IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPA- RATUS FOR CUTTING DISCS OR CIRCLES OUT OF PLATES OR SHEETS OF METAL OR OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1853

page_text: atents, wie Her
Petition, on the 2nd September 1858.
(Void by reason of notice to proceed not having been given within the
time prescribed by the Act.)
WC, JOHN SIBLEY and THOMAS SIBLEY, of Ashton-under-Lyne, in
the County of Lancaster, Machine Makers, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPA-
RATUS FOR CUTTING DISCS OR CIRCLES OUT OF PLATES OR SHEETS OF METAL
OR OTHER SUBSTANCES" to be as follows:-It consists of a combination
of the machine known as the circular shearing machine, with an appa-
ratus by which the sheet or plate of material to be cut into a circle is
kept central, and at any required distance from the circular shears equal
to the radius of the discs or circles required; and which at the same
time affords the means of readily entering the sheet or plate between
the shears, and of adjusting it to the best cutting angle for all diameters.
It is principally intended for the use of tin plate workers.
Though circular shears are well understood, it will be as well that we
should explain the manner in which we construct and combine them

page_text: with the apparatus already referred to. In two suitable bearings, formed
on or secured to an upright framing, we fix two shafts; one of these
shafts receives motion from the other through the medium of a pair of
spur wheels, one on each shaft (which, as is obvious, will cause both
shafts to turn towards each other); upon the opposite ends of the shafts
to which the spur wheels are keyed are secured the two circular cutters,
one on each shaft, slightly overlapping; the straight faces of which are
kept against each other by a strong helical spring wound round one of
the shafts, which acts against one of the bearings and a set collar
fixed upon it. The apparatus for holding the plate or sheet central, and
which permits it to revolve as it is cut, consists of a bar extending
from the end of the cutter frame, which is fixed to a support so as to
be adjustable to any required plana or angle, across the axis of the
-cutters, and upon it is mounted upon an axis or centre (movable in a
.slot from and towards the cutters) a jaw formed piece, the ends of
which carry a pair of centres or face plates; the upper one being fitted
so as to be adjustable to the, lower cne by a screw so as to pince the
plate or sheet placed between them. As already stated, .the sheet or
plate to be cut is held between centres or face plates at the ends of the
jaw pieces, which will swivle upon its axis so as to bring the plate
between the shears and to the best cutting angle, the point of which
may be fixed for each diameter by a stop pin, adjustable in a slot
formed in the bearing bar. The manner in which the machine operates
is as follows: The sheet or plate of material to be cut is placed on
the centre, between the face plates (or, when it has a hole in it, upon a
pin) and the upper face plate, screwed tight (both of which plates work
on centres to reduce friction); the axis of the jaw, piece is then adjusted
so as to give the radius of the required circle or disc; the jaw piece
is then moved round to enter the plate between the shears, and till it
arrives at its best cutting angle, at which point the stop pin is fixed (it
is now adjusted for any number of discs or circles of that diameter).
Motion is now imparted to one of the shafts by means of a handle or
by other means which revolves the cutters, the cutting action of which
tends to draw the jaw piece against the stop, where it may be kept
steady by the hand of the workman. The apparatus for holding the

page_text: plates may be variously modified and constructed; but its peculiar
features of novelty are the means it affords for fixing the diameter of
the circle or disc to be cut, adjusting every diameter to the best plane
and cutting angle, entering the sheet or plate between the cutters, and
holding it central while cut, which is accomplished by fixing the centres
on an arm which will swivle, the axis of which is movable, as herein-
before described.