Improvements in Machines for Turning.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Turning.
I, ROBERT BATES CODLING of, Bristol, Hartford County, Connecticut, United
States of America, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The bed of the machine has upon its front side longitudinal ways or guides
upon which are mounted two sliding heads the former carrying the driving centre
and the latter carrying the opposite or companion centre. To each sliding head a
lever is connected which lever is pivotted to the bed and has its opposite end resting
in a grooved cam on a cam shaft whereby the heads are moved to and from each
other at every revolution of the cam shaft the cam grooves being straight between
the inclined portions so that the heads have a period of rest at each limit of
their movement.
Between the heads there is a supplementary bed bearing a chute for receiving a
stack of blank caster rollers or other articles and underneath said chute is a slide
provided with a carrier and chisel or turning tool. The slide is drawn backward
by means of a weight and is thrown forward by means of a central cam on
cam shaft.
The hubs of the casters are made square in end view and the driving centre is
provided with a socket of corresponding shape within which one of said square
hubs of each roller is received. A spring pressed follower is arranged within
the driving centre and a like follower is arranged within the companion
centre. These spring pressed followers are limited in their outward move-
ments by nuts and are preferably so arranged that when released the end of the
follower in the driving centre will not project beyond the mouth of the socket
while the follower in the companion centre will slightly project from said centre.
While the square socket in the driving centre engages the square hub of the
caster roller for driving it, the roller is centred upon both sides by the centres
bearing upon the inside of its rim. The cam shaft is driven slowly by any suitable
means as for instance by means of a belt and a driving pulley while the spindles
which carry the centres of both heads are driven rapidly by belts upon pulleys.
When the cams operate to hold the heads apart the central cam is in such a
position as to permit the weight to draw the slide backward to a point where the
carrier is immediately under the chute and the lowermost caster within the chute
drops into the hollow of the carrier which carrier is made in the form of a flat
spring. The central cam then throws the slide forward into the position to bring

page_text: the roller that rests on the carrier into alignment with the centres the spring
holding the roller within the carrier until the centres have been advanced by their
cams far enough to engage the roller. As the centres approach each other the
follower first strikes the hub of the caster roller so as to ensure the hub on the
opposite side entering the square socket in the driving centre. In advancing from
the retracted to the forward position the followers yield and permit the caster
roller to be firmly held between the centres. Immediately after the centres take
the caster roller the highest point of the central cam passes the rear point of the
slide when said slide moves backward under the influence of the weight the
forward end of the spring carrier yielding a little as the carrier withdraws from
the caster roller. The centres revolve in such a direction as to carry their
underside towards the front. As the slide moves backward following
the cam
up
the chisel turns the periphery of the caster roller. The form of the chisel is such
as to suit the work in hand. After the chisel has passed under the caster roller
sufficiently to turn its periphery and to bring the carrier again under the chute to
receive another roller, the operation before described is repeated indefinitely so
long as the machine is supplied with caster rollers. The clute may be extended
to any desired height and can be fed from a hopper into which the castings are
placed promiscuously.
When the centres withdraw from each other the spring pressed followers act to
eject the roller so that the centres are ready to receive another roller. The lathe
heads have been described as sliding and this is the preferred form but sliding
spindles are an equivalent for sliding heads.
When a light shaving is to be taken from or the burnishing of a previously
turned and drilled caster roller is desired, I employ a driving centre with a short
end, square in cross section, the corners of the square entering the axial hole in
the rollers.
Articles of various forms may be turned by merely changing the cutting tool to
conform to the periphery of the desired article.
Wooden articles or those of other material may also be turned upon my_machine.
