Improvements in the Manufacture of Corks by Grinding, and in Machinery for this purpose.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 19th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 11th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Corks by Grinding, and in
Machinery for this purpose.
I JOHN EISENHARDT HOWARD of 73 Minories London in the County of
Middlesex Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to grinding "squares" or "quarters" of cork into shape
(ie. round or approximately round) entirely and automatically by mechanical
means.
My present invention is as follows:-
On a suitable standard frame or table a support is mounted to carry a disc or
other suitable grinding surface (covered with sand paper glass paper or other
suitable media for grinding cork) and this disc or grinding surface is fixed on an
axis actuated by a driving band and fast and loose pulleys or revolved in any other
suitable manner.
The support carrying this disc et cetera (or the disc itself) is arranged and
mounted so as to be capable of adjustment towards and away from the cork gripping
device and also adjustable within certain limits as to the angle at which the cork is
presented to the grinding surface.
On the table or main frame is mounted the cork gripping device arranged and
caused to travel backwards and forwards in any suitable manner, for instance like
a "slide-rest" for a lathe or slots and pins or grooves et cetera.
Reciprocating motion is imparted to this cork gripping device as hereinafter
explained.
66
This sliding cork gripping device which for the sake of brevity I term the
sliding chuck" is arranged and acts as follows:-
In suitable bearings or supports-on that end of the sliding chuck opposite to
the grinding disc or surface-are mounted the cork grippers or holders which grip
and hold the "square" or "quarter" of cork to be rounded and then rotate as they
present same to the grinding surface until ground and thereupon drop the rounded
cork and cease rotating until they have automatically gripped another "square
$6 quarter "and present it to be ground as before and so on.
"
or
The gripper on one side is continuously pressed in the direction of the cork by
a coiled spring or other suitable means and the spindle of such gripper is drawn
back by a projection or device on the outer end thereof riding up an inclined plate
or surface and thus drawing back the spindle and dropping the rounded cork as the
sliding chuck is drawn back until just as the "sliding chuck" reaches its extreme
back position the end of the said spindle escapes off the said plate and the gripper
snaps back and grips the next piece of cork or square" already laid on a feed
table or rest fixed between the two grippers and not sliding with the "sliding
chuck."
<<
On the approach towards the grinding disc the end of the said spindle is arranged
to clear the said inclined plate et cetera or push same out of its path-in the latter
case a spring returning such inclined plate into position ready to act as before
described as the gripper returns so as to release the ground cork and grip the next
piece to be ground.
The other of the two grippers is mounted also on a spindle or axis and is so
arranged as to only be rotated just at the time when the cork is being ground.

page_text: "
I effect this intermittent movement by having a bevel cog wheel carried in
a bracket or support on the " sliding chuck which meshes with and is con-
tinuously revolved by a second bevel cog wheel mounted on a revolving shaft or
spindle upon which this second bevel cog wheel can slide longitudinally on a
"feather on such shaft.
This second cog wheel is carried also in or by another arm or bracket fixed
or formed on the "sliding chuck" and thus this sliding chuck moves the second
bevel cog wheel (which latter is always held in gear with the said first bevel
cog wheel) backwards and forwards along the same shaft by means of which it
is revolved.
To make intermittent connection between the said first bevel cog wheel and the
said second gripper spindle I interpose a clutch of any suitable device but for the
sake of example I will describe an ordinary toothed clutch.
One part of this toothed clutch is fixed to and continuously revolved by the said
first cog wheel while the other part is fixed to the said second gripper spindle the
two parts being kept pressed apart by a spring or other suitable means and so kept
out of gear but just as the cork grippers come towards the grinding surface the
clutch is automatically pressed into gear and so the said gripper and cork are
revolved as the latter is ground after which as the "sliding chuck" is drawn back
the clutch goes out of gear and the gripper ceases to revolve while in the act of
picking up the "square or "quarter or piece of cork.
