IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MANUFACTURING CORKS, BUNGS, SPILES, AND SUCH ARTICLES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Henry, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City
of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES FOR MANUFACTURING CORKS, BUNGS, SPILES, AND SUCH
ARTICLES." A communication from abroad by Paul Alexis Adolphe
Dalverny, of 33, Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris.
Sealed the 24th May 1861, and dated the 19th January 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Henry at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th
January 1861.
I, MICHAEL HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN MACHINES FOR MANUFACTURING CORKS, BUNGS, SPILES, AND SUCH LIKE
ARTICLES," communicated to me from abroad by Paul Alexis Adolphe
Dalverny, of 33, Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris, to be as follows:-
In one arrangement a large bevil wheel lying between two platforms or
plates is driven by one or other of two bevil pinions on a shaft carrying a
driving pulley. The bevil wheel shaft passes up and forms the central shaft of
a set of five, and at the part where it is adjacent to the cutter pinions, between
the 5th and 6th rows or lines of which it passes, dividing them into what I

page_text: call half lines, it carries a wheel not bevilled, which engages at four places
with the pinions, and so drives the four half lines; and as each of the other
four shafts (which are supported in a frame bar under the platform) carries a
like wheel, and passes in similar manner between rows of pinions, the other
rows are driven in like manner. The central shaft sets the others in motion,
the five being in gear, and so works the whole set of 120 pinions. The
direction of rotation of these cutter pinions depends on which of the two bevil
pinions is in gear with the bevil wheel, as they work it in opposite directions,
for which purpose the shaft carries a tooth, click, or hook working a double
rack, which throws one of the pinions alternately into gear with the bevil
wheel, and disengages the other. When the teeth of the rack have all passed
it slides under the shaft, and presents its opposite teeth to the click for its
return travel, thus changing the gearing pinion alternately. Hereby also the
machine can be stopped for the frames to slide in the grooves and present
fresh parts to the cutters, as the pinions can lie far enough from the wheel to
turn without engaging it when required. The cork to be cut which rests on
n bed preferably of leather on the platform is composed of a number of oblongs
screwed tightly in a frame which fits between two cross pieces. Along
pillars screwed to the lower platform and connected at top by struts, an upper
plate slides, supported by a bar, through which passes a threaded rod connected
to the plate and passing into a nut fixed to the struts; the rod carries a beam
or loaded arms at top. Under the plate are 120 screw rods fastened thereto,
each rod carrying a wheel or pinion toothed outside for them to engage
together and threaded inside to suit the thread of the rod, one-half of the
number being threaded to the right hand and the other to the left, so that the
screws all rise and fall together. Each pinion carries a cutting tube, preferably
of thin steel, which cutters are at such distances apart as to cut out 120 corks
at one stroko from material sufficient for 480, whence by raising and
depressing the cutters four times, and shifting the cork accordingly, the whole
number is produced. A plate perforated with orifices of equal number and
diameter to the cutter tubes steadies them and keeps their gearing engaged.
Each cutter-carrying rod has a block or plug at the end which further steadies
the tubes, keeps them from clipping into the cut cork, and prevents the latter
following the cutter in its upstroke. To shift the cork and present fresh
portions to the cutters there may be fitted on one of the platforms two
inoveable plates or frames, one sliding in guide grooves while the other moves
in a contrary direction, and carries two bars or cross pieces, one fixed to the
under plate, and the other turning on pins, but may be fastened when desired;

