IMPROVEMENTS IN. MACHINERY FOR PUNCHING METAL
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles De Bergue, of 10, Strand, in the City
of Westminster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN.
MACHINERY FOR PUNCHING METAL."
Sealed the 22nd December 1870, and dated the 7th July 1870..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles De Bergue at.
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on.
the 7th July 1870.
I, CHARLES DE BERGUE, of 10, Strand, in the City of Westminster,.
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PUNCHING METAL," to be as follows:-
In
The Invention consists of the following separate improvements and
the combination of all or some of them, namely, machinery for making.
holes in metal by punching by so mechanically feeding, guiding, or
controlling the work or presenting it to the action of the punch or
punches as to obtain a regular or other accurate pitch or distance
between the holes when punched and at the same time to ensure a
proper determined distance of the holes from the edge or edges of the

page_text: work. The apparatus may have a series of regulated notches or recesses
or other feed contrivance serving to measure the advance of the work to
the tool for each hole (or it may be set of holes) to be punched, and is
intended to be affixed to the punching machine, a roller or stud also
affixed to the said machine being supplied to guage the distance from the
edge or edges of the work.
Also central leading and trailing guides for guiding the plate or work
to be punched sliding in the direction of the line of movement or feed,
the plate or work being dragged by the leading guide, and its weight
being supported directly upon rollers instead of upon or fixed to a
moving frame or bed for carrying it. The guides may conveniently be
sliding boxes or apparatus constructed to slide on or against accurately
planed surfaces or grooves on the fixed bed or substructure of the
machine, and with appliances to hold or secure by the ends the plates.or
work to be punched.
Also an improved and intermittent feed motion by means of a screw
and nut worked by a crank or eccentric actuating a toothed sector with
gearing or apparatus to give the required intermittent motion to the
plate, the gearing being so arranged as to admit when required of change
wheels to regulate or vary the throw or pitch of the holes to be punched.
The screw is intended to move the plates through the medium of the
above-mentioned leading guide.
Also an improved self-acting suspended "holder down" or "taker off"
for holding down the plate or plates while the punches are coming out,
consisting of bars slung from two centres of suspension by slings
adjusted to hang nearly or quite vertically so as thereby to allow the
holding down bars through their own gravity to rest on the surface of
the plate and to perform their office notwithstanding the variations in
the thickness of the plates owing to the difference of angle which the
slings thereby assume. This arrangement enables the taker off to press
closer upon the plate each time it is pressed down by the punches upon
the dies, and to become eased off each time the plate is moved forward
for another pitch or set of holes.
•
I do not wish to bind myself exclusively to this mode of taker off, it
may be modified or made in several different ways, but I consider it very
desirable to have one which will be self adjusting and not require resetting
by hand for each different thickness of plate that may have to be punched.
Also improved apparatus for and mode of stopping off all or some of the

