IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR ENGRAVING AND CHASING METALS, AND FOR CUTTING WOOD, STONE, AND OTHER LIKE MATERIALS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR ENGRAVING AND CHASING METALS, AND
FOR CUTTING WOOD, STONE, AND OTHER LIKE MATERIALS." A communication
from abroad by Harvey Klapp Flagler, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States
of America.
Sealed the 28th August 1877, and dated the 4th. July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th July 1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR ENGRAVING
AND CHASING METALS, AND FOR CUTTING WOOD, STONE, AND OTHER LIKE
MATERIALS." [A.communication from abroad by Harvey Klapp Flagler, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to machinery for engraving and chasing metals, and for
engraving or cutting wood, stone, and other substances. In practising this Inven-
tion, I use a rotating hollow shaft or mandrel, in which are placed tools or chisels
attached to slide rods, which are moved to and fro alternately by suitable mechanism
as the hollow shaft and tools are rotated, thus causing the points or lower ends of
the tools to strike the material with a series of blows which cut, crumble, break, or
chip the material.
A blast of air employed in connection with this machine blows away the waste
and grit as fast as the same are formed.
The metal, marble, stone,.or..other substance to be cut, chased, or engraved in
accordance with the desired design or pattern, is marked upon its surface in any
usual manner, and moved or fed under the chisels or tools according to the exigencies
of the design or pattern.
Where a number of similar articles are to be produced, a pattern plate is attached
to the article to be cut, and fitted to a stud projecting up from the work support,
which enables the marking upon the face of the material to be dispensed with.
The metal, stone, marble, granite, wood, or other material to be cut, chased, or

page_text: ornamented, is placed upon a suitable work support. A slide carries in suitable
bearings the hollow shaft or mandrel. Within the said hollow shaft are placed two
slide rods having at their lower ends the tools or chisels suitable to cut, chase, or
engrave metal, stone, marble, granite, wood, and the like, such tools being removable
from the slide rods, and being provided with points or cutting edges of any desired
form. Projecting laterally froin each slide rod is a rigid arm provided preferably
with a friction roll, which enters a cam groove made in a cam plate secured to the
interior of a box, which is firmly attached to the lower bearing of the said shaft.
To the hollow shaft is secured a collar provided with slots in line with slots in
the hollow shaft through which the arms pass, the sides of the slot forming guides
for steadying the arms as they are rotated.
A nipple or nose secured to the lower end of the hollow shaft assists in guarding
and steadying the chisels or cutters.
The slide moves up and down upon the forward end of the frame.
The slide and head are lowered to bring the tools in proper position with relation
to the surface of the material to. be cut, chased, or engraved by means of a lever
connected by a link or otherwise with a treadle controlled by the foot of the
operator.
The position of the tools may be adjusted to accord witli the thickness of the
material to be operated upon, or the depth of the cut desired by means of a screw.
This screw turns in, but does not move longitudinally with reference to the slide.
The tools, having a combined reciprocating and rotating motion, strike blows
specially suited to chase, indent, or cut metal; or cut, break away, or crumble wood,
stone, or other substances.
By changing the position of the slide, the cutting or indenting into the surface of
the material may be continued to the desired depth.
The tool best adapted to marble has a semicircular end.
For wood, the tool will be of proper shape to remove portions of the surface of the
material with a clean well defined cut.
For operating on metal, the tool should be provided with a point or cutting edge
especially adapted for the work to be performed.
Where a number of articles of like pattern are to be cut, a pattern plate cut out
to correspond with the design or pattern is attached to the under or back face of
the material to be operated upon.
In lieu of a blast to remove the chippings or refuse, an exhaust current or draft
may be used to draw such refuse away.
Instead of attaching the head to a frame or support capable of vertical adjust-
ment only, it may be secured to a universal support, which can be turned in any.
desired direction in order that the tools may be made to operate on any stationary
surface without regard to its position.
In a modification of .this Invention the slide rods which carry the chisels or tools
are operated by levers pivoted to hangers, levers being connected at one end with
one of the slide rods, and formed to fit over the edge of a stationary cam ring
secured to the interior of a box, and the slide rods with their tools are simul-
taneously reciprocated and rotated as desired.