"
"
The clutch may be thrown in and out of action by any suitable means-for
instance the end of the second gripper spindle may be caused to ride up a cam or
inclined surface as the "sliding chuck" advances to the grinding disc and so cause
the two parts of the clutch to be thrown into gear.
To give reciprocating motion to the "sliding chuck"-in order to give a quick
motion cach way but yet allow the sliding chuck to rest while picking up the piece
of cork between the grippers and to very slowly approach just as the piece of cork
reaches the grinding surface and so that the cork is slowly pressed up against the
said grinding surface while the cork is being ground into shape-I use a cam of
special shape to give this desired motion to the sliding chuck.
Such cam imparts the said desired motion by means of a pivotted lever which
lever at one end rides against said cam and at its other end is connected by a rod
(or by other connection) to the "sliding chuck," or gives the desired motion by any
other suitable means.
Such cam may advantageously be revolved by having affixed thereto a worm
wheel rotated by a worm on the said shaft or spindle which revolves the aforesaid
bevel cog wheels.
I do not confine myself to all the exact details hereinbefore described inasmuch
as mechanical equivalents may readily suggest themselves in several cases-for
instance the gripper spindle might be intermittently revolved by having a bevel cog
wheel fixed rigidly on the spindle thereof which bevel cog wheel would only come
into gear with a second bevel cog wheel, (fixed on a revolving shaft and not carried
by the "sliding chuck") just as the cork touches the grinding surface and so
revolves the cork until the sliding chuck begins to move back whereupon the two
bevel cog wheels are moved out of mesh and thereupon the cork gripper spindle is
no longer revolved until the next approach of the sliding chuck.
The position of the feed table or rest can be varied as required according to the
size in cross section of the cork to be ground and an adjustable gauge fixed to the
sliding chuck serves to permit of the corks always being placed correctly on this
feed table or rest.
A very essential part of my present invention consists in the said regulated
approach of the cork so that no time is lost between picking up the piece of cork
and conveying it rapidly towards the grinding surface and then as contact
is made a very slow movement forward is imparted until the desired amount of
grinding has taken place, and thereafter if desired, the sliding chuck may come

page_text: to an absolute rest for a moment while a finishing touch is given to the ground
cork.
Dated this 17th day of February 1892.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Corks by Grinding, and in
Machinery for this purpose.
I, JOHN EISENHARDT HOWARD of 73 Minories, London in the County of
Middlesex, 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 :-
"
"
This invention relates to grinding "squares or "quarters of cork into shape
(ie. round or approximately round) entirely and automatically by mechanical
means.
My present invention is as follows:-
On a suitable standard frame or table a support is mounted to carry a disc or
other suitable grinding surface (covered with sand paper glass paper or other
suitable media or formed in any other suitable manner for grinding cork) and this
disc or grinding surface is fixed on an axis actuated by a driving band and fast and
loose pulleys or revolved in any other suitable manner.
The support carrying this disc et cetera (or the disc itself) may or may not be
arranged and mounted so as to be capable of adjustment towards and away from
the cork gripping device and also adjustable within certain limits as to the angle
at which the cork is to be presented to the grinding surface.
On the table or main frame is mounted the cork gripping device arranged and
caused to travel backwards and forwards in any suitable manner for instance like a
"slide-rest" for a lathe or slots and pins or grooves et cetera.
Reciprocating motion is imparted to this cork gripping device as hereinafter
explained.
This sliding cork gripping device which for the sake of brevity I term the
"slide" is arranged and acts as follows:-
"
66
In suitable bearings or supports-on that end of the slide nearest to the gripping
disc or surface-are mounted the cork grippers or holders which do not revolve as
they grip hold of the " square ΟΙ quarter of cork to be rounded and then
very quickly rotate as they present same to the grinding surface until ground and
thereupon drop the rounded cork and cease rotating until they have automatically
gripped another "square or "quarter" and present it to be ground as before
and so on.
