Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Corks and Machinery therefor.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 14th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 14th July, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Corks and
Machinery therefor.
I, JOHN EISENHARDT HOWARD, of "Fairoaks" Chislehurst, Kent, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
"
According to this invention the blocks or pieces of cork to be shaped etc. (such
as are known as
squares or "quarters"). are chucked or gripped mechanically
and carried along and thereby successively presented to the action of various
shaping polishing or finishing apparatus or other operations as desired during
which time the piece of cork is rotated (either intermittently or continuously)
and is not only shaped but polished or surfaced etc. and then discharged from the
machine any suitable number of pieces of cork being in course of treatment in
said machine at the same time so that a very large output is obtained as after
each piece of cork has been placed in the chucks or grippers same is rapidly
subjected to successive operations thereon (without removal from said chucks)
to shape and polish or surface same, etc.
"
squares
Heretofore usually one machine has been used for shaping the cork "
or quarters" (by cutting or grinding) and another and separate machine or
machines for surfacing polishing or otherwise finishing and branding same
whereas I successively carry out all these operations in a single machine according
to my present invention and moreover I only once chuck the cork blank the
latter remaining in said chucks until finished and dropped the piece of cork being
thus mechanically held and while thus held successively presented to the various
operations thereon.
I may carry out my present invention (which has many advantages) as herein-
after described or by any other suitable means.
In any suitable frame or support is arranged a central spindle or shaft from
which any suitable number of arms or spokes or sets of arms or spokes (or equi-
valent such as a circular plate or disc or plates or discs or combination of arms
and disc or discs) extend radially or tangentially or in any other suitable manner
and on the end or part of said arms or spokes (or equivalent) furthest from the
said shaft or spindle I arrange and mount suitable chucks or other suitable
devices adapted to grip and firmly hold a piece of cork while same is shaped and
polished etc. as aforesaid such chucks being also adapted and arranged to
revolve the piece of cork gripped or held therein-advantageously intermittently
i.e. revolved only at each point where it is being operated upon.
Around this circle at different points I arrange first the machinery for shaping
the cork and then the machinery or appliances for polishing or surfacing etc. after
passing the last of which the chucks are caused to open (advantageously auto-
matically) and drop the shaped and polished or finished piece of cork and then
further on in the path of travel of said chucks the latter pick up (advantageously
automatically) a fresh square or quarter of cork which is carried round shaped
polished or finished and dropped as before and so on with each of the series of

page_text: arms carried on said central shaft or spindle-chucks being arranged on each
arm to correspond with the chucks on each of the other arms.
Any suitable means may be used for revolving the said spindle having the
aforesaid radial arms etc. thereon advantageously, with a step-by-step motion so
that such spindle is intermittently. brought to rest with the radial arms in such
position that the piece of cork held at the outer end of each such arm (except
that one which is at the moment being fed with a fresh piece of cork) is presented
to one of the operating devices, and at same time is caused to revolve such revolu-
tion of the cork, itself advantageously being discontinued when the aforesaid
spindle is caused to move on again while no revolution should be imparted to
the chucks while same are picking up or being fed with a fresh piece of cork.
Any suitable means being provided to rotate each, piece of cork while same is
being operated upon.
For the sake of example I will now describe a machine according to my present
invention having 4 equi-distant radial arms or sets of arms (or equivalent such
as circular plates or discs) extending horizontally from a vertical shaft or spindle
to which latter motion is applied, to intermittently carry same round one-fourth of
a circle and then come to rest a moment and thereafter again move same round
another one-fourth of a circle and so on.
On the outer end of each such arni (or-at equal distances around the circular edge
of said discs) suitable vertically acting cork-gripping chucks are arranged and
mounted in such wise that the cork can be fed in between same and gripped in any
suitable manner while the lower part of the chuck has a vertically descending
spindle therefrom journalled in and passing through a bearing in or on its radial
arm which chuck spindle may be arranged to be operated by any suitable clutch
or may be rotated (at the moment the radial arm has come to rest opposite one
of the operating devices) by a vertically disposed revolving shaft which at such
moment will be raised and forced into contact with said vertical chuck spindle
and thereby cause the rotation of the piece of cork for one or more turns and
thereafter such chuck driving spindle would descend or be moved clear of the chuck
spindle or the latter moved clear of the former whereupon the radial arm can
again be moved round until the piece of cork reaches the next operating device
when the operation will be repeated and so on.
The aforesaid cork-operating devices (i.e. the apparatus or means for either
shaping or polishing or otherwise treating the cork) respectively may be of any
suitable character for instance for shaping the piece of cork I may use either a
knife such as a circular disc knife or reciprocating knife or a saw such as a
circular saw reciprocating saw or endless band saw or I may use any suitable
abrading, surface such as a grinding disc to shape the cork and it would be to
one of these that the piece of cork would be first subjected to shape same or
partially shape same.
On moving on to the next point of operation the now shaped or partially shaped
piece of cork may be subjected to a further shaping operation, by any suitable
shaping device aforesaid or if already sufficiently shaped then the piece of cork
at this second point of operation may now be ground or surfaced by any suitable
means such as a grinding disc or other suitable abrading surface.
