IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING UP STRIPS OF CARDBOARD INTO CARDS SUITABLE FOR RAILWAY TICKETS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Warren William De La Rue, of 110, Bunhill Row, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR CUTTING UP STRIPS OF CARDBOARD INTO CARDS SUITABLE FOR RAILWAY
TICKETS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 30th August 1878, and dated the 21st June 1878.
Sealed the 30th August 1878, and dated the 21st June 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Warren William De La Rue
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st June 1878.
WARREN WILLIAN DE LA RUE, of 110, Bunhill Row, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING UP STRIPS OF CARDBOARD INTO
CARDS SUITABLE FOR RAILWAY TICKETS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
At the present time strips of cardboard are commonly cut into a number of
smaller strips by being placed one by one on to the top of a series of fixed parallel
knives, and bringing down on to them another similar series of knives; and the
cards, as they are cut, are pushed down in the spaces between the fixed knives by
blocks secured between the several knives of the moveable series, and the lower
ends of these blocks have been inclined, so that when they have come down on to
the cards they have depressed one side of them before the other, so titling the cards,
and allowing them to drop down between the fixed knives. Attempts have also
been made to collect the cards as they come from between the fixed knives in
columns or rows, so that they may readily be packed or removed to a printing
machine without its being necessary to arrange them in rows by hand. Hitherto
such attempts to collect the cards as they are cut have not met with any material
success.
According to my Invention I cause the cards, as they pass down from between
the fixed knives, to enter short channels, which are closed in at the front by a
plate, and below the channels I curve the plate in such manner that the plate comes
gradually into a horizontal position, and serves as a table on which the cards rest

page_text: as they descend from the channel. To support the cards in the channels, when
commencing work, I place into each channel a block, the upper face of which is
inclined, so that the cards, as they are pushed down in an inclined position from
between the knives, may rest upon them. The blocks themselves rest upon the bar
which passes across the curved plate, and to each end of the bar is connected a
jointed chain composed of blocks, which rest on the plate, and follow its curvature,
and as the chains are long enough for their ends to rest on the horizontal table the
weight of the blocks or of independent weights placed behind their ends on this
table gives sufficient friction to sustain the blocks on to which the cards descend.
As the strips of cards are cut up, and the small strips into which they are cut
are pushed into the channels they press down the blocks and move back the
weighted chains, overcoming the friction of them or the weights upon the table.
When a number of strips have thus been cut up, and the rows of cut strips
descending from the knives have come down to, and moved along some length of
the horizontal table, the chains may be removed, and the weight of cut cards resting
on the horizontal table will give sufficient friction to sustain the cards in the
channels froin the fixed knives.
In order that the cards, as they are cut, inay be pressed down well into the
channels I prefer to carry the pushers which push then down on a bar separate
from the bar which carries the moveable knives. As the moveable knives come
down on to a strip of card placed above the fixed knives I cause the pushers also
to descend with a slow motion given to them by eccentrics acting on the bar
which carries them, and as they pass down between the fixed knives they force
down the cut cards in the channels, moving down the column of cards previously
cut a distance equal to the thickness of the card just delivered from the cutters on
to the tops of the columns. The frame carrying the moveable knives I also give
motion to by cranks or eccentrics in place of its being carried by a weighted lever
worked to and fro by hand as heretofore usual in machines of the class above
mentioned.
In order to feed strips of card on to the top of the fixed cutters, previous to the
moveable cutters descending upon them, I employ two pairs of fingers which move
to and fro in slots in a table placed in front of the fixed knives. The pairs of
fingers move alternately in opposite directions to and from the knives. As they
move towards and up to the knives they project above the surface of the table, and
carry forward a strip of card placed in front of them, and deliver it on to the top of
the fixed knives. As they return they coine below the surface of the table, and do.
not interfere with the next strip of card which is then being carried forward by the
other pair of fingers. Each finger is for this purpose formed by one arm of a small
bell-crank lever that turns on a pin carried by a slide, which is free to move to and
fro along the slot; the other arm of the lever hangs downwards, and has con-
nected to it a link, and by this link the lever and slide which carries it are
moved to and fro. As the link moves forwards the crank first turns a distance,
and causes the finger to project above the table; and when the link moves back it
turns the crank in the opposite direction, and lowers the finger until it comes below
the surface of the table.
The means above described for collecting cards as they are cut, and retaining
them in columns or rows is applicable to other arrangements of machinery where
cards are cut from strips or sheets.
The arrangement of apparatus for feeding strips or cards into position to be cut
can also be used in other card-cutting machines.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Warren William De La Rue in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 21st December 1878.
