Improvements in or relating to Machines for Cutting or Scoring Card or Straw Board, or like Material.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 24th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Machines for Cutting or Scoring Card
or Straw Board, or like Material.
I, CLARENCE WHITMAN HOBBS, of 27, Moor Lane, in the City of London, Manu-
facturing Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to a certain class of machines used for cutting or scoring
card board, straw board, or the like material used in making boxes, the covers
of books, or for other similar purposes, in which two machines are combined together
upon one frame or bed plate at right angles to each other, and which are worked
in unison. This duplex class of machines is adapted to receive the straw board at
the feeding end of the machine, whence it passes by means of a feed roller or rollers
beneath circular knives to be out or scored on the sides (for example) to prede-
termined dimensions for the purpose required. Immediately a straw board has
passed through the first set of knives or scorers, an automatic device is brought
into action which forces the board between a second set of circular knives or scorers
placed at right angles to the first, whereby the ends (for example) are also cut or
scored to the required dimensions, and the straw board is thus passed out from
between the knives ready for any further treatment required for its intended
purpose. It will be seen from the foregoing that two movements are required to
be given to the straw board; the first one, in the line of movement imparted to the
board on its first entry to the machine; and the second movement, at right angles
to the first one.
This arrangement or operation is common to the aforesaid class
of duplex machines.
The first part of my improvements relates to the means whereby the change
from the first to the second movement of the card board is produced and made
automatic, and is operated without appreciable loss of time immediately the board
is free of the first set of knives. This comprises a reciprocating guide plate,
arranged parallel with the finished sides of the board after it has been trimmed
by the first set of circular knives. The guide plate is actuated by a friction clutch
device, immediately the board has passed clear of the knives, which pushes the
board before it with a quick movement until the board engages with the second
set of circular knives, when it immediately recedes and remains stationary until
the next board is ready to be similarly operated upon. The clutch device, however,
is itself brought into action by a slight movement arising from the thickness of
the straw board. This movement occurs both when a straw board is inserted at
the feeding, scoring, or cutting point, and when it leaves the same; and therefore
it may be considered as a movement due to pressure when the leading edge of a
thick board comes in contact with a yielding device, or a movement due to the
release of pressure when the trailing edge of the said board breaks, contact with
the yielding device; consequently it is available for the automatic feeding motion,
of the board for its second or right angle movement (as previously described) after
it has passed through the feed or first set of circular knives. Furthermore, for the

page_text: automatic feeding motion thus produced on and by the particular board under
operation, I sometimes substitute the like motion by another board which has either
been operated upon by the feed or the knives of one of the two machines, or else
is just entering upon such operation. I prefer, however, to arrange the above
named yielding device so that it comes in contact with the board at the feed, scoring,
or cutting point, on entering the first machine, to conipress a spring (for example);,
and use the movement due to the release of its pressure, when the trailing edge
has just left the scoring or cutting point to automatically feed the board at right
angles into the second machine by actuating the guide plate.
The yielding device consists of a tripping plate or disc like form with a slightly
rounded projection upon its periphery, pivotally mounted and arranged so as to
come in contact with the edge of the entering straw board, and be turned upon its
pivot or be raised thereby while it is passing the scoring or cutting knives.
A con-
necting rod is attached at one end to this tripping plate, and the other end to a bell
crank lever suitably mounted at the further or driving side of the duplex machine.
A spiral or other shaped spring is attached to the bell crank lever in such a manner
that, as soon as the trailing edge of the board loses contact with the tripping plate,
the bell crank, spring, and connecting rod throw the tripping plate into its normal
'position, in readiness for the following straw board, and, simultaneously, the bell
crank acts upon a friction clutching mechanism.
The clutching mechanism consists of a tooth shaped cam, suitably mounted upon
and secured to a shaft actuated by the driving mechanism. Within the teeth a
series of rollers is arranged and adapted to move outwards in an expanding manner
to engage with the bore of a gear wheel (mounted loosely upon the cam) and carry
it with it, when actuated by the bell crank in one direction, but to move inwards
and so release the gear wheel when actuated in the opposite direction. A spring
held locking plate, and a pin or projection on the side of the gear wheel, pre-
vent the latter making more than one revolution; in doing which, and by the inter-
vention of a crank and connecting rod, the reciprocating guide plate is acted upon
to feed the board at right angles to be operated upon by the second machine.
