Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for the Manufacture of Files, Rasps, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 27th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for the Manufacture of
Files, Rasps, and the like.
I, JAMES DWIGHT FOOT, Merchant, of 102 Reade Street, in the City, County, and
State of New York, United States of America, 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 the manufacture of files and rasps, either round, half-
round, or flat. and it consists more particularly in means for grinding the blanks,
and in the means for cutting the blanks in a peculiar manner so that the teeth are
closer at the points or ends of the blanks than at the bodies of the blanks.
The means for grinding the blanks are shown as embodied in a machine adapted
for half-round files, and means for cutting the blanks are shown in two somewhat
different embodiments both of which accomplish substantially the same result by
somewhat different details of construction.
The grinding mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 and in Figs. 8 to 13 is
shown a means for cutting round file blanks; and while these means may be used in
cutting flat file blanks with the teeth closer at the points or ends, a special construction
for this purpose is shown in Figs. 14 to 16.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 7, the frame A has guides for a reciprocating cross-head B
from which hangs by a rod the frame C which contains a series of half-round file
blanks to be operated upon by the grindstone D. The cross-head is raised and
lowered by the rotation in different directions of the gear nut a through which passes
a screw-shaft b fixed to the cross head. The gear nut a is driven by a gear con a
shaft having a fixed pulley ex and loose pulleys fx gx, to which pass straight and
cross belts (not shown) in the same manner as in ordinary reverse driving belts.
"
There are two belt-shifters VI V2, connected by sliding bars h³ to arms i¹²,
which are fixedly mounted upon short rock shafts jj, and likewise connected to said
shafts are short arms 3, the ends of which are arranged to be struck respectively by
lugs n m which project on both sides of a rod p² carried up and down with the
screw b. The bars h³ h are movable independently, but that end of the bar h³, which
carries the shifter V₁, abuts against the projecting side of the belt-shifter V2, as
indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 1, so that when the bars are in the position shown in
said fig. the movement of the bar ³, to the right will push the belt-shifter V and
bar h', towards the loose pulley fx. Conversely when the belt-shifter V2, is upon the
loose pulley fx, and the shifter V', is upon the fast pulley ex, the movement of the
bar h and shifter V2 to the left will carry the bar, and shifter V₁ correspondingly
moving the belt of the shifter V', from the fast pulley to the loose pulley g*.
Assuming the parts to be in the position indicated in Fig. 1, and the screw b, and
rod på to be moving upwards with the belt controlled by the shifter V³, upon the fast
pulley ex the lug m', will strike the end of the arm from beneath and lift the same.
This will cause the shaft j and arm to be rocked towards the right and
carry the
slide and belt-shifter V1 in a corresponding direction, the belt being gradually
moved by the said shifter from the pulley g*, to the pulley ex and by reason of the
CO 071

page_text: engagement of the slide h³ with the shifter V2, said shifter and its slide will also
be shifted to the right, carrying the belt of the shifter V2 from the fast pulley to the
pulley f*. When this has been effected the screw b begins to move downwards and
continues this movement until the lug n', strikes the end of the arin, from above
moving it downward and through the shaft j, the arm and slide h', shifting the
belt-shifter V2, from the pulley fx to the pulley ex and the shifter V2. abutting
against the shifter V¹, will causes said latter shifter to be moved from the pulley ex,
to the pulley g*.
The reciprocating frame C has a holder E, supporting any desirable number of
rocking beds F for the blanks. The construction of the frame and bed is best
illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 in which seven beds are shown, but as each one of them
is like the others, the description of one of them will be sufficient. The bed F
consists of a bar or rod supported at the ends upon trunnions or pivots as desired.
As shown the lower end of each bed is recessed to receive a conical stud 3 projecting
from a cross bar 4 of the frame while the upper end of the bed is extended as a round
rod or trunnion 5 through an opening in another cross bar 6. Near the lower end,
the bed has two side lugs 7, 8, adapted to receive between them the tang of the file
blank, while a perforated lug 9 receives the extreme end of the said tang and holds
the blank in place. The face of the bed from the lugs 7 and 8 to a point y where
the end of the blanks would lie is slightly curved so that the blank may be swung
downward to impart a more desirable form or outline to the file, and when a blank is
thus passed into position upon the bed, a sliding sieeve 10 may be pushed downward
so as to receive the end of the blank and hold it in place. Blocks of rubber 12 are
inserted at different points projecting slightly above the bed so as to constitute a
yielding bearing for the blank."