"
The gripper or chuck on one side is continuously pressed in the direction of the
cork by a coiled spring or other suitable means and the spindle of such gripper is
drawn back by a projection or device on the outer end thereof riding up an inclined
plate or surface and thus drawing back the spindle and dropping the rounded cork
as the slide is drawn back until just as the slide reaches its extreme back position
the end of the said spindle escapes off the said incline and the gripper snaps
back and grips the next piece of cork or "square" already laid on a stationary
feed table or rest fixed between the two grippers and not sliding with the said
slide.
On the approach towards the grinding disc the end of the said spindle is arranged
to clear the said inclined plate et ceter or push same out of its path-in the latter
case a spring returning such inclined plate into position ready to act as before
described as the gripper returns so as to release the ground cork and grip the next
piece to be ground.

page_text: The other of the two grippers is mounted also on a spindle or axis and is so
arranged as to only be rotated just at the time when the cork is being ground.
I effect this intermittent movement by having a bevel cog wheel carried in a
bracket or support on the slide which meshes with and is continuously revolved by
a second bevel cog wheel mounted on a revolving shaft or spindle upon which this
second bevel cog wheel can slide longitudinally on a "feather" on such shaft.
This second cog wheel is carried also in or by another arm or bracket fixed or
formed on the slide and thus this slide moves the second bevel cog wheel (which
latter is always held in gear with the said first bevel cog wheel) backwards and
forwards along the same shaft by means of which it is revolved.
To make intermittent connection between the said first bevel cog wheel and the
said second gripper spindle I interpose a clutch of any suitable device but for the
sake of example I will describe an ordinary toothed clutch suitable for my
purpose.
One part of this toothed clutch is fixed to and continuously revolved by the said
first cog wheel while the other part is fixed to the said second gripper spindle
which passes through the hollow spindle of the first said cog wheel the two parts
being kept pressed apart by a spring or other suitable means and so kept out of
gear but just as the cork grippers come towards the grinding surface the clutch is
automatically pressed into gear and so the said gripper and cork are very quickly
revolved as the latter is ground after which as the slide is drawn back the clutch
goes out of gear and the gripper ceases to revolve while in the act of picking up
the "square
66
or quarter or piece of cork to be ground.
"
The clutch may be thrown in and out of action by any suitable means-for
instance the. end of the second gripper spindle may be caused to ride up a cam or
inclined surface-or said clutch on the gripper spindle may be operated by a
pivotted lever one end of which is forked and embraces therein such part of the
clutch while the other end of said lever rides up an inclined surface-as the slide
advances to the grinding disc and so cause the two parts of the clutch to be thrown
into gear and thus revolve the chuck or gripper.
To give reciprocating motion to the slide, in order to give a quick motion each
way but yet allow the said slide to rest while picking up the piece of cork between
the gripper and to very slowly approach just as the piece of cork reaches the
grinding surface and so that the cork blank is slowly pressed up against the said
grinding surface while the said blank is being ground into shape-I use a cam of
special shape to give this desired motion to the slide.
Such cam imparts the said desired motion by means of a pivotted lever which
lever at one end rides against said cam and at its other end is connected by a rod
(or by other connection) to the slide or gives the desired motion by any other
suitable means.
Such cam may advantageously be revolved by having affixed a shaft thereto
whereon is fixed a worm wheel rotated by a worm on the aforesaid driving shaft or
spindle which revolves the aforesaid bevel cog wheels.
I do not confine myself to all the exact details herein before described inasmuch
as mechanical equivalents may readily suggest themselves in several cases-for
instance the cork gripper spindle or chuck might be intermittently revolved by
having a bevel cog wheel fixed rigidly on the spindle thereof which bevel cog
wheel would only come into gear with a second bevel cog wheel (fixed on a revolving
shaft and not carried by the said slide) just as the cork touches the grinding surface
and so revolves the cork until the slide has partially moved back again whereupon
the two bevel cog wheels are moved out of mesh and thereupon the cork gripper
spindle is no longer revolved until the next approach of the slide.
The position of the feed table or rest can be varied as required according to the
size in cross section of the cork to be ground and an adjustable gauge fixed to the
slide and moving therewith serves to permit of the corks always being placed
correctly on this feed table or rest.