The loose gear wheel is continuously driven by a suitable gear wheel on the main
driving shaft of the machine, but, as indicated above, the shaft on which the loose
gear wheel is mounted is only operated intermittingly for one revolution when
connected therewith by the frictional clutching mechanism, which coincides with
the feeding of a board to the second machine. A worm is also mounted upon the
loose gear shaft, and this engages with and drives a worm wheel secured to a shaft
suitably mounted in bearings in an approximately vertical position. The lower
end of this vertical shaft also carries a worm which engages with a worm wheel
mounted on the upper one of two horizontal shafts placed beneath the second
machine. These two shafts each carry a pair of arms, one at each end, the outer
ends of the arms working upon pivotal studs secured to two brackets which support
the delivery, table of the second machine. This arrangement forms a parallel
motion, the delivery table being kept at an approximately horizontal position what-
ever its height may be; and the action of the aforesaid worm gearing and clutching
mechanism is to lower the surface of the delivery table to a corresponding degree,
for each board delivered from the cutting and scoring operation of the second
machine, so as to stack the boards in order upon the table, as they are delivered,
in readiness to be carried away for the next operation upon them. A suitable
pawl, pivoted on one or more of the said arms, and engaging with a ratchet wheel
or wheels, enables the table to be easily raised to its highest level after clearing away
each stack of cut and scored boards.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Machines for Cutting or Scoring Card
or Straw Board, or like Material.
I, CLARENCE WHITMAN HOBBS, formerly of 27, Moor Lane, in the City of London,
now of 37, Featherstone Street, Finsbury, in the City of London, Manufacturing
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
My invention relates to a certain class of machines used for cutting or scoring
cardboard, straw board, or the like material used in making boxes, the covers of
books, or for other similar purposes, in which two machines are combined together
upon one frame or bed plate at right angles to each other, and which are worked
in unison. This class of duplex machines is adapted to receive the straw board (for
example) at the feeding end of the machine, from whence it passes by means of a
feed roller or rollers beneath circular revolving knives to be cut or scored on the
sides (for example) to predetermined dimensions for the
described.
purpose
Immediately a straw board has passed a first set of circular knives and has been
cut or scored thereby an automatic device is brought into action which forces
the board between a second set of circular revolving knives, placed at right angles
to the first set, whereby the ends (for example) are also cut to the required
dimensions, and the straw board is thus passed out from beneath the knives ready
for any further treatment required. It will be seen from the foregoing that two
movements are given to the straw board. The first one is the movement imparted
to the board on its first entry to the machine; and the second one is at right angles
to the first movement. This arrangement or operation at right angles is common to
the aforesaid class of duplex machines; and my present invention is an improve-
ment upon my former invention dated 19th February 1897, No. 4578.
In the further description of this invention, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2
is an end elevation of the same taken from the feeding position; Fig. 3 is a sectional
elevation taken on the line z-z, in Fig. 1, showing the scoring and feeding
mechanism; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the bearings of Fig. 3 on the line
of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation along the line of Fig. 1 which shows
part of the automatic feeding mechanism to the second set of scoring mechanisms;
Fig. 6 is a diagram indicating by dotted lines the arrangement of gearing on the
line w in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation across the second or right angled
feed table on the line -, showing part of the automatic feed mechanism on an
enlarged scale; Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic elevation of the gearing and bearings on
the line uu; Fig. 9 is a detail section on an enlarged scale of part of the feeding
device upon the line tt of Fig. 5: Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the clutch!
mechanism, with the gear wheel on the right hand of Fig. 7 removed; Fig. 11 is a
partial plan of the same, and Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of Fig. 11 upon the
line s-s in the latter figure.
