Improvements in Machinery or Tools for Cutting Washers from Leather or other Flexible Materials.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Jan., 1892-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Tools for Cutting Washers from
Leather or other Flexible Materials.
I, ALEXANDER MACKIE of No. 1 Winchester Place, Peckham in the County
of Surrey, Builder do hereby declare the nature of this. invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in machines or tools for cutting washers
for bottles, cans, jars, and other vessels and for other purposes.
My invention consists of a contrivance, tool or machine made of metal, and
comprizes a circular head or plate, which I call the cutter-plate, to carry knives
or cutters, the face of this plate being traced with a number of segment lines;
holes or cavities being bored or drilled on those lines and distributed over the
face of the cutter-plate for spacing and holding the knives or cutters ;-wire arms
and contrivances being provided for holding the material to be cut to prevent its
curling, and for throwing off the washers when cut. The whole is carried by, or
affixed to, a spindle, and made to revolve by means of manual, steam, or other
power.
The cutter-plate is made of such thickness as may be required to suit the size
and strength of the machine. Through the centre thereof a spindle (of any length
that may be required) is fixed by a screw or otherwise. The end of the spindle
passing through the cutter-plate is formed into a conical point to act as a centre,
or pivot, on which the spindle and cutter-plate revolve, and around which the
knives or cutters are arranged.
The
On the lower or outer face of the cutter-plate are bored, or drilled, a number
of holes, or cavities. The centres and distances from each other of these cavities
are determined by segment lines traced on the face of the cutter-plate, at any
distance from each other, but preferably one thirty second part of an inch.
cavities are drilled into about two thirds of the thickness of the cutter-plate and
the remaining thickness thereof is drilled through with a smaller drill thus
forming in or at the back of each cavity, a recess or shoulder, into which the knife
Each cavity may
holder is fitted and fixed or secured by means of nut and screw.
have a slot on one side, and the knife holder may have a projection of corresponding
size to fit into such slot, thereby holding the knife in proper position. The knives
are pointed and slanted to facilitate the cutting.
On the surface of the cutter-plate are formed two transverse grooves in which
are placed, or enclosed, two transverse bars. These bars are connected to a suit-
able framework fitted to a socket enclosing the lower part of, and revolving with
the spindle. Such socket is kept in position by means of a spiral spring fitted
round the spindle on the back or upper surface of the cutter-plate. This con-
trivance enables the operator, by pressing the framework downwards, to remove
or throw off the washers after being cut, without danger to his hands or fingers.
The
Over the socket above mentioned another shorter socket is fitted on or around
the spindle, which does not however revolve with it. To this socket are fitted
four curved arms of steel wire, each arm being, about the middle thereof, hent
round so as to form a double coil producing a spring when pressed down.
lower ends of these curved arms are fitted into and carry a metal ring outside and
round the outer edge of the cutter-plate. This ring is placed close to the cutter-
plate without touching it, so that the cutter-plate may revolve freely within the
ring. The lower, or outer, face of this ring may be fluted or milled, and projects
below or beyond the face of the cutter-plate.
The object of this contrivance is, first, to hold the material which is being cut

page_text: flat down on the bench or table over which the machine works, and, second to act
as a guard for the operator's hands.
The machine is attached to and worked by an ordinary boring or drilling
machine, or it may be attached to and worked by any other vertical or horizontal
machine, and is raised from, or depressed upon the material to be cut, by a lever
or otherwise.
Dated this Twenty-third day of April One thousand eight hundred and
ninate ans
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Tools for Cutting Washers from
Leather or other Flexible Materials.
I ALEXANDER MACKIE of No. 1A Winchester Place, Peckham in the County
of London, Builder, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in machines or tools for cutting washers
from leather, linoleum, or other flexible material for bottles, cans, jars, and other
vessels, and for various other purposes.
In the accompanying drawings the same letters of reference indicate the same
or similar parts.
My invention consists of a contrivance, tool, or machine, made of metal, the
elevation of which is shewn in Figure 4, and a section of which is shewn in
Figure 2.
The machine comprises a circular head or plate A, Figures 1 and 2, which I
call the cutter plate, to carry knives or cutters C Figures 1 and 2. The face of
this plate is traced with a number of segment lines, as shewn on Figure 1, boles
or cavities being bored, or drilled, on those lines, and distributed over the face of
the cutter plate for spacing and holding the knives, or cutters, as shewn at C on
Figure 1, and by other small dark circles on the same figure. Wire arms and
contrivances O Figures 2, 3, and 4, are provided for holding the material to be
cut to prevent its curling, and for throwing off the washers when cut. The whole
is carried by, or affixed to, a spindle B Figure 2, and made to revolve by means
of manual, steam, or other power, the spindle being carried through
a fixed
journal M, Figure 2. The cutter plate A, Figures 1 and 2, is made of such
thickness as may be required to suit the size and strength of the machine.
