Improvements in Machines for Making Paper Tubes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left. 12th July, 1899-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1899
[Communicated from abroad by THE UNION PAPER COMPANY, of the City, County,
and State of New York, United States of America.]
Improvements in Machines for Making Paper Tubes.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and
Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention consists of certain improvements in paper tube machines,
whereby successive strips of paper are spirally coiled one upon another and the
superposed spirals secured together by the action of the spiral run of an endless
belt or belts.
The objects of the invention are to provide for readily changing the angle of the
winding belt or belts without slackening or. tightening the same or stopping the
machine, and to provide means by which the tubes formed by the machine may be
automatically cut into sections of the required and regulable length.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is an elevation of the entire machine,
Figure 2 a side elevation of the main operative portion of the machine with the
cut-off device removed.
Figure 3 a plan view of Figure 2.
Figure 4 a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a plan or top view of a modified construction of a part of the
machine.
Figure 6 an enlarged plan view of the cut-off device.
Figure 7 a side view of the same.
Figure 8 an end. view, and
Figures 9 and 10 detail views of the cylinder and valve mechanism of the cut-
off device.
The fixed frame or bed of the machine may be constructed in any available
manner, this element of the machine consisting in the present instance of a pair
of channel-bars 1, mounted upon suitable lugs 2 and having at one end a struc-
ture 3, which carries the hollow spindle 4, to which is suitably secured one end
of the mandrel 5, upon which the tube is formed and from which it is delivered'
as produced, the outer end of the mandrel being unsupported. Turning loosely
upon the spindle 4 are a pair of pulleys 6 and 7, the pulley 6 receiving a belt
from a pulley on any available drive-shaft. The hub of the pulley 6 has secured
to it a spur-pinion 9, which meshes with a spur-wheel 10, turning loosely upon
a stud 11, carried by an arm 12, projecting from one side of the structure 3.
Secured to the spur wheel 10 and turning loosely with it upon the stud 11
is a spur-pinion 13, which meshes with a spur-wheel 14 on a shaft 15, said shaft
being adapted at one end to a bearing in the arm 12 and at the other end to a

page_text: bearing in an arm 16, projecting from the bed of the machine at the opposite
end of the same. Splined upon the shaft 15 are bevel pinions 17, which mesh
with bevel-wheels 18 at the lower ends of vertical shafts 19, the latter being free
to turn in bearings 20, mounted upon transverse bars 21, which rest upon the
opposite bars 1 of the fixed frame of the machine and have depending bolts 22,
passing through bars 23, the latter bearing against the under sides of the bars 1
and the bolts being provided with nuts 24, which when tightened serve to secure
the transverse bars 21 securely in the position to which they have been adjusted
longitudinally upon the bars 1.
Upon each of the transverse bars 21 is pivotally mounted a swinging bar 25 by
means of a bolt 26, these bolts being in line axially with the shafts 19, and the
outer end of each of the swinging bars 25 carries a clamp 27, engaging with a
segmental rib 28, formed upon the corresponding bar 21, the stem of the clamp
, being threaded and provided with a nut 29, so that either of the swinging bars 25
can be adjusted upon its carrying-bar 21 and secured in position after adjustment.
Longitudinally guided upon ways at the outer end of each of the swinging
bars 25 is a slide 30, which has bearings for a vertical stud-shaft 31 and also for
a horizontal shaft 32, the inner end of this latter shaft having a bearing in a
post 33 near the inner end of the swinging bar 25. Each shaft 32 has at the inner
end a bevel-pinion 34, meshing with the bevel-wheel 18 of one of the shafts 19,
and at its outer end a bevel-pinion 35, meshing with a bevel-wheel 36 at the lower
end of one of the shafts 31, said bevel-pinions 35 being splined upon the shafts 32,
so that adjustment of the slide 30 upon the swinging bar 25 can be readily
effected.
