IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF FILES BY POWER
Year: 1885

page_text: I ALPHONSE AUGUSTE BLAIN of S1 Rue Chateau d'Eaux St. Pierre les Calais in
the Republic of France File Cutter do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF FILES BY POWER to
be as follows:-
This invention has reference to the manufacture of files by means of steam or
other power and the apparatus employed in such manufacture according to my
invention is characterised by its solid well balanced and compact construction by
new mechanical combinations and the use of special means by which the work is
effected with great precision the files to be cut whilst subjected to the action of the
cutting tool being presented thereto with the inclinations and in the directions
desired and with capability of variation at will according to the cutting desired to
be produced.
~
My machinery consists of a strong frame bolted on a bed capable of receiving a
carrier moveable with easy traverse vertically. This frame carries pedestals within
which turns a horizontal arbor furnished at one of its extremities with a freely
moving regulator, and at the other extremity with a cam having variable motion,
and having in the middle another cam of suitable irregular form somewhat comma
shaped which is the means of motion to the cutting tool.
The carrier is a strong casting to which is affixed the graver or chisel-and is
cast with an opening within which the cam carried at the middle of the arbor may
move and in its movement raise the carrier and allow it to fall again at a given
moment.
A spring of flat metal or other suitable spring is attached to the top of the
carrier and its tension is regulated by a screw. The force of the blow should
correspond to that produced by the stroke of the workman's hammer and determine
(at option) the depth of the cut.
The bed on which the frame is bolted is pierced midway of the holding of the
frame with a hole vertically within which enters with easy traverse a cast piece
forming an anvil This piece may be fixed in the position desired by means of a
screw in such manner that it may be turned from right to left or vice versa so that
crossing of the cuts may be effected-The upper portion of this anvil is hollowed
in form of a half cylinder that the cylindrical portion cast with a table may take

page_text: or engage therein-the whole forming a knee-like apparatus permitting inclination
of the table either horizontally or up or down-so to mechanically reproduce the
raising of the workman's haminer and thus the rise of the tooth to the necessary
inclination.
The upper part of this anvil table is itself furnished throughout its length with a
hollow in form of a half cylinder for the purpose of receiving a carrier upon which
is placed the file to be cut.
This carrier may thus be turned around its centre and by means of this
arrangement present such portion of the periphery of the file to be cut as may
be desired to be cut.
For this purpose it is furnished with a rack gearing with an endless screw which
receives its motion from a ratchet wheel operated by a catch with variable move-
'ment and the size of which determines the extent of the cut.
The original motion is communicated by an eccentric which transmits it by a
connecting rod and that rod swivelled to a round iron bar the centre of which is
correspondingly bent horizontally to the centre of the machine, and vertically in
relation to its base; by which means the same length of connecting rod is preserved
in whichever position the parts may respectively assume with one another.
The motion transmitted by the eccentric causes progressive advance of the file
under the chisel and this advance takes place at the time of rise of the chisel or
cutter.
The file is fixed upon its carrier by a spring holder the forward end of which
presses firmly upon its surface holding it in close contact with it, a grating also
with a spring mounted on the carrier acts in completion of this purpose.
By these means the file is capable of taking any inclination desired, and in any
direction.
The files which have been cut may be withdrawn and files to be cut placed in
position without stopping the machine. For this purpose a handle worked by hand
allows an inclined plane under the first mentioned carrier to engage it at the
highest point in its course and thus hinder its descent, a second handle by an
analagous movement serves to relieve the spring pressure and release the file-
A third handle acting upon an engaging sleeve loosens the endless screw upon its
shaft This bandle in connection with the ratchet controls the taking in or missing
of the teeth, it thus controls the advance of the file under the chisel or cutter and
forms part of the means determining the distance between each track of cut.
The support of the file is obtained by parts composed of plane pieces and is
without the undesireable vibration occurring in some machines in which the work
is effected by percussion and shifting of the file during the cutting operation is
avoided also.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Files
by Power.
