IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING AND DRESSING MARBLE, STONE AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM HENRY BURKE of Newman Street, Oxford Street in the County of
Middlesex, Statuary, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING AND DRESSING MARBLE, STONE AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES, to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to an improved machine for cutting mouldings and
dressing marble limestone, sandstone, slate and other earthy and calcareous
substances.
The principal object of the invention is to enable blocks or slabs of stone of large
size to be moulded or cut on all or any of their four sides or edges without
removing the stone from the table on which it rests or shifting its position upon.
such table.
To this end the invention relates to the construction and arrangement of the
table for carrying and securely holding the stone to be cut or dressed and to means
for readily shifting the position of this table and bringing it and the stone upon it.
into the desired position with reference to the cutting tools.
The invention also relates to an improved construction and arrangement of:
rotary cutter holder and to means for adjusting the position of the cutter holder
and its blades with respect to the work in hand and for imparting rotary motion.
thereto independently of the means by which the working level of the cutters is,
adjusted.
Mounted to slide laterally on suitable ways in or upon the bed plate of the:
machine is a massive frame or table, the whole being so constructed and arranged
as to render vibration impossible.
Mounted to slide on ways or guides longitudinally of and upon this frame or
table is a second table or frame provided with circular ways or guides on which:
rests a circular platform or turntable grooved after the manner of slotting machine
tables for the reception of the clamping bolts.
..J

page_text: This grooved platform or table has a ring of teeth on its underside and by means
of a pinion keyed on a short axle mounted in bearings on the second table and
actuated by hand can be rotated in either direction upon the circular ways of the
table below it and fixed by clamps or a ring of segmental wedges in any desired
position.
This rotating table is intended to receive the stone to be cut and the latter is
securely held in place thereon by means of screw bolts, clamping bars and nuts or
their equivalent.
Thus fixed in place the stone can be moved in straight courses laterally or
longitudinally of the machine, or can be rotated to any desired degree to bring the
side to be operated on in proper relation to the rotating blades.
The lateral motion of the first named or principal table is obtained. by means of
two endless screws simultaneously actuated by a system of rods and bevel wheels
rotated by means of a hand wheel.
The motions of the second table in a longitudinal direction at variable speeds
during its advance and rapidly during its return movement. are effected by an
arrangement of pulleys change wheels and gearing analogous to that described in
the specification of the invention for which Letters Patents were granted to the
present applicant under date 28 November 1883 N° 5558 and need not be further
described. These movements are all readily controllable by the attendant and thus
the stone on its turntable can be adjusted and moved with ease and facility beneath
the rotary cutting tools and be accurately shifted to present a new surface thereto
without changing its position on the table or touching it by hand.
The construction and arrangement of the cutter holder and the method of
mounting the same will now be described.
Towards one end of the bed plate of the machine is a massive block or casting,
which block constitutes a bearing of great strength for a shaft on which are keyed
a pinion and a driving pulley. This shaft serves also as the fulcrum pin for a
rocking frame consisting of a pair of iron cheeks supporting a long bearing through
which passes the shaft of the cutter holder.
In order to adjust this rocking frame to the desired position it is provided with.
segmental ring of teeth in gearing with a worm actuated by a hand wheel, or.
with an equivalent device.
Un one end of the cutter holder shaft is a toothed wheel of large diameter which
gears with the pinion on the driving shaft. previously mentioned and through it
rotary motion can be imparted to the cutter holder shaft, which shaft together with
its tool holder can by reason of the way in which it is mounted be rocked and its
position adjusted with reference to the work without arresting the rotary movement
of the cutter. The cutter hold may consist as described in the specification above
referred to of a shaft grooved or slotted to receive a series of cutter blades but for
mouldings of large size the cutter holder is now made of a series of solid discs of
iron or steel of varying diameters keyed side by side on one end of the cutter
holder shaft outside its single long bearing and secured thereon by nuts.