Each pair of shafts 19 and 31 carries a pair of belt drums or winding pulleys 37
and 38, to which is adapted a continuous winding belt 39, which runs from the
right hand side of one pulley to, over, and around the mandrel 5 and thence to the
left hand side of the opposite pulley, the return run of the belt crossing from
pulley to pulley above the mandrel and being twisted in its course, so as to clear
said mandrel, as shown in Figure 4.
That portion of each belt 39 which surrounds the mandrel 5 follows a spiral
course, the angle of which is dependent upon the adjustment of the pulley 37
and 38 angularly in respect to each other, and this is effected by swinging upon
the bar 21, the bar 25 carrying the outer pulley-shaft 31, the shaft 19 constituting
the fixed shaft of the pair, and the axis of said shaft being the axis on which the
frame 25 swings in effecting angular adjustment of the pulleys in respect to each
other, so that said angular adjustment can always be varied without slackening
or tightening the belt 39, or stopping the machine, thus overcoming an objec-
tion to which previous machines of this class are subject.
In order to slacken or tighten the belts 39 to adapt them for acting upon tubes
of different diameters, the slides 30 are adjusted longitudinally upon the swing-
ing bars 35, such adjustment being effected by means of screw-rods having
hand-wheels 40 in a manner similar to that adopted in effecting adjustment of
the tool-carriages of lathes and like machinery.
A bracket 41, mounted upon one of the side bars 1 of the main frame of the
machine carries at its upper end a guide 42 for the strip of paper 43, which forms
the primary coil of the tube, said strip 43 being laid directly upon the mandrel 5 as
shown in Figure 2.
A rod 44 is carried by arms 45 and 46, and upon this rod 44 are mounted
guides 47 and 48 for the strips 49 and 50, which form, respectively, the inter-
mediate and outer coils of the tube which is being produced, these strips being
coated with some suitable cement upon the under side before reaching the
machine.
The strip 49 is subjected to the action of the first winding belt 39 and is there-
by pressed firmly upon the primary or inside coil of the tube, a second strip 50
being subjected to the action of the second winding belt 39 and being thereby
pressed firmly upon the second or intermediate layer, the finished tube passing

page_text: from the outer end of the mandrel 5 to suitable cutting mechanism, whereby it
is severed into lengths of the proper size.
Other strips may be fed to the tube between the winding belts or the number
of winding belts may be increased, as circumstances may suggest.
Although it is preferable to mount the shafts 31 upon swinging bars pivoted
concentrically with the shafts 19, such construction is not absolutely essential
to the proper carrying out of the invention. For instance, in Figure 5 is shown
a modification in which the swinging frame 25 is dispensed with, the main trans-
verse frame 21" having a central bevel-wheel 51, which turns on an axis con-
centric with the bolt 22, this bevel-wheel meshing with a pinion 17a on a
shaft 15", to which said pinion is splined so that it can be moved with the bar 21"
longitudinally on the main frame, but will always rotate with said shaft 15".
With the bevel-wheel 51 also engage bevel-pinions 52, carried by shafts 32ª,
which have bevel-pinions 34 and 35" meshing, respectively, with a bevel-
wheel 18" on a shaft 19" at one end of the bar 21" and with a bevel-wheel 36" on
It will be evident that in this case
a shaft 31" at the opposite end of said bar.
the swinging of the bar 21" upon the axis of the bevel-wheel 51 will not affect the
relative position of the parts carried by said bar. Hence the construction will
attain the same result as that shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. The bearings for
the shaft 31" and pinion 35" are preferably carried by a. slide 30%, so as to provide
for the movement of said shaft 31" from and toward the shaft 18" in order to
slacken or tighten the winding-belt.
It will be observed that in both of the constructions shown, the axis on which
the swinging bar turns is concentric with the axis of the primary wheel of the
power-transmitting gear, this wheel in the construction shown in Figures 1, 2
and 3 being the bevel-wheel 18, and in the construction shown in Figure 5 being
the bevel-wheel 51.