In these drawings, A is the first table, (or part thereof if one table is used in
common for both scoring mechanisms), at which the several sheets of cardboard
are fed to the first set of revolving circular knives or scorers a, and B is the second
table (or part of a common table, as aforesaid) placed in a proper position in front
of a second and similar set of revolving circular knives or scorers, arranged at right
angles to the circular scoring knives a. A feeding mechanism on the second table B
is automatically set in motion to feed the cardboard sheets which have passed unden
the circular scoring knives a toward the second set of circular scoring knives, the
said feeding mechanism requiring no attention on the part of the operator.
j

page_text: The first part of my present improvements, relates to the means whereby the
change from the first to the second movement of the straw board is produced and
made automatic, and is operated without appreciable loss of time immediately the
straw board is free of the first set of knives. This comprises a reciprocating guide
or pushing plate b, arranged parallel with the finished sides of the board after it
has been trimmed by the first set of circular knives. The reciprocating guide
plate is made to reciprocate on the table B, by sliding along a groove c formed in
the said table, as indicated in Figs. 1, 5, 7 and 9, and is actuated by a friction
clutch device d, immediately the straw board has passed clear of the first set of
circular knives, which pushes the board before it with a quick movement until
the board engages with the second set of circular knives, when it immediately
recedes and remains stationary until the next board is ready to be similarly operated
upon.
So far, the operation and means are precisely the same as those described and
claimed in my before mentioned Specification, No. 4578 of 1897; and I also employ
a tripping wheel or plate o, similar to that described in the said specification, for
the same purpose of bringing the clutch device d into intermittent action to recipro-
cate the guide or pushing plate b, and to a certain extent in the same way. I find,
however, that the clutch device & may be brought into action by any slight move-
ment arising from the thickness of the strawboard. Thus, a movement occurs in,
the aforesaid tripping wheel o (the equivalent of the yielding device herein referred
to) when a strawboard is inserted and engages with it both at the first scoring or
cutting point, and when it leaves the same; and therefore is a movement due to
pressure when the leading edge of the board comes in contact with the tripping
or yielding device, or is a movement due to the release of pressure when the trailing
edge of the said board breaks contact with the yielding device. Consequently, the
movement, in either case, is available for the automatic feeding motion of the board
to the second set of circular knives (or right angle movement, as previously des-
cribed), after it has passed through the primary feed or first set of circular knives.
Furthermore, for the automatic feed motion thus produced on and by the particular
board under operation, I sometimes substitute the like motion by another board
which has either been already operated upon by the feed or the knives of one of the
two machines or sets of scoring mechanisms, or else is just entering upon such
operation. This is done by an arrangement of the feed table; or by crowding
two boards together in line; or placing the yielding device in a different position
to that shown in Figs. 1 and 3, as for example behind the second set of circular
knives; or by introducing an interval of time between the first entry of a board to
the action of the circular knives and the bringing into action of the yielding device
and clutching mechanism. It is convenient, however, so to arrange the said yield-
ing device that it comes in contact with the straw board at the feed, scoring or cutt-
ing point, on entering the first machine, to compress a spring (for example); and,
to use the movement due to the release of its pressure, when the trailing edge has
just left the scoring or cutting point, to automatically feed the board at right angles
into the second machine by actuating the guide or pushing plate. This method is
shown in the accompanying drawings, and similarly also in the drawings of my
before mentioned Specification No. 4578 of 1897, and is described and claimed
therein.
The yielding device consists of a tripping wheel or plate o, of disc like form,
having a slightly rounded or segmental projection upon its periphery, as shown in
Fig. 3, thus differing slightly from the radially sliding pin in my aforesaid specifi-
cation. The tripping plate is pivotally arranged, or mounted on a shaft" P in
suitable spring pressed bearings, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, and so adapted that
the segmental projection comes into contact with the edge of the entering straw.
board and turns the tripping plate o upon its pivots or bearings, or raises it or
its shaft p against the action of a spring, (as indicated in Fig. 4), while a straw
board is passing the scoring or cutting knives. A connecting rod q is attached at
one end to a crank pin on the tripping plate o, and the other end to a bell crank

page_text: lever suitably mounted at the further or driving side of the duplex machine. Al
spiral or other shaped spring s is attached to one end of a rod carrying a projecting
block u, whose other end is connected to the bell crank in such a manner that
as soon as the trailing edge of the board loses contact with the tripping plate o
the bell crank r, springs, and connecting rod throw the tripping plate into its
normal position, in readiness for the following straw board; while, simultaneously,
the bell crank r acts upon the friction clutching mechanism d.
