US1332530A - Stock-cutting machine - Google Patents

Description

E. E. WINKLEY.

STOCK CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men MAY3. 1915.

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STOCK CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1915.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

H SHEETS-SHEET 2.

\NVENTOF? WITNESS Wfi/rrrer E. E. WINKLLY.

STOCK CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1915.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920;

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WITNESS E. E. WINKLEY.

STOCK cumm; MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1915- Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

H SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESS E. E. WINKLEY.

STOCK CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1915.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

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E. E. WINKLEY.

STOCK CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1915.

Patented Mar. 2,1920.

H SHEETS-SHEET 5.

JWWN L mw u u mm QW INVENTUR E. E. WINKLEY.

STOCK CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATlON FILED MAY 3. 1915.

' '1 332,530-, I Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

H SHEETSSHEET 7= E. E. WINKLEY. STOCK CUTTlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1915.

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E. E. WINKLEY.

STOCK CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1915.

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Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

lNVENTOR WiTNESS E. E. WINKLEY.

STOCK CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1915.

,33%,530w Patented Marn2, 1920.

ll SHEETS-SHEET I0- E. E. WINKLEY.

STOCK CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man MAY 3, I915.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

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WITNESS ERASTUS E. WINKLEY, 0F LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATTERSON, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

STOCK-CUTTING- MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920..

Application filed May 3, 1915. Serial No. 25,453.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERAsTUs E. WInKLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have lnvented certain new and useful Improvements in Stock-Cutting Machines; and I do hereby declare the fol lowing to be a full, clear, and exact descrlption of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to machines for cutting pieces or blanks from sheets or strips of material, such as leather-board, particu larly such blanks as are used in the construction of heels for boots and shoes. Such blanks, of whatever shape they may be, wlll herein be called simply lifts, used in an 1nelusive sense. I

One object of the invention is to produce a machine in which the material, in the form of sheets or strips, shall be fed automatically to the cutting means, so that the machine will require no attention on the part of the operator except in proyldlng 1t with a supply of material and in removing the cut pieces. To this end there IS employed an arrangement in which a supply staclc of strips of material is held in the machine, and as soon as one strip has been cut into lifts by the machine another strip is first moved from the stack to the line of feed and is then advanced intermittently, by longitudinal movement in this line of feed, to the cutting means.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the discharge of the cut lifts in such a manner that they are arranged in regular stacks, so that they may be conveniently introduced, in stack form, to the feeding-means of another machine in whlch a further operation is to be performed upon them. To this end the machine is provided with one or more receptacles for the lifts.

preferably in the form of trays provided with elongated compartments in which the blanks are discharged in stacked relation from the cutting-means, and the machine is further provided with means operated automatically to feed the trays step-by-step as each compartment is filled, and also to substltute an empty tray for a filled tray at the proper tlme, so that it is necessary for the operator of the machine only to remove the filled trays and replace them With empty trays.

Another object of the invention is to insure the removal of waste-pieces, Where the type of out being made produces such pieces. from the line of feed and the space between or .ad acent to the cutting-means. This applles particularly to the Waste-piece at the end of a strip of material which is left after the last possible complete lift has been cut from it. To this end the cutting-means have been arranged in such a position that it c' erates on sheet material held with its width in a'vertioal plane, so that waste-pieces between the successive cuts tend to fall away from the cutting means by gravitation. In addition there is employed a device which operates automatically to release or eject the waste-piece at the end of a strip when the strip is exhausted.

Other objects of' the invention, and the features of construction by which the several objects are attained will be set forth hereinafter, in connection with the description of the illustrated embodiment of the invention.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 are, respectively, a front-elevation, a right-hand side-elevation. .1 left-hand side-elevation, and a plan of a machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a partial front-elevation, on a larger scale than the preceding figures, showingparticularly the tray-feeding mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a right-hand side-elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5;

Figs. 8 and 9 are vertical sections of parts of the same mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a plan of the parts shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 11 is a plan of a part of the machine including particularly the cutting instrumentalities and the mechanism for actuating them;

Fig. 12 is a left-hand side-elevation, partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 11;

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are, respectively, a

rearelevation, a left-hand side-elevation.

and'a plan of the lift cutting means and the parts innnediately associated therewith;

Fig. 16 is a left-hand elevation, partly in section, showing in detail the means for feeding the strips of sheet-material;

Fig. 17 is a partial rear-elevation, showing particularly the mechanism for actuating the feed-devices;

Fig. 18 is a right-hand side-elevation, partly in section, ofthe same parts;

Figs. 19 and 20 are details of the clutch for throwing the transfer-mechanism into and out of operation; and

