US1493010A - Stock-cutting machine - Google Patents

Description

' E. E. WINKLEY- STOCK CUTTING MACHINE 4 Filed April 26, 1920 14 Sheets-Sheeti n vQ r May 6 1924. 1,493,010

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2% W n r m m m mu E. E. WINKLEY STOCK CUTTING MACHINE Filed Apri 1920 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 May 6 1924.

E. E. VWINKLEY STOCK GUI TING MACHINE Filed.April 26. 1920 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 I7 we; 7/202 MWMJ 5 E. E. WlNKLEY STOCK CUTTING MACHINE l4 Sheets-Shaet 5 Filed April 26. 1920 Jfiveniar M44 If May 6 1924 E. E. WINKLEY STOCK CUTTING MACHINE j'nvazziow April 26. 1920 Fil Patented May 5, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERASTUS E. WINKLEY, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED SHOE MA- CHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

STOCK-CUTTING MACHINE;

Application filed Apri1 26, 1920.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, ERASTUS E. XVINKLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stock-Cutting Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to stock-cutting machines, and it has special reference to so called (linking machines for cutting or dieing-out blanks successively from sheet material of various characters.

One of the objects of the invention is t provide a machine of the above-indicated type which shall be peculiarly adapted by reason of its construction and mode of operation to cut soles or other blanks from a roll of rubber stock or other similar material, and to perform its intended functions with rapidity, efliciency and reliability' To this end, one feature of the invention resides in a stock-cutting machine of this general class, in which suitable constantly operating feed mechanism is utilized for continuously unwinding and feeding the stock-in the form of a roll to the cutting mechanism, which preferably comprises a stationary cutting bed and a reciprocatory dinking beam carrying cutting means of the desired configuration. The reciprocatory cutting mechanism, preferably although not necessarily, is of the single-cycle type, being adapted to come to rest after each cutting operation and being automatically tripped or started into operation periodically in accordance with predetermined feed movements of the stock as determined by measuring apparatus initially adjusted for the desired amount of feed. The operation of the reciprocatory cutting mechanism is very rapid, so much so that the actual cutting action of the cutting means upon the stock is accomplished practically instantaneously, thereby permitting'the successful use of a continuous feed of the stock, which is especially desirable as it obviates the inherent sluggishness of action and mechanical strain Another object of the invention is to larly arranged series of cuts.

Serial No. 376,452.

provide a machine of this general class embodying a single die which shall cut the blanks from the stock with a minimum of waste of material and of consumption of power. I

This object is attained through a feature of the invention which contemplates the employment of a single die which is automatically stepped across the reciprocatory beam and turned end-for-end through 180 degrees after each cutting operation. Meanwhile, the stock is continuously advanced so that an angularly disposed row of cuts and blanks are produced across the strip of stock. As soon as the die has traversed the full length of the beam and a full row of cuts has been completed, suitable means operating during the continued feeding movement of the stock is employed for automatically resetting the die to its initial starting position on the beam in readiness to repeat another angu- Means is also provided for preventing the measuring apparatus from automatically tripping or starting the cutting mechanism during the resetting operation.

The use of a single die lends itself towards economies in size, weight and expense of construction ofvthe cutting mechanism as a whole, as well as in the requisite amount of power and cost of operation. Moreover, the structural arrangements and mode of operation described results in cutting the stoekto best advantage by reason of the interlock ing spacing of cutsin closely adjacent proximity rendered possible by the continuedad- Vance of the stock in conjunction with the side-stepping and reversal of the single die after each cutting operation. Thisecon0mi cal spacing of the cuts accrues particularly in the use of a die for cutting soles, or possibly other unsymmetrical and irregular forms, inasmuch as a veryclose interfitting arrangement of cuts is obtainable by positioning the outer flare of thetoe portion of one sole in the reentrant curve at the inner shank portion of the adjacent sole out.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a stock-cutting machine of the aboveindicated character in which the cut blanks of each row aresegregated from the remnant stock or scrap andautomatically deposited, in stacked-formation in suitable receptacles, and moreover, if the blanks are cutin closely adjacent interfitting proximity, as just described, to spread them out or space them apart sufficiently to permit the corre sponding blanks of each row to be deposited in the same stack.

