Improvements in Rasp or File Cutting Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1898--Accepted, 30th July, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rasp or File Cutting Machines.
I, JAMES DWIGHT FOOT, of 102, Reade Street, in the City, County and State of
New York, U.S.A., Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rasp or file
cutting machines having for its object to improve generally, the construction of
such machines to the end that a better and more efficient rasp may be produced
thereby with this object in view the invention consists in the novel construc-
tion, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more particularly
described.
;
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in
which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Fig. 1, is a front
elevation of a machine embodying the invention; Fig. 2, is a side elevation of
the same parts being broken away; Fig. 3, is an enlarged detail side elevation
of the cutter holder and cutter, and Fig. 4 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 5,
is a detail sectional view on the line 5-5, Fig. 2, illustrating the means for
adjusting the cutter holder operating lever, and Fig. 6, is a similar view of the
feeding devices of the blank carrying slide.
Briefly stated the invention comprises the usual cutter or punch holder and
its reciprocating means upon which is carried a gang punch, that is to say a
punch adapted to form a series of teeth extending across the width of the rasp
blank at each down stroke thereof. This punch co-operates with the rasp blank
carried upon a bed which bed is mounted in a longitudinally movable slide. In
order that the teeth of one transverse row may not be cut in longitudinal align-
ment with those of the preceding row the longitudinally movable slide is mounted
to slide in guides of a carriage which is in turn mounted to reciprocate in guides
of the frame. The reciprocation of this carriage is in a direction transverse to
the line of movement of the slide and suitable means are provided for auto-
matically shifting the carriage in one direction or the other after each down
stroke of the plunger. By this arrangement and operation of the parts the rasp
blank is shifted laterally to a slight extent after each series of teeth has been
cut and when the cutter next descends to form the next series of teeth the said
teeth are cut in staggered relation to those of the previously formed series.
Referring more particularly to the drawings; A, designates the frame of the
machine suitably constructed to support the operative parts and comprising a
head 1, and a base 2. Mounted to reciprocate transversely across the base of the
frame in guides thereof, is a carriage 3, provided at its forward end with separated
uprights 4, journalled in which is a transverse shaft 5. Upon one end of this
shaft at the side of the frame is a cam or patterned faced disk 6, the cam face of
which is normally held into engagement with a friction roller 7, by means of a
depending weight 8, connected by means of a chain or cable, passing over a
friction roller 9, with one end of the carriage 3. At its opposite end the shaft 5

page_text: carries a gear 6, which is driven from the driving shaft 10, through an inter-
mediate chain of gears 41 12. Preferably the cam face of the disk is formed by
means of two or more segmental strips 13, of uniform thickness, detachably
secured at equi-distant points upon the disk, at the edge thereof, by means of
retaining screws 14. By this arrangement it will be obvious that if the disk 6,
be rotated a distance equal to the length of one of the strips 13, or of the inter-
vening spaces after each reciprocation of the punch, the carriage will be shifted
transversely a distance, in one direction or the other, equal to thickness of the
strips 13. It will be equally obvious that this distance may be varied at will
by detaching strips of one thickness from the disk and substituting others.
Mounted to move in guides of the carriage 3, but in a longitudinal direction
transverse to that in which the carriage is reciprocated, is a slide 15, which is
propelled by a suspended weight 16, connected to one end of a cable 17, which
cable passes around a guide pulley upon the carriage 3, and is connected at its
opposite end to the front end of the slide 15. Upon the slide 15, is supported
a half round bed 18, upon the upper flat face of which is adapted to be received
the rasp blank r.
The slide 15, is adapted to be moved intermittently beneath the rasp punch
and in order that the movement may be properly timed and limited racks 19, are
secured upon opposite sides of the slide and the teeth of one of these racks is
arranged in staggered relation with those of the other rack. Adapted to engage
with the teeth of the racks 19, are pawls 20, pivotally mounted upon the up-
rights 4. These pawls are each provided with tail pieces 21, which are engaged
by cams 22 upon the shaft 5, to lift the pawls out of engagement with the racks,
the cams being arranged to lift the pawls alternately, so that when one of the
pawls is lifted above its rack, the other is resting half-way between two teeth
of its rack and consequently the slide 15, is only permitted to be moved a distance
corresponding to one-half that between the teeth of the racks after each down
stroke of the punch.
Mounted to reciprocate in the guides of the head 1, at an angle to the face of
the rasp blank, is the gang punch or cutter holder 25, formed at its lower
end with a recess 26, for reception of the punch X. This punch is suitably
pivoted at its upper end and is adapted to swing slightly forward within the recess
as its points enter the file blank thereby raising and forming sharper and more
perfect teeth. Normally the punch rests in contact with the rear wall of the
recess which constitutes a bearing therefor, it being maintained in such position
by means of a yielding bearing which engages its front face. As shown this
yielding bearing comprises a headed stud 27, which passes through an opening
extending from the front face of the tool holder and intersecting the recess 26.
The head of the stud bears against the front face of the punch X, and its stem
projects through an opening in a plate 28, detachably secured to the front of the
tool holder and between this plate and the shoulder of the stud a spring 29, is
interposed which serves to maintain the stud in contact with the punch, and
the punch in contact with its solid bearing.
As shown the punch is pivotally supported between two centering pins 30, 31,
and one of these pins is fixed stationary relative to the tool holder while the
other is provided near one end with a collar 32, and projects at its opposite end
through the end of a casing 33, screwed into an opening in the sides of the tool
holder. Within the casing 33, (and interposed between the end thereof and the
collar 32 is a coil spring 34, which surrounds the pin 31, and tends to maintain
the conical point thereof within the correspondingly shaped socket in one side
of the punch. By this arrangement it will be obvious that the spring 34, not
only serves to maintain the pin 31, in firm contact with the punch X, and com-
pensates for any wear occurring between them, but it also permits the ready
removal of a punch from the tool holder and the substitution of another therefor,
it being only necessary to withdraw the pin from engagement with the socket
of the punch against the action of the spring 34. In order that this may be

