Improvements in Book or Paper Trimming Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 12th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Book or Paper Trimming Machines.
I, REGINALD HADDAN, of the firm of Herbert Haddan & Co., of 18, Buckingham
Street, Strand, W.C., London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, a communication to me from abroad by THE SEYBOLD MACHINE COMPANY,
of Dayton, County of Montgomery, and State of Ohio, United States of America,
Manufacturers, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The invention relates to machines for trimming the edges of bundles of paper,
such as books, pamphlets, circulars, posters, and the like.
Heretofore in machines designed for this purpose but a single cutting knife has
been employed necessitating four operations of the knife with four stoppages and
four turns of the clamp plates to bring the untrimmed edges of the bundles succes-
sively within the stroke of the knife. Moreover, as each exposed edge of the bundle
in such older machines has to be brought into the pathway of the knife, it has not
been possible to supply a gauge and fix the bundles in the exact position required
between the clamp plates for holding the bundles during the trimming operation.
The exact position of the bundles on the clamp devices has heretofore been deter-
mined by guess work, the position being fixed by the measuring with the eye as
nearly as possible.
The principal features of the invention, therefore, consist in the entire reorgani-
zation of such machines whereby two of the edges of the bundles of paper may be
simultaneously trimmed, thus necessitating but a single turn of the bundles to
bring all the uncut edges within the stroke of the knives. This is accomplished by
that certain novel construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more
particularly pointed out and claimed, whereby we are enabled to employ two cutting
knives acting automatically and simultaneously in planes parallel to each other to
trim two edges at a time, and in which a gauge is provided for the adjustment of
the bundles of paper in the exact position required arranged to automatically move
out of the way as the clamp plates carrying the books or pamphlets are turned to
bring the remaining uncut edges within the stroke of the knives.
There are also sundry other features of novelty and utility which will be particu-
larly pointed out as the mechanism is hereinafter described and claimed.
In the drawings-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved machine.
Figure 2 & 3 are respectively right and left side elevations thereof.
Figure 4 is a rear elevation of same.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on lines 5-5 of Figure 1, and
Figure 6 is a central vertical section of same.
The operating mechanism is mounted in a suitable solid and substantial frame
work, A, consisting of side standards, B, B, and bed plate, C. Securely bolted on
top of the side standards, B, B, are the head blocks, D), D, provided with diagonal
slots, a, a. E, is the knife carrier, a solid substantial metal bar provided with
horizontal tracks or guides, b, b, upon which are mounted in rollers, c, c, the knife
carriages, F, F, to the depending side plates, G, G, of which are secured the cutting

page_text: knives, H, H, the knives being adjustably secured in vertical slots, d, d, therein
by the belts, e, e, thus giving a vertical adjustment for the knives within the limits
of the slots.
K, is the main driving shaft of the machines journalled from side to side in the
frame work and provided with driving pulley, L, at one end and a hand wheel, M
at the other keyed thereto. Mounted loosely on this driving shaft at one end and
operated by friction clutch to be hereinafter described is the gear, N, which meshes
with the large gear wheel, O, mounted on and keyed to the shaft, P, which is
journalled in the frame work from side to side. The gear wheel, 0, carries a
stud, R, and the shaft, P, at the other end, the crank arm, S, with stud, f, both
studs being at the same distance from the center of the shaft and coupled with the
arms, T, T, by connecting rods, U, U, pivoted thereto. The coupling studs on the
outer ends of these connecting rods by which the arms, T, T, are pivoted and
retained by caps and bolts g, g, to the connecting rods, U, U, are formed eccen-
trically on the ends of the arms, T, T, which arms pass through the central slots, a, a,
in the head blocks, D, D, and are rigidly secured in any suitable way to the ends of
the knife carrier, E. The knife carrier also carries stud rollers, h, h, at each end
which take into the outer slots, a, in the head blocks and which serve to steady the
movement of the knife carrier and knives. It will be evident from this con-
struction so far described that as the shaft, P', is rotated by the gearing, N, O, the
knife mechanism will be reciprocated with a downward shearing cut guided by
the diagonal slots in the head blocks.
