IMPROVE- MENTS IN FILE-CUTTING MACHINES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FILE-CUTTING MACHINES." A communication from abroad by
Henry Comer, William Hespenheide, and Samuel Rose, all of the City
of Pittsburgh, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson,
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th November 1866.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FILE-CUTTING MACHINES," a communication to me from
abroad by Henry Comer, William Hespenheide, and Samuel Rose, all of the
City of Pittsburgh, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object certain improvements in file-cutting
machines, and consists in moving the file blank and its bed through the

page_text: me.lium of a feed screw and screw nut, such feed screw being operated by
means of a ratchet wheel and a pall, receiving its motion from levers and a
cam; a guard or shield is combined with the said ratchet wheel and pall
for regulating the travel or motion. of the said feed screw, so as to obtain the
desired movement of the file blank and its bed and the graduating of the
cutting of the file teeth. It is also proposed to combine rollers with levers for
holding the file blank down on its bed, such rollers and their levers being so
arranged with relation to each other that the pressure of the rollers on the
file blank may be increased or diminished at the will of the operator. A
weight is employed in combination with the bed for the file blank for the
purpose of taking up the lost motion that may be in the feed screw and its
nut. The slides for the cutter socket and the hammer are arranged so that
they may be set at and adjusted to any desired angle for obtaining the desired
under and over cut in the teeth of the file. It is further proposed to pivot the
socket of the cutter, and to combine with the said pivoted socket a spring and
set screw, and to arrange the cutter holder with relation to its socket so that
the cutter may be set to cut the teeth at any desired angle to the plane of the
file, that is to say, the cutter may be so set that it will cut the teeth of the file
in such a way that their cutting edge will be at any desired angle with relation
to the longitudinal axis of the file. The pivoting of the cutter socket and
combining therewith a spring and set screw are for the purpose of obtaining that
sensitive and yielding action necessary to the safety of the cutting edge of the
cutter when cutting and upturning file teeth. A trip lever provided with a
trigger is used in combination with a shaft having a reciprocating motion
imparted to it through the medium of a lever and cam, the said trip lever
and the parts connected therewith being used for the purpose of lifting the
hammer without any knocking or jarring action, and for allowing it to drop
and strike its blow without impediment. It is further proposed to use a
spring in combination with the hammer for the purpose of giving quickness
and force to the downward motion of the hammer, and, for preventing it from
rebounding. An adjustable trip is used in combination with the trigger of the
trip lever herein-before mentioned, the said adjustable trip and the parts con-
nected therewith being used for the purpose of regulating the lift, stroke, and
force of the hammer.
The whole of the various parts of this Invention are combined together so

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th May 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,.
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John
Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Ix-
PROVEMENTS IN FILE-CUTTING MACHINES," a communication to me from abroad
by. Henry Comer, William Hespenheide, and Samuel Rose, all of the City of
Pittsburgh, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is.
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
.
The said Invention has for its object certain improvements in file-cutting
machines, and consists in moving the file blank and its bed through the
medium of a feed screw and screw nut, such feed screw being operated by
means of a ratchet wheel and a pall receiving its motion from levers and a
cam; a guard or shield.is combined with the said ratchet wheel and pall for
regulating the travel or motion of the said feed screw so as to obtain the