On arriving at the 3rd point of rest the piece of cork may be subjected to.
further grinding operation to finally polish or finish same or if desired no opera-
tion may take place at this 3rd point the cork being finished by shaping at
the 1st point of operation and polislied or surfaced and finished at the 2nd point
of operation.
Thus it will be seen that in à machine of the character with four arms as
aforesaid each complete revolution of the shaft or spindle carrying said radial
arms will have effected the shaping and finishing of four pieces of cork this
being the number of pieces of cork in successive stages of treatment in my
machine viz. while No. 1 arm is. picking up a fresh piece of cork No. 2 arm
is shaping its piece of cork, No. 3 arm. is polishing or finishing its piece of cork

page_text: and No. 4 arm after the cork is finished drops same and follows No. 1 to pick
up the next piece of cork and so on.
It will be obvious that the respective mechanism for shaping and finishing etc..
must be arranged relatively to the position in and to which the pieces of cork
are carried by the radial arms so that each piece of cork will be operated upon
at each different point of operation around the circle described by each said
arm.
The said mechanism for shaping polishing etc. may be driven in any suitable
manner either independently of one another and of the aforesaid shaft or spindle
which carries round the said radial arms or the whole of the mechanism may
be operated from one source of power by suitable connections (belting-shaft-
ing, etc.).
Each such cork-treating mechanism should advantageously be arranged so as
to be adjustable in various directions to enable it to be set for different sizes of
corks or for taper corks (and also in the case of grinding mechanism advan-
tageously so as to enable all the available abrading surface thereof to be used
up) for which purposes also the chucks may be made adjustable if desired.
When using an endless band saw or band knife for the shaping operation I
may arrange and mount in conjunction therewith any suitable means to support
or steady or hold or guide the said saw or knife at or near the point where the
same acts on the piece of cork thus for instance I may use two idle rollers or
drums carried on arms or supports capable of adjustment in any direction or
directions whereby same can be caused to press the said endless band saw or knife
out of the straight line between its two operating pulleys and thereby taper the
cork.
Instead of arranging the cork-holding chucks to travel in a circle concentric
to the aforesaid spindle or shaft carrying said radial arms or equivalent I may
cause said chucks to travel in a path otherwise than concentric to said spindle
or otherwise than in a circle for instance by arranging eccentrics or cams to
act in conjunction with said arms or said chucks I may cause the latter .to
approach towards or recede from the said spindle at any desired point or points
of the revolution of the latter to thus enable me to advance or recede each piece
of cork in the chucks towards or away from any (one or more) of the aforesaid
cork treating apparatus the operating part or parts of which latter may be
arranged at regular or irregular distances from the aforesaid spindle or shaft.
If desired the cork-holding chucks or gripping devices may be arranged to be
moved or caused to travel in any suitable direction other than circular as afore-
said for instance same may be arranged (1) on an endless flexible mount carried
round continuously over two (or more) rollers or sprocket wheels or the like
or (2) on separate mounts which could be carried along or caused to travel round
and round in a circuit in any suitable manner such as that employed in textile
machinery of the character known as a gill box" or (3) the chucks or cork-
gripping devices may be arranged in a reciprocating swinging or oscillating
frame such for instance of the character known as a
"lay frame" employed
in looms or (4) on a reciprocating slide or equivalent. But in every case in such-
wise that the cork without removal from the chucks is successively presented
to the various operations indicated..
"
My invention may of course be adapted and used in the manufacture of corks
or in connection therewith without necessarily shaping such corks in my machine
as for instance corks already shaped may be reduced in size by first grinding
them and then successively polished or branded etc. or corks already shaped and
of the desired size may be put in a machine according to this invention which
will first. polish or surface and then brand same.
Any suitable branding mechanism as desired being arranged to act on the corks
while held in the chucks in this machine.
Also the various means or apparatus (or any one or more of them) for operating
on each piece of cork in turn may be individually and automatically caused to

page_text: advance towards or recede from or otherwise move relatively to the said piece of
cork to be thereby operated on.
Finally, if desired any suitable automatic or mechanical feed of the respective
pieces of cork may be arranged or employed in connection with the machinery
hereinbefore described for instance a feeding arrangement of the character shown
in machinery for which I obtained Letters Patent No. 13225 of 1893.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Corks and
Machinery therefor.
I, JOHN EISENHARDT HOWARD, of "Fairoaks" Chislehurst, Kent, 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:―
"
According to this invention rectangular blocks of cork or other pieces of cork
(such as are known as squares" or quarters or it may be partially shaped
or badly shaped corks) or other pieces of cork to be shaped and polished or
surfaced and finished are chucked or gripped mechanically in and by chucks or
grips carried on radial arms or a revolving frame and carried along (round) in
a circular direction and successively presented (advantageously while dry) to
the action of various shaping and polishing or finishing devices or other opera-
tions such as branding as desired (for instance when a square" or a piece of
cork already partially shaped is to be shaped and finished it may be presented
first to a sawing operation to shape same and then to a grinding operation to
finish the cork or to 2 successive grinding operations without any sawing opera-
tion) without removal from said chucks during which time the piece of cork is
rotated about its axis and is not only shaped but polished or surfaced and
finished during all of which operations cach (dry) 'cork is kept in the same chucks
or grips and consequently will be revolved throughout on exactly the same axis
and is carried round stepwise in one continuous direction and when finished
same is then discharged from the machine-any suitable number of pieces of
cork being in course of (various stages of) treatment in said machine at the same
time so that a very large output is obtained, as after each piece of cork has been
placed in the chucks or grips same is rapidly subjected to successive operations
thereon (without removal from said chucks) to shape and polish or surface
same etc. and by this means moreover a very fine finish or surface is obtained
and with a minimum of cork removed in the whole operation.
"
Heretofore in making corks mechanically usually one machine has been used
for shaping the cork squares or "quarters" (by cutting or grinding) and
another and separate machine or machines for surfacing polishing or otherwise
finishing and where required branding same-whereas I mechanically carry out
all these operations (with or without branding) in a single machine according
to my present invention, and moreover I only once chuck each piece of cork
the latter remaining in said chucks from before commencing to shape, or operate
on, same until finished and dropped the piece of cork being thus mechanically
held and while thus beld (i.c. without once releasing same) is successively pre-

page_text: sented to the various operations thereon whereby I obtain the very fine and
excellent finished surface.
In any suitable frame or support is arranged a central spindle or shaft from
which any suitable number of arms or spokes or sets of arms or spokes (or
equivalent such as a circular frame or plate or disc or plates or discs or com-
bination of arms and disc or discs) extend radially or tangentially or in any
other suitable manner and on the end or part of said arms or spokes (or equi-
valent) furthest from the said shaft or spindle I arrange and mount suitable
chucks or other suitable devices adapted to grip and firmly hold a piece of cork
while same is shaped and polished etc. as aforesaid such chucks being also
adapted and arranged to revolve the piece of cork gripped or held therein-
advantageously intermittently i.e. revolved only at each point where it is being
operated upon.
Around this circle at different points I arrange first the machinery for shaping
the cork and then the machinery or appliances for polishing or surfacing etc. after
passing the last of which the chucks are caused to open (advantageously auto-
matically) and drop the shaped and polished or finished piece of cork and then
further on in the path of travel of said chucks the latter pick up (advantageously
automatically) a fresh square or quarter of cork which is carried round shaped
polished or finished and dropped as before and so on with each of the pairs of
chucks carried on said radial arms or frame revolving on said central shaft or
spindle.
Any suitable means may be used for revolving the said spindle having the
aforesaid radial arms etc. thereon or said revolvable frame advantageously with
a step-by-step motion so that such spindle or frame is intermittently brought
to rest with the chucks in such position that the piece of cork held therein
(except that pair which is at the moment being fed with or in the act of dis-
charging a fresh piece of cork) when opposite one of the operating devices is
presented to said operating device, and at same time is caused to revolve such
revolution of the cork itself advantageously being discontinued when the afore-
said spindle is caused to move on again while no revolution should be imparted
to the chucks while same are picking up or being fed with a fresh piece of
cork. Any suitable means being provided to rotate each pair of chucks and the
piece of cork therein while the latter is being operated upon.
For the sake of example I will now describe a machine according to my present
invention having 4 equi-distant radial arms (or equivalent such as circular plates
or discs) extending horizontally from a vertical shaft or spindle to which arms
or frame motion is applied stepwise to intermittently carry same round one-
fourth of a circle and then come to rest a moment and thereafter again move
same round another one-fourth of a circle and so on.
On the outer end of each such arm (or at equal distances around the circular
edge of said discs) suitable vertically acting cork-gripping chucks are arranged
and mounted in suchwise that the cork can be fed in between same and gripped
in any suitable manner while the lower part of the chuck has a vertically des-
cending spindle therefrom journalled in and passing through a bearing in or on
its radial arm which chuck spindle may be arranged to be operated by any
suitable clutch or may be rotated (at the moment the pair of chucks has come
to rest opposite one of the operating devices) by a vertically disposed revolving
shaft which at such moment will be raised and forced into contact with said
vertical chuck-spindle and thereby cause the rotation of the piece of cork for
one or more turns and thereafter such revolving shaft would descend or be moved
clear of the chuck spindle or the latter moved clear of the former whereupon
the said chucks can again be moved round until the piece of cork therein reaches
the next operating device when the operation will be repeated and so on.
The aforesaid cork-operating devices (i.e. the apparatus or means for shaping
the cork) respectively may be of any suitable character for instance for shaping
the piece of cork I may use either a knife such as a circular disc knife or

page_text: reciprocating knife or a saw such as a circular saw reciprocating saw or endless
band saw or I may use any suitable abrading surface such as a grinding dise
to shape the cork and it, would be to, one of these that the piece of cork would
be first subjected to shape same or partially shape same. while for surfacing and
finishing I always employ an abrading surface such as a grinding disc.