Accordingly,another feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for feeding the stock away from the cutting mechanism, with the cut blanks still in place, and in means for ejecting or separating the cut blanks from the remnants of the strip. Suitable transferring means, preferably comprising-a plurality of cool'aerating a'n ularly disposed conveyers, is also provided for transferring the segre ated blanks, spreading them apart, and stacking them in a plurality of piles in suitable receptacles.

These and other objects of the invention and features by which they are attained will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are respectively front ele= rations-of the right and left hand portions of the machine, which taken together constitute the front elevation of the machine as a whole; Fig. 1 is a plan view of a strip of stock from which a'series of angularly disposed rows of blanks have been cut, the blanks being left in position in the stock; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the cutting mechanism on line B3 of Fig. 4 is an enlarged'sectional view in side elevation of the cutting mechanism, the View being taken on the section line 44 of Fig. 5, and certain of the parts being broken away for clearness; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in rear elevation of the cutting mechanism; F 6 is anenlarged view, partially in rear elevation andpartially in section, on the section line 6- -6 of Fig. 4 of a portion of the cutting mechanism Fig. .7 is an enlarged detailed view on the section line 7-7 of Fig. 4 and showing particularly "the adjustable measuring-apparatus "and automatic tripping mechanism; Fig. 8 is a .plan view of the mechanismshown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a sectional view on "the section line 99 of Fig. 7 Fig. 10 is a sectional View on the section line 1010 of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the section line 1111 of Fig. 6; Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the manner in which the closely adjacent cut blanks are spaced or spread apart in extendedrows and-dellvered instacked formation into suitable receptacles; Fig. 13 is an enlarged detailed view, partially in section, of the auxiliary-clutch mechanism and operative connectlons therefor by'means of which the stepping or cross-feed and the reversal tion line 18 18 of Fi 17;Fi 19 isa bottom plan view of the apparatus shown in Figs. and 17 Fig. 20 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the right hand end of the machine; Fi 21 is an enlarged sectional view on the section lines :212-1 of Fig. 22; "Fig. 22 is an enlarged plan view of the left hand end of the machine; and Fig. 23 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which'the blanks are delivered and stacked into suitable receptacles.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and '2, the machine comprises, in general, a cutting mechanism 30, a supply feed mechanism 32 and-a deli-very feed mechanism 34. Thecutting mechanism is located between the respective feed mechanisms 32 and 34 in such manner that the'stock is fed to the cutting mechanism by the supply feed mechanism and after a row of blanks has been out there by, the cut strip, with the-blanks in place, is carried away therefrom by the delivery feed mechanism which also separates the cut blanks from the waste portions of the strip and after spacing or spreading them out in an extended row, delivers them in stacked formation into a suitable receptacle.

The cutting mechanism 30 is of the type disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,194,37 9, granted Aug. 15, 1916, to the United Shoe hfachine'ry Corporation as assignee of J. Goldbourn and A. Bates, and, in general, embodies a re'ciprocatory beam 36 carrying a single the 38 which is adapted to be moved along thebeam in steps and reversed in position between successive cutting operations.

The die 38 cooperates with a stationary cut- "tingblock orbed 40 over which the stock is fed and the beam, and die are reciproca'ted periodically through suitable mechanism operated from-a main drive shaft .42 having a clutch 44 at one end and a brake 46 at the other. The machine is of'the so-called singlecycletype, that is,the operation thereof is arrested after each full cycle of operations. The cutting mechanism is therefore idle under normal conditions and may be intermittently operated through repeated cycles of operation by periodically throwing 'in the "clutch 44, which is automatically accomplished in the manner to be hereinafter set forth.

The supply feed mechanism 32 embodles,

in general, an extended horizontal table or structural frame 50 carrying upon suitable rollers 52 an endless conveyer'or belt 54 that is fed by feed rolls 56 and 58 which are driven'through suitable mechanism from an auxiliary power shaft 60 that is operated continuously at aconstant speed. The supply of stock in the form of a roll 62 is rotatably mounted beneath the table 50 upon a truck 64 in such manner that the strip of stock may be continuously unwound and fed to the cutting mechanism 30 by the continuously driven supply feed conveyer 54.

Associated with this supply feed mechanism 32 and constituting a part thereof is a measuring apparatus, the adjustable handle 66 and dial 68 which are shown in Fig. 1. This measuring apparatus may be adjusted to measure or determine any predetermined amount of feed of the stock desired and operates in conjunction with other mechanism for automatically and intermittently tripping the cutting mechanism 30 and throwing in the main clutch 44 thereof intermittently in accordance with successive predetermined feed movements of the stock. The stock, therefore, is fed continuously and at a uniform rate to the cutting mechanism, the operation of which is automatically initiated through the agency of the measuring apparatus and dependent upon the feed of the stock. The cutting mechanism having been thrown into operation reciprocates through a single cycle during which the die 38 cuts a blank from the stock and after which the clutch is disengaged and the cutting mechanism brought to rest until it is again started automatically through the action of the measuring apparatus. As already stated, the die 38 is fed along the beam a single step after each cutting operation and is also reversed in position. Therefore, inasmuch as thestock is fed continuously, an angularly disposed row of blanks is cut by the die by repeated operations of the cutting mechanism, after which the die is reset along the beam to its initial position by suitable mechanism and other similar rows of blanks are cut.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 12 and 22, the delivery feed mechanism 34 comprises, in general, an extended horizontal structural frame or table 7 0 that carrier on a plurality of rolls 72 an endless conveyer or belt 74 that is continuously driven at the same uniform rate as the supply feed conveyer 54 and which serves to carry away and discharge the scrap. Another endless and continuously driven conveyer or belt 76 is provided, one'stretch 78 of which is inclined downwardly and serves to separate the cut blanks from the waste or remainder of strip and to carry said blanks to a lower level and deliver them to a plurality of narrow and closely adjacent bolts 80 constituting units of a multi-belt conveyer. These belts are carried at one end upon a common drum 82 and at the other end upon a plurality-of pulleys 84 which are arranged in a row disposed at an angle of substantially 30 degrees to the length of the belts. Immediately beneath the multi-belt conveyer is a relatively wide conveyer 86 that is disposed at right angles to the narrow belts and which is continuously driven at a somewhat faster speed. As the successive rows of out blanks are fed to the inclined end of the lnulti-belt conveyer, the leading ends of the blanks drop upon the wide conveyer 86, which by reason of its relatively fast speed of operation, together with the angular-ity of the end of the multi-belt conveyer, serves in conjunction therewith to turn the blanks through substantially 90 degrees and, in the process of turning, to space or spread out the blanks in an extended row. The belt 86 then feeds the blanks forwardly at a rapid rate and delivers them from its forward end into compartments of a suitable receptacle 88 in which they are stacked in superposed relation.

Having described generally the construction and mode of operation of the machine, a detailed description thereof will now be given. Referring particularly to Figs 1 and 3, the cutting mechanism 30 comprises a main supporting frame embodying a plurality of side frames 90 and 92 which are rigidly connected by cross beams 94 and 96. The side frames carry a table 98 upon which is mounted the cutting block 40 and the table and block are adjustable in position by means of hand wheels 100 and adjusting rods 102, in accordance with well-known practice. Above the block 40 is the reciprocatory beam 36 which is carried at substantially its corners upon four rods 104 that are mounted for vertical sliding movement in suitable bearings carried by the respective side frames 90 and 92. The lower ends of each pair of rods 104 are connected by a cross-yoke 106 (Fig. 5), which is pivotally attached at its mid-point by means of a pin 108 to a depending arm 110 of an eccentric strap. These straps cooperate with eccentrics 112 carried at each end of the main drive shaft 42, whereby reciprocatory movements of the beam 36 and die 38 are effected when the drive shaft 42 is in motion.

Normally, the shaft 42 is at rest but may be connected to a suitable source of power through the agency of the clutch 44 that is mounted upon the rearend of the shaft. This clutch comprises a cone member 114 that is keyed to the shaft and a cooperating clutch member 116 which is provided with an internal cone surface to engage the cone member 114 and which also serves as a pulley to carry a suitable driving belt. The clutch and pulley member 116 is slidably mounted on the shaft 42 and may be moved longitudinally of the shaft and into engagement with the cone member 114 by means of ashipper lever 118 that is pivoted at 120 and has its'lower end suitably connected to the hub of the clutch member 116. The upper end of the shipper lever 118 is pivotally connected to a horizontally extending rod 122 that is carried by and connected'to a plurality of bell cranks 124 that are pivotally mounted on the cross beam 94. The other arms of these bell cranksare connected by adjustable rods 126 to arms 128 :that are fixed to a rot-atable'rod 130 carried by the respective side frames. The rod 130 is provided near its front end with an extended arm 132 (Figs. 3 and 5), which by analogy, might properly 'be considered as a treadle. The treadle 132, when depressed in a. manner to be described, operates through the rods 126, bell cranks 124, and connecting rod 122 to actuate the shipper lever 118 to throw in or engage the clutch 44-, thereby connecting the, drive shaft 44 to the source of power and effecting a reciprocation of the beam 36 and cutting die 38.