page_text: desired movement of the file blank and its bed and the graduating of the
cutting of the file teeth. It is also proposed to combine rollers with levers
"
for holding the file blank down on its bed, such rollers and their levers being
so arranged with relation to each other that the pressure of the rollers on the
file blank may be increased or diminished at the will of the operator. A
weight is employed in combination with the bed for the file blank for the pur-
pose of taking up the lost motion that may be in the feed screw and its nut.
The slides for the cutter socket and the hammer are arranged so that they
may be set at and adjusted to any desired angle for obtaining the desired
under and over cut in the teeth of the file. It is also proposed to pivot the
socket of the cutter, and to combine with the said pivoted socket a spring and
set screw, and to arrange the cutter holder with relation to its socket so that
the cutter may be set to cut the teeth at any desired angle to the plane of
the file, that is to say, the cutter may be so set that it will cut the teeth of
the file in such a way that their cutting edge will be at any desired angle
with relation to the longitudinal axis of the file. The pivoting of the cutter
socket and combining therewith a spring and set screw are for the purpose
of obtaining that sensitive and yielding action necessary to the safety of the
cutting edge of the cutter when cutting and upturning file teeth. A trip
lever provided with a trigger is used in combination with a shaft, having a
reciprocating motion imparted to it through the medium of a lever and cam,
the said trip lever and the parts connected therewith being used for the pur-
pose of lifting the hammer without any knocking or jarring action, and for
allowing it to drop and strike its blow without impediment. It is further
proposed to use a spring in combination with the hammer for the purpose of
giving quickness and force to the downward motion of the hammer, and for
preventing it from rebounding. An adjustable trip is used in combination
with the trigger of the trip lever herein-before mentioned, the said adjustable
trip and the parts connected therewith being used for the purpose of regu-
lating the lift stroke and force of the hammer.
The whole of the various parts of this Invention are combined together so
as to form one machine.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a side elevation of the improved file-
cutting machine with one of the side pieces removed; Figure 2 represents a
front view of the same; Figure 3 represents the ratchet wheel, pall, and

page_text: guard or shield used in combination with the feed 'screw of the machine;
Figure 4 represents a perspective view of the trip used for regulating the lift
of and stroke of the hammer; Figure 5 represents a longitudinal section of
the socket for the holder of the cutting tool, also a section of the frame in
which the socket is placed and pivoted; Figure 6 represents a transverse
section of the frame in which the socket for the holder of the cutting tool is
placed and pivoted, and also represents the spring and set screw used in
connection with said pivoted socket.
The form of the different parts will readily be seen and understood by the
skilful mechanic by reference to the Drawing, in which A represents the
base of the machine; on the under side of the base A is an anvil C. In securing
the machine down to its place the entire weight of the machine and force
from the stroke of the hammer should be brought on the anvil C. To the
base A are attached by means of suitable bolts the side pieces B, which are
held in the proper position at their upper end by a cap marked B. The side
pieces B are provided with slides or guides B³ which are fitted to grooves
made in the sides of the hammer D and the frame ✗³ of the socket P, the
grooves of the frame X' are provided with gibs marked i, which in connection
with set screws e are used for the purpose of adjusting the size of the grooves
to the size of the slides, so that the frame can always be made to work or
move up and down in a true line and without any side action. To the upper
end of the hammer D is attached a rod 4, the upper end of which moves
in an opening made in the cáp B. Around the rod 4 is placed a spiral
spring 5 which is used for giving quickness and force to the downward stroko
of the hammer, and for preventing it from rebounding. The striking facet of
the hammer D is made in the form of a section of à sphere, and the upper
end of the pivoted socket P is of like form; these forms are used for the
purpose of bringing the force and stroke of the hammer central to the plané
of the socket P and the cutting tool S¹, and also for the purpose of preventing
the face of the hammer and the upper end of the socket from becoming
battered by the constant striking of the hammer. The socket P is pivoted in
the frame X at the point marked O, and its vibration in the frame' is
adjusted and controlled by means of the spring and set screw e¹ in the cross
piece (see Figure 6), this pivoting of the socket in connection with the use
of the spring and set screw will give a sensitive and yielding action to the
cutting tool S¹, so that it will always adjust itself to the file blank and the
combined action of the other parts of the machine, and thereby protect the
cutting edge of the cutter. The bolder R of the cutting tool is provided with
a recess, V for receiving the cutter. S¹, and with a cylindrical shaft 6" which is

