US1988393A - Glass cutting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 15, 1935. A. c. OAKES GLASS CUTTING APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTOR N EY Jan. 15, 1935. A. c. OAKES GLASS CUTTING APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1933 Jan. 15, 1935. A. c. OAKES GLASS CUTTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets Sheet 3 Filed July 10, 1933 INVENTOR ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 15, 1935 UNITED v 1.988.393

GLASS" co'r'rme g Altred-C. flakes, Mount Vernon, 0M0 Application July 10, 1933, seen-summer r2 Claims. (01. as.' a;2

The object of the invention is to provide a ,glass cutting apparatus particularly adapted for use in cutting EplIlOi/lfiE ribbonef-glass, so that the score line may be maintained at right angles to the longitudinal edge of the ribbonto insure making a straight cutjto provide glass cutting apparatus in which the cutter is mounted ior movement along a bodily movable carrier .having means to releasablysecure it to themoving ribbon; to provide for flexibly supporting the carrier so that ithmay return to its original or starting position after each cut-ting operation; to provide a construction ofthe kind indicated in which the cutting operations are automatically carried out as the ribbon of glass :moves, so that sheets of the desired. height may be successively removed; toprovide means for varying the time interval in the cutting operation to make for a corresponding change inv the height of the glasssheets being cut; and generally to provide aglass cutting apparatus which, for the iunctions to be performed, is of comparatively simple form and susceptible of cheap manufacture and installation. 1 7

With this .object in View, the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which apreferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings but to which em bodiment the invention, is not to be restricted. Continued'use in practice may ,dictate certain changes or alterations a-nd the right is claimed vto make-any which fall within the scope of the annexed claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the invention. M Y

Figure 2 isa-t'op plan view.

Figure 3 isasectional viewon the-plane indicated by theline 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view' on the plane indicated by the line 44.o-f FigureB.

Figures'S, 6 and '7 are sectional views on the planes indicated by thelines 5'5, 6+6 and 7'? respectivelyof Figure 4.

Figures 8 and 9 are sectional views on the planes indicated by the lines I8-8 and 99 respectively of Figure 2. 1 I

Figure 10 is a sectional view on the indicated by the line 10 10'o'f F-ig ure 9.

' Figure 11 is .an :e'levational view,"-partly in secplane tion, of the traveler actuating motor and its showing the adjusted or changed position of the switches. H U

Figures 13,14 and L5'- .are sectional views on the planes indicatedz'by. the lines 13-43, I4.-14 'and.l5 l5 respectively of Figure 11.

Figure 16. "is. a diagrammatic view showing the wiring connections between the different elements' consti t'utihg the invention.

I Desi ned panticularly as a means i or. effecting 'a transverse cut .a ribbon of gl'ass as ,it .drawn from the draw.ing "chamber of a glass furnace, the invention comprises a carrier cieme bestos fabrication 23 which will give the jaw ,pe sed .of a frame 2l. -on the rear, face of which 1 a comparatively soft .face ior. contact with the glass ribbon without damage to the latter and which .itself will not be sub'iect to the deleterious efiects of. the hea'tflinom the glass.- The two jaws22 are designed'ier contact with thefliront .face of the gIaSsQribbon Jand' there are" provided companion jaws l.24 -foii contact .with the rear face of. theribbcn But thesejaws. '2 are closely spaced parallel relation. Operative connection between the -.;i arts 24 and the, frame 21 is effected through the instizumentality ,of jaw actuating devicesw'th the. jaws .24

endgame-21 bymeans of hinge elements 25 which-connect \the jaws 2A and 1mm zirespectively tothe fiat bars. 26 and 2.7. .Seated uponland secured-to ,each. ,of"the bars v2E7 is a magnet 28 of the flong-range or solenoid type and the I two ane{connectedctogether betweenjthe sleeve 30 "andflthe bar 26Qby means of set screws32'which are passed transversely through the barf26 and enter the opening-31' in diametrically opposite sides to engage tin conical seats in thesleeve. Each of the b'olts' 2 9 is *surround-ed with a compression,

spring 33"; bearing one-end on the bare? and the other end on-the sleeve "30. ,Byreason of the set screws effecting fcennectionbetween the bar -26 and sleeves 30; a; more or less. flexible icnnnection is' provided-;1. But thelfo-olts 29 are additionally. connectedLzby means of :a plate 34" throughvwhiich'rthey extend pra-nd which res-ts 0 top of :the,.;sleeves 30, v