The blades as before are arranged radially in slots made in the periphery of the
said discs and in proportion as the discs increase in diameter and their surface
velocity increases it is preferred to increase the number of blades mounted thereon
as by so doing the wear on all the blades in a cutter holder composed of several
discs of various diameters is rendered more constant.
By thus building up the profile to be cut from a series of separate cutter blades
mounted on separate discs of different diameters the size and width of the individual
blades may be diminished and a greater number of blades may be arranged around
those discs where the profile to be cut increases in depth. By these means the
work done all along the profile of the moulding is rendered practically uniform in
spite of the differences in angular velocity of the several cutting surfaces.
The cutters are formed out of steel from / to %, of an inch in thickness, bevelled
off like an ordinary chisel

page_text: When these cutter tools mounted on discs or a compound block of varying
diameter are replaced by a holder formed of a single cylinder or disc, nonsymmetrical
mouldings can be produced in the machine by using double profiles obtained by
joining a pair of cutters having similar profiles or cutting surfaces and by operating
on two pieces of stone temporarily united by plaster and firmly held on the
compound table or platform, after the manner described in the specification above
mentioned.
It should be mentioned that loose pulleys are provided for each of the driving
belts which impart motion to the cutting tools and traversing table respectively
and means for rapidly shifting the said belts as may be desired.
By the aid of these improvements mouldings some 2 feet wide by 2 feet high can
be cut at a single passage of the cutters along the four sides or edges of stones some
six feet square, or at various angles around such stones, without the necessity for
changing the position of the stone upon its table, and the machine is simple in
construction and thoroughly under control.
"
Return mouldings also can be cut in stone or marble in this machine with great
ease and accuracy.

page_text: MIETE
I William HenRY BURKE of Newman Street, Oxford Street in the County of
Middlesex, Statuary do hereby declare the nature of the invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING AND DRESSING MARBLE, STONE AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The present Invention' relates to an improved machine for cutting and dressing.
marble, limestone, sandstone, slate and other earthy and calcareous substances.
The principal object of the invention is to enable blocks or slabs of stone of
large size to be moulded or cut on all or any of their four sides or edges, without
removing the stone from the table on which it rests or shifting its position upon
such table.
To this end the invention relates to the construction and arrangement of the
table for carrying and securely holding the stone to be cut or dressed, and to
means for readily shifting the position of this table and bringing it and the stone
upon it into the desired position with reference to the cutting tools.
The invention also relates to an improved construction and arrangement of
rotary cutter holder and to means for adjusting the position of the cutter holder
and its blades with respect to the work in hand, and for imparting rotary motion
thereto independently of the means by which the working level of the cutters is
adjusted.
The nature of my invention will be understood from the following description,
reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which―
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the complete machine partly in section, with a
stone in position to be operated on.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine with the cutter holder removed for the
sake of clearness, and a portion of the bed and table broken away, to economize
врасе.
Fig. 3 is a back elevation showing the machine at length.
Mounted to slide laterally on suitable ways a a in or upon the fixed frame or
bed A of the machine is a massive frame or table, B, the whole being so constructed
and arranged as to render vibration impossible.
Mounted to slide on ways or guides b b longitudinally of and upon this frame or
table B, is a saddle C provided with circular ways or guides c. c. on which rests a
circular platform or turntable D, grooved after the manner of slotting machine
tables for the reception of the clamping bolts.
This grooved platform or table D has a ring of teeth d on its underside and by
means of a pinion e keyed on a short axle E mounted in bearings on the saddle C
and actuated by hand, the table D can be rotated in either direction upon the
circular ways c c of the saddle beneath, and be fixed by clamps or a ring of
segmental wedges in any desired position.
This rotating table D is intended to receive the stone F to be cut, and the latter
is securely held in place thereon by means of screw bolts, clamping bars and nuts,
such as for their equivalent,

page_text: Thus mounted and fixed in place the stone can be moved in straight courses
laterally or longitudinally of the machine, or can be rotated to any desired degree
to bring the side to be operated on in proper relation to the rotating blades of the
cutting tool, one of which is shown in position in Fig. 1.