page_text: 66
punches while the machine is still in motion, and for alternately varying
the cross pitch of the rows of holes to. be punched. With this object
stop off" pieces as heretofore are interposed between the head of each
punch, and the ram or driver, so that the simple removal of the "stop off"
piece proper to any punch will prevent its action. It is the mode of
actuating the "stop off" pieces which constitutes the improvement..
Across the machine lie an upper and a lower motion bar, both guided in
a slide, so as to advance one of them towards and retire the other from
the "stop off" pieces and vice versâ, and tumbling or other claws or
connectors are employed for putting the "stop off" pieces into gearing
with one or other of the motion bars as required, the said claws or con-
nectors being or not being capable of individual adjustment to produce
when desired a simultaneous action of two or more of the punches. The
sliding bars may and are intended to be so arranged as in their mid
position to stop off the whole of the punches.
Also an improved direct action punch ram or slide for working the
punches, the said ram extending in width across the machine and
carrying the punches or tools, or the holders for them (as distinguished
from a slide which is simply an intermediate driver or presser, not
carrying the tools but acting on punch rams or additional slides which
carry them), the said improved ram being moved by an eccentric rod or
bar connected thereto by a knuckle joint extending the entire length
(width of machine) or nearly so of the top or part of the ram so jointed
thereto. The knuckle joint may be and is intended to be made with
accurately turned pin or rod to take a bearing on its upper and under
sides firmly along the entire length of the joint..
Also constructing machine with an automatic feed stop intended to act
(accordingly as set) when in the operation of punching the end or any
desired part in the length of a plate is reached. This may be effected
by a detent which on its release shall separate the members of a clutch
adapted to any convenient part of the gearing or apparatus for the
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles De Bergue in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th January 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
DE BERGUE, of 10, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Engineer, send
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Charles De Bergue, Her special licence
that I, the said Charles De Bergue, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles De Bergue, my exccutors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR PUNCHING METAL," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Charles De Bergue, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles De Bergue, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say :—
The Invention embraces the following improvements and the com-
bination of all or any of them.
"
These consist, firstly, in constructing machinery with a direct action
'punch ram" or slide for working the punches, the said ram extending
in width across the machine and carrying the punches or tools or the
holders for them (as distinguished from a slide which is simply an
intermediate driver or presser not carrying the tools, but acting on
punch rams or additional slides which carry them), the said improved
ram being moved by an eccentric rod or bar connected thereto by a
knuckle joint extending the entire length (width of machine) or nearly
so of the top or part of the ram so jointed thereto. The knuckle joint
may be and is intended to be made with accurately turned pin or rod
to take a bearing on its upper and under sides firmly along the entire
length of the joint.

page_text: Secondly. Of central leading and trailing guides for guiding the plate
or work to be punched, sliding in the direction of the line of move-
ment or feed, the plate or work being dragged by the leading guide, and
its weight being supported directly upper rollers instead of upon or
fixed to a moving frame or bed for carrying it. The guides may con-
veniently be sliding boxes or apparatus constructed to slide on or
against accurately planed surfaces or grooves on the fixed bed or sub-
structure of the machine, and with appliances to hold or secure by the
ends the plates or work to be punched.
Thirdly. Of an intermittent feed motion by means of a screw and
nut, worked by a crank or eccentric actuating a toothed sector, with
gearing or apparatus to give the required intermittent motion to the
plate, the gearing being so arranged as to admit when required of change
wheels to regulate or vary the throw or pitch of the holes to be punched.
The screw is intended to move the plate through the medium of the
above-mentioned leading guide.
Fourthly. Of an automatic feed stop intended to act (accordingly as
set) when, in the operation of punching, the end or any desired part in
the length of a plate is reached. This may be effected by a detent which
on its relcase shall separate the members of a clutch adapted to any.
convenient part of the gearing or apparatus for the feed.
Fifthly. Of a self-acting suspended "holder down" or "taker off"
for holding down the plate or plates while the punches are coming out,.
consisting of bars slung from two centres of suspension by slings ad-
justed to hang nearly or quite vertically, so as thereby to allow the
holding down bars through their own gravity to rest on the surface of
the plate, and to perform their office notwithstanding the variations in
the thickness of the plates owing to the difference of angle which the
slings thereby assume. This arrangement enables the taker off to
press closer upon the plate each time it is pressed down by the punches
upon the dies, and to become eased off each time the plate is moved
forward for another pitch or set of holes.
I do not wish to bind myself exclusively to this mode of taker off, it
may be modified or made in several different ways, but I consider it very
desirable to have one which will be self adjusting and not require resetting
by hand for each different thickness of plate that may have to be
punched.
Sixthly. Of an apparatus for and mode of stopping off all or some of