In order that the winding belt or belts may engage the mandrel or tube form-
ing thereon in a horizontal plane so as to better facilitate the winding operation,
it is preferable to employ a guide roller 55, one for each belt, which engages the
upper side of the belt and forces the same to a horizontal position. Each guide
roller is carried on an arm 54 secured to a suitable bracket 53. By employing
these guide rollers as explained, the winding belt will engage the forming tube
throughout the entire width of the belt.
Any suitable means are provided for supporting the strips 43, 49 and 50. The
inner strip 43 does not require any adhesive material, and it is therefore carried
in a frame 56 at one side of the machine, in which frame is mounted a rotatable
core on which the strip is wound in a roll 57. The strip is guided from the roll
by a wire guide 58 of any suitable construction. The strips 49 and 50 when used
are preferably supplied on their under sides with an adhesive substance, and for
this purpose a frame 60 is used at the side of the machine which carries glue-
pans 62, 62, arranged at the proper angle. The glue-pans 62 are carried in
supplemental frames 61 of any suitable character. 63 is a gluing roller in each
glue-pan, over which the strip 49 or 50 passes, and which dips below the surface
of the glue or other adhesive material so as to coat the under side of the strip.
The strips 49 and 50 are illustrated as being formed into rolls 631, and such
strips pass between wire guides 64 by means of which they will be directed upon
the mandrel or tube forming thereon at the proper angle.
The cut-off mechanism for severing the tubes into sections of the desired
length is illustrated particularly in Figures 1, and 6 to 10 inclusive.
65 and 66 represent the side frames of a paper tube machine of any suitable
type, and 67, 67 the standards or supports therefor. 68 (dotted lines) represents
a paper tube, which is made in any suitable way, as by winding paper spirally
around a mandrel, and which is projected afterwards from the forming devices
between the adjustable gage-pieces in an arch 71, as shewn. These gage-pieces
are pieces 69, 69, which are adjusted to the required diameter of the forming
tube and serve to guide its free end. 72 is a rock-shaft mounted in bear-

page_text: ings 73, 73 carried by the side frame 65, and 74, 74 are two rocker arms carried
by said shaft and movable therewith. Mounted in bearings in the free ends of
said rocker-arms is a shaft 75 having a belt-wheel 76 thereon, to which power is
applied by means of a suitable driving belt, provision being made to allow the
rocker-arms to be moved without affecting the driving of the belt-wheel. The
shaft 75 is provided with a key-way 77 therein, and a small rotary saw 78 is
mounted on said shaft and splined within said key-way so as to be capable of
longitudinal movement with respect to the shaft but be rotated by the shaft. A
spiral spring 79 surrounding the shaft maintains the saw 78 in normal position
with its boss in contact with the belt-wheel 76. If desired, a cord and weight
may be used for this purpose. 80 is a bracket carried beneath the side frames 65
and 66, and mounted on said bracket and projecting through an opening therein
is a small pneumatic cylinder 81, the flange 82 of which is bolted to the top of
the bracket. This cylinder is open at its upper end and closed at its lower end.
Mounted within the cylinder is a plunger-piston 83, the rod 84 of which is con-
nected to an arm 85, which latter arm is connected to the rock-shaft 72 by means
of a thumb-screw SG or in any suitable way. The arm 85 projects beyond its
connection with the piston rod and carries a weight 87 for normally maintaining
the piston in its lowermost position. A stop 88 bolted to the top of the flange 82
is arranged in the path of movement of the piston and limits its upward move-
ment. The cylinder S1 is preferably cast integral with a small valve chamber 89,
preferably open at both ends, as shewn in Figure 10. Leading into this valve
chamber is an air pipe 90 containing compressed air from a suitable tank or reser-
voir. Mounted within the valve chamber is a balanced valve, 91, the two por-
tions of which are carried by a valve rod 92. A port 93 is adapted to be put
into communication with the air pipe 90 to allow compressed air to enter the
cylinder to elevate the piston therein upon the movement of the valve rod 92
towards that port, but upon the return movement to the normal position shewn
in Figure 10, the said port is put into communication with the atmosphere to
allow for the exhaust of air from the cylinder, whereby the weight 87 may return
the piston to its normal position. The valve rod 92 is mounted in brackets 94
carried by the side frame of the machine and moved longitudinally therein.
