Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Cut Out Letters and Figures for Advertising and other Purposes, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 13th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 13th Dec., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Cut Out Letters
and Figures for Advertising and other Purposes, and Apparatus
therefor.
I, JOSEPH YARDLEY JOHNSTON, of 6, 7, 8 and 9, Whitfield Street, Finsbury, in
the County of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
This invention relates to the manufacture of particularly that class of cut out
letters and figures for advertising and other purposes in which the several letters
or characters thereof are cut out of cardboard or other suitable material, together
with a narrow strip of the material for maintaining the connection between the
said letters or characters, the connecting strip being situated at the bottom, top.
or other desired part of the letters or characters.
Hitherto these tablets have been produced in stamping presses which have
necessarily been of somewhat heavy construction because the whole of the cutting
edges of the punch operate at once, and moreover the tablets produced in these
presses are frequently distorted owing to the cardboard or other material being
stretched in parts and compressed in other parts and thus deformed, contorted,
and sometimes fractured, by the thickness of the blades of the punch which
thickness necessarily increases from the edge backwards. Further, in the use of
these existing flat punches, there is a difficulty experienced which increases with
the thickness of the material, in stripping the cut-out tablets or groups of characters
from the cutters or dies whereby the former are frequently damaged during
this part of the operation.
I overcome all these difficulties by the use of rotary cutters, which, while serving
to produce a better finished ticket, also effect this with less consumption of power.
According to this invention each individual cutter, consisting generally of
one letter or character, is so formed as (after being arranged with other cutters to
form any desired word or combination) to be securely clamped on and around the
surface of a cylinder which may comprise two or more grooved discs mounted on a
horizontal shaft, which through suitable clutch mechanism, may be rotated from
any convenient source of power. One of the above named discs may be rigidly
secured on the rotating shaft and another may be adjustable on the same shaft by
means of a screw thread and nut, or otherwise, to provide for the clamping of the
cutters.
Beneath the cutter carrying shaft I provide another rotating shaft geared to
it, and mounted in spring, or equivalent, supported bearings, the said shaft
having mounted on it a cylinder forming a rotary cutting bed adapted to act in
opposition to, that is to say to take the thrust of, the cutters. This cutting-bed
cylinder I prefer to construct with a radial gap or recess for admitting of its
being readily secured to, or detached from, the shaft, which latter is provided
with a radial projection for engaging with, and filling the gap in the cylinder.
The projection and gap are formed with suitable key and recess for ensuring the
two parts being accurately fitted together. The roller may be provided with a

page_text: brass or other suitable surface arranged so that it can be adjusted or reversed
to change the portion of its surface exposed to the action of the cutters.
It will be readily understood that the cutters may be made with surfaces
adapted to emboss the material being cut, or embossing dies may be combined
with or among the cutters and may be used in connection with a corresponding
matrix (if necessary) on the cutting bed.
The springs supporting the yielding bearings of the lower shaft bear on
brackets, which, by means of suitable hand-operated gearing, may be adjusted
so as to vary the effective pressure exerted by the springs, as may be necessary
according to the different thicknesses of the material to be cut, or otherwise.
On a suitable table about level with the top of the rotary cutting bed or cylinder
I provide a gauge capable of being adjusted so as to regulate the width of the
connecting strip of the material to be cut; and on the side at which the rollers
deliver the cut out product I provide a stripper adapted to engage with the strip
which connects together all the letters or characters, and to guide the finished
tablets out of the machine.
These cylinders, the cutters and cutting bed, are made to run with considerable
accuracy of surface motion so that the cutting edges may just pierce through the
material without cutting into the surface of the cutting-bed cylinder, and when
properly arranged can be operated without, or with but very little, matrix or
cushioning material, by the avoidance of the use of which the pushing of the
cut material deeply on to or info the punch is prevented and the distortion of the
material thereby avoided; and moreover as only a small fraction of the cutting
edges are actually operating at any one moment, that is to say only those parts
situate on, or closely adjacent to, the line of contact of the surfaces of the cylinders,
the thickness of the cutting edges does not distort the material because the one
edge of each character is withdrawn or is being withdrawn before the next one
comes into operation, and for the same reason very much less power is required
in the operation than when flat cutters are used, the whole face of which acts at
the same moment.