If said articles are to be turned from blanks in the form of angular blocks, I make a
corresponding angular recess in the slide to form a carrier. I also raise the chisel
higher so as to present it to the front of the work instead of pressing under it and
the work is revolved in the opposite direction from that first described for turning
caster rollers. If desired however the chisel may pass under the work as before
described and two or more chisels may be placed on the slide to make successive
cuts. Both centres are provided with a central spur for first entering the block of
wood and the driving centre is also provided with the driving points similar to
those ordinarily used for driving wood for turning. In connection with this centre I
also arrange a spring pressed follower the same being provided with openings
which receive the driving points while the follower is limited in its outward
movement by screws.
Instead of making the carrier yield as first described I make the cams which
move the centres and slide so that the centres first move against the block far
enough to catch it by the points but not far enough to engage the driving spurs
to revolve said block, and while thus held the slide moves back far enough to
disengage the angular carrier from the block and thereby permit the work to
revolve. The centres then move together to engage the driving spurs the follower
yielding a little as the spurs enter the wood. The chisel then moves up to and turns
the work and the slide moves forward again and as the centres withdraw the spring
pressed follower starts the work off from the spurs so that it falls from the machine.
Dated this 27th day of February 1888.

page_text: 1, ROBERT BATES CODLING of Bristol, Hartford County, Connecticut, United States
of America, Machinist, 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 :-
My invention relates to machines for turning articles of metal, wood, or other
material; and the object of my invention is to produce an automatic machine whereby
the work is done at less expense and with greater uniformity than is the case with
hand-turning.
In the accompanying drawings-
Figure 1 is a plan view of my machine as specially adapted for turning caster-
rollers.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same, partly in elevation, on line x---x of
fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the chisel or turning tool.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, of the driving center.
Figure 5 is a like view of the opposite or companion center.
Figure 6 is a like view of both centers with a caster roller held between them.
Figures 7 and 8 are respectively side and end views of a driving center for use in
my machine for finishing caster-rollers.
Figure 9 is a side elevation of another form of metal article which may be turned
on my machine.
Figure 10 is a central longitudinal section, partly in elevation, of a driving center
for my machine specially adapted for turning wood, the plane of section being indicated
by the line y-y fig. 12.
Figure 11 is a side elevation of the opposite center for turning wood.
Figure 12 is an end view of the driving center fig. 10.
Figure 13 is a view of the same corresponding with fig. 10, the plane of section
being on the line z ---z of fig. 12.
Figure 14 is a developed view of the cam for operating the centers in turning
wood, and-
Figure 15 is a perspective view of a chute and slide having a carrier and turning
tool adapted for use on my machine for turning door-stops.
A designates the bed of the machine, having upon its front side longitudinal ways
or guides a, upon which are mounted two sliding heads, B, C, the former carrying the
driving center b and the latter carrying the opposite or companion center c. To each
sliding head a lever D is connected, which lever is pivoted to the bed A and has its
opposite end resting in the grooved cams E on the cam-shaft F, whereby the heads BC
are moved to and from each other at every revolution of the cam-shaft F, the
cam-grooves being straight between the inclined portions, so that the heads B and C
have a period of rest at each limit of their movement.

page_text: Between the heads B and C there is a supplementary bed G, bearing a chute d for
receiving a stack of blank caster rollers as shown in fig. 2, and underneath said chute
is a slide H provided with a carrier f and chisel or turning tool g. The slide H is
drawn backward by means of the weight h and is thrown forward by means of the
cam I on cam-shaft F. As represented in fig. 1 the slide H is in its rearmost position,
while in fig. 2 it is in its foremost position.
As will be seen by reference to fig. 2, the hubs of the casters are made square in
end view and the driving center 6 is provided with a socket of corresponding shape,
within which one of said square hubs of each roller is received. A spring-pressed
follower i is arranged within the driving center b and a like follower ; is arranged
within the companion center c. These spring-pressed followers are limited in their
outward movements by nuts & figs. 4 and 5, and are preferably so arranged that when
released the end of the follower in the center b will not project beyond the mouth of
the socket, while the follower in the center c will slightly project from said center, all
as shown in figs. 4 and 5. While the square socket in the center engages the square
hub of the caster roller for driving it, the roller is centered upon both sides by the
centers bearing upon the inside of its rim, as shown in fig. 6. The cam shaft F is
driven slowly by any suitable means-as, for instance, by means of a belt and a
driving pulley K, while the spindles which carry the centers of both heads are driven
rapidly by belts upon the pulleys m.