Fig. 21 is a detail view showing the waste ejecting bar in position to drop waste out of the strip guideway.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in a machine in which heel-lifts are died out from strips of sheet-material, each strip being of suflicient width for a single row of lifts. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, referring particularly to Figs. 11 to 16 inclusive, the dieing-out means com-- prise a hollow knife or die 30, having the contour of the heel-lift which is to be cut,

and a cutting-bl0ck 32 by which the mate rial is pressed against the die. .The cuttingblock is reciprocated, while the die is held stationary in a die-holder 34. This dieholder has oppositely inclined surfaces 36, as shown in Fig. 13, which forms a V-shaped seat for the lower curved part of the die, while the upper straight part of the die is engaged by a U-shaped clamping-member 38, this member having tongue-and-groove connections with the body 34 of the die-holder. This arrangement is such that dies of different sizes may be held in the die-holder. In order to adjust the position of the die-holder and the die, in changing from dies of one size to another, and particularly to keep the die in the proper relation with the feed-mechanism, the die-holder as a whole is movably mounted on an inclined seat 40 formed on a frame member 42 which supports the dieholder. A clamping-screw 48, threaded in a boss on the frame 42, engages an inclined upper surface on the clamping-member 38, thereby at the same time clamping the die in the die-holder and fixing the die-holder in adjusted position on the seat 40. The foregoing arrangement is such that a die of any size may be held with its left-hand edge (looking in the direction of Fig. 13) in a fixed position with relation to the path of movement of the stock-feeding means, and the inclination of the seat 40 is such that the with a spring 52 (Figs. 14 and 15) working v in an opening in the side of the tube, this spring serving to retain lifts in stacked relation in the tube until they. are discharged therefrom into the receiving-tray herein-. after described.

The cutting-block 32 is screwed to a collar 54, which in turn is screw-threaded upon a hollow plunger 56. The cutting-block may be adjusted on the plunger, so as to insure its proper engagement with the die by turning the collar on the plunger and fixing it in adjusted position by means of a setscrew 58 (Fig. 12), and in this way compensation will be made for the removal of the edge of the die when it is sharpened, and also for removal of the surface of the cutting-block when replaned. The plunger slides in a bearing-sleeve 6O fixed on the frame of the machine, and a spring 62 (Fig. 12), coiled about the plunger within a recess in the bearing-sleeve, tends to force the plunger rearwardly. To move the plunger in the opposite direction and into engagement with the die, a power-shaft has a crank-portion 66 (Figs. 11 and 12) upon which a roller 68 is mounted. A fast pulley 70 and a loose pulley 72 are mounted on the shaft 64:, and these pulleys are connected by a belt 74, with any suitable source of power. When the shaft is rotated the roller 68 intermittently engages the rear extremity of the plunger 56 and thus reciprocates it. The belt 74 is controlled by a belt-shipper 76, of ordinary form, for throwing the machine into and out of operation.

In order to equalize wear over the surface of the cutting block, means is provided for rotating it at each operative stroke of the plunger. For this purpose a plate 78 (Figs. 11 and 12) is fixed on the plunger, this plate having ratchet-teeth at the periphery of its rear face. A lever 80 is mounted on a stud 82 on the frame of the machine, and the rear end of the lever has a lug 84c in the path of movement of the roller 68. A pawl 86 is pivoted on the forward end of the lever, and its lower extremity en.- gages the ratchet-teeth on the plate 78, being held in engagement therewith by a spring 88 connecting the pawl with the lever 80. At each rotation of the power-shaft the lever 80 is rocked so as to cause the pawl to produce a partial rotation of the plate 78 and. the plunger and the cutting-block. A

nesaeeo spring 90 returns the lever to normal position, and an adjustable stop-screw 92, threaded in the lever and arranged to engage a part of the frame, serves to adjust the amplitude of the movement of the lever.

The stock to be cut, in the form of strips of sheet material, is fed to the dieing-out means through a feed-passage between two vertical plates 9% and 96, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, a strip X being shown in feeding position. This strip rests, at its lower edge, upon a horizontal frame-member 98 to which the plates 91 and 96 are fixed, as-

shown in Fig. 18. The length-wise feeding movements of the strip are imparted to it by a feed-dog or feed finger 100, shown particularly in Figs. 13 and 15, which is mounted on a pivot-pin 102 in a feed-slide 101. This slide moves in a guideway 106 at the rear of the plate 94, and the dog works through a horizontal slot in the plate so that it may engage the front-surface of the strip X. A spring 108 tends to swing the dog rearwardly and maintain its sharpened extremity in engagement with thematerial.

To reciprocate the feed-slide 104 it is connected, by a pivot-stud 110, with a link 112. This link is pivoted as shown in Fig. 17, to one arm 111 of a bell-crank lever, of which the other arm 116 is rocked, through the intermediation of parts hereinafter described. by the rotation of a cam 118. This cam is fixed on a cam-shaft 120 (see Fig. 2) which is rotated, through bevel-gears 122, by a counter-shaft 121 journaled in brackets depending from the frame-member 98-. A gear 126 fixed on the counter-shaft is connected, by an intermediate gear 128, with a pinion 130 on the power-shaft 64, as shown particularly in Fig. 12, so that the countershaft 121 is rotated constantly during the operation of the machine.

