Improvements in or relating to Machinery or Apparatus for Engraving and Die Sinking from "Formers."
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 1st May, 1897
.
Improvements in or relating to Machinery or Apparatus for
Engraving and Die Sinking from "Formers."
We, THOMAS AUTY, of 60, Gilpin Grove, Edmonton, Engineer, and ALFRED
WATKINS, of 12, Alston Road, Dyson's Lane, Edmonton, 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:-
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"
The object of the present invention is to improve upon the construction and
arrangement of machines for engraving from "formers," or profiling machines'
of the class or type described in the Specification to the Patent of Keeves and
Auty, No. 6715 of 1892, wherein a graver tool box and a tracer tool box are
carried by an arm disposed above a bed or table and mounted at one end upon a
vertical pivot so as to swing in a horizontal plane, the movement of the tracer tool
box upon the arm in following the outline or contour of the "former" or design to
be reproduced by the graver being communicated to the graver tool box by means
of an arrangement of lever and links. Our improvements are designed to extend
the capabilities of a machine of this class or type by rendering the same capable
also of die sinking or reproducing designs in low relief, and they are further
designed to ensure the original design or "former" being reproduced in absolutely
true proportion, a result not hitherto obtainable in the type of machine above
mentioned and to which our invention relates.
Our invention relates first to an improved construction and arrangement of the
pivot of the swinging arm aforesaid whereby the latter may be swung in a vertical
as well as in a horizontal direction. This vertical movement of the arm permits
the contour of a "former" in low relief to be followed by the tracer and thus
renders the apparatus capable of die sinking. With the said improved arm pivot
we may combine a spring foot at the free end of the arm for supporting the weight
of the latter and its appurtenances.
Our invention further relates to an improved arrangement and disposition of the
lever and links aforesaid and the pivots by which they are connected together and
with the arm and tool boxes, whereby reproductions in absolutely true proportion
are ensured.
Our invention further relates to improved means for rotating the graving tool
whereby universally jointed shafting and a lathe head for driving the same are
dispensed with.
Our invention lastly relates to an improved construction and arrangement of
rack and pinion for moving the tracer tool box along the arm whereby quick
adjustment of the said tool box within certain limits is permitted.
We will now more particularly describe our invention and the manner of
performing the same having reference to the accompanying drawings wherein :-
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the swinging arm and its appurtenances.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof in position upon the bed plate.
Fig. 3 is a rear elevation.
Fig. 4 is a side view of the arm pivot.
Figs. 5 and 6 are sections taken respectively on lines 4-4 and 5-5 Fig. 3.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on line 6-6 Fig. 2 and,
Fig. 8 is a section on line 7-7 Fig. 2.

page_text: A is the bed plate of the machine, to be supported on suitable standards, B is
the swinging arm and C C1 are the tool boxes sliding on the latter, the tool box C
carrying the rotary graving tool shaft or holder c and the tool box C1 carrying
the shaft or holder cl for the tracing point. D is a pivot consisting of two
members united by a knuckle joint or hinge at a. The lower member of this pivot
revolves freely in a socket 61 in the bed plate A, being held in position by the
nuts a 2, and to the upper member of the pivot the arm B is secured by a set
screw. Horizontal movement of the arm B is permitted by the rotation of the
pivot D in its socket 61 whilst vertical movement of the arm is allowed by the
knuckle joint a. .
The movement of the tracer tool box C1 along the arm B is transmitted to
the graver tool box C by means of links E E1 and a lever F as in the apparatus
described in the Specification before mentioned of Keeves and Auty, No. 6715/92.
Reproduction in accurate proportion were not however obtainable by the apparatus
described and shewn in said specification by reason of defects in the arrangement
and disposition of the lever and links and the pivotal connections thereof.
According to our present invention the end of the lever F has for its fulcrum the
pivot D of the arm B and the graver tool shaft or holder c and the tracing point
shaft or holder c 1 are utilized as the pivots for connecting the links E E1 with the
tool boxes C C1 respectively. It will thus be seen that the axial line of the fulcrum
of the lever F coincides with that of the pivot of the arm B, and that the axial
lines of the pivots which connect the links E E1 with the tool boxes C C1 are
respectively coincident with those of the graver and tracer. It will also be noted
on referring to the drawings that the pivot D and the pivots c c 1 are in alignment,
as also the pivot D and the pivots e e¹ which latter respectively connect the
links E E 1 with the lever F. Further the distances between the pivots D and e 1,
and e 1 and c 1, are equal, as also the distances between the pivots D and e and
e and c. The lever and links and their pivotal connections being arranged and
disposed as above described, reproduction of any design in absolutely correct
proportion is ensured. The proportion of the reproduction to the original design
"former" is regulated by varying the position of the pivotal connection e
between the lever F and link E, it being borne in mind that whatever the position
of e the distance between e and D and e and c must be equal.
or
The face of the tracer tool box C1 is formed with a bearing e in which the
tracing tool shaft or holder c1 is vertically adjusted by means of a screw spindle
which enters said shaft and is actuated by the handle e 2. e 3 is a slot in the
shaft c1 through which a pin passes for preventing the rotation of the shaft by
the adjusting screw, and e 4 is a set screw for locking the shaft c 1 in the position
to which it has been adjusted. A slot is formed in the bearing e for the reception
of the end of the link E1 through a hole in which the tracing tool shaft cl
passes thus serving also as the pivotal connection between the link E1 and tool
box C 1.
The sliding face f of the graver tool box C is formed with projecting lugs f1 f2
at the top and bottom respectively and with a vertical slot f3 extending from one
lug to the other. Formed on the main portion or body of the tool box C are
three lugs f4 f5f6 which project into the slot f3 and which together with the
lug 2 are traversed by the rotary shaft c of the graving tool the upper end of
this shaft working in the bearing 8 having screw adjustment in the lug f1. The
end of the link E enters the recess between the lugs f4 f5 and is traversed by
the graving tool shaft c which thus also serves as the pivot for connecting said link
and tool box C. The vertical adjustment of the sliding face f is effected by the
screw spindle ƒ7.
Mounted on the graving tool shaft c by a feather and slot so as to be free to
slide longitudinally thereof yet revolve therewith is a helical toothed pinion g
which fits within the space between the lugs f5 f6 and meshes with a similar
pinion g 1 mounted in like manner by a slot and feather upon a shaft g2 journalled
in bearings at each end of the arm B and traversing the tool boxes CCI. The

