An Improved Stone-cutting Machine.
Year: 1890

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 22nd Mar., 1890-Accepted, 17th May, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Stone-cutting Machine.
I, CHARLES ISIDORE SCHOONE of 318 East 34th Street New York, New York State,
U.S.A. Manufacturer of Marble Mosaic, 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:-
My invention has reference to stone-cutting machines, and is designed more
especially for cutting stone to form a series of cubes or squares which, when assembled
in a certain number, will form a paving-tile of highly-ornamental appearance as well as
durable character.
To these ends my invention consists in the improved construction, hereinafter
described and set forth, whereby the stone is evenly measured and adjusted and cut in
a positive and even manner.
In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front
elevation of a machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is
a side view of the upper portion of the same, and Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the
line of Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 7 show different forms of gauges, and Fig. 6 is a detail
plan view.
The main or supporting portion of the machine consists of a vertical hollow
standard A, square in cross-section and having an opening a in its rear and at its base
for the insertion and withdrawal of a drawer or receptacle B. At its top said standard
is provided with side brackets b, which support self-sections CC, intermediate of
which at the rear is a horizontal bed C, upon which the gauges are located. Two
brackets c c are located on the front of the standard, and each carries upon its upper
horizontal edge a longitudinal leaf-spring D, the ends of which are slotted for the
passage of securing screws d, engaging said bracket, each of said leaf-springs being
convexed at its centre to provide a yielding support for the feeding-plate D¹ at the
front of the machine. By reference to Fig. 4 it will be noted that the springs D are so
located relatively upon the brackets that their curved portions will serve to tilt the
rear transverse edge on a slight incline.
Vertical guides e e are located in pairs on the standard at each side thereof, and are
connected together at their top by means of a cross-head e', provided with a horizontal
slot e, extending from front to rear. The rear guide of each pair is braced by a
vertical standard e³, of the form shown in Fig. 3, which standards also serve as the side
walls for the space in which the gauges are located.
On the inside of the front of the standard is secured a transverse knife E, the
edge of which projects above the front edge of the standard, and above this lower
knife is located an upper inovable knife E', which is attached to a transverse block,
the ends of which are located in the vertical space between the guides, the faces of
the block being ribbed to engaged corresponding grooves therefor in the guides. The
ends of said block have secured thereto a vertical arm F, which depends for a
considerable distance below said block. A strip is secured vertically to the rear
guide of each pair against which the adjacent arin F bears. An opening square in
cross-section in each side shelf permits the passage of the adjacent arm therethrough

page_text: below said shelf. As seen most clearly in Fig. 4, the block is preferably cut away
to form a bearing sheet in which the upper knife E is bolted. A loop-strap F
passes through the slot in the cross-head and in the cross-block.
A longitudinal dovetailed groove g is formed longitudinally in the gauge-supporting
plate of the machine, and is adapted to receive the dovetailed projection on the
under side of the base of the gauge-carriage G to permit longitudinal sliding
movement. A block is rigidly secured at the rear of the gauge-plate and
projects above the upper face for a slight distance to furnish a bearing for a threaded
longitudinal shaft g, the rear projecting end of which carries a hand wheel or crank
for its convenient rotation, while its inner end engages but rotates in the rear part of
the base. The base of the carriage is provided at its front with a vertical
portion, which carries centrally in its front face a vertical dovetailed groove gº,
adapted to receive the vertical dovetailed rib on the rear of the vertical part h¹ of a
removable gauge H, carrying on its bottom a metallic plate 2, against which the stone
is adapted to bear. The front part of the gauge carries at its top a rearwardly
extending horizontal ear 3 provided with a vertical threaded horizontal perforation
for the passage of a vertical threaded rod 4, the lower end of said rod being headed
to loosely engage a recess therefor in the vertical portion of the carriage, so that the
revolution of the rod will cause the gauge to be elevated or depressed relative to its
carriage.
A shaft I passes transversely through the supporting-standard, near the front thereof,
and has keyed thereto at each side a cam i, which as the shaft is rotated is adapted to
bring its curved face into contact with the depending portion of the arm of the upper
knife-frame. The projecting portion of the shaft adjacent to each cam has connected
thereto a contracting spring, the other end of which is connected to the adjacent
depending portion of the arm.
The feed-plate rests upon the upper edges of the front standards, and is cushioned
upon the springs thereof, as previously explained, and said feed-plate has formed
therein a curved segmental slot j, relative to which is located in one corner of the
feed-plate a pin to which is pivotally connected one end of a bar K, adapted to
control the position in which the material is fed to the cutting-knives. The free end
of the bar K is pierced by a bolt to engage said slot.
The shaft I carries at one side a band-pulley and a hand-crank. A treadle K' is
pivoted transversely at the front of the standard A, and carries at one side a pitman k,
which has pivotally connected to its outer end a link, the other end of which is
pivotally connected to a crank formed in a second transverse shaft, the adjacent end
of which carries a band-pulley to enable it to be belted to the band-pulley previously
mentioned, while the projecting end at the opposite side carries a band-pulley to
enable the shaft to be driven from a suitable motor, while a large balance-wheel is
located adjacent.
From the description immediately preceding it will be obvious that the machine
may be operated either by hand through the medium of the crank, by foot by the
treadle, or from a suitable engine. In the event of the employment of a motor-power
it will be desirable to disconnect. the pitman-and-link connection with the crank-shaft,
so that the treadle may not be unnecessarily vibrated. To conveniently provide for
such disconnection, the upper end of the link is bifurcated, to embrace the crank, to
which it is connected by means of a pin passed through the bifurcated portion.
In operation the gauge-carriage with its gauge is adjusted to limit the rearward feed
of the stone and thus define the size of the sections to be cnt. By having the rear end
of the feed-plate slightly elevated through the medium of its spring the stone is
normally positioned above the lower knife and can in no manner injure its edge. The
shaft being rotated the cams will elevate the upper knife and its frame, and as the cams
clear the arms the springs combined with the weight of the frame will cause the knife
to descend with a quick, sharp, and decisive stroke, and resulting in the feed-plate
being compressed upon its cushions, so that the edges of both knives conjointly operate
to sever the section. By using the springs, as stated, I am enabled to secure a stroke
of great power and do not need to use a knife-frame of any great weight, thereby

