US643691A - Machine for doubling metal plates. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Feb. 20, I900.

n. n. SPEARS. MACHINE FOR DOUBLING METAL PLATES. I

(Application filed Mar. 1, 1899.)

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- Patented Feb. 20, I900.

No. 643,69I.

n. n. SPEARS. MACHINE FOR DOUBLING METAL PLATES.

(Application filed Hat 5 Sheets-Shut 2,

(No Model.)

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Nm 43, 9| Patented Feb. 20, I900. R. R. SPEARS.

MACHINE FOB DOUBLING METAL PLATES.

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7 I'NE NORRIS PETERS co PHOTD-LITHQ, WASHINGTON. o c.

N0. 643,69l. Patented Feb. 20, I900.

R. R. SPEARS.

MACHINE FOB DOUBLING METAL PLATES.

(Application filed Mar. 1, 1899.) (No Model.) 5 Shee'tsSheat 4.

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No. 643,69l. Patented Feb. 20, 1.900..

R. R. SPEARS. I

MACHINE FOR DOUBL'ING METAL PLATES. (Application filed Mar. 1, 1899.)

(No Model.) 5- Sheets8heet 5,

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FFICEQ FATEN'I RALPH R. SPEARS, OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGlNlA.

MACHINE FOR DOUBLING METAL PLATES.

SP C FICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,691, dated February 20, .1900.

Application filed March 1, 1899. Serial No. 707,256. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Beitknown that I, RALPH R. SPEARS, a citizen of the United States,r esiding at Wheeling, in the county of Ohio and State of West Virginia, have invented a new and useful Machine for Doubling Metal Plates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the art of .handling tin and other sheet-metal plates; and it has for its object to provide an improved machine for steadily, quickly, and accurately doubling or folding sheet-metal plates, thereby obviating the objections to the hand process,which is com monly resorted to for this purpose.

While the step of doubling sheet-metal plates is usually carried out manually, still machines have been designed for accomplishing this result; but such machines have only been operated in connection with the ordinary shearing-machine for trimming the contiguous edges of the folded plate and have not embodied shearing mechanism as a part of the doubling-machine itself. It is therefore the purpose of the present invention to provide an improved machine having means not only for accurately doubling or folding the sheet, but also for accurately trimming the edges thereof, and thereby placing the same in proper condition for immediate delivery to the heating-furnace, thus greatly economizing in-the time usually required for doubling and shearing tin and other sheetmetal plates.

With these and other objects in view,which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The improvements forming the fundamental features of the present invention are necessarily susceptible to a variety of modifications, still the preferred embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a plan view of a machine for doubling metal plates constructedin accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of the same., Fig. 3 is a side or front view of the machine Fig. 4 is a similar view from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional View of the machine on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 isa detail sectional View showing aportion of the gearing for the pair of deliveryrolls. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the drive-shaft, showing the clutches thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates the stationary base of themachine, which is preferably in the form of a hollow stand and of a'general rectangular configuration. The said stationary base is provided with a horizontal top portion, on which is arranged a plurality of parallel transverse table-supports 2, preferably consisting of angle-irons suitably bolted to the top of the base or stand and supporting thereon the horizontal work-holding table 3. The horizontal work-holding table 3, which is held elevated above the top of the base or stand by the transverse table-supports 2, is made in separate sections arranged, respectively, at opposite sides of the transverse center of the machine to permit of the doubled plate being carried downward through the base or stand in the manner to be presently explained, and each of said table-sections is preferably of a slatted formation, and consists of a plurality of flat parallel table slats or bars t, which provide a perfectly flat and uniform rest-surface for the metal plate to be doubled or folded, While at the same time providing circulating-spaces for the air, whereby the heated plate will be cooled and the parts of the machine with which it contacts prevented from becoming unduly heated, and a further advantage of having the table-sections of a slatted construction is to enable the operator to observe the plate at any point during its travel or passage through the machine.

