An Improved Paper Cutting Machine.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 12th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Paper Cutting Machine.
I, EUGÈNE RAYASSE, of 99, Rue de Crimée, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved paper-cutting machine the essential
features of which are:
1. A perfectly automatic clamping or compression of the paper which always
takes place before the cutting operation is performed whatever may be the height
of the paper to be cut.
2. The facility of rendering this compression variable at the will of the operator
and before the cutting operation.
3. The variation of the travel of the knife-stock allowing of this travel being
reduced when small thicknesses of paper have to be cut, the upward movement of
the knife-stock being quickly effected in all cases.
The knife-stock which receives an up and down movement supports, to a certain
extent, the clamp and the parts which operate it. During the downward movement
of this knife-stock, when the clamp, which is in advance of it, meets the mass of
paper to be cut, the clamp leaves the knife-stock which continues its downward
course. This relative movement has for object to engage and to put in operation a
counterweight which acts on the clamp, the knife continuing its stroke cuts the
paper, rises and arrives at the point where it became separated from the clamp,
descends and disengages the counterweight and then again rises with the clamp to
the top of its stroke.
The pressure is varied by moving the counterweight along a lever arm in
similar manner to a steelyard.
a
The clamp is connected to the general mechanism by gearing and two friction
clutches. The knife stock moves upward or downward according to which of these
two friction clutches is engaged. An arrangement of stops is provided which
ensures the operation of the clutches by a special arrangement which allows of the
upward stroke being varied.
In carrying out the invention I provide a table on which is placed the paper to
be cut; the table is supported on two side frames suitably connected together.
To the table two cheek pieces are bolted which serve as guides for the knife stock
and the clamp.
The side frames at their lower part support a shaft to which are keyed two
levers one of these levers is joined to a connecting rod connected to a cross piece
which forms with two side rods and the clamp a kind of rigid frame. The other
lever which is called "the connecting lever" carries a forked piece hereinafter
described.
On the shaft freely turn two other levers with toothed sectors.
97
One of these sectors which is termed the "clamp sector engages with a pinion
cast in one piece with a large toothed wheel fixed on an intermediate shaft. This
wheel engages with two pinions one pinion being mounted on the driving shaft and
the other on an intermediate shaft; the first named pinion is cast in one piece with
a friction clutch and the other pinion is keyed on its shaft which also carries a
toothed wheel engaging with the pinion of the other friction clutch.
These friction clutches are loose upon the driving shaft to which they can be
firmly connected by means of a sleeve, keyed between them but capable of sliding
to engage with one or the other of the friction clutches as will be hereinafter
described.

page_text: The inner end of one of the toothed sectors is connected by an axis and a pitman
to the knife-stock. The other toothed sector engages with a pinion cast in one
piece with a ratchet, both mounted on a shaft. A pawl can engage with the
ratchet which pawl is jointed to a lever turning around an axis.
This lever is joined by a connecting rod to a crank keyed on an axis carrying
the lever of the counterweight which. is movable on its; lever and is operated by
a screw.
A lever which with another lever is fixed on the first named shaft carries at its
end' an axis.on, which pivots a cam-lever connectedt at the upper part.by. two links
to the tail of one of the: sectors:. The other end of the cam-lever is forked to
embrace a roller carried by the other sector, lever; one of the arms of the fork is
provided externally with a tooth for engaging this cam lever at, one point in its
course with, a pawl pivotting on an, axis of one of the levers. This pawl is also
connected to an extension of an arm sliding on a sleeve of the first named shaft
and arranged to bear against a roller at the end of the small. arm of a double
lever which in bearing against a stud. on one of the pawis keeps it out of
engagement with its ratchet.
The operation of the clamping and cutting parts of the machine is as follows:-
Supposing the knife-stock to be at the upper part of its stroke and commencing
to descend, the clamp not having, yet reached the paper.
The roller of one of the sectors is; eugaged in the fork of the cam-lever.
The clamp and its cross-piece descending cause by their weight a projection of
one of the sector levers to bear against, the tooth of the cam lever by bringing
together the sector lever and the lever of the clamp; a part of the cam-lever acts
on. a. projection of the pawl and thereby by means of the pawl, arm, and double
lever keeps the other pawl.out of engagement with its ratchet.