I provide cam mechanism for periodically disengaging the before mentioned
clutch gear, and hand or foot levers for throwing the clutch into or out of operation,
and for otherwise controlling the same.
An adjustable stop may be provided for limiting the ascent of the bearings of
the shaft of the rotary cutting bed.
The word-tablets or series of characters cut out by my said apparatus are
superior in cleanness of cut and general finish and appearance to any heretofore
produced, and admit of being enamelled and rendered waterproof so as to be
adapted to be attached to the outside of windows in place of the more expensive
letters now generally in use, and may be made applicable as show cards, and for
many other purposes.
Dated the Twelfth day of December 1898
NEWNHAM BROWNE,
Agent for the Applicant,
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Cut Out Letters
and Figures for Advertising and other Purposes, and Apparatus
therefor.
I, JOSEPH YARDLEY JOHNSTON, late of 6, 7, 8 and 9, Whitfield Street, Finsbury,
in the County of London, but now of 22, Bride Lane, Fleet Street, in the City of

page_text: London, 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:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of particularly that class of cut out
letters and figures for advertising and other purposes in which the several letters
or characters thereof are cut out of cardboard or other suitable material, together
with a narrow strip of the material for maintaining the connection between the
said letters or characters, the connecting strip being situated at the bottom, top,
or other desired part of the letters or characters.
Hitherto these tablets have been produced in stamping presses which have
necessarily been of somewhat heavy construction because the whole of the cutting
edges of the punch operate at once, and moreover, the tablets produced in these
presses are frequently distorted, owing to the cardboard or other material being
stretched in parts and compressed in other parts and thus deformed, contorted
and sometimes fractured by the thickness of the blades of the punch, which
thickness necessarily increases from the edge backwards. Further, in the use of
these existing flat punches, there is a difficulty experienced which increases with
the thickness of the material, in stripping the cut-out tablets or groups of characters
from the cutters or dies, whereby the former are frequently damaged during
this part of the operation.
I overcome all these difficulties by the use of rotary cutters, which, while serving
to produce a better finished tablet, also effect this with less consumption of power.
According to this invention, each individual cutter, consisting generally of.
one letter or character, is so formed as to be securely clamped on the surface of
a cylinder, a series of such cutters being so arranged and clamped around the
cylinder as to form any desired word, combination or device. The said cylinder
may comprise two or more grooved discs mounted on a horizontal shaft, "which,
through suitable clutch mechanism, may be rotated from any convenient source
of power. One of the above named dises may be rigidly secured on the rotating
shaft, and another may be adjustable on the same shaft by means of a screw
thread and nut, or otherwise, to provide for the clamping of the cutters.
Beneath the cutter carrying shaft, I provide another rotating shaft geared to
it, and mounted in spring, or equivalent, supported bearings, the said shaft
having mounted on it a cylinder forming a rotary cutting bed adapted to act in
opposition to, that is to say to take the thrust of, the cutters. This cutting bed
cylinder I prefer to construct with a radial gap or recess for admitting of its
being readily secured to, or detached from, the shaft, which latter is provided
with a radial projection for engaging with, and filling the gap in the cylinder.
The projection and gap are formed with suitable key and recess for ensuring the
two parts being accurately fitted together. The roller may be provided with a
brass, or other suitable surface, arranged so that it can be adjusted or reversed
to change the portion of its surface exposed to the action of the cutters.
It will be readily understood that the cutters may be made with surfaces
adapted to emboss the material being cut, or embossing dies may be combined
with or among the cutters and may be used in connection with a corresponding
matrix (if necessary) on the cutting bed.
The springs supporting the yielding bearings of the lower shaft bear on
brackets, which by means of suitable hand-operated gearing, may be adjusted
so as to vary the effective pressure exerted by the springs, as may be necessary
according to the different thicknesses of the material to be cut, or otherwise.