x
One means of rocking the bed consists of providing each bed with an arm 14
extending from the upper end, all the arms being connected together by a link 15, to
which a reciprocation is imparted. As shown the link has an arm 16 in which there
is a slot w and into the latter extends a crank pin 17 from an arm 18 of a shaft 19 to
which a rotary motion is automatically imparted. By this means the rotation of the
shaft will swing the link 15 first in one direction and then in the other, thereby
imparting the desired rocking movement to all of the beds simultaneously. One
means of imparting rotation to the shaft 19 is to employ a ratchet wheel operated
intermittently by a pawl. Thus as shown a bracket G is bolted to one side of the
frame A and has a hub 20 supporting a ratchet wheel 21 through which passes the
angular or feathered shaft 19. A pawl 22 engages the ratchet 21 and is carried by
an arm 23 extending from a ring which encircles the hub of the ratchet wheel 21 so
as to swing freely thereon. With the arm 23 is connected one end of a link 24 which
at its opposite end is connected to the arin 25 upon a rock shaft 26, turning in the
brackets G. At the inner end of the shaft are two oppositely extended arms 27, 28,
the former in position to be struck by a pin 29 upon the cross head B, and the latter
in position to be struck at the underside by a pin 30 on the said cross head.
As shown each pin is connected with a plate secured vertically adjustably to the
cross head, so that the positions of the pin may be changed. A spring 31
connected with the arm 25 serves to always carry the said arın to the right Fig. 1.
When the cross head B ascends with its carriage C to its upper position as shown
in Fig. 1 the pin 30 strikes the arm 28, rocks the shaft 26 and its projecting arın 25
so as to swing the arm 23 and its pawl in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4 thereby
turning the shaft 19 in this direction. When the cross head begins to descend the
spring 31 carries the arm and the pawl to the right so that as the cross head B
reaches it lowest position, the pin 29 will strike the arm 27 and again swing the rock
shaft and carry the arm 23 and its pawl forward, and still further turn the shaft 19.
By these movements there is an intermittent rotation imparted to the shaft 19 which
carries the crank pin 17 in a circle reciprocating the link 15 and rocking the beds F,
so that as the carriage also moves up and down the blanks upon these beds will
gradually be ground to the rounded form desired.
Referring to Figs. 8 to 13, the frame A of the machine supports the bearings of

page_text: the main driving shaft, which through the medium of the usual cam lifts the holder
or stock D which supports the cutter D¹, a gum spring D² throwing down the cutter
as usual in this class of machines.
The frame also has supports for a sliding carriage H which carries the blanks to be
cut. As shown there is a screw J turning in bearings in a bracket I connected to the
frame, and occupying an inclined position, and on the said screw travels the
carriage H, provided with a half nut pivoted to a pin ¹, so that it may be swung
outward to release it from engagement with the screw when the carriage may be
moved upon the screw.
Where a round file or files must be cut, rotatable file holders E¹ are supported by
the carriage H. As shown there are two socket pieces e e, each of which swings upon
trunnions e¹, and through which pass the cylindrical portions of the tool holders E¹,
and at the rear end of each tool holder is a pinion e² which engages with a cog
wheel on a driving shaft K, sliding and turning in bearings upon the frame, and
also sliding in, but turning with a worm wheel L, which engages a worm L' upon a
shaft I turning in the bearings of the bracket I and provided with a pulley L³ from
which a belt may pass to a pulley L on the driving shaft. By this means as the
carriage H moves forward, each tool holder E¹ is rotated to present different portions
of the round file blanks to the action of the cutter D¹.
By pivotting the socket pieces e upon trunnions as described, a certain amount
of vertical play is allowed to the blanks as is necessary in consequence of the
varying thickness of the file blanks and it also facilitates the removal of the blanks
from the holders when the anvil is carried down as described hereinafter. This
pivotal connection of the blank holder with the carriage may also be used where Hat
files are cut and where the holders do not revolve.
The screw J is revolved by the rotation of a worm wheel J¹ driven by a worm J2
upon a shaft J³ which is driven from the main shaft through the medium of
pulleys J, J and belt. It is desirable to have finer teeth, or have the cuts closer
together, at the point of the file, and the distance between the cuts gradually
increased until the maximum diameter of the file is reached, after which the cuts
should be uniformly spaced.
In order to do this automatically, the carriage H at the beginning of operations
is not moved forward as rapidly as would result from the normal action of the
screw J, the interference with this action, however, being gradually reduced
until the cutter begins to operate upon the maximum diameter of the blank, after
which the screw will act normally to move the carriage. Different means may be
used to secure this result. The screw J is mounted in bearings in the bracket I and
the hub of the worm wheel J' so that the screw while turning at all times with the
wheel may have a limited longitudinal movement therein, and the screw is carried
back in the direction of the arrow as the carriage H starts forward to feed the blanks
towards the cutter, the forward motion exceeding the extent of the backward motion,
and the latter gradually diminishing until the maximum diameter of the blank is
beneath the cutter.
One means of securing this result consists of a lever M pivoted at i to the
bracket I and having a forked end with slots for receiving pins m projecting from a
sleeve m arranged between the collars m² m², upon the screw shaft J, so that the
rocking of the lever M will serve to impart a longitudinal movement to the shaft J
without interfering with its rotation. At the upper end of the lever M is a forwardly
projecting arin m³ having an under inclined face, which bears upon a roller bearing e¹
upon one of the trunnions e¹ of one of the socket pieces e, or there may be two such
levers M as best shown in the plan view Fig. 9.
The weight of the carriage H and its adjuncts tends to cause the same to move
toward the left, and therefore swing the upper end of the lever M to the right and
keep it in contact with the bearing e. When therefore the shaft J is rotated to move
the carriage H forward, the bearing e is gradually carried below the inclined edge
of the arm m³ of the lever M so that this forward end gradually descends; the
lower end of the lever, therefore moves back and carries with it the shaft J, so that

page_text: although the carriage H is moved forward by the rotation of the said shaft, there is a
counter action in the movement of the lever M carrying the screw shaft backwards;
and as a result the carriage and its blank do not at the beginning of operations move
forward to the full extent resulting from the rotation of the screw shaft, but as the
bearing e gradually passes beneath the arm m³, the movement of the lower end of the
lever M backward gradually diminishes until by the time the thicker portion of the file
blank is beneath the cutter, the bearing et passes from contact with the arm m³ when
the carriage H will be moved forward according to the inclination of the screw, and
the movement thereafter will be uniform.
In the modification shown in Fig. 13 there are too eccentric gears the latter
on the shaft K and the gear / being mutilated and serving in place of the sleeve m'
for the screw J. At the start the gear is turned quickly to neutralize the forward
action of the carriage H at the beginning of operations, but is gradually turning
slower until the blank portions of the gear & being brought opposite the gear k¹ the
further turning of the gear k is arrested.
k
It will be evident that a like movement may be imparted to the carriage if the
latter supports the holders of flat or half round, or other files which are not rotated,
In order to
the result which secures the closer cutting of the points being secured.
increase the capacity of the machines, two holders are shown for carrying two blanks.
One objection to attempts to cut two blanks simultaneously heretofore, has been the
fact that sometimes one blank is a little thicker than the other or is supported
so as to project above the other, in which case one of the blanks is apt to receive a
deeper cut than the other. In order to avoid such results, a cutter is used which will
swing upon the holder or stem to such an extent as to operate uniformly upon both
of the blanks. The cutter may be secured to the holder in any suitable manner
to secure this result. As shown the cutter D¹ is a flat blade with a properly bevelled
lower edge, and extends into a slot in the holder D wherein there is a single bearing
point D³ at about the centre of the cutter at the opposite edge, so that as the cutter
is brought against the file blanks it will take an equal bearing upon the two and cut
each to the same extent as the other. The cutter is preferably held frictionally
in its place in the holder by means of a set screw D', which while it prevents the
cutter from moving under ordinary circumstances will not interfere with its tilting
if one of the blanks should be slightly thicker than the other or at a greater
elevation. As the cutter extends into a slot d open at both sides, the said cutter may
be adjusted laterally so that if it wears at one point, it may be brought to a position
to bring different parts of the edge into operation, thereby avoiding the necessity of
replacing the cutters frequently.
To further accommodate the machines to operations at one time upon two files,
the rocking anvil N consists of a blade supported by a holder N', and having a curved
socket or notch at the lower edge for a cross pin n of the holder which permits the
anvil to rock to a limited extent to accommodate itself to the position of the file
blanks resting thereon.
The anvil is not held rigidly in place, but the holder N¹ is at the upper end of a
rod N² which slides in brackets N³ upon the frame and is connected at the lower end
with a lever N having a weight N³ at its rear end which tends to lift the anvil,
and having a foot piece N° at the front end, so that by placing the foot on the piece
No the anvil may be depressed to permit the insertion or removal of the blanks.
In order to regulate the action of the cutter D', a vertically movable foot piece O is
used which bears upon the blanks just back of the cutter, and this is adjusted
to different positions to regulate the depth of the cut as by setting the blank further
down the effect of the cutter is reduced. As shown, the foot piece O is a part of a
lever O¹ pivotted at o to the overhanging part of the frame A, and this lever is
provided with an adjusting screw 0 by which the angle may be altered so as to
depress the foot piece more or less. Any other suitable mode of adjustment may
be adopted.
When the blanks pass under the stationary foot piece which is behind the cutter, if

page_text: one blank is larger in diameter than the other, the anvil will adapt itself to the
inequality so that the cutter does not always have to move on its centre.
