US1984913A - Flying shear - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 18, 1934 c B|GGVERT JR 1,984,913

FLYING- SHEAR Filed June 17, 1933 '7 Shawna-Shani. l

\\ INVENTOR Dec. 18, 1934. F. c. BIGGERT, JR

'7 Sheets-Shet 3 Dec. 18, 1934. F. c. BIGGERT, JR 1,984,9 3

FLYING SHEAR Filed June '17; 1933' '7 Sheets-Sheet *4 Dec. 18, 1934. F, c. BIGGERT, JR \l,984,913

FLYING SHEAR Filed June 17, 1953 7 sheets-shy 5 Dec. 18, 1934. F. c. BIGGERT, JR 1,

FLYING SHEAR I Filed June 17, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 I 8 82 zazaz az 78 h /L INVENTOR 1M 4 A y Patented Dec. 18, 1934 a 1,984,913

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE I FLYING SHEAR Florence C. Biggert, Jr., Crafton, Pa., assignor to United Engineering & Foundry Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 17, 1933, Serial No. 676,313

45 Claims. (Cl. 164-68) This invention relates to what is known in the vertical section taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1, metal rolling art as a flying shear, and more showing the blade carriers in position to produce particularly to a shear of the rotary type adapted a cut; Fig. 5 a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the for cutting metal strips, bars, billets, and elongate blade carriers in a separated or inoperative posi- 5 products of that nature, into sections of predetertion and illustrating the mechanism for shifting 5 mined lengths while in motion. the carriers somewhat schematically; Fig. 6 a The primary object of the invention generally horizontal section taken through the center of stated is to provide an improved shear of this the Geneva and pin wheels employed for operatcharacter which is capable of being adjusted to g t e b ade-Ca ier adj mechanism;

lO produce with avery high degree of accuracy cuts 7 a somewhat schematic View shown partly in l of any desired length within a relatively wide section and. partly in elevation of the control range of lengths, mechanism utilized to control the operation of the Another object is to provide a rotary type shear blade-carrier adj Cams and including a in which the shear blades are at all times driven ing dia r m fth elec ri al c ntrol mechanism 15 at a peripheral speed corresponding within utilized therewith; Fig. 8 a plan view to enlarged l tolerable cutting limits with the lineal speed of scale of one of the pin-selecting units of the conthe stock being operated upon, and in which adt 01 mec an sm sh in '7; Fig 9 a sectiona justments can be made to produce cuts of differview taken on the line IX- -IX of Fi ent lengths without altering to any substantial a sectional view taken on the line X X of Fig. 8;

extent the speed of the shear. Fig. 11 a sectional view taken on the line XI-XI. 20

A further object is to provide in a shear of this Of Fig. 12 a sectional View taken on the nature for easily and quickly, as well as acli I I f Fi 8; and F 1 a fragmentary curately, adjusting it to produce cuts of difierent vertical section taken on the line XIII-XIII of preselected lengths and for doing so while it is in g- 2; I

motion as well aswhen it is idle. Referring in detail to the embodiment of the 25 It is also an object to provide for controlling invention s the drawings, and first more the shear toautomatically cropthe leading end c a y to Figs- 1 t0 u ve, the nuof each piece of stock fed into it,'and for doing meral 1 d ates the upp me of the so accurately and without interrupting or altershear Which is made up principally of a P Of ing the normal rotary movement of the cutting end uprights bearing usings 2 and 3 which 30 elements, except to move them into cutting opare m unted on a base 4 and have their upper position with each other at the proper instant. s firmly joinedtogether by a cover section or A more specific object is to provide a flying i beam 5- Be w u p hts there is arshear of the rotary type in which a plurality of ged apair of cooperating rotary blade carcutting blades is provided on each of the blade 6 a d 7, On each of Which three a y dis- 35 carriers and in which provision is made for movposed cutt blades 8 8b and 8 and 9b d ing such carriers into and out of cutting opposi- C, e p y, Spaced apart are dtion with each other in such-a manner as to selec- The ends or axes 11, and 12 of these carriers tively utilize the various blades mounted thereon are mounted in suitable bearings 13 and 14 which forproduc'ing cuts of various lengths, and for are supported inlwindows 15 and 16 provided in 40 doing so at relatively high speeds without marring the p s and 3 for their p n. In acor marking of the stock between cuts, or without cordance with this embodiment of the invention, interfering with the rotary movement of the carthe upper carrier 6 is held against other than roriers, or causing them to lose any of their momentary movement by bolts 17 and 18 which secure tum either during the period of cutting or between the upper bearings 13 rigidly to the crosspiece- 5 45 cuts. I at the top of the frame 1. The lower carrier,

These and numerous other objectsfas well as however, is mounted for vertical reciprocation so the various other novel features and advantages that it may be moved into and out of cutting opof the invention, will be apparent when the fol- .position with the upper-carrier to vary the lengths lowing detailed description is read in conjunction of the cuts which the shear will produce, as will 50 with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 presently appear. is a plan view of a shear constructed in accord- For supporting the bearings 14 in which the ance with the invention; Fig. 2 a front elevational lower carrier '7 is mounted and for controlling the view of the same shear; Fig. 3 a vertical section vertical reciprocation of such .carrier, a pair of 5 taken on the line III-III of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a cam wheels 21 is mounted onashaft 22 supported Y lower bearings 14.

' rotated, each time their apices. are moved under the bearings 14, and they are so shaped as to provide both smooth and rapid movement of the lower carrier.

To facilitate the movement of the cams 21 under the lower ends of the bearings 14, the latter are equipped with rollers 25 which are arranged to ride upon the periphery of the cams,

and to insure the lower blade carrier 7 following the cams as it is rotated when the shear is operated at relatively high speeds, a pair of coil springs 28 having sufiicient. strength for such purpose is positioned between the lower faces of the upper bearings 13 and the upper faces of the For operating the shear a motor 31 is coupled to it through a gear change unit 32, which latter is employed to vary the speed of the shear with respect to the stock for a purpose which will presently appear. Although various forms of speed changing devices may be used in this capacity, a gear unit such as that disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,852,282, granted to the present inventor April 5, 1932, is recommendedbecause of the fine speed adjustments which such a unit may be made to produce. To operate the shear in synchronism with stock, which is necessary for the production of cuts of accurate length, a drive 10 for the stock-feeding means, not shown, may be connected directly to the drive shaft of the shear motor 31, or, in the event the shear is operated to handle stock delivered directly from a mill, a synchronous type motor 31 may be employed, and connected to receive its operating current from a synchronous generator operated by the mill.

As illustrated in the drawings, a pinion 34 is provided on the driven shaft 33 of the gear unit opposition with the upper carrier.

32 and arranged to mesh with a gear 35 mounted on a shaft 36 which is rigidly connected through suitable couplings 3'7 with the axis 11 of the upper blade carrier 6. For driving the lower blade carrier 7 in synchronism with the upper and at the same time permit it to be adjusted vertically in its supports, a gear 38 is mounted on the shaft 36 of the upper carrier 6 and meshed with a gear 39 of similar size mounted on a shaft 41 that in turn is connected by means of shaft 40 and a pair of flexible couplings 42 to the axis 12 of the lower carrier 7.

For preventing the blades on the two carriers from jamming or separating to any deleterious extent when a cut is being made, gears 43 and 44 are provided on the opposite ends of the axes 11 and 12 of the two carriers and arranged to mesh and hold the carriers in accurate alignment whenever the lower carrier is moved into cutting The teeth of these gears are so shaped that they will both readily mesh with each other when they are moved together and positively insure the proper alignment of the cutting blades, it being appreciated that, as the two drive shafts on which the carriers are mounted are positivelytied together, the gears 43 and 44 are at all times in proper alignment for meshing.

For driving the shaft 22 on which the lower blade-carrier adjusting cams 21 are mounted, a miter gear 45 is also provided on the driven shaft I in suitable bearings 23 located directly below the 33 of the gear change unit 32 and arranged to mesh with a similar gear 46 mounted on the end of a shaft 4'7 which is supported at its lower end in a suitable bearing 48 provided at the base of the shear. .Adjacent the lower end of this shaft a miter gear 49 is keyed, and is meshed with a similar gear 51 mounted on a shaft 52 which is suitably supported in parallel alignment with the cam shaft 22. On the end of this latter shaft adjacent the shear frame there is provided a pinion 53 which is arranged to mesh with a gear 50 comprising the outer rim of a pin wheel 54 mounted on a shaft 55 disposed in parallel relation between it and the center line of the cam shaft 22 upon which the cam wheels 21 are mounted. g

The pin wheel 54, just referred to, is employed to operate a wheel 64 in the nature of a Geneva wheel and hereinafter referred to as such which is mounted on the adjacent end of the cam shaft 22, being equipped, as shown best in Figs. and 8,

with twelve evenly spaced pins 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d,

56e, 56f, 56g, 56h, 561', 567', 56k and 561, which are these pins are mounted for axial movement in a circular series of openings 57a, 57b, 57c, 57d, 57e, 57 57a, 57h,,57i, 577', 57k and 5'71, respectively, provided in'the webof the wheel, and for guiding them in such movement their outer ends are extended, respectively, through a series of holes 58a, 58b, 58c, 58d, 58e,758f, 58!], 58h. 582', 587', 58k and 581 provided in. a guide wheel 59 mounted on the pin wheel supporting shaft 55 in spaced relation with the pin wheel. Between the outer face of this guide wheel 59 and a fitting 61 secured to the outer end of each of the pins 56a to 561 by an extension 62, a compression spring 63 is mounted, which is adapted to normally hold the pins in an inoperative position.

The Geneva wheel 64 is provided with the same number of radial slots 65 as there are lobes 24 on the cam wheels 21, and these are spaced midway between such lobes so as to place them in a position to receive the pins .56ato 56! when the lower carrier '7 is at the lower end 'of its stroke, which it is when the rollers on the lower ends of the lower bearings 14 rest in the valleys between the lobes 24, as they normally do. The depth of these slots 65, and the design and arrangement of the pin wheel 54 and the Geneva wheel 64, are made such that when one of the pins 56a to 561 on the pin wheel 54 is operated to engage one of the slots 65 it will cause the Geneva wheel to turn a distance equal to the length of one of the cam lobes 24, i. e., 60, before it passes out of such slot. To produce such a turning of the Geneva wheel a pin wheel is required which will turn 120 during the period the pin is engaged in the Geneva wheel. 7

As set forth above, the pin wheel 54 is driven in positive synchronism with the blade carriers 6 and 7, and the pins 56 are so timed with respect to the blades8 and 9 that a pair of blades is in cutting opposition to each other at the instant each pin arrives at the edge of theGeneva wheel. Consequently, as the Geneva wheel when idle is always in a position to be engaged by the pins, it may be set in motion by any one of the pins so long as the pin selected for such purpose is operated to engage such wheel before it reaches its edge.

In the particular machine illustrated, to provide a smoth cam action, as well as a smoth movement of the lower'carrier at both high and low speeds, the pin wheel is driven at one-fourth the speed of the blade carriers. In other.- words the blade carriers are made to make one and onethird revolutions while the pinwheel' is rotating one-third of a revolution, which is the distance the latter travels while the pins are engaged in the Geneva wheel. For example, when a pin such as pin 56a, Fig. 5, enters-a slot 65 in the Geneva wheel, a pair of blades 8b and 9b will be'in cutting opposition to ,each other. At the same instant the bearing rollers 25 will be at the pointson the cam wheels 21. During the first 30 travel of the pin wheel after the pin 56a engages the- Geneva wheel, it will move to the point m, while the lobe on the cam will be moved to the point 0 which is less than 15. During such period the next pair of blades 80 and 9c will move into cutting opposition. The amount which the W carrier 7 will be moved vertically, due to the movement of the earns 21, as indicated, will be less than half of its vertical movement.

With the next 30 travel of the pin wheel, the pin 56a is moved to the pointm the blades 8a and 9a into cutting opposition, and the cams 21 to the point 0 at which time the lower carrier '7 is in cutting position. As will be appreciated, during this period the Geneva wheel is moved an angular distance in excess of 1'5-and the lower carrier the greater portion of its upward travel. During the following 30 travel of the pin wheel, the succeeding set of blades 8b and 9b moves into cutting opposition, and the carrier is lowered the amount 'it is raised the preceding period, the cam moving to the point 0 and the pin to the point m. Hence, the blades moving intocutting opposition just before and just after each out are prevented from engaging the stock, which normally passes between the carriers at an elevation well out of the path of the blades on both carriers. During the last 30 travel of the pin 56a in the Geneva wheel, the cam lobe 24 is moved to the point 0 where it remains until another pin is engaged in the Geneva wheel.