page_text: pinion g 1 fits and revolves within a suitable slot or recess formed in the main
portion or body of the tool box ( and consequently moves with the latter, sliding
along the shaft g2, when the machine is in operation. The pinion g also, being
held between the lugs f5 f6, is undisturbed by the vertical adjustment of the
graving tool, the shaft of the latter sliding through said pinion when adjusted
vertically. Movement of the tool box C along the arm B and vertical adjustment of
the graving tool can thus be effected without disturbing the relative positions of the
pinions 9 g 1-9 3 is a pulley by which the shaft g 2 is rotated. If desired bevel
wheels or a crown wheel and pinion may be substituted for the helical gear
illustrated in the drawings, we prefer however to employ the latter.
Movement of the tracer tool box C 1 along the arm is effected by means of the
rack b which slides in suitable guides along the face of the arm B, passing between
the latter and the backs of the tool boxes, and is operated from a pinion d journalled
in said arm and rotated from the pinion d2, also journalled in the arm B, by the
handle d 1. In order to permit of the quick adjustment of the tracer tool box C 1
when required we adjustably connect the latter with the rack b as follows:-
611 is a slot in the rack b said slot being made of greater width at the back so
as to receive the square heads 62 of the screws 63 which pass through the slot 61
and are fitted with the milled headed nuts 64 the latter passing through holes in
the back of the tool box and bearing upon the face of the rack. When these
nuts 64 are tightened up the rack b is clamped between them and the heads b 2 of
the screws 63. On loosening the nuts 64 the tool box can instantly be moved to
any position between the extremities of the slot b.
We support the weight of the arm B aud its appurtenances by the following
device:
h is a sleeve clamped by the nuts 2 within a split socket h1, provided at the
end of the arm B. Disposed within this sleeve is a leg or plunger h3 which a
spring 4 tends to thrust downwards, said spring ½ 4 being of sufficient strength to
support the weight of the arm B and its appurtenances. The lower end of this
leg h 3 enters a socket in a foot h5 which rests upon the face of the bed plate A.
The socket in the foot h5 is made of sufficient diameter to receive also the lower
end of the sleeve h, and when it is not required to employ the vertical movement
of the arm B the foot 5 may be locked to the sleeve h so as to maintain the
arm B at a constant height above the bed plate A, the locking being effected in any
convenient manner as by projections 6 on the sleeve which pass through notches
in an inwardly projecting flange formed around the top of the socket in the foot
and are engaged by said flange when the foot is partially turned.
G is a
convenient handle for manipulating the arm B.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In machinery or apparatus of the class or type set forth, the use in com-
bination with the arm B and the tool boxes carried thereby, of the pirot D
composed of two members connected together by a knuckle joint or hinge, the
arm B being fixed to the upper member of the pivot whilst the lower member of
the latter revolves within a socket in the bed plate of the machine, substantially as
described and for the purpose set forth.
2. In machinery or apparatus of the class or type set forth, the combination with
the arm B and tool boxes carried thereby, of the knuckle jointed or hinged pivot
to which one end of said arm is fixed and the spring foot or support at the free end
of said arm, substantially as described.
3. In machinery or apparatus of the class or type set forth, comprising a
swinging arm, tool boxes carried thereby and a lever and links for transmitting
motion from one tool box to the other, the arrangement and disposition of such
lever and links and the pivotal connections thereof, whereby reproduction in

page_text: accurate proportion of the original design or "former" is ensured, substantially as
described.
4. In machinery or apparatus of the class or type set forth, the combination with
the arm B and the tool box C mounted thereon, said tool box comprising the
adjustable slotted face carrying the rotatable tool shaft c, of the pinion g mounted
on said tool shaft by a slot and feather or equivalent device and held between lugs
extending from the body of the tool box into the slot in the face f, the shaft g2
journalled in bearings in the arm B, and the pinion g 1 mounted on the shaft 92
by a slot and feather or equivalent device and held within a slot or recess in the
body of the tool box so as to mesh with the pinion g, substantially as and for the
purpose described and illustrated.
5. The construction and arrangement of the tool boxes and their tool shafts,
whereby the latter are adapted for utilization as pivots for connecting the links E E í
with the tool boxes, substantially as described and illustrated.
6. The combination with the arm B and tool boxes sliding thereupon of a pinion
journalled in said arm, the slotted rack engaged by said pinion and sliding on the
face of the arm between the latter and the backs of the tool boxes, and the means
for adjustably connecting the slotted portion of the rack with one of the tool
boxes, substantially as described and illustrated.
1337
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON,
Chartered Patent Agents,
19, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.