page_text: a bed composed of several thicknesses of leather perforated with as many,
orifices as there are cutters supports the cork and protects the cutter edges..
After the first batch is cut the lower moveable plate is screwed forward until
stopped by studs, when it will present a fresh portion to the cutters. For the
third batch the other plate is pushed sidewise till stopped, and for the last the
lower plate is forced back again. For small sizes the cutter carrying rods and
their wheels or pinions may be smooth instead of threaded, each wheel being;
formed of two detachable pieces, the lower toothed and the upper smooth.)
contracted at their junction and fitted into orifices in a plate with arms worked;
up and down by screws; the wheels are in gear. I have mentioned 120
pinions and cutters, and described arrangements accordingly, but the number;
of the pinions and cutters and other appliances may be varied, the principle of
construction and arrangement being retained.
Another arrangement is suitable for cutting corks, bungs, spiles, and like
articles of a desired shape (cylindrical, conical, &c.), as the cutters may be
adjusted more or less vertical or oblique. The apparatus, the framework of
which preferably consists of a top, bottom, and two side pieces, is worked by a
wheel turning an endless screw, which actuates a rack by means of a nut
thereon. The rack operates a row of pinions (not in direct gear with each
other) to save space every alternate pinion lies below the next two; their
axes are prolonged and come opposite a set of rods into the space between
axes and rods; the blocks of cork or wood are placed so that pinions, rods, and
blocks turn together. A crank motion on the wheel works a rocking lever
which rocks or works a frame up and down, such frame carrying a set of
cutters with a cutting edge on each side, one side serrated and the other plain,
the cutters being adjusted by screws between a pair of bars forming the top
and another pair forming the bottom of the frame; the side frame bars to
which the top and bottom pairs are connected enter into grooves in beams fitted
with springs at the sides of the framework and adjusted by screws, and hence
they, and consequently the cutters, may be adjusted at the required angle. For
cutting wood spiles and the like the cutters are turned, and a screw with a less
abrupt worm used to work them more gently. Instead of a rack an endless
screw, band, chain, or equivalent means may be employed.
:
In a third arrangement, which is for cutting out the cork, there is a set of
circular serrated cutters and an upper and two- under rollers. The cutters
are fixed on an axis carrying a pulley, to which another pulley loose on the
shaft communicates rotation when required by a fork or connection, whereby:
the cutters and roller can be stopped without stopping the whole machinery

page_text: when the cork, cut into as many long strips or pieces as there are cutters, bas
passed between the rollers and cutters, and comes to another part of the
machine, where it undergoes a further cutting for its length and top and
bottom by another set of cutters mounted on one axis, caused to move to and fro
by being supported in a frame carrying a nut that works on an endless screw,
the frame thus sliding to and fro and moving the cutters forward or backward
according to the direction in which the screw is turned; the axis carries at each
end a pinion engaging a rack. The cork rests on iron bands stretched tightly,
allowing the cutters just room enough to cut the cork. Rotation in the
required direction is imparted to the screw by fast and loose pullies, and varies
according to the position of the straps.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Michael Henry in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th July 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE. PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Michael Henry, Her special licence that I, the said Michael Henry,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Michael
Henry, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR
MANUFACTURING CORKS, BUNGS, SPILES, AND SUCH LIKE ARTICLES," communicated
to me from abroad by Paul Alexis Adolphe Dalverny, of 33, Boulevard
Saint Martin, Paris, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Michael Henry, my executors or administrators, by an
instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to

page_text: be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next.
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Michael Henry, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per+
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, as communicated to me, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say:-
This Invention relates to three arrangements of machinery, which, for con-
venience of description, I respectively distinguish in this Specification by the
names of "the tubular cutter machine, "the adjustable cutter machine," and
"the cutting out" or "revolving cutter" machine.'
In one arrangement of machinery, forming what I herein call the "tubular
cutter machine," a large bevil wheel lying between two platforms or plates is
driven by one or other of two bevil pinions on a shaft carrying a driving
pulley; the bevil wheel shaft passes up and forms the central shaft of a set of
five, and at the part where it is adjacent to the cutter pinions, between tho
fifth and sixth rows or lines of which it passes, dividing them into what I call
half lines, it carries a wheel, not bevilled, which engages at four places with
the piuions, and so drives the four half lines; and as each of the other four
shafts, which are supported in a frame bar under the platform, carries a like
wheel, and passes in a similar manner between rows of pinions, the other rows
are driven in like manner; the central shaft sets the others in motion, the five
being in gear, and so works the whole set of 120 pinions. The direction of
rotation of these cutter pinions depends on which of the two bevil pinions is
gear with the bevil wheel, as they work it in opposite directions, for which
purpose the shaft carries a tooth, click, or hook working a double rack, which
throws one of the pinions alternately into gear with the bevil wheel and dis-
engages the other. When the teeth of the rack have all passed, the rack slides
under the shaft, and presents its opposite teeth to the click for its return travel,
thus changing the gearing pinion alternately, whereby also the machine can
be stopped for the (holding) frames to slide in the grooves, and present fresh
parts to the cutters, as the pinions can be moved far enough from the wheel
to turn without engaging it when required. The cork to be cut, which rests
on a bed, preferably of leather, set on one of the platforms, is composed of a
number of oblongs screwed tightly in a fraue which fits between two cross
pieces. Along (that is to say, up and down) pillars screwed to the lower
platform, and connected at top by struts, an upper plate slides supported by a
in