Mounted in the same brackets is a stationary rod 95. This rod carries a collar 96
adjustable thereon in any suitable way, as for example by means of a set-screw 97,
and pivoted to said collar is a lever 98 connected at its lower end to a collar 99
which may be adjusted upon the valve rod 92 and be secured rigidly to the same
in any suitable way; as for example by making the collar 99 a split collar, the
two sections thereof being clamped together by means of a bolt 100. If desired,
the collar 96 may also be a split collar, as shewn in Figure 8, the two portions
thereof being adapted to be clamped to the rod 95 by means of a bolt 101.
lever 98 carries at its upper end a finger piece or arm 102 adjustably mounted
thereon in any suitable way, as for example by means of a thumb-nut 103, the
shank of which works in a slot 104 in the upper end of said lever 98. The
finger-piece 102 is arranged in the path of movement of the forming tube or
other article. Collars 105 are preferably carried on the valve rod 92 on either
side of one of the brackets 94 so as to limit the movement of said valve rod and
prevent overthrow. Extending down from the rod 95 is a bracket arm 106, the
lower end of which is provided with a bearing in which is mounted the lower
end of a lever 107 which is connected with a collar 108 secured to the valve rod.
The saw 78 is provided at one side with a collar 109 which slides on the shaft 75
as the saw moves thereon, which collar is provided with a downwardly extending
arm 110 arranged to engage with the upper end of the lever 107 when the saw
has moved to its furthest position against the tension of the first spring 79.
The operation of the improved cut-off device will be as follows:-
The
The gage-pieces 69 are first set so as to snugly receive the tube or other form-
ing device and to prevent the tube or other forming device from shifting laterally
under the effect of the cut-off mechanism. The lever 98 will be adjusted with

page_text: respect to the bar 95 of the valve rod with a sufficient distance between the
finger 102 and the saw to provide for the desired length of tubing or other
material to be cut off. As the forming tubing or other material is produced in
the machine and passes between the gage-pieces 69, the end of said tubing or
other material will engage with the finger-piece 102, moving the lever 98 on its
fulcrum and shifting the valve rod towards the cylinder so as to open com-
munication between the air pipe 90 and the interior of said cylinder. Com-
pressed air will now elevate the piston 83, and through its connection with the
arm 85 will rock the rock-shaft 2, carrying the rocker-arms 74, and engaging
the saw 78 with the material. In the case of a paper tube machine wherein the
tubing is made by winding a strip or strips of paper on a mandrel, and whereby
the tube is continuously rotating, it will only be necessary to move the saw
sufficiently to cut through the thickness of the tube, since the rotation of the
tubing will result in the saw engaging its entire periphery. As the material
progresses through the machine, it will force the saw against the tension of the
spring 79 until the arm 110 has engaged the upper end of the lever 107. This
engagement will return the valve rod 92 to its normal position, cutting off the
air supply and placing the cylinder into communication with the atmosphere to
allow it to exhaust. The weight 87 will now depress the piston and return the
rock-shaft to its original position so as to withdraw the saw from the material.
As soon as the saw has been thus freed from the material, the spring 79 will
return it to its original position, ready for a new operation.
Improvements in Machines for Making Paper Tubes.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, G, Lord Street,
Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and
Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil 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 statement:-
This invention consists of certain improvements in paper tube machines,
whereby successive strips of paper are spirally coiled one upon another and the
superposed spirals secured together by the action of the spiral run of an endless
belt or belts.
The objects of the invention are to provide for readily changing the angle of the
winding belt or belts without slackening or tightening the same or stopping the
machine, and to provide means by which the tubes formed by the machine may be
automatically cut into sections of the required and regulable length.