With such an arrangement, as the pin wheel 54 has to travel 120 for each pin. 56 to clear the Geneva wheel, only every fourth pin may be engaged on the Geneva wheel, and the shortest lengths which may be out without altering the speed of the carriers with respect to the speed of the stock, is one which is equal to a span of four cutting blades, or to one and one-third revolutions of the carriers. This, of course, may be reduced by one-half by reducing the ratio of the pin wheel drive to two to one, or increased by stepping it up to a higher ratio.

Cuts having a length in excess of the aforementioned minimum length; may be produced by merely controlling the selection of the pins 56 made to enter the Geneva wheel. For example, every fifth pin will produce a cut equal to one and two-thirds revolutions of the carr'iersQevery sixth pin one equal to every two revolutions 'of the carriers, and so on. To produce cuts between" these steps the gear change unit 32 may be brought into play to vary the speed of the shear with respect to the speed of the stock, and as the diswill be no possibility of the shear causing the stock to buckle when a cut is made.

To assist in preventing the blades on the two carriers from marking or otherwise damaging the stock between cuts, an apron 60 may be mounted between the uprights 2 and 3 in front of the blade carriers to guide the stock through the shear. Such an apron, as shown in Fig. 13, is pivotally mounted on a shaft 60d secured to the uprights 2 and 3 and ulcrumed on a pair of cams 60a mounted on theopposite ends of a shaft 60b also supported in the two uprights 2 and 3 between the outer shaft 60d andthe blade carriers. For 'operating such cams a tailpiece 600 is provided on each cam 60a and is arranged to be engaged at the free end thereof by bosses 14a formed on the adjacent faces of the bearings 14; of the lower blade carrier 7. Thus the cams 60a are caused to oscillate each time the lower carrier is raised and lowered, and to function as intended the faces 60e of the cams are so made that they cause the apron to maintain the stock at all times, except when a cut is made, sufficiently above the lower carrier to prevent the blades on such carrier from striking it, but not high enough at any time for it to be struck by the upper blades.

To facilitate the movement of the pins 56 in the slots 65 of the Geneva wheel, a roller 66 is mounted preferably in roller bearings on the lower end of each pin and provided with a diameter which is but slightly less than the width of the slots 65, and to avoid any possible jamming of the pins, 56 with the Geneva wheel in 'the event any of the pins attempts to engagejsuch wheel when its slots are not in the proper position for their reception, the outer edge, or the periphery '70, of the Geneva wheel is tapered away from the pin wheels so that the pins will ride upon the surface of the inclined portion 70 and into the first available slot, or over the surface of the Geneva wheel without causing any damage. It will be appreciated of course that the Geneva wheel is normally held in proper position for receiving the pins 56 when the Geneva wheel is idle by the engagement of the lower blade carrier bearing 14 in the valleys of the cam'wheels 21.

For operating ,the' pins 56 in the pin wheel 54 w an electromagnet 67 of suitable construction is mounted on the pin wheel about each pin. As shown in Fig. 6, these magnets each comprise a coil 6'72 which is secured to the web of the wheel 54, and cooperating with each is a disc of permeable material 673 which is mounted on the pin above the coil and adapted to function both as an armature for moving and as a stop for limiting the movement of the pin. To increase the efficiency of the magnet it may be spaced from the wheel 54; if such is made of permeable material, by a spacer 67:): made of non-permeable material, or material having a very low permeability as may be the pin itself.

In order to connect the different pin magnets to a source of current supply, such as line conductors L1 and L2, .(Fig. '7 so that they may be operated independently of each other, a series of slip rings 69, 69a, 69b, 69c, 69d, 69e, 69f, 69g, 69h, 692', 697', 69k and 691 is provided on the pin wheel supporting shaft being mounted in insulated relation to each other, see Fig. '1. Of these, one ring 69 is connected in common to one end of all of the magnet coils 672 by a. common conductor '71, while the others are connected by individual conductors 71a to 711 to the other ends of such coils. By a suitable brush and conductor 72, the slip ring 69 connected in common to all of the coils 672 is connected to line conductor L1. In a like fashion the remaining slip rings 69a to 691 are connected by separate conductors 72a to 721, inclusive, to line conductor L2 through a series of relays 74a to 741 which are employed to control the energization of the pin magnets, being provided with normally open bridging members 75a to '751 which are connected directly in such conductors.

In order to automatically and selectively control the operation of the pins 56a to 561 in the pin wheel 54, a series of twelve insulated collector rings 77a to 771 is provided on an extension 76 of the pin wheel shaft 55. To these rings one end of the actuating coils 83a ,to 831 of the relays 74a to 741, respectively, is connected by a series of conductors 84a to 841. The other ends of such coils are in turn connected by a series of conductors 82a to 821, respectively, to a series of interrupted conductor bands 79a to 791, respectively, provided on a, drum switch 78 which is mounted on the opposite end of the extension 76 of the pin wheel shaft 55. These latter bands, as shown, are in turn all connected to each other and tom extension M1 of line conductor L1 by a conductor .81.

To complete the energizing circuits for the actuating coils 83a to 831, the collector rings 77a to 771 which are connected to one side of such coils are connected by a series of conductors 85a to 851 arranged within the extension shaft 76 to a plurality of disc-shaped distributors 86, 87 and 88 which are secured in spaced relation on such shaft between its two ends. As illustrated best in Figs. 7 to 12, inclusive, these distributors each comprises a series of twelve arc-like conductor segments 91a to 911 which are mounted on the outer edge of each distributor in insulated relation to each other, and connected in parallel relation by conductors a to 901 to the conductors 85a to 851, respectively, which are connected between the distributors and the collector rings 77a to 771.

Adjacent the distributors 86, 87 and 88 there is mounted a series of gears 92, 93 and 94. This series is meshed with a second series of gears 95, 96 and 97, respectively, mounted on a series of relatively short shafts 98, 99 and 101 mounted in suitable bearing stands 102, 103 and 104. On these latter shafts there is loosely mounted a series of brush carriers 105, 106 and 107 which are each equipped with a pair of diametrically opposed brushes 109a and 109b, 111a and 111b, and 112a and 112b, arranged to contact the conductor segments 91a to 911 on the distributors 86, 87 and 88, respectively, when they are'rotated thereover. To energize these brushes they are connected to collector rings 113, 114 and 115 mounted on the brush carriers 105, 106 and 107, respectively/which are contacted by brushes 116, 117

and 118, respectively, mounted in the bearing stands 102, 103 and 104. These in turn are connected by conductors 119, 121 and 122 to an extension M2 of line conductor L1. Hence when the extensions M1 and M2 of line conductors L1 and L2 are energized, a circuit is established through one of the relay actuating coils 83 each time one of the brushes on one of the brush carriers is moved into contact with one of the conductor in Figs. 7 and 11, is a series of dogs 129, 131 and 132 which are pivotally mounted on the brush carriers 105, 106 and 107 in a manner to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheels, springs 133 being connected between each of them and the brush carriers to normally bias them into engagement with the teeth of the associated ratchet wheels.