page_text: bar, through which passes a threaded rod connected to the plate, and passing
through a nut fixed to the struts; the rod carries a beam or loaded arms at
top. Under the plate are 120 screw rods, which are fastened to it, and each
of these rods carries a wheel or pinion toothed outside, so that they may
engage together, and threaded inside to suit the thread of the rod, one-half of
the number being threaded to the right hand and the other to the left, so that
they all rise and fall together; each pinion carries a cutting or "cutter" tube,
preferably of thin steel, which cutters are at such distances apart as to cut out
120 corks at one stroke from material sufficient for 480, whereby by raising and
depressing the cutters four times, and shifting the cork accordingly, the whole
number will be produced. A plate perforated with orifices of corresponding
number and diameter to the cutter tubes (that is to say, just allowing room
for the tubes to pass through them,) steadies them and keeps their gearing
engaged; each cutter-carrying rod has a block or plug at the end, which
further steadies the tubes, keeps them from tearing or clipping into the cork
improperly, and prevents the cut cork from following the cutter in its up
stroke. To shift the cork for presenting fresh portions to the cutters there
may be fitted on one of the platforms two moveable plates or frames, one
sliding in guide grooves, while the other moves in a contrary direction and
carries two bars or cross pieces, one of which is fixed to the under plate and
the other turns on pins, but may be fastened when desired.
A bed composed
of several thicknesses of leather, perforated with as many orifices as there are
cutters, supports the cork and protects the cutter edges. After the first batch
is cut the lower moveable plate is screwed forward until stopped by studs,
when it will present a fresh portion to the cutters; for the third batch the
other plate is pushed sidewise till stopped, and for the last the lower plate is
forced back again. For small sizes the cutter-carrying rods and their wheels
or pinions may be smooth instead of threaded, each wheel being formed of two
detachable pieces, the lower toothed and the upper smooth, contracted at their
junction and fitted into orifices in a plate with arms worked up and down by
screws. The wheels are in gear. I have mentioned 120 pinions and cutters,
and described arrangements accordingly, but the number of the pinions,
cutters, and other appliances may be varied, the principle of construction and
arrangement being retained.
Another arrangement of machinery, which I herein call the "adjustable
cutter machine," is suitable for cutting corks, bungs, spiles, and like articles of
a desired cylindrical or conical shape, as the cutters may be adjusted so as
to be vertical, or more or less oblique. The apparatus, the framework of which

page_text: preferably consists of a top, bottom, and two side pieces, is worked by a wheel
turning an endless screw, which actuates a rack by means of a nut thereon;
the rack operates a row of pinions not in direct gear with each other; to save.
space every alternate pinion lies below the next two. Their axes are prolonged
and come opposite a set of rods; into the space between axes and rods the
blocks of cork or wood are placed, so that pinions, rods, and blocks turn toge-
ther. A crank motion on the wheel works a rocking lever, which rocks or
works a frame up and down, such frame carrying a set of cutters with a
cutting edge on each side, one side being serrated and the other plain. The
cutters are adjusted by screws between a pair of bars forming the top and
another pair forming the bottom of the frame; the side frame bars, to which
the top and bottom pairs are connected, enter into grooves in bars, which are
fitted with springs at the sides of the framework and are adjusted by screws,
and hence they, and consequently the cutters, may be adjusted at the required
angle. For cutting wood spiles and the like, the cutters are turned, and a
screw with a less abrupt worm is used to work them more gently. Instead of
a rack an endless screw band, chain, or equivalent means may be employed.
In a third arrangement of machinery, which I herein call the "cutting out,"
or "revolving cutter machine," and which is for cutting out the cork (i.e.,
cutting it into blanks,) there is a set of circular serrated cutters and an upper
and two under rollers; the cutters are fixed on an axis carrying a pulley, to
which another pulley loose on the shaft is caused to communicate rotation when
required by throwing it into working gear by a fork, clutch, or connection,
whereby these cutters and rollers can be stopped, without stopping the whole
machinery; when the cork after having been cut into as many long strips as
there are cutters passes away from the rollers and cutters, and comes to
another part of the machine, where it undergoes a further cutting for its
length, and for the top and bottom by another set of cutters mounted on one
axis, caused to move to and fro by being supported in or carried by a frame
carrying a nut that works on an endless screw; the frame thus sliding to and
fro, and moving the cutters forward or backward according to the direction in
which the screw is turned. The axis carries at each end a pinion engaging a
rack. The cork rests on iron bands stretched tightly, allowing the cutters just
room enough to cut the cork. Rotation in the required direction is imparted
to the screw by fast and looso pullies, and, varies according to the arrangement
of the straps.
The accompanying Drawings exemplify machinery.constructed according to