A very essential part of my present invention consists in the said regulated

page_text: approach of the cork so that no time is lost between the moment of finishing the
last cork (dropping same during the quick retirement of the slide) and picking up
the next piece of cork and conveying it rapidly towards the grinding surface and
then as contact is made the said piece of cork (or cork blank) is very quickly
rotated while at the same time a very slow movement forward is imparted until
the desired amount of grinding has taken place and thereafter if desired the slide
may come to an absolute rest for a moment while a finishing touch is given to the
ground cork.
And in order that my present invention may be easily understood and readily
carried into practice I will proceed to further describe same with reference to the
drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: face of the abrading disc D) and also X carries the bevel cog wheels a and b the
latter of which slides on a feather on the shaft J.
Y is the rest or device carrying the feed table upon which each block of cork to
be ground is laid by hand ready to be seized hold of by the aforesaid chucks.
Z is an adjustable gauge fixed on and moved by the slide U so as to ensure each
cork block being correctly placed in proper position on the aforesaid feed table.
a is a bevel cog wheel having a hollow axle thereto (constantly revolved by the
bevel wheel) and rotating also one part of the clutch see Fig. 2.
bis a bevel cog wheel rotated by J but free to travel along said shaft J on a
"feather" thereon-both a and b being carried in and by the support X on the
slide U.
d is the rotated chuck (carried by X) the axle of this chuck passing through the
hollow spindle of a and having the counter part c of the clutch mounted (either
fixed or on a
"feather") thereon-but normally this part c of the clutch is kept
back out of contact by the spring e.
fis a rocking arm pivotted to X (see Fig. 3) and at its upper and forked end
embraces the clutch part c and at its lower end has a wheel therein riding up the
inclined surface fixed to the bed B so as thus to throw the clutch into action and
revolve the chuck d as the latter approaches the abrading disc D-and when the
slide U is drawn back from D the lower end of ƒ rides down the incline g the clutch c
is drawn out of gear and the chuck & ceases revolving until the next approach to
the disc D.
is the spindle axis of the second or "snapping" chuck i which is journalled in
the forked bearings formed by W and this chuck is normally kept pressed towards
the rotated chuck d by spring; Fig. 2.
kis an upright or support fixed on B and has an inclined surface (not shown)
in the head thereof interposed across the path of travel backward of the cross
pin or roller m on the spindle so that immediately the slide U begins to move
away from the disc D the pin m begins to ride up the said inclined surface and
so the spindle and chuck are drawn backwards away from d and the ground
cork drops out from between the chucks d and i and falls down the shoot C.
Meanwhile the slide U continues to travel backward until just as it reaches its
limit of travel backwards the pin m comes off the end of the incline (not shown)
and is free and the spring; then instantly snaps the chuck i towards d and thus
grips the next block of cork resting ready on the feed table Y. The free
end i.e. the bottom of the incline is (by a spring) kept pressed across the path
of forward travel of the piu m so that as same advances towards the disc D it
will push such free end out of its way and thereafter upon the backward move-
ment of m will ride up this incline as before explained.
One or both of the supports W and X may be so mounted on the slide U
as to be capable of adjustment either toward or away from one another.
The disc support H in addition to having an angular adjustment to the axial
lines of di is also made capable of adjustment toward and away from the
chucks di and slide U according to the size of blocks of cork to be ground.
.s is the piece of cork being ground.
Fig. 6 (which is on an enlarged scale) illustrates the cam P to impart the
requisite motion to the slide U and the accuracy and delicacy of the motion thus
imparted is a very important factor to the success of my machine.
Referring now to Fig. 6-n represents the actual cam surface which is secured
to a plate with side walls o all round thus forming a channel or cam-way p all
round which is kept well lubricated and in which a roller or other device on
the end of the rocking shaft R travels or works and is operated by the said
cam and so gives the requisite motion to slide U through the connecting rod T.
The following are essential conditions to be observed in making cams n to work
according to my present invention.
About eighty per cent. of the whole of the cam surface n is utilised to give the
feed motion (towards the abrading disc) from the point where the cork block first.

