Improvements in Machines for Trimming the Edges of Hollow Articles of Sheet Metal, and for similar purposes.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Trimming the Edges of Hollow
Articles of Sheet Metal, and for similar purposes.
I, EDWARD SMITH HIGGINS, of Lynden Villas, Southwark Park Road, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR TRIMMING THE EDGES OF HOLLOW ARTICLES
OF SHEET-METAL AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
"
My Invention relates to turning-lathes chiefly designed for trimming the edges
of hollow articles stamped or otherwise formed from sheet-metal.
My lathe is more especially advantageous for trimming the edges of articles of
oval, oblong or similar form, or articles of irregular form not having sharp angles
or corners. But it will also be found of advantage in trimming the edges of.
articles of circular form and large diameter. My said lathe can, moreover, be
readily adapted for turning solid articles of wood, metal or other material.
An essential feature of my said invention is the employment of a cam, or of
interchangeable cams, which correspond in shape with the articles to be turned or
trimmed and whereby the work is moved laterally (according to the shape of the
cam employed) to keep the edge to be trimmed always in position relatively to the
cutting tool or tools. The said cam is fixed upon the shaft which carries the chuck
or other support for the work, and a pin or stud is secured in the frame of the
machine and provided with an anti-friction roller which fits into the cam-groove, s0
that, as the cam rotates, the said pin or stud will act upon the inner or the outer
face of the said cam, and the shaft will thus be moved towards, or away from, the
said pin or stud according to the configuration of the cam-groove.
I will now proceed to more fully describe my lathe as constructed for trimming
the edges of hollow articles made from sheet-metal by stamping, drawing or piecing.
In this form of lathe, I employ a series of interchangeable cams. One of these cams
is fixed upon the shaft carrying the chuck, in such a manner that it can be easily
removed and replaced by a cam of different shape. This shaft is carried in sliding
bearings so that it can be moved horizontally to and fro by the cam. A pin or
stud is fixed in the frame of the machine and provided with an anti-friction roller
which fits into the cam-groove as above stated. As the said shaft is rotated
it is moved laterally in one direction or the other according to the shape of the
cam-groove.
.

page_text: I employ two rotary cutters which are arranged in bearings in a suitable carrier.
This carrier is pivotted to a bracket so that the cutters, when not required, can be
moved away from their operative position to permit the removal of the trimmed
article and the insertion of another article to be trimmed.
The front end of the shaft is carried in a slide in which is fixed a projecting arm.
To this arm is pivotted another arm which carries a pad for holding the work in
the chuck. This holder or pad is pressed against the work by a spring and is so
arranged that it can be readily withdrawn and the arm which carries it turned on
the pivot to permit the removal of the work from the chuck. I sometimes provide
other suitable means for holding the work in place.
"
To enable the lateral to-and-fro movement of the aforesaid shaft to be effected
while the said shaft is being rotated, I provide the following devices, that is to
say I mount upon the said shaft a worm-wheel; with this worm-wheel gears a
worm or endless screw which is rotated by any suitable means and imparts motion
to the said shaft. This worm or endless screw is of sufficient length to permit the
worm-wheel to travel a short distance along it in either direction. This motion of
the worm-wheel takes place without affecting its rotation, with the exception of
slightly increasing its speed when moved in one direction and decreasing it when
moved in the other direction. I may, however, provide other suitable means for
this purpose; for example in some cases I substitute for the worm and worm wheel
a pulley driven by a belt arranged vertically so that it will not be affected by the
to-and-fro movement of the pulley.
It is obvious that, by providing a slide rest or other suitable support for a
turning-tool, the lathe above described can be adapted for turning solid articles of
wood, metal or other material.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: -
Articles of Sheet-metal, and for similar Purposes.
:
I, EDWARD SMITH HIGGINS, of Lynden Villas, Southwark Park Road, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR TRIMMING THE EDGES OF HOLLOW ARTICLES
OF, SHEET-METAL AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES 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, machines for trimming the edges of hollow articles
stamped or otherwise formed from sheet-metal, and for similar purposes.