I ALPHONSE AUGUSTE BLAIN of 81 Rue Chateau d'Eaux St. Pierre les Calais in
the Republic of France File Cutter do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF FILES BY POWER
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to the manufacture of files by means of steam or
other power and the apparatus employed in such manufacture according to my
invention is characterised by its solid well balanced and compact construction by
new mechanical combinations and the use of special means by which the work is
effected with great precision the files to be cut whilst subjected to the action of
the cutting tool being presented thereto with the inclinations and in the directions
desired and with capability of variation at will according to the cutting desired to
be produced.
My machinery consists of a strong frame bolted on a bed capable of receiving a
carrier moveable with easy traverse vertically This frame carries pedestals within
which turns a horizontal arbor furnished at one of its extremities with a freely
moving regulator, and at the other extremity with a cam having variable motion,
and having in the middle another cam of suitable irregular form somewhat comma
shaped which is the means of motion to the cutting tool.
The carrier is a strong casting to which is affixed the graver or chisel, and is cast
with an opening within which the cam carried at the middle of the arbor may
move and in its movement raise the carrier and allow it to fall again at a given
moment.
A spring of flat metal or other suitable spring is attached to the top of the
carrier and its tension is regulated by a screw. The force of the blow should
correspond to that produced by the stroke of the workman's hammer and determine
(at option) the depth of the cut.
The bed on which the frame is bolted is formed midway of the holding of the
frame with a hole or recess within which enters with easy traverse a cast piece
forming an anvil.
The file cutting instrument may be fixed adjustably in the position desired by
means of a screw in such manner that it may be turned from right to left or vice
versa so that crossing of the cuts may be effected The upper portion of this anvil
is hollowed in form of a half cylinder that the cylindrical portion cast with a table
may take or engage therein the whole forming a knee-joint permitting inclination
of the table either horizontally or up or down-so to mechanically reproduce the
raising of the workman's hammer and thus the rise of the tooth to the necessary
inclination.
The upper part of this anvil table is itself furnished throughout its length with
a hollow in form of a half cylinder for the purpose of receiving a carrier upon
which is placed the file to be cut.

page_text: This carrier may thus be adjusted so as to present to the file cutter that particular
part of the file desired to be cut.
For this purpose it is furnished with a rack gearing with an endless screw which
recieves its motion from a ratchet wheel operated by a catch with variable move-
ment and the size of which determines the extent of the cut.
The original motion is communicated by an eccentric which transmits it by a
connecting rod and that rod swivelled to a connecting bar the centre of which is
correspondingly bent horizontally to the centre of the machine, and vertically in
relation to its base; by which means the same length of connecting rod is preserved
in whichever position the parts may respectively assume with one another.
The motion transmitted by the eccentric causes progressive advance of the file
under the chisel and this advance takes place at the time of rise of the chisel or
cutter.
The file is fixed upon its carrier by a spring holder the forward end of which
presses firmly upon the file's surface holding it in close contact with the bed, a
spring mounted on the carrier acting therewith in aid of efficient holding. Beneath
the file being cut and between it and the bed I apply a sheet of zinc or metal
similarly adapted to deaden the blow of the cutter and prevent injury to the under
side of the file from springing or rebounding of the file.
By these means the file is capable of taking any inclination desired, and in any
direction.
The files which have been cut may be withdrawn and files to be cut placed in
position without stopping the machine. For this purpose a handle 32 worked by
hand brings a cam or inclined surface 28 from out of position to press on the
spring 21 and permits of that spring 21 being relieved from pressure on the chisel
carrier & raises that chisel a sufficient height to clear the file and thus hinder its
descent onto a file, a second handle 34 by an analagous movement imparted to the
cam 27 serves to releive the pressure of the spring 20 from the adjustable part of
file holder 8' and enables the release of the file.
The support of the file is obtained by parts composed of plane surfaces and
owing to the interposition of the sheet of zinc, before referred to, the undesirable
vibration occuring in some machines in which the work is effected by percussion
is avoided as also is the shifting of the file during the cutting operation.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 shows a front view of the machine.
