AN IMPROVED ENGRAVING, CUTTING, AND CARVING MACHINE
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED ENGRAVING, CUTTING, AND CARVING MACHINE."-A com-
munication from abroad by Thomas William Minter, of the City,
County and State of New York. United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 28th May 1872.
I, ALEXANDER Melville ClaRK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED ENGRAVING, CUTTING, AND CARVING MACHINE,"
to be as follows :-
This Invention relates to an improved machine for engraving, carving,
die sinking, cameo and intaglio cutting, and similar fine and delicate
work in stone, steel, or other material, with the object of enabling the
exact and artistic imitation of suitable designs.

page_text: The engraving machines now in use, or heretofore proposed, are not
adapted to the finest kind of work, nor to the employment of all the
tools necessary for fine workmanship. At present, for example, the
process of seal engraving and good cameo cutting is carried out on a
lathe with the use of over a hundred different tools of such various
shapes and kinds that the work can be ground away as fine as it is
possible to do with the aid of magnifying glasses.
By this Invention I desire to be able to use all these tools, and let
them work more or less automatically to copy any given design or
pattern at an enlarged or reduced scale, but with as much truth and
exactitude as could scarcely be attained by the most skilful artist. A
steady man, but less experienced, will then be enabled to produce as
good or better workmanship for which heretofore more experienced and
higher priced hands had to be employed.
This Invention consists, first, in fastening the engraving or carving
tool on a spindle which hangs on a vibrating beam, said beam being also
provided with the feeling or pattern pin.
The chief novelty in this feature is not the vibrating beam, nor the
combination of the same with the feeling pin, nor even with the cutting
tool, as such combinations are known, but in fastening the tool in a
spindle which hangs horizontally on the beam, and in revolving said.
spindle by belt connection the same as a lathe spindle, so that the tool
can be used to the very same advantage to which it is at present used on
the lathe only.
The next feature of novelty consists in fastening the pattern and the
article to be cut upon platforms, which can be tilted into a suitable
inclined position. The tool can thereby be made to work at any suitable
angle on the material to be cut, and consequently to produce incisions
of all kinds, not only straight up and down as in the present engraving
machines, but also inclined, rounded, and the like, as may be necessary
in the making of reliefs for cameos, or depressions for intaglios. The
mechanism for thus inclining the pattern and the work is so united that
both will be moved in exactly the same degree, and offer the same angle
of surface to the feeling pin and cutter respectively. This tilting motion
is effected by worm wheel segments applied to the supporting platforms
of the pattern and work, and matching both into the thread of a screw
which when turned inclines them.

page_text: Furthermore, the invention consists in making and applying discs to
the afore-mentioned platforms, which are jointly rotating and longi-
tudinally adjustable in equal degree, and in providing the nuts that
embrace the longitudinally adjusting screw jointed to permit their being
placed at suitable distances apart.
Finally, the Invention consists in hanging the the screw which causes
the joint rotation of the platforms in vertically sliding boxes, so that it
will accomodate itself automatically to the greater or less height of
the platform during their tilting motions.
Two horizontal rails rigidly affixed to the frame of the machine, and
parallel to each other, serve as supports for three carriages, which are
all of equal size and style, at least preferably so, and which are or may
be made to partly embrace the rails with friction rollers or springs
bearing against the lower edges of the rails to facilitate the longitudinal
adjustment of the carriages. Each carriage is provided with a nut made
in two parts, which are hinged together, a longitudinal screw which has
its bearings in the ends of the frame passing through the nuts so that
all the three carriages will be simultaneously moved in the same
direction and with equal speed whenever the screw is turned. A crank
handle for turning it may be directly applied to the end of the screw,
or the latter may by bevel gear wheels be brought into connection
with a transverse shaft provided with a crank handle. Every carriage
contains a platform pivoted at its ends in suitable posts which project
from the carriage. A segment is affixed to the under side of every
pivoted platform, and has a worm thread cut into its edge, which gears
with a second longitudinal screw which also has its bearings in the ends
of the frame of the machine. All the platforms and their segments
being alike, the effect of this screw when turned will be the same on all,
tilting or inclining them simultaneously and to an equal degree, a crank
handle on the screw being used to turn it.
To the upper surface of each platform is applied a swivel disc or plate
with a worm thread around its periphery. Transverse screws hanging
in ears which project from the several platforms gear with these discs
or plates respectively, worm wheels being mounted upon the ends of
these transverse screws gearing with a third longitudinal screw, whose
bearings are in the ends of the frame of the machine. Thus when this
screw is turned by means of a handle at its end, or by a handle whose