page_text: fitted in an opening in the lower end of the socket P, and the holder R and
cutter S¹ are held in the desired position by means of the set screws 1 and e³.
By this arrangement of the holder with relation to the socket P, and by the
use of the recess V and use of the set screws l'and e³ the cutter S¹ may be
set so as to cut the file teeth at any angle desired. The shaft J. has its
bearings on the side pieces B at the points marked 19, and is provided with
two cams m and m³, which are furnished with cam yokes w and w¹; to the
cam yoke w¹ is attached a connecting rod n¹ which is connected to a lever h¹
attached to the shaft k which is furnished with a catch marked u; on each
side of the catch u are placed trip levers y, between which is pivoted a trigger X
provided with a point Os; the trip levers y are arranged so that they will move
freely on the shaft k, and their lifting ends are placed between the hammer D
and the frame X³, and so arranged that the striking point t of the hammer
and the end t of the socket P will come between them. The trip used for
regulating the lift and stroke of the hammer is made in the form represented
in Figure 4, and consists of bearings 11 and 12, legs 8, cross pieces y³ and y,
columns y¹ and y³, lever 6, screw 20, and mandril 7, which passes through an
opening in the cross piece y*, and is provided with a feather 0¹ to prevent it
from turning; on the lower end of the mandrill 7 is secured a yoke 9, the
lower end of. which is provided with a rod or roller 10; this trip is arranged
on the machine with its bearings 12 resting on the shaft k, and the bearings 11
resting on shaft J with the rod or roller 10 placed under the point of the
trigger ✗, as represented in Figures 1 and 2. By turning the lever 6 the
screw 20 will raise or lower the mandril 7, which will raise or lower the rod
or roller 10 with relation to the trigger ✗, and thereby unship the trigger
from the catch u, the lift of the hammer in all cases corresponding to the
distance that the trigger travels with the catch u, that is to say, the greater
the travel of the trigger with the catch u the greater will be the lift and
force of the hammer, and the shorter the distance it travels with the catch
in a corresponding proportion will the lift and force of the hammer be
diminished. To the cam yoke w is attached a connecting rod n, the
lower end of which is connected to the lever 9 secured on the shaft ḥ,
held in the proper position by bearings 18; on this shaft are secured
two lifting arms or levers f arranged so that they straddle the cutter S¹ and
its holder R. To the end of lever g is connected a rod k¹, the lower end of
which is attached to the lever k², secured with the ratchet wheel X' on the
front end of the feed screw 2, held in the desired position by bearings P¹
secured to the base A of the machine. To the lever is connected the
pall X, which is held in contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel by means

page_text: of a spring X. To the base A of the machine is secured the support P* for
the guard or shield X, used for preventing the pall ✗* from acting on only
the desired number of the teeth of the ratchet wheel; the shield is held in the
desired position with relation to the pall X and the teeth of the ratchet wheel
by means of a set screw J¹. By this arrangement of the shield with relation
to the ratchet wheel and pall the cutting can be graduated to any degree
desired. For example, if the feed screw has four screw threads to the inch,
and the ratchet wheel has fifty teeth on its whole circumference, and the shield
is adjusted so that the pall can only operate on one tooth of the ratchet wheel,
for each revolution of the shaft J, the file blank will be moved forward
part of an inch for each stroke of the hammer and cutter, and the file blank
cut under this arrangement will have two hundred teeth in each inch of its
length. By arranging the shield so that the pall will cause the ratchet wheel
to turn one-half of a revolution (twenty-five of its teeth) for each revolution
of the shaft J the file blank will be moved forward of an inch for each stroke
of the hammer and cutter, and the file blank cut under this arrangement will
have eight teeth in each inch of its length, hence the skilful mechanic will
readily see and understand that by simply changing the position of the shield
with relation to the ratchet wheel and pall the cutting action of the machine
may be graduated to cut a very fine or a very coarse file. The bed plate A¹
for the file blank moves in a dovetail groove made in the base A of the
machine, and is connected with the feed screw 7 by means of a screw nut S,
which nut should be in a very firm manner connected to the bed plate A¹, and
so arranged that it can be readily unshipped from its connection with the feed
screw. To the end of the bed plate A' is attached a cord D³, which moves on
the pulley B. On the end of the cord D³ is a weight B'; this weight is used
in combination with the bed plate A¹ for the purpose of taking up any lost
motion that may be in the feed screw land its nut S; also for holding the bed
plate back to the action of the threads of the feed screw and the other parts
attached to and connected in their action therewith. The bed plate A¹ is
provided with a groove or recess A³, in which is placed lead or other suitable
material for the file blank to rest upon. The front end of the bed plate A¹ is
provided with a moveable yoke f³ provided with a set screw f', which is
operated by a lever f*; the yoke f³ and set screw f¹ are used for the purpose
of securing the tang or back end of the file blank down firmly on its bed.
Forward and aft of the cutter S¹ are placed rollers 14 and 15; these rollers
are made of lead or suitable material, and are pivoted in a yoke or frame 13:
which is by a swivel joint secured to the lever R³, or it may be operated by a
compound lever. By this arrangement of the rollers and the levers connected

