IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MINCING OR MINUTELY DIVIDING MEAt and such LIKE SUBSTANCES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Topham, of Coleman Street, Bunhil
Row, St. Luke's, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MINCING OR MINUTELY
DIVIDING MEAt and such LIKE SUBSTANCES.”
Sealed the 30th May 1873, and dated the 3rd December 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Topham at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd December 1872.
I, CHARLES TOPHAM, of Coleman Street, Bunhill Row, St. Luke's,
in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MINCING OR
MINUTELY DIVIDING MEAT AND SUCH LIKE SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
I. My Invention relates, firstly, to such machines as are constructed in
two halves or bodies, an upper or detachable half and a lower or fixed
half, and consists in the means of securing these two halves or bodies
together tightly and in a reliable manner by a self-acting 'fastening and
tightening arrangement which I will now describe. The upper half or

page_text: body is provide (at each end by preference) with a stud or projection
forming the axis for a peculiarly shaped lever. These levers are
somewhat in the shape of a scythe or sickle blade and are secured in
such manner upon the stud just mentioned as to swing freely from
their upper ends. The lower half or body is provided with studs or
projections corresponding in position to those upon the upper half of
machine, so that when the upper half or body of machine is placed
upon the lower half the scythe or sickle shaped fasteners will at once
come round and beneath the studs on lower half or body, and as it were
wedge up and firmly secure the two halves or bodies together. These
fastening and tightening arrangements are also applicable when the two
halves or bodies are hinged together, and I purpose so applying them.
II. My Invention relates, secondly, to a means of securing the cutting
or dividing blades in the knife boxes of such machines. Such knives
with the blocks forming the spaces and regulating the distance between
the cutting edges, are at present generally held in position by screwing
them up at one end by means of a screw. I now in addition construct
the knives and blocks with a semicircular or other suitably shaped recess
at one end and I make one side of the knife box detachable. This
detachable side is made with a projection or moulding corresponding in
form with the recesses in knives and blocks, so that upon this detachable
piece being placed in position and screwed up it will securely lock or hold
such knives and blocks, the detachable side thus forming a
"lock
plate."
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 2
filed by the said Charles Topham in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd June 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
TOPHAM, of Coleman Street, Bunhill Row, Saint Luke's, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for. Herself, Her heirs and successors,

page_text: give and grant unto me, the said Charles Topham, Her special licence
that I, the said Charles Topham, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Topham, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES
FOR MINCING OR MINUTELY DIVIDING MEAT AND SUCH LIKE SUBSTANCES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Topham,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
•
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Topham, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
I. My Invention relates, firstly, to such machines as are constructed in
two halves or bodies, an upper or detachable half and a lower or fixed
half, and consists in the means of securing these two halves or bodies.
together tightly and in a reliable manner by a self-acting fastening and
tightening arrangement which I will now describe. The upper half or
body is provided (at each end by preference) with a stud or projection
forming the axis for a peculiarly shaped lever. These levers are
somewhat of the shape of a scythe or sickle blade and are secured in such
manner upon the studs just mentioned as to swing freely from their
upper ends. The lower half or body is provided with studs or pro-
jections corresponding in position with those upon the upper half of
machine, so that when the upper half or body of machine is placed upon
the lower half the scythe or sickle shaped fasteners will at once come
round and beneath the studs on lower half or body, and as it were
wedge up and firmly secure the two halves or bodies together. These
fastening and tightening arrangements are also applicable where
the two halves or bodies are hinged together and I purpose so applying
them.

page_text: II. My Invention relates to (secondly) and consists in a means of
securing the cutting or dividing blades in the knife boxes of such
machines. Such knives with the blocks forming the spaces and
regulating the distance between the cutting edges are at present
generally held in position by screwing them up at one end by means of a
screw. I now in addition construct the knives and blocks with a
semicircular or other suitably shaped recess at one end, and I make one
side of the knife box detachable. This detachable side is made with a
projection or moulding corresponding in form with the recesses in
knives and blocks, so that upon this detachable side being placed in
position and screwed up it will securely lock or hold such knives and
blocks, the detachable side thus forming a "lock plate."
In order that the nature of my Invention and the manner in which
the same is effected may be distinctly described and ascertained, this
Specification is accompanied by a Sheet of Drawings having.figures and
letters of reference marked thereupon, the like letter being used to
denote a similar or corresponding part in each Figure.
In these Drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal section; Figure 2, a
cross section; and Figure 3, an end view of one form of machine with
my improvements applied thereto. The upper half or body of machine
is marked a, the lower half or body b; the scythe or sickle blade shaped
fastening levers c swinging freely on the studs or axes d. The studs or
projections upon the lower half or body beneath which the levers c
come and bind, are marked e. In Figure 2 the lever c is shown in the
act of swinging round; in Figure 3 it is shown beneath the stud e holding
the upper half or body securely in position. As herein-before mentioned
these lever's and studs are placed by preference at each end of the
machine. The knives, one of which is shown separately in Figure 4,
are marked f; and the blocks, one of which is shown separately in
Figure 5, are marked g; and h denotes the recesses to receive the
projections or mouldings on "lock plate." The detachable side of knife
box otherwise called the "lock-plate" carrying the projection or
moulding, is denoted by i; the moulding or projection by j; the "lock
plate" is shown separately in Figures 6, 7, and 8; the projection or
moulding j, when the lock plate is screwed in position, entering the
recess h in knives and blocks, as shown in Figure 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my

page_text: claim,―
Firstly, is the means of securing the upper and lower halves of
machines together as herein in this Specification described, and in
the accompanying Drawings illustrated.
And Secondly, the means of locking and securing the knives and
blocks of the machines, also as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Topham, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of June, in the year of
our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.