page_text: Figure 1 is a front sectional elevation, and Figure 2 a plan, of the machine
lastly herein-before described, being what I call the "cutting-out" or "revolving
cutter machine," and intended for cutting the cork into blanks.
a is a framework, which supports three rollers b, b, b, between which is
placed the slab of cork to be cut. Rotary motion is communicated to these
rollers 6 by a pulley c, driven by a strap passing over a pulley d, the latter
being caused to revolve by a driving pulley e when thrown into connection
therewith by a clutch. The pullies d and e are mounted on a shaft f, which
shaft also carries a number of circular cutters g. By disconnecting the
pullies d and e, the rotation of the rollers and cutters can be stopped without
stopping the driving pulley e; h is a shaft, lying in bearings i parallel to the
shaft f; this shaft h has a screw thread formed on its surface from end to end,
and constitutes an endless screw. Rotary motion can be communicated to the
screw h in either direction of rotation at pleasure by means of pullies r, s, t,
that is to say, on each end of the shaft is a pulley t driven by a driving strap
passing over a pulley r, the strap of the pulleys r and t at one end of the
shaft being crossed, but not the strap of those at the other end, so that tho
pulleyst turn in opposite directions. Rotary motion is communicated to each
pulley by a driving pulley s, with which it can be thrown into and out of
connection at pleasure, so that by first putting the pulley r at one end of the
screw into gear with its corresponding driving pulleys, (the opposito
pulleys r, s, being out of gear,) the screw h will be turned in one direction,
and then by disconnecting these pullies so as to stop the pulley t at this end,
and throwing into connection the pullies r and s at the opposite end, the screw
will be rotated in the opposite direction, so that its direction of rotation can thus
be alternately reversed; on the screw h is a nut j, which by the screw h being
rotated in opposite directions alternately is caused to travel to and fro thereon;
the nut jis attached by arms k and links to an axis l, which carries a number of
circular cutters or discs with cutting edges m, m, so that when the screw is
actuated the arms and links forming the cutter-carrying frame are caused to
travel to and fro, moving the cutters with them. At each end of the axis / is a
pinion n gearing into a rack o, there being a rack o on each side; by these means
as the cutters are moved to and fro by the nut j, they are also caused to
revolve; p
is a sort of table or platform formed of a series of steel bars or
plates, and receiving the cork after it has been cut by the cutters g. The slab
of cork to be cut is first fed in between the rollers b, and the pullies d and e,
being clutched or geared together, rotary motion is cominunicated to the
cutters 9 and the rollers 6; the cork passing on continuously under the

page_text: cutters g, is cut by them in the direction of its length into strips, so to speak.
When a sufficient quantity has been so cut, the rollers and cutters I are
stopped by disconnecting the pullies d and e, and the cork passes on to the
platform p under the cutters m, which being set in motion cut the strips of
cork at right angles to the first cut, and so form it into squares or oblongs;
the size of which can be regulated at pleasure by placing the cutters at any
desired intervals apart. The oblong blocks or blanks so produced are now
ready to be conveyed to the machinery shewn in Figures 3 and 4, or that
in Figures 5 and 6; to be finished or formed into corks, bungs, and like
articles.
.
Figure 3 is a front elevation, and Figure 4 a plan, of the machine secondly.
herein-before described, which I call the "adjustable cutter machine," intended
for cutting corks, bungs, spiles, and like articles of cylindrical or conical
shape.
a' is a wood frame through which passes a rack 6', to which is attached
a nut c', travelling to and fro on an endless screw d', turned by a wheel e', so
that on rotary motion being communicated to this wheel e', the rack b¹ will be
moved to and fro. The rack b' is in gear with ten (or more or less) pinions f¹;
mounted on axes g', every other pinion being placed lower than the two
nearest it, as shewn, to save space; under each axis 9', and opposite thereto, is
a rod or spindle h', so stepped or pivoted at bottom as to be capable of revolving
as presently described, and terminating at top in a head h³, shaped like the
frustum of a cone. There is a space between each head h³ and axis g'.
Upon the wheel e' is a connecting rod k', which communicates to a frame l'
an up-and-down motion at each revolution of the wheel. This frame carries
the cutters m'; each cutter consists of a blade with a cutting edge on each
side, that is to say, each blade has a toothed or serrated cutting edge on
one side, and a plain cutting edge on the other. The frame is capable
of being slidden in grooves formed in standards or bars a¹, which are rendered
moveable or adjustable, so that they may be set at any desired angle or incli-
nation by means of the regulating screws p', whereby the cutters m³ will
be placed at a corresponding angle or position, the effect of which arrangement
is that the cutters may be adjusted for cutting cylindrical corks, bungs, and
spiles (or like articles), or may be set at an angle or inclination suitable for
cutting conical corks, bungs, spiles, or the like, of a more or less obtuse or
acute conical shape, by regulating the slope of the cutters accordingly..
On each spindle head his placed a blank square or oblong block of
cork taken from the machine, Figures 1 and 2, (or any machine answering