In use as the connecting mechanism for one of the knives may wear more than the
other and as it is evident that the best results can be obtained by providing for an
absolutely uniform pull on each end of the knife bed, we couple, as above
described, the arms, T, T. by eccentric studs thereon to the connecting rods, U, U,
so that should either end of the knife connection work loose or wear, by loosening
the connection with the knife carrier the proper arm, T, may be turned slightly in
the recess and thus take up any wear that may occur.
For clamping and holding the paper to be cut we provide as follows-
Y, is the clamp screw held in a vertical position by a washer, 7, set in a recess
in the sleeve, m, which sleeve is held in place within a suitable depression in the
bed plate, C. Secured to this sleeve, m, is the horizontal clamp table, A¹, the
clamp plate being thus journalled on the sleeve in the bed plate so as to be capable
of rotation as hereinafter described, but unaffected by any movement of the clamp.
screw.
Mounted on the clamp table, A¹, are two vertical guide rods, B1, B¹, between
which the clamp plate C₁, travels up and down on the clamp screw as the same is
rotated in either direction. The clamp plate, C', is provided with upper and lower
flat horizontal plates, n, n, upon which are secured by bolts or otherwise the pattern
plates or boards, p, p, these pattern plates being made of varying sizes to conform
to the varying sizes of the books to be trimmed and the upper pattern plates, p¹, p,
being the exact counterparts of the lower set, P, P A form plate or board, r, is
also secured to the clamp table, A¹, upon which the books or bundles of paper, D', D¹,
rest during the trimming operation.
Mounted on the lower end of the clamp screw, Y, is a horizontal miter gear, E¹,
which meshes with corresponding miter gears, F1, F", mounted loosely on the main
driving shaft, K. G₁, is a clutch collar feathered on the shaft so as to slide in either
direction and provided with a circumferential recess, s, engaged by the bifurcated
ends of the clutch bar, t, which bar passes horizontally through slot, u, in the front
cross beam of the frame where it is engaged by the upper end of the vertical arm, w,
of the foot treadle, H', pivoted to a downward extension of the frame across beam.
The clutch bar, t, is further supported by the horizontal rod, y, passing through
a proper opening in same and connected to the end frames which rod carries spiral
springs, z, z, bearing between the end frames and the clutch bar, t; to return and
keep the bar and clutch collar, G¹, in its normal central position midway between
the two miter gears, F1, F.. It will be evident from this construction that a down-

page_text: ward pressure on either end of the foot treadle will shift the clutch collar, G¹, to
couple the corresponding miter gear to the main shaft and rotate the clamp screw, Y,
to raise or lower the clamp plate, C¹, as may be desired.
Hinged at one corner of the clamp table is a lever bar, b¹, provided with a handle,
c, by means of which the clamp table and the bundles of paper may be turned
quarter way round, when at rest the lever and table being held stationary in the
lugs, d' d', bolted to the bed plate in front at each corner.
The operator having placed two books or bundles of paper in the clamp with the
uncut edges outward, pattern boards, p, p, and, p¹, p', are selected of a size required
for the trimmed books, the upper patterns, p¹, 21, form gauge blocks for the cutting
knives in the following manner. As already described the knife carriages and
knives are mounted on the knife carrier, E, to move horizontally. Passing hori-
zontally through each of the depending knife plates, G, G. and serving as a lateral
guide therefor is the rod, e, surrounding this rod are the spiral springs, f, f
bearing between the knife plates and the collars, g', g', adjustable along the rods
to vary the tension of the springs by set screws. The effect of these springs is to
press the knives in to close contact with the upper pattern boards, p, p, of the
clamp. Now when the knife actuating mechanism is set in operation and the side
edges of the books have been cut and trimmed, the operator raises the handle, c¹,
and swings the clamp table one quarter of a turn to bring the other uncut edges
under the knives, locking the table in its secured position as above described. In
order to accomplish this turning of the clamp table it is necessary that the cutting
knives should recede from their position in contact with the pattern boards, p¹, p¹.