page_text: the punches while the machine is still in motion, and for alternately
varying the cross pitch of the rows of holes to be punched. With this
object "stop off" pieces as heretofore are interposed between the head
of each punch and the ram or driver so that the simple removal of
the "
stop off" piece proper to any punch will prevent its action.
It is the mode of actuating the " stop off" pieces which constitutes
the improvement. Across the machine lic an upper and a lower motion
bar both guided in a slide so as to advance one of them towards and
retire the other from the "stop off" pieces, and vice versa, and tumbling
or other claws or connectors are employed for putting the "stop_off"
pieces into gearing with one or other of the motion bars as required,
the said claws or connectors being or not being capable of individual
adjustment to produce when desired a simultaneous action of two or
more of the punches. The sliding bars may and are intended to be so
arranged as in their mid position to stop off or render inoperative the
whole of the punches.
And, lastly, of machinery for making holes in metal by punching
by so mechanically feeding, guiding, or controlling the work or pre-
senting it to the action of the punch or punches as to obtain a regular
or other accurate pitch or distance between the holes when punched, and
at the same time to ensure a proper determined distance of the holes
from the edge or edges of the work. The apparatus (which is more
especially intended for punching angle iron) may have a series of
regulated notches or recesses or other feed contrivance serving to
measure the advance of the work to the tool for each hole (or it may be
set of holes) to be punched, and is intended to be affixed to the punching
machine, a roller or stud also affixed to the said machine being supplied
to guage the distance from the edge or edges of the work.
The accompanying Drawings further illustrate the manner in which
the Invention is to be and may be performed.
The Figures 1 to 5 (see Drawing No. 1) are views on a small scale
of my improved multiple punching machine which is intended more
especially for punching wrought iron plates, and embraces in combina-
tion the whole of the above-mentioned specific and separate improve-
ments, with the exception of that lastly above enumerated which is
herein-above already sufficiently explained. A small steam engine with
which it is contemplated to construct the machine for the purpose of
working it is also shown in these Figures, or some of them, but apart from

page_text: the general arrangement of and combination with the machine this
constitutes no part of the Invention.
Figure 1 is a transverse section generally through the centre, but in
two halves, varying and slightly stepped in respect of the exact line of
section; Figure 2 is a longitudinal or side view partly in section and
partly in elevation; Figure 3 is a half plan and half horizontal section ;
Figure 4 is a part side elevation illustrating the self-acting intermittent
feed or improvement thirdly above enumerated; Figure 5 is a transverse
section of bed and sliding frame, the remaining Figures (see Drawing 2
to 5) are views in detail and drawn on a larger scale of certain parts,
as herein-after referred to.
A, A, are two side frames standing on and bolted to the bed Beach
by two very strong wrought iron bolts passing completely through the
sides with tightening nuts at top, and which receive the whole strain
exerted in punching the plates. The frames A are prepared with
guides, A* for the improved direct action punch ram or slide C which
has a vertical motion or stroke imparted to it by the eccentric shaft D.
and the very wide eccentric rod, strap, or bar E connected to and with
the said slide C by the knuckle joint formed by the parts C* and E* (of
the slide C and bar E respectively) and by the long pin, rod, or shaft F
which bears solidly throughout its entire length by its top and bottom.
surfaces against the said several parts C* and E*. The eccentric shaft D
is turned by the double purchase spur gearing D*, D³, D³, D', assisted
by the fly wheel D³ and driven from the steam engine G attached to one
of the side frames A. The ram C carries on its under side the punch
boxes or heads H containing the punches, of which there may be as
many as required, the distance apart being capable of casy adjustment
by means of suspending hook bolts H* shewn the more distinctly in
some of the detail Figures. On the upper surface of the bed B runs a
groove exactly under the line of punches to receive the dies and die
holders H³, which may also be readily adjusted laterally to suit the
position of the punches. A "stop off" apparatus as herein-after ex-
plained in detail is affixed to the lower part of the ram C having a
steel crushing piece interposed between each punch and the under side
of the ram, and so arranged that one or all or any of them may be
withdrawn at pleasure, thus rendering them or some of them inoperative,
as may be required. K, K*, are beds or frames which may be of any
convenient length extending one right and the other left from and