Having thus thrown in the clutch and initiated the operation of the machine, a cam 134 carried by one of the vertical rods 104 is brought into position to engage a roll 136 that is suitably carried by the connecting rod 122. Operation of the shipper lever 118 in the opposite direction is therefore prevented until, during the operation of the machine, the beam 36 is raised substantially to its uppermost position when the cam 134 disengages the roll 136 and therefore imposes no further restraint on actuating the shipper lever 118 to disengage the clutch.

When the machine is at rest, the clutch 44 is held in inoperative position by suitable means which operates on the treadle arm 132 to maintain it in its uppermost position. This means comprises a rod 138 (Fig. which is pivotally connected to the treadle arm 132 and is surrounded by a coiled compression spring 140, the upper end of which bears against a nut 142 carried by the rod. The lower end of the spring rests against the upper surface of an arm 144 that is pivot-ally mounted at 146 upon a lug constituting a part of the treadle arm 132. The outer end of the arm 144 carries a slide block 148. that is held in a held in its raised position through the action of the rod 138, the spring 140, arm 144, vertical rod 152 and the latch 160.

This vertical rod 152 also constitutes the actuator for the treadle arm 132 and, in this respect, performs the function ordinarily performed by the operators foot. For this purpose the rod 152 is surrounded by a heavy coiled compression spring 162,v the lower end of which bears against a collar 164 fixed to the rod and the upper end of which engages the lower end of the upper bearing member 154. This spring is placed under heavy compression during the upward movement of the beam by means of a spring-pressed pawl 166 (Fig. 6), which is pivotally mounted upon a sleeve 168 that is fixed to one of thevertical beam supporting rods 104. During the upward .movement of the beam and therefore of'the pawl 166, its upper end is brought into engagement with the head 158 on the upper end of the rod 152 and therefore said rod is raised in position, compressing the spring 162, until the beam reaches its uppermost position, whereupon the latch 160 drops into position to engage the head 158 and maintain the rod in raised position against the action of the spring 162. Immediately after the latch 160 assumes its restraining position, a. tail piece 170 of the pawl 166 engages an adjustable set screw 172 on the frame, whereby the pawl 166 is released, leaving the rod 152 raised and the spring 162 under compression.

In order to start the operation of the cutting mechanism, it is only necessary 'to retract the latch 160 to release the rod .152. This is accomplished automaticallythrough the agency of the measuring apparatus associated with the supply feed mechanism 32 as will be hereinafter fully described. As-

suming, however, that the latchf160 has been released, the energy stored in the spring 162. is effective in forcibly projecting the rod 152 downwardly and into engagement with the end of the treadle arm 132 which is thereby depressed and throughthe mechanism already described, serves :to throw in the clutch 44 to connect the drive shaft 42 treadle arm 132 to its initial position. This operation, however, is prevented by the engagement of the cam 134 with they roll 136 until the beam substantially occupies its uppermost position, at whichtime the clutch shipping mechanism is released and the energy stored in the spring140- serves to .raise the treadle arm 132 and consequently to cause the shipper lever 118 to .effect'the disengagement of the clutch 44.

Immediately upon the disengagement of the clutch 44, the brake 46 is applied to bring the machine to rest at once. This brake comprises a pulley'member 17 6 .(Figs.

1 and 3), which is secured to the drive shaft 42 and which cooperates with a brake shoe 178 that is pivotally mounted at 180 to the side pedestal 90. The. brake shoe is provided with a lug 181 that carries an adjustable set screw 182, the lower end of which normally rests upon an arm 184 that is secured to the rod 130. Therefore, when the rod 130- is rotated during the operation of disengaging the clutch 44, the arm 184, through the set screw 182 raises the brake shoe 17 8 into frictional engagement with the brake pulley 1'76, whereby the machine is brought to rest. The machine is thus automatically arrested after completing a full cycleof operations and remains at rest until the latch 160 is again released.

The control of the starting operation of the cutting mechanism is automatically effected through the agency of the measuring apparatus which constitutes a part of the supply feed mechanism 32, as already stated, and which functions to automatically trip the latch 160. A description of this mecha- I nism, therefore, will now be given.

port a pair of angle irons 194 whichextend laterally from the cutting mechanism and constitute the table or frame structure 50 between which the rolls 52'are mounted. The outer ends of the angle irons 194 are supported upon brackets 196 that are carried at the upper ends of a plurality of spaced rods or standards 198 that are suitably connected to form a rigid unit. The feed conveyer or belt 54 is carried at its outer end upon a roll 200 that is rotatably mounted in the brackets 196 and the upper stretch of the conveyer rests upon the. several rolls 52. ;The inner end of the conveyer belt passes over a roll 202 (Fig. 6) and thence around the two feed drums 56 and 58 and over an idle roll 204 to the outer roll 200. The roll 2.02 is rotatably mounted between the angle irons 194, the roll 204 between brackets 206 depending therefrom, and the feed drums 56 and 58 are mounted upon shafts 208 and 210 respectively, having bearings in the bracket extensions 190 and 192 as shown most clearly in Fig. 6.

These feed drums are driven continuously at a uniform rate of speed from the constantly driven auxiliary power shaft 60. The power shaft 60 is provided with a pulley 216 (Fig. 5), by which it is driven by a belt (not shown) and the shaft is also provided with a gear 218 that meshes with a gear 220 on a. shaft 222, said shaft being provided with a pinion 224 that cooperatively engages a gear 226 on a shaft 228. This shaft 228 also carries a gear 230 that meshes with a gear 232 that is mounted upon a stud 234, which gear in turn cooperates with another gear 236 on a shaft 238. Fixed to this shaft is a pinion 240 having a driving engagement with a gear 242 on'a stud 244 which also meshes with a gear 246 that is fixed to the shaft 210 of the feed drum 58. This feed drum is. coupled with the feed drum 56 by means of a gear'248 on the shaft 210, a plurality of idler gears 250 and-252 and a gear 254 that is secured to the shaft 208 of the feed drum 56. The several shafts above referred to are journaled in the bracket extensions 190 and 192. By means of the gearing just described, both feed drums 56 and 58 are continuously driven at a uniform rate of speed from the auxiliary drive shaft 60 andv serve to continuously and uniformly feed the conveyer or belt 54.

It may be desired, underv certain conditions, to change the speed of operation of the feed drums 56 and 58 to vary the rate of feed of the stock, and therefore a suitable gear shift is provided which embodies a shift lever 255 (Figs. '4 and 5) having a lockingv handle 257. Any suitable gear shiftmechanisminay be employed and inasmuch. as it forms no material part of the present invent-ion, no description thereof will. be given.

The strip of stock to be operated upon is wound up in theform of the roll 62 with an interposed layer of fabric 260 between the several convolutions in. order toprevent adhesion of the stock, if of rubber material, or the like. The roll 62- is rotatably supported on a shaft 262 which is mounted. at its ends upon roller bearings 264 carried by upright brackets 266 forming parts of the truck64. This truck is located beneath-the table 50 and is rigidly anchored in position by means of connecting rods 268 that are pivoted to the lower ends of the standards 198-and which suitably engage a portionof the truck. i

Prior to starting up the machine for the first time, the ends of the stock and interposed fabric are pulled upwardly and over the roll 200, as shown inFig. -1, the fabric being suitably and temporarily secured to the conveyer 54 while the end of the stock is allowed to. restlupo-n the upper stretch of said conveyer. WVhen the feedv mechanism is thrown into operation, [the feed conveyer 54 serves to unwind the stock and fabric from the roll until the fabric has passed around the two feed drums 56 and 58 and thence over the idler roll 204, as shown in Fig. 6. The end of the fabric may then be released from theconveyer belt 54 and, during the further operation of the feedmechanism, allowed to accumulate in a pile on the floor. The fabric therefore serves 'in a large measure to unwind and feed the stock, although the weight of the stock upon the conveyer 54 is suflicient, if of rubber material, or the like, to aid materially in the feed operation. The free end of the stock, of course, is not carried around the feed drums'56 and 58 but is fed in the direction of. its length across the cutting.- block 40 of the cutting mechanism 30,

being guided in position by adjustable angular guides 27.6 (Figs. 3 and 6). For'the purpose of guiding the stock as it is fed from the roll 62, a plurality of adjustable guides 27 0' are provided upon a tie-rod 272 that rigidly connects the brackets 196. These guides 270 are curved in form and are slidably and adjustably mounted on the rod 272 so that they may be suitably positioned to engage the edges of the stock and maintain it in proper feeding position.