Through the centre thereof a spindle B Figure 2, (of any length that may be
required) is fixed by a screw, or otherwise. On the end of the spindle which
passes through the cutter plate at P Figure 2, a screwed hole, or cavity is formed
into which may be fitted centre points, of various forms and sizes, to act as a
centre, or pivot, on which the spindle and cutter plate revolve, and around which
the knives, or cutters, are arranged in the small circles shewn on Figure 1.
Ou the lower, or outer face of the cutter plate are bored or drilled a number of
holes, or cavities, as shewn by the small circles on Figure 1. The centres and
distances from each other of these cavities are determined by segment lines traced
on the face of the cutter plate at any distance from each other, but preferably one
thirty second part of an inch. The cavities are drilled into about two thirds of
the thickness of the cutter plate and the remaining thickness thereof is drilled
through with a smaller drill thus forming in or at the back of each cavity, a recess,

page_text: or shoulder, into which the knife holder is fitted and fixed, or secured, by means
of nut and screw. Each cavity may have a slot on one side, and the knife holder
may have a projection of corresponding size to fit into such slot, thereby holding
the knife in proper position.
The knives are pointed and slanted to facilitate the cutting, and one of such
knives is shewn at C Figure 2.
On the surface of the cutter plate are formed two transverse grooves, D,
Figure 1, in which are placed or enclosed two transverse bars. These bars are
connected to a suitable framework, E. G, Figure 2, fitted to a socket, H, Figures 2,
3, and 4, enclosing the lower part of and revolving with the spindle.
Such socket is kept in position by means of a spiral spring, F Figure 2, fitted
round the spindle on the back or upper surface of the cutter plate. This con-
trivance enables the operator, by pressing the framework downwards, to remove or
throw off the washers, after being cut, without damage to the hands or fingers.
Over the socket above mentioned, another shorter socket is fitted on, or around
the spindle, J, Figure 2, which does not however revolve with it. To this socket
are fitted four curved arms of steel wire, O, Figures 2, 3, and 4, each arm being
about the middle thereof bent round so as to form a double coil, producing a spring
when pressed down with a downward pressure. The lower ends of these curved
arms are fitted into and carry a metal ring, K, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 outside and
round the outer edge of the cutter plate. This ring is placed close to the cutter
plate without touching it, so that the cutter plate may revolve freely within the
ring. The lower, or outer, face of this ring may be fluted or milled, and projects
below or beyond the face of the cutter plate. The object of this contrivance is,
first, to hold the material which is being cut, flat down on the bench, or table,
over which the machine works, and second, to act as a guard for the operators
hands.
The machine is attached to or worked by an ordinary boring or drilling machine,
or it may be attached to and worked by any other vertical or horizontal machine,
and is raised from, or depressed upon the material to be cut by a lever or other-
wise. As a further protection to the operator I provide a collar or socket, N,
Figures 2, 4, to be placed at the top of the spindle, immediately underneath
the stationary or fixed journal, M, for the purpose of working the transverse
bars D. The object of this contrivance is to throw off the washers without having
to touch them, or the framework, with the hands and is thus carried out: The
lever of the drilling machine before mentioned on being lifted presses the collar or
socket, N, against the stationary or fixed journal, M; the collar N resists
the upward motion of the framework, but does not retard the upward motion of
the spindle; the framework at the transverse bars D is thus retained against the
material operated upon, whilst the cutter, with the knives, is being carried upwards
by the action of the lever on the spindle; the knives are thus withdrawn from the
material, which being set free falls on to the table.
The machine operates in the following manner: The material to be cut is placed
under the surface of the machine; the lever last mentioned is moved downwards
and thereby depresses the cutter plate, A, and the outer ring K. upon the surface
of the material; the point P rests upon the material as a centre; two or more
knives being first fitted on, also, by the same depression, come into contact with the
material, the steam or other power being then applied to the spindle it revolves
rapidly and as it revolves, the knives cut through the material. Two knives will
cut out a small disc on which the point P rests and one washer and every additional
knife which may be added will cut out another washer; thus two or more washers
may be cut out at the same time, varying in size according to the distances at
which the knives may be placed. After a few revolutions the spindle is raised
by lifting the lever before mentioned, the framework, E, G, Figure 2, is retained
by the collar or socket N as before described, and the washers are thrown off ready
for immediate use.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The construction, manufacture, and use of the hereinbefore described
improvements in machinery or tools for cutting washers as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 22nd day of January One thousand eight hundred and ninety-two.
Witness-
H. G. DALLIMORE,
Camberwell, S.E.,
Solicitor and Patent Agent.
ALEXANDER MACKIE.