The feed-mechanism just described is arranged to have an amplitude of movement as great as may be necessary in the case of the largest lift desired to be produced, and, in cases where the machine is to be used for the production of smaller lifts it is necessary to arrest the feeding movement of the strip when just enough material has been fed for the particular size desired. For this purpose, the machine is provided with an end-stop 134, as shown in Figs. 13. 1 1 and 15, that is rigid in the line of feed. The operative extremity of this stop is located just in alinement with the furthermost edge portion of the die (see dotted lines Fig. 13), so that the advance of the strip is positively arrested, by engagement of its ends with this stop, when the forward edge of the strip has been advanced just across the die. Since it is necessary for the stop to be removed from operative position when the cutting block is advanced toward the die, the stop is mounted on a hub 136 arranged to rock upon a stud,

138 fixed in a bracket 140, and a coiled spring 112 is connected with an arm 14: 1 on the hub, this spring tending to rock the parts in a direction to return the end-stop to operative position when the block retreats. It may be necessary to adjust the end-stop both in the line of feed and at right angles thereto when the size of the die is changed. For this purpose the bracket 110 has a flat base which rests against the rear surface of the frame-member 42, and both this base and the frame-member are provided with slots 148 and 150, arranged at a right-angle to each other as shown in Fig; 13. A bolt 14:6 passes through the slots and holds the bracket in ad usted position on the frame,

In order that the feeding movement of the strip of material may be arrested, in the manner just described, without injury to the material or to the feed-mechanism, a yielding coupling is provided in the latter which is shown particularly in Fig. 17. The bellcrank lever 11 1116 is loosely mounted on a stud 152 supported by a horizontal extension on a bracket 153 depending from the frame-member 98. An arm 154 is also mounted on a stud alongside the bell-crank lever, and this arm carries a stud 160 on which a cam-roller 156 is mounted, this roller cooperating with the feed-cam 118. The arm 116 of the lever is coupled with the arm 151 by means of a hook 158, which is pivoted on the arm 116 and embraces the stud 160. A spring 162 normally forces the hook into engagement with the stud, so that the bell-crank lever participates in the movements imparted to the arm 154 by the cam and the cam-roller. Whenever the feeding movement of the strip is arrested by the end-stop 134, the pressure between the stud 160 and the hook 158 is increased to a predetermined point when the spring 162 yields and permits the stud to ride out of the recess in the hook, thus permitting the bell-crank lever to remain at rest while the arm 164 completes its operative stroke under the influence of the cam 118. The return-movement of the arm is produced by a spring 155, and as soon as the stud 160 reaches the hook again the further movement of the arm is imparted to the bellcrank lever, thus returning the feed-mechanism toits original positon. It will be seen that this construction is such that the strip of material is only momentarily subjected to a predetermined longitudinal compression, and that this compression is entirely relieved, by the disengagement of the stud from the hook, before the dieing-out means operate, so that there is no tendency to crowd or buckle the material while it is being cut. The combination of the end-stop and the yielding feed-mechanism is believed to be broadly new and accordingly it is broadly claimed herein.

After a blank has been cut from the stripit is necessary to clear the remainder of the strip from the die in order that it may be again fed. For this purpose, a clearer plate 164 is mounted on studs 166 projecting from the frame-member 43, at one side of the die, as shown in Figs. 13 and 16. Springs 168, coiled about the studs, hold the clearer-plate normally in the position of Fig. 15, but permit it to yield when the cutting-block advances. When the cutting block retreats the spring 168 expands'and causes the plate 164 to return the strip to its position on a plane in front of the cutting edge of the die.

The feed-dog 100 is so moved that at the completion of the feeding movement its extremity is close to the side-edge of the die, as shown in Figs. 13 and 15, and the machine is thus adapted to utilize the entire length of a strip of material so long as enough remains to form a complete lift. Since a waste-piece of greater or less len th may be left, however, after the formation of the last complete lift which it is possible to cut from the strip, provision is made for discarding this waste-piece so that at the next operation of the feed-dog a fresh strip will be brought to the die and thus the machine will never operate to produce an imperfect blank. For this purpose an edgesupport is provided, in the form of a horizontal bar 170 (Figs. 13 and 14) which is arranged to support the strip in the last part of its movement toward the die by engagement with the lower edge of the strip. The bar 170 rests in front of a recess 171 in the clearer plate 164 (see Figs. 14 and 21) and is carried by an arm 172, which projects from a hub 173 (see Fig. 17) arranged to turn on a rod 174 fixedon the frame of the machine. By a cam-mechanism hereinafter described the hub 173 and the arm 172 are rocked at the proper time, to move the bar 170 back into the recess 171 (see Fig. 21) so as to remove the bar 170 from its supporting engagement with the lower edge of the strip of material. Accordingly the waste-piece at the end of the strip is automatically dropped and discarded from the machine before it can be fed to the die. The