page_text: secured to the bed B of the central portion of the machine. These are
placed exactly at right angles to the line of punches, are supported on
stands K placed at suitable distances, and are provided with rollers K³
spaced at convenient intervals on which the plates to be punched rest
to assist them in their progressive movement, as denoted by arrows
marked 1 in Figures 2 and 3. The beds K and K* are each provided
with a guide or carriage M, one a leader the other a trailer, and both
being free to slide along the whole length of bed. To these are attached
the ends of the plate or plates to be punched. The leading or forward
bed K has a screw shaft L extending along its whole length which
propels the front or forward sliding carriage M by means of a suitable
nut, as herein-after explained in detail. The screw shaft L is revolved
by means of spur gearing L* from the shaft N; underneath it the bevil
gearing N*, the shaft O, the spur gearing O*, and the shaft P, which
last is driven by the improved feed apparatus of the machine, herein-after
explained in detail. The gearing L* is situate at one extremity of the
bed K, and consists of an arrangement of change wheels, thus providing
for any distance apart or pitch of the holes in the plates to be punched.
The feed apparatus is so arranged that one half revolution of the eccentric
shaft D shall impart to the shaft P a complete revolution, which in turn
gives one revolution to the shaft N controlling the screw shaft. It is
thus provided that the successive forward motions of the plate or plates
during punching (to form the required pitch of holes) shall occur during
half the revolution of the eccentric shaft D, and also that this motion of
the plate or plates shall occur during the time the punches are clear,
that is, when the ram C is performing the upper half of its stroke in
rising and falling. After the punches have passed through the plate
and during their upwards or return motion the plate is prevented rising
with them by the improved "taking off" or "holding down" apparatus
(herein-after described in detail), which is arranged to adapt itself to any a
thickness of plate without alteration.
The Drawing No. 2 illustrates in more complete detail the construction
of the sliding frames or carriages M and gripping apparatus in accordance
with the secondly enumerated improvement.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 are longitudinal and cross sections and a plan a
view respectively. The leading sliding frame or carriage which works
on the bed K of the machine has on its underside a projection a bored
out to fit easily the outside diameter of the screw L, and on the upper.

page_text: side a gun metal uut b is placed with a small eccentric shaft c and
handled to lift the nut out of gear when the carriage is returned for
a new plate. A cross arm is cast on the end next the punches with
three clips e to fasten to the plates, the centre one only being used when
a single wide plate is being punched (up to four feet wide), and the two
end clips being used when two plates (up to two feet wide) are being
punched together, and in like manner. three narrower plates may be
punched at once by using all three clips. The trailing carriage which
works on the bed K* is similar, but without the parts a, b, c, d, there
being no screw shaft to this bed. K³ are the rollers on which the plate
or plates to be punched rest in passage through the machine.
The Drawing No. 3 illustrates in more complete detail those parts of
the self-acting intermittent feed apparatus and automatic feed stop
(constituting the improvements thirdly and fourthly above enumerated).
which give motion to and control the shaft P.
Figures 9 and 10 are a side elevation and plan respectively, the latter
being partly in section. g is a quadrant which oscillates from a fixed
centre g*, and has teeth at its other extremity slightly in excess of the
pinion into which it gears. i is a connecting rod worked by the
eccentric shaft D of the machine, one half revolution of which or one
down stroke of the connecting rod causes just one revolution of the
pinion h. This pinion has a spring catch or pall * to turn the wheel k
during the down stroke of the connecting rod. And during the return-
or up stroke of the rod the pinion and catch revolve in a contrary
direction, and come again into right position for the next down stroke.
The pinion turns loose on the hollow shaft of the wheel k, and this
wheel turns loose on the above mentioned shaft P, and a clutch P* is
provided on the shaft keyed on but free to slide and clutch the wheel k.
The operator effects this by the lever P³, the handle of which is placed
conveniently, as shewn. The clutch is arranged to be thrown in and
out of gear only during the up stroke of the rod i, and when the work
to be punched is stationary. The wheel is formed at its periphery with
flanges to receive a friction cord with weight attached, as shewn in
Figure 4, to hold it steady during the return or up stroke of the con-
necting rod i. When the clutch is engaged the shaft P receives the
intermittent motion for the feed, and the transmission onwards of this
motion and regulation for pitch by change wheels have been already.
described. The clutch may be detained "engaged" by a weighted cord.

