Improvements in Watch-case Turning Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1893-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Watch-case Turning Machines.
I, CHARLES EDOUARD HENRIOD-BACHNI of Bienne, Canton de Berne,
Switzerland 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 for improvements in watch case turning machines has for its object
to turn watch cases from the blanks by means of machinery to which the blanks
are automatically and successively fed, chucked, turned and released, thus ensuring
accurate and standard work and considerably increasing the output hitherto
attainable.
Hitherto the watch cases have been chucked, turned, and released by hand and
consequently it has been impossible to obtain accurate and standard work as the
size varied with the pressure on the turning tools and the clamping was liable
to dent or press the case out of shape if the pressure exerted was too great,
whilst on being clamped automatically they are always subjected to the same
pressure.
In the accompanying two sheets of illustrative drawings,
Fig. 1 is a plan of a machine for automatically turning watch cases, constructed
according to this invention, and
Figure 2 is a central and vertical longitudinal section and
Figures 3 and 5 are vertical cross sections on the lines Z-Z and Z¹-Z'
respectively, Figure 1 of the same.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of the slide carrying the cutting tool.
Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 are detail views.
The headstock, is fitted on the table t in such manner that it may be slid along
the runner t, in the direction of its axis and towards the slide rests by means of the
cam shaped disc na on the shaft Ug. The springs 11 fixed to the headstock c₁ and
the table t bring the headstock back to its first position so soon as the cam shaped
disc n³ ceases to act thereon as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
In the headstock c is fitted the spindle a, which is hollow and carries between
the bearings of the headstock the cone pulley c by means of which it is driven
from a countershaft. On the end of the spindle a projecting towards the slide
rests is screwed a hollow chuck a provided with longitudinal slots and in the slotted
front portion of which is clamped the object to be worked. Through the hollow
spindle a, and through a part of the chuck runs a rod e, carrying a cone e₁ on the
front part within the chuck u. This cone e presses outwards in a radial direction
the slotted parts of the chuck a which is also of a conical shape inside, as soon as
the rod e is moved against the front end of the chuck a.
The forward movement
of the rod e takes place each time an object to be worked is clamped in the chuck a
or when a finished article leaves the chuck. It is effected by means of a
lever d which is moved against the back end of the rod e by the cams d₁ which are
fitted on the shaft u, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
In front of the headstock are fitted, one on each side, the slides g and which
slide in corresponding guides fitted to the table t at right angles to the axis of the
spindle. The movement towards the chuck a, that is the spindle axis is effected, in
the case of the slide g by the cam n, and in the case of the slide by the cam n..
The opposite movement, that is away from the chuck and spindle axis, is
effected so soon as the cams have ceased to act, by the closing together of the
springs 22 and 33 which have been extended by the previous movement towards
the chuck.

page_text: The
On the slide 9 are fitted two slides g₁ and 92 each of which carries another
slide and g' on which last slides are fixed the cuttter holders B, and B..
slide 91 is adjustable in the direction of movement of the slide 9 by means of the
screw whilst the slides g' and g₁ can be adjusted at right angles to this direction
by the screws 12- The slides and g₁' and the cutter holder B3 always follow the
movement of the slide g. The slides g2 and g, and the cntter holder B, receive,
beyond the movement imparted to them by means of the slide g, a further forward
movement from the cam n, acting on the screw vs whereby the corresponding back-
ward movement takes place through the spring 2¹ (Figure 5) which is fixed at one
end to the slide g and at the other end to the slide 9,. By means of the screw 13
which is screwed into the slide 9, and on the head of which the cam n, acts the
extent of the movement of the slide 92 effected by the cam can be regulated
as desired.
On the slide are fitted the pairs of slides h₁ h₁' and h₂h, together with the cutter
holders B, and B. Both these pairs of slides only follow the movement of the
slide and none of them receive a special movement after the manner of the pair
of slides g. 92.
In the cutter holder B, is fixed the cutter b₁, in B, the cutter b in B, the
cutter by and in the cutter holder B, the cutters b and b
The two shafts m m, one of which carries the cams n, and n, and the other
the cam n,, are fitted at the two sides of the table t in bearings m, and are driven
by means of the worm gearing o from a shaft u, in the bearings u.