As the stock is fed continuously and at a uniform rate, an adjustable measuring apparatus is employed to measure or determine any predetermined length of feed and to thereupon function through suitable connections to automatically trip the latch 160, thereby permitting the actuating rod 162 to be projected downwardly by the spring 162 toeffect the actuation of the treadle arm 132 by means of which the clutch 44 is thrown into engagement to connect the cutting mechanism to its source of power.

Referring particularly to Figs- 7, 8, 9 and 10, the measuring apparatus comprises a relatively broad ratchet 280 that is keyed adjacent the'forward end of the constantly rotated shaft 238. Loosely mounted upon the shaft 238 adjacent the ratchet 280' and extending through the bracket extension 190 is an adjustablev sleeve 282, and mounted for rotatable movement upon said sleeve is a: collar 284 having a radially projecting arm 286 integral therewith. The outer end of this arm supports a stud 288 extending parallel to the shaft 238 and upon which are mounted a plurality of pawls 290. These pawls are disposed side-by-side and extend the full width of the ratchet 80 and are graduated in length so that one of the p-awls shall be in a position to immediately engage a tooth of the ratchet without any substan tial lost motion. All of the pawls are provided with tail pieces 292 that are acted upon by coiled springs 294 which are seated in sockets in a member 296 that extends parallel to the stud 288 and which is of yoke form, being provided with arms 298 and 300 at its respective ends by means of which said member is mounted on the stud 288. The arm 300 is pinned to said stud while the arm 298 is: provided with an integral inwardly and radially projecting trip lug: 302.

This yoke member 296 is adapted to occupy two positions with respect to the pawls, one position, as shown in Fig. 10, in which the ratchet 280, and another position, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 in which the member 296 engages bosses 304 on the respective pawls and holds the pawls in inoperative position. and out of engagement with the ratchet. These two positions of the yoke member 296 are determined and maintained by means of a position-accentuating device embodying a spring-pressed pin 306 (Fig. 9) that is carried by the collar 284 and which is adapted to engage one or the other of a plurality of notches 308 and 309 provided in an extended portion of a collar 310 that is pinned to one end of the stud 288.

With the yoke member 296 in the position shown in full lines in Figs. 7 and 10, the pin 306 being positioned in the notch 309, the pawls 290 are free to be moved inwardly by their springs 294 into engagement with one of the teeth of the ratchet which is continuously driven in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 7. Under these conditions, the collar 284 on which the pawls are mounted is also driven in the same direction and at the same rate. When the collar 284 and the pawls-carried thereby have been rotated in a clockwise direction to their limit of travel, a lug 312 projecting outwardly from the arm 286 is brought into engagement with one end of a bell crank 314 that is pivotally mounted upon a pin 316. The bell crank is thus actuated against the action of a spring 318 and through the medium of arod 320'pivotally connected. to one arm thereof, serves to trip or release the latch 160 which normally sustains the actuating rod 152 of the cutting mechanism when said mechanism is atrest. Thereupon, the main clutch 441 is thrown in and the cutting mechanism started into operation in: the manner already described. The outer end of the trip rod 320 is provided with a member 322 carrying a pin 324 that is adapted to rest in a notch 326 in the upper end. of the latch 160, whereby an operative connectionbetween the rod 320and the latch 160* is established.

Immediately after the actuation of the bell crank 314, the trip lug 302 of the yoke member 296 engages an adjustable stop screw 328 carried by an arm 330that is suitably mounted upon the bracket extension 190', whereupon the yoke member 296 is thrown to its other position where it is maintained by the position-accentuating pin 306 snapping into the other notch 308 of the collar 310. This movement of the yoke member 296 causes it to engage the bosses 304 of the respective pawls which are accordingly withdrawn from engagement with the ratchet 280, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 7.

As soon as the pawls 290 are released from

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