The Work-holding table 3 is provided at one side edge thereof and upon opposite sides of the transverse center of the machine with upstanding rest-flanges 5, preferably consisting of angled plates bolted to the table and designed to form abutments for one side edge of the plate to rest against, and thereby insure a proper positioning thereof on the table prior to being operated upon by the doubling mechanism of the machine. In addition to the lateral or side rest-flanges 5 it is also necessary to provide means for properly centerin g the plate upon the table, so that the creaseline of the doubled plate will be placed at the transverse center thereof. This centering of the plate to be doubled is accomplished through the medium of a pair of oppositelylocated centering-arms 6, the upper ends of which arms project above the plane of the table, respectively at opposite ends thereof, as plainly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The said oppositely-located centeringarms 6 are designed to have a swinging movement simultaneously toward or away from each other, and to secure this result the lower ends of said arms are rigidly connected with transverse rook shafts 7, journaled transversely of the machine base or stand, respectively at opposite ends thereof, and each of said rock-shafts 7 also has fitted thereto a rock-arm 8, to which is pivotally connected one end of a connecting-bar 9, the other end of which is pivotally connected to one arm of a bell-crank lever 10, pivotally supported at its angle within the base or stand at an intermediate point between the ends of the latter. The bell-crank levers 10, respectively for the separate rock-shafts 7, are arranged reversely with relation to each other, and the short arms of both of these levers have pivotally connected thereto one end of an adjusting-link 11, thus forming a toggle connection, and the lower end of said link 11 is pivotally connected to a treadle 12, which is pivotally supported at one end, as at 13, on the base or stand, but has the free end thereof exposed at the front side of the machine within reach of the operator. By reason of the connections described it will be understood that when the metal plate to be doubled is placed upon the table against the lateral rest-flanges 5 the same may be accurately centered upon the table by simply depressing the treadle 12, which draws down upon the connected arms of the bell-crank 10, and thereby causes the simultaneous movement of both centering-arms 6 toward the transverse center of the machine, and in this connection it is to be observed that the upper active ends of the swinging centering-arms 6 are equidistant from the doubling mechanism of the machine.

Between the inner contiguous ends of the opposite sections of the work-holdin g table 3 is arranged a pair of transversely-yielding bending-rolls 14. The bending-rolls 14 are of a length coextensive with the width of the work-holding table, and each of said rolls has its spindle extremities journaled in oppositely-located slidable bearingblocks 15, mounted in oppositelylocated and transversely-alined slotted guide-boxes 16, and within these guide-boxes are placed pressuresprings 1'7, bearing against the blocks 15 and providing means for yieldingly pressing the bending-rolls in a direction toward each other, and by reason of said springs the two bending-rolls are normally held in peripheral contact. Between the slidable springpressed bearings for the horizontal parallel bendingposition.

rolls 14 the machine base or stand 1 is pro' of creasing the metal plate and forcibly bending the same between the rolls 14, and said blade is preferably of a triangular shape,with its straight lower edge lying parallel with the bending-rolls 14, which straight lower edge is preferably beveled, as indicated at 20, to form a knife-edge, which creases the metal plate and provides a fulcrum upon which the same may bend as it is carried down between the bending-rolls. The vertical edge of the triangular creasing-blade 19 is bolted between a pair of parallel vertically-disposed angleiron or equivalent clamping plates 21, which extend the full height of the vertical edge of the creasing-blade and are in turn bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the verticallyreciprocating dovetailed slide 22. In addition to the angle-iron clamp-plates 21, between which the vertical edge portion of the creasing-blade is held,the latter has bolted thereto upon opposite sides the horizontal transversely-arranged reinforce angle-plates 23, which serve to stiffen up and brace the intermediate portion of the creasing-blade and prevent relative displacement thereof with ref erence to the other parts of the machine with which it cooperates, while also preventing buckling or undue straining of the creasingblade during the downward thrust thereof when carrying the metal plate between the bending-rolls.

