a rotary wood block 12 onwhich the cutting is done, the bed being supported in fixed position with respect to the base by legs 13 projecting upand-block 12is a reciprocating head 14, carrying the cutting mechanism, the head being supported on four parallel rods 15 T which pass through and are adjustably se cured in bosses at the four corners of the head, and which pass through and are slid-- inglymounted in openings of the bed 11.

the present invention wardly from the base. Abovethe bed 11 V like sub-base 16 which elevates the front side r of the machine with respect "to the rear, as

.most clearly shown in Fig. 3.v

The head lmay be reclprocated by any suitable mechanism, but in this instance the machine has a pulley 17 adapted to be .driven by a belt and rotating with a fly- 'wheel 18 adapted to be clutched toa shaft 19 particularly the clutch operating mechaj by a clutch-2O (see Fig. 4) having a' forwardly projecting operating lever 21. 'The shaft 19 drives a gear 22 mounted ona transverse shaft suitably supported from the baselO. and provided'at its, ends with cranks 23, the ends of which are shown in of toggle arms 26. There are four pairs of these toggle arms located at the four corners of the machine,-twopairsbeing at the front side and two at'the rear side, ea'ohpairoperated by one of the members 25. The upper arms of the four pairs; of toggles are pivoted at fixed points 27 at the four corners of the bed 11, and the lower arms are connected as shown at 28 to the four head operating rods 15. Thus it will be seenthat when the clutch 20 is throw in, as the crankshaft makes onerev'olution, the head 14' will be lowered and then elevated.

In connection with the operating Inecha nisn'r I have provided a very effectivedevice for causing the "clutch be automatically thrown outand the movement of the press head stopped when the knives are'retracted following each cuttingfop'eration. To accomplish this I have provided the" upper toggle arm next to the clutch lever 21 with an extension 26 at the upper free end of which is aroller'29 which is just'insideef and direot'lyciopOSite the clutch lever. Like wise I' have provided on the side of the clutch lever a holder 30 for a spring plunger 31 whose inner end 31 is in the plane of this roller when the plunger ispressed inward the full amount under the action of the spring.

To start the machineby throwingin the clutch it'is necessary for'the operator to pull the plunger forwardly'sdthat the head 31 of the plunger{ will clearth'e roller 29 and permit the clutch lever tobe' thrown to the left as the same is viewed in Fig. 4. This the operator can readily do since the rear part of the plunger has an upstanding pin" 31 which permits the operator with one hand to grasp the clutch lever," pull back the plunger and theirthrow the lever to the left. Whenthe machine starts, the head is first moved upward slightly (since'it ispreferably stopped just before the completion of the upward movement of thehead) and then the head makes its downward cutting stroke. Onthis downward stroke of the head the toggle arm's arestraightened, andthis movement carries the roller 29 inwardly from the head of the plunger 31 and this permits the plunger to snap forward so that the head againlies in the plane of the roller. Onthe completion of the downward stroke of the cutting head it is innnediate'ly ele, vated, and thisaga-in'nioves the roller toward the head of'the plunger, and just before the cutting head reaches its'uppermost position the roller 29 engages the'head of the plunger and shifts the clutch lever'21 to the right so' as to stop the press: 7

By this mechanism WhiCl'l-ill practice hasproved to be exceedingly efiective, poweris not wasted by idle strokes of the cutting head, it being the common practice, particularly in the paper industry, to permit presses to run continuousl the operator sliding the die, material and cutting block into and out of the press between strokes.