An auxiliary mechanism comprising a spring a lever and a link ensures one of
the levers keyed on the first named shaft and one of the sector levers being brought
together.
By causing the lever; of the knife stock to, descend by means of the gearings
these levers descend together and also another lever with the clamp; in this
movement the ratchet turns and the clamp descends at the same vertical speed as
the knife stock, the lever arms being constructed accordingly.
When the clamp arrives in contact with the paper it exerts a pressure thereon;
the lever keyed on the first named shaft tends to stop and as the roller continues
its course the levers become disengaged when the power of the auxiliary
spring and the weight of the clamp reunited, are overcome by the resistance of
the paper.
The cam lever having turned in this movement has disengaged. the projection of
the pawl which, under the action of a spring allows the arm to return and
immediately the other pawl by means of a spring engages with the teeth of the
ratchet. This ratchet can only continue its retrograde movement with relation to
the lever on the first named shaft by carrying along a lever connected to the pawl
which moves a connecting rod and raises the counterweight, so that the roller of
the sector lever, continuing its movement causes another lever to descend by
bearing through the cam-lever and the two links against the other sector lever
until the movement when the pressure on the paper is equal to the action of the
counterweight. The last named sector lever then draws back, in its turn raises
the counterweight until the roller leaves its fork and continues its downward course
by leaving the pawl to engage with the projection of the cam-lever in order to
prevent the latter moving backward under the action of the counterweight.
Pressure is effected and is maintained during the time one of the sector levers
continuing its movement effects the cutting of the paper. This sector having.
reached the bottom of its stroke by the change of working hereinafter described
rises and when it meets a certain part of the cam-lever it. disengages the pawl and
then causing the cam-lever to pivot it allows the counterweight to descend. and

page_text: returns the lever on the first named shaft into contact with one of the sector levers
after having raised the pawl. The clamp rises to the top of its stroke with the
knife and the other parts.
Mechanism for changing the direction of working.
The up and down movement is given to the knife-stock by the intermediation of
gearings abutting on the shaft of the friction clutches and by causing one of the
friction clutches to turn in the desired direction the knife is caused to descend
while the rotation in the same direction of the other friction clutch effects the
upward movement. These two friction clutches are loose between two rings pinned
on the driving shaft and are alternately put in connection with this shaft by the
counter-plates or cones which turn with the shaft but on which they can slide
longitudinally. These two counter plates are kept separate from each other by
four spiral springs, they can be alternately prevented from moving along the shaft
by keys entering notches formed in the shaft.
These keys when they are not engaged in the notches extend beyond the sleeves
of the counter-plates to allow of being acted on by pins of a large central sleeve as
the springs tend to withdraw the two sleeves from the counter-plates they can only
act on one of the sleeves of the counter-plates the keys of which have left the
notches while the sleeve of the other counter plate is fixed on the shaft behind
the friction plate, its keys being engaged with the notches of the shaft and
prevented from moving therefrom by the pins of the large sleeve.
If this latter sleeve be now pushed along the shaft it acts by the pins and the
keys on the sleeve of one of the counter-plates which is moved from contact with
its friction plate at the same time compressing the springs.
In consequence of this movement the keys arrive opposite the notches of the
shaft and are compelled to engage therewith by means of the pins and hold firmly
in place the sleeve of the counter-plate.
On the other hand the other pins having disengaged the keys from the sleeve of
the other cone they leave the notches of the shaft under the impulse of the springs
and allow the cone to come against its friction plate and engage therewith in
frictional contact. The movement of the large sleeve is effected by means of an
eccentric disc actuated by a rod connected to a shaft for changing the direction
of working.
This eccentric disc being operated by the rod by reason of its eccentricity bears
against one of the cheeks of the sleeve and causes it to move and effect the
alternate engagement of the clutches.
The change motion shaft is actuated at the end of the upward stroke by a rod
connected to the small arm of a lever of the said shaft. This vertical rod is
provided with a series of teeth forming a rack which allows of a movable stop
being adjusted thereon at various heights. A stop piece fixed to the clamp
encircles this rod and coming against the movable stop pushes it and by means of
the lever actuates the change motion shaft and effects the disengagement of the
clutch mechanism.