page_text: arbor connects by bevel wheels with the screw, all the three transverse
screws will be turned in equal ratio, and all the three discs by them in
equal degree. When the three platforms are more or less tilted on
their carriages the plane of the three transverse screws will become
changed, and it is therefore necessary, as these transverse screws should
remain in gear with the third longitudinal screw, to make the bearings
of the screw vertically adjustable in their slotted supports. When the
crank handle is used at right angles to this screw it too should be
made vertically adjustable by being hung in a sleeve which loosely
embraces the screw, and finds guidance in a slotted upright of the
frame.
From the foregoing it will be clear that by means of the screw
(before-mentioned as passing through the nuts on the three carriages)
all three carriages are simultaneously adjusted in a longitudinal direction.
By means of the second longitudinal screw all three platforms are
simultaneously and equally tilted, while by the third screw all three discs
will be simultaneously turned. The discs being part of the platforms,
and these again part of the carriages, the longitudinal adjustment of
the latter will be shared in by all the platforms and discs, and the tilting
of the platforms shared in by the discs.
Whenever the distances between the several carriages are to be varied
the hinged nuts on the carriages are swung open, and thereby liberated
from the screw passing through them so that the change of position can
be effected, whereupon the nuts are reclosed.
A beam pivoted in a ring which is pivoted in ears of a vertically
adjustable slide embracing a post of the frame of the machine is sus-
pended at its free end by a spring from a horizontal arm of the frame.
In a bracket fastened to the under side of this beam are the bearings
of a spindle carrying a pulley, said spindle being prepared for the
reception of the cutting tool in the manner in which spindles are usually
prepared for the reception of such tools. The spindle can be revolved
by a belt connection with a driving shaft operated by means of a treadle
or otherwise. From the beam are also suspended two vertical pins or
feeling needles, which are attached to adjustable slides and applied
above the two side carriages respectively.
The pattern to be imitated is secured upon the disc of one of the side
carriages if its copy is to be reduced in size, but if the copy is to be

page_text: larger than the original it is secured upon the disc of the other side
carriage. The metal, stone, or other material to be cut is fastened
upon the middle disc. The several discs are by preference provided
with tubular projections for the reception of pieces of wood, upon which
the patterns and material to be cut can be fastened. When everything
is in place the three longitudinal screws are properly turned by the
attendant to bring every part of the pattern surface in contact with the
feeling needle which is suspended against it. The cutting tool will
then also be raised and lowered in conformity with the design to be cut,
and will produce such design on the material under it.
The machine may be made with but two carriages and their ap-
pendages, when either no enlargement or no reduction is desired, or
when the bracket carrying the spindle of the cutting tool is made
adjustable on the beam, or the beam reversible.
In order to enable the fastening of each platform in its tilted position
while being longitudinally adjusted, in which case the screw which tilts
the platform must be lowered to permit such longitudinal adjustment,
and would consequently cease to support the platforms in their tilted
positions, a slotted arch or plate should be applied to the end of each
platform to be fastened by a set screw to the post next to it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 28th November 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time