Figure 2 shows a back view thereof Figure 3 shows a side sectional view thereof
Figure 4 shows a side view Figure 5 shows a section of the motion or parts for
working the ratchet wheel (H), Figure 6. shows the arrangement of the brake
spring (7) on the worm shaft (5) to prevent back lash Figure 7 shows a section
of the bed or anvil (2) carrying the sliding bed (3) upon which the file F to be cut
is placed.
(1) indicates the anvil (2) is the bed that swings in the centre of the anvil or
block. (3) is the bed that slides backward and forward with the file F. (S) is the
eccentric that works the ratchet wheel.. (9) the eccentric rod. (10) the tube with
right and left hand worm cut therein so that the connecting rod can be lengthened
or shortened by separating more or less the parts 9 and 9° as required. (12) is a
bearing carrying the main shaft (11) the main shaft carrying the fast and loose
pullies or drums y, y¹, eccentric (8) and lifting cam (31) and is fitted with two
large screws or worms (37) which work at each side and have a bevel wheel (36)
on each side that works with the cross or handle shaft (13) so that if it is required
to give the chisel 35 more or less lift from the cam 31 this can be adjusted by
winding up or down these screws 37. (21) is a box where the end of. the pressure
spring tits into the head of chisel slide (30) is the chisel slide (31) is a cam to
lift up and down that slide carrying the chisel. (29) is the disc for regulating the
pressure (32) is the lever carrying the stop under pressure of the spring 33 to
work into the disc (29). (34) is a lever for putting pressure on the foot to hold
down the file. His a ratchet wheel that turns the worm-shaft (5).

page_text: In figure 2 will more clearly be seen certain parts thus (22) is the box that
carries the pressure springs 21 for giving force to the chisel head 30. (24) is the
box carrying these pressure springs to give force for holding down the foot c¹ on
the file F (25) and (26) respectively are links or rods to keep the spring boxes 22
and 24 in their places whilst they control the swing of these spring boxes with
the pressure cams (27) and (28). (18) is a snail cam for putting pressure on the
spring 21, actuating the chisel head. (19) is a small cam for putting pressure on
the foot c to hold down the file F.
In figure 3 will be seen particularly the form of the anvil or block (1) in section
and how the table (2) fits into the same also the arrangement by which the table
or sliding bed (3) carrying the file is worked by the worm (6) and its rack. (5). is
the worm shaft.
Figure 5 shews more particularly the ratchet box in section. (2) being the
casting of the bed or anvil B the box screwed on to the casting (2). C¹ C¹ the bolt
carrying the clawker D which works the ratchet wheel H it will be seen that
the inclined piece or bolt E is cut to give a fall to the bolt C¹ that carries the
clawker D which is held up to the bolt E by a spring c³ shewn fitted into a
seating El so that by the bolt E working up and down from the movement given
by the eccentric 8 through the rod 9ª it works the ratchet wheel H and turns the
worm (6) which works in the rack of the file bed (2) shown in Figure 3. G is a
stop with a spring and is fitted into a box so that the bolt works on the clawker D
to prevent it missing engagement with the ratchet wheel H.
I now proceed to give a more detailed description of the operation of the
apparatus in which (1) the frame is a casting in one piece forming the anvil.
(2) the bed swinging in the same in half circle regulated as to angle by the circular
slot a (Figure 3) so that in rising or falling it gives the angle required for the cut
to the tooth of the file F. The bed (2) is of trough form from end to end and
semi-circular and the bed (3) is of half round form lying within the same. The
rack is screwed on the same and slides backward and forward by means of the
worm 6 (Fig. 3) and on the bed 2 carrying the file F is the plate with slots and
screws so that any width of file can be secured upon the bed to be cut. In figure 8
will be seen the manner in which the sliding bed 3 is operated that is to say the
worm 6 and rack is worked by means of an eccentric 8 working the bolt E shewn
in Figure 5. The said bolt E works the clawker on a ratchet wheel H see Fig. 1,
and by means of this clawker taking one or more teeth of the wheel H it works
the sliding bed 3 under the chisel 35 and by giving the clawker more or less
movement it moves the bed 3 with the file and thereby any number of teeth can be
cut upon the file either fine or coarse.