weight of the parts serves to return the bar 170 from the recess to its normal supporting position. The means for timing the operation of the edge support or discarding member will be hereinafter described. Under normal operation, the bar or supporting member 17 0 is forced inwardly beneath the die by the periodic advancing movements of the cutting block, in the same manner as the clearer-plate 164 is actuated. The springs 168 serve in common to return the clearer-plate and the bar 170 when the cutting block retreats. Obviously, the strip is not permitted to drop during this normal operation of the supporting bar 170 for the working through slots in the table as shown in Fig. 4. The cords pass over pulleys 176, and weights 178 are attached to their ends so as to move the followers and the material yieldingly forward upon the table so often as a strip is removed from the rear end of the stack. The followers are connected by a rod 180 (Fig. 4) which may be conveniently used as a handle to retract them when a fresh supply of material is to be introduced.

The rearmost strip X lies directly over the feed-passage between the plates 94 and 96, as shown in Fig. 18, and it is supported only by the engagement of its lower edge with flat springs 182 fixed in slots in the table 175 (Figs. 4, 16 and 18), so that the strip may be forced downwardly into the slot by the application of force sufiicient to bend the springs'182'. For the purpose of so moving the strip, the machine is provided with automatic transfer-mechanism comprising two vertically movable dogs 184, as shown particularly in Fig. 16. These dogs are pivotally mounted in slides 186, which move vertically in uideways 190 at the rear of the plate 96, an d'the dogs work through vertical slots in the plate so that they may engage the rear surface of the strip X, being held in engagement therewith by springs 188. The slides 186 are provided with studs 192, projecting through slots in the sides of the guideways 190, which are engaged by the forked ends of lever-arms 194, these arms being fixed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, upon a rock-shaft 196 journaled on the frame of the machine. This rock-shaft is moved automatically, whenever one of the strips of material has beenentirely fed past the die, to cause the dogs 184 to supply a fresh strip in position to be fed by the feed-dog 100.

The power for actuating the rock-shaft 196 is derived from the counter-shaft 124, through clutch-mechanism operable automatically at the proper time. A plate 198 is fixed to the side of the gear 126, as shown in Figs. 17 and 19, so that it rotates constantly, and this plate carries the outer member 200 of a clutch of the well known Horton type. The inner member 202 of the clutch is keyed to a hub 204, which turns loosely on the counter-shaft 124 and is confined Lasaeso against endwise movement by a collar 206. The inner clutch-member 202 is provided with the usual inclined recesses, as shown in Fig. 20, in which spring-pressed frictionrollers 208 are seated. These rollers are controlled,-however,by a controller having a slotted sleeve 210 integral with a plate 212 which projects at the side of the clutch-members. prings 216 connect the inner clutchmember with pins 214 projecting from the plate 212, so that the sleeve 210 is normally rotated in a direction to cause the friction rollers 208 to act, the rollers being pressed home at this time by springs 218 introduced between them and the controller-sleeve 210.

Two cam-plates 220 and 222 (Fig. 17) are fixed on and rotated by the hub 204, these cam plates being in operation whenever the Horton clutch is operative. The clutchis normally held out of operation, however, the plate 212 being provided, for this purpose, with a lug 224 (Figs. 18 and 20) which isengaged bya detent-arm 226 (Figs. 17

and 18) pivoted on a stud 228 supported atthe lower end of a bracket 230 depending from the frame member 98. By this engagement rotation of the clutch-controller is prevented, the clutch-rollers 208 being thereby held out of operation so that the inner clutch-member is stationary.

The action of the Horton clutch is controlled through the detent-arm 226, by means of a device in the nature of a feeler. which is moved, after each strip-feeding operation, into the feed-passage so as to ascertain'wliether material sufficient for another lift remains on the strip. This feeler 234, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 18, works through an opening in the plate 96 and is carried at the upper end of an arm 236 pro-- jecting from a hub 238 mounted to turn on the rod 174. An arm 240, depending from the hub 238, carries a cam-roller 242 which engages the periphery of the other clutch member carrying plate 198. This periphery has a recessed portion 244 (see dotted lines Fig. 18) and at the proper moment in the cycle of operation of the machine thecamroller encounters this recess and a spring 245, attached to the arm 236 tends to draw the feeler into operative position, as shown in Fig. 18. If the end of the strip X has not yet passed beyond the feeler at this time, however, this inward movement of the feeler is arrested by the material, and the Horton clutch remains inoperative. If, on the other hand, the material is exhausted the feeler moves across the feed slot into the position of Fig. 18, and acts to throw the clutch into operation, through the action of a train of mechanism which will now be described.