In the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the entire machine,
Figure 2 a side elevation of the main operative portion of the machine with the
cut-off device removed.
Figure 3 a plan view of Figure 2.
Figure 4 a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a plan or top view of a modified construction of a part of the
machine.

page_text: Figure 6 an enlarged plan view of the cut-off device.
Figure 7 a side view of the same.
Figure 8 an end view, and
Figures 9 and 10 details views of the cylinder and valve mechanism of the cut-
off device.
The fixed frame or bed of the machine may be constructed in any available
manner, this element of the machine consisting in the present instance of a pair
of channel-bars 1, mounted upon suitable lugs 2 and having at one end a struc-
ture 3, which carries the hollow spindle 4, to which is suitably secured one end
of the mandrel 5, upon which the tube is formed and from which it is delivered
as produced, the outer end of the mandrel being unsupported. Turning loosely
upon the spindle 4 are a pair of pulleys 6 and 7, the pulley 6 receiving a belt S
from a pulley on any available drive-shaft. The hub of the pulley 6 has secured
to it a spur-pinion 9, which meshes with a spur-wheel 10, turning loosely upon
a stud 11, carried by an arm 12, projecting from one side of the structure 3.
Secured to the spur wheel 10 and turning loosely with it upon the stud 11
is a spur-pinion 13, which meshes with a spur-wheel 14 on a shaft 15, said shaft
being adapted at one end to a bearing in the arm 12 and at the other end to a
bearing in an arm 16, projecting from the bed of the machine at the opposite
end of the same. Splined upon the shaft 15 are bevel pinions 17, which mesh
with bevel-wheels 18 at the lower ends of vertical shafts 19, the latter being free
to turn in bearings 20, mounted upon transverse bars 21, which rest upon the
opposite bars 1 of the fixed frame of the machine and have depending bolts 22,
passing through bars 23, the latter bearing against the under sides of the bars 1
and the bolts being provided with nuts 24, which when tightened serve to secure
the transverse bars 21 securely in the position to which they have been adjusted
longitudinally upon the bars 1.
Upon each of the transverse bars 21 is pivotally mounted a swinging bar 25 by
means of a bolt 20, these bolts being in line axially with the shafts 19, and the
outer end of each of the swinging bars 25 carries a clamp 27, engaging with a
segmental rib 28, formed upon the corresponding bar 21, the stem of the clamp
being threaded and provided with a nut 29, so that either of the swinging bars 25
can be adjusted upon its carrying-bar 21 and secured in position after adjustment.
Longitudinally guided upon ways at the outer end of each of the swinging
bars 25 is a slide 30, which has bearings for a vertical stud-shaft 31 and also for
a horizontal shaft 32, the inner end of this latter shaft having a bearing in a
post 33 near the inner end of the swinging bar 25. Each shaft 32 has at the inner
end a bevel-pinion 34, meshing with the bevel-wheel 18 of one of the shafts 19,
and at its outer end a bevel-pinion 35, meshing with a bevel-wheel 36 at the lower
end of one of the shafts 31, said bevel-pinions 35 being splined upon the shafts 32,
so that adjustment of the slide 30 upon the swinging bar 25 can be readily
effected.
Each pair of shafts 19 and 31 carries a pair of belt drums or winding pulleys 37
and 38, to which is adapted a continuous winding belt 39, which runs from the
right hand side of one pulley to, over, and around the mandrel 5 and thence to the
left hand side of the opposite pulley, the return run of the belt crossing from
pulley to pulley above the mandrel and being twisted in its course, so as to clear
said mandrel, as shewn in Figure 4.
That portion of each belt 39 which surrounds the mandrel 5 follows a spiral
course, the angle of which is dependent upon the adjustment of the pulleys 37
and 38 angularly in respect to each other, and this is effected by swinging upon
the bar 21, the bar 25 carrying the outer pulley-shaft 31, the shaft 19 constituting
the fixed shaft of the pair, and the axis of said shaft being the axis on which the
frame 25 swings in effecting angular adjustment of the pulleys in respect to each
other, so that said angular adjustment can always be varied without slackening
or tightening the belt 39, or stopping the machine, thus overcoming an objec
tion to which previous machines of this class are subject.