The clutching mechanism d consists of a toothed shaped cam, mounted upon and
secured to a shaft d', and actuated by the driving mechanism, as shown by Figs. 1,
7 and 10. Within the teeth of the cam a series of rollers is arranged and adapted
to move outwards in an expanding manner (as indicated by Fig. 10) to engage with
the bore of a gear wheel C, (Fig. 7), mounted loosely upon the cam, and to carry it
with it when actuated by the bell crank in one direction, but moveable inwards, to
release the gear wheel, when actuated in the opposite direction. A spring held locking
plate or latch t, and a projection on the side of the cam, Fig. 12, prevent the latter
making more than one revolution, in doing which, and by the intervention of a
crank and connecting rod d², Figs. 5 and 7, the reciprocating guide plate b is acted
upon to feed the straw board at right angles to its first motion, to be operated upon
by the second machine.
The automatic feed mechanism consists of a pushing or guide plate b, made to
reciprocate on the table B, by sliding along a groove e, formed in the said table;
as indicated in Figs. 1, 5, 7 and 9; so as to push or feed the straw board forward
to the second set of circular knives. The reciprocating pushing plate b is normally
disconnected from the driving power, but by the intermittent connection therewith
through the clutching mechanism d, already described, whenever a sheet of straw
board is advanced to the proper position on the table B, in front of the pushing
plate b (Fig. 1), the latter is pressed against that edge of the sheet of straw board
farthest from the second set of circular knives and pushes it forward for the scoring
knives to act upon it.
The second set of circular or scoring knives is a counterpart of the first set, with
the exception that it is not combined with the yielding device or tripping plate o, and
the feed roll n; so that the description of the first set of scoring or circular knives
in relation to the feed, as shown in Fig. 3, will serve for both sets. In this figure,
a is one of any required number of similar circular scoring knives, each pivoted in
a suitable holder, and made adjustable for depth by a set screw e, as shown. Each
knife holder is mounted upon a transverse bar f, which extends across the table A
from frame to frame, in which it is hung in bearings (as indicated by the dotted
circle in Fig. 3) so that the bar, with its attached scoring knives, can be turned
in an upward direction. The bar is shown in the position for scoring, in Fig. 2,
with the dovetailed slide on which the knife holders are mounted (Fig. 3) arranged
parallel with the table A, and also with the upper surface of a power driven roll
the axis of which is placed immediately beneath the scoring knives a. The holders,
with their respective scoring knives, are adjustable to any required position across
the transverse bar f, and they are secured in position by the set screw h, Fig. 2.
To facilitate, however, the setting of the scoring knives in their required position
along the transverse bar f, the latter is turned up by means of a handle i, on the
right hand side of the table A, Figs. 1 and 2, and the knives are made to slide with
their holders along the bar against the edge of a rule or scale j, carried above the
bar f, (as partly shown in elevation Fig. 2), until they range with the required
dimension lines for scoring, when being set in their respective positions by the set
screw, the bar is turned down again to the position shown in Fig. 2, ready to
begin work.
The straw board sheets are fed upon the table A against a guide k, capable of
adjustment along a groove in the table as shown in plan Fig. 1, and pass beneath
the apron to the revolving scoring cutters a by which each sheet is scored. The
movement of the roll g carries the sheets forward to a stripper m, over which they
pass to the roll n, (Fig. 3), which is driven by gearing from the roll g, as indicated

page_text: in the diagram Fig. 6. The upper side of the roll n is either on the same plane as
the second table B, or else the latter is a little below the former, as shown in Fig. 3.
Directly above the roll n is situated the tripping wheel o working upon a shaft p
having journals arranged in spring pressed bearings as indicated in Fig. 4. The
diameter of the tripping wheel o is such that its periphery does not quite come in
contact with that of the roll n, so as to allow the straw board sheets to pass freely
between the two. The tripping wheel carries a segmental projection forced by a
spring, s, upon the surface of the roll until pushed forward by each advancing
sheet of straw board, and then engaging in contact with the upper surface of the
board. When the sheet of straw board has entirely passed between the roll n and
the tripping wheel o, the segmental projection is released from the board, and by
means of the springs and connections and u described below, the tripping wheel o
and its projection are returned quickly into the position shown in Fig. 3 to be
engaged by the next succeeding sheet of straw board.