My improved machine is chiefly designed for trimming the edges of boxes or
other hollow articles of oval or similar form, or of irregular form but not having
sharp angles or corners. It is, however, also advantageous for trimming the edges
of hollow articles of circular form and large diameter. The said machine can,
moreover, be readily adapted for cutting sheet-metal to form blanks from which
such articles are to be made, or for turning solid articles of wood, metal, or other
material.
•
An essential feature of my said invention is the employment of a cam, having
a groove corresponding in shape with the periphery of the box or other article to
be trimmed, or of the blank or other article to be formed by cutting or turning.
This can is fixed upon a spindle or shaft, which is supported in sliding bearings,
and which carries the chuck or work-support, and the said cam is arranged in
combination with a stationary pin or stud which fits into the cam-groove; therefore,
as the said spindle or shaft is rotated, it will be moved laterally to and fro
(according to the shape or configuration of the cam-groove) in such a manner that
the article to be trimmed, cut, or turned will always be kept in its proper position
relatively to the cutting tool or tools. I usually provide the macbine with a series
of interchangeable cams, the grooves whereof differ in respect of their shape or
dimensions, or both.
My said invention, moreover, comprises various improvements hereinafter set
forth.
In the accompanying drawings,

page_text: Figures 8 and 9 are plans, partly in horizontal section, shewing modifications of
my invention, and
Figure 10 is a rear elevation, partly in vertical section.
Figure 11 a side elevation, and Figure 12 a plan, showing a further modification
of my said invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
a is the base-plate or bed of the machine, which is supported upon standards b.
c is a bracket which is firmly secured to the base-plate a, and which I will herein-
after term the headstock; d is a bracket which supports the cutter-carrier
hereinafter described; e is the driving shaft, which is supported in bearings el fixed
or formed on the headstock c; f is a pulley, which is fitted to rotate upon the said
shaft, and around which a belt is to be passed to connect it with any suitable
motor. is a friction cone, which is keyed upon the shaft e, so that it is free to
slide to and fro thereon, but will rotate therewith, and which is designed to be
put into, or out of, gear with a hollow friction cone or conical surface f¹ on the
pulley, by the means hereinafter described. h is a worm or endless screw fixed
or formed on the shaft e and gearing with a worm-wheel i fixed on the spindle or
shaft j, which I will hereinafter term the live-spindle. This spindle is supported,
at one end, in a bearing j fitted to slide to and fro in a slot cl in the bracket c²
forming part of the headstock c; the said spindle is supported, near its other end,
in a bearing in the plate or block k, which is fitted to slide to and fro between
guides c, c fixed or formed on the headstock c. The inner extremity of the
spindle jis screw-threaded, as shewn in Figure 4, and a chuck of suitable shape
to receive' the article to be trimmed is screwed' thereon, or the said chuck may be
otherwise secured on the said spindle. A curved bracket kl is firmly attached to
the slide k, and has a bearing at its extremity. A shaft m is fitted with a
capability of axial movement in the bearing and is coupled, at one end, to
a lever m, which is coupled at m³ to a link m³ pivoted at m to the bracket k¹.
A block or holder n is secured to the free end of the shaft m by means of a
screw n¹ inserted in a boss n³ formed on the holder n, and projecting into an
annular groove or recess m³ in the said shaft; the said holder is,' therefore, free to
rotate upon the said shaft. This holder is of such shape that it will fit into the
article to be trimmed. By moving the lever m¹ in one or the other direction, the
said holder can be pressed firmly into the article to be trimmed, after the same
has been placed in the chuck l, or moved away from the said chuck to permit the
removal of the trimmed article, and the insertion of another article to be trimmed.
A ring or annular piece ³ provided with a screw-threaded extension k* is fitted to
slide up and down in a slot in the bearing k³, and the shaft m is passed through
the said ring; a nut provided with a handle is fitted upon the said extension.