page_text: In order to slacken or tighten the belts 39 to adapt them for acting upon tubes
of different diameters, the slides 30 are adjusted longitudinally upon the swing-
ing bars 25, such adjustment being effected by means of screw-rods having
hand-wheels 40 in a manner similar to that adopted in effecting adjustment of
the tool-carriages of lathes and like machinery.
A bracket 41, mounted upon one of the side bars 1 of the main frame of the
machine carries at its upper end a guide 42 for the strip of paper 43, which forms
the primary coil of the tube, said strip 43 being laid directly upon the mandrel 5 as
shewn in Figure 2.
A rod 44 is carried by arms 45 and 46, and upon this rod 44 are mounted
guides 47 and 48 for the strips 49 and 50, which form, respectively, the inter-
mediate and outer coils of the tube which is being produced, these strips being
coated with some suitable cement upon the under side before reaching the
machine.
The strip 49 is subjected to the action of the first winding belt 39 and is there-
by pressed firmly upon the primary or inside coil of the tube, a second strip 50
being subjected to the action of the second winding belt 39 and being thereby
pressed firmly upon the second or intermediate layer, the finished tube passing
from the outer end of the mandrel 5 to suitable cutting mechanism, whereby it
is severed into lengths of the proper size.
Other strips may be fed to the tube between the winding belts or the number
of winding belts may be increased, as circumstances may suggest.
Although it is preferable to mount the shafts 31 upon swinging bars pivoted
concentrically with the shafts 19, such construction is not absolutely essential
to the proper carrying out of the invention. For instance, in Figure 5 is shown
a modification in which the swinging frame 25 is dispensed with, the main trans-
verse frame 21ª having a central bevel-wheel 51, which turns on an axis con-
centric with the bolt 22, this bevel-wheel meshing with a pinion 17" on a
shaft 15, to which said pinion is splined so that it can be moved with the bar 21"
longitudinally on the main frame, but will always rotate with said shaft 15”.
With the bevel-wheel 51 also engage bevel-pinions 52, carried by shafts 32",
which have bevel-pinions 34" and 35" meshing, respectively, with a bevel-
wheel 18 on a shaft 19 at one end of the bar 21" and with a bevel-wheel 36ª on
a shaft 31" at the opposite end of said bar. It will be evident that in this case
the swinging of the bar 21ª upon the axis of the bevel-wheel 51 will not affect the
relative position of the parts carried by said bar. Hence the construction will
attain the same result as that shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The bearings for
the shaft 31 and pinion 35" are preferably carried by a slide 30°, so as to provide
for the movement of said shaft 31" from and toward the shaft 18" in order to
slacken or tighten the winding-belt.
It will be observed that in both of the constructions shewn, the axis on which
the swinging bar turns is concentric with the axis of the primary wheel of the
power transmitting gear, this wheel in the construction shewn in Figures 1, 2,
and 3 being the bevel-wheel 18, and in the construction shewn in Figure 5 being
the bevel-wheel 51.
In order that the winding belt or belts may engage the mandrel or tube form-
ing thereon in a horizontal plane so as to better facilitate the winding operation,
it is preferable to employ a guide roller 55, one for each belt, which engages the
upper side of the belt and forces the same to a horizontal position. Each guide
roller is carried on an arm 54 secured to a suitable bracket 53. By employing
these guide rollers as explained, the winding belt will engage the forming tube
throughout the entire width of the belt.