The vertically reciprocating dovetailed slide 22 for the creasing-blade is arranged to work in a similarly-shaped slideway formed between a pair of oppositely-arranged vertical parallel guide-strips 24, bolted or otherwise-suitably fastened to the innerside of an upright supporting-bracket 25, arising from the machine base or stand from one side thereof and projecting a sufficient distance above the plane of the work-holding table to properly support the creasing-blade in its elevated To provide for communicating motion to the vertically-reciprocating creasing-blade, the slide 22 thereof has projected from its outer side an offstanding attachingstud 26, to which is pivotally connected the upper end of an operating-pitman 27, the lower end of which pitnian has a wrist-pin connection 28 with a spur crank-wheel 29,

mounted on one end of a shaft 29, extending transversely across the machine base orstand and journaled in suitable bearings at the sides thereof. The spur crank-wheel 29 meshes constantly with a drive-pinion 30, which is loosely mounted upon a transverse driveshaft 31, also journaled transversely of the base or stand and carrying at one end beyond the base or stand the ordinary fast and loose pulleys 32 and 33, respectively, and a fly or balance wheel 34. The loose drive-pinion 30 is provided at one side with a clutch-face 35, adapted to be engaged by the clutch projections 36 at one side of a double clutch-collar 37, feathered upon the drive-shaft 31 at one side of the loose pinion 30 and having the annular groove thereof loosely engaged by the yoke 38 of a shipper-lever 39. The shipperlever 39 is arranged at one side of the machine base or stand and is pivoted thereto at its lower end, as at 40, whereby said lever may be swung in a lateral direction to provide for shifting the feathered clutch-collar 37 upon the drive-shaft. The said shipper-lever 39 has pivotally connected thereto one end of an adjusting-rod 41, extending transversely across the base or stand and working in suitable guide-openings therein. The said rod 41 has connected to the end thereof opposite its connection with the shipper-lever 41 a horizontal bell-crank lever 42, pivotally supported at the front side of the base or stand and also having connected thereto one end of a connecting-rod 43, the other end of which rod is pivoted to an adjusting-lever 44, pivoted at its lower end, as at 45, to the front side of the base or stand and having the upper portion thereof working Within a keeper 46. When it is desired to throw the creasing-blade in action, it is simply necessary to throw the lever 44 in a direction toward the point marked doubling, which provides for moving the shipper-lever 39 in an outward direction, with a consequent movement of the clutch-collar 37 into engagement with the loose pinion 30, thus causing said pinion to rotate with the drive-shaft and communicate motion to the crankwheel 29, one rotation of which crankwheel carries the creasing-blade down between the bending-rolls to its lowest limit of movement and then upward again to its elevated and inactive position above the bending-rolls.