The movable stop being capable of adjustment to different positions on the rack
the extent of the upward movement of the knife stock can be varied accordingly.
At the end of the downward stroke the disengagement of the clutch mechanism
is effected by means of a spiral groove formed in the large wheel in which
groove moves the stud of a rod connected to a third lever of the change motion
shaft.
When the stud on the rod arrives at the end of the groove it is sufficiently
pushed to effect the disengagement of the main shaft.
The engaging and disengaging operations can be performed by hand by means
of the change motion lever.
The arrangement of clutch mechanism above described effects alternately either
the cutting and pressing movement by the connection of a pinion and gearing or
the rapid return movement by another pinion intermediate gearing a second pinion
and a wheel.

page_text: I have not described how the table upon which the paper is placed is operated
as this can be effected by hand or automatically by known means.
Dated the 9th day of May 1892.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Paper Cutting Machine.
I, EUGENE RAVASSE, of 99, Rue de Crimée, Paris, in the Republic of France,
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 relates to an improved paper cutting machine the essential
features of which are;
1. A perfectly automatic clamping or compression of the paper which always
takes place before the cutting operation is performed whatever may be the height
of the paper to be cut.
2. The facility of rendering this compression variable at the will of the
operator and before the cutting operation.
3. The variation of the travel of the knife-stock allowing of this travel being
reduced when sınall thicknesses of paper have to be cut, the upward movement of
the knife stock being quickly effected in all cases.
The knife-stock which receives an up and down movement supports, to a
certain extent, the clamp and the parts which operate it. During the downward
movement of the knife-stock, when the clamp, which is in advance of it, meets the
mass of paper to be cut, the clamp leaves the knife-stock which continues its
downward course. This relative movement has for object to engage and to put in
operation a counterweight which acts on the clamp, the knife continuing its stroke
cuts the paper, rises and arrives at the point where it became separated from the
clamp, descends and disengages the counterweight and then again rises with the
clamp to the top of its stroke.
The pressure is varied by moving the counterweight along a lever arm in a
similar manner to a steelyard.
The clamp is connected to the general mechanism by gearing and two friction
clutches. The knife-stock moves upward or downward according to which of
these two friction clutches is engaged.
An arrangement of stops is provided which ensures the operation of the clutches
by a special arrangement which allows of the upward stroke being varied.
In order to enable the invention to be fully understood I will describe the
same by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved machine :
Figure 2 is an end view:
Figure 3 is a view shewing the parts which effect the pressure in a different
position from that which they occupy in Figures 1 and 2:
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views of the clutch mechanism.
A table a on which is placed the paper to be cut is supported on two side
frames a¹, a suitably connected together. To the table two cheek pieces a³, a¹ are
bolted which serve as guides for the knife stock L and the clamp P.
The side frames a, a, at their lower part support a shaft to which are keyed
two levers b', 3. The lever 61 is joined to a connecting rod 63 connected to the
cross piece b which forms with the two side rods 6, 6 and the clamp P a kind of
rigid frame. The lever 62 which is called "the connecting lever" carries a forked
piece hereinafter described.
On the shaft freely turn two other levers with toothed sectors C, d.
The sector c, which is termed the "clamp sector
"
engages with a pinion c¹, cast

page_text: in one piece with the large toothed wheel c³ fixed on the intermediate shaft. This ;
wheel engages with two pinions e, e¹, the pinion e being mounted on the driving
shaft C and the other on an intermediate shaft E; the pinion e is cast in one
piece with a friction clutch e, and the pinion el is keyed on its shaft E which also
carries the toothed wheel e³ engaging with the pinion of the other friction
clutch e.
These friction clutches e*, * are loose upon the driving shaft C to which they
can be freely connected by means of a sleeve e keyed between them but capable of
sliding to engage with one or the other of these friction clutches e¹, es as will be
hereinafter described.
The inner end of the toothed sector e is connected by an axist and a pitman T
to the knife-stock L as clearly seen in Figure 1. The toothed sector d engages
with a pinion a¹ cast in one piece with a ratchet d³, both mounted on a shaft d. A
pawl can engage with the ratchet which pawl is jointed to a lever d* turning
around an axis d.
This lever is joined by a connecting rod to a crank keyed on an axis do,
carrying the lever p of the counterweight p¹ which is movable on its lever and is
operated by a screw p².
