Improvements in Machines for Mitreing Printers' Rules.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 20th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 21st Dec., 1888
[Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM HUGHSON GOLDING, of Boston, Massachusetts,
United States of America, Manufacturer of Printing Machinery.]
Improvements in Machines for Mitreing Printers' Rules.
I, THOMAS NIGHTINGALE PALMER of 62 Lansdowne Road, Dalston, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has relation to a machine for mitreing printers' rules, and it has
reference more particularly to that class of machines in which the rule is supported
edgewise upon a segment bed while its end is cut by means of a knife mounted in a
carrier-head, which is capable of both a vertical and a horizontal reciprocation.
Among the objects in view are to provide a solid bearing for the bed at the point
where the greatest resistance to the operation of cutting is required; to mount the
head or knife-carrier in such a manner that the cut of the knife shall be the same
at the bottom as at the top of the rule, and so that the knife may be held firmly to
its work; to produce a smooth accurate joint, free from any inaccuracies produced
by any trembling of the knife or carrier; to construct the frame-work of the machine
in a low, compact form and at the same time provide a sufficient clearance for the
tool of a planer employed in fitting the guide for the knife carrier; to provide means
for adjusting and retaining the knife within the carrier, so as to present it squarely
to its work; to construct a rule-holder or guide in such a manner as to permit of a
movement of. the rule gauge along over the table, and so as to permit of adjustably
securing said gauge to the holder in a firm manner, and to provide said gauge with
a rule clamp, and with an adjustable indicator. Other objects and advantages of the
invention will appear in the following description.
The base or foundation of the machine, in this instance is formed of a single
casting, comprising in its make-up a cutter-head guide, a table for the segment bed,
which table has vertical flanges, within which a rib, formed on the under surface of
the segment bed fits, and a slot through which the segment bed securing bolt passes.

page_text: The foundation also embodies a standard, perforated for the pivot of the cutter-head
operating lever. The table for the segment bed is cut away to permit of the entrance
of the cutter-head, as hereinafter described, and is perforated vertically for the passage
of a standard for the knife-carrier which standard is also seated in a perforation at
the lower portion of the upright or standard for the pivot of the operating lever.
The base or foundation is provided with an opening for the reception of the chips.
The front boundary of this opening is extended, to provide the necessary clearance
for the planer tool when finishing the cutter-head guide to a straight line at a right
angle to that in which the bed or table for the segment bed is planed.
The base or foundation casting is also of such a conformation as to permit of
unobstructed access for the purpose of drilling or otherwise making the perforations
herein before mentioned and at the same time to permit of the foundation being
formed as a single casting, the arrangements of the projectings thereon being such as
to permit the withdrawal of the pattern from the sand.
The segment table or bed, is provided at its straight edge, and projecting from its
bottom, with a rib, in which a bolt securing to the table of the foundation is
threaded, so that the segment table or bed can be moved upon the table of the
foundation in order to change the position of the centre of the segment table, so as
to present the lead at different points along the cutting edge of the knife, so that
when said knife becomes dull at one point, it may be used at others before grinding
or otherwise sharpening the same.
The segment table or bed is provided with a groove formed on a regular curve or
circle, having a centre in common with that of the segment. It is also slotted on a
like curve for the adjustable connection of the rule-holder or guide, as hereinafter
described. From the body of the knife-carrier, there project two lugs, each of which
is perforated for the reception of the knife-carrier standard, one of the lugs being
arranged above, and the other below that portion of the table of the foundation
which is perforated for said standard, when the parts are assembled.
At the opposite side of the body of the knife-carrier, there projects a vertical rib
or flange which is intended to come into contact with the cutter-head guide, whereby
the vertical reciprocations of the knife when the parts are in contact, are in a
perfectly straight line in a plane perpendicular to the surface of the segment bed and
near the straight edge thereof.
The said knife-carrier standard projects above the segment bed so as to provide a
bearing for the upper lug of the knife-carrier during the upper portion of its
movements. The body of the knife-carrier is hollow, its rear wall being slotted for
the projection of the edge of the knife, and for the passage of the chips beneath the
knife into the interior of the head. in the lower portion of said interior there is
formed an inclined table, shelf or rib which serves to deflect the falling chips through
the opening of the foundation, where they may be received in any suitable receptacle,
or upon a table or bench to which the machine may he secured by screws or bolts
passing through perforations formed in the foundation casting.