The
Any suitable means are provided for supporting the strips 43, 49 and 50
inner strip 43 does not require any adhesive material, and it is therefore carried
in a frame 56 at one side of the machine, in which frame is mounted a rotatable
core on which the strip is wound in a roll 57. The strip is guided from the roll
by a wire guide 58 of any suitable construction. The strips 49 and 50 when used

page_text: are preferably supplied on their under sides with an adhesive substance, and for
this purpose a frame 60 is used at the side of the machine which carries glue-
pans 62, 62, arranged at the proper angle. The glue-pans 62 are carried in
supplemental frames 61 of any suitable character. 63 is a gluing roller in each
glue-pan, over which the strip 49 or 50 passes, and which dips below the surface
of the glue or other adhesive material so as to coat the under side of the strip.
The strips 49 and 50 are illustrated as being formed into rolls 631, and such
strips pass between wire guides 64 by means of which they will be directed upon
the mandrel or tube forming thereon at the proper angle.
The cut-off mechanism for severing the tubes into sections of the desired
length is illustrated particularly in Figures 1, and 6 to 10 inclusive.
A
65 and 66 represent the side frames of a paper tube machine of any suitable
type, and 67, 67 the standards or supports therefor. 68 (dotted lines) represents
a paper tube, which is made in any suitable way, as by winding paper spirally
around a mandrel, and which is projected afterwards from the forming devices
between the gage-pieces 69, 69 which are adjustable in an arch 71, as shewn. These
gage-pieces are adjusted to the required diameter of the forming
tube and serve to guide its free end. 72 is a rock-shaft mounted in bear-
ings 73, 73 carried by the side frame 65, and 74, 74 are two rocker arms carried
by said shaft and movable therewith. Mounted in bearings in the free ends of
said rocker-arms is a shaft 75 having a belt-wheel 76 thereon, to which power is
applied by means of a suitable driving belt, provision being made to allow the
rocker-arms to be moved without affecting the driving of the belt-wheel. The
shaft 75 is provided with a key-way 77 therein, and, a small rotary saw 78 is
mounted on said shaft and splined within said key way so as to be capable of
longitudinal movement with respect to the shaft but be rotated by the shaft.
spiral spring 79 surrounding the shaft maintains the saw 78 in normal position
with its boss in contact with the belt-wheel 76. If desired, a cord and weight
may be used for this purpose. 80 is a bracket carried beneath the side frames 65
and 66, and mounted on said bracket and projecting through an opening therein
is a small pneumatic cylinder 81, the flange 82 of which is bolted to the top of
the bracket. This cylinder is open at its upper end and closed at its lower end.
Mounted within the cylinder is a plunger-piston 83, the rod 84 of which is con-
nected to an arm 85, which latter arm is connected to the rock-shaft 72 by means
of a thumb-screw 86 or in any other suitable way. The arm 85 projects beyond its
connection with the piston rod and carries a weight 87 for normally maintaining
the piston in its lowermost position. A stop 88 bolted to the top of the flange 82
is arranged in the path of movement of the piston and limits its upward move-
ment. The cylinder 81 is preferably cast integral with a small valve chamber 89,
preferably open at both ends, as shewn in Figure 9. Leading into this valve
chamber is an air pipe 90 containing compressed air from a suitable tank or reser-
voir. Mounted within the valve chamber is a balanced valve, 91, the two por-
tions of which are carried by a valve rod 92. A port 93 is adapted to be put
into communication with the air pipe 90 to allow compressed air to enter the
cylinder to elevate the piston therein upon the movement of the valve rod 92
towards that port, but upon the return movement to the normal position shewn
in Figure 10, the said port is put into communication with the atmosphere to
allow for the exhaust of air from the cylinder, whereby the weight 87 may return
the piston to its norimal position. The valve rod 92 is mounted in brackets 94
carried by the side frame of the machine and moved longitudinally therein.