page_text: the same purpose,) and by means of the treadle q', working a rod taking into
a rack or toothed catch plate r', each blank is pressed firmly up against the
bottom of the corresponding axis g'. Rotary motion is then communicated
to the wheel e', the screw on which causes the rack b¹ to travel to and fro, and
to impart rotary motion to the pinions f¹, and consequently to the axes g' of
those pinions, and these axes as they revolve cause the cork blanks in contact
with them (and the spindles h¹) to revolve likewise. Meantime the crank
motion k', on the wheel e', causes the cutter frame l', and its saws m' to rise
and fall, and shape the blanks into corks, bungs, or the like. When wood is to
be cut into spiles or similar forms the cutters are turned round to present their
plain cutting edges, and a slower motion is communicated to them than when
cork is being cut.
.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 6 a plan, of the machine firstly
herein-before described, which I call the "tubular cutter machine" particularly
intended for the production of cylindrical corks. A is the framework sup-
porting two plates or platforms A and B, connected by pillars C'; on the
lower plate C are fixed a pair of plummer blocks D, in which a shaft E
revolves. Rotary motion is communicated to the shaft E, by the pulley F.
The shaft E carries two bevel pinions G and H, which are alternately thrown
into gear by a clutch I, with a large central bevel wheel J, lying between
the plates B and C. It must be understood that only one of these pinions
is in genr with the wheel J at one time, and that when one is in gear
therewith the other is out of gear, and as they impart rotary motion to the
wheel J, in opposite directions, and as each is geared therewith alternately, the
wheel J, has its direction of rotation alternately reversed. The wheel J is
fixed on a shaft K, supported in a bracket L and cross frame bar M. On the
shaft K, above the bevel wheel J, is a toothed wheel N, in gear with four
other toothed wheels N', on shafts k', parallel to or in a line with the shaft
K, as shewn in the plan, Figure 6. On the shaft K above the wheel N
is a toothed pinion O, and on each shaft k, above each wheel N', is
a similar toothed pinion O; each of these toothed pinions O is in gear with
four toothed pinions P, P', P, P³, each one of which drives a series, row,
or train of five other toothed pinions P', the six pinions of each train, or
as I call them "half lines" (the pinion O dividing the line in halves) being in
gear; thus each pinion O really actuates a group of twenty-four other pinions,
that is to say, the five pinions O (which I call the "driving pinions ") altogether
actuate one hundred and twenty pinions (arranged in five "groups," with four
"half lines" in each "group," and six pinions in each "half line"). These

page_text: arrangements are clearly exemplified in Figure 6 by the blue and the dotted lines.
Thus, on rotary motion being communicated to the main wheel J by either of
the bevel pinions G or H, such rotary motion will be transmitted by the
wheels N, N', N', N', N', to the pinions O, and thence to all the pinions in
gear therewith respectively, and thus the whole one hundred and twenty
pinions will be put in motion, the direction of rotation depending on which of
the bevil pinions G or H is put into gear with the wheel J. Each pinion
P, P, P, P, P', is mounted on a threaded rod or axis q, and is itself cor-
respondingly threaded on the inside, that is, on the surface that comes in
direct contact with the axis q, so that each pinion may work up and down on
its axis; the screw threads are alternately in different directions, that is to say,
one is screw-threaded to the right, the next to the left, the third to the right,
and so on, whereby all these pinions work up and down together. To the
under part of each pinion P, P', P2, P3, P', is fixed a tube d', forming a
cutting tube, composed of thin tempered steel with a cutting edge; one of
these is shewn on an enlarged scale in section, Figure 7. Of course, in the
machine shewn in the Drawing there are one hundred and twenty such tubular
cutters d'; hence on rotary motion being communicated to the wheel J in one
direction, all the 120 cutters will be worked down together, and on the
direction of rotation being reversed they will all be worked up together, the
pinions G and H having thus to be alternately thrown into gear with the
wheel J to move the whole arrangement or collection of cutters alternately up
and down. The cutters are placed at such distances apart as to be capable of
cutting out 120 corks or bungs from blanks of sufficient surface and material
for 480, that is to say, that if a quantity of cork of sufficient surface and bulk for
forming 480 corks be placed under the cutters, and the cutters brought down
on it four distinct times, the cork being shifted between each stroke, so as to
present for each stroke a fresh part or surface to the cutters, four hundred and
eighty corks will be cut by the four descents of the hundred and twenty
cutters; thus by raising and depressing the cutters four times, and shifting
the material lengthwise and widthwise, the whole number will be cut or
produced. The cork may be shifted for the purpose by any known means
or convenient mechanical contrivance, and I prefer to use for this object a
frame S, into which I place the blanks of cork previously cut into blocks, the
frame S being held on the upper platform B, and shifted by means of screws.
R is a perforated guide plate for guiding the cutters in their up-and-down
At the bottom of each cutter is a plug 6, Figure 7, which prevents
the cutters from getting out of register, and from tearing or clipping into the
travel.