The chips may be removed from beneath the base, by means of a rule or other
suitable implement, through an opening formed by cutting away the said base.
Projecting from the front of the body portion of the knife-carrier is a hollow knife-
supporting bracket, the top of the knife-carrier being perforated for the passage of a
set-screw, for holding the knife in position.
The knife-carrier is provided with a front wall adapted for the reception of two or
more screws for adjusting the knife for a desired depth of cut, as well as into
parallelism with the bearings of the knife-carrier. In the front wall of the knife-
carrier thore are formed two lever-embracing lugs. When the parts are assembled
the cutter-head operating lever which is pivotted as hereinbefore described passes
between the said lugs and is provided with a circular bearing at the points thereof
coming into contact with the said lugs whereby a minimum friction and smoothness
of operation between the lever and the head are secured.
A foot is formed on the lever to come into contact with a step formed on the
foundation casting when the lever is in its lowest position. The operating lever

page_text: perforated to fit loosely on its pivot so as to be capable of a horizontal reciprocation,
which, by reason of the pivotal mounting of the knife-carrier upon its standard serves
to give a similar movement to the knife therein.
The rule-holder or guide, has on its under surface a projecting curved rib to fit
the groove of the segment table. The top of the said guide is graduated with a scale,
indicating Picas, whereby rules may be cut of different lengths without the use of
quads for their measurement. The bottom of the guide is provided with a V groove
and its upper corner, diagonally opposite said groove, is removed to form a bevelled
surface.
The gauge consists of a casting adapted to fit against the vertical wall of the guide
and its lower portion to enter and fit the V groove in the guide and to project over
the guide, so as to present its set-screw for perpendicular bearing upon the said
bevelled face of the guide. The object of this construction is to utilize the friction of
the surfaces of the gauge and guide, which come into contact with each other, to
render its connection therewith firm, without relying wholly upon the friction of the
set-screw with the said bevelled surface. In forming the V groove, the lower
portion of the vertical wall of the guide is removed throughout its entire length,
whereby the gauge may be moved along over the segment table for cutting rules of
short lengths. The rule-holder proper consists of a plate of metal slotted for the
passage of a thumb-screw seated in the face of the gauge, so as to be adjustable
lengthwise upon the vertical face of the guide, and is bent at one end so as to bear
upon a rule arranged against the guide.
In order to support rules which are of a length approaching that of the guide, or
longer, a flange or lip may be formed on the guide. Adjustably secured to the gauge
is an indicator, a screw passing through a slot in the gauge serving to render the
indicator adjustable. By means of this adjustable indicator, variations caused by
slight changes in the position of the knife may be neutralized.
The segment bed is provided with a scale, which indicates the different angles at
which the guide may be presented to the knife. The numbers on the scales show the
position for producing a mitre joint on rules designed to form figures of a desired
number of sides; for example, to produce an octagon, the guide would be set with
its vertical face at the line 8 of the scale.
As a means for adjustably retaining the guide in a desired position a bolt is screw-
threaded in a boss on the guide and passes through the slot of the segment bed, and is
provided with a polygonal head.
A lever is provided which consists of a frame adapted to embrace the bolt head,
and having two opposite inclined walls and an intermediate screw-threaded socket or
boss in which is fitted a rod perforated for the introduction of any suitable implement
for tightening the frame upon the bolt head. By means of this lever, comprising the
frame and rod, the guide may be adjusted without the necessity of reaching under
the table or bed and without the use of an ordinary wrench, while at the same time,
if desired, the lever may be readily removed from the bolt.
The operation is as follows-In mitreing a rule, the guide is set to a desired
angle as before described, and the rule is placed on edge against the guide, and either
held by one hand of the operator or the rule-holder proper may be clamped against
the rule. In setting a rule the knife and its operating lever are swung away from the
bed, and successive reciprocations of the carrier and knife are made until the vertical
rib or flange of the former is brought into contact with the cutter-head guide, which
determines the extent and character of the finishing cut. The operating lever is
arranged opposite the knife, whereby the power is conveyed directly to the latter, and
by reason of the long bearing provided on either side of the knife-carrier, and the
firmness with which is is held in contact therewith, there is no trembling of the knife
during the operation of cutting, as would be the case if the carrier was only pivotally
connected with the lever.