WARREN WILLIAM DE LA RUE, of 110, Bunhill Row, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING UP STRIPS OF CARDBOARD INTO
CARDS SUITABLE FOR RAILWAY TICKETS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
At the present time strips of cardboard are commonly cut into a number of
smaller strips by being placed one by one on to the top of a series of fixed parallel
knives, and bringing down on to them another similar series of knives; and tho
cards, as they are cut, are pushed down in the spaces between the fixed knives by
blocks secured between the several knives of the moveable series, and the lower
ends of these blocks have been inclined, so that when they have come down on to
the cards they have depressed one side of them before the other, so tilting the cards,
and allowing them to drop down between the fixed knives. Attempts have also
been made to collect the cards as they come from between the fixed knives in
columns or rows, so that they may readily be packed or removed to a printing
machine without its being necessary to arrange them in rows by hand. Hitherto
such attempts to collect the cards as they are cut have not met with any material
success.
According to my Invention I cause the cards, as they pass down from between
the fixed knives, to enter short channels, which are closed in at the front by a plate,
and below the channels I curve the plate forming the continuation of the fronts of
the channels in such manner that the plate comes gradually into a horizontál
position, and serves as a table, on which the cards rest as they descend from the
channels. To support the cards in the channels when commencing work I place
into each channel a block, the upper face of which is inclined, so that the cards as
they are pushed down in an inclined position from between the knives may rest
upon them. The blocks themselves rest upon a bar which passes across the curved.
plate, and each end of the bar is connected with or rests upon a jointed chain com-
posed of blocks which rest on the plate and follow its curvature, and as the chains,
are long enough for their ends to rest on the horizontal table the weight of the
blocks or of independent weights placed behind their ends on this table gives
sufficient friction to sustain the blocks on to which the cards descend. As the strips
of card are cut up, and the small strips into which they are cut are pushed into
the channels, they press down the blocks and move back the weighted chains,
overcoming the friction of them or of the weights upon the table. When a
number of strips have thus been cut up, and the rows of cut strips descending from
the knives have come down to and moved along some length of the horizontal table,
the chains may be removed and the weight of cut cards resting on the horizontal
table will give sufficient friction to sustain the cards in the channels from the fixed
knives.
In order that the cards, as they are cut, may be pressed down well into the
channels, I prefer to carry the pushers which push them down on a bar separate
from the bar which carries the moveable knives. As the moveable knives come
down on to a strip of card placed above the fixed knives I cause the pushers also to
descend with a motion given by eccentrics acting on the bar which carries them..
As the pushers pass down between the fixed knives they force down the cut cards
in the channels, moving down the column of cards previously cut a distance equal
to the thickness of the card just delivered from the cutters on to the tops of the
columns. The frame carrying the moveable knives I also give motion to by cranks
or eccentrics in place of its being carried by a weighted lever worked to and fro by
hand as heretofore usual in machines of the class above mentioned.
In order to feed strips of card on to the top of the fixed cutters previous to the
moveable cutters descending upon them, I employ two pairs of fingers, which move
to and fro in slots in a table placed in front of the fixed knives. The pairs of

page_text: fingers move alternately in opposite directions to and from the knives. As they
move towards and up to the knives they project above the surface of the
table and carry forward a strip of card placed in front of them and deliver
it on to the top of the fixed knives. As they return they come below the
surface of the table, and do not interfore with the next strip of card
which is then being carried forward by the other pair of fingers. Each
finger is for this purpose formed by one arm of a small bell-crank lever that turns
on a pin carried by a slide which is free to move to and fro along the slot; the
other arm of the lever hangs downwards, and has connected to it a link, and by
this link the lover and slide which carries it are moved to and fro. As the link
moves forwards the crank first turns a distance and causes the finger to project
above the table, and when the link moves back it turns the crank in the opposite
direction, and lowers the finger until it comes below the surface of the table.
The means above described for collecting cards as they are cut, and retaining
them in columns or rows, is applicable to other arrangements of machinery where
cards are cut from strips or sheets.
The arrangement of apparatus for feeding strips of card into position to be cut
can also be used in other card-cutting machines.
'
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
"
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an end elevation, and Figure 2 is a transverse section of a machine
constructed according to my Invention, and suitable for cutting cards for railway
tickets and other uses.
a, a, is the main frame of the machine carrying the feeding table a¹ and sup-
porting the working parts; b is the main shaft; it has upon it the belt pulley b¹, by
which it is driven, and also the fly wheel 6. There is a brake upon the fly wheel to
be used for stopping the machine rapidly; this brake can be put on by a treddle, as
shown; a spring catch retains it until the machine is again to be put into motion, and
then the catch is thrown off by means of a hand lever, as Figure 1 shows. A pinion ba
on the main shaft b drives a wheel c' on the shaft c; c², c², are two eccentrics on the
shaft c; they give motion, by means of the rods d*, to the side cheeks or arms d' of
the upper knife frame d. The cheeks or arms are fixed upon the rocking shaft d²,
to which there is also attached the arm and counterbalance weight d××; d³, d³, are
two angle irons forming part of the upper knife frame; they have grooves cut in them
to receive the knives e, e, and the knives are fastened in their places by means of
wedges of hard wood; a, a, are other angle irons forming part of the frame a; they
are similarly grooved to receive the lower knives f. The knives are rectangular
plates of steel, each provided with a sharp cutting edge.
