Improvements in Machines for Cutting Printers' Rule and Lead.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1396-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Cutting Printers' Rule and Lead.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the Firm of G. F. Redfern & Co., The
General Patent Office, No. 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of London,
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to
me by William H. Golding, of Fort Hill Square, Boston, Massachusetts, in the
United States of America, Manufacturer) 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 certain new and useful improvements in machines for
cutting printers' rule and lead. This invention consists in the connection of the
link which connects the operating lever with the cutting bar or head above the
pivot of the lever so that the greatest power will be exerted at the commencement
of the cut which is a great advantage in cutting thick brass rule. Another
improvement resides in means for holding the upper cutter against springing out.
Another important feature is the holder for the front gauge, which holder is
designed to hold the gauge firmly and is improved with flanges on each side to
support the leads and rule until cut and allow the stock to drop freely after it has
been cut. This front gauge is removably supported and is reversible lengthwise
for cutting long lengths, and is also constructed for use either side up, one side
being adapted for cutting standard pica lengths and the other for odd lengths.
The gange holder is provided with slots or notches to receive strips at the end of
the gauge for holding the latter to standard lengths.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and the
novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,―
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved machine:
Figure 2 is a side elevation with the gauge holder in vertical cross section :
Figure 3 is a top plan:
Figure 4 is a detail in elevation looking at the side opposite that seen in
Figure 2:
Figure 5 is a detailed perspective of a portion of the gauge.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.
Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter,-
A represents
casting forming the base or foundation of the machine, formed in
frout with a foot a and at the rear with the diverging feet a¹ perforated as shewn
for the passage of the screws or other means A employed for securing it in
position upon a base piece, table or other desired support B. The casting A is
formed with the longitudinal extensions A2, A3 the upper faces of which are formed
with the gauge plate or holder A', notched as seen at a', the extension A¹ being of
sufficient width to form a support for the leads or rules, as seen best in Figure 3.
At the adjacent ends of the extensions A3, A3 is a space or opening a³ seen best in
Figure 1 in which works the movable cutter, while the stationary cutter plate C is
secured to the end of the extension A' in any suitable manner, as seen in Figures I
and 2. The gauge plate or holder A is provided with a plurality of vertical
holes a as indicated in Figure 3 for the passage of the bolt which holds the gauge
in its adjusted position.
The casting A is formed with a vertical extension or standard a' in which near its
upper end is held a horizontal shaft or pin D upon which is pivotally mounted the

page_text: actuating lever E, which is bifurcated at its point of pivotal support as seen at e
in Figure 1, and in the chamber or cavity thus formed is pivoted on a pivot f the
link or arm F which connects said actuating lever with the cutter bar soon to be
described. It will be observed by reference to Figures 1 and 2 that this link is
connected with the actuating lever above the pivot of the latter, the upper end of
the link being curved and extended substantially horizontally rearward whereby
the greatest power is exerted at the beginning of the cut, which I have found
from practice to be a great advantage, especially when cutting thick rule. G is
the cutting bar or head pivotally mounted as at g on the casting A near the base
of its standard or upright portion as and formed with lugs or ears g' in which is
supported the pin or bolt G' which forms the connection between the link F and
the cutting bar or head.
H is the movable cutter seated in a recess in the cutting bar or head and retained
therein in any suitable manner as by screws h as seen in Figure 2. This cutter H
is provided with two independent cutting edges, as seen best in Figure 4, one of
which is adapted to move in planes parallel to the lower or stationary cutting plate C
when in the act of cutting, while the other by means of its inclined edge is designed
to move in planes at an angle to the lower or stationary cutter for the purpose of
making a shearing cut. This cutting bar or head is formed with or has firmly
affixed thereto a depending arm or lug or portion I, seen in Figures 1, 2 and 4,
which is designed to move against and be guided by the vertical wall i at the inner
end of the extension A³ of the casting A, as seen in said views, so as to prevent
springing out of the upper cutter while the same is doing its work. The cutting
bar or head is provided with a transverse opening in which is inserted the wire
gauge J adapted to be held in any desired position by the set screw J, bearing
thereagainst and held angularly in the said cutting bar or head as seen in Figures 1, 2
and 4 for this purpose.
K is the gauge proper consisting of a bar of the desired length having at one
end the heads k on each side. This bar is grooved longitudinally upon each side as
shewn at , and in this groove is designed to fit and slide a washer K¹ through an
opening K in which passes a thumb screw K³ which is designed to engage in one
of the openings a³ in the gauge plate A' to hold the gauge in its adjusted position.
This gauge is provided at each end upon one side with the transverse strips L held
in the groove thereof at opposite ends of the longitudinal slot 3 in said gauge,
these strips being upon one side only of the gauge and when the gauge is used with
said side down these strips will engage and lock into the slots in the bed and
gauge holder as will be readily understood. The plate A is designed to work
between the flanges formed by the longitudinal grooves in the gauge to ensure its
parallelism with relation to the said plate. The gauge may be engaged with the
heads either at the inner or outer end of the supporting bed according to the
length of the rule or lead to be cut. The lever E and cutter-head G are balanced
by a spring M coiled about the pivot of the cutter head so that the operator in
using the machine is not required to lift the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with the casting having a longitudinal extension and the
fixed cutter, of a movable cutter, a straight depending arm integral with the
cutter-bar and extending therefrom in front of its pivot in position to engage
the vertical end of one of the extensions of said base to prevent springing out of
the movable cutter, substantially as described.
2. A gauge for a machine of the class described grooved longitudinally upon
each side and formed with heads at one end transverse strips traversing said grooves
upon one side of the gauge near each end thereof, substantially as described.
3. A gauge for a machine of the class described grooved longitudinally upon
each side and formed with heads at one end and transverse strips traversing said

page_text: grooves upon one side of the gauge near each end thereof, said gauge being slotted
longitudinally combined with a washer fitted in said groove and having an opening
for the reception of a thumb-screw, substantially as described.
4. The combination with a gauge plate having notches and openings, of an
endwise reversible invertible gauge having a transverse strip on each end to
engage said notches, a longitudinal slot, a washer, and a thumb-screw, substantially
as described.
5. The combination with a gauge plate having notches and openings, of an
endwise reversible invertible gauge having a longitudinal slot, a washer and a
thumb-screw, and upon one side near each end a transverse strip fitted to the
notches of the gauge-plate, substantially as described.
6. The combination with a pivoted cutter head and lever, of a link pivotally
connected with the head and with the actuating lever above the pivot of the latter
whereby the greatest power is exerted at the beginning of the cut, substantially as
described.
Dated the 12th day of August 1906
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.