The cutters themselves maybe of different forms, and different numbers of cutters may be employed. 7, Regardless of the number that are employed, they are adjustable so that blanks of different sizes and shapes may be cut. Generally I employ four cutters, such as shown M32 in Fig. 8, each cutter being secured by a bolt 33 to a cutter holder 34, ad justably mounted on the head. F or COP: venience, the cutting mechanism per se is carried by a plate 35 which is attached to the underside of the head 14. To this plate 35 there is attached a plate 36 having an under-cut slot 37 extending lengthwise of the head, and along this slot two of the cutter holders 34 (assuming that four cutters are employed) may be adjusted and secured in any adjusted position, depending upon the size of the envelope blank to be cut, by T-head bolts 38, the heads of the bolts engaging in the wide part of the slot 37 in the manner indicated in Figs. 6 and 7. The plate 35 also carries a plate 39 which supports the other cutters, this plate having a slot 40 similar to the slot 37, this slot adnitting of the lateral adjustment of the cutter holders and permitting them to be secured in any adjusted position as in the first instance. This plate 39 is adjustable toward and from the plate 36, and to this end the ends of the plate 35 have slots 4-1 which are parallel to each other and are at "ight angles to the slots 37 and 40, and by means of bolts -12 similar to the bolts 38, the plate 39 can" be loosened, adjusted toward or from the relatively fixed plate 36, and then secured in the desired position. It will be seen, therefore, that with this mechanism the pairs of cutters and cutter flOlClQi'S associated with each slot 37 or 40 are adjustable toward and from each other, and that the plate 39 is adjustable toward and from the fixed plate 36, and by reason of thlS'COllSiflLlCilOll, blanks of any desired size canbe out It will be understood that instead of the slotted plates provided for the adjustment of the cutters, other suitable and equivalent means may purpose;

Above I have stated that the slot 37 extends through the plate 36 and that the slot 10 extends through the adjustable plate 39. In practice, for convenience informing the slots 37 and 40, each plate 36 and 39 is composed of two similar halves which are relatively'fixed, forming a slot of proper width.

As before stated, it is not essential that the cutter head he provided with four cutters; For example, for certain work, two cutters 43 secured to holders 4a as shown in 9 may be employed, theseholders being adapted to be secured one in each of the slots be provided for this ill 37 and 40 in the manner already explained.

At. times it may be desirable to employ six cutters, in which event three cutters and their holders will be positioned in each of herein illustrated, and particularly the supporting mechanism for the cutters including the holders and the bolts by which they may be released for adjustment, or secured in position, enables the cutters to be correctly positioned for any desired size, of blank. Any desired gauging means may be utilized in connection with. the adjustable cutter holders to enable the operator to correctly position them.

In order that the cutters and material to be cut may be accurately positionedrelatively, and at the same time to permit the block of paper (or equivalent material) to be quickly positioned on the cutting surface, I employ two sets of adjustable gauges. Qne set of gauges consists of a pair of rods 45, projecting inward from the rear side of the machine over the block 12, these gauges havingvdownturned ends against which the rear side of theblock of paper is placed. The other set of gauges consists of a pair of similar rods 46 which project inwardly from one end of the machine, and have similar down-turned ends against which one end of the block of paper is placed.

These gauge rods 45 are adjustably mounted on the machine, in'this. instance on a frame extending along the rear and along one end of the machine above the block 12, this frame in this case consisting of angles 47 secured to upright angles 48 at three corners of the bed 11. The gauges are secured to the flanges of the angles 47 byspecial bolts 49 which permit the gauges to be moved in .or out, or to be moved laterally since the shanks of the bolts project through slots 50 r in the flanges of the angles as clearly shown in Fig. 11.

When the cutters have been adjusted to the proper positions to cut a blank of the proper size, and when the gauges have been properly set and fixed in position so that the block of paper will be properly positioned with respect to the cutters it is only necessary for the operator to slide in the block. until the rear side and one end bear against the down-turned inner ends of the gauges and then to throw in the clutch whereupon blanks of the desired shape and size will be cut.