To disengage the dogs 129, 131 and 132 from the ratchet wheels and also hold the brush carriers in a preselected position when not in operation, aseries of latches 134, 135 and 136 is mounted adjacent the brush carriers to engage a notch in each of the brush carriers and the end of a tailpiece 137 provided on each dog. To insure the carriers being stopped by the latches when the latter engage the,tailpieces, a lug 138 is provided on each brush carrier to engage the tailpieces 137 after the latches have moved them sufiiciently to disengage the dogs from the teeth of the ratchet wheels. These latches 134, and'136 are normally held in a position to engage the tailpieces 137 by suitable means, such as a spring, not illustrated, and are equipped with electromagnet coils 139, 141 and 142 for moving them to an unlatched position. To energize these coils they are connected to theextensions M1, M2 of the line conductors Ll, L2 by conductors 143, 144 and 145 in which manually operable switches 146, 147, and 148, respectively, are provided for selecting which of the brush carriers will be set in operation.

It is the purpose of the brush carrier and distributor units to provide for automatically and selectively controlling the operation of the pins 56 on the pin wheel 54 to determine the lengths of the cuts which the shear will produce. To attain this end the brush carriers and distributors are so designed that the brushes contact only 7 one conductor segment on a distributor each time a brush is rotated over the distributors, and to contact subsequent segments at regular intervals as long as the brush carriers are rotated. To effect such operation, the gears 92 and 95, 93 and'96, and 94 and 97 mounted on the control drive shaft extension 76 and the brush supporting shafts 98, 99 and 101, respectively, are designed with a ratio which will provide the sequence of operations required. In the present apparatus the ratios of these gears are 12 to 8, 12 to 10, and 12 to 12, and the brush carriers are so'proportioned that when they are rotated the brushes 109a and 10% on carrier 105 strike every fourth conductor segment on the distributor 86, the brushes 111a and lllb on carrier 106 every fifth segment on the distributor 87,

and the brushes 112a and 112b every sixth segment on the distributor 88. Hence, if brush carrier 105 is placed in operation, it will cause every fourth pin 56 on the pin wheel 54 to pro duce a out which will result in a out being made on every ;one and one-third revolutions of the blade carriers 6 and 7. When carrier 106 is operated a cut will be produced by every fifth pin 56 or on every one and two-thirds revolutions of the blade carriers, and when carrier 107 is operated a cut will be produced by every sixth pin 56 or on every two revolutions of the blade carriers. As is obvious, the number and ratio of the brush carriers and distributor units may be increased to increase or alter the range distributors in the proper manner so that they.

will engage only one segment each time they pass over the distributor, the teeth on the ratchet wheels 126, 127 and 128 are correlated with the conductor segments on the associated distribu- . tors 86, 87 and 88. For example, ratchet wheel 126 is provided with eight teeth, ratchet wheel 127 with ten teeth, and ratchet wheel 128 with twelve teeth, and these are so timed with the distributors that when the dogs 129, 131 and 132 engage them they cause the associated brushes to be brought into engagement with the distributor segments at the proper time. In addition, the latches" 134, 135 and 136, as indicated in Figs. 11 and 12, are so located that the brushes on the associated brush carriers are held, when not in use, in such a position that they will strike the first conductor segment which passes under the brush carriers after the latchesare released.

To eliminate waste on the first cut which the shear-makes on a piece of stock fed into it, a flag switch 149 is adjustably mounted in the path of the stock 151*to be engaged by the leading end thereof as it approaches the shear which is designated at S in Fig. 7. Such flag switch, as illustrated, is connected to a switch 152 which is adapted to connect line conductors L1 and L2 to the extensions M1 and m when the flag is closed. Hence when one of the switches 146, 147 or 148 is closed and the latch 134, 135 or 136 associated therewith is thereby rendered operable, the brush carrier controlled by the operated latch will be set in motion as soon as the extensions M1 and M: are energized by the closing of the flag switch. Consequently, by positioning the flag switch properly with respect to the movement of the distributors and the blade carriers, the shear can be made to produce first cuts which will vary in length an amount of not more than one-third of a revolution of the blade carrier, which is'the maximum distance the carriers may travel during the time it takes the ratchet wheels to travel the length of one of the ratchet wheel teeth.

By way of illustrating the operation of the invention, assume that the manually operable switch 148 is closed, and the latch magnet 142 operated to put brush carrier 107 in service to produce cuts on every two revolutions of the blade carriers as hereinbefore described. Also, assume that the lower blade carrier 7 is in its normal inactive position at the lower end of its reciprocating stroke, and that a piece of stock 151 is being fed into the shear at a lineal speed equal to the peripheral speed of the blade carriers.- When the front end of the stock 151 strikes the flag switch 149 mounted in front of the shear such switch will be clmed, and it in turn will close the switch 152. Thus, the normally deenergized extensions M1, M: of line conductors LnL'z will be energized. As soon. as these are energized, due to switch 148 being closed, latch 136 will be actuated and dog 132 released. This in turn connects a brush carrier 107 to its driven supporting shaft 101. With the engagement of dog 132 in the ratchet wheel 128, brush 112a will be moved into contact with oneof the conductor segments on the distributor 88,

which assume will be segment 91a. When such contact is made a circuit will be established which is traced. from the extension M: of line conductor L1 through conductor 122, brush 118, collector ring 115, brush 112a on brush carrier 107, conductor segment 91a of distributor 88, conductor 90a, conductor 85a, collector ring 77a on shaft 76, conductor 84a, coil 83a of relay 74a, conductor 82a, conductor band 79a on drum switch 78, and

conductor 81 to the extension M1 of line conductor L1. With the energization of such circuit, relay 74a closes, and in. closing completes a circuit which is traced from line conductor L1 through conductor 73, the common collector ring 69 on the pin wheel supporting shaft 55, conductor 71, coil 672 mounted on pin 56a, conductor 71a, collector ring 69a, conductor 72a, and the bridging member a of relay 74a to line conductor L2. With the completion of this circuit, pin 56a is actuated to engage the Geneva wheel, which it does as soon as it is rotated into engagement with one of the slots 65.