Figure 3 shows full size a transverse section of two pairs of knives set at a
distance apart suitable for cutting railway tickets.
The number of knives in the machine will vary according to the size of the cards
and the width of the cardboard to be cut.
In cutting railway tickets I usually employ seventeen knives in each set, cutting
sixteen tickets at a time.
,, are pushers working between the upper knives e, they are fixed to a bar g',
which, with its three arins g², forms a frame capable of turning upon the shaft d².
The middle arm extends beyond the shaft 2, and carries at its end a bowl or
small wheel g*, which rests against the periphery of a cain k on the cam shaft h'.
Two springs i, one at either end of the presser bar, tend to separate it from the
upper knife frame, and to keep the bowl or wheel gx against the cains.
The cam shaft has a spur wheel upon it, and through the intermediate wheels k
and it is driven from the pinion c³, on the shaft c; m and n are fingers, which
move to and fro beneath the table a'; the table is slotted, so that the ends of the
fingers may project above the surface of the table during the forward movement of
the fingers to the cutting knives, but they fall below the surface of the table during
the return motion.

page_text: Figure is a side view, full size, of one of the fingers with the parts in immediato
connection therewith; Figure 5 is a plan of the same.
o, o, are guides fixed beneath the table of the machine; there are four of these
guides, one for each finger; p, p, are blocks capable of sliding to and fro in the
guides o, they are retained in the guides by the said flanges p¹, p¹, to one of which,
in each case, the finger m or n is jointed. The movement of the finger about the
joint is limited by stops, as is shown, and the lower end of the finger is pinned to a
link q, by means of which movement is given it.
Strips of cardboard to be divided into cards or tickets are prepared of a width
equal to the length of the card or ticket to be produced, and these strips are laid,
one by one, upon the table al. One pair of fingers, say the fingers m, then advance,
with their points projecting above the table, and they come in contact with the card-
board strip upon the table; they act upon the strip near its ends, and they push it
forward before them until it is in position to be cut where it is brought to rest by
fixed stops ;-; The fingers m are now in the position in which they are
represented in Figure 2, they immediately descend beneath the surface of the table
a (the bar a and some other parts being notched to allow them to do so), and
having fallen commence to return, ready to act again. Whilst this is taking place
the fingers n act to carry forward another strip, and so the fingers m and n act
alternately; 8' and t¹ are arms upon rock shafts & and t, through which the fingers
derive their motion, the links q being jointed to these arms. The shaft & has an
arm 83, and a rod 8 connects this arm with an eccentric pin u¹ on the side of the
spur wheel u keyed on the shaft u. The wheel u² gears with the pinion c³ on
the shaft c. Similarly the shaft t has an arm t, connected by a rod t to an
eccentric pin on the disc u, which also is fixed upon the shaft u; vis a
fixed guard plate.
8
8
Immediately that a strip of cardboard is placed between the upper and lower
knives in the manner described the upper knives descend, and the strip is cut
transversely by each pair of knives. The resulting cards or tickets descend between
the lower knives, being forced down by the pushers g, which are so formed as is
shown at Figure 3, as to assist in inclining the cards or tickets to the extent
requisite to allow them to descend between the knives.
When the machine commences to work, the spaces between the knives f are
occupied by a series of blocks w, w, which rest upon a bar w', and this bar in turn
is supported at its two ends upon the blocks w³, w. The blocks of each set w* are
connected by a flexible strap w, which thus forms them into a chain. The blocks
w² lie upon the curved part of the collecting plate x, and are kept up in the position
shown by the weights w', which stand upon the receiving table or horizontal
portion of the plate x. When the pushers descend they push down the blocks
w, bar w, and the two chains of blocks w³, and the supporting weights w₁ are
moved a corresponding distance along the receiving table. At each stroke of the
machine these parts are moved onwards by the cards or tickets accumulating in
front of them until after a time, first the weights w, and later the other sup.
porting parts may be safely removed, the cards or tickets on the receiving
table being sufficient to sustain those upon the curved part of the plate x above.
I then use small right angle troughs or V pieces y to keep the end cards in
place.
2,2, are adjustable spring guide plates inserted into the channels between the
knives ff, they serve to control the cards or tickets in their descent until they
reach the surface of the collecting plate x.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
exact details described, and in particular the gearing of the machine or parts
which serve to convey movement to the operative instruments may be varied, but
I claim,―
First. The combination with the lower knives f of the curved collecting plate x,
forming a continuation of the channels between the knives, and serving to guide

page_text: the cut cards or tickets, and convey them in regular order on to the receiving
table.
Second. The use in combination with the knives f, curved collecting plate x,
of the blocks w, the bar w', and chains of blocks w³, or their equivalents,
substantially as described.
Third. The arrangement of the feeding apparatus by which the strips of card-
board laid upon the feeding table are in succession carried forward and placed
between the upper and lower knives.
Fourth. The apparatus, substantially as described, for cutting up strips of
cardboard into cards suitable for railway tickets and for other purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Warren William De La Rue, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Twentieth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
177 T7 AR TA DTTR