While the -magnet 28- issecuredto the bar 2}], it isfl opera-ti-vely connected withthe bar 26 by reason of its plunger being provided with a stem 36 (seated in a bore in the end of the plunger and secured in place therein by a set screw 37) which stem passes through a thimble 38, through an opening in the plate 34 and receives on its threaded extremity a nut 39, between which and the plate 34 there is a compression spring 40 disposed in surrounding relation to the stem. The plate 34 bears against the outer end of the thimble and the latter is operatively connected with the bar 26 by means of set screws 41 passing through the latter on opposite sides and entering seats in the periphery of the thimble, the latter passing through a clearance opening in the bar 26.

With this construction, it is obvious that if the magnets 2'7 be energized, the cores :will be drawn in and relative movement of the bars 26 and 27 effected, so that the gripping jaws 22 and 24 are moved towards each other and into gripping engagement with the glass ribbon, when th'ecarrier will be moved along with the'rib-bon- In this jaw engaging operation, the springs 33 are compressed and thegripping action is cushioned by reason of the movement of themagnet cores being imparted to the bars 26 through which the plunger 47*is slidably mounted, the sleeve 46 being closed'atj one endand' carrying the compression springs40. The compression springs 40 preclude such an impact in the grip-' ping operation as would damage the glass ribbon. v v I Formed as apart of the frame 21 -are the ,space'd parallel guide rods 42 on' which is slidably mounted a crosshead 43 of a traveler by ,means: of which the glass cutteris carried and actuated. There is connected withthe cross .head a frame 44in which is disposed a magnet 45 of the solenoid type having a sleeve 46 in inthis closed end an adjusting screwv 48I'which "interiorto the sleevelisprovided with a head 49 bearing, on one end of a compression spring 50, the other end of 'whichbea'rs on the inner end of the plunger or core 47. The core47 is formed with a stem 51 which passes slidably through'a bushing 52 mounted inthe frame 44,

the stem at its extremitycarrying a cutter head 53 which is'rernovablyf secured to the stem by means of the set screw 54. The cutter head 53 is designed to receive in a suitably formed socket the arm 55 on which the cutter 56 is gular or turning movement and since the cutter disk must, in order to effectively perform,

haveits .axis perpendicular to the axes of the guide rods: 42, means is. provided to prevent rocking movement of the cutter head and to .adjust it for precise perpendicularity with the uide rods.

the cable but, to abut the eye. .termine the distance to which the carrier may which, being connected to the cutter head, will vary the axis of rotation of the cutter 56.

When the magnet 45 is de-energized, the plunger 47 is subject to the pressure of the spring and the plunger will'be forced toward and the cutter brought into engagement with the face' of the glass ribbon, so that if the traveler comprising the crosshead 43, frame 44 and their attendant 'parts be advancedalong thecarrier, the glass ribbon will be scored by the cutter.

To provide for movement of the traveler com.-

prising the crosshead and frame 44, the frame 21 is provided at remote ends with'the sprockets 64 and 65, a chain 66 being trained over these the chain'by a motor 68 operatively connected to the sprocket 62 by means of a flexible shaft 69 and a reduction gearing housed in'the case 70. In the operation of the invention the motor 68 is rotated first in one direction and then in the other/so that the gear 62 is thus alternately rotated inopposite directions, the one of which will advance the traveler from the left to the right and the other effect the return to initial position. In the one direction of movement, the plunger 47 of the magnet 45 is subject to the pressure of the spring 50, but in the other direction of movement,the magnet 45 is energized, so that the plunger 47 is drawn in, in which case the cutter is retracted. Thus the glass is scored as the cutter moves inone direction but is uneflected by the cutter inthemovement of the traveler in the other direction. As viewed in the rawings, thecutting operation takes place when the traveler movesfrom the left to the right. In the return movement of the traveler, when the cutter is retracted, the magnet 45 is energized until the traveler completes prevent its being forced beyondgthe plane of the ribbon. This seat consists' of a plate '71 connected with a sleeve '72 adjustablev along one of the jaw members 22. By this arrangementthe plate may be adjusted to have a position adjacent the edge of the ribbon of glass, so that in starting the cutting operation, when the cu'tter is under the influence of the spring 50, it may pass off of, the seat plate directly onto the glass. The adjusting screw 48 provides the means for varying the intensity of pressure of the cutter on the glass in the cutting operation.