In order to maintain the magnet 672: on pin 56aenergized. after the brush 11211 on brush carrier 107 passes out of engagement with the conductor segment 91a of the associated distributor 88, which it does before the pin has time to turn the Geneva wheel the required amount for each cut, a holding circuit is provided for the actuating coil 83a of the relay 74a. This holding circuit'is formed by a bridging member 153a which is mounted on the relay 74a with its associated contacts connected to the distributor side of the coil 83a and to-line conductor L2, respectively. Holding circuits of this character are provided by bridging members 153a to 1531 on all of the relays 74a to 741. As soon as such bridging member 153a is closed the circuit for the actuating coil 83a of relay 74a is traced from line conductor L2 through the drum switch 78 as before to line conductor extension M1, and such latter circuit is main tained until the pin 56a passes out of engagemerit with the Geneva wheel, at which time the interruption in the conductor band 79?: of switch pin 56a returns the pin to its inoperative position in readiness for its next operation. A similar arrangement is of course carried out in all of the interrupted conductor bands 79a to 791 on the drum switch, so that each pin 56 used to produce a cut is automatically rendered inoperative as soon as it passes from engagement with ,the. Geneva wheel. To insure the pins56-beingreturned to their inoperative position in case the springs 63 fail to function a cam 80 is provided in the casing in which the Geneva and pin wheels are housed and disposed to engage such pins as the pin wheel is rotated over it.

v When. brush '112b engages the distributor 88 a similar cycle of operation is inaugurated differing only in that segment 919 controls the circuits established-and brings pin 569 into service. As

tum to its normal dog-engaging position where it picks up the tail-piece of the dog 132 and stops the brush carrier in a position ready for starting when the next piece of stock is fed into the .shear. ,'To insure against any possibility of the shear missing the last regular cut, switch 152 is provided with a time delay which holds it closed sufficiently to attain such end after the strip passes out of contact with the'flag switch 149. The operation, of course, is the same when w the other brush carriers. are operated, except that every fifth and fourth pin 56 is brought into service by them to produce cuts of one and twothirds, and one and one-third revolutions of the blade carriers, respectively.

To produce cuts intermediate the length which the shear will make when operated at the same speed as the stock, as is contemplated in the foregoing description, the gear changeunit 32 is brought into service. For such operation, a brush carrier is selected for service which under normal operation causes cuts to be produced which are the nearest longer length to those desired. The gear change unit 32 is then adjusted to speed up the operation of the shear sufiiciently to produce the exact length of cuts desired. As will be readily appreciated, because of the plurality of blades on the blade carriers, and the fact that they may be used selectively, it is unnecessary for this purpose to vary the speed of the shear from that of the stock sufliciently to in any way interfere with the operation of the shear.

As referred to hereinbefore, any number of brush-carrier pin-selecting units may be used to render the shear capable of producing cuts of any practical length desired. This will be appreciated when it is considered that if one of the brushes from each of the carriers 105, 106 and 107 is removed, such carriers will. produce cuts of twice the length they do when the two brushes are used as described above. As also previously mentioned the lengths of the cuts may be varied by varying the speed of the pin wheel 54 with respect to the speed of the blade carriers. For example, as stated hereinbefore, if the pin wheel 54 is operated at half the speed of the blade carriers every other blade may be caused to produce a. cut as a minimum length, and by increasing,

the ratio of such drive the minimum length may be correspondingly increased. Further, a greater i or lesser number of blades may be used on the changes in the number of lobes 24 on the cam wheels 21 and pins 56 on the pin wheel, although.

the arrangement illustrated here is recommended as the most practical design for most purposes and general use.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and mode of operation of my invention, and have illustrated and described what I now consider to be its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may bepracticed otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim: e

1. In a flying shear, a movably mounted rotary blade carrier equipped with a plurality of equally spaced cutting blades, means for moving said carrier into and out of cutting position, a Geneva- 3. A flying shear comprising a pair 01' iO i y ting relation with the other, means driven in timed relation with the blades on said blade carriers for selectively moving said adjustable carrier into and out of cutting relation with the other carrier at an instant when the blades thereon are moved in cutting opposition to produce a cut, and means set in motion by the stock fed to the shear for automatically controlling said selectively operablecarrier adjusting means.

4. A flying shear comprising a pair of rotary blade carriers equipped with an equal plurality of uniformly spaced cutting blades, means adjustably supporting one of said carriers out of cutting relation with the other, means for driving said carriers in positive synchronism, means for moving said adjustably supported carrier into and out of cutting relation with the other in such a manner that onlyone pair of cooperating blades on the two carriers moves into cutting opposition while the carriers are together, and means for selectively controlling said carrier-adjusting mechanism to utilize the cutting blades at random in controlling the lengths of the cuts.

5. A flying shear comprising a pair of rotary blade carriers equipped with an equal plurality of uniformly spaced cutting blades, means normally supporting one of said carriers out of cutting relation with the other, means i'or moving said normally separated carrier into cutting relation with the other carrier, means for continuously driving said carriers in positive synchronism and other means rendered operable when the carriers are moved together for positively preventing said cutting blades interfering with each other and also holding them in proper cutting relation.

6. A flying shear comprising a pair of rotary blade carriers equipped with an equal plurality of uniformly spaced cuttingblades means adjustably supporting one of said carriers out of cutting relation with the other, means'for driving said carriers continuously in positive synchronism, selectively operable means driven in synchronism with said carriers for moving said adjustably supported carrier into and out of cutting relation with the other in timed relation with the moving of the cutting blades on the two carriers intocutting opposition, and means for effecting intermittent operation of said selectively operable carrier-moving means to determine the ably supporting one of said carriers out of cutting relation with the other, means for driving said carriers continuouslyin positivesynchronism, selectively operable means driven in synchronism with said carriers for moving said adjustably supported carrier into and out of cutting relation with the other in timed relation with the moving of the cutting blades on the two carriers into cutting opposition, means for eil'ecting intermittent operation of said selectively operable carrier moving means to determine the lengths of the cuts, and means for varying the operation of said last-mentioned means to vary the lengths of the cuts.