When the cams E E operate to hold the heads BC apart as shown in fig. 1, the
cam 1 is in such a position as to permit the weight to draw the slide H backward-to
a point where the carrier is immediately under the chute d, and the lowermost caster
within the chute d drops into the hollow of the carrier, which carrier is made in the
form of a flat spring, curved as shown in fig. 2. The cam I then throws the slide H
forward into the position represented in fig. 2 to bring the roller that rests on the
carrier into alignment with the centers b and c, the spring a holding the roller within
the carrier until the centers b and c have been advanced by their cams far enough
to engage the roller. As the centers approach each other, the follower j first strikes
the hub of the caster roller, so as to insure the hub on the opposite side entering the
square socket in the center b. In advancing from the position shown in figs. 4 and 5
to the position shown in fig. 6 the followers yield and permit the caster roller to be
held as there shown. Immediately after the centers take the caster roller the highest
point of the cam I passes the rear point of the slide H, when said slide moves
backward under the influence of the weight h, the forward end of the spring carrier f
yielding a little as the carrier withdraws from the caster roller. The centers revolve
in such a direction as to carry their under side toward the front. As the slide moves
backward, following up the cam I, the chisel y turns the periphery of the caster
roller.
The form of the chisel in plan view is shown in fig. 3, while its top is hollowed out
so as to conform in transverse section or end view to the rounded periphery of the
caster roller fig. 6. After the chisel has passed under the caster roller sufficiently to
turn its periphery and to bring the carrier f again under the chute to receive another
roller, the operation before described is repeated indefinitely so long as the machine is
supplied with caster rollers. The chute may be extended to any desired height, and
can be fed from a hopper, into which the castings are placed promiscuously.
When the centers withdraw from each other, the spring pressed followers act to
eject the rollers so that the centers are ready to receive another roller. I have
described the lathe heads B and C as sliding, and this is the preferred form; but
sliding spindles are an equivalent for sliding heads.
In figures 7 and 8 I have shown a driving center which may be used upon my
machine for driving caster rollers that have been drilled, the square of the center
taking into the axial hole of the caster at the hub on one side. This is more
particularly designed for use when only a very light shaving or burnishing of a
previously-turned caster roller is desired.
Figure 9 shows in side elevation an article of metal which may be turned on my
machine by merely changing the form of the chisel g to conform to the periphery of

page_text: the article fig. 9, said article being provided with a square hub p for driving it when
within the centers; but, inasmuch as there is a square hub upon one end of the article
only, and the article is differently shaped at each end, it is necessary in stacking the
blanks within the chute to arrange them all with the square hub upon that side which
faces the driving center. Wooden articles or those of other material may also be
turned upon my machine.
In fig. 15 the slide H is provided with an angular recess to form the carrier f", so
as to adapt it to receive a square block from the chute d. The chisel g is shaped in
plan view to conform to the periphery of the article to be turned and is placed
higher than the chisel g for turning caster rollers, in order to adapt the chisel to be
presented to the front of the work being turned instead of passing under it, the work
being driven in the opposite direction from that first described for driving caster
rollers.
The driving center figs. 10. 12 and 13, is provided with a central spur q for first
entering the block of wood, and with driving points similar to those ordinarily used
for driving wood for turning. In connection with this center I arrange a spring-
pressed followers the same being provided with openings which receive the points,
while the follower is limited in its outward movement by the screws tt. A developed
view of the cams for forcing these centers together is shown in fig. 14, the operating
levers having their ends in the straight part 1 of the groove of said cam when the
centers are the most widely separated. When the lovers pass the incline leading to
the part 2 of the cam groove, the centers are brought near enough together to catch
the work by the central points, and when the work is so caught the slide H will move
backward far enough to withdraw the carrier f¹ from under the block and permit the
block to revolve. The levers then follow up the next incline into the part 3 of the cam
groove, thereby bringing the centers nearer together and forcing the driving spurs
firmly into the wood, the followers yielding a little as said spurs enter the wood.