On moving on to the next point of operation the now shaped or partially-
shaped piece of cork may be subjected to a further shaping operation by any
suitable shaping device aforesaid or if already sufficiently shaped then the piece
of cork at this second point of operation may now be ground or surfaced by
any suitable means such as a grinding disc or other suitable abrading surface.
On arriving at the 3rd point of rest the piece of cork may be subjected to
further grinding operation to finally polish or finish same or may be branded at
this 3rd point or if desired no operation may take place at this 3rd point the
cork being finished in 2 operations viz.: by shaping at the 1st point of operation
and polished or surfaced and finished at the 2nd point of operation.
Thus it will be seen that in a machine of the character with four pairs of
chucks arranged equi-distant around a circle as aforesaid each complete revolu-
tion of the shaft or spindle or frame carrying said chucks will have effected
the shaping and finishing of four pieces of cork this being the number of pieces
of cork in successive stages of treatment in such a machine viz.: while No. 1
pair of chucks is picking up a fresh piece of cork No. 2 pair is shaping its piece
of cork, No. 3 pair is polishing or finishing its already shaped piece of cork and
No. 4 pair after the cork is finished drops same and follows No. 1 to pick up
the next piece of cork, and so on.
It will be obvious that the respective mechanisms for shaping and finish-
ing etc. must be arranged relatively to the position in and to which the pieces
of cork are carried in their circular path of travel so that each piece of cork
will be operated upon at each different point of operation around the circle
described by each said pair of chucks.
The said mechanisms for shaping polishing etc. may be driven in any suitable
manner either independently of one another and of the aforesaid shaft or spindle
or frame which carries round the said chucks or the whole of the mechanisms
may be operated from one source of power by suitable connections (belting,
shafting etc.).
Each such cork-treating mechanism should advantageously be arranged so
as to be adjusted in various directions to enable it to be set for different sizes of
corks or for taper corks (and also in the case of the abrading surfaces advan-
tageously so as to enable all the available grinding surface thereof to be used
up) for which purposes also the chucks may be made adjustable if desired.
When using an endless band saw or band knife for the shaping operation I
may arrange and mount in conjunction therewith any suitable means to support
or steady or hold or guide the said saw or knife at or near the point where the
same acts on the piece of cork thus for instance I may use two idle rollers or
drums carried on arms or supports capable of adjustment in any direction or
directions whereby same can be caused to press the said endless band saw or
knife out of the straight line between its two operating pulleys and thereby
enable the band saw or knife to taper the cork.
My invention may of course be adapted and used in the manufacture of corks
or in connection therewith without necessarily shaping such corks in my machine
as for instance corks already shaped or partially shaped or badly shaped may be
reduced in size by first grinding them and then successively polishing and finishing
branding etc., as aforesaid.
Any suitable branding mechanism as desired may be arranged to act on the corks
while held in the chucks in this machine.
Also the various means or apparatus (or any one or more of them) for operating
on each piece of cork in turn are mounted adjustably and may be individually

page_text: and automatically caused to advance towards or recede from or otherwise move.
relatively to the said piece of cork to be thereby operated on.
Finally, if desired any suitable automatic or mechanical feed of the respective.
pieces of cork may be arranged or employed in connection with my present:
invention for instance a feeding arrangement of the character shown in machinery
for which I obtained Letters Patent No. 13225 of 1893.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine according to my present invention.
Fig. 2 is another perspective view at a slightly different angle of said.
machine.
Fig. 3 is a front view of the machine.
Fig. 4 is view at right angles to Fig. 3 .e.. looking in the direction of the
arrow 4 Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is plan of the machine.
Fig. 6 is local detail view of device for steadying or guiding the band saw or
for diverting the band saw out of the straight line between the periphery of the
drums around which same is carried.
"
Fig. 7 is a local vertical sectional view (on an enlarged scale) of the
revolving frame or radial arms carrying the cork-gripping chucks-showing in
detail the means for retracting and approaching one chuck to the other in each
pair and also showing the means for intermittently revolving said chucks on
their own axes.
Fig. 8 is a plan of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is a horizontal cross section view on line 9-9 Fig. 7.
Fig. 10 is plan (and Fig. 11 view. in elevation looking in the direction of the
arrow 11 Fig. 10) of a modified arrangement wherein two abrading surfaces are
employed (viz. first a coarse and then a fine grinding surface) i.e. the band
saw is replaced by a grinding disc so. that the piece of cork is first shaped by
or operated on by grinding instead of by sawing, while the finishing is effected
by grinding in a similar manner to that in the machine shown in Figs. 1 to 5.
Figs. 12 and 13 show modified arrangement (hereinafter described) of parts
connected with the chuck-operating mechanism.
Fig. 14 is a local detail view showing an alternative arrangement (instead of
Fig. 6) for guiding the band saw and keeping it steady at the point where it
operates on the cork.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
A is stand and main frame.
B is the main driving pulley (fast and loose pulley) on the shaft B¹ journalled
in said frame A-same being driven by a belt or in any other suitable manner
from any suitable source of power.
CC are band saw drums-one such drum C being fixed on said driven shaft B¹
and revolved thereby and the other drum C adapted to freely revolve, or the
latter may be driven from shaft B' by means of a belt or gear etc.