Mounted in the same brackets is a stationary rod 95. This rod carries a collar 96
adjustable thereon in any suitable way, as for example by means of a set-screw 97,
and pivoted to said collar is a lever 98 connected at its lower end to a collar 99
which may be adjusted upon the valve rod 92 and be secured rigidly to the same
in any suitable way, as for example by making the collar 99 a split collar, the
two sections thereof being clamped together by means of a bolt 100. If desired,
the collar 96 may also be a split collar, as shewn in Figure 8, the two portions

page_text: The
thereof being adapted to be clamped to the rod 95 by means of a bolt 101.
lever 98 carries at its upper end a finger piece or arm 102 adjustably mounted
thereon in any suitable way, as for example by means of a thumb-nut 103, the
shank of which works in a slot 104 in the upper end of said lever 98. The
finger-piece 102 is arranged in the path of movement of the forming tube or
other article. Collars 105 are preferably carried on the valve rod 92 on either
side of one of the brackets 94 so as to limit the movement of said valve rod and
prevent overthrow. Extending down from the rod 95 is a bracket arm 106, the
lower end of which is provided with a bearing in which is mounted the lower
end of a lever 107 which is connected with a collar 108 secured to the valve rod.
The saw 78 is provided at one side with a collar 109 which slides on the shaft 75
as the saw moves thereon, which collar is provided with a downwardly extending
arm 110 arranged to engage with the upper end of the lever 107 when the saw
has moved to its furthest position against the tension of the first spring 79.
The operation of the improved cut-off device will be as follows:-
The gage-pieces 69 are first set so as to snugly receive the tube or other form-
ing device and to prevent the tube or other forming device from shifting laterally
under the effect of the cut-off mechanism. The lever 98 will be adjusted with
respect to the bar 95 of the valve rod with a sufficient distance between the
finger 102 and the saw to provide for the desired length of tubing or other
material to be cut off. As the forming tubing or other material is produced in
the machine and passes between the gage-pieces 69, the end of said tubing or
other material will engage with the finger-piece 102, moving the lever 98 on its
fulcrum and shifting the valve rod towards the cylinder so as to open
munication between the air pipe 90 and the interior of said cylinder. Com-
pressed air will now elevate the piston 83, and through its connection with the
arm 85 will rock the rock-shaft 72, carrying the rocker-arms 74. and engaging
the saw 78 with the material. In the case of a paper tube machine wherein the
tubing is made by winding a strip or strips of paper on a mandrel and whereby
the tube is continuously rotating, it will only be necessary to move the saw
sufficiently to cut through the thickness of the tube, since the rotation of the
tubing will result in the saw engaging its entire periphery. As the material
progresses through the machine, it will force the saw against the tension of the
spring 79 until the arm 110 has engaged the upper end of the lever 107. This
engagement will return the valve rod 92 to its normal position, cutting off the
air supply and placing the cylinder into communication with the atmosphere to
allow it to exhaust. The weight 87 will now depress the piston and return the
rock-shaft to its original position so as to withdraw the saw from the material.
As soon as the saw has been thus freed from the material, the spring 79 will
return it to its original position, ready for a new operation.
com-
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:―
1. A machine for making spiral tubing from a plurality of strips of paper
characterized by the employment of an endless belt for each strip, said belt being
passed around a mandrel or the tube forming thereon so as to wind each strip
in place, and being mounted upon guide pulleys carried on a swinging arm, so
that by moving said arm the inclination of the belts will be adjusted.
2. A tube-making machine having the characteristics referred to in Claim 1,
and further characterized by the employment of means for operating one or more
of said guide pulleys by which the tension of the endless belts may be regulated.
3. A tube-making machine having the characteristics recited in Claim 1 and
further characterized by the employment of a roller working in connection with
each belt and by means of which the portion of the belt which passes over the
mandrel will be maintained in a plane parallel with that of the mandrel.

page_text: 4. A tube-making machine, or analogous device characterized by the employ-
ment of cut-off mechanism operated automatically by the use of compressed air.
5. A cut-off mechanism for paper tubes and similar articles characterized by
the employment of a rotating saw mounted on a bracket arm, a piston mounted
in a cylinder and connected with said bracket arm so as to swing the saw into
contact with the tube, and valve mechanism co-operating with the forming tube
for supplying compressed air to said cylinder substantially as set forth.
Dated the 12th day of July 1899.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.