Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Oct., 1885.
Complete Left, 5th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 5th Aug., 1887.
We, MARSHALL HENRY PEARSON, and CHARLES BENNION, of the Union Works,
Blue Boar Lane, Leicester, in the County of Leicester, Mechanical Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates primary to machinery or apparatus for cutting or punching out
links or washers from pieces of leather or other substances, and at the same operation
perforating them with one or more holes, so as to ensure of their being of one uniform
size, and the hole or holes the same distance apart, or in the same position in each link
or washer; but with a slight alteration, as regards the shape or form of some of the
parts the apparatus may be employed for forming other articles.
Our invention consists in mounting in suitable bearings and framework, so as to
work freely, a sliding bar or spindle to which a reciprocating motion is imparted
by gearing, cranks, or other equivalent means, or by a system of compound treadles
and counter weights. On the end of the sliding bar is securely fixed a knife or
hollow punch, the cutting edges of which are made of the same contour as the
perimeter of the article to be cut or punched. Within the knife or hollow punch,
and fixed to the sliding spindle is or are one or more solid punches so arranged as
to project beyond the cutting edges of the knife. When the machine is employed for
cutting or punching out links or washers, we provide a plunger which works within
the knife and is employed for forcing or pushing the cut pieces out of the knife after
each operation. This plunger is provided with one or more spindles which is or are
made to pass into the sliding spindle or bar, and arranged that as the spindle is
withdrawn after each operation, the outer end or ends or heads of the plunger
spindle or spindles comes or come in contact with one or more fixed pins or pro-
jections, and by coming in contact therewith the plunger is made to force the cut link
out of the knife. The plunger prior to being acted upon by the fixed pins travels with
the knife and rests upon the material during and after the cutting operation.-
Below the sliding spindle and on the framework of the machine is an adjustable
bed in or on which is fixed a steel die on which the cutting edges of the knife

page_text: acts. In the die is or are one or more holes, corresponding with the number of solid
punches employed, and into which they enter after passing through the material.-
In some cases a lever-to which an intermittent reciprocating motion is imparted
-may be made to pass under the cutting edge of the knife (after it has been
withdrawn from the steel die) for receiving the cut piece as it falls from the knife,
and on the return of the knife for the next operation the lever is made to convey the
finished cut piece clear of the working parts so as to prevent the possibility of a piece
of material after it has been discharged from the knife falling onto the die. Or the
adjustable bed and sliding spindle may be mounted on the famework at or about an
angle of forty five degrees. When arranged in this position the pieces of leather as
they are ejected from the knife will fall clear of the hottom die, and thus dispense with
the use of the intermittent reciprocating lever.
The action of the machine is as follows.
Small pieces of waste leather having been placed on the bottom die, the sliding
spindle carrying the knife and punches is made to travel outwards or downwards, and
as the punches are longer than the knife they first pass through the leather and punch
the hole or holes, after which the knife cuts the piece to shape. On the return
of the spindle the cut piece of leather (with the holes perforated in it) is carried
in and with the knife until the end or head of the plunger spindles comes in
contact with the fixed pin, when by the continued return of the sliding spindle the cut
piece is ejected from the knife.
It will be readily understood that by varying the shape or configuration of the knife
or hollow punch other articles than links or washers inay be cut or formed by this
machine.
Dated this Eleventh day of October 1886.
W. FAIRBURN-HART,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Machinery or Apparatus for Cutting
or Punching Out and Perforating Articles in Leather or other
Substances.
We, MARSHALL HENRY PEARSON, and CHARLES BENNION, of the Union Works,
Blue Boar Lane, Leicester, in the County of Leicester, Mechanical Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the saine is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates to machinery or apparatus for cutting or punching out links,
such as are used in the formation or manufacture of belts, composed of a number of
small pieces, and employed for driving machinery-or washers from pieces of leather
or other suitable substances, and at the same operation perforating them with one or
more holes, so as to ensure their being of one uniformn size, and the hole or holes the
same distance apart, or in the same position in each link or washer. With slight
alteration, as regards the shape or configuration of some of the parts, the apparatus
may be employed for forming or cutting other articles. Hitherto it has been customary
after cutting or forming the belt link to shape by hand, then to punch the holes, thus
requiring that the link should undergo two operations, but by the use of the herein-
after described machinery there is a great saving of time and labour by performing
both operations at the same time.
Our invention consists, in mounting a hollow punch or knife, and one or more solid
punches on the end of a reciprocating bar or spindle carried in suitable bearings on an
inclined or other standard, and actuating the bar or spindle by a suitable cam crank,
eccentric, or their equivalent, so as to operate upon an adjustable bottom die and
arranging within the said hollow knife an ejecting plate or plunger for forcing the link
or other article therefrom after each operation; and in order that our invention
may be more fully understood reference is given to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. 1. is a side elevation of a link punching and perforating machine constructed
according to this invention, and mounted upon an inclined stand or base.
Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively a front elevation and plan of the machine without
the inclined stand or base.
Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a side and front elevation of reciprocating bar or
spindle with the hollow knife, solid punches, and ejecting plate or plunger attached in
position.
Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively a side and front elevation of the lower die and its
adjustable holder and carrier.
Fig. 8. a plan of hollow knife, and ejecting plate.
Fig. 9. a section of sliding bar on line,, fig. 4.
Fig. 10. a plan of lower die and its holder.
Figs. 11 and 12 are details of one of the parts.
Ki 13 nl of belt b

page_text: Figs. 4 to 13 are drawn to a larger scale than Figs. 1 to 3, and Figs. 4 and 5 are
shown in the same relative position to Figs. 6 and 7 that they occupy on the machine.
Similar parts are marked in all the views with the same letters of reference.
A is the standard of the machine, which is represented at Fig. 1. mounted upon an
inclined stand or base B. In the drawings this stand or base has an inclination of
forty five degrees, as we find that inclination enables the links and waste pieces of
material to fall clear of the lower die. But we would have it understood that the stand
or base may be made at any other angle, or the machine may be mounted upon a
support with a horizontal top.
Cis the sliding bar or spindle which is mounted in suitable bearings a so as to
reciprocate freely. This bar is enlarged at its upper end c and provided with a
slot hole c' (covered on the front side with a plate c²) in which a die c³ works. A recipro-
cating motion is imparted to the bar C from a crank c-attached or fixed to the shaft e
and carried in a bearing a¹ on the standard A-through the die c³ and slot hole c'.
Although we have shown a crank, die, and slot hole as the means for giving the sliding
motion to the bar, yet we would have it understood that other means may be employed,
such as a cam, eccentric, or their equivalent; and where steam or other motive power
is not available, then motion may be imparted to the moving parts of the machine by
the attendant through an arrangement of compound treadles or levers or other
known means. Near the lower end of the sliding bar is a slot hole c" in which the end
of a set screw passes, and below the hole is a groove or recess 8 in which the
spindle of the ejecting plate works. Below the slot hole and groove is a knife and
punch carrier c attached to the sliding bar by means of a projecting flange c¹ and set
screws c. The carrier c is made to correspond with the external shape of the hollow
knife D and is so arranged that its upper surface is kept in contact with and fits the
lower end of the bar, whilst the upward projecting portion co acts as a
flange for
fixing or attaching it, by the screws, to the bar, as well as for covering the recess
or groove. On the lower surface of the carrier is formed a projection or boss c¹² of
the same shape as the inner contour of the hollow knife D. The size of this projection
or boss being smaller than that of the external shape of the carrier c³ the overhanging
portion of the carrier forms a shoulder for receiving any strain on the hollow knife
during the cutting operation. Through the carrier is or are drilled or otherwise
formed one or more holes for receiving a corresponding number of solid punches E.
By this arrangement of carrier, knives of various shapes can be easily and readily
removed from or attached to the sliding bar.
D is the hollow steel punch or knife which is attached to the boss c¹ by means of
set screws d but all upward pressure or strain is removed from these screws by allowing
the upper portion of the knife to abut against the overhanging portion of the carrier c³:
as shown at Figs. 4 and 5. The cutting edges of knife are made of the same
contour as the link as shown at Fig. 13, or of the perimeter of the article to be cut or
punched.
E, E are the solid punches, two of which are shown in position at Fig. 4, and are
employed in a link forming machine for punching the holes e shown at Fig. 13. These
punches are fixed within the hollow knife D in the holes provided for them in the
carrier and are held in position by means of the set screws e¹. In order that these
punches may be held firmly in position during the punching operation their upper ends
may be allowed to abut against the lower end of the sliding spindle whilst their lower
ends may project beyond the cutting edges of the knife for entering the material prior
to the knife coming in contact with the same. The number of these punches may be
increased, reduced, or dispensed altogether according to the nature and requirements
of the work under operation.
F is the ejecting plate or plunger which is arranged to work within the hollow
knife D as shown at Figs. 4 and 5-the solid punches E acting as guides for retaining
it in position and it is employed for forcing the link or other article out of the hollow
punch or knife, as the sliding bar C-carrying the knife D-is withdrawn from the
lower die G. This ejecting plate is provided with an upward projecting spindle which
passes through a hole formed for it in the carrier and within the recess. A pin 71

page_text: which passes transversely through the spindle fis employed for preventing the ejecting
plate from falling out of the hollow knife.
is a set screw which passes through the bearing a of the standard A so that its
end may enter the slot hole c in the sliding bar, and it acts as a fixed pin or guage
for actuating the ejecting plate as soon as the top of the spindle f is brought in
contact with it as the sliding bar and hollow knife are being withdrawn from their
work.