On a suitable table about level with the top of the rotary cutting bed or cylinder
I provide a gauge capable of being adjusted so as to regulate the width of the
connecting strip of the material to be cut; and on the side at which the rollers
deliver the cut out product, I provide a stripper adapted to engage with the strip
which connects together all the letters or characters, and to guide the finished
tablets out of the machine.--

page_text: These cylinders, the cutters and cutting bed, are made to run with considerable
accuracy of surface motion, so that the cutting edges may just pierce through the
material without cutting into the surface of the cutting bed cylinder, and when
properly arranged can be operated without, or with but very little matrix or
cushioning material, by the avoidance of the use of which the pushing of the
cut material deeply on to or into the punch is prevented and the distortion of the
material thereby avoided; and moreover as only a small fraction of the cutting
edges are actually operating at any one moment, that is to say only those parts
situate on, or closely adjacent to, the line of contact of the surfaces of the cylinders,
the thickness of the cutting edges does not distort the material because the one
edge of each character is withdrawn or is being withdrawn before the next one
comes into operation, and for the same reason very much less power is required
in the operation than when flat cutters are used, the whole face of which acts at
the same moment.
I provide cam mechanism which. when desired, can be used for the purpose of
periodically disengaging the before mentioned clutch gear, and hand or foot
levers for throwing the clutch into or out of operation, and for otherwise con-
trolling the same.
An adjustable stop may be provided for limiting the ascent of the bearings of
the shaft of the rotary cutting bed.
The word-tablets, or series of characters or devices cut out by my said apparatus
are superior in clearness of cut and general finish and appearance to any heretofore
produced, and admit of being enamelled and rendered waterproof so as to be
adapted to be attached to the outside of windows in place of the more expensive
letters now generally in use, and may be made applicable as show cards, and for
many other purposes.
In the accompanying three sheets of drawings, which form part of this specifica-
tion, and illustrate an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention:-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation,
Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and
Fig. 3 is a plan of the said apparatus.
Fig. 4 is a plan, and
Fig. 5 is an end view of a single cutter, representing the letter T.
Fig. is a part side sectional elevation of the clamping discs with a cutter
secured therein.
Fig. 7 is a front elevation, and
Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the cutting bed cylinder.
Fig. 9 is a plan, and
Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the shaft of the said cylinder, shewing the pro-
jection which fills the gap in the latter.
Fig. 11 is a front elevation, and
Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a cam device for periodically operating the clutch
mechanism.
Fig. 13 is a side view of the apparatus to illustrate the arrangement and action
of the clutch mechanism when the said eam device is removed or disconnected.
Fig. 14 is a plan, and
Fig. 15 is a front elevation of the stripping device.
Similar letters of reference denote similar parts throughout the drawings.
The main frame of the apparatus consists conveniently of a vertical hollow
casting A, having a vertical extension A¹, journalled in brackets secured to the
frame is a horizontal shaft B, driven from any convenient source of power by a
belt pulley B, or other equivalent device. Keyed on the end of said shaft is a
spur pinion 1, gearing with and driving a spur wheel 2, mounted loosely on a
horizontal shaft C, journalled in the upper part of the extension A', but the said
wheel 2 can drive the shaft C, through the medium of a clutch to be presently
described.

page_text: A spur wheel 3, keyed on the said shaft C, gears with a spur wheel 6 of the same
size, keyed on a horizontal shaft D, journalled underneath the said shaft C, in
brackets D, D¹.
The arrangement for holding the cutters consists of a disc c keyed on the
shaft C, and a disc e¹ of the same diameter, mounted loosely on the said shaft in
front of the disc c. The opposing inner edges of these discs have an angular
rabbet or ledge cut thereon (Fig. 6) adapted to receive dovetailed projections on
the backs of the cutters . (Figs. 5 and 6), the backs of the said cutters and their
dovetailed projections are curved to the same radius as the discs, while their
cutting edges are so disposed as to form arcs, and parts of a circle exterior to and
concentric with the periphery of the discs (Figs. 1 and 5).
When the required series of cutters is in place, the disc C¹ is forced up by means
of the nut C3, on the screwed end of the shaft C, and by reason of the aforesaid
dovetailed projections and angular ledges, the said cutters are rigidly and
accurately held in position, the two discs and the cutters becoming, for the time
being, practically one piece.