D is fine band saw on the drums CC.
E is adjustable bearing or plummer block (adapted to slide vertically in the
slot A of the upper part of the frame A) carrying the drum C and E is hand
wheel on spindle E2 journalled in the frame A the screw-threaded part of which
spindle E screws into said sliding block E to raise and lower same and thereby
to adjust the tension on the band saw D.
FG are 2 belt pulleys fixed on the shaft B31 aforesaid-see Fig. 5.
FG are pulleys fixed on the shaft Z see Figs. 4 and 5.
His belt (see Fig. 3) by which motion is transmitted from said shaft B¹
through one of the said pulleys FG on said shaft to one of the pulleys F¹ or G¹
and thereby the shaft Z is revolved or said shaft Z may be revolved independently
of said shaft 13' or in any desired manner and from any suitable source of
power.
I is pulley (Fig. 4) fixed on shaft Z and revolved thereby; a belt J¹ from
:

page_text: which pulley I revolves the pulley J fixed on the shaft K journalled in the.
uprights LL³ fixed to or formed on the adjustable support L adapted to slide
transversely upon the fixed frame A by means of the hand wheel M and screw N
revolved thereby after the manner of the well-known lathe slide rest; and also
the upper part L of said slide L may be adjusted in the direction of the longi-
tudinal axis of the shaft K (i.e., at right angles to the movement imparted to
or
and
said slide by the screw N) tilted out of the horizontal and then fixed in
position by means of the set screws L³ and also the shaft K and its support L' L'
can be swivelled or turned (by means of the set screw L*) see Figs. 3 to 5 the
extra width of the belt pulley I allowing all these adjustments-in fact the
shaft K is or may be arranged and adapted to be adjustable in any and every
possible direction.
K is a collar (free on the shaft K) with a downwardly extending part through
which latter passes a fine adjusting screw K2 with nuts K³ thereon by which
means the shaft K can be very finely and accurately adjusted in the direction
of its longitudinal axis see Figs. 4 and 5.
O is abrading disc fixed on and revolved by the shaft K and which disc O
is consequently adjustable in any desired directions-while by the movement of
the slide Limparted by the hand wheel M (or imparted automatically by the
machinery if desired) the whole of the surface of the abrading disc O can be
used in turn and then the abrading surface can be renewed or a new disc O
mounted on the shaft K.
R is radial frame adapted to be revolved around its vertical axis S (see Fig. 7)
with a step-by-step movement that is by intermittent motion each movement
being say exactly one-fourth or other part of a circle.
In the case illustrated (Figs. 1 to 11) the radial frame R consists of a vertical
tubular part R* (adapted to fit and revolve freely upon the fixed vertical axle
or spindle S) having flanges (or radial arms) R1 and R2 towards the upper end
thereof, through which flanges (or radial arms) vertically movable plungers a
are journalled and adapted to slide equi-distant from one another and also equi-
distant from i.e., concentric with the vertical axis S in the case illustrated four
such plungers are shown--the lower end of each such plunger a being provided
with a chuck or grip and the upper end with a head or enlargemente (adapted
to engage with a cam surface T hereinafter described) each said plunger having a
spring confined thereon between the collar e fixed on each said plunger a
and the flange (or radial arms) R¹ by which springs d said plungers a are
normally pressed downwards while the fixed cam T at one part thereof T* will
lift each said plunger a against the action of the spring d which is thereby
compressed as shown at T* in Fig. 7.
The lower part of the tube R* has the flange (or radial arms) R³ thereon and
lower down the ratchet edged flange R thereon (see Figs. 7 and 9) and below
same terminates at the point R**.
In the radial arms of flange R³ are journalled the spindles a¹ of the chucks
or grips the lower end of said spindles a¹ each having fixed thereto a toothed-
faced block f forming one part of a clutch the other part of said clutch being
formed by the toothed-faced block f* fixed to and revolved by the plunger
spindle g; the blocks f being advantageously countersunk i.e., with conical
central opening f¹ into which the guide cone 2 (on the part f*) is adapted
to enter so as to guide the teeth on the clutch parts f and f* accurately into
engagement with one another when same are forced together i.e., when the
spindles a and 9 are in the same vertical axial line.
One such spindle g and clutch part f* thereon is provided for the band saw
and another one for the grinding disc each said clutch part f* and spindle g
respectively being arranged in exactly the same axial line which the spindles a a¹
will occupy when the radial frame is momentarily brought to a standstill while
the piece of cork held between the grips bis operated on.
Said spindle g

page_text: being raised and lowered and revolved as hereinafter explained so as to thereby
revolve the piece of cork (held in the chucks 6 b¹) while same is being operated
on as aforesaid.
The aforesaid cam T T is fixed rigidly in position on the upper end of the
fixed vertical axle S so that said cam T T is held fixed with respect to the
revolvable radial frame R and the plunger spindles a are revolved around said
cam and thereby the heads or enlargements c on said spindles a are lifted
vertically by the higher part 1 of the cam and where said higher part terminates
it allows the spindle a to suddenly descend and snap hold of the piece of cork
to be operated on-see Fig. 8-the previous lifting of said spindle a by means
of said cam T releasing the finished cork and permitting the latter to be
discharged from the machine into any suitable receptacle (not shown).