The lever 62 which with the other lever 6' is fixed on the shaft carries at
its end an axis fon which pivots a cam lever f connected at the upper part by
two links to the tail of a sector d. The other end of the cam lever is forked
to embrace a roller c³ carried by the sector lever c; one of the arms of the fork
is provided externally with a tooth 3 for engaging this cam lever at one point
in its course with a pawl 7 pivotting on an axis of the lever 62. This pawl is also
connected to an extension g', of a slotted arm g, sliding on a sleeve of the shaft b
and arranged to bear against a roller h¹ at the end of the small arm of a double
lever h which in bearing against a stud 2 on the pawl № keeps it out of engage-
ment with the ratchet d³.
The operation of the clamping and cutting parts of the machine is as follows :—
Supposing the knife stock L to be at the upper part of its stroke and
commencing to descend, the clamp not having yet reached the paper.
The roller c³ of the sector c, is engaged in the fork of the cam lever fas
shewn in Figure 1.
The clamp P and its cross piece & descending, cause by their weight, the
projection of the lever d to bear against the tooth f³ of the cam lever by
bringing together the lever d and the lever 62 of the clamp; the part f of the
cam lever facts on the projection 6 of the pawl and thereby, by means of the
pawl b', frame g, and double lever h³, h, keeps the pawl ³ out of engagement
with its ratchet (2.
An auxiliary mechanism comprising a spring R, a lever i and a link ¹ ensures
the levers 6 and d being brought together:
By causing the lever of the knife stock to descend by means of the gearings the
levers and d, descend together and also the lever 6 with the clamp; in this
movement the ratchet turns and the clamp descends at the same vertical speed
as the knife stock, the lever arms being constructed accordingly.
When the clamp arrives in contact with the paper it exerts a pressure.
thereon ; the lever 6 tends to stop and as the roller c³ continues its course the
levers and d become disengaged when the power of the auxiliary spring R
and the weight P₁ of the clamp reunited, are overcome by the resistance of the
paper.
The cam lever f' having turned in this movement has disengaged the
projection 68 of the pawl 6', which under the action of a spring r, allows the arm g
to return and immediately the pawl d' by means of the spring r, engages with the
teeth of the ratchet.d².
This ratchet can only continue its retrograde movement with relation to the
lever by carrying along the lever dwhich moves the connecting rod de and
raises the counter-weight p¹, so that the roller c³ of the lever c continuing its move-

page_text: ment causes the lever 62 to descend by bearing through the cam lever and the
two links, against the lever d until the moment when the pressure on the paper
is equal to the action of the counterweight. The 'lever a then draws back, in its
turn raises the counterweight until the roller leaves its fork and continues its
downward course by leaving the pawl to engage with the projection of the
cam lever in order to prevent the latter moving backward under the action of
the counterweight.
Pressure is effected and is maintained during the time the lever c continuing its
movement effects the cutting of the paper. The lever c having reached the bottom
of its stroke by the change of working hereinafter described rises and when it
meets the part of the cam lever f' it disengages the pawl and then causing
the cam lever f¹ to pivot it allows the counterweight to descend and returns the
lever b² into contact with the lever & after having raised the pawl ³. The clamp
rises to the top of its stroke with the knife and the other parts.
Mechanism for changing the direction of working.
The up and down movement is given to the knife stock L by the intermediation
of gearings abutting on the shaft C of the friction clutches e, e and by reference
to Figures 2, 4, 5 and 6 it will be seen that by causing the friction clutch e to
turn in the desired direction the knife is caused to descend while the rotation in
the same direction of the friction clutch e effects the upward movement. These
two friction clutches are loose between two rings fixed on the driving shaft C and
are alternately engaged with this shaft C by the counter plates or cones j, j¹
which turn with the shaft C but on which they can slide longitudinally. These
two counter plates j, j are kept separate from each other by four spiral springs
and can be alternately prevented from moving along the shaft by keys m, m'
entering notches n, n' formed in the shaft.