In figure 1 (10) is a tube which is connected to the eccentric rods (9 and 9º)
This tube 10 has a left and right hand thread cut so that by lengthening or
shortening the connecting rod I give to the clawker the extent of movement
required.
When the bed 3 that carries the files has travelled its length of file as required
for the time being I am able by a movement in a direction backwards or forwards
of the handle on the end of the worm shaft 5. to move the sliding bed 2 corre-
spondingly and if required to place another file on the bed 3 I operate the
handle B and lifting up the bed 3 it slides back to the starting place and falls
into gear whilst the rack places itself in the worm 6. The handle B is seen in
Figs. 3 & 4 & 6. 7 is the brake spring which is regulated by a screw 7ª so that it
can be tightened or slackened as required so that there may be no back lash to the
worm shaft 5.
I will now describe the working of the chisel (35) Fig. 3 in the sliding head (30)
generally cast of hard bronze and fitted into two slides one at each side thereof
(see Fig. 1) and it works up and down with the chisel 35 placed in the centre,
which fits into a socket 30 and is fixed by two screws xx as shewn in Fig. 3 and
to give the chisel head 30 the movement up and down it is worked by a cam (31)
shewn in Fig. 3 applied on the shaft (11) this cam is keyed in the middle and is of

page_text: snail shape, this shaft (11) revolving, by means of this snail (31) lifts the chisel
head (30) up the height it is required and suddenly lets it fall on the file. And
to give the force required I apply a number of steel plates (21) which form a flat
spring in different lengths. These plate springs are held together by the screws x¹¹
in a box which is on the axle, see Figure 2, and the other end of the spring presses
on the upper part of the sliding head (30) carrying the chisel (35) so that when
the cam 31 leaves the chisel head the springs give what force is required to cut the
file F and to give this spring the necessary tension the cam (28) is capable of
adjustment. This cam is keyed on to the shaft (16) with a pair of bevel wheels
see Fig. 4 which is connected with another short shaft 14 which short shaft 14
passes to the front of the machine and carries the disc (29) which is spaced on its
circumference to receive the bolt 32* and the end of the shaft comes through the
disc and has a long lever (32) keyed on to it with the sliding bolt 32* and is fitted
by spiral spring:(33) see Fig. 1 and this bolt 32* falls in the division in the disc 29
that is required to give the requisite force.
Thus with this adjustment the workman is enabled to persue his operations
ensuring uniform force of blow to the chisel It will be seen that the long
lever (32) is to work the bevel wheels on the shaft (16) and (14) so that when the
lever is upright there will be no weight on the springs but when the lever is
brought downwards it turns the shaft with snail cam and puts the pressure on the
spring which gives the force to the chisel, and when there is more or less force
required from the spring (21), the spring box can be adjusted by the large screws
so that by winding it up or down it gives more or less force see Fig. 3.
The holding foot c' for retaining the file F in position during cutting is held
down by a spring (20) which engages in the holder head D of the holder C and is
operated for increased tension by a snail cam (27) on a shaft (17) carried in
bearings by the frame (4) in manner similar to that described in respect of the
spring (21).
The workman by means of the handle (34) on the short shaft (15) can adjust the
pressure he requires on the foot c¹ that holds down the file which is adjusted
accordingly to the thickness of the file and the pressure is regulated by the
cam (27).
The two connecting links (25)-(26) connect the spring boxes that retain the
ends of the springs with slots on the face of the discs on the cams (18) and (19)
and this box is arranged as the box Fig. 3.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I do
not claim separably all the various parts herein before described but what I do
claim is
1. In a file cutting machine the combination or arrangement of parts operating
substantially as set forth,
2. In a file cutting machine the means for adjustably supporting the file during
cutting by plane surfaces mounted on adjustable solely supporting anvil parts
adapted to counteract injurious vibrations arising from the percussive action of the
cutting instrument operating substantially as set forth.
8. In a file cutting machine the means of supporting the file during cutting so
that the file cannot move or cant away from the cutter as set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of February 1886. -