page_text: avoiding a cumbersome structure and securing a quick sharp blow. As the sections
are detached they drop into the receptacle located in the base of the standard. The
movement of the bar on the feed-plate determines the relative angle at which the
material is presented to the knives.
As shown in Fig. 5, a gauge is provided that may be used in the event of a necessity
for cutting sections into a triangular shape, the lower metallic plate secured to the
gange being in the form of a triangular recess. The loop that engages the cross-head
and block serves as a limiting means to so limit the descent of the upper knife that
the edges of the knives cannot contact, thus adding to the sharp decisive effect
previously referred to as being desirable, and enabling the stone to be evenly split into
the desired sections.
In Fig. 7 the gauge is shown as provided with a movable edge pivoted at one end
and adjustably connected at the other by a curved bar 1. slotted for the passage of a
securing bolt.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The combination, in a stone-cutting machine, of a supporting standard, a vertical
guide-frame mounted upon the same, a lower fixed transverse knife, an upper trans-
verse knife sliding vertically in said guide frame and having extensions, a shaft
carrying cams adapted to contact with and elevate said extensions and upper knife,
and springs connecting said extensions with a fixed portion of the machine and
adapted to effect the spring-retraction of the upper knife when the cams clear the
extensions, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination, in a stone-cutting machine, of a support, a lower fixed knife,
vertical guide-frame, and upper movable knife therein, connections for elevating said
movable knife, spring connections for retracting the latter, and a feed-plate having
its inner portion tilted upon spring cushions, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination, in a stone-cutting machine, of a supporting standard, a vertical
guide-frame mounted upon the same, a horizontal transverse knife sliding vertically
in said guide-frame and having extensions, a lower transverse fixed knife and feed
table having a pivoted bar and located and substantially the same plane with the lower
fixed knife, a shaft carrying cams adapted to connect with said extensions to elevate
said upper knife, and springs connecting said extensions with fixed portions of the
machine for effecting the spring-retraction of the upper knife, substantially as
set forth.
4. The combination, in a stone-cutting machine, of a supporting-frame, movable
knife, and connections for reciprocating the same, and a longitudinal-adjustable carriage
in the rear of said knife and a vertically-adjustable gauge mounted therein, substantially
as set forth.
5. The combination, in a stone-cutting machine, of a supporting frame having a
guide frame mounted thereon, movable knife, and connections for reciprocating the
same, two forward brackets located on the supporting-frame, convex springs on the upper
edges of said brackets, each of said springs being slotted at its ends to engage bolts
or screws, and a feed-table having its inner portion tilted by said spring substantially
as set forth.
Dated this 99nd day of March 1890
CHARLES ISIDORE SCHOONE.
By his Agents,
Horn & Son.