In the construction shown in Figs. 14 to 16, there is a pedestal or frame A upon
which is a horizontal guide P having a guide groove or channel p, in which slides the
carriage p having at the upper side a recess for the reception of the adjustable bed p¹,
to which the file blank is applied. According to the character of the file, whether
round, square, or otherwise, the support for the same upon the carriage may be
varied.
To one side of the carriage is hinged a long half nut 32 having a longitudinal
threaded recess adapted to engage the threads of the feed-screw 33 turning in suitable
bearings upon the base, and in an adjustable support S at one side of a standard or
bracket A, reciprocates the tool holder T¹ having at the lower end a receptacle for the
tool T of suitable construction. The holder is reciprocated by mechanism of ordinary
character, which need not be described.
The feed screw 33 is provided at one end with a friction disc wheel 34 with the
surface of which frictionally engages the periphery of a friction drive wheel 35 upon
a shaft 36 at right angles to the screw 33, and in combination with these parts are
suitable means whereby the friction drive wheel 35 may be gradually moved inward
towards the centre of the disc 34, as the cutting of the blank progresses, to thereby
Different
increase the speed of rotation or the screw and the extent of the feed.
means may be employed for shifting the drive wheel 35. As shown the shaft is
mounted upon bearings so as to slide longitudinally therein, the drive wheel 35 being
secured fixedly to the shaft, and longitudinal movement is imparted to the shaft from
a former 37 secured to the carriage or other movable part through the intervention of
any suitable devices. For instance, the shaft 36 has two collars 38, 39, between
which is a loose ring 40 carried by a forked lever 41 pivotted to the frame, and the
former or pattern plate 37 is so arranged that a lever 42 pivotted to the frame can
bear at its free end against the face of the said plate, a spring 43 tending to maintain
the two in contact, and a connecting rod 44 extending from the end of the lever 42
to the tail of the lever 41.
The pattern plate 37 is of any suitable form or construction according to the extent
For
to which the shaft 36 is to be shifted and the variation of this shifting action.
instance, it is somewhat wedge-shaped or tapering, so that the beginning of operations,
but little movement is imparted to the shaft 36, and as the operations continue the
shaft is gradually thrown in the direction of its arrow, thereby gradually increasing
the speed of rotation of the feed screw 33.
Whenever it is desired to carry back the carriage P¹ or adjust it in position without
the screw, the half nut 32 may be lifted out of contact with the screw and the carriage
may then be shifted as required. By making use of a long half nut, as shown, all
tremor or vibration or play of the carriage in respect to the screw is avoided, and the
blanks are cut with absolute precision.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination in a grinding machine of a grinding wheel a carriage arranged
tangentially opposite said wheel means for reciprocating the carriage a series of
rocking beds supported by the carriage and adapted to hold file blanks and means
for automatically rocking said beds upon their longitudinal axes substantially as
described.
2. In a file grinding machine, a reciprocating bed having a curved face with rigid
bearings at its opposite ends and yielding bearings intermediate the ends of said bed,
substantially as described.
3. The combination with a reciprocating carriage, rocking beds carried thereby, a
link having a slotted arm 16, a shaft moving with the carriage and provided with a
crank pin 17 entering the slot of said arm, and means for rotating the shaft
substantially as set forth.

page_text: 4. In a machine for cutting file blanks, a reciprocating cutter, a carriage, a holder
carried by the carriage and adapted to support a blank of any required character,
devices for imparting a forward movement to the carriage, and variable speed devices
for varying the said forward movement, in the manner and for the purpose described.
5. The combination in a machine for cutting files or rasps of a reciprocating cutter,
a carriage a holder for supporting a round file blank, devices for imparting a forward
movement to the said carriage, means for rotating the holder during said movement
and devices for diminishing the extent of this forward movement at the beginning of
operations and thereafter gradually increasing the movement substantially as set
forth.
6. The combination in a machine for cutting files or rasps, of a reciprocating
cutter, a carriage, devices for feeding the carriage forward and means whereby the
said devices are permitted to have an independent backward movement at the
beginning of operations substantially as shown and for the purpose described.
7. The combination of the travelling carriage, means for varying the movements
of the same, a series of blank holders and means for rotating the same and a cutter
operating on all of the blanks simultaneously substantially as described.
8. The combination with the carriage of a file or rasp cutter, of a feed screw
engaging said carriage, a disc connected therewith, a driving friction wheel bearing
with its periphery upon the said disc, a movable pattern plate and connections
between the said pattern plate and the driving disc whereby the latter may be shifted
upon the disc against which it bears substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of Anril 1807