Furthermore, in all positions of the knife and carrier, the latter is positively con-
nected at one side with a true vertical bearing which tends to hold the knife to
its work, to overcome its springing away at the commencement of the cutting, and

page_text: to prevent trembling thereof, so that a perfect joint is formed, the cut being the same
at the bottom of the rule as at the top. It is understood, of course, that the variation
of a hair's breadth in a vertical plane to the cut, especially at the top of the rule, will
render the same defective in its function as a printing surface, in that the fine at the
joint will be perceptible in any impression taken therefrom.
If the segment bed or table were supported at points either side of its centre, it
would necessitate a thicker casting from which it is made, or it would be liable to
spring during the act of cutting a rule.
Any yielding of the segment bed or table at this point contributes to an imperfect
result, and a material advantage is therefore inherent in providing a continuous support
for the table along its straight edge. The continuous rib fitting upon the table of
the foundation and between its flanges also prevents any displacement of the bed
to the front or rear in changing its position to bring a new portion of the knife
into operation and parallelism of the knife with the bed is preserved.
After the knife-carrier has been brought, in the operation of cutting so that its
flange comes into contact with the guide, the operation is completed. During the
operation of cutting the chips pass beneath the edge of the knife into and down the
head, and are deflected by its shelf or rib as herein before described. Whenever it is
desired to remove the knife for grinding, a single screw, is all that is necessarily
changed in its adjustment, as the plate may then be removed without disturbing the
adjusting screws.
Dated this 1st day of March A.D. 1888.

page_text: 2243
upright A°.
The foundation is provided with an opening A for the reception of the chips. The
front boundary of this opening A10 is extended, as shown, to provide the necessary
clearance for the planer tool, when finishing the guide A¹ to a straight line at a right
angle to that in which the bed A² is planed.
The base or foundation casting is also of such a conformation as to permit of unob-
structed access for the purpose of drilling or otherwise making the perforations A®, A°
and at the same time to permit of the foundation being forined as a single casting,
the arrangements of the projectings thereon being such as to permit the withdrawal
of the pattern from the sand.
B represents the segment table, and it is provided at its straight edge, and pro-
jecting from its bottom with a rib B1 in which the bolt C is threaded, so that the
bed can be moved upon the table A2 of the foundation, in order to change the position
of the centre of the segment table, so as to present the lead at different points
along the cutting edge of the knife, G, so that when said knife becomes dull at one
point, it may be used at others before grinding or otherwise sharpening the same.
The bed B is provided with a groove B2, formed on a regular curve or circle,
having a centre in common with that of the segment. It is also slotted on a like
curve as at B³ for the adjustable connection of the rule-holder or guide, as hereinafter
described. H represents the knife-carrier, which is shown in plan in Figure 1, in
section in Figure 3, in front elevation in Figure 2, and in perspective in Figure 6.
From the body of the knife-carrier, there project two lugs H, each of which is
perforated for the reception of the standard F, one of the lugs being arranged above,
and the other below that portion of the table A² which is perforated as at A" for said
standard when the parts are assembled.
At the opposite side of the body of the carrier there projects a vertical rib or
flange H, which is intended to come into contact with the guide A', whereby the
vertical reciprocations of the knife when the parts are in contact, are in a perfectly
straight line in a plane perpendicular to the surface of the segment bed, and near the
straight edge thereof.
As clearly shown the standard F projects above the bed so as to provide a bearing
for the upper lug of the knife-carrier during the upper portion of its movements. The
body of the carrier is hollow, its rear wall being slotted as at H³ for the projection of
the edge of the knife, and for the passage of the chips beneath the knife into the
interior of the head. In the lower portion of said interior there is formed an inclined
table, shelf or rib H₁ which serves to deflect the falling chips through the opening A¹º
of the foundation, where they may be received in any suitable receptacle or upon a
table or bench to which the machine may be secured by screws or bolts passing through
the perforations A", formed in the foundation casting.
The chips may be removed from beneath the base through an opening formed by
cutting away the same as at A12, by means of a rule or other suitable implement.