One other very important feature of my improved machine remains to be explained, this being the means for rotating the block 12 at each cutting operation. Ifthe block 12 were stationary so that the cutting edges of the knives or cutters engaged the same portions of the block at each stroke a proper at 62 in the, same figure.

a 'pin 63-wliich projects inward in the planev may be turned over,

cutting surfacefor accurate work wouldnot' be obtained. I therefore provide the fol lowing mechanism for rotating the block at each stroke. At the rear side of the machine I provide two rollers 51, against which two spaced points of the periphery of the block rest. I nected to the bed 11, and since the latter is The block is not directly coninclined to the rear, the block 12 will at all times bear with a certain degreeof pressure against these two rollers 51. Not onlyldo these rollers serve as supports forthe block, butthey are utilized to turn it, and constitute a friction drive means therefor. To this end the rollers are mounted on vertical studs 52 which are journaled in. bearings 53 fixed in an outstanding flange of an angle 54 along the rear edge of the bed. At the lower ends of the twostuds 52, ratchet wheels 56 are provided. These two ratchet wheels, and hence the two rollers are given a predetermined rotary movement just before the completion ofthe upward or return stroke of the cutting mechanism, and this is accomplished by a pair of pawls 57 carried by'an endwise movable holder in the form of an angle 58,-likewise mounted at therear edge of the bed, in this instance on the down-standing flange of the. angle. 54.

This pawl holder 58 is normally held in one position by a spring r59 (see Fig. 2) and it is moved in an endwise direction against the action of the spring just before the comple tion of the return. stroke of the head by a lever 60 pivoted at 61 on the base 10 as shown in 2, and having a pin and slot connection with the pawl holder 58 as shown of movement of a roller 64 on the endof the'crank 23 which isat the rear sideof the machine. I V

The parts are so positioned that just before the clutch is thrown out, this roller64 engages the pin68 swinging the lever 60 and causing the pawl holder 58'to be moved to the right, as shown in Fig. 2. The pawls 57 This lever 60- hasengage the'ratch'et wheels '56 and give thev block supporting rollers 5 1 a predetermined rotary movement, and thisimparts a slight rotary movement to theblock.

As before stated, a friction drive is thus" provided to rotate the block. This is preferable to a direct driving action for it is desirable that the block be given a movement not of a predetermined amount, but of a small irregular or indefinite amount so that v. as the block is' rotated it is unlikely that it will be stoppedin exactly the same position which it previously occupied at some prior cutting operation. Of course it is understood that when the upper surface of the block'has been cut considerably by the action of the cutters it will be resurfaced or In operation, the operator will first adjust the knives or cutters and the gauges so as to.

adapt them for cutting blanks of a given size from a block of material of a given size. He will then slide the block to be cut inward until the rear side and one end rest against the gauges. Next he will throw in the clutch, whereupon the cutting head descends and the cutters cut the blanks as desired. Immediately after the down stroke of the head the latter begins its return stroke, and just before the completion of its return stroke the block 12 is rotated slightly and then the clutch is automatically thrown out and the machine is stopped until the clutch is again thrown in for the next cuttingoperation.

To prevent the block of cutting blanks being dragged upward from the cutting surface of the block 12 by the action of the receding cutters, I mount on the head a plunger which on the down stroke of the head engages the top of the block of material to be cut and is moved upwardly through the head compressing a coil spring 66 (see Fig. 6). The tension thus imposed in the spring is sufficient to force the block of out blanks out from between the cutters as the cutting head is raised. Therefore at the completion of the return stroke, the operator can slide the block of cut blanks from the block 12, and either he or another operator can slide and properly position on the block 12 another block of paper to be cut. The machine can thus be operated with rapidity, and since the block 12 is rotated slightly after each cutting operation, the material is out cleanly if sufiiciently sharp cutters are employed.

The operation of the machine is much facilitated by reason of the fact that the ma chine as a whole is tipped from the vertical. In the first place, the rotary block 12 is held by gravity against the actuating rolls; second, the operator has a better insight into the machine since the front end is elevated with respect to the rear end: third, scraps of paper are more easily disposed of; and fourth, the block of material to be cut is more readily and more uniformly placed against the gauges than would be the case if it were moved horizontally inward against vertical gauges.