8. A flying shear comprising a pair of rotary blade carriers equipped with an equal plurality of uniformly 'spaced cutting blades, means adjustably supporting one of said carriers out of cutting relation with the other, means for driving said carriers continuously in positive syn chronism, selectively operable means driven in synchronism with said carriers for moving said adjustably supported carrier into and out of cutting relation in timed relation with the moving of the cutting blades on the two carriers into cutting opposition, means for effecting intermittent operation of said selectively operable carrier-moving means to determine the lengths \of the cuts, and means responsive'to the stock fed into the shear for setting said last-mentioned means in operation.

9. A flying shear'comprising a pair of rotary blade carriers each equipped with a plurality of uniformly spaced cutting blades, means adjustably supporting one of said carriers out of cutting relation with the others, means driven in synchronism with said carriers for selectively moving said adjustably supported carrier into and out of cutting relation with the other carrier in -a manner to utilize at random the different blades on said carriers to control the lengths of the cuts, and means for varying the operation of said selective operable carrier-moving means to vary the lengths of the cuts.

10. In combination, a rotary flying shear comprising a pair of rotatably mounted blade carriers equipped with a plurality of cutting blades, means for moving 'cneof said carriers into and out of cutting relation with the other in timed relation with the blades thereon for varying the lengths of the cuts, meansfor feeding stock into the shear, means for synchronously driving both said shear and stock-feeding means, means for selectively moving one of said shear carriers into and out of cutting relation with the other to produce cuts, and means for varying the ratios of speed between said stockfeeding means and said shear to vary the lengths of the cuts.

11. In a flying shear, a laterally adjustable, rotary blade carrier equipped with a cutting blade, means adapted to normally support said carrier in an inoperative position, means for moving said support to move said carrier into cutting position, and means actuated with said carrier for preventing the blades on said carrier contacting the stock being severed between cuts.

12. A flying shear comprising a pair of rotary blade carriers equipped with cutting blades, means for normally supporting one of said carriers out of cutting relation with the other, means for actuating said carrier support to place the carrier supported thereby in position to produce cuts, a Geneva wheel for actuating said. carrier support, means driven in synchronism with said carriers for selectively controlling the operation of said Geneva wheel, and a common source of power for driving said shear, said Geneva wheel, and said Geneva wheeloperating control means.

13. In a flying shear, a pair of rotary blade' carriers, means for moving one of said carriers into and out of cutting relation with the other, means for controlling the operation of said car rier-adjusting means comprising a 'rotatably mounted distributor, a plurality of contiguous conduction segments mounted in electrically in- "blade carriers each equipped with a plurality of sulated relation on said distributor, a series of electrical circuits connected to said" segments and to means comprising said carrier-adjusting means, a rotary brush carrier mounted for rotation in a plane parallel with and adjacent to said distributor, a brush mounted on said carrier to engage said segments when said brush carrier is moved over said distributor, and means Y by such pins.

for supplying current to said brush for energizing said distributor segments and the circuits connecmd thereto.

14. In a flying shear, a pair of rotary blade carriers, means for moving one of said carriers into and out of cutting relation with the other, means for controlling the operation of said carrier-adjusting means comprising a plurality of rotatably mounted distributors, a plurality of contiguous conductor segments mounted in electrically insulated relation on each of said distributors, a rotary brush carrier mounted for rotation in a plane parallel with and adjacent to each of said distributors, a brush mounted on each of said brush carriers to contact the conductor segments on the adjacent distributors when the brushes are rotated thereover, means for driving each of said carriers at a difierent relative but synchronized speed with said distributors, a plurality of circuits connected in parallel to the segments of said distributors and to said carrier-adjusting means, and means for selectively energizing said brush carriers.

15. In combination with a flying shear, a control system for controlling the operation of the shear comprising a disc-shaped distributor equipped with a plurality of conductor segments mounted on one face of said distributor disc adjacent the outer edge thereof, a brush carrier mounted for. rotation in a plane parallel with and adjacent to said distributor; with a portion of it overlapping said distributor, a brush mounted on said carrier to contact the conductor segments on said distributor at regular intervals as it is rotated thereover, means for selectively energizing said brush, means for driving said carrier in timed relation with said distributor disc so that only one of said conductor segmentsis contacted by said brush each time the brush is moved over ihe distributor, and a plurality of shear-operating circuits connected to said conductor segments.

16. In a flying shear, a pair of rotary blade carriers equipped with cutting blades, means including a radially slotted wheel for moving one of said carriers into and out of cuttingrelation with the other carrier, a pin wheel equipped wi h a plurality of pins for operating said slotted wheel, means for selectively operating saidpin's to engage said slotted wheel, means for resiliently returningsaid pins to their inoperative position after each operation thereof, and cam means for, positively -returning said pins to their inoperative position in case said resilient means fails to work. v r a 17. In a flying shear, a'pair of rotary blade carriers equipped with cutting blades, a cam for moving one of said carriers into and-out of cutting relation with the other in timed relation with the movement of said blades, a slotted wheel for actuating said cam means, a pin wheel equipped with a plurality of adjustable pins for operating said slotted wheel, and means for holding said slotted wheel in a position to receive the pins in said pin wheel when not being moved 18. A flying shear comprising a pair of rotary uniformly spaced cutting blades, means adjust ably supporting one of said carriers out of cutting relation with the other, means for driving both of said carriers in positive synchronism, means for moving said adjustable carrier to selectively utilize the cutting blades thereon for producing cuts, and means responsive to the approach of a piece of stock fed to the shear for controlling the carrier-adjusting means in such a way as to produce a first or cropping cut of length not greater thanthe distance between the blades on the carriers.

19. In a flying shear, a movably mounted rotary blade carrier equipped with a plurality of equally spacedlaxially disposed cutting blades, cam means for moving said carrier into and out of cutting position, a Geneva wheel disposed to intermittently operate said cam means, and means driven in synchronism with said carrier for operatin said Geneva wheel in timed relation with the. cutting blades on the carrier.

20. In a flying shear, a rotary blade carrier equipped with a plurality of uniformly spaced axially disposed cutting blades, a cam wheel equipped with a plurality of equally spaced cam lobes adapted to normally support said carrier in 'a non-operative position and to move it into and out of cutting position each time it is rotated an angular distance equal to the length of one or said lobes and means driven in synchronism with said carrier for intermittently operating said I cam wheel in timed relation with the blades in said carrier.