During the operation of the machine it is necessary to automatically stop the creasingblade when it reaches its elevated inactive position, so that the other parts of the machine may perform their functions without interference. To accomplish this, several expedients may be resorted to, and it will be understood that no claim is made herein to any specific means for automatically stopping the creasing-blade when it reaches its elevated position; but a simple way of attaining this result is shown in the drawings, in which thecrank-Wheel 29 is illustrated as being provided atone side and adjacent to its periphery with a beveled cam lug or projection 49, which is arranged in such a position that at the moment the creasing-blade reaches its upward limit of movement such lug or projection will engage against the side of the clutch-collar 37 next to the clutch-face of the loose pinion 30 and will throw such collar out of engagement with the pinion, and thereby immediately stop the rotation of the crank-wheel, as well as the movement of the creasing-blade. When the cam lug or projection 49 engages the clutchcollar in the manner described, the same simply moves such collar to an intermediate position between the loose pinion 30 and a similarpinion 50. The pinion 50 is loosely mounted on the drive-shaft 31 and is provided at one side with a clutch-face 51,. adapted to be engaged by the clutch projections 36 on the adcent side of the double clutch-collar 37, and said pinion 50 is constantly in mesh with a spur-wheel 52, mounted on one end of a crankshaft 53, arranged transversely of the machine base or stand, at one end of the latter. The transverse crank-shaft 53 is provided at points within the base or stand with a plurality of cranks or eccentrics 54, with which is connected one end of pitmen 55, the other ends of which pitmen are pivotally coupled, by means of suitable knuckle connect-ions 56, to a transverse horizontally-reciprocating shearhead 57. The horizontally reciprocating shear-head 57 is arranged transversely of the base or stand below the plane of the workholding table and is provided at its opposite .ends with the slide-tongues 58, slidably working in the horizontal guide-grooves 59, formed at the upper inner sides of the machine base or stand and providing means for guiding the shear or knife head 57 in a horizontal movement beneath the bending-rolls 14 and across the plane of the vertical slot 18 in one side of the base or stand, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The horizontally-reciprocating head 57 carries the movable shear-blade 60, which is adjustably clamped to the head by means of suitable bolts 61 and is properly set through the medium of adjusting or set screws 62, mounted on the head and bearing against the back edge of the movable shearblade 60. The movable shear-blade 60, carried by the reciprocating head 57, cooperates with a stationary or ledger shear-blade 63, adj ustably mounted on a stationary supporting-bar 64, extending transversely across the base or stand and arranged 'at one side of the plane of the vertical movement of the creasing-blade 19. The stationary or ledger blade 63 is adjustably clamped to its support 64 by means of suitable bolts 65 and is properly set to a proper working position through the medium of adjusting or set screws 66, mounted on the supporting-bar 64 and bearing against the back edge of the said blade 63. The adjustments of the two shear-blades on their supports are the same; but the essential feature of the construction described is the relative arrangement of the stationary and movable shearblades to constitute a shearing mechanism below the plane of the bending-rolls 14, between which the doubled sheet is forced on the downward thrust of the creasing-blade 19. When the shearing mechanism thus described comes into play, the

4 eaeel contiguous edges of the doubled sheet are accurately trimmed off and the cuttings fall upon the stationary or ledger blade, which is slightly inclined, and work over the arched sheet-metal apron 67, which is clamped at one edge between the stationary or ledger blade and the adjusting-screws therefor and is arched completely over the adjusting-screws to provide for shedding the cuttings and deflecting the same into a delivery spout or chute 68, arranged at an inclination within the base or stand transversely below the lower edge of the apron 67 and extending out from one side of the base or stand to discharge the cuttings at a point convenient of access.

During the operation of the machine it is of course necessary to stop the action of the shearing mechanism after a doubled plate has been trim med thereby, and to secure this result the same expedient maybe resorted to that is used to automatically stop the creasing-blade when it reaches its elevated inactive position. This expedient is to provide the spur-wheel 52 at one side and adjacent to its periphery with a beveled cam lug or projection 69, which is arranged in such a position that when the movable shear-blade retires to its inactive position away from the stationary or ledger blade, such lug or projection will engage against the side of the clutch-collar 37 facing the loose pinion 50 and will throw such collar out of engagement with such pinion, and thereby immediately stop the rotation of the spur-wheel 52. WVhen the cam lug or projection 69 of the spur-wheel 52 comes into action in the manner explained, it simply moves the clutch-collar to an intermediate inactive position between the loose pinions 30 and 50.

The doubled plate, which is carried downward between the bending-rolls 14 and the blades of the shearing mechanism, is caught between a pair of delivery-rolls 70 and 71, respectively, which are arranged in vertical alinement with the bending-rolls 14. The spindle extremities of the delivery-roll 70 are journaled in fixed bearings in the sides of the machine base or stand, and the spindle extremities of the other delivery-roll 71 are journaled-in the slidable bearing-boxes 72, mounted in slots 73 in the sides of the base or stand and having arranged to bear against one side thereof the pressure-springs 74,

which serve to normally press the roll 71 toward the roll 70, while at the same time allowing the rolls to spread apart to permit of the passage of the doubled sheet between the same.

