Improvements in Making Corks and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Apr., 1890-Accepted, 3rd May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Making Corks and in Apparatus therefor.
We GEORGE DUNCAN of King Street Liverpool in the County of Lancaster
Engineer and JOHN LATTA of 49 Paradise Street Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster Cork Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object is to enable the rough pieces of cork as ordinarily found in commerce to
be rapidly and accurately shaped into corks.
'
The invention consists essentially in cutting the said cork into strips or lengths in
shaping the said strips or lengths so as to form cylindrical rods, in snoothing the said
rods and finally in cutting them into lengths so that each length forms a cork.
The cork is cut into strips preferably square in cross section by knives in any
usual or suitable manner. The strips are made cylindrical by means of cutters
rotating around a centre and between which cutters the strips are passed end wise.
The said strips are then smoothed by contact with a rotating drum or moving band
coated with glass or like abraiding substance. The smooth cylindrical strips are then
cut into corks of the required length by means of knives or blades in any convenient
way.
If desired the strips may be entirely shaped by contact with a moving band coated
with glass or like abraiding substance but not so advantageously.
Dated this 1st day of July 1889.
Per pro J. T. KING,
J. Johnson,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Making Corks and in. Apparatus therefor.
We GEORGE DUNCAN of King Street Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster.
Engineer and JOHN LATTA of 49 Paradise Street Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster Cork Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
The object is to allow rough pieces of cork as ordinarily found in commerce to be
rapidly and accurately shaped into bottle corks.
The invention consists essentially in cutting the said rough pieces of cork into
strips, in shaping the said strips so as to form cylindrical rods, in smoothing or
polishing the said cylindrical rods, and finally in cutting the smoothed ör polished
rods into lengths so that each length forms a cork.
The cork is cut into strips preferably square in cross section by means of knives in
any usual or suitable manner, or a circular saw may be used. The strips are made
cylindrical by being passed end-wise between cutters rotating round a centre. The
said strips are then smoothed or polished by contact with a rotating drum, moving
band, or reciprocating bar coated with glass or like abraiding substance. The smooth
cylindrical strips are then cut into corks of the required length by means of knives or
blades in any convenient way.

page_text: cut cylinders 1 is a portion of a main frame adapted to carry a number of machines
and driving gear therefor. 2 is the frame of the machine 3 is a hollow spindle
carried in bearings 4, and caused to rotate at a high speed by means of a belt
passing around a pulley 5, one end of the said spindle is fitted with a chuck 6
which carries a cylindrical cutter 7 and radial cutters 8: the cutters and spindle
are so proportioned that there is a clear throughway for the rod after it has passed
the cutter: the other end of the said, spindle-terminates or is fitted with spring jaws 9.
10 is a table hinged at 11 so as to be adjustable and provided with feed rollers 12
driven by gear 13. 14 is a steadying strap for maintaining the pieces of cork
on the table. 15 is a receiving tube for the cut strips of cork. 18 shews a
polishing bar coated with powdered glass, with emery or other suitable material
held by glue, india rubber or like material. The said bar has given to it a
reciprocating motion by the gear 13. Strips of cork 19 are laid on the table 10
and are fed forward by the rollers 12 to the cutter 7 which latter cuts the strips into
cylindrical rods whilst the cut pieces 20 are separated from the main body of each rod
by the cutters 8. The cylinder of cork passes through the hollow spindle 3 and past
the spring jaws 9 into the receiving tube 15 where it is smoothed or polished by the
action of the bar 18. The smoothed or polished cylinder of cork is then cut into
lengths by rotating or other knives.
It will be evident that many forms of apparatus may be used in carrying our
invention in the order of proceedure into effect.
In producing corks by the sequescence of four operations mentioned a special
distinguishing feature is the leaving the strips free after they are cut into cylindrical
rods and leaving them free afterwards whilst being snoothed or polished.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim.is:-
First. Cutting.cork into strips shaping the strips so as to form cylindrical rods
smoothing, or polishing the rods and cutting the said rods into lengths substantially as
herein set forth.
Second. In apparatus for making corks the combination of rotating cutters with an
adjustable feed-table substantially.as set forth.
Third. In apparatus for making corks the combination of rotating cutters with feed
rollers and a steadying strap substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In apparatus for making corks the combination of cutting and smoothing
or polishing apparatus for the purpose set forth.
Dated the 1st April 1890
Per pro J. T. KING.
J. Johnson,
Agent.