The carrier comprising the frame2l and associated jaws 22 and 24 and themeans for moving the latter into and out of clamping engagenient. is fiexibly'supported on, cables 73 terminally anchored to the frames of the magnets 28, the remote ends" of the cables being connected to counterweights 74 and the cables being trained over directionpulleys 75. That run of each of the cables connectedv with the counterweight passes through a guide eye 76, below which is mounteda collar 7'7 adjustable along The .collars dedrop and one or'the other of the collars, or both, may be adjusted to' insure exact horizontality, so that the carrier will be disposed at right angles to the glass ribbon at the time that its tance.

jawsefiect grippingaction on the same, so that the movement of the cutter willbein a transverse lineat right angles to the edgeof the ribbon.

The means for actuating the traveler consists of a motor'68, the shaftof which extends into the case '70 in the walls of which it is journalled, this interior portion of the motor shaft being provided with a worm 79' in mesh-with a worm 'journalled in the walls of the case '70, this latter shaft being provided with a spur gear 83 in mesh with a pinion 84cm the shaft 81-. By reason of the worm gear connection between the motor shaftand shaft81, the latter runs'at a greatly reduced speed, but the speed of the shaft 8-2 is reduced much below the speed of the shaft-81 by reason of the ratio of the gear couple 83-454. The function of the shaft 82 is to periodically open the switches 85 and 86', the latter consisting of fixed and movable contacts of which the latter are yieldingly impelled into engagement with the former. The switches 85 and86 are mounted in brackets 8'7 which atone end are swinging'l-y supported on the shaft 82, the brackets being provided with slots 88 in which engage the hooked extremities of adjust.- i-ng screws 89, the latter having threaded shank portions engaging nuts 90 having swivel mountings' in the top of the case 70. The switch brackets may be swung on the shaft 82 as a center toward and away from each other by elevating or lowering the I adjusting screws through the rotation of'the'nu'ts 90. The shaft 82 carries a cam 91 engageable with the pro jections 92 on the two switches to effect opening movement of either.

Exterior to the case 70 the motor shaft carries a brake drum 93 surrounding which is a brake band 94'having one end secured, as at 95, to one "wall of the case '70, the other end of the brake band being pivotally connected with the brake lever 96 pivotally mounted on the wall of the case '70, with the force arm subject to the pull of the spring 9'? or the plunger 98 of a magnet 99. The spring and plunger act in opposite directions and when the force of the spring is applied to the lever, the brake band is seated on the drum, release movement of the brake band being effected when the lever is subject to the pull of the plunger. 7 I

Other equipment comprised the invention than that above mentioned consists of apilot switch composed of a swingingxarm 100 pivoted on a base of insulating material 101 and normally resting on a stop 1'02, where it is int'h'e path of the glass ribbon 20. base 101 is adjustable on the standard 103' and carries a contact 104 with which the arm 1 00' is engageable after being raised a prescribedangular "dis- Further equipment comprises relays of which one embodies a magnet W5 and an associated switch of the double-pole variety of which the blade 106 is s ingle-throw for engagement with or disengagement from the contact'lOB and the blade 1'07 for alternateiengageme'nt with the contacts 109 and 110. The switch is spring retracted as indicated at lli'to engage the blade 1'07 with the contact 110, when the blade 106 supply line line.

isdisengaged from the-contact 128. Theother relay embodies a magnet 112 and a triple-pole switch of which the blades 113 and 114- are sin'gleeth-rowrand move into and out of opera tive engagement with the contacts 115 and 116.