page_text: manship for which thus far more experienced and higher priced hands
had to be employed.
The Invention consists, first, in fastening the engraving or carving
tool in a spindle which hangs on a vibrating beam, said beam being also
provided with the feeling or pattern pin.
The chief novelty in this feature is not the vibrating beam, nor the
combination of the same with the feeling pin, nor even with the cutting
tool, as such combinations are known, but in fastening the tool in a
spindle which hangs horizontally on the beam, and in revolving said
spindle by belt connection the same as a lathe spindle, so that the tool
can be used to the very same advantage to which it is at present used on
the lathe.
The Invention also consists in hanging the tool spindle in a frame
which is by a vertical pin swivelled to the vibrating beam to allow the
spindle to turn on said vertical pin, and give full play to the tool over
any part of the work.
The next feature of novelty consists in fastening the pattern and the
article to be cut on discs or holders which can be tilted into a suitable
inclined position. The tool can thereby be made to work at any suitable
angle on the material to be cut, and consequently to produce incisions
of all kinds, not only straight up and down as in the present engraving
machines, but also inclined, rounded, or otherwise, as may be necessary
in the making of reliefs for cameos or depressions for intaglios. The
mechanism for thus inclining the pattern and the work is so arranged
that both will be moved in exactly the same degree and offer the same
angle of surface to the feeling pin and cutter respectively. This tilting
motion is effected by hanging the holders in a tilting frame which is
pivoted to a slide, so that it can swing on its end trunnions.
Furthermore, my Invention consists in fitting said holders into a slot
of the tilting frame so that they can be adjusted any desired distance
apart, and combined with a screw that hangs in the tilting frame for
turning them on their axes in equal degree.
The Invention also consists in connecting the swivel frame of the
feeling pins by rods with that of the cutting tool, so that when one is
turned on the vertical pivot the other will also be turned in equal
manner.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side view of the improved engraving and carving machine
of this Invention; Figure 2 is a vertical section thereof on the line c, c,
Figure 1; Figure 3 is a detail vertical section on the line k, k, Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a sectional side view of a modification of the cutting
apparatus; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the tool holding bracket
and crank connection. Similar letters of reference indicate corre-
sponding parts.
A represents the supporting frame of the improved engraving machine.
This frame is preferably made in form of a table of wood or other
material, and of sufficient strength to support the several parts of the
machine during operation. a, a, are two horizontal rails rigidly affixed
to the frame and parallel to each other; they serve as supports for a
sliding carriage B which rests on the rails, as indicated in Figures 1 and
2, and may have friction rollers or springs bearing against the rails to
facilitate the longitudinal adjustment of the carriage. The carriage is pro-
vided with a nut d which is suspended from its under side, as is indicated
in Figure 2. A longitudinal screw C, which has its bearings in the ends
of the frame, passes through the nut d, so that the carriage will be
moved longitudinally whenever the screw is turned. A crank handle
for turning it may be directly applied to the end of the screw, or the
latter may by bevel gear wheel be brought in connection with a
transverse shaft which carries a crank handle, or otherwise provided with
means for turning. The carriage supports at its ends a platform or
tilting frame E, pivoted at its ends in posts 9, 9, which project from the
carriage. A segment h is affixed to each end of the pivoted platform E,
and is slotted and connected by screws e or pins with the posts g, so that
the platform may be freely tilted and fastened in any suitable position.
Instead of having the slots in thesegments h the posts g may be slotted
for like purpose. Into a longitudinal slot of the tilting frame or plat-
form E are fitted two swivel discs or plates G, each of which has a worm
thread around its periphery. A longitundinal screw H hanging in the
ends of the platform E is in gear with the discs or plates G respectively.
When the screw H is turned by means of a handle at its end, or by other