The lateral motion of the first named or principal table, B, is obtained by means
of a pair of endless screws G (of which only one is shown in the drawings).
simultaneously actuated by a rod G₁ and bevel wheels g g¹, rotated by means of a
hand wheel H.
The motions of the saddle C in a longitudinal direction at any desired speed
during its advance to bring the stone under the cutters, and rapidly during its
return movement; are effected by an arrangement of pulleys I, change wheels J,
and gearing (see Fig. 2) somewhat analogous to that described in the
specification of the invention for which Letters Patent were granted to the present
applicant under date 28th November 1883, N° 5558.
In the present arrangement the central pulley I is loose; that on its left No 2
is fast on a sleeve or extension of the toothed wheel k, loosely mounted on the
shaft j; and that on the right, No 3 is fast on the shaft j. The group of wheels J
can be readily changed to vary the speed of the forward feed of the saddle C, and,
they are driven more or less slowly in one direction when the belt is upon the
pulley No 3, thereby causing the saddle C to advance.
.
The quick return movement of the saddle C is effected by shifting the belt on
to the pulley N° 2, and thereby driving the shaft L in the opposite direction by
the gear wheels, of equal size; the change wheels J, and pulley No 3, at this
time running idly.
The shaft L by means of the skew wheels 1, transmits motion to an endless
screw L' which engages with correspondingly screw threaded sockets or lugs cast'
in one with or attached to the saddle C, and hence by rotating the shaft L in one
direction or the other the saddle C can be moved to and fro from one end of the
machine to the other. The skew wheel is mounted to slide freely on the shaft L
and is held between bearings carried by the table B.
This wheel is prevented from rotating on the shaft L by means of a key or
feather and hence when the table B is shifted laterally these wheels remain in gear
and offer no impediment to such lateral movement.
The movements of the table or slide B, saddle C and circular table D, are all
readily controllable by the attendant, and thus the stone while fixed on its turn-
table can be adjusted and moved with ease and facility beneath the rotating cutting
tools, and be accurately shifted to present a new surface thereto without changing
its position relatively to the table D on which it rests, or touching it by hand.
The construction and arrangement of the cutter holder M and the method of
mounting the same will now be described. Towards one end or side of the bed of
the machine is a massive block or casting N, which block constitutes a bearing
of great strength for a shaft O, on which are keyed a pinion o and a driving
pulley o¹.
This shaft serves also as the fulcrum pin for a rocking frame P consisting of a
pair of iron cheeks supporting a long bearing p through which passes the shaft M¹
of the cutter holder M.
In order to adjust this rocking frame to the desired position, it is provided with
a segmental ring of teeth q in gear with a worm q¹ provided with a square Q for a
winch handle, or actuated by a hand wheel or equivalent device, and when thus
adjusted to the desired height this frame may be secured in position by a pressure
q².
screw,
On one end of the cutter holder shaft M¹ is a toothed wheel M² of large diameter.
which gears with the pinion o on the driving shaft O, previously mentioned, and
through it rotary motion can be imparted to the cutter holder shaft M', which
shaft together with its tool holder, can, by reason of the way in which it is'
mounted, be rocked and its position adjusted with reference to the work without
arresting the rotary movement of the cutter.

page_text: The cutter holder M may consist, as described in the specification above referred
to, of a shaft or cylindrical block grooved or slotted to receive a series of cutter
blades, but for mouldings of large size the cutter holder is now made of a series of
solid dises m m m of iron or steel of varying diameters strung and keyed side by
side on one end of the cutter holder shaft, outside its single long bearing p, and
Becured thereon by nuts.
The blades as before, are arranged radially in slots made in the periphery of
the said discs, and in proportion as the discs increase in diameter and their surface
velocity when running increases, it is preferred to increase the number of blades
mounted thereon, as by so doing the wear on all the blades in the cutter holder
composed of several discs of various diameters is rendered more constant.
By thus building up the profile to be cut, from a series of separate cutter blades
mounted on separate discs of different widths and diameters, the size and width of
the individual blades may be diminished and a greater number of blades may be
arranged around those dises where the profile to be cut increases in depth. By
these means the work done all along the profile of the moulding is rendered
practically uniform, in spite of the differences in angular velocity of the several
cutting surfaces.