21. In a flying shear, a pair of rotatably mounted blade carriers each equipped with a plurality of equally spaced axially disposed cutting blades, means rigidly holding one of said carriers against other than rotary movement, means comprising a rotatably mounted cam disposed to normally support said other carrier in spaced non-operative relation with said rigidly supported carrier and adapted when rotated to move it into cutting relation therewith, and means for so operating said cam as to selectively utilize the blades on said carriers to control the lengths of the cuts.

22. In a flying shear; a pair of rotatably mounted blade carriers each equipped with a plurality of equally spaced axially disposed cutting blades, means rigidly holding one of said carriers against other than rotary movement, means comprising a rotatably mounted cam disposedito-normally support said other carrier in spaced non-opera tive relation with respect to said rigidly supported carrier and adapted when rotated to move the carrier supported by it into cutting relation with the other, and means for operating said cam in timed. relation with said carriers to selectively utilize the diflerent blades on the carriers and thereby control the lengths of the cuts.

23. In a flying shear, a pair of rotatably mounted blade carriers each equippedwith a plurality of equally spaced axially disposed cutting blades, means rigidly holding one of said carriers against other than rotary movement, means for moving said other carrier into and out 01' cutting relation with said rigidly supDOrted carrier, said means, comprising a rotatablymounted cam mechanism designed to normally support said movable carrier in spaced non-operative cutting relation with the rigidlyv supported carrier and adapted when rotated to move the carriersupported thereby into cutting relation with the other carrier, and, means synchronized with said carriers for intermittently operating said cam and adapted to move said movable carrier into and out of cutting relation/with said rigidly supported carrier each time it is actuated andin such a way that only one cut is produced with. each such operaion. r.

24. In a flying shear,a pair ,of rotatably mounted blade carriers each equipped with a plurality of equally spaced axially disposed cutting blades,

synchronism with said carriers for operating said means for driving said carriers in positive synchronism and insuch timed relation that the blades of onelwill move into cutting opposition with those .01 the other with each revolution thereof, means comprisng a rotatably mountedcam adapted to normally support at least one of said carriers in spaced non-operative relation with the other and when rotated to move the carrier supported thereby into cutting relation with the other, and means driven in synchronism with said carriers for operating said cam to selectively utilize the blades on said carriers and control the lengths of the cuts.

25. A flying shear comprising a supporting frame, a pair of rotary blade carriers equipped with an equal plurality of uniformly spaced axially disposed cutting blades mounted insald frame, means for rigidly supporting one of said carriers against other than rotary movement, cam means adapted to normally support the other carrier out oi cutting relation with said rigidly supported carrier and to move it into and out of cutting relation therewith when operated, means connected to a Geneva wheel, for intermittently operating said cam means, and means driven in Geneva wheel.

26. A flying shear comprising a supporting frame, a pair 01 rotary blade carriers equipped with an equal plurality of uniformly spaced axially disposed cutting blades mounted in said frame, means for rigidly supporting one of said carriers against other than rotary 'movement,

cam means adapted to normally support the other carrier out of cutting relatiorr with said rigidly supported carrier, means constantly urging said latter carrier toward said cam means,

a Geneva wheel for intermittently operating said cam means, and means for intermittently opcrating said Geneva-wheel to move the carrier supported by said cam means into and out 01." cutting relation with said rigidly supported carrier in timed relation with said cutting blades.

27. A flying shear comprising a supporting frame, a pair 01' rotary blade carriers equipped with an equal plurality of uniformly spaced axially disposed cutting blades mounted'in said frame, means for driving saidtcarriers in positive synchronism and in such timed relation that theblades on each carrier move into cutting opposition with cooperating blades on the other with each revolution thereof, cam'means adapted to normally support at least one 01 said carriersout of cutting relation with the other and to intermittently move each carrier into and out of cutting opposition with the other when operated, a Geneva wheel connected to said cam means for intermittently moving the carrier actuated thereby into and out 01' cutting relation with the other carrier, and means driven in synchronism with said carriers for operating said Geneva wheel.

28. In a flying shear, a pair of rotary blade carriers equipped with an equal plurality of uniformly spaced axially disposed cooperating cutting blades, a cam adapted to normally support atleast one oi said carriers out oi cutting relationwith the other and to move the, carrier supported thereby into and out of cutting op position with the'other when actuated, a' Geneva wheel connectedto said cam, and means driven in synchronism with said carriers for operating said Geneva wheel, said means being adapted to produce a sumcient movement of said cam each time it actuates said Geneva wheel to move the relation with the other carrier and to do so in timed relation with'said cutting blades.

29. In a flying shear, a movably mounted rotary blade carrier equipped with a plurality of equally spaced axially disposed cutting blades, cam means disposed to normally support said carrier in a non-operative position and when operated to move the carrier into and back out of cutting position, a Geneva wheel coupled to said cam, a pin wheel equipped with a plurality of selectively operable pins operably associated with said Geneva wheel in such a way that when the pin wheel is rotated and one of said pins is actuated to engage the Geneva wheel itwill move the latter sufliciently to cause the blade carrier to be moved into and out of cutting position during the period the pin is engaged in the Geneva wheel, and means for driving said pin wheel in synchronism with said carrier.

with said Geneva wheel in such a way that when.

the pin wheel is rotated and one of said pins is actuated to engage the. Geneva wheel it will move the latter sufliciently to cause the blade carrier to be moved into and out of cutting position during the period the pin is engaged in the Geneva wheel, means for driving said pin wheel in synchronism with said carrier, and means for selectively controlling the actuation of said pins to control the lengths of cuts produced by the I shear.