With the work thus held the turning tool or chisel is brought against the work for
turning and to bring the carrier again under the chute. When the cams and
levers withdraw the centers from each other, the spring-pressed followers s starts
the work off from the spurs, so, that it falls from the machine, and the operation is
repeated indefinitely.
While it is desirable to stack the work in the chute d in either form of the machine
shown, it is evident that the chute may be removed and the attendant or operator may
feed the machine by placing the work one piece at a time directly in the carrier when
it is moved back, after which it will be carried forward and turned in the manner
hereinbefore described.
The machine, is adapted for turning various articles with only such changes as I
have herein indicated to conform to the particular work desired. Having described
three different forms of work, I consider it unnecessary to describe or specify other
forms. I also consider it unnecessay to specify such minor changes in my machine as
would be obvious to a mechanic. The hollowing or concave face of the follower j may
be useful with a companion center or chuck other than the center b, said face acting
to temporarily center the work while it is being forced into the driver and before the
periphery of the center c near its outer end engages the rim of the caster roller to
more firmly center it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim and desire to secure by Patent, is-
1. In a turning machine, the combination of two lathe centers adapted to move
longitudinally, a carrier and turning tool moving together between said centers at
right angles to their axis, and operating mechanism for imparting the relatively timed
movements to said centers, carrier and turning tool, substantially as described and
for the purpose specified.
2. In a turning machine, the combination of two lathe centers adapted to move
longitudinally, a carrier and turning tool moving together between said centers at

page_text: right angles to their axis, a chute fixed over the path of the carrier for feeding work
thereto, and operating mechanism for imparting the relatively timed movements to
said centers, carrier. and turning tool, substantially as described and for the purpose
specified.
3. In a turning machine, the combination of lathe centers and a chute respectively
adapted to revolve the work and to hold blanks, the slide H moving between the lathe
centers at right angles to their axes and provided with a carrier and turning tool, and
mechanism for reciprocating said slide, substantially as described and for the purpose
specified.
4. In a turning machine, the combination of a chute for holding blanks, the slide
having the yielding carrier f adapted to move under the chute to receive a blank and
then to move away and carry a blank therefrom, and niechanism for grasping the blank
when on the carrier, whereby the yielding of the carrier when the work is grasped
permits the return movement of the carrier to receive another blank, substantially as
described and for the purpose specified.
5. In a turning machine, the combination of mechanism for grasping the work, the
reciprocating slide provided with a carrier, the chute d for holding blanks, and the
spring for holding the blank within the carrier during its advance movement,
substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
6. In a turning machine, the combination of the lathe centers mounted to move
longitudinally, the slide bearing a turning tool and-carrier, the chute over the path of
the carrier, the levers D D, cams E E, and the cam I, substantially as described and
for the purpose specified.
7. In a turning machine, the combination of the driving center and the spring-
pressed follower at its outer end adapted to start the work from off said center,
substantially as described.
8. In a turning machine, the centers herein described for turning caster rollers,
said centers having axial openings to admit the hubs of said rollers and having their
peripheries near their outer ends adapted to enter the rims and center the rollers
thereby, substantially as described.
9. In a turning machine, the combination of a driving center and the companion
center, and the spring pressed follower j having a central depression for temporarily
centering the work, substantially as described.
10. In a turning machine, the combination of the driving center having a
spring pressed follower limited in its outward movement to a point inside the outer
end of said center, and the companion center having the spring pressed follower which
projects beyonds the outer end of said center, substantially as described and for the
purpose specified. .
Dated this 24th day of October One thousand eight hundred and eighty eight.