Projecting from the front of the body portion of the carrier is a hollow knife-supporting
bracket H, the top of the carrier being perforated as at He for the passage of a set-
screw Ho, for holding the knife in position.
A front wall H is provided and adapted for the reception of two or more screws H³,
for adjusting the knife for a desired depth of cut, as well as into parallelism with the
bearings of the carrier. In the front wall of the carrier there are formed two lever-
embracing lugs H. When the parts are assembled, the lever D which is pivotted
at D passes between the lugs at H³, and is provided with a circular bearing D² at the
points thereof coming into contact with the said lugs, whereby a minimum friction and
smoothness of operation between the lever and the head are secured.
A foot D³ is formed on the lever to come into contact with a step A¹× formed on
the foundation casting when the lever is in its lowest position. The lever is perforated
to fit loosely on its pivot D', so as to be capable of a horizontal reciprocation, as
indicated by dotted lines, Figure 1, which, by reason of the pivotal mounting of the
carrier upon the standard F serves to give a similar movement to the knife therein.

page_text: E represents the rule-holder or guide, and it has on its under surface a projecting
curved rib E (see figure 3) to fit the groove B2 of the segment table. The top of the
guide is graduated with a scale, indicating Picas whereby rules may be cut of different
lengths without the use of quads for thei" measurement. The bottom of the guide is
provided with a "V" groove E2 and its upper corner, diagonally opposite said groove,
is removed to form a bevelled surface E³.
I represents the gauge, and it consists of a casting adapted to fit against the
vertical wall of the guide and its lower portion to enter and fit the "V" groove E2
and to project over the guide, so as to present its set screw for perpendicular
bearing upon a bevelled face E3 of the guide. The object of this construction is
to utilize the friction of the surfaces of the gauge and guide, which come into
contact with each other, to render its connection therewith firin, without relying
In
wholly upon the friction of its set-screw I with the bevelled surface E³
forming the "V" groove E2 the lower portion of the vertical wall of the guide is
removed throughout its entire length, whereby the gauge I may be moved along
over the table B for cutting rules of short lengths. J represents the rule-holder
proper, and it consists of a plate of metal slotted for the passage of a thumb-screw J,
seated in the face of the gauge, so as to be adjustable lengthwise upon the vertical
face of the guide, and is bent at one end so as to bear upon a rule Z, (dotted line,
Figure 1) arranged against the guide.
In order to support rules which are of a length approaching that of the guide or
longer, a flange or lip E may be formed on the guide, as shown in Figure 1.
Adjustably secured to the gauge I is an indicator I the screw I³ passing through a
slot in the gauge, serving to render the indicator adjustable. By means of the
adjustable indicator, variations caused by slight changes in the position of the knife
may be neutralized."
As clearly shown in Figure 1 the segment bed is provided with a scale, which
indicates the different angles at which the guide may be presented to the knife.
The numbers on the scale show the position for producing a mitre joint on rules
designed to form figures of a desired number of sides; for example, to produce
an octagon, the guide would be set with its vertical face at the line 8 of the scale.
As a means for adjustably retaining the guide in a desired position, a bolt K is
screw-threaded in a boss E and passes through the slot B3 of the segment bed, and is
provided with a polygonal head.
L represents a lever (see figure 7) which consists of a frame K' adapted to
embrace the bolt head, and having two opposite inclined walls K2, and an intermediate
screw-threaded socket or boss K³ in which is fitted a rod K', perforated as at K³ for
the introduction of any suitable implement for tightening the frame upon the bolt
head. By means of this lever, comprising the frame and rod, the guide may be
adjusted without the necessity of reaching under the table or bed and without the use
of an ordinary wrench, while at the same time, if desired, the lever may be readily
removed from the bolt.
Having described the construction, the operation is as follows:-
In mitreing a rule, the guide is set to a desired angle as before described, and the
rule is placed on edge against the guide, and either held by one hand of the operator
or the rule-holder proper J may be clamped against the rule as shown in Figure 1.
In setting a rule, the knife and its operating iever are swung away from the bed as
shown by dotted lines in Figure 1, and successive reciprocations of the carrier and
knife are made, until the flange H2 of the former is brought into contact with the
cutter-head guide A', which determines the extent and character of the finishing cut.