The cutters are formed out of steel from 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch in thickness, more
or less, bevelled off like an ordinary chisel; the precise thickness however must be
determined by experience, and the nature of the stone to be cut.
When these cutter tools, mounted on discs, or a compound block of varying
diameter, are replaced by a holder formed of a single cylinder or disc, non-
symmetrical mouldings can be produced in the machine by using double profiles
obtained by joining a pair of cutters having similar profiles or cutting surfaces,
and by operating on two pieces of stone temporarily united by plaster and firmly
held on the compound table or platform, after the manner described in the
specification above mentioned.
It should be mentioned that a loose pulley o² is provided for the driving belt by
which motion is imparted to the cutting tools, and also means for rapidly shifting
the said belt as may be desired, but it has not been thought necessary to illustrate
the belt shifting gear, as it is of well known construction.
It will be understood from the foregoing that the composite table supporting the
stone to be worked is properly adjusted to the cutter blades, and is then fed more
or less slowly forward to bring the stone under their action, the cutter blades
having been adjusted at the proper level and being driven in the opposite direction.
to that in which the stone is being fed forward; and that after one side or face of
the stone has been moulded, the table with the stone upon it, is quickly retracted
and its position altered to bring another face of the stone into position for being
similarly moulded by the cutters. In some cases the stone may be cut dry, while
in others it will be advantageous to water the cutter blades by any suitable means,
during the cutting process. This all depends on the nature of the stone to be.
worked.
By the aid of these improvements, mouldings some two feet wide, by two feet
high, can be cut at a single passage of the cutters along the four sides or edges of
stones some six feet square, inore or less; or at various angles around such stones;
without the necessity for changing the position of the stone relatively to the tablo
on which it is mounted, and the machine is simple in construction and thoroughly
under control.
"Return mouldings," also, can be cut in stone or marble in this machine with
great ease and accuracy.
The arrangement of a single long bearing for the cutter holder shaft carried by.
an adjustable frame allows of greater freedom of access to and manipulation of the
stone or marble under treatment, than was possible in the earlier machine for
cutting mouldings hereinabove referred to, and affords facilities for cutting
mouldings all round stones of larger size than was practicable heretofore at a single,
..
}

page_text: passage of each side of the said stones beneath the rotating cutters: The entire
machine is also of simpler construction than heretofore.
I would remark that I do no limit myself to the precise arrangement of gearing
used to actuate the compound table which supports the stone, nor to the means
shown for clamping the stone on its table D, or to the means for fixing the table D
in position on the saddle C, as the same may be varied without departing from the
tenor of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my Foreign Correspondents, I declare that what I claim is
1. The improved construction and arrangement of machine for cutting and
dressing stone, marble and similar substances, substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawing, whereby stones of large size may be
manipulated beneath a rotary cutter for the purpose of forming mouldings around
the said stones, or on any of their sides, with greater facility and freedom than
heretofore.
2. A machine for cutting and dressing marble and stone in which the stone to
be manipulated is supported upon a table such as D adapted to be moved in
lateral, longitudinal and circular courses; and a rotary cutter, mounted on one end
of a shaft having a single long bearing, and capable of adjustment with reference
to the work in hand, is arranged to overhang the said table from one side of the
machine, as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a machine for cutting and dressing stone, marble and similar substances,
the construction and arrangement of compound rotary cutter holder described with
reference to the accompanying drawing, whereby facilities are afforded for readily
varying the width and number of the cutting blades in accordance with the profile
of the moulding to be formed and proportionately to the depth of the stone to be
cut away at different parts thereof.
4. In a machine for cutting and dressing marble and stone, mounting the rotary
cutter shaft in a single bearing carried by a rocking frame situate at one side of
the machine, substantially as described with reference to the drawing for the
purpose of adjusting the cutter with ease and precision to the work in hand while
in motion, and permitting free access thereto.