When the holder n has been moved up to the chuck to bold the work therein,
the nut is to be screwed up or tightened to retain the shaft m in position in
the bearing, and thus prevent the displacement of the work while it is being
trimmed.
I
o is a cam, which is fixed upon the live-spindle j and has two grooves o¹, o².
The groove o is of the same shape or configuration as the edge or periphery of the
article to be trimmed; in the cam shewn in the drawings, the said groove is
elliptical or approximately so. p is a pin or stud fixed in a plate p', which is fitted
to slide to and fro in a groove or channel c in the headstock c. The plate p¹ is
made with a slot p, through which extends a bolt p³ fixed in the headstock c, so
that the said plate and the pin or stud p carried thereby can be moved towards, or
away from, the live-spindle j according to the size of the article to be trimmed.
The bolt p³ is provided with a nut p whereby the plate pl can be firmly secured
in any position to which it may be adjusted. The plate pl is, moreover, cut away
at p to permit the lateral movement of the spindle jas hereinafter described.
The pin or stud p is provided with an antifriction roller p' which fits into the
groove o¹ of the cam o; therefore,' when the spindle j is rotated, the said pin or

page_text: stud will act alternately upon the inner and outer faces of the said groove and thụs
cause the lateral movement of the spindle j alternately towards and away from the
said pin or stud, according to the shape or configuration of the cam-groove, and the
adjustment of the plate p¹ in the groove or channel c³.
q, q' are two rotary cutters, which are fixed or formed on sleeves q*, and are
fitted to rotate upon hollow cylinders or distance pieces q² placed upon the bolts q³;
these bolts are fitted with a capability of lateral adjustment in a slot in the
cutter-carrier r; as shewn in Figures 2 and 8, so that the cutters can be moved
towards, or away from, each other. The bolts 9 are provided with nuts q',
whereby they can be secured in any position to which they may be adjusted. The
said nuts, when tightened, bear against the hollow cylinders or distance pieces q²,
leaving the cutters q, q¹ and their sleeves q* free to rotate thereon. The cutter-
carrier is fixed or formed on a shaft supported in a bearing & formed on the
bracket d. An arm 3 is fixed on the shaft r, and is coupled, by means of a link r
to an arm t which is fitted upon a shaft t¹ and is connected therewith by a key
fitting into a longitudinal groove or channel t in the said shaft, so that the arm t
is free to move to and fro upon the said shaft, but will rotate therewith. This
shaft is supported in a bearing in the bracket t³, which is firmly secured to the
bracket d, and also in a bearing in the bracket e fixed or formed on the head-
stock c.
An arm is fixed on the shaft t¹, the endwise movement of which shaft
is prevented by the said arm and by a fixed collar to. The arm is provided
with an antifriction roller t (Figure 1), which roller is mounted loosely upon the
pin or stud t, and fits into the groove o³ of the cam o.
The bracket d is fitted to slide transversely to and fro upon a block d¹, so that
the cutters can be moved towards, or away from, the spindle j according to the size
of the article to be trimmed. The bracket is dovetailed to the said block d' and
is secured thereto by means of bolts d² passing through slots d³ in the said bracket.
The block d¹ is fitted to slide longitudinally to and fro ou the base-plate a, to
which it is dovetailed, as shewn. The said block is provided with a lug or pro-
jection d, whereby it is coupled, by means of a link u¹, to a bent lever u pivoted
at u to a bracket u³ extending downward from the base-plate a. A lever v is
pivoted at v to a bracket v² fixed or formed on the base-plate a. This lever is
provided, at one end, with a pin or stud fitting into a curved or inclined
groove 8¹ in the underside of the block. The other end of the lever v is coupled
to a forked lever w, which is pivoted at wo¹ to a bracket w fixed or formed on the
headstock c. The prongs or arms of the forked lever w project into an annular
groove or recess g¹ in the friction cone g. When the lever u is moved in the
direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, the block d', the bracket d, and the
cutters supported thereby will be moved away from the work. In this movement
of the block d, the lever v will be turned around or about its pivot v to throw the
clutch out of gear and stop the machine. When the lever u is moved in the
reverse direction to that indicated by the said arrow, the cutters will be moved up
to the work and the lever v will be turned so as to put the clutch into gear and
start the machine. I thus provide for moving the cutters up to the work and
starting the machine, or for stopping the machine and moving the cutters away
from their operative position by a single movement of the lever u.