The remaining blade 117 is alternately engaged with the contacts 118 and 1 19.

The motor 68 issubject to reversalin rotation. Therefore, the field and armature circuits are separate, the field circuits being energized direct from the supply line 120 which obviously may be equipped with a switch (notillustrated) to cut out the whole equipment.

The clamp-magnets 28 are connected in parallel and across the supply line through the pilot switch and through the doubleepole switch. The cutter magnet isconn'ect'ed across" the line through the-triple-p'ole switch, the relay masnet 105 across the line through theswitch-SG and the triple-pole switchand the magnet 112 across the line through the switch85 and the .double pole switch. The motor'armature is connected in on both thed'ouble-pole and triplepole switches and responds to current fed through .on'e 'or theother, moving in one direction when one switch functions and in the other direction whenthe' other switch functions. The brake magnet may be connected in parallel with the armature 'or'in series as shown.

In the operation of the invention, when the sheet of glass is initially started fromthe draw- .ing chamber of the furnace below, it passes through the customary feed rollsand the upper edge will first engage the arm 1.00 of the pilot switch, moving itinto engagement with the contact 104. There willthen be a'fiow of current from the positive side .of the line 120 over the conductor 12-1,through the clamp magnets 28 in parallel, then over the conductor 122, through the pilot switch and then over' the conductor 123 to the supply line. 'The' clampv magnets being thus energized, the jaws 22' and 24 will be moved into engagement with the glass ribbon and the carrier will ,thus, .be' clamped to the ribbon and since the latter isrnovingat acontinuous speed, it will move along with the ribbon,

the counterbalancing weights 74 preventingany undue strain on the ribbon by reason of the weightof. the carrier. .Butthe moving ribbon :flnally movesth'e arm 100 tora point past the contact 104, when no further current can pass through the pilot switch. But when the pilot switchclosed the circuit'across the supply line (the motor for the'traveler being then in a position where the cam 91 engaged and held the switch 85 an open position):, there was pro-' vided in addition to the circuit through the clamp magnets 28', a circuit through'the relay magnet 105', current passing from the positive side of the supply line to the switch bladex'll'l, to the contact-119, over the conduc'tor"124, through the magnet 105, switch 86 and conductors 1'22 and 123 to the negative side of the With the energization of the magnet 1'05, the double-pole switches moved to engage the blades 106 and 107 with the contacts 108 and 109, shifting the blade 10? away from the contacts 110. the motor armature, current flowing from the positive side oii'the line over the switch blade 106-an'd contact 108 to the conductor 125 through the brake mag-net and motor armature and back over the conductor 126 to the switch blade 107 jandthen'ce to the negative side of the supply This establishes a circuit on .Thus the brake is released and thearmai ture energized with the. result that movement will be imparted tothe traveler and it will be advanced across the. carrier with the'cutter in contact with the glass, since the plunger 47 of the magnet 45 will thenbe subject to the pressure of the spring 50. But the carrierwill be moving with the ribbon of glass, sothat the only relative movement between the ribbon and the cutting mechanism is between the traveler and the ribbon, the traveler moving transversely of the ribbon. But with the operation of the traveler, the cam 91 is set in operation,- leaving the switch 85, so that that is shifted to closed position. While the switch controls the magnet 112, this magnet cannot be energized atfthis time, because its circuit is open by reason of the separation of the'blade 107 from the contact 110. When the traveler shall have moved all the way across the glass ribbon, the cam 91 will be brought into engagement with the switch 86, thus opening that switch and consequently opening the circuit on the magnet. 105, so that the spring 111 will return the double-pole switch to its normal. position, opening the circuit on the motor armature but closing the circuit on the magnet 112 by reason of the blade engaging the contact 110, so. that current may flow over the conductor 127, through the switch 85, the conductor 128, the magnet 112 and the switch blade 107 back to the negative side of. the supply line. But energizing the magnet 112,. results in shifting the position of the triple-pole switch, engaging its several blades with the contacts 115, 116 and 118 and separating the blade 117 from' the contact 119. In this positionof' the triple-pole switch, the clamp magnets will .-be