For this reason the corners of these pattern boards are rounded, as shown in
Figure 5, and as the clamp table is turned the pattern boards press back the knives
under the pressure of the springs, f¹, f¹, the spring pressure causing the knives_to
take position with the turning of the clamp in contact with the end edges of the
pattern in position to perform the second cut. Thus, no matter what the size or
shape of the patterns the knives automatically adjust themselves for any pattern
selected. It will be seen that not only can two books or packages be trimmed
simultaneously but that the trimming is accomplished with a single turn of the
table and the two operations of the knives, a saving of fifty per cent. in time and
labor over all machines where, a single knife is employed. But not only in this is
this present machine of great advantage and utility, but the cuts may be made
with absolute accuracy and uniformity and the position of the uncut books with
reference to the cutting knives may be accurately fixed without guess work by means
of the gauge now to be described.
Heretofore, there has been no room for gauge for placing the packages in the
clamp in the machines in which a single knife is employed for four quarter turns
must be given to the paper in such machines to bring each edge under the knife.
But with this machine inasmuch as two side cuts are made simultaneously and
only a single quarter turn is necessary a gauge can be provided at the rear of the
cutting table.
L', is a gauge block provided with two vertical faces, one for each book or
package. Extending back horizontally from the rear lower edge of this block is a
slotted arm, , for the adjustable attachment of the gauge block to a vertical rod, l',
which rod is hinged to swing in a vertical plane on the stud, m¹, extending out from
the boss, 'M', secured to the frame. The lower end of this rod, 7, is slotted at, n¹,
to receive the end of a rod, 23, connected with the front cross beam of the frame
and carrying a spiral spring, r', whose tendency is to keep the rod, l, and gauge
block, L, in a vertical position, but to allow the rod, , to swing on its pivot.
Journalled in the boss, M¹, is a vertical shaft or rod, N¹, carrying on its upper
end an inwardly extending arm, s¹, provided with a roller, t¹. The rear side and
edge of the clamp table, A¹, is provided with a cam plate, P¹, as shown in Figure 5,
the cam being provided with such a curve that the moment the clamp table, A¹, is
shifted to turn the paper the cam surface will contact with the roller, t', and
rotate the shaft, N'. Underneath the arm, s¹, is another arm, u', on the shaft, N1,

page_text: which bears against a friction roller, y¹, on the rod, ", so that the rotation of the
shaft, N1 will swing back the rod, 1, and the gauge block, L', away from a position
to interfere with the shifting of the clamp table, the gauge being returned to its
normal position by the pressure of the spring, r¹, as soon as the cam surface has
passed the roller, t¹.
As already stated the gauge can be adjusted for any desired sized book or package
of paper and the operator in adjusting the books for the clamp has an accurate
gauge with the gauge block and the vertical guide rods, B1, B¹, of the clamp.
For starting the machine, we mount on the main driving shaft, K, the pulley, R',
secured by set screw to the gear, N. Within this pulley and keyed to the shaft K,
is a split band, al, expanded in the usual way to couple the pulley and the gear, N.
to the driving shaft by the sliding feathered clutch collar, b, provided with a
circumferential groove and engaged by the bifurcated ends of the hand lever, S¹,
pivoted in a suitable support on the frame.
It is evident that when the machine is started one revolution of the gear, O. will
cause one reciprocation of the cutting knives and as it is then necessary to stop the
machine in order to shift the clamp table we secure the beveled lug, el, to the inner
edge of the rim of the gear, O, which, with each revolution of the gear wheel strikes
against the rod, d", connected with the lower end of the hand lever, S¹, so as to
shift the clutch and disconnect the gear, N, from the driving shaft, K.
In order to insure the instant stopping of this gear at the end of each knife
stroke, we pass over the outer face of the pulley, R¹, the friction band, e¹¹, secured
to the frame at one end and to the rod, f, at the other. This rod passes through
its supporting bracket, gl, and carries a spiral spring, h, on its outer end bearing
between the bracket and an adjustable nut, ", thereon, so that there is a constant
tension on 'the pulley, R¹, and the moment the friction clutch is released any
momentum of the gearing is instantly stopped.
In order to prevent any springing of the supporting standards, B, B3, of the frame
and to brace and sustain same we pass rods, T¹, through the head blocks, D, D,
from side to side and mount on the ends thereof strong spiral springs, m¹¹, ml, on
the rods so that tension may always be maintained between the side supports.