The shaft u₁ is
driven from shafting through the cord pulley s. Parallel to this shaft u₁ and in the
same plummer block is fitted a shaft u, on which are fixed the cams uz and d₁
already mentioned, and which receives its movement from the shaft m through the
cone gearing y
On the shaft m which carries the cams n, and n is fitted a further cam n, which
works on a lever k. This lever k carries a rod k₁ which by means of an elbow
lever is connected with a friction coupling on the countershaft in such manner that
each time a fresh object is to be clamped in the chuck that part of the counter-
shaft which carries the cone pulley connected to the cone pulley c, is put out of
gear whereby the spindle a₁ is also brought to rest.
On the shaft m which carries the cam n, are also fitted the cams ni and
the side cam g
ng
and
By means of the cam 721 a lever connected to the piston of an air
pump (Figure 8) is moved whereby air is forced through the tube 4, on to the
cutters and the chuck a. With the same lever i is connected a suitable system of
levers moving a brush f, Figure 6, against the chuck a whereby the latter is
cleaned, and this takes place each time before a fresh object is taken by the chuck.
By means of the cam n, a jaw p, Figure 7, connected to a system of levers and
carrying a moist roll, is moved against the article being worked so that the latter
is always moistened. By means of the side cam n, in connection with the two
armed lever ₁ the longest arm of which rests on the hopper r, Figures 1 and 2,
this hopper is pushed on one side each time the object being worked leaves the
chuck a.
The purpose of this is that the waste turnings which are led through the funnel
or hopper into a cask placed thereunder may be kept away from the finished
articles falling out of the chuck a. So that the funnel may be more easily moved
to one side the upper part thereof is made of leather or other suitable material.
The distributing apparatus serving to take automatically into the machine the
articles to be worked is formed essentially of a tube T intended to take the objects
such as the middles, bottoms and bezels to be distributed and is held in a support 6
by means of the piece 7 and the screw 8. The support 6 is fixed on the part 4 of
a carriage sliding in the groove t, of the base t of the machine and composed of
two parts 4 and 5. This carriage is put in movement by a lever 9 jointed at the
point 9 and actuated by the cam n, in such manner that the extremity of the tube
carrying the springs 11 approaches the clip a in such manner that the latter can

page_text: take hold of and grasp the object to be worked. During this movement of the
carriage 4, 5, the springs 10 fixed to the carriage and to the groove t, are com-
pressed and can thus produce the return movement of the distributor as soon as
an article has been dealt with.
The articles to be distributed are piled up in the tube T the bore of which
corresponds to their diameter. They are pressed against the end of the tube
carrying the springs 11 by means of the piston 13 actuated by the weight 12. The
springs 11 project towards the inside of the tube T so that the articles to be
worked although pressed forward by the piston 13 cannot fall. The springs 11
being pushed against the chuck a by the movement of the carriage 41 51 open out
and then allow the front piece therein to come out.
This article is then pressed
into the chuck a by the pressure of the piston 13.
If by chance the article is not of the required diameter allowing it to be taken
in the chuck a, the tube T or the lever 9 might be bent under the considerable
strain that they would have to surmount.
In order to obviate this inconvenience
the upper part 4 of the carriage 4, 5, is attached only by a spring 15 to the lower
part 5 so that the tube T may if necessary be stopped before the part 5 of the
carriage has arrived at the end of its course. The screw 14 arranged on the
part 5 of the carriage serves to regulate the distance between the two parts of
the carriage.
Suppose the machine to be at work and turning the cases :-In order to turn the
inside and outside of the middle at the bottom end the middle is held in the chuck a
by the bezel end. The headstock and the chuck a then advance so that the
cutter b is inside the middle. The cutters b₂ and b, are then pressed against the
middle by the eccentrics n and n, in such manner that the cutter b, cleans off
the inside of the middle whilst the cutter b₁ roughs out the ornamentation, the two
cutters acting at the same point with only the thickness of the metal between them.
When there is much material to be removed the cutter b, is placed by means of the
regulating screws ₁ and v, so that it may assist in this operation. In this case the
and
cutters b, b, and b work at the same time. As soon as the eccentrics ng
have
ny
ceased to operate, the cutters leave the work and at the same time the headstock
moves back with the chuck a. The cutter b, is then forced against the middle and
finishes off the ornamentation of the bottom end of the outside. During this time
the work is kept moist by the roll of the clip p thus preventing the cutters from
getting too warm.
