Improvements in Machines for Cutting Leather or other Material.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Cutting Leather or other Material.
I, HENRY PARSONS, of the City of Marlborough, County of Middlesex, and
State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Manufacturing Machinist, 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 present invention relates to what are denominated in the trade as "beam
die presses," and consist, essentially, of a frame with a heavy reciprocating
beam and having an adjustable bed; the leather or other material to be cut or
died out is placed on the bed and dies,--usually one at a time, are placed by
the hand of the operator on the material to be cut; the beam is moved down-
wards by suitable power, and striking upon the top of the die forces it through
the material; the beam is then raised and the operator moves the die to a new
position and the dieing out is continued.
It will be observed that this operation is likely to be attended with some risk
to the hands or arms of the operator; in order to obviate this liability to accident,
and to more speedily do the work,- -as the dies are frequently changed in order
to affect a saving in the cutting up of the material,-I have devised a vertical
movable spindle carrying a die holder, so arranged that the die can be seized
at any point on the bed and conveyed to the proper point, and placed on the
material to be cut; the force of the beam being exerted through the spindle,”
instead of directly upon the top of the die.
Referring to the accompanying drawing:
Figure is an end elevation, the beam being represented in cross-section, and
Figure 2 is a side elevation, showing part of the beam.
E, represents the beam of the machine; e', el, are ledges, one on each side, for
the support of the carrier a', which is suspended and held by the rolls a², ²:
The carrier a¹, can thus be moved the whole length of the beam E, with
facility. Beneath the carrier a¹, I form and place the supplemental carrier ",
suspended and held by the rolls e², e², to a small ledge, formed on the
underside of the carrier a¹; the supplemental carrier a, is formed with an arm
extended downward, through which the spindle B, is journalled: the upper end
of the spindle being journalled in the upper part of said supplemental carrier
as shown in Figures 1 and 2; the top nearly touching the underside of the
beam E. A suitable opening in the bottom of carrier a, allows the spindle
to move back and forth across the beam on the carrier a. The spindle is sup-
ported in the supplemental carrier a, by the spring b, and adjusted by the collar bi
the spindle is adjustable vertically, longitudinally and laterally, thus enabling
the operator to readily bring the spindle to any desired position under any part
of the beam. On the bottom of the spindle is placed the die-holder C, suitably
secured so that it may be turned in any direction; the form of the holder is such
that it will readily set on or over the different styles and sizes of dies;
a

page_text: convenient form is shown in the drawings, where separate fingers are used. In
order that the die G may be quickly seized and held by the holder, I provide
either mechanical, or other suitable means for seizing, holding and detaching
the die from the holder. I prefer to temporarily magnetize the holder; this I
accomplish by placing a wire suitably coiled around the holder or some part
of it, and employ electricity, derived from any convenient source; the current
is thrown on and off by a switch. For the smaller dies, a permanently magnetized
holder may be used, though it is not as serviceable as the electrical method
described.
It will be seen that one of the principal points of my present invention is the
vertical and vertically movable spindle, arranged with means for moving said
spindle vertically, and also longitudinally and laterally of the beam. Another
important point is the arrangement for magnetizing the die holder, electrically.
Instead of the rolls for the support of the carriers, it would be possible to use
a groove or grooves with a suitable hanger, but this construction would not operate
so efficiently; other details of the construction can be modified, without departing
from the spirit of my invention, I therefore do not wish to confine myself to
the exact parts shown and described herein.
Having described my improved device, I will now describe its mode of operation.
The leather or other material is placed on the bed D, the operator presses
down the spindle B, so that the holder C, rests upon a die; he then moves the
switch, and the die G will be securely held to the holder. The die is then placed
upon the material at the desired point and the machine is put in operation. The
beam descending strikes the top of the spindle forcing the die through the
material; the beam rising carries upward the spindle and die and the die is then
placed on the material preparatory to a new cut.
In case it becomes necessary
to change the die, the spindle is pressed down and the switch turned, shutting
off the electricity, and the die is instantly released, when a new die can be seized
as already described, and the work continued.
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
1st. In a machine for cutting leather or other materials, a vertically movable
spindle suitably supported and adapted to move longitudinally and laterally
in relation to the beam, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
2nd. In a machine for cutting leather or other materials, a vertically movable
spindle, suitably supported and adapted to move both longitudinally and laterally
in relation to the beam; a die holder secured to the lower end of said spindle
and adapted to be suitably magnetized, substantially as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
3rd. In a machine for cutting leather or other materials, a movable spindle,
suitably supported and having a die holder suitably adapted for seizing and
holding a die, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
4th. In a machine for cutting leather or other materials, a vertically movable
beam carriers adapted to move lengthwise and crosswise of said beam; a movable
spindle supported by said carriers, combined substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
5th. The beam E; the carrier a¹, suitably secured to said beam and adapted to
move lengthwise thereof; the supplemental carrier a, suitably secured to said
carrier a, and adapted to move crosswise of said beam; the spindle B, suitably
supported by said carrier a, and adapted to move vertically, longitudinally and
laterally, in relation to the bed D, substantially as and for the purpose herein
set forth.
6th. In a machine for cutting leather or other materials, the combination of
a vertical movable spindle; a holder secured to the lower end of said spindle,

page_text: said holder adapted to be suitably magnetized, substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth.
7th. In a machine for cutting leather or other materials, the movable spindle B,
the spring b, the collar b¹, the holder C, the wire, and switch, all arranged to
be suitably supported from the beam of the machine and adapted to operate
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Dated this 6th day of October 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.