If the series of cutters forming any required combination is not sufficient in
number, to oppose a resistance around, or nearly around the discs to the action of
the nut C³, I prefer to fill, or nearly fill up the remaining space with blank cutters
or pieces, but when the combination is short, it may if desired be repeated two
or more times around the discs, so that each revolution of the discs will produce
two or more tablets. A stop is provided on the disc c to prevent the cutters
sliding in the grooves.
For convenience in arranging the cutters, I provide an opening or recess in the
face of the disc, c so that the dovetailed projection on a cutter may be entered
through such recess, and the cutter then slid sideways, the nut C3 being so adjusted
that the discs are near enough to retain the cutters without gripping them. This
arrangement also permits of one or more cutters being exchanged when required.
The rotary cutting bed consists of a cylinder or wheel d having a peripheral face
of equal or greater width than the longest cutters used in the apparatus. It is
formed with a gap of the same width as its central orifice or bore (see Figs. 7
and 8) and formed solid with the shaft D, on which the cylinder is fixed, is a
projecting piece (Figs. 9 and 10) which exactly fits the said gap. A feather ĭ
on the piece and a key way 8 in the gap ensure the cylinder and gap piece being
retained in correct relative position, and set screws 9 passing through holes in
flanges on the cylinder web, into tapped holes in the gap piece (Figs. 7 and 10)
hold the said cylinder securely in place on the shaft, while it can be readily
removed by withdrawing the said screws. The cylinder may be faced with a strip
of brass or other suitable material 10, to form the actual bed to resist the action
of the cutters, the said strip being held by any suitable means, to allow of its
being readily removed or replaced.
The
The shaft D is supported and adjusted in the following manner.
brackets D D are held to the frame A by the studs and nuts 11, but the holes
through which the studs pass are elongated so that the brackets are capable of a
certain amount of vertical motion. A guide plate D³ is secured to the front of the
frame on the left side of the front bracket D to take the side strain on the said
bracket when the apparatus is in operation. The weight of the brackets D¹ D¹ and
of the shaft D), spur wheel 6 and cylinder d is borne by springs &,, resting on
brackets D2 D2, which are held to the frame A by studs and nuts and are capable of
vertical motion in like manner to the brackets D. Beneath the brackets D² 12
are brackets a, a, bolted to the frame A, tapped holes in these brackets receive the
screwed lower ends of the vertical spindles ³, d³, and flanges on the brackets D² D²
rest on their upper ends. is a horizontal shaft, having a hand wheel do and
worms.d, d, engaging with the worm wheels on the spindles .
The springs d, d, give an elastic upward pressure to the cylinder & causing
the cutters as they rotate to penetrate the material being fed beneath them. The

page_text: degree of such pressure is regulated by rotating the shaft, which simultaneously
rotates the screw spindles B³.
The limit of the upward movement of each bracket D is regulated by a stop
screw, which may be so adjusted that the cutters just penetrate the material
being operated upon without pressing upon the cutting bed 10. By these means
the apparatus is readily adjusted to suit various thicknesses of material and
various depths of cutters, and it may be so adjusted that the cutters enter the
bed 10 any required depth, thereby giving a rounded edge to the cut and pro-
ducing an embossed effect on the material cut out.
F is a table on which the material to be cut is laid and fed towards the cutters.
It is provided with an adjustable gauge f which regulates the width of the strip
of material connecting the various letters or characters, the said strip being most
conveniently left at the end of the characters further from the operator
G is a plate, or device shewn detached in Figs. 14 and 15, se shaped and placed
in relation to the discs c, c¹ as to strip the material from the cutters after it has
passed under them, and cause the cut tablet to slide down a delivery shoot H,
from which it may drop into or upon any suitable réceptacle.
The construction and operation of the clutch mechanism is as follows:-The
hub of the loosely rotating spur wheel 2 is provided with clutch teeth adapted to
engage with similar teeth on a clutch 5 sliding on the shaft C and caused to
rotate therewith by means of a key-way and feather in the usual manner.
