Improvements in Apparatus for Clipping or Shearing.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, Eth Mar. 1893-Accepted, 6th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Clipping or Shearing.
1, FRANCIS CHAPMAN, Manager of McLean, Brothers & Rigg Limited, of
9 and 11 Fenchurch Avenue, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London, (a com-
munication to me from abroad by George Massey, of Post Office Chambers,
Pitt Street, Sydney, in the Colony of New South Wales, Consulting Engineer,)
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of apparatus in which a cutter is caused to
reciprocate in contact with a stationary comb or finger plate. Its object is to
minimise or obviate the vibration caused by the reciprocation and oscillation of the
connecting lever upon its centre or fulcrum pin together with the cutter and other
moving parts when such machines are worked at a high rate of speed. Means are
also provided for regulating and adjusting the pressure of the cutter upon the
comb. By these improvements the guiding and holding of such machines is
rendered much more easy than hitherto and at the same time the wear and tear of
the working parts is considerably reduced.
The cutter is as usual actuated by a lever but in order to balance the parts a
second or dummy lever is provided whose motion is opposite to that of the first
the two levers being forked to embrace opposite cranks upon a single crank shaft.
The levers may either work upon a single pivot the bearing of one surrounding
that of the other or they may have separate pivots.
The operative lever carries a cross arm at its outer end and the cutter is secured
by pins to the ends of this arm. At the middle of the arm is a button shaped
projection bearing on the cutter to prevent it from lifting and at the same time
admitting of a slight adjustment whereby the cutter may be made to lie fairly and
evenly upon the comb. The outer end of the dummy lever carries a counter-
balance weight.
At one end of the crank shaft there is a bevel pinion gearing with a bevel
pinion fixed at the end of a longitudinal shaft driven by a flexible shaft or other-
wise. One end of the crank shaft is received in a bearing in a cover plate whilst
the other end works in a bearing in a door by the removal of which the crank shaft
and bevel wheels may be taken out or the door may carry a pin entering a hole in
the end of the crank shaft. The plate to which the comb is fixed is hinged to the
frame of the apparatus and to its inner end is fixed a lever operated by an adjusting
screw against the action of a spring. In this manner the pressure of the cutter
on the comb can be accurately regulated.
Dated this 12th day of October 1892.
F. CHAPMAN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Clipping or Shearing.
I, FRANCIS CHAPMAN, Manager of McLean, Brothers & Rigg Limited, of
9 and 11 Fenchurch Avenue Fenchurch Street, in the City of London (a com-
munication to me from abroad by George Massey, of Post Office Chambers,
Pitt Street, Sydney, in the Colony of New South Wales Consulting 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
3 statement :-
This invention relates to those kinds of machines for clipping and shearing

page_text: sheep and cutting hair in which a cutter is reciprocated above and in contact with
a stationary finger bar or comb. It has been specially devised in order to minimise
or obviate the vibration caused by the reciprocation and oscillation of the con-
necting lever upon its centre or fulcrum pin together with the cutter and other
moving parts when such machines are worked at a high rate of speed. By these
improvements the guiding and holding of such machines is rendered much more
easy than hitherto and at the same time the wear and tear of the working parts is
considerably reduced.
These improvements in machines for clipping and shearing sheep and cutting
hair consist 1st. In arranging a dummy lever having its motion directly opposite
to that of the lever which actuates the reciprocating cutter so that the dummy
lever will counterbalance the reciprocating cutter together with its actuating
lever. 2nd. In giving motion to both of these levers by one revolving crank
shaft. 3rd. In means of adjusting the tension by connecting the part carrying
the finger bar or comb, to the frame by a hinge joint and providing a regulating
screw in connection therewith. 4th. In combinations and arrangements of
mechanical parts used to effect the objects of this invention which will hereafter
be more particularly described and specifically set forth.
In order that this invention may be clearly understood I will now describe the
drawings herewith.
;
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively sectional plan and elevation of such a machine
in which A is a crank shaft in which are formed two crank pins A¹ and A' the
relative position of these two crank pins being directly opposite to each other
upon the oue end of A and preferably the lower there is a bevil wheel V secured
which is geared into another bevil wheel V₁ fixed upon the shaft W working in
the rear end of the main frame or casing D; B and B are two levers free to
oscillate about the centre pin C which is securely held in the main frame or
casing D by the nut E on the underside; the hole in the boss of the lever B fits
the pin C and the hole in the boss of the lever B¹ fits the outside of the boss of
the lever B; the right hand ends of the levers B and B have slots in which
work the crank pins A1 and A2 respectively, the opposite end of the lever B is
secured to the reciprocating cutter F by two small studs F1 and F which fit into
corresponding holes in the cutter F; the cutter is prevented from lifting by the
button shaped projection B2 upon the lever B which presses upon the cutter and
at the same time admits of slight adjustment whereby the cutter will lie fairly
and evenly upon the finger plate; the opposite end of the lever B¹ is formed into
a counterbalance weight. G is the finger plate secured by suitable screw bolts
such as H and H₁ to the nose piece K upon which are two half portions of the
hinges Land L' the other half of these hinges being upon the main frame or
casing D these hinges move about the two small joint pins J and J¹; the nose
piece K has an arm or bar M projecting back; N is a screw bolt tapped in through
the casing D and pressing up against the arm M; S is a spring which keeps the
arm M down upon the screw bolt N; P is a loose piece or cover which may be
either telescoped into the casing D as shown or hinged thereto; R is a door
secured to the casing D by two screws R1 and R2 by the removal of which the
crank shaft and bevil wheels may be taken out.
In operation when the shaft W is caused to rotate by any suitable means such
as attaching to its outer end a well known flexible driving shaft the crank shaft A
will be revolved by the bevil wheels V and V₁ and the crank pins A¹ and A2 will
travel to and fro in the slotted ends of the respective levers B and B¹ causing
them to vibrate in opposite directions upon and about the centre pin C; whilst a
similar motion will be imparted to the cutter and counterbalance at their opposite
ends and thereby cause the cutter F to reciprocate over the finger bar G and
shear or cut the wool or hair which may be gathered between the cutting edges
from the advancement of the machine by the operator.
The "tension" is adjusted by regulating the screw bolt N the setting up of
which raises the arm M and depresses the finger bar or plate G and by the setting