The arm 240 is provided, at its lower end, with a stud 246 on which a link 248 is pivoted, and this link is pivoted, in turn, to the lower end 01? a bar 250. The upper end of the bar is connected, by a pivot 251,with an arm 252, this arm being integral with the 'detent-arm 226, all as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 18. A spring 253, connecting the arm 252 with the bracket 230, holds the parts normally in the position shown with the detent-arm-in operation. The bar 25 is provided, however, with a shoulder 254 adapted to coiiperate with a lug 256 projecting from the hub of the cam-plate 198. So long as the :t'eeler 234 is prevented from entering the feed-passage the parts are held in a position in which the lug 256 does not engage the shoulder 254, but whenever the feeler enters the feed-passage, thus permitting the arm 240 to swing inwardly as shown in Fig. 18, the shoulder is brought into the path of the lug and the lug then acts to pull the bar 250 downward, a movement which is permitted by the swinging of the link 248 about the stud 246, and in this manner the detent-arm 226 is rocked out of operative position, so as to momentarily disengage it from the lug 224 and permit the Horton clutch to impart one rotation to the cam; plates 220 and 222.

'The cam-plate 220 actuates the striptransfer mechanismpreviously described. A'cam-roller 258 (Fig. 18) engaging the periphery of the cam-plate is mounted on a lever-arm 260, which is pivoted on the rod 174 and is integral with a second arm 262. A rod 264 (Figs. 2 and 18) connects the arm 262 with an arm 266 fixed to the rock-shaft 196 by which the arms 194 are actuated. Accordingly, whenever the feeler 234 detects the exhaustion of a strip of material the transfer-mechanism acts to force a fresh strip down into the feed-passage into position to be engaged by the feed-dog 100.

The cam-plate 222 serves to actuate the strip supporting bar 170 for the purpose heretofore described. A cam-roller (Fig. 17 bearing against the periphery of the. cam-plate, is carried by an I arm 268 which depends from and actuates the hub 17 3, moving the bar 170 into'irs recess in the clearer plate 164 and causing the waste-piece at the end of the strip to be discarded before the end of the new strip is fed to the die by the feed-finger 100.

The means for receiving the died-out lifts from the die are best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive. The blanks are discharged in stacked relation, from the discharge tube 50. into a lift receiver in the form of a tray 272 (see Fig. 4). The tray has parallel partitions 273 forming compartments in which the stacks of lifts are supported, and it is open at its rear side for the tree introduction of'the lifts, while the forward side is partly closed by walls 276 (see Fig. 10). In each recess a weight or follower 278 is placed, this follower-being pushed ahead of the end of the stack and serving to keep the lifts from falling down in the tray; I

The tray is supported on a horizontal table 280, located below the supply table 175, and is confined between front and rear walls 284 and 282 (see Fig. 4) rising from the table. After one compartment in the tray has been filled it is necessary to move the tray along the table sufiiciently to bring the next compartment in line with the discharge-tube 50, and for this purpose mechanism is employed which operates automati-. cally. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the bottom of the tray is provided with a metal strip 286 which is perforated at regular 1ntervals corresponding with the width of the compartments in the tray. This strip 00- operates with two pins 288 and 290, which operate to lock the tray in its various operative positions, and with a third pin 292 which operates to engage the perforations and advance or feed the tray from one position to another.

The locking-pins slide vertically in blocks 294, which are supported by, and have sliding engagement with, two parallel-slide-bars' 296 which are fixed in horizontal position beneath the table 280, as shown particularly in Figs. 6 and 8. The locking- pins 288 and 290 are raised and lowered at suitable times by means hereinafter described, and when in their raised positions they prevent any mqvement of the tray on the table. Since the width of the recesses in the tray is variable according to the width of the lifts which are being produced, it is desirable to have the locking-pins adjustable in position, and accordingly they are connected together, and

their position determined, by an adjustingrod 298 blocks 294 and has right-and-left-hand screwthreaded engagement with them. This rod is mounted beneath the table, soas to be rotatable, but is restrained against lengthwise movement, and it is provided at one end with a hand-wheel 300 (Fig. 4) by which it may be turned. In this manner the blocks 294 and the locking pins may be moved toward and from each other as is necessary to adapt the machine for producing lifts of different sizes.

In order that the locking-pins may be raised and lowered in the blocks 294, each block is provided with depending lugs 301 (Fig. 6), carrying a pivot-pin 302 upon which a rocker-arm 304 is arranged to swing. This arm carries a crank-pin 306 (Fig. 8) which engages a horizontal slot in an off-set projection 308 at the lower end of the locking-pin. When the arm 304 is rocked from one side to the other the crankpin causes the locking-pin to rise and fall.