page_text: cork unevenly or improperly; this plug also keeps the cork down after it has
been cut, and prevents it from following the cutter in the latter's upstroke.
T is a beam or weighted arms, to which is fixed a screw V, working in a
nút U fixed to the framework, the screw V being attached to the plate that
carries the cutters, so that by turning the said screw all the pinions and
cutters may be raised together when required; I is the clutch for throwing
the pinions G and H into and out of gear with the wheel J. On the
shaft E is a tooth or catch i, which takes into the teeth of a double rack i',
causing the rack to move one tooth at every revolution of the pulley F, and
when the rack has been thus propelled as far as it will go, and has arrived at
the end of its travel in one direction, it comes in contact with a piece X, and
works the clutch I, so as to cause it to throw one bevil pinion into gear with
the wheel J, and the other out of gear therewith; the direction of rotation
of the wheel is thus alternately reversed, and the cutters driven down and up
alternately until the whole number of corks or bungs is cut. When the
work is done the frames or compartments containing the cut corks, &c., are
removed, and the machine stopped, which may be effected by throwing both
pinions G, H, out of gear with the wheel J, or by stopping the driving
pulley F.
I call the pinions P, P', P2, P3, P4, the "cutter pinions."
Although I have shewn each pinion O as working four half lines or rows of
cutter pinions, the machine may be so contrived that each such pinion O
may work one, two, or three, or more than four, such rows; in fact, the
number of cutter pinions may, as before stated, be varied so only that the
method of actuating the same be adhered to, that is to say, the method
illustrated in Figure 6, according to which the whole number of cutter pinious
in the machine do not depend on or gear into one another directly, but are
divided into trains or rows, such trains or rows being grouped or arranged into
lots of so many rows, each group or lot of rows being actuated by a driving
pinion common thereto, substantially as explained in reference to Figure 6.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that what I claim is as
follows:-
In respect of the machine which I call the "cutting-out" or "revolving
cutter machine," I claim the general arrangement and combination of parts of
which the same consists, as herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 1
and 2 of the accompanying Drawings.
In respect of the machine which I call the "adjustable cutter machine," I
claim the arrangement of parts whereby I produce both cylindrical and conical

page_text: corks, bungs, spiles, and such like articles in one and the same machine;
also, I claim the employment of cutters having a serrated cutting edge on one
side and a plain cutting edge on the other, so arranged that they can be
applied for cutting both wood and cork in the same machine; likewise I claim
the general arrangement and combination of parts of which the said machine
consists, as herein-before described and exemplified in Figures 3 and 4 of the
accompanying Drawings.
In respect of the machine which I call the "tubular cutting machine,"
shewn in Figures 5 and 6, I claim the method described of actuating the cutter
pinions substantially as shewn in Figure 6, according to which, whatever be
the number of cutter pinions in the machine, all such cutter pinions do not
depend on or gear into each other directly, but are divided or arranged into
a number of rows, every four (or more or less) such rows being arranged into a
of rows, and each such group being driven by a "driving pinion" gearing
into and common to the rows of that particular group, substantially in the
manner shown in Figure 6, and before described; also, I claim the general
arrangement and combination of parts of which the said machine consists,
as herein-before described and exemplified in Figures 5 and 6 of the accom-
panying Drawings.
group
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Henry, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of July, One thousand eight hun-
dred and sixty-one.
Witness,
S. E. A. NEWSOME,
Patent Office,
84, Fleet St., London.
M. HENRY. (L.S.)