The lever D is arranged opposite the knife, whereby the power is conveyed directly
to the latter, and by reason of the long bearing provided on either side of the carrier,
and the firmness with which it is held in contact therewith, there is no trembling of
the knife during the operation of cutting, as would be the case if the carrier was only
pivotally connected with the lever.
Furthermore, in all positions of the knife and carrier the latter is positively connected

page_text: at one side with a true vertical bearing, which tends to hold the knife to its work, to
overcome its springing away at the commencement of the cutting, and to prevent
trembling thereof, so that a perfect joint is formed, the cut being the same at the
bottom of the rule as at the top. It is understood, of course, that the variation of a
hair's breadth in a vertical plane to the cut, especially at the top of the rule, will
render the same defective in its function as a printing surface, in that the line at the
joint will be perceptible in any impression taken therefrom.
If the segment bed were supported at points either side of its centre, it would
necessitate a thicker casting from which it is made, or it would be liable to spring
during the act of cutting a rule.
Any yielding of the bed at this point contributes to an imperfect result, and a
material advantage is therefore inherent in providing a continuous support for the
table A² along its straight edge. The continuous rib fitting upon the table A², and
between its flanges A³ also prevents any displacement of the bed to the front or rear
in changing its position to bring a new portion of the knife into operation, and
parallelism of the knife with the bed is preserved.
After the carrier has been brought in the operation of cutting, so that its flange
comes into contact with the guide the operation is completed. During the operation
of cutting, the chips pass beneath the edge of the knife into and down the head, and
are deflected by its shelf or rib H, as hereinbefore described. Whenever it is desired
to remove the knife for grinding, a single screw H10 is all that is necessarily changed
in its adjustment, as the plate may then be removed without disturbing the adjusting
screws HB.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
First In a machine of the class described, a foundation having a single guide,
and opposite apertured standard bearings, whereby said foundation is adapted for
the vertical and horizontal reciprocations of the knife carrier, substantially as
specified.
Second-In a machine of the class described, a foundation provided with a single
guide, opposite vertically apertured standard bearings, a lever support substantially
as specified.
Third-In a machine of the class described, a foundation provided with a single
knife, opposite apertured bearings, a vertical standard, an upright for pivotal connec-
tion of a lover, and a bed, substantially as specified.
Fourth A foundation for a machine of the class described, comprising a recessed
bed, a single guide, opposite apertured Ings for a standard, an upright for a lever,
and a base having an opening therein, the whole formed as a single casting, substan-
tially as specified.
:
Fifth In a machine of the class described, a knife carrier, having at one side
thereof a guiding flange, and at the opposite side perforated lugs for the bearing for
one side of the carrier, substantially as specified.
Sixth In a machine of the class described, a knife carrier having a pivottal
reciprocative bearing at one side thereof, substantially as specified.
Seventh-In a machine of the class described, a hollow knife carrier, provided
with a chip deflecting rib, lateral perforated lugs, an oppositely located guiding flange,
a hollow knife-supporting bracket, and lever-embracing lugs, the whole formed in a
single casting, substantially as specified.
Eighth In a machine of the class described, the combination with the base or
foundation having a single guide, and a vertical parallel standard, of a knife-carrier
pivottally mounted on the standard, and provided with a guiding flange, and a
lever for reciprocating the knife-carrier vertically and horizontally, substantially as
specified.
Ninth In a machine of the class described, the combination of a foundation

page_text: having a guide and a vertical standard, a knife carrier pivottally mounted on the
standard, and having a guiding flange, a lever for operating the carrier, a rule
table and a rule guide, substantially as specified.
Tenth A rule guide, provided on its under surface with a V groove, a vertical
face, a horizontal face, having a scale thereon and an adjacent inclined face, in
combination with the gauge adapted to embrace the vertical face, to pass over the
horizontal face, to fit the groove, and to present its binding screw to the inclined
face, substantially as specified.
Eleventh The combination with the rule guide having a scale thereon, of a gauge
having an adjustable indicator, substantially as specified.
:-
Twelfth The combination with a rule guide of a gauge adjustably mounted
thereon, and of a rule holder adjustably mounted on the gauge, substantially as
specified.