The two transversely-arranged deliveryrolls 70 and 71 are geared together for positive rotation in opposite directions by means of the meshing gear-wheels 74, mounted on contiguous spindle extremities of the rolls at one end thereof, as plainly shown in detail Fig. 6 of the drawings, and the spindle extremity of the delivery-roll 70 opposite the gear-wheel 74 has mounted thereon a spurwheel 75, which meshes with a pinion 76, mounted on an idle shaft 77, journaled transversely of the machine base or stand and playing between the delivery-roll 70 and the drive-shaft 31. To provide for communicating motion to the idle shaft 77, the latter has mounted thereon, adjacent to one side of the base or stand, a gear-wheel 78, meshing with a similar-wheel 79, loosely mounted on the drive-shaft 31. The loose gear-wheel 79 is provided at one side with a clutch-face normally engaged by the clutch projections 80 of a clutch-collar 81, feathered on the driveshaft 31 and having the annular groove thereof engaged by one arm with a bell-crank shipper-lever 82, the other arm of whichlever has pivotally connected thereto one end of an operating-bar 83, the other end of which connects with a bell-crank treadle 84L, pivotally supported on the machine base or stand and exposed contiguous to the treadle 12 and the lever 44 within easy reach of the operator. The clutch-collar 81 normally engages with the loose gear-wheel 79, and thereby provides for a constant rotation of the deliveryroll; but when it is necessary to stop the motion of these rolls during the action of the shearing mechanism a depression of the treadle 84 will disengage the clutch-collar 81 from the gear-wheel 79 and effect this result.

The doubled and trimmed plate, which is carried downward between the delivery-rolls 70 and 71, is deflected onto either of the oppositely-arranged plate-conveyers 85 through the medium of the deflector 86, arranged below and centrally between the delivery-rolls 70 and 71. The deflector 86 essentially comprises a plurality of alined V-shaped fingers 87, rigidly fastened to the upper side of an oscillatory sleeve 88, loosely mounted upon the transverse shaft 29, carrying the spur crank-wheel 29. The oscillatory deflectorsleeve 88 has rigidly fastened thereto one end of a bent operating-lever 89, extended out from the base or stand at the front side thereof and having its free end adapted to be engaged in either of a pair of spaced keepers 90, projected from the front side of the base or stand and providing means for holding the deflector tilted against either of the deliveryrolls, according to the con veyer 85 upon which the plate is to be delivered. It will be observed that when the apices of the deflectorfingers 87 are held against one of the delivery-rolls the doubled and trimmed sheet will be deflected onto the conveyer 85 farthest from such roll.

Each of the oppositely-arranged plate-conveyers 85 extend to the heating-furnaces in which the doubled metal plates are to be reheated, and therefore obviate the necessity of dragging the plates to the furnace, and each of said conveyers preferably consists of a pair of endless conveyer-chains 91, passing over spaced chain-wheels 92, mounted on a conveyer-shaft 93, journaled transversely Within the base or stand below the oscillatory plate-deflector 86. The conveyer-shafts 93 for the oppositely-arranged conveyers are arranged in parallel relation and in close proX- imity to each other, said conveyer-shafts being geared together for positive rotation in opposite directions through the medium of the meshing pinions 94, mounted on contiguous extremities of the shafts. To provide for communicating motion to both of the geared conveyer-shafts, one of said shafts is further provided with a chain-wheel 95, over which passes the drive-chain 96, driven from a sprocket wheel 97, mounted on the idle shaft 77.

In the operation of the machine after the sheet-metal plate to be doubled has been properly centered upon the work-holding table in the manner described the lever 44 is moved in a direction to engage the clutch 37 with the loose pinion 30, thereby setting in motion the creasing-blade, which descends upon the metal plate, presses a crease-line therein at a central point, and forcibly bends the same between the bending-rolls 14. The continued downward movement of the creasing-blade carries the doubled plate between the delivery-rolls and 71, and then the creasing-blade ascends and automatically stops in its elevated position in the manner previously explained. When the deliveryrolls, which move at a vvery slow rate, of speed, carry the doubled plateto a pointwhere the contiguous edges thereof lie in proper potions to be trimmed, the rotation of the delivery-rolls is stopped in the manner described and the clutch 37 thrown into engagement with the pinion 50, thereby starting up the shearing mechanism which trims off the doubled plate, after which the movable blade of the shearing mechanism retires and automatically stops, as already set forth. Pressure is then relieved from the treadle 84 to again permit the delivery-rolls to rotate and feed the doubled and trimmed sheet onto one of the conveyers 85, which carries it to the furnace to be reheated. The same action is repeated in the subsequent operations of the machines.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described machine will be readily apparent without further description, and it will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for doubling sheet-metal plates, the base or stand provided at the top with oppositely located, slatted table sections, each having at one side edge thereof an upstanding rest-flange, doubling mechanism arranged to work in the space between the inner contiguous ends of the separate table-sections, and oppositely-located centering devices operating through spaces formed between the adjacent slats of the table-sections, substantially as set forth.