short-circuited by the conductor 129, but current will flow from the positive side of the supply line over the switch blade 117 and theconductors 129 and 122 to the conductor 126, thence through the motor'armature and brake magnet,

in a reverse direction than formerly, thus. im-

parting reverse movement to the motor, the current returning to the'supply line over the conductor 125 and theswitch' blade 113. The brake which was set on opening the motor'circuitis released .by the brake magnet "99 on reverse movement being imparted to the motor. The traveler will thus be moved back along the carrier in the reverse direction than'formerly and the direction of rotation of the cam. 91 will be "reversed. But in' this reverse movement, the

cutterretracting magnet 45 is energized, current flowing to it from the positive side of the supply line over the conductor 121 and then back .to'the supply line over the conductor and the switch blade 114. When the cam starts its reverse movement, it'releases the switch 86 to permit the latter to close, but this does not result in closing the circuit on the magnet 105, because continuity of that circuit is dependent on the blade 117 being in" engagement with the contact 119 when the magnet 112 is energized.

After'the glass ribbon is scored and thesheet removed; the pilot switch may drop down over the exposed end to 'be' operated by the then edge of the ribbon, the several series of operations recited above being repeated. J When the clamp magnets are deprivedof current, as in the return movement of the traveler, the carrier drops by gravity until the collars 77 abut the eyes 76 and remainsin this position until the clamp magnets are again energized. i

The adjustment of the switches 85 and 8 angularly toward and away fror'n eac'h other provides .forvarying the time elementof their operationby the movement of the cam 91 and thus provides for varying the height ofthe sheet of glass out from the ribbon when the ribbon is moved at'a constant ,linearspeed.

,The invention having been described, what is claimed as new vand useful is:

1. Glass cutting apparatus comprising a carrierhaving means to, effect a gripping action on ,a ribbon of glass to fixedlysecure it with respect :to said ribbon, a traveler mounted on the carrier, automaticlmeans for effecting movement of the traveler in onedirection along the carrier when the "gripping means'is active, and a cutter carried by the traveler to score the glass in the movement of such traveler.

2. Glass cutting apparatus comprising a carrier having means. to effect a gripping action'on a ribbon of glassito fixedly secure it with respect to said ribbon,a traveler mounted on the carrier, automatic means for effecting movement of the traveler inone v directionalong the carrier when the gripping meansqis-active, acutter carried by the'traveler to score the glassin the movement of such traveler, and means toyieldingly impellir g the cutter towardsthe ribbon of glass ;to score the latter, and automatic means for retracting the; cutterfrom contact with the glass ribbonexcept when the gripping means is 4. Glass cutting apparatus comprising a carrierhaving gripping jaws for disposition on opposite sides of a ribbon; of glass, means ;for effecting movement of the jaws toward and away from each other to cause gripping action on the glass ribbon. or release therefrom. traveler mounted on the carrier, means for efiecting movement of-the traveler along thecarrier, a putter carried by the traveler to score the glass in the movement of the traveler, means-to retract the cutter in the return movement of the traveler, and operative connections between the cutter retracting means and the clamp jawmov- ,ing means to-effiect jaw releasing movement when the cutter is retracted, I 1

5.- Glass cutting. apparatus-comprising a carrier having'means to effectgripping-actionon a ribbon of glass to fixedlyf secure it with respect to said ribbon, a traveler mounted on the carrier, automatically reversible driving means operatively connected with the traveler, a cutter carried vby the traveler, means foryieldingly impelling the cutter towards the glass ribbon in onedirection of movement of the traveler,

means forretracting the cutter in'the other directioncof 'movement'of the traveler, and means ,operatively connecting the driving means with the two last said means to co-ordinate the cutter controlling functions of the latter in the forward and reverse-movements of the. driving means.' I

6. Glass cutting-"apparatus comprising a car,-

rier,'clamping jaws fordisposition on opposite sides of a ribbon of glass and movable toward and away from each other to effect clamping action on or release from said ribbon, a traveler mounted on the carrier, means for effecting movement of the traveler in opposite directions along the carrier, means for effecting clamping action and release of said clamping jaws, a cutter carried by the traveler, means yieldingly impelling the cutter towards the glass ribbon in one direction of movement of they traveler, means for retracting said cutter in the other direction of movement, and operative connections between the traveler driving means, the clamping jaw actuating means and the cutter retracting means to efiect retraction of the cutter during the intervals of release position of the jaws. i

7. Glass cutting apparatus comprising a carrier having means to effect a gripping action on a ribbon of glass, release devices for said means,

a traveler mounted on the carrier for movement I in opposite directions along the latter, means for effecting movement of the traveler, a glass cutter carried by the traveler, means yieldingly impelling the cutter towards the glass ribbon in one direction of movement of the traveler, means for retracting the cutter in the other directionof movement of the traveler, and operative connections between the release devices and the means for effecting traveler movement whereby the release devices will be operative during that traveler movement in which the cutter is retracted.

8. Glass cutting apparatus for cutting intosheets a moving ribbon of glass comprising a flexibly suspended carrier, gripping members carried by said carrier for securing it to the glass ribbon, a traveler mounted on the carrier for movement in opposite directions thereon, means for efiecting movement of the traveler, a glass cutter carried by the travelerand yieldingly impelled into contact with the glass ribbon in one direction of movement of the traveler, retracting means for the, cutter during the other direction of movement of! the traveler, and operative connections between the gripping members and the means for effecting traveler movement to insure operation of the gripping members when the cutter is in contact with the ribbon and release of said members when the I cutter is retracted.

9. Glass cutting apparatus for cutting into sheets a moving ribbon of glass comprising a flexibly suspended carrier, gripping members carried. by said carrier for securing it to the glass ribbon, a traveler mounted on the carrier for movement in opposite directions thereon, means for efiecting movement of the traveler, a glass cutter carried by the traveler and yieldingly impelled into contact with the glass ribbon in one direction of movement of the traveler, retracting means for the cutter during the other direction of movement of the traveler, and operative connections between the gripping members and the means for efiecting traveler movement to insure operation of the gripping members when the cutter is in contact with the ribbon and release of said members when the cutter is retracted, the carrier supporting means comprising cables connected to the traveler at opposite ends, pulleys over which the cables are trained, and weights carried at the remote ends of the cables.

I0. Glass cutting apparatus for, cutting into sheets a moving ribbon of glass comprising a flexibly suspended carrier, gripping members carried by said carrier for securing it to the glass ribbon, a traveler mounted on the carrierfor movement in opposite directions thereon, means for effecting movement of the traveler, a glass cutter carried by the traveler and yieldingly impelled into contact with the glass ribbon in one direction of movement of the trav-.

eler, retracting means for the cutter during the other direction of movement of the traveler, and operative connections between the gripping members and the means for effecting traveler movement to insure operation of thegripping members when the cutter is in contact with 'the r'ibbon and release of said members when the cutter is retracted, the carrier'being provided with spaced guide rods and the'traveler having a frame slidably mounted on said rod,

sprockets at the remote ends of the traveler,

one of said sprockets being connected with the means for effecting traveler movement, and a gripping means, and flexible supporting means for the carrier to permit bodily movement thereof, and operative connections between the cutter retracting means and the means for effecting traveler movement and the last said means and the releasing devices to effectoperation of the last during the period of retraction of the cutter when the traveler is moving in one direction along the carrier.

12. Glass cutting apparatus for cutting sheets from a moving ribbon of glass comprising a carrier having means to effect a gripping action on said ribbon to releasably secure the carrier thereto, a traveler mounted on the carrier for movement in opposite directions therealong, means for effecting movement of the traveler, a cutter carried by the traveler and yieldingly impelled towards the glass ribbon in onedirection of movement of the traveler, retracting meansfor the cutter, releasing devices for the gripping means, and flexible supporting ,means for the carrier to permit bodily movement thereof, and operative connections between the cutter retracting means and the means for ef-' fecting traveler movement and the last said means and the releasing devices to effect oper-' ation of the last during the period of retraction of the cutter when the traveler is moving in one direction along the carrier, said operative connections embodying adjustable means to vary the time element of their operation.

ALFRED C. OAKES.

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