The arms 304 are actuated by engage ment of their forked lower ends with a horizontal rod 310 (Fig. 5). This rod is 322 (Figs. 2 and 5).

moves the parts (F ig. 6) which passes through the supported, at its ends, in arms 312 fixed on a rock-shaft 314 which is journaled in brackets 315 depending from the table 280. At its right-hand end (viewing Fig. 5) the rock shaft is provided with an arm 316 carrying a cam-roller 318, which engages a cam-face 320 at the rear side of a cam-plate This cam-plate is mounted on and actuated by the cam-shaft 120 hereinbefore described, this shaft being extended forwardly and supported in a bracket 324 depending from the table 280, as shown particularly in Fig. 7. The cam positively in a direction to raise the locking-pins while' the opposite movement is caused by a spring 325 connec ing the rod 310 with the table 280.

he feeding-pin 292 is mounted to slide vertically in a block 326 (Fig. 6), which is slidingly mounted on the bars 296 in the same manner as the blocks 294. The adjusting rod 298, however, merely passes loosely through an opening in the block 326, which has movements thereon independent of the adjusting movements of-the blocks 294, The feeding-pin is raised and lowered by means in all respects similar to those by which the locking pins are actuated, except that such means are reversed in position so that the feeding-pin falls when the locking-pins rise, 5 and vice versa. In Fig. 8 the relation of these parts is shown in a partly diagrammatic manner, the locking-pin 290 and the feeding-pin 292 being shown displaced tothe left and right, respectively, of the rest 100 of the parts shown in the figure to show the different operative positions which they occupy in the same position of the actuatingrod 310.

The horizontal feeding movements in the 5 feeding-pin are produced by moving the block 326 along the slide-bars 296, and for this purpose the block is connected, by a pivot-pin 328, with a pitman 330 (Fig. 5) which, in turn, is pivoted to the upper end 110 of a lever 332. This lever is mounted, at its lower end, on a pivot 334 on the bracket 324. The lever 332 carries a cam-roller 336, which bears on the periphery of the camplate 322 and is held in engagement there- 115 with by a spring 338 connecting an arm projecting laterally from the lever 332, with the table 280, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. The cam acts to impart a return-movement positively to the block 326, while the feed 12o the upper end of the lever 332 is provided with a curved slot, and the link 340 is pivoted to the lever 330 by a pin 342 movable in this slot (see Fig. 5). A

and-wheel'344 is threaded on the plvot-pin, and serves to fix the pin in any adjusted position in the slot.

sition, and after it has been moved beyond the influence of the feed-pin and isin position to receive lifts in its last compart- The feed-movement of the tray occurs' only intermittently, at intervals varying acreaches this end. This feeler 346 works on a horizontal lever 348. The lever 348 is journaled on a stud 350 depending from the table 280. The right-hand end ofthe lever (viewing Figs. 5 and 10) is pivoted to a rod 352, of which the rear end is pivoted to one cording to the number of whole lifts 178-" ment.

The operation of the machine as a whole will now be briefly described. 1 The operator placesan empty tray upon the table 280 over the locking-pins, with its first compartment in line with the discharge tube 50. He then draws back the'followers 177, by means of the rod 180, and lays a supplyof strips of material on the supply-table 17 5,- and then permits the followers to press the strips against the plate 96. The machinery then being started by the belt-shipper 76, the

arm 354 of a bell-crank lever mounted to' swing about a stud 356 on the bracket 324. The other arm 358 of the bell-crank lever is connected by a link 360, with a detentlever 362, which swings'about a pivot-stud 364 on the bracket 324. The lower end of the detent-lever cooperates with a lug 370 projecting from the controlling member 372- of a Horton clutch (see Fig. 5) by which the cam-plate 322 is connected with the shaft 120. This clutch is similar in construction to that previously described. It will be understood that whenever the detent is disengaged from the lug 370 the clutch causes the shaft to impart one rotation to the cam-plate, thus causing the feed-mechanism to unlock the tray, feed it through one space, and then look it again in position to receive a stack of lifts in the next vacant compartment.

The feeler and the detent-lever are then returned to normal position by a spring 366 which is attached at one end to a pin 368 fixed on the rod 352 and at its other end to the table 280.