2. In a doubling-machine, the combination with the base, having a horizontal work-holding table, and doubling mechanism, of a pair of oppositely-located rock-shafts arranged at opposite ends of the frame, swinging centering-arms carried by said shafts and having their upper ends projecting above the plane of the table respectively at opposite ends thereof, a pair of contiguous reversely-arranged bell-crank levers having operative connections respectively with the separate rockshafts, and an operating-treadle having a link connection with contiguous ends of both bellcrank levers, substantially as set forth.

3. In a doubling-machine of the class described, the combination with the table, and the doubling mechanism, of a pair of oppositely-located rock-shafts, swinging centering-arms carried by said shafts, and projecting above the plane of the table respectively at opposite ends thereof, and a single treadle having duplicate operating connections respectively with the separate rock-shat ts, substantially as set forth.

4. In a doubling-machine for sheet-metal plates, a pair of bending-rolls, a verticallyreciprocating slide, a vertical creasing-blade, clamping-plates embracing an edge of said blade and fastened to the slide, and reinforce plates fastened to opposite faces of the blade, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine for doubling sheet-metal plates, a pair of bending-rolls, a verticallyreoiprocating slide,a vertical triangular creasing-blade, and angle-plates receiving therebetween and reinforcing the vertical edge of the blade, said plates also abutting flat against the slide and fastened thereto, substantially as set forth.

6. In a doublingmachine, the combination of a pair of bending-rolls, a Vertically-reciprocating slide, a vertical creasing-blade arranged at one side of the slide, a fastening connection between one edge of the blade and the slide, and reinforce-strips arranged transversely of the blade at opposite sides thereof, substantially as set forth.

7. In a doubling-machine, the combination of a pair of bending-rolls, a vertically-reciprocating slide, a vertically-disposed triangular creasing-blade, clamp-plates embracing the vertical edge of the creasing-blade and fastened to said slide, and a pair of horizontal reinforce angle-plates arranged transversely of the creasing-blade and fastened to opposite sides thereof, substantially as set forth.

8. A machine for handling sheet metal plates consisting of the following instrumentalities, to wit: abase, a pair of bending-rolls, a vertically reciprocating creasing blade adapted to work between said rolls, automatically operating shearing mechanism arranged below the plane of the bending-rolls,

IIO

means for operatively connecting the creasing-blade and the shearing mechanism, sub stantially as set forth.

9. A machine for handling sheetmetal plates consisting of the following instrumentalitics, to wit: a base, a pairof bending-rolls, a transversely-arranged vertically-reciprocating creasing-blade, a drive-shaft, a clutch mechanism mounted upon the drive-shaft, a crank-wheel havinga pitman connection with the slide, and also having a cam cooperating with the clutch mechanism, and a shearing mechanism arranged below the bending-rolls and includinga gear-wheel, also havinga cam cooperating with the said clutch mechanism, substantially as set forth.

10. A machine for handling sheetmetal plates, consisting of the following instrumentalities, to wit: doubling mechanism for doubling the plate, shearing mechanism operatively connected with the doubling mechanism, means for bringing the doubling and shearing mechanisms into action at different intervals, and separate means for automatically stopping respectively the doubling and shearing mechanisms, substantially as set forth.