S is a packing ring-which may be of any desired thickness and one or more
of which may be placed on the reduced top end of the axle S and between the
fixed top plate or cam-plate T and the shoulder S of said axle S according to
the greater or less length of the cork to be gripped between the chucks b b¹.
T is a brake ring or washer advantageously of lead which is pressed against
the upper surface of the flange R¹ by means of the adjusting screws T2 screwed
through the plate T into said brake-ring T so that by adjusting the screws T2
greater or less friction is caused between the fixed brake ring T and the flange R¹
when the latter is revolved whereby I obtain great steadiness.
The means for imparting the intermittent or step-by-step rotary movement to
the aforesaid radial frame R are as follows:-
A sleeve or short length of tube h surrounds the lower end of the tube R*
on which-or with respect to which said sleeve can freely turn this latter being
provided with a radial extension on which is mounted a stud or pin h¹
to which pin is pivoted a spring pawl h2 which latter has one end of the
spring connected thereto which spring h³ keeps said pawl 2 pressed into
engagement with the ratchet faced flange R see Fig. 9.
To the underside of this extension * is pivoted at the pusher arm or
pitman (see Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 9 and 10) which latter is pivoted at ¹ (see Fig. 10)
to the crank lever pivoted at to the fixed horizontal part A of the frame A
which part I will term the table A*
33
To the end of said lever 22 (or to said extension h) is connected a cord
which passes over the pulley or idle roller and has the weight 7 attached to
the lower end thereof whereby the said lever is normally pulled against the
cami.. towards the roller by said weight 27.
is horizontally revolved cam which bears against the rock lever (or
against the loose anti-friction roller 8 mounted on said lever) and thus it will
be seen that at each revolution of the cam j same will-through the lever ³,
pitmani, sleeve h, pawl and ratchet-edged flange R-thereby revolve the
frame R one-quarter turn.
To prevent backward movement or back-lash of the ratchet flange R' (and
frame R) I provide a spring clip (see Fig. 9) which is normally spring-
pressed against said flange R and thereby engages and holds the ratchet
teeth on said flange R as same is revolved cach quarter turn.
In Figs. 12 and 13 a modified arrangement is shown by means of which I
positively lock the revolving frame R when same comes to rest between each
stepwise movement-Fig. 11 being a "local" vertical sectional view (similar to
Fig. 7) and Fig. 13 is a plan view thereof on line 13-13 Fig. 12.
In this modified arrangement the flange R4 is slotted or recessed at R5 around
its edge at points exactly corresponding to the pairs of chucks carried on said
frame R in the case illustrated 4 such indents R5 being shown arranged exactly
equi-distant to correspond with the 4 pairs of chucks.
On the plunger-spindle g I rigidly fix the upwardly extending rigid arm or
lock bolt g the upper end of which lies close up to the underside of the flange R

page_text: the recesses R³ in which latter exactly register with the position of the said
lock bolt when the flange R4 comes to rest with the piece of cork in the
chucks in position to be operated upon and then when the spindle g is raised
(as hereinafter explained) thereby the lock bolt g (which is firmly guided in
the bearing g therefor) is pushed into one of the recesses R5 in said Hange R
the parts being tapered if desired and thereby the flange R is firmly locked and
held rigid while the cork is revolved and operated on.
gis spring held between the device and the fixed guide ring g' to
accelerate the upward motion of the bolt g
Relative rotary motion is imparted to cam j (and thereby to the radial frame R
as aforesaid) and endwise motion to the clutch spindles 9-and also rotary
motion to the latter-which are lifted and the clutch parts f f put into engage-
ment and again disengaged at the proper relative times as follows:-
The end of the aforesaid shaft Z by means of the worm 7 thereon revolves
the worm wheel m on the vertical shaft m¹ which latter at its upper end carries
the pinion m² (see Fig. 2) gearing with the pinion n which latter is fixed on
or to the said cam ; whereby the latter is uninterruptedly revolved while the
machine is running.
"
On the lower part of this shaft m' is also fixed the gear wheel m³ and
another and larger gear wheel m¹ the said gear wheel m³ "gearing down" through
a train of wheels 1 and 2 (the latter loose on the spindle r) to slowly revolve
the cams both rigidly connected to said wheel and free to revolve on
spindle by means of which cams each spindle and clutch part thereon
is lifted and lowered into and out of engagement with the clutch parts f; while
the larger gear wheel m" gears up through the wheels q¹ and q fixed together
(and also mounted to revolve freely on the said spindle r) to thereby revolve
a gear wheel
on each spindle respectively-the wheel being of extra
width so as to always remain in gear with the wheel when the latter (with its
spindle and clutch part f* thereon) is raised by the action of the aforesaid
cams pinto engagement with the clutch part f when the latter has been brought
into position over same.