page_text: A nipple or nose a, secured to the lower end of the hollow shaft c, assists in
guiding and steadying the chisels or cutters i.
If desired, spiral or other springs may be used within the head to assist in
keeping the friction rolls always in contact with one edge of the cam groove, so
that as the groove wears, the machine will run with less noise.
The slide c is so arranged as to move up and down upon the forward end of the
frame A. The attachment between the slide and frame is made in this instance by
means of a dovetailed gib p in the frame, which enters a correspondingly shaped
groove in the slide c.
The slide and head are lowered to bring the tools in the proper position in relation
to the surface of the material to be cut, chased, or engraved, by means of a lever g,
connected by a link or otherwise with a treadle s controlled by the foot of the
operator. The spring t raises the slide when it is desired to lift the tools from the
operating position.
The position of the tools may be adjusted to accord with the thickness of the
material to be operated upon, or the depth of the cut desired, by means of a screw u,
which enters the arm v extended through a slot in the frame and into an opening
in the said slide. This screw turns in but does not move longitudinally with
reference to the slide; it enters a tapped hole in the arm v, and when rotated will
move the slide and head vertically in relation to the arm v and lever q, thereby
As the
⚫ causing the tools, when depressed by the lever and treadle, to descend.
hollow shaft e is rotated, the arms j are carried around thereby within the stationary
cam-shaped groove l, the form of which is such as to cause the slide rods h with
their tools to be so raised and lowered that the tools will alternately strike the
material and chase cut or remove it.
The tools having a combined reciprocating and rotating motion, strike blows
specially suited to chase, indent, or cut metal; or cut, break away, or crumble wood,
stone, or other substances.
By changing the position of the slide the cutting or indenting into the surface of
the material may be continued to the desired depth.
The tool best adapted to marble has a semicircular end, and is shewn in
Figure 1.
For operating on granite, a tool with a point, as shown in Figure 4, has been
found the best.
For operating on wood, the tool should be of proper shape to remove portions of
the surface of the material with a clean well defined cut.
For operating on metal, the tool should be provided with a point or cutting edge
especially adapted for the work to be performed.
Where a number of articles of like pattern are to be cut, I use a pattern plate w
cut out to correspond with the design or pattern to be produced, as shewn by
dotted lines, Figure 3; this plate is attached to the under or back face of the material
to be operated upon, as for instance the piece shewn at a¹, and the pattern plate
having been fitted to a guide pin or stud b1, Figures 1 and 5, projecting up from
the work support b, the material to be operated upon may be moved according to
the pattern, to cause the tools to chase or cut, as above described, the face of the
material in accordance with such pattern.
The rigid arms j are short and stiff; they lift the slide rods positively and may
be removed if desired and replaced by new ones.
The extent of the motion of the slide rods may be governed by changing the
plate m containing the cam groove; 18 is a tube, through which a blast of air is
conducted to blow away the waste and grit as fast as it is formed.
In lieu of a blast to remove the chippings or refuse, an exhaust may be used to
draw such refuse away.
Instead of attaching the head B to a frame or support capable of vertical adjust-
ment only, as shown, it may be secured to a universal support, which can be turned
in any desired direction in order that the tools may be made to operate on any
stationary surface without regard to its position.

page_text: In Figure 6 is represented a modification of this Invention, in which the slide
rods which carry the chisels or tools are operated by levers el pivotted to hangers
attached to the under side of the pulley 12. Each of the levers c' is connected at
one end with one of the slide rods, and its opposite end is formed to fit over the
edge of a stationary cam ring g' secured to the interior of the box n; therefore as the
pulley 12 and hollow shaft e are rotated, the levers c¹ are vibrated by the cam ring g',
and the slide rods with their tools are simultaneously reciprocated and rotated as
desired.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
The slide rods with their chisels or tools in combination with a rotating hollow
shaft and mechanism for vertically reciprocating the said slide rods to cause the
tools while being rotated to alternately strike the material to be operated upon as
above described.
Also, the combination with the rotating hollow shaft and cam groove of chisels or
tools and slide rods provided with rigid arms extended into the cam groove to
operate as above set forth.
Also, the rotating hollow shaft with its slide rods and tools, and mechanism for
reciprocating the tools in combination with a vertically movable slide and mechanism
for lowering the head into working position as above described.
Also, the head-carrying slide and the rotating hollow shaft with its slide rods
and tools adapted to be reciprocated as described in combination with the lever for
moving the slide, and an adjusting device for changing the position of the slide
with reference to the end of the arm for governing the descent of the head and
tools according to the thickness of the material and the depth of the cut required
therein.
Also, the rotating hollow shaft and reciprocating tools carried thereby, in combi-
nation with a support for the material and mechanism for raising and lowering the
head as above described.
Also, the rotating hollow shaft and reciprocating tools in combination with a pipe
for conducting air to discharge the cuttings from the face of the material as above
set forth.
Also, the rotating hollow shaft and reciprocating tools in combination with a
supporting surface, and a guide and pattern plate to operate as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third, day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
W KUB. LAKE. (L.S.)
ROB