Pivotally attached to the frame A by a fulcrum stud a is a treadle E, operating
a bell crank lever e¹ by a rod e. The forked end of a lever engages the clutch 5,
the opposite end of the said lever being connected to the bell crank lever e¹ by the
link. A spring e normally holds the treadle E up and the clutch 5 out of
engagement with the wheel 2.
By depressing the treadle E or the hand lever es, the clutch is put in gear and
the shaft Crotates so long as the said treadle or hand lever are held down, but ou
their release the spring e immediately pulls the clutch out of gear and the said
shaft stops.
To avoid having to keep the said treadle or hand lever down when the machine
has been started and yet to cause the discs c, c¹ to stop automatically when they
have made a complete revolution, a rock shaft is journalled horizontally in a
bracket on the extension A and furnished with a downwardly projecting arm e
at each end, as shewn detached in Figs. 11 and 12. The inner armı has a roller 12
bearing against a cam ring 13 on the face of the spur wheel 3, while to the
outer arm is pivotted a link e, having a jointed eye 14 which can be slipped over
a pin at the end of the lever e. When the machine has been started by depressing
the treadle E or hand lever e, the roller 12 bears against the face of the ring 13
and so keeps the clutch in gear till a depression 15 in the ring coming opposite
the roller allows it to drop therein when the spring e. pulls the clutch out of gear
where it remains till the said treadle or hand lever is again depressed.
Thus the operator has merely to push the material against the cutters and
depress the treadle or hand lever, when the machine rotates, cuts out a tablet and
then stops, remaining at rest in the correct position for commencing a fresh cut.
In the arrangement shewn in Fig. 13 the rock shaft has been removed, or
merely thrown out of action by slipping the eye 14 off the end of the lever e. The
fulcrum stud a¹ of the treadle E has been removed from its former position and
placed at the other end of the treadle, while the spring et has been connected to
a stud 16 so placed that the said spring will hold the clutch either in or out of
gear. Now by depressing the hand lever es the clutch is thrown into gear and so
remains until thrown out by depressing the treadle E, the action of which is in
this case reversed.
I wish it to be understood that in carrying my invention out in practice,. I do
not necessarily confine myself to the exact details of construction herein shewn and
described, as the same may be varied within certain limits without departing from
the essential features of the invention.

page_text: 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. In a machine of the class described, a rotary cutting bed, consisting of a
cylinder formed with a gap, a shaft having a projection adapted to fit and fill
said gap, and means for securing said projection in said gap, substantially as and
for the purposes herein set forth.
2. In a machine of the class described, in combination, the curved cutter blocks,
the grooved discs for holding said cutters, the cylindrical cutting bed opposed
to said cutters with gap, and the shaft with projection to fill said gap, substantially
as and for the purposes herein set forth.
3. In a machine of the class described, adjustable spring supported bearings
to the shaft of the rotary cutting bed, consisting of vertically sliding and guided
brackets resting on springs, simultaneously operated screw spindles regulating
compression of said springs, and adjustable stops regulating motion of said
brackets, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
4. In a machine of the class described, in combination, the rotary cutting bed
and means for adjustably supporting same as set forth in Claims 1 and 3.
5. In a machine of the class described, in combination, the curved cutters and
cutter holding devices, the rotary cutting bed and the adjustable spring supported
bearings to said bed, substantially as herein set forth.
6. In a machine of the class described, the plate or device adopted to engage
with the continuous strip or bar uniting the characters cut by the machine, and
remove or strip said characters successively from the cutters, substantially as
herein set forth.
7. In a machine of the class described, a clutch device held normally out of
operation by a spring, thrown into operation by a treadle or hand lever, held in
operation during one revolution of the cutters by a cam and automatically thrown
out by said cam at the end of said revolution, and further so arranged that by
throwing said cam out of action, changing position of said spring and fulcrum
of said treadle, said clutch is held in or out of operation by said spring, is thrown
into gear by said hand lever and is thrown out of gear by said treadle, substantially
as and for the purposes herein set forth.
8. The machine or apparatus for forming tablets, consisting of letters, figures,
or characters united by a continuous bar or strip, constructed substantially as
herein described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th dor of Sontember 1800