page_text: down of the screw bolt the opposite effect is brought about by the action of the
spring S; the whole moving about the hinges L and L' until the proper adjustment
between the cutter F and the finger plate G has been obtained.
Figure 3 is a cross section on line YZ Figure 1 with the levers removed for the
purpose of more clearly showing the "tension" gear.
Figure 4 is an elevation of a fragment of the machine illustrated by Figures 1, 2
and 3 showing the arrangement of the arm M spring S screw bolt N &c.
Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 show a machine similar in all respects to that illustrated
by Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 excepting that in this the screw bolt N of the tension gear
is passed through a hole in the main frame D and is tapped or screwed into the
arm M thus drawing down the arın M and raising the finger plate; in this arrange-
ment the spring S is shown under the arm M.
Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 show a machine similar in all respects to that illustrated
by Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 excepting that in this the two levers B and B' work
upon separate pins C and C¹
Figures 13, 14, 15 and 16, show a machine similar in all respects to that
illustrated by Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 excepting that in this the two levers B and B'
work upon separate pins C and C¹.
Figures 17 and 18 are elevation and plan illustrating the construction of the
crank shaft A the one end of which is shewn with a hole bored in its centre into
which a stud upon the door R fits and upon which the crank shaft revolves; but
it is easily understood that instead of the stud being upon the door the crank shaft
may have a pivot end similar to the other and work in a hole in the door; but I
prefer it as illustrated on account of its being reduced in length.
In Figures 19, 20 and 21 the joint pins J and J¹ have been removed from the
hinges Land L' for the purpose of shewing the nose piece K detached from the
casing D.
The improved construction of "tension" gear as herein described and illustrated
is not only applicable to such machines as I have described and illustrated
but also to various other kinds of shearing machines in which there is not any
balance lever that is machines which have only the one vibrating lever.
It can be easily understood that a spring of different construction to the one
shewn may be used for instance such as a coil spring &c. and also that a spring
may be dispensed with and in lieu thereof a further screw bolt screwed through the
bracket on the casing by which arrangement the arm M would be rigidly held
between the two screw bolts but the way 1 deem preferable and most easily
manipulated is as I have illustrated by my drawings.
I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the exact shape and
disposition of the parts shewn as some of them might be slightly modified without
departing from the substance of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is -
1. In machines for clipping and shearing the means for preventing oscillation,
by the provision of a dummy oscillating lever whose movements are opposite to
those of the lever which works the cutter substantially as described.
2. In machines for clipping and shearing the provision of a dummy oscillating
lever and actuating this and the lever which works the cutter by opposite cranks
on the same crank axis substantially as described.
3. In machines for clipping and shearing the means for varying the pressure of
the comb or finger bar against the cutter by providing a hinge joint and a regulating
screw substantially as described.
4. The combination and arrangement of the several parts forming the improved
machine substantially as herein described and illustrated in the drawings by
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
5. The combination and arrangement of the several parts forming the improved

page_text: machine substantially as herein described and illustrated in the drawings by
Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12.
6. The combination and arrangement of the several parts forming the improved
machine substantially as herein described and illustrated in the drawings by
Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8.
7. The combination and arrangement of the several parts forming the improved
machine for clipping and shearing substantially as herein described and illustrated
in the drawings by Figures 13, 14, 15 and 16.
F. CHAPMAN.