A spring a is provided on each spindle g same being confined between collar g¹
fixed on said spindle g and the fixed bearing carried on the spindle
which springs the spindle g is thus kept normally pressed upwards.
by
In Fig. 6 is shown separately a device which may be employed for guiding
or steadying the band saw D) as it passes the point where the piece of cork is to
be operated on-such device consisting of 2 idle (anti-friction) rollers & pivoted
on the two radially extending arms carried on a swivel plate * adapted to
be turned and adjusted and fixed at any desired point by the guide bolts and
nuts in the circular slots by which bolts and nuts the said swivel-plate t
and arms thereon are rigidly fixed in the exact position desired-but I do not
confine myself in any way to use this or any particular guiding device.
These rollers have flanges thereon the band D running over the barrel or
drum part while the flange will bear against the back edge D1 of the band
saw and thereby resist or prevent any tendency of the band saw D to be moved
laterally on the drums C C¹ and consequently prevent any displacement of the
operative point of said band saw D. Means being provided such as the nut to
on the spindle 6 to adjust said flanged rollers t t parallel with the longitudinal
axis of the shaft B¹.
Also I may arrange and mount the drum in such a manner that same may
le adjusted or moved slightly out of the same plane as the drum C revolves in
so as to thereby tend to direct the band saw forwardly or rearwardly, as desired
so as to act in conjunction with the flanged rollers to maintain the band
saw in any desired plane.
Instead of employing the 2 idle anti-friction rollers as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3
and GI may substitute and find it advantageous to employ a fixed flat piece of

page_text: white metal or other non-conducting material on each side of the band saw D
close to the point where the cork is sawn a suitable arrangement being shown
in Fig. 14 where 2 such flat pieces of white metal are shown (between
which the band saw passes) and carried on the mount fixed to the frame of
the machine.
is single idle roller which bears against the back edge of the band saw D
to keep same up to its work.
This arrangement I have found to work very successfully in holding the saw
steady (as it runs between the white metal) and rigid at the point where the
cork is sawn.
is the piece of cork to be operated on.
The operation is as follows:-
The piece of cork r is placed on the ledge or rest y and as the radial frame
revolves step by step as aforesaid the top cam-plate T T fixed on the spindle S
remaining stationary therewith (of which latter spindle S the lower fixed spindler
may be an integral part--or may be separate but advantageously mounted with
exactly the same longitudinal axis) the upper grip of the next approaching
pair of grips-as the upper end or head c slips off the fixed cam Twill thereby
snap down and grip the piece of cork between said grips or chucks b and 1
neither of which is revolving at such moment.
At the next stepwise movement of the radial frame R thereby said piece of
cork is carried round until same reaches the band saw 1) when the frame R
comes to rest-the spindle g is now raised by its camp and the clutch part f*
engages the clutch part f on said grip and thereby the cork is revolved at
a suitable speed while thus being presented to the action of the band saw D
and thereby sawn quickly into shape.
The clutch part is now withdrawn by the action of its camp and the
radial frame moved on (by the action of the cam 1) another quarter turn and
brought to rest again and thereby the piece of cork in question is now presented
to the action of the abrading disc 0. and at the same time is again revolved as
before (by the second spindle g) and thereby the cork is now surfaced or polished
by grinding and is very accurately finished-a very fine finish being thus
obtained.
The revolutions of the cork are now again stopped (by its cam disengaging the
clutch part f* from the part f) and the radial frame is moved on another quarter
turn during which the head c of the spindle a rides up the highest part T of
the cam-plate T and thereby the grip bis retracted from the grip and the
now finished cork is consequently released and discharged from the machine and
at the end of the next (4th) quarter turn another piece of cork is picked up
from the rest y and the cycle repeated and so on; meantime each of the other
pair of grips or chucks bb operate in exactly the same way.
The substitution of the grinding disc U (mounted and arranged similarly to
the disc 0) to first operate on the cork, in place of the band saw D, is shown in
Figs. 10 and 11 (the finishing disc remaining as before) and will be readily
understood without further description.
Or instead of the band saw I may use any other suitable saw.
Or instead of a saw I may use a knife such as a band knife in which case I
find it necessary to employ two abrading surfaces one coarser than the other such
as is shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the band knife being arranged (like the band
saw) to operate on the piece of cork to shape same before being presented to
the action of the 2 said abrading surfaces.
Instead of operating the revolving frame R and the chuck revolving mechanism
from the shaft % by means of the gear and mechanism connected therewith as
described-if desired I may operate said revolving frame R and the chuck
revolving mechanism synchronously therewith by any other equivalent or suitable
means and from any suitable source of power for instance I may if desired operate
same by manual power by means of a treadle or foot or hand lever.