The operation of the machine above described is as follows, that is to say:-The
parts are shown in the drawings in the positions which they occupy when a box or
other article is being trimmed. The outer edge o³ of the cam-groove o' is of the
same size and configuration as the outer edge or periphery of the said box or other
article. Therefore, as the spindle j is rotated, it will be moved first away from the
cutters q, q until one end of the said box or other article arrives between the same,
and then towards the said cutters until the central point of one side of the box or
other article arrives between the same, and so on. The edge to be trimmed will
thus be kept always in the proper position for the cutters to operate thereon. The
cam-groove o³ is of such shape that, while the article is being trimmed, the cam will

page_text: act upon the arm, and move the same in one or the other direction and thereby:
keep the cutters always in such a position that the plane passing through their
axes will be at right angles to the part being trimmed. By these means I provide
for automatically adjusting the cutters relatively to the work and thereby greatly
facilitating the trimming operation and enabling such operation to be performed in
a much more efficient manner than would be practicable, if the cutters were not
provided with means for altering the angle thereof relatively to the work, as above
specified.
When the box or other article has been trimmed, the lever u is moved in the
direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, to stop the machine and move the
cutters away from the work. The nut is slackened and the lever m' is moved
in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1, to draw back the holder n and
thus permit the removal of the trimmed article from the chuck l, and the insertion
therein of another article to be trimmed. The lever m¹ is. then moved in the
reverse direction to that indicated by the arrow, to clamp the work firmly between
the holder n and the chuck Z, and the nut is tightened to hold the shaft m and
holder n firmly in position. The lever u is then raised to move the cutters up to
the work and start the machine, and the operation above described is repeated.
In the lateral to-and-fro movement of the spindle j and parts carried thereby,
the worm-wheel i rolls backwards and forwards upon the worm h; therefore the
transmission of motion from the shaft e to the spindle is unaffected by such
lateral movement, with the exception of the speed being slightly increased when
the wheel rolls upon the worm h in one direction, and decreased when the said
wheel rolls thereon in the reverse direction.
When the edge of the article to be trimmed is slightly bent outward or inward,
it is sometimes necessary to move the cutters a short distance away from each
other, in order to permit their engagement with the work, and then bring them
together again. For this purpose I prefer to employ, in combination with the
bolts 93, a screw y (Figure 8) provided with right and left hand threads y', y²,
which work in correspondingly screw-threaded holes in the heads of the bolts q³.
This screw y is secured in the carrier in any suitable manner so that it is free to
rotate therein but its endwise movement is prevented.
To adapt my improved machine for cutting sheet-metal to form oval, elliptical
or other blanks, from which the boxes or other hollow articles are to be made,
I proceed as follows, that is to say, I substitute, for the carrier above described, a
cutter-carrier r constructed as shewn in Figure 9. The slot r¹, in this carrier,
instead of being at right angles to the shaft 2, is parallel therewith; therefore,
when the said carrier is in place in the bracket d, the cutters will be parallel with
the spindle instead of at right angles thereto.
Moreover, instead of the cutters being moved up to, and away from, the work as
above described, I prefer that the work should be moved up to, and away from, the
cutters. For this purpose the pin or stud p is fixed in, or formed integrally with,
a piece (Figures 10, 11 and 12) fitted to slide to and fro in a groove or
channel in the plate p¹, and adjustable in the said groove or channel by means
of a screw 7. By turning this screw in one or the other direction, the said pin
or stud, the cam o and, consequently, the work can be moved away from, or
towards, the cutters.