11. A machine for handling sheetmetal plates consisting of the following instrumentalities, to wit: a pair of bending-rolls, a vertically-reciprocatin g creasing-blad e, shearing mechanism arranged below the bending-rolls, means for operatively connecting the shearing mechanism with the creasing-blade,means for reciprocating the creasing-blade, and also for operating the shearing mechanism, and separate means for stoppingthe movement of the blade and the action of said shearing mechanism, substantially as set forth.

12. A machine for handling sheet-metal plates consisting of the following instrumentalities, to wit: a pair of bending-rolls, a vertically-reci procatin g creasing-blade, shearing mechanism arranged below the bending-rolls, delivery mechanism arranged below the shearing mechanism, and means for operatively connecting the creasing-blade, the shearing mechanism and the delivery mechanism, substantially as set forth.

13. A machine for handling sheet-metal plates consisting of the following instrumentalities, to wit: doubling mechanism for doubling the metal plate, shearing mechanism for trimming the doubled plate, delivery mechanism for feeding the doubled plate into position to be trimmed, and subsequently delivering the same from the machine, and means for operatively connecting the doubling,shearing and delivery mechanisms,substantially as set forth.

14. A machine for handling sheet-metal plates consisting of the following instrumentalities, to wit: doubling mechanism for doubling the plate, delivery mechanism for feeding the doubled plate through the machine, shearing mechanism interposed between the doubling and delivery mechanisms, means for operatively connecting the doubling, shearing and delivery mechanisms, and a conveyer arranged to receive the doubled and trimmed plate from the delivery mechanism, substantially as set forth.

15. A machine for handling sheet-metal plates consisting of the following instrumentalities, to wit: the doubling mechanism for doubling the plate, delivery mechanism, shearing mechanism interposed between the doubling and delivery mechanism, means for operatively connecting the doubling, delivery and shearing mechanisms, means for bringing the doubling and shearing mechanisms into action at difierent intervals, means for stopping the action of the delivery mechanism during the action of the shearing mechanism, and separate means for automatically stopping respectively the doubling and shearing mechanisms, substantially as set forth.

16. A machine for handling sheet-metal plates consisting of the following instrumentalities, to wit: a pair of bending-rolls, a vertically-reciprocating creasing-blade, shearing mechanism arranged below the bending-roll, delivery mechanism arranged below the shearing mechanism, means for operatively connecting the doubling, shearing and delivery mechanisms, means for separately bringing into action the doubling and shearing mechanisms, means for stopping the action of the delivery mechanism during the action of the shearing mechanism, and separate means for automaticallystoppingrespectivelythe movement of the creasing-blade and the action of the shearing mechanism, substantially as set forth.

17. A machine for handling sheet-metal plates consisting of the following instrument-alities, to wit: a pair of bending-rolls, avertically-reciprocating creasing-blade, shearing mechanism arranged below the bending-rolls, delivery mechanism arranged belowthe shearing mechanism, means for operatively connecting the doubling, shearing and delivery mechanisms, and a conveyer arranged to receive the doubled and trimmed plate from the delivery mechanism, substantially as set forth.

18. A machine for handling sheet-metal plates consisting of the following instrumentalities, to wit: a pair of bending-rolls, a vertically-reciprocating creasing-blade,fixed and movable shear-blades arranged in working relation below the bending-rolls, means for operating the movable shear-blade,and means for operatively connecting the doubling, shearing, and delivery mechanisms, delivery mechanism arranged below the shear-blade, substantially as set forth.

19. A machine for handling sheet-metal plates consisting of the following instrumentalities, to wit: the doublingmechanism, fixed and movable shear-blades supported in work ing relation and receiving therebetween the doubled sheet from said doubling mechanism, means for operating the movable shear-blade and for automatically stopping the same in an inactive position, delivery mechanism arranged below the shear-blades, means for operatively Connecting the doubling, shearing and delivery mechanisms, substantially as set forth.

20. A machine for handling sheet-metal plates consisting of the following instrumentalities, to wit: a pair of bending-rolls, a vertically-reciprocating creasing-blade, a fixed shear-blade arranged below the plane of the bending-rolls, a horizontally-reciprocating shear-blade disposed in working relation to the fixed shear-blade, means for operating the movable shear-blade and for automatically stopping the same in an inactive position, a delivery mechanism arranged below the shear-blades, and means for operatively connecting the doubling, shearing and delivery mechanisms, substantially as set forth.