It will be obvious that certain changes may be made in details of construction and arrangement, and I therefore do not desire to be confined to the exact construction herein illustrated.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a cutting machine, a head adapted to be provided with a cutter, a rotatable cutting block toward and from which the head is moved, means for imparting a regular reciprocating stroke to the head, means for im- 65" parting irregular rotative movements to the eashes block including a friction roller bearing against a portion of said block and adapted to slip with respect thereto, and means operated in timed relation with the movements of the head for imparting rotative movements to said roller, and through said roller iojsaid block during the movement of said sad.

2. In a cutting machine for blanking out or trimming sheet material, a stationary bed, a flat head above the bed and reciprocable toward and from the same, cutters adjustably supported on the lower face of the head, means for operating the head, a rotary block on the bed adapted to be pierced by the cutting edges of the cutters on each cutting stroke, and means operating in predetermined timed relation with the movements of the head for causing irregular movements to be imparted to, the block.

8. A cutting machine in the form of a press, comprising a reciprocable head adapted to be provided with cutters, means for supporting and moving said head, toward and from said bed, a supporting bed beneath said head, said bed having a flat inclined upper face, a flat circular cutting block upon said bed, spaced rollers at the lower side of said bed engaging the periphery of said cutting block for positioning and supporting the same, and means for intermittently imparting rotative movement to one of said rollers.

1. A cutting machine in the form of a press, comprising a reciprocable head adapted to be provided with cutters, means for supporting and moving said head toward and from said bed, a supporting bed beneath said head, said bed having a flat inclined upper face, a fiat circular cutting block lying on said bed, spaced rollers at the lower side of said bed engaging the periphery of said cutting block for positioning and supporting the same, and means actuated by said head moving means to impart a rotative movement to one of said rollers while said head is elevated.

5. In a cutting machine, a stationary bed, a head supported above the bed and reciprocable toward and from the same, a cutter carried'by the head, means for imparting regular reciprocating movements to the head, a rotary block on the bed adapted to be pierced by the cutting edges of the cutters on each cutting stroke, and means operating in predetermined timed relation with the movements of the head for causing irregular rotative movements to be imparted to the block,

6. In a cutting machine, a stationary bed, a head supported above the bed and'reciprocable toward and from the same, a cutter carried by the head, means for imparting regular reciprocating movements to the head, a rotary block on the bed adapted to be pierced by the cutting edges of the cutters on each cutting stroke, and driving means connecting the head and block for imparting rotative movements to the block intermittently in predetermined timed relation with the movements of the head, said driving means including frictionally engaged elements adapted to slip one upon the other whereby the rotative movements of the block are irregular.

7 In a cutting machine, a reciprocable head adapted to be provided with cutters, a bed toward and from whichthe head is movable, a cutting block on the bed, circumferentially spaced friction rollers engaging the peripheral edge of the block and adapted to slip with respect thereto, and means for actuating the rollers to rotate the block during each cycle of movement of the head whereby irregular movements are imparted to the block.

8. A cutting machine in the form of a press comprising a reciprocable head adapted to be provided with cutters, a bed beneath the head toward and from which the head is adapted to be moved, means for supporting and actuating the head in a direction inclined with respect to the vertical, an inclined cutting blocklying upon the bed which is higher at one side of the machine than the other, rotary means engaging the periphery of the block for supporting the same at the relatively low side of the block, and means for turning said rotary means to shift the block. 7

9. In ,a cutting machine, a reciprocable head adapted to be provided with cutters,

a bed toward and from which the head is against which stock is adapted to be placed preparatory to being out, said gauges being located on the lower side of the bed and projecting upwardly above the block;

10.In a cutting machine, a reciprocable head having a plurality of adjustably supported cutters on the lower face thereof, a bed toward and from which the head is adapted to be moved,a rotary cutting block carried by the bed, the head and bed being inclined with respect to the horizontal, whereby one side of the bed is lower than the other, and

gauges against which stock is adapted to be placed, said gauges being supported along the lower side and along one end of the bed.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto my signature.

HARRY F. AFFELDER.

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