G is a lower die arranged below or beyond the hollow knife and solid punches, and
is fitted into a holder g which is made to work in a supporting piece g₁ that is bolted
by means of the flanges g² and set screws ³ to the standard A. The lower die G
consists of a metal plate (preferably steel, though not necessarily so) of a rather larger
length and width than the cutting edges of the hollow knife. This plate is let into a
recess formed in the top of the holder g and is held in position by means of the set
screws. In the die G may be provided a series of holes g corresponding in number
and size with the solid punches E, and into which the latter pass at each depression of
the sliding bar. The head or top of the holder g is shown of circular form, but may
be of any other suitable shape. The top of the carrier g² is chamfered off at g' so that
it may not obstruct the falling of the waste pieces of leather or other material. Under
each hole g³ in the die, is formed obliquely in the head of the holder, as shown at
Fig. 7, an enlarged hole for conducting away the blanks formed by the passage of
the solid punches through the material into the holes in the die. In order to adjust
the lower die with regard to the height and position of the hollow knife and solid
punches, lock nut g and screw g³ are employed for regulating the distance between
the face of the die and the hollow knife, and set screw 910 and slip g" are used for
fixing and retaining it in a horizontal or other position as regards the solid punches.
g12 is a pin for guiding the material to the knife and punches.
H is a spring, the lower end of which is arranged to pass under the hollow knife
when it is raised to its highest point, and it is employed to act upon the link or other
article as it is ejected from the hollow punch so as to throw it towards the side of the
machine in order that the link may not fall onto the die and be in the way of the knife
at its next descent.
h is a stud which is riveted to the flange c¹ of the carrier c³ and acts as a guide for
the spring H which spring is made of such a shape that it may always bear upon the
stud and yet pass under the hollow knife without coming in contact with the
cutting edge.
Motion is conveyed to the sliding bar from the driving pulley I on shaft i (carried
in suitable bearings a³ on the standard A) to crank shaft through pinnion K and
spur wheel J keyed respectively on the shafts i and c.
Lis a fly wheel which is also keyed on shaft. i.
The action of the machine is as follows:-
Small pieces of waste or other leather or similar substance having been placed on
the bottom die G, the sliding bar C, carrying the hollow knife D and solid punches E,
is set in motion, and the bar is traversed onto the material to be cut. As the ends
of the punches E project beyond the cutting edge of the knife, they first enter and
pass through the inaterial into the holes g after which the knife cuts the pieces to the
required shape. During the perforating and cutting out operation the face of the
plunger or ejecting plate F rests upon the upper surface of the link. On the return of
the spindle C the cut piece of leather (with the holes perforated in it) is carried in
and with the knife until the end of the spindle f comes in contact with the end of the
set screw when by the continued withdrawal of the bar C the cut piece or link is
forced from the knife by the ejecting plate F, and is thrown clear of the lower die G
by the action of the spring H being allowed to move under the edge of the knife
owing to the stud / being raised with the bar.
By placing the machine on a stand or base at an angle of forty five degrees any
waste pieces of material on the die G readily fall therefrom on the withdrawal of the
hollow knife.

page_text: In some cases when the standard is mounted on a base with a horizontal top a lever,
to which an intermittent reciprocating motion is imparted, may be made to pass under
the cutting edge of the knife (after it has been withdrawn from the steel die) for
receiving the cut piece as it is ejected from the knife, and on the return of the knife
for the next operation the lever is made to convey the finished cut piece clear of the
working parts so as to prevent it falling onto the die.
It will be readily understood that by varying the shape or configuration of the
knife other articles than links or washers may be cut or formed by this machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
First. The manufacture and use of the cutting or punching out and perforating
machine in which the hollow knife and solid punches and ejecting plate are mounted on
the end of a reciprocating bar-carried in suitable bearings on framework-and arranged
to operate upon an adjustable die for cutting or punching out belt links or other
articles in leather or similar substances and perforating them at the same operation,
substantially as described and illustrated.
Second. In a cutting or punching out and perforating machine such as herein
described, the combination of a hollow punch or knife D, solid punches E, and
ejecting plate or plunger F all arranged and mounted on the end of a recipro-
cating bar-such as C-carried in suitable bearings on framework so as to operate
upon an adjustable die G substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Third. The method of cutting or punching out belt links or other articles in leather
or similar substance and perforating them at the same operation by machinery such as
herein described which consists in mounting in suitable bearings on an inclined or
other standard a reciprocating bar, on the end of which is fixed a hollow knife
within which are attached to the said bar an ejecting plate and one or more solid
punches with their lower ends projecting beyond the edge of the knife, all of which
parts are arranged to operate on the material placed upon an adjustable die substantially
as described and illustrated.
Fourth. The cutting or punching out and perforating machine as a whole constructed
arranged, and combined substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Il 1007
MARSHALL H. PEARSON.
CHARLES BENNION.
By W. Fairburn Hart,
Agent.