page_text: 10 is adjusting screw by means of which the cork gripping chucks and their
support and actuating and connected mechanism can be bodily adjusted towards
or away from the saw D) (or rough grinding disc) to manufacture different
sized corks.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is:
1. A machine for shaping and finishing corks having a series of pairs of cork-
gripping chucks on a revolvable frame, means to revolve said frame step by
step, automatic means to open said chucks for the discharge of the finished
cork and to close said chucks when same are in a position to seize the next piece
of cork to be operated on, means to cause the said chucks and the cork held
therein to revolve about the axis of the cork at the moment when the cork
is being operated on, acting in conjunction with an endless band saw adapted
to saw the piece of cork quickly into shape when presented thereto and rotated,
and in conjunction with an abrading surface arranged so as to polish or surface
and finish the roughly-shaped piece of cork when presented thereto and rotated,
substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
2. In a machine for manufacturing corks having a series of pairs of cork-
gripping chucks mounted and operating as set out in the 1st claiming clause,
the combination with a fixed clutch part attached to one of the chucks in each
said pair of chucks, of a corresponding movable clutch part adapted to be moved
into engagement with the first-named clutch part when the latter is brought to
rest, of means to impart motion in the direction of its longitudinal axis to the
said movable clutch part and to the spindle on which same is mounted, and of
means to revolve the said movable clutch spindle, all substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
3. A compound machine for the manufacture of corks having a band saw for
sawing the cork into circular shape acting in conjunction with an abrading
surface operating thereafter to polish or surface and finely finish the said cork
before the same is released from the chucks by which it was held for the sawing
operation and having means to support the said chucks and carry the same round
in a circular direction and to present the cork held thereby for the aforesaid
successive operations of sawing and grinding and having means to revolve the
said chucks and the cork therein during the said operations substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
4. A compound machine for the manufacture of corks having a series of pairs
of cork-gripping chucks mounted and operating as set out in the 1st claiming
'clause and provided with a coarse abrading surface to grind the cork into circular
shape or rough-shape same and with a 2nd and finer abrading surface operating
thereafter to polish or surface and finely finish the said cork before the same is
released from the chucks by which it was held for the operation of rough grinding
as aforesaid and with means to support the said chucks and to carry the same
round in a circular direction and to present the corks held therein to the aforesaid
successive operations of shaping and finishing by grinding and with means to
revolve the said chucks and the cork therein during each said grinding operation
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. In a cork manufacturing machine of the kind herein before described and
claimed the use for the purpose of causing each pair of cork gripping chucks to
rotate when the chuck carrying frame has come to rest with the said pair of chucks
and piece of cork therein opposite the shaping or polishing devices respectively
of a revolvable spindle g held in suitably placed stationary bearings and of means
to keep each such spindle g in continuous rotation and of means to project the said
spindle endwise (while revolving) into engagement with the cork-gripping
chucks and of means to retract the said spindle, substantially as and for the pur-
poses herein before set forth.

page_text: 6. A compound machine for the manufacture of corks having in combination
a revolvable frame on a vertical axis, means to revolve the said frame step by
step, a series of cork-gripping chucks journalled in the said revolvable frame con
centrically around the same, the upper chuck of each said pair of chucks fixed
on a spindle journalled in and adapted to slide vertically in the said frame, a
spring to keep each said upper chuck normally pressed downwards, a flange on
each said spindle, a fixed circular cam interposed in the circular path of travel
of the said flanges and adapted to lift the said spindles and thereaiter to release
the same as they are carried round by the revolution of the said revolving frame
for the purpose of automatically gripping and releasing successive pieces of cork
fed to the cork-gripping chucks, a rest on which the said pieces of cork are laid
in readiness to be gripped by the said chucks, a band saw and an abrading sur-
face at different points each arranged with an operative portion thereof at a point
or position in a circle at which the revolvable frame is brought to rest at each
partial revolution of said frame, means for causing each pair of chucks and the
piece of cork held therein to revolve when the same arrive in position before the
saw, and again when they arrive in position before the abrading surface, substan-
tially as and for the purposes set forth.
7. In a compound machine for the manufacture of corks, the combination with
a rotary frame and means for imparting an intermittent rotary motion to the said
frame, of a series of rotary cork holders symmetrically disposed about and equi-
distant from the axis of the said frame, a device for shaping the cork and a grind-
ing device for finely finishing the corks the said grinding device being arranged
to grind the shaped cork while another cork is being shaped and of means for rota-
ting the cork holders while the cork is being shaped and finally finished substan-
tially as described.
8. A machine for the manufacture of corks constructed and arranged to act
substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illus-
trated in Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
9. A machine for the manufacture of corks constructed and arranged to act
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described and illus-
trated in the various figures (other than Figs. 10 and 11) of the drawings hereunto
annexed.
10. The improved method of manufacturing corks which consists in first mount-
ing a piece of cork in revolvable chucks next in shaping the same by means of a
saw and then-without alteration of the centre on which said cork revolves-
finely grinding same so as to surface and very finely finish the cork the several
operations each being mechanically performed and controlled and so distributed
among the parts of a compound machine that they can be simultaneously per-
formed upon successive corks of a series fed into the machine substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
11. The improved method of manufacturing corks which consists in first mount-
ing a piece of cork in revolvable chucks next in shaping the same by rough grind-
ing and then-without alteration of the centre on which said cork revolves→
finely grinding same to surface and very finely finish the cork the several opera-
tions cach being mechanically performed and controlled and so distributed among
the parts of a compound machine that they can be simultaneously performed upon
successive corks of a series fed into the machine substantially as and for the pur-
poses set forth.