While one tray isbeing filled the operator places another empty tray in position beside it on the table 280, and in order that the two trays may be fed and locked continuously, the side-walls 380- of the trays are made of only one-half the thickness of the partitions 273 (see Fig. 10) so that a feedmovement of normal length will serve to move the first tray out of operative position, after its last compartment has been filled, and at the same time bring the first compartment of the next following tray into position to be filled. For the same purpose the duplicate locking pins 288 and 290 are employed, so that each tray may be locked both before it is brought into receiving p0- transfer-mechanism at once discharges a strip downwardly from the supply-table into the feed-passage. The feed-mechanism then advances this strip lengthwise into position between the die and the cutting block, and the cutting-block advances so as to cause a lift to be cut from the strip. The feeding and cutting operations continue alternately, the cut lifts being gradually expelled from the discharge-tube 50 and filling a compartment of a tray 272. As soon as the first strip of material has been exhausted the feeder 234 causes another operation of the transfermechanism, and the edge-support 170, so as to supply a fresh strip of material and discharge the waste-piece. As soon as the first compartment in the lift receiving trav has been filled the follower engages the feeler 346, which thereupon throws into operation the tray-feeding mechanism. These operations continue until a tray has been filled or the supply of strips of material has been exhausted, without any attention on the part of the operator. The strip-feed ing mechanism is designed to feed only the exact amount of material required for each lift, so that there are no waste-pieces be tween the lifts at their middle-portions, and the strips are also preferably of such a width that no waste-pieces are cut at the top of the strips. The small waste-pieces out between the rounded parts of the lifts fall freely from between the die and the cutting block. so that they do not tend to clog the machine.

My invention is not limited to the embodiment thereof hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. but it may be embodied in various other forms within the nature of the invention as it is defined in the following claims.

What is claimed as new, is

1. A stock-cutting machine having, in combination cutting-means; means for supporting a supply of strips of sheet-material in stack formation; means acting laterally of said strips for successively moving strips widthwise from the end of the stack; and means acting longitudinally of said strips for intermittently feeding them to the cutting-means.

2. A stock-cutting machine having, in combination, cutting means; a table on which a stack of strips of sheet-material may rest on their edges;- means acting in the plane ofstrips for removing the endmost strip from said stack," and means actlng intermittently and lengthwise of the strip for feeding the strip so removed, to the cutting-means.

3. A stock-cutting machine having, 1n combination, cutting-means; a guideway through which a strip of sheet-material may be fed lengthwise to the cutting-means; feeding-means comprising a feed-device formed to engage and hold a strip; mechanism for reciprocating said device along said guideway; means for supplyingastrlp to the guideway, and means comprising a feeler adapted to engage the strip as it is advanced for controlling the operation of said supplying means. 4'. A stock-cutting machine having, 1n combination, cutting-means; a guideway through which a strip of sheet-material may be fed lengthwise to the cutting-means;

means for feeding a strip in the guideway;

and-a plurality of feed devices for engaging the face of the strip and pushing it into the guideway by a transverse edgewise movement.

.5. A stock-cutting machine having, in combination, a, cutting die; a cuttingblock movable toward and from the die; means for intermittently feeding a strip of material, lengthwise, to the die; and a stop rigid in the line of feed and adjustable according to the size of the die, to be engaged by the forward end of the strip of material, and arrest the feeding movement thereof, when a sufiicient amount has been fed for the operation of the die, said stop being yieldingly mounted so that it Will yield to the advancing movement of the cuttingblock.

6. A stock-cutting machine having, in combination, cuttingmeans; a receptacle constructed and arranged to receive the cut material from the cutting-means in the form of a stack; and mechanism including a feeler cooperating with the stack for automatically replacing said receptacle with another receptacle.

7; A stock-cutting machine having, in

combination, cutting-means, a receptacle having a series of compartments arranged to receive the cut material from the cutting means in-the form of stacks; and mechanism including a feeler cooperating with the stack in one compartment to shift the receptacle and bring an empty compartment into position to receive the material.

8. A stock-cutting machine having, in combination, cutting-means; a receptacle constructed and arranged to receive the cut material from the cutting-means in the form of a stack; and mechanism operating automatically, when the receptacle has been filled, to replace it with an empty receptacle, said mechanism including a feeler which enters the receptacle and controls the operation of the mechanism by engagement with the contents of the receptacle.

9. A stock-cutting machine having, in combination, cutting-means; a receptacle arranged to receive the cut material from the cutting-means in the form of stacks having a series of compartments for such stacks, and mechanism operating automatically, after one compartment hasbeen filled, to shift the receptacle and bring an empty compartment into position to receive the material, said mechanism including a feeler which enters the receptacle and controlsthe operation ofthe mechanism by engagement with the contents of the receptacle. 7

10. A stock-cutting machine having, in combination, cutting -means; means for feeding strips of material to the cuttingmeans; a feeler for detecting automatically the exhaustion ofa strip; and means, controlled by the feeler, for removing the wastepiece at the end of the strip.

. 11. A stock-cutting machine having, in combination, cutting -means; means for feeding a strip of material to the cuttingmeans with its length substantially horizontal; a support for the strip adjacent the cutting means; and means operable automatically to remove said support when the strip is exhausted and permit the waste-piece at the end of the strip to fall out of the line of feed.