When the machine is to be used for cutting sheet-metal to form blanks, it is
preferably so arranged that the live-spindle j will be vertical instead of horizontal.
But it is obvious that the machine can be arranged to operate in any desired
position according to the class of work for which it is required.
In Figure 9, I have shown a further modification of my invention, whereby
I provide for adjusting the cutters relatively to each other to compensate for wear.
For this purpose I make each of the hollow cylinders or distance pieces q² in two
parts, which are united by screwing as at q*. When the cutters become worn, the
parts of one distance piece are slightly unscrewed to lengthen the same, or the parts

page_text: of the other distance piece are slightly screwed up to shorten the same, or both
these operations are performed; the cutters, when they become worn, are thus
brought into contact with each other.
I sometimes provide other means than those above described for permitting the
lateral to-and-fro movement of the spindle j while the said spindle is being
rotated; for instance, I substitute, for the worm and worm-wheel, a pulley fixed
on the said spindle and arranged to be driven by a belt which is perpendicular to
the path of the said spindle and pulley, or approximately so, and is of such length
that its tension will not be affected by the to-and-fro movement thereof.
It is obvious that, by providing a slide-rest or other suitable support for a
turning-tool, the machine above described can be adapted for turning solid articles
of wood, metal, or other material, that is to say, to serve as a turning lathe.
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
First. In a machine for trimining the edges of hollow articles of sheet-metal and
for similar purposes, the employment of means whereby the work, while it is
rotating, will be moved laterally to and fro, for the purpose specified.
Second. In a machine for trimming the edges of hollow articles of sheet-metal or
for similar purposes, the combination of means for moving the work laterally to
and fro while it is rotating, and means for automatically adjusting the cutters
according to shape of the article to be cut or trimmed, as, and for the purposes,
above specified.
Third. The combination of parts, substantially as set forth, comprising the live-
spindle, the cam fixed on the said spindle, and the stationary pin or stud projecting
into the groove, of the said cam, whereby I provide for imparting lateral recipro-
cating motion to the said spindle, for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The combination, with the driving shaft and the live-spindle, of the
worm and worm-wheel, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Fifth. The combination of parts comprising the lever u, the block d', the
bracket d, the levers v, w, and the clutch y, substantially as set forth, whereby
I provide for moving the cutters up to the work and starting the machine, or
stopping the machine and moving the cutters away from the work, by a single
movement of the said lever ut, as above specified.
Sixth. The combination of the chuck carried by the live-spindle j, and the
holder carried by the shaft m and arranged to be operated by the lever m²,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Seventh. The combination of parts comprising the cutter-carrier r, the shaft t¹,
the arms t, t, the link, and the cam o, substantially as set forth, whereby
I provide for automatically adjusting the cutters relatively to the work, as, and for
the purpose, specified.
Eighth. The improved machine consisting of the parts constructed and combined
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings and
operating as, and for the purpose, specified.
Ninth. The modification of my invention, substantially as described with
reference to Figure 8 of the drawings, whereby I provide for moving the cutters
away from each other and bringing them together again, as, and for the purpose,
specified.
Tenth. The modification of my invention, substantially as described with
reference to Figure 9 of the drawings, whereby I adapt the machine for cutting
sheet-metal to form blanks, as above specified.
Eleventh. The modification of my invention, substantially as described with
reference to Figure 9 of the drawings, whereby I provide for the adjustment of
the cutters relatively to each other to compensate for wear, as above specified.

page_text: Twelfth. The modification of my invention, substantially as described with
reference to Figures 10 to 12 of the drawings, whereby I provide for moving the
work to and from the cutters, as, and for the purpose, specified.
Thirteenth. A machine constructed substantially as above described and pro-
vided with a slide-rest, or other support for a turning-tool, for the purpose
specified.