page_text: more easily effected the projecting end of the pin is provided with a knob or
handle 35, by means of which the pin may be retracted.
Projecting from opposite sides of the tool holder and extending through
recesses 36, in the sides of the head 1, are studs 37, to each of which is connected
a spring 38, which serves to maintain the tool holder in its normally elevated
position, as well as to take up all lost movement when the cam or lever wears.
Bearing at one end upon the upper end of the tool holder, is a centrally pivoted
lever 39, the opposite end of which rests in contact with a cam 40, upon the
shaft of which is mounted the gear wheel 41, this shaft being driven by means
of gears 42, from the driving shaft. The rotation of this cam is suitably timed
with respect to the blank feeding mechanism and in operation it elevates one end
of the lever 39, causing its opposite end to be depressed thereby lowering the
tool holder and carrying the punch X, into contact with the rasp blank.
In order that the position of the tool holder may be varied to take a long or
short cutter or to get the right depth of tooth in rasp blank suitable adjusting
devices for the lever are provided. Thus, as shown, the lever is provided with
trunnions 42, which project from opposite sides thereof and are. received in
bearing blocks 43, adapted to be moved longitudinally in elongated slots formed
in opposite sides of the head 1. Arranged within the said slots and interposed
between the upper end of blocks 43, is a plate or gib 44. On the opposite sides
of blocks 43, are suitable yielding bearings 44b, the said bearings in the present
instance consisting of rubber blocks. As a convenient and simple means of
adjusting the blocks 43, in their slots, a screw 45, is provided and arranged to
bear at its lower end upon the wib 44". This screw extends through a threaded
opening in the head 1, and is provided at its upper end with a bevel gear 46.
mounted to permit the screw to move longitudinally with respect thereto, but
held against independent rotary movement by means of a spline 47. The
gear 46, meshes with the gear 48, carried upon one end of a shaft 49, which
shaft is mounted in bearings of the head 1, and at its opposite end is provided
with a hand-wheel by means of which it may be rotated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a rasp cutting machine, the combination of a longitudinally movable
slide, means for intermittently moving the same, a transversely reciprocating
carriage upon which said slide is mounted, a rotary pattern surface mounted
upon the carriage with its axis at right angles to the line of movement of the
slide, a bearing for said surface upon the frame, means for maintaining said
surface in contact with said bearing, and a reciprocating punch and its operating
means, substantially as described.
2. In a rasp cutting machine the combination of a longitudinally movable slide,
means for intermittently moving the same, a transversely reciprocating carriage
upon which said slide is mounted, a movable patterned surface upon the carriage,
a bearing for said surface, means for maintaining said surface in contact with
said bearing, and a reciprocating punch and its operating means, substantially
as described.
3. In a rasp cutting machine, the combination of a longitudinally movable
slide, means for intermittently moving the same, a transversely reciprocating
carriage upon which said slide is mounted, a pattern surface having detachable
portions, a bearing for said surface, means for maintaining the pattern surface
and bearing in contact and a reciprocating punch and its operating means, sub-
stantially as described.
4. In a rasp cutting machine, the combination with an intermittently movable
slide, and its operating means, of a holder adapted to reciprocate at an angle
to the face of the slide, a cutter pivotally supported upon the holder and pro-

page_text: vided upon one face with a solid bearing and upon its opposite face with a
yielding bearing, substantially as described.
5. In a rasp or file cutting machine, the combination with a tool holder pro-
vided with a recess of a cutter pivoted within said recess and having one of its
faces bearing against one wall thereof and a yielding bearing comprising a spring
pressed stud or block engaging the opposite face of the cutter, substantially as
described.
6. In a rasp or file cutting machine the combination with a holder provided
with a recess, of a cutter or punch within said recess having sockets formed in
its opposite sides and pins engaging said sockets, one of the pins being retractible,
substantially as described.
7. In a rasp or file cutting machine the combination with a holder provided
with a recess of a cutter or punch within said recess having sockets formed in
its opposite sides and pins engaging said sockets one of said pins being spring
pressed and retractible, substantially as described.
8. In a rasp or file cutting machine, the combination with blank feeding mech-
anism, of a reciprocating cutter holder, a pivoted lever for actuating the holder,
means for reciprocating the lever, and devices for shifting the pivotal point of
the said lever, substantially as described.
9. In a rasp or file cutting machine, the combination with blank feeding
mechanism, of a reciprocating cutter holder, a pivoted lever for moving the
cutter holder towards the blank feeding mechanism means for reciprocating the
lever, devices for shifting the pivotal point of the said lever, and springs for
moving the cutter holder from the blank feeding mechanism, substantially as
described.
Dated this 25th day of May 1898