31. In a flying shear, a rotary blade carrier equipped with a plurality of equally spaced axially disposed cuttingblades mounted in a pair of vertically adjustable end bearings, a pair of cam wheels disposed to reciprocate said bearings mounted on a shaft arranged below said carrier, a series of equally spaced lobes formed on the periphery of said cams and adapted when the cams are actuated to move said carrier into and out ofcutting position, a Geneva wheel mounted on said cam shaft, a pin wheel equipped with a plurality of adjustable pins for actuating said Geneva wheel operably associated therewith, said pins being adapted to be engaged in the slots of the Genevawheel when the pin wheel is rotated and to turn the latter wheel an amount sumcient to move the carrier into and out of cutting position during the period they are engaged in Said carriers sufliciently out of contact with the bther to allow a piece of stock to be passed between the two without interference therewith and to move such carrier into and out of cutting relation with the other carrier when rotated, a

Geneva wheel coupled to said cam, a pin wheel 1 for operating said Geneva wheel driven in syn chronism with said carriers, a plurality of pins movably mounted in said pin wheel for engagement with said Geneva wheel, said pins being adapted to move said Geneva wheel an amount sufficient to cause said cam means to move the carrier actuated therebyinto and out of cutting relation with the other carrier during the period they are engaged in such wheel, and means for selectively operating said pins to determine the lengths of the cuts. a

33. A- flying shear comprising a supporting frame, a pair of .rotary blade carriers equipped with three equally spaced axially disposed cutting blades rotatably mounted in said carriers;

means for so driving said carriers that the blades on the two move into cutting opposition with each other each time the carriers are rotated, a cam wheel provided with six equally spaced lobes on'the periphery adapted to normally support one of said carriers sufficiently out of contact with the other to permit a piece of-stock being passed between the two without interference therewith and to move the carrier supported thereby into and out of cutting relation with the other carrier each timeit is rotated the length of one of said lobes, a Geneva wheel provided with a series of slots spaced from said cam lobes coupled to said cam, a pin wheel driven in synchronism with said carriers and equipped with twelve movable pins so mounted with respect to said Geneva wheel that they may each be utilized to move said Geneva wheel a distance equal to the length'of one of said cam lobes, and means forselectively operating said pins.

34. A flying shear comprising a supporting frame, a pair of blade carriers equipped with an equal plurality of uniformly, spaced axially disposed cutting-blades rotatably mounted in said carriers, means for positively driving said carriers to bring the blades of the two into cutting opposition with each other each time the car-' riers are rotated, cam means adapted to nor-, mally support one of said carriers sufliciently out of contact with the other to permit a piece of stock to be passed between the two without interference therewith and to move the carrier supported thereby into and out of cutting relation with the other carrier when rotated a given angular distance, a Geneva wheel coupled to said cam, a pin wheel equipped with-a plurality of movable pins for operating said Geneva wheel being adapted to move said cam means sufiiciently to move' the carrier operated thereby into andout of cutting relation with the other carrier each time it is actuated by one of said pins, meansfor driving said pin wheel in synchronism with said carriers, means for operating said pins, and means driven in synchronism with said pin wheel for selectively controlling said, pin-operating means.

35. In a flying shear, a rotary blade carrier equipped witha plurality of equally spaced cutting blades, a cam wheel equipped with a plurality of cam lobes arranged to normally support said carrier in a non-operative position andto move it into and out of cutting position each time said wheel is rotated the distance of one of said lobes,

a Geneva wheel coupled to said cam wheel, a pin wheel driven in synchronism with said carrier, a plurality of movable pins mounted in said pin wheel, means for moving said pins to engage said Genevawheel, said pins being adapted to move the Geneva wheel a distance equal to the length of one of said cam lobes during the period of their engagement therein, means for selectively operatand means actuated by a piece of stock being fed in operation.

36. In a flying shear, a rotary blade carrier equipped with a plurality of equally spaced axially disposed cutting blades, means for driving said carrier continuously, a cam wheel adapted to normally support said carrier in an inoperative position and to move it into and out of cutting position when rotated, means driven in synchronism with saidblade carrier for intermittently operating said cam wheel in timed relation with said blades, and means actuated with said carrier for preventing the blades on said carrier contacting the'stock being severed before and after each cut.

37. In a flying shear, a blade carrier equipped with a plurality of equally spaced cutting blades mounted for both rotary and reciprocatory movement, a cam wheel provided with a series of cam lobes arranged to reciprocate said carrier into and out of cutting position as it is rotated but adapted to normally support the carrier in an inoperative position, a Geneva wheel connected to said cam, a pin wheel equipped with a plurality of normally idle adjustable pins disposed when actuated to do so to engage said Geneva wheel and to rotate it a distance equal to one of said cam lobes during the period it engages the Geneva wheel, means for driving the pin in synchronism with the blade carrier, a series of electromagnets for operating said pins, a series of distributors for actuating said magnets, and a series of control brushes driven in synchronism with said distributor and arranged to selectively control the operation of said pin magnets.

38. In combination with a Geneva wheel, a driven pin carrier equipped with a plurality of pins for engaging and rotating said Geneva wheel, means normally holding said pins in an inoperative position, and means for individually actuating them to engage the Geneva wheel.

39. In combination, a Geneva wheel, a driven pin carrier equipped with a plurality of pins for engaging and rotating said Geneva wheel, resilient means for normally holding said pins in an inoperative position, and electromagnet means for individually actuating them to their operative position.

40. In combination, a Geneva wheel, a driven pin carrier equipped with a plurality of pins for engaging and rotating said Geneva wheel, means ing said pins to determine the lengths of the cuts.

normally holding said pins in an inoperative position, means for individually operating them to engage the Geneva wheel, and means for preventing the pins jamming in the event they do not register with the slots in the Geneva wheel when they are rotated into engagement with it.

41. In combination, a Geneva wheel, a driven pin wheel equipped with a plurality of adjustable pins operably associated with said Geneva'wheel, means for individually adjusting said pins to engage said Geneva wheel, and means for selectively controlling the operation of said pinadjusting means.

42. In a flying shear, a movably mounted rotary blade carrier equipped with a cutting blade, means for moving said carrier into and out of cutting position, and a Geneva wheel for operating said carrier-moving means.

43. In a flying shear, a cutting element comprising a rotary blade carrier equipped with a plurality of equally spaced cutting blades, a second cutting element adapted to cooperate with said first-mentioned element in the making of cuts, means for moving one of said elements into and out of cutting position with the other, a Geneva wheel for operating said last-mentioned means, and means for selectively operating said Geneva wheel.

44. A flying shear comprising a cutting element equipped with a plurality of uniformly spaced cutting blades, a second cutting element arranged to cooperate with said first-mentioned cutting element in the production of cuts, means for adjustably supporting one of said cutting elements out of cutting relation with the other, means for driving said cutting elements, selectively operable means driven in synchronism with said cutting blades for moving said adjustable cutting element into and out of cutting relation with the other in timed relation with the moving of said outing blades into cutting position, and means for effecting intermittent operation of said selectively operable cutting element moving means to determine the length of the cuts.

45. In a flying shear, a pair of cooperating cutting elements, means for moving one of said cutting elements into and out of operative cutting relation with the other, and a Geneva wheel for operating said cutting element moving means.

FLORENCE C. BIGGERT, JR.

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