page_text: touches the said grinding surface steadily decreasing the speed of the advance in
exact ratio until finally coming to rest for a moment so as to allow a final finishing
off. About 11 per cent. of the cam surface (by means of a sharp curve of the
cam) allows the slide U to quickly travel back and then about 9 per cent. of
the cam surface quickly advances the slide U from its rearmost position to just
reach the face of the abrading disc and then the remaining 80 per cent. or there-
abouts of the cam surface is utilised to give a prolonged and slowly decreasing
advance of the slide so as thus to give the exact required pressure of the cork s
against the abrading disc D to quickly and properly grind the piece of cork into
shape and yet not so violently advance the said piece of cork as to force same out
of the chucks d i.
The only manual labour required in connection with this machine is to feed the
"squares
or "quarters" of cork onto the feed table or rest Y which is adjustable
toward and away from the abrading disc D by means of the adjusting screw t so as
to exactly or as near as possible centre the piece of cork ready to be seized by the
chucks di. The gauge Z serves also in this connection to permit each piece of
cork to be placed in the correct suitable position ready to be seized by the two
chucks di on the next backward movement of the slide U-the gauge Z being fixed
and carried on the slide U so that this gauge Z is moved out of the way of the
chuck d at each backward movement of the slide U.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-
The machine is set going by the belt operating handle L or by any other suitable
means and the " square or quarter of cork to be ground is placed on the
rest Y.
=
The slide U comes back and at about its rearmost limit the chuck is released
and with chuck d snaps hold of the piece of cork on the rest Y and then rapidly
advances towards the disc D until the cork begins to touch the abrading disc Ď
whereupon the cork holding chucks begin to rapidly rotate but very slowly advance
towards the disc D (by means of the cam-as just previously described) and then
when the grinding is finished the cork carriers rapidly retire from the disc and
immediately thereupon the one chuck d is automatically thrown out of connection
and said chuck ceases to revolve while the spindle of the other chuck is pulled back
(as before explained) and lets the ground cork s drop out down the shoot C and
snaps hold of the next cork block and so on.
As an obvious modification and to simplify the construction of the cam-1 may
use two cams both mounted on the cam shaft Q, or arranged tandem in which latter
case both such cams would be operated by prolonging the shaft J and a worm or
worms thereon driving a worm wheel on each respective cam shaft.
Each such cam would have its own rocking lever R and each rocking lever
respectively pivotted to the slide actuating rod T and the object of having two
cams would be to divide the work done by a single cam (such as Fig. 6) that is to
say the first cam would be so formed and mounted so as to operate its rocking
lever R only to draw back the slide U its full travel and then advance said slide
until just as the cork blank reaches the face of the abrading disc D whereupon the
said first cam would then go out of action for the rest of its revolution while at
such moment the second cam would come into operation and by means of its said
rocking lever would give the prolonged slowly decreasing advance (as hereinbefore
specified) until the grinding is finished whereupon this second cam would go out of
action and the first one come into action again and control the slide U-and so on.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I would remark that I make
no separate claim herein to anything not described or foreshadowed in the
Provisional Specification hereof but I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A machine to automatically seize hold of the piece of cork (cork blank) and
then very quickly rotate same and slowly advance same to be ground-consisting
of the arrangement and combination of an abrading disc such as D slide such as Ū

page_text: approaching towards and receding from D controlled by a cam such as P cork
gripping chucks carried on said slide which are operated by the approach and
retirement of said slide U means to quickly rotate the piece of cork while being
ground then drop same and finally snap hold of the next piece substantially in the
manner and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth and illustrated in the drawings
hereunto annexed.
2. In a machine for grinding pieces of cork into shape, the construction and
arrangement of a reciprocating cork carrying slide with means for rapidly rotating
the cork in combination with a cam or cams for actuating the said slide and a
revolving abrading surface substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. The cork grinding machine arranged combined and acting substantially as and
for the purposes described.
Dated this 17th day of December 1892
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.