The tripping wheel o carries on its side face a crank pin arranged to work a con-
necting rod q attached at its other end to the bell crank r, pivoted upon a bracket
or support at the opposite side of the table B. A limited motion is given to the
bell crank r, by means of the segmental projection on the tripping wheel o and its
contact with each sheet, as above described, and when the tripping wheel is not in
action it is held at one end of its range of motion by a spring's (referred to above)
connecting one of its arms to the frame of the machine, or an equivalent device.
As already explained, the segmental projection is pushed forward by each advancing
sheet of straw board, thus carrying around the crank pin and acting upon the bell
crank against the action of the spring s, but immediately after each straw board
has passed the radial pin, the spring s comes into play with a quick tripping action
which reciprocates the pushing plate through the clutching mechanism d.
When the motion of the bell crank lever r is reversed by the action of the spring s,
as aforesaid, it operates to release a latch or detent t, pivoted on the machine, by a,
block u on the connection between the bell crank r and the springs, which otherwise
engages a loose outside collar of the clutching mechanism to hold it out of action
by a projection engaging with the spring held locking plate or latch t, as shown in.
Fig. 10. The release of the latch permits the spring shown in Fig. 12 to throw
the clutching mechanism d into action through its shaft d', crank and connecting
rodd, thus operatively connecting the reciprocating pushing plate 6 with the
driving power, as shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 10.
The clutching mechanism d, with its connected crank and rod d², and pushing
plate b, makes one complete movement, when it is again automatically engaged by
the latch t, and held out of action. Consequently, the reciprocating pushing plate b,
moving forward to push a sheet of cardboard forward to the second set of revolving
cutters immediately after it is disengaged from the radial pin of the tripping wheel o,
returns to a state of rest in proper position to allow the next succeeding sheet of
cardboard to be delivered in front of it.
The loose gear wheel C is continuously driven by a suitable gear wheel D on the
main driving shaft 3 of the machine Fig. 1, but, as indicated above, the shaft d
on which the loose gear wheel C is mounted, is only operated intermittingly for one
revolution when connected therewith by the frictional clutching mechanism d;.
which coincides with the feeding of a board to the second machine. A worm c¹ is alsq
mounted upon the loose gear shaft, and this engages with and drives a worm wheel e
secured to a shaft suitably mounted in bearings in an approximately vertical
position, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower end of the shaft e³ also carries a worm e¹
which engages with a worm wheel es mounted on the upper one of two horizontal
shafts placed beneath the second machine. These two shafts each carry a pair of
arms, f¹, one at each end, the outer ends of the arms working upon pivotal studs f
secured to two brackets f³, which support the delivery table of the second machine.
This arrangement forms a parallel motion, the delivery table being kept at am
approximately horizontal position whatever its height may be; and the intermittent
action of the aforesaid worm gearing as driven by the clutching mechanism, is to

page_text: lower the surface of the delivery table to a corresponding degree for each board
delivered from the cutting and scoring operation of the second machine.
The boards are thus stacked in order upon the table, as they are delivered, in
readiness to be carried away for the next operation upon them. A suitable pawl h¹,
with a handle, is pivoted on one or more of the said arms, and engaging with a
ratchet wheel or wheels 2, enables the table to be easily raised to its highest level
after clearing away each stack of cut and scored boards.
I desire to point out that I do not claim anything described, shown, or claimed
in my aforesaid Specification, No. 4578, of 1897; but
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The herein described improvements in duplex scoring machines, consisting
of means for feeding card or straw boards to a first set of scoring knives, an auto-
matic device for feeding the said boards in a right angled direction to a second
set of scoring knives, a clutching mechanism adapted to intermittently operate
the said automatic device, and a tripping device operating by a movement due to
pressure or to the release of pressure and adapted to actuate the said clutching
inechanism in the manner and for the purpose as stated.
2. The herein described improvements in duplex scoring machines, consisting
of means for feeding card or straw boards to a first set of scoring knives, an auto-
feeding the said boards to a second set of scoring knives, mechanism intermittently
operated, and a delivery table automatically lowered by the said mechanism sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The combination of a duplex scoring machine having an automatic inter-
mittent feed with a delivery table mounted on pivoted arms, worm and toothed
gearing adapted to lower the said table, connections between the said feed and the
said gearing adapted to work the latter, and means for raising the said table by
hand, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
Dated thim t
A T1.
1000
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
37 & 39, Essex Street, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicant.