Improvements in the Construction of Machines for Cutting Files and Rasps.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1886.
Complete Left, 31st Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 29th Mar, 1887
Improvements in the Construction of Machines for Cutting
Files and Rasps.
I, RICHARD DENISON, of 2 Malvern View Villas, Cheltenham in the County of
Gloucestershire Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to machines employed in cutting files and rasps.
First: to means for holding files and rasps more firmly than heretofore on their
beds during the cutting operation.
Second: to an arrangement for automatically regulating the pressure whereby the
cutting chisel is brought into operation upon the metal to be cut.
Third to means employed for regulating the angle of the tooth or cut of the file.
:
For the purpose of holding the file firmer than heretofore during the cutting
operation I mount a screw in suitable bearings between the sides of the machine, such
screw passing through one end of a lever placed across the machine, so that by turning
the screw such lever can be varied in position. To this lever I attach or hang a
bracket carrying a roller, rounded on the periphery. The required pressure is imparted
to the roller froin the lever by means of weights or springs. In this arrangement the
pressure by means of the roller can be brought to bear upon the file or rasp being cut,
close to the cutting chisel, such position being regulated or adjusted by turning the
hereinbefore mentioned screw, also on account of the rounded surface of the roller,
and such roller being hung loosely on the lever it always retains its position with
regard to the cutting chisel after once being set.
In order to regulate the pressure or force of the blow of the cutting chisel and
automatically to reduce the same as the cutting operation approaches the end or point
of the file or rasp, I fix a cylinder between the sides of the machine and above the
cutter slide, and within it I place two pistons and between them a spiral spring. The
pressure of the spring is increased by the upper piston compressing it upon the lower
piston this compression is obtained through an arrangement of levers and rods acting
- n

page_text: upon the top piston, the same being brought into operation by a moving incline
mounted on the bed trough.
The required pressure above referred to is conveyed to the cutter slide through a
piston rod attached to the lower pision.
In order to regulate and adapt the machine to cut the teeth of the file or rasp to the
required angle, I mount the upper part of the framework carrying the cutter slide in
bearings so that the angle of the cutter may readily be adjusted to any degree.
In these improvements also I employ in combination the arrangements described in
the Specification of my Patent dated 2nd January 1885 No. 62.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Machines for Cutting
Files and Rasps.
I, RICHARD DENISON, formerly of 2, Malvern View Villas, Cheltenham, in the
County of Gloucester, but now of the Sydenham Works, Mill Green, Holbeck, Leeds,
in the County of York, Mechanical Engineer, 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 relates to improvements in machines for cutting files and rasps in
which an intermittent reciprocating cutter operates upon a file or rasp blank supported
upon an
oscillating and horizontal travelling work supporting bed or anvil whilst the
said anvil is stationary, and the objects of my Improvements are, first, to provide
means for holding files and rasps more firmly than hitherto on the bed during the
cutting operation by a roller attached loosely to an adjustable and weighted lever
arranged to pass over the anvil; second, to arrange for automatically regulating the
pressure whereby the cutting chisel is brought into operation upon the metal to be cut
by means of an arrangement of levers, incline, spiral spring, and pistons to which the
cutter holder is attached and third, to afford facilities for regulating the angle of
the tooth or cut of the file by providing means whereby the head of the machine, the
cutter holder and chisel may be set to cut a tooth straight into the blank or at any
required angle up to forty five degrees.
I attain these objects by mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings in
which Fig. 1. is a perspective view, Fig. 2. a side elevation, Fig. 3. a front elevation,
and Fig. 4. a plan looking at the top of a file cutting machine to which my
improvements are applied. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a sectional elevation and
plan on line w,, of adjustable framing and cylinder containing the pistons and
spring for imparting the pressure or force of the blow to the cutting chisel. Figs. 7, 8, 9
and 10 are respectively front and side elevations and plans of the top and bottom of
tool holder or carrier. Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively an end elevation and part
plan of cutting tool or chisel.
The following views are drawn to a larger scale. Figs. 13 and 14 are respectively
a part front elevation and sectional plan of adjustable lever arrangement for holding
the file blank more firmly. Figs. 15 and 16 are respectively a transverse section and
part plan of tang holder. Figs. 17 and 18 are respectively an elevation and part plan
of device for setting and holding the oscillating bed in position. Figs. 19 and 20 an
elevation and part plan of means for giving motion to the travelling bad. Fig. 21 and 22
are respectively a elevation and plan of in fin for actuating pressure regulating
arrangement.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views; and th
improvements hereinafter described, are shown applied to a file cutting machine to

page_text: which the chisel setting and tang holding arrangements described in my Patent dated
2nd January 1885 No. 62. are also applied.
A is the foundation plate or bed of the machine having arms a, a projecting
respectively from its opposite ends or sides. In the bed and arms extending nearly
the whole length is a recess a² in which a feed screw shaft a works, carried in
bearings formed in the outer end of each arm. On the bed plate A is mounted
centrally over the feed screw shaft a moveable bed trough B, and on each side thereof
is bolted to the bed A. a standard or upright C provided with a bearing c at its upper
end for receiving the trunnions of the adjustable framing D. The moveable bed Bis
made in two pieces, a trough 6 and an anvil or block b', and it is capable of receiving
an intermittent horizontal reciprocating as well as an oscillating motion, either
simultaneously or independently. The trough bis mounted in V or other slides 62
formed on or fixed to the bed A and it is operated by the feed screw shaft as hereafter
described. In the top of the trough is formed a long semicircular recess 6³ for
receiving the anvil 6 which oscillates on the pins or projections and . A flat b
is formed on and extends the whole length of the periphery of the anvil 6. In this
flattened portion is a recess in which is inserted a bar of lead 7 or other suitable
material on which the file rests during the cutting operation. The traversing motion
is imparted to the sliding trough from driving pulley E, shaft F, spur gearing H,
intermediate shaft I, disc J, connecting rod K, plate wheel or disc L, pawl M, ratchet
wheel N, shaft O carried in bearings formed in the forked end of arm a, bevel
gearing P, mounted on the end of feel screw shaft a³, and moveable half nut which
works freely in the slides at the end of trough b. To enable the moveable
bed trough b to be thrown in and out of gear with the feed screw shaft thereby
imparting or arresting the traversing motion, the female portion of the thread is cut
in the half nut. 68, and at one end thereof, at a right angle with the screwed portion is
a plate which works between the slides To this plate is attached at 62 a
lever pivoted to the end of the sliding trough at 624 which is employed for raising
or lowering the nut 68 in or out of gear. The traverse of the bed B is so arranged
that it shall only move the distance of two file teeth for each revolution of the driving
shaft, and remains stationary whilst the blow is being struck. And in order to adjust
the movement to the varying pitch of the file teeth, slots j, I and are respectively
provided in the discs J and L whereby the position of the ends of the rod K and
pawl M can be regulated as required.
as
As soon as the nut 68 is withdrawn from the feed screw shaft the bed is at once
returned to its original position ready for commencing the cutting operation upon
another file blank; this return motion being effected by a cord 25 attached at one end
to the back of trough and at the other to a weight 2, said cord working over a
pulley o mounted on the intermediate shaft O. In order to hold the tang of the file
or rasp blank firmly in position during the cutting operation I employ the device
described and illustrated in the Specification of my Patent dated the 2nd day of
January 1885 No. 62. which consists in forming a double recess in the anvil
shown at Fig. 15. 6 and 10. In the rectangular recess 6 is mounted the holder "
provided with a projecting pin which passes through a hole into the lower circular
recess The tang of the file or rasp is passed through a hole 613 in the head of the
holder, and the required downward pressure to hold it tightly in position is obtained
by means of a spiral spring " which encircles the pin 6. One end of the spring
presses against the top of the recess 10 whilst the opposite end acts upon a flange
fixed to the end of the pin. For releasing the file from the holder, the head of the
holder is fixed to a lever 6 pivoted at to a short pillar or support which is
screwed into the anvil . The lever is curved downwards at its free end to within
about an inch of the top of the slides b. To remove the file, the anvil is tilted over or
oscillated by the attendant by means of handle 60 until the free and curved end of the
lever comes in contact with the top of the slide, when by continuing the oscillation the
lever and head 11 are raised and compressed so that the file can be removed. In
some cases and when preferred an adjustable incline may be mounted on the
the slide for acting automatically on the curved end of the lever. When it is required
top of

page_text: to fix the anvil in any desired position the device shown at Figs. 17 and 18 is
employed consisting of a screw 627 bolted at one end to the side of trough b. On this*
screw works a wheel nut 62 provided with a groove 29 in the periphery of its boss for
receiving the pins or studs provided on the forked end of a bar 31 fixed to the
anvil It will be readily understood that as the position of the nut 28 is raised or
lowered on the screw the angle of the anvil will at the same time he altered, and it can
thus be set in any desired position.
For the purpose of holding the file blank firmer than hitherto during the cutting
operation a screw is mounted in suitable bearings e on one of the standards or
uprights C. This screw passes through one end of a lever or bar 7 placed across the
machine as shown, in which end is cut a screw thread corresponding with that of the
screw, thereby forming nut whereby the position of the lever can by turning
the screw be regulated or adjusted to the varying angles of the tool holder. To the
lever is hung loosely over the anvil & a bracket carrying a ball or roller ² rounded
on its periphery for working upon the file being cut close to the cutting chisel. The
required pressure is imparted to the ball or roller from the lever by a weight q³
attached to the free end of the lever by a rod q. By rounding the surface of the roller
and hanging it loosely on the lever it always retains its position with regard to the
cutting chisel after once being set thereby ensuring a firm and regular pressure being
given to the file blank. When it is required to raise the ball or roller q clear of the
work the short lever or cam fixed on shaft carried in bearings 7 is moved or
rotated under lever q by handle or worm and wheel, thereby raising the roller clear
of its work.
q
In order to regulate the pressure or force of the blow of the cutting chisel and
automatically reduce the same as the cutting operation approaches the end or point of
the file or rasp, and also to regulate and adapt the machine to cut the teeth to the
required angle. I fix a cylinder d to the framing D between the sides or uprights C
and over the slides d' in which the cutter holder d² works. Within the cylinder are
provided two pistons d³ and d. The lower piston d³ is formed on or attached to the
piston rod d. Above the piston d³ and within the cylinder the rod d³ is reduced in
size and its upper end enters a hole de in the upper piston d. The upper piston is
made by preference thicker than the lower one to resist the strain of a spiral spring d
which encircles the smaller portion of the piston rod,-interposed between the two
pistóns as shown in the drawings. On the upper side of the piston d' is a long boss
or projection d which passes through and slides freely in a gland do formed on the
cylinder lid d. In the piston d' and boss d' is formed the hole extending from
the lower face of the piston nearly through the boss. It is employed for receiving and
steadying the upper end of the piston rod. The outer end of the boss d' is spherical
and works against a weighted lever to be hereafter described. The lower and larger
portion of the piston rod issues from the cylinder through a gland d (in the bottom
of the cylinder) and is collected or otherwise fixed at the end d¹³ to the sliding tool
holding block d².
The chisel and holder I prefer employing are similar to that described in the
Specification of my Patent No. 62 of 1885 arranged as follows. The sliding piece d²
is provided with tenons do formed on opposite sides of d² and which work in the
slides d'. Near the top and at the rear of the block d is formed or fixed so as to
be at right angles therewith a projection 13, the under surface of which is acted upon
by a double cam or tappit f (keyed or otherwise fixed to the driving shaft F which
passes horizontally across the machine and through the trunnions (2) when it is
required to impart an intermittent reciprocating motion to the sliding block d. And
in order to allow for the rotation of the double cam, the block is cut away as shown
at . The chisel d is made with a round shank which fits in a socket de formed on
the sliding block, and held in position by means of a retaining bar 17 (bolted to the
socket) and set screw d. By having the shank of the chisel circular I am enabled
to turn it round and set it to any angle across the blank; this angle varies with the
different grades of files as well as for the up cut and over cut. When the desired

page_text: angle is once obtained the chisel is kept thereat by the set screw 18, the end of
which is screwed up fight against a flat 20 formed or cut on the shank.
By this means whenever it is required to remove the chisel for grinding or
sharpening, it can easily and correctly be fixed again to the required angle thus
ensuring even and regular work. In order to prevent the chisel from rising when the
blow is struck, and also to set it up as it wears away by the grinding and sharpening
operations, a set screw d² is provided which is screwed into and through the long
boss The end of the screw d works against the end of the chisel shank, and is
locked in position by means of a nut d²³.
To automatically regulate the force or pressure of the blow of the cutting chisel the
weighted lever R fulcrumed at to the adjustable support, weighted at 7², and is
made to work against the spherical end of the projecting piece of the upper piston d'.
This lever is employed for compressing the upper piston upon the lower one. The
compression is obtained from an adjustable incline (attached to the bed trough, so
as to slide with it) through runner, fulcrumed levers 7, 6, and connecting rods
as follows. The curved lever is fulcrumed at to the uprights or bed of the
machine, and on its front end is a pin for carrying the runner which works against
the face of the incline 73. The rear end of this lever is connected to the second lever 70
(fulcrumed at 10 to the framing D) by means of rod 7, the upper end of which is
screwed, and after passing through an adjustable projection on the lever + receives
a winged nut which works against the face of the projection. The rear end of the
lever is connected to the end 13 of the weighted lever R by rod ª, As soon as the
incline is traversed forward with the bed trough and commences to act upon
the runner it thereby raises that end of the lever and depresses the opposite end,
and at the same time by means of the rods 7, 8 the ends of levers 7, R, are drawn
downwards whereby the upper piston d' is depressed, and the spring compressed upon
the lower piston d' thereby increasing the pressure or force of the blow. By cutting
a screw thread upon the rod I am enabled to increase or diminish the compression
of the spring at pleasure without materially altering the position of the curved
fulcrumed lever 1. The required pressure above referred to is conveyed to the slide
block carrying the chisel through the piston rod attached at one end to the lower
piston and fixed at the other to the said block, and by allowing the smaller end of the
rod to work in the hole d', the sliding block and chisel can be raised a fixed height for
each blow regardless of the height or position of the upper piston, whilst at the same
time any required degree of pressure can be given by the lever and spring arrangement
to the chisel either independently of, or regulated automatically by the movement of
the sliding trough b.
And in order to set the head of the machine to cut the tooth of the file either
straight into the blank, or to any required angle up to forty five degrees I provide on
the framing D the trunnions which are mounted in the bearings cc. On each side
of the frame D is also cast or formed a circular flange 20, and on each bearing e, c, is a
corresponding flange c", one half of which forms a portion of the cap c². In each
flange e³ is a radial slot hole c' in which is inserted a bolt c³ which passes through the
flange 2 and strengthening piece 27. It will be readily understood that by carrying
the framing D (which supports the cylinder d) in bearings concentric with the axis of
the driving shaft F the angle of the chisel and parts connected therewith can be varied
and fixed by means of the bolts c in any desired position.
S is a fly wheel mounted on the driving shaft F and T belt fork and lever
arrangement for throwing the driving strap on and off the driving pulley.
The action of the machine is as follows.
The file blank is placed on the oscillating work supporting anvil b¹ of the travelling
bed which has been previously drawn to the rear end of the machine, and the blank is
held in position by the tang holder 6". When the chisel has been adjusted as herein
described to the required angles of the tooth, the lever is lowered which permits the
weighted lever q carrying the ball or roller q2 to descend and rest upon the blank.
The machine is then set in motion by throwing the belt (by belt fork arrangement) on

page_text: to the driving pulley E, giving motion thereby to shaft H, causing the double cam f
to rotate, and act upon projection d¹³ thereby raising the sliding block d² which
compresses the spring in the cylinder d by means of piston rod d and lower piston d³
against the upper piston d which is held rigid by weighted lever R and parts
connected therewith, whilst the piston d³ and rod d are free to be acted upon by
cam As soon as the heel of the cam passes from under the projection the
spring immediately expands thereby causing the sliding block and chisel to descend
and cut the tooth whilst the anvil is stationary. The nut having been geared
with the feed screw a³ a regular and even traversing motion is imparted to the
bed B by means of the spur and bevels wheels, discs, and ratchet arrangement as
herein previously described; and as the bed is traversed forward the incline acting
upon the runner 14 at once regulates the pressure or force of blow to be given to
the chisel. When the blank has been cut the lever is raised, the file removed.
and another blank inserted, the nut 8 is then raised from the feed screw shaft when
the bed B is at once withdrawn to the rear of the machine by the weight 626, and
on replacing the nut again the blank is ready for the cutting operation.
Although I have described and illustrated the machine for cutting flat files I
would have it understood that it can be adapted for cutting half round files and rasps
by simply changing the chisel and providing the lead slip with a ledge or projection
for preventing the blank from falling off the anvil.
I would here remark I am aware that it has been previously attempted on several
and separate machines to achieve the objects I have in view, and that a bed having an
oscillating anvil traversed by a feed screw and having an adjustable head or framing
with long flat springs acting upon a sliding block carrying the cutter chisel has been
previously used; also for regulating the pressure to be given to the chisel it has been
proposed to use a buffering of india rubber interposed between the ends of the cutter
holder and a compressing screw actuated by hand or from a travelling bed through
rack & pinion, or worm or friction gearing; also that springs in various forms have
been previously used for the same purpose, including a spring arranged within a
cylinder or tube, compressed by a screw, and constructed so that the end of the piston
rod shall strike the head of a cutting chisel carried on a separate spindle, also that
steam and compressed air have also been used; further, that one or more rollers
attached to one or more fixed levers have been employed for holding the file down,
but to none of these arrangements do I lay any claim when used separately as no
provision is thereby made so far as I have been able to ascertain for adjusting the
retaining roller to the varying angles of the cutter so as to enable it to work close to
the cutting chisel, nor is there any provision made whereby two pistons working
within a cylinder over a cutting chisel (carried in or by a holder fixed directly to the
piston rod) can be actuated independently or simultaneously by automatic lever
mechanism for compressing a spiral spring by which the force or pressure of the
cutting chisel is regulated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and how the same may be performed, what I claim is :-
First. The manufacture and use of a file cutting machine in which a roller for
holding down the file blank is attached loosely to an adjustable and weighted lever or
bar placed over and across an oscillating and travelling anvil immediately in front of
a cutting chisel mounted in a reciprocating holder working in adjustable framing, said
holder being connected to mechanism herein described for automatically regulating the
pressure or force of the blow of the chisel, all of which parts are arranged, constructed
and combined, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Second. In a file cutting machine, the combination of a cutting chisel carried in a
reciprocating holder mounted in slides in or on adjustable framing and working on an
oscillating and travelling anvil, with a roller attached loosely to a lever or bar passing
transversely over the anvil, said lever being weighted at one end and supported at the
other on an adjusting screw carried in bearings on the framework, whereby the position

page_text: of the roller with regard to the chisel can be regulated and the pressure brought to
bear upon
the file or rasp being cut close to the chisel substantially as described and
illustrated.
Third. In a file cutting machine, the combination with an oscillating and travelling
work supporting anvil and reciprocating tool and holder working in adjustable
framing, of a cylinder-fixed to said framing-containing a spring interposed between
two pistons, one of which is attached by a rod to the tool holder, whilst both are
capable of being acted upon separately or simultaneously by the mechanism herein
described for imparting and automatically regulating the pressure or force of the blow
to be given to the cutting chisel, substantially as described and illustrated.
Fourth. In a file cutting machine, the combination of the oscillating and travelling
anvil, reciprocating cutter and holder, cylinder, pistons, and automatic pressure
imparting and regulating mechanism, with the means described for regulating the
angle or cut of the file teeth substantially as herein set forth and illustrated.
Fifth. The file cutting machine as a whole constructed, arranged, and combined
substantially as herein set forth and illustrated.
Dotad this twenty coventh day of Januar 1987