21. A machine for handling sheet-metal plates consisting of the following instrumentalities, to wit: a pair of bending-rolls, a vertically-reciprocating creasing-blade, a stationary supporting-bar, arranged below the plane of the bending-rolls, a fixed shear-blade adjustably mounted on said supporting-bar, a horizontal reciprocating shear-head slid ably supported at its ends and carrying an adjustable shear-blade disposed in working relation to the other shear-blade, means for operating the reciprocating shear-head and for automatically stopping the same in an inactive position, a delivery mechanism arranged below the shear-blade, means for operatively connecting the doubling, shearing and delivery mechanisms, substantially as set forth.

22. A machine for handling sheet-metal plates consisting of the following instrumentalities, to wit: the doubling mechanism, shearing mechanism arranged below the doubling mechanism and essentially comprising a fixed and movable shear-blade, means for operatively connecting the doubling and shearing mechanisms, an apron arched over the fixed shear-blade and its support, and a delivery spout or chute for cuttings, arranged transversely below said apron, substantially as set forth.

23. A machine for handling sheet-metal plates consisting of the following instrumentalities, to wit: a pair of bending-rolls, a vertically-reci procatin g creasing-blade, shearing mechanism arranged below the bending-rolls, a pair of relatively-yielding delivery-rolls arranged below the shearing mechanism, and means for operatively connecting the doubling and shearing mechanism and said delivery-rolls, substantially as set forth.

24. A machine for handling sheet-metal plates consisting of the following instrumentalities, to wit: the doubling and shearing mechanisms, a pair of relatively-yielding delivery-rolls for receiving therebetween the doubled sheet, and means for operatively connecting the delivery-rolls and the doubling and shearing mechanisms, separate oppositely-extending conveyers, and a deflecting device arranged to deflect the doubled and trimmed sheets from the delivery-rolls onto either of the conveyers, substantially as set forth.

25. A machine for handling sheet-metal plates consisting of the following instrumentalities, to wit: the doubling and shearing mechanisms, a pair of relatively-yielding delivery-rolls, and means for operatively connecting said rolls and the doubling and shearing mechanisms, separate oppositely-extending conveyers, gearing for positively rotating the delivery-rolls, means for stopping the motion of said rolls, and a deflecting device arranged to deflect the doubled and trimmed plate from the delivery-rolls onto either of the conveyers, substantially as set forth.

26. In a doubling-machine, the combination with the doubling mechanism, of a pair of positively-rotating delivery-rolls, a pair of oppositely-arranged conveyers, respectively traveling in opposite directions away from the machine, and a deflecting device essen* tially comprising a supporting-shaft, an os cillatory sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft, and a plurality of inverted-V-shaped fingers rigidly fastened to said sleeve, means for oscillating the sleeve on its support and separate means for locking said deflecting device in either of two positions, substantially a set forth.

27. In a doubling-machine, the combina tion with the doubling mechanism, of a pair of positively-rotating delivery-rolls, a pair of oppositely-arranged conveyers, respectively traveling in opposite directions away from the machine, an oscillatory support located intermediate the delivery-rolls and conveyers, and provided with an inverted-V-shaped deflector, an operating-lever rigidly connected at one end with said oscillatory support, and means to positively engage with the le- Ver at different points to provide for holding the deflector in either of two positions, substantially as set forth.

28. A machine for handling sheet-metal plates consisting of the following instrumentalities, to wit: doubling mechanism for doubling the plate, shearing mechanism arranged below and in proximity to the d0u-' bling mechanism, delivery mechanism arranged below and in proximity to the shearing mechanism, means for operatively connecting the doubling, shearing and delivery mechanisms, and a conveyer arranged to receive the doubled and trimmed plate from the delivery mechanism, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RALPH R. SPEARS.

Witnesses:

J. H. RIDDLE, J 1'., JOHN J. GOMPEBS.

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