page_text: means, the two discs or holders G will be turned in equal ratio and
degree. The screw H will always remain in gear with the discs or
holders G; howsoever the frame E may be tilted on its end trunnions.
From the foregoing it will be clear that by means of the screw C both
holders G are simultaneously adjusted in longitudinal direction; by
means of the pivoted frame E both are simultaneously and equally
tilted, while by the screw H both discs G will be equally and simul-
taneously turned on their axes. The discs being part of the platform E,
and this again part of the carriage B, the longitudinal adjustment of the
latter will be shared in by all the other parts mentioned, and the tilting
of the platform E shared in by the discs.
Whenever the distance between the two holders G is to be varied, the
nuts at their lower ends are loosened, so that they can be moved in the
slot of the platform E to effect the desired change of position, where-
upon the nuts are fastened.
J is a beam pivoted in a ring S, which is pivoted in ears of a vertically
adjustable slide L embracing a post t that is supported in horizontal
brackets a³, which are slotted to allow the post t to be longitudinally
adjusted. The free end of the beam J is suspended by a spring u from
a horizontal arm V of the frame A. The lower end of the spring u is
adjustable on the beam J, and the upper on the arm V. In a bracket
W, which is fastened to and longitudinally adjustable on the beam J,
are the bearings of a spindle x which carries a pulley y, and is prepared
for the reception of the cutting tool z in the manner in which spindles
are usually prepared for the reception of such tools. The spindle can be
revolved by a belt connection with a driving shaft operated by means
of a treadle or otherwise. From the beam J are also suspended two
vertical pins N and N³, which are attached to slides O, adjustable on J.
The pattern to be imitated is secured upon the disc G which is nearest
the post t, if its copy is to be enlarged in size, or upon the disc G
furthest from said post when its copy is to be smaller than the original.
The metal, stone, or other material to be cut is fastened in the other disc
or holder G. The discs or holders are by preference provided with
tubular projections for the reception of pieces of wood upon which the
patterns and material to be cut can be fastened. When everything is
in place the screws C and H are properly turned by the attendant to
bring every part of the pattern surface in contact with the feeling needle

page_text: N or Ns, which is from the beam J suspended against it. The cutting
tool will then also be raised and lowered in conformity with the design
to be cut, and will produce such design on the material under it. The
spindle x is directly hung in a frame I, which is by a pin or tubular
vertical projection 6* swivelled in the bracket W. This gives to the a
frame I liberty to swing on said vertical pin or tube, and allows the tool z
to be swung in a circle around the pin 68. The working end of the
tool z is directly under the centre of the pin b³. In the same way
substantially are the pins N and N' swivelled in the slides O respectively,
double cranks d³ projecting from the pins N and N³ can by rods e³ be
connected with a double crank f³ on the frame I. The lower end of the
pin N, or N³, which is in use is flattened to have an edge similar to that
of the tool z, so that when the tool is turned on the pin 6³ the pin N or
N³ will be turned in equal manner so that the flat faces will always be
parallel.
Figure 4 shows a modification of the tool hanging device in which the
bracket W is dispensed with, the frame I being directly swivelled to the
beam J, and the tool spindle connected by a belt with a central spindle
g³ which receives its rotary motion from stationary machinery.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as the Invention
to be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The vibrating beam J carrying the feeling pin for contact with
the pattern and the rotary spindle x to which the cutting tool z is
secured, substantially as herein shown and described.
2ndly. The rotary discs G, G, applied to the tilting platform E and
combined with the screw H, to be turned simultaneously by means of
said screw, as set forth.
3rdly. The tilting platform E applied to an engraving machine,
substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.
4thly. The slotted segments / applied to the pivoted platform E for
connecting the same with the supporting slide, substantially as specified.
5thly. The nut d on the carriage B, when applied substantially as
specified.

page_text: 6thly. The screw H for moving holders G in the tilting platform E,
when hung in said tilting platform to adapt itself to the movements
thereof, as set forth.
7thly. The combination of the longitudinal screws C and H with the
carriage B, platform E, and discs G, G, substantially as herein shown
and described.
8thly. An engraving or carving machine employing a rotary cutter
on a vibrating beam above a platform adjustable in every direction, as
specified.
9thly. The beam J made longitudinally and vertically adjustable, as
set forth.
10thly. The swivel frame I arranged to receive and support the tool z,
as set forth.
11thly. The connecting rod e arranged between the swivel frame I
and swivel pin N or N³, as set forth.
12thly. Hanging the frame I directly in the beam J, as in Figure 4,
and as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of
November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-two.
Witness,
JAS. O. DEWEY,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)