The machine is then stopped by means of the eccentric n, and the chuck is
opened by means of the eccentric d₁ and the middle falls through the discharger r.
During this latter period the brush cleans the chuck a and the pump / blows
away the refuse. The feed apparatus then brings a fresh case to the chuck a and
the operation is again effected and so on.
In order to turn the inside and outside of the middle at the bezel end, the middle
is held in the chuck by its bottom end. The cutters b, and b₁ then work again as
has been described. This done the chuck moves back, the cutter b₂ finishes the
outside of the bezel end and at the same time the cutter b, finishes the centre of
the outside of the middle. The cutter b, may again help in the turning when
there is much material to remove. The chuck then opens and the case falls out
through the discharger.
For each end of the middle the cutters must be changed and their position must
be accurately adjusted. For turning the bezels and bottoms two cutters are used
working successively. The piece to be turned is first clamped in the chuck so that
one of the cutters cleans out the inside, it is then clamped on the other side so that
a second cutter may finish the outside. During this operation the headstock keeps
its position, the eccentric n, having been put out of gear.
The machine can also be constructed with a single spindle carrying the eccentrics
for the carriages &c. instead of the two spindles m. This spindle is placed below
the machine, the carriages &c. are operated from the eccentrics by means of suitable
intermediary gearing.

page_text: 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. The process or method for automatically turning watch cases consisting in
inserting the cases in a holder, in automatically feeding them from the said holder
to a chuck, in automatically gripping them in the said chuck, in automatically
bringing them in contact with the desired cutters and in automatically releasing
them when finished substantially as described.
2. In a watch case turning machine the combination with a rotating chuck for
holding the cases to be turned of slide rests adapted to carry the cutting tools and
of eccentrics or cams situated on a counter shaft running at a slow speed and
adapted to automatically force inwards the rests to bring the cutting tools in
contact with the case substantially as described for the purpose specified..
3. In a watch case turning machine the combination with a chuck with spring
jaws adapted to grip the watch-case, of a cone adapted to be forced against the
said jaws to open them, to release or receive the watch-case, and of a cam or
eccentric situated on a counter shaft running at a slow speed and adapted to force
the cone against the jaws, substantially as described.
4. In a watch case turning machine the combination with an automatic chuck, of
a brush adapted to be forced over the chuck to clean it and of a cam or eccentric
situated on a countershaft running at a slow speed and adapted to force the
brush over the chuck substantially as described for the purpose specified.
5. In a watch-case turning machine, the combination with an automatic chuck,
of an air pump or bellows adapted to blow on to the chuck, and of a cam or
eccentric situated on a countershaft running at a slow speed and adapted to operate
the pump or bellows substantially as described for the purpose specified.
6. In a watch-case turning machine the combination of a clip adapted to carry
a moist roll and to be forced against the case being turned, and a cam or eccentric
situated on a countershaft running at a slow speed and adapted to force the clip
towards the case substantially as described for the purpose specified.
7. In a watch-case turning machine, the combination with an automatic chuck,
of a tube provided with a stop arrangement at its end and adapted to carry the
cases and to be forced up against the chuck, of a means for forcing the said cases
towards the end of the tube and of an eccentric situated on a slow running counter
shaft and adapted to force the tube against the chuck causing the stop to be
removed and a case to be inserted in the chuck substantially as set forth.
8. In a watch case turning machine the combination with an automatic chuck, of
a tube provided with spring jaws at its ends and adapted to carry the cases and to
be forced up against the chuck, of a means for forcing the said cases towards the
end of the tube and of an eccentric situated on a slow running counter shaft and
adapted to force the tube against the chuck causing the jaws of the tube to be
opened and a case to be inserted in the chuck substantially as described.
9. In a watch-case turning machine, the combination with an automatic chuck,
of a tube provided with spring jaws at its ends and adapted to carry the cases, of a
means for forcing the cases towards the said end, of a sliding holder, on which the
tube is mounted, of a slide rest on which the sliding holder can slide, of a spring
or its equivalent to retain the holder and rest in their relative positions and of an
eccentric or cam on a slow running countershaft for operating the rest to force
the tube against the chuck substantially as described for the purpose specified.
101
1000
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.