page_text: therewith any desired pressure may be brought to bear on the. file blank for
the purpose of holding it down firmly on its bed. The throw of the levers g
and h² can be regulated by adjusting and securing the lower end of the rods n
and n¹ at the desired points in the shots 2 and 3 of such levers.
The operation of this improved file-cutting machine is as follows:- Having all
things constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and represented
the file blank is properly prepared and oiled, it is then firmly secured down on
its bed, motion is then imparted to the shaft J, which will, through the medium
of the cams m and m' and the parts connected to them impart a reciprocating
motion to the shaft k and h; the downward. motion of the cam m and the
parts connected with it will raise the frame .X³ and the cutter S¹, and at the
same time turn the ratchet wheel. X, which will turn the feed screw l, which
through the medium of its nut Ṣ will move forward the bed plate A! with the
file. blank the desired distance for receiving the action of the cutter and
hammer. The upward. motion of the cam m! will cause the catch u to take
hold of the point 0% of the trigger X, and the downward motion of the cam
will cause the trip levers to lift the hammer. D. until the point of the trigger X
comes in contact with rod or roller 10 of the trip, which will cause the trigger X
to unship from the catch u, which will allow the trip levers y to drop and the
hammer D to strike.its blow, and in like manner will the various parts operate
as described until the file blank is entirely fed forward and properly furnished
with teeth.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, moving the file blank and its bed through the medium of the feed
screw, ratchet wheel X, and pall X, operated by the cam m, as herein
described and for the purpose set forth.
Second, the shield X when used in combination with the ratchet wheel X*
and pall X, as herein described and for the purpose set forth.
Third, the combination and arrangement of the rollers 14 and 15, frame 13,
levers R¹ and R³, and cam R*, or its equivalent, as herein described and for
the purpose set forth.
:
Fourth, the combination of the weight B' with the bed plate A¹, feed screw 1,
and its nut S, as herein described and for the purpose set forth.
:
Fifth, the adjustable slides B' when used in combination with the hammer D
and cutter S!, as herein described and for the purpose set forth.
,

page_text: Sixth, the pivoted socket P when used in combination with the tool holder R,
cutter S¹, spring e, and set screw e³, as herein described and for the purpose.
set forth.
Seventh, the trip lever y' provided with a trigger X when used in com-
bination with the catch u operated by the cam m³, as herein described and for
the purpose set forth.
Eighth, the combination of the rod 4, spring 5, and hammer D, constructed,
arranged, and operating substantially as herein described and for the purpose
set forth.
Ninth, the trip, consisting of bearings 11 and 12, legs 8, cross pieces y³
and y', columns y' and y³, lever 6, screw 20, mandril 7, yoke 9, provided with
rod or roller 10 when such trip is used in combination with the trigger ✗, as
herein described and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the Tenth day of May, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
J. HENRY JOHNSON.
(L.B.)