In order that the shavings of paper trimmed from the edges of the books may
not pile up on the operating table and interfere with and clog the operating
mechanism we slope off the bed plate towards the base of the frame, as shown
at, p, p, and we also provide a sheet metal guard, 11, 11, on each side of the
bed plate, so that the shavings will be carried down off the rear of the machine.
The operation of the machine and its many advantages will be sufficiently manifest
from the foregoing description.
For the purpose of adjusting the knives by hand we provide the hand wheel, M,
which is keyed to the driving shaft, K, so that before the power is applied by belt
to the driving pulley, L, the knives can be raised and lowered by turning the hand
wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is:-
1. A book trimming machine provided with a number of cutting knives
arranged in parallel planes and mounted to reciprocate when the clamp is rotated,
with means for actuating the knives to cut the paper and a rotatable clamp for
holding the paper bundles during the operation with mechanism for rotating same,
substantially as shown and described.
2. A book trimming machine provided with a number of vertical operating
cutting knives arranged in parallel planes and mounted to reciprocate when the
clamp is rotated with means for actuating the knives to cut the paper and a clam
for holding the paper with mechanism for turning same to bring the parallel
edges of the paper within the stroke of the knives and means for holding the knives
in fixed position during the operation, substantially as shown and described.

page_text: 3. A book trimming machine provided with a vertically operating knife carrier
and a pair of cutting knives hung thereon in parallel planes and movable laterally,
means for holding said knives in a fixed position during operation, an oscillating
clamp for holding the paper and for bringing the parallel edges of the paper within
the stroke of the knives and mechanism for actuating said knife bed to trim the
paper, substantially as shown and described.
4. In a book trimming machine, provided with a vertically operating knife
carrier having lateral guide tracks thereon, the combination with knife carriages
mounted on said tracks to slide laterally and cutting knives arranged in parallel
planes thereon, of an oscillating clamp for holding the paper, with pattern block
thereon and springs to keep said knives in contact with said pattern means for
oscillating said clamp horizontally and mechanism for actuating said knives,'
substantially as shown and described.
5. In a book trimming machine, the combination, with a pair of vertically
acting and laterally sliding cutting knives of a horizontally oscillating clamp table
with screw operated clamp plate thereon provided with upper and lower sets of
pattern boards the upper set of patterns serving as a means for adjusting the
cutting knives between the cuts, substantially as shown and described.
6. In a book trimming machine, the combination, with a knife carrier provided
with laterally shiftable cutting knives, of a clamp table, with screw operated clamp
plate thereon provided with an upper and lower set of pattern boards, mechanism for
shifting said clamp to turn the paper at the end of each stroke and means for holding
said knives and their supporting plates in contact with the pattern boards during
operation but to yield during the turning of the clamp, substantially as shown and
described.
7. In a book trimming machine, the combination, with a rotatable clamp for the
paper bundles, of a gauge for the accurate adjustment of the paper in the clamp
and a cam contacting with said gauge to move same out of the way during the
rotation of the clamp, substantially as shown and described.
8. In a book trimming machine, the combination, with a rotatable clamp for the
paper bundles, of a spring pressed gauge for the accurate adjustment of the paper
in the clamp and a cam on the clamp contactng with said gauge to move same out
of the way during the rotation of the clamp, substantially as shown and described.
9. In a book trimming machine, the combination, with a rotatable clamp for the
paper bundles and a pair of cutting knives arranged to act in parallel planes, of
a spring pressed gauge for the accurate adjustment of the paper in the clamp, and
a cam on the clamp contacting with said gauge to move out of the way during
the rotation of the clamp, substantially as shown and described.
10. In a book trimming machine, the combination, with a rotatable clamp for
the paper bundles of a gauge block and hinged rod to which said gauge is attached
spring acting on said rod to keep the gauge in position, with cam on the clamp
and connecting mechanism between said cam and hinged rod whereby the movement
of the clamp in turning the paper will cause said hinged rod and gauge to swing
away from the clamp and permit its rotation, substantially as shown and described.
11. In a book trimming machine, a framework for the operating mechanism, side
standards with head blocks mounted thereon within which the knife mechanism
works and rods passing through said head blocks with adjustable nuts on the outer
ends thereof and springs bearing between said nuts and the outer faces of the head
blocks to maintain and support the side standards and take up any wear thereon,
substantially as shown and described.
ROOM