page_text: passing over pulley to the handle of the lever P², or by a spring, until
forcibly "disengaged" by the said handle being pulled by a cord or
forcibly moved in any convenient manner from or by the motion of the
plates to be punched or of one of the carriages M, or otherwise.
The Drawing No. 4 illustrates in more complete detail the construc-
tion of the suspended "holder down" or "taker off" constituting the
improvement fifthly above enumerated.
Figures 11 and 12 are views corresponding respectively with the
Figures 1 and 2 in Drawing No. 1. m, m, are the "holding down"
bars; n, n, the slings; and n*, n*, strong cross rods (on the machine)
forming the corresponding centres of suspension. The arrow in Figure 12
shews the direction of movement of the plate represented as being
punched. The altered and self-adapted position which the apparatus
assumes if a plate of a different thickness be presented is shown in
dotted lines. The apparatus may be pulled or pressed home to its work
if desired.
To prevent misunderstanding I would remark that the arrangement
of "holding down" bars and slings is represented as repeated more
closely or frequently in Figure 11 than in Figure 1, but either arrange-
ment may be employed accordingly as the work may require and con-
venience suggest.
The Drawing No. 5 illustrates in more complete detail the construc-
tion of the "stop off" action for the punches, constituting the improve-
ment sixthly above enumerated. Figures 13, 14, and 15 are views
corresponding generally and respectively with the Figures 1, 2, and
3 in Drawing No. 1. At the bottom of the punch ram or slide C
are fixed two cast-iron brackets p, p, one at each side of the machine,
and which is seen in Drawing No. 5. Each receives two slides », an
upper and a lower one, having their opposite faces formed into a rack.
Between these racks and gearing into them works at each side of the
machiné a pinions having its centre fixed, and these two pinions are
connected and geared together by a shaft t, above with wheels t*, for
the purpose of rendering their movements alike and simultaneous.
The two upper racks and the two lower racks are connected together
by two wrought-iron motion bars u of Tec section, leaving between
them sufficient space to permit the tumbling claws, connectors, or
clip pieces to work. These are affixed to the ends of the steel crushing
pieces w sliding in the punch boxes. If it is desired to punch a plate

page_text: ९
with regular rows of holes across it, as in the sketched diagram Figure 16
(Drawing No. 2), the clip pieces are to be turned so as all to clip
one motion bar (either of them), and then by turning the handle> ť
on the upper connecting shaft t, the said motion bar with the clips and
crushing pieces can be moved either way, and the crushing pieces be
thus interposed between the punches and the under side of punch ram.
If however it is desired to punch alternate rows, as is frequently the
case, as in the diagram sketch Figure 17 (Drawing No. 2), then the
clip pieces belonging to the punches to form the first row should be
placed on one of the motion bars and the clips for the second row on the
other, and the crushing pieces worked in and out alternately by means
of the handle, as before. The clip pieces are very easily changed from
one bar to the other by unscrewing the nut v*, retaining them in their
places sufficiently to allow them to be turned over, which alteration
can only be effected when the two bars are over each other, and
necessarily the whole of the crushing pieces out of gear. The following
is the mode of working the entire machine:—
It may be started at any time, having previously thrown out of gear
the crushing pieces of the punches and the feed motion, by means of
the clutch lever. The punches should then be arranged to the required
distances apart, and the dies afterwards adjusted exactly under them.
The plate to be punched is supposed to be already indented with two
conical holes at each end in the centre, one on each face (see Figure 6,
Drawing No. 2), and to be then placed on the bed K* resting on the
rollers K³. During this time any change required in the pitch may be
effected by altering the change wheels L* at the end of the screw shaft
bed K. The plate is then to be passed through the machine between
the punches and dies to a convenient distance, and the leading sliding
carriage M brought up to it by disengaging the nut from the screw
shaft, and both carriages M to be attached, as shewn in Figure 2.
The plate is to be now returned with the carriages until it is in proper
position to receive the first row of holes, and when so arranged the nut
of the leading sliding carriage M is to be thrown into gear and the
crushing pieces inserted by means of a handle on the apparatus. Imme-
diately the first row is punched and during the return upwards of the
punches the feed apparatus is to be thrown into gear by means of the
clutch lever, when the remaining rows of holes will become successively

page_text: punched without requiring attention, until the whole plate being punched
the "
stop feed" will throw the clutch out of engagement or gear.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles de Bergue, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Sixth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
C. DE BERGUE. (L.S.)