12. A stock cutting machine, having, in combination, stock cutting means, a guideway for supporting stock, discarding means for supporting the stock adjacent the cutting means, and mechanism to operate the discarding means only when the'stock is absent in a predetermined portion of the guideway.

13. A stock-cutting machine having, in combination, means for holding'and feedin sheet-material in a substantially vertica plane; a die having its axis disposed in a substantially horizontal position for cutting blanks from the sheet as so held and fed; means for receiving the blanks, from the die, in the form of a stack extending in the horizontal direction of the die axis and means disposed at the outer end of the receiving means and adapted to engage the stack for removing said receiving means when filled with blanks.

lt. A stock-cutting machine having, in combination, a die with a rounded contour; a die-holder with a V-shaped seat to receive the rounded part of the die; a support, for the die-holder, having an inclined seat on which the die-holder rests and along which 15. A stock cutting nmachine, having, in

combination, stock cutting means, a guide-- way through which the strips of stock may be fed lengthwise to the cutting means, means for feeding strips to'the cutting means, a magazine for supporting strips in stack formation, means for sup lying strips from the end of the stack to t e guideway, and mechanism for maintaining the end strip of the stack opposite the guideway.

16. A stock cutting machine, having, in combination, a cutting block, means to relatively move thedie and block to cut blanks,

- a magazine for supporting strips of stock with the leading end of the strips positioned longitudinally not more than the width of a blank in the rear of the cutting position, a guideway in which the strips are advanced to the die, means'tointermittently feed the strips in the guideway, and means operated between successive operations of the cutting die and block' to transfer a stripv from the magazine to the guideway in timed relation to be 0 erated upon by the feeding means.

17. stock cutting machine, having, in combination, stock cutting means, a magazine for supporting strips of stock in a stack, means for intermittently advancing a strip to the cutting means, means for supplying strips from the stack to the advancing means, and mechanism to automatically detect the exhaustion of a previous strip and operate the supplying means to supply the succeeding strip to the feeding means, and maintain a continuing feed of the strips.

18. A stock cutting machine, having, in combination, stock cutting means, a magazine for supporting strips in a stack, means for intermittently advancing a strip to the cutting means, means for supplying strips from the stack to the advancing means, and mechanism to automatically detect the exhaustion of a previous strip, remove any waste on the end of the previous strip, and operate the supplying means to supply the succeeding strips to the feeding means, to maintain a continuing feed of the strips,

, and prevent the cutting of imperfect blanks.

19. The combination of stock cutting means, a stop for positioning the stock in a definite relation to the cutting means, said 1 stop being unyielding in the line of feed, and reciprocating feeding means for intermittently advancing the stock to the cutting means constructed andv arranged to cease exerting a feeding pressure when the stock is brought into engagement with the sto 2%. The combination of stock cutting means, a stop adjacent the cutting means, and feeding mechanism including a twopart feed lever and a latch connecting the two parts of the lever, said latch being yieldable toallow a disconnection of the parts of the lever when the stock is brought into engagement with the stop. 1 r

21. The combination of stock cutting means, a stop adjacent the cutting means,

and a feeding mechanism for advancing stock to the' cutting means having a feedmg stroke of greater length than the width of a blank to be cut, said feeding mechanlsm including a two-part feed lever anda yieldable connection between them adapted to be broken when the stock is brought into engagement with the stop to allow one part to move relatively to the other.

22. A stock cutting machine, having, in combination, stock cutting means, a recep-- tacle constructed to receive cut blanks of varying sizes iii stack formation, mechanism operating automaticallywhen the receptacle has been filled to replace it. with an empty receptacle, and means to vary the replacing movement of the receptacle to accommodate diiferent sizes of blanks;

23. A stock cutting machine, having, in combination, stock cutting means, a guide way for supporting stock, discarding means forpositionmg the stock adjacent the cutting means, and a stock feeler to control the operation of the discarding means when the stock has been advanced to a predetermined position relatively to the cutting means.

24:. A stock cutting machine, having, in

combination, stock cutting means, means for 25. A stock cutting machine, having, in

combination, stock cutting means, a guideway for the stock, means for feedin stock in the guideway, a feeler movable'adjacent the guideway in the path of feed to engage the stock, adiscarding member in the guideway, mechanism for operating the discarding member and connections between the feeler and operating mechanism constructed and arranged to operate the discarding member when the feeler does not engage the stock.

26. A stock cutting machine, having, in combination, stock cutting means, a guideway arranged in a substantially vertical plane, means for advancing a strip of stock 1n the guideway, a discarding member at the bottom of the guideway to support the stock adjacent the cutting means, and means to withdraw the discarding member from the guideway when a waste end piece is next to the cutting means to permit the waste end to 'fall out of the guideway and

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