These keys m, m¹ when they are not engaged in the notches n, n' extend beyond
the sleeves of the counter plates to allow of being acted on by pins o, o¹ of the
large central sleeve e; by reference to Figure 4 it will be seen that the springs
tending to withdraw the two sleeves from the counter plates can only act on the
sleeve of the counter plate j, the keys of which have left the notches while the
sleeve of jis fixed on the shaft behind the friction plate, its keys m¹ being engaged
with the notches n' of the shaft and are prevented from moving therefrom by the
pins o¹ of the sleeve eⓇ.
If the sleeve e be now pushed towards the right hand side it acts by the pins o
and the keys m on the sleeve of the counter plate j, which is moved from contact
with the plate e while compressing the springs j³.
In consequence of this movement the keys m arrive opposite the notches n of the
shaft C and are compelled to engage therewith by means of the pins o and hold
firmly in place the sleeve of the counter plate j.
On the other hand, the pins o¹ having disengaged the keys m¹ from the sleeve
of the cone they leave the notches of the shaft under the impulse of the springs
and allow the cone to come against the plate e and engage therewith in
frictional contact. The movement of the sleeve e is effected by means of an
eccentric disc q actuated by a rod connected to the shafts for changing the
direction of working.
This eccentric disc being operated by the rod q¹ by reason of its eccentricity
bears against one of the cheeks of the sleeve e and causes it to move and effect the
alternate engagement of the clutches.
The change motion shaft is actuated at the end of the upward stroke by the
rod u connected to the small arm of a lever ut of the shaft s. This vertical rod u
is provided with a series of teeth u₁ forming a rack which allows of a movable
stop u being adjusted on the said rod u at various 'heights. A stop piece u* fixed
to the clamp encircles this rod u and coming against the stop u pushes it and by
means of the lever u actuates the change motion shaft and effects the disengage-
ment of the clutch mechanism.
The movable stop u³ being capable of adjustment to different positions on the

page_text: rack the extent of the upward movement of the knife-stock can be varied
accordingly.
At the end of the downward stroke the disengagement of the clutch mechanism
is effected by means of a spiral groove e formed in the large wheel in which
groove moves the stud ol of a rod connected to a third lever of the change
inotion shaft s.
When the stud on the rod arrives at the end of the groove it is sufficiently pushed
to effect the disengagement of the shaft C.
The engaging and disengaging operations can be performed by hand by means of
the lever s.
The arrangement of clutch mechanism above described effects alternately by the
pinions e, e either the cutting and pressing movement by the connection of the
pinion and the gearing or the rapid return movement by the pinion e
the intermediate gearing e¹, the pinion e, and the wheel c².
I have not described how the table upon which the paper is placed is operated as
this can be effected by hand or automatically by known means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. A machine for cutting paper and other materials in which the pressure is
obtained in a perfectly automatic manner before the cutting operation is performed
by pressing mechanism which is moved along by the motor until it meets the
material to be pressed and upon meeting this material the movement is converted
into a fixed pressure obtained by a counterweight whereby a constant pressure is
obtained whatever may be the height at which the machine operates and which
pressure is rendered variable at the will of the operator, substantially as herein-
before described.
2. A machine for cutting paper and other materials in which the upward and
downward movements of the knife-stock and of the clamp is effected by two levers
with toothed sectors loose on a common shaft which carries two fixed levers one
directly operating the clamp and the other automatically effecting or removing, in
combination with the two sector levers, the connection between the lever of the
clamp and an adjustable counterweight, whereby the clamp on reaching the paper
to be cut receives the required pressure, one of the two sector levers operating the
knife stock, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. A paper cutting machine constructed as described in Claims 1 and 2 in which
the toothed sector levers are operated by a common intermediate shaft on which
is keyed a ratchet for raising the counterweight operating the clamp when the
latter rises or for putting this counterweight in operation immediately the clamp
meets the paper to be cut before and during the cutting operation, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
4. A paper cutting machine constructed as described in Claims 1, 2 and 3 in
which the intermediate shaft which operates the toothed sector levers of the knife
stock and clamp and which carries the ratchet wheel is itself moved alternately
in one direction or the other by means of a double friction clutch the change in
the direction of movement of which is effected automatically by a stop ou the
clamp coming into contact with a stop in connection with the clutch lever which
latter stop can be adjusted so as to vary the extent of the upward movement of
the knife stock, substantially as herein before described.
5. The improved paper cutting machine hereinbefore described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawing.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.