Improvements in File Cutting Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 4th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 4th May, 1898
Improvements in File Cutting Machines.
I, JAMES LEES, of 16, Chippingham Street, City of Sheffield, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of file cutting machines,
and more particularly to improvements in the following parts or movements of such
machines, namely, the feed motion; the foot motion to raise and lower presser and
to start the cutter; the cutter holder; the adjustment of the presser, and the action
for graduating the cut at the point of the file.
I propose to render the ratchet action of the feed motion steadier in its movement
than hitherto by making the end of the connecting rod into a double slide moving
upon a slide block working loosely upon the axle of the ratchet or index wheel, the
slide carries a pawl which engages with the theeth of the index wheel; the brake to
prevent backlash and which grips the same shaft or axle consists of a sliding frame
fitted with two brake blocks, set up with one screw, the frame can move in either
direction and thus prevents side strain upon the shaft.
I combine the starting and stopping motion of the cutter with the raising and
lowering action of the presser or file holder as follows: The hammer bar is raised out
of contact with the lifting cam by means of a foot lever, and the continued action of
the foot lever raises the presser and releases the file; the reverse action of the foot
lever first lowers the presser upon the file, and then allows the hammer bar to come
in contact with the cam, the cutter therefore cannot operate upon the file blank until
it is held by the presser.
The end of the hammer bar is provided with an adjustable cutter holder, the upper
part of which is divided vertically and screwthreaded on the outside to receive a
tightening nut; the inside is bored out and corresponds with the tapering end of
the hammer bar. A groove is made round the end of the hammer bar and a set
screw in the cutter holder enters the groove. The presser is made adjustable by
fixing upon its axis a segment of a worm wheel, actuated by a worm and a hand
wheel carried by the presser bar.
I arrange the feed screw to travel the cradle upon the bed on one side of the bed
instead of underneath, which enables me to get a solid block directly under the
cutter.
The nut for engaging and releasing the feed screw I construct in halves which are
drawn together by means of springs, and are opened by means of a handle and a
double cam shaped to retain them apart until the handle is slightly reversed.
To graduate the cut at the point of a file, the nut of the feed screw is held in a
recess which will allow of a short horizontal travel of the nut, which is controlled by
a cam or eccentric which is moved upon its axis by a short arm provided with a
.roller which travels upon a former or templet.

page_text: improvements in de Cutting Machines.
I, JAMES LEES, of 16, Chippingham Street, City of Sheffield, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same has to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment:-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of file cutting machines,
and more particularly to improvements in the following parts or movements of such
machines, namely, the feed-motion; the foot-motion to raise and lower the presser
and to start the cutter; the cutter holder; the means for adjusting the presser, and
the action for graduating the cut at the point of the file.
The invention is illustrated in the various figures of the annexed drawings, in
which like figures of reference indicate like parts in any of the several views.
Fig. 1, front elevation of machine.
Fig. 2, right side elevation.
Fig. 3, left side elevation.
Fig. 4, plan of end of travelling bed.
Fig. 5, elevation of same.
Fig. 6, section of feed nut.
Fig. 7, section of templet, with adjacent parts.
Fig. 8, the feed action.
Fig. 9, the brake.
Fig. 10, two views of the cutter holder.
Fig. 11, the means for raising the sliding bed.
Fig. 12, end view of parts of same.
The body of the machine is marked 1, the fixed bed 2, the travelling bed 3, the
ram 4, cutter 5, presser 6, and litting cam 7.
I propose to render the usual ratchet action of the feed motion 8, more steady in
its movement than hitherto by making, the end of the rod 9, into a slide box 10,
moving upon a slide block 11, contained within it, and which is loose or free upon
the shaft 12. This shaft carries the index wheel and also gives motion to the feed screw
in the usual manner; the pawl 13 which actuates the index wheel is carried by the
slide box 10, and they are reciprocated by the eccentric rod 9, see Fig. 8.
The brake, Fig. 9, the use of which is to prevent any undue movement of the
shaft 12, consists of a frame 14, fitting loosely within the top of the bracket 15; it
is provided with two brake blocks 16, which embrace the shaft, and which are
tightened upon the shaft by a single screw 17, the frame can move vertically and by
this arrangement unequal strain cannot be put upon the shaft.
I combine the stopping and starting action of the cutter upon the file, with the
raising and lowering action of the presser 6, which holds the file upon the cradle 19,
as follows: The ram 4, is raised out of contact with the revolving cam 7, by means
of a foot lever and its connections 18, and the continued action of the said lever lifts
the presser 6, by means of the finger 6 projecting from the presser rod 23, its return
being caused by the coiled spring 43. The upward action releases the file previously
held by the presser upon the cradle 19, the reverse action first lowers the presser upon
the file, and then allows the ram 4 to come in contact with the cam; the cutter 5
therefore cannot operate upon the file until it is secured by the presser.
The end of the ram is provided with an adjustable and removable cutter holder
shown in Fig. 10. It is provided with a recess to receive the end of the ram, and a
draw wedge 20, by which it is secured thereto. The lower face has a slot 21 to receive
the cutter 5, which is held by a set screw 22.
The presser 6, is made adjustable to the face of the file, by fixing upon its axis at
the back of the presser rod, a segment of a worm wheel 24, actuated by a worm 25,

page_text: and a hand wheel 26, by which it can be turned to any desired angle so as to adjust
it while the machine is working.
I also locate the feed screw 27, by which the bed 3, is traversed, on one side of the
bed instead of in the centre, thus enabling me to get a solid foundation directly
under the cutter.
The feed nut 28, which engages with the feed screw 27, is made in two parts to
enable it to be released from and engage with the screw when required; the two
parts of the nut are drawn together by the springs 29, and are opened by means of a
handle 30, and a double throw cam 31, which also will retain them open until the
handle is slightly reversed.
In order to graduate the pitch of the teeth upon the tapering point of a file, and so
that the said cuts may be made at the correct angle with the face of incline of the
point, I place the divided nut 28, in a recess 32, of sufficient length to allow a short
travel of the nut backwards as the bed 3, travels forward, and this action is governed
by a tapered block or oam 33, which acts against the side of the nut as it is moved
in or out by means of a roller 35, travelling in a curved groove of the templet or
former 34, the roller being upon a lever 36, connected with a rod 37, attached to the
block or cam 33.
In order to cut the point at the correct angle, the bed 3, is raised at that end when
the point of the file is under the cutter, by means of an inclined facing block 38,
fixed centrally to the underside of the bed, see Fig. 11, a channel 40 being provided
below the sliding surfaces for it to travel in.
A block 39 is let into the fixed bed 2 directly under the cutter 5, upon which the
inclined block 38 rests when the cutting commences upon the point, the bed being
gradually lowered as it travels upwards on its slide until it rests on the sliding faces.
To enable the machine to be generally understood I give some further particulars:
41, handwheel and connections to regulate the weight of blow; 42, springs;
43, presser spring; 44 driving pullies; 45, flywheel; 46, wheel for altering position
of cam 7, under the tappit 47; 48, driving belt fork; 49 coupler on rod 18.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my_inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
is:-
1.-A file cutting machine as herein before described and shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3,
combining all the particularly described improvements as set forth.
2. In a file cutting machine, the improved feed motion mechanism and brake, as
hereinbefore described and set forth.
3. In a file cutting machine, the improvements in the mechanism for raising and
lowering the presser, and for stopping and starting the cutter, as hereinbefore
described and set forth.
4. In a file cutting machine, the mechanism for adjusting the presser to the face
of the file as herein before described and shown.
5. In a file cutting machine, the mechanism for graduating the pitch of the cut
at the point of a file, herein before described and shown.
Dated the 3rd day of March 1898
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant.